Alayla's Pov
The glass doors of the mall slid shut behind me, and I drew in a long breath as if I had just walked out of a storm. The laughter of shoppers, the steady hum of chatter, everything remained the same. Yet I carried a heaviness in my chest that refused to leave.
That woman. The way she had stared at me. Not with admiration, not even curiosity. Her eyes had lingered too long, too sharp, too deliberate. It felt as if she knew me, as if I were part of a story she already understood.
I tried to brush it off as coincidence, but the unease clung to me like a stubborn shadow.
"Home, madam?" my driver asked, pulling open the car door.
"Yes," I answered quietly, sliding into the back seat. The city rushed past as we pulled onto the main road,billboards glittering with advertisements, children in bright uniforms crossing streets, women balancing baskets on their heads.
My gaze drifted to the mall's reflection in the tinted glass as we drove away. Khalid's gift. The largest in the city, an empire of glass and steel built with his wealth and his love. To everyone else, it was a symbol of triumph, proof that I was blessed beyond measure. To me, it was a reminder of a dream I had folded away.A courtroom,a robe,my voice rising with conviction as I argued a case before a judge.That was the future I had once fought for with sleepless nights and endless books. My law degree still hung framed in the study, gathering dust, a trophy of a battle I had won but was not allowed to use.I loved Khalid. I loved him enough to compromise. But sometimes, the silence of sacrifice was louder than any argument.
We pulled into the driveway of our mansion, the evening sun painting the marble walls in gold. Two little figures darted out of the gates before the car even stopped,my twins,Ahmed and Ayesha. Their small feet pattered across the tiles, their laughter filling the air.
"Mama!" Ayesha squealed, her scarf sliding off as she ran.
I bent down, gathering them both into my arms. Their warmth melted some of the tightness in my chest. Ahmed pushed a crayon drawing into my hand—a crooked house with stick figures holding hands beneath the sun.
"See, Mama? That's us!" he said proudly.
I kissed his forehead. "It's beautiful,Ahmed. I'll keep it safe."
Inside, Khalid was waiting in the living room. He looked up from the Qur'an resting on his lap, his face softening as the twins scrambled onto him. He always had a way of making the house feel alive, even in its vastness.
"You're late," he teased lightly, reaching to pull me beside him. "Long day at your mall?"
"It was… busy," I said, trying to sound casual as I settled next to him.
He studied me for a moment, then brushed his thumb over my hand. "You look tired, Layla."
I forced a smile. "Just a lot on my mind."
He nodded, satisfied with the half-truth. " I don't want you stressing yourself out that's why i got you managers and they are doing a great job because the mall is thriving.You're a lucky one,not every woman gets an offer like this "
I swallowed, my heart tightening.' But I never wanted a mall', I thought, though I said nothing. My silence was safer than disappointing him.
I made dinner and as we sat down to eat khalid spoke cheerfully about a new contract his company had secured, the twins chattered about their day at school, and I laughed at their stories, but my mind drifted again,back to the mall,back to the woman. Back to her eyes.
Later that night, when the house had quieted and Khalid's breathing had grown steady in sleep, I laid wide awake staring at the ceiling unblinking.
Before the encounter with that stranger i never thought deeply about my life because i lived in the finest house in our city, blessed with children, wealth, love, and i thought my life was on track until today,i don't know why that stranger has such an effect on me,meeting her today brought back a rewind of my life and i don't know why my heart is beating with unease
I closed my eyes. The woman's stare flashed before me again, as sharp as a blade.
She didn't 't say anything just thanks but something inside me keeps whispering, This was not the last time our paths would cross
Khalid stirred in his sleep as if to wake up but he didn't,he unconsciously pulled me to himself and i snuggled closer,his arms wrapped securely around me and I felt comfort in them and a bit of relief from my unease as i closed my eyes waiting for sleep to take me