When she came straight home from the office, she found Hoor already waiting near the door.
Hoor had also seen her.
Emma unlocked the door with her key… Hoor silently stood behind her. They hadn't spoken to each other in days.
Emma opened the door and entered the house, with Hoor following closely behind. Emma carelessly tossed the keys onto the table and slumped onto the couch, covering her eyes with her arm.
Hoor noticed her every move. She had observed Emma's disheveled appearance too—like someone who had lost their way.
"My flight to Pakistan is tomorrow… I don't know when I'll be back." Hoor sat beside her on the couch and gently moved her arm away from her eyes.
As soon as the arm moved, Emma closed her eyes tightly… but couldn't stop the tears from falling.
"Emma…" Hoor softly placed her hand on Emma's shoulder.
The moment she felt her touch, Emma's walls crumbled. She threw her arms around Hoor and began crying uncontrollably.
"I… I have no one… You'll leave too…" she sobbed into Hoor's shoulder. It was the first time since Isabella's death that she had cried so freely and shared her feelings with someone.
Hoor gently stroked her back.
"Emma, you're not alone… You can call me anytime. Or, if you want, you can come with me," Hoor said softly, pulling her slightly away and looking into her eyes.
Her cheeks and nose had turned red from crying, and bloodshot lines streaked through her eyes.
"No… I have to find Peter… Yes, Mom asked me to find Peter. She made me promise… Oh my God… how… how could I forget? How could I forget something like that?"
Emma was no longer crying; she was in shock from a different worry now. She held her head in her hands.
Seeing her like that broke Hoor's heart. She felt her own eyes well up with tears, but she composed herself quickly—because if she started crying too, who would be there for Emma?
"Emma, relax… we'll find Peter too. For now, tell me—have you eaten anything?" Hoor's question made Emma suddenly realize how hungry she was.
Sometimes, it's only when someone asks or reminds us that we become aware of our own needs—
Whether it's hunger…
A mistake…
Or…
Innocent neglect.
One look at her face told Hoor that Emma hadn't eaten anything. She sighed and walked to the kitchen. Opening the fridge, she found nothing suitable to offer.
She then checked the cabinet and found a pack of instant noodles. Grateful, she took it out and began cooking.
Emma came into the kitchen too.
"Emma, why don't you get ready while the noodles are cooking? Let's spend the day together," Hoor said while stirring the pot.
Emma gave Hoor a loving look. She had always stood by her—whether in sorrow or joy, she never left her alone.
Her eyes welled up again at the thought that now even this sincere friend was about to leave.
"You're still here?" Hoor asked in surprise, turning around with a bowl in hand and finding Emma still standing there.
"Yeah… I was just about to go," Emma mumbled and hurried out of the kitchen to her room upstairs.
A little while later, as Hoor set the table with juice and noodles, Emma returned—dressed in a black jacket and pants, wearing a red cap. Her face looked a little fresher.
Hoor placed the noodles in front of her. The sight of them made Emma's appetite spring to life.
Now, she was digging into the noodles heartily, while Hoor watched her with a smile.
She felt happy to see Emma slowly returning to a normal life.
_____________________
Derrick stopped his dark green Jaguar in front of a very beautiful villa.
The moment the guards at the gate saw him, they opened it.
Parking the car in the porch, he stepped out.
The villa was painted entirely in white from the outside.
He walked away from the car, twirling the keys carelessly around his finger, heading inside.
Just then, the gardener in the garden saw him and greeted him.
"Good morning, sir,"
To which he responded with a smile and a nod.
He opened the door and stepped inside.
Right in front of him was a huge lounge with large sofas spread around.
Unlike the exterior, the lounge had elegant woodwork.
In front of the sofas, a massive LED screen was mounted.
He moved further in, his eyes scanning every corner.
There was no one there either.
He went to the back side of the house where the pool and sitting arrangement were.
There, near the pool, a woman was sitting on a chair, soaking up the sun.
Her eyes were closed, but her face bore a striking resemblance to Derrick's.
Walking like a cat, he crept up to her chair.
Just before he could scream near her ear to scare her—
Someone grabbed him by the ears and pulled him back.
"We can only wish that you'd ever do anything properly,"
The one pulling his ears said in a disappointed tone.
Hearing this, the woman sitting on the chair turned around—and smiled upon seeing him.
"Dad… How is pulling my ears going to fulfill any of your wishes?"
He said, pouting, and at that, his dad let go of his ears with a laugh and stepped forward to hug him.
Mrs. Thompson watched them with a smile.
"You've come back after quite a long time,"
His dad said, looking at him.
Derrick was now standing with his arms wrapped around his mother's shoulders.
"And I'm planning to stay for quite some time too… at least until the next time you get mad at me,"
His words made it clear—he hadn't changed at all.
"What will become of you?"
His dad shook his head in fake disappointment.
It was clear he was pretending.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Thompson was ordering lunch through the intercom.
She knew just how much her son loved to eat.
"Whatever was meant to become of me… has already happened. But can we talk now about the one who's meant for me?"
Derrick said cheekily as he slipped in the real reason for his visit.
Hearing that, both of his parents straightened up.
Because it was the first time Derrick was seriously talking about a girl.
"Who is she?"
Mr. Thompson asked, suddenly serious.
"She's a girl…"
They were just thankful he said girl—with the kind of crazy life he led, they'd half-feared he might fall for a guy.
"Name?"
Mrs. Thompson was quick to fire the next question.
"Olivia…"
At the mention of her name, a sparkle lit up his green eyes.
Mrs. Thompson didn't notice—but Mr. Thompson did.
"Does she feel the same?"
Mr. Thompson asked thoughtfully, observing his son.
"She will,"
Derrick said confidently.
Both parents, who had been getting excited, sat back disappointed.
They had hoped the girl would already be on board.
"I figured… only a blind girl would fall for a crazy person like you,"
Mr. Thompson said as he leaned back in his chair.
Mrs. Thompson glared at him—
How could he say such things about their precious son?
"Just like Mom fell for you, right Dad?"
Derrick said with mischief, getting up from his chair and stepping away—
Because he knew exactly what was coming next.
Mrs. Thompson's mouth dropped open.
Mr. Thompson stood up, ready to grab him by the neck, but Derrick had already moved too far.
"Stop right there! I'll show you!"
And now the father and son were chasing each other around—
While Mrs. Thompson simply smiled.
Finally, the house was alive again.
Otherwise, the two had just been buried in their own work lately…
__________________________
Once again, Aahil left the mansion early in the morning.
Although preparations for the wedding were in full swing at the mansion, he didn't seem particularly interested.
He parked the car in front of a familiar house, stepped out, rang the bell, and stood with his hands in his pockets, waiting for the door to open.
"Aahil, come on in, man!" A cheerful young man opened the door and welcomed him inside.
Aahil entered behind him, his eyes scanning the place as if he were looking for someone.
The guy led him to the drawing room and after seating him, went to the kitchen.
He returned shortly with a Coke bottle and some snacks on a trolley.
"What was the need for this?" Aahil asked, watching him adjust the table.
"No big deal. It's not every day you get my service—take advantage of it while you can," the guy said cheekily, handing him a glass.
"Sharjeel… where's Dayaan?" Aahil finally asked after realizing Dayaan wasn't around.
"He was crying… saying he wanted to go to you, so Ayesha took him to the park to distract him," Sharjeel said, mentioning his sister.
Aahil relaxed upon hearing this. A little while later, they were talking when a small child came cheerfully running in from outside.
"Baba… Baba…" Clearly, he had already spotted Aahil's car.
He entered the drawing room searching for Aahil.
Seeing him, Aahil opened his arms to invite him over, a warm smile blooming across his face.
Dayaan ran straight into his embrace. Aahil held him tight.
Every time he hugged him, he felt a peaceful calm settle into his heart.
"Baba… I want to come with you," Dayaan said, and Aahil truly wished he could take him along. But not yet. There were still things that needed to be done.
"Next time for sure," Aahil replied, gently stroking the silky light brown hair that had come from his mother.
"Assalamu Alaikum…" Aahil turned to the door where Ayesha stood, greeting him politely.
There was a time he had feelings for her… but he never expressed them. For one, she was his friend's sister. Secondly, she had just finished university and needed time to get stable. He never wanted to give her false hope.
But when the topic of his marriage to Hoor came up, he told Daaji about his feelings. Daaji had exploded with rage.
That's why the nikah with Hoorain was rushed.
He still remembered how he tried until the last moment to stop it…
But wanting something doesn't change destiny. What happens is always what Allah wills—what's best for us.
If he had known what he'd lose just by telling Daaji about his choice, he would've never said anything.
Aahil looked away from Ayesha and turned his attention back to Dayaan.
"Wa Alaikum Assalam…" he responded to her greeting in his deep voice, then stood up with Dayaan in his arms.
Sharjeel got up as well—he was supposed to go with Aahil.
Aahil settled Dayaan in the car while Sharjeel went to inform Ayesha he was leaving.
Moments later, they were once again on the road—with the hope that maybe this time, their search would finally succeed.
______________________________
Today again, the sun had delighted the residents of London by showing its glowing face… although the clouds were there too, right alongside it.
In such weather, people often make plans for outings, because the sun is a rare guest in London. Among those heading out today were Emma and Hoor — and now Olivia had joined them too, whom they had run into on the way. Emma's mood had significantly improved thanks to the outing.
Emma had formed a slight friendship with Olivia as well. She told her about Hoor leaving tomorrow and her upcoming wedding. Olivia congratulated her warmly.
Now the three of them were walking along the road, soaking in the sunshine and chatting as they went.
"Emma!" Hoor suddenly called her mid-conversation.
"Hmm?" Emma, along with Olivia, turned toward her.
"I'm leaving tomorrow… so today should be all about me, right? That means every wish of mine should be fulfilled?"
"Yeah..." Emma didn't quite understand why Hoor was saying this.
"Then let's do this… dress the way I want today! Actually, let's get matching outfits!" Hoor said excitedly. Olivia loved the idea, being a fan of makeup and fashion herself. Emma, however, wasn't too thrilled—her face made that pretty clear. But she didn't say anything, because today truly was Hoor's day.
The three ladies headed to a shop.
Now came the trouble—whatever Emma liked, the others didn't. And whatever Olivia liked was way too bold. Hoor, on the other hand, hadn't found anything special yet.
Finally, Hoor chose a jersey frock. It was slightly above the ankles with a few pleats stitched on it. Compared to the other options, all three agreed this was decent. So, they went with the same dress in three different colors.
Olivia picked green.
Emma chose brown, which matched her eyes. She paired it with a black leather jacket, giving her a stylish look.
Hoor selected black and wore her long black coat over it.
As they were walking again, Emma suddenly felt super hungry.
"Can we eat now? Or do we plan to keep walking till we reach Pakistan?" she joked. Hoor lowered her head, smiling, while Olivia also chuckled.
"Alright ma'am, tell us where you'd like to go and what your royal self would like to eat?" Hoor asked with mock humility.
"Somewhere close by, please… Queen Emma has no strength left to walk," Emma said, raising her chin like royalty.
The other two stood still for two minutes, watching her grand pose, and then burst into laughter—Emma included.
They sat on wooden benches outside a small open-air restaurant. Just then, a waitress approached to take their order.
Hoor and Olivia looked at the menu and ordered club sandwiches with cappuccinos. Now they waited for Emma, who was examining the menu as if it were a treasure map. Finally, she put the menu down and began her order:
Club sandwich
Donut
Half-fried egg
Pancakes with honey
And a black coffee
"That'll be all for now. If we need more, we'll let you know," Emma said, handing the menu back to the waitress—who looked at this slim girl in surprise, wondering how she could eat all that.
(Maybe they're all sharing the food, the waitress thought to herself, walking away, since she wouldn't dare say that out loud.)
But Olivia did say something.
"Emma, we already gave our order…" She assumed Emma had ordered for all of them.
Emma gave her a look that clearly said, I know.
"I mean, we can't eat that much," Olivia explained nervously under Emma's stare. Hoor had to stifle her laughter at the situation.
"Well then… you two don't eat. I ordered this for myself," Emma said bluntly. Olivia found her a bit too direct in that moment.
After that, Olivia stayed quiet. A little while later, their order arrived.
Olivia barely touched her food—she was too stunned watching Emma's eating speed. Hoor, meanwhile, was calmly enjoying her sandwich.
Once they finished, they paid the bill—though that sparked a long debate, as Hoor insisted on paying.
"Where to now?" Hoor asked, looking at the other two.
"Hmm… let's go to Waterloo Bridge. The sun is out today, and missing the sunset from there would be a big mistake!" Emma said, checking her watch with excitement.
"Totally agree. Let's book a cab first," Hoor nodded.
"Hello, girls? There's already a car waiting... so why call a cab?" Olivia, who had been quiet for a while, twirled her car keys on her finger.
"Then let's go—quickly!" Emma jumped up.
"Easy there! We still have to walk to the car," Olivia said, grabbing her arm to stop her.
"Ugh, let's just go…" Emma sighed dramatically. Her mix of excitement and sass was oddly comforting to Hoor.
"Alright, let's go," Olivia said, motioning them to follow her.
When they reached the car, Olivia opened the door of her diamond-black Renault Clio and told them to get in.
As soon as they were seated, Olivia drove off so fast that if Emma hadn't put on her seatbelt, her head would've hit the dashboard. Hoor grabbed Olivia's seat for balance.
Emma shot Olivia a glare, to which she responded with a shrug and a suppressed laugh.
The car sped smoothly toward their destination. Emma now started enjoying the fast drive too. Only Hoor looked a little breathless.
Olivia turned up the volume and let the music blast through the speakers.
________________________
Jaan was just about to leave for a meeting… when he saw the person standing at the entrance, and his nerves tensed instantly.
That man also began walking toward him.
"Jahaan!"
Jaan, who was about to ignore him and walk away, froze for a moment upon hearing his full name.
Only his mother used that name… and he hated it.
Yes, he hated his mother.
Seeing him pause, the man slowly stepped closer. His hair and beard were black, though streaked with a few strands of white. His complexion was clear, but there was something in his personality—something that compelled the person in front of him to act with respect.
"My name is Jaan. And how many times do I have to say that I don't want to talk?"
Now that the man was standing in front of him, Jaan turned his face the other way as he spoke. His tone was laced with hatred, and his eyes were cold and emotionless.
"Just listen to me once… please," the man said softly, placing a hand on Jaan's shoulder.
"I have an important meeting to attend. I don't have time for meaningless conversations," Jaan snapped, shrugging off the hand on his shoulder with cruelty, and walked toward the car, where the guard was already standing alert, holding the door open for him.
As soon as Jaan got into the car, the guard closed the door and took his place in the driver's seat, driving them away.
The man could only watch him leave—silently, helplessly.
Fulfilling the promise he had made now seemed almost impossible.
Jaan wasn't ready to listen to anything. The whole reason he had returned to London… was for him.
With tired steps, he returned home.
He wasn't hopeless—but Jaan's hatred hurt him deeply.
"What happened?"
Just then, a young man with a scarred face placed a hand on his shoulder and asked.
"Nothing…" he sighed and looked at him.
"I'll say it again—you can still do it while staying here…" he quickly changed the topic.
His words made it clear to the young man that something had indeed happened, but he didn't press further.
"I just want to spend some time with myself for a while…"
Hearing this, the man nodded in agreement. He understood why he said that.
"Is your flight at night?" he asked after glancing at the packed bag nearby.
"Yes," the young man replied, turning to look at the bag too. There was restlessness in his demeanor—like he wanted to say something.
"Do you want to say something?" the man asked gently.
"How do you always know?" the boy replied softly, keeping his gaze down.
"I just do… now tell me, what is it?"
He stayed silent for a couple of minutes, then raised his head and looked at him. His eyes were turning red.
"If possible… please take care of her…"
His voice was soft, touched with emotion.
The man didn't make any promises—he just placed a hand on his shoulder and pulled him into an embrace. And just like before, the boy broke down in his arms, crying uncontrollably.
_______________________
John stepped into the hotel, finding the agent from the other company already waiting.
The man stood up upon seeing him and extended a hand with a polite smile.
"Sir, I'm Saad, representing AH Company."
John gave a slight nod in acknowledgment, adjusted his coat, and sat down calmly.
A waiter quickly approached them.
"Black coffee," John ordered smoothly, then turned his attention toward the agent—signaling that the meeting could begin.
The waiter left, and during the conversation, the coffee arrived. John took occasional sips, listening intently to Saad's points.
"Okay, Saad, if I ever consider such a proposal, I'll contact you directly. Next time, I'd like to meet your CEO in person."
With those words, John concluded the meeting, shook Saad's hand again, and exited the hotel.
"What a personality..." Saad muttered under his breath as he watched him walk away, slightly in awe.
Outside, John took the car keys from the driver.
"Take a taxi back," he said, then got into the driver's seat himself.
He hit the road, his mind not on work anymore. A long drive felt like the right idea today.
Pulling out a cigarette, he balanced the steering wheel with one hand, retrieving a lighter from his pocket with the other. He lit the cigarette and took slow drags, eyes fixed ahead yet lost in deep thought.
What went on in his mind was a mystery—his face rarely betrayed emotion.
At the same time, across the city, the girls arrived at Waterloo Bridge.
The sun was setting. The water beneath the bridge glistened and murmured with every wave. The fading golden-orange light spread across the sky like spilled paint, and a soft breeze gently brushed past them.
It was one of those moments that stole your breath, the kind that made time stop.
The three girls stood quietly, soaking in the view, fully content with their decision to come here.
"Wow… Is that John?" Emma's trance broke when she heard the voice of the girls standing nearby.
She followed their gaze—and froze.
There he was—John—leaning casually against a deep blue McLaren Coupe.
His arms were crossed over his chest, dressed in a white shirt and blue trousers that accentuated his broad, toned frame. The golden sunlight danced over his sharp features, and his piercing blue eyes sparkled under the glow.
He looked like a sculpture carved out of elegance and arrogance.
"Let's go talk to him," one of the girls said.
Emma immediately snapped out of it and pulled her gaze away, silently cursing herself. Why did I stare at him like that? she scolded inwardly.
She hadn't forgotten his morning stunt or that ridiculous condition.
---
Meanwhile, John was watching the sunset, but his mind was miles away—caught in a memory.
(Flashback)
He had just gotten ready to leave for university when his phone rang. Placing his bag back on the bed, he checked the screen. It was an unknown number.
Still, he answered it. And the voice that came from the other end…
He would recognize it among millions.
He froze.
His blue eyes filled with disbelief.
"…Mom?" he whispered under his breath, stunned.