"What are you doing here?"
The words cut through the air like a knife.
"Mumma!" Zayn bolted forward, clinging tightly to Sara.
She scooped him up instantly, holding him close, a protective shield against Kairo. Her face was icy, but her eyes blazed with a mix of fury and fear.
Kairo turned eyes were puffy, his face red, streaked with evidence of tears. Sara's heart raced at the sight, emotions crashing over her: anger, fear, and suspicion.
He took a step closer, his voice a low, almost desperate whisper. "Why didn't you tell me before, Sara?"
Sara's chest tightened. "Telling what?" she asked, her tone cold, detached.
"You know exactly what I mean," he said, his eyes softening for a fleeting moment.
Sara's gaze hardened, emotion veiled under a shield of hate.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she said, her voice heavy with unspoken pain.
Kairo's voice rose, a mix of anguish and frustration. "Why didn't you tell me… that Zayn is my child?"
Sara's anger spiked, tears brimming in her eyes.
"No… he is not! He is my child. I gave birth to him. You have nothing to do with him… or me. So stay away from us completely." Her voice was firm, sharp, and unyielding.
"Sara…" Kairo stepped closer, voice low and pleading.
"Don't… don't come near," she warned, taking a step back.
"Sara, please… don't do this," he begged, his voice trembling.
"Doing what, Kairo? What did I do?" Her voice cracked with a mixture of pain and anger.
"Please… don't separate Zayn from me," his words broke, raw and desperate.
"Why… why are you asking me that, Kairo? Why are you suddenly obsessed with my child?" Her tone was firm, anger boiling beneath the surface.
"Because… I'm his father," Kairo whispered, almost shaking.
"No… You are not!" Sara's words were sharp and unwavering. "Who told you that? You are not his father!"
Kairo's eyes softened as he looked at her, vulnerable, angry, guilt-stricken, all at once.
"Yes… I'm… I'm his father. Zayn is my child," he whispered, his voice barely steady.
Sara's tears welled up, her voice trembling but sharp. "What proof do you have? How are you claiming that? Is this some new game, claiming my child as yours? Stay away from me and my child… don't you dare touch him!"
"Sara… please…" Kairo tried to step closer, desperation lacing his tone.
"NO! You are NOT his father! HIS FATHER IS DEAD! Don't you understand? Stay away from him… " Her voice cracked, a mixture of fury and heartbreak.
Zayn flinched at her high-pitched voice. Seeing him tremble, Sara's eyes softened. She scooped him up tightly, clutching him to her chest, and hurried out of the room without another glance.
Kairo sank to the floor, his body heavy with a crushing mix of guilt, heartbreak, and frustration. Every fiber of him hated the mistakes he had made, the foolish choices that had cost him everything, her, their child, and the life he could have had. He had destroyed it all with his own hands.
The moment Sara stepped out of the daycare with Zayn in her arms, her knees nearly gave way. Her entire body trembled, but she clutched her son tighter, refusing to let even a sliver of weakness show.
"Mumma… why was that man crying?" Zayn's small voice cut through her pounding heart.
She kissed his temple, forcing calm into her tone. "Nothing, baby. Don't think about it. He's just… no one."
No one. The words tasted like poison. Because deep inside, she knew he was not "no one." He was the man who shattered her, the man who left scars too deep to ever heal… and yet, the moment his eyes met Zayn's, she had seen it. That flicker. That raw recognition.
Her chest tightened painfully.
No. She wouldn't allow herself to falter.
By the time she reached their apartment, her tears had burned out, leaving only a cold numbness. She tucked Zayn into bed, humming softly until his little breaths evened out. Only then did she step away, collapsing against the wall, her body shaking silently.
3 years ago
The last exam was finally over. Kairo was overjoyed because now he could meet Sara again. For two weeks, he had held himself back, resisting the urge to run to her, because he had promised not to disturb her until exams were done. And now, with no more exams in the way, she was finally his, forever. Just the thought of spending his life with her made his heart burst with happiness. He couldn't stop smiling like a fool.
And then he thought about doing something special for her today.
What if I propose to her… but in a dramatic way?
Yes, that sounded perfect. A big flower bouquet and a heartfelt proposal. Just the thought made him grin like an idiot.
I love you, soda glass… You turned a careless fuckboy into a lovesick fool, he thought, smiling to himself.
Right then, his friend Jason showed up. "Why are you grinning like that, bro?" Jason asked, raising a brow.
Kairo looked at him and sighed. "Why do you always show up when I'm lost in my own world?"
Jason chuckled. "Because you look completely unbelievable when you're lost in your own world."
Kairo smirked.
Jason tilted his head. "So… is it about that nerdy girl?"
Kairo's expression immediately sharpened. "Watch your mouth, Jason."
Jason lifted his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, I'm sorry, bro. But still… you? In love? The great Kairo, who could have any girl he wanted?"
Kairo's smile softened. "Don't be fooled by her looks. She's not what she seems."
Jason arched a brow, curious.
Kairo leaned back, eyes gleaming. "She's the only one who asked for my heart before my body. She's the one who made me understand what it actually feels like… to be loved."
Jason looked at him, clearly amused. Kairo just smiled.
As they were talking, Jason suddenly nudged him. "There, your girl's going."
Kairo's head snapped in that direction. His steps were ready to chase after her, until his eyes caught sight of someone walking up to her. The moment he saw the man's face, his expression shifted. His gaze darkened instantly, anger surging hot in his veins.
Why was that man talking to her? His breath grew uneven, chest tight.
Jason noticed. "What's wrong, bro? Why did you stop? Scared of her dad?" He laughed casually.
Kairo's eyes cut sharply toward him. "Dad?"
Jason blinked. "Yeah… he's her dad."
Kairo's brows knitted. "How do you know that?"
Jason shrugged. "I've seen them together plenty of times. Even heard her call him 'dad.' Why? You don't know your girlfriend's dad?"
Kairo's world narrowed to one raw thought. The stranger's face, familiar in a painful way, opened an old wound. He didn't just recognize the man; he remembered what that man had done to him. This was the person who had ruined his life and left destruction behind.
The idea that Sara was tied to that man made Kairo furious. that she could belong to family or blood, to the man who had taken everything from him. That felt like an insult on top of his loss.
For a moment, he doubted her, his angry mind racing with the thought that maybe she'd been playing him all along. What if she knew everything and was using him to destroy him again? The idea made his blood boil. He wanted to break her before she could break him.
He wanted her to feel what he had felt: loss, fear, and emptiness.
He walked away, hot anger and cold resolve tangled inside him. A single harsh decision formed in his chest: if she was connected to that man, if her life tied back to the person who hurt him, she wouldn't be allowed to leave smiling. He would make her pay and make her understand the price.
"I'll ruin you, before you ruin me, Sara."