Chapter 9

Before Yara could process why Steven—of all people—was the one saving her, the darkness swallowed her whole.

***

When she woke up, she was in a hospital bed.

Her dry eyes blinked against the harsh white ceiling. Slowly, she turned her head—

And saw Steven sitting beside her.

She stared at him, half-convinced he wasn't real. Out of everyone, why was he the only one here?

Pushing down her surprise, she spoke calmly. "Shouldn't you be with Helen?"

"I just came from there. She's surrounded by people. Mateo's there too."

Steven waited for some kind of reaction. Anger, frustration—something.

But Yara barely blinked. Her response was simple.

"Then you should go too. I like my peace and quiet."

She expected him to leave.

He didn't.

Instead, he just looked at her, something unreadable in his expression. Finally, after a long pause, he spoke.

"Don't marry Mateo."

His voice was low, firm. And once he started, he couldn't stop.

"He doesn't love you. He never did. He only got close to you so Helen could have a clear path."

Steven felt lighter, like he'd finally exhaled a secret that had been suffocating him.

But when he looked at Yara, expecting shock or hurt—

He saw nothing.

No surprise. No sadness. Just quiet indifference.

Almost like... she had already known.

His breath caught. "Y-You knew?"

"You can leave now," she said, ignoring the question completely.

But Steven didn't move. Frustration flared, spilling over.

"You knew and you're still going through with the wedding?! Are you insane?"

Yara laughed. "Why do you care? Didn't I already break off our engagement and hand you back to your precious Helen?"

That shut him up.

Because the truth was, he didn't know why he cared.

He should be happy. He had Helen.

But lately, when he looked at Helen, all he could think about was Yara.

Even his dreams were filled with her.

The air grew thick with silence—

Until the door suddenly swung open.

Mateo.

His expression darkened the moment he saw Steven.

"What are you doing here?"

Steven held Yara's gaze a beat longer before turning and walking out.

The second he was gone, Mateo pulled Yara into a tight hug, his voice desperate.

"Yara, I'm sorry. I swear I wasn't trying to leave you behind. I just—I got confused, I thought—" He swallowed hard. "I thought I was saving you.

"Please don't be mad at me. I won't care about Helen anymore, okay? Just... don't go near Steven. Please. I need you to stay with me.

"You finally stopped loving him. You finally chose me. If you go back to him now... I'll lose my mind."

Mateo kept rambling, trying to fix things.

But Yara had already tuned him out.

Only one thought remained.

'Let this all end.'

***

In the days before the wedding, Mateo went all in on proving his loyalty.

No more visits to Helen. Didn't even ask about her.

Instead, he stuck to Yara like glue—gifts, attention, whatever it took to make her smile.

And it worked. Until the night before the wedding.

For some reason, Yara started packing.

Mateo noticed, didn't think much of it. Heck, he even helped.

Until he saw what she was packing.

Every expensive gift he'd ever given her.

Every photo he'd taken of her.

Every love letter he'd written.

All of it.