Chapter Two – Shadows of the Past
The dinner ended in awkward silence.
Simeon had left after she said yes. The ring still felt heavy on her finger, too bright for her tired hands. Angel sat by the window long after the dishes were cleared, watching the lights from the street fade into the quiet of Surrey.
Maybe she should've waited. Maybe she just wanted to stop feeling so alone. She just wanted to make a complete family for her kids, was that so bad?
Having grown up in a broken home, she knew what emptiness felt like. Her mum had run away, saying she was tired of her older, quiet scientist husband, leaving Angel and her father to suffer the whispers and shame. Then one day, her mum died in a car crash, with a married politician behind the wheel. That only made the scandal worse. Her father never recovered from that, she still remembers how many times she caught him looking out of space thinking about it.
Angel sighed, rubbing the ring between her fingers. Maybe love just wasn't for people like her.
The next morning was cool and clear. The kids had left for school, and the house was finally calm. Angel stood outside, sipping coffee from a chipped mug, when the deep growl of an engine made her turn.
It wasn't just any car. It was sleek, black, and powerful, the kind that looked more at home on a racing circuit than on this quiet street. It stopped in front of her house, the low hum fading into silence, sunlight catching on its polished metal.
And then he stepped out.
Zahid.
For a moment, her breath caught. He looked almost unreal, taller, broader, older. His dark hair was shorter now, his jaw sharper, his aura heavier. But those eyes… those same eyes that once made her believe forever was real.
Her heart gave a small, traitorous flutter.
"Angelina," he said, his voice deeper, rougher than she remembered.
She swallowed. "What are you doing here, Zahid?"
"I was in London for a conference," he said quietly, his accent brushing over her name like silk. "Thought I'd see an old friend."
"An old friend," she echoed, forcing a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Right."
He studied her face for a long moment, something unreadable in his gaze. "You look different."
"Life does that to people," she said, folding her arms. "Coffee?"
He nodded once.
Inside, the silence between them thickened. Zahid's eyes wandered around the small living room, familiar, yet changed. Once, this had been his escape from the world. Once, she'd been his peace.
Now, everything looked smaller. Duller. Except her.
He couldn't help noticing how she'd changed, the girl who once wore baggy shirts and hid behind thick glasses had become a woman who carried quiet strength. His gaze followed the curve of her shoulder, the tired grace of her movements, until it caught on the ring on her finger.
"I guess I'm late," he said, his voice low. His eyes didn't leave the ring. "You're getting married?"
She hesitated. "Yes. I am."
They sat across from each other at the small dining table, the same one that had seen too many memories. Zahid's hand brushed his cup, his fingers steady, but the muscle in his jaw twitched.
"Who's the lucky guy?" he asked, his tone quiet but firm.
"Simeon," she replied softly.
He blinked, then gave a small, humorless smile. "Simeon Forrest, right?"
She nodded slowly. "Yes. He's… good to me."
"Good." He smiled again, but it never reached his eyes. "You deserve that."
Before she could answer, a loud horn blared outside, the school bus.
"Excuse me," she murmured, rising to open the door.
Mara and Malik came running in, backpacks bouncing, laughter filling the air. "Mummy!"
Zahid turned sharply, his breath catching. She has kids.
His chest tightened.
Angel froze when she saw his expression, her hand gripping the door frame. "Zahid…"
Something broke in his eyes.
He looked away, swallowing hard. "I see," he said quietly. "You've built yourself a new life."
"Did you expect me to wait for you?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Come on, Zahid. It's been five years."
He stood, straightening his jacket. "It doesn't matter."
"Congratulations, Angelina," he said softly, and the weight behind her name hit her like a punch. Only he ever called her that. To everyone else, she was Angel or Angie. Somehow, hearing it again hurt.
He walked out without another word.
Angel stood by the door, staring at the empty street, her chest aching.
Behind her, Mara tugged at her dress.
"Mummy, who was that man?"
Angel smiled faintly, her eyes glassy. "Just… someone I used to know."
Outside, Zahid gripped the steering wheel, the world blurring at the edges. He told himself it was fine, that he should be happy she'd moved on.
But deep down, he knew he'd just lost something he could never replace.
And then, he saw her silhouette through the window, still standing there, watching his car. His control cracked.
The car door opened.
Angel gasped as Zahid strode back toward her, his dark eyes burning. "Why, Angel? Why didn't you wait for me?" he demanded, his voice rough, almost breaking. "I had my reasons. I didn't leave because I wanted, I left cause I had to!"
She stared at him, pain and anger flashing across her face. "You didn't come back, Zahid. That's all that matters."
"Did you move on that quickly? Was I that easy to forget?"
"Don't you dare," she whispered, voice shaking. "You have no idea what those years were like."
He exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through his hair. "Fine. Then I want to meet him. Simeon Forrest, your fiancé, the father of your children."
Angel blinked. "What?"
Zahid's voice turned cold, controlled. "He's your future husband, isn't he? Then as your elder, and as someone who once mattered, I'll meet him myself."
And with that, he turned and walked back to his car, leaving Angel rooted to the spot, heart hammering.
She didn't know what hurt more, that he'd come back… or that he thought the kids were Simeon's.