Bound by Fate, Freed by Love

Chapter 19 A Silent Departure

The atmosphere in the Saad mansion had shifted since the previous day.

Mira's mind replayed the events of the day before, particularly the kiss that had left her feeling more shattered than ever. Samar, as always, was calm and composed, moving through the motions without missing a beat.

At breakfast, Samar made the announcement, his tone casual yet final. "We'll be heading back to Ireland next week," he said. The room fell into silence as the news settled.

Alyssa smiled brightly, her eyes filled with pride for her sister. "That's wonderful! A fresh start," she said, her voice filled with excitement for the couple.

Mr. and Mrs. Saad shared the same sentiments. They congratulated Samar and Mira, wishing them well for their life abroad. Even Shayan parents expressed their happiness for their daughter, proud to see her step into her new life. But amidst all the warm words and smiles, there was one person who remained notably silent—Fidel.

Since the kiss, Mira had withdrawn into herself. She barely spoke, keeping her distance from Samar whenever possible. Her words had been minimal, her expressions blank. The once lively, hopeful spark she carried had dimmed, replaced by a growing sadness that weighed her down.

Samar, noticing the change in her behaviour, grew concerned. Though he maintained his usual demeanour, a subtle frown appeared whenever he glanced in her direction. He couldn't quite understand what had happened—what had shifted between them since the kiss. Was she upset about something? But every time he asked, Mira simply shrugged it off, hiding behind her silence.

Mira couldn't bring herself to speak to him about it, though. What was the point? He wouldn't understand. He was too focused on protecting Fidel, too caught up in his own plans to see how deeply it had hurt her.

The days passed in a blur. With each passing day, Mira's silence became more profound, her distance from Samar more noticeable. She avoided being alone with him whenever possible, and when they were together, the space between them felt insurmountable. Samar grew increasingly frustrated by her coldness but still had no idea that the kiss was at the root of it all.

Finally, the day arrived for Samar and Mira to leave for Ireland. The air was heavy with unspoken words as they packed their things, preparing for their departure. Alyssa helped Mira with the final preparations, trying to lighten the mood with her usual excitement, but even she could sense something was wrong.

As they stood by the door, saying their goodbyes, Samar kept glancing at Mira, as if expecting her to say something, to act differently. But Mira remained distant, her eyes avoiding his. She thanked everyone politely but with none of the warmth or joy that might have been expected on such a day.

Fidel, standing off to the side, watched them with a heavy heart. His gaze lingered on Mira for a moment, as if willing her to turn back, to say something. But she didn't.

Finally, with their bags packed and their farewells said, Samar and Mira stepped out of the Saad mansion, heading toward their new life in Ireland. 

The airport was bustling with activity as Samar and Mira waited for their flight to Ireland. After all the check-in formalities were complete, they sat side by side in a quiet corner of the departure lounge. The silence between them was palpable

Samar, sensing her distant thoughts, finally broke the silence. His voice was calm but deliberate. "Amara," he began, turning toward her. "Do you remember when I told you that I had something important to say, but I would wait for the right time?"

Mira blinked, caught off guard by the sudden question. She thought back to the night at the Shayan mansion when he had mentioned something about revealing a truth when the moment was right. At the time, she hadn't given it much thought, distracted by the overwhelming circumstances of their marriage and the tension between them. But now, sitting in the airport with the reality of their imminent move to Ireland weighing on her, her curiosity piqued.