Lorenzo (panicked)
_ Chloé, Chloé my love, wake up please.
His voice trembled, shattered between fear and panic. Without thinking for even a second, Lorenzo lifted Chloé into his arms like a princess, his heart pounding wildly in his chest. His short breaths betrayed the anxiety twisting his insides. He rushed into the living room and laid her carefully on the couch, his hands shaking.
At that moment, Valentina and Carlos came downstairs, still half asleep. Their faces froze when they saw the scene: Chloé unconscious, pale-faced, lying motionless on the sofa.
Valentina (panicked)
_ What the hell happened here? Lorenzo, what did you do to her? Why is she unconscious?
Lorenzo did not even bother answering. His eyes stayed fixed on Chloé's fragile sleeping face. He sat beside her, took her cold hand, and rubbed it gently between his palms as if trying to bring warmth back into it.
Lorenzo (voice trembling)
_ Bring me alcohol and cotton. Hurry up, quick!
Without arguing, Valentina turned around and ran upstairs at full speed. Meanwhile, Carlos stepped closer, still confused, suspicion darkening his face. He stared at Lorenzo, fists clenched, while Lorenzo desperately tried to wake Chloé.
Carlos (deep voice)
_ Can I know who the hell you are? And why Chloé's in this condition? What did you do to her, asshole?
The words hit the room like a slap. Lorenzo slowly raised his head, his eyes burning with anger. His jaw tightened.
Lorenzo (calm but firm)
_ Mind your own business, man. If you don't want me to knock you out, shut up.
Carlos (furious)
_ Everything about Chloé is my business. I'm warning you, if you hurt her, I'll destroy you!
The tension rose instantly. That was the final straw. Without warning, Lorenzo lunged forward and punched him straight in the jaw. The hit was brutal and sharp. Carlos crashed heavily onto the floor, blood dripping from his lip.
Valentina came back downstairs at that exact moment and froze in shock.
Valentina (shouting)
_ Are you both insane?! Lorenzo, have you lost your mind or what?!
Lorenzo (deep restrained voice)
_ Tell your boyfriend not to provoke me, Val. I'm still holding myself back.
He snatched the cotton and bottle of alcohol from her hands before returning to Chloé. His movements became softer now, almost trembling. He soaked the cotton with alcohol and gently held it under Chloé's nose, hoping the smell would bring her back. His eyes devoured her face, filled with fear and a love he could no longer hide.
Lorenzo (low voice)
_ Wake up, baby… don't do this to me, please.
While he whispered those words, Valentina helped Carlos back to his feet. He clenched his jaw, his dark eyes burning with jealousy. Seeing Lorenzo so close to Chloé drove him insane. Without saying another word, he turned around and stormed upstairs furiously.
Valentina moved closer to the couch, knelt beside Chloé, and held her hand tightly.
Valentina (worried)
_ What happened? How did she faint? Did you do something to her, Lorenzo? Did you hit her?
Lorenzo didn't answer. He could barely hear her. Nothing mattered except Chloé. He continued rubbing the cotton gently near her nose. Then finally, a small movement. Her eyebrows twitched slightly.
Lorenzo (worried)
_ Chloé, can you hear me?
Valentina (panicked)
_ Sweetheart, open your eyes please.
And suddenly, Chloé slowly opened her eyes. Tears already shimmered in them, and the pain carved across her face tightened everyone's chest. The first tears rolled silently down her cheeks.
Valentina (confused)
_ But… why are you crying? What's wrong?
Lorenzo (softly interrupting)
_ Val, please go get me a glass of milk.
Without questioning him, Valentina walked toward the kitchen. Lorenzo carefully helped Chloé sit up on the couch. She said nothing. Tears kept flowing silently while she stared blankly ahead.
He knelt in front of her, took both her hands, and locked his eyes onto hers.
Lorenzo (calmly, sincerely)
_ I'm sorry. I shouldn't have told you like that. How do you feel? Do you want me to bring you—
Chloé (broken trembling voice)
_ Why? Why did he kill my father? I want to know why, Lorenzo. Why did he do that to him…?
Her voice cracked. Her fingers shook uncontrollably. Her whole body trembled with grief.
Lorenzo (softly)
_ We'll talk about it later. Right now, you need to calm down, you—
Chloé (screaming in pain)
_ No! Stop avoiding the question! Tell me why that bastard killed my father! What did he ever do to deserve that?! WHY HIM?! ANSWER ME, DAMN IT!
Her voice exploded through the living room. A scream filled with pure pain, hatred, and despair. Lorenzo stared at her, unable to escape the agony burning in her eyes.
Valentina came back with the glass of milk, looking completely lost. She sat beside Chloé and handed it to her gently.
Valentina (softly)
_ Sweetheart, drink this. You'll feel better. Come on.
Lorenzo (pleading)
_ Drink the milk, Chloé… please.
Chloé (firmly)
_ Val, leave us alone. Lorenzo and I need to talk.
Valentina (surprised)
_ But look at yourself, you're exhausted. You're not okay at all and—
Chloé (calm but determined)
_ I'm begging you, Val. Leave us alone.
A heavy silence settled in the room. Valentina hesitated before meeting Lorenzo's insistent gaze. Finally, she stood up, placed the glass on the table, and silently walked upstairs.
Now they were alone.
Lorenzo slowly sat across from her on the couch, elbows resting on his knees, eyes fixed on the woman he loved and feared losing. Chloé, still crying, stared back at him with unbearable intensity.
Chloé (weak but determined voice)
_ I want to know everything. Who you really are, what you're hiding, and especially why Fabio killed my father. What did he ever do to deserve that?
Lorenzo stayed silent for a long moment. His gaze darkened beneath the weight of a past he had spent years running from. He took a deep breath, preparing himself to face the truth.
Lorenzo (calmly)
_ You want to know who I really am?
Chloé (coldly, red eyes)
_ I think I already know that.
Her sharp tone froze the air. Lorenzo felt his chest tighten painfully. The worst was still coming.
Lorenzo (sad but proud voice)
_ No, you don't. I'm the Jaguar, the man who runs an arms cartel, launders money, and has been hunted by the police for eight years.
The sentence hit like a bomb. Chloé's face completely fell apart, her eyes widening in horror. Fear, disbelief, and rage flashed across her expression all at once.
Chloé (trembling voice)
_ You… you are…
Lorenzo (calmly)
_ Don't say anything yet. Let me finish. Nine years ago, I chose a different path from the one my parents wanted for me. My father dreamed of a businessman, an heir to continue his empire. But I wanted something else. I was a teenager with money, power, and freedom… and I chose my own road. If only I knew what it would cost me…
His voice darkened with memories he could neither hide nor fully express. Lorenzo paused, breathing heavily as if swallowing his entire past.
Lorenzo (eyes shining)
_ I created my cartel. We sold weapons everywhere, hacked powerful companies, laundered money… little by little, I became one of the most feared and wanted men alive. Nobody knew me as Lorenzo. To everyone, I was the Jaguar. Only "she" knew who I really was.
Chloé (curious)
_ Who is "she"?
Lorenzo (red eyes, tight voice)
_ My first love… and my worst nightmare. Her name was Irina. I met her by chance at a party. I didn't know she entered my life with one goal: destroy me, learn my secrets, and hand me over to my enemies. I had power, money, charisma… and many rivals. One of them trapped me, and that trap was Irina. She pretended to be perfect. I loved her. I gave her everything. And she betrayed me. She handed my little sister over to my enemies.
Chloé (shocked)
_ You had a sister?
Lorenzo (trembling, contained anger)
_ Yes. She was only ten years old. They kidnapped both her and Irina, and I had to choose. I chose to save Irina instead of my sister. I felt like I had no choice. My sister had lung cancer, and doctors said she wouldn't survive long. I used that as an excuse for my cowardice. I left her behind… and saved Irina.
A wave of horror crossed Chloé's face. Her hand flew to her mouth, unable to form a single word.
Lorenzo (cutting her off, broken voice)
_ I know I'm a monster. Three months later, I found out Irina was a spy. She had given all my information to her boss. He attacked my camp. My men were killed. Everything was taken from me. And me… I took her life. With my own hands. That day, for the first time, I pulled the trigger. I emptied my gun into her body and buried her with the love I once had for her. After that, I became even worse.
His voice carried a strange mixture of cold pride and endless regret.
Lorenzo (without apparent regret)
_ I won't lie to you, Chloé. I've killed many people. But in my mind, they deserved it. I don't kill for pleasure. I kill when necessary. I'm not proud of it, but I'm not ashamed either. Three years ago, I met Fabio and Marco, and from that moment, an invisible enemy started haunting me with threats.
Chloé (trembling voice)
_ And it was Fabio?
Lorenzo (broken voice)
_ Yes. Fabio was Irina's brother. I didn't know at first. He pretended to be my friend for years, but in reality, he only wanted one thing: to kill me. When I got shot, it was him. He disguised himself as a taxi driver and tried to assault you because he knew hurting you would hurt me the most.
Chloé (stunned)
_ It was him? But… I remember injuring his lips. I saw the scar when he came to visit you. Oh my God…
Lorenzo (sadly)
_ He killed your father because he knew attacking the people I love would destroy me. And when I found out it was him… I couldn't let him live. I couldn't stop my finger from pulling the trigger.
A heavy silence fell between them, filled with guilt, accusation, and unbearable sorrow. Chloé buried her face in her hands as her tears doubled. Lorenzo clenched his fists, trying to contain something dark threatening to explode inside him.
Chloé (crying)
_ So that psycho killed my poor father? He… he killed him even though he was innocent?
Her sobs tore through the room. Tears flooded her cheeks uncontrollably. Lorenzo felt his heart shatter. He immediately got up and knelt before her, wanting to comfort her, touch her… but Chloé pushed him away violently as if his touch burned her skin.
Chloé (crying, firmly)
_ No, Lorenzo. Don't try to comfort me. Leave me alone. I want to be alone. Get out.
Her voice trembled, but her words carried an icy firmness that allowed no argument. Lorenzo stepped back, hurt and worried.
Lorenzo (worried)
_ I can't leave you like this, Chloé. You're not okay. We should… go home and—
Chloé (trembling, cutting him off)
_ Can you listen to me for once? Leave me alone. Let me breathe. I need to be alone, do you understand?
A painful silence settled between them. Lorenzo searched desperately for words strong enough to calm the storm inside her, but none came. He reached his hand toward hers, hesitated… then pulled it back.
Lorenzo (calmly, softly)
_ Alright… I understand. I'll leave. But I'll stay outside, in the car, in the yard. If you need me, I'll come immediately. I know this is hard for you… but know one thing: I love you, Chloé. For you, I could give up everything if you asked me to.
He slowly stood up, as if every movement hurt him. Before leaving, he bent down and kissed her hair softly, a tender gesture filled with guilt. He walked toward the door, then turned one last time to look at her. His eyes overflowed with pain and trembling love before he finally left without another word. The door closed gently behind him.
Chloé remained alone, curled up on the couch, small and vulnerable. Her sobs returned even more violently.
Chloé (inner voice)
_ Dad… my sweet dad. Why you? Why did that bastard drag you into all this? I'm so sorry…
Her thoughts crashed into each other endlessly. Her heart pounded so hard she could feel every beat in her throat. The pain was no longer only emotional — it had become rage burning through her veins.
Chloé (whispering between sobs)
_ I'm such an idiot… such a coward. Lorenzo shouldn't have been the one to kill that bastard… it should've been me. I should've taken his life for what he did to my father. I hate you, Fabio. Rot in hell, you disgusting bastard.
The words came out like poison, filling the empty room with dark hatred. Chloé clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging into her palms — a desperate attempt to control the chaos consuming her.
To be continued…