My Angel

CHAPTER 33: APOLOGY

Ayla's pov~

       I swiped away my tears as I walked down the stairs in a daze. I couldn't understand Alessio. He was unpredictable and short-tempered, and he hid his feelings well.

I just wished he let his guard down and let me in. I wanted to know what he was thinking. As strange as it sounded, I wanted to help him.

But he shut me out every time, first gentle and then rude and heartless.
Every time l was with him, I felt a pull. His touch was fire, his voice silk. And his eyes penetrated my soul.

I should fear him. I did fear him, but under the layers of fear, I cared. He made me feel even when I didn't want to.
Neither of us wanted to feel. We both tried to hide it.

I walked into the kitchen and found Maddie and Lena there. "Hey," Maddie chirped from her spot behind the counter.

Lena turned to face me and wiped her
hands in her apron. "Good morning, Ayla," she said with a sweet smile.
Smiling back, I gave her a hug. "Good
morning," I said as I stepped out of her warm embrace. I helped them in the kitchen, trying not to think about that morning.

"I'll message the others to set the table,"
Maddie muttered as she took out her phone. She was still typing the message when I saw Viktor walking into the kitchen, his face hard and cold.

"Boss wants his breakfast in his office" he said briskly before leaving. We didn't even have a chance to reply.
Was Alessio going to eat alone? I thought back to our earlier encounter, his fury as he told me to leave the room, and the flash of pain I saw in his eyes before he shut me out.

I felt someone nudge me, snapping out of my thoughts. Maddie stared at me in
confusion.

"What's wrong? You've been quiet this
morning," she asked, leaning her elbows on the counter as she waited for an answer. I shrugged.

Maddie leaned forward. "Is it about
Alessio?"
I chuckled. "You are a mind reader,
Maddie."

Her eyes twinkled and she winked. "I know. So, what happened?"
"Well, last night, I went to the piano room
and Alessio caught me there. But when l was about to leave, he let me play-

"What?" she squealed. "You played the
piano? Alessio let you play the piano?" Her mouth hung open in shock.
I nodded.

"Wait. You played the piano in front of
Alessio?" Before I could answer, she continued,

"Ayla, this is big! He never lets anyone play the piano. It's forbidden. lt's his mother's, and since her death, nobody was allowed to play it."

The news took my breath away and I stared at her in shock.
If that's why he was angry at me, why did
he let me play in the first place?
I bit down on my lips in frustration. Alessio was a confusing man.

"Mom! Did you hear that? Alessio let Ayla play the piano!" Maddie exclaimed loudly next to my ear. Wincing, I took a step away.

"Yes. I heard," Lena replied, her voice soft. I turned toward her and saw that she was smiling at me, her eyes shining merrily.

Turning back to Maddie, I continued, "But it didn't end well. He ordered me to leave
afterwards. He was really angry. And this
morning too."

"This morning?

"I went back to check on him to make sure he cleaned his wounds. But he didn't. So, I cleaned them for him. He was nice about it, but then got angry again," I muttered.

"Wait. You cleaned his wounds and he got angry at you?" Maddie bristled slightly. When I nodded, she placed her hands on her hips and tapped her foot on the ground in annoyance.