away for ju

ye

als to finalize, contracts to sign.

The air was too sharp. The city too loud. His phone buzzed no

s soon as

need to

sorry

video

t to click it

in Jayden's arms, her face buried i

d, Leo coul

shifting under his feet, like someone

he Bennett mansion, hear

den's arm around her, like it was t

ed the momen

yd

d the moment his mother died. Jayden, who now se

Za

pposed to b

den kne

nd he went af

ady cut him off

g. No exp

sil

strangement. Their last conversation had ended with Jayden saying, "You think you are be

what to say. He

ld dull the ache. But deep down, he knew something

should'v

e didn't walk away from a grudge; he nurtured it. Leo

she

eens beside Jayden, Leo didn't j

m more than he wa

hing them from the shadow. Something had always felt off. Jayden's affection

ago, the truth s

en

his office holding a tablet. "I knew that bastard ha

Private exchanges bet

more bigger than he

rt with the truth when they're

ondering if stepping in would sav

she'd still be there. But luck was on his side that evening. Zara had only taken a few steps

d honked once, not too loud

Her eyes were red, swollen and she wore a defeated look.

d. He didn't ask questions. He simply reached into his

ra's shoulder .Zara didn't resist. She didn't flinch. She just

or for her. She got i

silence that said everything without needing to say anything at all

nd her. He didn't explain

t being ther

st three days pressed down on her, each second dragging like wet fabric clinging to her skin. It had been three long, torturous days since the betrayal,

idn't heal; i

ications exploded on the screen, but she ignored them all until her

of yourse

f. Just a line that hit

ted at th

ingt

le picture. Barely any followers. A random account s

a

her old posts. Always there. Always silent. Always kind.

f her laughing with Elena, caught her eye: "

d. A mix of curiosity and desperatio

i

reply came a fe

you

hesi

ng t

you text me

came almost

s seen you. Even w

her heart thudding loud in

are

at p

t back a

rossed her mind not even once. She had been too shattered,