|| VALENTINA's POV ||
" Why hasn't she stopped bleeding? Fuck! Make it stop, Luka!", Lorenzo groaned anxiously, breathing hard as he eyed my injured feet.
The cut was unexpectedly major, leaving a deep wound on my right leg. It was bleeding so much but the wound in my heart was deeper than the cut. I bet that I wouldn't be allowed to walk for a month at least. Maybe, Lorenzo wished for this.
His doctor friend Luka flew over immediately to check my wound. Ever since he came, I didn't say any words although Lorenzo kept asking whether I was hurting or not.
Luka gave him a glance of knowing, scoffed as he bandaged my wound,
" Mr.King, I am sorry but I am not some God. She will bleed for a while then it will be okay. Perhaps, you should have paid attention to your actions first before regretting it now."
His pale lips pursued together to say something but before he had the chance to apologize to me, I mumbled, looking at my fingertips,
" I want to be alone and rest."
The atmosphere got tense and I could feel his piercing eyes on me. However, I didn't care because I needed my space to cry alone. Luka stopped him from saying anything, getting up to leave the room with Lorenzo,
" Come with me, Lo. She needs rest really!"
I felt peace as soon as the door closed and they disappeared from my sight. Tears began to roll down and I ended burying my head into the pillow to cry harder. I wasn't sure why it felt harsh to hear the truth from Lorenzo's mouth. Perhaps, I really started to consider him my family. I was important to him only because of the child.
________
An hour had passed but they didn't disturb me anymore. I felt refreshed after crying my heart out. Finally, I accepted the reality and decided to stay mentally away from Lorenzo's life. I was just a surrogate mother who would eventually leave after giving birth. Too much involvement could lead me to some unexpected feelings that I never wanted.
Someone knocked at the door lightly and I hoped that it wasn't Lorenzo because I didn't want to face him right now. His insult was like salt, rubbing everywhere in my heart. However, it was Luka who asked for my permission politely,
" Valentina! Can I come?"
I sat up straight and replied tugging the blanket,
" Yes!"
Luka entered carrying a milk jug for me. He was always smiling unlike his friend who never smiled like a normal man. He sat facing me, giving me the glass,
" You should drink milk every night. It's good for the baby. By the way, can I tell you something honestly, Valentina?"
I nodded, accepting the glass to drink slowly. I could ignore anything but not the baby in my stomach. I was his mother after all. Luka exhaled heavily, looking away somewhere inside the room,
" Don't be mad at Lorenzo. He didn't mean it."
I opened my mouth to say something but Luka cut me off, telling me honestly,
" You have no idea what he has gone through today. He has been blaming himself ever since he saw your injured feet. He even wanted to drink more liquor to punish himself but I had to stop him because it's not good for his health. He has minor heart issues. So, too much alcohol can cause him illness."
Now, I was suddenly worried for him. Did he really blame himself that much? However, Luka's words hit my brain. What happened today? Didn't Lorenzo go to his father's company today?
I replied, furrowing in concern,
" If you don't mind me telling..Luka.. What happened to the company today? He was so enthusiastic today."
Luka's face soon turned dark like the bottom of the pot. He replied through his clenched teeth,
" It was his bastard step-brother again. He stole his project and made a ruckus in the office. When Lorenzo called him a thief, his father slapped him in front of the officials."
I gasped hard in shock and disbelief. No matter what, Lorenzo was an honorable CEO of his own company now. I saw him working late hours recently to complete the project. How could Mr.King slap him without digging the truth?
I exclaimed angrily,
" How can he slap him in front of the officials? I saw with my own eyes how he worked hard for the project to represent it in front of his father."
Luka explained further in a hateful voice,
" That's how it has always been. Uncle king never trusted Lorenzo in these matters. He has supported Leonardo blindly. After Lorenzo's mother died, he turned blind eye to his son. So, Lorenzo grew up in pain and loneliness. Everyone left him alone. Only his Nana was there to care for him. So, he isn't the tough man that he looks like, Valentina. He is actually vulnerable in reality. I hope, you can understand that he was out of my mind today and hurt you accidentally."
Tears welled up my eyes as I listened to Luka. I thought that being rich was everything in this life but happiness was important too. No wonder, Lorenzo never smiled at me and always carried a cold aura around him. Actually,he was afraid that the people around him would hurt him again. I muttered weakly,
" I understand, Luka. I will..try..my best..as long as..I am here.."
_________
Later in the night, I was pretending to be asleep on my bed. As expected, I heard the door pushing open and his light footsteps began to grow closer and closer to me. He stood there for a while,bent down and covered the blanket on me properly. As he was prepared to leave, I sat up suddenly to call him back,
" Hey Lorenzo!"
He was taken back a little then turned around to question me,
" You... were you faking sleeping? I thought that you didn't want me around you."
I tried to act all childish because I learnt a lesson from my granny. If you want to change someone, give him love. I pointed at my stomach, replied with a snort,
" Not me but your son wants you here."
His gaze softened quickly as he started to walk back to the bed. He cleared his throat awkwardly before telling,
" Why? Are you feeling unwell?"
I smiled at him a little and clasped his hands together to put on my belly which had turned a little bigger than usual. His eyes were wide in shock as if he had felt something inside. I told him firmly, tearing up when his eyes finally had some reaction,
" He.. he wants to tell you that he will never ever.. leave his father.. alone..He..he also said that mommy is sorry for lying to father..Mommy didn't drink.."
His eyes also turned red in tears. After a while, he finally said through his low sobs,
" I...I am sorry..I really didn't mean to do it.. Valentina.."
I grabbed onto his hands tightly as I consoled him,
" Huss..I trust you,Lorenzo..I don't blame you..I know that you can never hurt me or the baby.. Please..stop blaming yourself anymore.."
He stopped blabbering and looked up at me gratefully. I saw strange emotions, crossing across his eyes. Before I could figure out what he was thinking about doing, he smashed his lips against me. His kiss began to grow hotter and hotter until I was pressed against the pillow, struggling to breathe properly. From the lips, he started sucking my collarbone. I tilted my head aside involuntarily, giving him better access as he peppered kisses on my neck, going down towards the chest slowly..
I didn't know what we were doing but for the first time, I really wanted to forget that I was just his hired surrogate....