CHAPTER 63: LA STANZA DEI SUSSURRI

Valentina stared at the box of chocolate yet open, and irritation churned her stomach.

Some guy had wandered in with the boxes, and a silly excuse of how marketers were testing new products and they needed to taste the chocolates so they could drop a review.

Tyler wasted no time in tearing a piece, and throwing it into his mouth.

Valentina still heard the sound of him chewing aggressively, replaying in her head.

She couldn’t bring herself to eat. Although she could feel her body growing weaker by the second due to lack of food, she just simply couldn’t eat.

Her eyes opened, and closed as she battled between sleep and consciousness.

At the peak of the battle, she sniffed a familiar scent

Her eyes widened open, and her gaze fell on Sonia.

"You’re back," she said in a weak voice.

"I am Val. You get out as I promise," she replied, and a hearty grin formed on her face.

Valentina’s gaze shifted to the man that had crept up behind her.

He had a scowl on his face so she couldn’t read his expression.

Then she saw the keys dangling from his hand.

"You’re really going to take me out?" She blurted in shock.

Tyler James’ ears perked up instantly. He didn’t make a sound as he listened in on the conversation from his neighbours ends.

"Yes. Sergio open the door now."

She stepped aside, and the grumbling guard began to open the cell door.

The moment Valentina heard a click sound, a rush of relief flowed from within her, outside.

Metal clinked as the gate opened up widely.

"Val!" Sonia ran into the cell to where Valentina sat.

She dropped to her knees beside her, and began inspecting her with her hands.

"You can walk? It hurts where?" She threw multiple questions at her.

"I’m fine," Valentina said weakly.

Sonia didn’t believe her. However, there was no more time to be wasted.

"I help you up." She rose to her feet, and stretched out her hand to Valentina.

Valentina wasn’t confident she could stand upright, after spending almost an entire day in the same position.

But she gave it her best shot, and placed her hand in Sonia’s palm.

One push and pull that came from both Sonia and her core strength, and she was standing on her feet.

Valentina staggered a little as soon as the full weight of her body balanced on her feet.

But as she swayed, the guard who Sonia thought had left already, was fast to catch her.

"I’m fine," she said, feeling embarrassed that she had almost fallen down.

"I help you. You rest on me," Sonia said to her.

"Or I could just carry you?" Sergio offered, his heart beating rapidly.

His view of her was no different now that she was affected by the state of the cell, than it was when she was first led in.

She still was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

It was no wonder to him that there was so much controversy surrounding her.

"Don’t you dare touch me," she managed to warn through her weakness. "Please," she added.

Sergio’s stiffened body relaxed. He had been caught off guard at first by her furious response, but she redeemed herself, making him understand her perspective.

Valentina chose the option with Sonia instead, and rested a little on her as she slowly walked out of the cell.

When she was fully out, she stopped moving.

"Val?" Sonia called.

"I need to talk to Tyler first," Valentina replied.

"We don’t have a lot of time for conversations. The order was to get you out of here in at most, ten minutes. We’re going to surpass that time if we–"

"Tyler, I promise this is not the last time we’ll see each other again." She cut off the guard.

Tyler did not respond.

"I know you can hear me. I’ve seen how lonely this place can be. But it’s nothing in comparison to how long you’ve been able to endure. My words right now might not mean much or even anything to you, but I promise that it won’t be the last time we see each other."

No response was given. Not from Tyler.

"Come on, we have to get out of here!" Sergio hammered impatiently.

Valentina did not budge.

"To show you how committed I am to meeting up again, I’ll even give you my box of cho—"

"No."

She inhaled sharply.

"Don’t do that. You don’t have to do that. You have already proven to me why the universe preserved your life. And even if we never get to see each other again, I’ll die happily knowing that the great Wallace lineage lived on. Thank you Valentina."

A few seconds passed, and then he burst into his usual maniacal laughter.

For the first time since she was thrown into lanotte, Valentina fought off raging tears.

"Thank you," she muttered.

Sonia grabbed the box of chocolates, and they began to walk to the exit.

The path was dark, but thanks to the torchlight, Valentina could see clearly.

However, she breathed more easily when the darkness switched into light, and there was no longer any use for the torch.

A few seconds later, they were standing before the exit and entrance gate.

The guard at the gate whistled on seeing Valentina.

"Good evening Bella," he said, and smiled lewdly.

Valentina cringed.

She threw her face to the side, not exactly interested in being perceived so recklessly.

Once she heard the gates open, she walked out before anyone even moved.

It was only when she was successfully at the other side, she realized not only was she free, she was actually walking on her own.

"See you soon, Bella!" His voice rang aloud.

Valentina breathed out in relief when Sonia hurried to her side, and together, they walked away from the stench of la notte.

"Who give you this, Val?" Sonia observed the box of chocolates in her hand.

Valentina, who just wanted to shower and change into something that had not been tainted by the cell, lowered her gaze to the box.

"Some guard," she replied weakly.

"Really? He kind to you. God bless him. But you no eat."

"Sonia, that place stu—"

Multiple people yelling at the top of their voices drifted into her ears, causing her to pause.

"What’s that?" She asked.

"Oh, is water problem.

"Water problem?" She lifted a brow, waiting for Sonia to explain what she meant.

"One side Neravalle have pipe problem. No water."

"No water?!"

"No! Water in the side you going. But no water the other side. They fixing it," she further explained.

"Oh!" Valentina bobbed her head in understanding. "Whew! For a second there, I thought I’d have to wallow in the stench forever."

"No. We even here already."

She stopped walking, and turned to a door Valentina swore moments ago was just the usual white walls.

Even worse because she was about to ask why they were walking into a dead end with no turns in sight, only for there to be a door.

"I’m not even going to ask," she said.

Sonia laughed, and opened the door for her to go in.

Valentina went in with her feet first, but it was her eyes that took over, as it roamed around the room.

Velvet drapes over the windows, a double queen sized bed, and a vintage player.

She sniffed, and inhaled rose mixed with amber.

"It’s like an apartment, instead of a room," she voiced out breathlessly.

Sonia smiled behind her. "Welcome to la stanza dei sussurri."