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