THE SHATTERING POINT

The moment the glass door shut behind him, Nazneen’s strength vanished.

She wasn’t Director Nazneen Mansur anymore.
She wasn’t the gifted designer whose name people whispered with admiration.
She wasn’t even the daughter who tried so hard to rebuild her family’s life.

She was simply…

A woman who’d waited years for a love she wasn’t allowed to keep.

A woman who dreamed of reclaiming her stolen daughter.

A woman who thought...just maybe... Ajeed’s return would save both.

Instead, he came back holding fire… and burned her.

She stumbled into her office, locked the door, and sank to the floor.
Her breath hitched. Her chest tightened. Her tears flowed without mercy.

“Ya Allah… why him? Why again?”

She clutched her scarf, sobbing into it like a child.

She had imagined their reunion so many times...
Ajeed smiling, remembering her laugh under the mango tree, telling her he’d fight for her and Naila… finally giving her a chance to breathe.

But what she saw today was a stranger.
A broken man carrying a broken memory.
A heart filled with poison someone else poured for him.

And the worst part?

He believed everything he was told.

He believed she chose another man.
Believed she destroyed him.
Believed she lived happily with a child that wasn’t his.
Believed she betrayed him the way she never could.

Her tears grew harsher.

“Naila, my baby…” she whispered.
“If only I could get you back…
If only he remembered…
Only Ajeed can help me take you back.”

But Ajeed didn’t remember the truth.
He only remembered the lies.

And lies were louder.

Five Minutes Later

Someone knocked lightly.

Nazneen didn’t answer.

The knock came again, more firmly.

Kareem’s voice drifted through the door.
Soft. Too soft.

“Nazneen… open the door. Please.”

She wiped her face quickly, trying to gather herself.

“I’m fine,” she said, but her voice betrayed her.

“No, you’re not,” Kareem replied. “Let me in.”

She hesitated but unlocked the door.

Kareem slipped inside and closed it behind him. His eyes scanned her face...her swollen eyes, trembling hands, the silent heartbreak she couldn’t hide.

He knelt beside her, his hand reaching toward hers.

“This is why I warned you,” he whispered gently. “That boy was never worth your pain, Naz.”

She closed her eyes, exhausted. “Don’t… don’t you dare say what you don’t know, Kareem.”

“But it’s the truth. Look what he did to you.”

“He’s hurting. He thinks I...”

“He thinks i betrayed him because he’s weak, and young” Kareem cut in. “He’s not man enough to face his own confusion.”

She pulled her hand back, but her body was too tired to fight.

He moved closer. Too close.

“You deserve someone who chooses you,” he murmured. “Not someone who breaks you.”

“Kareem please don’t…” she whispered.

But he placed a hand on her cheek.

“You don’t have to be alone,” he said, voice warm, intentional. “Let me...”

Nazneen stiffened, dread sliding into her veins.

“Kareem, stop.”

His eyes darkened with frustration, a flicker of anger breaking through the softness.

“You can’t keep pushing everyone away just because of some boy you used to...”

“Get out,” she whispered.

He stared at her, jaw clenched.

For a moment, she saw it...
The real Kareem behind the polite smile.
The obsession.
The hunger.
The resentment.

He stood slowly, wiping his expression clean.

“As you wish,” he said coldly.
“But one day, Nazneen… you’ll look around and no one will be left except me.”

A threat disguised as comfort.

He walked out.

Nazneen exhaled shakily, tears falling again.

THE ABUR-RUF MANSION

Ajeed paced his room like a caged animal.

His chest hurt.
His breath wouldn’t settle.
His fists were raw from punching the wardrobe door.

He didn’t understand why seeing her broke something inside him.

If he had really hated her…
Why did his heart still react as if it knew another story?

Why did her tears haunt him?

Why did her voice shake something he’d buried?

He pressed both palms to his face, frustrated.

“Why can’t I find peace?!” he shouted into the empty room.

Because lies don’t heal wounds.
They deepen them.

His door burst open.

Rayhan.

Behind him, his twin brother, Rahman...quiet, observant, thoughtful...followed with a frown carved deep into his face.

Rayhan stepped forward, voice too calm.
“How did it go?”

Ajeed didn’t answer.

Rayhan crossed his arms. “Mama said the office almost shut down from your shouting.”

Rahman shot him a warning look.

Ajeed exhaled harshly. “She pretended like she did nothing wrong.”

Rayhan immediately stepped in, eager.
“That’s who she is. Fake. Manipulative. A liar.”

Rahman’s jaw tightened.
“That’s not all there is to the story, Rayhan.”

Ajeed paused. “What do you mean by that?”

Rayhan glared at his twin.
“Don’t start.”

Rahman faced them, voice steady.
“I said I won’t lie to you brother.”

Rayhan clenched his jaw. “Rahman...”

“No!” Rahman snapped. “You’ve been feeding him lies from the second he woke up! I won’t be a part of it!”

Silence hit the room like thunder.

Ajeed’s heart thudded. “Lies?”

Rayhan quickly stepped between them.
“Don’t listen to him. He’s lying because he’s in love with her sister. He doesn’t know anything...”

Rahman shoved him back. “STOP LYING!”

He turned to Ajeed.

“You think you remember everything, but you don’t. And what you think you know… Mama and Rayhan twisted it.”

Ajeed stared in shock. “Twisted?”

Rahman swallowed, guilt swallowing his voice.
“I didn’t tell you earlier because I was scared. But Mama and Rayhan, they don’t want you remembering anything about Nazneen. Not the truth.”

Rayhan lunged at him. “Shut your mouth...!”

Rahman pushed him away. “Or what? You’ll tell another lie?!”

Ajeed grabbed Rayhan by the collar.

“Is that true?”

Rayhan’s silence was loud.

His eyes darted away.

Ajeed’s grip tightened.
“IS THAT TRUE?!”

Rayhan stuttered. “Ajeed… we only did what was best for you...”

Ajeed shoved him so hard that he hit the wall.

“You ruined my life,” Ajeed said, voice trembling with betrayal.

Rahman stepped beside him, jaw set.
“You ruined his memories.”

A moment later...
Haj. Rakiya appeared at the door.

Her expression froze when she saw Rayhan on the floor and Rahman standing beside Ajeed.

Her voice dropped to steel.

“Everyone out,” Rakiya commanded.

Rayhan ran to her side like a loyal dog.

Rahman stayed still.

“Rahman,” she repeated, coldly, “out.”

He didn’t move.
He looked her straight in the eyes.

“No.”

Rayhan’s eyes widened. “Rahman! Are you mad?!”

But Rahman didn’t blink.

Rakiya’s voice chilled.
“Then I’ll deal with you next.”

She stepped into the room and shut the door behind her.

MINUTES LATER

The room went silence.

When Rakiya came out, her expression was cold, composed, frightening.

Rayhan followed her, shaken.

Rahman was nowhere in sight.

Rakiya spoke only one sentence:

“We proceed with the wedding immediately.”

“Immediately?” Rayhan whispered.

“Yes,” she said. “Before he remembers more.”

Her eyes were dark.

“And tonight…
someone will make sure Nazneen doesn’t interfere again.”

THAT SAME NIGHT

A shadow stood outside Zaya Designs, camera in hand.

They aimed the lens at Nazneen’s office window.

Click.

Click.

Click.

The silhouette turned and recorded a short video...
Nazneen is crying alone in her office.

Another piece of the puzzle.
Another weapon that would one day be used in the police station.

A video that later finds its way into the murder evidence file.

And the person holding the camera whispered.

“Everything is falling into place.”