The room was too quiet.
Leo's arm was still loosely around her waist, not trapping her - just there. Warm. Present.
"Tell me you don't love me."
The words lingered between them.
Aria's throat felt tight. Her head still ached slightly, but that wasn't what made her chest hurt.
It was the truth sitting right in front of her.
She pulled away slowly this time - not to escape, but to sit up properly.
Leo let her.
She swung her legs off the bed and pressed her hands to her face.
He stayed silent.
Waiting.
For once, he wasn't pushing.
That made it harder.
Her shoulders started trembling before she realized she was crying.
Not dramatic.
Not loud.
Just quiet, overwhelmed tears.
"I'm so tired," she whispered.
Leo sat up behind her.
"Of me?"
She shook her head quickly.
"Of being scared."
That made him soften instantly.
She turned to look at him, tears streaking down her cheeks.
"I love you," she said.
Sober.
Clear.
No slurring.
No hesitation.
"I love you and it terrifies me."
The air shifted.
Leo didn't smile.
Didn't celebrate.
He just watched her carefully, like this was something fragile.
"I know," he said quietly.
"You don't," she cried, voice breaking. "You don't know what it feels like to walk into a room and be measured before you even speak. You don't know what it feels like to constantly wonder if you're temporary."
He didn't interrupt.
She needed to empty this out.
"I grew up knowing everything could fall apart," she continued. "Money. Health. Stability. I learned to prepare for loss."
Her voice cracked.
"And loving you feels like preparing to lose something that hasn't even happened yet."
That one landed heavy.
Leo moved closer, slowly.
"I'm not temporary," he said gently.
"No," she whispered. "I'm scared I am."
He reached for her hands.
She let him.
"That dinner..." she swallowed. "Your parents didn't just insult me. They confirmed my worst fear."
"What fear?"
"That I'll never be enough in your world."
His grip tightened slightly.
"You are enough for me."
"But what if that stops being enough?"
"It won't."
"You don't know that," she whispered.
He inhaled slowly.
"You're right. I don't know the future. I don't know how hard they'll push. I don't know what battles we'll have to fight."
She stared at him through tears.
"But I know this," he continued. "I have never chosen someone the way I'm choosing you."
Her breathing hitched.
"You don't have to fight my parents alone," he said. "You don't even have to fight them at all. I will."
"And if they threaten your future?"
"They already tried," he replied calmly. "And I still walked out."
That memory flashed in her mind.
Him standing up.
Him saying, We're leaving.
He leaned closer.
"I'm not with you because it's convenient. I'm with you because I want you."
Her tears fell harder now.
"I don't want to be the reason you're divided from your family."
"You're not dividing anything. Their expectations are."
Silence.
Soft. Heavy.
"I don't know how to stay," she admitted quietly.
He brushed his thumb gently under her eye, catching a tear.
"Then learn with me."
Her lips trembled.
"I pushed you away because I thought if I made it less real, it would hurt less."
"Did it?"
She let out a broken laugh. "No."
He finally let a small smile slip through.
"Then maybe stop trying to protect yourself from something that hasn't broken yet."
She looked at him for a long moment.
"You're sure?" she asked softly.
"I'm sure about you."
The certainty in his voice wasn't loud.
It was grounded.
And that grounded her.
Her hands tightened around his shirt.
"I don't want this to just be a contract anymore," she whispered.
His heartbeat actually stuttered.
"Say that again."
"I don't want this to just be a contract," she repeated, voice steadier now. "I don't want to pretend I don't love you. I don't want to perform in public and feel empty at home."
His hand moved to her waist.
Careful.
Intentional.
"Then don't."
She exhaled shakily.
"I love you," she said again.
And this time it sounded like surrender - not fear.
Leo closed the remaining distance between them.
He rested his forehead gently against hers.
"I love you too," he said quietly.
Not rushed.
Not dramatic.
Certain.
Her eyes closed.
For the first time in weeks, her chest didn't feel tight.
It felt open.
Scary.
But open.
They didn't rush into a kiss.
Didn't turn it into fireworks.
Instead, he pulled her into his arms slowly.
Fully.
She melted into him without resistance.
No pretending.
No holding back.
Just warmth.
"I'm still scared," she admitted softly against his chest.
"I know."
"I might still panic sometimes."
"I'll be here."
"I might still overthink everything."
"I'll still be here."
She let out a small breathy laugh.
"That's unfair."
"What is?"
"You're too steady."
He smirked slightly. "Someone has to be."
She pulled back just enough to look at him.
"Does this mean we stop pretending at home?"
"Yes."
"And at school?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"At school we're still the perfect couple."
She rolled her eyes softly.
He smiled faintly.
"But now it won't be an act."
That made her smile.
Small.
Real.
He brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
"So no more running?"
She hesitated.
Then nodded.
"No more running."
He pulled her back into him.
This time tighter.
Not like she was going to disappear.
But like she had finally chosen to stay.
And for the first time since the dinner-
The penthouse didn't feel divided.
It felt like home.
