Chapter 233 Chapter 233.

Chapter 233 Chapter 233.
Isabella. 

I shook my head quickly, tears blurring my vision.

“I panicked,” I said desperately. “I was scared of the engagement. I was scared that we would have to break up eventually, so I did it first. I thought it would hurt less if I did it first. I was wrong. I was so wrong. I’m sorry. Please, Luca.”

He nodded slightly, like he heard me, like it meant something, and then he tried to walk past me.

“No,” I said quickly, grabbing his hand, holding onto him like my life depended on it. “Please don’t walk away from me. I’m so sorry about everything. I don’t love you any less. I’m not in love with Archer or anyone else. I don’t think it’s easier to leave you. I don’t think you’re a fool. I’m so sorry.”

He narrowed his eyes slightly.

“Stop crying,” he said. “Wipe your tears first.”

I shook my head helplessly.

“I can’t stop crying,” I admitted, my voice breaking again. “I’m so sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to run away from you. I was just scared that you would actually let me go, and I wouldn’t be able to take it. I’m sorry.”

His gaze dropped to my knee, and I followed it instinctively.

Blood.

I forgot about it completely.

“I fell when I was coming in,” I said quickly, trying to brush it off. “It’s nothing. It doesn’t hurt. Can we just talk?”

He gently but firmly removed my hand from his shirt and looked over at Jun.

“Jun, get me the first aid box in my room. It’s in the drawer beside the bed.”

Jun nodded and headed upstairs without a word.

Luca turned back to me, his voice quiet.

“Sit down.”

I obeyed immediately, lowering myself onto the couch carefully, my hands clenched together in my lap as my heart raced uncontrollably.

He was too calm.

It terrified me.

It felt like he had already made up his mind.

“How did you know I was here?” he asked.

“I went to your office first,” I said softly. “You weren’t there, so I came here. I was hoping you would be here. My phone died. I didn’t know about the engagement. What happened?”

He avoided my eyes, his focus on my injured knee.

“Vivian got the evidence,” he said. “But she was shot. I don’t know how it happened yet. She’s in a coma.”

My breath caught.

“What?” I whispered, my heart dropping. “Vivian is in a coma? Oh my God. What about Smith?”

“He has been arrested,” Luca replied. “He tried to flee the country.”

I opened my mouth to speak again, but Jun returned, handing the box to Luca.

Luca took it and knelt in front of me, lifting my leg carefully as his brows furrowed at the sight.

“This is bad,” he muttered. “What did you hit?”

“A rock,” I said quietly.

He sighed and opened the box, pulling out what he needed before starting to clean the wound.

I watched him, my chest tightening.

“Luca,” I said softly, my voice trembling. “Can we talk after this? I really need to apologize. Everything you said kept playing in my head, and I don’t even know how you thought I was in love with Archer. He’s gay. I’m so sorry I broke up with you. I’m so sorry for how I handled everything. Please forgive me.”

He did not respond.

The silence hurt more than anything.

He poured something onto the wound, and pain exploded through my knee so sharply that my entire body tensed. A cry almost escaped me, but I bit my lip hard, forcing it down.

It burned.

So much.

“You don’t have to stay quiet about your pain,” he said softly.

I looked at him.

“I don’t want to irritate you,” I admitted.

He said nothing and continued.

Tears slipped down my face again as I wiped them away quickly, my chest tightening with every second that passed without him saying anything more.

Had I really ruined everything?

Was this it?

He finished wrapping the bandage and stood up, putting everything back into the box neatly.

I tried to stand too, but he pointed at me.

“No. Sit back down.”

I swallowed and obeyed.

He looked at me, his expression still blank.

“You should rest.”

My heart dropped.

“Please,” I whispered. “Can we talk? Just one more chance. Please, Luca. Are we really done? I was stupid. I was foolish. I let my fear ruin everything. I’m so sorry. It won’t happen again. I love you. I love you so much and it hurts. It hurts right here.”

I pressed my hand against my chest, my voice breaking.

He gritted his teeth, his jaw tightening.

“You love me?” he said. “Bella, I was ready to beg you to take me back. I didn’t care about the breakup. But I didn’t find you here. You ran away. I can’t.....I can’t wrap my head around that.”

Tears poured down my face.

I felt so stupid.

So incredibly stupid.

My chest hurt so badly I could barely breathe.

“So we are done?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper. “Really done?”

He did not answer.

He just looked away.

And then he turned and walked out.

“Luca....” I started, but my voice broke completely as the door shut behind him.

Jun sighed quietly and followed after him.

The silence that followed was unbearable.

I covered my face with my hands and broke down completely, sobs tearing through me as everything hit at once.

That was it.

I had ended it.

I had ruined everything.

I had lost him.

“I can’t...." I choked out, my body shaking. “I can’t do this.”

I could not live without him.

How could I be so stupid?

I did not run because I stopped loving him.

I ran because I was scared.

And now I had lost him anyway.

My throat burned.

My eyes ached.

Everything inside me hurt so badly that it felt like I was falling apart from the inside out.

I was not going to survive this.