The following morning dawned heavy with an air of unspoken tension. Enisa had barely slept, her mind replaying the events of the previous night the revelations, Zahir's call, and Ryan's guarded demeanor. She wanted answers, clarity, but more than that, she wanted peace, something she hadn't known in a long time.
Ryan was already at the breakfast table when she entered the dining room. His focus was on his phone, his brow furrowed in concentration. He looked up briefly as she approached, nodding in acknowledgment.
"Good morning," he said, his tone neutral.
"Morning," she replied, seating herself across from him. The silence between them was less tense now, but it still carried the weight of everything unsaid.
Halfway through the meal, Ryan broke the silence. "I'll be leaving for the office soon. There's a business deal that needs my attention." Enisa nodded, grateful for the reprieve. She needed time alone to process everything.
As Ryan left, Enisa busied herself with mundane tasks, hoping to distract her restless mind. But her fragile calm shattered when the doorbell rang.
The butler announced the visitor: Serena Davenport.
Enisa's heart sank, her hands tightening into fists. She had braced herself for many things, but not this.
Serena was stunning, her perfectly tailored dress and confident smile exuding an effortless charm that instantly put Enisa on edge.
"Enisa, isn't it?" Serena said smoothly, her voice laced with feigned warmth. "We've never officially met, but I've heard so much about you."
Enisa forced a polite smile. "I wish I could say the same."
Serena's laugh was light but carried an undercurrent of mockery. "Ryan always did have a way of keeping his personal life private. It's one of the things I admired most about him."
"What do you want, Ms. Davenport?" Enisa asked, her voice steady despite the storm brewing inside her.
Serena's expression shifted, her smile turning sharper. "I came to see Ryan, of course. But since he's not here, I thought I'd get to know his new wife. It's fascinating, really, how quickly he moved on. Almost… calculated, wouldn't you agree?"
Enisa felt the jab but refused to let it land. "Ryan and I don't owe anyone explanations for our decisions."
Serena stepped closer, her gaze piercing. "Let me give you some advice, Enisa. Ryan is a complex man, and you're… well, let's just say you don't seem equipped to handle him. When things get messy and they will you'll see why some people are better off walking away."
Before Enisa could respond, Serena turned on her heel and left, leaving a suffocating silence in her wake.
When Ryan returned that evening, Enisa wasted no time confronting him.
"Serena was here," she said, crossing her arms as he entered the living room.
Ryan's expression darkened instantly. "What did she want?"
"She claimed she wanted to see you, but it was clear her visit was more about me. She seems quite… invested in our marriage."
Ryan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'll handle it."
"That's not good enough, Ryan," Enisa snapped. "She didn't just show up to say hello. She wanted to rattle me, and she succeeded. If this is the kind of baggage you come with, I need to know exactly what I'm up against."
Ryan's gaze softened slightly as he regarded her. "You're right. You deserve to know the truth."
He sat down, motioning for her to do the same. "Serena and I were together for years. It wasn't love it was a partnership. We were both ambitious, and we used each other to get ahead. But when I realized how toxic she was, I ended it. She didn't take it well. She sees my marriage to you as a betrayal, even though she has no claim on me."
Enisa studied him, searching for any sign of deceit. "And why should I believe you?"
Ryan's jaw tightened. "Because I have nothing to gain by lying to you, Enisa. This marriage may have started as a convenience, but that doesn't mean I'll let anyone, including Serena, undermine it or you."
His words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. For the first time, Enisa saw a flicker of sincerity in Ryan's eyes, and it stirred something deep within her.
Later that night, as they sat in the library, an unexpected moment of connection emerged. Ryan poured himself a glass of whiskey, offering her one as well. She hesitated but accepted.
"To survival," he said, raising his glass.
"To survival," she echoed, clinking her glass against his.
For a brief moment, the walls between them lowered, and in the quiet of the library, they shared a fragile understanding.
But as the night deepened, Enisa couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the calm before the storm.