Don Begged, Donna Walked Chapter 06

“Up ahead is the airport entrance. Should we go straight in, or turn back home?”

“Head to the airport.” Vincenzo closed his eyes.

He told himself he was just overworried, swamped by clan business lately.

The plane took off.

Adelaide sat by the window, her eyes shining as she gazed out at the night scenery.

“Vin, this is my first time in first class.”

She turned to him, her cheeks flushed with excitement. Admiration shone openly in her eyes.

“It feels like a dream.”

Vincenzo hummed and reached out to ruffle her hair.

It was the same way one would pet a small pet.

He found the feeling comforting.

Caterina had been giving him the cold shoulder and refused to speak to him. He’d slipped his own photo behind the sunflower painting she always stared at, fooling himself into believing she still cared for him.

With Adelaide, he was the one she looked up to and relied on.

He had read her resume. She came from an even poorer place than his own.

Their similar past stirred his sympathy, and he had grown fonder of her.

The first time he took her to a fancy restaurant, she stared at the menu for a long while before whispered, “Vin, is foie gras pronounced fua gra or fwa gra?”

He paused, then smiled.

In that moment, he saw his younger self.

Back then, he’d taken multiple odd jobs secretly just to treat Caterina to a proper dinner.

Seated in the elegant dining room, his palms grew sweaty. He stood tongue-tied before the French menu.

He never dared call it a date.

Her mother had done so much for him. How could he ask for more?

Caterina across the table watched his awkwardness and suddenly giggled. There was no malice in it, only playfulness.

His ears burned with embarrassment, but he thought she looked utterly lovely when she smiled.

He swore to himself that once he had money, he would bring her here again. He would order her favorite dishes with ease and pull out her chair for her calmly.

Now he had endless wealth. But that simple wish to share a nice meal with her had faded amid endless troubles.

Caterina had caused one problem after another recently, wearing him out. Even being in the same room felt stifling.

A little time apart would let them both calm down.

When he returned from Iceland and sorted out all this mess, maybe he could take her out for a meal again.

Just like old times.

…

I never expected to wake up in a hospital.

I opened my eyes and saw the pale white ceiling above. Then a face came into view abruptly.

Sebastiano Moretti.

Years had passed. His demeanor had grown more restrained, his features sharper and more defined than I remembered.

“You’re awake? Surprised, Caterina? Is this the life ending you chose for yourself?”

I parted my lips, my throat parched.

Seeing me awake, he leaned forward quickly, resting his hands on the edge of the bed.

The next second, he pulled me into his arms, his voice trembling.

“Caterina, you don’t know how relieved I am that I got you here in time. If I’d been even a little later, you would have bled to death.”

My body ached all over, but I managed a faint smile.

“Long time no see, Sebastiano. You look great. Thank you for saving me. But what brings you to our territory all of a sudden?”

He pulled back, turning his gaze to the gloomy sky outside the window. His jaw was tight.

After a long silence, he spoke. “I came to visit your mother.”

He paused for a second.

“She gave me a few painting lessons years ago. And we were almost…”

He trailed off, unsure whether to finish the sentence.