Dante stood frozen for a moment.
Isabella was leaning heavily against him.
Her face was pale, her hair messy, one cheek swollen, her head wounded, and her lips bloody.
His eyes moved towards her injured hand.
Then her face.
Then the hand Bianca had used to grab her hair.
"Isabella?"
She clutched his shirt.
"It hurts..."
Her voice was barely audible.
"I'm so hungry..."
And then she fainted.
Dante immediately tightened his arms around her.
"Isabella!"
He gently tapped her cheek.
"Open your eyes."
There was no response.
His expression changed instantly.
"Marco!"
Marco rushed towards him.
"Boss!"
"Call the doctor. Now!"
Marco immediately took out his phone.
Dante looked at Bianca.
Then Fiona.
Both women stood silently.
"What happened to her?"
Bianca crossed her arms.
"She was being disrespectful. I just taught her a lesson."
Dante slowly turned towards her.
"Did you touch her?"
Bianca rolled her eyes.
"She slapped me first! And besides, she's just a maid."
Dante's eyes darkened.
"Don't you dare speak about my woman like that."
Bianca stepped forward.
"Dante, you're making this ridiculous. I am supposed to be your future wife!"
He looked at her coldly.
"Don't call yourself that."
Bianca's expression changed.
"You're choosing her over me?"
Dante didn't answer.
He adjusted Isabella carefully in his arms.
"Marco, lock both of them in the basement."
Bianca stared at him.
"What?"
"You heard me."
"Dante! You can't do this!"
He ignored her and carried Isabella upstairs.
Fiona lowered her head.
She had never seen Dante look so furious.
And for the first time, she realised that her jealousy had brought her into dangerous territory.
Dante entered his bedroom and placed Isabella carefully on his bed.
Her hair was scattered across the pillow.
He gently moved it away from her face.
"Isabella, wake up."
Nothing.
He looked at the marks on her wrist and the swelling on her cheek.
His jaw tightened.
He had left her in the care of his staff.
He had specifically instructed them to look after her.
Yet this was what he had returned to.
The doctor arrived shortly afterwards.
Dante stood beside the bed while the doctor examined her.
"How is she?"
The doctor checked her pulse and blood pressure before examining her injuries.
"She's suffering from severe exhaustion and dehydration. She appears to have been eating very little and working continuously without proper rest."
Dante's jaw tightened.
"Is she going to be alright?"
"She should recover with proper treatment. I've started fluids and will treat her injuries. She needs nutritious meals and sufficient rest."
The doctor cleaned her wounds, applied medication, and started an IV drip.
He also checked the bruising on her back.
"She needs to avoid strenuous activity for several days."
Dante nodded.
"Do whatever is necessary."
After finishing the examination, the doctor gave him further instructions and left.
Dante sat beside Isabella.
He gently took her hand.
For the first time, he noticed how rough her palms had become.
Her skin was dry, and there were small cuts across her fingers.
He remembered how soft her hands had felt when he had first held them.
His fingers tightened around hers.
"I'm sorry, Isabella."
For all his cold words, his composure finally broke, and warm tears spilled down his face onto her hands, betraying the pain he was fighting to hide.
He lowered his head.
"I didn't know they were treating you like this."
He gently brushed her hair away from her forehead.
"I never wanted you to suffer."
He paused.
"Do you know something? I've been having trouble sleeping for years."
He gave a bitter smile.
"But when I was in your apartment, surrounded by your silly arguments and endless questions, I slept peacefully."
His voice became softer.
"After leaving your apartment, I couldn't sleep again."
He looked at her unconscious face.
"I thought capturing you would solve everything. I thought having you near me would be enough."
He swallowed.
"But these last two days without you..."
He shook his head.
"They were hell."
He gently kissed the back of her hand.
"I don't know what to call this feeling. I only know that I can't stay away from you, I want to protect you, even if it costs me my life.”
He paused.
"I can't let you go, Isabella, I love you Isabella."
Dante continued holding Isabella's hand.
She moved slightly in her sleep.
"Grandma..."
He immediately looked at her.
"Isabella?"
"My back hurts..."
Her voice was weak.
Dante gently brushed her hair.
"You're safe. Just rest."
But she continued talking.
"I'm so hungry..."
His expression changed.
"Please... I don't want to work anymore..."
Dante froze.
His eyes slowly moved towards her injured hands.
The anger inside him grew stronger.
She was asking for food in her sleep.
She was begging not to work anymore.
What had they done to her?
He stood up slowly.
"Marco!"
The door opened immediately.
"Yes, Boss?"
"Stay here. Don't let anyone disturb her."
"Understood."
Dante looked at Isabella one last time.
Then he walked towards the basement.
Bianca and Fiona were sitting on two separate chairs.
Both looked terrified when they saw him entering.
Dante stopped in front of them.
"Did you enjoy making her suffer?"
Neither of them answered.
He looked at Fiona.
"You were supposed to take care of her. Instead, you made her work, starved her and treated her like a slave."
"Boss, I..."
"Don't."
His cold voice made Fiona lower her head.
Dante turned towards Bianca.
"And you. You had no right to touch her."
Bianca swallowed nervously.
"She provoked me!"
Dante let out a bitter laugh.
"She was unconscious when I found her. Is that what you call provoking you?"
Bianca remained silent.
Dante stepped closer.
"Listen carefully. Fiona, from today onwards, you will no longer be the head housekeeper. You will work as a lower housekeeper in my old mansion. You will follow every instruction given to you."
Fiona's eyes widened.
"Boss, please..."
"Your position is already more than you deserve."
He then turned towards Bianca.
"You have two choices."
Bianca looked at him.
"First, you will record a video apologising to Isabella for everything you have done to her."
He paused.
"Second, I will terminate every single business deal between the Moretti and Hart families. Not one contract will survive."
Bianca's face turned pale.
"You can't do that!"
Dante gave her a dangerous smile.
"Try me."
"Please, Dante. Think about our families."
"Your family should have thought about that before hurting someone under my protection."
Bianca lowered her eyes.
"I'll record the video."
"Good. Make sure your apology is sincere. I don't want to hear another excuse."
Dante turned around and walked out without giving either woman another glance.
Dante entered the room quietly.
Marcus was standing near the door.
"Boss, everything is under control."
"Leave us alone."
Marcus nodded and left.
Dante walked towards the bed.
Isabella was still lying unconscious. Her hands were resting beside her body, and the IV drip was connected to her arm.
He sat beside her.
"Troublemaker..."
He gently took her hand.
"You've caused me more trouble than anyone in my entire life."
He looked at her face.
"But I don't want you to stop."
His fingers moved towards her forehead, gently brushing away a few strands of hair.
"I'm sorry, Isabella."
He bent down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.
"Please forgive me."
He carefully lay beside her, making sure not to disturb her injured body. Then he wrapped his arms around her gently.
That night, Dante didn't sleep much.
Every time he closed his eyes, he remembered her weak voice.
I'm so hungry... Please... I don't want to work anymore.
He held her a little closer.
"You're never going to suffer like that again. I promise."
Sunlight entered the room through the curtains.
Dante slowly opened his eyes.
The first thing he did was look at Isabella.
She hadn't moved.
He sat up and touched her forehead.
"Isabella?"
No response.
He pressed the call button for the doctor.
A few minutes later, the doctor entered the room and examined her condition.
Dante stood beside the bed, watching every movement.
"How is she?"
The doctor checked the monitor before looking at him.
"Mr. Moretti, unfortunately, there hasn't been any significant improvement."
Dante frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"The IV fluids are maintaining her hydration, but she is still unconscious."
"Why isn't she waking up?"
The doctor hesitated.
"The repeated blows to her head have caused serious trauma. She has slipped into a temporary coma."
Dante stared at him.
"A coma?"
"Yes. We need to continue monitoring her condition. At this point, I cannot tell you exactly when she will regain consciousness."
Dante slowly turned towards Isabella.
"Is there anything else you can do?"
"We are providing the necessary treatment. For now, we have to wait and monitor her closely."
The doctor gave him a reassuring nod before leaving the room.
Dante remained still for a moment.
Then he pulled a chair closer to the bed and sat down.
He gently held Isabella's hand.
"Isabella..."
His voice was barely audible.
"Do you know how annoying you are?"
He looked at her face.
"You argue with me over everything. You never follow my instructions. You even have the courage to glare at me."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"But now..."
His smile disappeared.
"Why are you so quiet?"
He lowered his head and kissed her fingers.
"I want to hear your arguments again."
He paused.
"I want you to complain about the food. I want you to get angry when I tease you."
His eyes became moist.
"Just wake up and fight with me, Isabella."
He placed her hand against his cheek.
"I'll listen to every argument. I won't even interrupt you."
For the rest of the day, Dante stayed beside her.
He refused to attend meetings, ignored business calls and barely ate anything.
He gently held her hand and brought it to his lips.
"Come back to me, Isabella. I don't know how much longer I can bear seeing you like this."
For the first time, Dante Moretti felt completely powerless.
And all he could do was pray for the woman who had slowly become his entire world.
End of Book 5
To be continued...