Ariana didn't let go of Damian for a long time.
Her face was pressed against his chest, her fingers gripping his shirt, her breath uneven.
Damian held her with a strength that wasn't forceful—
just steady, unwavering, grounding.
He didn't rush her.
He didn't speak.
He simply stayed.
And that alone made her tears fall harder.
When she finally loosened her grip, Damian brushed a hand gently along her spine, calming her.
"I've got you," he whispered.
"You're safe."
Ariana leaned back just enough to look at him.
His face was closer than it had ever been—
sharp, handsome, intense…
but so soft when he looked at her.
"Damian…" she whispered, wiping her cheek.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier that she was involved?"
His thumb brushed the corner of her eye, catching another tear.
"Because I didn't want her to live inside your thoughts," he said.
"I didn't want you to spend your days fearing a woman who shouldn't matter."
Ariana swallowed.
"But she's dangerous."
Damian's jaw tightened.
"That's why I'm here."
Ariana looked down at their intertwined hands.
"Damian… are you angry with me?"
He blinked.
"Why would I be?"
"For making things so complicated. For making your life harder."
Damian cupped her chin gently and lifted her gaze.
"My life got clearer when you entered it."
Ariana's breath hitched.
"You're not making anything harder," he continued softly.
"You're giving me something to protect. That's all."
Ariana's voice trembled.
"But I'm scared."
Damian's eyes softened instantly—
so tender she felt her heart squeeze painfully.
"I know."
"Every time I look outside, I think someone is watching me."
"I know."
"And every time I hear a noise, I think someone is coming after me."
Damian's hand slid down, gently taking her wrist.
"Ariana…" he murmured,
"You're allowed to be scared. You're human."
"But you're not," she whispered before she could stop herself.
Damian froze.
Ariana quickly shook her head.
"I—I don't mean it in a bad way. It's just…"
Her voice softened.
"You're strong. Fear doesn't touch you the way it touches me."
Damian leaned closer, his forehead almost touching hers.
"That's not true."
Ariana blinked.
"I feel fear," he whispered.
"Just not the kind you're thinking."
"What kind then?" she murmured.
His voice dropped to something almost painful.
"The fear of losing you."
Ariana's breath stopped.
Her lips parted, but no sound came out.
Damian continued:
"Every time someone says your name, every rumor, every threat…
I feel something I haven't felt in years."
He paused.
"Fear."
Ariana stared at him.
The most feared man in the nation—
the man whose name alone made powerful people tremble—
feared losing her.
"Damian…" she whispered, overwhelmed.
He reached up and wiped a new tear rolling down her cheek.
"If I could take every fear from you and carry it myself," he said softly,
"I would."
Ariana trembled.
"You already carry too much."
Damian's eyes didn't waver.
"I can carry you too."
Ariana felt her heart open in a way she wasn't prepared for.
She whispered:
"Do you ever regret marrying me?"
He inhaled sharply.
"No."
"But—"
"Ariana," he interrupted firmly,
"There is nothing to regret."
"But the danger—"
"I can handle danger."
"And the scandal—"
"I have survived worse."
"And the problems—"
"Ariana." He tilted her chin up.
"You are not a problem."
Her chest tightened.
"You are my wife," he emphasized softly.
"You are the only thing I don't regret."
Ariana's throat tightened as more tears fell—quiet, heavy, not from fear this time…
but from relief.
Damian gently wiped all of them away.
Then, with a soft exhale, he pulled her back into his arms—
holding her even closer than before.
Ariana rested her cheek against his chest.
"Damian… I'm scared," she repeated, voice shaking.
His lips brushed the top of her hair—
light, tender, almost reverent.
"And I'm here," he whispered.
"I'll be here until you're not scared anymore."
Ariana closed her eyes—
And for the first time,
she allowed herself to believe it.
Allowed herself to lean on him.
Allowed herself to accept that she wasn't alone.
Damian's arms tightened around her.
And in the quiet of that moment, Ariana realized:
She wasn't just scared of danger.
She was scared of falling for him.
Because it was already happening.