The Woman Who Was Almost Me

Life slowly settled into a routine again, but it wasn't the same. Laleh was at our house almost every day, helping me take care of Dina. She was still weak, barely speaking, but at least she was there.

Darya, on the other hand, completely cut off contact with Daddy. She didn't call, didn't visit. After what happened, I couldn't blame her.

And Dina… she no longer called him "Daddy."

"The Beast."

That was the only name she used for him now.

That night, Dina seemed a little better. She asked me to drink again from the stolen drinks.

She smirked and said, "But Aamz doesn't like this habit."

I raised an eyebrow. "Drinking? And what about him? What don't you like?"

She leaned back, staring at the ceiling. "I love him. Almost everything about him. But sometimes..."

She stopped, her voice trailing off into the night.

We drank more, and the silence between us softened. Then, out of nowhere, she spoke again.

"I don't know why, but sometimes he gets very sad. Cries for no reason, like a child. Seeing people in pain—especially kids—makes him unbelievably sensitive."

And then, just as suddenly, she stopped again.

That night, Daddy's co-founder was there. We overheard something shocking—Daddy was discussing how they could use Aamz to develop an illegal tool and then lay the blame on him.

Dina, both drunk and angry, stood up, her fists clenched. "I will confront this beast right now," she muttered, her voice filled with rage.

But I quickly stopped her. "Dina, no!" I whispered urgently, pulling her back down. "This is not the way. We can't just act on impulse. Think about it."

Her face was flushed with anger, but slowly she sat back down, her eyes still burning with fury. "How can he even think like this?" she hissed. "He would destroy Aamz. My Aamz..."

I looked at her, feeling the weight of her frustration. But we had to be careful. "We need to plan this carefully. We can't just rush in. If we make a mistake, it could cost everything.

The more I thought about it, the angrier I became. "How could he?" I whispered to myself, my mind racing. My dad—the beast—was not the man I had always known. His actions, his words, they twisted him into something unrecognizable. In such a short time, everything changed. How could he even consider laying the blame on an innocent person, especially someone I cared about so deeply?

The betrayal hit hard. Aamz was just a boy, trying to find his way, and yet my father was plotting to destroy him. It felt like a sick joke, one that I couldn't even laugh at. "I can't let this happen. I won't."

But even as I said that, I knew it wouldn't be easy. It would take everything to stop him, to expose the truth and protect Aamz. "We need a plan," I said to Dina, trying to steady my shaking hands. "We need to move carefully. But we can't let him win."

The beast, as I had come to call him, grew even more monstrous with each passing day. When the letter from the university arrived, mentioning Dina's withdrawal from her courses, something inside him snapped. His face twisted with fury as he threw the letter across the room, his hands trembling with anger.

"Dina, why would you do this to me?" he screamed, his voice laced with venom. "You think I won't notice? You think I don't care?"

Before she could respond, his fist came down, striking her in the face with a sickening thud.

My heart stopped. For a moment, I couldn't breathe. The sight of him hurting her, again, after everything we'd been through, was too much to bear. I rushed forward, my body shaking with rage, but there was nothing I could do.

Dina stood there, her cheek already beginning to bruise, her eyes filled with pain, but also something else—resignation.

"Why do you keep doing this, Dad?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper. "What happened to you? You were never like this before."

But he didn't answer. He just turned away, muttering something under his breath, his anger still simmering.

Dina, her body trembling, looked at me. "It's not worth it," she said quietly. "We need to end this... somehow."

I nodded, but deep down, I knew we couldn't keep living like this. The monster my father had become needed to be stopped, and I wasn't going to let him hurt Dina—or anyone else—anymore.

I called Aamz, urging him to resign from the job, desperate to keep him away from my father's influence. But to my shock, he told me that my father had offered him a higher salary for a "big idea"—something that made him hesitant to leave.

Dina, overhearing the conversation, shook her head in frustration. "Even if he resigns, Dorsa, this beast will find a way to manipulate him. He'll force him into something, maybe even target his family. You don't know what he's capable of."

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. She was right. My father had a way of worming into people's lives, turning everything to his advantage, even at the expense of others. I could feel the weight of the situation bearing down on us, suffocating us.

"I can't let him destroy everything," I whispered, my voice shaking. "But I don't know how to stop him."

Dina's eyes softened, filled with a quiet determination. "We'll figure it out," she said. "But we can't let him hurt Aamz, either. If we have to, we'll protect him... from your father and from himself."

We decided to think carefully before making any moves. But deep inside, I couldn't ignore a growing frustration. Everything was happening around me, yet nothing was ever about me. I was always in the background—watching, supporting, but never the one who truly mattered.

That evening, we gathered in my room—Dina, Laleh, and me. The air was thick with tension.

Laleh sighed, crossing her arms. "We need to be smart about this. Your father isn't someone who gives up easily. If he's set on using Aamz, we have to figure out his plan before Aamz gets too deep."

Dina, still sore from the last confrontation with our father, nodded. "I don't think we can convince Aamz to walk away just by warning him. He trusts people too easily."

I clenched my fists. "Then what do we do? We can't stop my father directly, and we can't rely on Aamz to realize the danger himself."

Laleh looked between us, her expression unreadable. Then she said, "We need proof. If we expose what your father is planning, Aamz won't have a choice but to see the truth."

Dina and I exchanged glances. It wasn't a bad idea, but gathering proof against someone as careful as my father? That was going to be a dangerous game.

Dina took a deep breath, her eyes sharp with determination. "He can penetrate Father's messages and calls. Then he may see everything. But even if he does, can he really stop contributing? Can he stand against the power of our father?"

I hesitated. "Dina, this is dangerous. You're talking about hacking into his communications. If we get caught—"

Laleh cut in, her voice steady. "Dorsa's right. It's risky. But think about it—your father trusts Aamz. If Aamz gains access to his messages, he won't just see the plan. He might find a way to sabotage it from the inside."

Dina pressed her lips together, considering. "It's not just about Aamz. If we have proof, we can do something bigger. Maybe even force Daddy to back off."

I exhaled, feeling the weight of the situation. "And what if Aamz refuses? What if he's too loyal, or worse—what if he gets caught?"

Dina leaned forward. "That's why we have to be careful. We can't push him directly. We need to make him realize the truth himself."

Laleh nodded. "Then the first step is clear. We have to find a way to plant the idea in his mind—to make him curious enough to start looking on his own."

It was a dangerous plan, but we had no other choice. If we didn't act now, my father would drag Aamz into something he might never escape.

The next day, on a quiet weekend, the three of us went to the office to talk—somewhere away from home, away from my father's watchful eyes.

It had been less than five months since we first stepped into this office, full of excitement and ambition. But now, the same place felt like a battlefield. A place where we were forced to strategize against our own father.

Dina sat on the desk, arms crossed, her expression unreadable. Then she spoke, her voice calm but firm. "I found a way. We don't need to force Aamz. We just need to guide him in the right direction."

Laleh and I exchanged a glance. "What do you mean?" I asked.

Dina leaned forward. "Aamz has a soft heart. If we tell him we're suspicious that our father is exploiting and abusing poor people—especially children—he'll be too emotional to ignore it. He won't need convincing. He'll start digging on his own."

Laleh raised an eyebrow. "And you think he won't realize we're pushing him in that direction?"

Dina smirked. "He'll think it's his own idea."

I hesitated. "This is manipulation, Dina."

Her smirk faded, and her eyes darkened. "And what do you think Father is doing to him?"

I sighed. "As far as I know, he's never been eager to fact-check things."

Laleh nodded. "Exactly. Dina, you've told him lies before, and he never questioned them."

Dina smirked. "That's why this will work. If you both agree, I'll invite him here right now."

I hesitated, glancing at Laleh. She shrugged as if saying, We don't have a better plan.

I exhaled. "Fine. But keep it subtle. We don't want him to feel like he's being used."

Dina grinned, already pulling out her phone. "Oh, don't worry. He won't even realize he's walking into a trap."

Dina called him, her voice light at first. "Come to the office! We're here, and we can have a small party."

She paused, listening. Her expression darkened. Clearly, he was hesitating.

Her patience snapped. "Don't argue. Just bring your big corpse here, okay?"

Laleh and I exchanged glances. Classic Dina—charming one second, demanding the next.

After a few more words, she hung up and crossed her arms. "He's coming."

I sighed. "Let's just hope this works."

He arrived, stepping in with his usual playful grin. "Oh, where's my chocolate cake? A party with nothing to eat? That's a crime!"

Dina, unfazed, waved him off. "We'll order now. Sit down first."

Laleh smirked. "You only came for the food?"

He chuckled, dropping into a chair. "Well, what else would I come for?"

Dina shot me a glance, signaling it was time to steer the conversation. I took a breath. "Actually, there's something important we wanted to talk about."

Laleh quickly stepped in, softening Dina's blunt approach. "Important? You mean the importance of humanity. Aamz, our party isn't about cakes and coffee—just for us. This weekend, the four of us are going to spend time with children forced into labor. We'll bring them some delicious snacks and make their day a little brighter. What do you think?"

It was a genius move. Aamz's playful expression shifted as he absorbed her words. His gaze lowered for a moment, and when he looked up, there was a different energy in his eyes—one of deep thought.

"You mean... kids who have to work instead of going to school?" he asked quietly.

Dina nodded. "Yes. We've been looking into it, and it's heartbreaking. We want to do something real for them."

Aamz exhaled, leaning back. "That's... heavy. But yeah. Of course, I'm in."

I whispered urgently to Laleh, "Laleh, we don't have any target kids outside! Where are we even supposed to go?"

But she didn't whisper back. Instead, she said, almost too loudly, "Well, we haven't found any of them yet, have we? We need to search first. Maybe in cities like where your boss works, or other big capitals, there are children working under the umbrella of their businesses without even knowing it themselves."

Her words were bold and unsettling, but they had a strange logic to them. My mind raced, torn between the fear of getting caught and the urgency to do something for those kids.

Aamz raised an eyebrow. "So, you want me to find them in all these places... where children are being exploited?"

Dina nodded firmly, her voice steady despite everything. "Yes. But we need to be careful. We can't just walk up and start asking questions. This isn't a game."

I felt a wave of uncertainty crash over me. But Laleh's confidence was infectious. Maybe we were onto something, maybe it could be a way to get to the truth without falling into the same trap our family had built.

Dina spoke with a determined tone, "Actually, we think we should start with all of my father's businesses first. We need to find out if any child, directly or indirectly, is involved in laboring under the umbrella of his empire."

Her words struck me like a cold reality. The idea of starting from our own family's businesses, diving into the web of his operations, felt both terrifying and necessary.

Aamz, still processing what Dina said, raised an eyebrow. "You want me to investigate your father's businesses? That's a risky move. Do you think he's involved in something like that?"

Dina's gaze hardened. "I don't know. But if we're going to find the truth, we have to start somewhere. And we can't ignore the possibility that my father, like so many others, might be blind to or complicit in it."

Laleh added, her voice calm but resolute, "We don't just want to expose his involvement. We want to uncover the systems, the networks that might be exploiting those kids. We need to understand how deep this goes."

It was a dangerous path to walk, but I felt an odd sense of purpose creeping in. We couldn't just turn away. The answers were out there, tangled in the same web that had trapped us.

Dina said, her voice steady but filled with urgency, "Aamz, why don't you try penetrating my father's messages? Maybe we can find out if his business, even indirectly, employs children. By doing this, we could help him—he definitely wouldn't want this to happen, but maybe there's something going on that he can't see."

Aamz, quiet for a moment, then spoke, his words sending a chill through me. "There's something in the chain of your conversations... somewhere in these talks, I don't know where, but I can sense it." His gaze was intense as if he was piecing together something bigger, something I hadn't considered.

The weight of his words hung in the air, and for a moment, I felt the full gravity of what we were trying to do. It wasn't just about investigating my father's business; it was about uncovering a truth that could tear everything apart. Yet, we had no choice but to push forward.

He paused for a moment, then continued, his tone careful. "I've already made some explorations into your father's businesses. I couldn't find anything directly related to child labor or abuse, nothing like that. But… I found something else. Something I'm not ready to share just yet. It's better if I don't say anything until I'm sure."

The uncertainty in his voice made the room feel colder, and I could sense both Dina and I were holding our breath, waiting for him to elaborate. But he didn't. Instead, he shifted uneasily, clearly conflicted.

Dina looked at him with a mix of curiosity and frustration. "What do you mean? What did you find?"

Aamz just shook his head. "It's not that simple. I'll tell you when the time's right."

Dina clenched her fists, clearly upset by the lack of clarity. "This isn't helping us, Aamz. We need answers now."

"I know," he said, his voice softening. "But sometimes, digging too deep too fast can lead to things we're not ready for. Trust me, I'll handle it, but we need to tread carefully."

The room fell into an uneasy silence as we tried to process his words. Something was amiss, and I couldn't shake the feeling that we were all part of something bigger than we understood.

He paused for a moment, eyes shifting as if contemplating how much to reveal. "I'll share this with you, Dina, but only you. It's your decision to make. As for the charity idea, I have something different in mind right now."

He took a deep breath and continued. "It's about Moeen, our other developer. You know, the one who isn't here today? I'll give you some information, but you can never mention it to him. Not ever."

He looked at Dina seriously, his voice lowering as if trying to make his words clear. "You may have noticed that while he's helpful, Moeen is... unnecessary here, skill-wise. But he's here because he needs to be. His father lost his store in an unjust situation, and his mother requires expensive medical care. I hired him, not for his skills, but because of his situation. It's why I introduced him as an employee."

Aamz's gaze softened as he spoke, and I could tell this wasn't just about business anymore—it was personal. "If you truly want to help someone, he's the one who needs it the most right now. His situation is the one that should matter, and I thought you might want to know, so we can actually make a difference."

Dina's expression shifted from confusion to understanding, and for the first time in a long while, she seemed to soften. She looked at Aamz, processing what he had said, the weight of the situation sinking in.

"I understand," she said quietly, her voice tinged with both empathy and determination. "If helping him is the right thing to do, then we will. But we can't just stop there, Aamz. We need to address everything, not just pick and choose who we help based on convenience."

He nodded slowly, a hint of approval in his eyes. "I agree. But this is a start, Dina. Helping Moeen could lead to more understanding of what's really going on, and maybe, just maybe, we can change things together."

The air between us felt heavier now, laden with the realization that what we were doing wasn't just about business—it was about people, real lives, and the complexities that tied us all together.

Aamz's voice grew more serious as he continued, "I've given him all my salary for these past few months, but it still wasn't enough. Now, I need your help to cover his mother's medical expenses. Once that's taken care of, I'll help you understand everything about your father. But we have to prioritize this right now, Dina."

There was a pause, and I could see the weight of his words hanging in the air. It was clear that he wasn't just talking about money. This was personal, and the responsibility was now on all of us.

Dina didn't hesitate, her expression hardening with resolve. "If helping him means understanding more about what's really going on, then we'll do it. We can't turn a blind eye to this anymore. But you have to promise me, Aamz, that once we handle this, you'll tell me everything. No more secrets."

Aamz nodded, a silent agreement passing between them. "I promise. But right now, we need to act quickly."

We all knew this wasn't just about medical bills or Moeen's family—it was bigger than that. It was about what we were willing to do to make things right, even if it meant stepping into the unknown.

And so, we started making plans. We knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy, but we also knew that we were no longer just bystanders in the story. We were part of something bigger, and we had to be brave enough to confront it.

That night, as we sat in Dina's room, I asked her quietly, "How are we going to get the money for Moeen's mother? We need a plan."

Dina thought for a moment, her eyes narrowing in thought. Then, without hesitation, she said, "We'll talk to Mom. She's always been good at organizing things like this. She'll help us."

Her voice held a sense of certainty, but I couldn't help but feel uneasy. "Are you sure she'll help us, Dina? What if she finds out why we need the money? What if it all blows up?"

Dina gave me a reassuring smile. "She won't ask questions. She trusts me. And if I tell her it's important, she'll do it."

I nodded, but the unease in my chest lingered. There was so much at stake now—not just for Moeen, but for all of us. The further we went, the deeper we were getting into a web of secrets, and I wasn't sure if we would ever be able to untangle it all.

The next day, Dina went to Mom, explaining the situation in a way that made it sound like a small, urgent favor. Mom didn't even hesitate. She immediately agreed to help, transferring the money to Moeen's mother's account without asking any questions. It was almost too easy.

Dina returned to the room, a sense of relief washing over her. "It's done," she said. "We've got the money. Moeen's mother will get the care she needs."

But as the weight lifted from our shoulders, I couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't the end of the story. We had helped Moeen, but there were still so many unanswered questions—about my father, about Aamz, and about what the future held for all of us.

I hesitated before asking, "Dina, what did Aamz mean when he said something about our father? What did he share with you?"

Dina looked away for a moment, her eyes clouding over as she sighed deeply. "He... he said our father cheats, Dorsa. He cheats on Mom. That's the secret he uncovered. It's been going on for a while."

I felt a cold shiver run down my spine. "What? How? When did you find out?"

Dina seemed lost in thought for a moment, as if replaying everything in her head. "It was a while back," she said softly. "Aamz uncovered some messages... conversations, things that weren't just work-related. Dad has been seeing someone else—someone outside of the family."

I struggled to process this, my mind spinning. "How could Mom not know? How could she not see?"

Dina shook her head slowly. "I don't know, Dorsa. I really don't. But now we're stuck with this truth... and it changes everything, doesn't it?"

I felt an overwhelming wave of confusion, betrayal, and anger. "But why didn't Aamz tell you everything? Why keep this from us?"

Dina's eyes hardened. "He's trying to protect me... protect us. But we're going to need to deal with it. All of it."

I swallowed hard, my thoughts racing. A hidden affair, a secret life my father had been leading—this was more than I could bear. But Dina was right. We had to deal with it somehow. This was yet another piece of the puzzle we hadn't expected, and it felt like we were only getting closer to a truth that might tear everything apart.

I looked at Dina, feeling a sense of unity in the weight of what we had to face. "We need to figure out what to do with this, Dina. We can't let this destroy everything, but we need to understand it first."

She nodded, a determined look in her eyes. "We'll figure it out, Dorsa. Together. Just like we always do."

My father was becoming darker in my eyes with each passing day. It was hard for me to reconcile the man I had always known with the person I was beginning to see. He was a cheater, a man who could be so rough with his daughters, someone who could even resort to hitting them. The worst part was the lingering thought that he might be involved in something far darker—something Darya had suggested, a theory that he could be a murderer. Every night, those thoughts would haunt me, leaving me awake, staring at the ceiling, wondering how everything had spiraled so far out of control.

I tried to push the thoughts away, telling myself that Darya was only speculating, but deep down, the nagging feeling wouldn't go away. What if everything she said was true? What if the things we didn't know about our father were far worse than we could ever imagine?

And then there was Aamz, who seemed to know so much more than he was willing to admit. He had shared things with Dina that left me questioning everything—was there even a part of my life that was real? Or had it all been a lie?

I looked over at Dina, who was sitting quietly across from me, her eyes distant as she stared at her phone. She had been through so much already, and now, with everything I had learned, I was afraid we were getting deeper into something that could destroy us all.

"How are we going to fix this, Dina?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper. "How do we even begin to untangle all of this?"

She didn't answer immediately, her face clouded with the same uncertainty I felt. Finally, she spoke, her voice steady but tired. "I don't know, Dorsa. But I know we can't just sit back and let it destroy us. We have to fight back—fight for the truth, whatever that truth might be."

I nodded, but deep inside, I couldn't shake the fear that we were already too far gone, that the darkness my father had brought into our lives might be impossible to escape.

Suddenly, the door opened, and Mom entered the room, her expression grave. She had clearly overheard parts of our conversation. Without any preamble, she said, "I know about the cheating, girls." Her words hit me like a thunderclap, the air thick with tension.

"I somehow know about everything you're following," she continued, her voice trembling slightly. "But let me be clear—I'm getting by with this, and I want it to stay that way. I never want your father's betrayal to be exposed. The truth would destroy everything. I want the family to remain intact, at least until you both find your own paths in life."

Her words felt like a betrayal of their own. How could she say this? How could she stand by him after everything we knew, after all the lies, the cheating, the violence? I looked at Dina, who sat frozen, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"But Mom," Dina started, her voice shaking with emotion. "How can we ignore all of this? You know what he's done. You know what he is."

Mom's face hardened, a quiet sorrow taking over her features. "I know, Dina. I know more than you think. But I want to protect you both, to give you the time you need to build your futures without the burden of this family falling apart around you. You have your whole lives ahead of you. Please, don't let this destroy everything you've worked for."

Her words hung in the air, suffocating me. How could she ask us to turn a blind eye? How could she sacrifice our own truths just to keep up the facade of a perfect family?

"I just can't," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "I can't pretend everything's okay when it's not. I can't pretend I don't see what he's become."

Dina stood up slowly, her face as cold as ice. "I won't pretend either. But I can't do this alone. If we want the truth, we have to find it ourselves, no matter the cost. We can't keep hiding."

Mom's face softened, a tear slipping down her cheek. "I'm not asking you to ignore it forever," she said quietly. "But think about the consequences. Think about what this will do to the family. I don't want you two to be the ones who tear it all apart."

The weight of her words settled heavily in the room, and I felt torn. How could we move forward knowing the truth, knowing the man we thought we knew had become a stranger—a beast in our midst? And yet, how could we choose to stay silent, to ignore what we knew deep down?

It felt like no matter which path we chose, we would be walking into darkness.

Mom's voice softened, as though she had gathered all her courage before speaking again. "I will contribute to you two while you are on your path toward an honest, good life. I will support you in whatever way I can. But for now, please put everything about your father on hold. Just leave it alone. Don't let it consume you."

Her words were heavy with the weight of everything unsaid, and it was as if she was trying to keep the fragile family together by any means necessary, even if it meant avoiding the truth.

Then, with a quiet sigh, she continued, her gaze fixed on Dina. "And about your mother's death, Dina... I know you suffer, thinking about it. But it was not a murder. Your father has given inconsistent details about that event, I know. But do you understand why? It's because he's afraid. He's afraid of being judged. He's afraid that he didn't pay enough attention to Maryam's illness, that he didn't do enough to help her. And he's terrified of your uncles—Maryam's brothers. He thinks if they find out the full truth, if they ever realize how much he failed to protect her, they'll judge him even more harshly."

The air felt thick, as if each word she spoke was tearing at the delicate fabric of the family's remaining unity. I looked at Dina, who was silently absorbing every word. Her face was a mask of quiet anguish, but there was something else too—a flicker of understanding.

She had always known there was more to the story of her mother's death, more than what had been told to her over the years. And now, hearing Mom admit the truth in fragments, the silence between them seemed to deepen.

"Why didn't he just tell us the truth?" Dina whispered, her voice barely audible, as though the weight of the question was suffocating her.

Mom shook her head. "He thought it would destroy you, Dina. He thought if you knew the full story, it would ruin the memory of your mother forever. So he kept the details hidden, hoping you'd never have to know."

"But it still hurts, Mom," Dina said softly, tears beginning to form in her eyes. "It still hurts not knowing the truth, not knowing what really happened. I need to understand, to make sense of it all."

I could see the internal conflict swirling in her eyes—wanting to understand, wanting closure, but also feeling the heavy weight of betrayal. She had trusted her father, trusted the story he had told her, only to find that it was incomplete, full of omissions and lies.

"Sometimes, Dina," Mom said gently, "the truth isn't as simple as it seems. Sometimes, it's too painful to face. Your father... he wanted to protect you from that pain, even if it meant keeping secrets. He thought it was the right thing to do."

Dina stayed silent for a long moment, her eyes fixed on the ground as if contemplating everything Mom had just said. I felt the room close in on me. How much longer could we keep living in this tangled web of lies, half-truths, and hidden fears?

Finally, Dina looked up, her expression resolute. "I can't pretend anymore. I need to know the full story, Mom. I have to know what happened to my mother."

Mom's face tightened, her gaze flickering with something—regret, perhaps, or fear. But she nodded, as if resigned to the path Dina had chosen.

"Just... be careful, Dina," she said softly. "The truth can be more dangerous than you think."

The weight of her words settled heavily on us all. As much as I wanted to believe that knowing the truth would set us free, a part of me feared what it might bring. But I knew, deep down, that there was no turning back now. Dina was determined to find the answers, no matter the cost. And I, for better or worse, would be by her side through it all.

It was the first time in weeks that I felt a sense of relief, a brief moment where everything seemed to make sense. At least, I could tell myself that my father was not a murderer—he was, however, still a deeply flawed man. That alone gave me some peace, but it didn't change everything else.

As I was lost in my thoughts, Dina suddenly shifted her demeanor. She looked at Mom with a new determination in her eyes. It was almost as if she had made a decision—one that would change the course of everything.

"Alright, Mom!" Dina said, her voice firm but laced with sadness. "We will forget about our father. We will forget everything—even the scars on my body..." Her voice cracked, and a few tears rolled down her cheeks. "But we need too much support from you. I'm not shy to say it—I want to marry. Soon. Very soon."

I froze, taken aback by her boldness. Dina had always been hesitant about sharing her desires, especially when it came to something as personal as marriage. But this—this was different. She wasn't just talking about love or hope; it felt like she was making a statement, reclaiming control over her life.

Mom, who had been silent for a moment, looked at her daughter with a mixture of concern and understanding. She stepped closer, her voice soft but resolute. "Any kind of support, Dina, that makes you safe and gives you the chance to grow, to move forward—I will give it to you. But I need you to be sure about what you're asking for. Marriage is a big decision, and I want you to have the time and space to understand what that really means."

Dina nodded, wiping away the tears that had stained her face. "I know, Mom. But this is not just about love. It's about finding peace. Finding someone who truly understands me, someone who will protect me. I don't want to be stuck in this mess anymore."

The weight of her words hung in the air. I could see the determination in her eyes—the same determination that had guided her through all the hardships she had endured. But there was something else, too: a deep need for change, for freedom from the past, from all the pain that had haunted her for so long.

Mom's expression softened, and she gave Dina a small, almost reluctant smile. "You are my daughter, Dina. And I will always support you. If this is what you want, then I will help you in any way I can."

There was a pause, and I could see the relief in Dina's eyes as she finally felt a sense of validation, of acceptance.

But there was still something in the air—something unspoken, a tension that lingered. I wasn't sure what the future would hold for us, but I knew one thing for certain: the path forward would be difficult, and every choice we made would have consequences.

Dina was ready to move on. But as she made that declaration, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was still so much more we had to uncover, so many more secrets we needed to face. We could choose to move forward, to take a step into a new life, but we couldn't forget what had come before.

And as much as I wanted to believe everything would be fine, I knew we were all standing on the edge of something bigger than we could comprehend.

Dina's words hit me like a sudden shockwave. "Much more money I want, Mom. Much more I need."

I stared at her, completely taken aback. I hadn't expected this. My mind raced, trying to make sense of her request. She had always been so determined, but this? This felt different—urgent.

Mom, too, seemed surprised, but her expression quickly shifted to one of concern. "For what?" she asked, her voice cautious, almost hesitant.

Dina didn't hesitate. "To free my Aamz. My desired husband. From this damn company."

The room went silent for a moment. I could feel the weight of her words hanging in the air. She wasn't just talking about a financial transaction; she was speaking of liberation, of taking control of her future in a way I hadn't seen her do before. Aamz, her partner, her confidant, her hope—he was tied to this company, and Dina was willing to go to extreme lengths to break those chains.

I glanced at Mom, trying to gauge her reaction. She looked taken aback, but then a quiet understanding seemed to settle in her eyes. She knew that Dina's desire to help Aamz was more than just about love. It was about survival, about finding a way out of a situation that had ensnared them both.

"Dina," Mom said softly, "you've always been strong, but this... this is a big decision. You can't just buy freedom like that. Money won't solve everything. If Aamz truly wants to leave, we need to find another way—one that doesn't risk everything we've worked for."

Dina's eyes flashed with determination. "I know, Mom. But Aamz doesn't deserve to be trapped in that company, controlled by my father. He's been forced into so much already. This is my way of making sure he's free—of making sure we both have a chance at a future together. I'm not asking for much. Just enough to secure his release."

I could hear the desperation in her voice, the same desperation that had driven her to make so many difficult choices in the past. But this felt different. This was a gamble—a huge one. Could they really escape the grasp of my father's influence? Could they really buy their way out of this?

Mom sighed deeply, looking between the two of us. She understood Dina's pain. She understood what she was willing to do for Aamz. But at the same time, I could sense her hesitation. There were risks involved, and none of them were small.

"Dina," Mom began, "I want to support you, and I want you both to be free of this mess. But we need to approach this carefully. I don't want you to do something that could hurt you in the long run. We have to think about how we can do this without putting everything at risk."

Dina nodded, but I could see the fire in her eyes. She wasn't backing down. She had made up her mind, and she was willing to go to any length to make it happen.

I looked at Dina, then at Mom. The uncertainty was palpable, but one thing was clear: Dina was ready to take matters into her own hands, and I wasn't sure if anyone could stop her now.

But as the conversation ended and the night stretched on, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were all standing on the edge of something much larger—something that would change everything for us. And as much as we might want to control our futures, there were forces at play that none of us fully understood.

The next morning, at breakfast, I couldn't shake off the weight of Dina's words from last night. I glanced at her as she poured her coffee, the determination still clear in her eyes. Finally, I asked, "How will money help us, Dina?"

She looked up from her cup, a small, almost knowing smile crossing her face. "You'll see," she replied cryptically. "We should find people to play roles for money. Developers who can also be our cast."

Her answer puzzled me. Play roles? Cast? I didn't quite understand what she meant, but the way she said it made it clear she had a plan—one that, as usual, she wasn't ready to explain fully just yet.

"Roles for what? What are you planning, exactly?" I pressed, trying to make sense of her words.

Dina leaned back in her chair, her expression hardening. "We need people to act, to pretend. Developers, actors, anyone who can take on a role and play their part. If we can create a believable story, make people believe in it, we can get the money we need—and get Aamz out."

I felt a chill run through me. It was starting to dawn on me what she was saying. She wanted to create a scenario, a kind of performance, to manipulate the situation. "You mean like... staging something?" I asked, uncertain.

She nodded. "Exactly. We need to create a narrative, a situation that gets us what we need. If we can make people believe in it, they'll buy into it. It's all about perception, making them think it's real."

I didn't know what to think. The idea of using deception to achieve our goals felt wrong, but at the same time, I understood Dina's desperation. She was willing to do whatever it took to free Aamz, even if it meant crossing moral boundaries.

I hesitated for a moment, trying to wrap my head around it. "So, we find people to play these roles? But how do we know it'll work?"

Dina looked at me, a glimmer of resolve in her eyes. "It's risky, I know. But we have to try. We can't let this chance slip away. If we pull this off, we get what we need, and Aamz can finally be free."

I swallowed hard. The path she was suggesting seemed dangerous, fraught with lies and manipulation, but I could see the fire in her eyes. She wasn't backing down.

"Alright," I said, my voice steady despite the uncertainty inside me. "Let's do it. We'll find the right people, and we'll make this work."

Dina's expression softened for a moment, and I could see how much it meant to her that I was on board. "Thank you," she said quietly. "You have no idea how much this means."

But as I sat there, the weight of what we were about to do settled on me. This wasn't just about Aamz anymore. It was about us—our lives, our future—and the lies we were willing to weave to make it happen.

I didn't know if we could pull it off, or if it would all come crashing down. But one thing was clear: we were about to dive into something much darker than any of us had anticipated.

Soon, we found ourselves in a meeting room, with Dina at the head of the table, exuding an air of authority that felt almost foreign to me. She had arranged for five programmers she had found to join us. I watched, both in awe and disbelief, as she took charge of the situation.

"Alright," Dina began, her voice calm and firm. "You all need to introduce yourselves first as programmers employed by the head of the software team, Mr. Aamz." She paused, ensuring that each person nodded in understanding. "You'll start by presenting yourselves as his trusted team, working under his leadership."

The programmers exchanged looks, some more confused than others, but Dina's command was unquestionable. She continued without missing a beat. "Then, as the meeting progresses, you'll gradually introduce yourselves as distant relatives. Distant family members who support him—who support him a lot."

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. The whole situation felt surreal. We were fabricating a story—building a web of lies and deception. But Dina seemed so sure of it, her confidence unshaken by the gravity of what we were doing.

"The goal," Dina said, her gaze sweeping over the group, "is simple. My father, the big boss, needs to believe that you're untouchable. That you're more than just employees. You're family—people he can't simply dismiss or intimidate. People he has to respect. The moment he realizes you're connected to Aamz, he'll know better than to mess with you."

She paused, her eyes narrowing as she studied each of the programmers carefully. "And, of course, you'll have a salary from the company. But as your 'family member,' I will also provide additional compensation. You'll get paid for playing your roles. For being part of the 'cast.'"

I could feel the weight of her words as she spoke. "This isn't just about money," she added, her tone dropping slightly. "It's about creating a new reality. About making sure that when Aamz is in the picture, no one dares question him. No one dares to challenge him."

There was a silence in the room, a moment of hesitation before one of the programmers spoke up. "So, we're pretending to be more than we are?" he asked, voice uncertain. "What's the endgame here?"

Dina's eyes flashed with determination. "The endgame is freedom. The endgame is making sure Aamz can walk away from all of this without being under my father's thumb. The endgame is that we get to control the narrative. And you'll all be part of that."

The programmer nodded, though it was clear he wasn't fully comfortable with the plan. The others followed suit, agreeing reluctantly, but Dina's persuasive grip had already tightened around them.

I sat back, feeling a knot form in my stomach. This was happening. We were building a world of illusion, and there was no turning back. I wasn't sure how much longer I could live in this web of lies, but I could see that Dina was determined to push forward, no matter the cost.

"Good," Dina said, breaking the silence. "Let's get to work. You'll each start familiarizing yourselves with Aamz's projects and roles. Soon, you'll be part of the story we're telling. A story that will make sure my father knows exactly who he's dealing with."

I couldn't shake the feeling that we were all headed down a path that would be harder to undo the further we went. But as Dina looked around the room, her gaze sharp and focused, I realized that there was no turning back for her—or for any of us.

The plan was in motion, and we were all players in her game. The question was: how long could we keep up the act before everything started to unravel?

I leaned in closer to Aamz, my voice barely above a whisper. "Do you really accept this plan? It's... bold. Are you sure you're okay with it?"

He looked at me, his expression tired and worn. "I just want it all to be over," he said, his voice low, almost a murmur. "I'm so tired of this—of all the games, the lies, the constant pressure. I just want to be able to live a normal life again, without looking over my shoulder every time. I want my peace back."

His words struck me harder than I expected. Aamz, who had always seemed so composed, now seemed like a shell of himself, worn down by the weight of everything he'd endured. I could feel the weight of his exhaustion, the toll that all of this was taking on him.

"Do you really think this will work?" I asked, my concern creeping into my voice.

Aamz sighed, rubbing his temple as if the answer was something he'd been asking himself for a long time. "I don't know," he said honestly. "But at this point, I'll try anything. Anything that gets me out of this mess."

I understood then. It wasn't about the morality of the plan anymore—it was about survival. Aamz was so deep in the web my father had spun that he couldn't see any other way out. And neither could Dina. Neither could any of us.

"We just need to make sure we don't make any mistakes," I said, more to myself than to him.

He nodded, but his eyes were distant. "The risks are high. But if there's a chance this will get us to the other side, I'm willing to take it."

I watched him for a moment, the weight of the situation pressing down on both of us. For him, this was more than just a plan—it was his lifeline. For me, it was a terrifying plunge into unknown waters, a gamble with everything we had left.

I could hear the sounds of Dina giving instructions to the team in the next room, her voice full of confidence and control. It was surreal to think how quickly things had escalated, how far we had come from those initial days when everything seemed simpler.

Aamz's hand gripped the edge of the table, his knuckles white. "Let's just get this over with," he muttered under his breath. "I can't keep living like this."

I nodded slowly. "We will. But we have to be careful. We can't let things spiral out of control."

As we sat there, the weight of what we were about to do settled around us like a storm waiting to break. There was no going back.

The tension hung in the air like a thick fog, suffocating us with every breath. Aamz's words echoed in my mind: "I can't keep living like this." He was desperate for freedom, for escape from the twisted web my father had built around him. And as much as I hated it, I understood.

We were no longer just trying to survive—we were fighting to regain control of our lives. But every decision, every step forward, felt like a gamble. The stakes were high, and the risk of everything falling apart was ever-present.

As we left the room, preparing to face whatever came next, I couldn't shake the feeling that things were slipping further from our grasp. The plan was set. The roles were cast. But the question remained: Would it work? Or would we only sink deeper into the very darkness we were trying to escape?

The uncertainty loomed, and for the first time in a long while, I felt the weight of what we were about to do. There was no turning back. And as the door closed behind us, I realized that the real battle was only just beginning.