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.123Please respect copyright.PENANAqEO527GAxE
123Please respect copyright.PENANAcmW8Lltufr
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.123Please respect copyright.PENANAgUzNCJj6oW
123Please respect copyright.PENANAlj8UzcfSGc
Now, it was well past midnight. His stomach growled.123Please respect copyright.PENANAfxEiRhgkYx
123Please respect copyright.PENANA2EbbwumsuN
He opened the fridge and groaned.123Please respect copyright.PENANAG1v6tYJEds
123Please respect copyright.PENANAGujciCibfX
Half a serving of roasted potatoes. A spoonful of lamb. Maybe two zucchini slices if he was being generous.123Please respect copyright.PENANAzE9d5wNGwx
123Please respect copyright.PENANAqR4ctWShXB
“Really, Lamija?” he muttered. “You left me diplomatic scraps.”123Please respect copyright.PENANAAB1PKFuJmI
123Please respect copyright.PENANAu0DOjwDwBJ
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.123Please respect copyright.PENANAm3RzuEKM5S
123Please respect copyright.PENANAqZPXkQn1qQ
As he ate standing at the counter, his thoughts drifted.123Please respect copyright.PENANAbum0RNPkAq
123Please respect copyright.PENANAXZ4FfqoLbT
Selma.123Please respect copyright.PENANAf6XEnxYnm5
123Please respect copyright.PENANAhr3LlJtnVE
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.123Please respect copyright.PENANAii5Y5ZVO1Z
123Please respect copyright.PENANAiRYFf4Sjgd
And now there was the matter of telling his mother.123Please respect copyright.PENANA6Ogh3KV7xw
123Please respect copyright.PENANAIxcZqCcqLQ
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?123Please respect copyright.PENANAXWz2LLutyT
123Please respect copyright.PENANAfFxToSxwqg
He didn’t want permission.123Please respect copyright.PENANAV0Pj9auuc0
123Please respect copyright.PENANAC7LPsw3V3r
But he also didn’t want silence.
His mother loved Selma—but would that change if she knew Imran did too?123Please respect copyright.PENANAWwev5ineiC
123Please respect copyright.PENANA3WuLHb3txl
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.123Please respect copyright.PENANAM4wnlTgmxS
123Please respect copyright.PENANAwBcCKIf9sJ
Caesar.123Please respect copyright.PENANAhSr2dKqUpC
123Please respect copyright.PENANAqw9y8U6jPB
The sound tugged at him—equal parts thunder and invitation.123Please respect copyright.PENANABFDRLtd4T6
123Please respect copyright.PENANAWQFSFi5uuH
He stepped back into the kitchen and outside onto the patio.123Please respect copyright.PENANA0eZVTYJlIb
123Please respect copyright.PENANA6MHB5tZOFo
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.123Please respect copyright.PENANAt7rSVzrBQq
123Please respect copyright.PENANAkuqRiUBkkT
In the ring, under the low golden wash of floodlights, Lamija and Caesar moved like they were born from the same force.123Please respect copyright.PENANA0si6gwkrXt
123Please respect copyright.PENANAhgGSm65miX
She rode him with utter control—no fear, no hesitation. Her posture perfect. Her arms steady. Her face focused.123Please respect copyright.PENANAVyvjV21AYd
123Please respect copyright.PENANA4LIPa6Szrr
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.123Please respect copyright.PENANAkPY15dBn0b
123Please respect copyright.PENANA5lP5BcnoJO
They were a sight.123Please respect copyright.PENANAkhTSpkXXpD
123Please respect copyright.PENANA1U8IiyBh9q
Imran leaned against the fence, arms crossed, the corners of his mouth tipping upward.123Please respect copyright.PENANAea2YzVV9B0
123Please respect copyright.PENANAb9XMuiZTM5
“Would’ve been nice if you left me more than three potatoes,” he called.123Please respect copyright.PENANAodXBolPfmP
123Please respect copyright.PENANA1GkoT3VIzn
Lamija’s laugh rang out across the ring. “You came home late. That’s the tax.”123Please respect copyright.PENANAtUdUqDWDVu
123Please respect copyright.PENANA9Og7XtyUni
“You eat like royalty and leave your big brother starving. That feels personal.”123Please respect copyright.PENANA5QqX5kGpUm
123Please respect copyright.PENANAYryetB710m
She slowed Caesar into a wide circle. “I regret nothing.”123Please respect copyright.PENANAN3BFIkRqWN
123Please respect copyright.PENANAtpHSU3iQR8
“How was the meeting?” he asked.123Please respect copyright.PENANA63gucFLoue
123Please respect copyright.PENANAoKGnwS8M82
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.”123Please respect copyright.PENANAXMOi91P0Dp
123Please respect copyright.PENANA42XQbg9H4z
“He’s the one Babo wants?”123Please respect copyright.PENANABRiBNFKrzd
123Please respect copyright.PENANABYMs78aZum
“Apparently. You know how he is. Sees an investment portfolio and forgets common sense.”123Please respect copyright.PENANAiT5bmNvFZm
123Please respect copyright.PENANAwF1Gx4voUK
Imran chuckled. “That’s our father.”123Please respect copyright.PENANAYGBSlfiUim
123Please respect copyright.PENANAlLYZCSiDuN
“I told him we’d follow up. Politely.”123Please respect copyright.PENANAoR0FVCCs4B
123Please respect copyright.PENANAqpYpzTEtJr
Imran leaned further into the fence. “Adil called me.”123Please respect copyright.PENANAovliMyNiuC
123Please respect copyright.PENANA39dMX14apG
Lamija groaned audibly. “What now?”123Please respect copyright.PENANA9Mn9IxOhjl
123Please respect copyright.PENANAm3LNZKi5p8
“He said Nedim saw the link you sent me on instagram—the Solène purse. The one you so subtly captioned ‘buy me.’”123Please respect copyright.PENANArRMaqVn0Zx
123Please respect copyright.PENANA4M0r3JOSQS
Lamija grinned despite herself. “Subtlety is a lost art.”123Please respect copyright.PENANAfNrVGTGHZq
123Please respect copyright.PENANAvjTMCAIzvo
“I already bought it. For Eid. Don’t get cocky.”123Please respect copyright.PENANAj98OOAp0Vt
123Please respect copyright.PENANAgxXuouTxA0
“I’m just saying—you understood the assignment.”123Please respect copyright.PENANAoLbKuDSSQW
123Please respect copyright.PENANA3NhpmwBEjt
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.”123Please respect copyright.PENANAgERv41fb5j
123Please respect copyright.PENANAlK56snwVMD
Lamija’s expression turned icy. “Did you tell him where to shove it?”123Please respect copyright.PENANAirl1rYenhd
123Please respect copyright.PENANA9jGbjWojjx
“I may have used slightly more colorful language.. If Babo ever heard him talk like that—”123Please respect copyright.PENANAs89eL44XXD
123Please respect copyright.PENANAxRay4gejhn
“He’d light their offices on fire.”123Please respect copyright.PENANAYeuT3fqHHd
123Please respect copyright.PENANAwgreX7rYgF
“And I’d hand him the match.”123Please respect copyright.PENANAIjRFP16P3I
123Please respect copyright.PENANAJYpwAxC5mh
They shared a moment of wordless understanding.123Please respect copyright.PENANA9rQOqfKzyF
123Please respect copyright.PENANAPRdcxW3fHY
Caesar snorted, stomping one foot in disapproval of the break.123Please respect copyright.PENANAMTcAwWkDPR
123Please respect copyright.PENANARU8NDj0P5N
Imran scratched his neck. “So... Ayub?”123Please respect copyright.PENANA4kKgWxsZ1k
123Please respect copyright.PENANAAHccTg6Vkn
Lamija exhaled. “Everyone’s worried I’ll break him. Mama. You. Everyone.”123Please respect copyright.PENANAWOBp3Dkyyv
123Please respect copyright.PENANAebnWZiskRC
“He’s been through a lot. That doesn’t mean he’s fragile—but he’s not someone you test just to feel something.”123Please respect copyright.PENANAAMgLXm6Z0T
123Please respect copyright.PENANAdpRlcZNHcc
“I’m not heartless.”123Please respect copyright.PENANAZpHB36bku2
123Please respect copyright.PENANAQyFjSy6QHO
“I know. But you’re curious. And with someone like Ayub, that’s not a neutral emotion.”123Please respect copyright.PENANAIVCH8ViTSm
123Please respect copyright.PENANAE14ibAffA2
Lamija fell quiet, guiding Caesar into another slow pass.123Please respect copyright.PENANA3hKKxykVze
123Please respect copyright.PENANAiprrbySgcA
“I don’t want to feel guilty for not feeling the same,” she admitted.123Please respect copyright.PENANAl1Xe5tgzEM
123Please respect copyright.PENANAc5S6rpECyc
“You shouldn’t. You owe no one your affection.”123Please respect copyright.PENANARbqLgEsz0Y
123Please respect copyright.PENANAjwhQI52OQh
“Even if he’s... Ayub?”123Please respect copyright.PENANA3VJFKUtRVu
123Please respect copyright.PENANA5BVdWJDlqi
“Even then.”123Please respect copyright.PENANA2cL0rDUyH1
123Please respect copyright.PENANApqoj7NnyzD
They stood in silence again as Caesar moved. The horse had slowed, sensing the shift in energy, his muscles stretching through the curve.123Please respect copyright.PENANAoLE2AolEmU
123Please respect copyright.PENANAWYtmy6BGPU
“Still chasing Selma?” Lamija asked after a long beat.123Please respect copyright.PENANAmHFvTyyPwG
123Please respect copyright.PENANAiLPK1vFSd7
Imran smiled, soft and firm. “I want her, Lamija.”123Please respect copyright.PENANAwTDryuMoxs
123Please respect copyright.PENANAzv1zezL6r9
“I don’t think she’s ready.”123Please respect copyright.PENANAaosgvQvwiq
123Please respect copyright.PENANAGV0K2Lm9nM
“I can wait.”123Please respect copyright.PENANA3wKU1i9K3l
123Please respect copyright.PENANAOa4D4KkgXk
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.123Please respect copyright.PENANAic21rsNfpL
123Please respect copyright.PENANAHx2gkhHPkU
Lamija laughed. “He thinks you’ve had enough of my attention.”123Please respect copyright.PENANA781ox8SgyN
123Please respect copyright.PENANADxJTB4t7Zc
Imran reached over the fence to scratch Caesar behind the ear. The stallion flared his nostrils, huffed, and—shockingly—leaned into it.123Please respect copyright.PENANArvzDJtF1j2
123Please respect copyright.PENANAHFEeWHwV5j
“See?” Imran said smugly. “We’re building trust.”123Please respect copyright.PENANA7inPRd3EhS
123Please respect copyright.PENANAusrcMbXTBY
Lamija rolled her eyes. “Don’t let it go to your head.”123Please respect copyright.PENANA4tDTot8NV1
123Please respect copyright.PENANA53XXObM7Xm
“I want to ride him.”123Please respect copyright.PENANAhBHALn5zK7
123Please respect copyright.PENANAIFo17Crg9q
“Absolutely not.”123Please respect copyright.PENANAlX5ec7Qpti
123Please respect copyright.PENANA0Q1BkmJjb4
“I think we’ve reached an understanding.”123Please respect copyright.PENANA3Aicih2xCu
123Please respect copyright.PENANAs8nGcR55TZ
“You’ll be broken in half.”123Please respect copyright.PENANA88UTC3HDeA
123Please respect copyright.PENANAuXjez1xbQC
Imran was already climbing the fence. “Then scatter my ashes with flair.”123Please respect copyright.PENANAognjxu8u8V
123Please respect copyright.PENANAe5xEGueKjs
Caesar watched him approach like a king tolerating a jester.123Please respect copyright.PENANAlEmvlGz167
123Please respect copyright.PENANA87ftMizqMn
Imran grabbed the reins gently. “Easy, buddy. Let’s be friends.”123Please respect copyright.PENANAFYtFBg0ipp
123Please respect copyright.PENANAsx0LXsfepX
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.123Please respect copyright.PENANABfKYz3vikV
123Please respect copyright.PENANAjERUdDJyPG
Then came the buck.123Please respect copyright.PENANAnrsQ6QpPck
123Please respect copyright.PENANAc3CrERcj6V
Then another.123Please respect copyright.PENANApWbcLMCy8I
123Please respect copyright.PENANAfIx9znrGtb
And on the third, Imran flew.123Please respect copyright.PENANA2V8wYlROD6
123Please respect copyright.PENANA9uWa9Nj250
He landed in the dirt with a thud and a very ungraceful grunt.123Please respect copyright.PENANAtkY9cI0R2n
123Please respect copyright.PENANA5iB2JTLxTE
Lamija was already sprinting. “Imran!”123Please respect copyright.PENANAN18C1kyyDt
123Please respect copyright.PENANA4lRZM9x54F
He rolled onto his back, groaning. “I’m alive.”123Please respect copyright.PENANA58RNykBDrh
123Please respect copyright.PENANAzE8M8UXM4o
She dropped to her knees beside him. “You’re a certified idiot.”123Please respect copyright.PENANA0ALbZqwlkP
123Please respect copyright.PENANA360DoAenH9
Caesar trotted to the fence, glared once, and turned his back with a dramatic flick of his tail.123Please respect copyright.PENANAij8fKFhzsH
123Please respect copyright.PENANAaovstdAScy
“Wow,” Imran muttered. “He’s petty.”123Please respect copyright.PENANAAbIaGJLZYI
123Please respect copyright.PENANAR7hVabqL4n
“He gave you ten seconds. That’s a personal record.”123Please respect copyright.PENANAHMn6nQtpM4
123Please respect copyright.PENANAVQDhik52id
“Tell him I’m open to peace talks.”123Please respect copyright.PENANA9N2jq2AeFz
123Please respect copyright.PENANAbKWjX0x6Sz
Lamija laughed, brushing dust off his hoodie.123Please respect copyright.PENANA21GFPmDnsD
123Please respect copyright.PENANAY8tHr8Ioim
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.
ns216.73.216.0da2