The Return of The King Steven

Chapter 2

The next morning, Steven woke up earlier than usual. 

Not because he had to work, but because he couldn't sleep because Nora's words from the night before kept running through his head.

It's up to you.

That sentence hit him harder than all the previous accusations.

Steven went down to the kitchen. 

He wanted to make breakfast for Nora as usual, even though last night their feelings had plummeted without brakes. 

But when he opened the refrigerator, he found something that made him stop.

There were two fancy food boxes with a small note that read:

"For Nora. From Ryan."

Steven closed his eyes for a moment. He felt like a stranger in his own home.

Nora appeared a few minutes later. Her hair was still messy, but she was smiling—a smile that wasn't for Steven.

"Oh, have you seen it?" Nora picked up one of the boxes. 

“Ryan sent this earlier this morning. He said I probably didn't have time for breakfast.”

Steven swallowed hard. "What did you say to him?"

"That I appreciate it."

There was not a trace of guilt on Nora's face. No awareness that another man had gone too far.

Steven finally said, "Nora, do you realize he's trying to get into your life?"

"Don't be paranoid, Steven." Nora cut him off immediately. "Ryan just cares. Unlike—"

Unlike you.

***

At the office, things weren't any better.

Some employees looked at Steven strangely. They whispered among themselves. 

He could hear a piece of a sentence that he shouldn't have heard.

"That's Mrs. Nora's husband... they say he's manipulative."

“Ryan said that, right?”

"Yes. They say Steven used Mrs. Nora's company money for his own interests."

Steven stopped in his tracks. His voice wanted to come out, to refute the accusation, but it was useless.

No one would believe it. Everything had been sparked by Ryan's words.

He continued walking without responding. It was pointless.

When he entered his office, his colleague, Daisy, stood hesitantly.

“Mr. Steven... is it true... all those rumors?”

Steven stared at her for a long time. "I don't need to defend myself against rumors."

Daisy looked down. Fear? Pity? Something like that.

Everything looks the same when someone starts to drift away.

In the afternoon, Steven received a call from someone he didn't expect: Ryan.

“Steven,” Ryan’s voice sounded too calm. “I just want to make sure you don’t make things worse.”

Steven clenched his fist. "You're the one making things worse."

Ryan chuckled softly. 

"Come on. You should know better. When a woman still has feelings for another man, her husband should know when to back off."

Steven held his breath. "Just say what you mean."

"Sure." Ryan's tone became lower, sharper. 

"If you love Nora, you have to know when to let her go. She's not happy with you."

Steven closed his eyes. "And you think she's happy with you?"

"She'll be happy," Ryan replied firmly. "Once you're out of her life."

"What exactly are you trying to do?"

"Honestly? I want Nora back. And I want everything she has." He chuckled. "Including her company."

Steven finally understood completely. Ryan didn't care about Nora. He only cared about what he could get.

"You think I'd let that happen?"

"It's already happened, Steven. She believes in me. Not you. You lost even before you started fighting."

The call ended after that.

Steven stood in his office for a long time. He wasn't angry—he was devastated. 

Everything he built, everything he fought for, was destroyed in a matter of weeks by one person who knew Nora's weak spot.

And Nora's weak point is her past.

When Steven returned home, he found something that made his situation even worse.

Ryan was in the living room. Sitting. Relaxed. As if the house belonged to him.

Nora sat next to him, her face bright. Bright in a way she hadn't shown Steven in the last few months.

Steven stopped at the doorway.

"What is he doing here?" His voice was flat.

Nora sat up slightly. "I asked him to come."

"What for?" Steven knew he wouldn't like the answer.

"I need someone to help me double-check the company records," Nora said, as if Steven had no right to speak. "Ryan offered to help."

Steven held back from laughing bitterly. 

"Nora, you deliberately put a weasel in the chicken coop."

Nora rolled her eyes. "Don't be rude. Ryan isn't what you think he is."

Ryan stood up and approached with a veiled expression of arrogance. 

“Calm down, Steven. I just want to help Nora.”

"No one asked for your help." Steven remained silent.

"Yes," Ryan replied, looking at Nora. "She is."

Nora smiled faintly at Ryan, not at Steven.

At that moment, Steven finally saw something he had refused to believe all this time:

Nora no longer stood by his side. She stood by the man who destroyed their marriage.

***

That night, after Ryan had left, Steven tried to talk to her again. Even though he knew the result would be the same.

"Nora, are you seriously letting him into this house?"

Nora placed the documents on the table. 

“He helped me check the mistakes you made.”

"I didn't do anything."

"You always have an answer." Nora stared at him sharply. "But Ryan never lies. At least not as far as I know."

Steven couldn't help himself. "You still love him, don't you?"

Nora was silent. For a long time.

The answer came in a whisper that struck Steven's chest like a hammer:

"I... don't know."

That's worse than "no" or "yes."

That means the door is still open. 

The door that she should have closed when she married Steven.

Steven finally said, his voice low:

"In that case, let me make things easier for you."

Nora stared at him without emotion.

"Let me sign the divorce papers once everything is ready."

Nora nodded slowly. Without sadness. Without shock. Without love.

"Okay."

"One last thing," said Steven. "Do you really think I'm a bad person?"

Nora didn't hesitate for a second. "Yes."

That answer shattered what was left of Steven's heart.

When Steven entered the room, he realized one thing that made the bitter truth even clearer.

Half of Nora's closet is empty.

He didn't even wait for the divorce to be finalized before leaving.

Steven sat silently on the edge of the bed.

He loved Nora more than himself. He gave up everything. 

He secretly financed her company. He supported her career, her life, her dreams.

But in the end...

A man from the past appeared, bringing false promises and empty accusations, and all his sacrifices were wiped out just like that.