Crises in Love (Zora and Jaylan)

To confirm my suspicions, I pressed further, "Have you seen him?”

I looked at Jaylan with feigned devastation, "Can you let me see him? Just a glimpse and I'll book you a flight. But you've got legal troubles, can you even leave?" "Don't worry about me. Since you've pushed me into a corner, skipping town would ease your mind too, wouldn't it?" His shameless retort hung in the air.

"Just tell me, did you actually see the kid? Is he okay?" My voice bordered on hysteria.

Jaylan didn't hesitate, "Of course, I saw him. I just visited the other day."

At his words, my heart settled.

I gave him a nonchalant look and offered some begrudging praise, "At least you thought to check on the kid. That's decent of you." "Well, he is my son." Jaylan boasted with pride.

"Your son?" I scoffed coldly, catching him off guard with another question, "Speaking of which, what's your plan for your other son?"

His smile vanished in an instant, his gaze snapping to mine, lips twitching, but no words followed.

"Jaylan, you don't really think I'd raise the child you had with Zora, do you?" I pressed again, "Since you're so full of fatherly love, you should keep him with you. After all, he's been by your side all along, a constant reminder of your brilliant advisor. You love her, after all.”

"Aaliyah, stop enjoying my misery. I never loved Zora." He insisted.

"You have a child with her, and saying that now would be heartless." With that, I stood up, "You're staying here, right? I'll send him over. It's only right to return him to his rightful owner."

Suddenly aware of my tone, Jaylan leaped up, eyes wary, "Aaliyah, what are you planning?"

"I'm going to prepare five million dollars for you. You are not interested in the money?" Heading towards the door, I added, "I'll be sending Carl over."

He panicked, lurching across the coffee table to grab my wrist, fury in his eyes, "Aaliyah, are you trying to fool me?"

I struggled to shake him off, but his grip tightened, "Aaliyah, I mean what I say. Give me the money, and I'll take you to our child."

"Let go of me, or the deal's off." I glared back at him.

Instead, he pulled me closer, a hint of lust in his eyes, "Aaliyah, we've been married ten years. How can you treat me like this? I admit I did wrong by you, but wasn't I good to you before? Treating you like a queen. Aaliyah, don't you know how much I miss you?"

He leaned in, his grip unyielding, his other arm snaking around me forcefully.

"Let go of me!" I struggled and pushed my other hand violently at him.

He stumbled and didn't stop.

"Calm down, and it's a rare opportunity. It's just the two of us here, so let's be close. Don't you want to?" With that, he reached out his other arm and forcefully circled me.

"I know you're angry, but it's all Jerome's fault. He messed everything up and got me entangled with that madwoman AzureEnchantress, a greedy hag. Never even saw her face, and she was brainwashing me for money." He continued.

Madwoman? Never saw her face?

A thought flickered in my mind, but in that moment of hesitation, Jaylan pulled me into a crushing embrace, rubbing against me like a dog.

My senses snapped back.

"Forget your anger. Let's pick up the kid, and move to Australia. We'll start anew. I bought a huge villa there. With the kids..."

A surge of panic hit me, and I struggled violently, roaring, "In your dreams."

His temper flared at my resistance, "Aaliyah, don't spurn a toast only to drink a forfeit. We've had harmony for years. Do you really want to leave? Stop this madness. I've been dying for you. Let's remember how well we fit together."

Outmatched in strength, he pinned me to the couch, his mouth lunging for a kiss.

In desperation, I headbutted him. He recoiled in pain, and I seized the moment to break free.

Reaching for the fruit knife on the coffee table, I pressed it against his approaching belly, "Don't move..."