The Price Of Revenge

Twenty Three

"What?" Sarah asked, visibly shocked.

"He told me before he left. I didn't know what to say, so I just went back to my room and left him standing there. The next thing I knew, he had driven out."

Her eyes filled with tears.

"So you're hurt because you found out about this?"

"No. I'm just shocked. But I get it. It's in the past, and if Bashir could forgive him and move on, who the hell am I to judge him?"

"Then why are you feeling sentimental?" Sarah asked, placing her phone beside her.

"He told me something huge about his life, something that is part of my life now too, and here I am hiding things in my closet and planning a revenge scheme. For God's sake, I was one of the people who helped cover the whole thing up."

"Oh my God. Are you serious?"

"Yeah. We covered everything up because we didn't want anyone looking too closely at us."

"Okay, then why don't you talk to him when he gets back?"

"You're right. I will."

She wiped the tears from her face.

⸻

Salis sat in his office, shaking his leg impatiently as he waited for his guest.

The door suddenly opened, and Kauthar walked in.

"Kauthar, what are you doing here?"

"Look, I don't have time for this nonsense. Tell me, is it true that Fuad is Fuad's son?"

Salis stared at her.

"Did you hear what you just said? That doesn't even make sense."

"You know what I mean. And don't tell me you didn't know about it."

"Frankly, I did. But it's his secret. If he didn't want anyone to know, then my job was to keep it that way. Besides, he's my brother. I do what he tells me."

"But why?"

"I can't explain everything to you. I'm not Fuad, and it's not your business. All you do is pry into people's lives for entertainment. We released the tape with you, and that's it. Nothing else. So please stop acting like you're part of it."

"Salis?" Rumaisa called from behind him.

"You did what?" Kauthar turned toward him, tears already filling her eyes. "Salis? You were the one?"

He looked at her in disbelief.

"Rumaisa, what the hell are you doing here?"

"I told you I was coming," she said, still trying to process what she had just heard.

"I can't take this."

Kauthar walked out crying.

Rumaisa turned back to Salis.