Morning came.
But it brought no peace.
The sun rose slowly over the mansion, its light spilling through the tall windows but inside, everything still felt dark.
Heavy.
Unsettled.
Ibrahim had not returned.
Zainab sat in the living room, her fingers tightly clenched together in her lap.
She hadn't slept.
Not even for a moment.
Every sound from the night before still echoed in her mind.
Safiya's voice.
The broken bottle.
The threat.
Her heart pounded quietly, like it was waiting for something terrible to happen.
Around her, the house was restless.
The maids whispered in corners, their voices low and uneasy.
The guards moved in and out, their footsteps quicker than usual, their faces tense.
Even the air felt different.
Thicker.
Like the house itself knew something was wrong.
Then footsteps,calm,steady and unbothered .
Zainab looked up.
Safiya.
She descended the staircase like nothing had happened.
Dressed elegantly.
Composed.
Holding a teacup between her fingers like a queen untouched by chaos.
Zainab's eyes followed her every movement.
Something twisted painfully inside her chest.
This woman…
She knew.
She had to know.
Safiya sat down gracefully, lifting the cup to her lips.
Not a single sign of fear.
Not a single sign of worry.
And that was when Zainab felt it clearly
This wasn't normal.
Suddenly—
The front door burst open.
A man rushed in.
Breathing hard.
Panicked.
Kabiru.
Ibrahim's assistant.
His face was pale, almost lifeless.
His eyes looked like they had seen something terrible.
Something final.
Safiya stood up immediately.
"Kabiru! Where is Ibrahim?"
Her voice was sharp.
Urgent.
Convincing.
Kabiru froze for a second.
His gaze shifted.
From Safiya
To Zainab
Then back again.
He swallowed hard.
His voice trembled as he spoke.
"Sir Ibrahim…"
A pause.
"has been kidnapped."
The world stopped.
Zainab felt it first in her chest.
A sharp, crushing drop.
Then everything else followed.
Her breath.
Her balance.
Her thoughts.
"No…"
The word barely escaped her lips.
Safiya's teacup slipped from her hand.
It shattered loudly against the floor.
"What?!" she screamed.
Kabiru nodded quickly, his voice shaking.
"They ambushed him last night. His guards were shot. He's missing."
Zainab's vision blurred.
The room spun slightly.
She reached for the nearest chair, gripping it tightly just to stay upright.
"No… no… this can't be happening…"
But it was.
Safiya staggered forward, her eyes suddenly filled with tears.
Realistic.
Perfect.
Almost too perfect.
Zainab watched her closely.
And something didn't sit right.
Those tears
They didn't feel real.
They looked practiced.
Like something rehearsed.
Safiya grabbed Kabiru by the shirt.
"Find him!" she cried. "Bring him back to me!"
Kabiru nodded quickly.
"We are trying. We've already mobilized"
He hesitated.
Safiya's eyes sharpened.
"What is it?"
Kabiru lowered his voice.
"They called."
Silence fell instantly.
Safiya stepped closer.
"What did they say?"
Kabiru's throat moved as he swallowed.
"They said if we want him alive
A pause.
"we should prepare another ransom."
Zainab felt her stomach twist violently.
Another ransom.
That meant Ibrahim
Was now the hostage.
And Madam Rabi
Was still missing.
The situation had spiraled beyond control.
What started as one mystery
Had become something far worse.
Zainab sank slowly into the chair behind her.
Her legs could no longer hold her weight.
Tears filled her eyes, slipping down silently.
Ibrahim had been the only one standing between her and danger.
The only one who believed at least a little.
The only one who could protect her.
And now
He was gone.
Zainab lifted her gaze slowly.
Her eyes met Safiya's.
For a brief second
Very brief
Safiya's tears stopped.
And something else appeared.
A flicker.
Cold.
Satisfied.
Then it vanished.
Replaced instantly with panic.
With fear.
With performance.
But Zainab had seen it.
And in that moment…
Everything inside her became clear.
She wasn't just in danger.
She was trapped.
Trapped in a house full of secrets and game she didn't understand and with the very person who wanted her dead.