Chapter Eleven: The First Blow Always Hurts

Ayla didn't flinch.

She stood in the doorway, her fingers curled loosely at her sides, trying not to show how fast her heart was racing.

Adelina looked pristine. Hair pinned tight. Heels sharp enough to cut. She didn't dress for coffee — she dressed for conquest.

"You're in my home," Ayla said, voice calm. "If you're going to insult me, at least wait until I offer you tea."

Adelina arched a brow. "Spoken like a good little contract wife."

Ayla stepped aside, gesturing. "Then come in. You can leave your arrogance at the door."

For a moment, neither moved.

Then Adelina walked in like she owned the floor.

✧

They sat at the dining table. No one else around. Just the silence of a too-perfect penthouse and the tension of two women who both wore the same man's name in their mouths — one past, one present.

"I came here out of respect," Adelina said, removing her gloves one finger at a time. "To offer you a chance to walk away quietly."

Ayla poured tea with a steady hand. "From what?"

Adelina smiled.

"From Leo. From the Darmawan name. From a marriage you didn't earn and clearly don't understand."

She leaned in.

"You think being pregnant means you've won? I've known Leo longer than you've known how to wear designer shoes. He doesn't fall in love. He builds alliances."

Ayla let her speak.

Then, softly:

"Then I must be a better alliance than you."

Adelina's smile vanished.

✧

Across the city, Leo stood at the edge of a boardroom table, arms folded.

"I'm not terminating the marriage," he said flatly.

One of the shareholders sighed. "Leo, your engagement to Adelina was announced publicly. Do you know what this Ayla situation looks like to investors?"

"It looks like a man doing what's right," Leo said. "And if the board's priorities are optics over substance, then maybe I need new partners."

A tense silence.

Then his mother's voice cut through, smooth and icy.

"You're willing to burn legacy over a girl who didn't even finish law school?"

Leo turned slowly.

"I'm willing to protect the woman carrying my child. And if you call her 'girl' again, I won't forget it."

✧

Back in the penthouse, Ayla had had enough.

She stood.

"I didn't come into Leo's life to destroy your future. I was running from something. I didn't expect him to care. I didn't even want him to."

Adelina narrowed her eyes. "Then why stay?"

Ayla's voice shook — but only with clarity.

"Because he held my hand at my weakest and didn't flinch. Because he listened. And because for once, I feel safe."

Adelina stared at her. And for the first time… her eyes flickered.

A crack in the ice.

Just for a second.

Then she stood, adjusted her coat, and dropped one more blow before she left:

"Then enjoy the safety while it lasts. Because Leo may protect you, but he's still mine when it counts."

Ayla didn't answer.

She just closed the door behind her.

Then locked it.

✧

That night, Leo came home late.

He found Ayla in the nursery, sitting on the floor beside the crib that hadn't been assembled yet, a bottle of water in one hand and the unopened envelope from Ilham in the other.

"You look like you've been through war," he said gently.

"I had tea with your ex-fiancée."

Leo tensed. "What did she want?"

"She wants your name back."

He moved toward her, knelt.

"She can have the name," he said softly. "But she'll never have the man again."

Ayla didn't look up. "I'm not sure I'm ready for this fight."

Leo reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"Then I'll fight until you are."

To be continued...