Bound by fate

Chapter 5: A silent war

Noor woke up to the soft rays of morning light filtering through the large windows of their bedroom. For a moment, she forgot where she was. The bed was far too luxurious, the sheets softer than anything she was used to.

Then she turned her head and saw Faizol’s back.

He was still asleep, his breathing slow and even. It was the first time she had seen him without that cold, impenetrable expression. He looked almost… peaceful.

He’s human after all, she thought with a wry smile.

Resisting the urge to study him further, she slipped out of bed and went to freshen up. By the time she returned, Faizol was awake, already dressed in a crisp black suit. He looked at her once, then back at his watch.

“I have meetings today,” he said, his tone as distant as ever. “Don’t wait for me.”

With that, he left the room, leaving Noor staring after him.

So this is how it’s going to be, she thought.

Fine. If he wanted to act like a stranger, she could do the same.

Breakfast with the Enemy

Downstairs, Noor found herself alone at the breakfast table. The large dining hall, with its towering glass walls and expensive decor, felt even more empty without conversation.

She pushed her plate away, suddenly losing her appetite.

“Madam, is everything alright?” the kind maid from the previous night asked.

Noor forced a smile. “I’m fine, just not very hungry.”

The maid hesitated before saying, “If I may, Madam, you shouldn’t let the Master’s silence affect you. He’s always been this way.”

Noor raised a brow. “Always?”

The maid nodded. “Ever since… well, for as long as I’ve worked here.”

Noor didn’t need her to finish. She already knew that Faizol’s past was filled with pain, betrayal, and loss. It was why he had built such thick walls around himself.

But she wasn’t here to break them.

She was here for revenge.

And she had a plan.

A Visit to the Past

Later that day, Noor made a call.

“I need you to get me everything on Faizol’s business rivals,” she said, her voice low.

The person on the other end chuckled. “Straight to the point as always. What are you planning, Noor?”

She smirked. “Let’s just say I want to understand my husband better.”

An hour later, she received a file. Flipping through it, she found names, faces, and histories of people who had tried to take down Faizol in the past.

One name stood out: Reza Malik.

Her heart clenched.

Reza was the man who had once been like an older brother to her. The man who had lost everything because of Faizol.

And he was the key to her plan.

An Unwanted Interruption

That evening, when Faizol finally returned home, Noor was waiting.

“You’re late,” she said, leaning against the doorway of his study.

He barely glanced at her. “I wasn’t aware I had a curfew.”

She smiled sweetly. “I was thinking we should have dinner together.”

Faizol sighed, clearly tired. “Noor—”

“Just dinner,” she interrupted. “Unless, of course, you’re afraid of a little conversation?”

His jaw tightened, but after a pause, he nodded.

“Fine.”

She hid her smirk.

Dinner and Deception

As they sat at the table, Noor casually brought up a topic she knew would catch his attention.

“So, I heard something interesting today,” she said, stirring her soup.

Faizol didn’t look up. “I’m not interested in gossip.”

“Oh, but you might be.” She set her spoon down. “It’s about Reza Malik.”

That got his attention. His grip on his glass tightened.

“What about him?”

Noor tilted her head. “He’s back in town.”

Faizol’s expression darkened, but he masked it quickly. “And?”

“And nothing,” she said lightly. “I just thought you’d want to know.”

Faizol’s silence was telling. He was affected.

Good.

Noor smiled to herself.

This was only the beginning.

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