It had been two months since the night that ruined everything apart. The farmhouse walls felt like both safe and a cage. Alena's body was healing; her leg was still weak, but she could walk with the help of a stick. The physical wounds were almost healed, but her soul remained unreachable. She was pale, silent, carrying the emptiness of someone hollowed out.
Kieran handled his business operations from the farmhouse and ordered his men to keep Alena a secret from his father, Henry Moretti. No one dared to disobey him. Because fear of betrayal ran deep in the Moretti circle.
Kieran has been searching relentlessly for Razer Luca, but there has been no trace of him. Luca's seized stock is locked inside one of Moretti's warehouses under Henry's control. But Luca himself had vanished like smoke.
But even with his work and constant being watchful and alert, Kieran never let a day pass without checking on Alena. Never let an hour pass without making sure she was cared for. She was his wound, his guilt, his oath.
That evening, as he always did, he walked to her room. But when he pushed the door open, the bed was empty. His eyes flicked to the bathroom. "Alena?" he called.
No response.
"Alena?" His voice was a little louder, echoing in the silent room.
Still nothing.
His chest tightened. He stepped inside, checking corners as if she might be hiding. His voice dropped to a harsh panic. "Alena, do you hear me?"
The silent room didn't respond to him.
"Aiden!" he shouted, rushing out.
Aiden appeared almost immediately. "Yes, Boss? Something wrong?"
"Where is Alena?" Kieran's tone was full of rage and fear.
"She must be in the room," Aiden replied quickly.
"She's not there!" Kieran snapped, his jaw tightening, the muscle in his cheek ticking with rage.
Aiden turned pale and told the guards to search the farmhouse from top to bottom. The guards scattered across the farmhouse immediately, going through the hallways, gardens, and the backyard. Minutes stretched painfully long, but there was no sign of Alena.
Kieran was losing his control. He was panicked as well as angry.
Finally, one guard shouted from outside the gates, "She's here!"
All eyes snapped to the road. Far away, a small figure limped with a stick, her frail body leaning into the evening air.
The guards ran. "Miss Alena!"
Alena was trying her best to run away with her limping leg, obviously.
But her dumbhead forgot that she can't escape that easily with a limping leg. As she was trying her best to run fast, one of the men caught her.
"No! Leave me!" she shouted, her weak voice straining, trying to fight them off.
But the guard easily caught her, lifting her into his arms as though she weighed nothing. She slapped his shoulder, pushed, and struggled as the guard carried her back to the farmhouse. But her strength was no match.
By the time they crossed the gate, Kieran saw her struggling in the guard's hold. He was already angry, panicked, frustrated, storming toward them, eyes blazing. He snatched her from the guard's hold and shoved her gently onto a bench. Then, without hesitation, his fist punched the guard's jaw.
The guard stumbled back from the force of the punch he received, blood dripping from his lip. "Boss, what did I do? Why—?"
Kieran was breathing heavily, his voice low and deadly. "How dare you to touch her without her permission?"
Everyone in the courtyard went still. Alena stared, wide-eyed, caught between shock and confusion.
Even Aiden was stunned. Because, practically, the poor guard saved her, yet his boss is beating him just for touching a mere girl, a prostitute. Why is he overreacting like this? What's wrong with him? Has he been alright? He's been acting weirdly ever since he met this woman, especially after that incident. He's witnessed far more brutal things before, but he never reacted this way or let it affect him. So why this time?
A lot of questions were going on in Aiden's head, as Kieran's voice echoed as he said, "From now on, any one of you, don't ever dare to touch her without her permission, understand?"
The guards nodded obediently.
Kieran turned immediately, crouching in front of Alena. His hands steadied her trembling arms. His voice, though still heavy, softened. "Come inside."
He helped her back to her room.
Aiden looked at the guard who had been punched by Kieran, helped him to stand up, gave a handkerchief to wipe the blood from his mouth, and said, patting his shoulder, "Don't mind his anger. He has been disturbed since that incident." The other guard smiled and nodded, understanding Aiden's words.
Kieran closed the door behind him, his anger still simmering in his veins.
Inside, Alena sat stiffly on the bed. Her fingers twisted in her lap, nervous under his gaze.
"Why did you run?" His voice was sharp, demanding.
She swallowed, her lips trembling. "Because I don't want to live here."
Kieran's jaw clenched. "And why not?"
Her eyes lifted to him, glassy and broken. "Why would I? Who am I to you? What's my relationship with you? huh?"
The questions cut deeper than any blade.
His voice rose, sharp with anger. "Because you are my responsibility! I promised you freedom, but I failed. I won't risk you again, not until everything is settled. Do you understand that? What were you planning, running away like that?"
She flinched, and tears started spilling from her eyes. As soon as he saw tears in her eyes, his eyes softened. His anger dissolved, replaced by guilt. He crouched lower, softer this time. "Sorry, I'm sorry, Alena. I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to shout. Please don't cry."
For the first time in two months, her tears were real. She was spilling some emotions. Lettinng everything out which she kept in silence, buried. Her voice cracked as she sobbed, "Stop wasting your time on me. I'm not worth it."
Kieran's chest ached.
Her body shook as she broke down, the words pouring from her trembling lips. "Stop wasting your time on me. I'm not worth it. I'm dead inside. I can't… I can't bring myself together. I don't want to live anymore."
Her shoulders shook as she sobbed.
"I'm a wh*re," she whispered bitterly. "My life ended the day my parents died. My dignity was ripped away when I was forced to sell my body. My soul died the day I was… violated." She broke down harder, choking on her tears. "There's nothing left in me to hope for, to love for. I don't know who you are or why you're doing this. But if it's guilt, if you're ashamed of not saving me that day, I forgive you. I'm not angry. But don't pity me. I came into this world alone, and I'll leave alone. Don't waste yourself on me."
Kieran's chest ached painfully. Her words cut through him like blades. He hated himself for being part of her suffering, for seeing her forgive him when she had no reason to.
But to him, she looked dignified, even in her broken state.
He reached for her trembling hands, holding them gently. His voice was low, urgent.
"Don't say that, Alena. You're not alone anymore. You have me. I'll protect you, Alena. You are not a burden. You are not ruined. You're worthy of love, of respect, of a future. You are not worthless. You're… you're one of the dearest people in my life."
She sobbed harder, but her gaze lifted slightly to his.
"Think of me as family," he whispered. "Let me keep my promise to you. Let me help you heal. Don't give up yet. Please."
Her sobs quieted, her eyes swollen as she looked at him, uncertain. His thumb brushed her tears.
Something fragile flickered in her gaze. She didn't speak, but didn't pull away when he pulled her into his arms. She trembled against him, sobbing softly into his chest. He stroked her arms gently, kissed the crown of her head, whispering, "You're safe. You're safe now."
For the first time, she let herself lean into him, let herself feel the strange comfort she had never known.
After a long silence, when her sobs finally slowed, he asked softly.
"You okay now?"
She sniffled and nodded and mumbled, "...thank you."
Kieran pulled back slightly, smiling through his own heavy heart. "Then… let's be friends?"
He lifted his pinky toward her.
Her wet lashes lifted, startled.
He grinned faintly.
Her lips trembled, then hesitantly she hooked her small finger with his. Her first smile in months ghosted across her face, faint but real.
Kieran chuckled softly, ruffling her hair. "Good. And from now on, don't even think of running away again. Understand?"
She frowned, trying to glare through her tears. "Are you threatening me?"
He smirked. "No. Just warning you."
Her brows knit together, her nose pink from crying. "You just said we're friends."
"Yes, but my new friend is a little dumbhead who doesn't know how to use her brain."
Her mouth fell open, a tiny spark of the old fire flashing in her eyes. "Excuse me?"
He laughed, and for a moment, she almost forgot her pain.
She tilted her head, studying him. "You never told me who you really are. Why are there so many guards around you? Why this place? And don't tell me you are mafia or someone."
His lips curved. "What if I tell you I'm?"
Her eyes widened. "You're joking, right?"
He chuckled at her disbelief. "My name is Kieran. Kieran Moretti. And I run Moretti gang, the most powerful gang in Montressa."
Her eyes stayed on him, a little wide, cautious, unsure. He messed up her hair again. "Don't look at me like that. I'm not a monster. I punish people who deserve it. For innocents, I'm a protector."
For a long moment, she stared at him, something shifting quietly inside her.
He smiled at her reaction to him, "Don't strain your little brain much, you need to rest after all these useless stunts of yours to run away from here."
He tucked her into bed and left the room, letting her rest.
Outside the room, Aiden was waiting. He raised a brow as Kieran emerged with a calm smile.
"What's with that look?" Kieran asked.
"Boss… are you okay?" Aiden said carefully.
Kieran raised a brow. "Why are you asking like that?"
"You went in like a volcano and came out like a breeze," Aiden muttered.
Kieran chuckled, shaking his head.
Aiden also smiled awkwardly, trying to predict his boss's mood, but then Kieran asked, "Where is that guard? I hit him so hard, I need to check on him. Is he okay?"
Aiden looked at him in relief that his boss is stable now, then he said, "he is okay, boss, but if you promise me that you won't turn into a volcano again, can I ask you something?"
Kieran smiled, "Go ahead."
Aiden cleared his throat and asked, "I have never seen you like this before."
Kieran asked, "Like what?"
Aiden said slowly, "Like the way you are too concerned and careful about Alena. I mean, I don't understand why there is such a soft corner for that woman."
Kieran's smile dropped, and Aiden's heart skipped. "I'm sorry, Boss, I was just curious."
Kieran looked at him and said in a soft, gentle voice, "Because she was already in misery before I met her. And because of me, she went through worse. I can't forgive myself for that. I want to give her a good life… a meaningful life. She doesn't deserve what she's endured."
Aiden hesitated, then said slowly, "But boss… who will marry her? You know what she is…"
Kieran's eyes narrowed, cold and dangerous.. Aiden stepped back immediately. "Sorry, boss. I didn't mean it that way. Just… you know how society is."
"Fuck the society," Kieran spat. "She didn't choose this life. She was forced into it at thirteen. Do you know how miserable that is? It's not her fault."
Aiden lowered his head.
"There will be someone for her," Kieran continued firmly. "Someone who'll accept her, love her, and respect her. And until then… she's my responsibility."
Aiden studied him, silent.
Kieran patted his shoulder. "Enough. She's opening up slowly. Healing. Just make sure she has everything she needs. And don't let her escape again."
"Yes, boss," Aiden said.
Kieran nodded, walking away, his resolve stronger than ever.
Aiden stayed there quietly, processing whatever his boss said..