CHAPTER 266: CHAPTER 266: TORN BETWEEN TWO, HEART ON THE LINE

~Zayn’s POV~

The door to Evric’s office closed behind me with a soft, final click, but the sound in my head was a sharp slam. "Now leave my office." The coldness in his voice, the way he turned his back on me, it was devastating. Reflecting on the way Evric sent me out of his office was painful, a dismissal I knew he didn’t want to make but felt compelled to.

I walked through the lobby, barely seeing the faces of his staff. Right now, I couldn’t think straight. My head was a dizzying loop of Meera’s voice, Evric’s kiss, and the midnight ultimatum. I needed someone to talk to, someone to help me untangle the mess of fear and desire that was paralyzing me.

But who?

The only person I’m comfortable enough to share this kind of situation with, the person who knows everything, the person who understands the toxicity of my past and the depth of my current dilemma, is still locked away in a cell. And the worst part is, it’s not about me anymore. The case is now closed; I have withdrawn the complaint. It’s Nantam not wanting to owe Evans anything, his ridiculous pride, that’s keeping him there. I need him out so I can talk to him, but I can’t be the one to bail him out.

I slumped into my car, dropping my head onto the steering wheel. I need clarity before Saturday night, but right now, I can’t think straight at all.

The thought of going home felt suffocating. Kai had gone back, and now it was just Meera and me in the house. The tension, the silence, the knowledge that she was waiting for me to accept the life she was offering, it was too much. I couldn’t spend a minute alone with her under the pretense of normalcy. Every minute was a reminder of the ultimatum Evric gave me, and every look from Meera felt like a push in the wrong direction.

I slammed my fist onto the steering wheel, frustration boiling over. I covered my mouth with both hands, muffling a desperate, silent scream that tore through my chest. Tears streamed down my face. I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t process the kiss, Evric’s reaction, or the impossible choice hanging over my head.

Finally, I drove away from the office parking lot, not toward home, but back toward the familiar, safe chaos of the restaurant. I spent the evening there, pretending to check inventory and organize receipts, desperate to avoid the inevitable confrontation.

It was late when I finally drove home. Getting out of the car, I already felt the air thicken with tension.

When I opened the door, the sight stopped me cold. Meera was there, standing by the dining room table, where she had already prepared dinner. The soft lighting made the room look intimate, but it was her appearance that was the real trap.

She was wearing a white, button-down shirt that was completely sheer—the thin, transparent fabric revealed the dark silhouette of her bra and underwear beneath. The shirt was loosely tied at the waist, emphasizing her curves, and she wasn’t wearing pants, just the shirt and lingerie. It was a blatant, calculated move to seduce me, a physical argument for the traditional life she insisted I wanted.

The moment she saw me, she rushed forward, her face full of false relief and concern, wanting to hug me.

I quickly stepped back, holding up my hand in a silent, gentle barrier. I wasn’t harsh, but the motion created an unmistakable distance. Meera paused, her smile faltering for just a second, before she quickly retreated, understanding the rejection but not commenting on it.

"I will shower first before I join you," I told her, my voice flat.

I locked myself in the bathroom. I stood under the hot water for what felt like forever, the steam hiding the fact that I cried a little. I wasn’t just washing off the day; I was trying to wash off the guilt and the confusion.

When I finally stepped out, I changed into a heavy, warm set of pajamas, layers designed to protect me from her suggestive attire.

I joined her at the dinner table. We ate, and every moment was excruciating. Everything Meera said, her light talk about work, her plans for decorating, her casual mentions of our university friends now happily married, was lost on me. I didn’t listen to any of it.

All I was thinking about was how to solve the impossible puzzle before Saturday midnight. Evric’s face, cold and final, was the only thing I could see. I needed Nantam, and I needed him now.

As soon as we finished dinner, Meera didn’t hesitate. She rushed into my room and settled herself dramatically onto my bed. I knew then I wouldn’t be sleeping there. The thought of sharing a bed with her, under these circumstances, was sickening. I quickly grabbed a blanket and a pillow and went to the living room sofa.

I tossed and turned, replaying Evric’s ultimatum, the separation, and Meera’s insidious presence. It took ages for my mind to quiet down. I was finally drifting toward a fragile sleep when I suddenly felt a hand.

It wasn’t on my chest, or my arm, or any comforting place. It was a firm, deliberate touch on my cock.

I was awake instantly, shock jolting me upright. The hand was stroking me with calculated slowness, an intimate, invasive gesture designed to shock me back into the physical connection she desired.

I jumped up, knocking the blanket to the floor. Meera was kneeling beside the sofa, her face close to mine, completely unbuttoned. Her shirt lay open, revealing her body fully. Her eyes were dark and determined, fully set on seduction.

"STOP!" I yelled, the sound raw and desperate.

I scrambled backward, knocking over the coffee table, and sprinted into my bedroom. I slammed the door shut and twisted the lock. I leaned against the door, breathing hard, heart hammering against my ribs, waiting for her to try the handle. After a long, silent moment, I finally sank onto the floor, pulling myself back together. I eventually moved to the bed and fell into a heavy, exhausted sleep, leaving Meera alone in the living room.

The next morning, I knew what I had to do. The weekend was approaching fast, and I couldn’t face Evric on Saturday without clearing my head. I needed Nantam out.

I called Evans. "I’m going to do it," I said. "I’ll be the one to go bail Nantam out. I know he’s stubborn, but I need his help, and I can’t wait for him to swallow his pride."

Evans understood immediately.

Later that afternoon, I drove to the precinct. The moment Nantam and I set eyes on each other, the air was thick with unspoken history. He looked tired and humbled. I managed to keep my expression neutral.

We drove away from the police station and pulled over onto a quiet side road.

"I need to tell you something important," I said, turning off the ignition.

Nantam looked genuinely surprised. He hadn’t expected me to trust him, let alone seek his advice, after all he’d done. He immediately dropped his defenses. "Okay. I’m listening. Speak then."

"Meera is back," I stated simply.

Nantam frowned. "Back? Okay, what happened?"

"She wants us to get back together."

"Back together?" he echoed, disbelief heavy in his voice.

"Yes," I confirmed.

"What is your reply?" he asked, trying to figure out the complication.

"You should know my reply, Nantam. I’m in a relationship, and I love Evric so much."

Nantam leaned back, bewildered. "Then it’s simple: just tell her that. Besides, you don’t need to tell her, since she’s socialized, she could have seen it herself in the media. I mean, your relationship with Evric is public. So why is she trying to get back with you?"

"That’s the real point," I said, swallowing hard. I had rejected Meera, but her next words had shaken my foundations. "I rejected her, Nantam... and she gave me the biggest shock."

Nantam’s eyes narrowed. "What biggest shock?"

I closed my eyes, took a ragged breath, and plunged into the abyss.

"When Meera and I broke up back then, she told me she was pregnant... and later she gave birth to a baby boy, Nantam. She said I’m the father. And she asked... how she’s supposed to tell our son that his father is gay."

"What?!" Nantam shouted, his voice echoing inside the car.

I stared straight ahead, tears streaming down my face. "Nantam, I’m lost."