Episode 2 — The Man Everyone Feared
Hoor Pari was still standing near the window.
Her eyes followed the mysterious man as he entered the house.
The moment he stepped inside, everyone became unusually quiet.
Even the servants lowered their heads.
Hoor Pari noticed everything.
She turned toward Meera.
"Why did everyone suddenly become so quiet?"
Meera didn't answer.
"Meera?"
"Stay here."
"That's not an answer."
Meera looked annoyed.
"Hoor Pari, for once, do what you're told."
Hoor Pari raised an eyebrow.
"For once? I just arrived today. Give me some time before you start getting tired of me."
Meera glared at her and walked out.
Hoor Pari watched her leave.
"Definitely hiding something."
She was about to close the curtain when she heard footsteps approaching her room.
She turned around.
The door opened.
The same man from downstairs stood there.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
He was tall, calm, and expressionless.
His eyes settled on Hoor Pari.
"You must be Hoor Pari."
She folded her arms.
"And you must be the person everyone is afraid of."
His expression didn't change.
"You're not afraid of me?"
"Should I be?"
He stared at her for a few seconds.
Most people couldn't even look directly into his eyes.
But Hoor Pari didn't look away.
"What's your name?" she asked.
"Ji Han."
"Just Ji Han?"
"That's enough."
Hoor Pari nodded.
"Okay, Ji Han."
He looked at her curiously.
"You speak very freely."
"I was born like this."
For the first time, something almost like amusement appeared in his eyes.
"You've only been here for a few hours."
"And?"
"You already have questions."
"I have a lot more than questions."
Ji Han stepped closer.
"What do you want to know?"
Hoor Pari looked directly at him.
"Why was I brought here?"
Silence.
Ji Han's expression became serious again.
"Ask your father."
"I did."
"And?"
"He didn't tell me."
Ji Han said nothing.
Hoor Pari narrowed her eyes.
"So you know."
He remained silent.
She took a step toward him.
"You do know, don't you?"
"Some things are better left unknown."
Hoor Pari gave a short laugh.
"That's what people say when they don't want to tell the truth."
Ji Han looked at her for a moment.
Then he turned toward the door.
"Stay away from things you don't understand."
Hoor Pari called after him.
"Then explain them to me."
He stopped.
But he didn't turn around.
"You're not in Pakistan anymore, Hoor Pari."
She smiled faintly.
"And I'm still not afraid."
Ji Han finally looked back at her.
Their eyes met.
For the first time that night, his expression changed slightly.
Perhaps he had expected fear.
Instead, he had found a challenge.
He walked away without another word.
Hoor Pari watched him disappear down the hallway.
"What a strange man."
She closed the door.
But she didn't know that Ji Han had already realized something important.
This girl was going to be trouble.
---
The next morning, Hoor Pari came downstairs.
The dining room was unusually quiet.
Meera was sitting at the table.
Another older Korean man was sitting beside her.
Hoor Pari took a seat.
The man looked at her coldly.
"So you're Hoor Pari."
She nodded.
"Yes."
"You should remember that you are a guest in this house."
Hoor Pari calmly picked up her glass.
"Guest?"
She looked around.
"Interesting. Guests usually get invited."
Meera's face darkened.
The older man slammed his hand lightly on the table.
"You need to learn respect."
Hoor Pari looked at him.
"I respect people who respect me."
The room went silent.
Meera whispered her name angrily.
"Hoor Pari!"
Hoor Pari simply continued eating.
Then suddenly, footsteps echoed through the hallway.
Everyone became silent again.
Ji Han entered the dining room.
His eyes moved across everyone before stopping on Hoor Pari.
She looked at him and raised an eyebrow.
He pulled out a chair and sat down.
The older man immediately lowered his voice.
"Ji Han, we need to discuss something important."
Ji Han didn't answer.
His eyes remained on Hoor Pari for a moment.
Then he calmly said:
"First, let her finish breakfast."
Hoor Pari looked surprised.
Meera looked even more surprised.
Ji Han picked up his coffee.
Hoor Pari smiled slightly.
Maybe this strange man wasn't as bad as she had thought.
But then Ji Han looked toward the older man and said quietly:
"After that, we have another matter to discuss."
His voice suddenly became cold.
"And this time, no one will interfere."
Hoor Pari's smile disappeared.
Something told her that the peaceful morning was about to end.
And she was standing much closer to the secret of this family than she realized.
To Be Continued…
