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I stand stiff and unresponsive until Amelia steps away from me. "I never knew." She whispers sadly. "I'm so sorry, Stefano."
"There's nothing for you to be sorry about. I just can't watch it happen again. So the doctors need to do better this time."
I gently push Amelia out of my way. I need to get out of this office. It's claustrophobic and suffocating me.
She doesn't say anything else, not that she needs to, I see the pity in her eyes. I see sadness, empathy, and loss. I see her pain - and my own pain - and I can't look at her for another second.
I leave her standing in the office, walking quickly, in the opposite direction of Elle's room. I need to get away from all of it. I can't let anyone see the effect this is having on me.
I need space and time to calm down.
AMELIA
I'm not offended by Stefano's cold reaction this time.
Of course, he would be heartbroken. Of course, he would be angry and acting out. I never even knew he had a daughter - never mind the fact that he went through all of that pain, watching the disease eat away at her - holding onto the same hope I'm holding onto every day - but then losing her.
I can't imagine what that feels like.
I don't want to.
Stefano pushes past me to leave the office and I let him go. My heart is so heavy for him. I want to hold him, but I know it won't take the pain of his loss away.
I understand why he got so angry with the doctor now. It doesn't make his threat ok, but at least it makes sense to me.
He lost his daughter. And now he is watching Elle suffer through exactly the same thing.
Is Merelda the reason Stefano is so cold? Is she the reason he became ruthless?
I walk out of his office, wondering if I should go after him or give him some space. I decide he most likely needs space more than he needs me fussing over him.
So I head up to the bedroom, exhausted from work and feeling drained after the brief encounter with Stefano now. Hearing his story fills me with fear. What if I don't find a donor for Elle in time? I can see how weak she is getting. I can see how each day I lose more and more of her. Her body is failing, and she is in constant pain.
I dance between trying to prepare myself for the worst and not letting myself give up hope. Ever.
I climb beneath the blankets and sigh softly as I lean back against the pillows.
My phone vibrates loudly on the bedside table.
I pick it up to see a message from the lab. Matteo's report is attached to it.
With shaking hands I click on the file, waiting for it to download and open.
My heart is slamming against my rib cage, painfully filled with hope.
I click on the file again to enlarge it, zooming in the area where I know the results are given.
My eyes shoot open and instantly fill with tears; everything becomes a blur as a loud sob of happiness bursts from my lips.
Matteo is a match.
Matteo can be a donor.
I glance around the room, wanting to tell Stefano, wanting to share the overwhelming happiness. This is the best possible news I've ever had in my life.
But then I bite my lip and a frown knots my brows together.
I went behind Stefano's back when I asked Matteo to get tested. I made that deal with him to steal from the hospital if he was a match. Stefano will be furious that I did all of that in secret.
