Ethan´s POV

I stood before Aline, my heart pounding so loud that I was sure she could hear it. Her eyes bore into mine, those eyes that held a mixture of strength and vulnerability that had captivated me from the moment we met. I took a deep breath, my fingers nervously intertwining as I gathered the courage to speak the words that had been haunting me.

"Aline," I began, my voice a shaky whisper, "there's something I need to tell you."

She cocked her head slightly,

I cleared my throat, my palms growing damp with anxiety. "It's about Paty," I confessed, the name tasting bitter on my tongue. "She's... she's...