LOVE WITHOUT DESTINY

part 32

Amal's footsteps faltered the moment her eyes caught sight of him-Sam.
Time seemed to freeze. Her breath hitched in her throat. For a second, she wondered if she was hallucinating.
Eyes widening in disbelief, she whispered under her breath, her voice trembling with confusion,
"Sam...?"

Before her words could fully escape, Sam stepped forward swiftly and placed a finger on her lips, his touch trembling, desperate.
"Shhh..." he whispered, his voice almost breaking.

Tears brimmed in Amal's eyes. She looked into his-bloodshot, furious, and terrified all at once. A storm raged in them-of betrayal, pain, and something dangerously broken. Her heart hammered violently inside her chest, screaming at her to run... and yet she stood frozen.

Without waiting for another heartbeat, Sam gripped her hand firmly, pulling her along with him.
Amal gasped, struggling, fear rising like a tidal wave.
"Sam! Let go of my hand! Where are you taking me?"

"Please, Amal," he said, urgency dripping from every word. "Don't speak. Just come with me. Please."

He didn't give her a choice. He dragged her across the empty hallway, weaving through deserted corridors, until he finally pushed open a door leading into an isolated corner of the building-dark, quiet, forgotten.

He turned to face her, still clutching her hand with both of his.
Amal pulled back sharply, her breath coming in shallow gasps.
"Sam, what are you doing here?" she stammered, her eyes darting around nervously. "If someone sees you-"

"I don't care!" Sam burst out, his voice raw with agony. "I don't care about anyone, Amal. I only care about what you think. About us."

He stepped closer, desperation pouring out of him.
"Tell me," he said, his voice cracking, "do you trust me? Amal, do you believe I didn't do this?"

His pleading eyes bored into hers, searching, begging. Amal's vision blurred with tears. Her throat closed, the words dying inside her.

Sam cupped her face with trembling hands, forcing her to meet his gaze.
"Look at me, Amal. Please," he whispered. "I don't care what the world says. But if you think I'm guilty... that will kill me."

Slowly, he lifted her fragile hand and placed it firmly against his chest, over his wildly beating heart.
"Can you feel it?" he whispered brokenly. "This beats only for you. Only you."

Tears streamed down Amal's cheeks. Her lips trembled, but somehow, somehow, she managed to whisper,
"I... I trust you, Sam. I know you can't do this."

For a moment, the world stood still.

Relief-pure, overwhelming relief-flooded Sam's face. His eyes closed for a brief second as if savoring the only moment of peace he had known in days.
When he opened them, a broken smile danced on his lips. He bent down and kissed her hand, gently, reverently, like he was touching something sacred.

Neither of them noticed the silent figure approaching from behind.

Noah.

She froze mid-step, her eyes narrowing dangerously as she spotted Sam pulling Amal into a tight, desperate embrace.
Her hands clenched into fists.
A cruel smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she whipped out her phone.
Click.
Click.
Click.

Each flashless picture captured a betrayal Noah had been waiting for.
She stared at the screen for a moment, satisfaction glittering in her cold eyes, then slowly turned and disappeared back into the shadows, her heart pounding with vicious excitement.

Back in the deserted hallway, Amal suddenly came back to her senses. She gasped and pushed Sam away with trembling hands.
"Sam... please! Don't do this! Stay away from me!" she sobbed.