*Anton*
Anton held Layla close as she trembled in his arms, her face buried in his chest as the last remnants of her nightmare slowly faded away. He stroked her hair, murmuring soothing words of comfort, his heart aching for the pain and fear she had endured.
As her sobs quieted and her breathing steadied, she looked up at him, her hazel eyes glistening with tears and a desperate need for answers.
"Who are you, Anton? Really?" she asked.
He hesitated, his mind racing as he searched for the right words. He wanted nothing more than to tell her the truth, to lay bare the secrets he had carried for so long.
But he knew that the burden of knowledge could be a heavy one, and he feared that the truth would only bring her more pain.