Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 11 - Chapitre 20

Chapter Eleven "Marital Infidelity" He was struck by the silence that greeted him the moment he returned home. For a brief instant, he sensed her absence, but he quickly dismissed the thought upon seeing the curtains drawn and the house steeped in darkness—the very atmosphere Reem preferred when staying indoors, a habit that had consumed long hours of her time over the past few months. But where, exactly, was she? He didn't know. He scanned the house with his eyes as he hurried up the stairs, checking every corner—a habit he had recently acquired—yet found no trace of her; even their bedroom was empty. Perhaps she had gone out. It was a good thing if she had; at least she would breathe some fresh air away from the walls that seemed to be closing in on her, for he had noticed her growing paler by the day. She was always quiet and sad, her face bearing that familiar pallor, yet lately there was something different—a deeper sorrow, longer spells of absent-mindedness, and a si

"The doctor called you this morning. Are you getting ready to go see her?" "Asia's" mother asked when she entered her daughter's room around midday and found her dressed and preparing to leave the house. "Asia" gathered her things into her relatively large handbag. "No... I'm going to ask for some time off work." "What? Time off? And who's going to support us? Have you lost your mind?" "Asia" straightened and gave her a sharp look. "Not yet... But don't worry. It's quite possible, considering the mess I'm going through. What do you expect me to do? Continue working normally and show up in front of everyone as if I've suddenly ended up with a huge belly overnight?" "Are you going to look for another job? The rent will be late for the second time, sweetheart. I'm not pressuring you, but I don't know what's coming next." She slung the bag over her shoulder and hurriedly kissed her mother's head. "Don't worry. I'll figure something out. Salma has already started looking for anoth

She hesitated as she walked toward the massive building, taking one step forward and pulling the other back at the same time. Then she turned her entire body around, looking at "Salma" with pleading eyes, silently begging her friend, who was waiting for her inside the car and watching her through the window. But "Salma" wasn't moved by the sight of her looking as though she might faint, nor by the pallor of her face. Instead, she raised her palm encouragingly, gesturing toward the entrance. "Asia" closed her eyes for a few seconds before moving again, this time with slightly more courage. She reached the first floor, but since she had no idea where his office was, she asked the receptionist, who directed her there. It was on the fourth floor. When she stepped out of the elevator, she stopped to fix the unruly strands of hair she had been nervously running her fingers through for the past few minutes. The place around her was impeccably clean and organized. Everything was arrange

He practically flew down the stairs instead of walking them. His steps were unusually fast for a man like him. Even the employees who were accustomed to his composure turned their heads in surprise as he crossed the long corridor without sparing anyone a glance. Nothing could unsettle him faster than hearing her name followed by the words "she's sick." He reached the elevator and pressed the button impatiently. The doors finally opened, and minutes later, he was leaving the company headquarters and heading toward his luxury car. At the corner, "Salma" jolted in fear the moment she saw him. Several terrible scenarios about her friend immediately flashed through her mind, along with everything that might have happened. She quickly jumped out of her small car. A little while later, "Asia" was leaving the office, one hand instinctively resting over her belly, a faint smile settling on her lips without her even realizing it. Just before she entered the elevator, she saw "Salma" st

Silence followed for a few seconds before she continued. "I'm agreeing to the arrangement." The other woman remained silent for a moment, as though trying to take in what she'd just heard. Then her voice suddenly brightened with excitement. "Really...? I'm so happy you've agreed. You made the right choice. I promise you, his life will be incredibly happy. He'll receive his education at the finest schools and universities, and—" She was already drawing a picture of his future with excessive enthusiasm when "Asia" interrupted her bitterly. "He won't know me when he grows up... will he? Will he know that I'm his mother?" "Reem" sighed in exasperation at her foolishness. "Asia, you're getting ahead of yourself." "Asia" squeezed her eyes shut and tightened her fingers around the phone until a faint pain shot through her knuckles. "Just answer me." A brief silence followed on the other end. Then "Reem" answered in a quieter voice. "No... Most likely, he won't." Her heart clenc