Episode 5

The oldest man, who accompanies them, prevents the young woman from accepting my help to get up and treats her rudely, which makes me very angry.

I condemn this type of aggressive behavior towards women.

Even the older woman intervenes, and I remind her that, as the elder, she should help the younger one instead of accusing her of being clumsy.

I shake my head, discontented with the scene, but the young woman looks at me for a few moments, and I feel trapped, attracted, as if those calm sea eyes were an invitation to dive into the unknown.

The father practically drags the daughter away, who walks with difficulty because of her injured foot, and to my total surprise, he puts her in the car that belongs to my family.

"Najla, my beautiful daughter, thank the young man for helping your sister," the older woman says, and I can hear the malice in her voice.

"Thank you, sir," the girl looks at me and smiles seductively, not caring to show her face.

I narrow my eyes and sigh... is this the valuable bride that my father managed to find for me?! A girl who acts seductively towards a stranger?! Oh, heaven!

I decide to ignore both the mother and daughter, and just walk away from there, before embarrassing them by revealing who I am and, as the future husband, condemning my future wife's improper behavior.

I enter the airport and the image of the sea eyes of that young woman comes to mind, like a gentle wave, and it makes me smile without me realizing it.

"Oh, darling!" It is impossible not to recognize Silvia's voice, and her effervescent manner.

"Silvia!" I hold her hands, but she ignores it and hugs me tightly. "Darling, we are in public, this is not Europe, remember?"

"Oh, yes, yes!" she gestures. "I missed you so much, my love."

"Silvia, I came to pick you up and take you to the hotel, we need to talk."

She looks at me attentively.

"Samir, why are you wearing a mask? And why are you being so formal with me, love?"

I sigh and grab her suitcase.

"Let's go to the hotel, we can talk better there, all right?!" She doesn't seem to like it very much, but she agrees and we leave the airport together.

On the way to the hotel, I receive a message from Kafar, letting me know that my future wife is already on her way to our house, so I have little time to resolve my situation and present myself for the ceremony.

I arrive at the hotel, enter the garage, and park the car. I help Silvia with the check-in and we go up to the suite that I have reserved for her.

As soon as we enter the suite, she immediately wraps her arms around my neck and tries to kiss me, but I have to avoid it and this makes her stare at me, confused.

"Samir, what's wrong? Didn't you miss me?"

"I did, of course I did." I take a deep breath. "Silvia, I asked you to come because I needed to talk to you in person."

"What's wrong? You're scaring me like this." She looks at me, apprehensive.

"There's no easy way to say this..." I look at her. "I cannot fulfill our commitment because in a few hours, I will be getting married."

She looks at me, and I don't see any reaction from her for a few moments, until she starts laughing, which completely confuses me.

"Oh... Samir! You... you almost... convinced me..." she laughs. "I almost... believed... my love..."

"Silvia, listen to me! It's not a joke, I really am getting married in a few hours and I can't do anything to stop it." I speak seriously.

She stops laughing and now her expressions are of disbelief.

"How can you say that, Samir? What kind of joke is this?! Huh?! You allowed me to come here just to dump me?! To dismiss me like something you used and don't want anymore? Something disposable?!" I see anger in her eyes.

"You are not disposable and I didn't use you. But here we have traditions and..."

"Traditions?! How ridiculous!" She gets irritated. "You are a powerful, rich, and influential man, you don't need to submit to these idiotic and absurd traditions of an archaic people!"

"Silvia, I understand that you're hurt, but it's my culture, my country, and I must honor my family and the traditions."

"Damn your family!" she throws a vase against the wall, beside herself. "I waited for you! I made myself available to you! I was willing to wait, and now? Now you choose someone else?! And you have the audacity to tell me to my face? Ah, Samir Harmud, you are not the man I envisioned, you are weak!" she shouts.

I stare at her, trying to control myself as I know she is angry and has reasons to be.

"Silvia, I understand your outburst, but moderate your words," I say, in a warning tone.

"Or what? Tell me, Samir!"

"You're too worked up, we can't have a conversation like this," I shake my head, looking at the shards of the vase on the floor. "I need to go now."

"You need to go?" she looks at me, tears in her eyes. "Samir... you said we would be together. I spent the past months waiting for you, dreaming of our future..."

"Silvia, I never made a commitment between us, precisely because I knew it would be difficult, and I said I would only do that when I found a solution, but I haven't found one," I take a deep breath.

"An adult, independent man who can't take control of his own life?! What kind of man are you, Samir?"

I stare at her, serious.

"The kind who respects family, traditions, and customs in which I was raised. And if you can't understand that, I believe it's better to put an end to something that, truthfully, never really started."

She looks at me, her anger and disappointment evident.

"It never started?! What about all the nights of love we had? What about all the promises we made? Samir... I love you," she says, approaching me and kissing me.

I can't deny it, she affects me, and it's no wonder I envisioned building a life together with her. But I can't go against what has been imposed on me and shame my family.

So, I hold onto her arms and push her away, saddened to see her cry, so fragile.

"I truly am sorry, Silvia," I close my eyes and open them slowly. "I will try to break free from this arrangement, but it will take at least 6 months." She looks at me, hopeful. "But I don't want to hold you back with false hopes, so believe me, even with a profound pain in my heart, this is goodbye!"

"No, Samir! Please... I can wait... think of us... I can be your second wife, you once said that..."

"No, Silvia!" I say firmly. "I can't subject you to that!" I run my hands through my hair, and my phone rings, but I already imagine it's my father. "I really need to go."

"I won't give up on you so easily, Samir," she looks at me, wiping her tears. "I waited for so long to lose you in such an absurd way! Choose me... please, choose us," she pleads.

"I can't... I'm sorry."

I leave the room, without looking back, and hear something shatter against the door, causing me to close my eyes and let out a long, heavy sigh.

"I can't, Silvia... my fate has already been determined!"

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