Chapter 27

My heart pounded in my chest as I stumbled back to the villa, my mind a whirlwind of confusion and betrayal. Every step felt heavy, as if I was carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. I couldn't believe what Lily had told me, couldn't wrap my head around the fact that Shraf had been engaged to another woman for five years. It felt like a nightmare, a cruel joke played on me by fate.

As I approached the villa, I felt a sense of detachment from my surroundings. The lush green trees and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore faded into the background as my thoughts consumed me. I didn't know how I had made it back here, how I had managed to walk through the doors of our villa. All I knew was that I needed answers, and I needed them now.

I barged into Shraf's office, my heart racing as I saw him sitting at his desk, still working. His dark eyes lifted to meet mine, and for a moment, we just stared at each other. The silence was deafening, filled with unspoken words a