The New York sky, washed in shades of gray, signaled the early arrival of night. A cold wind sliced between the buildings like blades while the city lights flicked on one by one, bringing life to skyscraper windows and to the distracted eyes of hurried pedestrians on the sidewalks.High above, in a sleek hotel suite, the room where Zoe was staying radiated comfort and modernity. The heating kept the space warm, a sharp contrast to the icy world outside. She sat curled in an armchair by the window, wrapped in a plush robe, hands cupped around a steaming mug of tea.The day had been relentless at the side of her demanding “big boss,” who barely left room to breathe. Yet even with her body tired, a faint smile curved her lips. Her mind kept circling back to a little mischief she’d pulled that morning.Her phone buzzed on the side table. The screen lit up with Arthur’s name. Just seeing it made Zoe’s heart beat faster. She answered with a spark in her eyes.“Hi, beautiful,” Arthur’s warm

The door closed with a metallic snap. On the other side, Thor dropped to his knees, the stab wound still bleeding through his coat-darkened sleeve. He didn’t care about the pain. The only pain that felt real was seeing her like that—and the fear of losing her.A nurse hurried toward him.“Sir, you’re bleeding too. You need treatment.”“I just want to know if she’s going to be all right!” he cried, his voice on the edge of breaking.“They’re taking care of her. Trust our team. Please, come with me—we need to dress that cut.”Thor looked toward the corridor where they had taken Celina, his face etched with fear, fury, and a desperate love. Deep down he knew: this moment would change everything. And he would never again let anything happen to the woman who still made his heart beat off-tempo.The cold, sterile corridor echoed with the hurried footsteps of nurses, doctors, and anxious visitors. Harsh white light reflected off the floor, amplifying the tension that filled the space. Thor s

The clock was creeping toward noon. A cold, pale winter light poured into the hospital room. Outside, the sky stayed stubbornly gray. The IV dripped slowly on its metal stand; a thin blanket covered Celina’s body; machines beeped at steady intervals. Thor was there, watchful, hollow-eyed, his body running on no sleep. He hadn’t closed his eyes once all night.Every time a nurse came in he straightened, alert, demanding to know each procedure, every detail.“Is she okay? And the baby?”He asked it over and over, tireless. The nurses always answered patiently, understanding the anguish in his eyes. But their words did nothing to quiet the storm in his chest. Only looking at her—still unconscious, her hand in his—brought him any semblance of calm, as if that touch alone could shield her from everything.Celina had stirred a few times, mumbling fragmented words. Each time Thor clasped her hand tighter and whispered:“I’m here, my love. I’m here.”Now, with lunchtime approaching, he stood

The psychologist answered softly:“Every fear has a root, Celina. And we’re going to work on finding those roots. But you’ve already taken a huge step today—you spoke. You laid your pain, your truth, out loud. That’s more than many people ever manage.”Celina blinked fast to keep the tears at bay.“I don’t even know how to open up anymore. How to trust. But… when he held me today… I felt…” she hesitated. “I felt there’s still something there. But I don’t know how to start. What to say.”The psychologist gave her a warm smile.“Sometimes the first step is simply to be present. To stay. To listen. To say what you feel, even afraid. Love, Celina, can be rebuilt too—carefully, like someone laying new foundations after a storm.”“What do I do now? How do I talk to him?”“Begin with honesty. Speak from your heart. You don’t need all the answers. He doesn’t either. If there’s respect, affection, and truth, the path builds itself.”“And if he wants to walk away?”“Then you’ll know you tried.

Hot water streamed down Thor’s body as if it could wash away not only sweat and tension but also guilt, shame, and fear.When he stepped out of the bathroom, a towel knotted at his waist and his hair still damp, he crossed to the closet. He looked at his clothes, his material achievements—everything he had long believed defined him. Yet in that moment, they all felt small compared to the immensity of winning Celina’s love back. He knew the road ahead would be long and painful, and he was ready to walk it. He would break every barrier, one by one, to earn his place in her heart again.At seven o’clock Celina, who had already nibbled on a snack and read a few pages from one of the books by her bed, heard a gentle knock at the door.“Come in,” she said, expecting Thor.But to her surprise it was Gabriel, smiling broadly with a bouquet of white roses in his hands.Her eyes widened.“Gabriel? I… I can’t believe you’re here!”He came closer and offered her the bouquet.“You really think I’d