Third Person POV:

It had been a few weeks and to say everything was going fine would have been an exaggeration since the day at the hospital Kiara had lost her sunshine. She was starting to get depressed, she had lost weight and she put no effort into school. Her parents were concerned but nothing would work.

They tried all the ways but she didn't utter a word to any of them nor her twin brother. Kyle had found out everything about Asher and he made sure to turn it in to the police but all in vain since Asher was a respected gang leader.

It had been a month or even two and they were finally graduating in a few months but Kiara's grades were concerning if she wanted to go study in an Ivy League. Everyone had given up on explaining any to her but there was one person who still hadn't given up.

Elina knocked loudly on Asher's door when he opened the door a plaster was still around his arm her eyes softened a little but that didn't stop her. "You asshole! Do you have any idea what the fuck you have done?" she barged in. Asher had no emotions on his face. And when she finally took a good look at him she found out he wasn't in good condition either.

He had dark circles around his eyes, and his body that stood tall and storing looked weak. His eyes held anger but today there was no emotion, they looked dull instead of sharp. Christian and Blake walked out looking at the commotion.

"Elina, he ain't well leave him alone," Christian grumbled. "I would love to invite you to see Kiara then, cause she looks worse! I don't know if she still has her voice left since she has barely uttered words! She will soon need to be hospitalized since she has stopped eating and is becoming malnourished. And you wanna know the reason for all this?" she asked, glaring at them.

"Your best friend couldn't have the guts to tell her that he is a gang leader! He didn't think even if he ruled the entire state he could protect his girl!" she continued. Asher glared at her. "It's not as simple as it looks Elina," Blake tried to reason. "If you give me any crap about she would rather be safe without him Blake I will slit your throat," she warned.

"Asher, give me one reason why you let the girl that loves you so much leave like that?" she asked him. "You perfectly know the reason Elina, now leave," he said. "No! No, you don't get to say that. You came into our lives, into HER life and when she finally fell for someone after so long you deprived her of her first love! Asher King, you know she deserves to be happy!" she said.

"I know that and she will be happy when I leave," he said. Elina scoffed, placing her hand on her forehead. "Then why stay here? You could go back to Italy with your family right now. Then why stay here? Sophia told me how you have been following Kiara around. I don't know if you just act like you don't have any emotions or if you are really heartless. But how can you bear seeing her like that?" she asked him.

"At least I can fucking see her," he shouted. He had gone through so much but still, he didn't care about any of the bruises, the bones, internal bleeding... all he cared about was Kiara.

"No, you either hold her by your side or you let go, Asher. You don't get to keep her like this. I won't let you. So I am warning you if in two days you don't go see her and tell her everything and make her yours, you will be forced to leave this country," she said as she started walking away.

"And don't test my patience. Because Kiara will move on and I will make sure she does," she said before walking out.

Asher stood outside the gate looking at the window. The light was on and he could see her silhouette at the window as she cried and cried. It was 2 am. The two days Elina had given him were over and he was leaving for Italy. He had decided to let go. As he stood there looking at her he wanted to go on hug her, bring her close to him, and tell her everything was going to be fine. He was there to take care of her but he couldn't because he knew everything was a lie. Her life was in danger and the reason was him.

"You know I should kill you for breaking my daughter's heart?" he heard a voice making him look up at the gate. Marcus Wilder. He was meeting him for the first time and he didn't look pleased at all. "Sir," Asher said respectfully. "Don't do that, you lost all my respect when my daughter came back home crying after she went to see you at the hospital," he said glaring at Asher.

"I am sorry," Asher said looking down. "Don't apologize when you don't mean it, Asher, didn't your father always say that?" Marcus continued. Asher looked at him glaring back. "He was not my father," he said. "I know your sister died because of all his activities and I know you are handling them now, doing quite good actually," he said as he sat down at the bench nearby.

"You know Kiara is my entire world?" he continued. "And she deserves someone who would keep her like that," Asher said. "But you were her world," he said, sighing. Asher looked at Marcus. "Shocked that it is in the past now?" he asked. "Asher, I was never on good terms with your father because he cheated me in business, but it looks like the world is a really small place right?" he asked.

"Sit down," Marcus said and Asher obeyed. "You have been standing here for the past hour but you didn't have the strength to go see her did you?" Marcus asked. "I understand that your job is very dangerous and as a father, I would not let my daughter be with you because I know this could take her life," he said. "And I would never want to be the reason she is in any danger," Asher said.

"Exactly you would always put her first, wouldn't you?" Mr Wilder asked. Asher nodded without hesitation. "Then why won't you tell her that?" he asked. "Because I know she deserves someone better, and I know she will find that," Asher said. "You are very insecure, you don't love my daughter and you are putting her life in danger. All this combined is making you like this. So leave. You are doing the right thing," Marcus said getting up.

"Sometimes two people need to fall apart."

He stood up and said, "But let me tell you one thing, Asher King, once you leave today I want you out of my daughter's life, If I see you ever again It's going to be my fist and your face, and I won't go easy on you," Marcus said walking back in.

Kiara's POV :

He left. He went back to Italy a month ago. I couldn't bear to do anything after that. It was like a piece of my heart was gone. He left taking my smile with him. I couldn't do anything about it. I just sat there when I saw him and Dad talk. Hoping he would come up and hug me and tell me everything was fine.

But I guess not everyone gets to be with the person they love right? I wanted to burn down all those books, I didn't want to see Elina and Kyle together or even Mom and dad, cause I didn't get my perfect relationship and it hurt. It hurt so much that I cared about someone who didn't care about me at all. He didn't think even saying goodbye was necessary. He made it clear that I had no place in his life. And maybe losing him made me think that love was stupid.

I had started studying again. I apologized to Mom, dad, Elina, and everyone for punishing them because God punished me. And they accepted me with open arms. I worked hard and studied hard. I became the person everyone wanted me to be, but no one noticed that the smile was fake, the happiness was just empty on the inside.

Edward and Sophia were getting married today and this was the only thing that made me feel happy without feeling sad. They deserved it. But clearly, I didn't.

"You look beautiful," I heard Kyle say as he stood behind me and we both stared in the mirror. "Thank you," I smiled. "Kiara, you need to move on," he said sadly. "Kyle if you are about me finding someone else, please stop," I said getting up. "But your date is here," he said. "He is just from the groom's side and I am walking with him, that does not make him my date," I said. "Suit yourself, we are walking down in ten," he said as he walked away.

I sighed, turning around and placing a hand on the necklace. Why couldn't I take it off and throw it? Why did it still feel right to wear it?

As soon as I got down the stairs the door opened but he was standing with his back to me. "Hi," I said but he didn't turn around. I walked closer when I realized it. I stopped walking with my heels making no noise.

My heart started beating faster. But I didn't care about that.

"What are you doing here?" I asked calmly. He turned around and I was shocked to see him. He looked so different. Not seeing him for three months made me realize his features had changed. His hair was a little longer and he had new ink on his neck. He was wearing a suit that fit him perfectly.

"You look beautiful," he said. I laughed. "No, I don't, I am ugly remember?" I asked him trying to get past him when he stopped me. "Kiara," he said. "I am sorry you don't know me well enough to call me that," I said, pushing him away and walking ahead. "Look please leave. I have a date, and this is my sister's wedding. I don't want to ruin anything," I said walking and standing in my place.

When he stood beside me I glared at him. "Please, just listen to me once," he begged. I ignored him and the ceremony took place as it was. But I could barely concentrate on anything.

When there was a rough hand around my waist I looked up to see Asher dragging me away. "Asher, I cannot miss the wedding," I said. "It already took place and your sister called me here," he gritted through his teeth.

I removed his hand as we stood on the opposite side away from everyone else.

"What do you want from me?" I asked about being done with getting hurt over and over again. "You have no right to show up like this!" I said. "Would you please listen to me this once?" he asked. "No Asher, I will not because if you had something to say to me you would come up to my room when you were standing outside my house. But no you let me Father scare you away," I burst.

"Kiara, I need to tell you some things," he said. "Are you here to confess your feelings?" I asked him. He stayed silent. "No, right? Let me guess you are here to tell me why you should let me go?" I asked. "No, I am here to tell you why you should let me go!" he said. I took a few steps back.

"Really? Really? You still got to say that?" I asked him. "Kiara, listen to me. Come with me, see what I am talking about! You will not love me after that!" he said. I sighed, sitting down on the stairs and grabbing my head.

"Asher, go, please leave. I thought everybody was stupid to tell me that you didn't even like me. They were right, please leave," I said. "No, I want to hear you say it," he said. I got up and walked to him standing in front of him.

"You don't want to leave thinking you left me because you couldn't love me back do you?" I asked him. He just looked at me. "Okay, this is the last time I will ever say this to you, and you leave after this. I love you, Asher. I loved you," I said as a tear slipped down my cheek.

He grabbed my waist pulling me close and kissing me. I felt his heart beating faster as he held me so close. But I couldn't kiss back. "Please?" I heard him say when he pulled back. I looked at him to see his eyes watering and for the first time, he didn't do anything to stop them. He had never cried.

He pulled me close again, kissing me and I kissed back. It was soft and slow, putting all we felt for each other in it.

But Dad was right. I couldn't force him. And I was okay with just loving him. I didn't love him for him to love me back. I loved him because I felt safe and happy. Because I knew his hugs could comfort me and that he made me smile even with the glares he gave. I loved him for being the strongest and for conquering so much.

I loved him.

He pulled away and wiped my tears. "Don't cry, I like it when you smile," he said, tears flowing down his own cheeks. "Don't say things you don't mean, please, I can't let go of you," I said. "I know you are so smart and that you will do great," he said, his tears stopping as he wiped his face but I could still see the sadness.

"And I know you will succeed too," I said. "I hope you forgive me someday," he said, hugging me. "I won't forgive myself," I said. "It's not your fault I couldn't love you," he said, pulling away. "But it is my fault that I couldn't make you fall in love with yourself too," I said. He just stared at me.

"Goodbye," he said as he took a few steps away from me, making me cry even more. "Asher! Please don't leave," I screamed but he just continued walking. "I wish I could stay," he said before a car came and he left without a second glance.

I stood there crying till there were no tears left.

I will miss you, Asher.