A Lifetime With You by Athrhteera

Alena

"I'm sorry, Alena." Lily said, slowly making her way towards before grabbing my hands. "Lily..."

"If by any means I have hurt your feelings, I'm really sorry. I only have good intentions and I want you to be yourself again, as long as it takes. I want you to know that everyone is here for you," she added. As much as I tried to deny those words, she was right.

Lily pulled me into a hug awhile before walking away.

Ever since losing Marco, I didn't understand what was happening to me. I seemed to have lost myself too, along the way. I was never like this-yes, stubborn but I had never pushed the ones who cared about me. felt alone. Not lonely but alone.

I felt as if nobody understood and they were just pretending to understand.

I

Yet, I was wrong. I just didn't want to admit it.

It didn't take me long to leave the hospital and drove back home; the traffic was getting worse by the minute and it almost took me an hour to reach home. When I had parked my car inside the garage, I saw Matteo's car rushing in. I frowned, seeing him stepping out in a hurry that he didn't even bother to turn off the engine or close the door. I knew

my husband well enough to understand he was furious, he was upset. The frown in between his brows and look on his face was too clear to ignore-he had different questions in his mind yet he was trying his very best to hold his anger in. I stayed still at my spot, holding onto my bag.

He didn't waste his time to stand in front of me.

"Where were you, Alena?" He asked, piercing eyes staring straight into my own. You have my location all the time." alled you so

called

so many times.

I even sent you texts. Why couldn't you answer them?"

"Like I said, you have my location all the time, Matteo. Why are you even making it such a big deal?" I tried to shake it off by walking into our house but he followed behind me like a lost puppy; as I kept on ignoring his questions. The same questions: where was I? Why didn't I pick up the phone? Why couldn't I answer his texts? Why didn't I tell him where I was going?

"Alena, I'm talking to you." He said, firmly which had stopped me in my steps.

I sighed deeply before turning around, meeting his eyes once more.

"You know where I went. You clearly looked at my location so why are you being so worked out about it? I'm home anyway, I'm safe and I'm fine." I replied, frowning. Have you seem to have forgotten that I'm your husband?"

INO, I still remember that very clearly."

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"You never left the house without telling me. You never make me worry about you. You can't keep going around wh****erever you like without letting me know first, Alena."

"Oh, for f********k's sake, I'm a grown adult!" I exclaimed, not being able to hold in my anger anymore. "I can go wherever I want and whenever I want. You can't keep me locked up in here like a prisoner."

"I have never kept you locked up in this house. I was very, very, worried about you. As your husband, the least that you can do for me is to let me know, that's all." He replied, his voice was lower than mine.

Matteo had every right to be upset but I was being stubborn as hell, I didn't want to give in. I could've just apologised and we were going to settle things as nicely as we could-yet, here I was raising my voice, defending myself. I couldn't recognise myself anymore.

T

"We haven't found the culprit yet and I don't want you to go out there alone. Even if you have to go out alone, let me know and I can have Angelo to follow you." He added, which seemed to have caused my anger to increase. "Angelo following me around? No, I don't want that."

"Alena..."

"No, I'm done with having your men following me around. I'm done with the whole mafia ruining our lives. I'm done having to follow by your rules just because of the choices you make. We'll end up just being like my parents," I scoffed. "We'll never end up like your parents." mafia,"

"You told me you were leaving the

"I can't just walk away, Alena. You understand that,"

I shook my head, "No. Actually, I don't."

Matteo sighed, lessening the distance between us. He seemed to hesitate at first but he slowly reached out to cup my face, wanting to look straight into my eyes-it was a habit of his to do this whenever we had an argument because he wanted to be close, he wanted to show that even against everything, we were together.

"Please, please, baby. Don't do that to me again." He breathed, kissing my forehead.

Matteo was perfect, he just knew how to comfort me. Whenever he kissed my forehead, I was bound to grow knees; yet, I tried my hardest to ignore myself from melting even though I knew he was expressing his love. on the

weak on

I leaned back, breaking the contact.

I saw the hurt in his eyes but he quickly covered it up by smiling down at me, "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry for making it a big deal. I'm just really worried about you and I hope that you can let me know next time about where you're going, that's all. If you don't want Angelo to follow you around, I understand and I respect that. Just, please, don't go anywhere without telling me. Can you do that for me, Alena?"

I felt a flame inside of me. It wasn't going to leave as easily even though Matteo had spoken to me in the nicest way possible, he had pushed his ego and anger but I felt as if it wasn't enough.

Tent

"You know what, Matteo? This was all my fault to begin with,"

"What are you talking about?" He frowned.

"This. Everything. Us."

"Alena... stop

it.'

"This marriage. I basically forced you to marry me and somehow we managed to fall in love. Maybe, just maybe, losing Marco was a sign." I took a few steps back as he stayed still, trying to process my words; I was spitting out the words without thinking. "A sign? What sign are you talking about?"

I looked away, "That we're not meant to be. That we're better off

I didn't realise the words had left my mouth until I saw the look on his face. He didn't say a single word but he stood still and both of his hands on his side but his eyes were looking at me.

That was it. I had I hurt this feelings.

I probably had broken his heart into two.

He seemed defeated as he spoke, "I know that losing Marco is very hard on both of us and we're in a situation where we're both just not okay. That doesn't change the fact that I love you more and more every single day, Alena."

"Marco not being here with us just makes it more easier to leave, don't you think?"

"Do you realise what you're saying, baby? Do you realise the words coming out of your mouth?" He tried to reach out to me but I kept taking a few steps back, that he just decided to stop. "I had never thought of it that way. I thought of it as a test for you and me, for us to come back back stronger." "Maybe, we're e're better off." I muttered. "Baby, stop it. Don't say that,"

Tears were beginning to form in my eyes as I ran up the stairs, leaving him to follow me. He kept calling my name but I ignored him as I grabbed onto my luggage, taking my clothes from the wardrobe and dropping them in. "Alena, stop. Where are you going?" He tried to grab my hands but I pushed him away."

I didn't have time to think as I made my way to the bathroom, grabbing my stuff and dropping them all in my luggage while Matteo tried to stop me. I didn't understand where I had the strength to push him away but as long as I didn't look into his eyes, I was strong enough to leave. to leave.

My eyes met his and I saw how red they were. He was trying his hardest to hide back the tears from falling but he couldn't do it anymore as he reached out for me.

"Baby, hey, look at me. Look at me," he cupped onto my face.

I tried to look away, not wanting to meet his eyes.

"I love you, Alena. I love you so much." He breathed, "Please, please, please, I'm begging you. I'm begging you, baby. Please, don't leave me. You're just tired, you just need some rest and we can always talk about it in the morning."

I shook my head, "You're better off without me, Matteo. You'd be happier,"

"What do you know about my happiness? What do you know? I'm happier with you. I'm happier because you're in my life. Don't go rushing into things we don't want," he replied.

Matteo pulled me into a hug, resting his chin on top of my head.

His arms were tight around my body as if he was afraid if he lost his grip, I was going to leave. Yet, I stayed still for a little while until he decided to let go and look down at me. "Alena?" He called out, raising my chin.

I placed both my wedding band and engagement ring in his hand before walking out of the door, without sparing a second