Chapter 56

My heart felt like it was tightening in my chest and I experienced a deep physical pain that reflected the emotional suffering that was tearing me apart inside. I slowly lowered myself into the chair feeling the cold and hard plastic pressing against my skin almost like it was biting me.

Without thinking my hand reached out toward her and I softly brushed my fingers against her fragile cheek. Her skin felt hot almost like it was on fire and I noticed that her breaths were coming in a little too quickly for my comfort.

“She is going to be okay,” Luiza said softly her voice barely making a sound as she spoke. She held onto Dahlia's tiny hand tightly making sure not to let go. “The doctor has assured us that they were able to remove the poison quickly. They took action before it had a chance to cause any real damage. Right now she just feels very weak and tired and what she needs most is to get some rest.”

I didn't respond right away. Instead, I found myself staring intently at my daughter's face. Every part of me was filled with a deep and powerful emotion that felt both frightening and unsettling.

“Luiza...” I said my voice hoarse and difficult to get out. “I want to thank you for being here with me.”

A tiny smile that showed her appreciation appeared on her face for just a moment. “I would never leave Dahlia by herself Rafaelle,” she said earnestly. “I care about her a lot. All of us care about her and we want to make sure she is not alone.”

As I sat there my thoughts started to swirl around quickly in my mind. The anger I was feeling was still strong and intense but I noticed that it was being mixed with another feeling. It was clear to me that Luiza truly cared for me and her worry for my well-being was very real and evident. With our wedding only two days away I began to wonder if maybe… just maybe marrying Luiza wouldn’t be such a bad idea after all.

The doctor entered the room. He was a tall and thin man and he had a smile that made people feel calm and reassured.

“Mr. Tommaso I am very happy to see that you are here with us today. As Ms. Vinci has just mentioned we were able to remove the poison from your daughter’s system very quickly which is a great relief. Your daughter is truly fortunate to have received prompt treatment. She will be on the path to recovery soon but I want to let you know that it will take some time for her to fully heal.

He took a brief pause to collect his thoughts before continuing. He said 'The type of poison that was involved acts very quickly and it is quite rare. We are in the process of doing additional tests to learn more about it but from what we know so far it seems that this poison was designed to create a fast and severe reaction in the body rather than to cause long-term damage serious injury or death.”

My breath suddenly became difficult to take almost like it was stuck in my throat. The things the doctor said hit me deeply and made me realize something important. I whispered the name “Iris.” barely moving my lips as I spoke. I knew in my heart that she would never want to harm Dahlia. The act was not meant to be a murderous one instead it came from a place of intense anger and a desperate need to stand up against something.

My feelings of anger towards Iris were intense and chaotic like a storm that was swirling around in my mind. However, I began to notice that there was something different also starting to emerge underneath that anger.

I couldn't quite figure out what this new feeling was. I knew for certain that it wasn't love but it felt like something entirely different and unfamiliar. It was confusing for me to process this new emotion.

I sat quietly for a little bit allowing my mind to sort through a mix of different feelings that were swirling around inside me. Having Luiza there with me felt like a comforting remedy for my stressed and frayed nerves.

Her presence was exactly what I needed right now. Perhaps just perhaps this moment could be the start of something new and help my life find a better flow.

But the idea of Iris being trapped inside the house her future uncertain and precarious filled me with a deep and chilling sense of fear. I could not just sit back and let this happen. I needed to take control of the situation and I realized that I had to do it on my own.

Without any warning, I suddenly jumped up from my chair causing it to make a loud screeching noise as it slid back against the floor.

I turned to Luiza and spoke to her in a firm tone making sure she understood my seriousness. “Luiza,” I said my voice a bit harsh. “I need to leave now. I have some important things to take care of regarding Iris and I cannot postpone it any longer.”

Luiza's eyes grew larger with concern and a worried frown appeared on her forehead making it clear that she was deeply troubled. She turned to Rafaelle and said “Rafaelle I need you to be careful. Please think about what you are doing and avoid making any impulsive decisions. If there is a situation that needs attention just let the authorities handle it instead of getting involved yourself.”

“I really can't do that,” I replied my voice barely above a whisper but full of a deep intense resolve. “This is very personal to me.”

I turned around and walked out of the hospital. As soon as I stepped outside the cool air rushed toward me feeling sharp and jarring almost like a slap on my face. I had a purpose and I was determined to follow through.

Inside me, I felt a strong anger like a burning piece of coal that wouldn't go out. This anger was fueled by my fear and a deep sense of betrayal which made me feel like I was being ripped apart emotionally.

I carefully tucked myself into the driver's seat of my car my actions a bit unsteady and somewhat abrupt. As I settled in my hand quickly reached for the glove compartment where I retrieved the cold metal of my firearm.

The weight of the gun felt familiar to me almost comforting in a strange and unsettling manner. I took a moment to inspect the chamber and I noticed how smooth and quiet the mechanism was as I worked with it. At that moment I realized that I was prepared for what lay ahead.

I pushed the gear shift in the car and I could hear the engine come to life with a roar. As I drove away the bright lights of the hospital started to fade behind me disappearing into the deep darkness of the night.

I was on my way home. I knew that when I got there I would have to confront Iris. And I was determined that I wouldn’t hold back I would be tough with her…