Celia smiled warmly at him. “I’ll leave you two to talk,” she said, getting up from the bedside. She leaned over to kiss Isabella gently on the side of her forehead. “Rest, darling. I’ll be close by.”
Isabella nodded weakly, her gaze following her mother as she left the room, the door closing softly behind her. The room fell into an almost suffocating silence, and for a long moment, neither of them spoke.
Enrico stood still, his hands now tucked into the pockets of his tailored pants, watching her with an intensity that made Isabella’s pulse quicken. His dark eyes were focused on her, his expression softened but guarded. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke.
“How are you feeling?” His voice was steady, but Isabella could sense the undercurrent of concern. It was the same
