Forgetting Sparks

Chapter 21

Layla didn't sleep that night. Every time she closed her eyes, Nadia's smug expression haunted her, taunting her with promises of chaos. She sat on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, staring out at the city as the hours dragged on. Omar was in the bedroom, speaking quietly on the phone with his lawyer, his voice tense but determined.

By morning, the exhaustion was clear on both of their faces, but neither wavered. They had a meeting with Hassan in an hour, and the weight of whatever Nadia had planned pressed heavily on them.

At Hassan's office, the mood was grim. Hassan leaned forward, his hands clasped on the desk. "Nadia's accusing you of embezzlement, Omar. She's claiming you siphoned money from your old company, and she has forged documents to back it up."

Layla gasped. "That's insane. She's just making things up now!"

Omar's jaw tightened, his expression unreadable. "Of course she is. But the problem is, forged or not, she's putting me in a position where I have to prove my innocence all over again."

Hassan nodded. "Exactly. The good news is, we already have evidence of her previous bribes and manipulations. The bad news? If this accusation gets traction, it could overshadow everything else."

Layla felt her heart pounding. "What can we do?"

"We'll need to act fast," Hassan replied. "First, we'll file an injunction to stop her from spreading these accusations publicly. Then, we'll present the evidence of her criminal activities to a higher court. This could force her hand and weaken her position."

Omar leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing. "Do it. Whatever it takes."

As they left the office, Omar pulled Layla into a quiet corner. His face was tense, but his touch was gentle as he cupped her cheek.

"Layla, listen to me," he said softly. "Things are going to get worse before they get better. Nadia's desperate now, and she's going to try everything to tear us apart. I need you to trust me, no matter what happens."

She searched his eyes, finding both determination and vulnerability there. "I do trust you, Omar. I always have."

He pressed his forehead against hers, their breath mingling. "Good. Because you're the only thing keeping me sane right now."

Back at Omar's apartment, they tried to regroup. Mariam came over, bringing snacks and her usual fiery attitude.

"This woman is a psycho," Mariam declared, pacing the living room. "I mean, who goes to these lengths? She's like a Bond villain."

Layla managed a weak smile. "She's certainly determined."

"Determined to ruin everything," Mariam snapped. "But she won't win. Not with you two fighting together."

Omar smirked. "Glad to know you're on our side, Mariam."

She rolled her eyes. "Don't get used to it, bad boy. I'm here for Layla."

Omar chuckled, the sound warm and reassuring despite the tension in the air. "Fair enough."

That evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Omar received another call—this time from Rami.

"You're going to want to see this," Rami said, his voice urgent. "I found something big."

They met Rami at his apartment, where he pulled up files on his computer.

"This," Rami said, pointing to the screen, "is Nadia's Achilles' heel."

Layla and Omar leaned in, their eyes scanning the documents. It was a detailed record of illegal transactions tied to Nadia's name—payments to people who had fabricated evidence against Omar, including the fake embezzlement claim.

Layla's eyes widened. "This... this proves everything. She's the one who's guilty, not Omar."

Omar's lips curved into a slow, dangerous smile. "She's done. This is what we've been waiting for."

Rami nodded. "Send this to your lawyer immediately. With this, she won't just lose the case—she'll face criminal charges herself."

The next day, Hassan filed the new evidence in court. The media quickly picked up on the story, and the narrative began to shift. For the first time, public opinion wasn't against Omar.

As they watched the news that evening, Layla felt a spark of hope reignite. But Omar was still cautious.

"This isn't over yet," he said, his arm draped around her shoulders. "Nadia's desperate, and desperate people are dangerous."

Layla rested her head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. "Whatever happens, we'll face it together."

Omar kissed the top of her head, his voice soft but resolute. "Always."

But as they were finally beginning to feel the tide turn, a knock at the door shattered their brief moment of peace.

Omar opened it to find a courier holding an envelope. He signed for it and opened it cautiously, his expression darkening as he read its contents.

"What is it?" Layla asked, her voice laced with worry.

He handed her the letter. It was from Nadia, written in her elegant yet venomous handwriting:

You think you've won, Omar? Think again. You'll never be free of me.

Layla's hands shook as she looked up at Omar. His eyes were fierce, unyielding.

"She's playing her last card," he said. "And we're going to end this once and for all."

The battle wasn't over yet, but this time, they were ready. Together, they would face whatever Nadia had planned, knowing that their love was stronger than her hatred.