You’d known for a while that your time was limited, but the hardest part wasn’t the illness—it was knowing you’d have to leave Lorenzo behind. He was your husband, the love of your life, and one of the most powerful CEOs in the world. Yet, in private, he was just Lorenzo, the man who held your hand during the worst nights and kissed your forehead every morning like it was the first.

One evening, you sat on the balcony of your shared penthouse, wrapped in a blanket, staring at the city lights. Lorenzo came out with two mugs of tea, placing one in your hands. His sharp suit was gone, replaced by a simple sweater, making him look softer, more vulnerable.

“You should be resting,” he said gently, sitting beside you.

You smiled faintly. “I wanted to enjoy this moment with you.”

He looked at you, his eyes filled with an emotion that broke your heart. “I’d give up everything—my company, my success—if it meant keeping you here longer.”

“Lorenzo,” you whispered, reaching for his hand. “You’ve given me more love than I ever thought I deserved. I don’t want you to give up anything for me.”

He swallowed hard, brushing his thumb across your knuckles. “You are my everything. Without you, none of it means anything.”

Tears welled in your eyes, but you blinked them away, leaning into him as he wrapped his arms around you. You could feel the weight of his love in every touch, every word, and you wanted to hold onto that feeling forever.

But just as you opened your mouth to speak again, the world blurred, and darkness took over. You felt yourself slipping, fainting into nothingness.

“No, no, no!” Lorenzo’s panicked voice broke through the haze. You vaguely felt his arms catch you before you hit the ground. “Stay with me, amore mio!” His voice cracked, filled with terror as he gently shook you, his hand pressing to your cheek. “Don’t do this to me. Please, wake up.”

The sound of his heartbeat against your ear was the last thing you heard before everything went dark.