54

54
Nova's POV
Diego nodded, but his expression showed that the sense of loss was profound. “Every corner of this castle feels empty without her. It’s as if all the happiness has vanished with her.”

“She wanted us to remember all those beautiful moments,” I said softly. “Every page you read is a reminder that love never truly disappears. We can carry it with us.”

He looked at me, and I could see a glimmer of hope behind his sadness. “Do you really believe we can revive that warmth?” he asked.

“Yes,” I answered firmly. “By loving each other and creating new memories, we can fill that void. We don’t have to do it alone.”

Diego fell silent, reflecting on my words. I felt his fingers gently wrap around the book, as if trying to absorb all the love and wisdom left by his mother.

I didn't say anything, just sat beside him. Then suddenly, Diego turned to face me. His eyes looked deeply into mine, and without warning, he pulled me into an embrace.

The hug... was different from before. There was no tension, no anger. Just a silence filled with warmth. His arms wrapped around my back, and his head rested on my shoulder.

I could feel the calm enveloping us. In that moment, all worries and uncertainties seemed to vanish. It was just us, two souls supporting each other on this journey.

“I don’t want to lose moments like this,” he whispered, his voice almost inaudible. “Moments where I feel safe.”

“Me too,” I replied softly, savoring every heartbeat that resonated between us. I felt the soothing warmth of his body, as if reminding me that we didn’t have to face the world alone.

We remained silent in that embrace, allowing the stillness to speak. There was something profoundly deep in the way we supported each other, as if we had found a part of ourselves that was lost. In this hug, we were not just two; we were a unity that completed each other.

“I’m tired, Nova,” he whispered. “Tired of hating, tired of suspecting everyone, including you.”

My heart sank. I returned his embrace slowly. The pain in his voice made me want to erase all the burdens he carried.

“I’m tired too, Diego... But if you’re willing to try, I’ll be here. To be your wife. To support you.”

He didn’t answer, just held me tighter, as if wanting to absorb all the warmth and love I could offer. In that embrace, I felt sadness and hope mingling, creating a space where we could grow together.

“Together, we can overcome this,” I continued, trying to instill confidence in his heart. “We don’t have to do it alone. We can share this burden.”

He nodded slowly, his face still bowed. “I want to believe you, but... sometimes the pain is hard to erase.”

“It doesn’t need to be erased,” I replied gently. “We just need to learn to live with it. Accept that it’s part of who we are, but not let it control us.”

Diego lifted his head, his eyes searching mine. “Are you sure? Can we find a way out of all this?”

“Yes, I’m sure,” I said firmly. “We can, as long as we keep supporting each other. We can build something beautiful from all of this.”

In the silence that followed, I felt him slowly begin to open his heart. Our embrace became a symbol of a promise to fight for this love, no matter how difficult the journey ahead.

“You are my place to hold on,” Diego finally said, his voice full of hope. “And I will try not to hurt anymore.”

With a gentle smile, I replied, “And I will always be here to help you.” We fell silent for a moment, feeling the depth of our bond growing stronger.

And at that moment, in the garden surrounded by flowers and morning dew, for the first time... I felt that home was not just walls and a roof. But also an embrace. Trust. And love that slowly grew from the same wounds.

We sat in silence, allowing the moment to envelop us. Each whisper of the wind carried the fresh scent of blooming flowers, as if nature was celebrating our journey. In Diego's embrace, I felt protected, as if all fears and anxieties disappeared.

“I don’t want to lose this feeling,” he said quietly, his voice almost trembling. “This feeling of safety.”

“Neither do I,” I responded. “Let’s hold on to this feeling and remind each other when we feel doubt.”

He nodded, his eyes shining with hope. “We can create new memories, not just painful ones.”

“Yes,” I said enthusiastically. “We can build a home filled with love, with all our experiences—both good and bad.”

We looked at each other, and in that gaze, I could feel a commitment being born between us. We were not just a couple; we were two souls ready to support and grow together.

In this beautiful garden, we had found a new meaning of home. With love as our foundation, we would build something eternal—a place where we could shelter each other, grow, and love without limits.

Diego and I immediately released our embrace as Marian's footsteps approached. I felt a bit shy, while Diego sighed and stood up from the garden bench.

Marian stood not far from us, wearing a long dark blue cloak, her white hair neatly pinned up as usual, but this time there was a clear worry on her face.

“I’ve been looking for you since this morning,” she said, looking at Diego, then turning to me. “You both disappeared without a word. Where did you go yesterday?”

Diego glanced at me before answering, “Nova wanted to go out for a bit… and we walked quite far. Sorry, Grandma.”

Marian narrowed her eyes, as if reading deeper than that brief response. “You know I won’t believe that easily, right?”

I stood up from the bench, trying to explain. “We just... talked, Grandma. There were many things to discuss after everything that happened. I’m sorry if we worried you.”