Forgetting Sparks

Chapter 18

The storm was far from over. The accusations against Omar had snowballed, and the weight of the situation was taking its toll. Layla watched as he poured over documents and emails late into the night, his jaw tight with frustration. She hated seeing him like this—haunted, distracted, and carrying the burden of Nadia's schemes.

But tonight, there was a small breakthrough. Omar's lawyer, Mr. Hassan, had called with news: they'd found discrepancies in the "evidence" Nadia's father provided. It was a small crack in the facade of lies, but it was enough to give them hope.

As they sat together on the couch, Layla leaned into Omar, feeling the exhaustion in his body. "You're one step closer to clearing your name," she said softly, stroking his hand.

He turned to her, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "It's because of you, Layla. You keep me going, even when everything feels impossible."

Her heart ached at the vulnerability in his voice. "You don't have to go through this alone, Omar. I'm here. Always."

For a moment, the world felt quiet as they held each other. But the calm didn't last.

The next day, Layla decided to confront Nadia directly. Omar had always insisted on handling things legally, but Layla was done playing defense. She needed to face Nadia, to look her in the eye and let her know she wasn't afraid.

Mariam, ever the loyal best friend, insisted on coming along. "You're not doing this alone," Mariam said, crossing her arms. "Nadia's a snake, and snakes are unpredictable."

They found Nadia at a high-end café in Zamalek, sipping on an iced latte like she didn't have a care in the world. When Layla walked up to her table, Nadia's smug smile spread across her face.

"Well, well, if it isn't the perfect girlfriend," Nadia said, leaning back in her chair. "Come to beg me for mercy?"

Layla's fists clenched, but she forced herself to stay calm. "This ends now, Nadia. You've done enough damage. It's time to let go."

Nadia laughed, the sound cold and mocking. "Let go? Oh, sweetie, you don't understand. Omar isn't yours to have. He never was."

Mariam stepped forward, her voice sharp. "Are you seriously this delusional? Omar doesn't want you. He never did. You're just clinging to something that's long gone."

Nadia's expression darkened, her eyes narrowing. "You don't know what you're talking about. Omar and I have history. We're connected in ways Layla could never understand."

Layla stepped closer, her voice steady despite the anger bubbling inside her. "History doesn't mean anything when it's built on manipulation and lies. Omar chose me, Nadia. And no amount of threats or schemes will change that."

For a moment, Nadia looked taken aback, but the flash of doubt was quickly replaced by icy determination. She stood, towering over Layla. "You think you've won, but I've barely started. Omar will come back to me. And when he does, you'll regret ever standing in my way."

Layla held her ground, refusing to let Nadia's venomous words shake her. "We'll see about that."

When Layla returned to Omar's apartment later that evening, she felt a mix of relief and apprehension. She hadn't told Omar about confronting Nadia, knowing he'd worry. But she couldn't let Nadia's threats fester in silence anymore.

Omar looked up from his laptop as she walked in, his face lighting up with a tired smile. "Hey, you're back. How was your day?"

Layla hesitated, then sat beside him, taking his hand in hers. "I need to tell you something."

His brow furrowed as he turned to face her. "What's wrong?"

She took a deep breath, her words measured. "I went to see Nadia."

Omar's eyes widened, and his grip on her hand tightened. "Layla... why would you do that? She's dangerous."

"I know," she said quickly. "But I couldn't sit back and do nothing anymore. I needed to let her know she doesn't scare me, that she can't keep controlling us."

Omar sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Layla, I understand why you did it, but you don't have to fight this battle alone. We're in this together."

Her heart swelled at his words, and she leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. "I just wanted her to see that we're not afraid. That we're stronger than she thinks."

He kissed the top of her head, his voice soft but firm. "We are. And we'll get through this. Together."

Later that night, as Layla lay in Omar's arms, she felt a flicker of hope amidst the chaos. They were facing one of the hardest battles of their lives, but their love remained unshaken.

Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that Nadia had one last card to play.

And when Omar's phone buzzed with a message in the early hours of the morning, Layla's fears were confirmed.

The message read: You think this is over? Think again.

Attached was a photo of Omar and Layla outside the lawyer's office, with a single ominous line beneath it:
Tick tock.

The clock was ticking, and the final showdown with Nadia was fast approaching.