Czar's tears rolled down his cheeks. He smiled in pain as her laugh—that voice—rang endlessly in his ears. He let himself sink into hallucinations.
She was sitting right in front of him.
A weak smile on her lips, her eyes fixed on her own lap.
"Look up into my eyes, betrayer," he said in a cold tone, his hands trembling.
She stayed silent—silent as if her voice had been ripped from her throat. As if she didn't know what to say, or how to say it.
"Answer me."
He grabbed her throat and pulled her closer. His voice turned harsh. Her eyes filled with tears as she closed them and held his wrist—the same hand crushing her throat.
"Kill me before I kill you," she whispered, her voice low and clear, like fragile glass.
He shoved her away with both hands—
—and suddenly, she vanished.
He buried his face in his palms, his eyes burning red.
"Liar."
He stood up, his knees weak, as if something invisible was dragging him back toward the floor. His body felt hollow, his breath unsteady.
He slammed both hands onto the table and swept everything off it. Glass shattered violently against the wall, the sound echoing through the entire police station.
Officers rushed in.
They noticed blood dripping from Czar's right hand—shards of glass embedded deep in his skin. He was slapping himself repeatedly when they tried to stop him.
He shoved them away and stormed out in that condition.
Inside his car, he rolled the window down.
"Cheater," he muttered through gritted teeth.
He twisted the key violently in the ignition. The engine roared alive, and he sped off.
The officers ran after him, reaching the window.
"Sir—sir!"
Czar glared at them. They fell silent.
"I need time," he said hoarsely, his eyes red and wet.
They nodded and stepped back, lowering their gazes.
He glanced at the passenger seat—
—and Lia was sitting there again.
The same weak smile. The same hollow expression from his hallucination.
"Why… why me?" he whispered, his eyes fixed on her.
His gaze shifted between the road ahead and the seat beside him. The car's speed increased—120… 140… 150.
There was barely any traffic. Other cars moved slowly, but his mind was lost somewhere far beyond the road.
Everything felt like a lie. Everyone felt fake. As if they had all used him like a toy.
"Ya Allah," his lips whispered.
He tightened his grip on the steering wheel, ignoring traffic signals, driving as if he had seven lives to waste.
"How could you do this to me when I loved you with a pure heart?"
The words echoed in his mind—once, twice, again and again.
Memories flooded him: their smiles, hands intertwined, laughter, shared moments, understanding, care—like a couple made in heaven.
This betrayal… he had never imagined it. Not even in his wildest dreams.
He trusted her like every cell in his body depended on oxygen to survive.
She was that oxygen.
And now he hated breathing.
"I hate you, Lia," he whispered.
He looked at the passenger seat again.
She was still there—no smile this time, only a smirk.
"You're useless," she muttered.
His teeth clenched.
"You're an asshole… Emris's puppet. So why did I fight for you? You deserved that death. Damn your grey eyes—and damn me for believing you, trusting you, loving you—while all you wanted was to destroy me."
Police cars chased him as he broke every signal, driving recklessly. Complaints flooded in—his car nearly crashing into others again and again.
But how could anyone calm the chaos tearing through his heart and mind?
Suddenly, another car appeared right in front of him.
His eyes cleared.
He released the steering wheel.
"I'm not even worthy of saying my Shahada," his mind whispered.
His heart agreed.
"Goodbye, world."
He closed his eyes.
The other car swerved away just in time—
—and Czar's car slammed into a pole.
The pole collapsed instantly. His head smashed into the steering wheel. Smoke filled the air as the car finally came to a halt, its front completely destroyed.
People gathered, standing at a distance—afraid the car might explode. Some fled. Some recorded videos.
When the chasing officers arrived, they rushed toward the wreck.
"Mr. Czar! Hurry—he's inside!" the inspector shouted.
They struggled with the door, trying to open it.
Just then, Elaya appeared.
She had been walking calmly down the road when she saw the crowd and the police.
"InshaAllah, everything will be fine," she whispered, pushing past the people blocking her view.
Her eyes froze when she saw him.
Inspectors were holding Czar—his head badly soaked in blood, his hands and arms stained red, his shirt drenched.
"Ma'am, please stay aside," an inspector said.
She nodded faintly, but her eyes never left him.
"Czar," her lips silently formed as they rushed him into a car toward the hospital.
"What happened to him?" her mind screamed.
The crowd dispersed. The street returned to normal.
But Elaya remained there—still, like a statue.
"Something is wrong… definitely," she thought.
"Is it about Lia… or—"
She turned and hurried home.
"So you're saying a man came and gave this letter to your daughter?" Ava asked, leaning back in her chair. "He was wearing a mask and glasses—so she couldn't recognize him? Even if I asked her to draw him?"
"Yes," Emris replied firmly. "That's exactly what my daughter told me. And I trust her completely."
Lia sat beside him on the sofa. They exchanged a glance.
Ava observed them closely, then sighed, ruffling her hair.
"A piece is missing."
"Yes, ma'am," Lia spoke softly. "Appa is telling the truth."
Ava chuckled at her innocence.
"You have CCTV?" Ava suddenly asked.
Emris nodded, stood up, and brought his laptop.
Ava studied the footage carefully.
She sighed again.
"So… is this the truth, or a made-up truth?"
"You can check our flat as well, if you wish," Emris said calmly.
Ava pressed her lips together, poking her inner cheek thoughtfully. Then she smirked.
"I'll send people to inspect it."
Emris nodded.
Ava stood up. "Allah Hafiz."
Both Emris and Lia bowed slightly. Ava smiled softly at Lia—who smiled back brightly.