He downed the last sip of wine in one gulp and slammed the glass onto the table before walking toward the door and leaving the bar.
He headed straight to Dia's apartment. After the party, she had left the mansion for her own place. He knocked on the door, and after a minute, Dia opened it, wearing lingerie. "Arjan... What are you doing here?" she asked, feigning surprise. He remained silent as he stepped inside, and she closed the door behind him, a sly grin spreading across her lips. He stumbled slightly, and Dia reached out to steady him.
"Did you drink, Arjan?" she asked, concern flickering in her eyes. Taylah's face flashed in his mind. He shook his head. "What happened?" Dia pressed, worry etched on her features. He continued to shake his head, signaling it was nothing.
"Why are you here, Arjan? Today is your wedding night, right? Taylah might be waiting for you," Dia said, putting on a pitying expression.
"Don't talk about that woman. If it weren't for her, we'd already be married," he groaned in frustration. She grinned in response.
"Don't blame her. It's not entirely her fault. She's pregnant with your child. What do you expect her to do?" Dia said, glancing down.
"She was pregnant, not is. The child in her belly is already aborted," he said, pulling at his hair in frustration. Dia smirked with satisfaction, placing her palm on his cheek and rubbing it gently. "I don't want to live without you, Arjan," she said, moving closer.
"I'll take care of things, Dia. Don't worry," he tried to comfort her. Dia leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on his lips, which quickly grew intense as their tongues tangled together. They kissed as if there were no tomorrow.
Suddenly, Taylah's weak, tender smile flashed in his mind. Arjan pushed Dia away, leaving her confused. "I'm sorry. I don't think I'm in myself," he muttered, turning to walk away from her. He found a room and locked the door behind him, while Dia gritted her teeth in anger. Even though she was married to Ethan, she was still entangled with Arjan.
One Week Later
Arjan had been staying out and only coming home when absolutely necessary. Ethan grew increasingly worried about Taylah, who seemed lost in a daze. Due to family rules, Dia was staying in the house under one roof with Ethan.
Taylah was serving food to her in-laws when Arjan descended the stairs with an air of elegance. He walked toward the entrance of the house when his father stopped him.
"Stop right there, Arjan," his dad commanded.
"Dad, I have work to do. We can talk later," Arjan urged, trying to brush him off.
"I didn't give you permission to leave. Come and sit near Taylah," his father insisted, cleaning his hands with a tissue.
Arjan could do nothing but obey his father's command silently. Taylah was shocked, though she kept her expression neutral. "So, what's next?" he asked, pulling out a chair and sitting down, crossing one leg over the other.
"How arrogant! Is this how you show respect to your elders?" his father slammed the table in frustration.
His parents had been pleased to have Taylah as their daughter-in-law, especially since she was the legitimate daughter of the Edwards. They had never liked Dia, aware of her schemes against their family. They had fought with Arjan about this numerous times, but he brushed their concerns aside, trying to cut all ties with them.
"You're too busy with your work and neglecting your wife and the child she's carrying. Take her to the hospital for a check-up," his father said calmly.
Taylah's heart twisted painfully at the mention of the baby, knowing it was already gone. She feared what would happen if they found out. Dia smirked in satisfaction.
"We aborted it, Dad. There's no need to discuss it further," Arjan declared, revealing his true nature.
"What the hell?" Arjan's mother stood up, visibly shocked.
"Is that true, Taylah? How could you agree to an abortion? That child was our family heir!" The blame fell squarely on her. Tears streamed down Taylah's face as Arjan's father noticed her despair.
"So you forced her, right? How dare you, Arjan? You're testing my patience with your ungratefulness. I know why you did it, but remember—what you see is not the whole truth. Everything happening around you is just a drama, all fake," Mr. Davier said, groaning in anger.
Dia realized that Mr. Davier's comments were directed at her, and her expression darkened with anger and hatred.
"Dad, we decided this together, didn't we, Taylah?" Arjan said, warning her with his words. She nodded silently, forcing herself to go along with his lie.
"Don't pressure her, Arjan. As a mother, she wouldn't accept this willingly. You must have forced her into it. I'm really disappointed in you," Mrs. Davier sighed, gently patting Taylah's shoulder. Arjan clenched his fists, growing gloomy.
The atmosphere became tense. Taylah couldn't eat properly; nausea overcame her. She got up from the chair.
"What's wrong, Taylah?" Mr. Davier asked, concerned.
"Nothing, Dad. I just feel unwell," she replied, forcing a weak smile. He looked startled. She headed to her room, while Dia observed everything with satisfaction, relishing Taylah's misery. Ethan, on the other hand, felt saddened by her condition.
Taylah rushed to the bathroom and vomited everything she had eaten. Tears filled her eyes as the bitter taste lingered in her throat, making it sore. She sank to the floor, feeling dizzy. Even after the abortion, she still experienced pregnancy symptoms—it was common, but it felt unbearable. She touched her belly and cried silently.
In that week, she had been traumatized by the experience and deeply regretted the abortion. She had promised her baby a loving family, only to take its life instead. The pain made her contemplate ending her own.
Suddenly, she heard footsteps approaching. Arjan walked in, sneering. "Do you really think I'll change because of your pitiful condition?" he mocked her.
She didn't look at him. "You don't have the right to bear my child. You can fool my parents with your innocent act, but I won't fall for your schemes," she said defiantly. Arjan looked down at her, and she smirked.
"You're afraid you might fall for me. That's why you had the abortion. You're blinded by your own falsehoods, Arjan. One day, when you see the truth, you'll regret your decision." Her voice grew strong enough to shake his resolve.
Arjan slammed his fist against the wall. "Dream on," he retorted, then left the room. Taylah laughed bitterly at her own miserable situation.
The bleeding wouldn't stop, making her feel increasingly weak. She found herself hoping for things that might never happen. Maybe this was her destiny—always suffering. Yet, she resolved to at least acknowledge that her in-laws cared for her.
She spent the entire day in her room, while Dia seemed unconcerned, going out to hang out with her friends and Arjan. Even if it affected the Davier family's reputation, Dia remained by his side. Ethan said nothing, recognizing that the marriage was against their wills.