As the weeks turned into months, I played my part with unwavering dedication. Each family gathering was a masterclass in deception, my role as the oblivious fiancée executed with precision. They continued their verbal jabs and condescension, and I absorbed it all with the practiced patience of a lioness waiting in the tall grass, her prey blissfully unaware.
I immersed myself deeper into this world, learning the intricacies of their family business, a sprawling empire with ties stretching across continents. Tariq, always eager to share his ambitions, unwittingly revealed more than he realized. His tales of business maneuvers, veiled in arrogance, often masked deeper, darker dealings.
“Habibti, you wouldn’t understand the complexities of what we do,” he’d say patronizingly, dismissing my inquiries with a wave of his hand.
