Lena’s voice trembled, barely above a whisper. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pushed you away. I...I made a mistake.” Grayson’s cold laughter cut through the air. He stepped closer, his towering presence suffocating. “A mistake?” His tone was sharp, dangerous. “Dropping a glass is a mistake. What you did?” He leaned in, his breath brushing her ear. “That was a choice.” Lena flinched, her chest tightening. “I didn’t know...” “You knew exactly what you were doing.” He grabbed her chin, forcing her to meet his icy gaze. “And now you’re here, begging for something. Redemption? Love?” His lips curled into a cruel smirk. “Don’t insult me.” “I don’t want anything from you,” she shot back, her voice faltering. Grayson’s soft, mocking laugh made her stomach twist. “You always want something, Lena. What is it now? A second chance to ruin me?” Her heart pounded. The man before her was no longer the one she thought she’d left behind...he was powerful, ruthless, and untouchable. And she feared she’d lost him forever. *** Lena married Grayson for his potential, believing she could manipulate him to secure her family’s fortune. Once the deal was done, she discarded him without remorse. But time has changed everything. Grayson has returned, no longer desperate, but a powerful man who has made it clear he wants nothing to do with her. Regret weighs heavy on Lena, but her reasons for seeking him now remain unclear. Is it guilt? Love? Or something far more dangerous? Grayson’s world is ruthless, offering no room for second chances. Yet, beneath his hardened exterior, a question lingers: Can he forgive her, or will he ensure she pays the ultimate price?
더 보기The pen Lena held trembled in her hands as she sat on the kitchen table, the dim light casted a faint shadow over the dirvoce papers spread out before her.
She found it hard to breath as she weight of her decision pressed down on her chest. She used her free hand to rub her temples as she set down the pen she held earlier.
Lena had spent the last one hour and thirty minutes staring at the dirvoce papers, reading through the jargons stated on it that she barely understood. The only thing she understood was that if she signed it, it would be the end of her marriage. Why now? When she was finally becoming happy with him?
She glanced through the papers again, the words blurry in her eyes. Could she really do this?
Slowly, her eyes drifted to the wall clock. It was almost eight PM and Grayson was yet to come home. He had called her earlier telling her that the restaurant was busier than usual.
She imagined him there, sleeves rolled up, his hands dusted with flour, focused and determined. That image of him was one of the first things she’d fallen for, back when she thought falling wasn’t part of her plan.
But the plan had changed.
Her phone buzzed on the table, the screen flashing with a single message:
'You know what’s at stake. Don’t make me remind you!'
Lena’s stomach churned, her hands curling into fists. She locked the phone, shoving it face-down on the table as if that would silence the persistent fear that had followed her for weeks. She couldn’t crumble now.
The faint sound of the front door creaking open pulled Lena's attention. Footsteps echoed in the hallway, accompanied by the soft rustle of a bag being placed on the floor.
“Lena?” Grayson called out, warmth evidence in his calm voice.
Her breath hitched. She quickly folded the divorce papers and slid them into a drawer before standing. “I’m in here.” she replied lowly but loud enough for him to hear her.
Grayson appeared in the doorway a moment later, his dark hair slightly mussed, his shirt wrinkled from a long day. He looked tired but still managed a small smile when his eyes landed on her.
“Sorry I’m late,” he said, dropping his keys onto the counter. “Things got crazy tonight.” He said giving her a quick kiss on her forehead.
“It’s okay,” Lena replied, her voice quieter than she intended.
He stepped closer, his brow furrowing as he studied her face. “You’ve been waiting up for me, haven’t you?” He asked with raised brows.
“No,” she quickly lied.
Grayson looked like he didn't believe her but he decided not to push the situation any further.
“You look like something’s on your mind. What’s going on?” He asked quietly as he leaned against the counter.
Lena swallowed hard, fiddling with her hands. She wanted to tell him everything, to finally unburden herself of the truth. But the words wouldn’t come. She forced herself to look away, her gaze landing on the darkened window instead.
“Nothing. Just tired,” she lied again.
Grayson frowned. “You’ve been saying that a lot lately. Did something happen?” He asked moving closer towards her and holding her hands.
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m fine.” she said, stylishly removing her hands from his which Grayson didn't fail to notice.
"I'll be going to bed now." Lena said, making her way out of the kitchen.
Grayson nodded slowly as he stared at her retreating figure wondering what the problem might be. Was there a problem in her company? What could be bothering her? He thought.
Reaching the room they shared, Lena laid down on the edge of the bed and faced the wall. She couldn't bring herself to sleep as different thoughts ran through her mind.
Telling Grayson would only put him in more danger, maybe this was for the best. When she heard the sound of the room door creaking open, she quickly closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep.
When she knew that Grayson had entered the bathroom, she slowly opened her eyes and turned to glance at the bathroom door. She sighed, turning back to her former position.
Who would she run to for help right now? Was her decision the best? She was clouded in her thoughts that she didn't notice when Grayson came out of the bathroom till he laid down beside her.
Lena stiffened for a moment as she knew what his next actions would be. As if on cue, Grayson held her by her waist and pulled her closer to him, till he was now hugging her.
He leaned closer into her neck as he sniffed in her scent. Lena wasn't surprised, Grayson had been doing so since they got married. On a normal day, Lena would have turned around and hugged him, but now, she couldn't stop the tears that threatened to roll down her cheeks.
Soon, she felt his soft breath on her skin. He must have been so tired to have fallen asleep so easily, Lena thought.
She tried to move away from his hold, but his hands were firm against her waist as if he was scared that she'd run away. Lena sighed quietly, knowing that if she tried anymore that he'd wake up from his sleep, and she didn't want that.
Lena turned around on the bed to face Grayson, careful not to wake him up. She stared at his handsome face and her eyes slowly moved down to his lips that looked inviting, she was tempted to kiss his lips, but she didn't, she just kept staring at his face.
Her heart clenched in hurt at her thoughts. Was she really going to be making this wrong decision? Yes, she knew that it was a wrong decision, but what choice did she have? It was the final straw, she couldn't take it anymore!
The morning light streamed through the curtains, painting the room in soft gold. Lena stirred in bed, blinking slowly as the memories of last night rushed back in. Her chest tightened. The pain wasn’t as painful as before, but it was still there, sitting heavy in her heart.Grayson sat beside her on the edge of the bed, already dressed for work. His hand rested on her belly, his thumb moving in slow, gentle circles."You sure you'll be okay?" he asked, searching her face.Lena forced a small smile. "I’ll be fine. You should go."He didn’t look convinced."I mean it," she added, squeezing his hand. "Don't worry about me. Just focus on work."Grayson sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I just don’t want you stressing yourself.""I won’t," she promised.Still, he hesitated before finally leaning down to kiss her forehead. "I’ll be back early," he murmured. "Call me if you need anything."She nodded, watching as he grabbed his keys and headed for the door. The moment it closed behin
Lena’s eyes fluttered open, the harsh hospital lights making her squint. A dull ache sat at the back of her head, her body felt heavy, and for a moment, she struggled to remember where she was.Then it all came rushing back, Ayla, the fire, Kael’s broken voice, the moment everything had shattered.She swallowed hard, her throat dry. As she shifted slightly, she felt warmth against her hand. Turning her head, she found Grayson sitting beside her, his head resting on his arm. His fingers were curled gently around hers, as if afraid to let go.His suit was wrinkled, his tie loose, dark circles beneath his eyes showing just how long he’d been there.She tried to move her fingers, and immediately, he stirred. His eyes blinked open, slightly unfocused, before locking onto her face.“You’re awake,” he breathed, sitting up quickly. Relief washed over his tired features.Lena swallowed, trying to push past the lump in her throat. “How long have I been out?”Grayson reached for a cup of water o
HALLWAYLena wiped at her swollen eyes, her face pale and streaked with tears. She hugged herself, her body trembling. Kael, on the other hand, looked like a shadow of himself, hollow, detached, his gaze unfocused as he stared at the ground.His phone buzzed in his pocket.Kael ignored it at first, the vibration barely registering in his fogged mind. But it persisted, relentless. With a tired sigh, he fished the phone out, glancing at the screen. It was his secretary.He almost declined the call, but something in his gut told him not to.“This is Kael,” he answered, voice rough and broken.“Sir,” his secretary’s voice trembled on the other end. “I’m sorry to call you like this... but I thought you should know right away.”Kael rubbed his temple, his head pounding. “What is it?” he muttered, his patience fraying.“It’s your brother,” she said, her voice laced with caution. “He was in a serious accident tonight. A collision. He’s in a coma.”Kael stiffened, the words slamming into him l
Lena rubbed her eyes as she packed up her things. It had been a long day at work, but her mind kept drifting to Ayla. It had been a while since they hung out, and she wanted to check in on her friend.She smiled as she grabbed her phone and dialed Ayla’s number.The phone rang and rang, but no one picked up.“That’s weird,” Lena mumbled, biting her lip. She tried again.This time, someone answered, but the voice on the other end wasn’t Ayla’s.“This is Kael.” His voice was rough, laced with tension.Lena frowned, her heart beating faster. “Kael? Where’s Ayla?”“I... I don’t know,” he admitted, his voice low and broken. “She’s not here. I thought maybe she was with you.”Lena’s stomach twisted. “She’s not. I... I haven’t seen her today.”There was silence, and then a shaky breath. “She left a note,” Kael whispered. “I checked her room. It just said... ‘I’m sorry, Kael. I couldn’t take it anymore.’”Lena’s blood ran cold. She grabbed her bag and rushed out of her office, her hands tremb
An hour later, Ayla stood in front of the gate of her former house. The place that used to be filled with warmth and laughter now felt like a graveyard. The tall iron gate stood slightly ajar, creaking as the wind pushed against it. The security guards were nowhere in sight, and neither were the maids. The whole place was disturbingly quiet, like even the walls were holding their breath.The strong stench of petrol clung to the air, burning Ayla’s nose. She smirked, her fingers tightening around the black gun in her hand. The guys she paid had done their job perfectly. She could almost hear their rough voices in her head, promising her that the house would be soaked in fuel, ready to burn.Her heart pounded as she took a step inside. The once-beautiful garden was now overgrown, weeds swallowing the flowers her mother used to plant. Her chest tightened, but she shoved the pain away. There was no room for sorrow tonight, only justice.Ayla pulled out the lighter she had taken from Kael’
EVENING: AYLA'S ROOMAyla sat cross-legged on her bed, her fingers trembling as she gripped her phone, her entire focus was on the screen in front of her.The chat with her father's lawyer stared back at her, the words feeling heavier than they should.Lawyer: "The documents are ready. I’ve sent the link for you to sign electronically. Once you do, the merger will be set in motion, but we can delay the public announcement until you give the green light."Her chest tightened as she reread the message. Her thumb hovered over the link, her heart pounding so loud she could hear it echo in her ears. She felt like she was balancing on a razor’s edge, caught between guilt and determination.This was what she wanted, what she needed. The merger would ensure her father’s legacy didn’t crumble, and it would secure Kael’s empire, tying them together in ways he didn’t even know about yet. It was her silent way of repaying him for helping her, even if he never found out.But this was also a betray
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