The Return of My First Love novel Chapter 70

Emily

Alessio did exactly what I asked, and then sat up as well, waiting for me to speak.

"You know, Stefano died, your brother lost his hand because of me—and I want to say it's because of me, but it's because of us. Both of us," I said, my voice steady, trying to make him see the gravity of the situation we were in.

I understood Gian perfectly fine, and given the circumstances—I would've snapped the same way, only I wasn't the brainless dumb bitch. Not in this situation.

Alessio looked at me, his expression a mix of guilt and annoyance because I had brought it up. "He has his right hand, his good hand—he can still take a wank."

For a moment, I had to hold back my laughter because I couldn't believe what had left his mouth. Only Alessio could try and see the positive side of a situation this horrendous.

I could not make this shit up.

"You really hurt me, and I know it wasn't your intention to hurt me—but you did," I took another approach. He needed to understand my feelings, and it needed to happen now. Alessio was silent, a sign he was at least listening, or so I hoped.

When no words left my mouth, he grabbed his opportunity. "You Emilybarrassed me by talking back to me in front of everyone, and I know it wasn't your intention to Emilybarrass me—but you did." He mirrored the words right back at me, but it wasn't the same. "You hurt me too, by the way, in case you were wondering."

"See, this is what I don't like about you," I couldn't take it any longer. "I've been through this before, and I'm not going through this again."

The manipulation, the gaslighting, I had endured it all before—it was all too familiar, and I really thought Alessio was different. He just couldn't put his pride aside for one second because not many talked back to him. This spoiled and immature side of him, it was how he had grown up, thinking only his word mattered.

It wasn't as if the world was going to end because Alessio's woman put him in his place in front of his friends and family.

"Here you are again, comparing me to that thing," I could hear the boiling anger in his voice.

"No, we're not doing that," I shook my head. "We are not going to turn this into me hurting your feelings so you can avoid admitting you've been lying to me."

"Lying to you?" Alessio shot back. "What lies? You mean the truth I twisted to protect your feelings?" he tried to justify his actions as some legendary knight.