Chapter 45: A Day of Care

Isabella slowly opened her eyes, the early morning light filtering through the curtains. The dull ache in her head was the first thing she noticed as she sat up. Her body felt heavy, as if every joint were made of lead. She winced as she tried to stretch, feeling the slight discomfort in her muscles. Her temperature felt higher than usual, an uncomfortable heat radiating through her.

She groaned quietly, rubbing her forehead with the back of her hand. What had happened? She hadn't felt like this the night before, but now everything felt wrong. She had barely slept, tossing and turning through the night, her dreams clouded with unease and discomfort. Despite the aches, she pushed herself out of bed, telling herself she had to keep going. Luca needed her, and Antonio—well, he would need her too. The household didn’t stop just because she wasn’t feeling well.

With a slow, deliberate effort, Isabella stood up from the bed, her legs wobbly as she shuffled to the kitchen. She had a slight headache and felt nauseous, but she had to get something done. Antonio was always so busy with work, and today was no different, she was sure. If she could just get some breakfast ready for Luca, and herself—if she could make it through a little bit of the morning—then she could rest later.

As she began to prepare breakfast, her movements were sluggish. The sound of her utensils clinking in the kitchen seemed to echo in her ears, making her head pound even more. She barely registered the smell of the eggs and toast as they sizzled in the pan, the heat from the stove making her feel a little light-headed.

She pressed her palm to her forehead again, trying to stave off the dizziness creeping over her. She closed her eyes for a brief moment, leaning against the counter, her breath shallow. **Come on, Isabella, pull it together.** She told herself, trying to push through.

The sound of footsteps approaching the kitchen jolted her from her thoughts. She straightened up, but her legs felt weak. It was only when Antonio walked into the kitchen, dressed in his usual dark clothing, that she realized how badly she must look. His gaze immediately fixed on her, his sharp eyes narrowing as they took in the state of her.

“Isabella,” he said in a voice that was immediately softer than usual, his tone heavy with concern. “What’s wrong?”

Before she could even answer, Antonio was at her side, his large hands settling on her shoulders, guiding her back away from the stove. His touch was firm but gentle, as though he were trying to steady her.

“You’re burning up.” He frowned, pressing his hand to her forehead, his brow furrowing as he felt the heat radiating from her skin. His eyes met hers, filled with a quiet urgency. “Why didn’t you say something? You should have stayed in bed.”

Isabella didn’t know how to respond. She had tried to push through, but the thought of Antonio taking over everything made her feel guilty. He had his own responsibilities—he had work, after all. She didn’t want to be a burden.

“I’m fine, Antonio,” she said weakly, her voice sounding hoarse as she tried to stand tall. “Just a bit of a headache. I’m sure it’ll pass.”

“No, you’re not fine,” Antonio said firmly. His voice left no room for argument. He gently but decisively took the spatula out of her hand and set it aside before pulling her into his arms. “You need to rest.”

Before she could protest, Antonio had already moved, carefully lifting her up as if she weighed nothing. His touch was tender but unyielding, as though he were determined to care for her—something she hadn’t expected.

“Antonio—what are you doing?” Isabella asked, her voice weak but full of surprise.

“I’m taking care of you.” Antonio’s tone was calm, but there was an intensity in his eyes that matched the firmness of his grip. “You don’t get to be stubborn about this. You need rest, and I’m not going to let you make this worse by trying to do everything yourself.”

She opened her mouth to protest, but Antonio cut her off. “I’m calling in for the day. My men can handle things. You need to focus on getting better.” His voice was like steel, and there was something in his gaze—something protective—that left her with no room to argue.

He carried her easily up to their room, placing her gently on the bed. As he did, Isabella couldn’t help but notice how different he seemed now. He was usually so cold, so self-contained, but here he was, taking care of her with the same devotion he had shown Luca. It felt… strange. But also, comforting. She hadn’t expected this from him, but she didn’t want to fight it.

Antonio took a seat beside her on the bed, his gaze never leaving her as he adjusted the covers around her. He grabbed a glass of water from the bedside table and handed it to her, his fingers brushing against hers in a moment of silent tenderness.

“Drink this,” he ordered, his voice a little softer now. “You need to stay hydrated. I’ll make sure everything is taken care of.”

Isabella took the water from him and sipped slowly. It was a small gesture, but it warmed her in ways she hadn’t anticipated. It was as if in this moment, Antonio was showing her that he could care. He could still care, despite everything that had happened between them.

Antonio stood up and pulled his phone from his pocket, dialing quickly. Isabella could hear his voice change as he spoke to his men in Italian, instructing them to handle things in his absence, to not disturb him unless it was urgent. His authority was clear in his words, but it was also laced with a protective edge—something she hadn’t seen from him before.

After a moment, he ended the call and turned back toward her. He moved across the room with quiet efficiency, gathering a few items from the dresser. Isabella watched as he moved through the room, an odd feeling bubbling in her chest. She wasn’t used to him being this attentive. But something about it felt… right.

“Isabella, you stay here,” Antonio instructed, his voice steady but filled with concern. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. I’m getting you some medicine and some more things to help you rest.”

Isabella nodded, grateful for his care but feeling a strange mixture of guilt and warmth. She didn’t want to be dependent on him, didn’t want to feel like a burden. But deep down, she couldn’t deny how good it felt to have him look after her—after everything they had been through, she had never expected Antonio to show this kind of tenderness.

She closed her eyes for a moment, the weight of the day’s events beginning to settle on her. The warmth from the blankets, the soft hum of the house around her, and Antonio’s quiet attention—it all felt like a dream, a dream she wasn’t ready to wake from.

When Antonio returned a few minutes later, he had a small bottle of medicine in his hand, and a cold compress ready for her forehead. He sat on the edge of the bed again, a gentle touch as he placed the cool cloth over her skin, his gaze softening as he watched her.

“Take this,” he said, handing her the pill bottle. “It’ll help with the fever. You need to rest.”

Isabella took the medicine from him and swallowed it without argument, knowing that this was something she couldn’t fight. She had to take care of herself if she was going to be able to take care of Luca and Antonio. He was right. She didn’t need to push herself too hard.

Antonio didn’t leave her side, even after she settled back into the bed, exhaustion starting to weigh on her. He didn’t speak much, but the silence between them felt different—calm, even comforting. His presence was a steady anchor in the storm of her discomfort, and she found herself relaxing for the first time since she had woken up feeling ill.

She turned her head slightly to look at him, her eyes meeting his. For a moment, neither of them spoke. But then, Antonio’s lips curled into a small, almost imperceptible smile.

“You’re not a burden, Isabella,” he said quietly, his voice deep and sincere. “Don’t think you are.”

Isabella felt a lump form in her throat at the unexpected warmth of his words. She didn’t know how to respond—how could she, when he was offering her something so vulnerable, something she hadn’t expected?

Instead of answering, she simply nodded, a small smile forming on her own lips. She didn’t need words to understand the change that had come over him. For once, they were just two people, finding comfort in each other’s company.

As she drifted off to sleep, the quiet rhythm of Antonio’s care and presence wrapped around her, soothing her into rest. Maybe they still had miles to go before they reached true healing, but today, at least, they were moving forward—together.