111.

In the dimly lit cabin, Ibrahim sat behind his large mahogany desk, going over the daily reports with a focused intensity. The silence of the room felt comforting—until the door suddenly swung open. He looked up, frowning, as Hashim entered, his breath heavy, almost gasping.

“What’s going on, Hashim?” Ibrahim asked, raising an eyebrow, his tone annoyed by the interruption. “Why are you so out of breath?”

Hashim took a second to compose himself, straightening his posture. His voice, however, was laced with urgency. “Your son, Ibrahim. Faraz is back.”

The air in the room shifted. Ibrahim felt a chill crawl up his spine, his hands instinctively tightening around the papers he held. He swallowed, his mind racing. Faraz? Back here? A thousand thoughts spun in his mind, each more unsettling than the last. Why was he back? And what did he want?

“Where is he?” Ibrahim’s voice was calm, but there was a flicker of unease behind his eyes.

Before Hashim could respond, the door opened again, and in walked Faraz, tall and confident, his presence commanding the room. There was a sharp edge in his gaze as he looked at Ibrahim, a faint smirk playing on his lips. He wasn’t the same young man who’d left; there was a certain fire in his eyes now—a fire that Ibrahim recognized all too well.

“Hello, Father,” Faraz greeted, his tone clipped and formal. “I trust I’m not interrupting anything… important?”

Ibrahim’s jaw clenched. He was careful to mask his emotions, but he could feel his heart pounding in his chest. “Faraz. To what do I owe this… unexpected visit?”

Faraz’s smirk faded, replaced by a hardened expression. “I’ll cut to the chase, Father. I’m here to claim my right—my rightful share in the family business.”

A tense silence settled in the room. Ibrahim’s face remained impassive, but there was a subtle tremor in his hand as he placed the papers on his desk. He looked at Faraz, his eyes narrowing.

“Your right?” he repeated slowly, his voice dangerously low. “And what makes you think you have any claim here, Faraz? You walked away from this family. You’ve turned your back on everything I built.”

Faraz took a step closer, his gaze never wavering. “I walked away from you, not from my mother’s legacy or the rights she fought for. This business was built with blood and sacrifice, and I’m here to ensure that her sacrifices weren’t in vain. I’m not here for your approval—I’m here for what’s mine.”

Hashim, who had been standing silently by the door, glanced between them, sensing the tension. He cleared his throat softly, stepping forward. “Ibrahim, maybe… maybe it’s time to consider this. You knew this day might come.”

“Quiet, Hashim!” Ibrahim snapped, shooting him a glare. His anger was barely contained, but he kept his focus on Faraz, who stood defiantly before him. “You think you can just waltz back in here and make demands?”

Faraz’s gaze darkened, his voice steady but filled with disdain. “This isn’t a demand, Father. It’s a claim. You can’t ignore me forever. I’ve already spoken to the family lawyers; they know I’m back, and they know I intend to take my share. If you try to deny me, it’ll be a public battle. I’m prepared for that. Are you?”

Ibrahim’s hand clenched into a fist, his mind racing. The idea of Faraz taking a piece of what he’d built, of challenging him in front of the world, filled him with dread. He leaned forward, his voice a low, menacing whisper.

“You’re playing with fire, Faraz. You don’t understand what you’re getting into.”

Faraz let out a bitter laugh, his gaze piercing. “Oh, I understand perfectly. You think I’m still the boy you could control, but I’ve changed. I’m no longer afraid of you or your threats.” He leaned in closer, his voice hardening. “This isn’t just about business. This is about everything you took from me, from my mother. I’m here to reclaim it all.”

Ibrahim’s eyes flickered with a trace of fear, but he masked it quickly, narrowing his gaze. “You’re going to regret this, Faraz. You don’t know the lengths I’ll go to protect what’s mine.”

Faraz didn’t flinch. “Then do what you must. But remember—every move you make will only bring me closer to taking what’s rightfully mine.”

Faraz stood tall, his demeanor unyielding as he faced Ibrahim, who remained seated behind his massive desk. The tension between them crackled like electricity in the air. Faraz’s smirk deepened, revealing the confidence simmering beneath the surface.

“Let’s not beat around the bush, Father,” Faraz said, his voice laced with a mixture of sarcasm and determination. “If you refuse to hand over my rightful share of the family business, I’ll have no choice but to take this to court.”

Ibrahim scoffed, dismissing Faraz's threat with a wave of his hand. “You really think you can take me to court and win? You’re bluffing, Faraz. You know nothing about the business or how it operates. You’ve been gone too long.”

Faraz’s smirk widened, an amused glint in his eyes. “Bluffing? Oh, I assure you, I’ve done my homework. I know more than you think. I’ve consulted with lawyers, researched the company’s holdings, and reviewed every document you thought I’d forgotten. You think I’d come back without a plan?”

Ibrahim leaned back in his chair, feigning indifference, but the muscles in his jaw tightened. “You’re making a big mistake. This is a family matter, not a game. You don’t just get to waltz in here and claim what you think is yours.”

“It is a family matter, which is why I’m involved,” Faraz countered, his voice rising slightly. “You took everything from me, and now it’s time for me to take back what belongs to my mother. She deserves that much.”

Ibrahim’s eyes narrowed, frustration creeping into his voice. “Your mother is gone, Faraz. You can’t change the past. You think this is just about her? This is about us—the family. I’ve worked hard to build this empire, and I won’t let you destroy it with your childish vendetta.”

“Childish?” Faraz echoed, disbelief coloring his tone. “You call this a vendetta? I’m simply demanding my due. You may have convinced yourself that this is your empire, but it’s time you recognize that I’m part of it too. I have just as much right to be here as you do.”

Ibrahim’s face flushed with anger, and he shot to his feet, his hands braced on the desk. “You think you can challenge me? I built this business from the ground up. You’re nothing but a fool playing with fire.”

“I’m not afraid of you or your threats,” Faraz said, stepping closer, his eyes locked onto Ibrahim’s with unyielding determination. “If you want to play hardball, then so be it. I’ll go to court. I’ll make sure the world knows the truth about how you treated your family, how you crushed my mother’s dreams, and how you’re trying to do the same to me. You’ll regret underestimating me.”

Ibrahim’s face hardened, his anger simmering beneath the surface. “You think that a court battle will solve anything? You think it’ll earn you the respect you crave? You’ll only end up losing, Faraz. People will see you as a traitor to the family, as someone who turned against his own father.”

Faraz shook his head, the smirk fading as seriousness crept into his expression. “I don’t care about respect from people who don’t understand what truly happened. All I care about is justice for my mother and my right to have a stake in this company. If that means I have to fight you in court, then I’m ready.”

Ibrahim took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure. “You’re making a rash decision. The court won’t look kindly on you making baseless accusations against your own father.”

“Baseless?” Faraz shot back. “Everything I say is rooted in truth. I know what you did, and I know what you’ve kept hidden. If you think I’ll back down just because you threaten me, you’re sorely mistaken.”

“I won’t let you do this, Faraz,” Ibrahim warned, his voice low and menacing. “I will fight you every step of the way.”

“Then let’s fight,” Faraz said, a spark igniting in his eyes. “I’m ready for whatever you throw at me. You’ve underestimated me for too long, and it’s time for you to realize I’m not that scared boy you once knew.”

With that, Faraz turned on his heel and strode out of the cabin, his heart racing with a mix of adrenaline and resolve. Ibrahim watched him go, fury and fear warring within him. As the door swung shut, he knew this was just the beginning of a battle that would change everything.