Dari stood there, staring at that woman…
The woman who had turned his brother's life upside down,
the one because of whom he now lay in intensive care… suspended between life and death.
The same woman who had shattered him…
then left him to drown alone.
Inside, there was no longer any room for doubt.
He had to move forward with his plan for revenge…
against the one who had caused all of this.
⸻
"The new decisions will be sent out today… and executed immediately."
He said it coldly, addressing the manager without sparing anyone a glance.
The manager looked up nervously.
"S-Sir… should we review—"
"No."
Dari cut him off without turning.
A brief pause—then, more sharply:
"Just execute."
He didn't wait for a response.
He turned and walked out of the room in quick strides,
as if staying any longer would suffocate him.
The air felt tight around him…
the walls closing in far more than they should.
The moment he stepped out, he loosened the collar of his thobe slightly,
drawing in a deep breath—as if his chest had been caged the entire time.
He murmured, barely audible:
"Finally…"
He closed his eyes for a second—
but her image didn't fade.
"Why now…?"
His eyes opened slowly.
But now—
there was no turning back.
And this… was not the time.
This was only the beginning.
Something dark.
Revenge.
⸻
Inside…
"You should have told us."
Malak said it sharply, her eyes fixed on the manager without blinking.
She raised a brow slowly, as if restraining herself, then added:
"Or at the very least… not hide everything behind mystery and treat us like fools."
He froze for a moment, then tried to speak:
"Malak, I—"
"No. Don't."
She cut him off immediately, her tone sharp.
She stepped forward, the sound of her heels echoing in the heavy silence of the room.
"What is all this secrecy?"
She continued, her voice growing colder.
"You had us chasing after a position… while you already knew the company was being sold?"
He exhaled slowly, trying to steady himself.
"He was the one who requested the meeting be held in the morning—"
"I'm not talking about the meeting."
She cut him off again.
Tilting her head slightly, her eyes never leaving him, she said:
"I'm talking about you."
A heavy silence fell.
"What about us?"
This time, her voice was quieter—more dangerous.
The manager cleared his throat, glancing away before answering:
"There are decisions… and some employees—"
"—will be laid off?"
She interrupted, as if finishing the sentence for him.
He looked at her, but didn't deny it.
"And the rest?" she asked, folding her arms across her chest.
"They'll be transferred to the group… since the company will become one of its divisions."
She let out a soft laugh—utterly devoid of amusement.
"Wow… what a deal."
She paused, then added slowly:
"And we're supposed to be grateful to you?"
"Malak…" he said quietly, trying to maintain composure,
"I've placed your name on the list… and recommended you. You're one of our best employees."
She fell silent.
Didn't move.
Just looked at him for two long seconds… as if trying to read what lay beneath his words.
Then, in a cold, steady tone:
"And I'm supposed to believe that?"
He didn't answer.
He didn't have to.
The answer… was clear in his silence.
⸻
She moved toward the door with steady steps.
"You can finish the work on your own…"
She paused at the handle, her hand resting on it without opening the door.
Then added, her tone lighter—yet sharper:
"Ji Ji."
She opened the door.
And just before stepping out, she said without turning back:
"And don't forget…"
A brief pause.
"You chose this."
Then she walked out, closing the door behind her quietly—
more brutal than any outburst.
⸻
What happened today…
wasn't just an incident.
It was a series of blows.
The man who had seen through her…
the manager who sold the company without telling her…
and left her to face everything alone.
She exhaled slowly.
"Great… just great."
She muttered sarcastically.
Then thought—
How was she going to pay her car installments now?
⸻
Despite everything—
she murmured:
"What could make me feel better right now… other than shopping?"
As if she were escaping…
not seeking comfort.
She wandered through stores…
until she forgot everything.
Or… so she thought.
That evening…
⸻
She drove calmly on her way home,
humming along with the music as if nothing had happened.
She parked in the garage and turned off the engine.
She looked at herself in the mirror.
Paused for a moment…
then smiled.
"I'm still in control."
She whispered to herself.
She lifted her hand, brushed her lips lightly,
and blew a small kiss at her reflection.
⸻
The house was quiet.
Too quiet.
She knew her family had gone to visit her brother's fiancée…
and she had refused to go.
She didn't want to see that woman.
And even more…
she didn't want to tell them what had happened.
"As always…"
she muttered coldly.
"They'll find a way to make it my fault."
⸻
As expected—
no one was home.
She turned on the lights one by one,
then headed toward her room.
But—
the doorbell rang.
⸻
She opened the door.
Her friend stood there… holding a pizza box.
Smiling, she said:
"I thought I'd deliver dinner myself."
Malak raised a brow and laughed.
"You're still working at the restaurant?"
"Of course! Look at my bike… just as fabulous as me."
"Come in, let's talk."
She shook her head.
"Can't… I'm still on shift."
Malak smiled lightly.
"Suit yourself."
Her friend turned, got on her bike… and left.
Malak closed the door quietly.
⸻
In her room…
She sat on the bed,
the pizza beside her, her laptop in front of her.
And began typing.
⸻
"What should I do?
I'm tired… I can't live with him anymore."
She stared at the message.
Didn't hesitate.
She typed:
"Choose yourself."
Then added:
"Don't stay with someone who hurts you…
he won't change.
He cheated once… and he'll do it again.
Even if you forgive him now, you'll regret it later."
She signed:
— Angel of Severance
And hit send.
⸻
For a moment…
she paused.
Frowned slightly.
"Strange…"
she murmured.
It felt as if the message…
hadn't been sent to just one person.
As if—
someone else was reading… from the other side.
She shook her head lightly.
"Nonsense."
⸻
Minutes later…
another message arrived.
"He cheated again…
Would I be a bad person if I made him disappear from my life?"
She took a bite of pizza.
"Drama… as usual."
She muttered indifferently.
Then typed:
"Leave him.
He doesn't deserve you.
You're better off without him."
⸻
Somewhere else…
"the end" didn't mean leaving.
It meant…
fire.
⸻
A woman stood before a man tied to a chair,
his mouth gagged, his eyes filled with terror.
He mumbled an apology that couldn't be understood.
"Too late…"
she said, her voice trembling.
She was crying…
as she poured gasoline around him.
"You should have thought before you did it…"
Then—
she struck a match.
And threw it.
⸻
Flames erupted.
Lighting up the darkness.
⸻
Elsewhere—
Dari stood in the dark.
His eyes were cold…
but inside, he wasn't.
His mind hadn't stopped for a second.
Since that incident six months ago…
he had never known peace.
The nightmares never left him.
And the anxiety… had become a part of him.
Every night—
the same feeling.
The same weight in his chest.
The same question…
with no answer.
He slowly lifted his head.
His eyes narrowing in the darkness.
⸻
And that night…
two people were walking toward the same ending—
one… unaware.
And the other…
waiting.