Fati was shocked by his cold logic. It seemed to her that his grandfather's life didn't matter as much as his obsession with setting conditions, just like before. She snapped at him,
- Are you bargaining with your grandfather's life now, Jaguar?
A quick smile touched his lips before disappearing. She had finally called him "Jaguar," and that was exactly what he wanted. He realized he wouldn't stop until he pulled her back into his world. He said confidently,
- I am not bargaining... I am just being careful. How will you prove to me that you are sincere about saving him?
- I am sincere!
She replied firmly.
He stared at her and stated his condition:
- Then... live with me in my apartment for one week, under the same terms of our old contract.
She immediately remembered the torn contract she found in her grandfather's yard, scattered like the pieces of a dead dream. She said with clear disgust,
- I don't remember its terms... and I never want to remember them.
Jaguar slowly pulled a folded paper from his coat pocket, like a secret weapon, and said coldly:
- My copy still exists... so you can remember.
Her eyes fell on the paper, and she saw a small, dried "drop of blood" on it. That spot was enough to shake her soul and bring back the memory of pain, but she quickly looked away and said with wounded pride:
- I don't care about the contract, or living with you... I already have a place to live!
At that moment, she realized he didn't see her as a human being, but as a piece in a "chessgame," moving her across the board of his life whenever and however he wanted. But the new "Fati" was no longer a submissive piece; she would not let him change her place or break her will this time.
Jaguar said with fake indifference, putting her in a corner:
- Then... I will not agree to the surgery.
He was burning with poisonous jealousy; he couldn't stop thinking about that "lover," but his pride kept him silent.
Fati shouted in despair,
- Jaguar, I am not joking! The last stroke caused damage that could make him lose his sight and hearing forever if we wait.
He stared at her and said slowly,
- Fine... since we both want to save him, if you are truly desperate to save his life, come and live with me. Make me believe you are sincere.
He was secretly testing if she could leave her "lover" for her grandfather.
A heavy silence followed as Fati looked at the contract like it was her old chains. She thought for a moment then said coldly,
- Under the same terms of the contract, right?
- Yes, all of them,
He replied with a cold victory in his eyes. Fati made her decision:
- Fine... I agree. But I will inform the people I live with first, and I will bring my suitcase tomorrow.
The words "I will inform the people I live with" set Jaguar's anger on fire. His jaw muscle tightened, and he clenched his fist so hard that his nails dug into his palm, but he stayed silent. At the door, he turned and said with a commanding voice:
- This is the last night you spend outside your real home.
That evening, Fati went to Mary's house. Kylo was away on a trip to a distant city for a meeting at his new company. Fati felt this was better so his presence wouldn't weaken her or change her mind. She told them that the distance between their home and the hospital was too hard, and she had found a place nearby to be closer to work. She lied, saying that emergency cases needed her there all day. Mary was sad, but she agreed for the sake of saving lives. They spent the whole night preparing her suitcase for the next day.
She left early in the morning, pulling her heavy suitcase behind her. After a tiring journey on two different buses, she finally arrived. She rang the doorbell, feeling nervous, but there was no answer. Thinking Jaguar had left, she dropped her bag at the door and headed toward the elevator.
Just as she reached the elevator, the apartment door opened. Jaguar appeared from a distance, wearing nothing but a towel around his waist. Water droplets were still on his wet body; he had clearly been in the shower when the bell rang. Fati froze. The elevator door opened, offering her an escape, but looking at his half-naked body made her feel a sudden danger. She tried to step into the elevator to run away, but his loud voice stopped her:
- Don't even think about leaving before you bring your suitcase inside!
Fati realized he was playing with her emotions again. He knew she couldn't handle seeing him like this. She quickly pulled her suitcase toward the elevator and said,
- I will bring it in after work!
But he challenged her:
- No, bring it in now. Or are you not brave enough to stay away from me after what you saw?
She looked at him with anger and said,
- I am brave enough, but I am afraid you will lose your honor and manners... which you don't even have
Those words exploded his anger. In a second, Jaguar reached her. His strong hands lifted her up, pressing her back against his wet chest. He dragged her and the suitcase inside and slammed the door shut. He didn't stop in the living room; he carried her all the way to the bedroom. There, in front of the bed, he whispered dangerously:
- Do you want me to lose the manners I don't have? Shall we find out what it feels like to have no safety between us?
He spun her in his hands like a toy, her feet still off the ground. This time, he pressed her front against his bare chest. Holding her waist tightly, he said in a low, husky voice:
- For six years, I have imagined you in my arms, Fati. Do not open the wounds of the past and make me throw my morals away when I am with you!
Fati couldn't speak. She stared at his bare chest and breathed heavily. Jaguar could hear her gasps and feel her heart beating fast against him. She looked into his eyes with a silent plea, but he suddenly threw her onto the bed and whispered:
- I can't take it anymore!
He moved toward her to take off her clothes, but she screamed:
- The contract! You promised me you wouldn't... wouldn't... wouldn't!
Her tears fell fast, making her green eyes look brighter just like they did on their wedding night. She sobbed:
- You promised... you... wouldn't break the contract
He slowly stepped back. He walked toward the bathroom, but before entering, he punched the door so hard it cracked. The sound filled the room. He said with a voice full of pain:
- Don't leave. I won't do it again. I promise.
As soon as he closed the broken door, Fati stood there with her legs shaking uncontrollably. She heard the sound of the water; it was so loud she felt like she was standing under it herself. She looked at the crack in the door. She wanted to run away and cry, but her legs failed her. She stayed frozen, thinking:
- How will I survive the next few days if this is only the first day?
The water stopped. Jaguar came out and went to his wardrobe. Without looking at her tears, he said quietly:
- Go inside and wash your face... I need to get dressed.
She ran to the bathroom like she was looking for a hiding place. She washed her face and stayed inside until it was quiet. She was sure he had left. She touched the broken wood of the door and found blood on it. Jaguar had hurt his own hand when he punched the door.
Fati went to the living room and saw Jaguar standing by the window, watching the hospital with his hands behind his back. She saw his swollen, bleeding fingers. She took her first aid kit from her bag, sat on the sofa, and said coldly,
- Could you come here?
Jaguar was surprised, but he obeyed. She took his hand and bandaged it with professional coldness, showing no emotion. When she finished, she headed to the door and said,
- I'm going to work. Don't wait for me; I get many emergencies and often don't answer my phone during surgery.
She realized then that they still didn't have each other's phone numbers, just like in the past.
They took the elevator together. When they reached the ground floor, Fati walked out without looking at him. Jaguar followed her and opened the gate for her. He watched her cross the street toward the hospital. He was about to turn away when he saw her lover, Kylo, grab her hand angrily and pull her toward his car. He forced her inside and drove away fast, leaving Jaguar standing there in shock and rage.