she pushed open the heavy office door—
And froze.
Her smile collapsed instantly.
Because sitting behind that desk, looking straight at her, were the eyes she thought she had left behind forever.
Those green eyes.
Kairo.
Sitting there, suit sharp, expression unreadable, but those green eyes… the same eyes that once held her whole world. The same eyes that had watched her shatter.
Her breath caught. Memories slammed into her chest, violent and uninvited. That letter. Those last words.
"If you left with even a little bit of shame, then don't cross paths with me again."
Her pulse roared in her ears. Without a word, she stepped back. The door clicked shut. And she left.
She didn't run; her pride wouldn't let her. But her pace quickened with every step until she was out of the building, gulping for air. Her tears betrayed her, spilling faster than her trembling fingers could wipe them away.
On the 15th floor, Kairo sat silent, eyes locked on the closed door she had abandoned. His face revealed nothing, yet inside, old shadows stirred. He leaned back in his chair, that letter echoing like a curse. He had thought she would never return. She hadn't, until today.
And even now… she hadn't truly come back.
Sara stumbled onto the busy street, a crying mess hidden behind shaky glasses. Anger burned. Betrayal throbbed. Frustration made her chest ache. Every buried emotion clawed its way to the surface as though time itself had never moved.
Why him? Why here? Why now?
By the time she reached Zayn's daycare, her tears had dried into patches on her cheeks. She forced a smile as her little boy, who spotted her, ran into her arms. But his tiny face stilled when he saw hers.
"Mumma? Did you cry?"
Her throat tightened. She sniffled, brushing his hair back. "No, baby… just something went inside Mumma's eyes."
Zayn studied her the way only children could. His little hands cupped her face, wiping her lingering tears clumsily, before fixing her crooked glasses. His touch was gentle, almost protective.
Her lips trembled, and before she could stop herself, she hugged him tight, burying her face in his hair. She pressed desperate kisses to his head so he wouldn't see her breaking apart.
Zayn's tiny arms wrapped around her neck, holding her with all the strength his little body could muster. "Don't cry, Mumma. I'm here."
Her heart cracked wide open. He was her anchor, her reason. The only pure love she is left with.
Kairo's POV
His sharp eyes scanned the resume lying before him.
Sara.
Multiple job switches in just two years. A pattern of instability. Late entries. Temporary positions. On paper, it told a story of struggle, a life that had veered off course. He understood, deep down, that not everything had gone right in her life.
Why would she apply for such a small temporary position? As far as he knew, she had always been intelligent, bright, and fiercely determined to build her future. And now… it seemed she was struggling. Was it his betrayal? Had his actions truly affected her life so profoundly?
His jaw tightened. He had no idea what had become of her after he left. He had told himself not to care, forcing himself to believe that walking away, breaking her, was justified. Necessary, even.
And yet… seeing her name. Seeing her face vanish from that doorway… something shifted inside him. A flicker of curiosity, a prickling need to know, what had become of her life?
He wouldn't allow himself to regret his actions. Not now, not ever. But the subtle ache of sadness lingered, stubborn and unwelcome.
Because there had always been more. More than betrayal. More than what she had ever known.
Secrets. Ones he had buried so deep, ones she had never been allowed to see.
And now, fate had brought her back.
Kairo called his secretary. "Can I get more information on this candidate? Any personal details?"
The secretary glanced at him, then reached for the phone. "Let me check with HR, sir."
"Get me the details in an hour," Kairo said. He watched the man go.
An hour later, the secretary returned with a sheet of paper. "Sir, here are the details." He handed it across the desk.
Kairo scanned the page, eyes narrowing until one line stopped him cold. "Is she… a mother?"
"Yes, sir," the secretary answered. "She has a child. She even applied for the company's daycare program."
Kairo's face went dark.
Is she married? Has she forgotten me? A husband, a child, how could she move on so quickly? She was supposed to be broken. Ruined. Yet she's built a life: a home, a family, peace where mine was torn apart. How is that possible?
She was meant to be the one left shattered. Not this, her smiling in someone else's arms, while I'm left with the wreckage. I can't let her live quietly in the life I lost because of her. She has to feel the pain. She needs to suffer.
He balled the paper in his fist until the edges bit into his palm.
"Sir?" the secretary said, voice small.
Kairo fixed him with a hard look. "Get this candidate hired and make her sign a two‑year contract before she can get permanent status. If she refuses, exploit whatever weakness she has. Lure her with perks if you have to. I want a non‑breakable contract signed. Understood?"
The secretary swallowed, eyes flicking nervously. "But sir—"
"Do as I say," Kairo snapped, voice low and dangerous.
The man nodded quickly. "Okay, sir."
As the secretary left, Kairo closed his eyes. Memories crashed over him like a tidal wave: the confession, her face, the promise he had made, the dream they once shared. Her giggle, the night they spent together, every stolen moment… it all came rushing back, sharp and vivid, refusing to be ignored.
"I feel for you, Sara. I started living for you. I see forever with you, something I never dared to dream of."
"I want to be with you. forever. I want that domestic love life with you, Sara. You and me in our own house, maybe with a little version of us running around, you still calling me fuckboy, scolding me for silly things while I'm kissing you to calm you down."
"I love you forever, fuckboy."
"I love you too, forever… my soda glass."
Kairo breathed heavily, the paper crumpled at his side. His eyes were cold, and his jaw was tight. The idea of her living quietly and starting a family with someone else, the life he had wanted with her, felt unbearable. Jealousy, anger, and longing filled him. He decided she would not get away unhurt this time. He would make sure of it.