The Return of My First Love novel Chapter 71

Alessio

Don't ask me how I managed to make the situation even worse than it had to be, but I did. Emily was pissed, and that was all on me.

I escaped in the morning because I didn't want to argue with her any longer and found myself back in the hospital halls, holding the watch I gave Uncle in my hands yet again. Replaying last night over and over in my head, I looked down at the watch.

I was so angry last night, and it was all because she compared me to that monster. I was trying to be good, to do good—and hearing that was like a punch to my pride.

For a moment, I even considered calling Estelle, thinking maybe I should just be the monster Emily seEmilyed to think I was. I hurt her time and time again. It wouldn't make any difference if I would hurt her once more.

Those were my thoughts until I smacked myself on the head. I couldn't do it, not to her. Emily…she wasn't like the other women I had been with. She was different—sweet, quiet Emily, who was finally opening up about her feelings, standing up for herself, and what did I do? I completely shut her down because I couldn't take the truth.

I was the idiot here. I was to blame for all this mess, but saying it out loud was much harder than thinking it. It was a mistake to call her out for lying when I was the one who had scared her in the first place.

Last night, I was ready to admit that, but when she cut me off, I figured we both needed some space. I would patiently wait until she was ready to talk to me again. And when she did, I was going to apologize properly this time, might even go on my knees to beg her for a second chance.

Aside from Mom, she was the first woman to call me out on my bullshit. I didn't know how to handle it because it was all so foreign to me. But for her, I was willing to change.

Carrying those thoughts, I walked into Gian's room. I hadn't forgotten the way he had treated her, and I was serious when I said I was going to take care of it.

He was alone when I entered, looking out the window. "How you doing?" I asked, grabbing his attention.

"Ales!" Gian smiled, surprisingly happy to see me under the circumstances. "Other than my missing hand, fine."

"Good, good," I clicked my tongue, observing him. Despite everything, Gian hadn't changed much. His mouth was still as big as ever, his spirit unbroken. Because of that foul mouth, he was able to speak to Emily the way he did. It was both a relief and a curse.

"Can you feel everything?"

"Yes, my legs, my arms—" he started.

I interrupted him. "And your face?"

Air escaped from Gian's lips as he looked up, grateful. "Yes, I can—doctors keep saying it's a miracle," he said.

Good, that was all I needed to know. I punched him right in the eye, mostly because he deserved it. Hurting him was the last thing I wanted to do, but he left me no choice.

Gian groaned in pain, covering one eye with his hand.

I leaned down. "Me letting you live after you called Emily a dumb brainless bitch is a miracle," I said before grabbing his neck. Not tight, just enough to make my point. "You're my brother, I love you, I'm here for you—but what happened is not her fault, do you hear me?" I needed him to understand. I get he was angry, but he shouldn't direct it towards the wrong person. And yes, I was being a hypocrite because I had done the same.

Gian could only stare at me, the shock from the punch still visible. Then he let out a scoff and rolled his eye, trying to look in a different direction, but before he could—I grabbed his good wrist, twisting it.