Ayaan Fadel.

Maroudi, Nigeria.

"Following Mr. Ayaan Fadel's press conference earlier today, it has been confirmed and exposed that the murderer of his late assistant, Mr. Saif Jabbar is none other than Mr. Imran Hadi. The people of Maroudi have all been shaken up by this news considering Mr. Hadi is one of the most beloved individuals of the town—having done a lot of good deeds to the people.

However, the video Mr. Fadel presented during the press conference inevitably showed Mr. Hadi committing the crime. An apparent motive behind it is yet to be disclosed—though our sources claimed it might be because of an underlying feud between Mr. Fadel and Mr. Hadi although nothing is yet to be confirmed by both parties.

Mr. Fadel however, at the end of his press conference expressed his intention of making Mr. Hadi face the wrath of the law and getting justice for the deceased. In addition to that, he's pressing charges against Hadi groups for damages caused on his image as well as for breaking the agreements between them.

At this rate, it can be said that the end of Hadi Group is here, as well as the legacy of the Hadi family..."

Reaching my hand out, I picked up the remote and switched the TV off. It's only been about an hour since the press conference, and yet, news has already spread round the country regarding what is currently going on.

At this point, I've been my face countless times on the TV over the past few weeks that I think it'd last me a lifetime.

A small sigh left past my lips as I dropped the remote back where it belongs and made my way back to my room in the penthouse. I plan on visiting my parents house later. However, I need some time to myself first.

This was supposed to be the end. But, it's not...which is why my mind is yet to be calm.

Imran has gone missing; and hardly anyone could find him. It's been like that for a few days now, and I've been aware of it all along. The issue of exposing him in the eyes of the public is simply so we can find him as quickly as possible.

He had completely went off the grid; not showing up even when the slush fund issue sparked up and the company was in dire need of him. That's partially one of the reasons I exposed the slush fund as well.

I needed to make sure he has no place to hide, because at the end of the day, he needs to pay for what he has done. He needs to pay for everything he has done.

The world needed to see the true side of Imran Hadi...that was the only thing he had left. Now that he doesn't, he will show up sooner of later.

My eyes flicked close as I stepped under the shower, fully intending to get rid of the sore muscles after the eventful day I've had. It took my mental strength more than the physical one. But, a shower after a stressful day is my first step of getting back on my feet.

And yet, as the water cascaded down my face, leaving warmness in its awake, all that flashes before my eyes is Saif's lifeless body. I tried to push it away, but all that manages to come this time around was my conversation with Imran's mother before I headed to the press conference.

"What are you doing here?" She questioned, after closing the door to her husband's hospital room quietly. We were the only ones there; after all, I came all the way just to talk to her. And yet, the look she was giving me screamed she would rather be in anyone's presence but mine.

Still, I didn't let it get to me. She's always been like this for as long as I've known her—and though it's the first time I'm seeing her since the incident happened ten years ago. It's nice to see that people don't change I guess.

"—Are you here to finish my husband off, huh?" She added, her eyes narrowed. "Is stealing that much money from him not enough for you?" She didn't bother to hide the distaste in her tone.

I didn't say anything regarding her last statement. I won't deny knowing anything about it, but at the same time, she won't believe me if I were to speak on that so I ignored it. I also won't ask how she knew about it.

Unlike her husband, she's always been one to see things up close even if she doesn't seem like it. Perhaps, if he had listened to her and taken her input more, we wouldn't be here.

Instead of going down that lane, I decided to simply state my reason for showing up. "Your son murdered Saif." I stated calmly, though every time I even think about it, I'm anything but internally.

If I wasn't certain before, the way her eyes dilated simply proved that he indeed is the culprit. She swallowed thickly, blinking repeatedly. "I don't know what you're talking about." She outright denied it. What was I expecting anyway? She obviously wouldn't give her son away that easily.

"He also killed Nailah's twin, didn't he?"

She took a staggering step back, her eyes dilated even more. She parted her lips to say something, then closed it again gaping like a fish. "H—how did y-you find out about that?" She questioned in a shaky voice.

I let out a humorless chuckle, shaking my head in the process. "This is the second time he's killing someone, and you planned on turning a blind eye to it." I've been trying to understand this logic of theirs, but I simply can't.

We are talking about murder here. They kill people and pretend as if they've done nothing wrong.

His father did it, and now him as well. What kind of screwed up family was I born into?

She was quick to shake her head hastily, taking a step closer to me as she reached her hand out to hold mine—it took everything in me not to snatch it away. "Please, p-please...I'm pleading with you...please keep this a secret." She swallowed thickly, her eyes glossing over. "No one can find out about this...please. He's all I have left."

I would've pitied her, if not that hearing her say those words to me felt like mockery.

He's all she has? How can she say that to my face?

What did her husband leave me with, huh? He wanted me dead as well. And she could even look into my eyes and say that.

Unable to hold myself back, I left out a scoff and looked away.

"Muhammad." She called out carefully, making me turn around slowly to look at her. What did she just say? She searched my eyes, as if looking for a confirmation of her words. "You're Muhammad, aren't you?" Though she was asking, it was already clear she knows the answer to her question.

I had a lot of expectation from her, and yet, all it took was that question to have me frozen in my spot. She knew...

I mean, it's a given that at least one of them could've recognized me, they've known me for twenty years anyway. However, ten years has been such a long time, and I know I've changed quite a lot. It seemed almost hard to recognize me, though not impossible.

She darted her tongue out to wet her chapped lips, her desperate eyes never leaving mine as she tightened her hold around my hand. "I know you are. And you know better than anyone that your cousin, Imran is not psychologically fit."

I know that.

I've known since we were kids that he wasn't well. He had a lot of mental highs and lows when we were kids—and I know that he still isn't well.

That's one of the reasons my father was upset with his father—my uncle. He had tried to convince him times without number to seek help for Imran, but it fell on deaf ears. Even on their last night in Maroudi, that was one of the reasons he and Ammi were arguing.

Imran finally went as far to kill someone, and yet even then, they were trying it cover it up instead of getting help for him. Of course my father would be upset.

She must've realized I'm still aware of that, because she went on to offer excuses for him. "— Imran is obsessed with that Nailah. You know that as well. He's been like that since they were kids."

The word 'obsessed' will be an understatement. If you want to see him lose his calm, touch Nailah or cause harm to her in anyway.

The first time I'd seen first hand the limits he could go to was when we were kids, shortly after she's been adopted by the Zayed's and enrolled into the same school we attend. Considering our families were close, we were as well.

One day, a kid bullied her to the extent of making her shed tears. And what did Imran do? He took a random girl's flask and repeatedly smacked the bully on the head with it till the child fainted. I don't remember much what happened afterwards, I could only remember him being insanely protective of her then, and the kid pulling out of school.

The child's parents could've taken action, but the Hadi family was still influential even then. His parents—my uncle and aunt wrapped it all up before it could go anywhere.

Besides, aside from us present, no one believed he could do such a thing.

He was always a quiet kid that barely speaks to anyone and keeps to himself. Who would believe that he nearly sent a child to the ICU for bullying a girl he's obsessed with?

Nailah was the only person that sets him off from his calm demeanor. He turns insanely crazy when she's involved.

I guess his parents didn't realize the extent of his obsession till the day he ended up taking someone's life...her life. I remember that day clearly. I remember stopping by her home and having to watch as he strangled her till the life left her body right outside her father's house.

By the time I reacted and reached out to pull him away, she was already gone. The fear I felt that day was unlike any other. What made it worse was the look on his face...he didn't seem to regret it in the slightest.

"—he didn't mean to kill her, Muhammad. We both know he wasn't in the right mental state when he did that." She clasped my hands even more, her eyes desperately willing for me to believe her. She shook her head repeatedly. "Please try to understand, he truly didn't mean to do that. I swear."

It's funny how she thinks that would justify her son's actions. If they were able to shut the Zayed after their adoptive daughter's death by a promise of partnership, did they think the truth will stay buried for long?

Or did they think turning a blind eye to his deeds will make it all better?

Will bringing her twin sister to take her place, and making her marry him put an end to it all? Will it change the fact that he still killed someone and got away with it?

If he is unwell, they are supposed to get him treated, not pretend as if he had done nothing wrong because he's 'psychologically unwell'. 

"And Saif?" I wanted to hear what her excuse for that would be, not that it will change anything.

She flicked her eyes shut, swallowing thickly as she blew out a shaky breath. "That was because you got too close to Nailah." I know that. He ended up doing that to Saif because he was trying to get answers on whether there was truly something between us or not. He wasn't as calm as he pretended to be regarding the situation. "He had been calm since she came back into his life, he had been doing well for years all for him to return to square one after you came into the picture."

"So, it's my fault now?"

"No...It's just...It's..."

"Save it." I reached out and removed her hand from mine, no longer willing to stand there and listen to her excuses. Yawing my expression blank, my gaze met her tear filled ones. "I have evidence regarding what he did to Saif and I plan to expose him as well. I know you know where he's been hiding. It will be in your best interest all if you asks him to come out. The earlier this ends, the better it is for us all. That's all I'm here to say to you." Not waiting to hear her response excuse or whatever I turned around and walked away.

The meet-up still clouded my mind as I got dressed after leaving the shower. I am hoping everything that I've done so far would make him come out of hiding. Him being caught is the last thing I need to finally put an end to this all.

Still, I know he won't hold out for long. He has nowhere to hide now.

With that thought in mind, I strolled out of the penthouse all dressed up now with the intention of heading to my parents house. However, on stepping out of the elevator leading to the parking lot, my gaze fell on someone I didn't expect to see there at the moment.

My lips stretched into a small, genuine smile. "I didn't expect to see you here right now." I made my way towards the person.

"Well, I needed to stop by and congratulate you. Our years worth hard-work is finally paying off it seems."

My smile widened, my mood lifting up for the first time in days as my gaze met that of my day one partner in all this.

Nailah Zayed. The brain behind it all.