Chapter 20:Love Between Lies

The café was nearly empty when Zayan Khan walked in.

Outside, the clouds hovered like unsaid truths—heavy and dark. The rain had ceased, but the world still held its breath, as if anticipating something more dangerous than a storm.

Inside, the soft clinking of ceramic cups and distant hum of an old playlist filled the air. Andaleeb sat alone at her usual corner table, stirring her tea absentmindedly, her mind clearly elsewhere.

The moment she saw him step through the door, her fingers froze.

Her heart dipped. Not in fear—no, not quite—but in that unsettling space between guilt and longing. Zayan didn't say a word.

His steps were steady. Determined.

Before she could even rise from her seat or utter a single protest, he reached her.

And scooped her up into his arms.

"Zayan—what are you doing?!" she gasped, stunned, her hands instinctively grabbing the front of his coat.

He didn't answer. His face was unreadable, eyes locked on the door ahead like he was on a mission.

She wriggled slightly. "Put me down!"

"No."

His voice was calm. But firm.

Rain had begun to fall again, a soft drizzle painting the city in silver streaks. Zayan carried her through it without flinching, his shoes splashing lightly through puddles as he approached his parked car. The drive was silent—so quiet it was deafening. The kind of silence where everything screamed beneath the surface.

Her pulse refused to settle. She glanced at him more than once, but he never looked her way.

The moment they reached his penthouse, the doors shut behind them with a soft whoosh. Zayan's grip never loosened—not once—as he carried her through the living room, down the hallway, and into the bedroom.

He set her down carefully, as if placing something fragile. Something he didn't want to break… but already had.

She stood frozen in place, arms wrapped around herself, heart hammering in her chest.

He finally turned to face her. His voice was low, raw.

"You left me unconscious."

Her eyes widened, and the weight of those words dropped like lead between them.

"Again," he added.

She looked away, ashamed.

"I woke up alone, on the floor. I remembered everything this time, Andaleeb."

"I didn't mean—" she started, but he cut her off.

"I need answers," he said.

She swallowed hard. "Some truths… break people."

"Then break me," Zayan said, his eyes never leaving hers. "I'd rather be shattered by the truth than healed by a lie."

She turned toward the window, arms still hugged tightly around her. The stars were faint behind the clouds, but the city lights reflected dimly on the glass.

"I'm not like you," she whispered.

Zayan stepped forward, slowly, carefully. "I never asked you to be."

She turned around, trembling. "I… I care too much to destroy your world."

"Then let me in," he said softly. "Let me carry some of that weight."

A long silence fell between them—thick with tension and fragile emotion.

She parted her lips. "Zayan… I'm not—"

But before the words could leave her mouth, he closed the gap and pulled her into a hug. Gently. Like she was something precious. Like he wasn't just trying to hold her—but anchor her.

Her breath caught in her throat.

She didn't resist.

She melted into the hug.

His hand moved to her cheek, brushing away a tear she didn't realize had fallen. Their eyes met. So much unsaid lived in that gaze.

Then, he leaned down… and kissed her.

It wasn't rushed. It wasn't desperate. It was slow, like two universes aligning after years of spinning apart. The kiss spoke every word neither had been brave enough to say aloud. Fear. Longing. Trust.

When they parted, her lips trembled. "Why are you doing this?"

"Because you're mine," he said simply. "And I don't run from the truth. Not anymore."

Her knees almost buckled.

But she held herself up—because part of her wanted to believe him.

Wanted to stay.

---

Haroon's Discovery

Elsewhere, the glow of alien symbols flickered across Haroon's screen.

He sat alone in his private lab, fingers typing furiously. A red alert pulsed along the top of his monitor.

> UNAUTHORIZED EARTH-BASED ACCESS – SATELLITE CHANNEL 7

Haroon's expression tightened.

Someone was watching. Someone outside their protective circle. Someone… dangerous.

He enlarged the log. A distorted clip began to play. Andaleeb, in Zayan's arms. Her hands glowed faintly. The timestamp matched the night Zayan collapsed.

"Whoever you are…" Haroon muttered. "You're getting too close."

He picked up his encrypted communicator. "She's not just at risk now. He is too."

---

Zayan & Aryan – Quiet Realizations

That night, Zayan sat in his office, unbuttoned collar, tired eyes. The city blinked beneath his window.

Aryan lounged on the couch, watching him.

"You okay, man?"

"No."

A pause.

"I saw her glow," Zayan said softly. "In my arms. Her hands lit up like… like she wasn't human."

Aryan sat up straighter. "Whoa."

"But I didn't feel fear," Zayan continued. "I felt… peace."

"That's not normal."

"I don't care if it is."

Aryan was quiet for a beat. "Love's weird like that. Makes you accept the impossible."

Zayan looked out the window. "I'm not letting her go."

---

Aleena's Return

The next morning, sharp heels echoed down the hallways of Khan Global like warning bells.

Aleena Hashmi walked in, dressed to kill—sleek navy suit, icy smile, holding two coffee cups.

She entered Zayan's office without knocking.

"I figured you needed caffeine. You look like you've been fighting a storm."

"I was," Zayan replied, not even looking up. "I survived."

Aleena placed the coffee down. Her eyes caught a familiar cartoon sketch on his desk—a doodle Andaleeb had once made. Zayan's frown exaggerated, a heart doodled beside it.

Her smile faltered.

"She's just an intern," Aleena said coolly.

"She's not 'just' anything," he replied.

Aleena's jaw clenched.

And she walked out.

But not before thinking: This war isn't over, Andaleeb Shah.

---

Later – The Final Gift

That evening, Andaleeb wiped down the café counter, trying to hold onto normalcy.

Then the bell chimed.

She looked up.

Zayan.

Again.

But this time… he didn't speak.

He walked to a nearby table and placed a small velvet box on the surface.

Then, he met her eyes.

"I don't need your truth yet," he said softly. "But I need your presence."

She blinked, slowly walking over.

He nodded at the box. "Don't run again."

With shaking fingers, she opened it.

Inside was a pendant.

A silver star-shaped charm.

It glowed faintly under the lights—echoing the faint shimmer in her own skin whenever her emotions broke through.

She looked up at him, eyes full of fear and wonder.

"I can't promise I won't break things," she whispered.

Zayan stepped closer. "Then we'll rebuild them. Together."

She didn't say anything.

But this time, when the truth leaned close…

She didn't run.

---

End of Chapter 20