Chapter 56

Azalea

“No!” I cried, dropping to my knees beside Adriano’s bleeding body. “Why did you do that? Why did you take that bullet for me?”

Despite the pain and the blood spreading across his white shirt, he managed to give me a weak smile. “Because,” he whispered, his voice barely audible, “I love you more than my own life.”

“You stupid fool!” Leo screamed in pure rage. “You ruined my perfect plan! I wanted you to watch her die slowly, not jump in front of bullets like some hero!”

But Leo’s angry words felt like distant noise. All I could focus on was the man bleeding in my arms, the man who had just proven that even someone called “the devil” could do something completely selfless for love.

“Stay with me,” I whispered desperately, pressing my hands hard against his wound to try to stop the bleeding. “Please don’t leave me now. Not when I’m finally starting to understand what I really mean to you.”

Adriano’s hand slowly reached up to touch my face, leaving a streak of his blood on my cheek. “I would gladly take a thousand bullets for you,” he said softly, his eyes never leaving mine. “You are my everything, Azalea. My heart, my soul, my only reason for living.”

“Enough of this romantic nonsense!” Leo yelled, raising his gun again. “If you want to die together so badly, I’ll make it happen right now!”

But before Leo could pull the trigger, gunshots rang out from somewhere behind us. Leo’s eyes went wide with shock before his body crashed to the ground with a heavy thud. Blood began pooling around him as his life drained away.

“Az—” Adriano tried to call, but he was too weak from blood loss.

“No, please don’t try to talk,” I begged him, tears streaming down my face. “Save your strength. Help is here now!”

“Don’t worry, ma’am,” said a tall man in a black suit as he and several others rushed to help us. “The boss is strong. He won’t die from this.”

They carefully lifted Adriano and carried him to a waiting black car. I climbed in beside him, gently placing his head on my lap as we raced through the city streets.

“Drive faster!” I shouted at the driver, my hands still pressed against Adriano’s wound. “Please, we have to get him to the hospital!”

“Yes, ma’am,” the driver replied, pressing harder on the gas pedal.

I looked down at Adriano’s pale face. His breathing was shallow, and his eyes kept closing. “Stay awake,” I whispered to him. “Keep looking at me. Don’t you dare die on me now.”

The hospital seemed so far away, but finally we arrived at the emergency entrance. Doctors and nurses rushed out with a stretcher, quickly taking Adriano from my arms.

“Please save him,” I begged the medical team as they hurried him toward the operating room. “Please do everything you can.”

“We’ll do our best,” the head doctor promised before disappearing behind the operating room doors.

I couldn’t sit still in the waiting room. I paced back and forth like a caged animal, my mind racing with terrible thoughts. What if he didn’t make it? What if I lost him?

“He’s going to be fine,” Matteo said gently, trying to comfort me. “The boss has survived much worse than this.”

“Do I look like someone who’s worried?” I snapped, trying to hide my emotions.

Matteo gave me a knowing look. He could see right through my tough act. Who could believe someone who was crying and shaking with fear? Even I knew I was lying to myself. Of course I was worried about him.

“I understand how you feel,” Matteo said kindly. “But Adriano is the strongest man I know. He’ll pull through this.”

The surgery went on for what felt like forever. Hours passed, and with each minute, my fear grew stronger. What if something went wrong? What if he died because he tried to save me?

“Ma’am,” Matteo’s voice broke through my worried thoughts. “The doctor is coming out.”

I spun around and saw the surgeon walking toward us, still in his scrubs. My heart pounded as I ran to meet him.

“How is he?” I asked frantically, grabbing the doctor’s arm. “Is he okay? Please tell me he’s going to be alright!”

I didn’t realize I was gripping his arm so tightly until he gently patted my hand.

“Ma’am, please calm down.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I said, letting go immediately. “Has he woken up yet? Was the surgery successful?”

The doctor took a deep breath, and for a terrifying moment, I thought he was going to deliver bad news. “I don’t know which question to answer first,” he said with a small smile, “but the operation was completely successful. He’s out of danger now.”

“Thank you,” I whispered, tears of relief streaming down my face. “Thank you so much for saving his life.”

“It’s my duty as a doctor,” he replied humbly. “He’s been moved to a private room to recover.”

“Thank you,” I said again, bowing my head gratefully. “Can I see him now?”

“Yes, of course. He’s in room 001.”

After speaking with the doctor, I turned to Matteo. “I’m going to see him now.”

“Of course, ma’am. I’ll be right here if you need anything.”

I quickly left and headed to his ward. My hands were shaking as I approached room 001. I took a deep breath before slowly opening the door and stepping inside.

The room was quiet except for the soft beeping of medical machines. There he was, lying on the hospital bed with his eyes closed, looking so peaceful and vulnerable.

This wasn’t the fierce, dangerous man I had known. The person sleeping in front of me looked completely different from the “devil” I had once feared.

I pulled a chair close to his bed and sat down, studying his face. Without the hard expression he usually wore, he looked almost gentle. Younger, somehow.

“Please,” I whispered, carefully taking his hand in mine. “Please wake up. I’m so sorry for everything that’s happened.”

Tears began falling again as the guilt hit me. “This is all my fault. You’re lying here because of me.”

I stroked his hand gently, hoping somehow he could feel that I was there with him.

Hours passed, and Adriano still hadn’t woken up. The machines continued their steady beeping, but he lay still as stone.

“Ma’am, you need to rest,” Matteo suggested, appearing in the doorway with a tray of food. “I’ll stay here and call you the moment he wakes up.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” I said firmly, not taking my eyes off Adriano. “He’s in this condition because of me. I need to be here when he wakes up.”

“Alright,” Matteo stated, understanding in his voice. “Whatever you wish.”

Throughout the day, nurses came and went, checking on Adriano and bringing me food. Everyone told me to rest, but I couldn’t leave his side.

I ate a few bites when forced to, but mostly I just sat there holding his hand and watching his chest rise and fall with each breath.

As evening approached, exhaustion finally began to take over. I rested my head on the side of his bed, still holding his hand, and dozed off.

“Sleeping beauty,” I heard a familiar voice say softly.

I must be dreaming, I thought. How could I be hearing his voice when he was still unconscious?

“Wife,” the voice continued, and I felt someone gently shaking my shoulder. “Can you hear me?”

My eyes slowly opened, and then grew wide when I saw him looking back at me. Adriano was awake, his eyes fully focused on my face.

“Oh my God!” I gasped, sitting up quickly and looking him over carefully. “You’re awake! Are you okay? Are you in pain? Should I call the doctor?”

“I’m not going to die from one little bullet,” he said with a weak but teasing smile.

I stared at him in amazement. How could he be joking at a time like this? He had almost died, and here he was making light of the situation.

“Are you really okay?” I asked again, needing to be sure.

“Yes,” he responded, squeezing my hand gently. “Thank you for staying with me all this time.”

I was speechless. He was thanking me? I should be the one thanking him for saving my life.

I bowed my head deeply. “No, thank you. Thank you for saving me. If it wasn’t for you, I would be dead right now.”

“You’re my wife,” he said simply, his voice full of warmth. “It’s my duty as your husband to protect you.”

Slowly, I raised my head and met his gaze. What I saw there took my breath away.

Gone were the hatred and coldness that used to fill his eyes when he looked at me. Instead, I saw nothing but love and gentleness.

Was this man in front of me truly Adriano?