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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeOHVwLqoq
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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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLd5lX5yC0
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Now, it was well past midnight. His stomach growled.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ehgNtNhil
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He opened the fridge and groaned.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzfScBbf3q
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Half a serving of roasted potatoes. A spoonful of lamb. Maybe two zucchini slices if he was being generous.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGljv6UDqLZ
38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡug17m0kg6R
“Really, Lamija?” he muttered. “You left me diplomatic scraps.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanUXXFcANd
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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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnn4huxzjX
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As he ate standing at the counter, his thoughts drifted.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSEtiDQ9Dn
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Selma.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFopoFR1Bz
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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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzBqsoTdmO
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And now there was the matter of telling his mother.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36rW2wS0Cm
38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAH5R3EJBE
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?38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXW4OHCnyc
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He didn’t want permission.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqjcPWag3x
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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?38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80RqztB21X
38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfBXZpABAY
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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWx2TOZ9Gy
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Caesar.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2CzNiPyGL
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The sound tugged at him—equal parts thunder and invitation.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VHJH4x447
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He stepped back into the kitchen and outside onto the patio.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPE6zkqqZTU
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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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaK5gcouBw
38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FlcCCfVUl
In the ring, under the low golden wash of floodlights, Lamija and Caesar moved like they were born from the same force.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGvwyEiO2X
38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvFUd8UEkV
She rode him with utter control—no fear, no hesitation. Her posture perfect. Her arms steady. Her face focused.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YDP6ypVNi
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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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDFZCxDUfg
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They were a sight.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdQjDk5VDd
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Imran leaned against the fence, arms crossed, the corners of his mouth tipping upward.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdQwtIEHgl
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“Would’ve been nice if you left me more than three potatoes,” he called.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqrexaQgnH
38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfeQDHkSJ9
Lamija’s laugh rang out across the ring. “You came home late. That’s the tax.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTAfMd8gq5
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“You eat like royalty and leave your big brother starving. That feels personal.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnEp9M7Blw
38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wvto8vPGR
She slowed Caesar into a wide circle. “I regret nothing.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6meGgTMhj
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“How was the meeting?” he asked.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wMwYVOvId
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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.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbQEpGT6nV
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“He’s the one Babo wants?”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXIVKPhQPY
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“Apparently. You know how he is. Sees an investment portfolio and forgets common sense.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mF2gWBDgi
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Imran chuckled. “That’s our father.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVfI9ld8Yy
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“I told him we’d follow up. Politely.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEPQrPhZWT
38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQtQcdFB63
Imran leaned further into the fence. “Adil called me.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVJaoSXz9l
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Lamija groaned audibly. “What now?”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxPpZRaL9Q
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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.’”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABU0fB8pKa
38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56o4wXB8CL
Lamija grinned despite herself. “Subtlety is a lost art.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcutBVwufO6
38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzO54LDYN7
“I already bought it. For Eid. Don’t get cocky.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBW0Hd0dia
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“I’m just saying—you understood the assignment.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnqCwtH3a0
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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.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBpMmBB46r
38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskp9UtkchI
Lamija’s expression turned icy. “Did you tell him where to shove it?”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLole74geF
38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Gys41UubN
“I may have used slightly more colorful language.. If Babo ever heard him talk like that—”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYFExjWkWR
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“He’d light their offices on fire.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2q3nencb5
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“And I’d hand him the match.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZs9YzqVkt
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They shared a moment of wordless understanding.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgRRIBpnfw
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Caesar snorted, stomping one foot in disapproval of the break.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIo1GL3WO3A
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Imran scratched his neck. “So... Ayub?”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCN298f1fE
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Lamija exhaled. “Everyone’s worried I’ll break him. Mama. You. Everyone.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZRMI8yX5c
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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.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8vmpOomjL
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“I’m not heartless.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wBWQTfndb
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“I know. But you’re curious. And with someone like Ayub, that’s not a neutral emotion.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfq2uCYLs9
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Lamija fell quiet, guiding Caesar into another slow pass.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyppkMVGDO5
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“I don’t want to feel guilty for not feeling the same,” she admitted.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5XFXh5jWc
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“You shouldn’t. You owe no one your affection.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBtfYwa9Bf
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“Even if he’s... Ayub?”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRtLTHX3EN
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“Even then.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gygz3OxAi
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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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmg26YYNXqI
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“Still chasing Selma?” Lamija asked after a long beat.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8zBS8f7HB
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Imran smiled, soft and firm. “I want her, Lamija.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8lsaIhEIy
38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTrhUKDQZz
“I don’t think she’s ready.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjvEyU6VLM
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“I can wait.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6ud1ExiY0
38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zyhAp07OU
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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzo3Fr9onR
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Lamija laughed. “He thinks you’ve had enough of my attention.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6RISJ8RKw
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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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfxO7Lf9PI
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“See?” Imran said smugly. “We’re building trust.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8hIkp0KxU
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Lamija rolled her eyes. “Don’t let it go to your head.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVMbgSSetj
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“I want to ride him.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEW3I8oN5x
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“Absolutely not.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQ6UcmUlVP
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“I think we’ve reached an understanding.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnho0Rd2hqL
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“You’ll be broken in half.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXnsFqClhb
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Imran was already climbing the fence. “Then scatter my ashes with flair.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIyPCT6eFS
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Caesar watched him approach like a king tolerating a jester.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5hbMyLwJl
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Imran grabbed the reins gently. “Easy, buddy. Let’s be friends.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiYF0zxCjj
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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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQJdPpPbbC
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Then came the buck.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDqlQe9r3c
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Then another.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WTFhiaGl8
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And on the third, Imran flew.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQwe9Cxc44
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He landed in the dirt with a thud and a very ungraceful grunt.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9oBHkZbEC
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Lamija was already sprinting. “Imran!”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBYmZp69PS
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He rolled onto his back, groaning. “I’m alive.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuhmrsQaWZ
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She dropped to her knees beside him. “You’re a certified idiot.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLM7qTZEla
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Caesar trotted to the fence, glared once, and turned his back with a dramatic flick of his tail.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PYhZwYFHs
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“Wow,” Imran muttered. “He’s petty.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGtSvBCX6i
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“He gave you ten seconds. That’s a personal record.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruc0Dh5yzl
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“Tell him I’m open to peace talks.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsnUGJROeR
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Lamija laughed, brushing dust off his hoodie.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlAanwRE9f
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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.
ns216.73.216.180da2
and then Add to home screen.