Author's pov:

Sofia and Leo reached the hospital, their hearts pounding with worry. As soon as they got there, Sofia rushed towards the operating room, where she saw Alexander waiting anxiously. She rushed to him, and showered him with questions. "How is he? Is he going to be okay? Are the doctors doing everything they can? Please tell me he's safe!"

Alexander, looking pale and worried, gently touched her shoulder. "Sofia, calm down. He's strong. The doctors are doing their work. He'll be alright." He tried to sound reassuring, but his voice was shaky.

Sofia sank into a chair, her knees trembling. Tears streamed down her face.

Leo, put his arm around her shoulders. "He'll be okay, Sofia," he said softly. "He's a fighter. He'll pull through."

But Sofia couldn't stop crying. The fear of losing Ansh was overwhelming.

Alexander, his face pale and drawn, turned to Leo. "Who were they?"

Leo clenched his jaw, his eyes hardening. "The Romanos."

Alexander's eyes widened. "But why the attack? All of a sudden?"

"When we were about to land in Italy..." Leo growled, his voice thick with rage. "The Italian mafias, particularly the Romanos, were dead set against us. They wanted to know our motive, but we didn't reveal it. Ansh manipulated the situation, otherwise, they could have taken advantage. Anyway, they took it."

"They gave him four days to finish his business and leave "

"Their men were watching his every move. At the airport, they spotted him with Sofia. Then they realized , that she was his weakness and his real motive for coming to Italy."

"They got their chance"

"This morning, they called him. They demanded him to leave Italy, or face the consequences. They accused him of betraying them by not revealing his true intentions, they thought there might be many other hidden intentions besides this."

"Then they threatened him by saying they would make Sofia pay for it. So he decided to leave today, but before he could make a move, they attacked.

"Fucking traitors."

Sofia, her sobs subsiding slightly, looked up at leo, her eyes widened with disbelief. "Why? Why would he come here and risk his life for me? How could he be so... so stupid?"

Leo looked at her, his eyes filled with a mixture of anger and tenderness. "Because he loves you, Sofia. He would do anything to keep you safe."

Just then the operating room door swung open, and a weary-looking surgeon emerged, his face grim. Sofia bolted upright, her eyes wide with terror.

"Doctor," she gasped, her voice trembling, "How is he? Is he out of danger?"

"He's my warrior. He'll fight. He has to. I need to see him, doctor. Please"

The surgeon, a man with kind eyes, hesitated, his gaze avoiding hers. "Mrs. Oberoi, the surgery was...complicated but successful. He suffered multiple gunshot wounds. If any other man had been in his place, they would have died on the spot. The bullets were... were incredibly powerful."

He paused, then added, "But he's stable now. Out of danger. We're keeping him under observation, but he's... he's going to be okay."

Sofia sighed in relief, slumping against the wall. Leo gently shook her shoulder, his eyes filled with concern.

After a few hours, a nurse approached Sofia, her eyes filled with a mixture of sympathy and hope. "You can go in now." she said softly.

Sofia entered the ICU, her heart pounding with a mixture of anxiety and hope. She saw Ansh on the bed, still unconscious. She sat by the table beside him and took his hands in hers, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Ansh," Sofia whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "I... I've loved you since college. I always have."

She paused, her eyes searching his face for any reaction. "I never had the courage to talk to you, to tell you how I felt. I used to watch you from afar, admiring your strength, your kindness. The way you always stood up for the girls who were being bullied."

"I used to love the way you smiled. The way you always knew how to make everyone laugh. The way you carried yourself with such confidence"

"you were everything I ever dreamed of in a man."

"And let's not forget," she added with a playful smile, "you were the college topper."

She sighed, a wistful expression crossing her face. "But then... then everything changed. When I was finally about to confess, I didn't see the old Ansh. The Ansh I met a few months ago... he was different. Cold, distant, almost... unrecognizable."

"But now... now I see him again. The real Ansh. The one I've always loved."

She squeezed his hand, her voice filled with emotion. "I never thought I'd have the courage to tell you, but now... now I don't care. I just wanted you to know."

"Took you long enough," Ansh murmured, his voice weak but teasing.

Sofia gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief. "You... you heard me?"

Ansh chuckled, his smile widening. "Of course, I did. Couldn't miss a confession like that, could I?"

Sofia stared at him, speechless, her heart pounding wildly. "I... I thought you were unconscious," she stammered, her voice trembling.

Ansh squeezed her hand, his eyes filled with a warmth that melted away all her fears. "Never underestimate the power of love, Amore. It can even wake the dead."

Sofia burst into laughter, tears of joy streaming down her face. "You..."

"Okay, now it's my turn," Ansh said, his voice still weak but laced with a mischievous glint. "I also always loved you, since college."

Sofia's laughter subsided, replaced by a look of disbelief. "You... you never even looked at me"

"Because I never let you notice," Ansh chuckled.

He paused, his gaze softening. "I remember our first eye contact. It was in the library. You were studying for the finals, and I was pretending to read a book, but I was actually watching you. You were so focused, so engrossed in your studies. It was the most beautiful sight I had ever seen."

"And then you looked up, and our eyes met. And for a moment, the world seemed to disappear. It was like time had stopped."

He squeezed her hand, his eyes filled with a tenderness that made her heart melt. "I knew then that I was in trouble. I was hopelessly, irrevocably in love with you."

"I used to see how you used to look at me, admire me" Ansh continued, his voice a low rumble.

"That awkward and shy girl, always tripping." He chuckled, remembering a specific incident. "Remember that college party? You were dancing, and you tripped. I caught you."

Sofia blushed, her eyes wide with a mixture of embarrassment and amusement. "You..you caught me?"

"I was so embarrassed. I kept apologizing, and I couldn't even look at anyone."

Ansh smiled, "You were adorable. I wanted to hold you like that forever."

"And those notes... those ridiculous love notes you used to leave on my desk. I pretended not to notice, but believe me, I cherished every single one."

He took a deep breath, his voice growing serious. "And then, you disappeared. I thought I'd lost you forever. I searched for you everywhere, but you were gone. I thought maybe I'd imagined it all, that you never really existed."

He looked at her, his eyes filled with a profound love. "But then, you came back. And this time, I wasn't going to let you go."

Sofia reached out and gently touched his face, her eyes brimming with tears. "I'm never leaving you again, Ansh, " she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Ansh smiled, his eyes filled with a love that mirrored hers. "Good," he murmured, "Because I wouldn't let you"

"And then..then everything changed" Ansh said, his voice turning serious, "I was a different person, I wasn't able to recognize you when you entered my office."

"My girl, the one with Messy bun, shy and always hiding behind her books... she was transformed into a woman. A stunning, Confident woman, who took my breath away. I fell for her all over again." He reached out and gently brushed a stray tear from her cheek.

Sofia was shocked after hearing his confession. It was so unexpected. "But... but why did you change?" She asked, her voice trembling.

"The past few years have been... difficult," Ansh sighed, his expression turning serious. "I had to deal with a lot of things. Things I couldn't share with anyone."

He looked at her, his eyes searching hers. "But now... now I realize that I don't have to carry this burden alone anymore. I have you."

Sofia leaned forward, her forehead resting against his. "I'm here for you, Ansh. Always."

He closed his eyes, a contented sigh escaping his lips. Sofia leaned closer, her lips brushing against his forehead.

"I love you, Ansh," she whispered softly. "More than words can say."

Ansh opened his eyes, a slow smile spreading across his face. "I love you too, Sofia," he whispered back, his voice filled with a love that had finally found its way home.

She leaned in and kissed him, a long, slow, passionate kiss that spoke volumes.

As they kissed, the world seemed to fade away. There was only them, their love, and the promise of a future together.

He closed his eyes, a contented sigh escaping his lips. "Now, go get some rest. You look exhausted."

Sofia smiled, her heart overflowing with happiness. "I will, but you have to promise me one thing."

"Anything," Ansh whispered, his eyes still closed.

"No more risking your life," Sofia said firmly. "I can't lose you."

Ansh opened his eyes and looked at her, a mischievous glint returning to his gaze. "We'll see about that," he murmured, a playful smile playing on his lips.

Sofia leaned down and kissed him gently on the forehead, her heart overflowing with love and relief. "I love you," she whispered, her voice soft and tender.

Ansh smiled, his eyes filled with a deep sense of peace. "I love you too, Sofia."

And as Sofia sat by his side, watching him sleep peacefully, she knew that this was just the beginning of their happily ever after.