“But now we are spouses.

Zafir guardó silencio.

The evening light illuminated his dark silhouette.

“Are you afraid to see me?” he finally asked.

Amira shook her head.

“No.

It was true.

I was not afraid.

I was curious.

Zafir turned to her.

His eyes were intense, deep.

“For ten years,” he said slowly, “the world thought my face was a monster.

Amira crossed her arms.

“And isn’t it?”

Zafir raised his hand.

His fingers touched the fabric of the pashmina.

But he did not remove it.

“The problem is not what lies underneath.

He paused.

The problem is what happens next.

Amira frowned.

“After what?”

Zafir finally began to unroll the fabric.

First it fell on his shoulders.

Then to the ground.

The last piece revealed his face.

Amira stopped breathing.

There were no scars.

There was no deformity.

Nothing monstrous.

Zafir was… Incredibly attractive.

More than his siblings.

Firm jaw.

Dark eyes.

An intense presence.

Amira blinked, confused.

“So… why…?”

Zafir watched her calmly.

“Because the story of the accident was not a lie.

His voice became lower.

“Only I wasn’t the victim.

Amira felt a chill.

“What do you mean?”

Zafir walked slowly to the window.

“Ten years ago, the plane my mother was traveling on exploded.

The sea gently beat against the cliffs.

“Everyone thought it was an accident.

He turned to her.

“But it wasn’t.

The silence became heavy.

“It was sabotage.

Amira felt her heart beat faster.

“Who…?”

Zafir held his gaze.

“My own father.

The words fell like stones.

“I wanted to control the entire family fortune.

Amira could barely speak.

“And you?”

Zafir took a deep breath.

“I discovered the truth.

The wind moved the curtains.

“And when my father found out—” He tried to eliminate me as well.

Amira took a step back.

“Then you faked your disappearance.

Zafir nodded.

“I let the world think I was warped.

“Why?”

His eyes flashed with something cold.

“Because a ghost can move without being seen.

Amira slowly understood.

“You’ve been researching for ten years.

“Exactly.

Zafir took a step toward her.

“And now I’m ready.

“Ready for what?”

His voice was barely a whisper.

Zafir looked directly at her.

“To destroy my father.”

Silence filled the room.

Then he added:

“And now… you’re part of that game.

Amira watched him for several seconds.

Then he asked:

“Is that why you married me?”

Zafir did not respond immediately.

But when he finally spoke, his voice was honest.

“At first… yes.

Amira closed her eyes for a moment.

“And now?”

Zafir looked at her with an intensity that no longer seemed calculating.

“Now… I’m not sure anymore.

Because for the first time in ten years…

He had found someone who could face him without fear.

And that was something that even a man who lived in the shadows

I couldn’t ignore.