Heer
The house felt like a pressure cooker. Tension hung in the air, thick and suffocating. Carlos had thrown himself into his work even more, keeping away from me when he wasn't meeting with his men or handling the mafia's business. His usual cold demeanor had intensified, as if the weight of everything pressing down on him had doubled overnight.
I hated this. I hated the distance. I hated how I felt like I was losing him even when he was right there. The last few days had been nothing but silence between us, punctuated only by the occasional command or cold conversation about the business. I knew he was trying to protect me, but all I felt was the growing divide between us, and it terrified me.
I spent most of my time locked away in the study, hoping that he would come to me. But he never did. The fear in my heart grew with each passing moment, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming—something far worse than what we had already endured.
I decided I couldn't wait any longer. I had to confront him.
Taking a deep breath, I walked toward the study, my heart pounding with every step. I paused at the door, seeing Carlos hunched over a stack of papers, his brows furrowed as he studied them with intense focus. I watched him for a moment, seeing the weight of his responsibilities on his shoulders. He didn't look up.
"Carlos," I called softly, trying to break through the wall he had built around himself. "We need to talk."
He finally looked up, but his eyes were cold, distant. "What is it, Heer?"
I took a step closer, trying to read the man I loved, but he was slipping away from me. "This… this isn't working. You can't shut me out like this. I'm not just a bystander in this. I'm your wife, Carlos."
His jaw clenched, and for a second, I thought he might snap at me. But instead, he sighed deeply, rubbing his temples as if trying to fight off the mounting stress.
"I'm doing this for you, Heer," he said, his voice low. "You don't understand how dangerous everything has become. I can't afford to be distracted by anything else right now. Not even you."
My chest tightened at his words, the hurt and fear seeping into my veins. "You think you're protecting me by pushing me away? That's not how this works. You're not just protecting me from the danger. You're pushing me into it by shutting me out."
Carlos stood up abruptly, his hands gripping the desk as he looked at me with an intensity that made my heart race. "I'm trying to keep you safe, Heer. You don't understand what I'm up against right now. The family is ready to make their move. I can't afford any distractions."
His words hit me like a slap, but I refused to back down. "I'm not a distraction. I'm your partner. I always have been. If you want to protect me, then let me in. Let me help you."
Carlos stared at me for a long moment, his face a mask of conflict. "I don't want you to get hurt. I can't lose you, Heer."
The vulnerability in his voice hit me like a punch to the gut. I could see it now—the fear, the guilt, the pressure. He was carrying the world on his shoulders, and all I could do was watch him drown.
"You won't lose me, Carlos. I'm not going anywhere," I said softly, stepping closer until I was standing right in front of him. "But I need you to trust me. I'm with you. Always."
Carlos
Her words were like a balm to the wounds I had been trying to ignore. But I couldn't let her in. Not completely. Not when the threat against us was so real, so imminent. I had worked my whole life to build this empire, to protect what was mine. And Heer… she was the one thing I couldn't afford to lose.
"I trust you, Heer," I said, my voice thick with emotion. "But this world, this life… it's not a place for people like you. I don't want to drag you into it any more than I already have."
She reached up, placing her hand on my cheek, her touch soft and gentle. "I'm already here, Carlos. I've always been here. And I'm not going anywhere. You're not alone."
Her words tore through me, and for the first time in days, I allowed myself to feel something other than the constant burden of the mafia. The truth was, I was scared. Scared of losing her. Scared of the people who would stop at nothing to bring me down. But mostly, I was scared of the man I had become.
"I can't promise you that it won't get worse," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "But I can promise you this: I'll fight for you. I'll fight for us."
For a moment, we stood there, locked in each other's arms, our hearts beating as one. The world outside felt so far away, the danger, the threats, the enemies… they all seemed irrelevant when I had her by my side.
But I knew the calm we felt now wouldn't last. A storm was coming. And it was bigger than anything we had faced so far.
Heer
I wanted to believe that everything would be okay. I wanted to hold onto the moment of peace we had found. But deep down, I knew that the calm we were experiencing was just the eye of the storm. The real danger was still out there, lurking, waiting for the right moment to strike.
"We'll face it together, Carlos," I whispered, my voice filled with determination. "We've already been through so much. Whatever happens next, we'll make it through. Together."
He pulled me closer, his grip tightening around me as if trying to hold onto this fleeting peace.
"We will," he said, his voice filled with a strength I hadn't heard in days. "But first, we prepare. Because the storm that's coming will change everything."
Carlos
I couldn't deny the truth any longer. The war I had been avoiding was about to hit us full force. And there was no turning back now. The enemy wasn't just outside our walls. They were already inside, waiting for the right moment to destroy everything I had built.
But with Heer by my side, I knew I could face it. No matter what came next, I wasn't going to let them take her from me. I would do whatever it took to protect her. Even if it meant sacrificing everything else.