𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝑰𝒏 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 44

The air was thick with tension as we landed in the U.S., the reality of Kate's death settling in deeper with every passing hour. The moment we stepped off the plane, we were met with a throng of reporters. Cameras flashed, voices called out, desperate for any kind of comment on Xion's case and the tragedy surrounding his family. I felt Sophia's hand slip into mine as I guided her through the crowd, shielding her and Iris from the relentless press.

"Mr. Vasilios! Any comment on the recent developments?" a reporter shouted, microphone inches from my face.

I pushed through, ignoring the questions, my focus only on getting to the hospital. We finally managed to break free of the chaos outside and hurried inside, where the sterile, dim lighting only amplified the weight of grief pressing down on us. Lowie and Chloé were already waiting in the corridor with the kids, holding them close, trying to shield them from the tragedy in the best way they could.

Iris ran to Tia as soon as she saw us, her small arms wrapping around her as she clung to Tia, her face pressed against her shoulder, her little body trembling. She remained nestled beside her, wide-eyed and clutching her favourite stuffed animal, her face full of confusion and sadness she was too young to fully understand. Chloé cradled the baby girl, her face set in a soft expression of sorrow as she rocked her gently, her eyes lifting to meet mine in shared empathy.

Sophia bent down to take Tia in her arms, brushing a hand over her head, murmuring reassurances in her ear. Then she reached for Iris, pulling her close, hugging them both tightly as if to share some of her strength. She looked up at me, her eyes shining with silent promises of support, and I leaned down to press a kiss on her forehead, grateful for her steadiness even in moments like this.

"I'll be back soon," I whispered to her, glancing back at the room where the family gathered, their shared strength binding them through the grief. With a last look at Sophia, I made my way down the hall to find Xion.

I found him in a small, dim room tucked away from the rest of the ward, his silhouette hunched, shoulders heavy. His gaze was distant, his jaw clenched, eyes bloodshot from what I knew had to be a mix of exhaustion and a pain that was beyond words. As I entered, he didn't look up. I closed the door behind me, letting the silence settle between us.

"Xion," I murmured softly, stepping closer, but he remained motionless, his eyes fixed somewhere beyond me, beyond the room, seeing a world now shattered.

When he finally looked up, his eyes met mine, and I saw the raw anger simmering beneath his grief. "They took her from me, Nicolas. They took her, knowing exactly what it would do to me. Kate... she was my heart. And they ripped it out without a second thought."

His voice was low, cold, with a kind of resolve that sent a chill through me. He'd always been fierce, relentless, but I'd never seen him like this. This was deeper than justice; this was vengeance he was talking about, a wrath that threatened to consume him whole.

"I know, brother," I said quietly, stepping closer. "But you don't have to go through this alone. We're here. I'm here. Whatever you need, we'll find a way forward together."

He looked away, his jaw tightening as he struggled to keep control. "There's no way forward that doesn't lead to retribution. They'll pay, Nicolas. Every single one of them. I'll make them suffer for what they did to her, to my children." His voice cracked, just slightly, and he clenched his fists.

I reached out, placing a hand on his shoulder, grounding him as best I could. "You have every right to want that. But don't let this loss consume everything you have left. Your kids, they need you. More than ever."

His face softened for a split second, and I saw the faintest glimmer of the man he used to be beneath the layers of pain and fury. "I can't promise that, Nicolas. I don't know if I can be what they need right now."