90 days with my billionaire ex

DARIO'S POV

I sat beside Katy on the bed, staring at her pale, fragile form. She’d been unconscious since last night, her attempt to end her life leaving her weaker than I ever thought possible. I didn’t expect this. Not from her.

The bandage on her wrist was stark against her skin, a grim reminder of how close I came to losing her. A flicker of guilt gnawed at the edges of my mind, but I pushed it away. She put me through hell—her betrayal, her lies, her choices. Yet, here I was, watching over her like a guardian. Or maybe just a fool.

Her chest rose and fell steadily, her breaths shallow but even. For a moment, I let myself forget the chaos, the anger, and just focused on the fact that she was alive.

The silence in the room was thick, charged with so many unsaid words. Despite everything we’d gone through, despite the treachery, there was still a small part of me that cared. It infuriated me how much she could still affect me, how I couldn’t just turn off the years we spent together like a switch. But it was more than just memories now—it was the weight of the past, the unresolved anger, and the betrayal that kept me trapped here, unable to leave.

I didn’t know how much time passed before Veronica entered the room. Her heels clicked softly against the polished floor, her steps calm, measured. She placed a gentle hand on my shoulder, her presence a steady anchor.

“She’ll wake soon,” she said softly, glancing at Katy, her tone both professional and caring. “You’ve been here all night, Dario. You should get some rest.”

I shook my head, the idea of leaving Katy to rest alone seeming absurd, even though I was beyond exhausted. “I’m fine,” I muttered, not willing to leave her side just yet. The thought of her waking up alone, in this state, unsettled me more than I wanted to admit.

Veronica sighed but didn’t press further. Instead, she leaned against the wall, arms crossed, her gaze never leaving Katy’s still form.

“What’s your plan now?” she asked after a long pause, her voice breaking the heavy silence.

I didn’t answer immediately. What was my plan? I had no real plan beyond keeping Katy here, keeping her under control until she understood the price of her actions. But seeing her like this, so vulnerable, made me question everything.

I glanced at her, her features soft in the dim light, her lips slightly parted as she breathed. For a moment, I wanted to believe it was just a nightmare, that everything between us could somehow be fixed. But the truth of her betrayal and the chaos she had caused kept clouding my thoughts. There was no going back, not now.

Before I could respond, Katy stirred. Her fingers twitched, and her brow furrowed slightly as her eyes fluttered open. Veronica straightened, and I leaned forward, my gaze fixed on her face, my pulse quickening. The moment she opened her eyes, everything in the room felt more real.

“Welcome back,” I said, my voice colder than I intended, but I couldn’t help myself. Anger still simmered beneath the surface, threatening to boil over.

Her eyes met mine, confusion clouding them for a moment before they hardened, like a shield. She tried to sit up, but the movement sent a jolt of pain through her body, causing her to wince.

“Take it easy,” I said, standing and pushing the pillow behind her for support, my voice softer this time. “You don’t need to push yourself.”

“I don’t need your help,” she muttered, her voice hoarse, rough from lack of use.

My jaw tightened at the sound of her defiance. Even now, she couldn’t let go of that stubborn pride, as if nothing had changed.

“You’ve got a lot of nerve,” I said, my tone sharp. “Do you have any idea what you’ve put me through? All of this—this mess you created. Do you think I’ve enjoyed any of it?”

She scoffed, her lips curling into a bitter smile. “What I’ve put you through? That’s rich, coming from the man holding me captive on some godforsaken island.”

Veronica shifted uncomfortably in the corner, but I ignored her. My focus was entirely on Katy now.

“You think this is all about me?” I leaned in closer, my voice dropping dangerously low, my anger barely contained. “You think I enjoy keeping you here? Watching you throw your life away?”

Her gaze faltered for a moment, but she quickly masked it with defiance. “I didn’t ask for your pity, Dario. Let me go, and we’ll call it even.”

I laughed bitterly, straightening up. “Even? Oh, Katy, we’re far from even.”

She turned her face away, staring at the wall, as if it could offer her some escape. “I need to talk to my family,” she said quietly, her voice tinged with desperation.

I shook my head, the mention of her family bringing me back to the reality of why she was here in the first place. “That’s already been handled. They know you’re fine. You don’t have to worry about them anymore.”

Her head snapped back to me, eyes wide. “You’ve spoken to them?”

“Not me. Sonia,” I said, my lips curving into a small, smug smile, pleased by the slight shock on her face.

Katy froze, her face paling even further. The defiance that had marked her earlier seemed to crumble as she processed my words. “Sonia? What did you do to her?”

“Relax,” I said, waving a hand dismissively, though I couldn’t hide the satisfaction in my voice. “She’s fine. She’s just doing what I asked.”

Her eyes narrowed, but she said nothing. Her gaze became guarded again, the wariness returning to her like a shield. The same wariness that had kept her from truly trusting anyone, especially me.

“You’ll be fine,” I said, standing up and making my way to the door. “But don’t think for a second that you can pull something like this again without facing the consequences.”

I left the room before she could respond, shutting the door behind me with a soft click. The tension in the air was palpable, and even though I didn’t want to admit it, I had no idea what came next. I had no idea what to do with her now. She was alive, yes. But what if she tried something like this again? What if her next attempt succeeded?

The hallway seemed longer than usual as I walked, the weight of the last few hours pressing on my shoulders. I needed a moment to breathe, to collect my thoughts. But before I could make it far, a voice stopped me in my tracks.

“Where are you headed?”

I turned sharply to see Bruno, Dario’s bodyguard, standing a few feet away, his expression unreadable.

I shook my head, not in the mood for more interruptions. “Just taking a walk.”

Bruno didn’t say anything for a moment, his gaze flicking over to the door of the room I’d just exited. “Orders are you don’t go anywhere alone,” he said flatly.

I clenched my fists, frustrated. “I don’t need a babysitter,” I snapped, my patience running thin.

“Maybe not, but I have my orders,” he replied calmly, his expression unfazed. “Either I come with you, or you go back inside.”

I bit back a curse. He wasn’t going to let me go. My escape plan was already foiled.

With a heavy sigh, I turned around, resigned to my fate. “Fine. Lead the way.”

As I entered the living room, I stopped dead in my tracks. Dario was standing near the fireplace, talking to a woman whose back was to me.

When he noticed me, a smirk spread across his face, as though he was expecting me. “Ah, just in time,” he said, sliding his hands into his pockets.

The woman turned, and my heart dropped into my stomach.

“Sonia?”

She smiled, but it wasn’t warm. “Hi, sis. Miss me?”