Love in the Shadows

Lina’s POV

I wasn’t sure what was more terrifying: the idea of falling for Zara or the possibility of someone noticing the way I couldn’t stop looking at her. Every time we were in the same room, my eyes had a mind of their own. She could be talking to someone else, lost in conversation, and I’d catch myself staring at the curve of her smile or the way she tucked her hair behind her ear.

And then there was the kiss—no, kisses. The first was accidental, but the second was deliberate, and it haunted my thoughts in the best and worst ways.

I’d barely stepped into the dining hall when my sister, Amina, caught me.

“You’re glowing,” she teased, poking my cheek.

“Am not,” I said quickly, batting her hand away.

She smirked. “Sure. And I’m the Queen of England. Spill it, Lina. What’s going on with you?”

“Nothing,” I muttered, grabbing a piece of fruit from the table. “Just busy.”

Before she could press me further, Zara walked in, her presence commanding as always. She glanced at me briefly, her lips twitching into a barely-there smile that sent my heart racing.

Amina noticed. Of course she did.

“Oh. My. God.” She gasped, her eyes darting between Zara and me. “It’s her, isn’t it?”

I choked on my drink. “What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb, Lina,” she said, grinning like a cat who’d caught a mouse. “You like her.”

“Amina!” I hissed, glancing around to make sure no one else could hear.

Her grin widened. “Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me. For now.”

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Zara’s POV

I could feel Lina’s eyes on me as I greeted her family, her gaze burning a hole into my back. It took every ounce of self-control not to smirk. She was trying so hard to act normal, but the way her fingers fidgeted with the edge of her shirt gave her away.

By now, I was used to wearing a mask around everyone else. My parents, our business associates, even Lina’s family—they all saw me as composed and in control. If they knew how tangled up I felt inside every time Lina was near…

“Zara, could you join me in the study for a moment?” Lina’s father, Mr. Qureshi, asked, interrupting my thoughts.

“Of course,” I replied, forcing a polite smile.

As I followed him, I caught a glimpse of Lina in the corner, her brows furrowed as if she were worried about something.

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Lina’s POV

I didn’t like the way my father was dragging Zara into a private conversation. It wasn’t unusual—our families were constantly discussing business—but something about the look on his face made me uneasy.

I lingered near the study, pretending to examine a painting on the wall while straining to hear snippets of their conversation.

“…marriage is a partnership, Zara,” my father was saying. “Not just between you and Lina, but between our families. Are you prepared for that responsibility?”

“I understand what’s at stake,” Zara replied evenly, her tone calm but firm. “And I take it very seriously.”

Their words twisted something inside me. It was a reminder that, no matter what was happening between Zara and me, this marriage was still a business deal at its core.

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Zara’s POV

The conversation with Mr. Darzi was a reminder of the pressure we were under. As much as I wanted to focus on Lina—on whatever it was we were building—I couldn’t forget the stakes.

When I finally left the study, I found her waiting in the hallway.

“What did he want?” she asked, trying to sound casual but failing miserably.

“Just business,” I said, brushing it off. “Nothing to worry about.”

She crossed her arms, clearly not convinced. “Zara, I—”

Before she could finish, a group of relatives walked by, chatting loudly. We both stepped aside, closer to each other, until we were pressed against the wall.

Her shoulder brushed mine, and I felt the now-familiar spark of electricity between us.

“Lina,” I said softly, glancing around to make sure no one was watching. “We should talk.”

“Not here,” she replied quickly, her eyes darting to the group of relatives. “Later.”

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Lina’s POV

That evening, after the chaos of the day had finally died down, Zara and I found ourselves alone in the library.

The silence was heavy, but not uncomfortable. She sat on the couch, flipping through a book, while I pretended to read something from the shelf.

Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore.

“Zara,” I said, breaking the silence.

She looked up, her expression guarded. “Yes?”

“What are we doing?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Her eyes softened, and she closed the book, setting it aside. “I don’t know. But whatever it is, it feels… right.”

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding. “This is complicated.”

“I know,” she said, standing and taking a step closer. “But I don’t care.”

Her hand reached out, brushing against mine. It was such a small gesture, but it felt like everything.

I looked up at her, and before I could stop myself, I said, “What if someone finds out?”

“Then we deal with it,” she said simply. “Together.”

Her confidence was disarming, but it gave me courage.

She leaned closer, her lips hovering near my cheek. It wasn’t a kiss, not exactly, but the warmth of her breath against my skin sent shivers down my spine.

“Lina,” she murmured, her voice impossibly soft.

I turned my head slightly, and our lips met—not by accident this time, but by choice.

The kiss was slow and sweet, filled with all the emotions we couldn’t put into words. When we finally pulled apart, I was breathless, my heart racing.

“Still complicated,” I whispered, a small smile tugging at my lips.

“Very,” she agreed, her own smile breaking through.

But for the first time, the complications didn’t feel so overwhelming. As long as we had each other, I felt like we could handle anything.

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