All Chapters of A love forged in Darkness and Desire : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Alessia's Pov"Alessia!"Marcello’s sharp voice snapped me out of my glare at the two drunk men at the bar. He stormed over, his heavy footsteps echoing against the wooden floor.I still had a bottle clenched in my hand, ready to smash it over someone’s head.Marcello yanked it from my grip. "What the hell are you doing?"I exhaled sharply, ignoring the laughter from the two men who had just grabbed me. "Handling myself," I muttered.Marcello’s jaw clenched. "You’re handling yourself straight into unemployment."I knew I should bite my tongue, but my frustration boiled over. "You saw what happened!" I gestured toward the men, who were still chuckling at the far end of the bar. "They think they can grope me and get away with it."Marcello pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling. "I get it. But you can’t afford trouble right now. You need this job." His voice softened just a little. "Your mother needs this job."That hit me hard. My stomach twisted, the fight draining out of me.I swal

Alessia's povI was supposed to be heading home.That’s what I told myself when I left the bar. That’s what I told myself when I turned onto the dimly lit street.But instead of walking straight to my apartment, I found myself here.Outside the Palermo Grand Hotel.Why?Because of him.Luca Romano.I didn’t know why I was curious about him. Maybe it was the way he carried himself, the way Marcello had warned me to stay away.Or maybe it was how he had looked at me in the alley last night—like he knew something I didn’t.Whatever the reason, I was here. And I was about to leave when—Boom.A deep explosion rocked the side of the building. The windows on the third floor shattered, smoke billowing out. The explosion of glass and the shriek of a car alarm. Shards rained down like a deadly confetti, and I stumbled back , my groceries falling to the ground.People screamed, a few ran towards the scene and others away from it. My heart pounded in my chest as I stood frozen, staring at the c

Alessia's Pov I woke up to the soft hum of the fridge in the kitchen and the faint ticking of the wall clock. The room was bathed in a weak, gray light as the sun struggled to rise. Stretching, I turned to check on Mom in her bed.“Mom?” I called softly.She didn’t stir.A chill ran down my spine, and I sat up, leaning closer to her. “Mom,” I repeated, louder this time, shaking her shoulder gently.Still no response.“Mom!” I cried, my voice trembling. I shook her harder, but her body remained still. Panic clawed at my chest as I felt for a pulse. It was there, but faint, and her breathing was shallow.I grabbed my phone with shaking hands and dialed emergency services. The operator’s calm voice did little to soothe me as I explained what was happening.“She’s not waking up,” I said, tears streaming down my face. “Please, send someone quickly!”“They’re on their way, signorina,” the operator assured me. “Stay with her and keep her comfortable.”I hung up and crouched by Mom’s bedside

Alessia's Pov The bar was crowded, filled with smoke and the loud hum of conversation and laughter over drinks. I was on my countlessth wipe of the counter that evening, trying to keep a low profile as sleazy remarks and whistles came my way.“Why don’t you smile a little, bella? Brighten up the place!” one guy drunkenly suggested, leaning in with a grin that made my stomach churn.I chose to ignore him, maintaining steady hands as I continued cleaning. Just a few days earlier, I would’ve fired back with a witty retort. But now? I didn’t want to stir up any more trouble, especially with my mom's hospital expenses hanging over me like a dark cloud.I had been keeping a low profile, merely focusing on my job and steering clear of any drama. The constant flow of degrading remarks was draining, but I needed this job. I needed the money.“Alessia!” Marcello’s voice cut through the din.I glanced up to see him at the end of the bar, gesturing for me to come to the back office.Fantastic. J

Alessia's Pov I dragged myself out of bed, I grabbed my coat and the envelope of cash I had saved over months. Today was the day I could finally pay for my mother’s treatment.The hospital lobby smelled faintly of antiseptic and worn-out hope. I stepped up to the reception desk, where a nurse was busy typing on a computer.“Good morning,” I said, forcing a polite tone. “I’m here to pay for my mother’s chemotherapy. Maria Moretti.”The nurse, a middle-aged woman with kind eyes, nodded and clicked away at her keyboard. “Let me pull up her file. One moment, please.”I waited, my palms sweating despite the air-conditioning. The quiet hum of the hospital was punctuated by the occasional beep of monitors and muffled conversations.“Here it is,” the nurse finally said. “She’s scheduled to start the first stage of chemotherapy tomorrow. The total cost for the first round is 1,800 euros. You can pay at the cashier’s desk down the hall.”I nodded, gripping the envelope tightly in my hands. “Th