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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgVVBDNvHg
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXdbewt3eg
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBaAvnwTyL
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EtcCPc9oI
Now, it was well past midnight. His stomach growled.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGcq7vVNtm
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxIuDV1JqL
He opened the fridge and groaned.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAuxW4IR0I
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBoeRbdNDp
Half a serving of roasted potatoes. A spoonful of lamb. Maybe two zucchini slices if he was being generous.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pN9Ix4DZW
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyrlJNyuv4
“Really, Lamija?” he muttered. “You left me diplomatic scraps.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJvHZhgcZx
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2ryYcKGnn
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9QNleyLSn
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfiy03gE2i
As he ate standing at the counter, his thoughts drifted.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ypD4T7QGG
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBZOkv1Vlh
Selma.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsSZToQyky
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8JuXI1Wqs
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIk0FJ85GZ
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nBKUqHslk
And now there was the matter of telling his mother.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhIJv9n5Kz
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnN2dw2zXyV
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?125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lZfQqM1b4
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsB2pHV3kCI
He didn’t want permission.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7dxXjRltZ
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pga6K4Ona
But he also didn’t want silence.
His mother loved Selma—but would that change if she knew Imran did too?125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6jLU34Zfb
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyDHqOLw9y
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcT2jHymdkI
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFeD6MimXn
Caesar.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Lg5RSXFCT
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxePuZOX9oY
The sound tugged at him—equal parts thunder and invitation.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDRpSx1Ex0
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrS3tF7czg
He stepped back into the kitchen and outside onto the patio.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxgv7fOpoV
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9I8w44u6s
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Igep1l0Ey
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AnLtVBOf4
In the ring, under the low golden wash of floodlights, Lamija and Caesar moved like they were born from the same force.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorgNFH6Xxy
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cjc8oGZDf
She rode him with utter control—no fear, no hesitation. Her posture perfect. Her arms steady. Her face focused.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZTWSKaTd9
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlaucU4R4T
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsGXFRRC9r
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPe1Rf3JpYc
They were a sight.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGb1P6xTi2R
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdIbGEuzbA
Imran leaned against the fence, arms crossed, the corners of his mouth tipping upward.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwj7znQ9haN
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuh1zoGx0H
“Would’ve been nice if you left me more than three potatoes,” he called.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvoJ0rJeVn
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEynXZVlum
Lamija’s laugh rang out across the ring. “You came home late. That’s the tax.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJ9G4z7JMT
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ396S5KJPP2
“You eat like royalty and leave your big brother starving. That feels personal.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7F3LtPi0fN
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkNHXrVgwx
She slowed Caesar into a wide circle. “I regret nothing.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUt2bhd5mzt
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nInXKenJ8
“How was the meeting?” he asked.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYKMQCfLHI
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6Y7UAgAyY
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.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lmsCpogw4
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiuSK95BzV
“He’s the one Babo wants?”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWluYoXFRS5
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogheBu5eaH
“Apparently. You know how he is. Sees an investment portfolio and forgets common sense.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhgkGevRV2
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmspYnXIe6J
Imran chuckled. “That’s our father.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0SY8kVMKZ
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEK7qJjjLSR
“I told him we’d follow up. Politely.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltZeIEHy3A
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGReMywVq7f
Imran leaned further into the fence. “Adil called me.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8JSX71XbZ
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKn8jkLEfq
Lamija groaned audibly. “What now?”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbaOmK2e18
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7drHnnFqK6
“He said Nedim saw the link you sent me on instagram—the Solène purse. The one you so subtly captioned ‘buy me.’”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhw6ju28w9b
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTW5jE7nuQf
Lamija grinned despite herself. “Subtlety is a lost art.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQa8fo8qHn
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatte1Bkl9A
“I already bought it. For Eid. Don’t get cocky.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ71hcP7cpo
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoHPf0r1mA
“I’m just saying—you understood the assignment.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmQ9IkxtkC
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEA7CQTPM7x
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.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMRzQrGktD
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzo5WlchXm
Lamija’s expression turned icy. “Did you tell him where to shove it?”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9tbaBed6V
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3oXcLmODn
“I may have used slightly more colorful language.. If Babo ever heard him talk like that—”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamqyYvxXc3
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83BTcEwefO
“He’d light their offices on fire.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4AWUnsENx
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUnm6HRWL4
“And I’d hand him the match.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuPZ20dfgr
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJhz1aJ6NM
They shared a moment of wordless understanding.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePyQtWxLY6
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ErWDk9bTi
Caesar snorted, stomping one foot in disapproval of the break.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCasJfymyjK
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRX2UHp6MdX
Imran scratched his neck. “So... Ayub?”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFx7CjL6f4F
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGGmrCamG5
Lamija exhaled. “Everyone’s worried I’ll break him. Mama. You. Everyone.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkurNo8rBB2
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgd3mT7AocN
“He’s been through a lot. That doesn’t mean he’s fragile—but he’s not someone you test just to feel something.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbTforrOag
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQZGU7ldx6
“I’m not heartless.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5Hc1XhwDx
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzCSvT1jLz
“I know. But you’re curious. And with someone like Ayub, that’s not a neutral emotion.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMfSodTBZe
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAY5FeTPBpn
Lamija fell quiet, guiding Caesar into another slow pass.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lvhq3FHhS
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTvrNYS09v
“I don’t want to feel guilty for not feeling the same,” she admitted.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgZEszsPZW
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrijTCfcoXN
“You shouldn’t. You owe no one your affection.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04QS7NaLHL
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYhET8PPK3
“Even if he’s... Ayub?”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSo8tRGFNE7
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XTvXk9oBu
“Even then.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFReEuvOtr
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNDfpM99kA
They stood in silence again as Caesar moved. The horse had slowed, sensing the shift in energy, his muscles stretching through the curve.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ83aQQVFfu
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8xO3jFt4Q
“Still chasing Selma?” Lamija asked after a long beat.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbEetmRXNZ
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2UUA5aA3H
Imran smiled, soft and firm. “I want her, Lamija.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQzJ01hquP
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XZxyWbuSC
“I don’t think she’s ready.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQHSvvInOX
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEwCcRSxsQ
“I can wait.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnbs7WJvgz
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmHwIMsdok
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtF0pPjMtcu
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFKUcFwWzq
Lamija laughed. “He thinks you’ve had enough of my attention.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYQMpdu8ZU
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Wvbms4SId
Imran reached over the fence to scratch Caesar behind the ear. The stallion flared his nostrils, huffed, and—shockingly—leaned into it.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTH4xUy4mh
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KLufqsQvG
“See?” Imran said smugly. “We’re building trust.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaqxearbBs
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrfryM5kDz
Lamija rolled her eyes. “Don’t let it go to your head.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhrY9himgS
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOHagJRHIV
“I want to ride him.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEm5GZd4FI9
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDo5p1DvJVk
“Absolutely not.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7NfLwf4Me
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8c8DaX3JkX
“I think we’ve reached an understanding.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8C00E85SN
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIT72Rk0G5
“You’ll be broken in half.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkJV4pusdh
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFpcMzNwyM
Imran was already climbing the fence. “Then scatter my ashes with flair.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVb72AB478G
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cti9fjIqs
Caesar watched him approach like a king tolerating a jester.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxeMzSjd6m
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OeF67c2EM
Imran grabbed the reins gently. “Easy, buddy. Let’s be friends.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYunR2ns8Ab
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVRkhBAqLq
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2v5yVTSksN
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nW5rqRZmd
Then came the buck.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhQs2k35l6
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVACv21JB00
Then another.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcdZuveCvS
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGk0x0SyNr
And on the third, Imran flew.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUqUBKruvG
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Kwdy7rSkn
He landed in the dirt with a thud and a very ungraceful grunt.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjxsSGsUf1
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNEM2PssMB
Lamija was already sprinting. “Imran!”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7y1uuJ8Fq
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡim6RZG6Jnt
He rolled onto his back, groaning. “I’m alive.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mTd8oCsSB
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5HXb8FysN
She dropped to her knees beside him. “You’re a certified idiot.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvBjxwUlgk
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE53XMUKArH
Caesar trotted to the fence, glared once, and turned his back with a dramatic flick of his tail.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1IfvXwZvK
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLkJR0fWDj
“Wow,” Imran muttered. “He’s petty.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULwXW9ApK7
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuL4d9p37T1
“He gave you ten seconds. That’s a personal record.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMQPptxrnL
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Y8v37hOw9
“Tell him I’m open to peace talks.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3A28z4TUly
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXj2tI3OBV
Lamija laughed, brushing dust off his hoodie.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsAI5LSuDg
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCqFVdQQnh
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.
ns216.73.216.138da2
然後按「加至主畫面」