The Al-Fayeed estate was as grand as ever, its white marble halls gleaming under the soft morning light. But to Nadia, it all felt… dull.
She sat in the sunroom, a steaming cup of coffee in front of her, untouched. The rich aroma did nothing to stir her.
She hadn't slept properly. Every time she closed her eyes, she heard her father's voice from few days ago.
"I have no choice, Nadia."
"Until this is rectified, you are no longer the CEO of Al-Fayeed Group."
She had replayed the conversation a hundred times, trying to figure out how it had all gone so wrong. How had she not seen Sara working with Kareem coming? How had she let herself fall into such an obvious trap?, actually it wasn't that obvious how was she supposed to know Sara knew a big mogul like Kareem, he's in a much different league than Al-Fayeed group, the only man more powerful than him in this country isn't even the president but THE Zayn Alaric.
Her grip tightened around the cup, but she didn't lift it. She didn't move at all.
The morning stretched on.
The estate staff bustled around as usual, dusting, arranging fresh flowers, preparing meals—but to her, it was all a distant blur.
Her phone vibrated for the sixth time in the last hour.
She didn't even glance at it.
Lina.
She knew without checking.
Lina was persistent, texting her for the past few days, but right now, Nadia couldn't bring herself to respond. She wasn't in the mood to talk.
Or to eat.
Or to do anything, really.
At some point, her mother entered the room, her warm gaze sweeping over Nadia's still figure.
"Nadia, habibti," she said softly, taking a seat beside her. "You haven't touched your coffee."
Nadia finally blinked, looking down at the cup as if noticing it for the first time. "Oh."
Her mother sighed. "You cannot stay like this, your time is running out, you're supposed to be strategizing on how to win not fading away"
"I'm fine."
Her mother tilted her head, studying her. "You are not fine. You are silent. You are still. That is not my daughter."
Nadia's throat tightened.
Her mother reached over, gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. The gesture was so familiar, so comforting, that it almost broke her.
"Your father is working late at the company," her mother said. "He has not come home since last night."
Nadia tensed.
"He is trying to fix this," her mother continued, voice gentle. "He is doing everything in his power to protect you."
A bitter smile ghosted over Nadia's lips. "But he still took everything from me."
Her mother didn't deny it. "Because he had no choice."
"You still have us, habibti," her mother whispered. "We are still here."
Nadia closed her eyes, exhaling slowly.
She wished that was enough.
By midday, Nadia had moved to the library.
She sat curled up on one of the sofas, a book in her lap, staring at the pages without reading a single word.
Ayla walked in, plopping down beside her with a sigh.
"You're brooding," Ayla announced.
Nadia didn't react.
"Okay, this is bad," Ayla muttered. "Even when you lost that business deal last year, you didn't look this dead inside, sure you did look dead back then, and went emo for a few days but i feel that's better than whatever this is."
Nadia blinked, finally turning to her. "I'm not brooding."
Ayla pointed at her book. "You've been on the same page for forty minutes, and this book is on philosophy, you hate philosophy, not to mention the damn thing is upside down."
Nadia glanced down.
Oh, it is.
"See?" Ayla crossed her arms. "You're drowning in self-pity."
"I am not—"
"Yes, you are," Ayla interrupted. "And it's pathetic."
That startled a small, dry chuckle out of Nadia. "Thanks for the pep talk, just what i needed, a bout of insults."
"You're welcome."
Ayla softened a little, leaning her head against Nadia's shoulder. "I hate seeing you like this."
Nadia swallowed the lump in her throat.
"Sorry baby bird but i really can't help it"
Ayla always had a way of seeing right through her.
"Come on," her sister continued. "Do something. Anything. If you keep sitting here staring into space, I'll be forced to tell Lina to come over"
Nadia let out a small sigh.
Ayla grinned. "Ah. A reaction. Progress."
Nadia shook her head, closing the book. "You're annoying."
"I know."
Ayla hesitated, then squeezed her hand. "But I love you."
Nadia squeezed back.
She didn't say it, but she hoped Ayla knew she felt the same.
By the time night fell, Nadia had barely spoken a word to anyone without being forced to.
Dinner was a blur.
Her father still hadn't come home.
The estate was quiet.
Her room was even more quieter— if that's even a word.
She groans and lays on her bed, staring at the ceiling, when the sound of distant arguing caught her attention.
Raised voices.
Footsteps.
Chaos.
Sadly she knew exactly what that meant.
"NADIA AL-FAYEED!"
Her door slammed open.
Lina stood there, hands on her hips, looking half-furious, half-exasperated, dressed in ripped jeans and a bedazzled crop top, she did not look at all like a top medical student at Elites University the best university on the continent destined to inherit her parents chain of top hospitals around the world.
"You have exactly five seconds to get up, get dressed, and come with me."
Nadia blinked.
Lina marched into the room, ignoring her stunned expression. "I have been calling you all day."
"I know," Nadia muttered.
"And you ignored me."
"I know."
"So now I'm here," Lina said, folding her arms. "Because if you think I'm letting you sit in this house and wallow in self-pity, you clearly don't know me well enough."
Before Nadia could even process what was happening, another voice cut in.
"Let her take you out, habibti."
Nadia turned in shock.
Her mother stood in the hallway, arms crossed but eyes warm.
"Mama?"
Her mother gave a small smile. "You need a distraction."
"But Baba—"
"I'll deal with him," her mother said smoothly. "Lina, bring her back before ten."
Lina grinned. "You make it sound like I'm some guy asking permission to take your daughter out on a date."
Her mother's lips twitched. "Well, you are taking my daughter out against her father's orders, so…"
Lina smirked. "I'll be a gentleman, I promise."
Ayla appeared behind their mother, grinning. "Make sure she has fun."
"Oh, I will."
Before Nadia could argue, Lina grabbed her hand, threw clothes at her and pulled her out of the room.
Out of the estate.
And into the night.
And though Nadia didn't know it yet, this night is going to be unforgettable.