A month has almost passed by since Sahara has asked for a divorce. You would think she's tried to get herself together but she's gotten worst than before.

She does not eat properly, she keeps forgetting to keep herself hydrated, her eyes are puffy and red from crying, and her under eyes are dark from rarely sleeping.

She looks as if she lost a couple of pounds, her cheekbones sunken in, her once fuller adorable face has sharper features, her hands look almost boney, her lips almost colourless, and peeling from dehydration.

She hasn't spoken much since that day, she mostly keeps to herself in her room. She hasn't informed her aunt and uncle about the divorce plans, she knows her uncle will not take this lightly. A Muslim girl who becomes divorced is known to be "used and tainted" to their relatives and friends. Her uncle will not be pleased at all.

Every time she hears the door bell ring, she panics and her heart drops, thinking he finally sent the papers for divorce. It's been almost a month but there's no sign of the papers.

She wonders if he's going around with different girls all the time now? Maybe he's only with Stella. He surely has the freedom now. The thought makes her skin crawl and her heart ache. He used to be my Damian... was he ever my Damian? Did I ever really have him?

• • •

Ria is trying to study for her exams but this whole month, she's been trying to help Sahara get back on her feet, with no success. Viktor drops by often to check up on the girls.

"How do we get our old Sahara back?" Ria couldn't focus on studying.

Viktor has come by today to check up on Sahara progress, but there's no improvement, "I don't know... I know the mere mentioning of his name irks you. However, Damian's doing just as worst."

"You're right, I don't care about him! You said that last time and he was doing fine! Actually he was doing that Stella bitc– Tell him to bring my Sahara back to me!!! What did he do to her??" Ria becomes angry at the thought of Damian.

Viktor sighs, "This is how love and heartbreaks work."

"Love?? What love? One sided love?"

"You don't understand... the reason why Damian let her go, without fighting for her, was because he loves her. This is the most unselfish decision he's ever made..." Viktor's not sure if he should continue.

"What the bloody hell do you mean?" Ria says in the most confused tone.

Viktor sighs, "He wanted her to have a better future with someone who will treat her better because he loves her. There is no damn way he would've made this decision if he didn't love her."

"What the hell are you... are you serious?" Ria face palms. "Okay, tell me how he's doing. I want to know."

Viktor raises an eyebrow. "Yes, I'm sure. Stop giving me that look." Ria rolls her eyes.

"He's in the exact same way as Sahara, except he's become thing big ball of negative being. He's always yelling at everyone in the office. He's always being rude for no real reason towards other people. He looks shitty in general."

"Oh, yikes... this is why I ask myself, is love worth destroying yourself over?" Ria asks.

"Love is worth everything... no matter how much it hurts, it'll always be worth it..." Viktor looks at Ria with soft eyes.

• • •

Viktor opens the door as someone was knocking on Ria's door and she was busy. To his surprise it's Imran.

"Imran? What are you doing here? How did you know about this place?" Viktor looks a little shocked.

Ria leans on her chair to get a better view of the the door, "Oh my, is it the handsome as hell Imran that Sahara told me about?"

Viktor looks back at Ria, giving her a dirty. Imran lets out a small laugh.

He clears his throat, "I'm here to see Sahara, actually. I heard she's going through a lot."

"Come in!" Ria says. "Stop blocking the door, Viktor, jeez. Let the handsome man inside."

Viktor gives Imran a dirty look but let's him inside.

Ria motions for him to sit on the couch and he takes a seat.

Imran begins talking, "So... I heard Damian and Sahara didn't work out... so sorry to hear that. But to tell you the truth, Damian was never a one woman man, his behaviour was pretty much expected by everyo–"

"Ahemmmm!" Viktor interrupts.

"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to... uh... actually, I'm here to ask Sahara out to my mum's charity event." Imran nervously plays with the thread on his shirt.

Ria smirks, "Oh? Let me bring Sahara out."

Viktor grabs Ria's arm and turns to look at Imran, "Will you excuse us for a moment?"

He leads Ria into the kitchen, "Are you sure about this? Don't you think it's too soon?"

"She's been holed up in that room for almost a month, Viktor. I think it's been more than enough time. She needs to go out and get some fresh air. Plus, he's pretty cute."

"Can you stop calling him cute?" Viktor doesn't have a single hint if humour in his tone. His face changes into something stern, "I don't like it when you call him that."

Ria looks shocked at how serious Viktor is getting. Unconsciously, she nods, agreeing to not call Imran cute... out loud.

His face quickly changes back to the soft and carefree features, "Okay, lets call Sahara out."

• • •

Imran quickly stands up at the sight of Sahara. This is a completely different girl from the one who he shortly danced with at the party months ago.

"Sahara! Hello! How are you doing?" Imran silently scolds himself for asking that question because she clearly looks distraught.

Sahara gives him a weak smile, "I'm holding up. Thank you for asking. How are you?"

Still as polite as ever, how did Damian let go of such an angel? Imran thinks to himself. "I'm good, I'm good, thanks for asking. My mum, Angela Colombo, I'm sure you remember her, she's holding a charity event and I was wondering if you'd like to go with me?"

Sahara taken back by the offer, looks at Viktor and Ria, who are nodding, telling her to take the offer.

"Um... that... that's very nice of you and I'm honoured but I do not think–"

"SHE'LL GO!" Ria blurts out to Sahara's horror.

"Oh, that's great! Thank you so much! For a second, I thought I was going to have to attend alone." Imran let's out a sigh of relief as he runs his fingers through his hair. That move really triggered Sahara as it was a habit of Damian's when he became stressed.

"Sahara becomes a little uncomfortable with people she hasn't spent a lot of time with, so maybe if you guys hang out together a few times before the event, that'd be great." Ria says.

"I was thinking the same." Viktor agrees.

"However, not alone. Viktor and I will be joining you as well." Ria adds with a protective tone.

"Yes, of course, that's fine!" Imran smiles.

Sahara interrupts their plan, "Is anyone going to ask for my opinion? What if I don't want to go–"

Viktor taps Sahara's shoulders, "Sahara, it's mail for you."

Sahara looks at it confused until she realizes who it's from, her face is drained of all its blood... it's from the divorce lawyer. It's finally here and her heart sinks to her stomach. She feels sick as reality sinks in. He sent it, Damian actually sent the papers. It's actually over.

She could feels tears sting her eyes but quickly wipes them away before they have a chance to fall. She fixes her posture and sits up straight, this is the new beginning she's so desperately wanted, right?

She puts a smile on her face, "Actually, I'll take you up on that offer." She takes the notepad and pen from the table and scribbles her number on the paper, "Here's my number. Text me the date and time, and I'll make sure to be there."

Imran becomes a little flabbergasted because of how straightforward Sahara became in the matter of seconds, "O-okay," he takes the paper, "I'll text you, then." She nods.

They say their goodbyes and the moment Ria closes the door, Sahara falls down to the floor. "He sent the papers, Ria. He sent the divorce papers... I didn't think he would... I didn't..."

"Hey..." Ria puts her arms around Sahara, "Shhh... It'll be okay. Maybe it's for the best, maybe you two weren't meant to be... Maybe he's doing this all for you. So you can have a second chance at happiness."

"I wanted my second chance at happiness with him, I don't want this, I really don't want this. I don't think I can sign the papers." Sahara begins sobbing loudly.

Viktor looks away as he thinks to himself, love is a crazy thing, you do things for the other person thinking you made the right decision for them but it might not be right at the end...

• • •

Ria has tucked Sahara into bed and told her to rest. She comes out into living room and sees Viktor holding the divorce papers.

"Wait... how come Damian didn't sign the papers?" Viktor asks, looking confused.

Ria crinkles her eyebrows in confusion as well, "What do you mean?"

"He sent the papers... He's supposed to sign it first and then send it to Sahara to sign it... His part of the signature isn't there... And it says that everything would go according to their prenup, hm..."

"What are you trying to say? He didn't send the papers himself?" Ria now examining the papers. "And what about the prenup?"

"I don't know... I mean, maybe, he wants her to sign it first, but something doesn't seem right because Damian and Sahara never created a prenuptial agreement when they married... You know what, don't let Sahara sign the papers yet, I need to do some digging." Viktor really felt like something is off about these papers. There is no way will he let Sahara sign the papers if there's any risks.

Ria nods, "It's better if you clarify everything. I don't want Sahara signing up for some kind of shady deal." Viktor nods in agreement.

• • •

"So, did you send Sahara the papers yet?" Viktor causally asks Damian as he leans a giants Damian's desk.

Damian's attractive features look sunken in as if he hasn't slept in months, his face has a five o'clock shadow making him look a lot older than he is. He looks broken.

Damian rubs his temple, "Does it look like I even came close to calling my fucking lawyer yet, let alone have the papers delivered to her?" Then, he looks up at Viktor with a startling look, "Why? Is Sahara asking for the papers? Is she going to contact a lawyer herself?"

Viktor looks "Hold on, mate. You didn't send the papers? Then who– I mean, no, she barely speaks anymore. She hasn't mentioned anything about the papers."

Damian looks almost relieved, "Vik, I don't know if I can get myself to sign the divorce papers... I don't think I can let Sahara go..."

Viktor sighs, "Look, I can't tell you what to do when it comes to such a serious situation. And I know this is going to sound cheesy as fuck, but, follow your heart. There's a chance it might take you to two, both, to the right place."

"I want her back– no, I need her back. When I try to sleep, all I hear are her cries. When I'm awake, all I hear are her soft laughter. I crave her mere touch almost every few minutes, I'm fucking going insane." Damian's voice cracks, "But I guess this is what I deserve for realizing I'm in love with her so bloody late, for running away from my feelings about her for so fucking long until it was too goddamn late."

Viktor's eyes widen, he finally admitted it, oh my gosh, he finally admitted it, "Mate, are you fucking serious? You're in love with her? Are you joking?"

"Does my appearance give you some kind of a joking vibe?" He says sarcastically.

"Ah man, I can't believe I'm about to expose this but Imran is taking Sahara as his plus one to Angela's charity event." Viktor quickly shields his face with his hands expecting Damian to throw a fit.

"HE WHAT?!"

As a continued to shield himself, he says, "And they're going on a not-really-a-date kind of date to get to know each other..."

Damian clenches his fists, "What kind of a fucking joke is Imran trying to play on me? There is no fucking way I'm letting this happen. Besides, Sahara wouldn't do it, right?"

"I've got bad news for you, mate, Sahara agreed to it... so you might want to rethink that..."

He sinks down in his chair and clutches his stomach. Damian felt a punch in his stomach right when Viktor said that. Sahara agreed? She agreed? I should be happy that she's moving on but I'm not, I can't let this happen, I'm so sorry I can't let anyone else have her. I need her desperately. She's mine, she will always be mine. I'll have it no other way...

• • •

For the first time in almost a month, Sahara is genuinely laughing and it's not with Damian, it's with Imran. Is this is the fresh start she's been asking for? The new beginning? Then, why does it feel so wrong? Why does it feel like this is not the new beginning she needed?

- - -

A/N: a lot of you were hating the crap out of Damian in my last update, LMAOOOO 😂! But he totally deserves it after all he's done. 😩 He finally admits to his feelings, but don't ya think it's a little too late? 🤔

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