The Slave of Pleasure
Chapter 77

Rachel

I walked slowly down the hallway to Vincenzo's room. My heart was racing, a mix of nervousness and anxiety dominating my thoughts. What did he want to tell me? Was it to push me away, to break our contract? The possibilities swirled in my head, but above all, I knew I needed to remain calm.

When I reached the door, I opened it carefully and found him sitting on the edge of the bed, his forearms resting on his knees, his gaze fixed on the floor. He seemed distant, as if he were lost in his own thoughts, and the tension in the air was palpable. I stood still for a few moments, not knowing exactly what to do. I wanted to speak, but the words seemed stuck in my throat. The silence seemed endless.

Finally, I gathered the courage and decided to break the silence. "Vincenzo..." I said, my voice soft, almost hesitant.

Before I could continue, he raised his head and interrupted me. "You were right," he said, his voice firm, but with a touch of vulnerability that I rarely saw in him.

I was surprised. I hadn't expected him to say that, especially in such a direct way. The surprise must have been evident on my face, because he continued without giving me time to react.

"If we're going to live together, if there's any chance of harmony between us, I need to start letting you in. And the first step was telling you about my past... something I've never done with anyone." He took a deep breath, as if gathering strength to continue. "It was hard. More than you can imagine."

I remained silent, absorbing each word. He was giving me access to a part of himself that no one else knew about, a part of his soul that had been marked by trauma and deep scars. I knew that this moment was crucial for him, and perhaps for us too.

Vincenzo looked up and stared at me. His eyes were filled with a mixture of sadness and determination. "You have no idea how hard it was for me to carry this all these years. No matter how hard I tried to forget, the truth is that I never could. The past was always there, haunting every decision I made, shaping who I am today."

I felt a tightness in my chest, but I remained quiet. He needed to talk, and I needed to hear him.

"I became who I am because of this," he continued, "because of that woman, that house, everything that happened to me. I thought I could control everything around me, that if I had power, money, and kept people at a distance, nothing could hurt me again. But the truth is that deep down, I'm just as broken as anyone else."

His words echoed around the room, full of pain and sincerity. I had never seen Vincenzo so open, so human. He had always been the imposing man who controlled everything and everyone around him, but now he was there, in front of me, admitting his fragility.

"When you came here, Rachel, I didn't know what to do. I wasn't ready for someone like you. Someone who wasn't intimidated by me, who challenged me... who saw the real me." I felt my eyes fill with tears, but I held them back. "Vincenzo, I never wanted to hurt you or force you to tell me anything you weren't ready to share," I said, trying to replace the right words. "I just want to understand you, to help you." He nodded slowly, as if trying to process everything I'd said. "I know. And that's what makes this even harder. Because as much as I want to keep my distance, a part of me knows I need you." Those words hit me like a shock. Vincenzo, the man who never let anyone get close, was admitting that he needed me. My heart skipped a beat. "But that doesn't mean it's going to be easy," he said, the seriousness returning to his gaze. "I don't know how to truly let someone get close. I don't know if I can. But for you... I'm willing to try."

And right then and there, I knew something had changed between us. Something deep, something that went beyond the contract or the circumstances that brought us together.

When Vincenzo told me he was willing to try, something inside me finally relaxed. I smiled in relief, although I was still wary. It was an important step, but I also knew there was a long road ahead. "I'll always be here for you, Vincenzo. No matter what happens, you can count on me," I replied, my voice full of sincerity.

He smiled slightly, one of those rare smiles he didn't often share. He nodded, as if he was absorbing my words. But I was still worried about him, not only because of what he had just told me, but also because of that strange episode of forgetfulness he had had. It wasn't something common, and with everything he had been through, any sign of fragility put me on alert.

"Vincenzo... are you really "Are you okay?" I asked cautiously. "I mean, not just because I told you all this, but also because of that episode of forgetfulness. Don't you think that it could be somehow related to everything that happened?" He took a deep breath and looked at me, his eyes carrying a seriousness that I was beginning to recognize well. "I'm fine now, Rachel. But I need to confirm this, to understand better what's happening to me. I can't afford to let something like this go unnoticed." I nodded, silently agreeing. He was right. It was important for him to make sure that I was healthy, both physically and mentally. Vincenzo was the kind of man who hated showing any kind of vulnerability, but at that moment, he seemed willing to face it head on. "I'm going to the hospital tomorrow to see Dr. Alfonse. He knows my history and has been taking care of me for years. If something is wrong, he will know," he explained, his eyes fixed on me, gauging my reaction.

"Do you want me to come with you?" I asked, a little hesitant, but wanting to show that I was willing to be by his side, no matter the situation.

Vincenzo was silent for a moment, as if he was considering the idea. "Yes, I want you to come," he said, with a slight smile. "Your presence can help me keep my feet on the ground."

That smile, even though it was small, made my heart beat faster. It was an invitation to enter even more into his world, to be a part of something he rarely shared with others: his vulnerability. Vincenzo was not the type to ask for help, so knowing that he wanted my company at this delicate moment meant a lot.

I smiled back, trying to ease some of the tension that still hung in the air. "So that's it. Tomorrow we'll go together." He nodded, looking more relieved with the decision he'd made. There was an invisible weight that seemed to have lifted, both by him sharing his secret and by knowing I'd be by his side. It was as if, somehow, our connection was growing stronger. "Thank you for letting me in, Vincenzo," I said softly. "I know it's not easy for you." He didn't answer right away, just stared at me for a few seconds, as if he was trying to decipher something inside me. "You're different, Rachel. I can't explain it, but there's something about you that makes me want to try. That's rare... for me."

My smile widened, and I felt a rush of warmth run through me. "Maybe because you deserve more than you think you do."

He chuckled softly, a sound I'd rarely heard from him before. "Maybe."

And with that, the air between us softened. The tension began to ease, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like we were on the right path. No matter what the future held, at least now, we knew we could count on each other.