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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClwQ5k8Qd2
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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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RqLE2le7I
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Now, it was well past midnight. His stomach growled.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hCI7Omm9A
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He opened the fridge and groaned.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5Xbx5fzmx
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Half a serving of roasted potatoes. A spoonful of lamb. Maybe two zucchini slices if he was being generous.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgwoJeUZFd
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“Really, Lamija?” he muttered. “You left me diplomatic scraps.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JWeUfzCAV
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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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ499kacyBpE
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As he ate standing at the counter, his thoughts drifted.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7Le6Tg4ZX
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Selma.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa48yAPcGmD
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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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7jrTOUWLp
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And now there was the matter of telling his mother.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuq7U1xR2c
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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?30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtGEhwYXGC
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He didn’t want permission.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC371s1rabu
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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?30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSiRFgikiw
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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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlJkn6Eg5O
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Caesar.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzR5dWsIR5
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The sound tugged at him—equal parts thunder and invitation.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90KL3TjSsA
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He stepped back into the kitchen and outside onto the patio.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJ6T2fD8o3
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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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMU8RQg4jX
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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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LwaSMIsz3
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She rode him with utter control—no fear, no hesitation. Her posture perfect. Her arms steady. Her face focused.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WixxkUDr9
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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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhF5OfrKzU
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They were a sight.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFAdD2KqY0
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Imran leaned against the fence, arms crossed, the corners of his mouth tipping upward.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIu6Pvl8X4
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“Would’ve been nice if you left me more than three potatoes,” he called.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcAO4i9vEv
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Lamija’s laugh rang out across the ring. “You came home late. That’s the tax.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7spk2rxOt
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“You eat like royalty and leave your big brother starving. That feels personal.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQWVqvnITU
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She slowed Caesar into a wide circle. “I regret nothing.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7o2c2MXcNk
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“How was the meeting?” he asked.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbo7qXgoIz
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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.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1pPktbydg
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“He’s the one Babo wants?”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFSqXhRW6w
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“Apparently. You know how he is. Sees an investment portfolio and forgets common sense.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKfB6hjDA9
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Imran chuckled. “That’s our father.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0AjtHRNUX
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“I told him we’d follow up. Politely.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ivtj9imkm
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Imran leaned further into the fence. “Adil called me.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlC2Ltkbup
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Lamija groaned audibly. “What now?”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJWWPyqIBd
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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.’”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXTu0DN37a
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Lamija grinned despite herself. “Subtlety is a lost art.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMF4lWc6zrJ
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“I already bought it. For Eid. Don’t get cocky.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXVyYWTfdQ
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“I’m just saying—you understood the assignment.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKLCqP9wNx
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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.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRIXlys5l1
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Lamija’s expression turned icy. “Did you tell him where to shove it?”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SQPvhD7Si
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“I may have used slightly more colorful language.. If Babo ever heard him talk like that—”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAk4g7nr7h
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“He’d light their offices on fire.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnesjackofU
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“And I’d hand him the match.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqspKjfFztm
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They shared a moment of wordless understanding.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcABPJtWC6L
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Caesar snorted, stomping one foot in disapproval of the break.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9bl5QzGKF
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Imran scratched his neck. “So... Ayub?”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRDPlxtObR
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Lamija exhaled. “Everyone’s worried I’ll break him. Mama. You. Everyone.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQ06D25rRq
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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.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHN05rc0g1
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“I’m not heartless.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZyZ9A14Tz
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“I know. But you’re curious. And with someone like Ayub, that’s not a neutral emotion.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOQ7D6eqUZ
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Lamija fell quiet, guiding Caesar into another slow pass.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6A7E1zLak
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“I don’t want to feel guilty for not feeling the same,” she admitted.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgaNKuBNCt
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“You shouldn’t. You owe no one your affection.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEPrPPTZLn
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“Even if he’s... Ayub?”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqrJ1hwitq
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“Even then.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrZhpnkaWy
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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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGGlJCXMW1
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“Still chasing Selma?” Lamija asked after a long beat.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjuYqOcGqS
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Imran smiled, soft and firm. “I want her, Lamija.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dQqb1UMQu
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“I don’t think she’s ready.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9QzCx13GE
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“I can wait.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5aPzQ0wb5
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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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrYtYMJnTT
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Lamija laughed. “He thinks you’ve had enough of my attention.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXr2LPhlJz8
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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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7yG8k9ABN
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“See?” Imran said smugly. “We’re building trust.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0Y7jEF4pQ
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Lamija rolled her eyes. “Don’t let it go to your head.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdh3lWJw19
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“I want to ride him.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6m0dEQ2gB7
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“Absolutely not.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4vIni1vFZ
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“I think we’ve reached an understanding.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZjfJ1C0Ks
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“You’ll be broken in half.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98OmJxzv0N
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Imran was already climbing the fence. “Then scatter my ashes with flair.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9EVwDEkC1
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Caesar watched him approach like a king tolerating a jester.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zceusa4s3
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Imran grabbed the reins gently. “Easy, buddy. Let’s be friends.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWgtNtyJ3H
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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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfC70Kugm7
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Then came the buck.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NvwQuYzJ2
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Then another.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhsDvmisRL
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And on the third, Imran flew.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMF0tgncjb
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He landed in the dirt with a thud and a very ungraceful grunt.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkkl7vZwjd
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Lamija was already sprinting. “Imran!”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtlIAR3A3B
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He rolled onto his back, groaning. “I’m alive.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aLBaU3Ie2
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She dropped to her knees beside him. “You’re a certified idiot.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uL3shUuUe
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Caesar trotted to the fence, glared once, and turned his back with a dramatic flick of his tail.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dWA3GZy01
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“Wow,” Imran muttered. “He’s petty.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsEr1okDqb
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“He gave you ten seconds. That’s a personal record.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcRgvf8jLH
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“Tell him I’m open to peace talks.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIvxiZ9125
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Lamija laughed, brushing dust off his hoodie.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoUGf90620
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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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