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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJPH92hJT9
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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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FecHeh2Rf
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Now, it was well past midnight. His stomach growled.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbw2v6R1rJA
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He opened the fridge and groaned.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrXPjBfoSp
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Half a serving of roasted potatoes. A spoonful of lamb. Maybe two zucchini slices if he was being generous.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrvojFzCFq
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“Really, Lamija?” he muttered. “You left me diplomatic scraps.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCUuuJCbZ0
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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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7gI1xKOcJ
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As he ate standing at the counter, his thoughts drifted.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVxDISrXBi
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Selma.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4JRRGdnU0
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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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fZVEBERXq
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And now there was the matter of telling his mother.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkjlc7IBpl
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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?122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXLoJucTAm
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He didn’t want permission.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XLaKmOO8b
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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?122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbtFLQ3KTn
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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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeiJ0gnnGA
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Caesar.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5hBPpSHFb
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The sound tugged at him—equal parts thunder and invitation.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRQj3ImhiJ
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He stepped back into the kitchen and outside onto the patio.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡES1ZfWz20G
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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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoC7lguOVg
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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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27CyiTl4h9
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She rode him with utter control—no fear, no hesitation. Her posture perfect. Her arms steady. Her face focused.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuLYGn0Zgs
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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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrfTkI5Aym
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They were a sight.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYxzQ1PxnH
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Imran leaned against the fence, arms crossed, the corners of his mouth tipping upward.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBJIzazHtr
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“Would’ve been nice if you left me more than three potatoes,” he called.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdsmWbRhmn
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Lamija’s laugh rang out across the ring. “You came home late. That’s the tax.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgNeGp7SPv
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“You eat like royalty and leave your big brother starving. That feels personal.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7h2lCMl08
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She slowed Caesar into a wide circle. “I regret nothing.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjjbXJSZIg
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“How was the meeting?” he asked.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEvs8qhbXx
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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.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCV6M9fF4cA
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“He’s the one Babo wants?”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWEB70A3RF
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“Apparently. You know how he is. Sees an investment portfolio and forgets common sense.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIu2BczUvT4
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Imran chuckled. “That’s our father.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgH2yTBpPgu
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“I told him we’d follow up. Politely.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLE8hEZEJT4
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Imran leaned further into the fence. “Adil called me.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zebg6SRfR
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Lamija groaned audibly. “What now?”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOmpunmWZV
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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.’”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1FUyWwEgC
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Lamija grinned despite herself. “Subtlety is a lost art.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNxtJdYCUd
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“I already bought it. For Eid. Don’t get cocky.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUgjHj4VBX
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“I’m just saying—you understood the assignment.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTBJgyy8hm
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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.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJFmdzP1fM
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Lamija’s expression turned icy. “Did you tell him where to shove it?”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkII4cqDvwM
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“I may have used slightly more colorful language.. If Babo ever heard him talk like that—”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOjgbVy9Z5
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“He’d light their offices on fire.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYQu2iQmNw
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“And I’d hand him the match.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqJ92czlFW
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They shared a moment of wordless understanding.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrVNOdYmBB
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Caesar snorted, stomping one foot in disapproval of the break.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9kLbnfXQv
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Imran scratched his neck. “So... Ayub?”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9xbJpAVRA
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Lamija exhaled. “Everyone’s worried I’ll break him. Mama. You. Everyone.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdAucImqqD
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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.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFW74HzPoEQ
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“I’m not heartless.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXyv1NUb7V
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“I know. But you’re curious. And with someone like Ayub, that’s not a neutral emotion.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGasBcnBiTN
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Lamija fell quiet, guiding Caesar into another slow pass.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gQckh7WZ2
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“I don’t want to feel guilty for not feeling the same,” she admitted.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCOuUSnmya
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“You shouldn’t. You owe no one your affection.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6BILJJCGO
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“Even if he’s... Ayub?”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5CCHumaf6
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“Even then.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUgM0MIIKB
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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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGELLRrMIFf
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“Still chasing Selma?” Lamija asked after a long beat.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAeNzZpAuF
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Imran smiled, soft and firm. “I want her, Lamija.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdotFSjox7Q
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“I don’t think she’s ready.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlB9vkco0CQ
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“I can wait.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcbn5nUimt
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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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoKTCVjvKX
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Lamija laughed. “He thinks you’ve had enough of my attention.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJfnHrt69R
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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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4rTkI5RSy
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“See?” Imran said smugly. “We’re building trust.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡva6I3wBykZ
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Lamija rolled her eyes. “Don’t let it go to your head.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtASQE6lTYG
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“I want to ride him.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedzKutrBjT
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“Absolutely not.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxv3hQfzmuW
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“I think we’ve reached an understanding.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7olS26PSzv
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“You’ll be broken in half.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbVbOvIROT
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Imran was already climbing the fence. “Then scatter my ashes with flair.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZm8pJNRt1l
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Caesar watched him approach like a king tolerating a jester.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6zs819N3Q
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Imran grabbed the reins gently. “Easy, buddy. Let’s be friends.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYVjlwa5S4
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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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYToNaDqer
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Then came the buck.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGwyI8dm6h
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Then another.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqyoyZAmTz
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And on the third, Imran flew.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxVCM0QIdn
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He landed in the dirt with a thud and a very ungraceful grunt.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCM459711N
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Lamija was already sprinting. “Imran!”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88IqSqLHT8
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He rolled onto his back, groaning. “I’m alive.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOvQYRwJu2
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She dropped to her knees beside him. “You’re a certified idiot.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmEzGtMrLC
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Caesar trotted to the fence, glared once, and turned his back with a dramatic flick of his tail.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7RKGbZAaf
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“Wow,” Imran muttered. “He’s petty.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdM3k56Yeb
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“He gave you ten seconds. That’s a personal record.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSPJPONIAL
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“Tell him I’m open to peace talks.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0sMLMUVeR
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Lamija laughed, brushing dust off his hoodie.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2vLilrsAV
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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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