Donato's POV

Silence. It was the loudest sound I had ever heard. Everyone around me was still speaking. Someone was crying. Someone was praying. Someone was trying to comfort another. But none of it reached me. Because inside my head.

There was only her I walked with a slow step towards the only place where, still her scent is her place the library where my kiara went through hell and I a monster didn't even consider to check on her once.

Now I understand why her eyes was Hollow red when I saw her that day why she was so week, I know she didn't eat properly. Still I didn't go to her. I am a horrible husband my love please forgive me.

I enter inside egnoring the call of my name from behind. i closed the door and seat on the floor.

"Ro... please look at me."

"Please... just once."

"I didn't do anything to hurt you."

"Please listen to me."

My breathing became uneven. I slowly looked at my trembling hands. These were the same hands. That had pushed her away.The same hands. She had spent seven years dreaming of holding.Seven years.Seven. While I-I couldn't even give her seven minutes. A broken laugh escaped my lips.It sounded pathetic.Just like me.

She loved me. Before I even knew her name.She protected me. When I didn't even know she existed.She bled .Because of me.She carried scars. Because of me.She suffered headaches .Because of me.She spent months learning how to walk again.Because she had tried to save my life.

And what did I give her in return? Hatred. Disgust. Accusations. Fear. I called her obsessed. I call her shelfish I looked into her tear-filled eyes. And refused to believe a single word she said. I squeezed my eyes shut. "No" My whisper barely escaped. "No" Every memory began crashing into me.

Like punishment. The night Vittoria stood close to me. Kiara had exploded. I thought she was being unreasonable. No. She was terrified why didn't i stand beside her and told her. that i am only her.

The day Rose kept following me. Kiara lost control again. I thought she was jealous. No. She was scared. Scared of losing me. Scared history would repeat itself. Scared another Tara would enter my life.And I-I never asked why. Not once. I simply judged her.

Then another memory surfaced. The hospital. She had looked at me with those exhausted eyes. "Ro- please don't leave." "I don't trust anyone." "Please stay." I left. Because I believed I had time. Because I believed. There would always be another tomorrow. My chest tightened violently. "There wasn't l."I whispered. "There wasn't another tomorrow..."

Then came another memory. The psychiatric center. She had looked at me while they held her arms. She wasn't fighting anymore. She wasn't screaming anymore. She was only looking at me. Trusting me. Waiting for me. And I-I let them take her away. Because I believed they would only perform tests.

Because I believed she would come home. She had smiled.God. That smile. It wasn't a smile. It was goodbye. I never understood it. Until now. A strangled sob escaped my throat. My entire body shook. I covered my face with both hands."I failed you."My voice cracked. "I failed you, sweetheart..."

Tears poured through my fingers. "You begged me to listen. I didn't. You begged me not to leave. I left. You begged me to trust you. I chose everyone else." Another painful breath escaped. And when you needed me the most. I sent you away."My shoulders trembled violently. What kind of husband does that? What kind of man.What kind of monster..."

I remembered the last kiss.Her tiny hand. Holding my face. Her lips against my forehead. "I'll wait for you, Ro."I had promised. "I'll be back soon." I never came back. Not to her. Not before she disappeared. Not before she drove away alone. Not before the accident. I had broken the only promise she ever cared about.

The ring tightened inside my fist. The ring I had designed for her. The ring she wore until the very end. She had protected it...Even when she couldn't protect herself. A fresh wave of tears blurred my vision. "You loved me So much. I never deserved it."My voice disappeared completely. "I never deserved someone like you."

I slowly lifted my head toward the ceiling. If You're listening...I don't want forgiveness."I don't deserve it.I only want one thing."His voice completely broke. Give her back. I'll spend the rest of my life earning her forgiveness. I'll tell her every single day how much I love her. I'll never leave her side again."

"I'll believe every word she says. I'll carry every scar she carries. I'll fight the world for her."I'll become the husband she deserved from the beginning."A broken smile appeared through the tears."just please give me my wife back. i can't take this pain. i want her. h-how you waited so long love. i can't do this. please please he broke again on the floor.

_____

Outside the library. Silence consumed the entire mansion. Not a single soul spoke. No one knew what to say anymore. Ayush's words had left behind something far heavier than anger. Regret. It settled over every member of the Romano family like an unbearable weight. Everyone stood frozen. Their faces pale. eyes red. Tears silently streamed down one face after another.

No one dared to look at anyone else. Because every single one of them was reliving the same memories. Only now.Those memories looked completely different. Aravi slowly covered her mouth as another sob escaped. She remembered Kiara's trembling voice in the hospital.

"Mom... please forgive me.You don't hate me... do you?" At that moment, Aravi had believed she was comforting her daughter-in-law. Now she realized.Kiara had been apologizing for something she had never truly been guilty of. The older woman broke down completely. "My child-My poor child. She cried into her shaking hands.How much pain were you carrying all alone?"

Albert stood beside the window. His fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles had turned white. He remembered every suspicious glance he had given Kiara. Every accusation. Every time he had silently believed she was dangerous. And yet. She had risked her own life to save his brother.

A bitter laugh escaped him. "We judged her. without ever asking her why." His voice was barely audible. We condemned her before listening to her." He lowered his head in shame. I failed her too."

Mr. Romano sat heavily on the sofa. For years, he had believed himself to be a fair man. Someone who always searched for the truth. Yet when it came to Kiara.He had accepted lies as facts. He had done nothing. Slowly, he whispered,"She kept calling us family...while we treated her like a criminal." His eyes closed."And still she never stopped respecting us." A tear rolled down his weathered face. "I don't deserve to call myself her father."

No one argued. Because they all felt the same. Even the servants standing outside the library quietly wiped their eyes. The entire mansion had changed. Only yesterday... Everyone had believed Kiara Romano was the villain of the story.Today.They realized she had been the one carrying everyone's burdens in silence. The one who loved.

The one who protected. The one who sacrificed. And the one who paid the highest price. The mansion that had once echoed with laughter now felt like a grave. Every corner reminded them of her. The dining table where she had waited for Donato. The staircase where she had greeted everyone with a smile.

The garden where she had played with elio. The kitchen where she had learned everyone's favorite meals. She had quietly become the heart of the Romano family. And only after losing her.Did they finally realize how empty the mansion truly was without her. No one spoke. Because there were no words powerful enough to erase what had already happened. All that remained.Was regret.

_____

After remaining in the library for nearly an hour, surrounded by nothing but silence and grief, something caught Donato's attention. His eyes drifted toward the corner behind the armchair. There. Scattered across the floor.Were dozens of crumpled sheets of paper. As if someone had written something. Read it.Then thrown it away.

A strange feeling settled in his chest. Slowly, he stood up and walked toward them. He bent down and picked up the first crumpled page.His hands froze the moment he unfolded it. In Kiara's neat handwriting, only three words were written.

Ro... I love you.

His heart clenched painfully. With trembling fingers, he reached for another. This one was stained with dried tears. The ink had blurred in several places.

I miss you.

Please... come to me.

Another page.

Ro, please don't hate me.

Another.

I know you'll listen to me one day.

Another.

I only wanted to protect you.

His breathing became uneven. There were dozens of them.No. Hundreds. Every page carried another piece of her pain. Another confession. Another silent cry she had never been able to say aloud. She had been sitting in this very library. Writing to him. While he refused to even look at her.

A broken sob escaped his lips.Then...His eyes landed on a notebook resting neatly on the table. A pen was still tucked between its pages.As though someone had been writing. Only to leave in the middle of a sentence. Donato slowly opened it. The first page was dated only a few days earlier. His vision blurred as he began reading.

Ro, my love...I know you're angry with me right now. But once I tell you everything. I know you'll forgive me.

His hands shook. He turned to the next page.

Ro...Please don't believe anything Rose tells you. She's lying. She came to the library today. She told me she's going to frame me for something terrible. I'm scared, Ro. Please don't believe her. I haven't done anything wrong.

I've tried so many times to meet you...But she always finds a way to stop me. She also told me that she's the one who revealed everything about me to you and your family. She claimed she overheard Enzo and me talking.

Donato's heart skipped a beat. He hurriedly turned the page.

No, Ro...That's another lie.She never overheard anything.She met Lucas. When Lucas kidnapped me. he told me everything.He told me Rose was help him to kidnapped me . He said he had already told her the truth about me. and that she planned to use it against me. She lied when she said she overheard my conversation with Enzo. She already knew everything because Lucas told her.

Donato stared at the page in disbelief. His breathing grew heavier. His fingers tightened around the notebook. He turned another page.

It's true. Enzo knew everything about me. He found the man I had hired to damage Vittoria's car. He confronted me. I couldn't lie anymore. So I told him everything. Do you remember your birthday? The day I came home early with enzo?

That was the day he asked me. He already knew I was your stalker. I was terrified. I thought he would hate me. I thought he would expose me. But he didn't. He didn't judge me. He didn't shout at me. He didn't call me crazy. Instead...He asked me one simple question.

"Why?"

First time.Someone wanted to hear my side before deciding who I was. So I told him everything. I told him how I fell in love with you. How I protected you. why i killed tara How everything happened. After my father and my brothers.Enzo became the fourth person who knew my entire truth.

He didn't hate me. He understood me. He knew I wasn't trying to ruin your life. I was desperately trying to save it. He promised me that he would never tell you any of it because he believed the truth should come from me when the time was right. Then he made me promise him something.

He made me promise that I would stop everything. No more stalking. No more threatening anyone. No more trying to control your life from the shadows. I promised him. I gave him my word. And I meant every single word of it.

Vittoria...She was my last mistake. Believe me, Ro...I never wanted to threaten her. But she was crossing every boundary. She was becoming obsessed with you. People kept talking about how perfect the two of you looked together. I heard them. Again...And again...

Every word made my heart sink. I became insecure. I became scared. I was terrified that someone would take you away from me before I even had the courage to tell you how much I loved you. So I threatened her. When she still didn't stop...I sent one final warning through her father.

That was why he sent her away. After that...I never did anything again. I never ordered anyone to follow you. I never asked anyone to keep watch on your life. I kept the promise I made to Enzo. Even when Rose entered our lives...

I kept my promise. yes...I became angry. Yes...I argued with you.Yes...I lost control of my emotions.But I never threatened her. I never ordered anyone to hurt her. I never returned to the person I used to be. Because I had promised Enzo...And because I wanted to become someone worthy of being your wife.

You always told me..."Rose is like my sister." I wanted to believe you. God knows I tried. But then...She looked into my eyes...And told me...That she loved you.Tell me, Ro...How was I supposed to stay calm after hearing that?How was I supposed to silence my fears...When the woman standing beside my husband admitted she wanted him for herself? I was frightened. Not because I didn't trust you...But because I was terrified of losing the only person I had ever loved.

So first time I warned Rose to stay away from you...I did it as your wife. Not as your stalker. There is a difference, Ro. I wasn't trying to control your life anymore. I was simply protecting my marriage. After that, she came to me. She apologized. She told me she had accepted that you loved me.

She said she wanted to move on. She insisted that we go shopping together. I believed her. I thought she genuinely regretted everything. I thought she wanted us to start over. I was wrong. It was all a trap.She took me there...And from there...Lucas's men kidnapped me. After hours of being locked inside that warehouse...

Something happened that I never expected.Enzo appeared out of nowhere. I was terrified. I kept wondering why he was there.Why had he come? He fought Lucas and all of his men. He fought like a man who had nothing to lose. But when Lucas pointed his gun at me...Enzo stopped fighting.

He surrendered. He looked straight at Lucas and said, "Let Kiara go... kill me instead." My heart stopped. I screamed at him. I begged him not to say that. How could he offer his own life so easily you know i feel jelous of enzo i think he love you, more then i love you .

But Lucas...He found the offer amusing.He untied me...And tied Enzo in my place.For one brief moment...Enzo thought Lucas was actually going to let me leave.He smiled at me.As if everything was going to be alright.But Lucas was never going to keep his word.He was a monster. Instead of releasing me...He imprisoned Enzo as well.

Then he called you.He wanted you to come there alone.Everything that happened after that... Started because of me. If I hadn't killed Lucas's sister three years ago...None of this would have happened.Lucas would never have come after me.He would never have kidnapped your stalker.He would never have used me to trap all of you.

Enzo would never have gone there to save me. He would still be alive today.Every time I close my eyes.I see his face.I hear his voice.I remember him offering his life to save mine.And I wonder.Why was it his life that ended.When I was the one who deserved to pay? I'm sorry, Ro.I'm so, so sorry.

Enzo died.Because of the choices I made three years ago.No matter how many times everyone tells me it wasn't my fault.I can't believe them.Because if I had never pulled that trigger.Your brother.Would still be alive.

Only tears fell from Donato's eyes. With trembling fingers, he turned another page.

Ro.Today I came to our room while you were sleeping. I wanted to talk to you. I came in the middle of the night. Because during the day, Rose never let me come near you. When I entered the room, you were sleeping peacefully. I didn't want to disturb you.

So I only took my medicine. looked at you for a while.and left.My migraines are getting worse every day. I think my FLD is coming back again. its getting out of control. i only wanted you to hold me that time but you never come to see me. why Ro why? did you hate me that much. that you forget i am still in this house.

A broken sob tore through Donato's chest. "No" His voice shattered."No- my love i am sorry." He frantically turned another page. Then another. Every single page told the same story. A woman silently falling apart. A wife writing letters to the husband who never came. A lonely soul fighting her own mind inside the library while everyone believed she was the villain.

His tears blurred every word. He dropped to his knees beside the table, clutching the notebook against his chest. "I wasn't paying attention."His voice cracked. "I didn't notice. I ignored your headaches. I ignored your pain. I ignored every sign. He buried his face in his hands. It's my fault. It's all my fault. You kept telling me you had migraines."

"And I dismissed them. I should have forced you to see doctor. I should have stayed beside you. I should have listened. I failed you."He looked toward the ceiling, his eyes red and swollen. " I am sorry."

"No..."It wasn't only because of what happened three years ago. Lucas didn't kill Enzo just because you kill tara. its becsue of me too. its because he wanted my power. He wanted Italy. He wanted everything I had built. He knew Enzo was my strongest pillar. My right hand."My brother. He knew.If he broke Enzo.Donato Romano would break with him."

A bitter laugh escaped his lips before it dissolved into another sob. "And he succeeded."He destroyed me. I still don't know how I've been standing without Enzo."His breathing became heavier. "And now. You left me too."How am I supposed to live.Without the two people who were my entire world?"

He looked down at Kiara's handwriting one last time. His thumb gently brushed over the dried tear stains on the paper."I promise you.I will give you justice." His expression slowly changed. The grief in his eyes hardened into something far more dangerous. Rage. Pure, unforgiving rage.

"Rose...His voice was terrifyingly calm. "I loved you like my own family.I trusted you. My mother loved you. Elena loved you. Sofi loved you. Everyone welcomed you into this family. And what did you do in return? You destroyed it."You destroyed my wife."You destroyed my brother. You destroyed us."

His jaw clenched so tightly that a vein pulsed across his neck. " now I know it was you."You forged Kiara's medical report. You manipulated that doctor."Who else could have benefited from sending my wife to a psychiatric hospital? Only you." A dangerous smile appeared on his face.

The same smile that had once made the entire underworld fear Donato Romano. "Get ready, Rose. You wanted to see the real Donato Romano. You've finally awakened him."And this time. I won't leave you with anything."You will lose your name. Your power. Your hospital. Your reputation."

"Everything you ever built. And when I'm done. You'll beg for the mercy you never showed my wife."He carefully closed the notebook. As though it were the most precious thing he had left. He placed it inside the hidden safe in his study. Locked it. Then turned around.

Without looking at anyone waiting outside the library. Without saying a single word... Donato walked out of the mansion. There were no tears left in his eyes. Only vengeance.

____

Donato drove straight to the hospital. He didn't stop. didn't speak to anyone.The moment he entered the building, every employee instinctively stepped aside. There was something terrifying about him. His eyes held no grief anymore. Only cold fury. He walked directly to the office of the doctor who had issued Kiara's false report.

Without knocking, he kicked the door open. The loud bang echoed through the corridor. The doctor shot to his feet, startled."M-Mr. Romano-Before he could finish, Donato crossed the room in seconds. He grabbed the doctor by the collar and slammed him against the wall. The impact knocked the breath out of the man's lungs.

"S-Sir... what are you doing?" Donato didn't answer. His fist crashed into the doctor's face. The sickening crack echoed through the office. Blood immediately spilled from the doctor's mouth."You forged my wife's medical report." Donato's voice was frighteningly calm."I know you did."I also know who ordered you to do it."

He tightened his grip on the doctor's collar. "But I still want to hear it from your own mouth."Another punch landed. Harder. The doctor cried out in pain. "Tell me. What else did the two of you plan?" The doctor shook his head desperately. "I-I don't know what you're talking about!"

Donato struck him again. This time the doctor collapsed onto the floor. Donato crouched beside him and grabbed his collar once more. His voice became deadly. "This is your last chance."Tell me the truth.Or I swear you'll leave this room in a body bag." The doctor's entire body trembled. His courage shattered.

"It... it was miss Rose." He cried. "It was all Miss Rose."She paid me to change Mrs. Romano's report.I-I only did what she ordered." Donato remained silent. The silence terrified the doctor even more. He hurriedly continued. "She said Mrs. Romano had to be declared mentally ill before you returned. She said if the real report reached you... everything would be ruined."

Donato's jaw tightened. "What else?" The doctor swallowed. "After Mrs. Romano was admitted to the psychiatric center...Miss Rose ordered one of the nurses to inject her." Donato froze. The doctor's voice shook violently. "It wasn't medicine.It... it was meant to affect her mental state."She wanted Mrs. Romano to lose control completely."

"So that every future report would actually show signs of mental illness. Every word made Donato's rage grow darker. His breathing became slower. More controlled. Which was far more dangerous. He slowly released the doctor's collar. The doctor sighed in relief Only for Donato to kick him brutally in the ribs.

The man screamed in agony. Donato looked down at him without a trace of pity."Be ready to lose everything."Your license. Your career. Your freedom."You destroyed an innocent woman's life. And now.I'll destroy yours you will roat in prison all your life." Without another word, he turned and walked out.

His footsteps echoed through the hallway. He stopped outside a private recovery suite. Room 307. Rose's room. He pushed the door open. Rose immediately looked toward the entrance. The moment she saw him, her face lit up. "Don!" She quickly got out of bed and ran toward him. She wrapped her arms around him tightly.

"I heard about Kiara." Her voice trembled as fake tears filled her eyes. "I'm so sorry for your loss." I can't imagine what you're going through." She hugged him tighter. Donato slowly closed his eyes. His fists clenched. Then. He lifted one hand. Instead of returning the embrace.His fingers slid into her hair.

Rose smiled for a brief second. Until He grabbed a fistful of her hair. Violently. Rose cried out. "Aah!" Before she could react, Donato yanked her away from him. She stumbled backward, tears instantly filling her eyes from the pain. "D-Donato!" His grip tightened. Her scalp burned. She tried to pull away.

She couldn't. Donato looked straight into her terrified eyes. His voice was frighteningly calm. "You really are an excellent actress, Rose." He gave another sharp pull. She gasped. But unfortunately for you. He leaned closer."Your performance is over."

Rose's face drained of every color. "W-What.She struggled to breathe through the pain."W-What are you talking about, Donato?"

"Drop the act, Rose." Donato's voice echoed through the hospital room like thunder. "I know everything."I know exactly what you did to my wife." Rose flinched violently. For a split second, pure fear crossed her face before she forced herself to remain composed.

"W-What are you talking about?" she stammered. "I... I don't understand." She tried to smile. She tried to look confused. She tried to lie. Donato's blood boiled. With a deafening crack-His fist slammed into the wall beside her head.

Concrete splintered. Rose screamed and instinctively shut her eyes, convinced he was about to hit her. She was trembling before she even realized he hadn't touched her. When she slowly opened her eyes again.He was staring at her with complete disgust. The warmth she had always seen in his eyes was gone.

There was nothing left. Only hatred.

"FOR GOD SAKE..." His voice shook with fury. " HOw COULD YOU FALL THIS LOW?" You weren't like this. You were family." His breathing became heavier. My mother trusted you." My sisters loved you nonna love you like her own child."My wife welcomed you into our home."And this.He pointed at her with a shaking hand is how you repaid us?" his voice rose into a roar. "WHY?" Why did you do this?"

Rose finally broke. She fell to her knees. "I-I'm sorry...Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face. "I did it for you. I loved you, Don.I loved you for years I couldn't watch another woman have you I couldn't I tried to move on I really tried But every time I saw you with Kiara. She shook her head violently.

"It felt like I was dying. I only wanted you. I only wanted one chance." She crawled toward him and grabbed the edge of his coat.Please.Please forgive me. I'll confess to everything. I'll apologize. I'll leave Italy. I'll disappear forever. Just don't hate me."Donato slowly looked down at her hand gripping his coat.

Without a word.He pulled it away. As though her touch disgusted him. Rose stared at him with tear-filled eyes. "Don..."

"Don't call me that."His voice was ice. You lost that right."She froze."You know what hurts the most?"I was ready to protect you i defend you when told me that you are intrested on me.I treated you like my own sister. I defended you every time someone questioned you. I trusted you with my family. And while I was protecting you. You were destroying my wife."

His eyes turned red. "You forged her medical reports. You tried to have her declared mentally ill."You planned to inject her with drugs. You isolated her. You manipulated all of us. And because of you. His voice broke for the first time. I sent my wife away." He swallowed painfully "The last thing she saw...was me letting strangers take her." A single tear escaped his eye. "And now she's gone."

Rose cried harder. "I didn't mean for this to happen. I swear. I never wanted her to die." I only wanted her away from you. I wanted you to see that I was the one who truly loved you."

Donato laughed. It wasn't a laugh of amusement. It was empty. Broken. "You call that love?" He took one slow step closer. "Love doesn't destroy people. Love protects. Love sacrifices. My wife spent seven years protecting me. And you spent yours trying to destroy her." He looked at her with complete contempt.I wanted to kill you with my own hands."

Rose's eyes widened. "But I can't." His jaw clenched.Because once. I called you my sister."I won't stain my hands with your blood." He leaned closer until she could hear every word. "But don't mistake that for mercy. You are going to wish I had killed you."You will beg for death before this is over."

Rose's face turned pale. "W-What...What are you going to do?" Donato stepped back. Then calmly spoke toward the door. "Come in." The door immediately opened. Several police officers entered the room. Rose's eyes widened in horror. "No.No. "No, Donato please!"

A female officer approached her. "Rose Russel, you are under arrest." The officer placed handcuffs around her wrists. Rose struggled desperately. "No! You can't do this! Donato Please I love you!"I did everything for you!"

He didn't even look at her. "Take her." The officers escorted Rose toward the door. She screamed his name over and over. "Donato Please Don't do this! I'll tell everyone the truth! I'll confess! Please. Her cries echoed through the hallway until they slowly disappeared.

The room became silent. Donato stood motionless for several seconds. Then he took out his phone. The call connected almost instantly. "In twenty-four hours. I want every hospital, every company, every investment, and every property registered under Rose Russel or controlled through her businesses frozen according to the law wherever applicable."

There was a brief pause. The voice on the other end answered, "Understood, Boss."

And one more thing." His expression darkened. "Make sure she doesn't hide assets or use anyone else to move them. make sure wont even able to hire a lawyer for her case. Cooperate fully with the authorities." "I want every legal avenue pursued.

I don't want her escaping the consequences of what she's done. and i am sending a detail of doctor, i want his liscene cancel. and wont able to have any job in future.

"Consider it done." The call ended.

Donato slowly lowered his phone. His revenge had begun. But it brought him no satisfaction. Because the one person he wanted to tell " It's over, my love." was no longer there to hear it.

_____

When Donato returned to the mansion, he walked into yet another heartbreaking scene. The atmosphere inside the house was suffocating. Everyone stood frozen. In the middle of the living room, Albert stood in front of Kavya, desperately holding both of her hands, refusing to let go.

After Donato had left for the hospital, Ayush had gone to the accident site himself. He had spoken to the investigating officers, who had confirmed that the blood found near the wreckage belonged to Kiara. Once he returned to the mansion to take Kavya back to India, she made her decision.

She wasn't staying. Not anymore. "Kavya" Albert's voice cracked. "Please--- don't do this to us." His grip on her hands tightened as if he believed that if he let go, he would lose her forever. "We just got married, love. And now you're talking about leaving me, leaving this house." His eyes filled with tears. "Please. Don't do this."

Kavya looked at him through tear-filled eyes. Her heart was breaking just as badly as his. She slowly shook her head. "I'm not ending our marriage, Albo." Her voice was barely above a whisper. "But I can't stay here." She looked around the mansion. Every hallway. Every staircase. Every room. Everything reminded her of Kiara.

"I can't breathe in this house anymore. Every corner reminds me of her. I hear her laughter. I remember her smile. I remember how she called me 'Aunt. A sob escaped her lips. I can't...I just can't stay here."

Albert shook his head repeatedly. "No.No, please."You don't have to leave."We'll go somewhere else. We'll travel. We'll start over. We'll do anything you want."Just. Please don't leave me."His voice was filled with desperation. He had never begged anyone in his life. But today...His pride meant nothing. "Kavya...I need you.Please."

She closed her eyes as tears rolled down her cheeks she dont wan't to seprate this family. take albert awa from them and leave somehwere no she can't do this she has to go from here for now.

"Albo. Please let me go. I need time. I need to breathe. I need to heal."The desperation in her voice shattered the last piece of hope Albert had been clinging to. His hands slowly loosened around hers. He swallowed the lump in his throat before forcing out the words.

"O... okay. You need time. I understand."He nodded weakly. Go...Stay with your family." He tried to smile, but it broke before it could fully appear. "But...He looked into her eyes with the smallest spark of hope. "Tell me When...When will you come back?" Silence. Kavya stared at him for several long seconds. Then she answered honestly.

"I don't know." Albert's smile disappeared. "I... may never come back."Her words landed like a knife straight through his heart. "I don't want to return to this house again." She gently slipped her hands out of his. Albert didn't stop her. He couldn't. Kavya walked toward Ayush. She held onto his arm. "Let's go."

Ayush gave Albert one silent look before turning away with kavya. Without another word...The two of them walked out of the mansion. The main door slowly closed behind them. The sound echoed through the silent house like the end of something beautiful. Albert remained standing exactly where he was.His empty hand was still stretched forward...The same hand that had been holding Kavya's only seconds ago.

Slowly...His knees gave out. He collapsed onto the floor. His gaze remained fixed on his trembling hand. As though he could still feel the warmth of hers. But it was gone. Everything was gone. Aravi covered her mouth to stop herself from crying aloud. Mr. Romano lowered his head in silent grief.

Sofia and Elena wiped away their tears. No one knew what to say. Donato stood near the entrance, completely motionless. He had come home hoping that exposing Rose would somehow begin to fix what had been broken. Instead...He watched another piece of his family fall apart before his eyes.

His brother...The man who had always smiled through every hardship...Was now sitting on the cold marble floor, broken beyond words. Donato closed his eyes. For the first time in his life.The Romano mansion no longer felt like home. It felt like a place filled with ghosts. And every one of them carried Kiara's name.