As Alina gradually came to terms with her new reality, she decided to take control of her life. The idea of launching her own business took root. Her old dreams of becoming an entrepreneur, which she had shelved while building a life with Aariz, now began to emerge with renewed vigor.
For the first time in months, Alina felt a sense of purpose. Zain was her constant support, encouraging her to chase her ambition and giving her the practical guidance she needed. He helped her navigate the overwhelming world of business—networking, sourcing funds, and setting up her strategy—but he never overstepped. Alina's determination to make this venture hers was evident.
However, starting from scratch was no easy task. Alina struggled to secure funding initially. Many investors were skeptical of her, thinking she lacked experience or the resilience to handle the pressures of business after her divorce. They viewed her as a shattered woman, not the force of nature she was becoming.
But those doubts only fueled Alina's fire. She used every rejection as motivation, working long hours into the night, refining her ideas, and expanding her network. Slowly, things began to shift. Her tenacity caught the attention of some key players, and soon, she landed her first major investment.
It was a small victory, but it felt monumental to her. She stood in her new, modest office one evening, looking at the space that symbolized her new life. Her heart swelled with pride. She had come a long way from the broken woman who could barely get out of bed.
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Meanwhile, Aariz's life with Layla continued, but the cracks in their relationship were becoming more visible. Layla's control over Aariz was subtle but unrelenting. She made sure he remained distant from Alina, feeding his guilt and insecurities. Layla had always been manipulative, using her charm and intelligence to twist situations to her advantage.
Aariz, however, was slowly realizing that his feelings for Alina hadn't disappeared. They had simply been buried under layers of confusion and regret. Every time he saw Alina's name in the news—her business success being lauded—he felt a pang of something he couldn't quite name. It was a mix of pride and regret, knowing that she had found success without him.
But he couldn't reach out to her. Not yet. Layla's presence in his life was a constant reminder of the mistakes he had made. He felt trapped, torn between what he thought he wanted and the love he had lost.
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Back in Alina's world, Zain watched her transformation with a mix of admiration and heartache. His love for her, which had simmered quietly for years, had now grown into something deeper. But he kept those feelings locked away, knowing that Alina wasn't ready for anything beyond friendship. She was focused on her work, on building something meaningful out of the ruins of her marriage.
Zain, however, couldn't ignore the growing connection between them. He was always there for her—at meetings, during business dinners, or late-night brainstorming sessions. The more time they spent together, the stronger his feelings became. But Alina seemed oblivious to his inner turmoil. To her, Zain was a friend, a confidant who had helped her through the toughest time of her life. She had no idea that Zain's heart was constantly battling between helping her and yearning for her.
As the weeks went by, Zain started to realize that his love for Alina was not something he could suppress forever. But he also knew that she wasn't ready, and pushing her would only damage their relationship. So he waited, hoping that one day, she might see him as more than just a friend.
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In the background, Layla wasn't idle. She had her own ambitions, and Aariz was a key part of them. Layla had always been envious of Alina's life—her grace, her intelligence, and the love she shared with Aariz. That envy had fueled Layla's manipulations, leading her to seduce Aariz and drive a wedge between him and Alina.
Now, seeing Alina rise from the ashes of their broken marriage only made Layla more determined to keep Aariz under her control. She couldn't let him go back to Alina, no matter what. So she began planting seeds of doubt in Aariz's mind, reminding him of his mistakes, making sure he felt unworthy of Alina's forgiveness.
But Aariz, though still under Layla's influence, was slowly beginning to see through her manipulations. He started to question her motives and the real reason behind their relationship. Layla sensed the shift, but she wasn't about to let go easily. She had more plans, and Aariz was still an important part of them.
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As Alina's business grew, so did her confidence. She became a known figure in the industry—respected, admired, and even envied. But with success came new challenges. Alina faced fierce competition, and navigating the corporate world as a woman wasn't easy. There were days when the pressure almost broke her, but each time, she reminded herself of how far she had come. Her drive was fueled not just by ambition, but by the desire to prove to herself—and the world—that she didn't need Aariz or anyone else to define her success.
However, in the quiet moments, when the world was asleep and her work was done for the day, Alina still felt the ache of Aariz's absence. She had tried to bury those feelings, focusing on her career and the new life she was building. But the love she had for Aariz was still there, buried deep, and it would resurface when she least expected it.
Alina wasn't ready to confront those feelings yet. For now, she had her work, and that was enough.