Chapter 9: Unraveled Ties

Liya crossed her arms, the sharpness of her voice cutting through the tension like glass. “And who in the hell do you think you are to stop me, touch me, or speak to me like that?” Her sarcasm dripped with venom. “Who are you, and who gives you these rights? Because I sure don’t remember granting you this much power…”

With a swift motion, she broke free from his grasp, shoving him back. Both of them stood there, locked in a fierce gaze, searching each other’s eyes in a moment that felt suspended in time.

Liya’s POV

Why is he back? What does he want now? Hasn’t he done enough already? Why, out of all these companies, is it his? And after all these years, why now?

I thought I was finally okay, thriving on my own. Why does he always make me do things I don’t want to do? I never curse easily or lose my temper; I usually deal with problems calmly. Yet, he makes me revert to a version of myself I fought so hard to leave behind.

It had been an eternity since I last looked into his deep black eyes. I used to get lost in them, but now I had to pull myself together. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to look away, trying to regain some semblance of control.

“I’m waiting for Mr. Zack De Rossoé to answer me,” I said, keeping my expression blank.

“You know I don’t need to tell you the answer because you already know it,” he replied, his own face betraying no emotion.

“Mr. Zack De Rossoé, would you enlighten me? Because I don’t know the answer,” I said, matching his coolness with my own.

“Okay then, let me tell you who gave me this right. It was none other than y—”

Before he could finish, my phone buzzed, interrupting the charged air between us.

“Excuse me, but I need to take this call,” I said, forcing a business smile. “It was a pleasure meeting you, but let’s hope I don’t see you again.” Without waiting for a reply, I stepped away, answering the call as I walked.

“Liya,” he called after me, his voice heavy with something unnameable. I paused, glancing back. In that moment, I caught a glimpse of something in his eyes—regret, longing, maybe even hope.

But I couldn’t afford to look too closely. I pushed the door open and stepped into the bustling street, the weight of our encounter pressing down on me. The city buzzed around me, but all I could hear was the frantic pounding of my heart and the echo of his words.

As I walked, thoughts swirled like autumn leaves caught in a storm. The cold air stung my cheeks, but it couldn’t extinguish the heat roiling within me. I replayed our conversation, dissecting every word, every nuance. Did he really think he could just waltz back into my life after everything? I had worked too hard to build my empire, to prove myself. I couldn’t let anyone—especially not him—distract me from my goals.

Yet, the magnetic pull toward him was undeniable. I could almost feel the weight of his gaze on my back, that penetrating stare capable of unraveling my carefully constructed facade. Memories flooded in: late-night conversations stretching until dawn, dreams whispered beneath starlit skies, the electric thrill of our first kiss under the moonlight.

It had all been so perfect—and so incredibly flawed.

Arriving at my car, I hesitated, a knot of uncertainty tightening in my stomach. Should I have agreed to another meeting? Was there anything left between us worth exploring? I unlocked the door, slid into the driver’s seat, and my phone buzzed with a message from Ashia: How did it go with Jonas’s partner?

My heart raced as I stared at the screen, my fingers trembling slightly. I left the message unread, torn between answering and dismissing it. But as I glanced back at the restaurant, a wave of resolve washed over me. I couldn’t let Zack’s presence destabilize me. Thank God for this stupid call—the ROM Bank loan had at least served a purpose.

I drove to my company, pushing the thoughts of him to the back of my mind. Stepping out of the car, I entered the building and rode the elevator up to my office. The first thing I did was order a large peach iced tea, hoping to relax.

But as I drove home, unresolved tension gnawed at me. The conversation with Zack had stirred emotions I thought buried—longing, confusion, an ache for what once was. Tomorrow loomed over me like a storm cloud, and I knew I had to prepare.

Pulling into my driveway, the familiar sight of home offered a grounding sense of comfort. Stepping inside, I paused to breathe, letting the chaos of the day slip away. The silence welcomed me, but it felt heavy with anticipation.

I sank onto my couch, staring out the window at the dimming sky. The future ahead promised more meetings, choices that could alter the course of my life. I had fought too hard to build my empire to let anyone—especially Zack—derail my plans. But the heart had a way of complicating even the most straightforward decisions.

As darkness settled outside, I felt the walls I built around myself beginning to crack. The more I fought against the tide of my emotions, the more they threatened to overflow.

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lav***

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