An Incomplete Forever

Synopsis:

Zayn Aydin had always believed his path was clear—faith, ambition, and discipline guiding his every step. At 23, with a degree in sports medicine, he was set on pursuing his master’s studies, never once distracted by fleeting emotions. Love, especially the kind that defied his beliefs, had no place in his life.

But then came Katrina Elise.

A woman of breathtaking beauty and timeless grace, Katrina was the kind of person who left a lasting impression. At 37, she carried herself with elegance, her presence both commanding and delicate. But she was also married, someone who should have never looked at Zayn the way she did.

Yet, she was the one who fell first.

What started as admiration turned into something far more dangerous. Katrina tried to suppress the emotions clawing at her heart, but in the end, she confessed. She loved him. And in that moment, everything changed.

Zayn never planned to love her back—but he did. And he fell harder.

Caught in a whirlwind of forbidden emotions, torn between the faith that shaped him and the woman who shattered his walls, Zayn faces an impossible choice. To love her means risking everything. To lose her means breaking himself.

When love is a sin and desire is a curse, how do you walk away from the one thing your heart beats for?

What begins as admiration soon turns into an emotional battle neither of them is prepared for. Can love exist when the world insists it shouldn’t? Can Zayn fight the feelings that threaten to shatter everything he believes in? And if love is real, why must it remain unfinished?

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CHAPTER 1 (THE FIRST STEP INTO THE UNKNOWN)

Zayn

I adjusted the black dress shirt I was wearing, smoothing out the creases before running a hand through my neatly styled hair. A hint of cologne lingered in the air as I checked my reflection one last time. Today marked the beginning of a new chapter in my life—my first day at work.

Fresh out of university with a degree in Sports Medicine, I had been fortunate enough to land a job as a Sports Physician and Health Consultant at an international company. It wasn’t just luck, though. My younger sister, who worked at a different branch, had recommended my name when a vacancy opened up. I wasn’t about to turn down an opportunity like this—especially not one that paid well for someone with no prior experience.

Despite it being my first day, I wasn’t about to skip my morning routine. Exercise was non-negotiable. After a solid session at the gym near my new workplace, I packed up my gear and checked my watch—10:57 AM. Perfect timing. My shift started at 11 and ended at 8 PM.

As I stepped out of the gym and made my way to work, I couldn’t shake the feeling of anticipation. First impressions were everything. During my interview, I had arrived 30 minutes early—just to be safe. The hiring manager had even praised my punctuality. I intended to keep that reputation intact.

When I arrived, I took a moment to take in my surroundings. The store was sleek and modern, specializing in health and beauty products. It was no surprise that I had been assigned to the health section. I already had a rough idea of my role, but today was all about getting familiar with the place.

I approached the counter where a young woman, probably in her mid-20s, was handling a transaction.

"Assalamualaikum. I’m the new consultant," I greeted her politely.

She glanced up and smiled. "Walaikumussalam. Oh, you must be the new Health Consultant?"

"That’s right."

She returned my smile before disappearing into an office, speaking briefly to a male colleague. Moments later, she reappeared.

"You can go inside. Your supervisor will handle your onboarding."

I nodded and stepped into the office. Seated behind a desk was a young man in his early 20s, focused on his computer screen. His fair complexion contrasted with my sunkissed skin, and his sharp, narrow eyes gave off a mixed-heritage look.

Without glancing up, he extended a hand. "ID card."

I handed him my IC, watching as he inserted it into a card reader—most likely the attendance system. His fingers moved swiftly across the keyboard before he suddenly let out a sigh. He grabbed the office phone and dialed a number.

"There’s an issue. The system isn’t recognizing your ID," he informed me, briefly meeting my gaze before returning to his call.

I nodded, waiting in silence as he discussed the problem with someone on the other end. The quiet felt slightly awkward, so I decided to break it.

"What’s your name?" I asked casually.

"Mohd Hariz," he replied without looking up. "You?"

"Zayn Aydin. Just call me Zayn."

Hariz gave a small nod before continuing his work.

"How old are you?" I asked again, just making conversation.

"21."

I raised an eyebrow, surprised. So my supervisor is younger than me? Interesting.

A few minutes later, he finally pushed my ID back toward me.

"Alright, it’s done. But since there was a system error, your clock-in was delayed. To avoid any payroll deductions, you’ll need to stay an extra 30 minutes today to make up for it."

I accepted the explanation with a nod. First day, and I was already working overtime.

"By the way," I asked, slipping my ID into my wallet, "How long is our lunch break?"

"An hour," Hariz answered. "For specialists like you, lunch breaks are fixed—3 PM on weekdays, 4 PM on weekends. No shift rotations."

He leaned back slightly before adding, "Any other questions?"

I hesitated before asking the one thing that had been on my mind. "Where do people usually go to pray?"

Hariz visibly tensed before scratching the back of his head. "Uh… to be honest, no one here really prays." He looked a bit guilty as he admitted it. "But if you want, you can pray here in the office."

I simply nodded. It wasn’t unexpected, but I had already decided—I wasn’t going to let my prayers slip, even at work.

"Alright," Hariz stood up. "Let me give you a quick tour of the place before we get started."

I followed him out of the office, taking in my new workplace with a calm yet determined mindset.

First day, new environment, unfamiliar faces.

I had no idea what awaited me here—but I was ready to find out.

This is just a sneak peek of my novel! What do you think so far? Drop your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear your opinions! Your feedback means the world to me. 💬✨