Episode 1

My name is Samir Harmud, I am 29 years old and I am the second eldest son of Sheikh Yousef Harmud.

Despite being the son of a Sheikh, a wealthy and influential leader, I founded my own company and today I am an important businessman in the jewelry and luxury accessory industry.

However, my freedom, which I gained by building my own fortune, is threatened when my father decides to fulfill an agreement made when I was still a child and forces me to marry a young Arab girl who lives in Brazil....

《••••》

Sitting in my office, I stare at my father, Yousef Harmud, and struggle to believe what I just heard.

"No, father! " I say, slamming my hands on the solid wooden table. " I never knew about this agreement, so why now?!"

"My son, Omar and I made this agreement many years ago, and I honestly didn't even remember, but now he is facing financial difficulties and the amount that will be paid for the bride will be used to save them from debt and impending bankruptcy."

"What does that have to do with me?! If they want to sell the girl, they can find another buyer! " I pace around my office like a caged animal. " Father, why me? Why not Kafar?"

"Because the agreement was to marry his daughter to my eldest son, and Amin is already married, so it will be you, the second eldest, who will marry the young Najla. " My father takes a deep breath. " Samir, you are already at the age to marry, a 29-year-old man, without a family and children?! What will become of your descendants? " He opens his arms and gestures around. " So much wealth and power, but what good is it if you don't have a zawja (wife) and aftal (children)?"

"Father... " I sit back down in my chair, closing my eyes tightly. " I don't need a zawja. I am still young..."

"At your age, your mother and I already had you and Amin! " He says sternly. " You need a family, and you will get married! I don't want these foreign women chasing after you all the time. We have traditions, Samir, and you will follow them."

I smile humorlessly, which angers him.

"You talk about customs, traditions, and attire, but from what I understood, this girl was raised in Brazil, far from our culture, customs, and traditions. What do you think would happen if she were caught without wearing a hijab, for example? Does she even know she needs to wear it? Would she submit to our rules? Or would she parade around with her skin exposed, her legs and other parts of her body?"

"That's enough, Samir! " He slams the table, and I meet his gaze, my jaw clenched. " I gave my word to Omar, and my word is like the water of a river, it doesn't back down, and if I say you will get married, you will! " He takes some papers from his folder and throws them on the table. " Read and sign this agreement, I will come to pick them up before sunset today. The wedding will take place here and it will happen in a week!"

After saying these words, which hit me like sharp thorns, he leaves, slamming the door of the office, and I tilt my head back, releasing a forceful breath.

I can't get married... how am I going to tell Silvia that we can't commit to each other?!

Silvia Nashville is an American model I met at an event when she walked the runway with pieces from one of my jewelry collections.

We went out for drinks, and we ended up getting involved. I know it's wrong and goes against my customs, but I ended up taking her with me for the rest of the trip through some European countries.

I like her and she shows that she loves me, and I promised her that I would find a way to make our commitment valid. But now, with this bomb that my father dropped on my lap, how am I going to do that?

"Ahhh! " I scream in frustration.

Think, Samir... Think...

I have to find a way to get out of this arranged marriage, but how?!

My older brother is already married, so he's out of the question. And to make things worse, Silvia will come to meet me exactly in a week, when the wedding will take place.

My only alternative would be to leave my family and live far away, but that's out of the question! I can't abandon my people, my home, and my roots.

I look at the city from the height of my office...

I need to find a solution to this problem, but what?!

My phone rings and as soon as I take the device out of my pocket, I see Silvia's name appear on the screen.

I take a deep breath and end the call. I can't answer her right now, I need to find a solution to all of this... wait, maybe there is a way! I smile, excited by my idea!

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