A Lifetime With You by Athrhteera

Chapter 36

Alena

Matteo was being pushed into the emergency room when we had rushed to the hospital. Luca drove fast, like we

were going through an apocalypse and for once in my life, it didn't bother me. | wanted him to drive as fast as he

could. husband's life was on the line.

My

So, we were sitting outside, pacing back and forth as we waited.

I understood how he felt when | was shot.

| just never expected to experience it this quick.

"Help me, Luca."

"What's wrong?" He asked, as he watched me.

My eyes were probably swollen and puffy from crying too much but at this point, | didn't care. All | wanted was to

see Matteo coming out of there safe-not with devastating news.

"Convincehe'll make it out of there alive,"

Luca made his way towards me, cupping onto my face before staring straight into my eyes. "He's a fighter,

Alena. He'll make it out of there alive and you know that. He won't leave you behind, he loves you too much. So,

trust him with everything you got." "I'm just so scared. | don't know."

"Don't be. Let's just hope for the best,"

"The last t| hoped, things didn't end well."

My mind drifted back to my ex-boyfriend, the one who gaveso much hope and promises. Until the very end, |

had hoped for him to be different, for him to provewrong, but | was proven wrong, just in ways | didn't

expect.

He had the audacity to cheat onwith someone else when we had been in a serious relationship.

My trust was no longer there for anyone when | left. He wasn't supposed to affectthat much, but he affected

my entire

we.

life.

Then again, | didn't blhim. If he didn't cheat on me, | would've never met Matteo. If | didn't meet Matteo, |

would've never been treated as good as | was now. | never realized just how spoilt | was until | married him. How

he had giveneverything. Especially after he toldloved me.

And now, | was on the verge of losing my lover, my husband.

"This |

is different. It'll end well."

Luca walked away to the seats, leaning his head against the wall. He had his eyes closed and | knew he wasn't

quiet with empty thoughts. He was probably thinking, wondering, and even hoping as well.

"How long have you known Matteo?"

"A very long time. We grew up together."

1/7

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Chapter 36

"Are you guys the sage?"

"He's a year older than me. So, that would makethirty-four

"And when you guys met?"

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"Well, he was five and | was four. Our families were close. There wasn't a day where we didn't meet each other. |

remember Maria cooking my favorite dish every day. When we grew up and went to college, things started to

change. Matteo and | never changed though." "Did you two go to the scollege?"

"Mm, we took business." He cleared his throat, "That was where he met Sofia."

"So, you literally knew her from the very beginning.

"Well, she wasn't much of a talker before. | never really talked to her much. She was always with Matteo and

would follow him around like a lost puppy. It was annoying sometimes, but Matteo didn't mind."

| nodded, trying to imagine the younger Matteo in

She was s probably his first in a

It doesn't

teo in love.

his first in a lot of things. The first serious relationship he ever had because well, he did ask her to marry him.

They were in love and would've still been in love if she hadn't ‘passed away" in a car crash. If she didn't

disappear. t matter though. He's in love with you now," he added. chuckled

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"You're going to keep saying that every the falls with someone new?"

He

"What? |

led, shaking his head. "I saw the look in his eyes, Alena. | was there when we tried to interrogate Sofia. The love

was long gone. There was guilt, but he was angrier at her for hurting you than betraying him." well, but | knew

he just

"That ought she was dead because she betrayed him,"

just wanted her dead because she hurt you. You could've died that night and | would've seen a different version

of Matteo. He just got you, and he's never letting you go. Even when Sofia died five years ago, he lost himself.

He wasn't his usual self for years, not until you caround."

"I didn't change him or anything.... "You brought him back. There's a difference."

| blinked a few times, glancing down at my wedding ring before playing with it.

Mattep had kept it safe the entire t| was at the hospital and when | was discharged, he had placed the ring

on my finger again. He wanted everyone to know that | was married, and | belonged to him-he didn't like it when

people assumed | was single. He wasn't too possessive. He knew his limits.

He just wantedto be known by everyone as his wife.

We waited for the next hour. An hour turned into two and two hours turned into three. Without us realizing, we

had waited for almost five hours. | was falling asleep because my body was tired from all that had happened

today.

While Luca stayed still in his spot, even though he was starting to grow restless.

| didn't mind waiting for him if he was well. | just started to get anxious, too.

One of the doctors cout, looking for me.

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Chapter

36

"Are you Matteo Lerclerc's-wife?"

I nodded my head, standing up. "That's me."

"The operation was a success. Your husband is stable now,"

0$.74%7?

Tears were beginning to form in my eyes as they streamed down my cheeks, lettinglet out a breath of relief

before continuing to nod my head. Luca had rubbed my back, trying to comfort me.

"Can | go and see him, please?"

"We'll bring him up to his room. You can wait for him there,"

Then, the doctor went back i though

Even

inside, leaving a devastated wife and a relieved friend.

| was glad the surgery was a success, | wanted to see him for myself. | knew he was going to be fine because

Luca was right, Matteo was indeed a fighter. He did everything he could to survive. | knew he wasn't going to

give up. The doctors did an amazing job, too. When we were waiting i in his room, The nurses walked out,

leaving us.

| began to stand up when | saw the nurses pushing him in. He had his eyes closed and an oxygen mask was

placed over his mouth. The color of his skin wasn't pale anymore. Luca, on the other hand, stood still near the

corner of the room.

| immediately made my way towards my husband, slowly grabbing onto his hand. My heart could've thumped

out of my chest from the way it was beating, but | kept trying to calm myself down.

My husband was here with me, and he was fine. "Matteo Malleo...

[af

| whispered, kissing softly on his cheek.

He slowly opened his eyes, meeting my own. They were slightly red and droopy, but | could never miss the smile

forming on his lips. A smile of my own began to form as well, lettingcaress the sides of his face. "You're here,

baby." "Mm, I'm right her here."

| slowly removed the oxygen mask, seeing his reaction. He was fine and | immediately wrapped my arms around

him, crying my heart out. worried about you, Matteo.

was

"I'm right here, baby. I'm right here,"

He raised one hand to place on my back, slowly rubbing in circles. He was good at comforting me, and just by

being this close to him, it madefeel calmer.

"Does it hurt?"

"A little bit, but I'm fine."

Inodded, smiling at him.

Matteo turned to look at Luca, who had been quiet ever since we got into the room. He didn't say a word as he

made towards us, but once he was near, he immediately hugged his best friend

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Chapter 36 0000074%E

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My heart warmed at the sight, knowing he was worried about his friend, too. He was just doing a good job at

hiding it. "You scared me, man."

"Don't think I'd leave this world that easy,"

Luca laughed, "You're one of the strongest | knew."

When

we had settled down, and Matteo could drift off into a deep sleep, the doctor cin to see me. She had a small

smile on her face as she looked at her patient-she didn't want to bother him with any noises, so we were outside

the door, talking. Luca was inside, waiting with Matteo in case he needed anything.

"Is there something wrong?" | asked, feeling slightly worried.

"No, everything's fine. Your husband is stable, and he'll be recovering soon but | do have something to say about

his leg,"

"What's wrong with his leg?"

"He could've lost his leg if he had cin a bit late. Luckily for him, we managed to save his leg but he's not

able to walk for the next few months, probably six to seven months. He'll need to undergo therapies to regain

back the strength before he can start walking normally again."

Oh,

| understand. The bullet must've been quite deep-"

She cutoff, "There is also another thing, Mrs. Lerclerc."

""What is it?" wha

| began to worry, knowing too well about what she was going to say. | was a doctor, and we had the exact same

expression whenever we wanted to share devastating news.

"Your husband can't walk as normal as he did before. Even with therapies and physios, he might even be limping

a little bit, He can't run. The best we could try is for him to not limp and walk as normal, but he won't regain the

strength to run." "You're saying... this could be permanent?"

She nodded, slowly looking down. "But we will provide with the best. You don't have to worry. As long as he can

endure intense therapies, we can assure you that he'll be back to normal. We just can't assure you he will be

able to run again." | kept quiet, standing still at my spot before nodding.

This wasn't the news | had expected, but | knew there wasn't something good.

"Thank you." | muttered, sighing.

"I'm really sorry, Mrs.

Mrs. Lerclerc but it's best to provide him with all the support."

Then, she began to walk away, leavingstanding here on my own. Just almost a week ago, | was shot, and |

could've lost my life, but just hours ago, Matteo was shot, and he wasn't going to be able to go back to normal.

His mafia depended on him and if he couldn't run, how was he going to prove to them that he was still a

respectable leader?

| walked back inside the room, seeing Matteo still sleeping.

1

My heart broke at the sight of him.

Luca knew something was wrong because he couldn't stop looking at me. He was staring at my every

movement, but he was also careful not to ask. As | made to sit beside him, | quietly let out a breath.

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Chapter 36

"What's wrong, Alena?" He asked, the question cout as a whisper.

| shook my head, not ready to tell him.

What mattered the most was that Matteo survived.

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I knew he wantedto tell him, but he respected my decision to keep quiet.

The next few hours went by slowly with Matteo sound asleep. Luca had stayed for another hour until he decided

to leave. He pulledin for a hug and after he pulled away, he had looked into my eyes-I looked away. When

he had left, it was onlyand Matteo.

The nurses cin to occasionally check up on him, but | guessed he was still tired because he didn't even open

his eyes to see what was happening.

Angelo cto stop by with my sister, Ana. She was holding onto my duffel bag before placing it on the sofa.

Then, she cto hugimmediately-I couldn't hold it in any longer as | cried but as soon as | realized my

sobs were too loud, | had pulled her out to the corridor outside.

| told her everything, wanting someone to talk to.

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"Alena

...you have to be strong for him," she said, rubbing my back.

"I know, I'm just being too emotional."

"No, you're not. It's normal for you to feel this way."

"What happens when he finds out about it, Ana?"

"I don't know

"It'll break him."

Ana sighed, looking away.

"But you trust him, don't you? You know he's going to give his everything through those therapies, right? You can

even help him out."

"I'm just worried if he loses his spirit. I've seen patients started off hopeful and ended up disappointed with the

results. I'm just really scared,"

Ana pulledin for a hug as she kept quiet, not knowing what to say.

2

| didn't expect her to say anything either. Being still in her arms was enough to makefeel better and having

her to listen towas enough, too. Sooner or later, | had to tell Matteo about his condition-Luca and Angelo

were bound to find out.

When everyone had left, it was only Matteo andagain.

He had woken up, but he could sense something was wrong with me. | hadn't said much ever since he woke up.

He spared a few glances at my direction, as he took a sip of his water.

"Is there something wrong, Alena?" He asked, slowly grabbing my hand.

"No. Why do you think there's something wrong?"

"The look on your face."

| chuckled, "It's just my face."

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Chapter 36

"I know how your face looks when something's on your mind."

"You caught ine."

Hew

| me... you can telleverything."

He was softly caressing the back of my hand, trying to putat ease.

"I'm just still recovering from what happened."

"I'm right here. You don't have to worry anymore."

"I know... | was just scared if | lost you."

I leaned closer towards him.

"You'll never lose me, Alena. I'll make sure of it."

"So, do you think it's settled?"

"About the culprit?"

I nodded, "Mm. About that."

a

"We didn't find any traces of them and after what happened at the warehouse, we knew it was the Germans.

Alena wasn't kidnapped by them. She was having an affair. And she willingly stayed with their leader for the past

five years, knowing how much it was going to hurt me. He helped fake her death and | was mourning for

nothing."

| frowned, my heart sinking.

It was too painful to bear. He was deeply in love with his wife at the time.

"How did you know about this?" | asked.

"My men were quick to get things done. | just didn't expect them to follow us and plan an attack. | was worried if

they could get to you."

"But they got to you."

"I'm not worried about me, baby. I'm just really scared if | lost you."

| kept quiet, looking down at his hand. There were a few cuts, but they weren't open wounds, and it didn't hurt,

as much as

his leg-this was only the beginning, what if we were attacked again by different enemies and he ended up in a

worse state?

"You're doing that again....

"I'm sorry. | just can't stop thinking," | cleared my throat.

Matteo kissed the back of my hand, smiling as he turned to look at the television. While he was busy watching

the news, | was too busy staring at him. The devastating news was going to crush him and for tonight, | didn't

want to tell him.

It was best to keep it away for now. Only enjoying being by his side.