(Marko's POV)
It was too much to hold inside. I had just overheard Sasa, Rosa, and Kesi giggling over some rumor Luciana had managed to cook up, and something just didn't sit right. She had twisted everything about Sierra and Stefano's past. None of it was true, or at least, mostly lies. "Ethan," I whispered, tugging on his sleeve as we leaned against the railing near the football field. "You need to hear this. Luciana… they told Sierra a bunch of lies about… Stefano. About how Stefano used to… love Luciana, about passionate nights, about how he was obsessed with her body...disgusting. That fucking bitch. Ethan's eyes widened. "What? That's insane. That's… cruel."
"I know," I said sharply. "And the worst part? Sierra has no idea what's real. She's believing all of it, and it's making her distance herself from Stefano. We need to tell him now. I can't see my little Bella and our asshole friend suffering like this."
(Ethan's POV)
I nodded. "Yeah. Stefano doesn't deserve to have her heart manipulated like this. He hasn't even confessed anything to her, but she's starting to question everything about him because of their lies. Marko ran a hand through his hair, sighing. "Exactly. And she's trying to stay strong, but I can see it in her posture, her sketches… everything. She's fighting herself, Bella is really a kid, gone to a conclusion without thinking." We exchanged a look of resolve. "Let's go tell Stefano," I said.
(Stefano's POV)
I was walking across the yard when Marko and Ethan stopped me, faces tense. "You need to know something," Marko said, his voice low. "It's about Luciana… or Sierra. She's been lying to Sierra. All about u, her past…. All twisted to make her doubt you." My stomach twisted "What?" Ethan stepped closer, glancing around. "They told her half-truths and mostly lies. They're manipulating her and she's… distancing herself from you because of it." I froze, anger boiling inside me at Luciana. At the girls, at the unfairness of it all. But most of all, at myself for not noticing earlier, for leaving Sierra with the weight of all this on her shoulders. I gritted my teeth. "She's going to regret ever listening to them," I muttered, fists tightening. "I'll fix this. She'll see the truth… she'll see me."
(Sierra's POV)
I was sitting in the shade of a big oak, trying to lose myself in lines and colors. However, my heart just would not let me. Luciana's words were echoing in my mind, each word like a needle poking at my chest. Stefano… passionate nights… obsessed with Luciana… I gritted my teeth. I told myself it didn't matter. It's not like Stefano has ever spared a single care for me. He wasn't… close. Yet somehow, my stomach turned at the thought of Stefano possibly… thinking the same. I had not realized anyone was coming until a shadow fell across my sketchbook. "Sierra," Stefano said softly, his voice slicing through the haze of my thoughts, I froze. My hands tightened around my book. "Yes?" I said carefully, trying to maintain my cool. He crouched slightly to meet my eyes. "Marko and Ethan told me what's been happening. About Luciana, Luciana… the lies. About me ." My chest tightened. "You… you know?" But I didn't show my feelings. " even if u know that doesn't matter. I don't care about ur personal life."
He dark eyes intense. "I know what u're thinking, what u care and what u don't." I blinked, my mouth dry. "I… I don't know what to feel. His eyes gentled a fraction before hardening once more. "You need to know the truth. I'm not going to let anyone—least of all her or them—make you doubt me. Or your heart."
(Stefano's POV )
I stood up, brushed some leaves off my jacket, and my mind was racing. She's been hurt, misled… and I let her struggle alone, that ends now. I wanted to reach out, pull her into my arms, reassure her, make her see that none of the lies mattered. But I held back a little, leaving her in control of her reaction. I needed her to choose to trust me. But between us-the tension in the air was electric. My fists itched to grab her hand, my chest ached for her proximity.
"Don't let them do this to you," I said quietly. "Don't let their lies get inside your heart. You're stronger than that… stronger than them. And I'll make sure you know it." Her eyes welled with unshed tears, a mix of relief and lingering hurt. I could feel the shift, the small opening where I could begin to reclaim her trust.
(Sierra's POV )
I wanted to believe him, I wanted to trust him completely. But the anger, the confusion, and the weight of Luciana's manipulations tugged at me. "I… I don't know if I can," I whispered. "It's… all so much. I can't… I don't." He stepped closer, careful but insistent. "Then let me help. I'll fix it, Sierra. You don't have to carry this alone anymore." The intensity in his gaze, the hunger barely contained in his expression, made my chest pound. I wanted to close the distance between us. I wanted to let him in.
Still, my heart had its doubts. I wanted to trust him. I wanted to run into his arms. I wanted… so many things I wasn't ready to admit aloud.
(Marko and Ethan's POV)
We were standing across the courtyard, unnoticed, and watched the interaction between Stefano and Sierra. "She's listening," Marko said softly, eyes focused. "He's getting through. Slowly, but he is. If anyone can undo the damage Luciana has caused, it's him." Ethan nodded. "I just hope she doesn't push him away completely before she understands the truth." Marko's jaw clenched. "They're complicated. But they belong together, I can feel it. Just hope Stefano isn't doing this for that of digging her past." Ethan shook her head, "No, bro. Stefano's strict but we know him. He isn't bad from heart, that was just anger. Nothing else."
(To be continued...)