Vasya Ionov

She sat in the corner of their shared office, silently crying, her face buried in her knees. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and inside she felt empty and cold. She and Kot had had a huge, painful fight, almost to the point of no return. It all started when she accidentally discovered his secret operation, which he hadn't told her about. She felt betrayed, deprived of the right to know the truth, and instead of explaining, he had only uttered harsh words that now echoed in her head.

Mura sat next to her, quietly stroking her back, trying to calm her down a little.

“Everything will pass,” she said softly, “you always found each other, even in the worst moments.”

The door creaked, and Kot entered the office. He froze for a second, seeing her tear-stained face, her hunched shoulders, her hands clutching the sleeves of her jacket. His gaze met Mura's—confusion and regret were evident in it.

“Can we talk?” His voice was muffled and tense.

She didn't raise her head, but her breathing became ragged. Her heart was pounding wildly, but she couldn't tell whether it was from pain or hope.