Prince Mathew.

I couldn't even close my eyes for a single second, overwhelmed by the weight of my actions. I lay there, staring at the ceiling in the darkness, my mind spinning out of control.

Yhe guilt sat heavy on my chest, making it hard to breathe. I kept replaying everything over and over in my head, wondering how I could have let this happen. How could I have betrayed my best friend's trust like this? It wasn't a small mistake; it was the kind of mistake that could ruin lives. Especially by sleeping with his daughter, Viola. That was something I never imagined I would do, not in a million years.

My best friend's daughter! My heart pounded with shame and regret, and my hands were clammy. I whispered to myself, "Why did I do this? What was I thinking?" Every second dragged on forever, and I kept feeling this cold dread in my stomach. I wanted to hide, to disappear, to somehow escape from the mess I had created. I even thought, *Maybe this is just a bad dream. Maybe I'll wake up and none of this will be real.* But every time I closed my eyes, the memories were still there, sharper than ever.

As I lay there, the memory of her last words echoed in my head: "Do you believe in love at first sight?" The way she said it, so gentle, made my heart skip a beat.

Those words struck me like a bolt of lightning, lighting up every part of my mind. It was like she had thrown me into a storm of feelings I didn't understand. I kept hearing her voice, sweet and soft, again and again. "Do you believe in love at first sight, Mathew?" she had asked, smiling at me. I wanted to answer her, but I didn't know what to say. I couldn't think straight!

My head was full of confusion and fear, and I wished I could just turn back time. I thought, *If only I hadn't let things go so far. If only I could go back and make a different choice.* I kept looking at the clock, counting the minutes until she would wake up, hoping I could find the courage to talk to her, to somehow fix things before it was too late. But deep down, I knew there was no going back. What was done was done, and nothing could change that.

Yet, even though I was drowning in turmoil, there was something undeniably captivating about her angelic face as she slept peacefully in my arms. I gazed at her, noticing the way her hair covered her pillow, and how her lips curled into a small smile, even in sleep. I found myself thinking, *Why does she make me feel so calm? Why do I feel so different when she is near me?* I had never felt this way about anyone before. My whole life, I had thought of intimacy as something simple and physical.

For me, it was always just two grown-ups meeting their needs, then saying goodbye, no strings attached. I used to laugh with my friends and say, "It's just fun, nothing serious." I never wanted to stay in bed cuddling or talking after. That was my rule, and I was proud of it. But now, with Viola next to me, everything felt different. I actually wanted to stay. I wanted to hold her and listen to her breathe. I wondered, *Am I falling in love for the first time? Is this what it feels like?* It was so unexpected, and it scared me.

But now, a question loomed in my mind: Did I truly want to sever ties with Viola forever? I kept asking myself, *If I walk away now, can I really forget her? Can I pretend like nothing happened?* Even if I wanted to, would fate really let us go our separate ways? It seemed impossible.

She was my best friend's daughter, and after last night, she was now a part of my life, whether I liked it or not. I thought about the future, about how our paths might cross again at family gatherings, at parties, or just by random chance. There was no escaping it. I whispered to myself, "What do I do now? How do I face Alex? How do I face Viola?" The more I thought about it, the heavier the feeling grew inside me.

I felt trapped between two worlds: my loyalty to Alex and my feelings for Viola. I knew that no matter what I chose, someone would get hurt, and I would have to live with the consequences.

While I was lost in my spiraling thoughts, my cell phone rang, jolting me back to reality. The sudden noise made me jump, and for a second, I just stared at the screen, too scared to pick it up. I didn't want to talk to anyone, especially not now. But when I saw the name on the screen, my heart nearly stopped. It was Alex, my best friend!

I had completely forgotten to call him back last night, and now he was calling me. Panic rushed through my body. I quickly and quietly slid out of bed, grabbed my phone, and tiptoed out to the balcony, hoping not to wake Viola. My hands were shaking as I pressed the answer button. I tried to sound calm, but my voice shook. "Yes, Alex?" I said, barely above a whisper, trying with all my might to hide my nerves.

"Hey, Mathew. Is everything okay?" he asked, his tone laced with concern. I could hear the worry in his voice. I could imagine him, pacing around his room, waiting for news about his daughter.

I cleared my throat, trying to sound casual. "Oh yes! Sure... why?" I stammered, glancing back at the sleeping figure beside me. My thoughts raced. *He can't know what happened. He can't even guess.* But my voice was weak, and I could feel my face burning with shame. "Everything's fine, Alex. Really." But even as I said it, I could feel my heart pounding. Suddenly, I noticed my body reacting again just thinking about Viola, and I felt embarrassed. I shook my head, trying to clear away the feelings, but it was impossible.

"Mathew, have you met Viola? Why didn't you call me?" Alex pressed, sounding even more worried than before. I could almost see his frown through the phone.

I gulped nervously, feeling sweat on my forehead. "Oh yeah. I met her. And she's sleeping now, so don't worry." I tried to sound reassuring, but my voice was shaky. "Everything has been resolved. She didn't do anything wrong at all. There was actually a gay guy who..." I started to explain, making up a story, but Alex interrupted me.

"We'll talk later about her, not on the phone," Alex said, his voice firm. "But I wanted to thank you for taking care of Viola. I hope she didn't interrupt your relaxation." His words sounded sincere, and it made me feel even worse.

I wanted to tell him that I was the one who needed to apologize, that I was the one who had messed everything up, but the words got stuck in my throat. I froze, unable to say what I really felt. Instead, I blurted out, "Not at all. Listen, Alex... I want to ask you something about Viola. She is eighteen years old, right? How did you..." My mind was racing, but I couldn't finish my sentence. I think he understood what I was trying to say.

He sighed heavily, and when he spoke, his voice was sad and tired. "I was fourteen years old, and her mother was the same age as me," he replied, his words heavy and slow, like he was carrying a huge weight.

I rubbed my forehead, trying to understand. "So that explains everything, doesn't it? Why you and her mother didn't raise her yourselves. Why you sent her away. To be honest, Alex, I'm shocked! I never imagined you would leave your own daughter in a place like a prison since she was just two years old. Who are you?" I could hear my own voice rising, frustration and anger bubbling up.

"Don't, Mathew! Don't think of me like that," Alex replied quickly, his voice pleading. "Viola believes that I hate her, but she knows nothing, actually. At least I should talk to you about this. I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier," he said, his tone filled with regret and sadness.

I scoffed, unable to hide my anger. "Sorry! You should be saying that to your innocent daughter!" I said sharply, my words cutting through the air.

"Mathew! I tried to explain to her several times, but she didn't understand. Her mother and I were deeply in love," Alex said, his voice shaking. "She came from a wealthy family, and we decided to face our parents together. They tried to separate us. That's why we went so far as to make her pregnant, and yes, it happened. But we didn't think about the consequences. She died while giving birth to Viola. Since that time, I couldn't be a real father to her because I wanted to provide her with everything she needs. I couldn't bear to see her all those years, because every time I looked at her, I was reminded of her mother, and it felt like I had killed her," he explained, his voice cracking with emotion. I could hear the pain in his voice, and then the sound of him trying not to cry.

I felt bad for pushing him, so I interrupted, not wanting to make him suffer more. "I understand, Alex. Don't worry about Viola. I will make sure to take care of her. I will try to explain everything to her. She's a smart girl; I know she will understand eventually. She just needs more time, just like you." I tried to sound calm, even though my heart was pounding.

There was a long silence. Then Alex cleared his throat and said quietly, "Thank you, Mathew. I should go now. I have a meeting. Call me anytime." His voice was low and heavy, like he was carrying all the pain of the world.

After he hung up, I found myself standing there, paralyzed by uncertainty. I looked out over the city, the morning sun barely rising, and let out a long breath. I felt torn between the need to be by Viola's side and my loyalty to my best friend.

I kept thinking, *What if Alex finds out the truth? What if Viola tells him?* I knew that the deeper I got involved in Viola's life, the more complicated things would get. She had already faced enough hardship in her short life, and I didn't want to add to her pain. But I also knew that I couldn't just walk away without saying something. My heart was stuck in the middle, and I didn't know which way to go.

I glanced over at her, and I noticed her tossing in bed, yawning as she moved her hand, searching for me. She looked so peaceful, but I could tell she was waking up. I stepped closer, watching as she adjusted her body and slowly opened her eyes. When her eyes finally found me, she smiled, and it was like the whole room lit up, even though the light was still dim. "Oh, you are awake?" she asked softly, her voice gentle and sleepy.

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment pressing on my shoulders. I sat down at the edge of the bed, facing her. She reached for my hand and squeezed it, her eyes searching my face for answers.

"Mathew, is something wrong?" she asked, her voice full of concern. "You look worried."

I nodded slowly, swallowing hard. "We need to talk," I said, my voice steady but serious. I looked down at my hands, trying to find the right words.

She cleared her throat, and I could see the worry in her eyes. "What is it?" she asked, her expression shifting from sleepy to serious. She tucked her hair behind her ear and waited.

I took another deep breath, knowing this would not be easy. "I can't do it anymore! We can't be together," I stated firmly, not even blinking. I tried to keep my voice calm, but I could feel the pain in my chest. "I'm sorry, Viola. I just can't."

For a moment, she just stared at me, shocked. "Why? Did I do something wrong?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Please, Mathew, tell me the truth."

I hesitated, then shook my head. "No, it's not you. It's me. It's all too complicated. You're Alex's daughter. He's my best friend. If he finds out, I don't know what will happen. I don't want to hurt anyone."

Her eyes filled with tears. "But I care about you. I thought you cared about me, too. Was I wrong?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

I reached out, touching her shoulder gently. "You weren't wrong, Viola. I do care about you. Maybe too much. That's why I have to do this. I have to protect you, and I have to protect Alex, too."

She shook her head, wiping her eyes. "I don't want to lose you, Mathew. Please. Don't do this."

I felt my own eyes sting with tears. "I'm sorry, Viola. I wish things were different. I wish life was easier. But I have to do what's right, even if it hurts."

I realized then, deep down, that I was being harsh. I knew the one who would regret this moment would be me. The thought gnawed at me as I watched her cry, understanding that I had just set in motion a chain of events that could change everything for all of us.