Everyone stood outside the operating room, their gazes locked on the door. Sofi was still inside, and there was no news-no confirmation if she was safe or not. Lucifer stood a little apart from the family, his eyes unwavering, fixed on the sterile room where Sofi's life hung in the balance.

Sofi, please don't leave me. Please wake up, he silently begged in his mind, the words a desperate prayer that seemed to echo in his soul.

Just then, his phone rang.

Without even glancing at the number, he answered.

"We've got him," the man on the other end said.

Lucifer's hand clenched into a fist, his jaw tightening.

"Torture him. Rip his skin, burn him-just don't kill him. I'll do it myself. When I get there, I want to see him gasping for his last breath. He doesn't get to die that easily.Make him feel pain that lasts forever. He will suffer until Sofi wakes up, until he understands the agony he caused her."Lucifer hung up without another word, his eyes cold and filled with dark intent.

"I will punish him for hurting you, Sofi," he whispered under his breath, his voice barely a murmur, yet laced with pure, unrelenting hatred.

.......

Flashback :

After learning that Kian was the one who had pushed Sofi to harm herself, Lucifer's decision was made in an instant. He would not let Kian live. There was no forgiveness, no room for mercy. Lucifer immediatelycalled his men, his voice icy and unwavering.

"Kidnap Kian  . He will pay for what he did to her."

End of Flashback

........

Ella sat there, her eyes fixed on the operating room door, her heart heavy with worry.

Sofi, please be fine. I’m already drowning in guilt... please, she pleaded in her mind, her voice trembling with every silent word.

Please just be okay.

Tears streamed down her face as the weight of the situation pressed down on her chest.

Her mother, seeing her distress, gently pulled her into an embrace, holding her close.

Ella buried her face in her mother's arms, her body shaking with sobs. She cried, her emotions a whirlwind of regret and fear, unable to contain the overwhelming guilt and helplessness she felt.

........

The dim light above the operation room flickered off, signaling that the procedure was over. Lucifer's heart pounded as he took a step toward the door, his fingers curling into fists. Every second felt like an eternity until the doctor finally emerged.

"How is she?" Lucifer asked, his voice laced with urgency.

The doctor offered a reassuring nod. "She’s out of danger. You can meet her after we shift her to the normal ward."

A collective sigh of relief filled the tense air. Shoulders relaxed, hands unclenched, and unspoken prayers were answered in that moment.

Lucifer exhaled sharply, closing his eyes for a brief second. Gratitude flooded through him like a wave. Thank you… thank you sofi for staying with me, he whispered in his mind, feeling a rare sense of peace settle over him.

"Excuse me," the doctor said before walking away, leaving them to process the news.

Just then, a  voice called out, "Ella."

Lucifer's eyes snapped open as he saw Ella stepping away. His relief was instantly replaced with irritation. His jaw clenched as he watched her retreat.

What an attention seeker, he thought bitterly. Even now, after everything, she just had to make it about herself.

Before he could dwell on it, Ella’s father approached him. His gaze was calm yet firm.

"You shouldn’t be this harsh on her," he said, his tone carrying both understanding and quiet reprimand.

Lucifer let out a slow breath, acting like guilt creeping in. "I know. I'm sorry. I was just too worried about Sofi," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.

"She was worried too, Lucifer. Sofi is her sister. You shouldn’t have blamed her, saying this happened because of her," her father pointed out, his words striking deep.

Lucifer lowered his head. "I wasn’t thinking. I was too caught up in the moment. I didn’t mean it."

Her father gave him a knowing look. " go after her. Ask for her forgiveness."

Lucifer hesitated for a beat, staring into the older man’s eyes.

"Go," her father urged again, his voice leaving no room for argument.

Lucifer nodded, glancing one last time at the operation room where Sofi still lay. His heart clenched, but he knew what he had to do. Taking a deep breath, he turned and walked in the direction Ella had gone.

.........

Kian gasped as he regained consciousness, his head pounding. The rough texture of the cold, dirty floor pressed against his cheek. His arms and legs were bound tightly with
thick ropes, cutting into his skin. He
struggled, but the bindings wouldn't budge.

A pair of heavy boots stopped in front of him. Slowly, a man crouched down to his level, resting one arm on his knee. His smirk was almost lazy, his dark eyes filled with amusement.

"Who are you? Let me go!,  Why I'm here ?" Kian demanded,his voice hoarse as he thrashed against the restraints.

The man chuckled, tilting his head as if
Kian's struggle was nothing but a source of entertainment. "Why are you here?" he repeated Kian's question mockingly before answering in a low, sinister voice. "You, my dear friend, are here to be doomed. And we... we are your doom."

Straightening up, the man gave a lazy wave of his hand. "Have fun, boys."

Without warning, heavy boots crashed into Kian's ribs. A pained grunt left his lips as more kicks followed, each one more brutal than the last. Sharp blades tore through his skin, the searing pain making his vision blur. His cries of agony echoed in the dimly lit
space, but they were met only with cruel laughter.

than the last. Sharp blades tore through his skin, the searing pain making his vision blur. His cries of agony echoed in the dimly lit space, but they were met only with cruel laughter.

His Blood dripped onto the cold floor
beneath him, his vision blurring from the relentless assault.

Through the haze of pain, he heard a voice- calm and collected, yet dripping with malice.

"Easy, boys" the leader drawled from his seat, watching the brutality unfold like a spectator enjoying a show. "Don't kill him just yet. That pleasure belongs to him"

.........

Lucifer stepped out of the hospital, his eyes scanning the surroundings for Ella. When his gaze finally landed on her, he exhaled sharply, shaking his head.

She was sitting alone on a park bench, her shoulders trembling as silent sobs wracked her body. The dim glow of the sunset cast a faint halo around her, making her look even more fragile than he wanted to admit.

He ran a hand through his hair, letting out a slow breath. How long do I have to keep playing this perfect husband act? he thought as he made his way toward her.

He clenched his fists, forcing down his frustration. Control yourself, he reminded himself.

With a deep breath, he adjusted his expression, smoothing away the irritation and replacing it with the mask of a perfect husband.

With careful steps, he approached her, his voice calm, almost gentle. "Ella..."

Ella noticed his presence and instinctively turned her head away, refusing to acknowledge him. She wiped her tears , her body tense as he silently lowered himself onto the bench beside her.

"I'm sorry," Lucifer said, his voice calm and measured. But she didn’t respond. She kept her face turned away, her silence speaking louder than words.

He exhaled and reached for her hand, gently wrapping his fingers around hers. His touch was warm, steady—almost comforting. "I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that," he murmured, his voice carrying just the right amount of regret.

Still, she said nothing.

He tightened his grip slightly, forcing her to listen. "I was just too worried about Sofi. I wasn’t thinking straight. I didn’t see what I was saying." His tone softened, dripping with remorse, though his mind remained as cold as ever.

Ella let out a shaky breath. "You were right," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I'm the one to blame. If I hadn't left her alone, none of this would have happened."

Lucifer tilted his head, watching her with unreadable eyes. Then, with perfect timing, he pulled her into his arms.

"Ella," he murmured, holding her close. "Stop crying."

Instead of stopping, she buried her face in his chest and cried harder, her fingers clutching onto him as if he were her only anchor in the storm of her guilt.

Lucifer sighed, his hand running down her back in slow, reassuring strokes. "Calm down," he said, but his patience was running thin.

Inside, he rolled his eyes. So dramatic, he thought, his irritation creeping back. But outwardly, he remained composed, playing his role flawlessly.

Stop already. I have to finish him and then  check on Sofi,  you're wasting my time, he thought, though his hand continued its soothing motions.

Just then, his phone rang. The shrill sound cut through the quiet of the park. Ella pulled away, blinking up at him as he reached into his pocket.

He glanced at the screen, then answered.

"Okay," he said, a smile curving his lips.

When he ended the call, he turned to Ella. "Your dad was calling. Sofi woke up."

Her teary eyes widened. "She woke up?"

He nodded. "Go. She must be waiting for you."

She hesitated, dropping her gaze. "I… I can't face her."

Lucifer reached out, tilting her chin up with a feather-light touch. "Ella, don't blame yourself. Sofi wouldn’t want that." His voice was gentle, persuasive. "Be a good girl and go."

She sniffled, nodding slightly.

"Come on," he said, standing up and extending a hand to her. She took it hesitantly, letting him pull her to her feet.

As she wiped the last of her tears, she looked at him expectantly. "You're not coming?"

"Actually, I have to go somewhere first," he said, his tone casual.

She frowned. "You won’t meet her?"

Lucifer's expression didn’t falter, but inside, his thoughts darkened. Not before I finish him.

She studied him, waiting. "Hmm?"

He forced a small smile. "I’ll come back later. Then I’ll see her."

Ella hesitated, but eventually nodded. "Okay."

He watched as she turned and walked back toward the hospital.

Once she was out of sight, Lucifer's smile faded. His eyes darkened, sharp and calculating.

Now it’s time to make you pay for what you did, Kian.

.........

When Ella reached the hospital room, she found her mother and father already sitting beside Sofi. Her mother was crying, her voice breaking with every word.

"Why did you do it?" she sobbed. "Why did you listen to Kian?"

But Sofi remained silent. Her eyes were blank, staring at nothing, as if she wasn’t even present in the room. She didn’t react to her mother’s pleas, nor did she acknowledge her father’s presence. It was as if she had shut herself off from the world entirely.

Just then, her father noticed Ella standing at the doorway. His gaze softened, and without a word, he placed a gentle hand on his wife's shoulder, silently asking her to step outside.

Her mother hesitated for a moment before wiping her tears and nodding. Both of them stood, and as her father passed Ella, he stopped briefly, placing a firm yet comforting hand on her shoulder.

"It was not your fault," he said, his voice steady, though tired. He held her gaze for a moment, as if willing her to believe it. Then, without another word, he walked away, leaving Ella and Sofi alone in the room.

The silence between them was heavy, suffocating. Ella took a hesitant step forward, her heart pounding as she looked at her sister—the girl who once used to be full of life but now looked like a mere shell of herself.

She swallowed hard. "Sofi..." she whispered.

Sofi didn’t respond, her blank eyes still staring at the floor as if she hadn’t heard a word. Ella swallowed the lump in her throat and stepped closer, sitting beside her on the hospital bed.

"Sofi," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Why did you do this? Do you have any idea how scared we all were? What if something had happened to you?" Her tears welled up, spilling over as she clutched Sofi’s hand. "What would we do without you?"

For the first time, Sofi moved. Her lips parted, and a broken sob escaped. "He said I disgust him…" Her voice was barely audible, but the pain in it cut through Ella like a blade.

Ella's heart clenched. "Sofi, no…"

Sofi's tear-filled eyes lifted to meet hers. "Ella… do I disgust you too?"

Ella shook her head immediately, her grip tightening. "No, Sofi. Never."

Another sob shook Sofi’s frail body. "He said… he would rather die than be with someone like me."

Ella felt anger bubbling beneath her sadness. How could someone be so cruel? Without a second thought, she pulled Sofi into her arms, holding her tightly.

"Forget about him, Sofi," she whispered against her sister’s hair. "He’s not worth your tears."

Sofi shook her head, still crying. "But he used to say he loved me… How could he change so quickly?"

Ella closed her eyes, her jaw clenching. "It was never love, Sofi. If he truly loved you, he would have tried to understand. He wouldn’t have pushed you away like this. He wouldn’t have blamed you for something that wasn’t your fault."

Sofi cried harder, gripping Ella's shirt as if holding on for dear life.

After a moment, Ella gently pulled away, cupping Sofi’s face between her hands. "Promise me, Sofi," she said firmly. "Promise me you won’t ever do something like this again."

Sofi didn’t answer. She just looked at her, her eyes filled with unshed tears.

Ella held her gaze, unwavering. "Promise me, Sofi. You won’t listen to his words ever again. You won’t let him break you. Think about us—your family. Not him. He is nothing to you now. A person who can’t understand you, who can’t see your worth, doesn’t deserve to be anything to you."

Sofi’s lips trembled, but she didn’t look away.

"Do you understand?" Ella asked, her voice both soft and firm.

After a long silence, Sofi finally nodded.

Ella let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Without hesitation, she pulled Sofi back into her arms, holding her even tighter this time.

"You’re not alone," she whispered. "You never were."

.......

Lucifer arrived at the abandoned
warehouse, his footsteps echoing in the
cold, blood-stained room. The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood, mixed with the dampness of decay. His sharp gaze swept ver the scene-Kian lay sprawled on the floor, his body battered, his skin painted in bruises and deep gashes. Blood pooled beneath him, seeping into the cracks of the
Concrete floor.

Lucifer exhaled, his expression unreadable as one of his men stepped forward, pulling out a chair and placing it in front of Kian. Without hesitation, Lucifer took his seat, his posture relaxed yet commanding.

Kian stirred at the noise, his breaths ragged and shallow. His body barely responded to his will, and when he tried to open his swollen eyes, pain shot through him like fire.

Lucifer lifted his hand, giving a silent signal. His men responded immediately, dragging another chair forward. They yanked Kian up, forcing him onto it. His body slumped, too weak to hold itself upright.

Lucifer watched in silence as a thick rope was looped around Kian's throat, pulling his head back and securing it to the chair's leg. The tension in the rope kept his head straight, forcing him to face forward. Kian hissed in pain, his body jerking in protest, but there was no escape.

Lucifer leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. His voice was calm, almost casual. "Why did you tell her to kill herself?" Kian's chest heaved, but he remained silent. His head lolled slightly, but the restraint around his throat kept him in place.

Lucifer's gaze darkened. "l asked you
something," he repeated, his tone sharper. "Why did you tell Sofi to die?"

The words struck Kian like a slap. Until now, he hadn't fully understood why this was happening to him. His mind, clouded with agony, finally pieced it together. This was because of Sofi.

His bloodshot eyes twitched as he tried to look at Lucifer, but his vision was a blur of shadows and pain. He parted his cracked lips, trying to speak, but his throat burned.He swallowed and tried again. "Wh... who are you?" His voice was barely above a whisper, rasping with agony.

Lucifer's lips curled into a smirk. "That's not the answer to my question," he said. "But l'll tell you anyway. I'm the one who truly loves Sofi. Not like you, who only claimed to."

Kian tried to force his swollen eyes open, but his body refused to obey. His head throbbed with every pulse of pain.

Lucifer tilted his head. "Now, tell me--why did you tell her to die?"

Kian barely had the strength to breathe, let alone respond.

Lucifer's patience snapped. His voice
thundered through the room. "I'M ASKING YOU SOMETHING!"

Kian flinched at the force of his voice. He sucked in a painful breath before rasping out, "I... I didn't tell her to die. She said it first. She said she would do it... so l just told her.. go ahead. Do as she wishes."

Lucifer's jaw clenched, rage flashing
through his eyes. "She didn't call you to get your permission, you idiot!" His voice was sharp enough to cut. "If you didn't want her, you could've just cut the damn call. How dare you say something like that to her?"

Kian groaned, his body trembling from
exhaustion and pain. "It's not like she
actually did it," he muttered weakly.

Lucifer's gaze turned ice cold. "She did."

That made Kian freeze. His breathing
hitched.

"She did it," Lucifer continued, his voice
dripping with venom. "She tried to kill
herself. And she would have succeeded if we hadn't reached her in time."

Silence.

Kian sat motionless, the weight of the truth sinking into his broken body.

Lucifer leaned in closer. "I always told her you didn't love her. But she never believed me. She always defended you. She even fought with me because of you. The girl who used to listen to me without question chose to fight me for you."

Kian swallowed hard, his dry throat burning. Lucifer's voice turned quieter, but deadlier. "Tell me, what kind of love comes with conditions? If you're not pure,I'll leave you.That's what you told her, right?" His eyes
bore into Kian.

Kian coughed, struggling to find his voice. "I said it... because I couldn't stand the thought of someone else touching her."

Lucifer scoffed, his lips twisting in disgust."Then why did you call it love? That wasn't love, Kian."

Kian let out a shaky breath. "She... she sent you to punish me, didn't she?"

Lucifer smirked. "No. She asked for your death in return for forgiving you."

Kian's breath hitched." You are the one who did that to her , her own brother-in-law  did this to her ?" Kian asked

Lucifer leaned back slightly, his expression calm, almost relaxed. "Yes, I'm the one who did this. And I'm glad I did. By doing this, I saved her from a narrow-minded man like you. She can't wear this. She can't go there. She can't do that. What was she to you? A
lover or a servant?"

Kian groaned, his head drooping. "l only said those things... because I wanted to protect her"

Lucifer's jaw clenched. "Protect her? From what?"

Kian forced himself to breathe. "From
people like you," he muttered.

Lucifer let out a dry chuckle. " she
listened to you. Every damn thing you said, she obeyed. And that used to infuriate me.But not anymore. Because after today, you Won't be in her life. You won't control her ever again."

Kian exhaled weakly, his body growing
heavier with every second.

Lucifer straightened, his decision made. "I thought leaving you broken like this would be enough. But you refused to let go. You nade her do this. So now, I'Il end it once and for all."

He extended his hand slightly. "Give it to me," he said, signaling his men.

One of them immediately handed him a gun.

Lucifer cocked the weapon and pointed it directly at Kian's forehead. "Say sorry." Kian barely reacted.

"Say sorry to Sofi," Lucifer ordered, his voice eerily calm.

Kian inhaled sharply, struggling against the pain. "I.. did nothing wrong," he rasped.

Lucifer's patience snapped. He lowered the gun and fired.

The bulet tore through Kian's leg. A
bloodcurdling scream echoed through the warehouse.

Lucifer raised the gun again. "Say sorry,
Kian."

Kian gritted his teeth, panting through the unbearable pain.

Lucifer didn't hesitate. Another shot rang out, piercing his other leg.

Kian howled in agony, his body convulsing against the restraints.

Lucifer pressed the gun against his
forehead. "Say. Sorry. To Sofi. Now."

Kian trembled, his breath uneven. His mind screamed at him to hold onto his pride, but the pain was unbearable.

"I'm sorry, Sofi,"' he gasped through his
tears. "ľ'm sorry."

Lucifer smiled coldly. "Good."

And in one swift motion, he pulled the
trigger.

The gunshot rang through the air, silencing everything.

Lucifer stood up, tucking the gun away as he looked at the lifeless body in front of him. "Consider your debt paid" he muttered before turning and walking away.

........

Sofi’s parents stood outside the hospital room, watching through the small glass window as their daughters held each other tightly. The sight was both heartbreaking and comforting—seeing Sofi so broken yet finding solace in Ella’s embrace.

A heavy sigh escaped Sofi’s father. "Don't you think Lucifer overreacted? The way he lashed out at Ella… it wasn’t right," he said, his brows furrowing in concern.

"He was just worried," Sofi’s mother replied softly, glancing at him.

"We were all worried," he countered, shaking his head. "But I don’t like the way he treated Ella. He’s never spoken to her like that before."

"There was never a situation like this before," she reasoned.

"Maybe, but still," he insisted. His voice was firm, laced with unease.

She turned to face him fully. "You know how close he is to Sofi. They’ve always had a special bond. He was just scared, don’t you see how tense he’s been all this time?"

"I know," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "But that doesn’t mean he should neglect his wife in all of this. Ella was suffering too. " His gaze remained fixed on the door, deep in thought. "I didn’t like his behavior."

Sofi’s mother sighed, placing a reassuring hand on his arm. "You’re overthinking it. There’s nothing to be worried about."

He didn’t respond right away, his expression still troubled. But he let it go—for now.