DON'T DOUBT LOVE) loving you no matter what

MAYA'S POV

The rain hammered against the hospital windows like it wanted in.

Mum's hand felt cold in mine—too cold. The machines beeped steadily, but her breathing was shallow. The doctor said she was stable, but I knew better. I'd seen that gray tinge to her skin before.

"You should rest," I whispered, brushing her hair back.

Her fingers tightened around mine. "You need to listen to me, Maya." Her voice was weak but urgent. "Tahir—"

"Don't," I cut her off, my throat tight. "Not now."

She coughed, wincing. "You don't understand. He's not what you think."

I wanted to scream. What was there left to understand? He'd lied. He'd manipulated. He'd known about Mum's condition and still played his games.

But then she said the one thing I wasn't ready for.

"He saved me first."

AISHA'S POV

I found the letters in Mum's drawer.

Old, yellowed paper, folded carefully. The handwriting was shaky but unmistakable—Mum's.

"If you're reading this, I'm gone. And there are things you need to know."

My hands trembled. I shouldn't be reading this. Not yet.

But then I saw the name at the bottom of the page.

Tahir.

Not as an enemy.

As a promise.

Ryder found me curled on the floor, the letters scattered around me.

"Aisha?"

I looked up, tears blurring my vision. "Did you know?"

His silence was answer enough.

TAHIR'S POV

The hospital hallway was too bright. Too quiet.

I leaned against the wall, my head pounding. Victor's men were closing in. The property sale had stalled. And now Fatima—

"She told them."

Ryder's voice cut through the silence. I turned, and there he was, arms crossed, face unreadable.

"Told them what?" I asked, though I already knew.

"Everything."

The word hung between us.

I should have been angry. Should have stormed into that room and demanded answers.

But all I felt was relief.

RYDER'S POV

Aisha's tears wrecked me.

She held the letters like they were made of glass, her voice breaking with every word. "All this time… we thought he was the villain."

I wanted to tell her it wasn't that simple. That Tahir had his reasons, but so did we. That the world wasn't split into heroes and monsters.

But the truth was, I didn't know anymore.

I'd spent so long trying to protect her from the truth that I'd become the liar.

And now?

Now she was looking at me like I was the one who'd betrayed her.