He stepped in quietly.
Isabella sat on the bed, eyes empty.
She barely looked up as he approached.
Ray sat beside her.
For a long moment, silence reigned — fragile, almost sacred.
— "I'm sorry," she whispered.
Ray turned to her, surprised.
— "For what?"
— "For pushing you away… for hurting you. I don't even recognize myself anymore."
He placed a finger gently on her lips.
— "Shh… I know."
His voice was calm, almost tender.
— "You've been through something awful. Your mind's still a mess. You don't need to apologize right now."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
— "Thank you…"
— "You should go outside a bit," Ray said softly. "Staying locked up won't help."
— "No… I'm not ready," she murmured.
Ray nodded.
— "Alright then… what do we do? Sit here and sulk, or find something to pass the time?"
She chuckled weakly.
— "We could play a game. Just so it's not so quiet."
— "A game? Hmm… okay. Truth or Dare?"
— "Truth."
— "Alright. How do you feel right now?"
— "A little better. Thanks, Ray."
She looked up at him.
— "Your turn. Truth or Dare?"
— "Truth."
— "How's your relationship with Miria?"
Ray sighed.
— "Honestly? Not great. We haven't talked in days. Feels like she's avoiding me."
— "You think it's because of me?" she asked softly.
— "No, don't worry. Couples go through things. Sometimes you need distance to find your way back."
Their talk turned light, full of laughter again.
Soon the game lost its rules and became a warm exchange.
Then Isabella flopped onto the carpet, pouting.
— "We only do truths! Boring!"
— "And what do you want then?"
— "Dares, obviously."
Ray laughed.
— "Alright, you start."
— "No, you. Truth or Dare?"
— "Dare."
She smirked.
— "Buy me a pretty bracelet online and have it delivered tomorrow."
— "You're kidding."
— "Nope. A dare's a dare."
He sighed, pulled out his phone, ordered it, and showed her.
— "There. Happy now?"
— "Maybe," she said with a teasing smile.
— "Okay, my turn," Ray said, grinning. "Give me a massage."
— "Where?"
— "Relax, just the shoulders."
She sighed, then started. Her hands trembled at first, then grew steadier.
Ray closed his eyes briefly, letting the tension fade.
When she was done, she smiled.
— "Your turn. Sing for me."
Ray chuckled but obeyed. His deep voice filled the room, soft and warm.
— "My turn," he said, amused. "Dance for me."
— "Seriously?"
— "Absolutely."
She laughed, put on some music, and began to dance—shy at first, then more fluid, almost sensual without meaning to.
Ray froze, torn between awkwardness and admiration.
When the song ended, Isabella fell to her knees in front of him, laughing.
— "Well? Impressed?"
— "Uh… didn't expect that," he said, smiling nervously.
They both burst into laughter.
— "Okay, your turn," she said. "Text Axel that you're madly in love with him."
— "What?!"
— "Come on, it's just a game!"
Rolling his eyes, Ray typed the message and showed her.
Moments later, a reply popped up:
Axel: "Are you crazy?! Since when are you into me?!"
Isabella burst out laughing so hard she cried.
Ray, blushing, replied:
Ray: "Sorry, Isabella made me do it."
Axel: "Oh. Good. How's she doing?"
Ray: "She's… having fun."
Axel: "Glad to hear that."
Isabella wiped her tears, still giggling.
— "Okay, your turn."
Ray grinned mischievously.
— "Alright then. I dare you to do a strip dance."
— "WHAT?!"
— "You wanted to spice it up, didn't you?"
— "With or without clothes?"
— "Without."
— "Ray!"
— "Kidding! Keep them on, or I might actually die."
She laughed again, then played a slow song and started to move — this time deliberately graceful, almost provocative.
Ray's heart pounded.
At one point, she got too close. Their eyes met.
Without thinking, he pulled her gently by the waist and kissed her.
For a second, Isabella froze. Then she kissed him back — before softly pushing him away.
— "Wait…"
Ray blinked, realizing.
— "Sorry. I shouldn't have. That was stupid."
— "It's okay," she whispered.
A brief silence. Then a small laugh escaped her.
— "Should we keep playing?"
— "Yeah… sure," he smiled faintly.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the city, Klaus pressed an ice pack against his bruised jaw, gritting his teeth.
The door suddenly slammed open — it was Gale.
Klaus looked up, startled.
— "What are you doing here?"
— "You really dare to ask that?! You tried to hurt Isabella!"
Klaus stood up, furious.
— "It's not what you think!"
— "Not what I think?!" shouted Gale. "You drugged her, Klaus! You were going to use her!"
Klaus slammed his fist on the table.
— "Because I love her! You hear me?! I love her! And if you hadn't interfered, she'd be mine now!"
— "Yours?!" Gale repeated in disgust. "Love isn't about ownership! What you did was monstrous!"
Klaus clenched his fists, anger and shame flickering in his eyes.
— "You don't understand. You've never loved like I have."
Gale stepped closer, his voice shaking.
— "No, Klaus. You're the one who doesn't understand. You're becoming just like him."
— "Like who?!"
— "Our father."
The words hit like a thunderclap.
Klaus froze.
— "Don't compare me to that monster."
— "Oh really? He did the same thing. He destroyed lives… and our mother along with them."
Klaus's voice faltered.
— "You don't know what he did."
— "Oh, I do. You want the truth? We weren't born from love, Klaus. We were born from rape."
The words struck harder than any blow.
Klaus staggered back, pale as death.
— "What…?"
— "It's the truth. I tried to protect you from it, to keep you from the hate I've carried all these years. But look at you now! You're becoming him!"
Klaus shook his head, trembling.
— "No… I'm not like him…"
— "If you keep hurting the ones you claim to love—if you think love can be forced—then yes, you are exactly like him."
Gale's voice broke as he whispered:
— "Real love doesn't destroy, Klaus. It doesn't chain. It frees."
He paused.
— "If you really loved her, you would have respected her choice."
Klaus said nothing.
He stood there, shattered.
Gale looked away, eyes wet.
— "I'm sorry, brother. But I can't defend you anymore."
He turned and walked out, leaving Klaus alone in the cold silence.
Moments later, a furious scream echoed through the room.
Klaus hurled the ice against the wall, kicked the table, and collapsed in rage and despair.