Kael's worry smoldered into a silent fire that burned his thoughts. Every word in the article, every image of Elara with an empty stare on his phone screen, was torture. They had chosen separate paths—it was a mutual decision—but his instincts screamed to protect her. Yet, his hands were tied. He could only watch from afar, a helpless spectator to the collapse of someone who had once meant so much.
---
In another space, within a luxurious apartment that felt like a gilded prison, David watched Elara. His love was not a light that warmed, but a thick fog that shackled. For David, the world only mattered if Elara was in it, by his side. Her anxiety, her fears, even the truth—all were unimportant noise. What mattered was Elara staying here.
"You're tired, darling," David said, smoothing Elara's hair, which she no longer cared for. Elara only nodded weakly, her eyes avoiding David's intense gaze. Her worry was not for herself, but for the wave of trouble that might hit David for being with her. Ironically, that was precisely what made David even more unwilling to let her go.
---
In Robert's serious, book-filled law office, the tension felt different. Robert, the experienced lawyer, sat before Elara and David. His face was professional, but his eyes were keenly observing the dynamic between his clients.
"Tomorrow is a crucial day," Robert began, his voice calm yet authoritative. "The first hearing. The media, the public, everyone will be watching us. Therefore, we must be solid and focused on the facts."
He then produced a tablet, displaying a series of digital documents, photos, and a timeline. "This is what we will use. The evidence of truth," Robert emphasized, looking at each of them in turn, especially Elara.
"These documents show the chronology, the opposing party's motives, and most crucially—the pieces of evidence proving their claims are legally flawed and built upon twisted information." Robert swiped the screen, showing an email, clarified transaction records, and testimonies from credible third parties. "We are not just defending. We are counterattacking with the truth. But," he paused, "the truth must be delivered precisely. Your emotions, especially inside the courtroom, are ammunition that can be used against us."
Elara stared at the evidence on the screen. Some of it was liberating, confirming that her instincts had been right all along. Other parts revealed a deeper web of manipulation than she had imagined, horrifying her. David moved closer, gripping her hand tightly. To Robert, the grip looked more like possession than support.
"Robert," Elara whispered faintly, "is... is this enough?"
"More than enough,Elara. But a trial is a war of perception. Strong evidence must be accompanied by an unshakable performance." Robert then looked at David. "David, I need you to support Elara, not dominate. Let Elara speak when needed. Your testimony is important, but it must follow the script. Our egos stay outside."
David frowned, but finally gave a short nod. For him, what mattered was for this trial to be over quickly and for his "normal" life with Elara to resume. The truth Robert spoke of was merely a tool for that end.
---
The night before the hearing, Elara stood on the balcony, looking at the city. Her mind raced between Robert's evidence, the worried gaze from Kael she felt from a distance, and David's grip that never truly released her.
She was caught between two kinds of love: one that let go yet was full of care from afar, and another that held on so tight it was almost crushing, yet claimed to be protection.
Tomorrow, she would have to stand before a judge and the world. But perhaps her greatest challenge was not defending the truth in court. It was finding the truth within herself again—the inner voice long drowned out by the roar of compliance and guilt.
And somewhere, Kael stared at his dark phone screen, struggling between honoring his promise to stay away, or breaking it just once to reach out, to make sure Elara was okay. His decision, whatever it was, would become another current moving all their fates.