The Share Of The Flower

Chapter Two: The Battle of Desires

After Abdel Hamid successfully finished high school, he decided to pursue his studies in Europe, following the path of wealthy heirs before him. He had no hesitation in selling his share of his mother’s inheritance to his uncle Farhan, who, in turn, eagerly supported him financially during his studies abroad. Thanks to this sacrifice, Abdel Hamid was able to fulfill his dream of traveling to France to study at one of its most prestigious universities.

At that time, Abdel Hamid was entirely focused on his studies, putting in his utmost effort to succeed. In the mornings, he studied architecture and the French language, while his evenings were spent learning Italian, German, and business management. His goal was clear: academic and professional excellence, and nothing would stand in his way.

However, during his fourth year, something unexpected happened. He was captivated by a girl named Narges Nasr El-Din, a student in the same department but in a lower level. Her stunning beauty captured his heart from the first moment: her soft fair skin, green eyes, and long golden hair. Curious about her, Abdel Hamid began to gather details about her life through her friends. He soon discovered that Narges came from a mixed heritage; her father was Egyptian, and her mother was French. Her father, Gamal Nasr El-Din, was a well-known businessman in Egypt and Europe.

Abdel Hamid began to see Narges as a golden opportunity to multiply his wealth. With his understanding of people’s nature and his skills in winning hearts, he played his game skillfully. He didn’t try to attract her directly but acted as if he wasn’t interested in her, which only drew her closer, making her believe that she was the one pursuing him. And so, Narges fell into the trap Abdel Hamid had set without even realizing it.

It wasn’t long before Narges confessed her love for Abdel Hamid to her father, Gamal, and pleaded with him to marry her off to him, even if it meant buying him with money. Gamal was concerned that Abdel Hamid might be an opportunist, so he ordered a thorough investigation into his background. After a week, the report arrived at Gamal’s office, revealing that Abdel Hamid was a hardworking and self-made young man. Gamal decided to watch him closely to test his integrity before approving the marriage to his daughter.

A few days later, Abdel Hamid entered Gamal’s office, feeling proud and confident. He had taken the first step toward achieving his dream of entering the world of millionaires. But as the conversation began, Abdel Hamid felt nervous, sensing that the outcome of this meeting could decide his fate.

Gamal smiled as he saw Abdel Hamid, standing to greet him, impressed by his appearance and demeanor. He began the conversation with a friendly smile:

"Welcome to my company. It’s a pleasure to meet you."

... "'Abdel Hamid Al-Hani,' tall, broad-shouldered, with wide eyes, thick black hair, slightly dark skin, and a clean-shaven face."

Abdel Hamid eagerly responded:

"The pleasure is mine, Mr. Gamal. I’ve long wished to meet a successful man like yourself..."

Gamal interrupted coldly:

"Sit down, my boy. I don’t like flattery. Every person knows their worth."

... "'Gamal Nasr El-Din,' 46 years old, tall, with very fair skin and a slight blush on his cheeks from his mixed Turkish-Panamanian heritage, stocky, with a broad mustache, blue eyes, and light brown hair, possessing a calm and intelligent demeanor."

Abdel Hamid stammered for a moment but regained his composure and answered with a faint smile:

"You’re one of the rare people who dislike flattery, which makes me respect you even more."

But Gamal was direct and serious, saying:

"And I want you to grow in my eyes too. I need to tell you that I suspect your love for my daughter isn’t genuine but rather a means to reach me and my wealth."

Abdel Hamid’s face turned red with the sudden frankness. He tried to defend himself angrily:

"With all due respect, I didn’t come here to be insulted or for you to think I’m an opportunist. I haven’t exploited your daughter’s feelings to achieve my dreams. I believe you’re the one who requested this meeting, not the other way around..."

Gamal interrupted again, saying:

"Yes, thank you for expressing exactly what I wanted to say. You’ve saved me time."

Abdel Hamid was shocked by his words:

"Does this mean you haven’t told me what you wanted to say yet? What would you have said if I had kept silent while you accused me?"

Abdel Hamid fell silent, then stood up angrily:

"Excuse me, I’ll leave now, and I promise to stay away from your daughter. You won’t see me here again."

Gamal laughed mockingly:

"Of course, because you’re confident that my only daughter has fallen in love with you and won’t be able to stay away from you. You think she’ll pressure me to give her what she wants. But believe me, I can take my daughter and fly her to the farthest continent, showering her with jewelry and handbags, and she’ll forget you within a week."

Abdel Hamid remained silent, and Gamal continued:

"Don’t think that I built myself up and preserved my ancestors’ wealth with a foolish mind, only for a young man to come and think he can take it all so easily. This plan is far too old."

At that moment, Abdel Hamid realized he was facing someone who couldn’t be easily deceived. He stepped back slightly and decided to listen to find out how the meeting would end.

Gamal (calmly): "First, sit down. Let’s have some coffee, and then I’ll tell you why I asked to meet you."

Abdel Hamid sat down quietly, feeling a great weight lifted from him. He understood now that he wouldn’t enter this family through tricks and manipulation because all the cards were laid bare.

Gamal (to himself): "You’re made of good stock. I’ll rely on you in the future."

――――

Abdel Hamid remembered the beginning of his work in the tourist village in Sharm El-Sheikh and how he worked tirelessly. He personally designed every inch of the village, and with his sweat, built every brick of its houses.

Four years after that meeting, Abdel Hamid married Narges in a grand wedding attended by top businessmen from around the world. They soon had twins, Adam and Iris, who became the source of joy and pride for their father.

But as time passed, Narges’s true personality began to reveal itself to Abdel Hamid. She was selfish and didn’t care about raising their children, relying entirely on the foreign nanny. It got to the point where Abdel Hamid had to take care of the children himself whenever the nanny wasn’t available, which increasingly frustrated him. And that wasn’t all; Narges lived a completely separate life, making decisions on her own without consulting him.

As their conflicts grew, matters came to a head when Narges traveled with her parents without his permission. Abdel Hamid felt that his dignity had been insulted. He decided that he would teach her a lesson she would never forget. In one of their phone calls, he swore that when she returned to Egypt, things wouldn’t be the same; she would find herself facing a "co-wife" who would compete with her in everything.

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