For Lovers Only - [A Zarry Stylik]©️

XXVII- A HURRICANE IN LONDON

L,

I strapped on my gloves and smacked them together, the sound of rubber hitting rubber echoing in the gym. I moved my arms around, keeping my muscles warm and ready to work about. I was dripping sweat, exhausted after being pushed to the limit by my trainer - at my request. I wanted to go to that breaking point where nothing made sense and I was nothing but a shell of myself.

Across from me, on the other side of this poor man's ring, my sparring partner was equally prepared, jumping from side to side. We weren't at my gyms as they were closed and being completely stripped down of the Payne brand, preparing to get a new face. We were training at my trainers' gym, which was a windowless basement as hot as the desert. The air-conditioned fans didn't seem to pump air with enough force, and I was about to suffocate. But, I kept going and kept pushing myself. If I fainted, great.

The training was a good way to keep me focused and to push further on my frustration. Inside the ring, I'd strip off all my masks and allow the Liam I was to come out. Due to my separation from Zayn, I had been training twice a day - something my trainer enjoyed because I'd pay him more.

I'd come home late, with my knuckles all sore and my body aching, hoping to be able to get some decent sleep, but alas...sleep avoided me after a few hours. I'd wake up startled, in a panic, thinking about Zayn. I wondered where he was. When he'd come home and, most importantly, who was he with?

Because I knew. I knew, deep down in my soul that my husband was not alone. I kept asking Louis and Niall for him - always getting the same short answers. Gigi, his assistant, swore to the end of days not to tell. Trisha, his mother, had no idea, as Zayn had seldom contacted her and the same for his sisters. Around me, not a soul would share where he was.

And all of them were lying, to a certain degree.

All fucking liars and all keeping my love away from me, as if I was an evil mastermind.

I resented that.

That hurt me.

I thought I had defendants with me, but it turns out that everyone was against me. I am here fighting for my family and the love of my life, while the world wants me to keep away. To respect his wishes. What is there to respect in something that makes no sense? Zayn and I had everything. We've always had! Have I been a perfect husband? No! Perfection does not exist. We should try to work things out as any other couple would.

I'm not in the wrong here.

I'm not the one who broke our family up. I never did!

I'm not to blame!

The man who had stolen Zayn's heart was. The man who crept up in his dreams and made him moan while he slept. That fucking creature was to blame! And when I found out who he was...well, I've been training for a reason.

I smacked my gloves against one another again and ground my teeth against the protection inside my mouth. The gym had a few other patrons, all scattered around; some lifting weights in front of a mirror, acting like a bunch of bulls with a sense of vanity, others practising jabs on the sandbag or jumping rope. My trainer entered the old ring, with wasted ropes and suspicious stains on the mat.

"Let's practice some defence moves and fast jabs. Strengthen your jaw and your nose." My trainer showed me a smile. "I promise we won't ruin that pretty face of yours. Your husband will love you the same."

The comment hurt my heart as they had no idea what was happening in my personal life. My trainer left the ring, leaving me alone with my partner. He approached me, knocking his gloves on mine. We proceeded with the dancing of anticipation for the punch.