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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNpEv5Zs8y
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRy4HpvM6e
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFqsDsRcbY
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOP38kAlYE
Now, it was well past midnight. His stomach growled.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmErTyMW7x
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He opened the fridge and groaned.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeVnhReM2H
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkj1VEfilDI
Half a serving of roasted potatoes. A spoonful of lamb. Maybe two zucchini slices if he was being generous.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxHrUdNm8Y
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiM6YLrEkS
“Really, Lamija?” he muttered. “You left me diplomatic scraps.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXoHfKccRY
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIWATBOqEH
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZFMtcJuSe
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As he ate standing at the counter, his thoughts drifted.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlHqa0ABiu
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6xQ2rAkFZ
Selma.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBIpWs2Sbj
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLSe0hOKrg
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4fdiQ2ApU
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujUPscrGX1
And now there was the matter of telling his mother.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoqrPTGjFj
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYG56o0xdf
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?26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NTxPctgBb
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KyKxQerBh
He didn’t want permission.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7s4v47dam
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONoSjSmYT9
But he also didn’t want silence.
His mother loved Selma—but would that change if she knew Imran did too?26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZl3otsI9Gd
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv98CHhJHEd
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUrX8lL8Qr
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWf56txGHb
Caesar.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxITgHF4HtS
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WO4K54cBo
The sound tugged at him—equal parts thunder and invitation.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxb03NEVqqg
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIA8N6i81y7
He stepped back into the kitchen and outside onto the patio.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKqngkLuTJ
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7am2wUIVPX
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIJLg4QLmj
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZR5VVGSOd
In the ring, under the low golden wash of floodlights, Lamija and Caesar moved like they were born from the same force.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmktwUeR8X4
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRUvxllLAY
She rode him with utter control—no fear, no hesitation. Her posture perfect. Her arms steady. Her face focused.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdUqhZWRbF
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXw8JSf7Vr9
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlLCqGd5c6
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylGgrJGkz8
They were a sight.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7nBRBlXvo
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqETvyiSz6O
Imran leaned against the fence, arms crossed, the corners of his mouth tipping upward.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5bBIpzWVB
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVuONuGoZh
“Would’ve been nice if you left me more than three potatoes,” he called.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5p4h84Lpam
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYXm2ERKA7
Lamija’s laugh rang out across the ring. “You came home late. That’s the tax.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfZwO11wAL
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLB155g3Eqv
“You eat like royalty and leave your big brother starving. That feels personal.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7Ccv3rLLO
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWMxA8yyf1
She slowed Caesar into a wide circle. “I regret nothing.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlgC3drhsY
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQunjzk1TNi
“How was the meeting?” he asked.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRb5taM9Oq
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTSw8kqwOL
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.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzpUQl4k0t
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsV9ZlL7on
“He’s the one Babo wants?”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKpPipJURM
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegKK04CGJE
“Apparently. You know how he is. Sees an investment portfolio and forgets common sense.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKOeL2eh8d
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxi3PlRITCQ
Imran chuckled. “That’s our father.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXWGnJw9RI
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylPCMpzHN5
“I told him we’d follow up. Politely.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Q5JVFhrvN
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuq8iW00OQ
Imran leaned further into the fence. “Adil called me.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgk3L3sSfL7
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6aolhAAzt
Lamija groaned audibly. “What now?”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZujap6AGUr
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSsrGDmjuc
“He said Nedim saw the link you sent me on instagram—the Solène purse. The one you so subtly captioned ‘buy me.’”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT853AeHaPF
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Uwyk9oScv
Lamija grinned despite herself. “Subtlety is a lost art.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4wLP1PTpY
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYL3vNtdVk
“I already bought it. For Eid. Don’t get cocky.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtghKHZgQQH
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSe8G3d9wB
“I’m just saying—you understood the assignment.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MtMPKWl0W
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGv1KtkjIOO
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.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1Lyv1odCU
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKg1IPB7aSJ
Lamija’s expression turned icy. “Did you tell him where to shove it?”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPF82f0I4F4
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gD8fPKcYX
“I may have used slightly more colorful language.. If Babo ever heard him talk like that—”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0RKpTHUs9
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTVCoCUNZa
“He’d light their offices on fire.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJb74m5LeBR
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcswpKI4nKE
“And I’d hand him the match.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigyCA6wQKC
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQ2fWVPK55
They shared a moment of wordless understanding.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqy6tMNQzD
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWZZnpOWAN
Caesar snorted, stomping one foot in disapproval of the break.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRTbh7CbDU
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzEHYOtOT0
Imran scratched his neck. “So... Ayub?”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcK5ZHcZ497
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdazbKrlWjX
Lamija exhaled. “Everyone’s worried I’ll break him. Mama. You. Everyone.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHlUk03AFi
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7lkjNcIFe
“He’s been through a lot. That doesn’t mean he’s fragile—but he’s not someone you test just to feel something.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBypyDV749
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3knO8wnFz6
“I’m not heartless.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjqvVhBFo6
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJ315GLcuz
“I know. But you’re curious. And with someone like Ayub, that’s not a neutral emotion.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpWHSvTA1h
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSrHmvAf3J
Lamija fell quiet, guiding Caesar into another slow pass.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERVGQnZYhA
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpip5s5tNY
“I don’t want to feel guilty for not feeling the same,” she admitted.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKUrjwFizB
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWU40d4aPNk
“You shouldn’t. You owe no one your affection.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5N85vRvWhK
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHDJixj5Rt
“Even if he’s... Ayub?”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpJj9naQ3j
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2gOSInuXa
“Even then.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgu4R1zXKIg
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2oEr5gQIV
They stood in silence again as Caesar moved. The horse had slowed, sensing the shift in energy, his muscles stretching through the curve.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmzZQuyXak
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ra8CTgQGt
“Still chasing Selma?” Lamija asked after a long beat.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvz2dCO9eII
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAyXbcPjA3
Imran smiled, soft and firm. “I want her, Lamija.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnwctYtl2Z
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLyr8tp0hZ
“I don’t think she’s ready.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jVm9zoPAV
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXpJNY6yIV
“I can wait.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQM6jAOe6EM
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynv5LQXQiv
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYngPrRZrTb
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIrIdZhFOF
Lamija laughed. “He thinks you’ve had enough of my attention.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGITvbatNTX
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsWfbTlmhg
Imran reached over the fence to scratch Caesar behind the ear. The stallion flared his nostrils, huffed, and—shockingly—leaned into it.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNja9voad5k
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknfJX2EEOb
“See?” Imran said smugly. “We’re building trust.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1ujV7n0os
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PghGw9ZNJ
Lamija rolled her eyes. “Don’t let it go to your head.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR530fhovnI
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviKiSV0BoK
“I want to ride him.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5UQNyNlMc
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg716MW06L4
“Absolutely not.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1Ax4yvGnR
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthsOK6UwzK
“I think we’ve reached an understanding.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkJhdAuDgp
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAlBEcMyo8
“You’ll be broken in half.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPIF3BB5XI
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdZ8kUYnB7
Imran was already climbing the fence. “Then scatter my ashes with flair.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgYyiy9IUm
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1A6YAt4FU
Caesar watched him approach like a king tolerating a jester.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDbso4wP1z
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiv6r23YIsB
Imran grabbed the reins gently. “Easy, buddy. Let’s be friends.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj02PViqyzO
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzUtBRlhpt
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYeCx9fJu7
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlMMJD08Wu
Then came the buck.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNILlJSELAH
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Then another.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWs3hIcQ8L
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuytgDVFEqa
And on the third, Imran flew.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESME03Ods7
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsoxAA1BuB
He landed in the dirt with a thud and a very ungraceful grunt.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8meX01Gub
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuX1QNwsPEO
Lamija was already sprinting. “Imran!”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9S5uuf9bC
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBchOyXuG2
He rolled onto his back, groaning. “I’m alive.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7nseeO2mU
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08Q2ufRSKU
She dropped to her knees beside him. “You’re a certified idiot.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJC9uZTCqnI
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTXmpnYuA4
Caesar trotted to the fence, glared once, and turned his back with a dramatic flick of his tail.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFBrtL5d3X
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFM7zzeIgf2
“Wow,” Imran muttered. “He’s petty.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaJ0ddUuR4
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegvJpVZ4y4
“He gave you ten seconds. That’s a personal record.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlH4jPcjwMj
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBFDnk7778
“Tell him I’m open to peace talks.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjDKP9n8MP
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedE9Ls7Iku
Lamija laughed, brushing dust off his hoodie.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxnMHHs57t
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkvmmHLzjr
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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