Ace sighed heavily as he leaned against the railing of the balcony staring up at the night sky. He didn't know how to feel, he was doubting everything now. Had she ever truly felt attracted to him or was it all a lie? A manipulation she used to get to him?

She was an Assassin for lord's sake. She was manipulative, dangerous. Powerful. Fierce. A threat. But he had seen her as anything but a threat. And after today, as he watched her hollow gaze while he carried her here, bathed her and put her to bed. He didn't know what to think of this woman. He had been betrayed by the first woman he had ever given his heart to.

Kaida was going to kill him. She was going to actually kill him after everything he had done for her, he had given her all his love, affection and warmth. He had introduced her to his family. Lord, he couldn't bear the deep ache in his chest right now.

If Kaida hadn't gone to meet Ricardo, would she have ended Ace eventually? Would she have confessed? Everything made sense now, the troubled look in her eyes, the hesitation, the tense demeanour. How could he have been so oblivious to those signs?

Cursing under his breath, he closed his eyes. "What type of fucked up shit is this!"He muttered to himself.

"I'm leaving.." Kaida's voice was suddenly heard from behind making his eyes snap open.

He turned around and saw her wearing another suit, a dark blue one with her luggage in one hand. "That's really the solution right now, Kaida! Leaving?"Ace asked in disbelief.

"I betrayed your trust. I was sent to kill you Ace.." Kaida replied looking up at him with guilt, shame and regret.

Ace took a deep breath and walked towards her stopping right in front of her. "Was I just a target to you?"Ace asked hoarsely, lifting her chin up searching her eyes desperately.

"No you weren't.." Kaida replied, her eyes flickering with emotions and vulnerability.

"You were so much more than that" She whispered, making Ace's heart break.

"Can I really trust your words right now Kaida?"Ace asked quietly.

"I have no reason to lie to you. Ricardo's dead" Kaida said, staring up at him.

"Would you have done it?"Ace asked softly. "Would you have killed me?"

"No, I almost did it but I couldn't. I went there specifically to tell Ricardo that,"Kaida said, making his heart race. That was why they were arguing.

After discovering the truth about Ricardo. Ace had gathered everyone to go to Ricardo's mansion because he knew she went there this morning. However, when he had witnessed Kaida pointing a gun at her adoptive father and then the truth that came out of his mouth as well as her confession. He had never felt such a surge of emotions go through him.

And when Kaida remained there motionless staring at Ricardo's dying body, she had looked like she wasn't truly here. That had scared Ace to death. He loved that woman desperately but he didn't know if he should let her stay in his life. After everything they had been through and all the time spent together. He didn't know what he should do. Kaida had been his bodyguard for a while now but during all this time, had she seen him only as a target? A prey? Or had she seen him like he did? He saw her as his everything but did she?

This love was his salvation and damnation both..

His father and Uncles were clearly disappointed and not pleased that he had brought her back to his penthouse but Ace couldn't find it in him to leave her in such a vulnerable state in front of a burning property.

"Did you ever mean anything you told me?"Ace finally asked softly.

Kaida exhaled softly. "I did, the way I felt with you was real Ace."

"Then why didn't you confess everything earlier? That time in the car, why didn't you tell me everything?"Ace asked.

"I was scared of your reaction. I was scared to lose the only good thing that ever happened to me" Kaida replied.

"And so you chose to lie to my face and manipulate me into thinking you were just being insecure because you are an assassin and you thought I wouldn't want you?"Ace asked coldly, his hazel grey eyes darkening.

"I trusted you. I welcomed you with open arms." Ace continued watching as Kaida looked away.

"Look at me, Kaida. Look me in the face and give me a good reason to not kill you for nearly destroying my life"Ace asked, his anger rising. What would have happened to his family if Kaida had actually killed him?

Kaida clenched her jaw looking up into his eyes. "I don't have any good reason to give you. You can kill me if you want. There's nothing left for me either way"

Ace's eyes darkened even more and he pulled away from her. "Why did Ricardo send you to kill me?"

"He wanted to become the Capo dei capi in Italy. You were the only barrier. Once you were dead, I was meant to use your fingerprint and transfer everything to Ricardo" Kaida confessed, making the ache in his heart intensify like sharp thorny vines wrapping around his heart and squeezing tight.

Ace laughed bitterly. "So that was it? I was just a fucking barrier Ricardo wanted to get rid of and you accepted just like that? You accepted to just kill a man who never harmed you for power?"

"I.. I know it was wrong" Kaida said, clearly not knowing how to respond.

"You knew it was wrong but you remained quiet, Kaida. Didn't you even for one second think of my family? You were going to not only rob them of their son but take away our family's hard work and wealth without any regret!"Ace growled, his voice harsh and cruel.

Kaida remained quiet, gripping her luggage tighter. "I regret everything, Ace. I regret not telling you anything, I regret not realising how much wrong it was earlier"

"Don't.. Don't say those things to me. Those are just words Kaida and your actions and intentions showed otherwise" Ace said coldly, his fists clenched.

"Leave. Leave from here before I change my mind. And don't return. Don't show me your face ever again Kaida Russo" Ace spat, his voice filled with anger and hatred.

He would have maybe chosen to forgive her but now after knowing that she was going to kill him just for her adoptive father's fame and power. It made him feel immense anger and hatred. He didn't want to face her right, he didn't trust himself to not do something he wouldn't eventually regret.

And as she finally turned around and left his penthouse. Ace remained still for several seconds trying to come to terms with the fact that the one he had loved dearly was all along a snake ready to attack him when he was least going to expect it.