0°Celsius: To thaw a frozen heart

How dare you say such things! Your intense gaze and chilling tone sent shivers down my spine, making me retreat in fear, unsure of your next move. "You clumsy woman! Keep your hands steady or face the consequences! How could you hurt her? Do you have any idea who she is to you?" Alessandro's outburst continued, despite Andrea's pleading attempts to intervene from behind. "Please, Alessandro, it's okay," Andrea tried to soothe, but he remained relentless. "Fools like you don't deserve to be here, yet we gave you a chance. But look at you – you can barely walk straight! How could they hire someone so incapable for this position?" Tears streamed down my face, yet he didn't show any sign of stopping. "Alex, please, stop," Andrea begged once more. "No, Andrea. I won't stop. Can't you see what she has done? You're too naive and kind-hearted – you don't understand women like her. They envy you, and when they can't match, they resort to such despicable tactics. It's revolting." I raised my eyes to meet his, feeling a new depth of humiliation. Never had I felt so low, believing he believed I had acted intentionally. "Oh my God, your hand..." Andrea gasped, noticing the redness and blisters covering it. I glanced down, seeing the painful burn that had been hidden beneath my control. My tears, fueled by his words and the fresh ache, overflowed. Andrea hurried over, concern etched on her face. "Maria, quickly, get the coolant! We need to call a doctor," she exclaimed, her compassion overwhelming. She was a rare gem, so selflessly caring. My gaze followed her as she rushed away, Alessandro's eyes fixed on my injury. It was hard to read his emotions amidst the turmoil. But before I could decipher his thoughts, his expression changed, and he turned away, leaving without another word. Watching him walk away, I wondered when our connection had become so distant. In this battle of shattered hearts, everything seemed justified. After all, love and war know no rules, and this, my friends, was a conflict where innocence collided with betrayal.