Twisted Shadows

Chapter 12: The Web of Retribution

في صباح اليوم التالي وصل مع ضوء رقيق شاحب يتسرب عبر السحب الرمادية الثقيلة في دمشق. عدت إلى منزلنا في المهاجرين، وخطوت بهدوء عبر الأرضية الرخامية الباردة. كان المنزل صامتًا تمامًا، لكنه كان صمتًا متوترًا وخانقًا بدا وكأنه الهدوء قبل العاصفة. مررت بباب مكتب حسام المغلق، وسمعت صوته الخافت والمضطرب وهو يسير في الداخل. لم يكن ينام على الإطلاق ؛ كانت فخاخي النفسية تعمل بشكل مثالي خلف الحشود، وتهدم دفاعاته ساعة بساعة.

ذهبت إلى المطبخ وأعدت وعاءًا طازجًا من القهوة، وأحافظت على قناعي البريء واللطيف. عندما خرج حسام أخيرًا من مكتبه، بدا مدمرًا تمامًا. كانت الهالات السوداء تحت عينيه المجوفتين أعمق، واهتزت يديه بعنف لدرجة أنه بالكاد كان يستطيع حمل حقيبته. نظر إلي بمزيج خطير من الشك العميق والذعر الخام، وعقله ينزلق بعيدا مع كل نفس.

- "Kinda.. did you stay at the pharmacy all night? Did anyone try to follow you?" he asked, his voice cracking with a desperate undercurrent of terror.

- "Of course I was at the pharmacy, Houssam. The assistant was there with me the entire time. Why do you keep asking me these terrifying questions? You are completely burning yourself out over these engineering projects. Please, go to your office and try to get some rest," I replied, my voice dripping with feigned affection and pure concern.

He didn't answer. He grabbed his keys and rushed out of the house, slamming the heavy wooden door behind him. The moment his car pulled out of the driveway, my warm smile turned ice-cold. I pulled out my secret phone and checked the bank records once more. The trap was completely set. The international suppliers in Beirut and Dubai were already questioning Houssam's stability because of the erratic messages I had been sending them using his encrypted codes cash cash.

He was losing his grip on his dark empire, and he was losing his mind, thinking that Raghad had risen from the darkness to strip him of everything he owned. I walked upstairs to Raghad's room, looking at her olive-green coat in the wardrobe. The shadows were growing longer, and I was holding every single thread of retribution in my hands, standing tall and absolute.