The grand dining hall was bathed in the soft, golden glow of chandeliers, their light reflecting off the polished silver and crystal glasses. Noor sat at the head of the table, her presence commanding yet serene, like a queen holding court. Around her, the young CEOs—her protégés—were gathered, their laughter and chatter filling the room. Yet beneath the surface, there was an undercurrent of tension, a sense that this dinner was more than just a meal.
Zil, ever the troublemaker, leaned back in his chair, a mischievous grin on his face. "Mother Noor," he drawled, "you've outdone yourself again. This spread could feed an army. Or, you know, a bunch of overworked CEOs who never have time to eat."
Noor smiled, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "And yet, Zil, you always manage to find time for mischief. Tell me, how many of my rules have you broken this week?"
Zil feigned innocence, placing a hand over his heart. "Me? Break rules? Never. I'm a model citizen, Mother. Ask anyone."
Rodrick, the sharp-witted banker, snorted. "Model citizen? Last I heard, you were trying to bribe a government official. Again."
Zil waved a hand dismissively. "Details, details. It's not bribery if it's called a 'consultation fee.'"
The table erupted in laughter, but Noor's gaze lingered on Zil, her expression softening. "You'll never change, will you?" she said, her voice tinged with affection.
Zil's grin widened. "Where's the fun in that?"
As the meal progressed, the conversation turned to lighter topics—business deals, upcoming projects, and the occasional jab at each other's expense. But the mood shifted when Sanlang entered the room. His presence was magnetic, drawing the attention of everyone, including the actors and pop stars who had been invited as a surprise.
Noor's eyes met his, and for a moment, the room seemed to fade away. Sanlang felt a strange pull, a sense of déjà vu that he couldn't quite place. *Why does she feel so familiar?* he wondered, his heart racing.
Before he could dwell on it, an arrow shot through the air, aimed directly at the table. The room froze, the sound of shattering glass breaking the silence. But Noor, with a grace that defied logic, caught the arrow midair, her fingers closing around it as if it were nothing more than a feather.
The room erupted in gasps and murmurs, but Noor simply smiled. "Zil," she said, her voice calm, "you never learn, do you?"
Zil, who had been hiding behind a pillar, stepped out sheepishly. "Mother Noor, you're undefeated as always," he muttered, his bravado deflated.
The other CEOs glared at him, their disapproval evident. "You've gone too far this time, Zil," Zain, the pharmaceutical CEO, said, his voice low but firm.
Noor, however, simply gestured for Zil to come closer. When he knelt beside her, resting his head on her lap like a repentant child, the room fell silent. "I missed you, Mother," Zil whispered, his voice barely audible. "It's been two years. Why didn't you come to see me?"
Noor's hand gently stroked his hair. "Because I knew you would come back stronger," she replied, her tone soft but filled with meaning.
The moment was interrupted by the sound of a helicopter descending outside. The tension in the room thickened as Zedra, Noor's sharp-tongued counterpart, entered the hall. Her presence was as commanding as Noor's, but where Noor was warmth, Zedra was ice.
"Well, well," Zedra said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "What a touching scene. Mother Noor, always the saint, forgiving her wayward children."
Noor's smile didn't falter. "Zedra," she said, her tone polite but distant. "I was expecting you."
Zedra's eyes flicked to Sanlang, and for a moment, her expression softened. "Sanlang," she said, her voice surprisingly gentle. "I didn't know you'd be here."
Sanlang, caught off guard, managed a polite nod.
The tension between the two women was palpable, but Noor quickly diffused it by suggesting they move to the courtyard for drinks. As the group dispersed, Maya found herself standing next to Zeyla.
"Do you ever feel like we're just pawns in their game?" Maya whispered, her eyes on Noor and Zedra.
Zeyla shrugged. "Maybe. But if I'm a pawn, I'd rather be on Lady Noor's side. At least she cares."
Maya nodded, her thoughts swirling. *What are you hiding, Madam Noor? And why do I feel like the truth will change everything?*
---
The courtyard was bathed in moonlight, the soft glow casting an ethereal light over the gathering. Noor stood at the center, her white dress flowing in the breeze, her presence almost otherworldly. The others gathered around her, their laughter and chatter filling the night air. But as the music began, the atmosphere shifted, becoming charged with an unspoken tension.
Zayn, the CEO of the advertisement company, raised his glass. "To Mother Noor," he said, his voice filled with admiration. "May her wisdom continue to guide us."
The toast was met with cheers, but Zedra couldn't resist a jab. "To Mother Noor," she said, her tone laced with sarcasm. "The woman who can do no wrong."
Noor's smile remained intact, but her eyes narrowed slightly. "Zedra," she said, her voice calm but firm, "if you have something to say, say it."
Zedra's lips curled into a smirk. "Oh, I have plenty to say. But I'll save it for another time. For now, let's enjoy the music."
As if on cue, Noor moved to the grand piano, her fingers gliding over the keys as she began to play Beethoven's *Moonlight Sonata*. The melody was hauntingly beautiful, drawing everyone into its spell. Sanlang felt a shiver run down his spine, the music stirring something deep within him.
*Why does this feel so familiar?* he wondered, his heart aching with a sense of longing he couldn't explain.
Zil, ever the instigator, approached Noor with a grin. "Mother Noor," he said, "why don't you dance? Let us play for you."
Before Noor could respond, Sanlang stepped forward. "Let me have the honor," he said, his voice calm but filled with emotion.
The room fell silent as Sanlang took Noor's hand, his touch gentle but firm. As they began to dance, the world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them, locked in a profound, intimate connection.
Zedra, watching from the sidelines, felt a pang of envy. *Why does she always get what she wants?* she thought, her sharp mind already plotting ways to undermine Noor. She leaned against a pillar, her arms crossed, her gaze never leaving the pair. "How touching," she murmured under her breath, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "The saint and the star. A match made in… well, not heaven, certainly."
Maya, standing nearby, overheard Zedra's comment and frowned. "Why do you always do that?" she asked, her voice low but firm.
Zedra raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening. "Do what, darling?"
"Undermine her," Maya said, her eyes narrowing. "Madam Noor has done nothing but help us. Why can't you just let her be?"
Zedra's expression darkened, her playful demeanor slipping for a moment. "Help us?" she repeated, her voice sharp. "Or control us? Noor may play the part of the nurturing mother, but don't be fooled, Maya. She's not as selfless as she seems."
Maya opened her mouth to argue, but before she could respond, the music swelled, drawing her attention back to the dance floor. Noor and Sanlang moved together as if they were one, their steps perfectly in sync, their gazes locked. It was mesmerizing, and for a moment, even Zedra seemed captivated.
But then, as the final notes of the sonata echoed through the courtyard, Sanlang's vision blurred. He stumbled, his grip on Noor tightening as he struggled to stay upright. "Noor," he whispered, his voice strained. "I… I ahh...…"
Before he could finish, his legs gave out, and he collapsed, unconscious.
---
The courtyard erupted in chaos. The CEOs rushed forward, their voices overlapping in a cacophony of concern. "What happened?" Zain demanded, his practical mind already assessing the situation. "Is he breathing?"
Noor knelt beside Sanlang, her expression calm but her eyes filled with a quiet urgency. "He's fine," she said, her voice steady. "Help me carry him to the guest room."
As the others moved to assist, Zedra lingered behind, her sharp eyes watching Noor intently. *Fine,my foot,* she thought, her mind racing. *What are you hiding, mother? And why does Sanlang seem to be the key to it all?*
Once Sanlang was settled in the guest room, Noor dismissed the others, insisting that he needed rest. But Zedra wasn't so easily deterred. She waited until the room was empty before approaching Noor, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor.
"Well," Zedra said, her tone light but laced with venom, "that was quite the performance. Care to explain what just happened?"
Noor turned to face her, her expression unreadable. she said simply. "He'll be fine after some rest."
Zedra's smirk returned, though her eyes were cold. " Ohh ..did you finally push him too far? What are you playing at this time our dearest mother"
Noor's gaze hardened, her calm demeanor slipping for the briefest of moments. "Careful, Zedra," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "You're treading on thin ice."
Zedra leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. "And what if I am? Sooner or later, the truth will come out. And when it does… well, let's just say I'll be there to watch it all unravel."
For a moment, the two women stood locked in a silent battle of wills, the tension between them palpable. But then Noor smiled, her expression softening as if Zedra's words were nothing more than a child's tantrum. "You're welcome to try, Zedra," she said, her tone almost pitying. "But remember—you're not the only one with secrets."
With that, Noor turned and walked away, leaving Zedra standing alone in the dimly lit room. The fashion mogul's smirk faded, replaced by a look of frustration and determination. *We'll see about that,* she thought, her mind already racing with plans. *We'll see.*
-----
Meanwhile, Sanlang stirred in the guest room, his mind a whirlwind of fragmented memories. He could see flashes of a life he didn't recognize—a garden bathed in moonlight, a woman's laughter, a sense of deep, unshakable emotion. But the face… the face was always just out of reach.
As his eyes fluttered open, he found Noor sitting beside him, her expression calm but her eyes filled with a quiet sadness. "How are you feeling?" she asked, her voice soft.
Sanlang blinked, his mind still foggy. "I… I don't know," he admitted. "I feel like I'm remembering something, but I can't quite grasp it."
Noor's smile was gentle, but there was a hint of something deeper in her eyes—something that looked almost like regret. "Memories can be elusive," she said. "But they have a way of finding us when we're ready."
Sanlang frowned, his gaze searching hers. "Noor… who are you, really? And why do I feel like I've known you forever?"
Noor's smile didn't falter, but her eyes grew distant. "That's a question for another time," she said softly. "For now, rest. You've been through enough tonight."
As Sanlang drifted back to sleep, Noor sat by his side, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotion. *I can't keep this up forever,* she thought, her heart heavy. *But how can I tell him the truth without destroying everything?*
---
Noor sat by Sanlang's bedside, her fingers lightly brushing against his forehead as if to soothe him even in his sleep. The room was quiet, save for the soft hum of the night outside. But Noor's mind was anything but calm. The weight of her secrets pressed heavily on her, and the look in Sanlang's eyes before he collapsed—those flashes of recognition—had shaken her to her core.
*He's remembering,* she thought, her chest tightening. *But how much?*
Noor allowed herself a rare moment of vulnerability, her shoulders slumping as she exhaled deeply. "I've kept you safe for so long," she whispered to Sanlang, her voice barely audible. "But I don't know how much longer I can protect you."
-----
Meanwhile, Zedra stood in the hallway outside, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable. She had watched Noor's every move since Sanlang's collapse, her sharp mind piecing together the fragments of the puzzle. *There's something between them,* she thought, her lips curling into a sly smile. *Something Noor doesn't want anyone to know.*
She turned to Maya, who was lingering nearby, her face etched with concern. "Tell me, Maya," Zedra said, her tone deceptively casual, "how long has Sanlang been part of mother's little… entourage?"
Maya frowned, her loyalty to Noor immediately on guard. "Sanlang is a guest," she said firmly. "Nothing more."
Zedra raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening. "A guest who collapses after dancing with her? A guest who looks at her like she's the answer to every question he's ever had? Come now, Maya. Even you can't be that naive."
Maya's jaw tightened, but she said nothing. She knew better than to engage with Zedra's provocations. Still, the question lingered in her mind: *What is Noor hiding? And why does Sanlang seem so… connected to her?*
Zedra, sensing Maya's unease, leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "You know, Maya, loyalty is a admirable trait. But blind loyalty? That's just foolish. Noor may play the part of the saint, but she's no different from the rest of us. She has her secrets. And I intend to uncover every single one."
With that, Zedra straightened and walked away, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. Maya watched her go, a knot of unease tightening in her stomach. *What if Zedra's right?* she thought, her gaze drifting back to the closed door of Sanlang's room. *What if Noor isn't who she seems?*
------
Sanlang's dreams were a whirlwind of fragmented memories, each one more vivid than the last. He saw himself standing in a moonlit garden, the air thick with the scent of jasmine. Someone was there, her laughter ringing like music in his ears. She looked younger, her hair loose and her eyes filled with a warmth he hadn't seen in years.
"Do you remember this place?" she asked, her voice soft and melodic.
Sanlang reached out to her, but before he could touch her, the scene shifted. He was in a grand ballroom, the walls adorned with intricate tapestries. A woman stood at the center, her hand extended toward him. "Dance with me," she said, her smile radiant.
But as he took her hand, the room began to dissolve, the walls crumbling into darkness. The smile faded, replaced by a look of profound sadness. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I never wanted to hurt you."
Sanlang woke with a start, his heart pounding in his chest. The room was dimly lit, the moonlight streaming through the windows. Noor was still sitting beside him, her expression calm but her eyes filled with a quiet intensity.
"You were dreaming," she said softly, her voice pulling him back to reality.
Sanlang nodded, his mind still reeling from the vividness of the dream. "It felt so real," he murmured, his voice hoarse. "Like… like I was remembering something."
Noor's smile was gentle, but there was a hint of something deeper in her eyes—something that looked almost like regret. "Dreams can feel that way sometimes," she said. "But they're just dreams, Sanlang. Nothing more."
Sanlang frowned, his gaze searching hers. "Noor… who are you, really? "
Noor's smile didn't falter, but her eyes grew distant.
As the night wore on, Zedra found herself in the estate's library, her sharp eyes scanning the shelves for anything that might shed light on Noor's secrets. She had always been good at uncovering the truth, and tonight was no exception.
Her fingers brushed against an old, leather-bound journal tucked away in a corner. The cover was worn, the pages yellowed with age. Zedra opened it, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the contents. The handwriting was elegant, the words flowing like poetry. But it was the name on the first page that caught her attention: **Kang**.
*Well, well,* Zedra thought, her smirk widening. *What do we have here?*
She flipped through the pages, her mind racing as she pieced together the fragments of the story. It was a love story—one that spanned lifetimes, filled with passion, betrayal, and sacrifice. And at the center of it all unclear.
---
The next morning, the estate was abuzz with activity. The young CEOs were preparing to leave, their laughter and chatter filling the halls. But beneath the surface, the tension from the previous night lingered, a silent undercurrent that no one dared to address.
Noor stood at the entrance, her expression calm but her eyes filled with a quiet determination. She bid each of her "children" farewell, her words warm and reassuring. But when Zedra approached, her smile didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Leaving so soon, Zedra?" Noor asked, her tone polite but distant.
Zedra's smirk was as sharp as ever. "Oh, I wouldn't miss this for the world," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "But don't worry, mother . I'll be back. After all, we have so much to… discuss."
Noor's gaze hardened, but she said nothing. She knew Zedra well enough.And as Zedra walked away, Noor couldn't shake the feeling that the fragile peace she had worked so hard to maintain was about to shatter.
---
Sanlang watched the exchange from a distance, his mind still reeling from the fragments of his dream. He didn't know what to believe, but one thing was clear: Noor was hiding something. And he was determined to find out what it was.
As he approached her, Noor turned to him, her expression softening. "Feeling better?" she asked, her voice gentle.
Sanlang nodded, but his gaze was intense. "Noor," he said, his voice firm, "I need to know the truth. Or may be I want to...but...?"
Noor's smile faltered, and for the first time, Sanlang saw a flicker of vulnerability in her eyes. "The truth can be complicated," she said softly.
Sanlang stepped closer, his voice low but filled with determination. "Then let's start with one question.?"
Noor's breath caught in her throat, with a sigh, she nodded. "Yes," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But that's a story for another time."
Sanlang's heart raced, his mind spinning with possibilities. But before he could press further, Noor turned and walked away, leaving him standing alone in the grand hall.
----