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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyZX4atsAI
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7raWK1QBYR
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Now, it was well past midnight. His stomach growled.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODrgr4dV3W
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He opened the fridge and groaned.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqF1X9CPsD
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Half a serving of roasted potatoes. A spoonful of lamb. Maybe two zucchini slices if he was being generous.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZ187WWDF0
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“Really, Lamija?” he muttered. “You left me diplomatic scraps.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GZkJUTLGW
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡko5fau3kHk
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As he ate standing at the counter, his thoughts drifted.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijbzWBjF5Q
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Selma.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcFahIGGAF
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfihwvKrRja
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And now there was the matter of telling his mother.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdAUU6kjeM
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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?56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupYvpxNYMO
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He didn’t want permission.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruGxylNqfU
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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?56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVA8DKT1lNI
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlN64Vhivrx
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Caesar.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWG5UsqHJlf
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The sound tugged at him—equal parts thunder and invitation.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0dNwfrLc3
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He stepped back into the kitchen and outside onto the patio.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpSLRXhoRq
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydJXhICMhc
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXmnRYArrk
In the ring, under the low golden wash of floodlights, Lamija and Caesar moved like they were born from the same force.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7MZ29qP1X
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She rode him with utter control—no fear, no hesitation. Her posture perfect. Her arms steady. Her face focused.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sOFDgPK1W
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkEMDwrLar
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They were a sight.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMx4ZEvZsa
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Imran leaned against the fence, arms crossed, the corners of his mouth tipping upward.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qMqZgZc5X
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“Would’ve been nice if you left me more than three potatoes,” he called.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwVSyilsY6
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCyfhzHLW8
Lamija’s laugh rang out across the ring. “You came home late. That’s the tax.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Ks4l5lwEH
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“You eat like royalty and leave your big brother starving. That feels personal.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8M25HROcY1
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xahjouHrg
She slowed Caesar into a wide circle. “I regret nothing.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yGnWtlYVt
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“How was the meeting?” he asked.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKAYg9gO8S
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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.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGlc7XALj4
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WEUjzmdLR
“He’s the one Babo wants?”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbkqTnDbyc
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvh2kNg0Ab3
“Apparently. You know how he is. Sees an investment portfolio and forgets common sense.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vU5x1AglS
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloTtspmTvm
Imran chuckled. “That’s our father.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bw9I1zOqb
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“I told him we’d follow up. Politely.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHcQO08S0J
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchzChWLYfk
Imran leaned further into the fence. “Adil called me.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kry0ceG9q
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Lamija groaned audibly. “What now?”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbcDZvkVa3
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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.’”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWpsA8uJta
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcLedV4zHV
Lamija grinned despite herself. “Subtlety is a lost art.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulaSV5twpt
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“I already bought it. For Eid. Don’t get cocky.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesRibA2vvP
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“I’m just saying—you understood the assignment.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlvEeW0cbj
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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.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2CWF2Rojr
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Lamija’s expression turned icy. “Did you tell him where to shove it?”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJwbgUBco0
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“I may have used slightly more colorful language.. If Babo ever heard him talk like that—”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPxIqHbkdH
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“He’d light their offices on fire.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcU3H3JNTHn
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“And I’d hand him the match.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghjJPP17pr
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They shared a moment of wordless understanding.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHto8VEdnl
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Caesar snorted, stomping one foot in disapproval of the break.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHEqtdiDq7
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LeOXnlQUX
Imran scratched his neck. “So... Ayub?”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGrZsVHc5b
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GAW3woSQV
Lamija exhaled. “Everyone’s worried I’ll break him. Mama. You. Everyone.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcJjGVEzP9
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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.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZp0HoN7ZB
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“I’m not heartless.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrxr2IgHMy
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“I know. But you’re curious. And with someone like Ayub, that’s not a neutral emotion.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzARJahKrk
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IDoGS21kK
Lamija fell quiet, guiding Caesar into another slow pass.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosGz9c0A0x
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“I don’t want to feel guilty for not feeling the same,” she admitted.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8Ow2qURvb
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“You shouldn’t. You owe no one your affection.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkUl5ARged
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“Even if he’s... Ayub?”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SizWoStle
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“Even then.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeSo7XG6BC
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoADLXBMKm
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“Still chasing Selma?” Lamija asked after a long beat.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBopYxn8aIR
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Imran smiled, soft and firm. “I want her, Lamija.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57xqCcJ9Hb
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“I don’t think she’s ready.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXuEEOza3F
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“I can wait.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjQ48L1f4Z
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQ8X4ejRIF
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Lamija laughed. “He thinks you’ve had enough of my attention.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PLKnn0GpB
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYRzU6Zuar
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“See?” Imran said smugly. “We’re building trust.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKwAATvMTl
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Lamija rolled her eyes. “Don’t let it go to your head.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImgFfoUU5q
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“I want to ride him.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcvzVxEp48
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“Absolutely not.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEccqCKweO
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“I think we’ve reached an understanding.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPar083l00
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“You’ll be broken in half.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1eDrGQsef
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Imran was already climbing the fence. “Then scatter my ashes with flair.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wdU68ellF
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Caesar watched him approach like a king tolerating a jester.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0j1iyBgyPQ
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Imran grabbed the reins gently. “Easy, buddy. Let’s be friends.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtWFRCy0Qf
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzSlU5UITc
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Then came the buck.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57yGp3KALD
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Then another.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03wwXVU4hE
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And on the third, Imran flew.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeOXBRPJgp
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He landed in the dirt with a thud and a very ungraceful grunt.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXaaMioEoS
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0cfKEixFE
Lamija was already sprinting. “Imran!”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5hHnVZbAB
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwthkAORmHa
He rolled onto his back, groaning. “I’m alive.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKvVUEgCHv
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She dropped to her knees beside him. “You’re a certified idiot.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoqoiG7OPG
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Caesar trotted to the fence, glared once, and turned his back with a dramatic flick of his tail.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNH8m99PXan
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“Wow,” Imran muttered. “He’s petty.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEydETS2KQ
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“He gave you ten seconds. That’s a personal record.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCK04hQypk
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“Tell him I’m open to peace talks.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzxMrrKn20
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Lamija laughed, brushing dust off his hoodie.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPH4imFdhL
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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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