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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡol5C7dAaKh
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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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NJABIwEdW
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Now, it was well past midnight. His stomach growled.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡky3mZOXWl0
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He opened the fridge and groaned.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0znY7ibHXv
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Half a serving of roasted potatoes. A spoonful of lamb. Maybe two zucchini slices if he was being generous.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxHweQIsZu
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“Really, Lamija?” he muttered. “You left me diplomatic scraps.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp48kpphdOx
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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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzBfuNlz59
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As he ate standing at the counter, his thoughts drifted.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfwZTIsvia
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Selma.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbJM6kWPmp
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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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVM4TPWUOXp
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And now there was the matter of telling his mother.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8zfXFCUAv
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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?25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLrM6Q9kHq
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He didn’t want permission.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5XX5aeUJC
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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?25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUxdMAo99q
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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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLfKT4x8UW
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Caesar.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ22Jx5xCW3
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The sound tugged at him—equal parts thunder and invitation.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzqRSTj9ed
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He stepped back into the kitchen and outside onto the patio.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKxB0xPESh
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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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmI0c6U5mh6
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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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KGDvyObzH
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She rode him with utter control—no fear, no hesitation. Her posture perfect. Her arms steady. Her face focused.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjOFuk0hMI
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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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05ahlTGze3
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They were a sight.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyweN1XsD0I
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Imran leaned against the fence, arms crossed, the corners of his mouth tipping upward.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWddfax6rq
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“Would’ve been nice if you left me more than three potatoes,” he called.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4a0DYv9Mp6
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Lamija’s laugh rang out across the ring. “You came home late. That’s the tax.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKu63EUblOm
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“You eat like royalty and leave your big brother starving. That feels personal.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9OJQr5nsU
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She slowed Caesar into a wide circle. “I regret nothing.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ko2VgMYws
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“How was the meeting?” he asked.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmGvckqbaQ
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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.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxTePXd0yX
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“He’s the one Babo wants?”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2l0eW1bFC
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“Apparently. You know how he is. Sees an investment portfolio and forgets common sense.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95FgHkZXGZ
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Imran chuckled. “That’s our father.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lh6ZitwuN
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“I told him we’d follow up. Politely.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KeaFWWNgb
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Imran leaned further into the fence. “Adil called me.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEMGJvVnVB
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Lamija groaned audibly. “What now?”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2K5Ms2uXnK
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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.’”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeH3uSx673J
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Lamija grinned despite herself. “Subtlety is a lost art.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJkH2gWTWt
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“I already bought it. For Eid. Don’t get cocky.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYz4iIcRn0
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“I’m just saying—you understood the assignment.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRkR4LNLTR
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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.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuFdzdaEC7
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Lamija’s expression turned icy. “Did you tell him where to shove it?”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlh3o2bTzpP
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“I may have used slightly more colorful language.. If Babo ever heard him talk like that—”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6XeZk8FEb
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“He’d light their offices on fire.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCSnzBGx6u
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“And I’d hand him the match.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIurTzIJMn
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They shared a moment of wordless understanding.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWsDtNjqGR
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Caesar snorted, stomping one foot in disapproval of the break.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rzzLsTANt
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Imran scratched his neck. “So... Ayub?”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0SG25YuKR
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Lamija exhaled. “Everyone’s worried I’ll break him. Mama. You. Everyone.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Txsy0rKKO
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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.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9K2BrQ8IL
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“I’m not heartless.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQQRYI6AfQ
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“I know. But you’re curious. And with someone like Ayub, that’s not a neutral emotion.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIujY39gZRz
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Lamija fell quiet, guiding Caesar into another slow pass.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiYzUrIBz9
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“I don’t want to feel guilty for not feeling the same,” she admitted.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrN1TyRfoxp
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“You shouldn’t. You owe no one your affection.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe27QKTf4wU
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“Even if he’s... Ayub?”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdc9FomHqlY
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“Even then.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35gGmuRRb7
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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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VLlwV7Cet
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“Still chasing Selma?” Lamija asked after a long beat.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV96ljibw2d
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Imran smiled, soft and firm. “I want her, Lamija.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qofRBPKbG
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“I don’t think she’s ready.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLpqbY2jQq
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“I can wait.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztIGYvpxIz
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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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkSbHdNRXU
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Lamija laughed. “He thinks you’ve had enough of my attention.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2sz1tVTq6
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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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhEaZbSPj1
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“See?” Imran said smugly. “We’re building trust.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAFMI51LvG
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Lamija rolled her eyes. “Don’t let it go to your head.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcIIbi7how
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“I want to ride him.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhV6joomket
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“Absolutely not.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOOVGvg03G
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“I think we’ve reached an understanding.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIHpMaHJZT
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“You’ll be broken in half.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2JIKZWJQg
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Imran was already climbing the fence. “Then scatter my ashes with flair.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vpCyFOL0k
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Caesar watched him approach like a king tolerating a jester.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpe13le8vVk
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Imran grabbed the reins gently. “Easy, buddy. Let’s be friends.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidyhE1Y8c2
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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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFfjgYHtQ6
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Then came the buck.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8UokZvCEL
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Then another.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtP9iPyQ4cO
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And on the third, Imran flew.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwY3yGuFhWo
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He landed in the dirt with a thud and a very ungraceful grunt.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVUoft69eC
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Lamija was already sprinting. “Imran!”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUwZ80sN9k
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyualOa8aj
He rolled onto his back, groaning. “I’m alive.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2RQpY6peX
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She dropped to her knees beside him. “You’re a certified idiot.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4eGn9YVlL
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Caesar trotted to the fence, glared once, and turned his back with a dramatic flick of his tail.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdi0yDpeZU7
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“Wow,” Imran muttered. “He’s petty.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpfyJEtXnA
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“He gave you ten seconds. That’s a personal record.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TJCxn7Tc4
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“Tell him I’m open to peace talks.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdTYAinVUl
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Lamija laughed, brushing dust off his hoodie.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogrgNxLidi
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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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