Chapter 26 · Untitled Chapter

The heavy cedar doors of the private wing remained closed, but the stillness of the corridor beyond had fractured. Through the carved lattice panels overlooking the gallery toward the central majlis, the rising murmur of masculine voices carried with unmistakable sharpness.

Ammi’s voice was the first to cut across the quiet, strained beyond his customary measured cadence.

"The files Bandar holds are unverified transcripts!" my uncle insisted, the echo of his pacing audible even at this distance.

"They are internal administrative memorandums stripped of context. A guest in my house cannot be shielded by documents that circumvent the family council. By every customary law of this estate, Noura must be placed in the perimeter vehicle until the inquiry is concluded!"

Bandar did not move from the table where the ledger lay open. He picked up his string of dark amber beads, letting them slip between his thumb and forefinger with deliberate, rhythmic clicks. His expression remained utterly unreadable, the cold composure that defined him settling into something immovable.

"He is appealing to the room because he knows the ink on the digital stamp cannot be retracted," Bandar said quietly, meeting my gaze across the subdued amber light of the wing.