Chapter 12: The Other Man

Living with the man who once broke her heart was hard.

Living with the man she had never truly stopped loving was even harder.

Two months had passed since Varany and Nihan returned to Bradly's life. They were living together in their new two-story home with a small garden and a pool in the back.

Nihan loved the pool, Bradly loved watching her play, and Varany loved seeing them together.

That was what made the new life so dangerous. Every time she heard Nihan call Bradly “Daddy” or watched the three of them laugh together, she found herself forgetting why she had left.

For the most part, everything had been peaceful.

Except for Myra.

Myra owned a small shop near Nihan's Dream Place Café. Two years earlier, he had saved Nihan after she chased a ball into the street. He stopped her before she could get hurt and safely brought her back to Varany.

After that, Myra became part of their lives.

He was kind and patient, helped Varany when she needed it, and adored Nihan. She loved spending time with him, and sometimes he acted more like her father than a family friend.

Then Myra confessed his feelings for Varany.

He told her he cared about both her and Nihan and could love Nihan as his own daughter.

Varany rejected him.

Of course she did.

“I’m married,” Varany had told Myra.

Even when her marriage to Bradly was broken, part of her still believed they might find their way back to each other. She had never been ready to let him go.

Myra refused to give up. He even told Varany he could help her leave Bradly.

That was when she pulled away.

No matter how broken their marriage had been, Bradly was still her husband, and Nihan deserved the chance to have a family.

Varany avoided Myra for weeks until he finally asked them to remain friends. She agreed, partly because she had needed his kindness during those lonely years.

Looking back, she knew that had made everything more complicated.

Two weeks earlier, Varany and Nihan were waiting at the café for Bradly to pick them up for dinner. Varany had begun to believe their family was finally finding its way back together.

Then Myra walked in.

“Hey.”

Varany looked up. “Hey. How are you?”

“I’m fine.”

Myra hesitated before asking, “I heard you're back with him.”

Varany's smile faded slightly.

“Yes. It's been two weeks.”

She tried to sound casual. “I think it's time. Nihan needs her father.”

Then she studied his face.

“Why do you look like that?” Varany asked, trying to joke. “Shouldn't you be happy for me?”

But Myra did not smile.

He only sighed.

And in that moment, Varany knew this conversation was not going to end well.

“I am happy for you,” Myra said quietly.

His voice was soft.

Too soft.

“But... I miss you.”

Varany's chest tightened.

“And Nihan too.”

There it was.

The feeling Myra could no longer hide.

He reached across the table and gently touched Varany's hand.

Varany froze.

Not again.

She was about to pull away when another hand covered theirs.

Warm.

Firm.

Possessive.

Varany's breath caught.

She slowly looked up.

Bradly.

His face was dark.

But he was not shouting.

He was not angry.

That would have been easier.

Instead, Bradly looked calm.

Too calm.

Dangerously calm.

Varany quickly stood.

“Bradly.”

She forced herself to stay calm.

“This is Myra.”

She glanced at Myra.

“A friend of mine.”

Then she turned back.

“Myra, this is Bradly.”

She hesitated before adding,

“Nihan's father.”

The moment the words left her mouth, Varany regretted them.

Bradly's jaw tightened.

His eyes darkened.

Then Myra stood and offered his hand.

For a long second, Bradly did not move.

The air between them grew heavy.

Finally, Bradly took his hand.

“I'm Bradly,” he said slowly.

His grip tightened.

“Nihan's father...”

His eyes shifted to Varany.

“And Varany's husband.”

The word husband sounded like a warning.

Myra did not react.

At least, not openly.

But Varany felt the tension immediately.

Two men.

One woman between them.

“And neither man looked willing to step back.”

Then—

“Daddy!”

Nihan's cheerful voice cut through the tension.

Everything changed.

Bradly turned toward his daughter, and the darkness disappeared from his face.

His expression softened.

“Princess.”

He walked over and lifted Nihan into his arms, kissing her cheek again and again.

Nihan burst into laughter.

“Daddy!”

For a moment, nothing else seemed to matter.

Only his daughter.

Varany watched them, and despite everything that had happened, her heart softened.

“I have to go.”

Myra's quiet voice pulled her attention back.

Varany looked at him.

He was already preparing to leave, but there was still something in his eyes.

Feelings he had promised to leave behind.

And this time, Bradly had seen them too.

Myra gave Bradly a small nod before walking away.

Varany watched him go.

Relief came first.

Then unease.

“Let's go.”

Bradly's voice was cold.

Before Varany could respond, he walked ahead with Nihan in his arms.

The silence between them felt heavier than any argument.

At dinner, Bradly barely spoke to Varany.

He only talked to Nihan.

He smiled at her, helped her eat, and acted as if nothing had happened.

As if Varany were not even there.

Fine.

If Bradly did not want to talk, neither would she.

They finished dinner and went home.

Nihan fell asleep during the drive.

When they arrived, Bradly carried her upstairs. Together, they changed her into pajamas and tucked her into bed.

Varany kissed her forehead.

Everything was simple.

Safe.

Controlled.

Unlike whatever was happening between her and Bradly.

Varany left the bedroom and went straight to the bathroom.

Cold water.

A deep breath.

Calm down.

That was all she needed.

At least, that was what she told herself.

But the irritation remained.

Why was Bradly acting like this?

What exactly was his problem?

Then—

The bathroom door opened.

Varany stiffened.

It closed behind him.

Slowly, she turned.

Bradly stood near the door.

His eyes were sharp.

His expression was serious.

“Stay away from him, Varany.”

Her heart skipped.

For a second, Varany could only stare at him.

Then her expression hardened.

Because Bradly had just given her an order.

And after six years of losing herself for him...

Varany was no longer the woman who would simply obey.

“And why would I do that?” she asked.

Her voice was colder than she expected.