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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGOskTRFE5
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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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aJV0AGfN9
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Now, it was well past midnight. His stomach growled.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUcmyAk5kx
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He opened the fridge and groaned.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9jMyo6dYd
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Half a serving of roasted potatoes. A spoonful of lamb. Maybe two zucchini slices if he was being generous.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG31pGzlFEP
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“Really, Lamija?” he muttered. “You left me diplomatic scraps.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGtyA1vNlp
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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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ydb35FNDz
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As he ate standing at the counter, his thoughts drifted.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdlM8B0Ww2
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Selma.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmd4i9OtUZF
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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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwVLW2gSIP
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And now there was the matter of telling his mother.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhfsRzluf4
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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?34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AmXn9NJSG
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He didn’t want permission.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5rHFa417n
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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?34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU19zAm47PU
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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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzUBZLXk9x
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Caesar.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiY5mKyxmc8
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The sound tugged at him—equal parts thunder and invitation.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdk496FosyA
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He stepped back into the kitchen and outside onto the patio.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mv1YHYIEQ
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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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5bIU8YLC4
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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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsPjTd8Q5m
34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuRC24Ylv8
She rode him with utter control—no fear, no hesitation. Her posture perfect. Her arms steady. Her face focused.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZPee0MV4N
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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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTkLJcYyUq
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They were a sight.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusB8rcDGmo
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Imran leaned against the fence, arms crossed, the corners of his mouth tipping upward.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mtdf1Mms5
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“Would’ve been nice if you left me more than three potatoes,” he called.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyDGCTzN82
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Lamija’s laugh rang out across the ring. “You came home late. That’s the tax.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUS6HAWMhyx
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“You eat like royalty and leave your big brother starving. That feels personal.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqAFoDrPtn
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She slowed Caesar into a wide circle. “I regret nothing.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgn67ToSil
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“How was the meeting?” he asked.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMFkjJbRFQ
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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.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyZuWtWdfD
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“He’s the one Babo wants?”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWzDkYNEFN
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“Apparently. You know how he is. Sees an investment portfolio and forgets common sense.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mzcPrnhTd
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Imran chuckled. “That’s our father.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSyiTxuUUd
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“I told him we’d follow up. Politely.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yNIPc2wzK
34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAK38w1Qpw0
Imran leaned further into the fence. “Adil called me.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMajai9jm5
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Lamija groaned audibly. “What now?”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsczjhhYcgN
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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.’”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPePu5N7Yh
34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMKafDH6lN
Lamija grinned despite herself. “Subtlety is a lost art.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FxoIM1EWp
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“I already bought it. For Eid. Don’t get cocky.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwayzW6Yt7I
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“I’m just saying—you understood the assignment.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlet33NIRnc
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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.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDC4y0Dx7y8
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Lamija’s expression turned icy. “Did you tell him where to shove it?”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKriNK7XL6w
34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUStoqG7KOq
“I may have used slightly more colorful language.. If Babo ever heard him talk like that—”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsKLs2FlRU
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“He’d light their offices on fire.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopx1NMEYIp
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“And I’d hand him the match.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03u5ASTPoh
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They shared a moment of wordless understanding.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4NBejsgmO
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Caesar snorted, stomping one foot in disapproval of the break.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbvTItke00
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Imran scratched his neck. “So... Ayub?”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98uUbdo9Za
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Lamija exhaled. “Everyone’s worried I’ll break him. Mama. You. Everyone.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwpknc5w0V
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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.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXgulzWtLS
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“I’m not heartless.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5wcolFuaO
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“I know. But you’re curious. And with someone like Ayub, that’s not a neutral emotion.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK57q6en0m4
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Lamija fell quiet, guiding Caesar into another slow pass.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcs5GfxQPKx
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“I don’t want to feel guilty for not feeling the same,” she admitted.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7dNMmc4H6
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“You shouldn’t. You owe no one your affection.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuEp3wMmUQ
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“Even if he’s... Ayub?”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nJWNfVWdJ
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“Even then.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCd50nCYyJN
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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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWx2tEyG23O
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“Still chasing Selma?” Lamija asked after a long beat.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9DlPjMhxC
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Imran smiled, soft and firm. “I want her, Lamija.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDH8LfuHdxO
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“I don’t think she’s ready.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94IwINTeOT
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“I can wait.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVj93oIyOm
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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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphKyumCRzz
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Lamija laughed. “He thinks you’ve had enough of my attention.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4XzOr4Vfg
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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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LhrdK5emw
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“See?” Imran said smugly. “We’re building trust.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZktnICvxQ
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Lamija rolled her eyes. “Don’t let it go to your head.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEBxU2iROW
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“I want to ride him.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImTP2fLjnD
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“Absolutely not.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyVs4YA4fI
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“I think we’ve reached an understanding.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOl9AXG3wFu
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“You’ll be broken in half.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKi28zUoHiG
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Imran was already climbing the fence. “Then scatter my ashes with flair.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzkiOmKoGs
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Caesar watched him approach like a king tolerating a jester.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETJt0NpJo5
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Imran grabbed the reins gently. “Easy, buddy. Let’s be friends.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOiOcqd61v
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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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWeqw5VOtq
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Then came the buck.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3ArDbdMbM
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Then another.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRnnFB6lvO
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And on the third, Imran flew.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEsVYrIBYw
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He landed in the dirt with a thud and a very ungraceful grunt.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQG3y9BtBjb
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Lamija was already sprinting. “Imran!”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJxrIWoAxQ
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He rolled onto his back, groaning. “I’m alive.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aGsl2ZsDZ
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She dropped to her knees beside him. “You’re a certified idiot.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0j6WPtVRZ
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Caesar trotted to the fence, glared once, and turned his back with a dramatic flick of his tail.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSbiFajegs
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“Wow,” Imran muttered. “He’s petty.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRL50QZuAh
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“He gave you ten seconds. That’s a personal record.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe41uX6FPiE
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“Tell him I’m open to peace talks.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWZhrmnt37
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Lamija laughed, brushing dust off his hoodie.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOZYNr4HSY
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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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