When Catherine regained consciousness again, all she saw was a wash of white.
She opened her eyes and found Leandro standing by her bedside. Dark circles hung under his eyes, and a light stubble had grown on his chin—he looked like he hadn’t slept all night.
Seeing her awake, his eyes were filled with pain and worry. He gently pulled her into his arms, his voice tinged with anxiety and fear.
“Sweetheart, didn’t I tell you to stay home and wait for me? Where did you go off to? And you come back all hurt like this. Tell me—did someone bully you? I swear, I’ll make that person pay.”
Their son stood nearby, pulling at her hand with a pout.
“Yeah, Mom, why did you run off like that? You made Dad and me so worried.”
Catherine met their anxious, and caring gazes. Bitterness welled up inside her. She pressed her lips together and spoke softly.
“Yesterday, you two...”
Suddenly, her words were cut off by a sharp ringtone breaking the silence.
Leandro’s expression tightened as he glanced at the caller ID. Hastily, he hung up.
But the caller was persistent, immediately dialing again.
Nash noticed the incoming call and his eyes lit up. He anxiously shook Leandro’s hand.
“Dad, the phone.”
Reluctantly, Leandro answered.
“What’s going on? Why call at this hour?”
But instead of English, he spoke in Italian.
The sudden switch caught Catherine off guard. She instinctively looked at Leandro, only to see him exchange a knowing glance with their son.
The three then smoothly conversed in Italian.
“Leandro, can you come keep me company tonight? The thunder is so loud—I’m really scared of being alone.”
The trembling voice of a woman echoed softly through the receiver.
Leandro glanced at Catherine, realizing she didn’t understand Italian. His tense expression softened.
Recalling how Catherine had suddenly collapsed the day before, his heart tightened and he declined Nina’s request.
“I can’t make it tonight. Catherine is sick, I have to stay with her.”
Silence hung heavily in the room, the other side spoke, but Catherine couldn't hear it clearly.
Leandro’s gaze was fixed on the phone screen. His expression suddenly darkened, and his voice turned raspy.
“Be good and wait for me at the villa. No matter what, you have to hold on.”
After hanging up, Nash furrowed his brows and quickly said in Italian, “Dad, I want to go too! Aunt Nina is scared of the thunder, and I can protect her!”
Leandro agreed, feeling the slight tremble beside him. He carefully tucked the blanket around Catherine again and raised the air conditioning temperature.
“Sweetheart, are you cold? Do you feel better now?”
The familiar scent of perfume drifted to her, but it couldn’t soothe her aching heart.
Catherine raised her eyes to meet the man’s gentle, tender gaze. Her voice trembled unconsciously.
“What were you just talking about?”
Leandro smiled faintly and affectionately stroked her hair.
“Nash’s Italian teacher was updating me on his progress. He even praised how smart our son is.”
“Yeah, Mom, the call was from my Italian teacher. She’s really nice.”
Looking at their warm, familiar faces, Catherine felt a chill running through her body.
They didn’t know she had already learned Italian a long time ago.
She understood every word of their conversation. But they still chose to lie to her.
Her heart twisted painfully, overwhelmed by helplessness and exhaustion.
“I... I want to rest now.”
With that, she turned over and curled under the covers, showing them only her back.
“Sweetheart, rest well.”
After planting a gentle kiss on her hair, Leandro took Nash and left the room.
But Catherine lay awake in bed, tears soaking into the pillowcase, dampening one corner.
