Chapter 4: The Tipping Point

The morning mist hung heavily over the Farid estate, casting an eerie glow over the grand marble floors as Noor stood at the large window, gazing out at the sprawling gardens. She had always loved this view—the quiet calm that came with the first light of day, the stillness before the world erupted into motion. But today, the beauty of the scene did little to ease the knot in her stomach.

Her mind wandered back to Zayd Sultan. The more she tried to dismiss the connection, the stronger it seemed to pull at her. She had barely exchanged more than a few words with him, but those few moments lingered, playing over and over in her mind.

Her phone buzzed on the table, interrupting her thoughts. She picked it up, her eyes narrowing as she saw the message from Amina.

"Have you spoken to him again?"

Noor's fingers hovered over the screen. She didn't want to answer, didn't want to acknowledge the growing tension between them. But a part of her—an aching, restless part—needed to.

"No." Her reply was quick, but the uncertainty was clear. Amina knew her too well.

"Don't deny it, Noor. I know the look in your eyes. Just... be careful. He's not what he seems."

Noor stared at the message for a long time, unsure of how to respond. Amina's warning rang in her ears, and yet, there was something inside her that made her want to defy it. She couldn't explain why, but something about Zayd felt... different.

As if on cue, the door to her room opened softly, and her father stepped inside, his presence as commanding as ever. His sharp gaze flicked toward her phone, and then back to her face.

"You're distracted," he said in his usual flat tone. "What's on your mind?"

Noor forced a smile and quickly locked her phone. "Nothing, Father. Just... thinking."

He didn't seem convinced, but he didn't press further. Instead, he walked toward the large mahogany desk at the far end of the room and picked up a stack of papers.

"You have a meeting with the Sultans tomorrow," he said casually, flipping through the papers. "Make sure you're prepared."

Noor's heart skipped a beat at the mention of the Sultans. Tomorrow. Zayd.

"I'll be ready," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

Her father paused, looking up from the papers. "You've been spending a lot of time at these events. I hope you're not forgetting your priorities."

Noor's fingers clenched into fists at her sides. She hated how he spoke to her, as if her life and choices were things to be controlled. But she bit her tongue, knowing better than to argue.

---

The next day, Noor stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her dress nervously. She hadn't been this uneasy in a long time. Today wasn't just another business meeting—it was the first time she would face Zayd since their brief encounter.

Her phone buzzed again, this time with a message from her mother: "Remember, Noor, this meeting is important for the family. Keep your distance. Don't let emotions get in the way."

Noor closed her eyes, the weight of her mother's words pressing on her chest. She didn't want to admit it, but she felt the pull toward Zayd growing stronger.

With a deep breath, she left her room and made her way downstairs. Her father was already waiting by the door, his coat draped neatly over his arm.

"Let's go," he said curtly.

---

At the Sultan estate, Zayd paced back and forth in his study, unable to concentrate. The thought of meeting Noor again was a constant ache in the pit of his stomach. He knew he shouldn't be thinking about her—he had enough on his plate with family matters, and yet, she haunted him.

"Zayd," Rayyan's voice broke through his thoughts. "You've been pacing for an hour. What's going on?"

Zayd stopped and turned to face his brother. "It's her, Rayyan. Noor Farid."

Rayyan frowned. "I told you to stay away from her. You're getting too involved."

Zayd ignored the warning, his jaw clenched. "I can't stay away from her. There's something... I don't know. I can't explain it."

Rayyan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You're risking everything for some girl, Zayd. Don't you see? The Farid family—they're not who they seem to be. And neither are we."

Zayd's gaze hardened. "I don't care about their family. I care about her."

---

The meeting was set in one of the grand ballrooms of the Sultan estate, a luxurious room lined with crystal chandeliers and long mahogany tables. As Noor entered the room with her father, her gaze immediately found Zayd. He stood across the room, his presence commanding the space, but his eyes—his eyes were locked onto hers.

A chill ran down her spine. It wasn't just attraction. It was as if something deep within her recognized him, as if their paths had been entwined long before they met.

Noor's father took a seat at the head of the table, and she followed suit, sitting beside him, her hands clasped in her lap. Zayd didn't immediately approach, instead watching her from across the room with an unreadable expression.

The tension in the room was palpable. Every word spoken, every gesture made, seemed laden with unspoken meaning. As the meeting progressed, Noor couldn't help but steal glances at Zayd, his gaze occasionally flickering back to hers. It was as if they were the only two people in the room, even though business was being discussed all around them.