Chapter 306: Reassurance
Remo’s arms tightened around her, and for a moment, the silence hung heavy between them. He could feel her trembling, her fear palpable, almost choking. Her vulnerability tore at him, but it also fed the gnawing guilt that had taken root deep inside him. How could he comfort her when he was the very source of her unease? When his doubts and questions were driving her to the brink?
He had to say something, anything to ease her mind. But the truth was too heavy, too dangerous. "Abby," he began, struggling to find the right words, "you mean everything to me. I’m not going anywhere. I’m right here with you."
But as he spoke, he couldn’t ignore the nagging voice in the back of his mind, the one that reminded him of all the things he’d recently learned. The therapist’s words echoed in his head, warning him of the delicate balance he had to maintain. He couldn’t confront her directly; the risks were too high. Yet every day he held back, he felt like he was betraying her trust, keeping a part of himself hidden.
Abby pulled back slightly, looking up at him with wide, tear-filled eyes. "Then why do I feel like you’re hiding something from me?" she asked, her voice laced with desperation. "I can feel it, Remo. You’re distant, distracted. What’s going on? Please, I need to know."
He swallowed hard, knowing that he couldn’t keep avoiding the truth forever. But how could he tell her? How could he explain that he was terrified for her, that he’d discovered things about her past that had shaken him to his core? That the woman he loved, the woman he’d sworn to protect, was battling demons far darker and more dangerous than he’d ever imagined?
"I’m not hiding anything," he lied, hating himself for the deception. "It’s just... there’s been a lot on my mind lately, with work and everything. But it has nothing to do with you, Abby. I swear."
Her brow furrowed in confusion, and he could see the gears turning in her mind, trying to make sense of his words. "Are you sure?" she asked, her voice small and fragile. "Because it feels like you’re keeping something from me, something important."
Remo’s heart ached at the sight of her, so vulnerable and afraid. He wanted to tell her everything, to lay all his fears and doubts out in the open. But he knew that doing so could push her over the edge, could shatter the fragile stability they’d built together. He couldn’t risk it—not yet.
"I’m sure," he said, forcing himself to meet her gaze, to convey a confidence he didn’t feel. "You’re the most important thing in my life, Abby. I love you more than anything. Don’t ever doubt that."
Her lip quivered, and she blinked back fresh tears. "I love you too, Remo," she whispered, clinging to him as if he were the only thing keeping her grounded. "I don’t know what I’d do without you."
He kissed the top of her head, inhaling the sweet scent of her hair, and for a moment, he allowed himself to forget everything else—the lies, the secrets, the dark truth that loomed over them. All that mattered in that moment was Abby, the woman he loved, the woman who needed him more than anything.
"I’m not going anywhere," he repeated, though the words felt hollow in his throat. "We’re in this together, okay? No matter what."