The next day, the sun climbed higher in the sky. Qiara had just finished applying a little powder to her face to conceal her swollen eyes.
To her family and the people around her, Qiara was nothing more than a college graduate enjoying her unemployed life at home—a spoiled girl who was constantly pampered by her parents.
As Qiara stepped out onto the terrace to water the plants, a silver sedan suddenly came to a stop right in front of the gate. The car door opened, and Dewa stepped out with a hard expression on his face.
Qiara's heart sank instantly.
"Dewa...?"
Dewa pushed open the unlocked gate and strode toward Qiara on the terrace.
"What are you doing here?!" Qiara snapped as she took a step back, clutching her watering bucket tightly.
"I already told you we're breaking up! Get out of my house!"
"Like hell we're breaking up!" Dewa shot back, moving closer to Qiara.
"We're not finished, Qiara! You can't break up with me over the phone just because of some little problem like yesterday!"
"You call that little?! You lied to me, you cheated on me with another girl, and you call that little?! You really have no shame!" Qiara shouted, glaring sharply at Dewa. Her anger surged even higher at the sight of him in person.
The memory of the hospital yesterday and Dewa's conversation with Mimi came rushing back into Qiara's mind. Dewa had made a huge mistake coming to see her today.
"I already told you Mimi was just a fling, Qiara!" Dewa insisted shamelessly, glaring at her.
"I'm the only one I love! Don't be like this, sweetheart! You're the only one I love. And who was always there for you these past two years if not me?!" Dewa tried to persuade Qiara again, hoping she would forgive his unforgivable mistake.
Qiara stared at Dewa in disbelief, tears welling in her eyes as she held back her anger.
"Oh, so you've been keeping score all this time?! How could you, Dew!"
"I didn't mean it like that, sweetheart," Dewa said, suddenly softening his tone as he tried to put an arm around Qiara's shoulders.
"I just don't want you to make an emotional decision. We can fix this. Call off your marriage to Zacky, okay?"
"No!" Qiara cut him off firmly, roughly brushing his hand away.
"I would never go back to a lying cheater like you! Leave now, or I'll scream!"
"Qiara! Don't push me until I lose my patience!" Dewa hissed angrily, his eyes narrowing with menace.
The man stepped forward again, reaching for Qiara's hand.
"You're coming with me now!"
But before his hand could reach her, a deep, cold baritone voice heavy with menace suddenly echoed from the direction of the gate.
"Don't go near her!"
It was Zacky.
Firm footsteps approached with a steady thud. Zacky walked forward with a chillingly dominant presence, his gaze locked straight on Dewa.
The black shirt he wore covered his broad frame, creating an undeniable air of intimidation.
Dewa froze for a moment when he realized who had arrived, but the man's pride only swelled higher.
"Zacky..." Qiara squeaked, fear and relief mingling when she saw her future husband arrive.
"Zacky? Who the hell are you to order me around?" Dewa snapped, stepping forward to face Zacky with his chest puffed out.
"This is between me and Qiara! Stay out of it!" Dewa shouted.
Zacky did not respond to the provocation with a shout. He simply stood tall, staring at Dewa with a cold gaze laden with dangerous menace.
"Don't even think about getting close to my fiancée. I'll make sure you can't use those legs of yours ever again," Zacky hissed softly, though every word struck like a dagger.