The Other Brother

Zainab sat at her book signing event, lights flashing, fans cheering—but her eyes drifted to the far corner.

Khalid stood there.

Smiling.

Watching.

He hadn't missed a single event since he arrived in Lagos. Every time he showed up, he stayed just long enough to leave an impression… on her. On Yusuf.

---

Later that night, the tension exploded.

Yusuf slammed the door behind him. "Why was he at the launch again?"

Zainab looked up, tired. "He's your brother."

"He's flirting with you, Zainab!"

She stood slowly. "And you? You only started caring when I left. When I broke. Khalid saw me before I became your second chance."

That hit hard. Too hard.

---

Meanwhile… Khalid's Agenda Unfolds

Khalid wasn't just here for fun. He was here with a purpose. A wound.

He once loved a woman. And she chose Yusuf.

Now history was repeating itself.

Except this time… he wasn't going to lose.

He showed up at Zainab's charity gala. With a donation. With a speech. With charm so effortless, even the crowd whispered:

"That's her brother-in-law?"

---

A Moment Alone

After the gala, Khalid found her in the garden.

"You light up every room. Even when you're dimming yourself to survive it."

Zainab blinked. "You don't know me."

"I'd like to try."

Her breath caught.

For one second—one breath—she almost let him in.

Then she remembered Amira's smile. Yusuf's desperate eyes. Her story.

"No," she whispered. "This story already has a hero… even if he's broken."

She walked away.

---

But behind her, Khalid whispered:

"Heroes break too. But sometimes… it's the villain who puts the pieces back."