When love turns dark

Zara's POV:

My heart skipped a beat as Michael's words hit me like a freight train. "We're done," he said, his voice cold, like he was speaking to a stranger. The shock must have been visible on my face because I felt my stomach drop. Done? What was he talking about?

"Michael, what do you mean we are done?" I asked, my voice shaking, a tremor running through my hands. I could feel the panic rising in my chest, but I forced myself to hold it in. I couldn't understand. We'd been together for three years. Everything had been fine. At least, I thought it had been fine. What changed?

He turned away from me, facing the window, his back straight, his posture rigid. "Listen to me, Zara," he said, his voice flat, like he was explaining something simple. "I'm done with this relationship. It's not working."

The words didn't make sense. I took a step closer to him, my legs feeling heavy as though the weight of his words had planted me to the spot. "Michael, what are you talking about?" I asked again, this time with more urgency. "We've been fine for three years, so why now? Why are you doing this?"

He didn't look at me. Instead, he took a deep breath and stood up, walking across the room like it was nothing. The space between us felt miles apart, even though we were standing in the same room. "Just pack your things and leave," he said, his voice cold and final.

I couldn't believe it. I reached out instinctively, my hand catching his mid-air. "Michael, no. You love me. You said you did. We were fine, you were happy, we were happy-" My voice faltered, and I stopped, searching his eyes, trying to find some trace of the man I knew, the man who once promised me forever. But there was nothing. His eyes-those eyes I thought I knew-were distant, cold.

He pulled his hand away from mine, his face contorting with disgust, like he was disgusted by me. My chest tightened. My heart felt like it was going to stop beating. "Get yourself together, Zara," he said, his words sharp and unfeeling. "Don't you get it? This can't work out between us."

But it had worked for three years. I couldn't understand it. What had changed? I was desperate now. I needed answers. "But we've been fine for three years, Michael!" I said, my voice rising in frustration, my hands shaking. "What happened? What changed?"

He didn't answer me right away. He only stood there, rubbing his face like he couldn't even look at me. My heart raced. What was going on? Why was he acting like this? I needed him to tell me the truth.

"Did I do something wrong?" I asked, my voice breaking as the fear started to creep in. "Michael, please, you're all I've got. You're my family. Don't do this to me." I reached for him again, desperate to make him understand, but he stepped back, avoiding my touch.

"Please, Michael," I begged, dropping to my knees in front of him. Tears flooded my eyes, hot and painful. I couldn't believe this was happening. I had something to tell him, something happy. I was going to share something that would change everything, but now... now this? "I don't want to lose you," I whispered, my voice barely audible as I fought to keep my breath steady. "I don't want to lose what we had. What did I do wrong?"

I looked up at him, hoping to see some hint of affection, some softness, some glimmer of the man I loved. But it wasn't there. He stood over me, cold and distant, his face expressionless.

He sighed and helped me to my feet, his touch gentle but distant. "I have a wife, Zara," he said, his voice low.

The world stopped. I couldn't breathe. "A wife?" The word barely left my lips, a whisper, a stammer. "What do you mean you have a wife? You never mentioned anything about her. Why now?"

His eyes avoided mine as he spoke again, his voice quieter. "She went abroad to finish her studies. She's coming back today, and I can't let her find you here."

I felt like the floor had fallen out beneath me. My heart shattered, the pieces falling in slow motion. Why did you save me, then? The question slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it. "Why did you keep me? You could have let me die. Why did you choose to keep me around?"

The pain in my chest intensified with every word I said. I wanted to scream, to make him understand how much he had hurt me, but all I could do was whisper, "You promised... You promised you'd love me forever."

The words hung in the air, unanswered.

I stood frozen, my breath hitching in my throat as Michael scoffed. The sound was sharp, laced with something cruel. He tilted his head slightly, his lips curling into a sneer.

"What were you thinking?" he asked, his voice dripping with disgust. "That I would marry a lowlife like you?"

My heart clenched. His words sliced through me, each one more painful than the last.

"You are a nobody, for crying out loud, Zara," he continued, his gaze hard and unrelenting. "You don't have what it takes. Let me be frank with you-I stayed with you out of pity, okay? I never loved you. I just didn't want to watch you jump down that cliff, Do you understand that now?"

I shook my head, my lips trembling as I

tried to speak. "But-"

"Please, Zara," he cut me off sharply. "Go pack your things and leave my house."

I felt the air leave my lungs. My hands clenched into fists as a wave of panic surged through me. "Where do you want me to go?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Michael sighed, exasperated, and turned away. "I don't care. I just don't want to see you again."

He walked toward the stairs, his back rigid, his decision final.

I crumpled onto the cold floor, my body trembling as hot tears spilled down my cheeks. This was it. The end. After everything, he was throwing me away like I was nothing.

I gasped for breath, my chest heaving. "Michael... I'm pregnant," I choked out, my voice breaking.

His steps faltered. He stopped mid-stride, his back stiffening. Slowly, he turned his head, his expression unreadable.

"What did you just say?"