As I stood in front of the mirror, taking in the reflection of the woman I had just become, my heart raced with a mix of excitement and nerves. The black dress hugged my figure perfectly, the delicate lace accents adding just the right touch of elegance. My hair cascaded in soft waves, and the makeup highlighted my features in a way that made me feel both beautiful and confident. I was ready for tonight.Just as I was about to take a deep breath to steady myself, I heard the front door open. Rami's voice echoed through the house, and I felt a flutter of anticipation. I knew he was home."Dema?" he called out, his tone warm and inviting. I stepped out of my room, feeling like I was stepping onto a stage. The moment he turned to look at me, his expression shifted from casual curiosity to complete astonishment. His eyes widened, and for a moment, he seemed speechless. “Wow,” he finally managed to say, a genuine smile spreading across his face. “You look incredible.”A rush of warmth fl
"I was in my room revising the business and marketing strategies that I had studied in university when I heard a knock on my door. I looked up from my book and notebooks and said, 'Come in.'To my surprise, the one who walked in was Rami. He smiled gently as he entered and said, 'Hey, you look busy. What are you doing?'I smiled back and replied, 'I'm revising. You see, I was hoping you'd allow me to help you a bit. I'm really good at marketing and planning business strategies. I've got so many ideas, and I promise you I won't disappoint you.'He walked over to me, picked up one of my notebooks, scanned my handwriting, then put it down and turned his attention to me. 'Sure,' he said, 'I was actually thinking the same thing. Tomorrow, I'll introduce you to the marketing team. I'll tell the head of the marketing department to give you special training, and then I'll make you a manager. How does that sound?'I jumped up and down in excitement, exclaiming, 'Thank you, thank you, thank you
As I walked into the office that morning, I was filled with a fresh sense of purpose and a new motivation.The last time I was here, I was known as Dema, the CEO's wife. To everyone else, that was my identity, but inside, I felt like a pathetic girl playing the role of the wealthy boss's spouse. My actions were driven by a desperate need to prove my worth to him, to convince him that he needed me by his side and wouldn’t discard me when he was done. I never even dared to consider that he might actually come to like me, let alone fall in love with me.But this morning marked a turning point. For the first time in my life, I woke up free from worries and the haunting remnants of past nightmares.I had breakfast with my husband, who shared his plans for the day. We enjoyed coffee together, and he even asked for my opinion on his outfit and which watch suited him best. He encouraged me to take my time and mentioned that I didn’t have to work the early shift. The old me would have rejected
As I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the hem of my dress, a sense of nervous excitement fluttered in my chest. Tonight was important. I had spent days preparing for this charity event, carefully crafting my speech, making sure every word would leave an impact. Public speaking wasn’t exactly my forte, but I felt ready this time. The speech was heartfelt, personal—something I knew would resonate with the audience.I smoothed my dress one last time, the deep blue fabric falling perfectly against my figure. It was modest yet elegant—appropriate for an event focused on helping those in need. I grabbed my notecards, tucking them neatly into my clutch, and took a deep breath before heading out.The venue was grander than I expected, with twinkling fairy lights lining the entrance and a red carpet rolled out along the way. As I walked inside, my heels clicking softly against the marble floor, I took in the beautifully decorated hall. Everything was perfect—until I caught sight of the
I stood in front of the mirror, watching as my stylist made the final adjustments to my outfit. The deep emerald-green dress hugged my figure perfectly, its silky fabric flowing elegantly down to my ankles. The subtle gold accents on the cuffs and neckline added just the right touch of sophistication. My makeup was flawless—soft, yet striking—and my hair fell in perfect waves over my shoulders. For once, I felt completely in control."Perfect," my stylist said with a satisfied smile, stepping back to admire her work.I took a deep breath. Today, I wasn’t going to let my mother-in-law catch me off guard. The last time she invited me for tea, she had dissected my outfit, my manners, and practically everything else with that sharp, scrutinizing gaze of hers. But today? Today, I was ready.Arriving at her house, I walked into the grand sitting room, my heels clicking softly against the marble floor. She was already seated by the window, sipping tea from one of her impossibly delicate porc
As I stood in front of the mirror, the soft glow of the vanity lights illuminated my reflection. I was in the final stages of getting ready for the commercial event featuring Rami's company, and my heart raced with a mix of excitement and nerves. I carefully adjusted the collar of my blouse, making sure it sat perfectly against my skin. The dress I had chosen was elegant yet professional, a deep navy blue that complemented my complexion. I wanted to make a good impression—not just for myself, but for Rami and his company.Just as I was applying the final touches of makeup, I heard the soft click of the door opening behind me. I turned slightly to see Rami walk in, and my breath caught in my throat. He looked stunning, dressed in a tailored suit that screamed luxury. The fabric glimmered under the lights, and I could tell it was one of those high-end brands that only a select few could afford. His confidence filled the room, and for a moment, I was taken aback by how effortlessly he ca
Today I woke up sick, each time I cough, it feels like my skull is going to split open. I knew I shouldn't have gone into the office yesterday, even though we were short-staffed. Now, I'm paying the price. I squint at my laptop screen, trying to focus on the budget report. It's a blurry mess of numbers. Thank goodness for video conferencing. At least I can supervise the team remotely."Dema, habibti, you look terrible." Tala's voice is soft and concerned. She's holding a steaming mug, the fragrant scent of mint tea wafting towards me. "Here, I made you some tea. It will make you feel better."I manage a weak smile. "Thanks, Tala. You're an angel." I take the mug gratefully, the warmth seeping into my chilled hands. "How's my temperature?"Tala places the back of her hand on my forehead. "Still a little high. You should rest, Dema. Don't worry about work. They can handle it."I know she's right, but I can't help but feel guilty. "I just need to finish reviewing this report..." I trail
The salt spray kissed my face as I stepped out of the car, the scent of the ocean a welcome counterpoint to the nervous flutter in my stomach. Rami's s uncle's beach house was always a scene, a whirlwind of extended family, boisterous laughter, and the inevitable comparisons. I smoothed down the silk of my dress, a masterpiece from a boutique in the city and adjusted the oversized sunglasses perched on my nose. "You look like you're going to the Oscars, not a family barbecue," Rami grumbled, his brow furrowed. I rolled my eyes, a practiced move. "Rami your mother will be there. I can't just show up in jeans and a t-shirt. I have to look the part." He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "The part of what? A fashion magazine cover? You're going to feel suffocated in that thing." "And you'd rather I show up looking like I haven't left the house in weeks? Let's be realistic, Rami. Appearances matter. Especially when your mother is around." He knew I was right. Rami's mother, bles
I had planned to take Dema to the commercial event and even picked out a beautiful dress for her as a surprise. I imagined how happy she’d be when she sees it and how lovely she’d look that evening. But when I got home, I found her lying on her back on the couch, exhausted. “I’m too tired,” she said weakly. When I told her about the event, she shook her head. “I can’t go. I’m exhausted—I don’t feel good, and I don’t look good enough to attend.” I left Dema alone at home and went to the event by myself. The evening dragged on—my team handled everything perfectly, leaving me with little to do. That’s when I spotted her.Her name is Jasmine . She's One of our former managers. She’d quit years ago when she got pregnant, choosing to raise her son over climbing the corporate ladder. Now here she was, gliding through the crowd like she’d never left. She smiled when she saw me. “Rami, how are you? It's been a long time.”We fell into easy conversation, reminiscing about her old days at
Last night was one of the longest nights I’ve ever experienced. Dema had been throwing up on and off for hours, her discomfort keeping both of us awake well past midnight. Each time I heard her retching in the bathroom, my chest tightened with worry. I hovered near the door, offering water, a cold towel, anything to ease her nausea. At one point, I even suggested taking her to the emergency room, fearing she might be seriously ill, but she waved me off weakly. "It’s fine, really," she insisted, her voice hoarse from the strain."This is normal—just part of it." I didn’t understand how anything so exhausting could be normal but she assured me it was just her body adjusting. Still, I couldn’t shake the helplessness gnawing at me. Eventually, the vomiting subsided, but sleep remained out of reach for her. Restless and drained, she wandered out to the balcony, seeking the cool night air. I watched from the doorway as she settled into the wicker chair, her silhouette outlined by the p
When Dema told me she was pregnant, I didn’t know what came over me. My chest tightened, my thoughts raced, and for a moment, I couldn’t even form a response. We had talked about having kids many times before—long conversations that stretched late into the night, filled with hopes, fears, and unspoken tensions. Every time, I told her I wasn’t ready, that the timing wasn’t right, that we needed to wait. And every time, she would look at me with those deep, pleading eyes, her voice soft but unwavering as she explained why she wanted this so badly. She had been an orphan, raised in a system that never gave her the warmth of a real family. She told me how she used to watch other children with their parents, aching for something she never had—a home, stability, unconditional love. To her, having a child wasn’t just a desire; it was a need, a way to fill a void that had been hollowed out by years of loneliness. She feared that if we kept dismissing the idea, she might never get the chance
Love is such a strong word, if you ask me. It's a kind of driving force—something deep and complicated for some people, yet so simple and spontaneous for others. I used to believe that people who have more get more love: people who have more money than others, people who have more influence, more beauty. That's why I didn't believe in love, because I believed it was just another term used to justify capitalistic ideals, a cover for people’s lust and greed. And it's true—some people do use love to get what they want, or they just don't know the difference between love and ambition. My whole life, I thought that I deserved love because I had money, status, and looks. I had the whole package; I was at the top of the social pyramid. That's just how our world works—but again, this is ambition, not real love. Real love is loving someone even when they have nothing. Real love is loving someone for the way they treat you. You can truly love someone for a certain quality about them, and
Love is such a complicated matter. It is very mysterious to me, especially identifying love. Identifying your own emotions is the tricky part. Do you really love this person, or do you just like this person? Do you love them despite their flaws? Do you love them as a whole, or do you just love a specific quality about this person ? Would you still love this person if they lost everything? Would you still love them if they changed? These questions have been on my mind my whole life, and I’ve given up on finding answers. I thought I loved Bayan, yet I moved on with my life just fine after she disappeared. I thought I liked Rola, but when she broke our engagement and left, I didn’t feel anything—I didn’t even shed a single tear. But when I realized for the first time that I could lose Dema, it frightened my soul. For the first time, I felt like my entire world would crash. --- I’ve never felt anything like this before with anyone else. Yes, I admit I’ve been with many wo
There were nights when the weight of my father’s expectations pressed down on me until I couldn’t breathe. I’d sit in the dark, wondering if I was an embarrassment to him—if I’d ever be enough. But Dema… she always knew. She’d find me, her hands gentle on my shoulders, her voice steady. "You’re not failing," she’d say. "You’re building something he’ll never understand." And somehow, just her saying it made me believe it. She never let me face anything alone. Every gala, every meeting, every public appearance—she was there, flawless, poised, making me look stronger just by standing beside me. People noticed. They’d whisper about how lucky I was, and they were right. When my mother’s birthday came around, and I was drowning in indecision, Dema took over. She planned everything—the flowers my mother loved, the guests list, even the cake from that little bakery she used to take me to as a child. My mother hugged me that night and said, "it was one of the best birthdays I've ever had."
I stood there, staring at the half-finished rose garden, dirt smeared across my hands, sweat dripping down my forehead. I had never done anything like this before—not with my own hands, at least. My whole life, if I wanted something done, I paid someone to do it. But this… this had to be done by me. Dema had made me that sweater—knitted it herself, stitch by stitch. I still remember the way she smiled when she gave it to me, how soft it felt, how it carried the weight of her effort. I wanted to give her something just as meaningful, something that showed her I cared enough to try. But what could I do? I didn’t know how to knit, or paint, or build. I had no skills like that. Then, as I passed by the flower shop downtown, it hit me Dema loves flowers.I bought every rose they had. Red, pink, white—enough to fill the entire side garden of the mansion. When I got home, I called the gardener over. "I need everything ready—soil, tools, space. I'm doing this myself," I told him. He r
Dema wasn’t just my wife—she was my first real friend, the first person who truly saw me.Before her, no one had ever asked about the things that brought me joy—not out of obligation or strategy, but simple curiosity. She was the one who listened when I rambled about random historical facts, who remembered the names of my childhood pets, who laughed at my terrible jokes not because she had to, but because she genuinely found them funny. With her, I didn’t have to perform or posture. For the first time, I felt like I could just exist and that would be enough. She taught me things I never realized I was missing—small, sacred acts of love I’d never witnessed growing up. She was the first person to cook my favorite meal just because she noticed I’d had a long day. The first to show me how to hold someone’s gaze until the world fades away, how to listen not just to words but to the spaces between them. She showed me how to celebrate the details—the way someone’s nose scrunches when they
My whole life, I’ve known that people liked me—not for who I was, but for where I came from. Growing up, I attended an elite international school, the kind reserved for the children of diplomats, CEOs, and old-money heirs. It was a world of polished hallways and whispered connections, where last names carried more weight than personalities. My parents never let me forget my privilege. "You deserve only the best," they would say, as if excellence were an inheritance rather than something earned. Their words were laced with unspoken rules Only associate with those who match your status. Never lower yourself. Remember who you are.But the irony was suffocating. Even among the privileged, I was treated differently—like some kind of crown prince in a kingdom of lesser nobles. At first, I thought it was because of my family’s wealth, or maybe my father’s influence in certain circles. But the truth was far more transactional. The other children didn’t befriend me; they were assigned to me. T