Victor paused for a moment. He had wanted to know about Alia's life, but today, he learned something deeper. Alia's inner strength, her ability to transform herself, and her story of struggle had truly impacted him. The lights in the room had now dimmed, and as he listened to the soft rhythm of Alia's breathing, Victor realized that the most important thing in life is to believe in one's own strength.
He quietly stepped out of the room and gently closed the door behind him. But the respect he felt for Alia's strength and journey left a lasting impression on his heart. Slowly, Victor made his way to the washroom. As he stood in front of the cabinet and rolled up his sleeves to wash his hands, he felt something unusual along the side of his body. His eyes caught his reflection in the mirror.
As he washed his hands, the corner of his eye caught a glimpse of his chest. Right near his heart was a tattoo—an intricate bird in black and gold, its wings spread wide. Fiery hues emanated from its body, as if symbolizing a hidden force within his life.
Victor stared at his chest, slightly surprised, as the memory returned to him—he had gotten this tattoo long ago during a lonely and painful time in his life. It was a symbol of his journey, his courage, his survival, and his refusal to lose in the face of adversity.
He knew that Alia would likely never learn about this tattoo, because he had never shared this part of his past with anyone—not even her. This tattoo was his private memory, a special piece of his identity. But just like Alia and her family's phoenix, this fiery bird represented his own strength and the trials he had endured.
Victor looked at his reflection in the mirror, sighed, then glanced once more at the tattoo. Deep inside, he thought—sometimes, you can't separate yourself from your past. Still, he knew that it was this very past that had shaped who he had become today.
He left the washroom quietly and returned to his room. Inside, an unusual conflict had begun brewing in his heart. He knew Alia didn't know everything about him. He usually kept his identity hidden—especially from her. His family, his real background—he had kept all of it away from her.
Alia believed Victor was just an ordinary man—someone who understood struggle and success. But the truth was much darker. Victor was the son of a Russian mafia lord, a notorious and powerful man.
Victor had grown up in a harsh and ruthless environment. His father, a powerful mafia leader, had ruled him with strict discipline, hoping that Victor would one day follow in his footsteps and become his rightful heir. But Victor had never wanted that life. He knew if anyone ever learned about the darker side of his history, their perception of him would change completely.
And yet, Alia—who belonged to a completely different world—had no idea. She thought Victor was simply someone who had faced life and grown stronger. But his reality was far more complicated, far darker. His family and their empire were so powerful that, even though Victor had not followed their path, their shadows still lingered inside him.
Victor knew that one day, the truth might come out. He had hoped that neither Alia nor anyone else would ever know about his mafia background. He wanted Alia to see him as someone real and honest, free from his past.
But he also knew that someday, he might have to tell her the truth. He wasn't sure what would happen when that day arrived—when his identity, his family, and Alia's world would finally collide. Until then, Victor made a silent vow in his heart: "As long as I can, I'll keep Alia away from my real life."
Alia slowly opened her eyes and noticed that Victor was no longer beside her. Looking around the room, she realized he had stepped out. But soon, Victor returned—almost as if he didn't want to leave her waiting.
He looked at her and smiled. Alia, watching him, asked,
"Victor, where did you go?"
Victor paused for a moment and replied,
"I had some things to do… needed a bit of time. But I'm okay now."
Alia looked more closely and noticed something on his chest. At first, she couldn't tell what it was—but then she saw it clearly: on Victor's chest was a tattoo of a swirling bird, glowing in fiery colors. She stared at it, a bit surprised, and asked,
"This… what is this?"
Victor grew slightly uneasy but quickly composed himself and said,
"This is… a symbol from my past."
He looked at Alia, who was now gazing at him with curiosity, wanting to know more.
Alia went quiet for a moment, then said,
"You never told me you had a tattoo. This… this seems to hold something deep, Victor."
Victor replied in a calm voice,
"It's just a mark, Alia. But I'd prefer if you didn't read too much into it."
Alia, still looking at him with a hint of suspicion, simply nodded and said,
"I know, it's a part of your life, Victor. But if you ever feel like you want to share it, I'll be here."
Victor gave her a soft smile and replied,
"Thank you, Alia."
For a moment, silence settled between them. Alia knew there were secrets—parts of Victor's life that hadn't yet come to light. But she also knew that the foundation of any relationship is trust, and she would honor that trust.
Looking at Victor's tattoo, Alia fell quiet. In her eyes was a question. She could sense that there was so much she didn't know about his life. That tattoo—the fiery-winged bird—felt like the emblem of a hidden past.
Then she said softly,
"You know, Victor, I've never really pried into your past. But now… I can feel that there's something inside you that we've never truly shared with each other."
Victor stared at Alia in silence for a while. A strange, faint smile appeared on his face, but he didn't say a word. Inside his mind, a storm was brewing—on one hand, he didn't want Alia to know about his dark past, but on the other hand, he knew that someday he would have to tell her everything.
Alia glanced around the room once more, then looked at Victor again and said,
"Victor, I know a lot has happened in your life. You've faced many challenges. But I want you to move forward—towards your reality and your present."
Victor fell into deep thought at her words. Then slowly, with a sense of quiet resolve, he said,
"Alia, I know you may never fully understand my past. But I trust you. And in this moment, I believe—if you ever do know, my past will never be a threat to you."
Alia fell silent for a moment, but in her eyes, a quiet respect for Victor began to shine. She understood that his inner darkness might one day come to light, yet she was ready to stand by him.
"I'm here for you, Victor," Alia said softly. "We can take our time to understand each other. But always remember—no matter your secrets or struggles, I will stand by your side."
As Victor looked into her eyes, he felt something stir deep inside him—a growing belief that even if Alia came to know his hidden past, the strength of their bond could withstand it.
"Thank you, Alia," Victor replied, "I'm truly lucky to have someone like you in my life."
In that moment, a new dimension of their relationship quietly unfolded, as they began to understand and accept each other more deeply than ever before.