Donato was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't notice the doctors and hospital staff entering the room behind him. Without saying a word, they walked straight toward Kiara. Before she could understand what was happening, two female attendants grabbed her arms from both sides.

"W-What are you doing?" Kiara asked, her voice filled with fear. She tried to pull herself free, but their grip only tightened. "Leave me" she pleaded, struggling against them.

That was enough to snap Donato out of his thoughts. He turned sharply toward the commotion. His eyes immediately landed on Kiara. The two attendants were holding her tightly as she struggled helplessly. "What are you doing?" Donato said. his voice cold. Then his expression darkened. "Leave my wife.

Neither of the women let go. Donato took a step forward, fury burning in his eyes. "I said leave her." Just then, the doctor in charge of Kiara stepped between them. "Sir, please cooperate," he said calmly. "Mrs. Kiara has just attempted to kill Miss Rose. We need to transfer her to a psychiatric hospital immediately. She requires proper supervision and treatment."

Donato slowly turned his head toward the doctor. His eyes narrowed. "What did you just say?" The doctor remained silent. "Mental hospital?" Donato repeated, his voice dangerously low. "Why the hell would my wife go to a mental hospital?" His anger exploded. "She is not mentally ill. Do you understand me?"

The entire hallway fell silent. No one dared answer him. Meanwhile, Kiara wasn't even trying to free herself anymore. She simply stood there between the two attendants. Tears rolled silently down her cheeks. Her eyes never left Donato. She had been certain...After everything he had seen...After Rose had been stabbed... He would be the first person to send her away.

She had already accepted it. But instead...He was standing in front of everyone... Protecting her once again. Fresh tears blurred her vision. For a brief moment... Despite everything that had happened between them... She saw the same man she had fallen in love with years ago.

"Sir, please try to understand," the senior doctor said patiently. "Mrs. Romano is under observation. We need to transfer her to the psychiatric center for further evaluation. We have received reports indicating symptoms of Intermittent Explosive Disorder. We need to assess her condition properly."

He continued calmly, "The doctors here have personally witnessed Mrs. Romano's behavior. Today she attempted to attack Miss Rose, the CEO of this hospital. This is not something we can ignore. We have to take her for evaluation. If she is perfectly fine, she will be discharged immediately. We only need to conduct a few tests and observe her condition. Please cooperate with us."

Donato shook his head. "No." His voice was firm. "She didn't want to kill Rose. I'm sure there's some misunderstanding. Let me talk to my wife. I'll ask her myself. She's completely fine. I know she is."

The doctor sighed. "Sir, if she is fine, then there is nothing to worry about. We are only taking her for evaluation. If every report comes back normal, Mrs. Romano will return home within twenty-four hours. But if the tests confirm the diagnosis, she will receive the treatment she needs. Please don't worry."

Hearing those words, Kiara's attending doctor swallowed nervously. If the tests came back normal...Everything would be exposed. The false report. The lies. Miss Rose had promised she would handle everything. She had contacts at the psychiatric center. She wouldn't let either of them get caught. At least... that was what he kept telling himself.

Donato ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "No... you don't understand." His voice softened. "She's scared." He looked toward Kiara. "How can I send her away like this?" This time Kiara's attending doctor stepped forward. "Mr. Donato, your wife will be completely safe." He looked directly into Donato's eyes.

"You haven't seen everything that has happened over the past two days. She has lost control several times and attempted to attack Miss Rose repeatedly. She behaved the same way in front of your family. You can ask them." He paused before continuing. "And it's not only the people around her that we're worried about." He glanced at Kiara. "She could also harm herself." His words grew heavier. "Do you want that?"

Donato's face lost its color. His heart tightened painfully. No. He couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to Kiara. He closed his eyes for a long moment before taking a slow breath. Finally, he spoke.

"...Fine."The doctors looked at him. "Do the tests."He opened his eyes again. "But listen carefully." His voice turned cold. "Even if every report confirms your diagnosis, my wife will not stay in that center."

The doctor frowned. "Mr. Romano, home treatment may not be suitable if---" Donato cut him off immediately. "That's for me to worry about." His expression became unreadable. "You do your job." "I know how to take care of my wife." The doctor exchanged uneasy glances with the others before giving a reluctant nod. "Very well."

The nurses gently began leading Kiara toward the door. The moment they moved her, she flinched violently. "N-No..." Fear flooded her face. "Where are you taking me?" She struggled weakly against their hold. Donato immediately walked toward her. He gently cupped her cheeks between his hands. "Sweetheart..."

His voice became soft again. "Look at me." Kiara's tear-filled eyes met his. "They're only taking you there for some tests." He brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "They won't hurt you. They won't lock you away. I promise." He forced a reassuring smile. "The moment your reports come back normal. I'll come and take you home. Okay?"

Kiara broke down completely. "I... I didn't do anything." Her voice trembled uncontrollably. "I... I didn't try to kill her. Loud sobs escaped her lips. Donato looked toward the nurses. "Let go of her." They immediately released her arms. Without hesitation, he pulled her into his embrace.

"I know." He whispered against her hair. "I know you didn't." His hand gently stroked her back. "We'll talk about everything." "I promise." "For now... just cooperate with them he kissed her head." Kiara didn't answer. She simply cried against his chest for a few more seconds. When the nurses gently took hold of her arms again, she didn't resist this time.

She only kept looking at Donato. As they slowly led her out of the room...Her eyes never left him. And Donato stood exactly where he was...Watching his wife disappear through the doorway. For the first time...He prayed with everything he had...That the doctors were wrong. But somewhere deep inside... Donato already knew. He was going to regret this.

For the rest of his life. As the nurses led Kiara away, she stopped struggling. Instead, she turned around one last time. Her tear-filled eyes found him again. Then...She smiled. A small...Broken...Painfully beautiful smile. it wasn't filled with anger. It wasn't filled with hatred. It was filled with love. The same love she had always looked at him with.

That single smile shattered something inside Donato. His heart clenched so painfully that he could barely breathe. Every instinct inside him screamed at him to run. To pull her back into his arms. To tell everyone to leave. To take her home. To never let her out of his sight again.

He wanted to hold her. He wanted to wipe away her tears. He wanted to tell her how deeply he loved her. How much she meant to him. How empty he felt whenever she wasn't beside him. But fate...Fate had other plans. Life never gave Donato Romano the chance to confess his heart to his wife.

She would never know...That in a room filled with hundreds of people...She was always the first person his eyes searched for. She would never know...That every time her name appeared on his phone...His heart skipped a beat before he even answered. She would never know...That whenever someone spoke about her...

A smile would appear on his face without him even realizing it. She would never know... That every late night became easier simply because she was sleeping beside him.She would never know...That every house had only felt like a home after she walked into it.She would never know...That despite all his anger...Despite all his heartbreak...

Despite everything that had happened...He had never stopped loving her. Not even for a single second.And as the doors slowly closed between them...Neither of them knew...That this would be the last time Donato Romano would ever see his wife smile.

_____

Once they took Kiara away, Donato remained standing in that hospital room, completely lost. Nearly an hour later, he finally walked out. As he stepped into the hallway, he spotted one of the doctors and immediately approached him. "Doctor..."The doctor turned around.

"How is Rose?"

"She's fine now, Mr. Romano," the doctor replied. "Fortunately, the knife missed all major organs. The wound isn't life-threatening. We've treated her injuries, and she's under medication now. She's sleeping. You can take her home once she wakes up."

Donato remained silent for a moment. Then he simply nodded. "Thank you." Without another word, he walked away. By the time Donato reached the Romano mansion, exhaustion had settled into every part of his body. The mansion felt unusually quiet.

As he stepped inside, he saw Kavya in the hallway. She was on her way to the hospital, while Aravi stood beside her. The moment Kavya saw him, her face lit up. For one brief second, hope filled her eyes. She immediately looked behind him."You came back..." Her eyes searched the doorway. Looking for Kiara.

Looking for her niece. But there was no one behind him. The smile disappeared from her face. Her expression slowly hardened. "Where is Kiara?" Donato lowered his eyes. That single movement was enough. Kavya's heart sank. "I asked you..." Her voice rose. "Where is Kiara?"

Her shout echoed through the mansion. Within seconds, everyone came rushing into the hallway. Albert stepped forward, trying to calm his wife. "Kavya..." He reached for her arm. But she immediately pulled it away and glared at Donato. "Where is she?" she asked again, this time in a cold, trembling voice.

Donato took a slow breath. "They... took her to the psychiatric center." Silence. Then-"What did you say?" Kavya's voice shook with disbelief. "They only took her for evaluation," Donato said quietly. "The doctors said it's just for some tests. Once they're done, I'll bring her back home."

Those words only fueled Kavya's anger. "You let them take her?" Her voice cracked. "You actually let them take her?" "Th-they said-

"I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY SAID!" The entire mansion fell silent. "It's not about the tests, Donato! It's not about twenty-four hours! It's about Kiara! Didn't you see how terrified she was? She didn't need doctors. She didn't need strangers. She only needed you." Tears streamed down Kavya's face. She waited for you. Every single minute she waited for you."

"She believed that once you came, everything would be alright. And what did you do? You sent her to the one place she feared the most." Donato stood there without saying a single word.Every accusation struck him harder than the last. Because deep down... He knew she wasn't entirely wrong.

Albert finally stepped forward. "Kavya." His voice was firm. " Behave You're talking to my brother." She turned sharply toward him. "I don't care who I'm talking to!" She wiped her tears angrily. "If anything happens to my niece..." She looked directly into Donato's eyes. "I will never forgive you."

Her voice broke on the last sentence. Without waiting for anyone to respond, she turned around and ran upstairs toward her room. The sound of her footsteps echoed through the silent mansion. No one moved. No one spoke. Donato remained standing in the middle of the hallway...feeling the weight of yet another person blaming him.

And first time since Kiara had been taken away...A terrifying thought entered his mind. What if sending her there... was the biggest mistake of his life?

_____

From the moment Kiara had arrived, she had not created any trouble. She had answered every question calmly. The doctors found her cooperative. Patient. Quiet. Whenever they asked something, she replied honestly without hesitation. After the initial evaluation, one of the doctors smiled gently.

"You've been very cooperative, Mrs. Romano. You should get some rest for a while. After that, we'll complete the remaining tests." Kiara simply nodded. "Okay." The doctor gave her one last reassuring smile before leaving the room. The door closed softly behind him.
Silence returned. Kiara rested her head against the headboard and stared blankly at the opposite wall. Her body was there. Her mind wasn't.

Every thought circled back to only one person. Donato. She wondered if he had reached home safely. If he had eaten anything. If he was thinking about her. If he would really come back for her after the tests. She clung to that promise. I will come back for you.

His words echoed inside her mind again and again. Nearly an hour later, a nurse returned and escorted her to another room for the remaining examinations.

Blood samples. Brain scans. Psychological assessments. Memory tests. She cooperated with everything without arguing even once. When all the tests were finally completed, they escorted her back to her room. She sat quietly on the edge of the bed. Her empty gaze remained fixed on the floor. Minutes passed. The hallway outside remained unusually quiet.

Then...Faint voices drifted through the partially closed door. At first, Kiara ignored them. Hospitals were always noisy. Doctors. Nurses. Patients. She had no reason to pay attention. But then...She heard her own name. Mrs. Kiara. Her head lifted immediately.

A strange uneasiness settled inside her chest. Slowly, she got off the bed. Carefully, she walked toward the door without making a sound.

She stopped beside it and listened. Outside, two nurses stood in the hallway speaking in hushed voices. "Are you sure you're going to do this?" one of them asked nervously.
"I'm sure," the other replied. "What choice do I have? Miss Rose is paying a huge amount of money for this." Kiara's heartbeat skipped. Money? What were they talking about?

The first nurse lowered her voice even further. "By the way... what kind of injection is it?"

"I don't know all the details," the second nurse answered. "But the doctor told me it's something that will make Mrs. Kiara lose control of her mind." Kiara's entire body went cold. Her breathing stopped. She pressed herself closer to the door, afraid she had heard wrong.

The first nurse whispered anxiously, "But... weren't you supposed to give it before the tests?" "Yes," the second nurse replied with irritation. "I was supposed to. But I never got the chance." She shrugged carelessly. "Who's going to know? I'll give it now." Fear rushed through Kiara like ice. Her fingers curled into fists. They were planning...They were planning to inject her with something that would make her appear mentally unstable.

Rose How much lower can you fall? Before either nurse could say another word, a man's voice interrupted them. "You two, go to Ward Number Four. The patient is getting out of control. The doctor needs both of you immediately." Both nurses answered at once. "Yes, sir."

Their footsteps quickly disappeared down the corridor. Kiara remained frozen behind the door. Her face had turned completely pale. One thought echoed inside her mind. They were going to make me look insane. No... no... I have to leave from here.

Kiara began pacing restlessly around the room. Her heart pounded violently against her chest. Every second felt heavier than the last. If what she had overheard was true, then she couldn't stay here another minute. Rose wanted to destroy her. She wanted everyone to believe she was truly insane.

"I won't let her win," Kiara whispered to herself. Taking a deep breath, she slowly opened the door. The corridor outside was completely empty. No nurses. No doctors. No guards. Her heart skipped a beat. this is my chance.

Without wasting another second, she slipped out of the room, closing the door as quietly as possible behind her. She walked carefully through the corridor, making sure her footsteps made no sound. After several minutes, she finally reached the hospital's open parking area. Just as she was about to move forward, she suddenly noticed a woman standing beside a parked car.

Instinctively, Kiara hid behind a nearby pillar. Her first thought was that the woman was one of the nurses. But after watching her for a few moments, Kiara realized something was strange. the woman was talking to herself while absentmindedly playing with the car keys in her hand. Only then did Kiara understand.

She wasn't a staff member. She was another patient. What caught Kiara's attention wasn't the woman...It was the car keys. She knew what she was about to do was risky. Very risky. But she had no choice. If she stayed here, Rose's plan would succeed. Taking another deep breath, Kiara stepped out from behind the pillar and slowly approached the woman.

The woman immediately stopped playing with the keys and hid them behind her back. She stared suspiciously at Kiara. "What?" she asked, sounding almost like a child. Kiara offered her a gentle smile. "Are you a patient here?" The woman looked Kiara up and down before suddenly bursting into laughter. "No."

She folded her arms proudly. "I'm the doctor here." She laughed even harder. For a brief moment, sadness crossed Kiara's face. What had this woman gone through? What kind of pain had turned her into this? Life could be unbelievably cruel. Pushing those thoughts aside, Kiara smiled and decided to play along. "Oh..."

She nodded seriously. "So you're the doctor." The woman smiled proudly. Kiara looked toward the car. "Is this your car?" The woman nodded excitedly. "Yes! It's mine. Hmm..." Kiara pretended to admire it. "It's beautiful. I've always wanted to ride in a car like this." She looked back at the woman. "Would you let me borrow it just once?"

The woman narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "What will you give me if I let you take it?

Anything you want," Kiara replied immediately. The woman's face brightened. "Will you bring me lots and lots of tasty food?" She pouted. "The food here is terrible." Kiara nodded without hesitation. "Yes.nI promise. I'll bring you all the delicious food you want." The woman's face lit up like a child receiving the greatest gift. "Okay." She happily placed the keys into Kiara's hand. "Here."

Kiara smiled gratefully before asking softly, "Where did you get these keys?" The woman leaned closer and whispered proudly, "Don't tell anyone. I stole them from the office." The moment she finished speaking, she burst into loud laughter. Kiara couldn't help smiling too. She looked around one last time. The parking lot was still empty.

Quickly opening the driver's door, she got inside the car. Before starting the engine, she lowered the window and looked back at the woman. "I'll come back soon. I'll bring you lots of delicious food." The woman waved excitedly. "I'll wait!" Kiara smiled one last time before starting the engine.

The car slowly pulled out of the parking lot...then accelerated onto the empty road. Behind her, the woman sat happily on a nearby bench, smiling to herself while waiting for the promised food. Inside the moving car, Kiara tightened her grip on the steering wheel. A wave of guilt washed over her.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I used your innocence." Tears gathered in her eyes. "But I promise. Once I reach home.I'll come back. I'll come back with my husband. And I'll bring you more delicious food than you can ever eat." She smiled sadly. "Thank you angel." Then she looked straight ahead.

Her eyes filled with determination. She pressed harder on the accelerator. She wasn't running away anymore. She was going home. To her husband. To tell him the truth before it was too late.

____

After an hour, when the nurse came to check on Kiara, she frowned the moment she saw the empty bed. For a second, she assumed Kiara was in the bathroom. "Mrs. Romano?" she called softly. No answer. She waited for almost ten minutes, expecting Kiara to come out. Still nothing. A strange feeling settled in her chest.

She quickly walked to the bathroom and pushed the door open. It was empty. The nurse's eyes widened. "Where did she go?" Panic immediately took over. She rushed out of the room and began searching every corridor, every waiting area, and every nearby ward. She checked the cafeteria. The garden. The reception. The emergency wing.

Every floor. an entire hour passed. There was still no sign of Kiara. Breathing heavily, she finally ran toward the doctor in charge of Kiara's treatment. "Doctor!" she called urgently. The doctor turned around. "What happened?"

"Mrs. Kiara Romano... she's not in her ward." The doctor's eyebrows knitted together. "What do you mean she's not in her room? She must be somewhere nearby. Search again. "I already did, sir." The nurse was almost out of breath. "I searched the entire hospital for over an hour. I couldn't find her anywhere."

She swallowed hard. "I think... I think she ran away." The doctor's face instantly turned pale. "What are you saying?" His voice rose in panic. "Do you even realize who she is? She is Donato Romano's wife. If Mr. Romano finds out that his wife disappeared from our hospital... or something happened to her..."

He stopped, unable to finish the sentence. "He'll destroy all of us." He immediately turned around to his asisent. "Come with me. We're checking the CCTV." Within minutes, they were standing inside the security room. The security staff replayed the footage. Everyone stared silently at the screen. There...

Kiara quietly stepped out of her room. She carefully looked around the hallway before walking toward the parking area. The footage switched to the parking lot cameras. They watched Kiara approach one of the female patients. The two talked for a few moments. Then the patient handed Kiara a set of car keys.

The next second---Kiara got inside a car. Started the engine. And drove straight out of the hospital gates. Silence filled the room. The doctor's assistant, who had been standing quietly behind everyone, suddenly went completely pale. "N-no..." His lips trembled. "No... no..."

The doctor frowned. "What happened?" The assistant looked like all the blood had drained from his face. "S-sir...That car..." He pointed at the monitor with a shaking hand. "...it's mine." Everyone turned toward him. The doctor's expression hardened. "And?" The assistant swallowed. "I-it..." His voice almost disappeared."...its brakes are faulty, sir."

For one horrifying second... Nobody spoke. The entire security room froze. Then-"Shit!" The doctor slammed his hand against the desk. "We have to call Mr. Romano immediately, before something happened, before its too late!" The assistant looked at the frozen CCTV screen. His voice barely came out. "...Or maybe...we're already too late."

The doctor snapped his head toward him. "What do you mean?" The assistant pointed at the timestamp displayed on the monitor. "Sir...The nurse said Mrs. Romano has been missing for over an hour." He looked back at the screen. But according to the CCTV...she actually left the hospital almost two hours ago." His throat went dry. "Which means..."

He couldn't finish. The doctor closed his eyes for a second before letting out a frustrated breath. "Fantastic." He rubbed his forehead. "Be prepared to lose your jobs." He looked around at everyone in the room. "Because if anything happens to Mrs. Romano. "There is no way Donato Romano will let any of us walk away unharmed."
____

Before calling Donato, the doctors and hospital staff again searched everywhere for Kiara. Every corridor. Every ward. Every stairwell. The parking lot. The hospital grounds. They even contacted nearby security checkpoints.Nothing. There wasn't a single trace of her. The car she had taken had no GPS tracker, making it impossible to locate. With no other choice left, the doctor finally called Donato.

Less than thirty minutes later...The sound of screeching tires echoed outside the psychiatric center. A black car came to an abrupt stop. Before it had fully halted, Donato pushed the door open and stormed inside. Albert followed closely behind him. The moment Donato entered the building, every doctor, nurse, and staff member froze.

His face was terrifying. His eyes were bloodshot. His breathing was uneven. He looked like a man seconds away from destroying everything around him. Without wasting another second, he grabbed the doctor by the collar. "WHERE IS MY WIFE?" His roar echoed through the entire hallway.

The doctor trembled violently. "S-sir...W-we don't know."

Donato's grip tightened. "What did you just say?"

The doctor struggled to breathe. "After her tests... Mrs. Romano returned to her room to rest. We don't know what happened after that. S-somehow...she managed to get the keys from one of our patients...and drove away." His voice shook uncontrollably. "We still don't know how she convinced the patient."

Albert stepped forward. His expression had become equally grim. "When did this happen?" The doctor lowered his head. "I-it...It happened...three hours ago, sir." The hallway fell silent. For one second...

Donato didn't move.Then---His fist slammed into the doctor's face. The doctor crashed onto the floor with blood dripping from his nose. "You bastard!" Donato's voice shook with uncontrollable rage. "MY WIFE HAS BEEN MISSING FOR THREE HOURS...AND YOU'RE TELLING ME NOW?"

He took another step toward the fallen doctor. "I SWEAR TO GOD...IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO MY WIFE...I WILL BURY EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU ALIVE!" No one dared move. No one dared speak. Every nurse stood frozen in terror. The doctor struggled to stand, shaking violently.Albert immediately grabbed Donato's arm before he could attack again.

"Donato." His voice was firm. "Calm down. We'll deal with them later. Right now...We have to find Kiara." Donato stood breathing heavily. His fists remained clenched. Every second that passed made his fear grow stronger. Albert turned toward the hospital staff. "Did you track the car?"

The doctor's assistant swallowed nervously. His legs almost gave out beneath him. "S-sir...There isn't...any tracker installed in that vehicle." Albert's expression darkened. Donato slowly turned his head toward the assistant. His voice came out frighteningly calm. "What?"

The assistant could barely speak. "I-it...Donato took one threatening step closer. "IT'S WHAT?" The assistant shut his eyes. "The... the brakes...They're faulty, sir. They failed weeks ago." For a heartbeat...Everything around Donato went completely silent. His heart stopped. His breathing stopped. His mind went blank.

Only one thought echoed inside his head. Kiara...His Kiara...Was driving a car with failed brakes."No... no... no...The words kept falling from Donato's lips like a broken prayer. His face had turned completely pale. His breathing became uneven. He kept shaking his head over and over as if refusing to accept what he had just heard.

"No... not Kiara..." Albert immediately grabbed both of his shoulders before he completely lost control. "Donato!" His voice was firm despite the fear in his own eyes. "Pull yourself together." Donato looked at him with tear-filled eyes. Albert took a deep breath and spoke as calmly as he could. "We don't have time to break down."

"The first thing we have to do is report this to the police. Then we find Kiara. The police can trace the car through the highway CCTV cameras. They'll know which direction she went. Come on. We're bringing her back." Donato closed his eyes for a brief second. His entire body was trembling. Then he slowly nodded.

Without wasting another moment, they informed the police about everything that had happened. Within minutes, the entire police department was on alert. The missing car's details were immediately circulated. Traffic control rooms began checking every highway camera. Nearby patrol units were dispatched. Roadblocks were prepared.

Every available officer joined the search. The CCTV footage slowly began revealing Kiara's route. Camera after camera captured the stolen vehicle speeding along the highway. The police mapped the direction. Search teams split into multiple groups. Donato refused to stay behind. He took several of his own men and joined the search personally. when day went ,evening come. and night on the way. no one give attention.

Police vehicles spread across different roads while Donato's convoy searched another route. Every passing minute felt like an hour. Every second without news suffocated him. His phone remained tightly clutched in his hand. He prayed continuously. Please...Please let her be safe. Take anything from me...Just don't take my Kiara.

Suddenly---His phone rang. Donato immediately answered without even looking at the screen. "This is Donato."

The officer on the other end sounded tense. "Mr. Romano...We've found a vehicle matching the description."

Donato stopped walking. His heartbeat pounded loudly inside his ears. "W-where?"

"There are signs that the car lost control on the highway." The officer paused before continuing. "It crashed through the roadside barrier...and fell into the forest below."

For one terrifying moment...Donato forgot how to breathe. The phone almost slipped from his trembling hand. His face drained of every trace of color. "No..." He whispered. "No..." Albert immediately noticed something was wrong. "What happened?" Donato looked at him.

His lips trembled violently. "They...They found the car." Albert's own heart sank. "Where?" Donato swallowed painfully."It..."It crashed...into the forest." Silence surrounded them. Then Donato suddenly ran toward his car. "Move!" He shouted at his men. "NOW!"

The convoy roared to life. Police sirens echoed ahead of them as both teams raced toward the crash site. Inside the speeding vehicle, Donato sat frozen. His fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles had turned white. Tears blurred his vision. He looked out of the window and silently prayed over and over. "Please, God..."Not my Kiara. Please...Don't take her away from me."

First time in years...The feared Donato Romano wasn't praying for power...He wasn't praying for revenge...He wasn't praying for victory. He was praying only for one life. His wife's.

____

By the time Donato reached the crash site, the entire area had been sealed off. Police vehicles lined the highway. Their flashing lights illuminated the dark forest below. Several officers stood near the broken roadside barrier where the car had crashed through the railing before plunging down the steep slope.

Without waiting for anyone, Donato jumped out of his car. "Sir!" An officer called after him. "The ground is unstable---But Donato wasn't listening. Nothing could stop him. Not anymore. He hurried toward the edge, where a team of officers was already waiting to lead him down the narrow path into the forest.

Albert stayed close behind him, afraid his younger brother would collapse at any moment. The descent felt endless. Branches scratched against their clothes. The smell of wet soil and broken trees filled the air. Then...Donato saw it. The car. It lay crushed against several massive trees, its front completely destroyed.

The windshield had shattered. The doors were twisted beyond recognition. Smoke still rose faintly from the mangled vehicle. One of the officers stepped forward and quietly handed Donato a photograph. "It matches the vehicle that was reported stolen from the psychiatric center."

Donato looked down. The number plate. It was the same. Exactly the same. His heart stopped. His knees almost gave way beneath him. For a terrifying second, the entire world blurred. Albert immediately reached out, but Donato steadied himself before falling. With slow, lifeless steps, he walked toward the wreckage.

Every step felt heavier than the last. His eyes desperately searched the car. The seats. The shattered windows. The blood smeared across the broken glass. But there was no sign of Kiara. No sign at all. A senior police officer approached quietly. His face was filled with sympathy. "Mr. Romano..."

Donato didn't look at him. His eyes remained fixed on the wreck. "We searched the entire surrounding area. We found signs that someone may have been thrown from the vehicle during the crash." He hesitated before continuing. "But...There is no sign of your wife."

Donato slowly turned toward him. The officer lowered his voice. "This is a protected forest. There are many wild animals here. He swallowed hard. "We can't say for certain what happened...but it is possible that wildlife disturbed the scene before we arrived the accident happned after one hour when your missing."

The words hit Donato like a bullet. His legs finally gave out. He dropped heavily onto his knees. "No...The whisper barely escaped his lips. "No...It can't be..." Albert immediately rushed to him and caught him before he collapsed completely. He held his younger brother tightly. His own eyes burned with tears. This couldn't be happening.

It couldn't. They had already lost Enzo. Not Kiara too. Please... Not her. Donato didn't cry. Not at first. He simply stared blankly at the crushed car. His face had become completely empty. Like every emotion inside him had died. It was as though someone had ripped the soul from his body. Then another officer hurried toward them.

"Mr. Romano." His voice was hesitant. "We found something." He carefully held out a small transparent evidence pouch. Inside it...Was a ring. A delicate ring. One Donato recognized instantly. His hands began trembling before he even touched it. It was the ring he had personally designed.

The ring he had given Kiara in India as a special gift after their marriage. He remembered the smile on her face that day. The way she had admired it like it was the most precious thing in the world. She had promised never to take it off. Now...It was lying inside an evidence bag.

Covered with dirt. Without her. Donato reached out with shaking fingers. The moment he touched the pouch...Something inside him shattered. A broken, animal-like scream tore from his throat. It echoed through the silent forest. Raw. Hopeless. Filled with a pain so unbearable that every officer standing nearby lowered their heads.

"NO!" His voice cracked violently. "KIARA!" He clutched the evidence bag against his chest as if holding the last remaining piece of her. Tears burst from his eyes. violent sobs shook his entire body. "I'M SORRY PLEASE COMR BACK!"

He cried uncontrollably. "I'm sorry...I should have stayed with you...I should never have let you go...please please come to me sweetheart PLEASE."

Albert could no longer hold back his own tears. He wrapped both arms around his younger brother, holding him like a frightened child. Donato buried his face against Albert's shoulder and cried with every bit of strength he had left. The feared Donato Romano...Had completely broken.

Around them, the forest remained silent. Only Donato's heartbreaking cries echoed through the trees. And every person standing there silently prayed...That somehow...Against all odds... Kiara was still alive.

______

The police immediately sealed off the entire crash site. Yellow caution tape surrounded the wreckage as forensic officers carefully examined every inch of the area. Evidence markers were placed around the crushed vehicle. Blood stains found near the car were collected and immediately sent to the forensic laboratory for DNA testing.

The officers were convinced that whatever had happened after the crash would eventually be answered by the evidence. Search teams continued sweeping the forest. Tracking dogs were brought in. Drones scanned the dense trees from above.

Every possible route was searched. But nothing. No sign of Kiara. No footprints. No torn pieces of clothing. No body.Only silence. Donato refused to believe any of it. He ignored every officer who tried to stop him. Ignoring the cuts on his hands and the branches scraping his skin, he searched the forest himself.

Again. And again. And again. His own men followed behind him, calling Kiara's name through the trees. "Kiara!" "Mrs. Romano!" Their voices echoed through the forest, but only silence answered them. Hours passed. The sun slowly disappeared. Night swallowed the forest. Still...Nothing. Finally, exhaustion defeated even Donato.

He walked back to the crash site. Without saying a single word, he slowly sat on the cold ground a few feet away from the wrecked car. His eyes never left the broken vehicle. His fingers tightly held Kiara's ring. The ring trembled inside his shaking hands. Tears rolled silently down his face. He rubbed the ring gently with his thumb, as if trying to wipe away the dirt covering it.

His lips quivered. "Kiara..."His voice was barely audible. I'm here...You said you would wait for me...So why aren't you answering?" He looked toward the dark forest. "Please... Just come back. I won't ask you anything. I won't fight with you. I won't leave your side ever again. Just come back..."

His voice broke. "Kiara..." He called her name again. And again. And again. Until his throat became raw. Until his voice disappeared completely. Every person standing nearby lowered their heads. No one had the courage to interrupt him. Watching Donato Romano break was more painful than anything they had witnessed before.

Then...His vision blurred. His breathing became uneven. The world around him began spinning. The ring slipped slightly from his trembling fingers. Before anyone could react---His body collapsed.

"Donato!" Albert caught him just before his head hit the ground. "Call an ambulance!" Within minutes, Donato was rushed to the nearest hospital.

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An hour later... Donato slowly regained consciousness. The first thing he remembered was Kiara. He abruptly sat up. "Kiara!" He tried pulling the IV from his arm. "I have to go back. she is waiting for me, I have to find her."

Albert immediately stopped him. "Donato. No. We searched the entire night. They're still searching." But Donato refused to listen.

"I have to go. What if she's waiting for me? What if she's injured?" What if she's calling my name? I have to go!" He struggled to get out of bed. Albert held him firmly. His own eyes were swollen from crying.

"Donato...Please." His voice cracked. You have to calm down. We'll keep searching."But right now...We have to go home. Everyone is waiting for us. Donato stared at him with lifeless eyes. His phone kept vibrating beside him. Albert's phone rang as well. One call after another. The family.

Everyone wanted an update. Without looking at the screen, he silenced every call. Nothing mattered more than getting his younger brother home before he completely broke down. Somehow...With endless effort...

Albert managed to convince Donato to leave the hospital. The drive back to the Romano Mansion was painfully silent. Donato didn't move. Didn't speak. Didn't even blink. His fingers remained tightly wrapped around Kiara's ring, as though letting go of it meant losing her forever.

Outside, the morning sun had already risen. But inside the car...Everything felt dark. Everything felt dead. The moment the car stopped, Albert stepped out and opened Donato's door. Donato walked inside like a man without a soul.

Every step was slow. Heavy. Lifeless. The entire family had been waiting in the living room since dawn. The moment they saw Donato...Every conversation stopped. Aravi rushed toward her son. Before she could even ask a single question---Donato suddenly wrapped his arms around her.

He held her with all the strength he had left. Then...He completely fell apart his knees hit the floor. A heartbreaking sob escaped his lips. His entire body shook violently as he cried against his mother's stomach like a helpless child.

"M... Mom..." His voice was barely recognizable. "I..."He struggled to breathe. "I lost her..." Fresh tears poured down his face. "I lost her too..."His words echoed through the silent mansion. For one horrifying second...Nobody moved. Nobody spoke.

Then tears began falling from every pair of eyes. Aravi froze. Her own heart shattered. She immediately wrapped both arms around her son, gently stroking his hair while crying just as hard. "No..." "No..." She whispered through her sobs.

Albert lowered his head. His shoulders trembled. Kavya covered her mouth to stop herself from screaming. Lilli broke down completely. Mr. Romano closed his eyes, unable to watch his son in that state. The entire mansion drowned in grief once again.

Only a few days earlier...They had believed they had lost Enzo. Now...They believed they had lost Kiara too. No one knew what to say. No words could comfort a man whose entire world had collapsed. They had always known Donato Romano as an unshakable man. The strongest member of the Romano family.

The fearless mafia leader. The man who stood like a wall whenever everyone else fell apart. The man who never cried. Never showed weakness. Never let emotions control him. But today...That Donato Romano no longer existed. The feared mafia boss had disappeared. Standing in his place was only...

Ro. Kiara's Ro. A husband whose heart had been ripped out. A man mourning the woman he loved with every piece of his soul. And as he cried helplessly in his mother's arms...Everyone realized something that terrified them even more than Kiara's disappearance. They hadn't only lost Kiara. They had lost Donato too.

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