The figure that stepped into the room was shrouded in darkness, his silhouette barely visible in the dim light. My breath caught in my throat as the heavy air seemed to press in on me. I could feel the tension vibrating through the floor, like the world itself was holding its breath.

“Who are you?” Sydney’s voice was shaky, his usual confidence nowhere to be found.

The man didn’t answer immediately. He took a slow step forward, his presence so commanding that the space seemed to shrink around him. His eyes, glowing faintly in the darkness, fixed on me

“Luna,” the voice was low, familiar, but twisted by time and distance. “It’s been a long time.”

I froze, unable to move or speak. The man before me was no stranger, though it felt like a lifetime had passed since I last saw him. The memories rushed back, too quickly, too sharply, our shared past, a tangled mess of love, betrayal, and secrets.

“You…” My voice was barely a whisper, “It can’t be.”

He stepped fully into the light, and I saw the scars etched into his face, the coldness that had replaced the warmth I once knew. It was him.

Varek.

“Luna,” he repeated, this time softer, almost like a plea. “I didn’t want it to end like this.”.

Sydney took a step back, clearly unsettled by the exchange. “Do you know him?” he asked, his voice cracking slightly.

Before I could respond, Varek spoke again, his tone sharp. “Not here. Not now.” He turned to Sydney, his gaze flicking over him with an almost dismissive air. “This place isn’t safe anymore.”

Sydney’s jaw clenched. “I don’t care who you are. I don’t want you in my house

“Do you know him?” Sydney’s voice cracked, shaking the air between us.

I didn’t respond right away. I couldn’t.

Flash back!

“You still haven’t gotten pregnant?” Sydney’s voice had cut through me like a knife. His words, sharp with disappointment, echoed in my ears. Each word was a reminder of how I had failed him, failed us.

I didn’t answer. I had no defense, no explanation. His frustration had become a daily weight on my shoulders.

That was when I met him…

Verek

“You look like you’ve been carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders,” Varek had said, his voice smooth like honey as he stepped closer, his eyes dark and intense. “Everything okay?”

I tried to smile, but my lips trembled. “I’m fine,” I said, but the words felt hollow,

Varek didn’t move, his gaze never leaving mine. “You’re not fine,” he murmured.

His voice had a way of cutting through all the noise in my head, making everything else fall away.

I shrugged, trying to brush it off, but he stepped in, just a little closer, and I felt the heat of his presence. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” he said, his voice suddenly softer. “But you’ve got that look. Like you’re carrying more than you should.”

I swallowed, my heart beating faster. I didn’t know how to respond. So, I didn’t. Instead, I just met his gaze, a flicker of something, curiosity?

“You’re quiet,” he observed, leaning in just slightly, as if trying to read me. “It doesn’t suit you.”

I finally exhaled a laugh, but it was strained. “It’s nothing.”

“Don’t lie,” he said gently, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He reached out, his fingers brushing lightly against my arm, a touch that sent a spark through my skin.

I froze. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. Everything else faded, leaving just the two of us in this space, connected by something unspoken.

“You’re not here for nothing,” he added, his voice almost a whisper. “You’re here because you need to feel something. Even if it’s just for one night.”

The words hit me harder than I expected, and before I knew it, I found myself nodding.

I needed to be loved , due to my childlessness, my husband lost interest in me, we only became intimate when he was drunk..

It wasn’t just the words that drew me in, t was the way he said them, the way he made me feel seen, like he understood me in a way no one else did.

“I didn’t expect this,” I said softly, barely a breath between us.

He took another step forward, the intensity between us palpable. “What didn’t you expect?” His voice was low, almost seductive now.

“This.” I gestured between us, unsure of how to express what was happening, what I was feeling. But I didn’t have to. Varek already knew.

He reached for me then, pulling me gently closer. His lips found mine, tentative at first, like he was waiting for me to pull away. But I didn’t.

The kiss deepened, slow, deliberate, and I felt everything inside me turned, my thoughts no longer coherent., There were no words, just actions. Just us.

When he pulled away, his forehead resting against mine, his eyes searched mine. “I told you,” he whispered, his breath warm against my lips, “it wasn’t just this one night.”

I swallowed hard, my voice barely above a whisper. “Will I see you again?”

But one night turned into something more. And when we met again... it wasn’t over. The second time, it felt different. More intense. The way his hands had caressed my skin, like he was imprinting something into me that I couldn’t forget.

After that, Varek disappeared. I hadn’t heard from him in months. Not a word.

And then, a few months later, I found out I was pregnant.

******

“Luna! Answer me!” His voice rose, demanding an answer.

I recovered quickly…,

“Yes,” I said. “I know him.”

“Who is he? What the hell is going on?” Sydney’s hands clenched into fists at his sides, his voice trembling with frustration.

“He’s...” I couldn’t finish the sentence. His name felt like a weight I couldn’t bear to say aloud.

“Who the hell is he, Luna?” Sydney demanded again, stepping closer.

“He’s someone from my past,” I forced out, my voice barely a breath.

Varek’s voice cut through the tension. “Luna, there’s no time for explanations, but you need to understand..”

“No,” Sydney interrupted, spinning toward him. “You don’t get to walk in here and…”

“I’m not here for you, Sydney,” Varek said, his voice calm but firm. “I’m here for Luna.”

Sydney stepped forward, blocking my line of sight to Varek. “I won’t let her talk to you. Leave.”

Varek didn’t flinch. “You don’t have a choice, Sydney. This is bigger than anything you understand.”

“I’m not letting you..” Sydney started, but I raised my hand.

“Stop, Sydney,” I said, my voice sharper than I meant.

Varek looked at me, his eyes intense. “Luna, we’ve all been playing a game we didn’t choose. It’s time to face the truth.”

“No,” Sydney spat. “I’m not listening to this. I’m not…”

The door creaked open, and Cedrica walked in, her eyes scanning the room before landing on Varek. Without a word, she walked over to him and stood by his side.

Sydney’s voice shook with disbelief. “What are you doing there?”

Varek looked down at her, his voice steady. “This is my daughter.”

Sydney’s eyes went wide, his breath catching in his throat. “What?”

Cedrica didn’t move. She didn’t flinch, didn’t look away. She just stood there, her gaze unwavering.

I froze.

You..” Sydney stammered, his voice thick with disbelief. “You’re telling me that she… she’s your daughter?”

Varek nodded, slowly. “Yes.”