Someone has to
They stood in the dimly lit room, the air thick with tension as they held their guns pointed at each other. The click of the safeties being disengaged echoed in the silence, while the flicker of uncertainty danced in their eyes.
One, with eyes blazing with fury, knuckles white around the grip of the weapon, ready to unleash the pent-up rage of years.
On the other hand, a man with a faint smile playing on his lips, his gaze unwavering as if he could peer into the depths of her soul, understanding the turmoil within her.
Memories of a shared past flashed through their minds, a tangled web of love and betrayal, loyalty and deceit. Yet, amidst the chaos of emotions, there lingered a flicker of something deeper, a connection that refused to be severed despite the passage of time.
For him, every fiber of his being yearned to reach out, to hold her close and mend their shattered bond. But the cold steel in his hand served as a reminder of the balance they were standing upon, the thin line between love and destruction.
He knew that to let go of that gun, even for a moment, would be to invite his own demise, for the gun in her trembling hand held not only the power to end his life but also the key to her serenity.
As the seconds stretched into eternity, their eyes locked in a silent battle of wills, each daring the other to make the first move.
"Baby girl, have you stopped thinking about the children waiting for us at home? Do you want them to grow up without a father figure?" Aiden's gaze softened as he looked at the woman, love of his life, standing before him. A tenderness radiating from his eyes that confuse the tension in the air.
As Evelyn gazed upon the countenance of the man she had once adored with all her heart, she felt a storm of conflicting emotions raging within her. Despite the shards of betrayal piercing her soul, she couldn't suppress the bitter smirk that twisted her lips, a bitter acknowledgment of the irony in loving the very person responsible for the loss of her family.
"Don't fret, my love." Evelyn answered. "I'm certain they'll understand why it was necessary to get rid of the person who killed their grandfather and uncle."
Aiden's eyes went cold. He knew he had to act fast to avoid a bad outcome. "Let's talk, baby girl. That was something necessary for me. For now let's try to find common ground and understand each other."
Evelyn gave a soft chuckle before replying. "Of course, we'll talk... right after I kill your people right in front of you! Would that be okay?"
Aiden's once-gentle eyes hardened into icy orbs as he sensed the impending danger, his mind racing to strategize a swift and decisive response.
"That won't be happening, baby. You know I can't let you do that." Had it not been Evelyn who uttered those words, Aiden would have swiftly eliminated anyone daring to contemplate harming his people. He would never tolerate even the slightest threat to their safety, let alone...
Evelyn bit her lower lips to see Aiden's anger towards him. 'How dare he!' Evelyn thought.
"You think it's acceptable for you to kill my family, but it's not acceptable for me to do the same to yours? That doesn't seem fair, my love. It makes me wonder what lessons you've been imparting to our children. But it's good you are leaving soon anyway. I will mend all such drawbacks," Evelyn replies.
"Don't worry about that baby. You'll see what upbringing we have given to our child in the future, with you safe in my embrace, together,"
"You can dream as big as you want; after all, it doesn't cost you a penny." Evelyn apathetically replied.
"Revenge isn't always the answer love. Sometimes, it's about breaking the cycle and forging a new path forward."
"I'll learn that lesson right after killing my soon-to-be husband."