CHAPTER SIX
WARNING SIGNS
Jeremy's POV
After Lyla left, I sat alone, sinking deeper and deeper into a whirlpool of thoughts that refused to settle. My chest felt tight, as though a heavy stone had been placed on it, suffocating every breath. The words Lyla had spoken replayed endlessly in my head, tormenting me. They seemed so real, so convincing, yet my heart fought against them, unwilling to accept.
The images, the videos, even the voice note—every single one pointed directly at Myra. Her face, her voice, her laughter, her body—it was all there, laid bare in undeniable evidence. Still, my soul resisted, clinging desperately to the belief that the woman I loved could not betray me in such a cruel and humiliating way. But deep down, I knew I was fooling myself. Reality was already cutting me open, piece by piece, and it hurt more than I could ever describe.
I leaned back in my chair, pressing both hands to my head, my fingers tugging at my hair as if pain could wake me from this nightmare. Fear and depression weighed on me like a strange kind of peace, an emptiness that numbed me, keeping me from exploding. I was so lost in this storm of emotions that I didn't even realize someone was standing in front of me. It wasn't until a hand tapped my shoulder that I snapped back to the room.
"Good afternoon, boss," a familiar voice said gently. "What's the problem? I've been standing here for over five minutes, watching you drown in your thoughts, yet you didn't even notice me."
I blinked and turned my head slowly. It was Bruno—my most trusted friend and right-hand man. His eyes carried concern, the kind that could pierce through any mask I tried to wear. I forced a weak smile and shook my head.
"I'm fine," I muttered. "Just thinking about the company. You don't have to worry yourself."
Bruno's brows furrowed immediately, his lips pressing into a line. "Boss, you and I both know that's not true. The company is running perfectly well. There's nothing there to trouble you. Whatever's eating you alive isn't business-related. Tell me—does it have to do with Myra?"
The mention of her name sent a sharp jolt through me. My eyes widened in shock, betraying me before I could even form a lie. There was no point hiding anymore. Slowly, I nodded.
"Yes," I admitted hoarsely.
Bruno folded his arms, his expression turning serious. "What happened to her? Last time you spoke, you told me she got a new job in another city. She's supposed to be working as a doctor, right?"
A bitter laugh escaped my throat, one that didn't sound like me. "That's what I thought too. But now… I'm not even sure if she's working as a doctor or as a prostitute."
His face twisted in shock. "Boss, what do you mean by that?"
I swallowed hard, the words scraping my throat like broken glass. "Her cousin, Lyla, came to me. She played a voice note from Myra herself—her exact voice—saying she was with another man. And it didn't stop there. Lyla showed me videos and pictures. Myra was there, with some guy, doing things I never thought she was capable of. Moaning, laughing, moving like an expert in that dirty game. I tried calling her immediately, and the line went through. I sent messages, begged for answers—but she never replied. Yet, while I sat there helpless, Lyla called her and she picked. Picked, and continued with her shameless lies while I listened in silence.
"You know what cuts the deepest?" My voice trembled as rage and pain fought inside me. "She told me she was a virgin. She said she was saving herself for her dream husband, so I respected her wishes. I never touched her, not once. I stayed loyal, refused every other woman who came close, because I wanted to honor her. And now, I hear from Lyla that Myra claimed I couldn't satisfy her. Lies—pure lies! She made me look like a fool."
Bruno shook his head slowly, disbelief written all over his face. "Unbelievable. I truly thought she was modest, pure… even saintly. How does someone like that turn into a snake overnight?"
"That's exactly how I feel, bro," I said bitterly.
"But wait," he continued, narrowing his eyes. "If Lyla knew all of this, why didn't she tell you from the start? Why bring you so much pain now?"
"She told me Myra threatened to throw her out of the house if she ever revealed the truth."
"Throw her out? But why would Myra do that?"
I sighed. "Because the house belongs to Myra. It's her inheritance. Both her parents and Lyla's parents died in that house years ago."
Bruno's jaw dropped. "How? What happened?"
"Myra and her parents went to Lyla's house for a holiday. There was a fire outbreak. Neighbors managed to rescue Myra and Lyla, but both sets of parents died. It was tragic… they were only eighteen then, barely stepping into adulthood, yet forced to live with that heavy loss."
Bruno lowered his gaze for a moment. "That's painful… truly painful. But boss, let's leave the past in the past and face the real issue now. You can't just sit here and believe every word from Lyla. Why not go to Myra yourself and confirm? See her face, ask her directly, before you pass judgment."
I hesitated, his words stirring something in me. "Lyla said Myra doesn't live there anymore."
"Still, go," Bruno urged. "Go there first. If she's not there, then check the hospital she's supposed to be working at. If you confirm everything with your own eyes, then decide what you want to do. If it's breaking up, then so be it. A woman like that doesn't deserve your heart."
I sat quietly for a while, staring at the floor. His advice made sense. Finally, I nodded. "You're right. I'll do it."
The next morning, before the city could fully wake, I left. I didn't tell Lyla—I didn't want her interfering. Only Bruno knew where I was headed. I drove for hours, pushing the car forward even though my heart felt heavy. Each mile brought me closer to the truth I feared but needed to face.
When I reached the city, I recognized it immediately. It had changed in small ways—the buildings looked brighter, freshly painted, the roads smoother. Yet something felt off, as if the entire place was quietly mocking me.
I found the apartment Myra had taken me to the first time I visited. I remembered it clearly—it was next to a small restaurant, the smell of fried food always lingering in the air. But when I arrived, my heart sank. The building looked different, remodeled. I double-checked the address, certain I wasn't mistaken.
I knocked on the door, praying against all odds that she would answer. Instead, a man stepped out. His expression was neutral, almost annoyed.
"Good afternoon," I said, forcing politeness. "I'm looking for the lady who lived here before. Myra."
He shook his head. "Whoever that is, she doesn't live here anymore. I moved in recently. The previous tenant left a while ago."
The words hit me like a hammer. I staggered back, clenching my fists. So Lyla was right. Myra no longer lived here. My knees almost gave way, but I steadied myself and thanked the man before leaving.
I sat in the car, my hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. I wanted to drive home, to escape the humiliation, but Bruno's voice echoed in my mind: Check the hospital.
Dragging myself forward, I drove to the nearest hospital down the street. Inside, I approached the reception desk, gave them her name, her supposed details, everything I knew. The nurse checked the system, then looked back at me with confusion.
"There's no record of her here," she said. "Nobody by that name has ever worked with us."
The last piece of hope inside me crumbled. Myra had lied to me from beginning to end. She wasn't working. She wasn't saving herself. She wasn't mine. She had come to this city for another man, deceiving me with every word, every smile, every promise.
I walked out of the hospital, my chest hollow. The city around me bustled with life, but for me, the world had stopped. I felt ashamed of myself—ashamed for believing her, for loving her so blindly. I thought I had found the right one, the woman meant for me. Instead, I had met my worst mistake.
Myra had shattered my heart, and now she claimed to be the queen of this wicked game. But this wasn't over. If she thought she could break me so easily, she was mistaken. She had declared war, and I was ready to face it till the very end.