Chapter 214

He looked her in the eyes, searching for the right words amid the storm inside his chest, and finally said, “I will try my best.” The promise came out steady, though he knew it was laced with uncertainty he could not yet share with her.

On the cue, Irtaza and Shehryaar entered the room and met with Moosa, their faces set in the same grim determination that had carried them through countless shadowed decisions before. The grimness on their faces was a mirror of his own, reflecting exhaustion and resolve in equal measure. Moosa requested everyone to leave, his tone calm but firm, needing the space for the three of them to speak freely without the softening filter of family ears nearby. They trio further discussed next steps and in coming up with the plan in the matter of Alizeh, mapping out risks, allies, and the narrow paths that might still lead to bringing her home without igniting a war none of them wanted.

The night came, heavy and quiet except for the soft rhythm of