Page 41 of Care: Part 1

Avelina glanced down at the black dress. It was a lot shorter than the one she previously wore. She played with the bottom of the fabric that only reached about mid-thigh, which wasn't her favorite aspect, but she was grateful for the dress.

"I'm sure you look gorgeous in it. I mean, look at you!" Avelina exclaimed.

Bella's hand came over her mouth as if she hadn't ever heard someone say something nice about her before. "Hearing a compliment from someone as beautiful as you makes me want to cry.”

Avelina let out a soft chuckle as she raised her hand that gripped the gold dress. "What do I do with this?"

Bella grabbed a bag from somewhere in the room and held it open for Avelina to put the dress in.

"Alright, let's head back," Bella said before sitting the bag down in the corner of the room.

Avelina nodded her head as she followed Bella out of the room and back to the party. No one was aware of what happened behind the scenes; the party was still in full swing.

Bella and Avelina traveled back to the table where they sat down.

"You know, I heard you crying in the restroom. I'm sorry for being intrusive, and you honestly don't even have to answer, but what has you so down?"

Avelina looked down at her hands that sat in her lap, feeling the need to cry again. She hated it when she already felt torn apart, and there was that one person who managed to try and help pick up the broken pieces.

As she glanced over at Bella, she began to wonder what it was like to confide in someone. Avelina's lips had always provided a strong barrier that stopped words from seeping out that revealed far too much about herself.

"I'm just confused.”

"Is it about you seeing your boyfriend shoot someone? Anastasia told me about it. Sorry, again, you don't have to answer. You can ignore me if you want. Everyone does it all the time," Bella stated with an innocent smile playing out on her lips.

For some reason, her words left Avelina to laugh harder than she had laughed in a while. It was such a sad statement, but Bella didn't seem bothered by it at all.

"What?" Bella laughed. "I’m being honest."

"It's not that he shot someone. In all honesty, I only witnessed self-defense. I'm more confused about how I'm supposed to feel," Avelina said.

"Oh, I see. Well, you do realize that you shouldn't go based on what you are supposed to feel. You can't think about feelings. You just feel them.”

Avelina watched Bella as she grabbed a champagne glass from off the table and began to drink it.

"But I'm scared that if I admit those feelings, then I'm accepting them. And it's wrong to accept them because I could ruin everything I worked so hard for. I got a nursing degree, and I've been a care provider ever since I started college. It’s my chance to emerge into something beautiful. Now, I'm questioning if I should give that all up for a man who deserves the world. He's so honest and has the greatest heart and says the most beautiful words without speaking at all. I mean, a caregiver falling in love with her patient is wrong. My degree, my name, and my reputation would be tarnished forever. And just like that, my dream is gone. How do I choose between that?" Avelina asked.

Bella let out a loud sigh. Her mind was trying to find an answer. She was happy that Avelina let it all out because Bella knew how good it felt to exhale all the negativity life throws at times.

When a waiter walked by, Avelina made sure to grab the glass from his tray. She hated alcohol with a passion, but she needed something to relax her a bit.

" I know I don't know you much, but you seem like a sweet person. Sadly, you can't always be sweet. You need to think about what would be best for you. Not those people in Brazil and not the man you speak of, but you," Bella spoke

"Thank you.”

“You know, I overheard my husband and his brother, Valentino, talking about you. They mentioned your brother and something about a suicide not actually being a suicide,” Bella spoke, her eyes pulling together in confusion. “I don’t know— maybe I just heard wrong.”

“I don’t have a brother.”

Bella opened her mouth to tell her more, but the tattooed man from earlier had returned.

"Avelina, right?" The tatted man asked.

Avelina slowly nodded her head before looking over at Bella.

"Nice to meet you. I’m Vincenzo Rossi,” he introduced before pointing to a guy with light hair. “This is Valerio.”

Valerio gave a brief nod to Avelina just as Vincenzo continued speaking, "he's been instructed to take you home. I'm sorry for the way events have played out today. Hopefully, one day, we will all meet again under better circumstances."

"Bella, let's go," Vincenzo vocalized.

Bella stood up from where she sat. Just as Avelina was about to tell her goodbye, Bella wrapped her arms around Avelina's frame.

"Bye, Avelina. Don't forget to take time out and to think about you," Bella said, smiling brightly before grabbing onto Vincenzo's hand lovingly.

"It was lovely meeting you, Bella!" Avelina shouted at her departing figure.

"You ready?" Valerio asked.

Avelina let out a sigh, not ready to see Adrik once more. However, she did want to check on him and make sure he was okay.

"Ready."