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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWeneJW3Cy
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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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXnxKMekqq
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Now, it was well past midnight. His stomach growled.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOVrlxx3in
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He opened the fridge and groaned.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0vAhHIAT9
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Half a serving of roasted potatoes. A spoonful of lamb. Maybe two zucchini slices if he was being generous.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6nB8Yu6hJ
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“Really, Lamija?” he muttered. “You left me diplomatic scraps.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQA5BLpA6u
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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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1EitVTtmJ
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As he ate standing at the counter, his thoughts drifted.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3jPlItbUM
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Selma.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDLUWntiK3
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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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd72Y66K7m9
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And now there was the matter of telling his mother.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQz9hgrHdet
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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?16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7hkUnfEtW
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He didn’t want permission.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7sBssXDF9
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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?16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKCZBuVguQ
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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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRncF2uYoO
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Caesar.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvV36cdJFq
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The sound tugged at him—equal parts thunder and invitation.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84vVms1Mt3
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He stepped back into the kitchen and outside onto the patio.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsTwF1XOhB
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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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQLmR0FRwk
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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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnS3PpqIhye
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She rode him with utter control—no fear, no hesitation. Her posture perfect. Her arms steady. Her face focused.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgIsOQq3kr
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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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrWRbyg8su
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They were a sight.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIO7wy4RSPR
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Imran leaned against the fence, arms crossed, the corners of his mouth tipping upward.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWadWeVs9e
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“Would’ve been nice if you left me more than three potatoes,” he called.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeeHDbVFNc
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Lamija’s laugh rang out across the ring. “You came home late. That’s the tax.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCV0bDReX6p
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“You eat like royalty and leave your big brother starving. That feels personal.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAeZbpespD
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She slowed Caesar into a wide circle. “I regret nothing.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2JD5zx6F0
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“How was the meeting?” he asked.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDJ5xHhkhF
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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.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiytQNISG7
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“He’s the one Babo wants?”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTTTchz5oa
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“Apparently. You know how he is. Sees an investment portfolio and forgets common sense.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdCfIIvLyi
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Imran chuckled. “That’s our father.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DVPlGjeDh
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“I told him we’d follow up. Politely.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKizDEoFgd
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Imran leaned further into the fence. “Adil called me.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vvzvyQy0I
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Lamija groaned audibly. “What now?”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqea9rxb3bU
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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.’”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohxQJaJDTY
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Lamija grinned despite herself. “Subtlety is a lost art.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62sDgQMdAw
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“I already bought it. For Eid. Don’t get cocky.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIg2wN1AJX
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“I’m just saying—you understood the assignment.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhop1hFtj9G
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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.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmg9Xlj5RX
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Lamija’s expression turned icy. “Did you tell him where to shove it?”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpi6yvt6R2
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“I may have used slightly more colorful language.. If Babo ever heard him talk like that—”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthyd2HnmnP
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“He’d light their offices on fire.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRqk59TJFs
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“And I’d hand him the match.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RMTOSHGyR
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They shared a moment of wordless understanding.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKBQ1nyjOU
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Caesar snorted, stomping one foot in disapproval of the break.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUsGkiZ0fN
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Imran scratched his neck. “So... Ayub?”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0D0z311H6f
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Lamija exhaled. “Everyone’s worried I’ll break him. Mama. You. Everyone.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77WRBK8SRa
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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.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHnUy7Hjsp
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“I’m not heartless.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHS0h9LxS4R
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“I know. But you’re curious. And with someone like Ayub, that’s not a neutral emotion.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTybtkf555
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Lamija fell quiet, guiding Caesar into another slow pass.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWAuOtOsfw
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“I don’t want to feel guilty for not feeling the same,” she admitted.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaTy9KXg0D
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“You shouldn’t. You owe no one your affection.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSlYN4TJFX
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“Even if he’s... Ayub?”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgN2aYyBZdT
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“Even then.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXUVMxY8GT
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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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHolt8idQh
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“Still chasing Selma?” Lamija asked after a long beat.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VdrMX4ijk
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Imran smiled, soft and firm. “I want her, Lamija.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxg4FfA1wAS
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“I don’t think she’s ready.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumWIuyBddG
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“I can wait.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0L3q08Enq
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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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwI1aWmPLPI
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Lamija laughed. “He thinks you’ve had enough of my attention.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkUsj5I6Av
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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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGWLTaJT9N
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“See?” Imran said smugly. “We’re building trust.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAcudAtabj
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Lamija rolled her eyes. “Don’t let it go to your head.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCGHnmQzxf
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“I want to ride him.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsWKoPDiE9
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“Absolutely not.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dWFlCQ4aq
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“I think we’ve reached an understanding.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBybDPsnAPS
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“You’ll be broken in half.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYT2TjTnr8K
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Imran was already climbing the fence. “Then scatter my ashes with flair.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VzYVh9Hoy
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Caesar watched him approach like a king tolerating a jester.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4vNSdorTj
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Imran grabbed the reins gently. “Easy, buddy. Let’s be friends.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGF7EQ53sLK
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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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FVEjjg3bE
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Then came the buck.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ud02xdbld
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Then another.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMrzaSc2OX
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And on the third, Imran flew.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuFbYNZZLg
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He landed in the dirt with a thud and a very ungraceful grunt.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOG4F44esB3
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Lamija was already sprinting. “Imran!”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvm0u3nUq5u
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He rolled onto his back, groaning. “I’m alive.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXugS9iCB52
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She dropped to her knees beside him. “You’re a certified idiot.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWnIvZ6Zkv
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Caesar trotted to the fence, glared once, and turned his back with a dramatic flick of his tail.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJFEV52IFC
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“Wow,” Imran muttered. “He’s petty.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3vF3ZZAJn
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“He gave you ten seconds. That’s a personal record.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYAzyHImi5
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“Tell him I’m open to peace talks.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOHqEowaYb
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Lamija laughed, brushing dust off his hoodie.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZQhRbR8EZ
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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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