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Half an hour ago

The hospital corridor had already been drowning in silence for hours. A terrifying, suffocating silence. No one moved properly. No one spoke unless necessary. The entire Romano family sat outside Elena's ICU room like broken statues, waiting for a miracle that refused to come quickly enough. The white hospital lights felt cold. Cruel.

Aravi sat beside Nonna while Kiara and Kavya stayed near them quietly. Sofia had cried herself silent hours ago and now sat curled into rose, trembling occasionally. Albert himself stood near the glass window, exhausted eyes fixed on the ICU door while his phone remained clenched tightly in his hand.

The atmosphere felt heavy enough to crush lungs. Albert finally inhaled deeply, preparing to tell everyone to go home and rest for a few hours because none of them had eaten or slept since arriving. But before he could speak--Aravi suddenly froze. Completely. The water bottle in her hand slipped slightly. Kiara frowned immediately.

"Mom ''

No response. Aravi's eyes remained locked somewhere ahead. Everyone followed her line of sight slowly--Toward the television mounted high on the hospital wall. And instantly--The entire corridor froze. On the screen Elena's face appeared. A large photo. Smiling.

Standing beside Nico. Then another photo appeared. Then another. Different men. Different angles. Edited pictures designed carefully to look intimate. The bold red headline underneath made everyone's blood run cold.

"DONATO ROMANO'S SISTER CAUGHT WITH MULTIPLE MEN."

Another headline flashed seconds later.

"ROMANO DAUGHTER INVOLVED IN DRUGS AND SECRET PARTIES?"

Aravi's breath stopped. "No..."

The reporter continued speaking mercilessly while fake edited images filled the screen one after another. Photos of Elena entering the abandoned building. Photos of men surrounding her. Photos altered to make it appear consensual. As if she had gone there willingly.

As if she had been partying. As if she was guilty. Then came the worst one. A blurry image of unconscious Elena being held by multiple men. The news twisted everything cruelly. "Sources claim Elena Romano was under the drug influence during the incident" "Reports suggest inappropriate involvement with several men connected to underground circles. Questions are now rising about the true nature of the Romano family."

"No... no its not true" Aravi whispered weakly. Her phone buzzed violently. Then Albert's. Then Kiara's. Then everyone's. Notifications exploded endlessly. Messages. Articles. Videos. Photos. The entire internet was flooding with it. Lucas had released everything. Publicly.

Aravi suddenly gasped sharply. Like her heart had stopped beating. Then her entire body collapsed sideways. "MOM!" Kiara screamed instantly while catching her before she hit the floor. Kavya rushed toward them in panic. "Call the doctor!" Nonna remained seated in complete shock. Frozen. Her old trembling hands slowly rose toward the TV screen.

Tears filled her eyes silently. "My child..." she whispered brokenly. Albert snatched his phone instantly, rage and horror exploding inside him as he opened one of the viral links. His hands started shaking violently. The comments. The disgusting comments. People insulting Elena. Calling her names. Mocking her. Destroying her character. Calling Romano with name." His vision blurred with fury.

Meanwhile Donato still hadn't seen anything yet. Albert immediately dialed him. The call connected within seconds. "What." Donato's cold voice came from the other side. Albert struggled to speak for the first time in years.

"Donato..." His voice cracked. "You need to see this." Without waiting another second, Albert sent the link. And at that exact moment The entire Romano family realized this was never just an attack. Lucas had declared war. Not on their business. Not on their power. But on Elena herself. On her dignity. On her soul.
____

Present...

Nico's body was barely recognizable anymore. He hung from the heavy chains like a broken corpse, blood dripping steadily from every wound carved into his skin. One of his severed hands lay abandoned on the cold concrete floor beneath him, fingers still twitching faintly from dying nerves. Blood had spread everywhere dark, thick pools staining the warehouse ground, the metallic scent suffocating the entire place.

And yet Donato still looked unsatisfied. His chest rose and fell heavily as he stood in front of Nico, black shirt splattered with blood, eyes colder than death itself. The cruel warehouse lights cast shadows across his sharp features, making him look less human and more like something monstrous dragged out from hell.

Nico coughed violently, blood spilling from his mouth. But before he could even breathe properly. A gunshot exploded through the warehouse again. BANG. Nico screamed. A horrifying, broken scream tore out of his throat as the bullet ripped through his remaining hand.

The gun slipped from Donato's fingers only after the shot echoed away. "You did wrong, Nico," Donato said slowly. His voice was terrifyingly calm now. The kind of calm that came before destruction. "You should have never touched my sister."

Nico trembled violently, sweat and blood mixing together across his face. His body convulsed from pain while tears streamed uncontrollably down his cheeks now. The arrogance from earlier was gone. Completely gone. Only terror remained. Donato stepped closer. Very slowly.

The sound of his shoes against the concrete echoed like approaching death itself. Then he grabbed Nico's jaw brutally and forced him to look up. "I will gouge your eyes out myself," he whispered dangerously. "You wanted to destroy Elena Romano?" His grip tightened harder. "Then pray to God I kill you before I truly lose control."

Nico cried out in pain. But Donato showed no mercy. "And your boss..." he continued, eyes burning with murderous fury now, "what does Lucas think? That he can escape after doing this?" A cruel smile slowly appeared on Donato's face. Cold. Deadly. "No." His voice dropped lower.

"I will drag him out from whatever hole he is hiding in." The warehouse suddenly felt colder. Even the guards standing nearby avoided looking directly at him. "Lucas wanted war?" Donato whispered. "Fine." His eyes darkened completely. "I will give him one." but fisrt let me deal with you."

Then suddenly Donato turned away from Nico and pulled out his phone. His expression remained emotionless, but the fury beneath it was suffocating. He dialed immediately. The call connected within seconds.

"Sir"

"Remove everything." His voice cut through sharply. Every single person inside the warehouse went silent. "I don't care how," Donato continued coldly, "but within five minutes every picture, every video, every article disappears from the internet."

His jaw clenched violently. "Hack servers." "Buy media houses." "Threaten whoever you need." "Destroy platforms if necessary." His breathing turned uneven for the first time. "But my sister's face will not stay online for one more minute." The tech team on the other side immediately responded nervously.

"Yes, boss."

Donato's eyes drifted toward the blood-covered floor. Then toward Nico. And something terrifying flickered inside them. "If even one picture survives," he said softly, "I will bury every single person responsible alive." The line went dead. Silence swallowed the warehouse again. Only Nico's broken cries echoed weakly now.

Donato stood there motionless for a few seconds. Then slowly He looked back at Nico. And the hatred in his eyes made Nico start shaking uncontrollably. Because for the first time. He understood. Death would have been mercy. And Donato Romano had no intention of giving him mercy anymore.

Then donato look at enzo who sat on the cold floor near the wall, his hands stained red with Nico's blood, his breathing broken and uneven like every breath physically hurt him now. His shoulders trembled violently. His eyes were bloodshot, empty, shattered beyond repair.

Then Donato slowly walk towards him. and The moment he sat beside him, the entire warehouse suddenly felt suffocatingly silent despite the screams, despite the blood, despite the chaos surrounding them.

For a few seconds, he said nothing. He just looked at his best friend. Not the terrifying underworld king everyone feared. Not the ruthless Romano heir. Just Donato. Just the boy who had grown up beside him.

Then softly--so softly that it almost broke Enzo more.Donato reached forward and held the back of his neck gently. "Baby," he whispered. Enzo's trembling eyes lifted slowly toward him. "Look at me." The softness in Donato's voice completely destroyed whatever control Enzo still had left.

His lips trembled violently. And then suddenly. He lunged forward and hugged Donato tightly. Not caring about the blood. Not caring about the men around them. Not caring that he was crying like a broken child. A shattered sob ripped from his chest.

"I-I will die if something happens to her..." he choked out painfully. "Donato... I-I can't... I can't live without her..." His entire body shook while speaking. For the first time in years, Enzo looked completely helpless. And Donato felt his own chest tighten painfully seeing him like this.

Because right now. Enzo did not look like the dangerous man who could kill without blinking. He looked exactly like that tiny three-year-old boy Donato had found years ago behind the Romano mansion. Crying silently. Alone. Scared.

Donato still remembered that day clearly. He had been only six years old back then. Enzo's mother had visited the Romano mansion for some gathering, and little Donato had wandered outside while playing. That was when he found a tiny boy sitting behind the garden wall, hiding there quietly while wiping his tears with his tiny fists.

Donato had frowned and asked, "Why are you crying?"

And little Enzo had looked up with watery eyes and whispered brokenly. "I miss my dad... but if I tell mama... she'll get sad..."

That day something inside little Donato had shifted. Even as a child, he had looked at that fragile boy and decided one thing with absolute certainty. He would protect him forever. And now... After all these years... Enzo looked exactly the same in his arms again. That three year old boy. Broken. Terrified. Desperate not to lose someone he loved.

Donato slowly wrapped both arms around him tightly and held him firmly against his chest. "I know," he whispered quietly while closing his own eyes for a second. "I know..." Enzo cried harder. His fingers clenched tightly into Donato's shirt like he was drowning. "I should've stopped her..." he whispered shakily. "I should've told you everything... I should've protected her... I failed her..."

"No." Donato pulled back slightly and grabbed his face firmly. "You did not fail her." Enzo shook his head violently. "She got hurt because of me"

"She is alive because of you," Donato cut him off sharply. That made Enzo freeze. Donato's own eyes had turned red now, but his voice remained steady. "You found her." His jaw clenched painfully. "You reached her before they could destroy her completely."

The thought alone made murder flash through Donato's eyes again. "If you hadn't gone there..." his voice darkened dangerously, "I would have lost my sister forever." Enzo's lips trembled again. Donato softened immediately. Then he rested his forehead briefly against Enzo's and whispered,

"Our Eli is stubborn." A faint broken laugh escaped him. "You know that." Enzo closed his eyes tightly. Donato continued softly, "She used to fight with Albert over ice cream flavors for three hours straight. She once bit my hand because I refused to let her ride a bike in the rain." Despite everything. A tiny, shattered smile appeared on Enzo's lips through tears.

Donato gently wiped the tears from his face roughly like he always did. "So no," he whispered firmly. "Nothing will happen to her." His voice lowered with certainty. "She will come back." Enzo stared at him silently. Donato stood up slowly and extended his hand toward him. "Now get up."

Enzo looked at his hand. "We have to go see her," Donato whispered. "And tell her to wake up soon." For a second Enzo simply stared at him. Then slowly. He placed his trembling hand into Donato's. And Donato pulled him up immediately before wrapping an arm around his shoulder protectively.

Two broken men. One trying to stay strong for his sister. The other barely surviving because the girl he loved was fighting for her life. And together.They walked toward the hospital.

_____

The hallway outside hospital room had fallen into a terrifying silence after the chaos. Only the distant beeping of machines and muffled footsteps of nurses echoed through the cold white corridor. The entire Romano family looked shattered beyond recognition. Fear, rage, helplessness everything mixed together until breathing itself felt heavy.

Inside the room, Elena lay unconscious beneath the pale hospital lights. Machines surrounded her bed. Bandages wrapped around her head and stomach. The sight alone was enough to break hearts.

Donato slowly pushed the glass door open first. Behind him came Albert and Enzo. The moment Enzo entered and saw Elena lying there so lifelessly, his legs nearly gave up beneath him again.

She looked so small. So fragile. Nothing like the loud, stubborn, smiling Elena Romano who filled every room with energy. This Elena looked broken. Enzo's chest tightened painfully. Donato quietly stepped aside, silently giving him space.

Enzo walked toward the bed slowly, like he was scared she would disappear if he moved too fast. His trembling fingers reached for her hand carefully, almost fearfully. Cold. Her hand felt cold. His throat closed instantly.

He sat beside her bed and held her hand between both of his as if trying to warm life back into her body. "Eli" he whispered shakily. No response. His lips trembled violently. "I'm here, baby," he whispered again, softer this time. "I came so please open your eyes now."

Nothing. Only the soft sound of the heart monitor answered him. Behind him, Albert quietly looked away, unable to watch anymore. Even Donato clenched his jaw hard enough to hurt himself. Enzo lowered his forehead onto Elena's hand. And He broke completely.

"I'm sorry" his voice cracked horribly. "I'm so fucking sorry, baby." Tears dropped onto her fingers. "I should've protected you." Another broken sob escaped him. "I should've stopped you I should've told Donato everything I should've investigated that bastard properly" His shoulders shook violently now. "I failed you."

Donato looked down silently. Even he could not say anything against those words. Because deep inside, he blamed himself too. He was her brother. Yet she still got hurt. Enzo slowly lifted his head again and looked at Elena's unconscious face. Her cheeks looked pale. Her lips had lost their color. There were faint bruises visible near her neck and arms.

The sight nearly drove him insane again. Carefully, he brushed away a strand of hair stuck near her forehead. "You know" he whispered brokenly, "you used to call me your personal bodyguard." A weak laugh escaped him through tears. "You remember that?"

His fingers tightened around hers. "You used to say no one could touch you because Enzo was there." His voice shattered again. "But where was I today, huh?" Silence. Only silence. "You trusted me." Another tear rolled down his face. "And I failed you."

Donato finally looked away at that point, his own eyes turning red. Albert rubbed his face harshly, trying to control his emotions. Enzo leaned closer toward Elena slowly. "You know what the worst part is?" he whispered. "I loved you all this time and I never told you."

Albert's head snapped slightly toward him. Donato became still too. But neither interrupted. Enzo smiled weakly while crying. "I thought I had time." His thumb gently rubbed Elena's knuckles. "I thought I would propose to you on your twentieth birthday."

A broken laugh escaped him. "I even planned everything." His breathing became uneven again. "I wanted to tell everyone proudly that I love Elena Romano." He closed his eyes painfully. "But I was scared." His voice dropped lower. "I was scared my darkness would touch you."

Donato's expression hardened painfully hearing that. "I wanted to protect you from this world from people like us" Enzo looked at her face again. "And look what happened anyway." A shattered sob escaped him. "I should've stayed beside you."

He carefully brought her hand against his forehead. "So please" he whispered desperately. "Please come back to me." The monitor continued beeping softly. Steady. Alive. And that tiny sound became everyone's only source of hope.

Sometimes people think they still have time. Time to confess. Time to protect. Time to love openly. But life does not wait. And now, sitting beside Elena's unconscious body, holding her cold hand while machines breathed around her, Enzo would give anything in the world just to hear her call him "Enzo" one more time.

____

The hospital had grown quieter as the night deepened. Most of the Romano family had finally left after Donato forced them to go home and rest. Aravi had refused at first, crying that she could not leave her daughter alone in that condition, but Donato had gently held her shoulders and promised her that he would stay beside Elena the entire night.

He had also assured everyone that the pictures and videos spreading online were already being erased. And he meant it. Within hours, Romano men had wiped almost everything from the internet. News channels were threatened into silence. Articles disappeared one after another. Reporters outside the hospital had tried shoving microphones into Donato's face the moment he arrived earlier, asking disgusting questions about Elena, about the photos, about the Romano family.

Donato had not answered a single one. One cold look from him had been enough to silence half of them while Romano guards handled the rest. Now only a few people remained in the hospital. Donato. Albert. Enzo. Kiara. Kavya. The atmosphere between all of them felt unbearably heavy.

Albert sat beside a sleeping Kavya in the waiting area while Enzo refused to leave Elena's bedside even for a second. And Donato, Donato looked like a man carrying the weight of an entire collapsing world on his shoulders. Kiara had noticed everything.

The redness in his eyes. The tightness in his jaw. The way he looked away whenever emotions threatened to surface. He wanted to cry. She knew he did. But he would not allow himself to. Because Donato Romano was the strongest pillar of the family. If he broke Everyone else would collapse with him.

So he swallowed every tear silently and carried everyone else's pain instead. But since afternoon He had barely spoken to Kiara. not properly. not even looked at her for more than a second. And that silence was slowly suffocating her. Because she knew why.

He blamed her. Even if he tried not to. And honestly, Kiara blamed herself too. If only she had stopped Elena. If only she had called Donato earlier. If only The thoughts were eating her alive. That was why when she saw Donato quietly leaving the corridor alone, she immediately followed him.

And that was how she found him standing on the hospital terrace. The cold night wind moved through his dark hair while the city lights flickered far below them. He stood near the railing in silence, one hand inside his pocket while the other held a cigarette between his fingers. The glowing tip burned faintly in the darkness. Smoke curled slowly around him.

He looked exhausted. Broken. Dangerous. And unbearably lonely. Kiara's chest tightened painfully seeing him like this. For a few seconds, she said nothing. She simply walked beside him quietly and stood there. Close enough to touch him. But Donato did not look at her. He knew she was there. He could always feel her presence instantly.

Still He remained silent. Only taking another drag from the cigarette before exhaling slowly into the cold air. The silence between them stretched painfully. Finally Kiara inhaled shakily. "Ro" she whispered softly. No response. Her fingers trembled slightly. "I'm sorry."

Donato's jaw tightened almost invisibly. Kiara looked down for a second before continuing weakly, "Please talk to me." Still silence. Tears burned behind her eyes now. "I didn't know things would become like this," she whispered shakily. "She was desperate to meet her friend... and I trusted her."

Her voice cracked slightly. "I thought she was telling the truth." The wind blew softly between them. "She said her friend's mother was sick... that she was alone in the hospital. Kiara wiped her tears quickly before they could fully fall. "If I had even the slightest idea she was lying" her breathing became uneven, "I would never have let her go."

Donato remained silent. That silence hurt more than anger would have. For one entire minute Neither of them spoke again. Only the distant city sounds and the soft crackling of the cigarette filled the terrace. Kiara finally gathered courage and looked at him.

His eyes looked hollow beneath the dim light. And suddenly, She realized something terrifying. Donato wasn't angry only because Elena got hurt. He was angry at himself too. Because he had failed to protect his sister. Just like she felt she failed her too. Kiara slowly stepped closer.

"Ro"This time her voice sounded more broken. "I know you blame me." Donato finally reacted. His eyes closed briefly. A tired breath left him. Then at last He spoke. Very quietly. "If I start blaming you," he said hoarsely, "then I'll have to blame myself too." Kiara froze.

Donato laughed bitterly without humor. "She's my sister." His grip tightened around the cigarette. "I should've protected her." The pain in his voice shattered Kiara instantly. "She was scared these past few days," he continued quietly. "And instead of staying beside her I shouted at her."

Kiara's eyes filled completely now. "She cried because of me before leaving that house." His voice cracked slightly there. "And now she's lying unconscious inside that room." The cigarette between his fingers trembled faintly for the first time. Kiara could see it. He was losing control. Slowly. Silently.

"I keep thinking" he whispered, staring into the darkness ahead, "what if that was the last thing she remembers from me?" That finally broke Kiara completely. Without thinking anymore, she stepped forward and hugged him tightly. Donato stiffened immediately. But only for one second.

Then suddenly He dropped the cigarette. And wrapped both arms around her like a drowning man finally finding something to hold onto. His face buried itself against her shoulder while his grip around her waist tightened painfully. Kiara immediately held him back just as tightly, her fingers trembling against his back.

For a few seconds neither of them spoke. Only the cold night wind moved around them while the city lights flickered below the hospital terrace. Then finally Donato spoke. Very quietly. "I'm not blaming you, Kiara." His voice sounded exhausted. Broken.

"But I am angry with you." Kiara's chest tightened instantly. Donato closed his eyes briefly before continuing. "When you were leaving the office" he whispered slowly, "I clearly told you to look after Elena." His grip around her tightened slightly. "I told you not to let her go anywhere."

Kiara lowered her eyes silently."And if something happened" his voice cracked faintly, "I told you to call me." The guilt inside her became unbearable. "But you didn't." Kiara hugged him tighter immediately. "I know and i am sorry for that"

"You didn't even call me to tell me the situation." His voice remained soft. And somehow that softness hurt far more than shouting would have. "Though" he exhaled heavily, "I'm glad you called Enzo." His jaw clenched briefly. "If he hadn't reached there on time" He couldn't finish the sentence. Neither of them could bear imagining it.

Donato slowly pulled back slightly and looked down at her. "But sweetheart" he whispered tiredly, "didn't you think you should've called me too?" That completely broke Kiara. Tears immediately filled her eyes again. "I'm so sorry, Ro" Her voice shook badly.

"I-I was scared you'd get angry." She buried her face against his chest again while speaking quickly through tears. "I thought she would come back on time and when she didn't" her breathing became uneven, "I got scared. I couldn't understand what to do." Her fingers clutched his shirt tightly. "That's why I called Enzo first."

She looked up at him weakly. "I was going to call you too after that but before I could you came home." Her lips trembled. "I'm sorry" Another tear slipped down her cheek. "Please don't be angry with me." Donato stared at her silently for a long moment. Then he sighed deeply and rested his forehead lightly against hers. "It's not the only reason I'm angry."

Kiara blinked in confusion. "Huh?"

Donato looked at her carefully now. "You knew about Elena's relationship with Nico, didn't you?" Kiara froze for a second. Then slowly She nodded. Donato's eyes narrowed slightly. "And you also knew Enzo had feelings for Elena."

This time Kiara immediately looked down guiltily again. Another slow nod. Donato stared at her in disbelief for a moment. "So all this was happening around me" A humorless laugh escaped him. "And I knew nothing."

"I'm sorry..." Kiara whispered again weakly. Donato shook his head slightly. "You knew everything from the beginning," he murmured. "But you didn't think it was important enough to tell me?"

Kiara bit her lip hard. "I thought... they would figure it out themselves." Donato looked at her carefully for a few seconds. Then suddenly. He pulled her back into his arms again. "What else are you hiding from me?" he muttered softly against her hair. "Your guilty expression is making me suspicious now."

Despite the heavy atmosphere, Kiara almost let out a weak laugh through her tears. Then she inhaled deeply. "Ro" Her voice turned softer.

"Hmm"

"It's not only Enzo who loves Elena." Donato frowned slightly. Kiara slowly looked up at him. "Our Eli loves him too." And that That genuinely shocked Donato.His eyes widened slightly. "She does?" He sounded almost uncertain, like he thought he had heard wrong.

Kiara nodded slowly. "She's deeply in love with him." For a few seconds Donato simply stared at her silently, processing the information. Then finally "If she loved Enzo" he frowned, "then why was she in a relationship with Nico?"

Kiara sighed softly. "Because Enzo never accepted her feelings." Donato's expression shifted immediately. And then quietly, Kiara told him everything. How Elena had fallen for Enzo years ago. How Enzo loved her too but kept suppressing his feelings because he was scared of dragging her into the darkness of his world.

How he thought Elena deserved a peaceful life away from mafia bloodshed. How he wanted to protect her even if it meant staying away from her. And how Elena misunderstood everything. "She thought Enzo didn't love her." Kiara's voice softened sadly. "She thought he was going to marry the girl his mother chose for him."

Donato frowned immediately. "What girl? "There was no girl. His mother just mentioned some alliance once he just go with her one time, and then reject her." Realization slowly crossed Donato's face.

"He was trying to make her wait," Kiara continued quietly. "But Elena got frustrated hurt impatient." The pain in her voice deepened. "And then Nico proposed to her."Donato closed his eyes briefly. "And she accepted." Kiara nodded weakly. "She thought moving on would hurt less than waiting for someone who never chose her."

The night wind blew softly around them again. For a long moment Donato remained silent. Then finally. He rubbed his face tiredly and muttered in disbelief, "My God" A bitter laugh escaped him. "So much was happening around me. He looked toward the hospital room through the terrace glass doors.

"And I knew absolutely nothing." His voice sounded painfully heavy. Because now Everything made sense. Enzo's possessiveness. His anger. His panic. The way he shattered seeing Elena hurt. That was not the reaction of a brother figure. That was the reaction of a man watching the love of his life fighting death.

They stayed in each other's arms for a long time after that. Neither of them wanted to move. the cold night wind continued brushing past them softly, carrying the distant sounds of the city below, but on that terrace it felt like the world had gone completely still.

Kiara rested quietly against Donato's chest while his arms remained wrapped tightly around her waist, holding her close like he needed to feel that she was still there. Still safe. Still with him. After everything that had happened today, even breathing felt exhausting. For Donato especially. Kiara could feel it in the way his heartbeat remained uneven beneath her cheek.

In the way his fingers occasionally tightened around her unconsciously. He was trying so hard to stay strong. Too hard. Finally, after several silent minutes, Kiara lifted her head slightly and looked at him carefully. The redness in his eyes had not faded. Neither had the pain. Still, she asked softly, "You're not angry with me anymore right?"

Donato looked down at her quietly. Then a faint tired smile appeared on his lips. "Only if you promise me one thing." Kiara blinked softly. "What?" Donato gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face before answering. "That you'll never hide anything from me again."

The words were simple. Soft. But they made Kiara freeze instantly.Her breathing paused for one second.Donato noticed the slight stillness in her body immediately, but before he could question it further, Kiara forced herself to stay calm.

Inside her mind, thoughts crashed violently. Should I tell him everything? The question echoed painfully inside her chest. Her fingers tightened slightly against his shirt. No No no no. What happened is already over. There's no reason to bring it back now.

Her heartbeat accelerated anxiously. Everything is fine now... isn't it? Why ruin everything again? Just forget it. And make sure it never happens again. That's enough. That's better. If Donato never finds out.

The thought alone filled her with guilt. Because she hated hiding things from him. Especially after everything he had just said. Especially now, when he stood in front of her broken and exhausted yet still trusting her completely. Kiara felt horrible. But fear was stronger.

Fear of hurting him again. Fear of reopening old wounds. Fear of losing the warmth in his eyes whenever he looked at her. So she swallowed the truth back down painfully. Then slowly She nodded. "I promise." Her voice came out softer than before. "I'll never hide anything from you again."

The lie settled heavily inside her chest immediately. And she hated herself for it. Donato looked at her for a few seconds. Then finally He smiled faintly. A tired but genuine smile. "Then I'm not angry anymore." And before Kiara could say anything else, he pulled her back into his arms once more.

This time she hugged him tighter than before. Almost desperately. Donato rested his chin lightly against the top of her head while closing his eyes briefly, allowing himself one small moment of peace inside her embrace. For him This hug felt comforting. Safe.

But for Kiara It hurt. Because while he trusted her completely She was still hiding something from him. A single tear escaped silently from her eye. She quickly hid her face deeper against his chest so he would not notice. I'm sorry, Ro. The words echoed only inside her heart. And somehow That silent apology hurt far more than spoken words ever could.

Bye bye 🫡