LOGINAnnalise’s POVThe Next DayWe left the minister’s residence shortly after breakfast and headed for Nile Horizon Investment Group, one of Egypt’s leading investment and infrastructure firms.The ride was peaceful.Too peaceful.Outside the window, Cairo bustled with its usual energy. Cars flowed through broad avenues, street vendors arranged colorful displays beneath striped awnings, and the morning sun bathed the sandstone buildings in a warm golden glow. The Nile appeared every now and then between rows of palm trees, its waters glimmering beneath the clear sky.Inside the car…I could feel Linda’s eyes on me. Again. And again.She wasn’t trying to hide it anymore. Curiosity was practically written across her face.She lasted until we arrived.The company’s headquarters occupied an entire city block. The sleek glass building reflected the surrounding skyline, while polished granite pillars framed its revolving entrance. A row of national flags fluttered outside, and executives in ta
Andrew’s expression didn’t change, the empty space echoing his words.“If I were here to play,” he said evenly, “I would’ve stayed home.”His eyes never left mine. His voice remained calm, almost conversational. “I left an entire business empire behind and followed you across countries. Do you really think I came all this way for amusement?”Before I could answer, he took another step closer.The distance between us disappeared.Without warning, his fingers caught a loose strand of my hair that had escaped my veil.He slowly tucked it behind my ear.The gesture was so gentle that my body reacted before my mind did.I stiffened.“You remember the promise we made ten years ago.” His voice dropped lower, his fingers lingering for only a heartbeat before falling away. “I haven’t gone back on mine. And I won’t tolerate you going back on yours.”A promise?I searched my memory.There had been so many promises. Childish ones. Hopeful ones.The future had seemed so simple back then.Before I
At the dining hall.No…Calling it a dining hall was still an understatement.It resembled the banquet chamber of a royal palace.The room stretched so wide that the opposite end almost disappeared beneath towering arches. A magnificent crystal chandelier hung from a ceiling adorned with intricate Islamic geometric patterns and hand-painted gold details. Massive marble columns lined both sides of the hall, while floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked lush gardens where fountains shimmered beneath the afternoon sun.At the center stood a dining table long enough to accommodate several dozen guests.Only four seats, however, had been prepared.The moment I stepped inside, my eyes found him.Andrew Hale.He sat beside Amira’s husband with the same composed posture that always made him seem as though he belonged wherever he was.Across from him, the man who could only be Minister Omar El-Sharif was speaking warmly.“Our government has been very pleased with the progress of the upstream ener
Annalise’s POV The taxi drove through towering wrought-iron gates that opened onto an estate unlike any I had seen before.A broad stone driveway curved gracefully through immaculate gardens filled with date palms, jasmine, and blooming bougainvillea. Marble lanterns lined both sides of the path, their intricate carvings casting delicate patterns across the ground even beneath the afternoon sun. In the distance stood an enormous mansion, its creamy sandstone walls glowing warmly beneath the Egyptian sky.The architecture blended traditional Arabian elegance with modern luxury.Towering arches framed the entrance. Delicate geometric carvings decorated the walls, while vast floor-to-ceiling windows reflected the gardens surrounding the estate. Domed rooftops rose behind the main building, and slender palm trees swayed gently in the warm breeze, softening the grandeur of the place.The taxi came to a stop before a circular courtyard.At its center, a magnificent marble fountain sent cr
Andrew’s POVThe Next MorningI checked my wristwatch again.8:17 a.m.My gaze drifted, almost instinctively, to the suite beside mine.Its door remained closed.For what felt like the hundredth time that morning, I resisted the ridiculous impulse to walk over, unlock the door myself, and confirm she was still inside.She wasn’t a prisoner.Nor was she obligated to remain where I wanted her.Yet…My eyes kept returning there.A housekeeping attendant pushed her cleaning trolley down the hallway.She stopped before the adjacent suite and swiped a master keycard.The door clicked open.I frowned.Walking over, I asked in German, “Where’s the guest staying here?”The attendant looked up politely.“Oh.” She smiled apologetically. “She checked out late last night, Sir.”My expression hardened.“I see.”She bowed slightly before entering the room.I remained standing in the hallway.So…She had run.From me.A quiet scoff escaped me.How long exactly did she intend to keep running?I took o
Everything inside me went still, my fists clenching involuntarily.For one dangerous second, I wanted to look up.To meet his eyes.To ask him what kind of game he thought he was playing.It took every ounce of self-control I possessed to remain where I was, my gaze fixed on the glowing screen still displaying the translation as though the words meant nothing to me.I forced my fingers to loosen.Then I breathed once.Twice.I silently handed the phone back to Linda, behaving as though I had never seen the translation.As though I hadn’t just heard the most absurd sentence Andrew Hale had ever uttered.My future bride?What a ridiculous joke.…The rest of the evening unfolded in a way that only confirmed my suspicions.Mr. Hoffmann’s attitude toward me changed completely.The guarded businessman who had carefully weighed every condition only hours ago suddenly became unusually accommodating.After dinner, he personally led Linda and me through different wings of the estate.The mansi
I only glanced at the device once then went about my morning routine.After I was done, I picked up my phone to find several messages piled up.[Annalise, where are you? Why aren't you answering my calls?][Where did you sleep last night, Annalise?][What is going on between you and Alexander Sterl
My fingers instinctively tightened around the phone, hearing Tania’s words.I didn't hear her wrong, did I?“I checked your marriage certificate, Anna. It was fake!” Tania groaned. “Don’t tell me the scumbag tricked you!”Tricked me…Aiden himself asked me to marry him.Three years ago, he’d knocke
Cassandra pointed at me, her soft voice echoing in the hallway. That was when Aiden peeled his gaze from her, and the tender look on his face was instantly gone.But instead of appearing confused, only fear and frustration flashed in his eyes.He quickly let go of Cassandra, While Cassandra tremb
The next day, I discharged myself from the hospital.Standing across the bustling street outside the hospital’s skyscraper, my eyes squinted at the burning sun.For thirty minutes, not a single taxi stopped.Then, suddenly, a convoy of black luxury cars swept onto the street, instantly drawing ever







