Chapter 6

The cold wind brushed against my skin but it wasn't enough to calm the chaos inside me. I'm still confuse of what is happening right now. I just want my peace back yet this two men is getting out my nerves.

None of us spoke.

The silence between us felt heavier than the ocean waves crashing below the cliff. The sunset that once looked beautiful now slowly disappeared into darkness, just like the little hope I was still trying to hold onto.

Matthew slowly looked away from me as if he was trying to compose himself. For the first time, I saw him lost. The arrogant and untouchable Karl Matthew Grey suddenly looked... broken.

But why now?

Why only now when I'm already slowly giving up?

Why not before when I still loved him?

Why not?

Kairo cleared his throat softly. "Tyra should rest first."

Matthew immediately looked at him sharply. "And who are you to decide for her?"

"I'm not deciding for her," Kairo answered calmly. "I'm just saying what you failed to do."

I bit my lower lip. These two men were completely different from each other.

Matthew burns like fire.

Kairo feels like calm rain after a storm.

One destroys me.

One makes me breathe.

Matthew laughed sarcastically before running his fingers through his messy hair. "You really think you know everything just because you saw her cry once?"

Kairo didn't answer immediately. Instead, he glanced at me first before speaking.

"No. But I know enough to see that she's hurting. And a man should never make a woman cry."

My chest tightened.

Matthew's eyes softened for a second while looking at me. Maybe he remember those times where I sat peacefully at the coach waiting for him to come back home from. Maybe he remember those times when I cook food for him but he never eaten just for once. Maybe he remember those times where my heart is pure and intentions were genuine.

Guilt flashed across his face but it disappeared quickly.

"Let's just go home, Tyra." his voice became quieter this time. "We'll talk there."

Talk?

Funny.

We barely even talk like a real married couple. People could say we are more like strangers than a wife and husband.

Most of the time, he acts like I don't exist.

And now he suddenly wants to talk? Are you kidding me? Is he really want to play with my emotions?

I stepped backwards slowly.

"I don't want to go back there tonight."

Matthew froze.

His expression darkened again. "Then where are you planning to stay?"

I remained silent.

Honestly, I don't know either. I don't have friends nearby. I don't have family I can run to. They will never accept me since they taught I'm having a good life with my billionaire husband.

For almost a year, my whole world revolved around Matthew to the point that I slowly lost myself in the process.

Kairo suddenly removed his jacket and gently placed it around my shoulders.

"You can stay at my place tonight." he said softly. "You don't need to worry. I won't touch you or force you into anything." He smiled at me.

Matthew's fists clenched tightly.

I could almost see the anger building inside him.

"You've got some guts." Matthew laughed bitterly. "Inviting a married woman into your house."

Kairo remained unfazed. "At least I'm offering her peace."

That sentence hit Matthew hard.

His jaw tightened.

Then suddenly, he grabbed my arm again but this time... gentler.

"Tyra." his voice cracked slightly. "Please."

My heart painfully skipped a beat.

Because this was the first time Matthew sounded desperate.

And somehow... that scared me more than his anger since I never see this side of him.

I slowly looked up at him.

His eyes were tired.

Red.

Restless.

As if he really did look for me everywhere.

"You don't understand..." he whispered.

A tear suddenly escaped my eyes.

"Then make me understand, Matthew." I whispered back painfully. "Because I'm getting tired of loving you alone."

Silence consumed us once again.

But this time, Matthew couldn't even look directly into my eyes.

And somehow...

That answered everything.

The sound of Kairo's phone suddenly rang, breaking the suffocating tension between us.

He looked at the caller ID before declining it immediately.

"You should decide already," Kairo said softly while looking at me. "It's getting late."

I looked around the empty cliff.

The sky had already turned dark blue. The cold air became stronger as the city lights below started glowing from afar.

For the first time in my life, I felt truly lost.

One side of me still wanted to run after Matthew despite all the pain he caused me. But another side of me wanted to choose myself this time.

Just this once.

Matthew suddenly sighed heavily before loosening his grip completely.

"If you don't want to come home..." he paused for a while. "...then fine."

I frowned slightly.

Fine?

That's it?

Was he finally giving up on me too?

But before I could overthink further, he suddenly removed his coat and wrapped it around me carefully.

The warmth immediately surrounded my body.

I froze.

Because despite everything... he still remembers that I easily get cold.

Matthew avoided my eyes while fixing the coat on my shoulders.

"You'll get sick." he muttered softly.

That simple gesture almost shattered my heart completely.

Why does he only become gentle whenever I'm already breaking?

Kairo silently watched us from the side.

His expression suddenly became unreadable.

Matthew stepped backwards afterward and looked at me one last time.

"Call me if you need anything."

I stared at him in disbelief.

This wasn't the Matthew I knew. The Matthew I knew would rather shout than speak softly. He would rather ignore me than show concern.

So why now?

Why is he acting like this now?

Before I could answer, Matthew suddenly turned around and walked away toward his black car parked nearby.

I watched his back silently.

For some reason... he looked lonely.

The moment he entered his car, he immediately drove away without looking back. Leaving me standing there with Kairo.

And a completely confused heart.

Kairo exhaled softly beside me.

"You okay?"

I laughed bitterly. "Do I look okay?"

He chuckled quietly. "Fair point."

I sat down on the wooden bench near the cliff while hugging Matthew's coat tightly around me.

His scent still lingered there. That familiar scent I had loved for years.

It hurts.

Everything about him hurts.

Kairo slowly sat beside me while maintaining a respectful distance.

"You still love him." he suddenly said.

It wasn't a question.

It was a fact.

I lowered my head weakly.

"I hate that I do."

The cold wind blew against us once again. For a few seconds, neither of us spoke. Then Kairo suddenly smiled faintly while staring at the dark ocean.

"You know..." he started softly. "People always think love should hurt because that's what movies and stories teach us."

I looked at him silently.

"But real love shouldn't make you question your worth every day. Love should not be confusing. It must be secured."

His words pierced directly into my chest.

Because that's exactly what I've been doing for months.

Questioning myself. Questioning my beauty. My worth. My existence.

Am I not enough?

Am I too boring?

Too weak?

Too easy to ignore?

I laughed painfully while wiping my tears.

"I sound pathetic, don't I?"

Kairo immediately shook his head.

"No." he answered seriously. "You sound like someone who loved too much."

My chest tightened again.

Why does a stranger understand me more than my own husband?

Kairo stood up afterward and stretched his arms.

"Come on."

I blinked. "Where?"

"We're buying food."

I stared at him unbelievably. "Right now?"

"Yes right now." he grinned. "Crying is emotionally exhausting. You need food."

Despite everything, a small laugh escaped from my lips.

And honestly...

That surprised me.

Because it felt so strange to laugh after crying so much.

Kairo suddenly pointed at me dramatically.

"There! That's better. You're beautiful when you smile"

I rolled my eyes slightly. "You're really weird."

"And you're finally smiling."

That instantly shut me up. My smile slowly faded. Because he was right.

I haven't smiled like this in a very long time.

Kairo offered his hand toward me.

For a moment, I hesitated. Not because I was scared of him. But because accepting his hand somehow felt dangerous.

As if the moment I hold onto it...

Something inside me would slowly change.

And maybe...

I wasn't ready for that yet.

But before I could decide, my phone suddenly vibrated inside my pocket.

Matthew.

My heart immediately skipped a beat.

Kairo noticed my expression instantly.

"You don't have to answer if you don't want to."

I stared at Matthew's name flashing repeatedly on my screen.

My fingers trembled slightly.

Even after everything... He still affects me this much. I slowly answered the call.

"Hello?" my voice came out softer than expected.

Silence.

Then I heard Matthew's breathing from the other line.

Heavy.

Uneasy.

"Did you eat already?" he suddenly asked quietly.

I froze completely. Out of all the things he could ask...

Why that?

My chest suddenly ached. Because for the first time in months...

He sounded like a husband.

And somehow...

That made everything even harder.