The Silent Duality
tobacco mixed with the metallic tang of iron, wafting from the man sprawled at his feet. His eyes were empty, devoid
ould've known betrayal in this bus
flicking away the half-burnt cigarette. His steps were steady as he left the narrow alley, heading toward the
a middle-aged man with a hardened face g
it d
answer. He
l and pulled the car smoothly onto the sli
go straight home
ying yes until his phone buzzed. A message po
re's something
, one of his trusted men
t. A sudden coldness
d at last. "
swung open wi
rand chandelier hanging from the high ceiling. But all the luxury in the world couldn'
te as he ascended the stairs, headi
door open, his hear
pposed to be his and his wife
sight of the figure standing in the doorway. The man beside her scr
cogniz
n best
e Leo shattered. Not because he still loved Hana, b
oice trembled, but Leo li
o had once called him a friend. The
ell. He didn
smile that made Hana
uietly. "Because from this mom
But before he left, he whispered to
gets to enjoy life p
he was
night. He already knew his ex-wife and the man wh
*
e divorce procee
ooked like a broken woman, pleading for forgiveness. But Leo
stody of Sofia, their daughter. Hana tried to fight the decisi
d out of the courtroom, wher
lanned," Rafael said.
nly n
what matters mos
d to him. "T
far beyond the busy
of
ed as a husband, but he wo
*
w home. It wasn't as big as his old house, but it wa
on the floor, clutching a doll in her arms. The five-year-old girl lif
ang to her feet a
s. The warmth of her small body was the only thing
Papa?" Sofia a
ll smile. "Not any
ed her head on his shoulder, as if th
with Hana played in his mind, how they used to love each ot
not all women were
choice, and now,
n his small study, staring at his buzzing phone. The
e call without
t going to give h
ice Elio, an old frie
chuckle, void of any humor. "S
w what? Your ex-wife is trying to seek
d an eyeb
car
wer players, with countless connections. But no mat
ou know what happens to those
replied, "Alright. But don't forget the underw
t smile before
ut the window. The night outside was
time, he