The automatic doors close behind us with a soft hiss.
The outside air hits my face—cooler, more real.
I don't let go of her hand.
Esther walks at my pace, a little closer to me than before.
Her fingers are still slightly tense in mine.
Not out of fear.
Out of need.
I feel her breathing slow little by little, as if her body is finally understanding that she's safe.
— Are you okay? I murmur, looking at her.
She nods.
— Yes… now I am.
Her head is lowered.
Her voice is soft, still fragile.
But real.
She barely finishes speaking when a taxi brakes sharply in front of us.
The door opens.
— Aaaah, finally!
A lively, teasing female voice.
She steps out of the taxi as if the world has been waiting for her.
Not rushed. Not hesitant.
Completely at ease.
Her gaze sweeps the area before her feet even touch the ground—quick, precise. She observes. She analyzes. Then she smiles.
A smile that doesn't try to please, but to warn.
She steps out like she's entering a stage. Sunglasses on, insolent confidence, a smile already loaded. Her eyes scan the scene… stop on me… then slowly drop to our still-joined hands.
Her smile widens.
— So… it's you, she says, examining me without the slightest hesitation.
I observe her in return.
Confident. Sharp. Protective.
The kind of woman people instinctively listen to.
Definitely her friend.
The kind of friend you don't want as an enemy.
Esther sighs.
— Leila, please…
— No, no, let me handle this, she cuts her off.
Then she steps right in front of me.
— Leila, she says, extending her hand.
The best friend. The confidante.
The person who knows Esther better than anyone.
Interesting.
She clearly isn't afraid of anything.
I shake her hand.
— Tony Arrison.
— Oh, I know, she replies immediately.
Your name circulates a lot.
Especially among women.
I raise an eyebrow, amused despite myself.
— I see.
She pulls her hand back, crosses her arms, tilts her head slightly.
— Listen carefully, Tony Arrison.
Esther opens her mouth to speak, but Leila interrupts her.
— Leila, please—
— No, no, let me finish, she cuts in again, raising a hand.
She steps closer.
Not aggressive.
But serious. Dangerously serious.
— If you make her cry…
If you hurt her…
If you play with her like she's just a pastime…
She smiles.
Too sweet to be honest.
A very dangerous smile.
— I swear I will become your worst nightmare. And trust me… I'm very creative, and very committed to what I love.
Silence.
I look at her calmly, without flinching.
Then a slight smile appears at the corner of my lips.
— Is that a threat?
She laughs.
— No. A warning.
— Then it's noted, I reply.
My voice is low. Steady.
But know one thing…
I never do anything halfway.
Especially not with what belongs to me.
I feel Esther tense beside me.
Leila bursts out laughing.
— Oh… interesting. I think we're going to get along very well.
— I think so too, I reply simply.
She immediately turns to Esther, teasing her.
— See? He already talks like he's had you forever. And on top of that, he's almost two meters tall… You're going to have to get used to looking up, sweetheart.
— Leila! Esther protests, blushing.
I hold back a smile.
— Tony, she says, turning to me.
Let me officially introduce Leila.
My best friend.
The one who talks too much… but is always right.
Leila winks at me.
— And just so you know… we talked about you today.
— Leila, why can't you stay quiet for one second? Esther mutters.
— Oh, don't worry, I say with a smile. I noticed.
Leila looks at me again.
Her tone changes.
— Take care of her. This isn't a request. It's an order.
I nod slowly.
— I will.
Esther watches us, unsettled.
Her gaze shifts from Leila to me.
When our eyes meet, I can't stop myself from looking into her beautiful black eyes.
She doesn't look away either.
We stare at each other for a few seconds.
Two seconds.
Maybe three.
The world disappears.
Leila clears her throat.
— Are you two done staring at each other?
We need to move, she says with a knowing smile.
Esther looks away, embarrassed.
— Yes… let's go.
Leila steps closer to Esther and places a hand on her right shoulder.
— If madam would kindly let go of her fiancé's hand, we can leave without delay.
Esther frowns, confused.
She hasn't realized she's still holding my hand.
Leila motions for her to look down.
When Esther sees our hands still linked, she lets go immediately, startled.
— I… I'm sorry, I didn't notice…
— Why are you apologizing? He's your fiancé, Leila laughs. There's no shame in holding your fiancé's hand.
Esther shoots her a dark look.
Which only makes Leila laugh harder.
I hold back a laugh too.
And I have to admit—it's the first time I've seen her this embarrassed.
It's really very amusing.
— If you want, I can drop you off, I say calmly.
Leila is about to answer when Esther cuts her off.
— That's not necessary, our taxi is here. Leila, we can go now.
— Alright. Goodbye, Mr. Arrison. I look forward to seeing you again.
— The pleasure will be mine.
I turn to Esther. She can't bring herself to look me in the eyes anymore.
— Goodbye, she murmurs.
And without letting me respond, she grabs Leila and pulls her toward the taxi.
The door slams shut.
The vehicle pulls away and disappears into traffic.
I remain still, watching the car fade from view.
I can still feel the warmth of her hand in mine.
Her scent.
The softness of her body against mine moments earlier.
And above all…
Her black eyes.
Those eyes I lost myself in for a fraction of a second.
Long enough to understand that nothing will be simple with her.
The promise I made to Leila…
I just made it to myself as well.
And I already know I will keep it.
Esther POV
The taxi starts moving slowly.
I sink into the seat, arms crossed against myself, as if that could stop my body from trembling.
The city slides past the window.
Lights.
People.
Normal life.
As if nothing had just happened.
My chest feels tight, like someone is pressing from the inside.
Leila doesn't speak.
And it's worse than if she did.
She stares straight ahead, one hand on her thigh, the other absentmindedly playing with her bag strap.
I feel her glance slide toward me sometimes.
Quick.
Discreet.
She's watching.
She's waiting.
I close my eyes for a moment.
And everything comes back.
Malik's hand on my arm.
The fear.
The emptiness beneath my feet.
Tony's voice.
I've got you.
My stomach tightens.
I open my eyes too quickly.
— Esther.
I jump.
— Yes?
Leila finally turns to me.
She isn't smiling.
She isn't joking.
— Are you okay?
The question is simple.
Too simple.
And suddenly…
I break.
A nervous laugh escapes me.
A laugh that isn't funny at all.
Leila looks at me intensely.
— Esther?
I clench my teeth.
Too late.
The tears surge violently, uncontrollable.
I bring my hands to my face, but it's useless.
They fall.
I shake.
— Hey, hey… easy, Leila murmurs, moving closer.
— What happened?
I shake my head.
— He followed me. Malik followed me.
Her eyes widen.
— What?!
— He grabbed me. He scared me. I thought… I thought I was going to fall.
I take a deep breath, but it doesn't calm anything. I'm still shaking, tears streaming.
— I was so stupid. I trusted him. He manipulated me, used me just to get to my father.
My voice hardens.
— I hate him. I hate him so much it makes me want to throw up.
Leila wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me against her without hesitation.
— Hey… look at me.
I look at her through my tears.
— That bastard has no power over you anymore, okay? Never again.
I laugh bitterly.
— You know what's worse? I was scared. Not for him. For me. Because for a second, I really thought I was going to die.
My breathing stutters.
— And Tony…
Leila stiffens slightly.
— Tony?
— He was there. Like he came out of nowhere. He caught me… I was about to fall, Leila.
My voice becomes a whisper.
— Without him… I don't know.
She closes her eyes for a second, as if absorbing it.
Then she holds me tighter.
— Esther… listen to me carefully.
She pulls back just enough to look me in the eyes.
— Tony didn't arrive by chance. He's there to protect you.
— You think?
— I'm sure. Trust him.
— I don't know… you know I have trouble trusting people.
— Don't worry. It will come with time.
She wipes my tears gently with her thumb.
— And if that lunatic Malik dares to even breathe in your direction again… I swear I'll rip his throat out myself.
A small laugh escapes me.
Short. Trembling.
— You'd be capable of it.
— Obviously, she replies seriously.
— You're not alone, Esther. You never have been.
I collapse completely against her.
I really cry this time.
Without restraint.
Without shame.
And for a few minutes…
I let everything out.
Malik POV
I walk away from the mall without looking back.
But every step costs me.
My jaw is clenched.
My fists still tight.
That nervous laugh… I let it out because otherwise I would've exploded.
Fiancée.
She said fiancée.
That word hits me harder than her slaps.
Harder than her cold stare.
Harder than anything.
I close my eyes for a moment.
Esther wasn't supposed to slip away.
Everything was meant to be simple.
Approach.
Seduce.
Use.
Break.
Destroy Alex Bessone's honor through her.
A cold plan.
Calculated.
Imposed by my father.
And yet… nothing went as planned.
I see her eyes again when she confronted me.
No hatred.
No revenge.
Just deep disappointment.
And that… destroyed me.
Then there was him.
Tony Arrison.
His presence drove me insane.
That icy calm.
That natural confidence.
That way of taking up all the space without saying a word.
He didn't even need to raise his voice to make me step back.
I grit my teeth.
— You won't marry another man…
Why did I say that?
Because I still believe it.
Because deep down, part of me refuses to accept that I've lost her.
I run a hand over my face.
I am Malik Belrose.
Son of Christophe Belrose.
The man who never fails.
The one who always completes his missions.
But with Esther…
I lose control.
This marriage…
This marriage must not happen.
And the truth finally hits me—violent, brutal:
I love her.
I love her madly.
Not cleanly.
Not healthily.
But I love her.
My father was right.
This girl drives me insane.
She makes me lose all reason.
And there is no way Tony Arrison will lay eyes on her again.
Let alone his hands.
Esther is mine.
She always has been.
And never—never—I will not let anyone stop us from being together.
Otherwise, I'm no longer Malik Belrose.
I get into the car without really knowing how I got there.
I slam the door harder than necessary.
The silence crushes me.
My hands still tremble slightly.
Not from fear.
From contained rage.
I stay still for a few seconds, head against the headrest, eyes closed.
Her face fills my mind.
Her eyes.
Her voice when she said my fiancé.
I growl in frustration and pull out my phone.
A name appears.
Father.
I let it ring once.
Twice.
Then I answer.
— Yes, I say quietly.
His voice is calm. Too calm.
— So?
I clench my jaw.
— You were right.
Silence on the other end.
Heavy. Calculated.
— Go on, he finally says.
— That girl… she drives me crazy. I pause. I lost control.
— I warned you, Malik. This kind of woman destroys weak men.
— I'm not weak, I snap.
He exhales softly.
— You are when you get attached.
I close my eyes.
— She's going to get married.
— I warned you, but you didn't listen.
I stay silent. Then he continues.
— I'm not your enemy. I'm your father. I want Tony ruined.
— That marriage will not happen.
This time, he stays silent longer.
— Interesting, he finally says. Very interesting.
I sit up straight.
— I won't let it happen.
— You mean… you're ready to follow the plan?
I don't answer immediately.
The image of Esther almost falling down the stairs flashes through my mind.
Her body tipping.
The way he caught her.
And when she took his hand.
My fingers tighten.
— Yes.
I hear a smile in his voice.
— Good. Then listen carefully.
I put the phone on speaker.
— You don't touch her directly anymore. Not now.
— You observe. You gather. You wait for the right moment.
— And Tony? I ask, anger breaking through.
— Tony Arrison has weaknesses. Everyone does. Even men who think they're untouchable.
He pauses.
— And you know how to press where it hurts.
My heart beats faster.
— I want her to come back to me.
— She will, he replies calmly. When everything she believes in starts to collapse.
I smile softly.
A dangerous laugh.
— Then I'm ready.
— Good, Malik. Rest. The war is just beginning.
He hangs up.
I stay there, phone still at my ear.
A war.
I start the engine.
Esther thinks she's safe.
She thinks she's protected.
She's wrong.
Because I don't intend to let her marry another man.