Chapter 212

Without another word, Murat opened the wooden box and laid out an old chessboard. The worn figurines gleamed faintly under the light.

Ibrahim’s eyes widened. He picked up one of the pieces, a knight, and turned it over in his hand.

“This… this is the same chess set I brought from Germany,” he murmured. “We used to play this when you were in school.”

“And you always won,” Murat said with a nostalgic smile. “Even when you cheated.”

“I never cheated!” Ibrahim exclaimed.

“Oh, you absolutely did!” Murat shot back, squinting at him playfully.

Ibrahim laughed, a deep, genuine sound that seemed to lift the weight from his shoulders.

“Then prove me wrong. One match. Let’s see if you have finally learned how to beat your old man.”

Murat smirked. “You are on.”

They leaned forward, setting up the board. The room filled with the soft sounds of pieces clicking into place. For a while, neither spoke. The game absorbed them, reminding them of a