Serafina's POV

The days following her walk with Aiden were lighter, as if the air around her had shifted. For the first time in what felt like forever, Serafina wasn't just existing—she was living.

Her family noticed it, too. The way she smiled a little easier, laughed a little louder. But with that came their protectiveness. Especially her brothers.

The Sunday morning sunlight streamed into the family kitchen, warm and inviting. The smell of pancakes and espresso filled the air, mingling with the faint chatter of her parents at the table.

Serafina sat at the island, nursing a cup of tea as she watched her brothers filter in, one by one. Dante was already complaining about Matteo eating the last slice of bacon before he'd gotten to it, and Enzo was making himself another plate despite the growing pile of dishes in the sink.

"Are you going to tell us where you went yesterday?" Antonio asked, leaning casually against the counter with a mischievous smirk.

"I went for a walk," Serafina replied, keeping her tone light as she sipped her tea.

"With him," Antonio added, his smirk widening.

She shot him a look, her cheeks flushing. "His name is Aiden. And yes, I went for a walk with him. That's not a crime."

"It's not a crime," Luca chimed in, sitting across from her, "but it's definitely something we should know about. Just in case."

"Just in case what?"

"Just in case we need to remind him what happens when someone hurts our sister," Enzo said, his voice low and calm but full of warning.

"Stop," Serafina said, rolling her eyes. "He's not like that. He's a good guy."

"Good guy or not," Dante said, sitting down beside her, "you're still our little sister. And we've got a reputation to uphold."

Serafina groaned, setting her mug down with more force than necessary. "Can you all just let me live my life for five minutes without treating me like a porcelain doll? I'm not going to break."

The room went silent for a moment, her brothers exchanging glances.

It was Alessandro who broke the tension, walking over and placing a hand on her shoulder. "Tesoro," he said gently, "we know you're strong. But we also know how much you've been through. We just want to protect you."

"I know," she said, her voice softening. "But Aiden isn't like Connor or anyone else from my past. He's... different. He cares about me, and he makes me feel safe."

Her brothers fell silent, their protective instincts warring with their desire to see her happy.

"If he makes you feel safe," Luca said after a moment, "then maybe he's worth giving a chance. But," he added, his gaze serious, "if he ever does anything to hurt you, he'll have all of us to answer to."

"I'll keep that in mind," Serafina said, unable to suppress a small smile.

Later that afternoon, Serafina found herself in her room, her phone buzzing with a message from Aiden.

Aiden❤️

Hope your morning wasn't too chaotic.

Just the usual overprotective big brother routine.

Do I need to be worried?

Only if you plan on hurting me, which I know you won't.

Never.

I was thinking about maybe...

going to the park again later. If you're free.

I'll be there.

The park was quiet when they arrived, the late afternoon sun casting golden hues over the trees. They walked side by side, their conversation easy and light.

But as they reached a secluded bench near the pond, Serafina's mood shifted. She felt the weight of her family's words from earlier, the constant reminder of her past struggles.

"Can I ask you something?" she said, breaking the comfortable silence.

"Anything," Aiden replied, his eyes meeting hers.

"Why are you so kind to me? After everything I've been through, I feel like... I don't deserve it."

Aiden frowned, his expression serious. "Why wouldn't you deserve it? You're one of the strongest people I know, Fina. You've been through hell and back, and you're still standing. That deserves kindness. It deserves everything good in this world."

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she quickly looked away, embarrassed by how emotional his words made her feel.

"I don't always feel strong," she admitted.

"You don't have to feel it all the time," Aiden said, his voice soft. "Sometimes, just surviving is enough."

She nodded, taking a deep breath. "Thanks, Aiden. For being here. For everything."

He reached out, taking her hand in his. "I'm not going anywhere, Fina. You're stuck with me."

For the first time in a long time, Serafina felt a sense of peace she couldn't quite explain.

Maybe, just maybe, things were finally starting to look up.