Ariana’s POV

We got to the hospital shortly

A nurse stopped us. "Are you family?"

I nodded. "I’m her daughter, Ariana."

The nurse looked at her clipboard and nodded. "Room 212. She’s been asking for you."

I didn’t wait, I walked faster with my heart pounding and my hands shaking.

Room 212.

Room 212.

Room 212.

I found the door and pushed it open.

My mother was in bed, looking small, fragile, and old, with her face pale.

There was a bruise on her cheek.

Purple and yellow.

Her wrist was wrapped in a bandage.

"Mum," I said in a soft voice.

She turned her head, and her eyes found mine. They were filled with tears. "Ariana, my child, come here."

I rushed to her bed and sat on the edge, taking her hands

" I’m so sorry I wasn’t here. I’m so sorry, I didn’t know. I’m so sorry he hurt you."

My mother shook her head. "It’s not your fault. You didn’t know I didn’t want you to know. I didn’t want to distract you with so much going on, so much to deal with. I didn’t want to be another burden."

I felt the tears come, and I didn’t stop them. "You’re not a burden. You’re my mother. You’re the only mother I have. I love you and need you. I can’t lose you."

She squeezed my hand. "You’re not going to lose me. I’m not going anywhere. I’m too stubborn to die."

I laughed.

"Good, because I can’t do this without you. I can’t do any of this without you."

Ares was standing by the door. He gave us space, letting us have our moment.

He was good like that.

Always knowing when to be close and when to step back. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

My mother looked at him and smiled. "You must be Ares. Daniel’s boy. You look just like him."

Ares stepped forward and took her hand. "It’s nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much about you."

My mother laughed. "I’m sure you have. Not all of it good, I imagine."

Ares smiled. "All of it is good. Ariana speaks very highly of you."

My mother looked at me with her soft eyes. "She’s a good daughter, the best. I don’t deserve her."

I shook my head. "Don’t say that. You deserve everything. You’ve sacrificed so much for our family. You’ve been through so much, and you’re still here, still fighting and loving."

My mother’s eyes filled with tears. "I tried to protect you from Ricardo, the lies and pain. I tried so hard, but I failed. I failed you."

I pulled her into a hug... Mindful of her bruises. "You didn’t fail me, you saved me and loved me. You gave me everything you had, and I wouldn’t have wanted it in any other way."

"Tell me what happened," I said. "Tell me how he did this to you."

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Ricardo came to the house a few days ago. He was sweet at first, begging me to take him back, and when I said no, he insisted and tried to force me."

Her voice was shaking.

"He got angry and grabbed my arm. He twisted it. He said I would take him back whether I wanted to, and I said I would rather die than be with him, so he pushed me, and I fell and hit my head on the table. I don’t remember much after that, just darkness and pain."

I felt sick. "He could have killed you. He almost did."

My mother nodded. "The neighbors heard the noise. They called the police. They found me on the floor. Unconscious and bleeding, I was taken to the hospital."

I wiped my eyes. "I’m so sorry you had to go through that

Ares knocked on the door and poked his head in. "Sorry to interrupt, but Dante is here. He wants to see you."

My heart stopped.

My breath caught.

Dante was here.

What now?

I looked at her, then she nodded. "Let him in."

Ares stepped aside.

The door opened wider.

Dante walked in.

He walked to the bed. He looked at my mother. "How do you feel?"

My mother looked at him. Her eyes were soft. "Much better, thank you."

"That’s good.. I’m sorry you had to go through that."

Mum brushed it off," It’s fine, it happens... I’m okay now."

Dante nodded.

He turned to me with his eyes dark and intense. "Ariana. Can we talk?"

I didn’t know what to say.

"Not today, Dante," I said. My voice was soft. But it was firm. "I need time to digest all that has happened, please. Just give me that."

Dante’s face fell.

I saw the hurt in his eyes.

The disappointment.

But he nodded. "Okay. Okay. I’ll give you time. I’ll give you space... but I’ll wait."

He turned and walked to the door and paused, looking back at me. "When you’re ready, I’ll be there. I’ll always be there."

Then he walked out.

The door closed behind him.

My mother squeezed my hand. "He loves you. You know that, right?"

I nodded. Tears filled my eyes. "I know, but love isn’t always enough. Sometimes it’s not enough to fix what’s broken. Sometimes it’s not enough to heal what’s hurt. Sometimes it’s not enough to bring back what’s lost."

My mother was quiet for a moment. Then she said, "Maybe, but sometimes it’s the only thing that matters, the only thing that keeps us going, and it’s the only thing that makes life worth living."

She was right, but right now, the last thing I wanted to do was have that conversation.