Eirlys saved her

Eirlys saved her

~ VITTORIO'S POV ~

“Stellina,” Giovanni calls softly, his voice carrying that warmth only he can manage.

Elena’s head turns instantly, her hair swaying like a ribbon caught in the breeze. For a second, her expression lights up, brighter than the sun glinting off the fountain behind her.

I step back deliberately, letting Giovanni step forward so that he is the first she sees. She deserves that joy, even if it isn’t from me.

“Uncle Gio!” she exclaims, her voice rising in pure excitement. Her sketchbook tumbles from her lap as she springs up, running toward him with all the eagerness of a child again.

I stand still, a shadow by the hedges, as she wraps her arms around him tightly. Her smile is wide, unrestrained, the kind of smile I haven’t seen directed at me in years.

Giovanni bends slightly, brushing her hair back as he smiles at her. “How are you feeling now, princess?” he asks, tone dripping with affection.

And then it happens…..her eyes flick toward me. Just for a heartbeat. That joy vanishes, replaced by rage, raw and burning. A glare sharper than a blade. She quickly turns back to Giovanni and answers softly, “I’m better now.”

Her words are calm, but the rage in her glance was enough.

“Good,” Giovanni replies gently, patting her head. “Because I’m staying here with you till dinner.”

Her face lights up again, and she claps her hands together, cheering as if he had just promised her the world. My chest aches watching her. She reacts to him like a child given candy, pure, unguarded joy.

“But where’s Aunt Mira? Isn’t she supposed to be here?” Elena asks curiously, her voice gentle now, almost melodic.

She only ever speaks this much with Giovanni. With me, I’m lucky if she spares two words, usually clipped and cold.

“She’s a bit unwell,” Giovanni explains. “From all that happened that day at the stadium.”

Elena gasps slightly, concern flooding her face. “Oh, I hope she’s getting better! Was she hurt?”

I remain still, silent, invisible almost. She already looked at me with rage; if I open my mouth, it will only worsen. So I watch, my silence a prison of its own making.

“She’s fine,” Giovanni assures her. “And no, she’s not hurt.”

Elena nods, relief softening her features. She takes her seat again on the stone garden bench, the fountain behind her singing with the sound of water.

Giovanni sits beside her, his tone tender. “What happened that day, Stellina? I want to hear it from you.”

Her countenance darkens instantly, as if the clouds above mirrored her thoughts. She bites her lip, fingers tightening over her sketchbook.

“There were some men,” she whispers, her voice trembling. “They… they wanted to abduct me.”

Giovanni leans closer. “Tell me, dear. I’m listening.”

His eyes shift toward me, signaling me to step forward. But I shake my head subtly. If I move closer, she’ll shut down. She’ll leave. And I can’t afford that, not when she’s finally speaking.

I need to hear every detail.

Eirlys had almost spoken about it before in the hospital, but the doctor walked in and she silenced herself. Now, I can’t let this moment slip.

Elena takes a breath, steadying herself. “When I excused myself to the restroom… after using it, I heard footsteps behind me. Strange ones. I turned mid-staircase and before I could scream, a large hand covered my mouth. He pulled me aggressively.”

Her body shudders at the memory. My fists clench at my sides, rage simmering hot in my veins.

“They dragged me down the stairs violently. Everything happened so fast. But then… a lady came.” She pauses, tears pooling in her eyes. “She fought them. To my surprise, she fought them.”

Her voice breaks slightly, but she pushes forward. “I couldn’t move. I was weak. One of them had already thrown me to the floor, my knee was throbbing, and I could barely stand. But she didn’t stop. She fought, even though she didn’t know me.”

My chest tightens from her words.

“One of the men cocked a gun,” Elena whispers, her voice already cracking. “He pointed it at us. The lady dragged me, forced me toward escape. She pushed me over the railing on sighting a hay below in a barn. That’s how I landed safely.” Her lips tremble. “Seconds later, I heard a gunshot. She must have been shot… because she was trying to save me.”

Elena breaks, sobbing quietly, her hands covering her face. “I hope she didn’t die,” she whispers between tears.

Giovanni’s arm slides around her shoulders, pulling her close, murmuring comfort.

And I… I stand frozen.

Eirlys.

It had to be her.

Everything makes sense now. She regained consciousness in that hospital room and the first words she spoke were about “the girl who fell into the hay.” She was asking after Elena.

My heart pounds like a war drum in my chest.

That bullet…..what if it had struck her chest instead of her arm? What if she had died right there, in front of my daughter, while saving her?

The thought makes my blood boil and my stomach churn all at once.

Eirlys risked her life for Elena. She didn’t even know who she was saving. She didn’t do it for me. She didn’t do it for favors. She did it because, in that moment, she chose my daughter’s life over her own.

And I….like a blind fool, I stood there, accusing her, bristling at her words when she dismissed my act of saving her as “generosity.”

I thought she was reckless. I thought she was ungrateful.

But she is more than I ever saw. More than I allowed myself to see.

I grind my teeth, fury burning in my gut, not at her, not even at the men who dared lay hands on Elena. No. At myself.

Because I should have known.

Because I should have thanked her, not questioned her.

Because while I’ve built an empire of blood and power, it took a stranger, a woman with no reason to fight, to shield the only thing that matters most to me.

My daughter.

I curl my fists tighter, nails biting into my palms. I can’t let Elena see me like this…..on the verge of breaking. But inside, I’m burning.

Damnit.

Eirlys saved my daughter, at the risk of her own life.

And I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to repay that debt.

Thank goodness she's here, she's staying here now.