Maria was crying nonstop, overwhelmed by the letter from Ryan. She hadn't expected him to go this far for her—no one ever had. She was always the one apologizing, even when she wasn't at fault. But now, for the first time, someone was asking her for forgiveness. The weight of it crushed her, and the tears fell freely for what felt like minutes.
Suddenly, a soft knock interrupted her. Too weak to move, her legs trembling, she decided to pretend she was asleep. She thought it was Trixie or another maid, someone she could ignore without consequence.
But it wasn't.
Ryan's POV:
I'd been pacing the hallway, heart pounding, worried sick. Thirty minutes had passed, and she still hadn't left her room. I knocked, called her name—nothing. Panic rising, I called Trixie.
"Can you give me the keys to your room? It's urgent!" I said, trying to keep calm despite my shaking hands.
She handed them over, shooting me a knowing look before slipping away. I quietly unlocked the door, careful not to make a sound. Maybe she was sleeping.
And there she was—Maria, asleep on her bed. The sight stole my breath. Her soft, delicate face begged for protection; her cherry lips, so inviting and tender; her long, silky hair spilled like a dark waterfall across the pillow.
I felt an unexpected surge of possessiveness wash over me.
No man will touch you but me. You're mine, Maria. Mine and mine alone, I whispered, careful not to wake her.
I sat at the edge of the bed and gently took her hand in mine, fingers intertwining. Quietly, I whispered, "I don't understand it either, but I love you."
Tears pricked my eyes—tears that never came out in front of anyone else. People see me as ruthless, heartless. A Mafia leader who doesn't care for anyone. But that's a lie. When it comes to my family, and especially Maria… I'm the opposite. I can't imagine life without her.
My tears slipped silently down her cheek. She stirred, and I realized she was crying too—soft, shaky breaths betraying her strong facade.
For a long moment, neither of us spoke. We just held each other. Eventually, sleep claimed us both—me resting my head on her shoulder, her arms wrapped tightly around me.
Later, Trixie quietly entered the room to grab a change of clothes before heading out for groceries. She froze, stunned to find her boss and best friend asleep in each other's arms. Smiling softly, she pulled out her phone and snapped a quick photo—a little ammunition to tease Maria later.
She left as quietly as she came, careful not to disturb the peaceful moment.
About thirty minutes later, I woke first. Maria was still clinging to me like I was her lifeline. I smiled, touched by her need for comfort. Trying gently, I slid my hand from hers.
"Maria," I whispered softly, brushing her hair back. "Sweetheart, wake up. I have to leave."
No response.
"Maria," I tried again, caressing her cheek. "Please, I have an important meeting. I can't be late."
Her sleepy voice whispered back, "Five more minutes, please…"
My heart melted. How could someone so tough sound so fragile?
I grinned. "If you want to cling to me like a koala, I don't mind bringing you with me in front of the whole world."
Finally, her eyes fluttered open, confusion mixing with a pout. "Koala? What do you mean?"
"You're not the koala. I am, because I'm the one clinging to you."
She laughed softly, brushing off the moment. "Alright, alright. I'm sorry. I just liked the warmth. It's been so long since I slept this peacefully."
"It's okay," I said, smirking. "If you want, we can do this whenever you want."
She playfully hit my chest, then dashed to the bathroom. "Pervert," she muttered over her shoulder.
"Whatever you say, sweetheart," I smiled as I got ready to leave for my meeting.