The mansion felt different that evening.
Louder.
Alive.
Ayla stood at the top of the staircase, her fingers gripping the railing as she looked down. The grand hall was filled with people - men in expensive suits, women in elegant dresses, laughter echoing through the space.
A party.
Of course.
This was Zayn's world.
And tonight... she was expected to be part of it.
"You should smile."
The voice behind her made her stiffen.
Ayla turned.
Zayn stood there, dressed in a black suit, looking as calm and dangerous as ever.
"I don't see anything worth smiling about," she replied quietly.
Zayn's lips curved slightly.
"You will," he said.
Before she could ask what he meant, his hand wrapped around her wrist.
"Come."
The moment they stepped into the hall, the noise seemed to drop.
Eyes turned.
Whispers followed.
Ayla felt it instantly - the attention, the judgment, the curiosity.
She didn't belong here.
But Zayn didn't let go.
If anything, his grip tightened.
"Stay close," he murmured.
It didn't sound like a request.
Everything felt overwhelming.
The lights.
The people.
The way everyone looked at Zayn with respect... and fear.
Ayla stayed silent, trying to disappear into the background.
Until -
A woman stepped forward.
She was stunning.
Confident.
Dressed in a bold red dress that made her stand out from everyone else.
Her eyes locked onto Zayn.
And then -
She smiled.
"Zayn."
The way she said his name...
It wasn't formal.
It wasn't distant.
It was personal.
Ayla felt something twist inside her chest.
Zayn didn't react immediately.
But when he did -
His expression softened.
Just slightly.
But enough.
"Lina," he said.
Ayla's heart skipped.
Lina.
Another name.
Another piece of his past.
The woman stepped closer, her gaze briefly shifting toward Ayla.
She looked her up and down.
Slowly.
Judging.
"Is this her?" Lina asked.
Zayn didn't answer.
But he didn't deny it either.
Lina smiled again.
This time... it wasn't friendly.
"I expected someone different," she said.
The words were light.
But the meaning wasn't.
Ayla clenched her fists.
"I didn't ask for your expectations," she replied.
Zayn's grip on her wrist tightened slightly.
A warning.
But Lina just laughed softly.
"She has a voice," Lina said, amused.
"Interesting."
The tension between them grew.
Unspoken.
Sharp.
Ayla didn't understand why it bothered her.
Why Lina's presence felt... wrong.
Why Zayn's silence made it worse.
Then Lina stepped closer to him.
Too close.
Her hand lightly touched his arm.
Casual.
Familiar.
Ayla's chest tightened.
"She wouldn't have liked this," Lina said softly.
The words were quiet.
But they hit hard.
Zayn's expression changed instantly.
Cold.
Closed.
Dangerous.
Ayla froze.
She didn't know who Lina was talking about.
But she knew one thing -
It was her.
The woman from the photos.
Zayn gently removed Lina's hand.
"Careful," he said.
His tone was calm.
But final.
Lina raised her hands slightly, as if surrendering.
"Relax," she said. "I was just reminding you."
Zayn's eyes darkened.
"Don't."
One word.
Enough to silence the room around them.
Ayla felt her heart racing.
She didn't belong in this conversation.
But she couldn't walk away either.
Not when everything felt like it was falling apart inside her.
Zayn turned slightly toward her.
"Stay here," he said.
Then he walked away.
Just like that.
Leaving her alone.
Ayla stood there, surrounded by strangers.
But her eyes followed him.
And Lina.
As they moved across the room together.
Talking.
Close.
Too close.
Something inside her twisted painfully.
She didn't understand it.
Didn't want to.
But she couldn't ignore it either.
For the first time...
Ayla felt something she hadn't expected.
Jealousy.