#Chapter 353: 48 Hours

Nina An ultimatum. The word hung heavy in the air between us, like a storm cloud threatening to burst. I felt my eyes widen, my pulse racing. An ultimatum? From Enzo, of all people? “W-Why?” The word slipped out of my mouth before I could even formulate my own thoughts. “Because I need to know you’re safe, Nina. When I’m not here, I can’t protect you,” Enzo replied, his eyes still locked onto mine, intense and scrutinizing. “But I can’t just choose, Enzo. This is my home. And it’s not fair for you to ask me to leave it like this,” I argued, feeling the weight of his words sink in. “Look, I know it’s not fair. Life isn’t fair,” he retorted, the rigid line of his jaw and the stern set of his mouth the only hints of the emotional storm roiling inside of him. “But if something happens to you while I’m away because we didn’t take every precaution, I’d never forgive myself.” “Precaution? This is our home. And what about school, my responsibilities here? I can’t just drop ev