Zahid gave her two options:
"Choose him and lose us.
Choose us and lose yourself."
Aaliya closed her eyes and breathed.
And for the first time in her life,
she didn't choose fear.
"I choose myself," she whispered,
"And my heart is with Arhan."
Silence.
Shock.
Storm.
But Zahid's control died in that moment.
He could imprison her body—
but he could not own her soul anymore.
---