Chapter 4
The table was lined with amber whiskey bottles.
Aria’s gaze drifted to Alessandro, seeking an answer in his face. But in the dim restaurant lighting, his expression
was unreadable.
In the suffocating silence, memories flooded back. When he’d first moved to the old villa after losing his sight,
Alessandro had drowned himself in alcohol daily.
She’d begged him to stop, worried about his health, but he wouldn’t listen. Until one drunken night, he’d laughed bitterly, pushing several bottles toward her.
“Now even a housekeeper’s daughter dares to lecture me? How far the mighty have fallen. Fine- drink these, and I’ll do as you say.”
She’d wanted to tell him it wasn’t about control – it was concern. Despite her severe alcohol allergy, she didn’t hesitate. She drank.
Minutes later, she was rushed to the hospital.
When she woke, he sat by her bed, face dark with anger. “I was the drunk one, not you! You knew about your allergy – why would you risk your life like that?”
She’d given him one simple answer: “Because I care about you, signore. Your sight will return someday. Even if it doesn’t, I’ll stay with you forever. Just… please don’t destroy yourself.”
From that day on, Alessandro never touched alcohol again. For years, not a single bottle could be found in their
home.
Now, Aria smiled at the memory, tears threatening to spill. Without a word, she grabbed the mustard powder from the table and poured it into the whiskey.
“Just whiskey hardly shows true remorse, does it? Let me add to my punishment.”
Before anyone could stop her, Aria began downing the whiskey mixed with mustard powder, one glass after another. The burning, bitter mixture seared its way down her throat, settling heavily in her stomach, yet unable to reach the deeper ache in her heart.
Alessandro finally snapped after her seventh glass. “Enough!”
Aria looked at the remaining glasses and laughed bitterly. “Enough? Have I apologized sufficiently now? Have I pleased your beloved enough?”
At this, Alessandro shot to his feet, gripping her wrist. His typically composed face had darkened dangerously.
“You know that’s not what this is about!” he growled. “I’ve told you, Sofia means nothing to me now. The Valentinis don’t approve of you, and acting out like this only gives them ammunition. I’m trying to protect you from their
1Love You So Much But I Just Don’t Like
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Chapter 4
criticism and interference!”
His words might have sounded reasonable to others, but Aria could only laugh. If his family wouldn’t accept a housekeeper’s daughter, would they really welcome Sofia, who had abandoned their son in his darkest hour?
Yet when Sofia had asked, he’d married her without hesitation, hadn’t he?
It was all just excuses for not loving enough.
Aria wrenched her hand free and turned to leave. She barely made it to the door before her vision blurred and she collapsed.
“Aria!”
Alessandro’s heart lurched. He rushed forward, scooping her up without hesitation.
Sofia grabbed his sleeve, her voice trembling. “Alessandro, I’m feeling dizzy…”
He paused for a moment, then continued striding toward the door. “I’m taking Aria to the hospital. I’ll send my assistant to look after you.”
When Aria regained consciousness, she found herself in a hospital room. Alessandro, who hadn’t slept all night, finally relaxed when he saw her open her eyes.
They stared at each other in silence. He poured her water, adjusted her blankets, called the doctor for a check–up,
and carefully noted all the instructions.
His secretary hovered anxiously at the door, reminding him about postponed meetings.
“Go to your meetings,” Aria finally said. “I can take care of myself. This isn’t your responsibility anyway.”
Alessandro paused while cutting an apple, his voice heavy. “Everything about you is my responsibility, Aria. Have you forgotten? You cared for me the same way.”
A flicker of memory crossed Aria’s eyes.
Back then, when his blindness had made him a liability to his elite family, she had been there. Teaching herself braille to help him learn, accompanying him to classes, taking him to feel the sun, preparing his favorite dishes…
She had captured her own piece of the moon, illuminating her previously gray existence. Those seven years had
been the brightest of her life.
But the moon was never hers to keep, and she couldn’t turn back time.
That afternoon, the doctor took Aria for tests. Half an hour later, a nurse helped her back to her room.
As she pushed open the door, she found Alessandro on her phone, his brow furrowed as he spoke icily to his mother.
“I’ve told you before – Aria and I love each other. I don’t care about her background. Stop wasting your effort. I will marry her, and she won’t leave me.”
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Chapter 4
He glanced up at her entrance, just as his mother’s puzzled voice came through: “Won’t leave? Don’t you know? Aria already agreed to leave the country days ago…”
The sharp intake of his breath filled the suddenly silent room.
Dut I Just Don’t Like
