The wedding planning meeting was a whirlwind of activity, with Lia's head spinning from all the decisions she had to make. Akira was by her side, guiding her through the process, and making sure everything was perfect.
As they finalized the details, Lia's phone buzzed, and she glanced at the screen, her eyes widening in surprise. It was a message from an unknown number, but as she read the words, her heart skipped a beat.
"I know Akira's secret. Meet me at the old warehouse at midnight if you want to know the truth."
Lia's eyes locked onto Akira's, her heart racing with anxiety. What secret was the message talking about? And what did it have to do with Akira?
She quickly pushed the thoughts aside, telling herself she was just being paranoid. Akira was a good man, and he would never hurt her.
But the message lingered in her mind, casting a shadow over the rest of the meeting.
As they finished up, Akira suggested they take a break and grab some lunch. Lia agreed, her mind still reeling with questions.
As they walked to the car, Akira's phone buzzed, and he answered it, his expression turning serious. Lia's eyes narrowed, her instincts on high. Who was he talking to?
She pushed the thoughts aside, telling herself she was just being paranoid. But as Akira hung up the phone, his eyes locked onto hers, and she saw something there, something that made her heart skip a beat.
"Lia, I have to go out for a bit," he said, his voice low and husky. "I'll be back soon, okay?"
Lia nodded, her mind racing with questions. Where was he going? And what was he hiding?
As Akira drove off, Lia felt a sense of unease wash over her. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was living in a world of secrets, and she didn't know what would happen when the truth finally came out.
She glanced at her phone, the message still lingering in her mind. Should she go to the meeting, or should she ignore it?
The decision was a difficult one, but Lia knew she had to make it. She had to know the truth, no matter what.
As the sun began to set, Lia made her way to the old warehouse, her heart racing with anticipation. She had to know what Akira was hiding, and she was willing to risk everything to find out.Lia's heart was pounding in her chest as she approached the old warehouse. She had been walking for what felt like hours, her mind racing with questions and doubts. What was Akira hiding? And who was behind the mysterious message?
As she pushed open the creaky door, a figure emerged from the shadows. Lia's eyes adjusted to the dim light, and she saw a woman, her face twisted in a cruel smile.
"Ama," Lia whispered, her voice barely audible.
Ama's smile grew wider as she stepped closer to Lia. "Welcome, Lia," she said, her voice dripping with malice. "I've been waiting for you."
Lia's eyes scanned the warehouse, her heart racing with fear. Where was Akira? And what had Ama done to him?
"You don't know what you're getting yourself into, Ama," Lia said, trying to keep her voice steady. "Akira will find out, and he'll make you pay."
Ama laughed, the sound echoing through the warehouse. "Akira?" she said, her voice mocking. "You mean Mr. Big Shot Businessman? Ha! He doesn't even exist, Lia. He's just a myth, a ghost."
Lia's mind reeled as Ama's words hit her like a ton of bricks. What was Ama talking about? Akira was a real person, wasn't he?
As Ama continued to taunt her, Lia's doubts grew. She had never seen Akira's home, never met his friends, never known anything about his past. It was as if he had just appeared out of nowhere, a knight in shining armor.
But what if it was all just an act? What if Akira was hiding something from her?
Lia's eyes locked onto Ama's, her heart racing with fear. She knew she had to get out of there, to find out the truth.
But as she turned to leave, she heard a voice behind her.
"Lia, don't go," the voice said, low and husky.
Lia's heart skipped a beat as she turned to face the voice. And then she saw him, the man she thought she knew.
Akira.
But he wasn't alone. He was with another woman, a woman who was smiling at Lia with a mixture of pity and curiosity.
"Lia, meet my wife," Akira said, his voice dripping with regret. "I'm afraid I've been lying to you all along."Lia's world came crashing down around her as she stared at Akira, her mind reeling with shock and betrayal. Wife? What wife? Akira was supposed to be single, supposed to be hers.
The woman beside Akira smiled, a cold, calculating smile, and Lia felt a surge of anger and hurt. Who was this woman? And what was she doing with Akira?
Ama's laughter echoed through the warehouse, and Lia's eyes snapped back to her. The woman was watching her, a look of triumph on her face.
"You see, Lia," Ama said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "Akira's been playing you all along. He's been using you, manipulating you, just like he does to all the others."
Lia's eyes locked onto Akira's, searching for some kind of explanation, some kind of truth. But all she saw was guilt and regret.
"Akira, what's going on?" Lia asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Akira took a step forward, his eyes locked onto Lia's. "Lia, please, let me explain," he said, his voice low and urgent.
But Lia shook her head, backing away from him. She didn't want to hear it, didn't want to listen to his lies.
"No," she said, her voice firm. "I think I've heard enough."
As she turned to leave, Akira's wife stepped forward, her eyes flashing with anger. "You're not going anywhere, Lia," she said, her voice cold. "You're going to listen to what Akira has to say."
Lia's eyes locked onto the woman's, and she felt a surge of defiance. She wasn't going to be intimidated, wasn't going to be controlled.
"I'm leaving," Lia said, her voice firm. "And I'm not coming back."
As she turned to walk away, Akira's voice stopped her. "Lia, please," he said, his voice desperate. "Don't go. I love you."
Lia's heart skipped a beat as she turned to face him. Love? Was he kidding her?
"Love?" she said, her voice mocking. "You don't know what love is, Akira. Love is not using people, manipulating them, and lying to them."
Akira's face crumbled, and for a moment, Lia saw a glimpse of the man she thought she knew. But it was too late. The damage was done, and Lia knew she had to get out of there, fast.Just as Lia turned to walk away, a loud noise echoed through the warehouse, and the sound of footsteps pounded the pavement. Flee, the young woman who had helped Lia escape from Ama's claws before, burst into the warehouse, a determined look on her face.
"Lia, come on!" Flee shouted, grabbing Lia's arm and pulling her towards the door.
Akira's eyes widened in surprise, and he took a step forward, but Flee's fierce expression stopped him in his tracks.
"Stay back, Akira," Flee warned, her voice firm.
Lia's eyes were blazing with anger as she turned to Akira. "Akira, you had a wife? You had a child?" she spat, her voice venomous.
Akira's face crumbled, and he took a step forward, his hands outstretched. "Lia, please, let me explain," he said, his voice desperate.
But Lia was having none of it. She shook off Flee's grip and took a step closer to Akira, her finger pointing accusingly at him. "You lied to me, Akira. You used me. How could you do that to me?"
Akira's eyes were filled with regret, and he opened his mouth to speak, but Lia cut him off.
"No, don't say anything," she said, her voice cold. "I don't want to hear it. I don't want to hear your lies."
Flee wrapped her arms around Lia's shoulders, pulling her away from Akira. "Let's go, Lia," she said, her voice soft. "Let's get you home."
As they walked away, Akira's voice echoed through the warehouse, calling out Lia's name. But Lia didn't look back, didn't dare to. She was too hurt, too angry.
Flee led her to a waiting car, and they sped away from the warehouse, leaving Akira and his secrets behind.
Lia's anger and hurt simmered, and she turned to Flee, her voice shaking with rage. "How could he do that to me, Flee? How could he lie to me like that?"
Flee's expression was sympathetic, and she took Lia's hand in hers. "I'm so sorry, Lia," she said, her voice soft. "But we'll get through this, okay? We'll get through this together."
Lia nodded, feeling a surge of gratitude towards Flee. She was lucky to have her friend, lucky to have someone who cared about her.
As they drove away, Lia's mind was a jumble of emotions. She didn't know what the future held, but she knew one thing - she would never trust Akira again.As they drove away from the warehouse, Lia's anger and hurt simmered, and she turned to Flee, her voice shaking with rage. "How could he do that to me, Flee? How could he lie to me like that?"
Flee's expression was sympathetic, and she took Lia's hand in hers. "I'm so sorry, Lia," she said, her voice soft. "But we'll get through this, okay? We'll get through this together."
Lia nodded, feeling a surge of gratitude towards Flee. She was lucky to have her friend, lucky to have someone who cared about her.
As they drove, Lia's mind was a jumble of emotions. She didn't know what the future held, but she knew one thing - she would never trust Akira again.
Flee's phone buzzed, and she answered it, her expression serious. "Hello?"
Lia watched as Flee's expression changed, her eyes widening in surprise. "What? When did this happen?" Flee asked, her voice urgent.
Lia's curiosity was piqued, and she leaned in, trying to hear the conversation.
Flee listened for a moment, her expression growing more serious. "Okay, got it," she said, her voice firm. "We'll be there soon."
She hung up the phone and turned to Lia, her expression grave. "Lia, we need to go to the hospital," she said, her voice soft.
Lia's heart skipped a beat, and she felt a surge of fear. "What's wrong?" she asked, her voice shaking.
"It's Akira," Flee said, her voice gentle. "He's been hurt."
Lia's eyes widened in shock, and she felt a surge of panic. "What happened?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Flee's expression was sympathetic, and she took Lia's hand in hers. "I don't know, Lia," she said, her voice soft. "But we need to go to the hospital, now."
Lia's mind was reeling, and she felt like she was in a daze. Akira was hurt? What did that mean? Was he okay?
She pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the present. She needed to get to the hospital, needed to know what was going on.
As they sped through the city, Lia's emotions were in turmoil. She was still angry with Akira, still hurt by his lies. But she couldn't help but worry about him, couldn't help but care.
They arrived at the hospital, and Flee led her inside, her arm around Lia's shoulders. Lia's eyes scanned the emergency room, searching for any sign of Akira.
And then she saw him, lying in a hospital bed, his eyes closed, his face pale.
Lia's heart skipped a beat, and she felt a surge of fear. What had happened to him?
She took a step forward, her eyes locked on Akira's face. She needed to know what was going on, needed to know if he was okay.
As she approached the bed, Akira's eyes flickered open, and he looked up at her, his eyes filled with pain and regret.
"Lia," he whispered, his voice weak.
Lia's heart skipped a beat, and she felt a surge of emotion. She didn't know what to say, didn't know what to do.
But as she looked into Akira's eyes, she saw something there, something that made her heart skip a beat.As they drove away from the warehouse, Lia's anger and hurt simmered, and she turned to Flee, her voice shaking with rage. "How could he do that to me, Flee? How could he lie to me like that?"
Flee's expression was sympathetic, and she took Lia's hand in hers. "I'm so sorry, Lia," she said, her voice soft. "But we'll get through this, okay? We'll get through this together."
Lia nodded, feeling a surge of gratitude towards Flee. She was lucky to have her friend, lucky to have someone who cared about her.
As they drove, Lia's mind was a jumble of emotions. She didn't know what the future held, but she knew one thing - she would never trust Akira again.
Flee's phone buzzed, and she answered it, her expression serious. "Hello?"
Lia watched as Flee's expression changed, her eyes widening in surprise. "What? When did this happen?" Flee asked, her voice urgent.
Lia's curiosity was piqued, and she leaned in, trying to hear the conversation.
Flee listened for a moment, her expression growing more serious. "Okay, got it," she said, her voice firm. "We'll be there soon."
She hung up the phone and turned to Lia, her expression grave. "Lia, we need to go to the hospital," she said, her voice soft.
Lia's heart skipped a beat, and she felt a surge of fear. "What's wrong?" she asked, her voice shaking.
"It's Akira," Flee said, her voice gentle. "He's been hurt."
Lia's eyes widened in shock, and she felt a surge of panic. "What happened?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Flee's expression was sympathetic, and she took Lia's hand in hers. "I don't know, Lia," she said, her voice soft. "But we need to go to the hospital, now."
Lia's mind was reeling, and she felt like she was in a daze. Akira was hurt? What did that mean? Was he okay?
She pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the present. She needed to get to the hospital, needed to know what was going on.
As they sped through the city, Lia's emotions were in turmoil. She was still angry with Akira, still hurt by his lies. But she couldn't help but worry about him, couldn't help but care.
They arrived at the hospital, and Flee led her inside, her arm around Lia's shoulders. Lia's eyes scanned the emergency room, searching for any sign of Akira.
And then she saw him, lying in a hospital bed, his eyes closed, his face pale.
Lia's heart skipped a beat, and she felt a surge of fear. What had happened to him?
She took a step forward, her eyes locked on Akira's face. She needed to know what was going on, needed to know if he was okay.
As she approached the bed, Akira's eyes flickered open, and he looked up at her, his eyes filled with pain and regret.
"Lia," he whispered, his voice weak.
Lia's heart skipped a beat, and she felt a surge of emotion. She didn't know what to say, didn't know what to do.
But as she looked into Akira's eyes, she saw something there, something that made her heart skip a beat.As they drove away from the warehouse, Lia's anger and hurt simmered, and she turned to Flee, her voice shaking with rage. "How could he do that to me, Flee? How could he lie to me like that?"
Flee's expression was sympathetic, and she took Lia's hand in hers. "I'm so sorry, Lia," she said, her voice soft. "But we'll get through this, okay? We'll get through this together."
Lia nodded, feeling a surge of gratitude towards Flee. She was lucky to have her friend, lucky to have someone who cared about her.
As they drove, Lia's mind was a jumble of emotions. She didn't know what the future held, but she knew one thing - she would never trust Akira again.
Flee's phone buzzed, and she answered it, her expression serious. "Hello?"
Lia watched as Flee's expression changed, her eyes widening in surprise. "What? When did this happen?" Flee asked, her voice urgent.
Lia's curiosity was piqued, and she leaned in, trying to hear the conversation.
Flee listened for a moment, her expression growing more serious. "Okay, got it," she said, her voice firm. "We'll be there soon."
She hung up the phone and turned to Lia, her expression grave. "Lia, we need to go to the hospital," she said, her voice soft.
Lia's heart skipped a beat, and she felt a surge of fear. "What's wrong?" she asked, her voice shaking.
"It's Akira," Flee said, her voice gentle. "He's been hurt."
Lia's eyes widened in shock, and she felt a surge of panic. "What happened?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Flee's expression was sympathetic, and she took Lia's hand in hers. "I don't know, Lia," she said, her voice soft. "But we need to go to the hospital, now."
Lia's mind was reeling, and she felt like she was in a daze. Akira was hurt? What did that mean? Was he okay?
She pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the present. She needed to get to the hospital, needed to know what was going on.
As they sped through the city, Lia's emotions were in turmoil. She was still angry with Akira, still hurt by his lies. But she couldn't help but worry about him, couldn't help but care.
They arrived at the hospital, and Flee led her inside, her arm around Lia's shoulders. Lia's eyes scanned the emergency room, searching for any sign of Akira.
And then she saw him, lying in a hospital bed, his eyes closed, his face pale.
Lia's heart skipped a beat, and she felt a surge of fear. What had happened to him?
She took a step forward, her eyes locked on Akira's face. She needed to know what was going on, needed to know if he was okay.
As she approached the bed, Akira's eyes flickered open, and he looked up at her, his eyes filled with pain and regret.
"Lia," he whispered, his voice weak.
Lia's heart skipped a beat, and she felt a surge of emotion. She didn't know what to say, didn't know what to do.
But as she looked into Akira's eyes, she saw something there, something that made her heart skip a beat.Lia's eyes locked onto Akira's, and for a moment, they just stared at each other, the world around them melting away. Akira's gaze was filled with pain and regret, and Lia could see the apology in his eyes, even before he spoke.
"Lia, I'm sorry," Akira whispered, his voice weak but sincere. "I never meant to hurt you. I never meant to lie to you."
Lia's anger and hurt were still there, simmering just below the surface, but she felt a pang of concern for Akira's well-being. He looked frail and vulnerable, lying in the hospital bed, and she couldn't help but wonder what had happened to him.
"What happened?" Lia asked, her voice softening slightly as she took a step closer to the bed.
Akira's eyes dropped, and he took a deep breath before speaking. "I was attacked," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Ama's people found me. They...they weren't happy about what I did."
Lia's eyes widened in shock, and she felt a surge of fear. "Oh, Akira," she whispered, her hand reaching out to touch his.
Akira's eyes flicked up to hers, and he caught her hand, holding it tightly. "I'm okay, Lia," he said, his voice reassuring. "I'm going to be okay."
Lia's emotions were in turmoil, and she didn't know what to do. She was still angry with Akira, still hurt by his lies. But she couldn't help but feel a pang of concern for him, couldn't help but care.
Flee, who had been standing quietly by the side, cleared her throat, breaking the tension in the room. "Lia, maybe you should let Akira rest," she said, her voice soft. "We can talk more later."
Lia nodded, feeling a bit dazed, and turned to leave. But Akira's grip on her hand tightened, holding her back.
"Lia, wait," he said, his voice urgent. "Please, just listen to me. I can explain everything. I can explain about my wife, about everything."
Lia's eyes locked onto Akira's, and she felt a surge of emotion. She didn't know if she was ready to hear his explanation, didn't know if she was ready to forgive him.
But as she looked into his eyes, she saw something there, something that made her hesitate. Something that made her want to listen, to hear him out.
"Okay," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll listen."