Chapter Sixty: The Mysterious Tattoo

After a long day, Aboud decided to take a quick shower to relax. He undressed and stepped into the bathroom, letting the hot water flow over his tired body. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Aboud paused for a moment, looking cautiously toward the door.

Aboud (to himself): "Who could it be at this time?"

Quickly, he wrapped a towel around his waist and stepped out of the bathroom, heading toward the door. When he looked through the peephole, he saw a tall woman standing with her back to the door. He hesitated for a moment before opening it.

Aboud (with a questioning tone): "Who's at the door?"

There was no response. He opened the door slowly, and the woman turned to face him—it was Aurora.

Aboud (surprised): "Aurora? What are you doing here?"

Aurora stood there, looking at Aboud in shock. His body was almost bare, his muscles tense and clearly visible, marked with old scars from deep wounds, telling the story of battles and challenges he had faced. For a moment, Aurora found herself unable to speak.

Aurora (with a trembling voice): "Aboud... I... I didn't know..."

Aboud felt a little embarrassed but maintained his calm.

Aboud (with a faint smile): "It's okay. Come in."

Aurora entered the room cautiously, but as Aboud turned to guide her toward the chair, she noticed something on his back. There was a strange tattoo covering part of it, with symbols that seemed vaguely familiar, though she couldn't quite recall where she had seen them before.

Aurora (hesitantly): "Aboud... what's that tattoo on your back?"

Aboud paused for a moment, recalling the days in prison, especially the moment he received the tattoo. He remembered Grigor sitting next to him, tattooing his back himself.

(Flashback)

Grigor held the tattoo tool in his hand while Aboud sat on a wooden chair in their cell. Grigor's face was filled with seriousness.

Grigor (in a calm voice): "Every person who enters this prison gets a tattoo. It's a tradition here."

Aboud (hesitantly): "But why this particular tattoo? It's too big and takes up a lot of space on my back. I don't even know what it means."

Grigor (in a cryptic tone): "Quiet. You'll understand in time. It holds more than what you see with your eyes."

(Return to the present)

Aboud (calmly, but filled with memories): "This tattoo is from prison. Grigor gave it to me. He said it was tradition, but he never told me its true meaning."

Aurora continued to stare at the tattoo, trying to remember where she had seen this symbol before. She felt there was something hidden behind this tattoo, something connected to her father.

Aurora (with a trembling voice): "I feel like I've seen this tattoo before... but I can't remember where."

Aboud looked at Aurora, trying to understand what was going on in her mind.

Aboud (seriously): "Do you know something about this tattoo?"

Aurora (deep in thought): "Maybe... but I'm not sure. I need time to think. There's something familiar about this symbol."

The atmosphere was charged with tension and mystery. Aurora sat on the chair, her eyes fixed on the tattoo, while Aboud stood with his back to her. She felt that a big secret was hiding behind this tattoo, one that had not yet revealed itself. She didn't know what the tattoo meant, but she was sure it was linked to her father and the digital wallet John had mentioned.

Aboud (in a calm voice): "If this tattoo is important, why didn’t Grigor tell me its true meaning?"

Aurora (softly): "Grigor was full of secrets. Maybe he was trying to protect you in some way."

Aboud felt that something significant was about to unfold, but he didn't know how to handle this new information. He knew that Grigor wasn’t an ordinary person, and everything related to him was filled with mysterious secrets.

Aurora (in a distressed voice): "John called me earlier and told me I had to fire you... and return the money I gave you. He tried to assert his control over me, saying that everything was because of him and that he could take it away in a second."

Aboud (shocked): "Because of me? Is all this happening because I refused to work with him?"

Aurora (in a shaky voice): "Work with him? Has he returned to his dirty dealings?"

Aboud: "I don't know, but I think it was always dirty business."

Aboud paused for a moment to think. He didn’t want to cause problems for Aurora, but he knew that his relationship with John had become more complicated after he rejected the offer to join his shady operations.

Aboud sat down on the chair and looked at Aurora, trying to calm her down. His face showed signs of deep thought and concern over recent developments.

Aboud (calmly): "What exactly was John trying to get me to do?"

Aurora (hesitantly): "He told me he left all those dirty dealings behind. He said he was trying to start a new life with me, away from everything he used to do. But now... it seems like he’s lying."

Aboud (in shock): "You didn’t know?"

Aurora (starting to cry): "No... I didn’t know he was still involved in those things. I believed him... I thought everything had changed after my father died. Now... I don’t know what to do."

Aurora collapsed into tears, throwing herself into Aboud’s arms as if seeking refuge from all the pressure and tension. Aboud felt a mix of confusion and pity for her but knew he had to remain strong.

Aboud hugged Aurora gently and said with confidence: "Don't be afraid, Aurora. I’m here, and I’ll help you. You don’t have to face this alone."

Aurora lifted her tearful eyes to look at Aboud: "What can I do? I’m lost. John controls everything, and I had no idea how deep his involvement was in my life."

Aboud (in a steady voice): “Don’t let him control your life. You’re strong enough to change your course. I’ve seen how you run your company and manage your affairs with determination. Don’t let him destroy what you’ve built. Together, we can find a way out of this mess.”