Italian-American Heiress: The Fiancée He Underestimated Chapter 04
The Diagnosis
On the way to the hospital, the ambulance crashes.
When I wake up, I’m already in a hospital bed.
A nurse is adjusting my IV. The doctor walks over with a clipboard. His face is careful.
“Miss Rossi. You’re lucky to be alive.”
He pauses.
“But the accident caused severe nerve damage to your lower body. I’m sorry to tell you this — the damage is permanent. You won’t be able to have children. Not now. Not ever.”
Every word hits me like a hammer.
I stare at the white ceiling.
If Cami hadn’t faked that dizzy spell — if Julian hadn’t left me alone in that ambulance — I wouldn’t be lying here.
The doctor leaves.
I rip the IV out of the back of my hand.
I drag myself out of the hospital bed. I take a cab back to the condo. I’m going to pack my things and never look at Julian’s face again.
I unlock the door.
The lights are off. But I hear them.
A low moan from Julian. Cami’s soft breathing.
They’re on my couch. Half-dressed. Tangled up.
Julian’s white shirt is unbuttoned. Cami’s hair is spread across his chest.
There’s a bottle of red wine on the coffee table. Two glasses.
“Julian, baby — congrats. We finally landed the Rossi deal. Biggest client of the year,” Cami says, her voice half-drunk.
I grab the vase off the entry table. Throw it with everything I have.
It smashes against the coffee table. Glass everywhere.
Julian and Cami shoot upright.
When they see it’s me, Julian doesn’t even flinch. He pulls Cami’s shirt back up her shoulder. Slow and calm.
“Elena. Calm down. We were just celebrating. Had a little too much wine. Don’t overthink it.”
I point at the open door. My voice is ice.
“Take her. Get the hell out. Both of you. Now.”
The gentle mask on Julian’s face drops. He looks at me like I’m an inconvenience.
“Elena. You’re being unreasonable. It’s a tiny thing. Why blow it up like this?”
He grabs his keys. Grabs Cami’s hand. Walks her to the door.
At the doorway, he turns back.
“Tomorrow night I’m taking Cami to the Rossi signing gala. Stay home. Cool off. When you come to your senses, I’ll come back.”
The door slams.
The condo goes dead silent.
I don’t scream. I don’t cry.
I stare at the broken glass on the floor.
Then I pick up my phone.
I call Nonno.
“The signing tomorrow — let me handle it.”
—
The gala ballroom is glittering.
I push the doors open.
Across the room, Julian is holding a champagne glass, laughing with a group of executives. Cami stands beside him. His “personal Italian interpreter.” Smug as ever.
Julian sees me. The smile freezes on his face.
He puts his glass down. Walks over fast.
He lowers his voice.
“Elena. You followed me here to throw a tantrum?”
“This is not the place for you. Don’t embarrass yourself. Go home. We’ll talk later.”
I look at him. Cold.
Cami steps up behind him. Smiles. Turns to Julian and mocks me in Italian.
“Look at this pathetic girl. Chasing you around like a stray dog. I told you — a naïve girl like her would never let you go.”
Julian answers her in Italian, low.
“Ignore her. Once the contract is signed, I’ll sweet-talk her back. Business first.”
Then he switches back to English. Softens his eyes.
“Be a good girl. Go home. Wait for me.”
I don’t say a word. I walk right past them. Straight into the ballroom.
Cami lets out a scoff and moves to grab my arm.
That’s when the bodyguards push open the main doors.
The head of the Rossi Group.
My grandfather.
He walks in surrounded by executives. Everyone in the room turns.
Cami drops my arm. Fixes her hair. Plasters on her sweetest smile. She rushes forward with Julian right behind her.
“Chairman, it’s an honor. I’m Julian Thorne of Thorne Industries —”
Nonno doesn’t even glance at him. Walks right past.
Julian freezes. His hand hangs in the air.
Nonno walks straight to the middle of the ballroom. His eyes land on me. Warm. Full of love.
In front of everyone, he opens his arms and pulls me into a hug.
Then he turns to face the room. His voice booms through the ballroom in perfect Italian.
“Everyone. I’d like to introduce my only granddaughter. Elena Rossi.”
“She is the only person with full authority to sign for the Rossi Group.”