Raindrops were still softly tapping against the windowpane, but inside the room, there was an unusual calm. Zoya was still wrapped in Ilyas's arms, feeling the warmth of his breath against her cheek. Just moments ago, there had been that silence between them — the kind that speaks more than words ever could.
Ilyas gently lifted her chin, his eyes holding the same intensity that always left Zoya helpless.
"Do you have any idea what you're doing to me, Zoya?" His deep voice carried a strange allure.
Zoya tried to avert her gaze, but Ilyas held her face and drew her closer.
"Ilyas… please…" she murmured, offering slight resistance, though her heartbeat was already racing.
He silenced her lips with his own. The kiss started softly but grew deeper and more uncontrollable with each passing moment. Zoya's hands instinctively went around his neck, and she was completely lost in his embrace.
After a few moments, he pulled away, though his forehead still rested against hers.
"You are my weakness… and the enemy is searching for exactly that weakness." He took a deep breath.
Zoya looked at him in surprise. "What do you mean?"
Ilyas slowly pulled her into his chest.
"This morning, an unfamiliar car was spotted outside our mansion… and my men say it belonged to Arman's people."
Zoya's eyelids fluttered in fear. Arman — Ilyas's most dangerous enemy.
"So then…?"
"So then tonight, I have to attend a secret meeting," Ilyas said seriously, "and you're not safe here."
Zoya shook her head. "I'm not going anywhere. I'll be with you."
Ilyas looked into her eyes, his tone turning firm.
"Zoya… this is a game of blood, not love."
She was silent for a moment, then spoke softly,
"Then my blood is ready to flow alongside your love."
A faint smile appeared on Ilyas's face, though worry still lingered in his eyes. He gave her one last tender touch on the cheek and stood up.
"Get ready… we're leaving."
---
The Night Scene
A black car entered the deserted part of the city. Ilyas's men kept watch on all sides. Zoya sat in the back seat, her heart pounding at every turn, sensing something was about to happen.
The car stopped in front of an old warehouse-like building. Ilyas stepped out and looked at her.
"Stay in the car."
Zoya bit her lip but remained silent. Ilyas went inside.
A few minutes passed before a sudden explosion erupted from within the warehouse. Zoya's heart leapt into her throat. Without thinking, she opened the door and stepped out.
Inside, the scene was chaos — gunfire rattling, smoke filling the air, and Ilyas surrounded by his enemy's men. For a moment, Zoya's whole being froze.
"Zoya! Get back!" Ilyas's commanding voice rang out, but at that instant, an enemy aimed at her.
Zoya grabbed a nearby iron rod and struck the attacker with all her strength. Her move was so sudden that even Ilyas was stunned for a moment.
The enemy staggered back, and Ilyas seized the chance to shoot him.
---
After the Fight
Ilyas pulled Zoya close, his face a mix of anger and concern.
"I told you to stay in the car!"
Tears welled in her eyes.
"I couldn't let anything happen to you."
For a moment, he looked at her, then buried his face in her hair.
"You're crazy… and I want you just like that."
The rain had started pouring again. In the darkness, they stood wrapped in each other's arms — caught between the intensity of love and the deadly game of the mafia.
But one thing was certain…
This game was far from over.
Raindrops pattered against the glass. Zoya sat encircled by Ilyas's arms around her waist, but her heart was beating with a strange unease. Ilyas placed a light kiss on her neck, as if trying to distract her thoughts.
"Zoya…" His voice was deep and heavy. "I can't stand seeing you think about someone else."
Zoya averted her eyes. "I… it's just… sometimes the past comes back to me."
Ilyas cupped her face in his hands.
"I can tolerate your past… but if that past comes between you and me, I'll end it."
His tone carried both love and a dangerous threat.
Before Zoya could respond, the main hall door slammed open. A tall, strong figure entered — black jacket, rain-soaked hair, and an unusual gleam in his eyes.
"Zoya?" The man spoke in surprise. "Is that you?"
Zoya froze like stone.
"Rehan…" His name slipped from her lips before she could stop it.
Ilyas's grip tightened instantly.
"Who is Rehan?" he asked in a slow but venomous tone.
Rehan stepped forward.
"I'm Zoya's childhood friend… we grew up on the same street." He looked at her intently. "Do you know I've been searching for you everywhere?"
Ilyas took a step forward.
"And what makes you think you can walk into my house, speak to my wife, and I'll just stand by quietly?"
Zoya quickly moved between them.
"Ilyas, please… it's not what you think."
But the hardness on Ilyas's face only deepened. His guards in the background began to shift, ready to move at a signal.
Rehan took a deep breath.
"Zoya, I have a secret to tell you… your life is in danger."
Now, Ilyas's eyes held not just anger, but suspicion.
"Danger? Or is that just your excuse to come between us?"
Tears welled in Zoya's eyes.
"Ilyas… please believe me. Rehan is my friend."
Ilyas took her hand and pulled her close.
"Friend? Or an old lover?" His words dripped like poison.
Caught between hurt and anger, Zoya asked,
"Do you love me… or do you doubt me?"
Ilyas said nothing. He simply pulled her into his chest, his lips claiming hers, as if demanding the answer to his own question. The intensity of his kiss and the firmness of his hold left Zoya breathless and still.
But in the background, Rehan stood clenching his fists… as if he knew this would all be over soon.
Ilyas kept Zoya pressed against his chest, but his gaze never wavered from Rehan. He wasn't willing to take his eyes off this stranger—though perhaps he wasn't such a stranger anymore—even for a single moment.
Rehan stepped forward.
"Ilyas Khan, I haven't come here to start a fight… but the truth is, there's a chapter in Zoya's life you know nothing about."
A cold smile tugged at Ilyas's lips.
"And you think I'll stand in my own house and listen to your story?"
Zoya stepped in between them.
"Ilyas, please… just hear him out once."
Ilyas's voice was hard.
"I'm only listening because of you."
Then, with a wave of his hand, he signaled his guards to stand down. Still, his body language made it clear—one wrong move, and everything would change.
Rehan looked at Zoya, as though years of burden were about to lift from his eyes.
"Six years ago… when you suddenly left everything behind, you thought it was your decision. But the truth is… someone schemed to separate you from me."
Zoya's heart seemed to skip a beat.
"What… a scheme?"
Ilyas's eyes sharpened.
"Who?"
Rehan spoke a name, one that froze the air in the room.
"Aman Khan…"
Ilyas straightened instantly.
"Aman is my own brother."
Rehan drew in a deep breath.
"And he's the one who threatened Zoya, forcing her to stay away from both you and me… because he wanted to have her for himself."
Ilyas's blood boiled, but his mind was already working—why was Rehan telling him this now, and why after so many years?
Zoya tried to process Rehan's words, but her mind was tangled in confusion.
"Rehan, if all of this is true… then why did you stay silent for so long?"
A bitter glint flashed in Rehan's eyes.
"Because, Zoya… back then, I barely survived. Aman orchestrated a car accident to kill me. I survived by a miracle, but I spent months in the hospital… and then I had to leave the country."
Ilyas was burning inside, but his face remained masked with calm.
"And why should I believe you? You know I never let anyone live if they try to turn Zoya against me."
Rehan met his gaze.
"You can order my death if you want… but see Aman's true face first."
Silence settled over the room. The rain outside still roared, but inside, every word sounded like the beat of a heart.
Ilyas slowly took Zoya's hand, as if telling her the decision was hers.
"Zoya… do you want me to let him live?"
With tears glistening in her eyes, Zoya replied,
"Ilyas… maybe he's telling the truth. And if he is… then we should go after the real enemy, not an old friend."
Ilyas closed his eyes for a moment, then looked at Rehan.
"Fine. You'll live… for now. But if even a single word is a lie… your grave will be dug right where you stand."
Rehan gave a faint smile.
"I understand your suspicion… Khan Sahib. But believe me, this story isn't over yet."
Then he turned to leave, but as he passed Ilyas, he leaned in and spoke quietly,
"Aman knows more about Zoya than you do… and maybe, he still wants her."
The dangerous gleam returned to Ilyas's eyes.
From a distance, Zoya watched, a strange fear rising in her chest—this wasn't just a misunderstanding… it was the beginning of an approaching storm.