His fingers that were holding the bouquet slowly loosened.
Thud.
Roses hit the floor.
He stood there, motionless. The world around him blurred.
His heart didn’t just break.
It shattered.
Shattered like the sound of her laughter with soone else. Shattered like the trust he had built. Like the dreams he had painted with her.
Lia’s eyes widened in shock.
She was frozen in place for a second, completely naked except for the sheet barely clutched to her chest.
The guy beside her was Sofia’s boyfriend—Kyle—half-sitting up on the bed, confused and not even bothering to cover himself.
"R-Ray... it’s not what you think—" Lia started, her voice trembling as she quickly pushed Kyle away and stumbled out of bed.
Rayan stood by the door, bouquet dropped on the floor, his fists clenched by his sides. His face was blank—too blank. That was what scared her the most.
He wasn’t shouting. He wasn’t asking questions.
He was just staring at her body, at the room, at the scene, with eyes that had turned stone cold.
"I see," he finally said, voice deep and empty. His gaze slowly turned toward Kyle, whose smug expression made sothing inside Rayan snap.
Without warning, Rayan lunged.
"You bastard—!!" he roared, punching Kyle across the face.
"Ray, no!!" Lia scread, trying to stop him, but it was too late.
Kyle tumbled off the bed with a bloody nose, groaning. "What the hell, man?! She told you two were done!" He lied.
Rayan didn’t stop. He pulled Kyle by the hair and slamd him against the wall. "You think you can touch my girl and walk away alive?!"
Punch.
Another punch.
Kyle grunted, trying to fight back, but Rayan’s fury was unstoppable.
"STOP! PLEASE STOP!" Lia cried, pulling at Rayan’s jacket from behind, sobbing now.
"Don’t kill him, please!"
But Rayan shoved her hand away. "You’re protecting him now?! After you cheated on with him?!"
"Rayan—listen—please—" Lia cried, tears streaming down her face. "I-I was lonely... I thought you were drifting away from . I made a mistake!"
"A mistake?!" he shouted, voice shaking. "Lia, I worked my ass off day and night to build a future for us! I stayed up building a successful company for you! I wanted to surprise you!"
Lia was crying uncontrollably now, her voice cracking. "I didn’t know! You stopped calling, you were always busy, and Kyle was just... he was there—"
SLAP.
It wasn’t from Rayan. It was from herself.
Lia slapped her own cheek and fell to her knees. "I’m sorry... I don’t know what I was thinking..."
Kyle wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, groaning on the floor. "Y’all crazy. I’m outta here."
But Rayan turned sharply. "If you EVER co near her again, I’ll make sure you never walk straight again."
Kyle scurried out, muttering curses, holding his bleeding face.
Now only Lia and Rayan stood in the broken silence.
Rayan was breathing hard. His chest heaving. His hands still trembling.
Lia knelt on the floor, still holding the sheet around her body, and looked up at him with red, swollen eyes.
"I know I ssed up," she whispered. "I know you hate now. But please... don’t leave like this."
Rayan looked at her like he didn’t recognize her anymore.
"...I don’t even know who you are," he said coldly. "The Lia I loved wouldn’t even look at another man."
"I didn’t an to fall for him, I swear I didn’t even love him, it was just stupid—lust, emotions—I don’t know!" she sobbed. "You were gone, Ray... you were always gone."
"And YOU were supposed to be the person I ca ho to," he said, voice lower now. "You were my peace, Lia... my ho. You think it’s easy for ? Trying to build sothing from nothing, running behind investors, fighting through every deal..."
He choked back a sound, his throat tightening.
"I used to look at your photo every ti I felt like giving up. You were the reason I kept going."
Lia covered her mouth, her whole body shaking. "I don’t deserve your forgiveness... I know. But I love you, Ray, I really do..."
Rayan stepped back.
His hand brushed through his hair as he turned away, not able to look at her anymore.
"I don’t think I can stay here tonight," he muttered.
"Ray—please," she stood up, still wrapped in the sheet, grabbing his arm.
"Don’t leave ... I’ll die without you..."
He stared at her hand holding his. Then gently pulled it off.
"No," he said, his voice cracking. "You’ll live just fine. Just like you did when I was gone."
He turned toward the door.
But before walking out, he paused and looked back once.
"I gave you my loyalty, my trust, my future. You gave it away in one night."
His words were like a knife.
The door closed behind him with a soft click.
Lia collapsed on the floor, crying so hard her entire body shook.
***
Lia was breathless as she ran down the stairs. Her clothes were half-buttoned, hair wild, eyes red from crying. She didn’t care anymore. All she wanted was for Rayan to stop. To turn around. To listen to her just once.
"Rayan! Please wait! RAYAN!" she scread his na, her voice echoing in the stairwell.
But the elevator had already taken him down.
She gritted her teeth and kept going. Her feet slapped against the stairs. Her heart thudded wildly. Her belly felt heavy with each step.
She paused at the second landing, gasping for air, clutching her middle. The thought struck her again like lightning—
He’s wearing such an expensive suit... he’s beco rich again.
Her lips trembled. "How could I be so stupid..." she whispered.
Yes, Rayan didn’t have a family na now. But he was smart. Too smart. A real business genius. The kind of man who could rise from nothing again and again.
She rembered how he used to dream big while sitting on the floor with instant noodles. He always said, "One day, we’ll live in a mansion, Lia. You won’t have to count pennies anymore."
She was the one who gave up. She betrayed that dream.
As she reached the last few stairs, she saw him—getting into the car. The engine purred to life. His hands were already on the wheel.
No. No. No! He can’t leave.
Her mind spun in panic. She bit her lip hard enough to bleed. Her hand unconsciously touched her belly.
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