When love turned, it's back

CHAPTER 4

For the first time in a long time, Axcel felt happy really happy. Not because his life was suddenly better, but because he finally had a small hope. A new investigator looking at the case meant there was still a chance to prove he was innocent.

He walked through the convenience store with a lighter step. The noise didn’t bother him now. The people, the traffic, the voices everything felt more alive.

“Maybe the truth will come out,” he said quietly to himself.

His stomach growled. He looked at the money in his hand. It wasn’t a lot, but it was enough to buy something to eat and drink. .

The store owner smiled politely. “What would you like?”

“A bottle of water… two bread rolls… and one small canned food,” Axcel said.

The owner got the items and placed them on the counter. Axcel counted his money carefully and paid. He thanked her and stepped aside.

He opened the water and drank slowly. The cool water felt good in his throat. When he finished, he let out a small breath. He felt a little stronger now.

As he walked, he passed an empty roadside lot where many small white flowers were growing in the grass. The wind made them move gently. Axcel stopped and looked at them.

They were the same kind of flowers he used to give Zeph before.

He hesitated, then carefully stepped closer and picked one nice flower. He cleaned the stem with his fingers so it wouldn’t look dirty. He held it gently so it wouldn’t break.

“I’ll give it to her myself this time,” he said quietly.

He fixed his mask and walked toward the city center, where Zeph’s company building stood tall, clean, and busy with people going in and out.

When he arrived, he didn’t go near the gate. He stayed across the street near a small waiting shed. He didn’t want the guards to recognize him or chase him away. He kept the flower behind his back to protect it.

Cars came and left. Workers entered the building. Time passed slowly.

Axcel stayed there, standing and waiting patiently.

“I’ll just wait,” he whispered. “Even if it takes a long time.”

As the sun goes down and the employers were already going home Axcel still wait...he was sure that Zeph is still there inside doing overtime for her work

But Axcel was still there.He sat quietly at the waiting

The air became cooler. The streetlights turned on.

Then the glass doors of the company opened again.

Zeph walked out, holding her bag and phone. She looked tired but strong and professional in her office clothes. Two employees walked with her for a moment, thanking her before going their own way.Axcel immediately recognized her.

“That’s her my wife zeph…” he said softly while smiling.

His heart started beating fast. He quickly stood up, feeling nervous. He stayed near the post of the shed, half-hidden. His hand tightened around the white flower he was holding.

Zeph walked toward the parking area to get her car. She was looking at her phone and didn’t notice him.

Axcel took a slow step forward, then another.

“Zeph,” he said.

Zeph stopped.

She turned around sharply. The moment she saw him, her face hardened. All the tiredness disappeared, replaced by anger.

“What are you doing here?” she said, her voice cold.

Axcel’s hands shook as he stepped closer. He gently held out the white flower.

“I just wanted to give this to you,” he said quietly. “That’s all.”

Zeph stared at the flower, her eyes burning.Suddenly, she grabbed it from his hand.

Axcel looked up, a small hope in his eyes.

Then Zeph dropped the flower to the ground and stepped on it hard, crushing it under her shoe.

“Do you think this will fix anything?” she shouted. “You disgust me.”

Before Axcel could react, Zeph moved closer and grabbed the front of his shirt. Her hand slid up to his neck, gripping it tightly.

“Didn’t I warn you?” she said through clenched teeth. “I told you if you ever showed your face again—”

Axcel gasped, his hands shaking as he tried to breathe. He didn’t fight back. He just looked at her, pain and sadness in his eyes.

“I’d rather kill you myself than see you ruin my life again,” Zeph said harshly. “You don’t deserve to live after what you did.”

Her grip tightened for a moment.

Axcel’s vision blurred. His chest burned. Still, he didn’t push her away.

Then a phone call disturb Zeph,She shoved him back hard.

“Stay away from me,” she said. “Disappear.”

Axcel stumbled and fell to the ground. His hands hit the ground. He looked down at the crushed flower, then slowly looked up at Zeph. His mouth opened, but no words came out.

Zeph turned away as her phone rang.

She answered it while walking. “Yes?” she said, her voice cold and controlled.

Without looking, she stepped forward.

Her heel pressed down hard on Axcel’s hand.

Axcel let out a painful groan. His fingers trembled under her shoe, and tears filled his eyes. His whole body shook as he tried to pull his hand away, but the pain was too much.

On the phone, a familiar voice spoke urgently.

“Zeph,” Hendrick said, “Mr. Devera refused to sign the investment papers. He said he wants… favors. He wants to be pleased first.”

Zeph stopped walking.

Her foot was still on Axcel’s hand. She slowly looked down at him. Axcel was crying now, scared, shaking, his face pale behind the mask.

Hendrick continued, frustrated. “That man is disgusting. He said we should ‘satisfy’ him if we want the contract signed.”

Zeph’s eyes narrowed.

Mr. Devera.

Her mind flashed back to the past — she remembered the way Devera used to look at Axcel when they were together. Too long. Too interested.

“He likes men,” she whispered to herself.

She looked at Axcel again — broken, helpless, in pain under her foot.

Slowly, she lifted her heel off his hand.

“I’ll handle it,” Zeph said calmly into the phone. “Don’t worry, Hendrick. I know exactly what to do.”

She ended the call.

The silence felt heavy.

Zeph stepped closer and sat down in front of Axcel. He shrank back instinctively, fear clear in his eyes. His shoulders shook as he cried, holding his injured hand close to his chest.

Zeph stared at him — not with love, not with anger this time, but with something darker and colder.

“Stand up,” she said quietly.

Axcel didn’t move. He was trembling too much.

Zeph leaned closer, her voice low and sharp. “You always wanted to prove you were innocent, right?”

Axcel looked at her, terrified, not understanding.

She straightened slightly, eyes locked on his.

“Good,” she said as she touched Axcels face.....I'll keep you for now come on stand up and let's go

Axcel’s breathing grew uneven as fear filled his chest, not knowing what she meant — only knowing that whatever was coming next was worse than the pain he was already feeling.

“I… I don’t understand,” he whispered.

“You don’t have to,” Zeph replied flatly. “Just follow me.”

Too weak to argue, too afraid to resist, Axcel followed her. She brought him to her house, not speaking a single word on the way. Inside, she told him to clean himself and rest. She threw him clean clothes—simple, but better than what he had been wearing.