The Truth They Tried to Bury
574 Words
Chapter 11: The Truth They Tried to Bury
The knock came again.
This time, slower.
Deliberate.
Umar didn't move immediately. His entire body had gone still, as if he already knew who was waiting outside.
Tife's voice dropped to a whisper.
"Don't open it."
But Umar had already reached the door.
When he opened it—
Idris stood there.
Slightly soaked from the morning mist. His breathing was steady. His eyes were sharp.
But they weren't on Umar.
They were on Tife.
"Move," Umar said coldly.
Idris didn't obey.
Instead, he stepped inside as though he still belonged there.
"I came to finish this," Idris said quietly.
Tife stepped forward.
"Finish what?"
Idris finally looked at Umar.
Something in his expression changed.
"This," he said.
He dropped a thick file onto the table.
Umar's jaw tightened instantly.
"Don't."
Idris ignored him.
"You're not just Kareem's heir," he said, his voice calm but firm. "You are the key to controlling everything your family owns... and everything they stole."
Tife's breath caught.
"Stole?"
Idris nodded.
"There was a betrayal within your bloodline," he continued. "Your father was betrayed by his own brother."
Silence.
Heavy.
Tife whispered, "My father...?"
Idris stepped closer.
"And I was sent to protect you after they tried to erase you completely."
Umar cut in sharply.
"You didn't just protect her."
Idris paused.
For the first time, his confidence cracked.
Umar's voice turned colder.
"You got attached."
Tife looked between them.
"What does that mean?"
Silence.
Idris didn't answer immediately.
Then, quietly...
"I knew her before she was hidden."
Tife froze.
Umar's expression darkened.
Idris met Tife's eyes.
"And I didn't just protect you... I chose you."
The room seemed to stop breathing.
Umar moved forward in an instant, grabbing Idris by the collar.
"You don't get to rewrite history because you feel something now."
Idris didn't fight back.
He simply looked at Tife.
"Ask him," Idris said calmly. "Ask Umar what he really is to you."
Tife turned sharply.
"Umar...?"
Umar hesitated.
Just for a second.
That was enough.
Idris saw it.
A bitter smile crossed his face.
"You didn't tell her."
Umar slowly released him.
"Not everything needs to be told at once."
Idris stepped closer to Tife again.
"That's what they all say," he said softly. "Until it's too late."
Tife's voice trembled.
"Tell me everything."
Silence filled the room.
Then Idris gave a single nod.
"Your family meeting is tonight," he said.
Tife blinked.
"What?"
"You will be presented as Kareem's rightful heir," Idris continued. "And you will be forced to choose your place... and your alliance."
Umar's eyes darkened.
"She's not going anywhere."
Idris looked at him.
"No," he replied quietly. "But she doesn't belong to you either."
The words landed like a blow.
Tife felt the weight of them.
The pull.
The division.
Between the two men.
Idris stepped closer, lowering his voice.
"And when the truth comes out tonight... you may not look at either of us the same way again."
He paused.
Then, even softer...
"But I need you to know one thing."
Tife looked up at him.
Idris held her gaze.
"I never stopped choosing you."
Silence.
Behind him, Umar stood perfectly still, his expression unreadable—but the storm in his eyes said everything.
Tife stood between them once again.
But this time, it wasn't just confusion.
It was a choice.
And that choice was coming much sooner than she was ready for.
- Writer
