Page 11 of Medical Malpractice

Gabriella shoved through the crowd, fighting to get to him. And when she was within arm’s reach, she launched into his chest, and he wrapped her up tightly.

They stared into each other’s eyes, a shy hesitance pausing them for a mere second before their lips met.

Suddenly, my pocket felt heavy with a certain necklace.

Originally, I’d thought it was fate. Instead, it was a weighted noose around my neck.

Taking a deep breath and plastering on a fake smile, I joined my friends in celebration.

I soon gave that necklace to Nico, and he gifted it to his new girlfriend.

Seeing Gabriella wear that piece of jewellery every day since was torture and simultaneously somehow fulfilling.

Knowing that I had brought her some tiny form of happiness was enough for me. Or so I told myself.

Chapter 5

GABRIELLA

The room was dark, and the atmosphere was tense as we laid side by side on the foreign king-sized bed. Although I could sense his warmth next to me, it was like a whole ocean roared between us.

After Leonardo had cleaned and dressed my wounds, he offered to book another room or sleep on the couch, and I refused. I didn’t want to be alone. His presence was a subtle balm that made the sharp knife in my back a little less painful.

I stared up at the ceiling, one hand clutching my necklace as my thoughts spun out of control. To know Leonardo was the one who had found and bought the heirloom was just another stab that added to the rest.

Nico had manipulated both of us and robbed precious time from me without regret or remorse. I couldn’t even fathom the thought of how different my life would have been if he hadn’t twisted the narrative so many years earlier.

Now, all our precious moments, our whole relationship, was in question. God, I have been married to this psychopath for thirteen years, and I have never seen the signs. What a fool.

Quiet tears tracked down my temples as all-consuming pain ripped through me in repetitive waves. Make it stop. Please make it stop.

I was shutting down—mentally, physically, emotionally. A potent numbness was creeping over me as I felt myself drifting further into the void, my body and mind working overtime to protect me from further harm.

How will I recover from this? Will I ever be able to?

“Tell me what you need, Ella. I can’t stand seeing you like this,” Leonardo said, his voice strained. He dared not touch me, and I appreciated the consideration.

“Leo, I have so many questions. Will you tell me everything from your perspective? Will you tell me the truth?”

“I don’t know if this is the right time to talk about it, Ella. You’ve already been through so much tonight—”

“Please, Leo. I need to know. All the facts. Every single facet. So I can try to find my way through these decrepit half-truths and lies. I’m lost, so utterly lost. And I can’t make sense of it all if I don’t know everything.”

My speech cut off as a small whimper managed to crawl up my throat. “He’s been lying to me for so long, Leo. Please, don’t lie to me too. I won’t force you to tell me the truth, but if you don’t, I have to leave. I can’t deal with any more secrets. It’s tearing me up inside. I can feel it,” I said, pressing a hard palm to my abdomen. “Like the countless unknowns are slowly poisoning my soul… I can feel it.”

Leonardo remained still as he contemplated my request. Then, after a few long minutes, he relinquished his story.

“From the very first moment I met you, I fell in love.”

Once upon a time, that statement would have meant something to me. Instead, I felt anesthetised, as if it held no substance, like it were meaningless.

“When you started dating Nico, I was heartbroken. But there was nothing more important to me than our little family. I was willing to put my wants aside to have both of you remain in my life, even as friends.”

“That must have hurt,” I whispered.

“At times, yes. But I loved you enough to stay away. And I loved him enough to never admit my feelings.”

“I worried for you, Leo. You never settled for anyone.”