Chapter 9: Akil Tries To Win Her Back—Too Late
514 Words
Akil had always believed that power meant control. That once something—or someone—belonged to him, it would always stay within his reach.
But Karuna was proving him wrong.
And he hated it.
The headlines weren’t just bad. They were humiliating.
“Karuna And Imani Zane: A Power Alliance That Could Change The Industry.”
“Akil Loses More Than Just A Wife—He Loses Control.”
The world wasn’t talking about him anymore. They were talking about her.
And worse?
She was standing next to Imani while they did it.
Akil had spent weeks pretending he didn’t care. Convincing himself that Karuna was just reacting emotionally, that she’d come crawling back once she realized how hard life was without him.
But she wasn’t struggling.
She was thriving.
And Akil was done watching from the sidelines.
The Grand Gesture
It started small—calls, texts, all ignored. Then, he sent gifts. Expensive jewelry, designer dresses, things he thought would impress her.
Karuna returned them all without a single word.
But Akil wasn’t giving up.
So he did what every desperate man does when he realizes he’s losing—he showed up uninvited.
The Confrontation
Karuna had just stepped out of her office when she saw him.
Akil, leaning against his sleek black car, dressed in his usual tailored perfection. He looked exactly the way he did when she had once loved him.
But now?
She felt nothing.
“Karuna,” he called, pushing off the car. “Can we talk?”
She didn’t stop walking. “No.”
He followed anyway. “Look, I know I messed up.”
She let out a cold laugh. “Messed up? You cheated on me, neglected me, and treated me like a decoration. That is not a mistake, Akil. That is who you are.”
Akil exhaled sharply. “I can change.”
She finally turned to face him, eyes sharp. “And why would I care about that now?”
He reached for her hand—she stepped back.
“You don’t just walk away from a marriage like this,” he said, his voice low.
She tilted her head. “I already did.”
Akil clenched his jaw, frustration flickering in his eyes. “You think Imani is any different?”
Something in her chest tightened.
Not because she doubted Imani.
But because Akil was grasping. And it was pathetic.
She smirked. “The difference is, Imani doesn’t need to own me to respect me.”
Akil’s eyes darkened. “You’ll regret this.”
She stepped closer, her voice like steel. “No Akil. The only one regretting anything... is you.”
She turned on her heel and walked away, leaving him standing there—alone, defeated, and powerless.
Watching From The Shadows
From across the street, Imani watched the scene unfold.
He had expected Akil to come crawling back.
What he hadn’t expected?
Was how effortlessly Karuna would shut him down.
A slow smile spread across his face.
Yeah.
She was definitely his kind of woman.
- Writer
