134- Trying to get into Alessandro's game.

**GIULLIA SANTORI’S POV**

*Two days later...*

I'm sitting in the corner of the room, hugging my knees with my head buried between them. My eyes are closed, and my thoughts are distant, reminiscing about my son running across Vittorio's house lawn with Bella, my parents happy in their new home, and Vittorio who used to startle me by entering the room.

It's been two days without eating, hiding inside that room. I wonder how Vittorio will discover that I'm on an island on the other side of the ocean. That's practically impossible, but 'impossible' isn't in his vocabulary.

"Giullia, you need to eat," Alessandro approaches.

"No, I won't eat. I want to get out of here, I want my son in my arms," I reply without looking at him, still keeping my head down.

"To see your son again one day, you need to be alive. Not eating won't make that happen, and it will only get worse," he tries once more.

"If staying with you on this island is my only option, then I'd rather die!" I lift my gaze and stare at him intently.

"Perhaps, this isn't the best way," Alessandro asserts.

I look at him and conclude that swimming against the current won't help me at all. If I oppose everything, I'll always remain in denial. The need for common sense and reasoning makes me think clearly about what I should do.

Alessandro crouches down and touches my injured foot.

"Look at this, it's very inflamed. You need to take care of yourself. I'll get some medication for this. Actually..." he seems to have an idea and heads to the bathroom.

When he returns, he brings a first aid kit. Upon opening it, he takes out gauze and starts applying medication to the wounds.

"Why are you doing this? You kidnapped me, and now you're taking care of me. I can't understand you," I observe his actions.

"I did it because I care about you, and seeing you injured displeases me," he looks at me and then averts his gaze.

I'm not sympathetic to this gesture. I feel a lot of anger. I don't need a man when I already have one whom I love dearly. I allowed him to tend to the wounds as part of a plan to concede, to gain something in return. I buy time, and soon someone will come to rescue me, I believe that!

He prepared a room with plenty of comfortable clothes to wear on the beach. I'm wearing one of them because I wouldn't go without a bath.

When Alessandro finishes bandaging my foot, I look at him and ask:

"Can I talk to my son? Please, he's just a child!" I plead with tears in my eyes.

"If you promise to eat, I can do that. Only if you eat something!" he suggests, and I nod in agreement.

He leaves the room, spends a few minutes outside, and when he returns, he extends his hand to offer me the phone, and I eagerly take it.

"Hello..."

_"Mom, I miss you. Why haven't you come back home? This trip is taking too long."_ My son speaks anxiously.

Hearing his voice makes my heart ache. I close my eyes, feeling tears flowing excessively. My hand on my heart is to endure the pain of the distance I'm feeling.

"Sweetheart, mommy had to travel. Are you taking care of Bella, Grandpa, and Grandma? And... how is your dad?" I ask, looking at Alessandro, who stands with his arms crossed in front of me.

_ *"Daddy is working a lot, he's also nervous. Come back soon, mommy, I miss you!"*_ he pleads, his voice breaking with emotion.

I close my eyes and press my lips together, tasting the salty tears. The pain I feel is immense; I've never been so far away, and I've also never taken so long to speak to my son.

"Darling, I'm trying my best. Please wait for me, okay? I'll be there soon, and we'll be together, never to be apart again. I love you!"

I can't continue; my urge is to scream that I'm on an island in the Bahamas, but if I do that, Alessandro will get irritated and take me somewhere else. It would also leave my son completely confused. I need to be strong.

I end the call and hand the phone back to its owner. He takes it and puts it in his pocket, then reaches out his hand to me.

"Now it's time for you to fulfill your promise; you'll eat," he orders.

I look at his hand but don't take it. I stand up on my own, and dizziness overwhelms me once again. Alessandro holds onto my body, which surprises me; his hands wrap around my waist, and I look up to meet his gaze.

"Let go of me!" I push him away.

I walk carefully to avoid further injuring my foot, noticing a comfortable sandal in the corner of the bed and slipping it on.

"Why are women like this? Look, it was an interesting moment; we could have at least pretended we were in a Korean drama scene, you know? Then we'd spend more than 5 minutes staring at each other," he says with a smirk.

I roll my eyes at what he just said, finding it incredibly idiotic. He's happy to see me giving in, but it's not for him; it's for my son.

I descend the stairs with difficulty, ignoring Alessandro when he offers his hand several times. We reach a table that is set, and I look at the food, feeling my stomach growl. Despite being famished, I don't want to show my vulnerability.

I sit down and observe everything that's served, a breakfast with a variety of bread, pancakes, and juices.

"Eat, it's delicious," he smiles.

I glare at him, irritated by that damn smile on his face. I begin to serve myself, starting with the pancake and adding some honey on top. I'm salivating with hunger. At least, talking to my son has relieved me. I know I'll leave soon; at least, that's what I prefer to believe.

"Why are you doing this?" I look at him, trying to get answers.

"You know very well why. First, I want to get revenge on Cassini, and second, I've liked you since the first day I saw you in that house," he looks at me and smiles once again.

"You're causing harm to everyone, not just him," I reply, irritated as I eat.

"That's true, but I'm too selfish to think about other people," he smirks once more.

"You're despicable!" I exclaim without hesitation.

"Thank you, my dear Giullia."

I roll my eyes and decide to contain my hatred so it doesn't give me indigestion. I eat the food, satisfying the absurd hunger I was feeling.