35. "Will You Give Up?"

Diego really didn't expect to hear about Fabian and Stellina's accident. Even more surprising was the news that the Nuvoletti Clan had attacked their car and caused a serious accident. Diego didn't need to question it anymore, it was certain that the Nuvoletti Clan's reason for attacking was because they saw Fabian, who belonged to the Pavnozzi Clan, around their territory. Diego's steps moved deftly down the hallway to the VVIP hospitalization room. Diego was the one who told Ranzo to take Fabian to the VVIP class, because he didn't want any Nuvoletti Clan or enemy clan that might be undercover. Diego was already imagining the bad possibilities of how Fabian was doing. But on the other hand, Diego also questioned how the accident between Fabian and Stellina could be explained. In Ranzo's phone call a few moments ago, Diego hadn't gotten an explanation about it. Diego soon arrived in front of the VVIP hospitalization room. Without waiting long, Diego opened the door without knocking. He hurriedly approached the bed where Fabian was unconscious. Diego didn't care about the presence of Stellina and Ranzo on the sofa. His focus was on Fabian's condition, who was completely limp. There was a long bandage on Fabian's right arm that indicated a gunshot wound. Knowing Fabian's appearance now made Diego immediately sigh heavily. Diego did not expect this incident to happen at that time, even though Fabian was only taking Stellina to buy a cake. "The Nuvoletti Clan's doing?" Diego asked without taking his eyes off Fabian. His tone was emphatic even though it was low. Stellina and Ranzo looked at each other. Their faces showed anxiety. "Yes, they found Vellina and Fabian, and just attacked them." Ranzo decided to answer Diego's question because he realized Stellina was nervous. Only then did Diego turn his gaze to Ranzo and Stellina. Looking at Stellina who was still in shock and watching Fabian with concern, Diego felt a bit annoyed. Although he couldn't lie, there was relief that Stellina hadn't been hit. "Are you okay?" Diego threw a question to Stellina. Stellina gave a small gasp as Diego's question was directed at her. For a split second, she was dumbfounded because she didn't know how to answer. But Ranzo nudged her arm slightly and Stellina regained consciousness. "Yes, as you can see," Stellina replied, showing both hands. Diego frowned, looking around where he stood. "Do you think I can see the details of the wounds on your body?" Diego's sarcastic question brought Stellina to her senses. Stellina knew that Diego needed a complete answer. Not just a simple answer. "I'm fine. There's a cut, but it's just a scratch," Stellina answered in more detail than before. Ranzo, who was standing next to Stellina, took a deep breath and exhaled. "It's lucky you weren't seriously injured, Vellina. Considering what happened earlier, you could have been hurt more than this." Hearing Ranzo's words made Diego frown in astonishment. Diego stepped off the bed and approached Ranzo and Stellina. "What do you mean?" Diego asked Ranzo, his gaze very serious. "I haven't gotten an explanation for what happened to Vellina and Fabian." With a rather annoyed look at Vellina, Ranzo replied, "Vellina didn't want to run to save herself." Having just heard that initial explanation, Diego's gaze immediately shifted to Stellina. There was an implied annoyance there. As if judging Stellina without saying any words. "So?" Diego ordered Ranzo without looking away from Stellina. While Stellina still stood relaxed without feeling at all guilty, Ranzo continued his explanation. "Vellina, didn't you think it through? It was a chaotic situation because we were surrounded by the Nuvoletti Clan. But you chose to face them with your bare hands," Ranzo continued later. While explaining, his face occasionally cringed as he was annoyed with Stellina. "I did that for a reason," Stellina replied. She deliberately kept her answer short because she was too lazy to respond to an argument. Ranzo was even more annoyed by Stellina's answer. "You also had reasons for running away. One of them was so you wouldn't be physically attacked by them." "But in reality, you saw that I wasn't attacked, right? Even though I faced them without a weapon," Stellina once again evaded, not wanting to be blamed. Seeing Stellina's stubbornness, Ranzo gave her an even more annoyed look. "Because you're lucky. What if you don't get lucky and end up like Fabian?" Ranzo asked. "I'd be the one with the hassle of carrying you and Fabian." Stellina returned Ranzo's exasperated look with equal annoyance. She couldn't accept Ranzo's constant urging and blaming her. "I intended to help you. Even though the moment wasn't right, it was my instinct that moved me to help." Stellina continued to defend herself. In front of Stellina, Ranzo nodded his head. "Yes, but you're also a danger because of your attitude. By the time I sent you away, I had already calculated my strategy." Ranzo then turned his attention to Diego, and said, "Diego, you advise Vellina. Her stubborn refusal to save herself and instead joining Fabian's rescue could get her hurt." Suddenly, Stellina's patience was at its limit. The look on her face showed even more annoyance and unacceptance now that Diego was also staring at her sharply. "Hey, I told you that I did that so that Fabian wouldn't get more hurt! How did you get in front of the Nuvoletti clan while carrying Fabian's body, huh?" Stellina's voice immediately sounded harsh and raised. Seeing that the situation was not conducive, Diego interrupted the conversation, "How did it start? Before Vellina and Fabian were attacked by the Nuvoletti Clan." While Stellina sighed and looked away, Ranzo shook his head. Ranzo had calmed himself down so as not to get too wrapped up in the aggravation. Then Ranzo replied, "So, Vellina wanted to buy some cakes and went to a pastry shop in a deserted area. A remote cake shop." Diego was surprised. His eyebrows drew together and he turned fiercely to Stellina. "You bought a cake at a remote shop?" Diego repeated what had upset her. "Vellina, I told you yesterday, buy at a store in the city center! Why are you buying in such a remote area?" Stellina was startled by Diego's suddenly elevated tone. Stellina was momentarily dumbfounded, looking at Diego in disbelief. "Why are you yelling at me?" Stellina asked, not accepting that Diego should talk to her like that. Diego let out a rough sigh and put both hands on his waist. "Because you did something stupid, Vellina. You know that the area of the cake shop is controlled by the enemy clan!" Stellina was instantly speechless. She could not say anything right now. Within seconds, her feelings of annoyance faded away and were replaced by guilt. Stellina shook her head softly. "I don't know..." then her voice trailed off. "I only intended to buy my favorite tiramisu cake—" "But you've almost harmed Fabian and yourself!" Diego cut in against Stellina's words. He was so annoyed that he didn't give Stellina a chance to finish her explanation. Stellina, who did not like her words being cut off, clucked. "Listen to my explanation first!" Diego immediately fell silent. Realizing the emotion on Stellina's face, Diego decided to give in. Meanwhile, Ranzo slowly moved backwards away from Diego and Stellina. The tension between the two of them was suddenly intense. Not wanting to get involved in their domestic affairs, Ranzo finally turned around and walked out of the hospital room. "I just wanted to come to the cake shop I visited as a child with my mother. I came there because I missed that shop," Stellina replied, continuing her explanation. "Did I know that it was the territory of your enemy clan? All I could think about was Arianna. I wanted to make her happy by trying that tiramisu cake!" Diego didn't answer this time. His annoyance gradually faded as he heard Stellina's sincerity for Arianna. Diego couldn't take Stellina's words as false. Because he had seen how Stellina cared for Arianna. Now Diego was calmer, trying to listen to the rest of Stellina's explanation. "If I was selfish, I could have run away and put my safety first. But, you know what?" With a look of intense emotion in her eyes, Stellina took a step forward. She deliberately approached Diego with her body slightly puffed out to challenge him. Diego did not move. Especially when he realized Stellina's emotional gaze. "How could I let an injured Fabian, who Ranzo had to carry on his back, face the Nuvoletti Clan's attack?" Stellina lifted her chin, impliedly urging Diego to think more. "If Fabian dies, you'll have a hard time finding a confidant like him. I know, in your world-the mafia world, it's hard to find someone as reliable and trustworthy as Fabian. So if Fabian dies, can you guarantee to meet someone else like him? Would I not be guilt-ridden?" Hearing Stellina's question, Diego could not answer anything. Diego just fidgeted and looked at Stellina with an incomprehensible look in his eyes. After listening to Stellina's explanation, Diego no longer felt as regretful as before. Stellina's reasoning made sense. After all, it was very ungrateful of Diego to accuse Stellina and blame her. Stellina had tried to save Fabian and only wanted to make Arianna happy. "Fine," Diego said, finally relenting. "I won't blame you. I'm sorry that I yelled at you earlier." Stellina took another step back. She did not want to prolong the matter, choosing instead to let out a frustrated breath. The raging emotions in her chest were calmed as she walked to the sofa. "At least you're okay, Stellina. I was just worried that you and Fabian were seriously injured."