A huge shock for you all is stored in the end. So wear your safety belts before starting the chapter...

There are chances of grammatical mistakes.....

I stared into his expectant eyes, which were waiting for my answer. I could clearly see the caution in his eyes. I knew that my reply was going to affect him deeply.

One thing was sure, I didn't regret saving him. I could never regret saving his life. He was more important to me than my own life. I could do anything to protect him from slightest of pain.

I shook my head at him and saw him releasing a huge breath of relief. He seemed to be content with my answer as he mumbled, "I am glad to hear that, amore mio."

I hesitantly asked him, "Will I be arrested?"

He fiercely shook his head at me and spoke, "You don't have to worry about anything, Rosa. I have everything under control."

We stayed silent like that until he interrupted me, "Let's eat something. It is already past dinner time and you have not eaten a morsel since breakfast."

"I am not hungry," I weakly protested him. But my stomach had to grumble at the exact moment, to announce my lie to him.

He chuckled at it and said, "I can clearly hear that."

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After the dinner, I again went to bed. I was feeling very exhausted. He had asked me repeatedly if I would be alright sleeping alone or he should ask Francesca to sleep with me. But I refused him each time.

I knew he was concerned about me but I didn't want to trouble her. She already seemed so stressed while serving us dinner.

When she had seen me going downstairs, she rushed to me and enveloped me into a motherly hug. It had instantly calmed me down. She also told me how much she was worried about me.

It was not difficult to fall asleep that night due to all the tiredness I was feeling till my bones. I was a little paranoid to sleep due to the nightmare I had seen, a little while ago. To be frank, it was not a nightmare, it was the same scene from the hospital which was replayed in my dream. But my exhaustion overpowered it.

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Next morning after breakfast, Ermanno took me to the rose garden to cheer me up. It had lifted up my mood to some extent and I had started speaking a little, which I was avoiding since last night.

I was not in the mood to interact with anyone and just wanted to be left alone. I wanted to mourn over my actions from the last day, but he was too stubborn to listen to me. I guess it was good because, I had started feeling a lot better after coming there.

We were sitting on the bench next to each other, sipping our warm coffees. We occasionally shared our thoughts, other than that, there was a comfortable silence enveloping us.

My mind drifted to what I had realised in all that chaos in the hospital. I had confessed to myself that I was in love with Ermanno.

I loved Ermanno D'Amelio!

Should I confess it to him? Would he believe me? What were his feelings for me? What if he refused to acknowledge my feelings? What if he didn't feel the same way for me?

I would be heart broken. I was fearing rejection. I had fallen too deeply for him and the pain of rejection would be too painful.

Mama was right. I was in love with the idea of loving Albert, I didn't love him in reality. I had truly fallen for my soon-to-husband; my soulmate; my Ermanno.

But now I was fearing to confess it to him. How difficult it could be? I just had to say 'I love you, Ermanno'. That's it! I think I could do that.

Who knew what tomorrow brought for us? Especially when he had been attacked twice. And I had seen him almost loosing his life last day. I didn't want to life my life regretting not confessing my feelings for him.

I could die happily knowing that he was aware of my feelings. So, I decided to confess it at that moment only.

We should not wait for the right occasion, we should make the occasion right for us. No one knew what could happened the next moment and we would be left regretting over it all our life.

I took a deep breath and called out to him, "Ermanno."

He looked at me soflty and spoke, "Yes, amore mio?"

I told him quietly, "I wanted to tell you something."

He nodded at me in encouragement and said, "Go on. You know that you don't need to ask my permission."

I started, "Actually, I wanted to say that.. that.. I"

"ERMANNO!"

We were interrupted by the loud, booming voice of Alessandro. We both stood up from our place and turned towards his voice. He appeared in the rose garden, looking like a raging bull; as if he was ready to kill anyone on the spot.

He came and stood in front of us and asked him, "I have heard that you were again attacked by Luca."

His questions brought the horrific scene from the hospital, back in front of my vision and I flinched at the memory. Ermanno immediately intertwined our fingers to comfort me and it worked.

He clenched his jaw and replied, "Unfortunately, yes!"

"Weren't you being careful to fall for the trap yet again!" he yelled at him loudly.

He looked, "I am sorry, nonno. It was unexpected."

Alessandro spoke agitated, "You are not being careful, Ermanno. And you know that the cost of carelessness is life in our world!"

I tightened my hold on his hand as I remembered how he was on the verge of loosing his life! My heart clenched painfully in my chest at the memory.

He sighed, "I promise it won't happen again, nonno."

"It surely won't happen again, nipote. Because I have found a hidden mole in between us," he spoke coldly.

(Grandson)

Shivers ran down my spine at his chilling voice and menacing eyes, which burnt with hatred and revenge.

Ermanno's eyes filled with fury as he asked him, " A mole? Who was daring enough to cross me? I won't let him see tomorrow's sun. Just name him!"

He corrected him, "It's not him. It's her. The mole is a girl."

He asked confused, "A girl? Who?"

Alessandro looked coldly into my eyes and said, "The mole is none other than your soon-to-wife, Rosalia Romanno! And I have solid proofs against her."

I was stunned at his accusation as Ermanno’s hand slipped from mine!

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Hello my lovely readers!

How was the chapter?

A shock in the end!!!

I guess it was also unexpected?

Much more is on the way as promised...

So... Coming to main question of the day.....

Who do you think will Ermanno believe?? Do tell me your thoughts because I would gladly look forward for your guesses...

And what proofs was Alessandro talking about? Do think she really was helping Luca Martinez??

Our poor Ermanno is trapped...