The days after Zara's return felt like an endless storm.
Zafar didn't sleep much. He barely ate. His mind was constantly on edge, the weight of Zara's words still heavy in his chest. Zara was back, and with her came the ghosts of the past, the memories of everything that had gone wrong between them.
Zoha, though, had noticed something different in him. Something raw. The cold, guarded exterior he had always worn seemed to crack just slightly—just enough for Zoha to see the vulnerability beneath. She was no fool; she could see the struggle in his eyes.
But Zoha wasn't going to back down. Not now.
She had come too far to let someone—especially Zara—take Zafar away from her.
Later That Evening
Zafar stood in front of his office, staring out at the city below. The city was alive with lights, but his mind was still stuck on the same question: What does Zara want?
He had spent hours thinking about it, but the answer remained elusive.
A soft knock on the door pulled him out of his thoughts.
Zoha entered, her eyes bright with determination. "I need to talk to you," she said softly.
Zafar looked at her, his eyes dark but unreadable. "What about?"
"Zara," she said, walking toward him. "She won't stop, Zafar. I see it in her eyes. She wants you back, and I—I don't know what to do."
Zafar's heart clenched at her words. He could hear the fear in her voice, the raw vulnerability. But there was something else, too. A strength. Zoha wasn't a woman who would cower in the face of fear. Not anymore.
"You don't have to worry about her, Zoha," he said, his voice low. "She won't come between us."
Zoha shook her head. "But you—you're not setting boundaries with her. You're letting her linger. You're still giving her hope that she can come back. And I can't live like that. I can't just keep waiting for you to choose."
Zafar's heart broke a little at her words. She was right. He hadn't fully set boundaries with Zara. He hadn't completely shut the door on the past because part of him was still afraid—afraid of being hurt, afraid of losing what he once had.
But Zoha was asking him to be strong. For her. For them.
"Zoha…" He took a step closer to her, his eyes searching hers. "I'm not going to lose you. I won't let Zara control my life anymore. I'll set boundaries, and I'll make it clear to her that she's not welcome here. But I need you to trust me."
Zoha's breath caught. "I do trust you, Zafar. But you have to show me. You have to prove that you're with me."
He nodded, determination flooding his veins. He stepped even closer, his fingers gently brushing her cheek. "I am with you. I always have been. I'll make this right."
The Next Day
Zafar wasted no time.
The first thing he did the next morning was call Zara. The moment her voice came through the phone, his tone was colder than it had ever been.
"Zara," he said, his voice firm. "You're not welcome here. Not anymore. I've made my choice. And that choice is Zoha."
There was silence on the other end, but Zafar could hear the familiar click of her nails against the phone. "You think you can just throw me away? You think Zoha is better for you than I was?" Her voice was sharp, cutting. "You'll regret this, Zafar. I promise you."
Zafar's hand tightened around the phone. "No, I won't. This is over. For good."
He hung up the phone without a second thought, the weight lifting off his shoulders. It was done. He had drawn the line. There would be no more uncertainty. No more second chances.
He turned around to find Zoha standing in the doorway, her eyes searching his.
"You did it," she said softly, her voice full of relief.
Zafar nodded. "It's over, Zoha. She's gone for good."
A small smile tugged at Zoha's lips. She walked over to him, her hands reaching for his. "I'm proud of you, Zafar. I know it wasn't easy, but I never doubted you."
He pulled her into his arms, the weight of the past finally starting to lift. "I should have done it sooner. I should have protected you better."
She leaned against his chest, feeling his heartbeat steady under her ear. "We're stronger now. And nothing is going to tear us apart."
For a moment, they just stood there—holding each other, letting the silence speak louder than words.
But Zafar knew that this was only the beginning. Zara had been a shadow over them, but now, with her gone, they could finally breathe.