Lorenzo's car shot forward like a bullet. His hands were clenched tightly around the steering wheel, knuckles turning white as he drove at a crazy speed, each turn making the car tremble. His red eyes, filled with rage and exhaustion, were locked onto the road as if he wanted to pierce through it.
Beside him, Chloé nervously intertwined her fingers, her heart pounding so hard she felt like it might explode. Her worried eyes never left Lorenzo's closed-off face. She could tell something was wrong, but she didn't dare speak yet.
In the back seat, Valentina and Marco sat frozen. The silence was heavy, suffocating. None of them dared breathe too loudly, let alone say something out of place. They just stared ahead, silently praying that Lorenzo's madness wouldn't send them crashing into a wall.
Lorenzo (inner voice)
Fuck… I'm burning up. My mind's racing like hell and I can't even think straight anymore. How the hell did that psycho find out Chloé's father was in the hospital when even I didn't know—hell, even SHE didn't know? What kind of twisted game is this? The last time I spoke to her father, he told me straight up it was over, that his illness was terminal. A nurse was supposed to be with him 24/7, so how did he end up in a hospital without anyone informing us? This smells like pure bullshit.
Chloé (inner voice)
He looks completely out of control. His hands are almost shaking on the wheel… what happened? It must have something to do with the guy who rang our doorbell earlier. What should I do? I'm scared. We've taken a step forward together, he's become softer, almost like a real husband with me. But now… I'm afraid I'll hit that wall again, that cold side of him. And I won't be able to handle it, not now. But I also need to know what's wrong. Even if my voice shakes, I have to try.
After several minutes of hesitation, Chloé took a deep breath and finally broke the silence. Her soft voice, almost suffocated by anxiety, echoed inside the car.
Chloé (worried, softly)
"Are you okay, my love? Can you tell me what's going on?"
Her words hung in the air, fragile, as if she feared they might shatter before reaching him.
Lorenzo slightly turned his head, finally taking his eyes off the road. His eyes, once burning with rage, softened as they met hers. His breathing calmed a little. Despite the storm inside him, there was that spark in his gaze that belonged only to her.
Lorenzo (calm, reassuring)
"Everything's fine. Don't worry. I'm here, and I promise nothing bad will happen."
Chloé felt her heart tighten. Lorenzo took her hand in his and gently brought it to his lips, placing a burning kiss on the back of it. She shivered at the touch, a shy smile lighting up her face. Her anxiety eased a little, as if that simple gesture had pushed her fears away. Lorenzo winked at her, a faint smirk on his lips despite the rage still boiling inside him, then turned his attention back to the road.
In the back seat, Marco couldn't stop staring at Valentina. His eyes never left her, as if she were the only person in the car. Feeling his gaze, Valentina tilted her head toward him.
Valentina (annoyed, whispering)
"Can you stop staring at me like that? Don't you see we're in a terrifying situation?"
A smile spread across Marco's lips. He leaned closer to her ear, his low, charming voice brushing against her skin.
Marco (charming)
"I can't help it… you look even cuter when you're stressed."
Valentina felt her cheeks flush. She quickly looked away, straightening up and staring ahead, avoiding him—but her heart raced anyway.
A few minutes later, the car braked sharply in front of the hospital mentioned in the message. Lorenzo killed the engine with a sharp motion, opened his door, and jumped out. His heavy, quick steps betrayed his contained anger. He walked around the car, opened the passenger door, and helped Chloé out. Without a word, he grabbed her wrist firmly but gently, as if refusing to let her go.
Valentina and Marco followed silently.
Chloé (worried, trembling)
"Why… why are we at a hospital? Is it your shoulder? Does it hurt?"
Lorenzo ignored her question, his jaw clenched. He walked straight into the hospital, almost dragging her behind him. His grip around her wrist felt like a lock—there was no way he'd let her slip away.
At the reception desk, he fixed the secretary with a dark stare.
Lorenzo (deep, authoritative)
"Mr. Martin's room."
At that moment, Chloé felt her heart skip a beat. Panic rushed through her veins. She looked up at Lorenzo, completely shaken, then yanked her hand away from his in desperation.
Chloé (shaken)
"My father?… He… he's here?"
The receptionist looked up, slightly uncomfortable, and answered in a neutral tone.
Receptionist (calm)
"Room 204… You'll find Mr. Martin's body in room 204."
The words hit like a bomb.
Lorenzo, Chloé, and Valentina (shouting)
"The body?!"
Chloé's eyes widened. Her lips trembled, but no sound came out, as if her throat had closed. A crushing pain tightened in her chest.
Lorenzo froze for a second, caught off guard by the brutality of the news. Then his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles cracked. His face turned red, his eyes blazing.
Behind them, Marco and Valentina stood paralyzed, just as shocked.
Lorenzo (furious)
"Are you kidding me?! What do you mean 'the body'? He's still alive, right?!"
Receptionist (serious)
"No, sir. I'm sorry. He was supposed to be operated on tomorrow, but he was brought in as an emergency today… Unfortunately, there was nothing we could do. He passed away two hours ago. The man who brought him said his relatives would come to collect the body."
Chloé (screaming)
"WHAAAAAT?! My father i-is…"
She couldn't even finish. Her legs gave out, and her body collapsed. But before she hit the ground, Lorenzo caught her swiftly, lifting her into his arms. His face darkened with worry, rage burning inside him.
He turned sharply to Marco.
Lorenzo (shaking with anger)
"He got me… that bastard set me up. Take care of the body. Get it to the morgue and search this entire hospital. I want to know WHO brought Chloé's father here. And find that nurse who was taking care of him."
Marco (low, sad)
"Count on me, boss… my condolences."
Valentina (crying)
"And Chloé? Where are you taking her?"
Lorenzo (cold, firm)
"I'm taking my wife home. I'm not giving that psycho another chance to hurt me."
He turned on his heel and walked out, holding Chloé tightly, not looking back.
Valentina couldn't hold back her tears anymore. Her heart was breaking for her friend… and for that man she had almost considered her own father. Marco stepped closer and pulled her into his arms, gently stroking her back. She let herself collapse against him, crying uncontrollably.
Marco (softly, reassuring)
"Shhh… calm down. Everything will be okay."
Valentina (trembling)
"Don't you see what just happened?! When Chloé wakes up and finds out her father is really dead, she's going to lose it… She's going to cry her heart out. She'll be completely shattered, do you understand? That man was everything to her. He was both her father and her mother. He's the one who raised her all these years. I can't believe it… just last week, we went to see him after class. He even promised to inform Chloé on the day of his surgery. I promised I'd be there too. That man… he was like my father…"
Valentina cried so hard it felt like she had lost her own parent. Marco, helpless, tightened his embrace and ran his hand through her hair, trying to calm her, his dark gaze lost in the distance.
Meanwhile, Lorenzo was already speeding back toward the villa. In the back seat, Chloé was still unconscious. Every time he glanced in the rearview mirror and saw how fragile she looked, his heart pounded faster, and his rage burned even stronger. His fingers dug into the leather of the steering wheel so hard it looked like he might rip it apart.
Lorenzo (inner voice)
That bastard knew the old man was already dead before sending me that damn message. He planned everything. All he wanted was to pressure me, scare me, trap me… and he succeeded. He kept saying in his threats that he would take Chloé away from me, but he knew that before reaching her, he could break her by targeting her father. And that's exactly what he did. I had planned to find the best specialists so the surgery would go well. I wanted to at least give him a chance… but now it's over. When Chloé wakes up, she'll be inconsolable. How am I supposed to look her in the eyes knowing that her father died because of me? How am I supposed to act like a gentle husband when I'm burning inside with rage? Damn it… I hate being played. And that bastard has already made a fool of me too many times. But this time, it's over. I have my plan. The day I get my hands on him… I'll crush him without effort.
A few minutes later, Lorenzo's car screeched slightly as it came to a brutal stop in the villa's courtyard. He opened his door sharply, rushed to the back seat, and lifted Chloé into his arms.
His personal doctor was already waiting at the entrance—Lorenzo had called him during the drive. The man opened the door immediately, and Lorenzo walked in without slowing down, followed by the doctor who closed it behind them.
They quickly crossed the living room and went upstairs. Lorenzo pushed his bedroom door open with his shoulder, completely ignoring his own injury, which had reopened from the strain. Blood was already soaking his shirt, but he didn't care. He gently laid Chloé on the bed, then turned to the doctor.
Lorenzo (deep, urgent)
"She received a shock that was too violent… it made her pass out. Take care of her. I don't want anything happening to her. I'm counting on you."
The doctor nodded and immediately began checking her vitals. Lorenzo stood nearby, arms crossed, staring at Chloé with a mix of anxiety and rage.
His own wound kept bleeding, staining the fabric red. But that pain meant nothing to him. What haunted him was the image of Chloé—fragile, vulnerable, broken. And that disgusting certainty that he had just been manipulated like a pawn.
At that moment, his phone vibrated in his pocket. Without taking his eyes off Chloé, he slipped his hand into his jeans and pulled it out.
An unknown number flashed on the screen.
His heart tightened. He knew exactly who it was.
He turned, stepped out of the room, and quietly closed the door behind him. Then he answered the call.
Lorenzo (cold, deadly)
"You piece of shit, I—"
Voice (cutting him off violently)
"You've probably figured out that the only reason I made you leave your house for the hospital was so your little girl could find out her father just died."
Lorenzo clenched his teeth, his breath short, burning with rage.
Lorenzo (low, dangerous)
"Pray while you still can. Because the day I get my hands on you… I swear I'll send you straight to hell."
Voice (laughing loudly)
"Relax, Lorenzo. I know we'll meet one day. But for now, I'm going to enjoy driving you crazy. And guess what? I've got another surprise for you. Not now… but it's coming."
Lorenzo (voice shaking with anger)
"I know you're the one who killed my father-in-law, and believe me, you—"
Voice (mocking)
"Instead of throwing empty threats at me, you should think about how you're going to comfort your little sweetheart when she wakes up. Tell me… what are you going to say when she asks how you knew her father was in the hospital? You're not going to tell her I was the one who informed you, are you? Oops… she might get mad at you… hahaha!"
Beep… Beep… Beep…
The call ended.
Lorenzo slowly pulled the phone away from his ear. His fingers tightened around it as if he wanted to crush it. His eyes burned with contained rage, ready to explode.
Lorenzo (muttering, cold)
"You don't know me yet, you bastard… I've killed so many times in my life that crushing a fly like you would be child's play. If I let you threaten me for the past three years, it's because I had nothing to lose. I didn't even care about my own life. But now… I won't let you touch a single hair on my wife's head. And I have no intention of dying and leaving her alone. This game you're playing… you'll be the only loser."
Lost in his dark thoughts, Lorenzo turned abruptly when the door opened and the doctor stepped out.
Lorenzo (tense)
"How is she? Will she wake up before tomorrow?"
Doctor (calm)
"No. She needs rest. Her blood pressure dropped, that's why she fainted. I would have advised hospitalization because she'll need oxygen, but since I know that's not possible, I administered something to help her breathing. Don't worry."
Lorenzo (calm)
"Good. You can go. Marco will call you. You'll need to examine a body… he'll tell you what to do."
The doctor nodded and walked away. Lorenzo opened the door, stepped back into the room, and closed it behind him.
His gaze immediately fell on Chloé. She was lying there, an IV in her arm, the fluid slowly flowing into her veins. Her brown hair was spread messily across the pillow, framing her pale face. She looked so vulnerable that Lorenzo's chest tightened.
He approached her, gently pulled the blanket up to her chest, and sat on the edge of the bed. Leaning over, he pressed his lips softly against hers, placing a warm kiss on them as if trying to pass some of his strength to her.
But as he pulled back, he saw tears slipping from her closed eyes. They slowly rolled down her temples. Lorenzo felt his heart tighten painfully. With infinite tenderness, he wiped them away with his fingers, then gently stroked her hair.
Lorenzo (soft, protective)
"If you can hear me… I'm sorry about your father… so sorry. He's gone, but I'm here. He told me to take care of you… and I swear I won't let you go. I'll be here. No one will hurt you. You won't pay the price for the life I chose."
His gaze remained fixed on her, burning with anger toward the world, yet filled with silent promises meant only for her.
To be continued…