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Despite all the uncertainty that’s gnawing at me, I don't feel as lost as I did before.
With Nikolai and Mikhail by my side, I feel a sense of stability.
I take a deep breath in as they finish speaking, both moving in to press a gentle kiss on either side of my face, then slide their hands down my body to wrap their fingers around mine.
Together, we begin to walk back towards the other room, where all of the men remain.
The air feels heavy as we approach, the sounds of their quiet murmurs drifting through the hallway.
I’m aware of the eyes that will be on us when we enter, the silent judgement from my family, but at this moment, with them both by my side, I feel a strange sense of confidence.
This is happening now.
This is my reality.
And I wouldn’t change a thing.
As we take a step into the room, I hold onto Nikolai and Mikhail even tighter, grateful that they’re here to keep me steady.
The atmosphere shifts slightly; it’s less tense now, but it’s still filled with unspoken words.
I can feel all eyes on us.
I force myself to stand tall between them both, my hands gripping theirs as they move with me, unbothered by all the eyes that linger on us.
As we stop walking any further into the room, Nikolai speaks.
“We’re going to make this work.” He tells him all. “Chiara isours,and that’s final. She will be protected with us, and she will be safe.”
Mikhail nods, adding to what Nikolai has said.
“We’re in this together, and Nikolai and I will stand by Chiara’s side, always.”
The finality in their words make me smile, the weight of it all suddenly becoming real.
This is happening.
This is what they’ve decided.
And for the first time in so long, I find myself feeling like I might not be so lost after all.
I look away from them both to glance over at Papa and Dario, noticing them both standing across from me on the other side of the room. Their expressions are unreadable as they process everything.
I know they don’t understand it, I know they want me to fight against this, but I can’t.
Nikolai and Mikhail mean a lot to me.
More than I ever thought they would.
After taking a deep breath in, I slowly pull my hands away from theirs. Though their grips loosen slightly, they don’t let me go completely. Instead, they both look down at me, their eyes questioning me as I take a step forward, then they finally let go.
I don’t know why, but at this moment, I need to walk towards Papa and Dario.
I need them to know that I’m still theirs.
A daughter.
A sister.