Chapter 16
When Alessandro regained consciousness, everything was a blur of white. The sharp scent of antiseptic filled his
nostrils.
The alcohol’s aftereffects lingered–his head throbbed, and his stomach felt like a pit of acid, heavy and painful.
He blinked slowly, the room gradually coming into focus.
His mother stood by the bed, her eyes red with fury. “Destroying yourself over some woman? Is this what you’ve become? She was a housekeeper’s daughter–what did you see in her anyway?”
His friends hovered nearby, offering what they thought was helpful advice.
“Aria’s been gone a month without a trace. She clearly doesn’t want to be found. Alex, you’ve got to let this go.”
These were words he’d heard countless times over the past month. He hadn’t listened then, and he wasn’t about to
start now.
His bloodshot eyes stared vacantly, his lips pressed into a thin line, his unshaven face a mask of pure stubbornness.
Seeing his expression, his mother gave up. Without another glance, she slammed the door behind her.
The room fell silent. His friends exchanged uncomfortable looks before trying again.
“Look, with your status, you could have any woman you want. There’s no reason to fixate on Aria.”
“Show her that you’re better off without her. Let her see that while you have endless options, she’s nothing without you. She’ll come crawling back.”
“We could even find someone who looks like her. Give it time and-”
The water glass shattered at their feet, spraying their shoes and pant legs. They froze, suddenly aware they’d crossed
a line.
Before, when Aria had faithfully cared for the blind Alessandro, they’d looked down on her. A blind man was just a fallen heir, hardly worth the attention.
But gradually, their disdain had turned to envy. Despite being wealthy heirs surrounded by beautiful women, none had found someone with such genuine devotion.
They’d tried introducing Alessandro to other women, but even after regaining his sight and becoming an industry
powerhouse, he’d remained devoted to Aria.
Until Sofia returned.
They’d pretended to warn Alessandro while secretly creating opportunities for Sofia. They’d succeeded–proving that his love wasn’t so steadfast after all, and that Aria should learn there was no such thing as true devotion.
08:36
I Love You So Much. But I Just Don’t Like You’Artym
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Chapter 16
When Aria left, they’d expected Alessandro to spiral into hedonism. Instead, he’d become obsessed, and now they couldn’t even speak without triggering his rage.
“Get out,” he growled. “Never speak about Aria like that again, or I swear I’ll make your families regret it
His icy threat drained the color from their faces. One by one, they made excuses and fled the room.
The last man to leave couldn’t let it go. After closing the door, he sent Aria’s photo to his assistant.
“Find me someone who looks just like her. The closer the resemblance, the better.”
He turned back toward the closed door with a cold smile.
Let’s see how long Alessandro could keep up this charade.
