Chapter 6 Defiance!

• Dalia took a deep breath, trying to control the storm of anger raging inside her. She exhaled slowly, but her gaze remained cold and full of vigilance.
• “Dalia, please forgive Dallen. He didn’t mean it like that,” said Gracie, the woman standing beside Dallen, with a thin smile that seemed almost taunting.
• Dalia tilted her head slightly, her brow furrowed in confusion. Why was this woman suddenly being so friendly and even apologizing? It only took her a few seconds to realize something. Dalia’s gaze sharpened, like a knife ready to strike deep.
• “Sir, you might want to reconsider your relationship,” Gracie said without hesitation. “This Dalia has a disabled daughter who will surely drain your finances.”
• Her tone was soft, but each word felt like a dagger deliberately plunged into her. Dalia clenched her fists by her sides, fighting hard to suppress the anger threatening to erupt. She turned around, facing Dallen and Gracie directly.
• “Funny, isn’t it?” said Dalia, her voice as cold as ice. “Some people claim they don’t care and don’t need you, yet they’re still busy meddling in your life. Usually, people like that are unhappy with their own lives. You’re unhappy, aren’t you?”
• Dallen’s face turned red, his anger boiling over. He straightened up, glaring at Dalia with eyes full of hatred. “Hah! Poor woman, listen carefully. My life is far happier with Gracie than it ever was with you!”
• Dalia gave a faint smile, but her gaze was piercing, making anyone who looked at her feel an overwhelming pressure. “Oh, really? If you’re so happy, then prove it. Stop bothering me, stop bothering Amara, and get on with finalizing the divorce,” she replied in a calm tone, yet one that carried an unwavering firmness.
• Gracie, who had been smiling thinly all this time, stepped closer and gently stroked Dalia’s shoulder, as if trying to ease the tension. But Dalia subtly brushed her hand away and even pulled out a tissue to wipe the spot Gracie had touched.
• “Dalia, don’t be mad,” said Gracie, this time in a syrupy, overly sweet tone. “We mean well. We just want your new boyfriend to know the real situation. That way, he can prepare for the extra expenses. But, come to think of it, is there even a single man out there who would want to marry a woman with a child, especially a disabled one?”
• A small laugh escaped Dalia’s lips. However, her laugh felt sharp, like a blade slicing slowly. She stared deeply at Gracie, making the other woman visibly uneasy.
• “Whether or not they want to is none of your business,” Dalia replied in a calm yet emphatic tone. “Amara may not have been born perfect, but at least she was born in a legitimate relationship—not the result of an accident or a marriage that only happened because someone got pregnant first.”
• Gracie’s face suddenly turned pale. Her lips moved, as if wanting to retort, but no words came out.
• “Dalia! You—!”
• “Apologies,” Dalia cut in, her voice growing even colder. “I don’t have much time to chat with the likes of you. You’re not in my league.”
• With poise, Dalia turned and nodded to Elzar, the man who had been standing nearby. Without needing words, Elzar understood and immediately walked alongside Dalia, leaving the couple behind.
• Dallen stood frozen, his body seemingly paralyzed. His eyes remained fixed on Dalia’s retreating figure. Questions swirled in his mind. Who was this new Dalia he had just encountered? She wasn’t the Dalia he used to know—the one who always obeyed, never objected, and remained silent. This Dalia was different—bold, assertive, and unyielding, sending a chill down his spine.
• Meanwhile, Dalia walked with her head bowed beside Elzar. Shame gnawed at her—not for herself, but for Dallen and Gracie’s behavior, which continued to haunt her thoughts. The sharp words she had thrown earlier had brought her a fleeting sense of satisfaction, but a lingering discomfort was hard to ignore.
• In contrast, Elzar seemed completely unbothered, as though the incident earlier had been nothing more than a passing breeze. His nonchalant demeanor gave Dalia some relief, even though her heart was still in turmoil.
• It didn’t take long for them to arrive in front of an ICU room. Dalia stopped in her tracks, her gaze falling on an older woman lying weakly on the hospital bed, her frail body connected to various medical devices. The woman looked so fragile, her breathing steady only thanks to the machines keeping her alive.
• Dalia didn’t know the woman, but from the sadness and resignation in Elzar’s eyes, she could tell that this was his mother.
• The room was so silent that even their breaths were barely audible. Dalia stood beside Elzar without saying a word, trying to give him space to process his emotions. But deep down, she felt awkward—not knowing what to do or say.
• Minutes passed, and suddenly, Dalia’s phone vibrated, breaking the suffocating silence. She slowly pulled it out, careful not to disturb the somber atmosphere. Her eyes scanned the screen, reading the message that had just come in.
• It was from the daycare where Amara was staying.
• Mrs. Dalia, the daycare will close soon. Please pick up Amara.
• Dalia let out a long sigh. She glanced at the watch on her left wrist, realizing that time was quickly running out before the daycare’s closing. A look of unease spread across her face. She glanced at Elzar, who remained frozen, staring at his mother through the ICU’s glass wall.
• Should she interrupt him? Or should she leave without saying goodbye?
• Before Dalia could voice her dilemma, Elzar suddenly spoke, his voice soft yet clear, “You can go home now.”
• Dalia was startled. The man hadn’t turned to look at her, his eyes still fixed on the woman lying helplessly in the ICU bed.
• For a moment, Dalia stood frozen. His words were calm, but there was something in his tone that made it hard for her to just walk away. “We’ll continue this tomorrow,” Elzar said suddenly, as if sensing the turmoil in Dalia’s mind. His gaze still didn’t waver from the woman behind the glass. “By tomorrow morning, I want today’s report on my desk.”
• Dalia gave a small nod, though the confusion on her face hadn’t completely disappeared. “Understood, sir,” she replied softly. She gave a slight bow out of respect before turning to leave.
• Her steps, however, faltered when three men in black suits suddenly appeared in the corridor behind her. They approached with steady, deliberate strides, their large builds and imposing presence like living walls of intimidation.
• Dalia froze, her heartbeat quickening. She didn’t recognize these men, but something about the way they looked at her—expressionless, sharp, and full of hidden intent—made her feel uneasy.
• “Sir… what’s the meaning of this?” Dalia asked, her voice trembling slightly as her eyes darted to Elzar’s back, which remained tall and unmoving.
• Elzar slowly turned to face her, his expression unreadable and cold. The icy look in his eyes only deepened Dalia’s anxiety.