Omniscient POV

The atmosphere at the house that evening was tense, like a storm waiting to break. Alessandro and Isabella sat in the living room, their faces masks of restrained fury as they listened to Enzo recount what had happened at school. Fina sat curled up on the couch, her knees pulled to her chest, her head resting lightly on Isabella's shoulder.

Every detail Enzo gave made Alessandro's jaw clench tighter, his hands gripping the armrests of his chair with enough force to make the wood creak. Isabella's hand gently stroked Fina's hair, but her eyes burned with an intensity that could rival a wildfire.

"And Connor had the audacity to lay his hands on her after what we told him," Enzo growled, pacing the room. "He pinned her against the lockers, Papa. She passed out because of him. She hit her head!"

Alessandro's expression darkened further, his voice low and dangerous. "I warned him. I told him to stay away from her. This is not something I will let slide."

"Papa..." Fina's voice was small, barely above a whisper.

Everyone's attention shifted to her, their expressions softening slightly. She looked up at Alessandro, her eyes wide and filled with fear. "Please don't do anything that will make it worse. He's not worth it."

Alessandro leaned forward, his expression softening just enough to reassure her. "Cara, I understand your concern, but this is not something I can ignore. He hurt you. He crossed a line, and there are consequences for that."

Fina bit her lip, unsure of how to respond. She didn't want her family to escalate the situation, but at the same time, she couldn't deny the lingering fear Connor had left behind.

Later that evening, after the tension had simmered down slightly, Fina sat on her bed, staring out the window. She could hear the muffled sounds of her brothers talking in the hallway, their voices a mix of anger and protectiveness.

A soft knock on her door pulled her from her thoughts.

"Come in," she said quietly.

The door opened, and Dante stepped inside, his expression softer than usual. "Hey, piccolina."

"Hey," she murmured, giving him a small smile.

Dante sat down on the edge of her bed, his presence comforting. "I wanted to check on you. You've been through a lot today."

Fina shrugged, picking at a loose thread on her blanket. "I'm okay, I guess. Just... tired."

Dante reached out and gently took her hand, his voice calm. "You don't have to pretend, Fina. We all know how hard this must be for you. But you're not alone, okay? We've got you."

Her eyes welled up with tears, but she quickly blinked them away. "Thanks, Dante."

He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze before standing up. "Try to get some rest. And if you need anything, we're right here."

The next morning, the house was unusually quiet. Fina woke up feeling a little better physically, though the emotional weight of the previous day still lingered. She got dressed slowly, her movements careful, her head still a little sore from the concussion.

As she made her way downstairs, she was surprised to see her family gathered in the dining room, their expressions unusually serious. Alessandro looked up as she entered, his stern expression softening.

"Good morning, cara," he said, his tone warm.

"Morning," she replied, her voice tentative.

Isabella stood and pulled Fina into a gentle hug. "How are you feeling, amore?"

"Better," Fina said, leaning into her mother's embrace.

As she sat down at the table, Enzo spoke up, his tone cautious. "We've been talking about what happened yesterday, and we think it's important that you know we're taking steps to make sure Connor doesn't hurt you again."

Fina's heart sank. "What kind of steps?"

Alessandro answered, his voice firm. "We've spoken to the school administration. They're going to handle it on their end. But we're also making sure Connor understands that his actions have consequences."

Fina's stomach twisted with unease. "Papa, please don't—"

Alessandro held up a hand to stop her. "Fina, listen to me. I won't do anything that will bring trouble to our family. But I will not allow someone to harm my daughter without repercussions. Trust me, cara."

She nodded reluctantly, though the anxiety still gnawed at her.

That afternoon, Aiden came by to check on her, his presence immediately lifting her spirits. He brought her a small bouquet of flowers, his shy smile making her heart flutter.

"These are for you," he said, holding out the flowers.

Fina took them with a grateful smile. "Thank you. They're beautiful."

They spent the afternoon together, sitting on the couch and watching movies. Aiden's easygoing nature helped Fina relax, and for the first time since the incident, she felt like she could breathe again.

But in the back of her mind, she couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't over. Connor might have been dealt with for now, but the fear he had instilled in her still lingered, like a shadow she couldn't escape.

And as much as she wanted to move on, she knew it would take time. But with her family by her side—and Aiden's unwavering support—she felt like she might just be able to find her way through the darkness.