Lisa's POV
The tension was unbearable. Every day, Noha seemed more distant, his mind consumed by something I couldn't understand. I had seen him angry before—cold, ruthless even—but this was different. He was on edge, and every time I tried to get close to him, he pulled away, as if afraid that if I got too close, I'd be swallowed by the darkness that haunted him.
I tried to reach out again, hoping that maybe today he would open up, let me in.
"Noha," I said softly, stepping into the room where he stood by the window, staring out into the night. "What's going on? You've been so distant. You've barely spoken to me."
He didn't turn to face me, his jaw clenched tight. I could see the muscles in his back tense, like he was fighting a battle I couldn't see.
"I'm trying to protect you," he finally said, his voice low and strained. "You're too close to this, Lisa. Too close to the danger. I can't afford to let you get hurt."
Noha's POV
She didn't understand. She thought this was about love, about wanting to be with her.
But it wasn't. It was about survival. About making sure she stayed alive long enough to not regret ever knowing me.
The world I lived in wasn't kind. It wasn't fair. And no matter how much I tried to shield her from it, it would always find a way to creep in.
"I'm not leaving," Lisa said, her voice breaking through my thoughts. "I'm staying with you, Noha. No matter what."
I turned to face her, my eyes locking with hers. The resolve in her gaze made my heart ache. She was so sure of herself. So sure of us.
But she didn't understand the full extent of what she was asking. I wasn't the man she thought I was. I wasn't the man she deserved.
I took a step closer, my hand reaching out to her. "I don't want to hurt you," I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper. "But I don't know if I can protect you from everything."
Lisa's POV
I took a deep breath and stepped closer to him, my heart pounding in my chest. "I'm not afraid of you, Noha. I'm afraid of losing you."
I could see the hesitation in his eyes, the way he struggled to keep control of his emotions. But I wasn't backing down. I had already crossed the line. There was no going back now.
"I love you," I said, my voice steady despite the uncertainty swirling in my chest. "And I'm not going anywhere."
For a moment, we just stood there, staring at each other, the silence thick between us.
Then, he closed the distance, his lips crashing against mine. The kiss was fierce, desperate—almost as if he was trying to hold onto something before it slipped away.
Noha's POV
I kissed her like I wanted to keep her forever, like I could protect her from the chaos that threatened to tear us apart. But deep down, I knew that nothing was as simple as it seemed. This wasn't a fairy tale. It was real, and it was dangerous.
When we pulled away, she was breathless, her lips swollen from the intensity of our kiss. But there was a question in her eyes—something she hadn't said, but I could see it in the way she searched my face.
"What's going on, Noha?" she whispered, her voice trembling with uncertainty. "What aren't you telling me?"
Lisa's POV
I had been patient, but I couldn't ignore it any longer. Something had changed. Noha was holding something back, and I had to know what it was. I couldn't live in the dark, not with him. Not when I was starting to realize just how deep his pain went.
"I can't protect you from this," he said, his voice shaking. "Dante—he's closing in. He's been planning something, and I don't know how to stop it."
I froze. Dante. The name alone made my stomach churn. I had heard whispers about him—how dangerous he was, how ruthless. But hearing Noha say his name like that, like he was a shadow over everything, made my heart race with fear.
"What are you going to do?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Noha's eyes darkened, and I could see the weight of his decision pressing down on him. "I'm going to do what I have to do. To protect you, to protect everyone I care about."
Noha's POV
I couldn't let Dante win. I couldn't let him hurt Lisa. But I knew the choices I made—every choice I had made in this life—were leading me down a dark path. A path that might end with me losing everything.
Lisa deserved more than that. She deserved a life free from fear. A life where she didn't have to worry about people like Dante coming for her.
But that wasn't the world I could give her. No matter how much I wanted to.
"I'll handle it," I said, my voice resolute. "Stay here. Stay safe. I'll make sure nothing happens to you."
But she shook her head, her eyes filled with determination.
"No. I'm not sitting on the sidelines anymore, Noha. I'm not going to let you fight this alone."
Lisa's POV
I had to stand by him. I couldn't watch him push me away, not when I knew how much he was suffering.
"I don't care what you're trying to protect me from," I said, stepping closer to him. "I'm part of this. I'm with you. I won't hide."
Noha's eyes softened for a moment, and for the briefest second, I thought I saw a flicker of hope in them. But then the hardness returned.
"You have no idea what you're getting yourself into," he whispered, his voice rough with emotion. "I won't be able to keep you safe if you're this close. They'll target you, Lisa. I can't lose you."
Noha's POV
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. I didn't want her to be part of this world, not this world. But she wouldn't listen. She was determined to be with me, no matter the cost.
And in that moment, I realized something.
Maybe it wasn't about keeping her safe anymore.
Maybe it was about learning to fight alongside her.
Lisa's POV
"No more running," I said, my voice steady. "We'll face this together."
Noha stared at me, his expression unreadable. But I could feel the weight of his emotions, the confusion, the doubt. He wasn't used to letting anyone in. Not like this.
But I wouldn't back down. I had chosen him, and I would stand by him.