A moment of agreement.
And then silence afterward, as if the world itself was waiting to understand what had just been decided.
That night, Lina told herself she could still step back.
That marriage did not erase choice.
That morning would bring clarity.
She did not sleep much.
The morning after the wedding, the villa was quiet.
Too quiet.
Sunlight filtered through large windows that overlooked the coastline. Somewhere outside, water moved gently against stone.
Lina sat at the edge of the bed for several minutes before standing.
She expected… something.
A shift in behavior.
A change in tone.
A realization that she had made a mistake.
Instead, the house remained unchanged.
Until she walked into the hallway.
And saw him standing by the window.
Fully dressed.
Calm.
Holding a cup of coffee as if it were any ordinary morning.
“Good morning,” he said.
His voice carried no tension.
No distance.
Just presence.
Lina hesitated.
“You didn’t leave,” she said quietly.
Kareem turned slightly.
“Should I have?”
It was not a challenge.
It was a genuine question.
And that unsettled her more than anything else.
Over breakfast, Lina watched him carefully.
