114.

The tension in the room was palpable, but Mr. Hassan’s decision had sealed the fate that Ibrahim had desperately tried to avoid. Ibrahim’s wife, Zainab, tried to maintain a serene demeanor, but worry etched itself onto her face. Her husband’s anger was a storm waiting to break, and she felt powerless to prevent it.

Mr. Hassan clapped his hands together, trying to lighten the atmosphere. “Wonderful! Let’s not waste any more time. We’ll begin preparations for the engagement immediately. A grand celebration, of course.”

Ibrahim’s knuckles whitened as he clenched his fists under the table. His entire plan for Murad’s marriage and the power dynamics it would solidify seemed to be slipping through his fingers. With gritted teeth, he forced a smile that looked more like a grimace. “Yes… wonderful,” he said, his voice strained.

Faraz, reveling in the chaos he had caused, leaned back with an air of triumph. “An engagement,” he mused aloud, his deep voice cutting through the room. “It’ll be the event of the year, no doubt.”

Alana felt a sinking sensation in her stomach. The room spun slightly, and she couldn’t tear her gaze away from Faraz, who now represented a future she had never imagined. The way his onyx eyes seemed to drink her in, as if he could read every one of her thoughts, made her feel exposed and vulnerable.

Murad, watching the scene unfold, felt a mix of relief and guilt. He hadn’t wanted this alliance, but seeing Alana so frightened, knowing she was being forced into a situation as he had been, weighed heavily on him. His heart ached, but his thoughts drifted once more to Taliya, and he steeled himself against the emotions that threatened to spill over.

Mr. Hassan smiled, satisfied. “We shall hold the engagement next week,” he declared. “We’ll invite all of our business partners, of course. It will be a union worth celebrating.”

Zainab forced herself to join the conversation. “That sounds wonderful,” she said, her voice calm and composed, though she shot her husband a wary look. “We’ll make sure it’s a day no one will forget.”

Alana’s mother reached over to squeeze her daughter’s hand, oblivious to the turmoil Alana felt. “This is a wonderful match, my dear,” she whispered. “You will be so happy.”

But Alana could hardly hear her mother. Her mind was still reeling from Faraz’s unsettling gaze, and her heart beat wildly in her chest. Faraz noticed her discomfort and leaned in slightly, his voice low and smooth. “No need to look so scared,” he murmured, just loud enough for her to hear. “I’m not as bad as I look. At least… not always.”

Alana shivered, and Faraz’s smile widened, enjoying the power he held over her. The room erupted in conversation as the families began discussing details, but Ibrahim could hardly contain his rage. His face was flushed, and his breathing came in short, angry bursts.

“Faraz,” he hissed, seizing the moment to pull his eldest son aside. “You have crossed a line today. Do you understand the consequences of what you’ve done?”

Faraz’s expression hardened, the amusement draining from his features. “Oh, I understand perfectly, Father,” he said, his voice dropping to a cold whisper. “You’ve always underestimated me. But you’ll see soon enough—I’m not so easily controlled.”

Before Ibrahim could respond, Faraz stepped back, rejoining the group with that same devilish smirk. He caught Murad’s eye, and for a brief moment, the two brothers shared a silent exchange—one filled with unspoken words, tensions, and a bond complicated by family loyalties and rivalries.

Murad clenched his jaw, knowing he would have to speak to Taliya soon. The family he was born into, the expectations placed on him, and the woman he cared for were now tangled into a web he could hardly navigate. Yet, he kept his face neutral, waiting for the storm that was surely still brewing in his father's eyes.

~•~

The evening air was crisp, filled with the fragrance of blooming jasmine from the garden that stretched out beyond the large windows. The three men gathered in a private study in Uncle Hashim’s estate, away from prying eyes and curious ears. The room was dimly lit, with the warm glow of a brass lantern casting shadows over leather-bound books and ornate wooden shelves.

Uncle Hashim, a tall man with a silver-streaked beard and a shrewd glint in his eyes, poured tea into three delicate glass cups, steam curling from the top. With a wide grin of satisfaction, he raised his cup. “To the first step of our plan,” he declared, his deep voice rich with pride. “Faraz, you’ve managed to do what we thought was impossible. You’re back in the family, and the engagement has certainly caught your father off guard.”

Murad leaned forward, a mix of relief and pride in his mismatched eyes. He lifted his cup and turned to Faraz. “I still can’t believe it,” he admitted.

“Father never expected Mr. Hassan to choose you over me. You’ve really changed the game.”

Faraz took a sip of his tea, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips.

“Father has always underestimated me,” he said with a hint of triumph.

“He never thought I’d have the nerve to challenge him. The engagement wasn’t my plan, but it’s a move he’ll have to reckon with.”

Uncle Hashim chuckled, setting his cup down with a soft clink.

“Ibrahim will be furious, no doubt,” he said, his voice laced with caution.

“But let’s not underestimate him. We have to stay ahead, or he’ll strike back in ways we won’t expect.”

Murad’s expression grew serious as he thought of their father’s anger.

“He won’t make it easy for any of us,” he murmured. Then, after a pause, his eyes flicked to Faraz, and his voice softened.

“But there’s something else I need to ask. Does Alana’s engagement change anything for Taliya?”

Faraz raised an eyebrow at Murad, a knowing glint in his onyx eyes.

“You’re worried about her,” he said, his tone teasing but not unkind.

“You think she’ll be hurt by all this?”

Murad’s face flushed, and he ran a hand through his hair.

“Of course, I’m worried,” he admitted, a rare vulnerability breaking through his usual composure.

“Taliya means everything to me. If this engagement creates complications...”

Uncle Hashim’s eyes softened with understanding.

“Love is always a complication, Murad,” he said.

“But Taliya’s a strong girl. She’s always had faith in you. And besides,” he added with a chuckle, “it’s clear to anyone who looks at her that she cares for you just as much.”

Murad sighed, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. “I hope you’re right,” he whispered. “The thought of hurting her is... unbearable.”

Faraz’s expression softened at his brother’s concern. “We’ll make sure she’s safe,” he said firmly.

“This is a battle for our family’s future, but it won’t come at the expense of those we care about. Taliya is family, too.”

Uncle Hashim raised his cup again, this time with a more solemn expression.

“To Faraz,” he said, his voice carrying a sense of purpose. “And to the bonds that matter most.”

Murad and Faraz echoed the toast, their cups clinking together in quiet solidarity. The air in the room was heavy with both resolve and hope, and the unity they shared made the uncertainty of the future feel just a little more manageable.