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.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwVDhdVB4j
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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.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeci16Fndvw
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Now, it was well past midnight. His stomach growled.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHURZ0iAGHz
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ573Pyma1wC
He opened the fridge and groaned.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzYzy2Gaz7
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Half a serving of roasted potatoes. A spoonful of lamb. Maybe two zucchini slices if he was being generous.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZM7MDdkXy
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1leedSWZU
“Really, Lamija?” he muttered. “You left me diplomatic scraps.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqlKlsVTOy
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OWmcxoUZj
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.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgwOnUCD7f
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yYqIcWlnA
As he ate standing at the counter, his thoughts drifted.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tq4fnbXXk
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbttbG3IX6D
Selma.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJcrC24OT1
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZ9zpv3BKU
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.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKJUz61Ceu
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhHoKmUZMD
And now there was the matter of telling his mother.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFQYzC7MKU
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZO99R1WuC
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?36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mg77BT33Z
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzx2PK7Chi
He didn’t want permission.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHlfanQCX3
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmCItWAFHP
But he also didn’t want silence.
His mother loved Selma—but would that change if she knew Imran did too?36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mgRSNVKzf
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyB0La9LQxz
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.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIquQbiJjJT
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpCYCQ2ONQ
Caesar.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OSFUnru72
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMK9VPPCofL
The sound tugged at him—equal parts thunder and invitation.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJ6HGXJwls
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9Vy6wpfuv
He stepped back into the kitchen and outside onto the patio.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MtnfPnyTA
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHj0c6hcN9f
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.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5n3v5BtkU6
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmTt9CJSXR
In the ring, under the low golden wash of floodlights, Lamija and Caesar moved like they were born from the same force.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqgiyBjtdz
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lwWJV1vgh
She rode him with utter control—no fear, no hesitation. Her posture perfect. Her arms steady. Her face focused.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01zaUBnu5i
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Gut2bnQhL
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.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pVFoV7onQ
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They were a sight.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38ajLB6gt2
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Imran leaned against the fence, arms crossed, the corners of his mouth tipping upward.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLb8cN19Oh
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihhvKpQ93v
“Would’ve been nice if you left me more than three potatoes,” he called.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QAT7nRups
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VZwNEW5np
Lamija’s laugh rang out across the ring. “You came home late. That’s the tax.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxmPjbBzsM
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDz7arKv40I
“You eat like royalty and leave your big brother starving. That feels personal.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZK38RvXmPY
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxgrscjQeq
She slowed Caesar into a wide circle. “I regret nothing.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFECUQ8c0f2
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeARTWA9Fpe
“How was the meeting?” he asked.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0U1Tm3wm5r
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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.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLXDqZJz7n
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDl5c5E4gRg
“He’s the one Babo wants?”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKaSDwIox2
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Y1qUgYtkc
“Apparently. You know how he is. Sees an investment portfolio and forgets common sense.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8pv8CAPQF
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlUp27n73e
Imran chuckled. “That’s our father.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCHLB0AuiL
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8BO2UvTxO
“I told him we’d follow up. Politely.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKkJYhrC2G
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAKX7K3ljJ
Imran leaned further into the fence. “Adil called me.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8EFJo1NWF
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1phvBDDB8
Lamija groaned audibly. “What now?”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mQEmaFN74
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNt25eFyNf
“He said Nedim saw the link you sent me on instagram—the Solène purse. The one you so subtly captioned ‘buy me.’”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSUzr4Tst3
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxbJckyDHr
Lamija grinned despite herself. “Subtlety is a lost art.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgvsTv4Evj
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLw6XIRzQq
“I already bought it. For Eid. Don’t get cocky.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPp704OXKkH
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZC3R37gJ8l
“I’m just saying—you understood the assignment.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xCLhXct5Z
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsImm8plUFp
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.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZuNylkGlr
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeus1ErBRbW
Lamija’s expression turned icy. “Did you tell him where to shove it?”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZ2yt35ZJI
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbgICWXxHV
“I may have used slightly more colorful language.. If Babo ever heard him talk like that—”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQglg81vblM
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcY4kD450I
“He’d light their offices on fire.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ025VjJSzJc
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9OG3dtPuk
“And I’d hand him the match.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPArR62YDk
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLrzU5IZ1U
They shared a moment of wordless understanding.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPUSw911Vt
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9fGiw6wPk
Caesar snorted, stomping one foot in disapproval of the break.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4S7caHbkXG
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0LTHB2yPD
Imran scratched his neck. “So... Ayub?”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmsS6lAJEe
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEOH2fUaIy
Lamija exhaled. “Everyone’s worried I’ll break him. Mama. You. Everyone.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhCwDuo7V9
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdeVmtJgPN
“He’s been through a lot. That doesn’t mean he’s fragile—but he’s not someone you test just to feel something.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8IznI84r6
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclXMEZOZyX
“I’m not heartless.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoCuRZVBPh
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrCmSkuqog
“I know. But you’re curious. And with someone like Ayub, that’s not a neutral emotion.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwCsSD3kOG
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7OxKm0sjr
Lamija fell quiet, guiding Caesar into another slow pass.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRuD12bKh6
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“I don’t want to feel guilty for not feeling the same,” she admitted.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluKF8KskTl
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGhCkcC6YZ
“You shouldn’t. You owe no one your affection.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDydiSKAX9
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Hqep7JWzo
“Even if he’s... Ayub?”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaLf4xz7Y0
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAiz3ZyTU6
“Even then.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMGCaqtppv
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNr6AXuFzGJ
They stood in silence again as Caesar moved. The horse had slowed, sensing the shift in energy, his muscles stretching through the curve.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVtPUTzbMk
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWD0HKmLK5
“Still chasing Selma?” Lamija asked after a long beat.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiruqondUD
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKsRca82xy
Imran smiled, soft and firm. “I want her, Lamija.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWc5VbTNMlE
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTg4uQ4te4k
“I don’t think she’s ready.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8MPUdk9Ax
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZobBJfqk4
“I can wait.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGI2KAkH8tz
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkF663kaJGJ
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.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gWX6bHpyK
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOIofMeuRO
Lamija laughed. “He thinks you’ve had enough of my attention.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKjJW5oWCz
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaahJvhbQxt
Imran reached over the fence to scratch Caesar behind the ear. The stallion flared his nostrils, huffed, and—shockingly—leaned into it.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcEw3mdXK1
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHhRKaMw3c
“See?” Imran said smugly. “We’re building trust.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjdpZmoXp9
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8Hh81VtiC
Lamija rolled her eyes. “Don’t let it go to your head.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr01xjc8TOX
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6k7EBy9nv
“I want to ride him.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnp11uZGDv
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTlbtmcXdi
“Absolutely not.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSutIyTLO1
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyee6wk2vVN
“I think we’ve reached an understanding.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihLfhZJXAo
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBr8LGHuaGO
“You’ll be broken in half.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mvjWJFHgT
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMbWQVL38T
Imran was already climbing the fence. “Then scatter my ashes with flair.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKKDdh2DJk
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Go9YmeDow
Caesar watched him approach like a king tolerating a jester.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuX1ezvBXE
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7a59DBBmBA
Imran grabbed the reins gently. “Easy, buddy. Let’s be friends.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FUrhDTYah
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHRSsISSiI
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.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhj65cx8M76
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HmKKLTdM7
Then came the buck.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUO9hU295kV
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Then another.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHJM2rliS7
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And on the third, Imran flew.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBziAWtgLo
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OUX1p4gfQ
He landed in the dirt with a thud and a very ungraceful grunt.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMkxsoXcWq
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCk72vSiXf
Lamija was already sprinting. “Imran!”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUVA2mMY64
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojmGAnBcfP
He rolled onto his back, groaning. “I’m alive.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxE3DrHXnoR
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLIiBV7MKE
She dropped to her knees beside him. “You’re a certified idiot.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtauu1PlLve
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ731mZekMbx
Caesar trotted to the fence, glared once, and turned his back with a dramatic flick of his tail.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH43MKIE18z
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9MJw2aZge
“Wow,” Imran muttered. “He’s petty.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjzhNjO8sY
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDWRIvX23M
“He gave you ten seconds. That’s a personal record.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPQE27e5Ka
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMUBsZiEEy
“Tell him I’m open to peace talks.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW45ygcujGd
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCv4EK6Y1en
Lamija laughed, brushing dust off his hoodie.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMDgdg7Vzc
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBX6M45qQD
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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