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After the chaos of the warehouse, Zayan led Leah to his car, his heart still racing from the adrenaline. As they drove through the dimly lit streets, a heavy silence hung between them, broken only by the sound of the engine.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Zayan asked, glancing at her. She looked pale and shaken, her mind clearly racing with thoughts of what had just happened.
Leah nodded, though her expression told another story. “I just can’t believe this happened. I never thought I’d find myself in that situation.”
“I didn’t know where to find you,” Zayan admitted, gripping the steering wheel tightly. “When I got the message, it felt like a punch to the gut. I had to act fast.”
Leah turned to him, curiosity mingling with gratitude. “Why did you come? You could’ve walked away. This wasn’t your problem.”
Zayan hesitated, his jaw tightening. “You’re Davian’s wife. Whether I like it or not, that makes you part of this mess. But let’s be real—I had to keep you safe because of my rivalry with him. It’s a strategic move.”
She looked at him, surprise flashing in her eyes. “So this is just about him? You don’t care about what happens to me?”
“It’s not personal,” he replied, his tone firm. “But I won’t let anyone use you as leverage against Davian. You’re important to him, and that makes you important to me in this game.”
A flicker of disappointment crossed Leah’s face. “I thought maybe you’d come for me because you care.”
Zayan’s expression hardened. “Caring isn’t part of this. I’m not your hero. I don’t do that.”
“Then what am I to you?” she pressed, her voice rising with emotion. “Just a pawn in your rivalry?”
“Exactly,” he said, maintaining his steely gaze on the road. “That’s all this is. I can’t let anything happen to you, not because of some emotional bond, but because it would weaken me against Davian.”
Leah fell silent, her thoughts heavy. “I understand. I guess I was hoping for something more.”
“Don’t,” Zayan warned, feeling the weight of the conversation. “This isn’t about us. It’s about survival. Just promise me you’ll be careful. You might be a target again, and I won’t always be there.”
“I will,” she replied, her voice quiet, though a hint of defiance lingered. “But I need to figure things out with Davian. I can’t keep living in the dark.”
As they pulled up to her apartment, Leah glanced at him, uncertainty flickering across her features. “What happens now?”
“I’ll keep an eye on things,” he said, his tone clipped. “And if you ever need anything—”
“I know where to find you,” she finished, her eyes reflecting the tension between them.
As Leah got out of the car, Zayan felt a mix of relief and frustration. They had faced danger together, but there was no bond, no emotional connection to speak of. This was rivalry, pure and simple, and he couldn’t let himself forget that.
“Stay safe, Leah,” he called after her as she turned to enter the building.
“You too, Zayan,” she replied, her voice echoing back to him, leaving him with a lingering sense of disparity.
As he drove away, Zayan reminded himself that this was just part of the game, one that was far from over.
•••
Sitting on the edge of my bed, I stared blankly at the wall, the weight of my thoughts pressing down on me like a heavy blanket. It felt suffocating. My mind kept circling back to the same conclusion: I had had enough.
Davian’s constant cheating and the lies—how long could I endure it? Every argument felt like a new wound, a reminder of how little I truly mattered to him. I reached for my phone, hesitating before dialing Maya’s number. I needed someone to talk to, someone who could understand.
“Maya?” I said when she answered, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Hey, Leah! What’s up?” she replied, her voice bright but quickly shifting to concern. “You sound off.”
“I’m... I’m thinking about divorce,” I blurted out, the words tumbling from my lips before I could second-guess myself.
There was a moment of silence on the other end. “Divorce? From Davian?”
“Yes,” I said, feeling a mix of relief and fear. “I can’t keep doing this. He keeps hurting me, cheating on me, keeping me in the dark. I don’t know how much longer I can take it.”
“Leah, I know it’s been rough,” Maya said softly. “But are you sure? This isn’t just a fleeting thought, is it?”
“No, I’ve been thinking about it for a while,” I admitted. “Every fight we have just reinforces that I can’t stay in this relationship. I’ve tried to make it work, but it feels like I’m the only one fighting.”
Maya sighed, her empathy palpable even through the phone. “You deserve so much better than this. You’ve been holding on for him, but what about you? What do you want?”
“I want to be free of this pain,” I said, feeling tears prick at my eyes. “I don’t want to be in a relationship where I have to constantly question his loyalty or love. I want to find out who I am without him.”
“I think you’re making the right choice,” Maya encouraged. “You deserve someone who values you, someone who won’t keep you in the dark.”
I wiped my eyes, feeling a mix of determination and sadness. “I’ve been able to get by because of your support and Leah’s help, but I can’t keep pretending everything is fine.”
“Then let’s figure this out together,” Maya said firmly. “I’ll help you with whatever you need. You don’t have to go through this alone.”
“Thank you, Maya,” I whispered, grateful for her unwavering support. “I just want to reclaim my life.”
As we continued talking, I felt a flicker of hope. Maybe this was the beginning of something new, something better. The thought of divorce was daunting, but the idea of staying trapped in a cycle of pain was even worse.
I hung up the phone, my heart racing. I was ready to take that step, ready to face whatever came next. No more hiding. It was time to stand up for myself and choose a different path.
