The house was dark when Imran stepped in, save for the dim kitchen light that always stayed on when someone was expected late. He loosened his tie as he moved through the quiet, his jacket already slung over his arm, the weight of the evening pressing into his shoulders like an old friend.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tYD36ILBe
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq37l7t251a
He had barely walked through the door after the site visit with Ayub when his father called him in to review a stack of new contract proposals. What should have taken an hour turned into four.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34gAHxoDwK
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHQ4cIFjCR
Now, it was well past midnight. His stomach growled.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQ57mwXGOu
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX55bzRLwRf
He opened the fridge and groaned.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNwwthc4DI
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrbkFPz3w7
Half a serving of roasted potatoes. A spoonful of lamb. Maybe two zucchini slices if he was being generous.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBsbWpSdeD
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHFgdvr9Lk
“Really, Lamija?” he muttered. “You left me diplomatic scraps.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAtHZjIJwL
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeEnBpCWU6
He pulled out what little was left and made it work—microwaving the plate while grabbing a bottle of water. It wasn’t a meal. It was survival.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbZ7Ef1HZq
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mxm7VRb2Q
As he ate standing at the counter, his thoughts drifted.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnrse4dL6f
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPntCY5LCLs
Selma.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzEJ4b7jTF
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zJUETLR3L
She hadn’t said much in Lamija’s office that morning—just a polite nod and a quiet smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. That had been enough to make her cross his mind for the rest of the day.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBrO1w2OFl
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sqTGuB86p
And now there was the matter of telling his mother.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGmjC8agD3
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8PSgXK7Ma
How did he explain that the woman he wanted was married one and already had a son? That he didn’t care—not even a little—but that he wasn’t sure how it would be received?119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboRiQBDdpq
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6a2qWl8xN
He didn’t want permission.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNazXG3iO2
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4jTQEl4qp
But he also didn’t want silence.
His mother loved Selma—but would that change if she knew Imran did too?119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV64KAHfSSI
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXuQPWWpl0
He finished his food and rinsed the plate, placing it gently in the dishwasher before grabbing a hoodie off the back of the chair. As he headed out of the kitchen, a sharp whinny sliced through the quiet.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFc25ycavpL
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHEmp3h1Qv
Caesar.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDnqdXm8pH
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7vsgG9WA4
The sound tugged at him—equal parts thunder and invitation.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1pbRMka5R
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTEkrBHv9A
He stepped back into the kitchen and outside onto the patio.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbERHdzmAAT
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfnf6EIGQl
The air was cool and still, heavy with the scent of dew and pine. The night sky stretched endlessly above him, dark and glittering. The gravel crunched under his dress shoes as he walked the stone path to the stables.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqNyhdahmZ
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbx4ZElJGi8
In the ring, under the low golden wash of floodlights, Lamija and Caesar moved like they were born from the same force.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2afLOk7G2
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5CI22poxv
She rode him with utter control—no fear, no hesitation. Her posture perfect. Her arms steady. Her face focused.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQxYSavkxY
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiNkuroWqR
Caesar was a storm wrapped in leather and muscle. His black coat glistened like oil beneath the lights, every motion rippling through him like a wave. His hooves struck the ground with purpose, and every leap over the training poles was clean and commanding.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpETo6HzYx
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhU2fjdPj1
They were a sight.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRYugDjdxP
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYGIGTT2uq
Imran leaned against the fence, arms crossed, the corners of his mouth tipping upward.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtw0bz7RObK
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPcxrFG53c
“Would’ve been nice if you left me more than three potatoes,” he called.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYD8I3yz5Bk
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70o1gt9bif
Lamija’s laugh rang out across the ring. “You came home late. That’s the tax.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6ynsxWIOW
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdo50XmUmH
“You eat like royalty and leave your big brother starving. That feels personal.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGOVH4JgRQ
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6t1wiqOwtE
She slowed Caesar into a wide circle. “I regret nothing.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoVegxDuC4
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziRdraKCRa
“How was the meeting?” he asked.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamqOeqCWtv
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcD3fn1k2uR
Her smile faded into something exasperated. “Called our airport quaint and tried to explain logistics to me like I hadn’t been running international routes since I was twenty.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JbKlW44ty
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnZ634n3aZ
“He’s the one Babo wants?”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jH65DyBCz
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiZdYkXKHr
“Apparently. You know how he is. Sees an investment portfolio and forgets common sense.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtitrUqGz9
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcNT6CmL1c
Imran chuckled. “That’s our father.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFYSq6f3rq
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XCPXCPGwH
“I told him we’d follow up. Politely.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNBcqgHBYm
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaaCd7DFXK
Imran leaned further into the fence. “Adil called me.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHa2O9zLma
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PIBQnKYa0
Lamija groaned audibly. “What now?”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy73kUMcKxv
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwcD4ceutL
“He said Nedim saw the link you sent me on instagram—the Solène purse. The one you so subtly captioned ‘buy me.’”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLQsEUjyI8
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTdFTYncIg
Lamija grinned despite herself. “Subtlety is a lost art.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzlUB55JGp
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBmpFjgBvp
“I already bought it. For Eid. Don’t get cocky.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJm3TUJjKl
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQtLD7E6hX
“I’m just saying—you understood the assignment.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3vB4yJKUi
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbaaQva5PF
Imran smirked. “Nedim wanted to buy it for you. Said it was a way to get his foot into the door. As a peace offering.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwunn9ThgjC
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5i6AyBAju
Lamija’s expression turned icy. “Did you tell him where to shove it?”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgE0f8zcIy
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIWEbT4SLl
“I may have used slightly more colorful language.. If Babo ever heard him talk like that—”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbX3Zt9tHIY
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB08FsTA0Pa
“He’d light their offices on fire.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluoloPX1Mp
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQb0wrEHUI
“And I’d hand him the match.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxSw2hI6ox
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGxl3XUXY0
They shared a moment of wordless understanding.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpMYUVmtq1
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrQYyIn0kK
Caesar snorted, stomping one foot in disapproval of the break.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3aLmdyf2r
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDnhChlVDN
Imran scratched his neck. “So... Ayub?”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUTTWxMdKk
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqRFsuGglJ
Lamija exhaled. “Everyone’s worried I’ll break him. Mama. You. Everyone.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjvCwtROVn
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjPsCWIcYx
“He’s been through a lot. That doesn’t mean he’s fragile—but he’s not someone you test just to feel something.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxlu1N26cQ
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dggyj6ikd
“I’m not heartless.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzso691N5aw
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50tLAnDBUw
“I know. But you’re curious. And with someone like Ayub, that’s not a neutral emotion.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8XWqvEPXl
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDW2dWbsKPB
Lamija fell quiet, guiding Caesar into another slow pass.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiyfL9o4J8
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaUeYFyv4z
“I don’t want to feel guilty for not feeling the same,” she admitted.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtrILHwqIl
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPX7JShLZh
“You shouldn’t. You owe no one your affection.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKs7pAAcNg
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqtw4FYSmt
“Even if he’s... Ayub?”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmR0nexv2v
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZTX5R2hLe
“Even then.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthgisZbvEK
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bg8q38H4F
They stood in silence again as Caesar moved. The horse had slowed, sensing the shift in energy, his muscles stretching through the curve.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxoWUf9CLS
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5roVf1GIKR
“Still chasing Selma?” Lamija asked after a long beat.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKIB4G3OOI
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtmY1VXZsT
Imran smiled, soft and firm. “I want her, Lamija.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IYKyMBfst
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7twBNCYPdS
“I don’t think she’s ready.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1RyRZr92f
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRY5npY6YU
“I can wait.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOuv4uE0ka
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzg3VMCWU2n
Caesar snorted—loud and unamused. He stamped again, this time closer to the fence, and tossed his head like he’d been excluded from the conversation too long.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4abOZUpj3
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYI9abBMSlX
Lamija laughed. “He thinks you’ve had enough of my attention.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5WRBqin6Q
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOXdowJa23
Imran reached over the fence to scratch Caesar behind the ear. The stallion flared his nostrils, huffed, and—shockingly—leaned into it.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4F2Nj729I
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bWitty09w
“See?” Imran said smugly. “We’re building trust.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡai0atSp8yR
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCzgfBWEbk
Lamija rolled her eyes. “Don’t let it go to your head.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1DgeoxbRt
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcb3Rg0mgY
“I want to ride him.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMy51sU9xo
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCSIYcaywv
“Absolutely not.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXwUbZXK2K
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuX2wiHmYBF
“I think we’ve reached an understanding.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxZskqbFB7
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtvaRpiDDu
“You’ll be broken in half.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqHLz1Ry9M
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPtCTsebzw
Imran was already climbing the fence. “Then scatter my ashes with flair.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsRObViySp
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90VAF63t4f
Caesar watched him approach like a king tolerating a jester.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTgQelvEjh
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eXA7rUkHB
Imran grabbed the reins gently. “Easy, buddy. Let’s be friends.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaoKGLFXII
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMd7L1iW8id
He mounted quickly. Caesar didn’t move. He stood frozen lulling Imran into a false sense of security. Then he exploded. He tore through the ring like a bullet with hooves. Imran held on—for one glorious, adrenaline-fueled second.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqMYZkkgSm
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56k1b6TNZ0
Then came the buck.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39NsA7vEQF
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdR00FVGruh
Then another.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECWWYO7PSz
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hbrJl8Gvk
And on the third, Imran flew.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemJfpmyJ7w
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZ6bo21IVF
He landed in the dirt with a thud and a very ungraceful grunt.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDF6kbTQ8Me
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQC6YhvYOlP
Lamija was already sprinting. “Imran!”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlFKHIwBqq
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWHaUddB9d
He rolled onto his back, groaning. “I’m alive.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAg297bevpm
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8NFrr7U3B
She dropped to her knees beside him. “You’re a certified idiot.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa85uuR0RLU
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJQOM0qrUe
Caesar trotted to the fence, glared once, and turned his back with a dramatic flick of his tail.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgv2gLx58f
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAKGzSHUCP
“Wow,” Imran muttered. “He’s petty.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHc103EnOsP
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsRQSV8yvQ
“He gave you ten seconds. That’s a personal record.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzFWLKeTOw
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtFZqUtD5e
“Tell him I’m open to peace talks.”119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpHyqVvUXV
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcX508TrEle
Lamija laughed, brushing dust off his hoodie.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDap1gDGmoz
119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIi7cVmQiA
They sat together on the edge of the ring, shoulders close.
Imran looked at her then. Really looked.
“You know,” he said, “Ayub’s not perfect. But he’s good. And he loves you—not in some distant, poetic way. In a real way. He’d show up. Every day. Quietly. Consistently.”
“I know,” she said softly. “That’s what makes it hard.”
Imran nodded. “You don’t owe him anything. Not a feeling. Not a future.”
“But?” she asked.
“But if there’s even a part of you that wonders what it might look like… to build something real with someone who sees you already?” He paused. “I think you should give him a chance.”
Lamija’s brows drew together, not in resistance—but in something more complicated.
Imran’s voice dropped.
“It hurts less,” he admitted, “when I picture you with someone like him. Someone I trust. Someone who’d protect you like I would—without ever making you small to do it.”
That landed.
Lamija didn’t respond. Not right away. But her posture shifted, her arms uncrossing as she reached down to rest her hand against the fence.
Caesar let out a long breath behind them, the tension in the ring softening.
“I’m not promising anything,” she said quietly.
“I’m not asking you to,” Imran replied. “Just… don’t shut the door before you check what’s behind it.”
Lamija smiled faintly.
“Has anyone ever told you you’d make an excellent therapist?”
Imran grinned. “Only every time you come to me for unsolicited advice.”
She bumped her shoulder into his.
He didn’t push again.
He didn’t need to.
Something had already started to shift.
ns216.73.216.64da2
→ Request update
and then Add to home screen.