Array
(
[text] =>

---

Elior was furious. His blood boiled as he stormed out of the building, his fists clenched and his jaw tight. The cool air of the parking lot hit his face, but it did nothing to calm the fire raging within him. His eyes scanned the area until he spotted him Zayn. The man who haunted his thoughts, the one person who could make him feel every extreme of emotion.

Zayn was walking slowly toward his car, completely unaware of what was coming. He looked tired, lost in his thoughts. Elior didn’t wait another second. His long strides quickly closed the distance between them. Without thinking, he grabbed Zayn's arm and slammed him gently but firmly against the side of a parked car.

“What the hell is wrong with you?!” Elior’s voice was loud, sharp, and filled with betrayal.

Zayn's eyes widened in shock. “Leave my hand, Elior!” he snapped, trying to pull away.

“I asked you something, Zayn! Don’t walk away from me!” Elior barked, tightening his grip.

Zayn's expression hardened as he yanked his arm free. “What the hell is wrong with you, Elior?! You’re acting insane!”

Elior took a shaky breath, trying to calm his pounding heart. But then the words tumbled from his lips, words he couldn’t keep inside any longer. “You... you’re getting married, huh?”

Zayn blinked, caught off guard. “What are you talking about?”

“To a man who's already married!” Elior spat.

Zayn stared at him, utterly confused. “Elior, what the hell are you saying?”

Elior’s eyes were blazing now. “Don’t pretend like you don’t know! I saw it, Zayn. your sweet little fiancé is married. Legally. To someone else. And you... you’re just playing into it!”

Zayn looked overwhelmed, shaking his head. “So what... what does it matter to you, Elior? It’s my life. My choice. Who I marry is none of your damn business!”

Elior’s chest rose and fell rapidly. He was losing it. His hands flew to his hair as he let out a frustrated groan, then slammed his fist into the wall beside the car. Again. And again.

“Elior, stop it!” Zayn yelled, rushing forward and grabbing his arm. “You’re hurting yourself, stop it, damn it!”

Tears welled up in Elior’s eyes as he looked at Zayn, pure pain etched on his face. “What do you want me to do, Zayn? Just watch you ruin everything? Watch you destroy yourself and pretend I don’t care?”

“What do you want, Elior?” Zayn shouted. “Tell me!”

Before Elior could answer, a smooth voice interrupted them. “Zayn, baby. Come here.”

Zayn turned around sharply. Adric stood a few feet away, looking calm and composed, but his eyes flicked sharply toward Elior. Something in his tone made Zayn uneasy it was too sweet, too sudden.

Adric walked over, slid his arm possessively around Zayn’s shoulder, and gently pried Zayn’s hand away from Elior’s. “If you’re done yelling at my fiancé, we were supposed to go shopping, weren’t we?” he said, his voice dripping with sugar.

Zayn felt a strange churn in his stomach. “Adric, why are you calling me?”

“Baby,” Adric cut in, smiling too warmly. “The wedding is only a few days away. We still have so much to do.”

He looked back at Elior with a smirk. “Actually, you’re not invited, are you?”

Elior clenched his fists, trying to stay calm. “Zayn,” he said softly, ignoring Adric. “He’s married. You’re walking into a disaster.”

Zayn’s head turned between the two men, caught in the storm of emotion and confusion.

Adric’s voice turned cold. “It’s none of your business,” he said sharply to Elior. “This is between Zayn and me.”

Elior stepped forward, his voice low and angry. “You’re playing him. And you know it.”

Adric laughed, still holding Zayn’s hand. “Oh please. Zayn is a grown man. He knows exactly what he’s doing, right, baby?”

Zayn flinched slightly. The word felt wrong. Fake.

Adric gave him no time to think. He tugged on his hand. “Let’s go.”

Zayn let himself be pulled toward the car, his mind spinning. As he was about to sit inside, he looked back. Elior was standing there, staring at him like a broken man.

Their eyes met. For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Elior whispered, “You don’t deserve this... and you know it.”

As Adric’s car rolled smoothly through the city streets, the silence between them didn’t last long. Zayn finally turned to him, frustration simmering in his voice.

“What the hell was that?” he asked, brows furrowed. “And what’s going on? Will you please tell me?”

Adric let out a casual laugh, completely unfazed. “Oh my God, he is so funny,” he said, grinning to himself like he was replaying a comedy scene in his head.

Zayn gawked at him. “Adric!” he snapped. “Tell me. What the hell was that? Why the hell was he talking about my marriage?”

Adric glanced at him sideways, still smiling. “Okay, okay. Don’t freak out. So, um… in my office, he just kinda assumed that we’re dating.”

Zayn blinked. “What?!”

“Yeah,” Adric said, a little sheepishly. “So I played along. Told him we’re getting married on the 15th.”

Zayn’s jaw dropped. “Adric, have you lost your mind?!”

Adric chuckled again. “Relax, it was hilarious. You should’ve seen his face. He looked like someone just told him his favorite puppy got stolen.”

Zayn shook his head, completely baffled. “Unbelievable.”

“But you know,” Adric added, glancing at him again, “I couldn’t understand one thing why was he so… bothered? I mean, like genuinely upset. Why did he care so much?”

Zayn looked away, staring out the window as the city lights passed them by. “I don’t know,” he said softly. “He was acting so different… not like how he used to.”

Adric leaned his elbow against the steering wheel, thoughtful now. “I think he.”

“No, Adric,” Zayn cut him off quickly. His voice had an edge to it now, sharper, bitter. “He never loved me. First, he used me for revenge. And now, whatever he’s doing, it’s only because of Ari.”

Adric was silent for a moment, processing Zayn’s pain. Then he asked, “If that’s really true, then why was he so agitated? Why did he react like that to something as simple as us being… fake engaged?”

Zayn shook his head. “Maybe because of Ari,” he mumbled. “He wants Ari to stay close, and he thinks I’m going to take him away.”

Adric nodded slowly, as if understanding something deeper. “Then…” he trailed off, a mischievous glint suddenly appearing in his eyes. “Let’s just go with it.”

Zayn looked at him, confused. “Go with what?”

Adric said with a shrug. “If he comes back again, we give him an offer.”

Zayn stared. “What kind of offer?”

Adric glanced at him again, smirking. “If he’s really doing all of this just for Ari, then… why don’t we offer him Ari?”

Zayn’s body stiffened instantly. He turned to Adric sharply, eyes wide. “Have you completely lost your mind?!”

Adric raised both hands defensively. “Whoa, whoa calm down. I didn’t mean actually give him Ari. Just pretend. See how he reacts. If he really doesn't care about you and it’s just about Ari, he’ll take the bait without hesitation. But if there’s something more... you’ll know.”

Zayn was quiet for a few seconds, trying to calm his pounding heart. The idea felt twisted and manipulative but at the same time, tempting. A part of him wanted to know the truth, to tear away the mask Elior always wore around him.

“I don’t know, Adric,” he muttered. “What if it backfires? What if he really says yes? What if he really takes Ari and walks away without even looking back?”

Adric gave him a soft, understanding smile. “Then at least you’ll finally know. Isn’t that better than wondering forever?”

Zayn sank deeper into his seat. “Ari is not a pawn,” he said in a low voice.

“I know that,” Adric replied. “We won’t really use him. I’d never let you do that. But you deserve clarity, Zayn. if he’s just using your son as another piece in his little revenge drama.”

Zayn rested his forehead against the window glass, watching the city blur past. His heart felt heavy. Every word Adric spoke hit home, yet his conscience screamed in conflict.

Adric looked at him softly. “You still love him?”

Zayn closed his eyes. “I don’t know what I feel anymore. But I know this Ari deserves better than all this chaos.”

“Then maybe this is your chance to protect him. To protect yourself,” Adric said gently. “Let’s see how far he’s willing to go. Let’s see what his real intentions are.”

Zayn didn’t answer, lost in thought.

When they finally reached Zayn’s building, he sat in the car for a few extra seconds, gripping the door handle tightly.

“Zayn,” Adric said softly, “you’re stronger than you think. Whatever happens, I’m here. I’ve always been.”

Zayn turned and gave him a weak smile. “Thanks… I just wish things were simpler.”

Adric chuckled. “Oh please, with you? Life will never be simple.”

They both laughed lightly, the tension easing for a moment. But as Zayn stepped out of the car, he knew that the coming days would not be easy.

Inside the elevator, Zayn’s mind replayed the look in Elior’s eyes when he heard about the fake marriage the disbelief, the anger, the silent scream beneath his stoic face.

What did it all mean?

Why did it still matter?

[text_hash] => f613f470
)