The CEO's Secret Affair-Chapter 18: The Reason Why

~Ricardo’s POV~

My drive to the hospital felt like an eternity even though I was driving past the speed limit. While my mind worried about Clara, every other part of me thought about Anne. I was hurt by her words, and while I so desperately needed to pull her in my arms and love her until she stopped hurting, it was important that I evaluated my value to her.

I pulled into the hospital parking lot far too fast, barely bothering to straighten the car before killing the engine. I was out and through the doors in seconds, my stride long and purposeful as I headed for the emergency wing.

"Mr. Antonelli?"

A nurse recognized and stopped me before I could reach the desk. "Clara Forrester was brought in earlier. She’s stable now."

The tension in my chest loosened just a fraction. "Can I see her?"

"She’s asking for you," the nurse replied, gesturing down the hall.

I nodded and followed, but even as relief washed through me, it didn’t last. Clara laid on the hospital bed, it didn’t look like she was physically hurt, but I could tell from one look at her that she wasn’t doing well.

"Riccardo," she murmured. "You came."

"You didn’t leave me much of a choice." I said, pulling a chair closer. "What happened?"

"They said it’s stress, I haven’t been eating well, and there’s a lot going on currently..." Clara explained.

I let out a deep breath, relieved that it wasn’t anything serious, but at the same time disappointed that I had been stressing over a trivial situation. Clara had always been a very dramatic individual, and I should have figured that this was probably one of her stupid schemes to seek attention.

Clara reached for my hand, took it in hers and squeezed it gently. "Please stay with me until I get better..."

I lifted my head and stared at her for a good minute. Was she being real, or was this some sort of joke? I had no idea why she hadn’t even been discharged yet, her problems were such a non issue. Regardless, I calmed myself, flashed her a bright smile before managing to tear my hand away from her grip.

"I have work, Clara. But I’ll visit whenever I can, Lisa should be here with you any minute now."

Her face immediately dulled after my words, she clearly didn’t want me to leave, but I wasn’t in the mood to sit still and watch over a woman who had probably willingly put herself in harm’s way for attention.

Clara’s fingers tightened around the sheets when she realized I was serious.

"Don’t go," she said quickly, her voice sharp with panic now. "Riccardo, please. I need you here."

"I know," I replied evenly, already standing. "But you’re stable. You’re safe."

"That’s not the point," she snapped. "You always leave."

I paused, irritation flickering through me. "Clara—"

"Just stay," she insisted, sitting up despite not having the strength for any strenuous movements. "At least tonight."

I exhaled slowly, forcing patience where it no longer came naturally. "I can’t, I have work tomorrow. I’ll call Lisa, she’ll be here soon."

Her eyes teared up when she realised there wasn’t much she could do to stop me. Realising that the nurses were staring, coupled with the fact that she already lied that I was her husband, I was forced to light up my face with a smile..

"I’ll be back," I lied smoothly, already halfway to the door. "Rest for now."

She said something, but her voice was weak, and her reply came too late. I had already stepped out of the room, and the closing door had swallowed up any sound she made.

I headed straight for my car, my mind racing with every step I took.

I sat behind the wheel for a moment, hands resting uselessly on the steering wheel as her words replayed in my head. If I walked away now, I knew I’d never forgive myself. I had no idea what she had done to me, but somehow I just couldn’t get her out of my mind. I’d never felt like this for someone else, and now I was genuinely concerned if this behaviour was healthy or not.

I needed to see Anne, to ask her if she really meant those words, to discuss if she really didn’t want me around— if she didn’t want us.

My foot was on the acceleration pedal before I knew it, and in a matter of minutes I was back at the place I didn’t expect myself to return to anytime soon. This wasn’t the normal Riccardo Antonelli. I had become a simp for a simple woman, and there was genuinely nothing I could do about it.

I was upon the stairs in a matter of seconds, and before I realised it, was at her doorstep.

I knocked the first time and got no response. I knew she was inside, she had probably seen my car drive into the compound from her window, and now she wanted to be stubborn.

I knocked again, harder this time, and almost tempted to scream out her name.

Footsteps finally sounded from the other side, slow and hesitant. When the door cracked open, Anne’s face appeared. Her face paled at the sight of me, and her eyes were already guarded.

"Riccardo," she said immediately. "This isn’t a good time."

"It never is," I replied quietly. "But we need to talk."

She shook her head, trying to close the door. "Please. Just go."

I placed my hand against the wood, stopping it. "I’m not leaving."

Her eyes flashed. "You can’t just—"

"I can," I cut in, my voice firm but controlled. "Because I’m done pretending I don’t care. I’m done letting you push me away without a fight."

She scoffed, turning her face away. "You don’t understand."

"Then make me understand," I said. "Give us a chance. Just one."

"Please Riccardo, listen to me just this once. It really isn’t a good time—

I reached for her hand gently, feeling her tense under my touch. "I know you’re scared," I murmured. "But I’m not him. And I’m not leaving you alone, not until I’ve made you understand my true intentions."

"Riccardo—"

I didn’t let her finish. I guided her back, stepping inside with her, the door closing softly behind us.

I paused the moment my eyes caught sight of the figure in the room. It made sense now, why she pushed me away, why she didn’t want to let me in. It was because of him. Perhaps that was why she couldn’t love me back, her heart clearly still belonged to her first love, Thomas Brown.