When I woke up in the morning, I could feel the pounding in my head. I looked around, confused about how I ended up here. Am I in the condo? How did I get here? The events of last night played on a loop in my mind. When I remembered that Dante had brought me home, the headache only intensified.
I massaged my temples, hoping to find some relief. The memories of what happened with Sam and our argument last night kept flooding back. The pain began to fade as I tried to organize my thoughts.
I remembered the shouting between me and Sam, her pleading, and how I left her unit full of confusion and anger. I regretted the words I had said. It felt like every shout was a trap for all the emotions I couldn’t express properly.
I got up from the bed and walked to the bathroom to wash my face. The cold water on my skin gave me a renewed sense of clarity. I splashed more cold water on my face, trying to shake off the lingering fog from last night. My head still throbbed slightly, but the cold water gave me a sense of clarity. I needed to think straight.
Just as I was about to grab a towel, my phone rang. I walked back to the bed and checked the caller ID—Sam. My heart pounded as I saw ten missed calls from her. She had been trying to reach me all night.
I stared at the screen, conflicted. My thumb hovered over the answer button, but I hesitated. I wasn’t ready to talk to her, not yet. Not when my mind was still clouded by everything that had happened between us. I pressed the end call button, letting the phone go silent.
I sighed heavily, running a hand through my hair. I knew I couldn’t avoid her forever, but I needed time to clear my head. I needed space to figure out how I truly felt and what my next move would be.
Sitting down on the edge of the bed, I stared blankly at the floor. Memories of last night played on a loop in my mind—Sam’s pleading eyes, Victoria’s angry words, and my own sense of betrayal. It was like I was stuck in a maze, unsure of which direction would lead me out.
But I knew one thing for sure: I couldn’t just ignore this. I had to confront it all sooner or later, but first, I needed to calm down. To make sure that whatever decision I made, I wasn’t acting out of anger or frustration.
I placed the phone back on the nightstand and leaned back against the headboard. "One step at a time," I muttered to myself. For now, I would take a moment to breathe, to collect myself. Tomorrow, or maybe later today, I’d face everything. But not yet—not until I was ready.
I decided to push everything aside and focus on work. Maybe burying myself in tasks would help clear my mind, or at least distract me from the storm brewing inside. After getting dressed, I quickly grabbed my keys and headed out. The drive to the office felt like a blur, my thoughts swirling, but I forced myself to focus on the road.
When I arrived at De Luca’s Inc., I immediately made my way to my office, ignoring the concerned glances from some of my colleagues. They could probably sense something was off, but I wasn’t in the mood to explain or answer questions. As soon as I sat at my desk, I opened my laptop and began reviewing documents, emails, and reports.
For a while, it worked. The constant flow of numbers and decisions took my mind off things. Every phone call, every meeting, and every deadline kept me occupied. But every time I paused, even for a second, my thoughts drifted back to Sam. To Victoria. To the mess I was now tangled in.
My phone buzzed again on my desk, breaking my concentration. I glanced at the screen—another message from Sam. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, refusing to let the flood of emotions takes over.
“Not now,” I whispered to myself. I couldn’t deal with her right now. Not when I was still figuring things out.
I refocused on my work, scrolling through financial projections, trying to drown out everything else. But as the hours passed, I realized that no matter how much I tried to immerse myself in work, the ache in my chest wasn’t going away.
Every report I read blurred into another, and every phone call felt distant. I was going through the motions, but I wasn’t truly present. My thoughts kept drifting back to the last time I saw Sam, the look of confusion and pain in her eyes, and Victoria’s warning echoing in my mind.
I stared blankly at the spreadsheet in front of me, not processing a single thing. I could pretend all I wanted, but I knew deep down that I couldn’t avoid this forever. Eventually, I’d have to make a choice.
For now, though, I leaned back in my chair and rubbed my temples, forcing myself to push through the day. Work was my only escape, and I wasn’t ready to face anything else yet.
I looked up in surprise as my father stormed into the office. “Dad?” I said, startled by his sudden appearance.
His face was a mix of anger and concern. “What is this I hear about Sam being the daughter of Anthony DeLaRuiz? The same man who shot your sister?” he demanded, his voice laced with fury.
I stood up from my desk, my heart pounding. “Dad, I—I was trying to process everything myself. I didn’t want to bring this to you just yet.”
My father’s eyes narrowed as he stepped closer, his frustration evident. “Trying to process it? Your sister’s life was nearly destroyed by that man. And now you’re involved with his daughter? How could you not tell me?”
“It’s very hard for me, Dad,” I managed to say, my voice strained. I tried to keep my composure, but the weight of the situation was overwhelming.
His face softened slightly, but the disappointment in his eyes was unmistakable. “Renzo, you need to understand the gravity of this situation. This isn’t just about you and your feelings. It’s about family and trust. If Sam is connected to the people who hurt Victoria, you need to consider where your loyalty should lie.”
He took a deep breath and continued, his voice firm, “Remember, Victoria is still angry with you for leaving her. Imagine how she’ll feel if she finds out you’re choosing the woman whose father tried to kill her.”
The sting of my father’s words hit me hard, and I felt a lump in my throat. I knew he was right. I had been so wrapped up in my emotions and the complex web of relationships that I hadn’t fully grasped the broader implications of my choices.
“Why do you always seem to get involved with the DeLaRuiz family?” my father said softly, but his words pierced through me. I looked at him, confused. What did he mean by saying I had a tendency to be involved with the DeLaRuiz family?
“What?” I asked, my voice laced with bewilderment.
He sighed and met my gaze, his expression a mix of frustration and concern. “Nothing, there are many women out there, child. Just don’t focus too much on Sam.”
I was taken aback by his comment. “What are you talking about, Dad? Why are you bringing this up now?”
My father’s shoulders slumped slightly, a look of resignation on his face. “I’m just worried about you, Renzo. You’ve always had a tendency to get tangled up with people who bring trouble into your life. It’s like you’re drawn to it.”
He paused for a moment, his gaze shifting as he considered his next words. “There’s a woman I know, Kate. She’s someone you might want to consider dating. She’s a good person, not involved in any of the mess you’re currently facing.”
I felt a pang of irritation mixed with confusion. “Dad, not now. I’m not in the mood for dating anyone right now. I need to sort out everything with Sam and Victoria first.”
“No, I’ll arrange everything for you to date her, whether you like it or not,” he said firmly, turning on his heel and leaving my office.
I stood there, stunned, as he walked away. His insistence left me feeling more frustrated. I could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on me, and my father's intervention only added to the pressure.
Running a hand through my hair, I tried to collect my thoughts. It was clear that my father had his own plans and expectations, but right now, I was overwhelmed by the emotional turmoil involving Sam and Victoria. The last thing I needed was more complications.
With a deep breath, I sat down at my desk, trying to focus on the tasks at hand. I had to confront the reality of the situation and make decisions based on what was best for everyone involved, not just what was easiest for me.
The clock ticked loudly in the silence of the room, and I knew I couldn’t avoid the issues forever. My father’s words about dating Kate were just another reminder that I needed to make sense of my tangled relationships and find a way forward. But for now, I needed to focus on resolving the conflict between Sam and Victoria and deal with the fallout from my recent actions.
I glanced at my phone, debating whether to reach out to Sam. The missed calls and unanswered messages were a stark reminder of the unresolved issues between us. I needed to address them, but I also needed to be sure I was approaching the situation with a clear mind and a sense of direction.
I stood up, determined to tackle the day with renewed focus. The path ahead was uncertain, but I knew I had to face it head-on.