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Her once soft gaze now held a hint of darkness as it settled upon her son. Nelly’s long eyelashes fluttered, casting a haunting shadow over her face. With a chilling gentleness, she reached out to stroke Tony’s head, as if trying to comfort not only him, but herself as well.
“I’m sorry, Tony,” Nelly’s voice whispered, barely audible. “I didn’t do it on purpose. I’m sorry for making you worry.”
Tony clung to Nelly, his grip tight and unyielding. The air was heavy with tension, as if the forest itself held its breath, waiting to see what would unfold next.
But the touch of sunlight that filtered through the dense canopy above seemed to soften the edges of the scene, casting a delicate glow upon mother and son. It was a deceptive tranquility, masking the turmoil that lay beneath.
After what felt like an eternity, Tony finally released his grip on Nelly, his facade of calm firmly in place. He took a seat on a nearby bench, as if nothing had happened, as if his heart hadn’t just been shattered into pieces.
There was no room for petty emotions, no tears to be shed. It was just an accident, a moment of weakness. No one witnessed it, no one could possibly understand. He refused to let this define him. He was still the cool and composed person he always appeared to be. Yes, that’s right!
With a fierce determination, Tony regained his composure, clearing his throat to steady himself. “Nelly, just now… I was just too anxious. I wasn’t crying,” he explained, his voice laced with a hint of defensiveness.
Nelly listened, her expression solemn, her eyes harboring secrets. Deep down, she knew her son’s pride would not allow him to show vulnerability. So she kept his secret, basking in the hidden tenderness of the moment.
Tony blinked, suspicious of Nelly’s acceptance. He knew she wasn’t telling him everything, but he couldn’t push further. “Don’t do that again,” he warned, his voice tinged with a mix of concern and authority.
Nelly nodded in agreement, her eyes suddenly filled with a loving warmth that sent shivers down Tony’s spine. “Okay,” she whispered, her voice a mere whisper in the wind.
As Tony continued to gaze at Nelly, a sense of unease washed over him. It was as if she could see right through his carefully constructed facade. A nagging feeling tugged at his mind, distracting him from the present moment. And then, in a rush, a memory flooded back.
Without hesitation, Tony opened a bottle of water and handed it to Nelly. “Didn’t you say you wanted to drink some water earlier? Here you go,” he offered, his attempt at distraction falling flat in the face of his inner turmoil.
“Thank you,” Nelly replied, her smile radiating an undeniable warmth. But Tony turned away, his discomfort palpable.
I was too rash earlier, he realized, his regret swallowing him whole.
Meanwhile, in the dark heart of the forest, Alpha Kilian raced towards Lara’s house. His instincts prickled with worry, guiding him to the one person he couldn’t bear to lose. He pounded on the door, but there was no response. A flicker of panic ignited within him as he dialed her number, only to hear the familiar sound of her phone ringing inside.
Alpha Kilian knew she was there, inside the house. Memories of that fateful night flashed through his mind, igniting a sense of urgency. He couldn’t let her act impulsively, couldn’t let her slip away from him again. With swift determination, he keyed in the passcode and entered the house.
The scene that greeted him was one of chaos. The dining table and the floor were in disarray, a reflection of the turmoil that had consumed Lara in his absence. He rushed through the house, heart pounding, until he found her lying on the couch, her body still and lifeless.
A strangled cry escaped his lips as Alpha Kilian knelt beside her. “Lara! Lara Gareth!” he pleaded, his voice laced with fear. But there was no response, no sign that she had heard him. He reached out, trembling, to check for a pulse, relief flooding through him when he felt the faint rhythm of her breath.
“Lara. Lara,” he continued to call out, desperation creeping into his voice. But still, she remained unresponsive, lost in the depths of her own unconsciousness.
Caroline arrived just in time to witness the scene, her heart breaking at the sight before her. “What’s going on? How did this happen?” she cried out, her voice a mix of anger and anguish.
“It was like this when I arrived. I don’t know what happened, but we need to call an ambulance,” Alpha Kilian responded, his words steady despite the chaos unfolding around him.
Caroline knew there was no time for questions, no point in placing blame. She called for an ambulance, her hands trembling as she desperately sought help for her daughter.
Meanwhile, at the hospital, Nelly finished her sunbathing and prepared to enter the building. But as she made her way towards the entrance, a sense of urgency filled the air. Doctors and nurses rushed past her, their hurried footsteps echoing through the corridor. There was an emergency, a life hanging in the balance.
Nelly brushed off the commotion, quietly stepping closer to the wall to make way for the medical team. And then, in the midst of the chaos, Tony’s phone rang.
“Nelly, it’s Donna. I have to take this call,” Tony explained, his voice strained with worry.
Nelly nodded in understanding, her eyes following Tony as he left to answer the call. She leaned against the wall, her mind swirling with thoughts that she couldn’t quite grasp. And then, as she lifted her gaze, she saw a figure being rushed past her, a familiar figure whose presence sent a shiver down her spine.
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The doctors and nurses pushed through, their urgency palpable. And just as Nelly tried to process what she had seen, a sob pierced through the chaos. Caroline, eyes filled with tears, followed in their wake.
And then, in the midst of it all, another figure appeared before Nelly. Alpha Kilian.
Their eyes met, a silent understanding passing between them. Nelly felt an unspoken truth in his gaze, one that she hadn’t been prepared to face. But she found herself nodding, her unspoken words lingering in the air.
Alpha Kilian stood frozen, his heart heavy with unspoken apologies. He tried to explain, to find the right words to convey his regret. “Lara-”
But Nelly cut him off, her voice steady and unwavering. “You don’t have to explain it to me,” she interrupted, her words laced with a mix of pain and resignation.
Alpha Kilian fell silent, his gaze fixated on Nelly. He wanted to reach out, to offer solace in the face of their shared sorrow. But she only nodded politely, retreating back into her room without looking back.
As Alpha Kilian watched her disappear, a sinking feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. He couldn’t shake the weight of his own guilt, the regret that gnawed at his soul.
Soon, Lara was wheeled into the emergency room, her life now in the hands of strangers. Caroline turned to Alpha Kilian, her eyes filled with desperation. “Alpha Kilian, do you think Lara will be okay?” she pleaded, her voice trembling.
Alpha Kilian turned, his gaze steady and determined. “She’ll be fine,” he assured her, though doubt lingered in his tone. “Nothing will happen to her.”
But as Caroline looked at him, searching for solace, she couldn’t help but notice the turmoil that lay behind his eyes. Unanswered questions hung in the air, a silence pregnant with words left unsaid.
“Alpha Kilian, did Lara say something to you?” Caroline finally asked, her voice breaking as she fought back tears. “She said she had something to tell you that day. And now… this happened.” Her voice cracked, and she buried her face in her hands, unable to contain her grief.
Alpha Kilian looked at Caroline, his expression pained. “I am partly responsible for Lara’s situation,” he confessed, the weight of his guilt bearing down on him like an anchor.
Caroline’s heart shattered as realization dawned upon her. She saw the truth in Alpha Kilian’s eyes, the regret that etched lines upon his face. “I just want to know one thing,” she whispered, her voice filled with anguish. “Are you interested in Lara? You know what she thinks of you, right? She gave up everything for you. So, what do you think of her?”
Alpha Kilian met Caroline’s gaze, his voice steady and resolute. “I only see her as a friend and a business partner,” he admitted, his honesty cutting through the air like a knife.
Fury surged through Caroline, her pain giving way to rage. Alpha Kilian’s rejection had shattered her daughter’s heart, turned her love into a source of torment. “Friend? Business partner?” she spat, her words laced with venom. “You’re wasting her time, Alpha Kilian!”
But he offered no defense, no justification for his choices. He stood there, silent and stoic, as Caroline’s anger consumed her.
There was nothing left to say, no words that could bridge the chasm that had formed between them.