𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐦 & 𝐇𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐦

Chapter 10

The rain had begun to fall. The GTR roared through the wet streets, cutting through the downpour. Inside the car, the temperature dropped as they neared home.

Parking inside the garage, Zoya turned off the engine. Erum stepped out, followed by Zoya, and they made their way toward the house.

"Welcome home," Haelin greeted.

Erum hummed in response, heading toward the entrance, already assuming that Yusra Branco would be seated in the hall.

And she was right. Yusra was there.

A 24-year-old woman, dressed in a dark grey kaftan with a light grey hijab, sat on the couch. Composed. Like a leader. Well, she was a leader. Khandan-e-Branco was under her command.

"Yusra," Erum muttered.

Yusra stood up calmly. "Glad that you're back, Erum."

Back from a coma? Or wherever she had been? Either way, she nodded and reached out for a handshake. "Assalam o Alaikum."

Yusra took her hand, returning the greeting. "Wa Alaikum Assalam."

Zoya observed the interaction and greeted her as well.

"Tell me everything," Erum exhaled, taking a seat on the couch.

Yusra sat down as well. Taking a deep breath, she began, "As you know, MDA decided to remove Khandan-e-Branco from the Family Hierarchy. In the last meeting, you spoke against this eradication. I had a bit of hope that they might listen to you-but they didn't. We received no official announcement from MDA. Instead, they began erasing us from the records."

"Zoya told me that. But I need to know the real reason - why did they decide to remove your family in the first place?" Erum pressed. She knew both sides played a role in such actions. Khandan-e-Branco wasn't just a victim. They must have done something that pushed MDA to take this step.

Yusra fell silent for a second - longer than necessary. "I don't know how exactly to explain it."

"Start from the beginning," Erum instructed.

"Alright. A few years ago, when my elder brother was the leader and I was the chief representative, I... made a big mistake."

Erum watched her, confusion flickering in her eyes. "And what was it?"

Yusra hesitated, debating whether to reveal the past or keep it buried.

"If you need our help, you must tell us everything," Zoya, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.

Yusra exhaled and pushed her reluctance aside. "Alright. I'll tell you everything. I tried to access The Archive Hall. It's a section within MDA's department where every record of each family is stored - wars, treaties, past events, present dealings, the names of members, chief representatives, and leaders."

Erum listened carefully, intrigued. "Then? Did you get access?"

Yusra shook her head. "No. I missed something. I didn't know what it was, but I'm sure it's a secret only the leaders are aware of."

"But you are a leader now," Zoya pointed out, a trace of suspicion in her voice, though too faint to be noticed.

Yusra sighed. "I am, I know. But that's the problem. After MDA found out I had attempted to access The Archive Hall illegally, which only leaders are permitted to enter, they imprisoned my brother."

"Your brother? But why?" Erum asked.

"I don't know."

Erum and Zoya exchanged glances. Something about this was off.