105.

Taliya finally sat on the edge of her bed, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. She felt as if a dark fog surrounded her, pulling her down despite the familiar comfort of home. Haroon sat beside her, his gaze filled with worry and helplessness. He’d known her long enough to see through the brave face she tried to put on.

“Taliya,” he murmured softly, leaning closer. “Are you really okay? You don’t have to pretend with me.”

She glanced at him, her eyes weary but guarded. “I’m fine, Haroon.” Her voice was steady, but it lacked conviction. She looked away, staring at the wall as if it held some secret she needed to unlock. “You should go home now. Really.”

Haroon hesitated, his hand reaching out but stopping short of touching her shoulder. “I know you, Taliya. And I know you’re not fine. I just… I don’t want to leave you like this, especially after what happened. You don’t have to talk about it if you’re not ready, but I’m here. You’re safe now.”

The mention of “safe” made her chest tighten, the weight of recent events pressing down on her again. “I know,” she whispered. “But I need some time to… process.” She glanced back at him, offering a small, forced smile. “Please, Haroon. Just go home.”

Reluctantly, Haroon rose, his gaze lingering on her face. “Promise me you’ll call if you need anything. I mean it, Taliya. I’m just a few doors away.”

“I promise,” she replied softly, nodding as he left the room.

Once he was gone, Taliya exhaled, the silence almost deafening. She hadn’t expected to feel so drained, so vulnerable. She wanted to shake off the unease clinging to her but felt powerless.

Another soft knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts. Before she could respond, Murad stepped inside, his expression unreadable as he approached her. His face softened as he looked at her, and he slowly reached out, cupping her face with a gentle hand.

“Taliya… I’m sorry.” His voice was a quiet murmur, thick with guilt.

She blinked, her expression hardening slightly as she met his gaze. “Sorry for what, Murad?” she asked, her voice sharper than she intended. Her mind raced with memories of the night, the cold, calculating expression on Faraz’s face, the way he seemed to hold some unspoken power over Murad. “Who is he, Murad? Who is Faraz?”

Murad’s jaw clenched, and a flicker of anger crossed his face, though she could tell it wasn’t directed at her. “You don’t need to worry about him,” he said, his tone tight. “I’m taking care of it.”

“Don’t say that,” she snapped, pulling away from him. “I’m not some child who can be shielded from the truth. Faraz isn’t just ‘no one,’ Murad. You were afraid of him. I saw it. Tell me who he really is.”

Murad took a deep breath, struggling with his words. “He’s… someone I thought I’d left behind,” he admitted quietly, his gaze dropping. “Someone from a part of my life I’d rather you didn’t know about.”

Taliya crossed her arms, her expression unyielding. “Well, I know about him now, don’t I? He kidnapped me, Murad. He… he took me from everything I know. And you still want to keep secrets?”

Murad’s face twisted with pain. “I was trying to protect you, Taliya. If I’d known he would… I never thought he’d come back.”

“You’re still not telling me the whole truth,” she replied, her voice shaking with frustration. “Who is he to you? Why does he have so much control over you?”

Murad’s gaze was intense, yet filled with a weariness she hadn’t seen before. “He… Faraz is someone who should be beside me, we should have shares this empire together. I owe him more than I care to admit.” He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “But that doesn’t mean I’m letting him near you again.”

Taliya’s shoulders sagged as she took in his words, feeling a mixture of anger and sympathy. She wanted to press him for more details, but the exhaustion was starting to seep into her bones. “I’m not sure what to believe, Murad,” she said softly. “I don’t know if I can trust you anymore.”

A flash of hurt crossed his face, and he reached out to touch her hand. “Taliya, please. You have to know I would never hurt you.”

She pulled her hand away, standing up and taking a few steps back. “Then tell me the truth. All of it. Or I don’t see how we can move forward.”

He looked at her, his expression torn. Finally, he nodded, as if resigning himself to the inevitable. “Alright. I’ll tell you everything… but not tonight. You’re exhausted, and I don’t want to add to your pain.”

She stared at him, torn between the need for answers and the sheer weariness pulling her down. “Fine,” she said after a long pause. “Tomorrow, then. No more secrets.”

Murad nodded solemnly. “Tomorrow.”

Without another word, he reached out, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. She felt a warmth in his touch, a silent promise that he’d be there when she needed him. He guided her to her bed, and though she was reluctant to accept his help, her strength was fading.

As she lay down, he brushed a gentle hand over her hair. “You need to sleep, Taliya. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

She closed her eyes, feeling the weight of the day finally dragging her down. “You’d better be,” she whispered, exhaustion coloring her words. In the silence that followed, she drifted off, comforted by his presence but haunted by the questions left unanswered.