ASTHERIEN'S POV :-
I wasn't able to sleep.
It's 2 AM… and he's still not home.
Ughh… what do I even do?
I didn't even realise when I started biting my lips so hard until that sharp, stinging pain hit me.
I kept roaming around the house, restless… worried.
Should I go search for him?
Should I call his driver again?
Even his driver isn't picking up the phone!
What the hell?!
I'm literally going crazy.
If he doesn't come back in the next five minutes, I'm going out to look for him. I can't let him stay alone… not when I already know the situation.
I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't even notice the doorbell ringing continuously for the past few minutes.
Only when it finally clicked, I rushed to open the door.
And there he was.
A wave of relief hit me instantly.
And… he was drunk.
He rarely drinks.
I held him carefully, trying to stay calm as I helped him inside.
"I know your face…" he muttered, his voice low, while I guided him to his room.
"I know," I chuckled softly.
"I'm worthless… you think that too?" he said.
The air shifted.
"Who said that?" I asked, turning him to face me, my tone firm.
"I just feel that… see? I wasn't even able to protect my own…" he let out a hollow laugh.
My chest tightened.
He doesn't even realise what he means to me… to us.
How can he even say something like that?
"Don't say that," I said, my voice softer but steady. "Do you even hear yourself right now?"
I made him sit on the sofa.
For a second, he just stared at me.
I slowly bent down, removing his shoes and socks.
I was about to get up and put them aside when I felt a tight grip around my wrist.
I turned back.
That look on his face… it stopped me.
I sat back down.
"I'm not going anywhere… just putting them away," I said gently, giving him a small smile.
He shook his head.
So I stayed.
Honestly… I didn't want to leave either. Not even for a minute.
I just wanted to stay. So I did.
For a moment, I just sat there… quietly admiring him.
Then suddenly, he pulled me closer onto the sofa.
I settled beside him, and he rested his head on my lap.
I didn't move.
At some point… I drifted off to sleep like that.
The next morning, I woke up on the sofa… wrapped in a warm blanket.
And in his arms.
It felt… calm.
Too calm.
The kind of calm I hadn't felt in a long time.
I missed this.
But reality doesn't stay away for long.
I wish we win this case.
No… it doesn't even matter if we win or not. I just don't want any more problems in our lives.
I want this to end.
I'm tired… tired of all of this.
Tired of watching him smile like everything is fine… when it's not.
I slowly stood up, my shirt slipping slightly off one shoulder.
Fixing it, I walked away to get fresh.
KAIZA'S POV :-
Morning.
Trying to survive.
My head hurts like hell.
Ughh…
Drinking that much last night was a terrible idea.
And the fil-
Oh fuck!
The file.
Where is it?
Did I bring it home… or did I leave it?
I got up immediately, checking everywhere I could've possibly kept it.
Nothing.
I rushed to my car.
Still nothing.
Shit.
What am I supposed to do now?
I ran my hands through my hair in frustration.
Where the hell did it go?
"What are you looking for?" she asked, confused, as I came upstairs.
Office?
Maybe I left it there.
"What. Are. You. Looking. For?" she repeated.
"Nothing," I replied quickly.
She doesn't know about the file yet.
It wasn't even complete… but it was still important.
I got ready in a hurry and left for the office, skipping breakfast.
The moment I reached, I went straight in and started searching everywhere.
Drawers. Desk. Files.
Nothing.
A knock on the door.
It has to be my manager. He's the only one who comes this early.
"Come in," I said, still searching.
"Sir…" a voice called.
I turned, already irritated.
I was about to tell her to leave.
It was that girl.
What was her name again?
I don't have time for this.
"Later. Send him in," I said.
"Sir, I found a file… I thought it might be important," she said, her tone slightly smug.
Wait.
A file?
"What file?" I asked sharply.
"Umm…"
"WHAT FILE?"
"I can give it… in exchange for something."
Are you serious right now?
"I can fire you. Right now. You know that, right?" I said coldly.
I moved closer, trying to see the file in her hand.
But it wasn't the one I needed.
This girl is seriously getting on my nerves.
"What do you want?" I asked, already losing patience.
"Sir… I'm Luna," she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "If you remember… what I want."
I froze for a second.
"Have you lost your mind?"
"No… I'm just in love."
Unbelievable.
"You're fired."
My voice was flat.
Cold.
I'm married.
To the woman I've loved my whole life.
And she expects this?
I can do a lot for that file.
But not this.
Not ever.
The thought itself feels disgusting.
And this isn't even the first time she's crossed the line.
I should've ended this long ago.
I only let it slide because of her grandmother's medical condition.
That was a mistake.
There has to be another way to find that file.
There has to be.
Only a few days are left.
My lawyer is already working on the case… I haven't even told him about the file yet.
Maybe he can help.
I exhaled sharply.
I'll figure this out.
I have to.