Evangeline held out the cup, her voice gentle. "Here you go."
Ashely took the warm milk without a word, drinking it mechanically, his eyes distant and hollowâlike a puppet on strings. It pained her to see him this way, but she was not giving up. Not yet. Not ever.
"Ashely," she whispered, sitting beside him, her voice barely a breath. "I know you're still in there. You haven't lost hope, not completely. Please, I need you to come back. To me. To Angelo. To us."
It had been three days since the rescue. Three long days, and they were back in Italy but still staying at a quiet hotel. Eva knew Ashely wasn't ready to face the rest of the family, especially not Angelo. Not yet.
The bond between Angelo and Ashely had always been unbreakable, two brothers in every way except blood. Together, they had protected her, shielded her, their "little sister" from the harshness of the world. She remembered all the times they'd given up their share of bread, making sure she never went to bed hungry. They were her protectorsâher brothers, and she needed them both now more than ever.
"You know," Eva said softly, "Angelo misses you. He wants to see you."
She watched for a reaction, and for the briefest moment, Ashely flinched. Just a flicker, but it was something. A spark in the void.
Eva let out a quiet sigh, her chest heavy but hopeful. "I'll be right back," she murmured, standing. "I'm going to take a shower. Stay here, okay?"
Leaving him in the quiet room, she headed upstairs, her thoughts swirling. The hot water from the shower poured over her, washing away the grime of the past few weeks, but not the weight of the emotions. Ashely's trauma, his vacant eyes, haunted her every moment. Yet, there was hopeâhope that somewhere inside, the Ashely she knew was still fighting to come back.
After what felt like hours, she stepped out, pulling on a loose shirt and sweatpants, unconcerned with the scars that crisscrossed her face. She'd always hidden them, concealed the evidence of her battles behind layers of makeup. But tonight, she felt too tired for pretenses.
But when she opened the bathroom door, she froze. Ashely was standing there in the hallway, staring at her. His wide eyes weren't just surpriseâthey were searching, seeing her in a way that no one had in a long time.
Eva's hand flew to her face, covering the scars instinctively. Her heart raced, the familiar wave of self-consciousness flooding her senses. "IâI didn't know you were there," she stammered, her voice trembling.
Ashely didn't look away. He didn't flinch or react with the shock she expected. Instead, he took a step closer, his expression softening as his gaze lingered on her unmasked face.
"Why do you hide them?" he said quietly, his voice breaking the silence between them.
This was the first time he spoke since he was here
Her breath caught in her throat. Of all the questions, she had not expected that to be his first. Not from Ashely. Slowly, hesitantly, she lowered her hand, letting the scars stay exposed.
"It's easier," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "When people don't see them, they don't look at me differently."
Ashely's gaze never wavered. "I don't see you any differently," he said, his voice steady. "Scars or no scars, you're still the person who saved me. You're strong and You've always been the most beautiful girl ive seen"
His words hung in the air between them, sinking deep into Eva's heart. She had spent so long hiding, afraid of the judgment, afraid of being seen as something broken. But in this moment, Ashely saw herâtruly saw herâand it didn't change a thing.
"I don't know if I can believe that," she whispered, her voice cracking under the weight of her vulnerability.
"You will," Ashely said with quiet confidence, offering her a small smile. "When you're ready, you will."
For the first time in a long time, Evangeline felt the tightness in her chest ease. Ashely didn't see her scars as something to be hidden, and for a fleeting moment, neither did she. She nodded, returning his smile, though it was fragile.
"Thank you," she said softly.
Ashely's smile grew, a hint of his old self breaking through. "You've done more than enough for me. It's time you stop hiding from yourself."
That night, they cuddled each other to sleep just like old times, except for the fact that this time they were on a comfortable mattress instead of a cold empty dark cell