As Zain stood with Zayra and Ewan near the entrance, greeting guests, he noticed a car arriving. His eyes narrowed when he saw Arish step out, wearing a navy blue suit. His messy hair and piercing gray eyes stood out against the crowd. Zain was shocked to see Arish at his birthday party.

Arish walked over to Zain, Zayra, and Ewan with a smug smile. "Well, well, Zayra, I didn’t expect to see you here. What a pleasant surprise," he said, his eyes lingering on her. Then, he turned to Zain, his grin widening. "Happy birthday, my friend!"

Zain’s face immediately hardened, and he clenched his fists. The tension between them was obvious. "What are you doing here, Arish?" Zain’s voice was cold. He glanced at the security guards nearby. "Who invited you? Security—get him out of here."

Before the guards could move, Arish raised his hands, pretending to be innocent. He chuckled and said, "Whoa, relax, man. Why are you so uptight? It’s your birthday—lighten up a little," he added, teasingly. "Come on, Zain, it’s just a party. No need to get worked up."

Zain was furious, but Zayra gently touched his arm, reminding him to stay calm. Arish noticed this and smirked to himself, knowing he had stirred up trouble already. As they all walked inside, he felt like he was just getting started.

Despite the tension, they all went inside together. The party was in full swing, with elegant decorations and soft music filling the air, but Zain couldn’t focus on anything other than the unwelcome presence of Arish.

As they entered the grand hall, Arish’s eyes gleamed when he spotted a waiter passing by with a tray of drinks. He smoothly plucked a glass of cold water from the tray, his smirk widening as he approached Zain."Here you go, Zain," Arish said, holding out the glass with a sly grin. "Why don’t you cool down with this cold water? You look like you could use it."

Zain clenched his jaw, fighting to control his anger. Arish’s smirk and provocations were clearly meant to push his buttons, especially with Zayra watching. It was clear that Arish was trying to make Zain look bad while acting all friendly. His aim was to stir up trouble and create a rift between Zain and Zayra.

Just then, Mr. Armani, Zain’s father, made his entrance. His commanding presence drew attention as he approached Zain with a warm smile. “Zain, I’m glad you’ve met Arish,” he said, nodding towards Arish.

Zain turned to his father, looking puzzled. “Dad, you know him? Did you invite him?”

Mr. Armani, a leading figure in the tech industry and a major businessman in the country, nodded with a reassuring smile. “Yes, I invited Arish and his father. It’s always good to connect with people who are influential in their own right. Arish, where’s your father, Mr. Allessandro?”

Arish pointed across the room to a distinguished man talking with other high-profile guests. “He’s over there, Mr. Armani.”

Mr. Armani placed a hand on Zain’s shoulder. “Let’s go say hello. It’s important to keep these connections strong.”

As they walked towards Mr. Allessandro, Mr. Armani introduced Zain. “Mr. Allessandro, I’d like you to meet my son, Zain. Zain, this is Mr. Allessandro, who owns the biggest hospital in the city and is quite a figure in the business world.”

Mr. Allessandro turned and offered a warm smile. “Nice to meet you, Zain. I’ve heard good things about you.”

Zain extended his hand. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Allessandro. I didn’t know Arish’s family was so influential.”

Mr. Allessandro shook Zain’s hand firmly. “Yes, we’ve been involved in the community for years. It’s great to see the younger generation connecting.”

Mr. Armani added, “Networking is key in our circles. It helps build lasting relationships.”

Zain nodded. “I agree. It’s fascinating to meet someone with such an important role in the city.”

Mr. Allessandro smiled warmly. “Zain, I saw you and Arish together. I’m glad to see you two are getting along.”

For a moment, Zain and Arish exchanged looks that spoke of unspoken tension. Despite the friendly words, their eyes revealed a different story.

Arish said, “Dad, I need to step out for a while.”

Mr. Allessandro nodded. “Of course, Arish. We’ll talk later.”

Arish stepped outside for some fresh air and accidentally bumped into a woman in a stunning black dress. “Sorry about that,” he said quickly and continued on his way.

Meanwhile, inside, Mr. Armani, Zain, and Mr. Allessandro were engaged in an animated discussion when the woman in black made a striking entrance. She walked up to Mr. Allessandro, her presence commanding attention. “Hi, Dad!” she greeted, her voice carrying across the room.

Mr. Allessandro turned to Zain and Mr. Armani with a proud smile. “Zain, Mr. Armani, I’d like you to meet my daughter, Aria.”

Zain was taken aback, realizing for the first time that Arish had a sister. He had not expected this revelation and was visibly shocked, but he quickly masked his surprise and greeted Aria warmly.

Mr. Armani smiled at Aria. “Mr. Allessandro's daughter Aria is quite the talented young woman. She’s done amazing work in her field already.”

Mr. Armani turned to Zain and suggested, “Zain, why don’t you show Aria around? She’d love to get to know the party a bit better.”

Zain agreed with a nod. “Yeah, sure.”

Turning to Aria, Zain said, “Aria, it’s nice to meet you. I didn’t realize you were Arish’s sister.”

Aria’s smile was a bit puzzled as she replied, “Arish who?”

Zain was momentarily taken aback, his confusion evident. He wondered how Aria didn’t seem to know her own brother, but he kept his thoughts to himself and smiled politely.

As Zain began showing Aria around the party, he made an effort to search for Zayra, but she was nowhere to be found. Zain guided Aria through the crowd, introducing her to various guests and making small talk. The whole while, Zain couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling about Aria's odd response, or the growing frustration of not being able to locate Zayra.

Zain took Aria to the garden to show her around the house. After a while, Aria said she was tired and suggested they sit on the swing. Zain agreed, and they settled in, enjoying the peaceful evening and chatting casually.

As Zayra walked toward the restroom, she glanced into the garden and stopped in her tracks. She saw Zain sitting with a girl, they were on the swing, sitting close together and laughing. From a distance, it looked like they were deeply engaged in their own world, sharing moments of happiness.

Zayra’s heart dropped, and a wave of jealousy surged through her. *Why is Zain so close to her? Why isn’t he spending time with me?* The sight felt like a betrayal, especially since she had come to the party hoping to be close to him.

Her frustration grew as she watched them in the soft glow of the garden lights, imagining all sorts of scenarios where they were more than just friends. The fact that Zain was so engrossed with the girl while she felt left out stung deeply.

Unable to bear the sight, Zayra quickly turned away, her eyes welling up with tears. The night, which had begun with excitement and hope, now seemed to unravel into a painful letdown.

After leaving the garden, Zayra bumped into Arish. They exchanged a few words before heading back to the party.

When they returned, an announcement was made: “We’re having a fun dance round! Boys, write your names on slips of paper and drop them in the bowl. The girls will pick names, and whoever’s name comes up will be your dance partner.”

Zain hoped that Zayra would pick his name, but instead, she drew Arish’s name. Aria picked Zain’s. As the pairs hit the dance floor, Zain and Aria danced together, while Zayra and Arish took the floor.

Zayra’s eyes burned with jealousy as she saw Aria’s hand resting casually on Zain’s back. *Why is he so close to her?* Her heart pounded with anger and hurt, feeling betrayed despite the lack of intimacy.

Zain, watching from across the room, fumed with jealousy as he saw Arish’s hand sliding around Zayra’s waist. He clenched his jaw, his frustration growing. *Why is Arish so close to Zayra?* The sight of them dancing together stung deeply.

The dance floor was filled with tension. Zayra and Zain both felt the sharp edge of jealousy, their emotions flaring with every glance at their respective partners. The night, once full of promise, now felt heavy with unspoken feelings and misunderstandings.

As the dance ended, Zayra approached Zain with a strained smile. “Zain, I’m heading home now. It’s getting late.”

Zain looked concerned. “Why are you leaving so early? At least stay and grab something to eat.”

Zayra shook her head. “No, thanks. I’m fine.”

Zain, clearly wanting to make up for the awkwardness, said, “Wait, let me introduce you to my father.”

He led Zayra and Ewan over to Mr. Armani. “Dad, this is Zayra, a good friend of mine, and this is Ewan, my best buddy.”

Zayra greeted Mr. Armani politely, but his response was cool. His handshake was firm but lacked warmth, and his smile seemed forced. There was a clear flicker of disapproval on his face.

Zayra felt a twinge of discomfort. Mr. Armani’s critical gaze made her feel uneasy. As she glanced at Zain, who was busy chatting with Ewan, she couldn’t shake the feeling of being judged.

Feeling increasingly uncomfortable, Zayra left the party, the weight of Mr. Armani’s disapproval heavy on her mind.

As Zayra and Ewan drove away from the party, Zayra sat in silence, her thoughts tangled with jealousy and frustration. Finally, she broke the silence. “Ewan, I forgot to give Zain his gift. Can you give it to him tomorrow?”

Ewan glanced at her with a knowing look. “Zayra, you didn’t forget the gift. I remember you were so specific about the brand and the message you wanted on it. You were excited to give it to him. Don’t try to play it cool. I saw how you were when you saw Zain with Aria.”

Zayra’s face tightened with a mix of annoyance and embarrassment. “It’s not about that,” she snapped. “I don’t care if Zain is with someone else or not.”

Ewan shook his head, trying to reason with her. “Zayra, I really don’t know who Aria is. I saw her for the first time tonight, just like you. Don’t let jealousy get the better of you. It’s not worth it.”

Zayra pulled the special message from the gift box and held it tightly. “Ewan, I appreciate your concern, but I really don’t care about Zain and Aria. Give the gift to Zain if you want to, or if you like the gift, then keep it for yourself.”

Ewan tried to protest, but Zayra cut him off, her voice firm. “I’m home now. Thanks for the ride.” She stepped out of the car, her heart heavy. As she walked inside, the weight of her feelings and the night’s events pressed down on her, leaving her feeling more alone than ever.

That evening, as Arish came home, his mother sat him down, her face lined with concern. “Arish, there’s something I need to tell you.”