0037| wont give up

ARABELLA ARMANI

Arabella sat curled up on the couch in her living room, her mind a chaotic swirl of emotions. The library encounter with Alessio played on a loop in her head—his words, his touch, his kiss. Every time she thought about it, her stomach flipped, but she quickly reminded herself why it couldn't happen. Alessio was complicated, and her life was finally starting to feel normal again.

Her phone buzzed on the cushion beside her, pulling her from her thoughts. She glanced down and froze when she saw the name lighting up her screen.

BABYDADDYALESSIO👅💍💍

I can't stop thinking about the kiss.

Arabella's heart skipped a beat. She stared at the message, unsure whether to respond.

Before she could decide, another message came through.

BABYDADDYALESSIO👅💍💍

I know I said I'd try to let you go. But I lied. I can't, Arabella. I've tried, and it's impossible. You're the only thing I want, the only person who makes me feel alive.

She clenched her jaw, trying to steady herself.

my angel 💍💍

Alessio, we can't keep doing this. You have Sophia. You've made your choice.

His reply came almost instantly.

BABYDADDYALESSIO👅💍💍

Sophia isn't my choice. She never was. You are. You always have been.

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, but before she could type anything, another message came through.

BABYDADDYALESSIO👅💍💍

I know I've made mistakes—ones I'll regret for the rest of my life. But I'm not giving up. I'll do whatever it takes to prove to you that you're all that matters to me. I'll fight for you, Arabella. I won't let you go.

Arabella's chest tightened, a whirlwind of emotions crashing over her. She didn't know how to respond, so she didn't. Instead, she locked her phone and set it face down on the coffee table.

The doorbell rang suddenly, making her jump. She frowned, glancing at the clock. It was late—too late for an unexpected visitor.

Cautiously, she walked to the door and peered through the peephole. Her brows furrowed when she saw a well-dressed man standing there, holding several large bags.

She opened the door hesitantly. "Can I help you?"

The man smiled politely. "Good evening, Miss Arabella. These are for you."

He gestured to the bags, which were overflowing with an assortment of items. Arabella's confusion grew as she noticed a luxurious box of chocolate from Dubai peeking out, along with several other snacks and treats she recognized as her favorites.

"Who sent this?" she asked, even though she already had a feeling.

"Mr. romano," the man said with a slight bow. "He wanted to ensure you received everything personally. If there's anything else you need, please don't hesitate to let us know."

Arabella stared at the bags in disbelief. "This is... a lot."

The man simply nodded, then handed her a small envelope. "He asked me to deliver this as well."

She took it reluctantly, her pulse quickening as she recognized Alessio's handwriting on the front.

"Thank you," she said quietly.

The man nodded again before turning and walking away, leaving Arabella standing in the doorway, holding the envelope and staring at the extravagant gifts.

Shaking her head, she carried everything inside and placed the bags on the counter before opening the note.

Arabella,

I meant what I said—I won't let you go. These are just small things, reminders that I know you better than anyone. Reminders that I care. But this is only the beginning. Tell me you don't want this, tell me you don't want me, and I'll stop. But if you can't... then let me prove to you that I'm worth the risk.

- Alessio

Arabella set the note down, her hands trembling. She didn't know what to feel—anger, frustration, or the undeniable pull that Alessio always seemed to have over her.

With a sigh, she grabbed one of the chocolates from the bag and sank back onto the couch, the note still clutched in her hand. She couldn't ignore the truth, no matter how much she wanted to: Alessio wasn't giving up.

And what scared her most was that part of her didn't want him to.

Arabella sat frozen on the couch, Alessio's note resting on her lap as her eyes drifted over the bags on the counter. It wasn't just the extravagance of the gifts; it was the thought behind them. The chocolate from Dubai was her favorite, something she'd mentioned in passing years ago. The snacks—her comfort foods—were the ones she used to bring to late-night planning meetings back when things between them were simpler. He remembered all of it, and somehow, that unsettled her more than the kiss they'd shared.

She stared at the note again, rereading the words, her fingers tracing the ink. Alessio's handwriting was bold and decisive, just like the man himself. The part of her that wanted to push him away warred with the part that was desperate to believe his promises.

Her phone buzzed, breaking the silence. She grabbed it quickly, her breath catching when she saw another text from Alessio.

BABYDADDYALESSIO👅💍💍

Did you get everything? I didn't want you to go to bed without knowing I was thinking of you.

Her heart thudded in her chest as she stared at the message. She knew she shouldn't reply, knew that engaging with him would only blur the lines further, but her fingers seemed to move on their own.

my angel 💍💍

I got it. It's... a lot, Alessio.

His response came within seconds.

BABYDADDYALESSIO👅💍💍

It's not enough. Not even close. But it's a start.

Arabella bit her lip, staring at the screen. Her chest felt tight, the weight of everything—their history, the emotions she thought she'd buried—pressing down on her. Before she could overthink it, she typed a reply.

my angel💍💍

This isn't fair. You can't just drop back into my life and act like you didn't break me.

There was a longer pause this time, and for a moment, she thought he wouldn't respond. But then her phone buzzed again.

BABYDADDYALESSIO👅💍💍

I know I hurt you. I know I don't deserve a second chance. But Arabella, I can't let you go. Not when I know you still feel this, too. Tell me I'm wrong, and I'll leave you alone. I swear it.

Her hands trembled as she stared at his words. Did she still feel it? Yes, but admitting that felt like handing him all the power, and she wasn't sure she could do that again.

Before she could reply, the doorbell rang again. Her stomach flipped. What now?

When she opened the door, another man—this one unfamiliar—stood there holding a small bouquet of white peonies, her favorite flowers.

"These are for you," he said, handing them over with a polite nod.

Arabella took them, stunned. The delicate petals smelled sweet and fresh, and there was another small note tucked among the blooms. She waited until the man left before pulling it out.

Arabella,

You deserve beauty in your life. If I can give you even a small piece of that, I'll do it a thousand times over. These flowers reminded me of you—soft, strong, and impossible to ignore.

- Alessio

Her knees felt weak as she closed the door and leaned against it, clutching the bouquet to her chest. She couldn't do this. She couldn't keep letting him worm his way back into her heart.

But the truth was, he was already there. He'd never really left.

Arabella placed the flowers on the counter next to the snacks and sat back on the couch, staring at her phone. Her fingers hovered over the screen before she finally typed out a message.

my angel💍💍

Alessio, I need time. I can't just forget everything. And I don't know if I can trust you again.

His reply came almost immediately, as if he'd been waiting for her.

BABYDADDYALESSIO👅💍💍

Take all the time you need. But I'll be here. I'm not going anywhere.

She set the phone down and exhaled, her emotions swirling in a storm of confusion and longing. Alessio was relentless, and she wasn't sure if she had the strength to resist him—or if she even wanted to.

Curling up on the couch, she reached for one of the chocolates, unwrapped it, and took a bite. It was sweet, decadent, and indulgent, just like everything Alessio did.

As the night wore on, Arabella found herself replaying his words, his promises, over and over in her mind. For better or worse, Alessio Castellano was back in her life. And deep down, she wasn't sure she'd ever truly wanted him to leave.