Chapter 148

Ayleen sat on the garden bench, twisting the edge of her dupatta nervously. The cool evening breeze carried the scent of blooming jasmine, but it did little to calm the storm within her. Her chest tightened, and her thoughts spiraled back to Murat’s coldness over the past few days.

His harsh words echoed in her mind, each one cutting deeper than the last. In the past five days she had tried everything in her might, to get him to talk to him, but every effort was futile. He is polite but distant. He doesn’t look her in the eye, doesn’t respond to her apologies, and worst of all, he sleeps on the edge of the bed, leaving a chasm between them.

‘Why are you caring so much, Ayleen!’ Her mind chided.

‘Because it’s my fault,’ she said that to herself.

“Ayleen beti, you look troubled,” Ibrahim Khan’s warm voice interrupted her thoughts. He approached with shoes tapping lightly against the stone path.

She forced a smile. “I’m fine, Uncle.”

He raise