The door creaked open, and Fina didn't bother to turn her head. She assumed it was a nurse or maybe one of her brothers coming to check on her again. But when the familiar sound of his voice broke the silence, her entire body tensed.

"Fina," Aiden said softly, standing just inside the doorway. His voice carried a mix of hesitance and desperation.

She didn't move, her gaze fixed on the window as though she hadn't heard him. The ache in her chest deepened, and she clutched the blanket tighter.

"Your mom... she told me what happened," Aiden continued, stepping closer. His tone was laced with guilt. "I needed to see you. To make sure you're okay."

Fina's heart pounded, but she remained silent. Her jaw clenched, and tears threatened to spill as she bit down hard on her emotions.

Aiden took another step closer, his voice cracking as he spoke. "I'm so sorry, Fina. For everything. I know I've hurt you, and I—"

"Stop," Fina interrupted, her voice low but sharp. She turned her head slightly, just enough to see him out of the corner of her eye. "I don't want to hear it."

Aiden froze, his expression falling. "Fina, please. I just want to—"

"I said stop," she snapped, her voice rising. She finally turned to face him, her eyes blazing with anger and pain. "You don't get to walk in here like nothing happened. You don't get to act like you care now."

His shoulders sagged under the weight of her words, but he didn't move. "I do care," he insisted. "I've always cared. That's why I'm here. I know I messed up, and I—"

Fina shook her head, cutting him off again. "I don't care what you have to say, Aiden. I can't... I can't do this right now." Her voice broke, and tears began to fall despite her best efforts to hold them back.

Aiden took a step closer, his hands raised slightly as if to show he meant no harm. "Fina, please. I'm not leaving until I know you're okay."

Her laugh was hollow, bitter. "I'm in a hospital bed because of everything I've been through. Because of you, Aiden. Does that sound okay to you?"

His face crumpled, guilt and regret etched into every line. "You're right," he whispered. "You're absolutely right. I let you down, and I hate myself for it. But I'm here now, and I want to make it right."

Fina looked away, tears streaming down her face as she clutched the blanket tighter. "Just go," she said softly, her voice trembling. "I don't want to see you. Not now."

Aiden hesitated, torn between respecting her wishes and staying to prove he cared. After a long pause, he finally nodded, his own eyes glistening. "Okay," he said quietly, his voice heavy with sorrow. "I'll go. But I'm not giving up on you, Fina. Not ever."

Without another word, he turned and walked out of the room, the door clicking softly shut behind him. Fina buried her face in her hands, sobs wracking her body as the weight of his visit settled over her.

She wanted to hate him, wanted to push him away and never look back. But deep down, she wasn't sure if she could. And that terrified her most of all.

Fina sat motionless in the silence that followed, her chest rising and falling in shaky breaths as her sobs slowly subsided. Her fingers gripped the blanket so tightly her knuckles turned white. She didn't know how long she stayed like that—minutes, hours? It didn't matter. The heaviness in her chest refused to ease.

Why did he come? she thought bitterly. Did he think showing up would fix everything? That his words could somehow erase the pain, the confusion, the humiliation?

Her mind swirled with memories she wished she could forget: Aiden standing there while Sophia kissed him, her family breaking down the bathroom door, the raw panic in Enzo's voice when he carried her lifeless body. Every image felt like a stab to the chest.

When the door opened again, Fina flinched, her body instinctively recoiling. Her heart sank at the thought of Aiden coming back.

"Fina," her brother Enzo's voice cut through the room, steady and calm but tinged with concern. He approached cautiously, carrying a tray with a bowl of soup and some crackers.

She relaxed slightly, though she still avoided his gaze. "I'm not hungry," she muttered.

Enzo sighed, setting the tray down on the bedside table before sitting in the chair next to her bed. "You haven't eaten all day," he said gently. "You need to get some strength back."

Fina shook her head, pulling the blanket tighter around her. "I don't care," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Enzo leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he studied her. "We're all worried about you, Fina. Mamma, Papà, the boys... We just want you to be okay."

Her lips trembled, but she kept her face turned away. "I don't even know what okay feels like anymore," she admitted, her voice breaking.

Enzo was quiet for a moment before he reached out, his large hand gently covering hers. "I know you're hurting," he said softly. "And I know it feels impossible right now, but we're here for you. You don't have to go through this alone."

Fina's tears began to fall again, her shoulders shaking as she tried to hold back the sobs that threatened to overwhelm her. Enzo stood and sat on the edge of her bed, pulling her into a hug. She resisted at first, but eventually, she melted into his embrace, her sobs muffled against his chest.

He didn't say anything else, just held her while she cried. When her tears finally slowed, Enzo pulled back slightly, brushing a strand of hair from her damp face. "You're stronger than you think, sorellina," he said softly. "But it's okay to lean on us when you need to. We've got you."

Fina nodded weakly, her voice too hoarse to respond. For the first time in days, she felt the smallest flicker of comfort. Maybe she wasn't ready to face everything just yet, but at least she wasn't completely alone.

Fina rested her head against Enzo's shoulder, her body trembling from the exhaustion of crying. She clung to his shirt as if letting go would send her spiraling again. He stayed quiet, his hand gently rubbing her back in soothing circles.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled after a while, her voice barely above a whisper.

Enzo frowned, pulling back slightly to look at her. "What are you sorry for?"

"For being like this," she admitted, wiping at her swollen eyes. "For worrying everyone. For...everything."

His expression softened as he shook his head. "Fina, you have nothing to apologize for. You're going through something heavy, and it's okay to feel this way. We just want to help you through it."

She looked down at her hands, twisting the hem of the blanket between her fingers. "It doesn't feel okay," she said quietly. "It feels like I'm...broken."

Enzo reached out and gently tilted her chin up so she had to meet his gaze. "You're not broken," he said firmly. "You're hurt. And it's going to take time, but you're going to heal. I promise."

Tears welled in her eyes again, but this time they weren't from despair—they were from the raw, overwhelming emotion of being cared for so deeply. She nodded, though she wasn't sure if she believed him yet.

The sound of the door opening drew their attention. Their brother Antonio stepped in, his usually cocky demeanor replaced by quiet concern. "Hey," he said softly, glancing between them. "How's she doing?"

Enzo nodded toward Fina. "Better. Slowly."

Antonio walked over and sat on the other side of the bed, his warm brown eyes scanning her face. "Fina," he started, his voice uncharacteristically gentle, "you scared the hell out of us."

Her eyes dropped to her lap again, guilt stabbing at her. "I didn't mean to," she murmured. "I just...I didn't know what else to do."

Antonio's hand found hers, his grip firm but comforting. "You don't have to know," he said. "That's why you've got us. To pick you up when you can't do it yourself. Don't shut us out, sorellina. Please."

Fina looked between her two brothers, their unwavering support almost too much to bear. A fresh wave of tears spilled down her cheeks, and she nodded, her voice shaky as she whispered, "I'll try."

"That's all we need," Enzo said, pulling her into another hug while Antonio placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

As the three of them sat there, the weight on Fina's chest felt just a little lighter. She still had a long road ahead, but for the first time in a while, she didn't feel entirely lost.

Fina sat quietly in the embrace of her brothers, her tears gradually slowing as their steady presence wrapped around her like a protective shield. She sniffled, wiping her face with the sleeve of her hospital gown before looking up at Enzo, her voice trembling but determined.

"Can you... Can you call Mamma?" she asked softly, her fingers gripping the edge of the blanket.

Enzo exchanged a quick glance with Antonio before nodding. "Of course, sorellina. I'll go get her right now," he said, standing and giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. He left the room quietly, leaving Antonio sitting by her side.

Antonio shifted closer, studying her with his warm, protective gaze. "You need anything else, Fina? Water, food?" he asked, his voice low and comforting.

She shook her head, her lips trembling. "No, just...just Mamma."

Antonio nodded, leaning back slightly but keeping his hand resting lightly on hers. "She'll be here in a minute. You're not alone in this, okay? Don't ever think you are."

Before Fina could respond, the door opened again, and Isabella hurried in, her face etched with worry. Her dark eyes softened the moment they landed on Fina, and she wasted no time crossing the room to sit beside her.

"Tesoro," Isabella murmured, gently cupping Fina's face in her hands. "I'm here."

Fina crumbled at her mother's touch, fresh tears spilling over as she leaned into Isabella's embrace. "Mamma," she sobbed, her voice breaking. "I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for everything."

Isabella held her tightly, stroking her hair as she rocked her gently. "Shh, mio amore. There's nothing to be sorry for," she whispered. "I'm just so glad you're safe. That's all that matters."

"I don't feel safe," Fina admitted, her voice muffled against her mother's shoulder. "I feel like...like I'm drowning, and I can't make it stop."

Isabella's arms tightened around her, and her voice took on a quiet fierceness. "You don't have to fight this alone, Fina. We're all here for you—your brothers, your papà, me. We'll do whatever it takes to help you through this. Do you hear me?"

Fina nodded weakly, her tears soaking into her mother's blouse. For the first time in days, she let herself fully lean on someone else, feeling the strength of her mother's love steadying her frayed edges.

As Isabella continued to hold her, Antonio silently stepped out of the room to give them space, leaving the two of them wrapped in a moment of unspoken understanding.

Fina stayed in Isabella's arms for what felt like an eternity, the warmth and steadiness of her mother's embrace grounding her frayed emotions. When her sobs finally subsided to quiet sniffles, Isabella gently pulled back, brushing damp strands of hair from Fina's face. Her soft, concerned eyes searched her daughter's.

"Mia piccola, talk to me," Isabella urged, her voice gentle but insistent. "Whatever's on your mind, whatever's hurting you—let it out."

Fina hesitated, her gaze falling to her lap where her fingers fidgeted nervously. Her throat tightened as she tried to find the words, but the weight of everything felt suffocating.

"I don't know where to start," she admitted in a shaky whisper.

Isabella placed a hand over Fina's, stilling her restless movements. "Start anywhere, tesoro. I'm here to listen."

Fina swallowed hard, tears welling in her eyes again. "I feel like... like I keep hurting everyone," she said, her voice trembling. "I scared you, Papà, the boys... I didn't mean to, but it's like I can't stop. I don't know how to make it better, Mamma."

Isabella's heart ached at her daughter's words. She squeezed Fina's hand gently. "You didn't mean to scare us, amore. And we're not angry with you. We're just worried because we love you so much. You're not alone in this, Fina. You don't have to carry all of this by yourself."

"But I feel alone," Fina whispered, her tears spilling over. "Even when everyone's around me, I feel like I'm stuck in my head, drowning in everything. It hurts so much, and I don't know how to make it stop."

Isabella's hand moved to Fina's cheek, wiping away her tears. "You don't have to figure it out on your own," she said firmly. "We'll get you help, Fina. Real help. A therapist, someone you can talk to who understands how you feel. There's no shame in needing support."

Fina shook her head, her voice barely audible. "What if it doesn't work? What if I'm always this broken?"

Isabella's eyes filled with tears, but her voice remained steady. "You are not broken, Fina. You're hurting, and that's different. Healing takes time, but you're stronger than you think. And even on the days when you don't feel strong, we'll be here to hold you up. Always."

Fina let out a shaky breath, the weight of her mother's words sinking in. She wanted to believe them, to hold on to the hope that things could get better. "I don't know how to fix this," she admitted.

"You don't have to know how right now," Isabella reassured her, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "All you need to do is let us help you, one step at a time. Can you do that for me?"

Fina nodded weakly, her voice soft. "I'll try."

"That's all I ask," Isabella said with a gentle smile. "One step at a time, mia piccola."

Fina leaned into her mother again, letting herself absorb the comfort and love that had always been her safe haven. For the first time in what felt like forever, a small glimmer of hope began to bloom in her chest.

Fina shifted slightly in Isabella's embrace, her fingers twisting nervously in the hem of her hospital blanket. The warmth of her mother's arms steadied her, but the ache in her chest refused to fade. After a moment of hesitation, she finally spoke again, her voice fragile.

"Mamma," she murmured, her gaze fixed on the floor. "It's not just...everything else. It's Aiden, too."

Isabella's brows furrowed, though her expression remained soft. She gently pulled back to look at Fina, brushing a strand of hair from her daughter's face. "What about Aiden, amore?"

Fina's throat tightened, and fresh tears filled her eyes. "I don't know how to feel about him anymore. I trusted him, and then I saw him with Sophia..." Her voice cracked, and she had to pause to steady herself. "He told me she kissed him, that he didn't want it, but I can't stop thinking about it. Every time I close my eyes, I see them. It makes me feel sick, Mamma."

Isabella exhaled softly, her hands moving to cradle Fina's face. "Tesoro, your feelings are valid. What you saw hurt you deeply, and it's okay to feel confused and upset. Trust is a fragile thing, and when it's shaken, it takes time to rebuild."

Fina wiped at her tears with trembling hands. "But what if I can't rebuild it? What if I forgive him and it happens again? Or worse... what if he really did want her, and he just won't admit it?" Her voice broke on the last word, and she clutched at her mother's sleeve as if holding on for dear life.

Isabella's heart ached at her daughter's turmoil. She stroked Fina's cheek gently, her voice calm and steady. "Only Aiden knows what's truly in his heart, Fina. But what matters right now is what you feel. If you're not ready to forgive him, that's okay. If you need time to figure out how you feel, that's okay too. Don't rush yourself. Healing—whether it's from this or anything else—can't be forced."

Fina nodded slowly, though her tears didn't stop. "I hate feeling like this, Mamma. I hate how much I still care about him, even after everything."

Isabella gave her a small, sad smile. "Love is complicated, mia piccola. It doesn't disappear just because you're hurt. But love isn't always enough on its own. It has to be built on trust, respect, and understanding. If Aiden wants to be in your life, he'll need to prove he deserves that trust again. And until then, you need to focus on taking care of yourself."

Fina bit her lip, her voice barely above a whisper. "What if I never feel okay again?"

"You will," Isabella said firmly, pulling Fina back into her arms. "It will take time, but you will. And no matter how long it takes, I'll be here, right by your side. You are not alone in this, Fina. Remember that."

Fina buried her face in her mother's shoulder, her tears soaking into the fabric. "Thank you, Mamma," she whispered shakily.

Isabella pressed a kiss to the top of her head, holding her close. "Sempre, amore mio. Always."

a/n hello guys how are we doing 👀👀