> Narrated by Ahoora
I was too drained to even hold a spoon.
My gaze was locked on the breakfast table-lifeless, numb. Just a pile of dishes, some bread, and cheese strewn across the ruins of a life that felt utterly meaningless.
I knew I had to eat something... just enough to be able to leave the house. Nothing more.
Selin-the young girl who managed the housework-walked up with a tray of coffee.
A bitter aroma curled through the air, hung around me for a few seconds, then disappeared.
She set the tray in front of me and asked:
- "Anything else, sir?"
I looked up at her face.
Her makeup was overdrawn-so thick it felt like her real features had been smothered beneath layers of paint.
I let out a sigh, sharp and tired.
- "Ayat's in my room. Go wake her up."
Her eyes widened for a split second.
One of those flickers of shock people try to hide-but never quite can.
Still, she pulled herself together quickly and replied:
- "Yes, sir."
She turned and headed toward the hallway leading to the bedrooms.
Her footsteps had barely faded when the living room door swung open.
Hadi walked in, just like always-grinning wide, shoulders loose, radiating careless energy:
- "Good morning, people of the house!"
He said it loud enough to make sure that even if Ayat had been asleep, she definitely wasn't anymore.
I gave a crooked smile and muttered:
- "It's crap like that that makes Ayat hate you."
He chuckled, clearly itching for an argument:
- "If you didn't whisper poison into her ear every chance you got, maybe she wouldn't hate me so much."
I shrugged, unfazed.
- "She's hated you since day one. That one's not on me."
He dropped into the seat across from me, grabbed a chunk of cheese, and mumbled through a full mouth:
- "So you admit you've been badmouthing me to her?"
My smile widened.
- "Every time I curse you, my uncle rushes in to defend you."
And then-her voice.
Ayat.
Calm, cold, cutting-exactly as expected:
- "That's because he knows what you deserve is worse than curses."
Her footsteps approached the living room, and the whole space seemed to fall silent.
She moved with a quiet confidence, like touching her wouldn't burn-it would hurt.
A simple white blouse, loose navy trousers, a shawl slipping off her head, and white heels tapping sharply across the floor.
Everything about her looked plain.
But Ayat... was never plain.
Her face was clean, fresh-just a soft wash of lipstick and the faintest line around her eyes. And even with that, she could stop the world in its tracks.
She came to the table, glanced between me and Hadi, and said:
- "Good morning."
Hadi was frozen-mouth half-open, one eyebrow arched in disbelief.
Finally, he blurted:
- "Well, well... someone's looking especially gorgeous today."
Ayat pulled out a chair, sat down, and replied calmly:
- "Because last night was the worst night of my life."
Everything fell flat in that instant.
Hadi's smile. My thoughts.
Hadi dropped his head. He knew exactly what she meant... and what she was referring to.
I cleared my throat and said:
- "That bastard's coming today-to cancel the partnership his father had with us."
Hadi scoffed in that familiar way of his-the one he used whenever he was scared but didn't want to show it:
- "Whatever. If not him, someone else will come along."
Ayat lifted her coffee, took a slow sip, and said-quietly, but firm as steel:
- "You're a complete idiot, Hadi. If this deal falls through, it means total bankruptcy."
A smirk crept onto my lips-half mocking, half amused:
- "Hadi's in breakup mode. His brain's on vacation until further notice."
Hadi threw me a mocking glare and said in a dramatic tone:
- "I'd rather eat shit than fall for someone from your family!"
Ayat turned to him, her eyes cold and unwavering:
- "Smartest thing you could possibly do."
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