Chapter 52 LII.
ALESSANDRA'S POV.
It took some time for me to learn the truth and the reason behind Alessandro's accusations. Grandfather had made Rowan go far away from California, and no one except Grandfather knew where Rowan was.
A part of me was glad that my brother and Rowan would get to experience the pain I felt when they betrayed me. But a bigger part of me felt guilty and sad. I knew they both did wrong, but it was obvious how much they loved each other, and I thought it was too much that Grandpa decided to keep them apart.
I loved them both. Alessandro is my only brother—the person who protected me when we were kids. Although we didn't grow up together, I loved him wholeheartedly. He is my only family, along with Grandpa.
And Rowan was the cute, gentle boy whom I fell in love with right from when we were kids. He was always polite and kind; it was really impossible not to love him. Part of me knew that my heartbreak wasn't entirely Rowan's fault. He would do anything for Grandpa, and that was why he forced himself to be in a relationship with me. He was too kind to break my heart, and that must be why he pretended for months that he was in love with me.
When he told me the truth, I was angry, but I was more bitter about the fact that he easily fell for Sandro, whom he had just met, rather than me, who had loved him all my life. It was heartbreaking.
In my state of anger, I vowed never to forgive him. But with him miles away and my brother growing more and more miserable with each day that passed, I figured that maybe I was the one in the wrong.
"Miss Ricci!" Anna rushed into my room, looking panicked. I already knew what the problem was before she could even speak. Alessandro was probably drunk and passed out in front of the house. He had been doing that for the past three weeks. He couldn't find Rowan and resorted to drinking.
Without waiting for an explanation from Anna, I rushed out of my room and hurried downstairs. Just outside the mansion, Alessandro lay with his arms spread out on the porch, slurring drunken words.
I gasped when I saw his face, designed with blue and purple bruises; these were more severe than the last. He definitely got drunk and got into a fight again.
Ever since Rowan left, Alessandro hasn't stepped foot in Ricci's Enterprise, not even once. Grandpa tried talking to him, but it was as good as talking to a brick wall. Papers were left unsigned, and meetings were left unattended. Stock prices were dropping rapidly. With no president to run the company and no trusted head such as Rowan, the company was crumbling because Grandpa couldn't do all that on his own. He had retired long ago.
I tried talking to Sandro, but he never listened. Alcohol had become his only aim in life. I couldn't reach Rowan either—probably one of the things Grandpa asked him to do.
Alessandro was out of control now. He was unkempt, and I was certain he hadn't shaved for weeks. He looked absolutely miserable, like a broken man who couldn't recover from his own heartbreak. I feared that if Rowan didn't return to him, he might truly ruin his own life.
With Anna's help, we dragged his extremely heavy body back to his room and nursed his injuries.
"Rowan," he mumbled in his sleep, just like every other night, causing my heart to clench painfully in my chest.
I brushed aside the hair stuck to his forehead, gazing into his face with sympathy.
"Is that how much you love him, brother? You're ready to ruin yourself because of him?"
He groaned and mumbled Rowan's name again.
I sat there sadly, staring at the broken shell that was now my brother. Anna walked in at that moment.
"I brought the porridge, Miss Alessandra"
I sighed, pulling myself out of my thoughts of Alessandro. I looked at Anna and asked, "Anna, do you think my grandpa did the right thing in separating Alessandro and Rowan?"
She thought for a moment and then set the tray of porridge aside before replying, "I have something to tell you, Miss Alessandra."
I furrowed my brows at her sidetracking. "What is it, Anna?"
She fidgeted nervously for a second before replying. "I knew about Mr. Rowan and Alessandro from the very beginning. They almost kissed in Mr. Alessandro's room once, and then I confirmed it when I caught them kissing at your engagement party."
I was confused. Anna knew all along? "Then why didn't you say anything?"
"Be-because I also had feelings for Rowan."
My eyes widened. What the hell?
"I've liked him ever since I set my eyes on him years ago, but not once has he looked my way. When I caught him, I threatened him to have sex with me." She lowered her head while I continued to stare at her, stunned. "But he refused, and the next day he told you the truth himself."
For a moment, I was too stunned to speak. Anna also had feelings for Rowan and selfishly used his feelings for Sandro against him. How could she do such a thing?
I stared at her with a judgmental look. "I am surprised by this, Anna. How could you do such a thing to Rowan?"
She flinched and looked down in shame. "Believe me, Miss Alessandra. I am heavily ashamed of myself. I wish I could turn back time, because I know Rowan doesn't deserve what I did. So, my answer to your question is this: we need Rowan back to apologize and right the wrongs we committed against him, and also for Mr. Alessandro's sake. He's in love, and not knowing where his lover is... it's ruining him."
I sighed, deciding she was right. We had all wronged Rowan, and right now, I needed to talk to Grandfather and make him see that Alessandro needed Rowan back; otherwise, not only would Alessandro ruin himself completely, but Ricci's Enterprise might also go down with him.
Grandfather was in his study when I walked in. Unlike before, he looked sad and distressed. There was nothing happy about the expression on his face.
Grandpa was usually a cold man. He rarely showed his emotions, but right now, his feelings were as clear as day.
"Grandpa?" I called out, and he stared at me sadly.
"What brings you here, Sandra?" he asked, trying to keep his voice strong, but I could detect the pain underneath his tone.
I moved closer and took a seat across from him. "I want to speak to you, Grandpa."
He scowled. "If it's about that worthless brother of yours, who wants to destroy everything I've built all because of a man, then I don't want to hear it."
I sighed, even though his words broke my heart. It was obvious Grandpa was heavily disappointed in my brother. "Grandpa, you know we have to talk about him. Sandro is ruining himself, and I don't like that. He deserves his own happiness. You know that, right?"
He blew out a breath. "You're both in love with Rowan. Keeping him here is a bad idea."
"But keeping them apart is far worse, Grandpa. You're not happy, I'm not happy, Sandro is miserable, and Rowan is probably feeling the same way. The company is failing thanks to Alessandro's neglect. Rowan's disappearance doesn't benefit anyone, Grandpa, so I think it's best you bring him back."
He studied me in silence for a second, like he was unsure of what to make of me. But then he said, "What about you, Sandra? Will you really be okay seeing your brother and the man you love together?"
I smiled slightly. "Keeping them apart won't make him choose me. I've decided to stop being selfish. My brother loves me, and I know they never meant to hurt me. The least I can do is let them have their happiness."
Grandpa sighed. "If you say so, then I'll tell you where to find Rowan, but Alessandro better stop this madness after he finds out!"
"I'll make sure of it," I said with a relieved smile.