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.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwtHeHH4eF
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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.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsQesaTLiv
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Now, it was well past midnight. His stomach growled.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KhloocTPE
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He opened the fridge and groaned.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLs8iozzjr8
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Half a serving of roasted potatoes. A spoonful of lamb. Maybe two zucchini slices if he was being generous.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1BI61Aipl
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyotijmb7Hi
“Really, Lamija?” he muttered. “You left me diplomatic scraps.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dcxlaN6Ir
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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.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFnVfDDM5w
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As he ate standing at the counter, his thoughts drifted.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2FKJjMWJC
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwIsIR1km4
Selma.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5A7aJ2WaL
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwz684ibUs
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.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggEMCCPftd
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLp2F6w6If6
And now there was the matter of telling his mother.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbdOLjGH00
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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?126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwSq35dyjJ
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YIQWqIyFD
He didn’t want permission.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uDHSClLid
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyZfKOJ7d0
But he also didn’t want silence.
His mother loved Selma—but would that change if she knew Imran did too?126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzE0LFXZsVF
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2s2TIaGNv
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.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3IBpi4ZxU
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNRgCTeDT8
Caesar.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhapFVnBOsv
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlrrC2ZiTq
The sound tugged at him—equal parts thunder and invitation.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2h8I3YAdey
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bGqvnPy3D
He stepped back into the kitchen and outside onto the patio.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEsjduW9ek
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVnisl1ZS0
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.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzU7F05q5Bo
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuCevXa1tb
In the ring, under the low golden wash of floodlights, Lamija and Caesar moved like they were born from the same force.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKa19s82ToX
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZh7jBx93VC
She rode him with utter control—no fear, no hesitation. Her posture perfect. Her arms steady. Her face focused.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhT3p1RWODg
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeJ6tMKZus
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.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6rwOmDxcN
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They were a sight.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGtvhEqnBp
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Imran leaned against the fence, arms crossed, the corners of his mouth tipping upward.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqg5AD0OxY
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuj5htirf0R
“Would’ve been nice if you left me more than three potatoes,” he called.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklmKRgDbjH
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtlcQfftWn
Lamija’s laugh rang out across the ring. “You came home late. That’s the tax.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYR1mBNxdTJ
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgL6JNDMzxn
“You eat like royalty and leave your big brother starving. That feels personal.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyY2w7PRMSr
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3WibCK4Lw
She slowed Caesar into a wide circle. “I regret nothing.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEMVguJwS9
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“How was the meeting?” he asked.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99QLwLsiGl
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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.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp18Cf902rK
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmiVsNrvdL
“He’s the one Babo wants?”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7A2RXZ6XL6
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFEhe35eqE
“Apparently. You know how he is. Sees an investment portfolio and forgets common sense.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswvqHJlYWQ
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwp4uYE9Lzm
Imran chuckled. “That’s our father.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97d8AhoFC9
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LzNox938J
“I told him we’d follow up. Politely.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCeDVoLh6w
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSk3oNRoRUW
Imran leaned further into the fence. “Adil called me.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjEsV7tyNt
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlG46W396Td
Lamija groaned audibly. “What now?”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sn6BsEYcN
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSJwj8WpVa
“He said Nedim saw the link you sent me on instagram—the Solène purse. The one you so subtly captioned ‘buy me.’”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoAjpElrbo
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXpCsZFCRO
Lamija grinned despite herself. “Subtlety is a lost art.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMQ2bOuONy
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfZmzSWmNq
“I already bought it. For Eid. Don’t get cocky.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizx171KQMO
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEp3gm0V9Lo
“I’m just saying—you understood the assignment.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9JcdXH5jK
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAwRHTR6AL
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.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MeR2ACIJB
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmbmtrYUJ3
Lamija’s expression turned icy. “Did you tell him where to shove it?”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO87wr9iZ6z
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwx7aq6RzRU
“I may have used slightly more colorful language.. If Babo ever heard him talk like that—”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzPzo3PZwE
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlw0CZo2RqB
“He’d light their offices on fire.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUzYgiBuKF
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“And I’d hand him the match.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPiOsICUHiV
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They shared a moment of wordless understanding.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSvHwQ6MrZ
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Caesar snorted, stomping one foot in disapproval of the break.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijUkk4nL6k
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQ2taPhEap
Imran scratched his neck. “So... Ayub?”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtzEYyHTtj
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY58iao4wRw
Lamija exhaled. “Everyone’s worried I’ll break him. Mama. You. Everyone.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfa2fyNryx
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpm4tLkA5g
“He’s been through a lot. That doesn’t mean he’s fragile—but he’s not someone you test just to feel something.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8DQaQdUAb
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“I’m not heartless.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvYub21jtl
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCq1sKveaC
“I know. But you’re curious. And with someone like Ayub, that’s not a neutral emotion.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugdR8kPFQC
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTE6alF2kC
Lamija fell quiet, guiding Caesar into another slow pass.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNphGhDUlSf
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ergr4GHsf
“I don’t want to feel guilty for not feeling the same,” she admitted.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWau8CJGCA
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTk9DbSMeq
“You shouldn’t. You owe no one your affection.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJ17oXzqCy
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv83temCzOp
“Even if he’s... Ayub?”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGkYcKyJLj
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“Even then.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJpjLuChWW
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMarjNwCRTM
They stood in silence again as Caesar moved. The horse had slowed, sensing the shift in energy, his muscles stretching through the curve.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GQy8n4Jfn
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tNR8QYOPU
“Still chasing Selma?” Lamija asked after a long beat.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTF2pqS2fzV
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Imran smiled, soft and firm. “I want her, Lamija.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfD3O0MQyxm
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjf1NwGKtg3
“I don’t think she’s ready.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40rc61FAYM
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“I can wait.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgV00S6YpZ
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vpxdVFlgr
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.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDijeiagRg
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Lamija laughed. “He thinks you’ve had enough of my attention.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6Rfp2xzSs
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWxo3Kc29Y
Imran reached over the fence to scratch Caesar behind the ear. The stallion flared his nostrils, huffed, and—shockingly—leaned into it.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPQymKGpZ4
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbx0GiQXib3
“See?” Imran said smugly. “We’re building trust.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8A2gSi0s2
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Lamija rolled her eyes. “Don’t let it go to your head.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMQmNzTMpW
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“I want to ride him.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16J9F2AjdT
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“Absolutely not.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyzLOKeggg
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“I think we’ve reached an understanding.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRr7d0QMQu
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“You’ll be broken in half.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO177ALVsxW
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Imran was already climbing the fence. “Then scatter my ashes with flair.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHq3bmchZKS
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKoXbRR1aU
Caesar watched him approach like a king tolerating a jester.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyHQEPyKfv
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFdqXrh0Fe
Imran grabbed the reins gently. “Easy, buddy. Let’s be friends.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJn76cUtep
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcUmVNxmJ6
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.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnatbnUVqk
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Then came the buck.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgzAtl52F5
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Then another.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYjFtvZCjL
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And on the third, Imran flew.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IzodSGSjC
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He landed in the dirt with a thud and a very ungraceful grunt.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEzEInwwab
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡED2gVdGcaM
Lamija was already sprinting. “Imran!”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoR169csov
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFk57qB0bY
He rolled onto his back, groaning. “I’m alive.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQzSCnZr5K
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw33jmIJUEj
She dropped to her knees beside him. “You’re a certified idiot.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreUg3ZlFi1
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pZ1Plnwpf
Caesar trotted to the fence, glared once, and turned his back with a dramatic flick of his tail.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcI2iZmeny
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHsekanLbf
“Wow,” Imran muttered. “He’s petty.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZErCTawCe
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“He gave you ten seconds. That’s a personal record.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0llH5D74i
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUQDe0JMtW
“Tell him I’m open to peace talks.”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZ5Lf0enUB
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4OUVQanJd
Lamija laughed, brushing dust off his hoodie.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsK5RoUiY9D
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihMZUxesnL
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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