Nahir pushed himself to his feet despite the pain from his injuries, ignoring everything except her. “We almost got together in college,” he said firmly.Aurelia froze.“If I hadn’t gone abroad, we would have been together,” he continued. “We would have been the ones getting married. We would have built a life together. We would have been happy.”Aurelia shook her head immediately. “That’s not true.”Nahir frowned. “It is.”“No,” she insisted, her voice growing firmer. “You chose to leave. That wasn’t Alexander’s fault.”At the mention of Alexander’s name, something dark flickered briefly in Nahir’s eyes, though he quickly suppressed it and replaced it with sorrow. “Aura, I never chose anything,” he said quietly.Aurelia frowned. “What do you mean?”Nahir looked away, as though struggling to reveal something painful. “My stepmother forced me.”Aurelia blinked in shock. “What?”“If I had stayed…” His voice broke. “She would have hurt my mother. She threatened us. I had no choice. I eit

His gaze lingered on her—on her face, her figure, and everything she represented. She had always possessed what he lacked: money, status, influence, power. Soon, he believed, all of it would be within his reach.Forcing those thoughts aside, he put on another gentle smile. “For you,” he said softly, “I don’t mind suffering.”Aurelia shifted uncomfortably, his words feeling too intimate, too personal. Before she could respond, the hospital door burst open.The door slammed open Nahir's mother rushed in like she had just arrived, her eyes locking onto Nahir instantly. A cry tore from her throat. “My son!”She hurried to his bedside, tears streaming down her face. “Who did this to you? What kind of monster would beat someone like this? My poor child!”She cupped his face, only to cry harder. “What if your face scars? What if no woman wants to marry you? What will you do then?”The dramatic outburst left Aurelia completely caught off guard. Embarrassment flushed across her face, especially

She said, "A young couple should share a room. The sooner you give me a grandchild, the happier I'll be."Aurelia stiffened, her expression turning awkward.Sensing her discomfort, Nahir Virel quickly stepped in. "Mom, don't pressure her," he said with a helpless laugh. "These things take time."His mother clicked her tongue. "What time? You're not getting any younger."Nahir shot Aurelia an apologetic look before turning back to his mother. "We'll handle our own affairs," he said gently. "You should focus on getting some rest."Only then did the older woman reluctantly drop the subject.Eventually, they retired to the master bedroom.Aurelia changed into a silk nightgown, the soft fabric draping elegantly over her figure. Nahir glanced up and instantly regretted it. His heartbeat quickened as his gaze lingered longer than it should have.Aurelia noticed immediately. “Floor,” she said coldly.He blinked. “What?”“You sleep on the floor,” she addedAlthough he wasn't happy about it, he

Clara continued, her tone steady and composed. “Now that I think about it, your behavior is actually quite pitiful.”A shadow darkened Nahir’s face.“You spend so much time criticizing him,” she added, “yet all I see is jealousy.”A few nearby customers exchanged subtle glances, the shift in momentum becoming obvious.Clara maintained her elegance as she delivered the final blow. “People who are truly content with their lives don’t obsess over someone else’s marriage.”The words struck far deeper than any direct insult.Nahir’s smile disappeared completely.Only then did he take a closer look at Clara, as if truly seeing her for the first time. His gaze lingered, unmistakably greedy.Alexander noticed immediately, and without hesitation, he stepped forward, placing himself between them in one smooth, deliberate motion. The gesture was subtle, but the message was unmistakable.Nahir frowned. “What?”Alexander’s voice dropped, low and dangerous. “Watch your eyes.”Nahir gave a small, di

Clara, however, remained composed. Her expression hardened almost instantly as realization set in, because she understood that this was no random act of violence.There was only one person reckless enough and obsessed enough to orchestrate something like this.Slowly, she lowered the intact window and fixed her gaze on the apparent leader of the group.“Who sent you?” she asked, her voice calm but sharp.The scar-faced man responded with a grin that revealed a row of yellowed teeth. “You’ll find out soon enough.”Clara’s eyes turned colder. “Do you even know who I am?”A low laugh escaped him. “Our boss knows exactly who you are.”He lifted his axe and tapped it against the vehicle with deliberate force. The metallic clang echoed sharply across the road, punctuating his next words. “And that’s exactly why we’re here.”Throughout the exchange, Alexander remained silent, but his attention never wavered. His eyes moved methodically, taking in every detail: the positioning of each attacke