Chapter 145 Are you ok?

Chapter 145 Are you ok?
ISABELLA'S POV

The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the weight beside me - not heavy, but solid and warm. I blinked slowly, my body still heavy from whatever medication they had given me last night. The hospital room was dim, morning light filtering weakly through the blinds.

Mateo's mother was asleep in the armchair pulled right up to the side of my bed. Her head was tilted at an awkward angle, one hand resting near mine on the blanket. Her usually perfect hair was slightly mussed, and there were faint lines of exhaustion on her face. 

She looked... human.

I stared at her for a long moment, something strange twisting in my chest. This was the same woman who had torn me apart at Christmas. Now she was sleeping beside me like a tired mother who had stayed up all night watching over her child.

I gently touched her arm. "Mrs. Rossi..."

She stirred, blinking awake with a small groan. Her hand flew to the back of her neck as she straightened up.

"Oh... goodness," she murmured, wincing. "I haven't slept like that in decades. My neck is going to kill me."

I couldn't help the small smile that tugged at my lips. "Welcome to the poor life. We don't always get orthopedic pillows and thousand-thread-count sheets."

She let out a soft, surprised laugh - genuine and a little rusty, like she wasn't used to laughing at herself. She rubbed her neck again, rolling her shoulders.

"I suppose I deserved that." She looked at me, eyes softening. "How are you feeling, dear?"

"Tired," I admitted. "But okay. The baby... they said the heartbeat is still strong but I just get to be down for days."

She nodded, relief clear on her face. "Good. That's very good." She stood slowly, smoothing down her wrinkled dress. "I should go. I told Mateo I'd only stay until morning. Jake is right outside if you need anything."

"You don't have to rush," I said quietly.

She paused, then leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. The gesture was so tender, so motherly, that my throat tightened unexpectedly.

Did I just get mummy issues too?

"I'll tell Mateo I'm leaving now," she whispered. "Rest, Isabella. We'll talk more when you're stronger."

As she reached the door, my phone - which had been on silent - started vibrating aggressively on the nightstand. She glanced at it.

"That thing has been blowing up since last night," she said with a small frown. "I didn't want to wake you."

She gave me one last soft look and slipped out.

I picked up the phone, expecting Mateo. Only he would call this early, restless and worried.

"Hello, baby," I answered, voice still sleepy.

There was a pause.

Then Valentina's broken, venomous voice came through.

"How much will you take from me?"

I froze. "Valentina?"

"I am at the hospital, bitch. I didn't take anything from you," I said, confused and instantly on guard.

She let out a harsh, wet sob. "All my life I've worked so hard. I fought for every single thing. And you... you just show up and everything falls into your lap. Perfect life. Perfect man. Perfect baby. It's not fair! All from genesis you have been bad luck to me!."

Her voice cracked completely. She was crying - ugly, heaving sobs that made my stomach twist despite everything.

"Valentina... have you been drinking? Or taking something?" I asked carefully. "You sound-"

"You can't be better than me! You will never be his mother!" she screamed suddenly. "Lucian is mine! Mateo was mine first! You stole everything from me! You tore my "families" apart and you are playing saint?!"

Families? Playing saint. Was this a butt dial or a mistake?

I sat up straighter, heart pounding. "If you want to tell Mateo the truth about Lucian's father, then do it. I'll even tell him myself after this call. I'm done with the secrets."

She just kept crying, then suddenly snarled, "I wished I had killed you when I had the chance."

The words hit like ice water.

"That's not a nice thing to say, madam" I got angry "Grow the fuck up! Genesis? Playing Saint! And families?! I bet you are on some kind of-" 

"Relish in it now, Isabella. I will kill you " she interrupted me.

I ended the call immediately, hands shaking. My finger hovered over the block button.

The room felt too quiet. Too small. My gut was screaming that something was very wrong. Valentina had always been cruel, but this felt... unhinged. Desperate.

This felt too much. Like there was something more. Like it was more personal than just Lucian or Matoe.

I tried to breathe through it. Pretend it was just another jealous outburst. But the fear wouldn't leave.

My phone rang again - the same number. I declined and blocked.

With trembling fingers, I called Mateo.

He picked up on the second ring.

"Babe, you're up too early. I'm so sorry, I'm on my way-"

I interrupted him, voice shaking. "I think Valentina wants to kill me. Please come. I need to talk to you."

There was a sharp intake of breath. "I'm on my way right now. Jake is right outside your door. Stay on the phone with me."

The door opened almost immediately. Jake stepped in, his face calm but alert, holding a green smoothie.

"Miss Isabella," he said gently. "Mrs Rossi said I should check up on..." 

I reached out and took the cup from him with shaking hands. The moment I took the first sip, tears started falling. I didn't even know why I was crying. The fear, the relief of hearing Mateo's voice, the exhaustion, the hormones - everything crashed together.

Jake froze. "Ma'am? Are you okay?"

I shook my head, still crying while sipping the smoothie. "I don't know why I'm crying," I whispered. "I just... I can't stop."

On the phone, Mateo's voice was tight with worry. "I'm almost there, baby. Just hold on. I'm coming."

I nodded even though he couldn't see me, tears dripping into the smoothie as Jake stood awkwardly by the door, looking like he wanted to help but didn't know how.

Everything felt like it was spiraling again.

And I was so tired of pretending I was fine.