DON'T DOUBT LOVE) loving you no matter what

MAYA'S POV

The burner phone buzzed in Tahir's jacket pocket while he was in the shower.

Victor K.

My blood turned to ice.

I should've thrown it. Smashed it. But my traitorous fingers swiped answer instead.

"Took you long enough," Victor's voice slithered through the speaker. "Tell me, Maya—does he kiss you like he means it? Or is that part of the act too?"

The bathroom door creaked open. Tahir stood there, water dripping down his bare chest, his eyes locked on the phone in my hand.

"Maya—"

I hurled it at him. "You promised he was dead!"

The screen shattered at his feet. Victor's laughter echoed in the silence.

AISHA'S POV

Ryder's backpack spilled open when I tripped over it.

Mama's face stared up at me from a crumpled photograph.

Since when did Ryder carry this?

I flipped it over. Property Deed: Nelson Estate scrawled in Mama's handwriting.

My hands shook. This changed everything.

Ryder's shadow fell over me. "Aisha, I can explain—"

"You knew about the estate?" My voice cracked. "All this time, while we were starving?"

His guilty silence was answer enough.

TAHIR'S POV

Maya's tears wrecked me more than Victor's bullets ever could.

"It's not what you think," I said, reaching for her.

She recoiled. "Then what? Were you ever on our side? Or was this all just—"

"Real," I cut in. "You are real."

The lie tasted like ash. Victor was alive. And I'd known.

Maya's laugh was hollow. "Prove it."

So I did the one thing I swore I'd never do—I pulled out the deed to the legal property. "Sell it. Take the money. Run."

Her breath hitched. "And you?"

"I'll handle Victor."

Even if it killed me.

RYDER'S POV

Aisha's slap stung more than I expected.

"You lied!" she screamed. "We could've paid Mama's hospital bills few days ago!"

I caught her wrists. "The property's in Tahir's name. I was trying to protect you—"

"From what?"

The truth clawed up my throat: "From realizing your sister's in love with the man who ruined your family."

Aisha went still. Then she wrenched free and ran—straight into Maya and Tahir's warzone.

Perfect.