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Adric arrived home with Rhys, half-carrying a barely conscious Zayn into the apartment. His breathing was shallow, and his skin had turned pale, sweat sticking to his forehead like cold dew.

"Rhys, open the door. Quick!" Adric barked, trying to keep Zayn balanced in his arms.

Rhys fumbled with the keys and swung the door open. Adric rushed Zayn inside and gently placed him on the bed. Zayn trembled like a fragile leaf in the wind, murmuring incomprehensible words.

"I'm calling the doctor," Rhys said urgently, already dialing.

The doctor arrived within twenty minutes, his face calm but focused. He examined Zayn, checked his vitals, and then turned to Adric with a sigh.

"It's another panic attack. His body is exhausted. Give him these medicines and make sure he gets plenty of rest-physically and emotionally. His stress levels are extremely high, and that's not safe for him...," the doctor said softly.

Rhys's heart sank ,He nodded, biting back the rising guilt that threatened to choke him.

As the doctor left, the apartment fell into a heavy silence. Adric quietly tucked Zayn under the blanket while Rhys stood by the door, fidgeting.

"Adric... what happened?" Rhys finally asked, his voice almost a whisper.

Adric leaned back against the wall, rubbing his face with both hands. "He saw him, Rhys. He saw Elior."

Rhys blinked, stunned. "Wait... Elior? Are you saying-he's back?"

Adric shook his head, unsure. "I don't know. Zayn was fine... and then he just froze. Then he started yelling, hallucinating, clutching his head like he was reliving every wound at once. He said his name... Elior."

Rhys sank onto the couch, burying his face in his hands. "God... no. Not now. Not after everything."

Before they could say more, a small voice interrupted the room.

"Uncle Rhys... what happened to Mommy?"

They turned to find Ari standing in the hallway, his big, sleepy eyes full of concern, his teddy bear clutched to his chest.

Rhys quickly stood up and bent down to Ari's level, pulling him into a gentle hug. "Mommy's just sleeping, baby. He's a little tired."

Ari frowned. "But he is not waking up.amd mommy was crying also."

Adric knelt beside the child, ruffling his soft hair. "Your mommy is strong, Ari. Sometimes even strong people cry. But he's going to be okay. Come on, let's go to bed."

Ari nodded quietly and let Adric lift him. He curled against his uncle's shoulder, still confused, but trusting them completely.

---

MIDNIGHT

The apartment was silent, the only sound being the low hum of the AC and the faint patter of rain still lingering from the earlier storm. Moonlight spilled through the curtains.

Zayn's eyes opened slowly.

His heart was beating a little faster, but not from fear.

From memory.

He slowly sat up, the soft blanket sliding down his body. He looked around-he was alone in his room, safe, warm... but his chest still ached.

His fingers touched his temple, still throbbing from the intensity of the earlier attack.

But it wasn't the attack that haunted him.

It was him.

Elior.

Zayn whispered the name like it might summon him again. "Elior..."

Six years.

Six entire years had passed since the last time he saw that face, heard that voice, felt that heartbreak.

But today... he'd seen him. In flesh. In the same city. Just a few feet away.

He pressed his hand over his mouth, trying to calm the spiral of emotions.

The way Elior had looked-tall, refined, dressed in black, just like he used to. No anger. No sorrow. Just... cold. Distant. A ghost that had returned.

Zayn's throat tightened. Was he back? For real? Or was it just another cruel trick his mind played on him?

But it felt real. Too real.

He could still feel the moment-the way the world had gone silent, how the laughter from six years ago had started echoing again in his head, the shame, the hatred, the betrayal.

He closed his eyes tightly, but it didn't help.

He saw himself standing there-humiliated, alone, heart shattered into pieces as Elior turned his back on him in front of everyone.

And now... now that man was back.

"What does he want this time?" Zayn whispered to himself. "Is it not enough already?"

He pulled his knees to his chest, resting his chin on them. Then, as if sensing the soft heartbeat that now echoed with his own.

His baby.

The only reason he survived.

The only piece of joy that life had gifted him after everything had burned down to ashes.

Ari.

He smiled weakly at the thought of his son-his little boy who ran through the apartment laughing, shouting about dinosaurs and superheroes, who called him "mommy" with innocent pride.

Ari... you gave me a reason to stay.

Zayn's lips trembled.

"I won't let anyone break us again," he murmured to himself, clutching his stomach protectively. "Not again."

Tears slipped from the corner of his eyes.

---

Zayn stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his shirt collar carefully. His reflection stared back-calm, composed, and maybe a little too composed.

He smiled to himself faintly.

"Time to pretend again."

It had only been two days since the panic attack. Two days since he saw him again-Elior, the man who broke him beyond repair. But Zayn wasn't going to let it show. Not in front of Rhys. Not in front of Adric. They had done enough. They had carried him when he couldn't walk.

Now, it was his turn to carry himself.

"Mommy, tie my shoelaces!" Ari called from the living room.

Zayn turned from the mirror and walked out with his usual softness, kneeling down to tie Ari's shoes. "There you go, champ."

Ari hugged him quickly. "I love you!"

Zayn kissed his forehead. "I love you too, my strong baby."

After dropping Ari at school and putting on his best smile for Rhys and Adric at breakfast, Zayn made his way to work like any other normal day.

But the moment he stepped into the building, whispers followed.

"That's him..."

"The CEO's secret affair..."

"I heard he collapsed in front of him that day... they must be together..."

Zayn clenched his jaw but didn't say a word. His heels clicked across the lobby floor as he made his way to his desk. He ignored the stares, the smirks, the fake sympathy. These people had no idea what he had endured to stand here today.

He sat down, took a deep breath, and started working.

A few hours later, his desk phone rang.

"Zayn, the CEO wants to see you in his office."

He stood slowly, straightened his shirt, and walked toward the elevator. On the way up, he whispered to himself, "You're fine. Just breathe."

The elevator doors opened.

But the moment he walked into the office, Zayn froze.

Not only was Adric there-but so was his father.

Zayn's back stiffened, but he bowed politely. "Adric,you called?"

Adric smiled gently. "Hmm."

Zayn nodded and sat on the chair across from them. His eyes cautiously shifted to his father. Their relationship had been... complicated, to say the least.

They asked forgiveness from Zayn.

It was not easy for Zayn to forget everything but he tried and slowly slowly their relation got berter.

"Zayn... how are you?" his father asked gently.

Zayn was momentarily caught off guard. "I'm... I'm doing fine, Dad."

His father nodded, his lips pressed together. "Son, Adric and I had a discussion. And we've decided something."

Zayn blinked. "What is it?"

"There's a joint project with another company-one that involves managing ground-level operations and communication with clients directly. It's an important job, and... we'd like you to lead it."

Zayn's eyes widened. "Me?"

Adric stepped in, "You've been working here for over three years now, Zayn. Quietly, sincerely, doing everything better than expected. You've handled your work, and your life with so much strength. You deserve this."

Zayn looked at his father again, hesitant. "But... Dad, I'm not sure if I'm the right-"

"You are," his father cut him off, stepping forward.

He gently placed a hand on Zayn's shoulder.

"Son, you can do anything. And you've already proved it to everyone, including me."

Zayn's heart skipped.

That one word-"son"-hadn't reached his ears in so long. And now, hearing it from his father, with pride and affection, it struck deep.

He nodded, a small smile breaking through his hesitation. "Okay, Dad. Adric... I'll do it."

His father smiled brightly and pulled him into a brief, proud hug. "That's my boy."

Zayn inhaled slowly, holding back the sting of tears in his eyes. Just a few years ago, he had longed-begged-for this kind of approval. For someone to say they were proud of him.

And now, here it was.

"I'm proud of you," his father whispered again.

Zayn swallowed the lump in his throat and hugged him tighter. "Thank you, Dad."

As they stepped back, his father added with a soft chuckle, "And when you go for the project meeting out of town, leave Ari with us. Your mom's been missing him a lot."

Zayn laughed softly, "Okay, Dad."

Adric patted Zayn's back. "You've earned this."

Zayn smiled again, this time with his heart. He stepped out of the office, the door closing behind him.

For years, he had carried the weight of silence, guilt, and rejection.

But today, he carried pride.

Not just from his family-but within himself.

---

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