DON'T DOUBT LOVE) loving you no matter what

MAYA'S POV

The photo of Tahir's messages burned in my pocket like a live coal. I should expose him. I would expose him.

But then he walked into the room, his crisp white shirt clinging to his torso from the rain, and my traitorous heart skipped.

"Still plotting my downfall?" He smirked, leaning against my desk.

I clenched my fists. "You're a monster."

"And yet," he murmured, tracing a finger along my jaw, "you can't look away."

His touch sent fire through my veins. I hated him. I wanted him. The contradiction tore me apart.

A crash from downstairs shattered the moment. Aisha's scream.

Tahir's smirk vanished. "Stay here."

Like hell I would.

AISHA'S POV

Ryder's words echoed in my skull. Victor's dead. Tahir's the enemy.

No. It couldn't be true. Tahir is one of us —right?

I stumbled into the study, desperate for answers, and froze.

There, on Tahir's desk—a file labeled Fatima Hassan: Asset Retrieval. My mother's name.

My hands shook as I flipped it open.

"Subject's shares in Nelson Holdings to be acquired by any means necessary."

The world tilted. All this time...we were just assets to him?

The door burst open. Tahir stood there, his face unreadable.

"Aisha," he said softly. "It's not what you think."

But the proof was in my hands.

TAHIR'S POV

Damn it all.

Aisha wasn't supposed to see that file. Not yet.

Her tear-filled eyes accused me, and for the first time, I faltered. This wasn't part of the plan.

"You used us? ," she whispered.

I reached for her. "Let me explain—"

She slapped my hand away. "Was any of it real?"

Maya chose that moment to storm in, her eyes blazing. "What the hell is going on?"

Perfect. Both sisters, united against me.

Victor's voice whispered in my mind: "Sentiment is weakness."

I straightened my tie. "You want the truth? Fine. Your mother stole from my family. This was always about justice."

Maya's gasp cut deeper than any knife.

RYDER'S POV

I heard the shouting from the hallway. Tahir's mask had finally slipped.

I grabbed Aisha's arm. "We need to go. Now."

Maya hesitated, her eyes darting between me and Tahir. "He's lying. He has to be."

"Open your eyes!" I thrust the burner phone at her. "Victor's alive. And he's coming."

The color drained from her face as she read the message.

Tahir's voice boomed from the doorway: "Going somewhere?"

The game was up.