Broken by him, bound to him

Chapter 3: Even after all these years

Standing by the window of his penthouse, Cain had been staring down the street at one single spot the whole time. The fast-moving cars that ran up and down the street were completely blurred to him. The only thing he kept his eyes fixed on was a vintage café across the street that had a huge board standing outside. On this board was written “Nostalgic Coffee Tuesday” in huge brown and white letters.

He wondered why people were so held up on reliving their pasts when he had done everything possible to erase his own but failed. Maybe it was because they had wonderful memories and did not sacrifice the only thing that mattered—and for what? A reputation he really never had.

What would have been so crazy about him coming home after graduation with a wife and child, considering he had been running an underground illegal fighting pit just for the thrill of it? In fact, he not only ran it, he also fought in it and managed to stay the champion—not because he needed it, he just had twisted hobbies. He eventually ended up beating and killing a man with his bare hands, which landed him a long, tiring case in court. But his father’s many lawyers managed to have it ruled out as self-defense.

And self-defense it was, technically. But he didn’t have to kill him. He could have knocked him out. He chose blood—and that was just the man he was, and his father knew it. Later on, while still fighting in the underground pit his father had told him to lock down after his case in court—but Cain didn’t listen—he once again fought and killed one of the fighters. This time it wasn’t intentional. The fighter was like his brother. They were close friends.

He had insisted on getting into the ring with Cain, but Cain had refused at first. What he didn’t know was that Latif was sick. He had managed to hide his sickness from the team. So that when Cain eventually agreed to fight him, it just took one punch to the right spot—and he was gone.

Cain reported himself to the police and wanted so badly to pay, because he felt it was the only way to not feel like a total murderer for what he’d done. But Latif’s family refused to press charges. They said he was sick and knew what he was doing. In fact, he had even written his family and friends a goodbye letter, which his parents found later that night. By the time they found it, it was already too late.

Somehow, the case never really became a case. But Cain was arrested and charged with running an illegal fighting pit. He sat locked up for a few days, but once again his father’s miracle-working lawyers managed to get him out. That’s when his dad sat him down and they had the talk.

He told Cain that he had become exactly what he had been named after. He expressed how, at that moment, he hated that name—Cain. His dad was a religious man, but the name ran in the family. He hadn’t thought much of it before, but now, seeing what his son had become, he blamed himself. Not just because of the name, but because he felt he had failed him—failed his family.

That night Cain’s eyes were somehow opened, and he saw the damage he had done. He saw how much he had disappointed his father, who, for some reason, continued to take the blame for his son’s mistakes. He watched his mother cry, asking him what they had done wrong as parents, begging him to tell them so they could make it right. That night Cain asked for their forgiveness and promised himself—and them—that he would change.

And change he did. Later that month, he was registered in a college abroad. He was hell-bent on being a good, disciplined student and a robotically obedient son who did everything to please his parents. He attended all the family holidays even on his mother’s side—which he had hated before—but now he did it anyway, because he knew he had to balance the scales. At least, until he got a girl pregnant.

And not just any girl—Naya Adam, the girl he loved.

What could this have changed if his father found out? He had most certainly done worse and his father had survived it. What damage could an illegitimate child do that was worse than him killing two people? But he was a coward. Selfish. He chose his family’s approval over responsibility and broke the heart of the only woman he ever truly loved. He still loved her—even after leaving. The truth wasn’t lost to him: he knew he would never love another, and he was determined to keep it that way. He took it as his punishment for being a hollow monster.

But it seemed Mother Nature still looked at him with good graces, for she had given him another chance—and this time, he was determined not to waste it.

The new employees list arrived late on a Friday evening. Among those who had passed the interview was a woman in the creative department named Naya Adam. At first, he thought it was just a cruel joke—until he looked into her and realized it was actually his Naya. She had been working for their branch in Cairo. Looking at her résumé, he realized she truly was the best candidate for the job. And the company’s HR agreed.

That night, he drove home but could not get out of his car. So he sat in the parking lot, burying his face in his hands, exhaling loudly. Naya was coming back to him, and he knew he didn’t deserve her. He didn’t even deserve to breathe the same air she did—not after what he had done back in school.

On the night after graduation. After his family left, Cain went over to Naya’s place to share some good news but held back when he found her curled up on her bed, head in her hands. She tried to fake cheerfulness when she saw him, but he knew her better than that.

“My love, you are not okay. What is the matter?” he asked, sinking into her squishy mattress next to her.

She tried to brush it off by laughing, but her whole body was shaking. Her hands trembled like leaves. Cain held her close to himself and could feel how scared she was. He knew she found it hard to speak when she was confused, scared, or unsettled. So he just held her in his arms and let her calm down.

When she was finally able to speak, she told him that she was pregnant. Cain fell completely still, his arms tightening around her without realizing it. He pulled her closer and could hear his heart hammering against his ribs.

She was pregnant.

Pregnant with his child.

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They sat there curled up together for minutes, until Naya finally broke the silence and said quietly,

“Please say something, Cain.”

Immediately, he was pulled out of the deep hole of thought he had just fallen into. He saw how disappointed his father would be in him, and how this news was going to shatter his mother’s already broken heart. Yet he could not hurt Naya. That much he knew.

“My love, can I go think about it? I’ll get back to you before the night is over,” he asked gently, trying his best not to alarm her.

But after he walked out that night, he never came back. She waited and waited, but when she finally saw the money he had sent her and the goodbye text before he vanished, she knew he was gone. Heart broken, she decided to disappear too—to gather her strength, so that she could take care of her child.

Naya stayed on campus for one extra week after which she gathered her stuff, and moved to Cairo.

The following morning, Cain arrived at the office earlier than usual. He knew his desk was probably piled with files to sign. He parked his car and walked into the quiet building—no one else was there yet. Nobody in that office ever did overtime. Not even Lisa the receptionist. It didn’t surprise him. They were his employees, after all, and he knew them well.

But then he noticed Ryan’s office door already open, the lights on. There were only two explanations: either a burglary—or Ryan came in early. But Ryan? Never.

Cain walked slowly and quietly toward the office. As soon as he stepped in and released the door handle, it closed with a bang. He moved to the blinds, but when he pulled them open, there was nobody inside. Whoever had been there must have run out when he walked in.

He went into Ryan’s office next. Immediately he stepped inside, he was hit with a strong feminine scent. It felt like wildflowers carried by the wind after a heavy spring rain on the hilltops—and he couldn’t get enough of it.

On the couch rested a pretty brown women’s handbag. On the desk was still-warm coffee. And on the whiteboard, fresh ink—marketing notes for Nexa Motors.

Whoever had been there had just left.

Cain assumed it must have been one of the new employees. She had already started working on a marketing strategy for Nexa motors—and it made him glad he had hired her.

He went back to his office, left the blinds open so he could see her the moment she walked in, and leaned back in his chair. Quiet. Waiting.

Wondering what Naya would feel like in his arms after all these years.

He knew it would take a lot of work before she even thought of forgiving him—or trusting him again. Let alone letting him touch her. But he was a patient man, and very willing to wait, to do whatever it took.

One thing was for sure: even after all these years, he still wanted her.

No—he still needed her.