Zayn's POV
I didn't believe her.
Not for one second.
The moment Samirah walked away from me, I stood there frozen, replaying every word she had said.
You loved Lina.
She's everything to you.
I was nothing important.
No.
Something about it felt wrong.
Completely wrong.
Because if she truly meant nothing to me… then why did my chest tighten every time she walked away? Why did my heart race whenever she smiled at me? Why did being near her feel like I was standing in front of something I had lost and couldn't remember?
No matter how much I tried to accept her explanation—
I couldn't.
Because she was hiding something.
They all were.
And I was tired of it.
So i immediately went after her.
"Samirah."
She stopped immediately.
Slowly, she turned around.
Her expression tightened the moment she saw my face.
I walked toward her, anger and frustration burning inside me.
"What are you hiding from me?"
Her eyes widened. "What?"
"You heard me."
"Zayn, I don't know what you're talking about—"
"Yes, you do!" I snapped.
She flinched.
But I was too frustrated to stop.
"Every time I ask about my past, everyone gives me half answers! Every time I ask about you, you lie to my face!" I stepped closer. "What are you hiding from me?"
"I'm not hiding anything!"
"That's a lie!"
My voice echoed loudly through the hallway.
She looked terrified now.
Tears instantly filling her eyes.
But I couldn't stop.
"Why do you keep looking at me like I'm breaking your heart?" I demanded. "Why do you cry when Lina touches me? Why do you act like I belong to you and then tell me I don't?!"
She was shaking now.
"Please stop—"
"No!" I shouted. "Tell me the truth for once!"
"I can't!"
The words burst out of her so loudly we both froze.
Silence.
My breathing slowed.
Her face crumbled immediately after saying it.
And suddenly I saw it—
Pure fear.
Pure heartbreak.
Like whatever truth she was hiding was tearing her apart too.
I stared at her for a long moment.
Then slowly—
My anger faded.
And guilt rushed in instead.
Because she looked like I had just shattered her.
I exhaled shakily and stepped back.
"I'm sorry," I said quietly.
She wiped her tears but said nothing.
I ran a hand through my hair in frustration.
"I'm sorry," I repeated. "I shouldn't have yelled."
She nodded faintly.
I swallowed hard before forcing myself to say the words she clearly needed to hear.
"Forget it."
She looked up.
"If you say there's nothing…" I said quietly, "then I believe you."
Pain flashed across her face.
But I kept going.
"I won't ask about your relationship with me again."
Her lips parted slightly.
Something about those words seemed to hurt her more than my yelling had.
But I ignored that.
I had to.
Because if she refused to tell me—
Then maybe I really was imagining things.
Maybe I was losing my mind.
So I forced a small smile.
"You don't have to worry," I murmured. "I won't harass you about it anymore."
Then I turned and walked away.
But even as I left—
Even as I promised not to ask again—
I knew one thing for certain.
She was lying.
And whatever the truth was…
I would find out
...
Back in my room.
I was angry.
Angry, frustrated, and honestly annoyed with myself.
What the hell was I even thinking?
Why had I spent days chasing after answers from Samirah like some desperate man trying to uncover a love story that clearly did not exist?
I groaned and dropped into my chair, rubbing my temples.
Look at yourself, Zayn.
I was Zayn Kareem.
Born into wealth.
Raised in luxury.
A man with status, influence, and more money than most people would ever touch in their lifetime.
I was the kind of man who had women chasing after him—not the kind chasing after a maid.
So why was I acting like this over her?
Yes, she said we were friends.
But even that made no sense to me.
How would someone like me and someone like her even become friends?
What situation would put us close enough for that?
The more I thought about it, the less sense everything made.
But maybe I had been overthinking it.
Maybe I had let my confusion cloud my judgment.
Maybe I had simply grown too comfortable around her.
That had to be it.
And if that was the case, then I needed to stop this before it got worse.
I needed to let it go.
Focus on what mattered.
My business.
My future.
My engagement to Lina.
That was the life everyone said I had chosen.
And maybe if I focused on it long enough, things would finally start making sense.
Later that afternoon, I was in the sitting room reviewing documents when two familiar voices echoed through the hallway.
"Still pretending to work, I see."
I looked up and smirked.
Arnold and Sebastian.
My boys.
My closest friends from high school.
We had been inseparable back then, and even after adulthood and responsibilities, they remained some of the only people I genuinely trusted.
"About time you idiots showed up," I muttered, standing to hug them.
Arnold laughed. "Miss us that much?"
"Never."
Sebastian dropped onto the couch. "Liar."
We spent the next several minutes joking, catching up, and talking nonsense like old times.
It felt good.
Normal.
Then I called out, "Samirah!"
A moment later, she walked in.
"Yes, sir?"
The formal tone in her voice still annoyed me more than it should.
"Bring us drinks and snacks."
She nodded. "Right away."
A few minutes later, she returned carrying the tray.
But the second she stepped into the room—
She froze.
Her eyes widened.
And she stared directly at Arnold and Sebastian.
"What are they doing here?" she blurted.
The room went silent.
My expression darkened instantly.
Excuse me?
Arnold and Sebastian looked equally confused.
I stood slowly.
"What did you just say?"
Samirah blinked like she had not realized what came out of her mouth.
"I—I just—"
"What concern is it of yours who visits my house?" I snapped.
Her face fell immediately.
"I didn't mean—"
"No," I cut her off sharply. "Clearly I've been giving you too much freedom if you think you can question my guests now."
Her eyes widened with hurt.
But I was too irritated to stop.
"You are staff here," I said coldly. "Learn to mind your business and stay out of mine."
Silence filled the room.
Pain flashed across her face so quickly I almost regretted it.
Almost.
Without another word, she lowered her head.
"I'm sorry, sir."
Then she quickly placed the tray down and walked out.
The room stayed quiet for a second after she left.
Then—
Arnold frowned.
"What the hell was that about?"
I sighed heavily, sitting back down.
"She's just… overstepping lately."
Sebastian exchanged a look with Arnold.
Then both of them looked at me strangely.
But before they could say anything—
One thought kept replaying in my mind:
Why had Samirah looked so shocked to see them?
Like she recognized them.
Like she knew them.
And suddenly—
That old uncomfortable feeling returned.
Because once again…
Nothing about this felt normal.