LOGINAYAH’S POV Voices. That was the first thing I heard. Distant. Blurry. Overlapping. “…she just collapsed—” “—call someone—” “…the pulse is stable—” My brows slowly furrowed as the sound grew clearer. My body felt heavy. Like something was pressing me down. I tried to open my eyes. Light hit me immediately. Too bright. I blinked slowly, adjusting. White ceiling. Hospital. Again. A sharp ache pulsed through my head. I closed my eyes for a second before opening them again. “Ayah?” That voice. Bryan. I turned my head slightly. He was beside me. Too close. His expression tense, like he hadn’t moved from that spot since I got here. “You passed out,” he said. His voice was controlled, but I could hear the strain underneath. I stared at him for a second. Then everything came back. Samuel. The road. The blood. I sat up too fast. “Samuel—” Bryan immediately steadied me. “He’s in surgery.” My chest tightened. Alive. At least he is alive. I swallowed hard, forcing myself to breat
AYAH’S POVMy hands were shaking as I tried to get closer to Samuel. “I’m sorry… I’m sorry…” I kept repeating, my voice breaking as tears streamed down my face. People started gathering around us. Voices overlapping. Someone called for an ambulance. Everything felt loud. Too loud. By the time we got to the hospital, I could barely feel my legs.“Are you a family member?” one of the staff asked.I froze. My mouth opened, but no words came out.“I—I’m his co-worker,” I managed to say.They exchanged glances. “Please inform his immediate family,” they said. “As soon as possible.”My fingers curled slightly. Family? How am I supposed to do that? I only know him from work. I don’t even know anything personal about him.Ethan.Right—Ethan should know. He must have Samuel’s records. Emergency contacts. Something.I quickly reached into my pocket—then paused.Two phones.My breath hitched.One was mine.The other… wasn’t.Slowly, I picked it up. It felt unfamiliar in my hand. When I turned it
AYAH’S POV Since those confusing scenes started running through my head, I deliberately avoided Ethan. There’s something in me that feels angry at him. I don’t know why. I don’t know which part of me feels that way—but it’s there. “Hey… please talk to me?” We’re in my office—his company. He’s been like this for three days. Ever since that night, he’s been trying to get my attention. Not just at work. Even at home. “Please?” He placed the food he bought on my desk. I sighed when I saw it. Beef steak. I’m allergic to beef. “Isn’t this your favorite?” That made me look up. He smiled like he had finally done something right. “I’m allergic to beef.” Even Bryan—someone I clearly hurt before, without even remembering it—knows what I can and can’t eat. But my own husband doesn’t? I looked back down at the papers, trying to ignore him. My brows furrowed as something caught my attention. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know…” His voice faded into the background. There was a
AYAH’S POVThe moment the doorbell rang, everything inside me snapped back to reality. Bryan froze beneath me, his grip on my waist tightening for a second before he gently pushed me up. My heart was racing so fast it felt like it would burst out of my chest. “Stay here,” he said quickly, his voice low but firm. Before I could even ask why, he guided me toward a nearby bathroom. I didn’t argue. I don’t even know why—I just followed. Maybe it was instinct. Maybe it was fear. The moment I stepped inside, he closed the door softly behind me.I stood there, staring at my reflection. My lips were slightly swollen. My cheeks were flushed. My breathing uneven. What was I doing? I pressed my hand against my chest, trying to calm my heartbeat, but it didn’t work. If anything, it only made me more aware of everything that just happened.Then I heard the door open outside.“Bryan.”A woman’s voice.I froze.Something about it felt… familiar.I moved slowly, carefully, and leaned closer to the d
AYAH'S POVI looked at his eyes, his nose, and finally… his lips. They parted slightly as he stared at me, like he was memorizing every detail.“You look beautiful as always,” he said softly.I smiled without meaning to. For a second, it felt normal—like a wife being admired by her husband.Then reality hit me again.I’m married.But tonight… I only wanted Bryan.I only loved him—and no one else.“I love you so much, Ayah.”My breath hitched.“I love you to the point I can lose everything but you,” he continued, his voice quieter now. “I’m sorry I’m saying this now. I just… didn’t have the courage before.”My chest tightened.“If only we could be together.”I saw it then—the crack in his composure. The vulnerability he tried so hard to hide.“Shh…” I whispered, my voice trembling. “You’re making my heart ache.”Without thinking, I leaned closer.My lips brushed against his—He froze.Then gently, he pulled back.“Ayah…” His voice was low, strained. “Aren’t you afraid Ethan might find
AYAH’S POVEthan had no choice but to leave with Mia after I declined multiple times. I didn't argue with him, I just watched him go like a scene that didn't belong to me anymore. Zarry and Zach excused themselves as they have a meeting tomorrow. It's only me and Bryan. Bryan didn’t say much either, only stayed beside me as the noise of the restaurant bar slowly softened around us. For some reason, the night felt lighter after Ethan left, even if I couldn’t explain why.Bryan ordered drinks after that. I didn’t even notice how it started, only that my glass kept getting refilled and my thoughts started feeling… slower, softer, easier to ignore. I wasn’t used to alcohol, and it hit me faster than expected. The edges of everything blurred. His voice sounded closer than it should’ve been.“Slow down,” Bryan said quietly, watching me as I leaned slightly on the table. “You don’t drink much, do you?”I frowned at my glass like it betrayed me. “It’s just juice,” I muttered, then took anothe







