Darius didn't know how long Elle's silence had enveloped them after the big revelation. Every second seemed to stretch endlessly, while his world remained frozen in a single moment of heartbreak.
Earlier, hundreds of questions flooded his mind—but now, he was blank. He sat motionless, staring into nothingness, while the occasional sobbing of his wife could still be heard in the background.
He struggled to stop himself from doing something he'd regret. He didn't want to hurt Elle—not physically, and especially not emotionally—but he also couldn't bear the weight of everything he'd just learned. The result: a shattered cellphone and laptop, a broken glass, a flower vase in pieces. Throw pillows were scattered across the floor, along with some documents he had been reading moments earlier when he was still alone—before Elle's explosive secret unraveled.
Everything had been fine earlier. Fine... before Elle arrived and spoke.
But after the storm, everything seemed to collapse.
He couldn't comprehend—how could Elle do this to them?
"It's like she just used us," he whispered to himself. "Like we were toys she could play with, control... destroy."
Darius clutched his head again. "How do I even tell Angela? Clark? Our family?"
He no longer knew how to fix the mess. With so much broken, where should he even begin? Or should he even try to fix any of it at all?
He wanted to scream, to lash out, to explode—just to ease the burden in his chest. But he had no strength left. The strength he used to have to fight for his loved ones—now it was draining just to keep himself from breaking further.
He thought about calling Lance, but he knew he hadn't landed in the Philippines yet. He didn't want to bother the couple just yet.
Instead, he stood up, grabbed the jacket hanging on the chair, and left their suite without looking back. He didn't bother to say a word. Words meant nothing in this kind of pain.
He took the elevator down. The ride was quick and silent—a contradiction to the chaos inside him. Since he had already returned their rented car, he called a taxi but to no avail. He didn't want to drive; he didn't trust himself—not with the way things were going.
He walked along the cold sidewalk, city lights shimmering on the wet streets, the chill biting at his face.
As Darius was being consumed by pain, Elle was left alone in the suite.
Elle knew where Darius usually went during moments like this—to the bar owned by their friend Martin. It was once a refuge for many lonely, exhausting nights. And tonight, it seemed like the only safe place left in Darius's world.
Unbeknownst to her, Darius hadn't gone there since they arrived in San Francisco.
Elle couldn't bring herself to speak. This wasn't the time to insist. She knew Darius was furious—and she had no right to stop him.
When Darius left, silence returned to the suite. But this time, it was colder, deeper, and deafening. Elle collapsed onto the couch, trying to stop the trembling of her entire body.
She didn't know where she went wrong. She thought that once she told Darius the truth, she'd feel relief. She thought her husband would understand. She was wrong.
Suddenly, her cellphone rang from inside her handbag. She quickly grabbed it. A message from Aries.
How are you? I'm here. I'll wait for you.
Before, a message like that would have made her smile. But not now. Now, it only pinched her conscience. Because even if Aries had a part in the breaking of Darius's heart, Aries had no idea about the full extent of what she had done.
Elle alone had orchestrated everything.
Aries hadn't asked for this. In fact, he had almost backed out when he caught her talking to the doctor who helped with her plan. They even argued about it back then. But she had convinced him—with promises that it would all soon be over. A lie that once gave Aries a false sense of peace.
"I did this for us," she used to whisper over and over. But now, she wasn't sure if there was even still an "us."
She wasn't even sure if she had anything left to return to—not with Darius, and perhaps not even with Aries.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, while one heart was shattered, two hearts continued to hold on to hope.
While Darius and Elle were being consumed by pain, Angela and Clark sat quietly on the veranda of their apartment, watching the lights of the streets and the buildings racing each other in height and brightness.
Before Clark could be completely swallowed by his insecurities, Angela offered him quiet reassurance.
Holding the glass of warm milk Clark had given her earlier, Angela smiled and gently spoke.
"Hey! Stop overthinking," she teased, noticing how quiet and distant her boyfriend's gaze was. "I'm sure she loved you very much back then."
Clark immediately smiled, his ears turning red—a clear sign he was flustered by what he heard.
"Seriously, you don't have to worry or overthink. I'm all yours. You are my present and my future. You've been there for me during my darkest times, even until now. You showed me love and care. You stood by me. That's why I unintentionally fell for you. I feel joy being with you. And with that being said, I love you," Angela said, squeezing her boyfriend's hand to show her sincerity.
Angela could feel Clark's fears even without him saying a word. She already knew every gesture and expression of the man she loved—when he was happy, when he was worried.
Clark gave her a series of kisses: on the forehead, the tip of her nose, and then on her lips. Then, he rested his forehead against hers.
"Thank you. I love you more," Clark whispered, and together they closed their eyes, savoring the warmth and joy of the moment.
For Angela, the past was a chapter long closed—a story of pain and lessons learned.
She may have lost her family, but God never abandoned her. Because not once did He leave her alone. Instead, He brought Clark back into her life—a hand that held her, a hope that pulled her back into the light.
Now, they faced the future together, full of love, hope, and a brand-new beginning.