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.71Please respect copyright.PENANAnTK5siAkGh
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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.71Please respect copyright.PENANAMx79Q6Rh3s
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Now, it was well past midnight. His stomach growled.71Please respect copyright.PENANAVXXWm18fgY
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He opened the fridge and groaned.71Please respect copyright.PENANAGWljSMiolx
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Half a serving of roasted potatoes. A spoonful of lamb. Maybe two zucchini slices if he was being generous.71Please respect copyright.PENANAJxVQJuhWsz
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“Really, Lamija?” he muttered. “You left me diplomatic scraps.”71Please respect copyright.PENANA1ZmIjBefI1
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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.71Please respect copyright.PENANAKYuXYN7n4h
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As he ate standing at the counter, his thoughts drifted.71Please respect copyright.PENANAtm1PaUV5KP
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Selma.71Please respect copyright.PENANAKhwGRXeIX7
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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.71Please respect copyright.PENANAdBjSc5gFei
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And now there was the matter of telling his mother.71Please respect copyright.PENANAjbR3k1wf1t
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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?71Please respect copyright.PENANAlbzFjsL1Qx
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He didn’t want permission.71Please respect copyright.PENANACfOAZPkmpk
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But he also didn’t want silence.
His mother loved Selma—but would that change if she knew Imran did too?71Please respect copyright.PENANA5vIh5iU9Q8
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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.71Please respect copyright.PENANAid4ej8E8xi
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Caesar.71Please respect copyright.PENANAx0Kso083a5
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The sound tugged at him—equal parts thunder and invitation.71Please respect copyright.PENANAeLbEP9qya6
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He stepped back into the kitchen and outside onto the patio.71Please respect copyright.PENANAmDNVUPa7Jp
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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.71Please respect copyright.PENANAvMIghLNfYu
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In the ring, under the low golden wash of floodlights, Lamija and Caesar moved like they were born from the same force.71Please respect copyright.PENANARpgoQKkJ3y
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She rode him with utter control—no fear, no hesitation. Her posture perfect. Her arms steady. Her face focused.71Please respect copyright.PENANAQdS0d5FqMJ
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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.71Please respect copyright.PENANAt9gjgpG68H
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They were a sight.71Please respect copyright.PENANAOs4q7B53ZF
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Imran leaned against the fence, arms crossed, the corners of his mouth tipping upward.71Please respect copyright.PENANAwoi7jIyY90
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“Would’ve been nice if you left me more than three potatoes,” he called.71Please respect copyright.PENANAoDA63YxrOK
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Lamija’s laugh rang out across the ring. “You came home late. That’s the tax.”71Please respect copyright.PENANAKUIEwC0uTI
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“You eat like royalty and leave your big brother starving. That feels personal.”71Please respect copyright.PENANA6Q2YVKF294
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She slowed Caesar into a wide circle. “I regret nothing.”71Please respect copyright.PENANAfD5oK90sHT
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“How was the meeting?” he asked.71Please respect copyright.PENANAsnLxm7a4JG
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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.”71Please respect copyright.PENANAqGAI4anYFr
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“He’s the one Babo wants?”71Please respect copyright.PENANAVF6S0OuBNT
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“Apparently. You know how he is. Sees an investment portfolio and forgets common sense.”71Please respect copyright.PENANAdN3BbBUISi
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Imran chuckled. “That’s our father.”71Please respect copyright.PENANAAuMqHiM2W2
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“I told him we’d follow up. Politely.”71Please respect copyright.PENANAtp9W1kBmt1
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Imran leaned further into the fence. “Adil called me.”71Please respect copyright.PENANAveUq6xFErF
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Lamija groaned audibly. “What now?”71Please respect copyright.PENANAja9Ud84loW
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“He said Nedim saw the link you sent me on instagram—the Solène purse. The one you so subtly captioned ‘buy me.’”71Please respect copyright.PENANA6KlglTXSGE
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Lamija grinned despite herself. “Subtlety is a lost art.”71Please respect copyright.PENANAlk3jgA0Hoh
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“I already bought it. For Eid. Don’t get cocky.”71Please respect copyright.PENANAG8wVhXSQuf
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“I’m just saying—you understood the assignment.”71Please respect copyright.PENANAz8LfOyPnpt
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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.”71Please respect copyright.PENANABUQ6zVJduV
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Lamija’s expression turned icy. “Did you tell him where to shove it?”71Please respect copyright.PENANAVsK1WlluAJ
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“I may have used slightly more colorful language.. If Babo ever heard him talk like that—”71Please respect copyright.PENANA5RSDRfxvS8
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“He’d light their offices on fire.”71Please respect copyright.PENANAUGlusMkdZU
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“And I’d hand him the match.”71Please respect copyright.PENANATQNDxEh0jU
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They shared a moment of wordless understanding.71Please respect copyright.PENANAWDntkHHjsN
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Caesar snorted, stomping one foot in disapproval of the break.71Please respect copyright.PENANArqltfjqVp3
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Imran scratched his neck. “So... Ayub?”71Please respect copyright.PENANAYceWNBSIff
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Lamija exhaled. “Everyone’s worried I’ll break him. Mama. You. Everyone.”71Please respect copyright.PENANAT8YPvpx7LW
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“He’s been through a lot. That doesn’t mean he’s fragile—but he’s not someone you test just to feel something.”71Please respect copyright.PENANAK9PlMUdb2t
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“I’m not heartless.”71Please respect copyright.PENANAIu94ljsTTN
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“I know. But you’re curious. And with someone like Ayub, that’s not a neutral emotion.”71Please respect copyright.PENANAUsLhmjddib
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Lamija fell quiet, guiding Caesar into another slow pass.71Please respect copyright.PENANAVPUzLGpFfo
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“I don’t want to feel guilty for not feeling the same,” she admitted.71Please respect copyright.PENANA6U12QDrUBp
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“You shouldn’t. You owe no one your affection.”71Please respect copyright.PENANA1CIElejNL0
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“Even if he’s... Ayub?”71Please respect copyright.PENANAJqq6wIO59v
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“Even then.”71Please respect copyright.PENANAlakfnaroe5
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They stood in silence again as Caesar moved. The horse had slowed, sensing the shift in energy, his muscles stretching through the curve.71Please respect copyright.PENANAC2QCciQqAV
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“Still chasing Selma?” Lamija asked after a long beat.71Please respect copyright.PENANAX4ueDCc8UI
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Imran smiled, soft and firm. “I want her, Lamija.”71Please respect copyright.PENANAwJ9gKz6jLL
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“I don’t think she’s ready.”71Please respect copyright.PENANATXEqMsPx2d
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“I can wait.”71Please respect copyright.PENANAmxcNqMbX8j
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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.71Please respect copyright.PENANApAkGfiCfJB
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Lamija laughed. “He thinks you’ve had enough of my attention.”71Please respect copyright.PENANAmlWIqc6AKz
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Imran reached over the fence to scratch Caesar behind the ear. The stallion flared his nostrils, huffed, and—shockingly—leaned into it.71Please respect copyright.PENANAkOiBLSQi8K
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“See?” Imran said smugly. “We’re building trust.”71Please respect copyright.PENANAFtB7x0MZPp
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Lamija rolled her eyes. “Don’t let it go to your head.”71Please respect copyright.PENANAzom2zgT9TW
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“I want to ride him.”71Please respect copyright.PENANAku11KrBYRb
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“Absolutely not.”71Please respect copyright.PENANAi7nL3evMOt
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“I think we’ve reached an understanding.”71Please respect copyright.PENANAaVz3KWNIF0
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“You’ll be broken in half.”71Please respect copyright.PENANAOkuEEHO9Gy
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Imran was already climbing the fence. “Then scatter my ashes with flair.”71Please respect copyright.PENANA2ttXg9mhiU
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Caesar watched him approach like a king tolerating a jester.71Please respect copyright.PENANACH8LaqQPkr
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Imran grabbed the reins gently. “Easy, buddy. Let’s be friends.”71Please respect copyright.PENANAqLpx8mnaBZ
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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.71Please respect copyright.PENANApOuBi8zyyN
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Then came the buck.71Please respect copyright.PENANAS6UReCVbYk
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Then another.71Please respect copyright.PENANA0HEcwHx9Eq
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And on the third, Imran flew.71Please respect copyright.PENANANOoVFmCdMT
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He landed in the dirt with a thud and a very ungraceful grunt.71Please respect copyright.PENANAMBIfs1mINt
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Lamija was already sprinting. “Imran!”71Please respect copyright.PENANAhgf9lGsaLT
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He rolled onto his back, groaning. “I’m alive.”71Please respect copyright.PENANAi3pmazQkNw
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She dropped to her knees beside him. “You’re a certified idiot.”71Please respect copyright.PENANA9Pu40tn3rL
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Caesar trotted to the fence, glared once, and turned his back with a dramatic flick of his tail.71Please respect copyright.PENANAPaEMiZja0v
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“Wow,” Imran muttered. “He’s petty.”71Please respect copyright.PENANAlgIBp9wQFX
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“He gave you ten seconds. That’s a personal record.”71Please respect copyright.PENANARlfxV0vFdQ
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“Tell him I’m open to peace talks.”71Please respect copyright.PENANA7njqQ1Iy75
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Lamija laughed, brushing dust off his hoodie.71Please respect copyright.PENANAEFk2bnWysZ
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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.
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