37. SETTLING IN

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She was finally getting discharged today after Zio Paul and his fellow doctors kept her under observation for a day and a half. Her vitals were stable but she needed a lot of healing, both, internally and externally.

Aless had already brought her stuff to my place yesterday and I even got it organized in the room right next to mine. Honestly, this was just a way of keeping her close all the time.

I'll win her in three months and if I can't, I'll let her go for her happiness' sake. Nothing matters above and beyond her happiness.

I just love her too much to be selfish with her.

"Adrian." Zio Asher entered my office.

I had come to the office on a Sunday to collect a few files that Tomaso forgot to deliver and also to meet Zio Asher since he was not allowed inside the infirmary because of Sia.

"Take a seat." I gestured towards the seat and placed the files on a side before sitting down myself.

"I just want to see her, even if it's once. Aless won't even tell me how she is. It's like they both are punishing us." He spoke in a tired voice.

I sighed, finally letting my guard down a bit, "Zio, honestly, we deserve to be punished. All of us, including myself. And I understand where you're coming from but she needs her space, right now. She's been through a lot of trauma lately and everything that has happened before is only adding to her stress. She's been so quiet, except for the first day she woke up, that it's scaring me and Aless because we don't know what her thought process is. Try and understand her, too, and as far as the seeing part is concerned, you can come over today to my place. She sleeps after her afternoon meds."

He seemed to be on the brink of crying by the time I finished but he held himself back and nodded his head after gulping audibly, "Okay, thank you." He whispered.

"Don't worry, she'll come around. She loves you too much, after all." I reassured with a small smile.

He smiled back and nodded his head once again before taking his leave. I grabbed the remaining things and left the building, shortly.

My phone rang as soon as I settled inside the car and I saw Obrien's number flashing on the screen, "Hello." I answered picking up.

"Hey, how's Sylvia doing? Is she up?" he inquired.

"She's recovering, it will take a lot of time but she'll be fine. And yes, she did wake up the day before yesterday. I'll be sure to make a call when I reach home." I informed.

"Oh, thanks a bunch man and if you need anything, just give me a call."

"I will."

"Is my family alive?" he asked after a pregnant pause.

"They are, yet. Sia decides their future." I spoke coldly.

He sighed from the other end, "I understand, and I am sorry that you had to go through that because of us."

"It'll be over soon." I sighed out.

"Yeah. Anyways, call me when she's ready to talk." He said and hung up after bidding goodbye.

I threw the phone on the passenger seat and exhaled loudly while raking a hand through my hair. I can't believe that I was about to confess to her that day but Aless just chose the perfect timing to barge inside.

After about twenty-five minutes, I reached home and found Aless's car in the parking lot. He was trying to make Sia walk with the crutches but she was wincing with every muscle movement.

I instantly got out of my car and rushed towards them before lifting her up in my arms.

"Aless, where's her wheelchair?" I asked.

"She refused, man." He answered exasperatedly.

I glared down at her and she just frowned while averting her eyes. We went inside and I gently placed her down on the couch before grabbing an ottoman and putting her feet on it.

She closed her eyes and rested her head against the back of the couch as she sighed softly. I couldn't help myself and leaned down to press my lips on her forehead.

She gasped quietly and peeled her eyes open making my heart skip a beat.

We stared at each other for a solid minute before I became aware of Aless's eyes on the back of my head so I decided to pull back and clear my throat, "I'll ask the cook to serve lunch now, you have to sleep after you take your medicines."

She nodded, a little flustered because of our previous staring contest, and I turned to look at Aless who was also eyeing his sister with a small, knowing smile tugging at his lips.

"Stay, if you want to. You can bring your stuff over." I offered.

He shook his head in negative, "Nah, I'd rather not. I'd visit daily though."

"Suit yourself." I shrugged and walked towards the kitchen.

"Tina." I called.

Tina was a Spanish lady, in her early forties, who has been working for me as a part-time cook for the past seven years.

"Signore, the lunch will be served in exactly fifteen minutes." She informed turning around with a warm smile.

I smiled back at her before instructing, "I gave you the list of things she needs to eat so you should be following that. I'll be back after a quick shower."

"Si, signore." She said and got busy with whatever she was doing in the first place.

After a quick shower, I wore a plain blue tee-shirt and grey sweatpants and made my way downstairs to the living room.

Sia seemed to be deep in thought as she stared out the window at the pool with a small frown etched between her brows.

"Hey." I spoke announcing my presence.

Her head whipped in my direction, startled by my presence, and her hand went up to her heart, "You scared me." Her voice came out breathless.

"I didn't mean to, you were lost in your own world." I said raising a brow.

She blinked and looked away, suddenly becoming uncomfortable and I decided not to press on the matter, any further.

"Come on, lunch's served." I told and took a few steps forward to pick her up once again.

Once secured in my arms, she mumbled, "I am not hungry."

"I don't care, you're going to eat everything that's served to you." I stated, looking ahead.

I sat her down on a chair that was on my right, after we entered the dining room, and sat on the head of the table myself.

"Obrien called." I told her while scooping some rice on her plate.

She stayed silent for a while before answering, "Okay, I'll talk to him."

"Good girl." I gave her a small smile and set her plate in front of her.

Her eyes widened as she looked at the small portions of all the servings, "I can't eat all of that."

"Yes, you can and you will." I ordered sternly.

"No." she defied.

"I swear to God, Sylvia, I will force each and every bite down your throat if I have to." I warned, clenching my jaw.

She gulped quietly and decided not to argue because we both knew that I will do that.

Halfway through eating, I glanced up at her to see her moving her food around with the fork.

"Don't play with your food, Sylvia." I scolded.

She frowned up at me and shook her head, "I am done."

I sighed and pulled my chair near her before grabbing the fork, which was now clutched tightly between her long, slender fingers, and scooping veggies in it. I brought it to her mouth and she parted her lips, hesitantly.

I continued to feed her in silence for the next five minutes and she ate without any protests.

"There, you can have your medicines after a while now." I said after she finished her food and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.

"When you wake up from your nap, you can talk to Obrien, yeah?" I asked.

"Yeah." She answered softly after taking a sip of water.

"Sia, your family wants to see you." I told her.

"Adrian." She sighed half in exhaustion and half in frustration.

"Alright, tesoro." I raised my hands up surrender. "Come, I'll take you to your room."

She nodded once and I carried her upstairs. She felt so fuckin' light as compared to the last time I held her in my arms back in New York and it aggravated me to think that those bastards were responsible for this.

I did not know that my muscles had tensed until she placed her hand on my bicep and they immediately relaxed under her touch.

"Can I ask you something?" she questioned as I sat her down on the bed.

"Go on." I answered, opening the drawer of the nightstand to take out the box that contained her medicines.

"What were you going to say at the hospital before Aless came?"

My hand froze above the box as I registered her question and my heartbeat quickened. I inhaled deeply before turning to face her as she stared at me quizzically with her head tilted slightly to the left.

"Sia, I was going to tell you that I, I-lo-" I was cut off, yet again, by the blaring sound of my phone.

I groaned internally as I fished it out of pocket and saw Zio Asher's name flashing on the screen.

"Excuse me." I said quickly and left the room to pick up the call.

"Hello."

"Hello Adrian, is she asleep yet?"

"Not yet."

"Oh, okay. I called to inform you that I'll be over in an hour."

"Sure, no problem." I said and ended the call.

I can't fuckin' believe it.

First her brother, and now her father.

I took a few deep breaths before going inside the room again.

"Sorry about that." I muttered quietly and gave her, her pills with a glass of water.

She took them all and I helped her lie down before covering her with the duvet.

"You didn't tell me." She whispered.

Our eyes met, once again, and I was the first one to look away, "I'll tell you some other time, si? Sleep for now. I'll be in my office."

With that, I left her room feeling utterly frustrated for I don't know what reason.

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