Zainab woke up to a scent that didn't belong to her.
It was too strong. Too expensive.
Perfume.
Her eyes fluttered open and her breath caught.
Safiya was standing in the room.
Watching her.
Zainab's body tensed instantly as she pushed herself upright on the bed.
"Good morning," she said, her voice softer than she intended.
Safiya smiled.
But it wasn't warmth that reached her eyes.
It was something colder. Something calculated.
"Did you sleep well?" Safiya asked, her tone almost gentle.
Zainab nodded.
"Yes… I did."
Safiya didn't respond immediately. Instead, she began to walk slowly around the room, her fingers grazing surfaces as if inspecting every corner like she owned not just the space, but everything in it.
Then she stopped.
Turned.
And faced Zainab fully.
"Tell me the truth."
Zainab's brows drew together.
"What truth?"
Safiya took a step closer.
"How did you find that bag?"
Zainab's throat tightened, but she forced herself to stay calm.
"I already explained to Ibrahim," she said carefully. "I saw it beside a parked car."
Silence.
Safiya didn't blink.
Didn't move.
She just stared.
"Are you lying?" she asked softly.
Zainab shook her head immediately.
"No."
A quiet laugh slipped from Safiya's lips.
Soft… but unsettling.
"You poor girls," she murmured. "You think innocence makes you untouchable."
Zainab's heartbeat quickened.
Safiya's expression changed instantly.
The softness vanished.
"If anything happens to Ibrahim's mother because of this…" she said, her voice now sharp as glass, "you will pay for it."
Zainab's eyes widened in shock.
"What? Why would you even say that?"
Safiya leaned in, close enough for Zainab to feel her breath.
"Because Ibrahim is emotional," she whispered. "Too soft."
A pause.
Her lips curved slightly.
"But me… I'm not."
A chill ran down Zainab's spine.
Safiya straightened, smoothing her dress like nothing had happened.
Then she smiled again.
Perfect. Beautiful.
Deadly.
"You know," she added casually, "Ibrahim is the type of man who mistakes pity for love."
Zainab's fingers clenched against the bedsheet.
"I don't understand what you mean."
Safiya's gaze darkened.
"You will."
And just like that, she turned and walked out.
Zainab didn't move.
Couldn't.
Her heart was racing too fast, her thoughts tangled.
Something was wrong.
Deeply wrong.
Safiya wasn't just jealous.
No…
There was something else.
Something hidden.
Something dangerous.
And she was right.
Safiya walked calmly down the hallway, her heels clicking softly against the floor.
She stopped in front of a door.
Opened it.
Stepped inside.
And locked it behind her.
The smile on her face disappeared instantly.
She pulled out her phone and dialed a number.
It connected after one ring.
"Hello."
Safiya's voice turned cold.
"She found the bag."
There was a pause.
Then
"What? How?"
Safiya's eyes darkened.
"She's with Ibrahim now. Under his protection."
A curse came from the other end.
"That girl will ruin everything."
Safiya's lips curved slowly.
A dangerous curve.
"Don't worry," she said. "I'll handle her."
Silence.
Then the man spoke again.
"What about Madam Rabi?"
This time, there was no hesitation.
No emotion.
Only cruelty.
"She must not return alive."
The line went dead.
Safiya lowered the phone slowly.
And then…
She smiled.
Not the soft smile she showed the world.
Not the charming one Ibrahim trusted.
But something far more terrifying.
A smile that promised destruction.