Chapter 34 up
Clark sat on the edge of the bed, still feeling weak, but steadier than he had in the past few days. Nyla sat beside him, gently patting his back, a faint smile on her lips. She had prepared a cup of warm tea for him, the soothing aroma of ginger and honey filling the room.
“Clark, you need to drink this,” Nyla said softly. “Your body is still weak. You can’t keep pushing yourself like this.”
Clark took the cup slowly, looking at Nyla with a gaze full of both guilt and relief. “I… I don’t know how to thank you. You came… to help me… even while Selena kept trying to ruin everything.”
Nyla gave a small, reassuring smile. “I’m here because I care. Not because of your guilt or your weakness. I’m here because I want to see you healthy, and I want you to become yourself again.”
Clark lowered his head. “I… I’ve been broken for too long. Too long letting Selena control my life… letting jealousy and pain take over my heart.”
“Now you realize it,” Nyla said softly. “That’s the first step to fixing everything.”
Clark stared at her for a long moment. He felt a warmth in his chest—a feeling he had almost forgotten—a mix of guilt, love, and admiration. For the first time after weeks of emotional chaos, he felt a glimmer of hope.
Meanwhile, outside the apartment, Selena stared at her phone screen, her face flushed with anger. She slammed the bedroom door shut, bent over, and took a deep breath. She slapped her own cheek—not in pain, but in frustration.
“How can they be… so close, so… perfect?” Selena muttered, her voice breaking. “I did everything, but… he chose Nyla. Clark chose Nyla!”
Her hands clenched the phone tightly. She scrolled through social media, sending snide messages, trying to provoke something, but deep down, she knew it was useless. Clark was aware now, and Nyla was present with real strength—not manipulation or false affection.
Selena’s eyes went to the ceiling, the heat of anger burning in her chest. “I won’t give up that easily. He will come back to me. I’ll make him miss me. I’ll make Nyla regret thinking she could save Clark.”
Back inside the apartment, Clark took a deep breath and looked at Nyla. “I want to start over. I want to fix my life, my body… my heart. I don’t want to depend on Selena or feel defeated by jealousy anymore.”
Nyla gently patted his hand. “That’s the right decision. You need to focus on yourself now. I’ll help you. We’ll get through this together, Clark. But you have to promise—no more alcohol, no more giving in to your pain.”
Clark swallowed. “I promise. I’ll try.”
Nyla smiled. “That’s enough. Every small step will bring us closer to better days.”
In the following days, Clark began to recover slowly. He started eating regularly, doing light exercises, and organizing his thoughts. Nyla was always by his side, supporting him, correcting him whenever he tried to slip back into bad habits, and calming him when guilt resurfaced.
But Selena didn’t stay silent. She watched every move of Clark and Nyla through social media, friends, and other sources. She planned cunning steps to provoke conflict, from teasing messages to spreading rumors to make Nyla appear opportunistic.
One night, as Clark sat in the living room reviewing work documents from Vincent, Selena appeared at the apartment door. She knocked softly, feigning tears.
“Clark… I don’t know what to do… I feel so lonely… I…” Selena’s voice quivered, a mixture of panic and manipulation.
Clark looked at her, standing tall though his eyes were weary. “Selena… I’ve told you. I don’t want anything to do with you anymore. You tried to hurt me, you tried to control my life, and I won’t let that happen again.”
Selena lowered her head briefly, then forced a bitter smile. “I just want you to know… I still care. I can still make you happy.”
Clark pushed her hand away firmly. “Selena… you’re wrong. Happiness cannot be created with manipulation or lies. I have Nyla now. I’ve realized my mistakes. I know who truly cares about me.”
Selena froze, her eyes glassy. She smiled faintly, pretending to cry. “You… you chose her?”
Clark looked down, soft but firm. “Yes. I choose Nyla. I know I have to take responsibility for my life. I have to fix my mistakes, and I can’t do it with you.”
Selena stared at him for a long moment, swallowing hard. Her plans, manipulations, and all the drama she created—everything had failed. Clark was no longer easily swayed. His heart no longer belonged to Selena.
Clark turned to Nyla, who stood on the side of the room, her gaze warm. “I choose you, Nyla. I know I was wrong. I know I’m fragile, but I want you by my side. We can get through this together, right?”
Nyla smiled, looking at him steadily. “I’m here, Clark. I won’t leave you. But you have to understand—our journey isn’t over yet. There are still obstacles ahead. Selena may try again, Vincent may be busy with his own affairs… but we will stay together, and we will succeed.”
Clark drew a deep breath, gazing at Nyla with determination. “I’m ready. I want to fix everything. I won’t give up again.”