The Mafia's Bride

Chapter 33

Chapter 33 — Hayat's POV

For a moment neither of us moved.

Months.

Months of missing him.

Months of wondering if I had done the right thing.

Months of trying to convince myself that distance would make this easier.

It hadn't.

Not even a little.

"Hazar."

His name broke on my lips.

The sound seemed to reach him.

Because something in his expression shattered.

The careful control he always carried slipped.

And suddenly he was just a man.

A man who looked exhausted.

A man who looked relieved.

A man who looked like he'd finally found something he'd been searching for.

"Hayat."

My eyes burned.

I hated how much hearing my name in his voice affected me.

I hated how much I had missed it.

For a second neither of us knew what to say.

Then he laughed.

A small, disbelieving laugh.

"I had speeches prepared."

I blinked.

"What?"

"A lot of them."

His eyes softened.

"On the plane."

Another small smile.

"At the airport."

Then he rubbed a hand over his face.

"Yesterday."

Despite everything, I laughed.

And God...

The look on his face when I laughed.

Like he'd been starving and someone had finally handed him food.

His eyes closed briefly.

As though he needed a second just to feel it.

⸻

"You left."

The words escaped before I could stop them.

His smile faded.

"I know."

My throat tightened.

"You let me leave."

His jaw clenched.

"I knew if I stopped you..." His voice grew quieter. "You would've hated me."

I looked away.

Because maybe he was right.

At the time I probably would have.

The wind blew between us.

Carrying months of hurt with it.

Months of silence.

Months of things left unsaid.

"I'm still angry."

The confession felt small compared to everything else.

But it was true.