Masuk"She had high expectations from you; I hope you won't disappoint both of us."
Feriha’s words from earlier were ringing in Asmaira’s mind. She randomly strolled on the lawn aimlessly, not specifically moving anywhere. She needed her moment; she needed her time to settle. She was scared that she would let them down. She never left her family for a day, and here she was, living in new surroundings. She felt out of place.
On cue, her mind flashed to Hania and Ishaal’s designer wears. Even Feriha’s simple yet classy attire gave away their elegance. She looked down at her modest dress and couldn’t help comparing. She noticed that she looked odd while sitting with them. Although they don't make her feel inferior nor look down upon her, her self-consciousness couldn’t let her miss the difference between her and them. M
Amaan sat in a chair, gazing out at the night through the glass wall. The room was mostly dark, save for a faint corner light. His silhouette suggested a man consumed by the desire for vengeance. His emerald eyes were fixed on the distance, unblinking. With one leg crossed over the other, his fist was clenched near his face, lost in deep contemplation.She was free.Ten days had passed without a single call.It was as if she didn't want him to know.As if she wished to disappear from his life entirely.His jaw tightened at the thought.He slowly opened his fist, revealing the sparkling diamond ring. He stared at it, and his emerald irises darkened further.“You have a lot to answer for, Aashi. You won’t escape me.”For the past five years, it had taken every ounce of his control to stop himself from storming the prison and forcing the truth from her.The truth she stubbornly withheld.He had lost more than his innocent wife that night. The woman who emerged after the incident was unre
"David gave me as an anniversary gift," Talia replied, though she was still afraid of the barely contained rage she sensed in his demeanor."No, it can't be possible," he murmured, his eyes fixed on the ring, still holding her hand.When his grip tightened to a dizzying pressure, Talia instinctively tugged her hand free. Realizing the shocking intensity of his reaction, Amaan released her.She had never witnessed such wildness in Amaan's eyes, and her gaze went immediately to the diamond on her finger."What's the matter, Amaan?""Talia, I need to see David, now!" he enunciated, his jaw muscle ticking as he exerted tremendous control over his escalating rage.For the first time, a cold bead of sweat formed on Talia’s forehead, seeing her typically calm boss pacing the expensive carpet like a wounded lion out for blood. The few minutes of waiting stretched into what felt like hours, and she shifted nervously on her feet. Amaan had not only cancelled all his remaining meetings for the d
“Where is she?” Amaan’s eyes narrowed at the guard who was supposed to be watching Raina.When the guard lowered his eyes—a clear sign he didn’t see who Raina was with—Amaan’s rage simmered. Not wanting to compromise his security team’s cover, he looked down at his daughter. There was a unique energy to her, which piqued his curiosity about the strange woman she’d been with.“You missed her. She just left for the gaming zone,” Raina said, pointing toward the exit.“Gaming zone?” Asher blinked, leaning down to ask, “Hey there, sweetheart, was your friend wearing a light blue dress?”“Hey! Only Dadda and Asmi can call me that,” Raina immediately frowned.Both Asher and Amaan froze at her fierce response. Asher stifled a chuckle as Raina’s frown moved from him to Ayaan, who immediately hid behind him.“Asmi?” Amaan asked, pulling her attention back to him.“My friend who helped me pick the gift for Kabir Bhai.”“That’s her,” Asher replied, straightening his face. “I guess I have to take
Asmaira froze, watching her small daughter apologize with an innocence and maturity that belied her age. The sight of those brown eyes and the slight dimple in her cheek made her heart race; it had been years since she last saw her. Raina was a baby when Asmaira last held her; now she was walking and talking. Asmaira had missed it all—Raina's first word, her first step—all the precious moments a mother lives for. She had been absent from her daughter’s life.But what truly stung was the lack of recognition in Raina's eyes; to her, Asmaira was a stranger.Amaan’s chilling words echoed in her mind: “I'll make them forget you.”She suppressed a bitter laugh, the reality hitting her with full force. This was her only chance to be with her daughter. A small, foolish part of her wondered if her prayers were finally answered, but she quickly dismissed the thought.Subtly wiping a lone tear, she crouched down. "It’s okay, sweetheart. Are you hurt?”Asmaira longed to touch her face, to brush t
“She works in my restaurant, and I can vouch for her,” Asher stated firmly.“Asher, it’s so good to see you again,” the warden, Martha, finally smiled, rising from her chair for the first time since Asmaira had met her.“I wanted to stop by earlier, but I was caught up with work. How are the kids?” Asher inquired, taking the seat next to Asmaira. He noticed her deliberate avoidance of his gaze, her eyes fixed on everything but him.“Oh, they all miss you. They’ll be happy to see you. Stay for lunch,” Martha offered warmly.“Regarding the adoption, she is my friend, so I am willing to act as her guarantor. Will that help?” Asher asked, cutting to the chase.“Of course. Just a few papers you have to sign for formality,” Martha informed him.He then requested, “Can Ms. Asmaira meet Ayaan?”Asmaira’s breath hitched. She was overwhelmed by a rush of emotion for Asher, but her surprise intensified when the warden agreed without hesitation. “I’ll send for him.”Asher leaned back, a noticeabl
At the end of the day, as Amaan crossed the familiar junction, his eyes subconsciously drifted in the direction where he had seen the woman walking. He remained oblivious to Asmaira, who was boarding a bus just across the road from where he stood looking*****“Daddy, you are home early!” Raina couldn’t contain her excitement.“Yes, didn’t I promise my princess I’d spend some time with her?” Amaan said, playfully twirling his daughter.“Yes, and you promised me a dollhouse if I forgave Ali,” she reminded him with a pout.“How could I break my promise? We’ll go this Sunday.”“Promise, Daddy?” Raina asked, her brown eyes staring up at him expectantly.“Yes, Daddy promises.” Amaan replied, gazing into her brown eyes, which always reminded him of Asmaira. Raina had inherited her mother’s eyes—the same innocence and the same crystal clarity that easily revealed her feelings.While Amaan was playing with his daughter, Gul entered with Ali.“I didn’t realize you were home early,” she said.“I







