Chapter 11
Hassan’s POV
My office was growing more
crowded by the second, packed with people offering congratulations on my
engagement to Sakina. Honestly, I would’ve preferred all the cheek kisses and
shoulder pats to happen at the ceremony tonight—not here, not now.
The ceremony was set to take
place here, and I already regretted it. The air felt too tight—I couldn’t
think, couldn’t breathe.
I shrugged off my jacket,
leaving myself in just my vest and shirt, sleeves rolled, frustration rising.
Everyone was too damn close. Too damn cheerful.
My uncle slid into the chair
across from me, his cane resting between his legs. The man was as old as time.
“Congratulations,” he said.
“Thanks… I’m working,” I
replied, not bothering to look up from the paperwork in front of me.
“You’ve outpaced quite a few
young bachelors who were lining up to court her. You’ve done well for yourself.
That one had a lot of eyes on her.”
“Well, Uncle,” my gaze, to him,
“I hope those eyes have lost their appetite. As the saying goes—any eye that
hungers for another man’s plate should be ripped out and burned. Clearly, it
has no use.”
He rested his wrist on top of
his cane. “I just thought it best to mention… my son was one of them.”
Right on cue, his son walked
through the door into the now stifling room. Younger than me. A man I’d once
respected—worked alongside, learned from. Now, he was a threat stepping into my
den.
A few girls in the office
swooned at his entrance, though—not as much as they once did for me. There was
a time I relished that attention, the coos and giggles that followed me. Now? I
craved something quieter. I lived for the hesitant moans that slipped from my
dove’s lips.
Our eyes met across the room.
There’s a loaded gun in the
drawer beside me. I know how to use it. Let’s just say if I killed him—and
every other man who thought they had a claim to her—I’d sleep fine. He walked
over smoothly, sat down without so much as a nod. That’s how we are now. Cold.
Silent. Dangerous.
He probably sees me as an
enemy.
Perfect. The feeling is mutual.
“You beat me to it,” he said at
last.
I didn’t flinch. “Beat you to
what, exactly?”
“The golden goose. Sakina
Rayan. I’ve had my eyes on her longer than you. You moved too early, Hassan.
That could void the arrangement—you know the rules.”
“Oh, you mean the rules you
just conveniently made up?” I said, voice flat. “She could’ve been ten—I still
could’ve claimed her if I wanted to. I picked her last year, and I paid a
fortune to make the arrangement official. That’s why there’s a ceremony tonight.
It’s already done.”
My uncle leaned forward in his
chair, both hands now gripping the curve of his cane. “How about we make a
deal?”
A deal? For my wife?
Interesting.
So, other men really do want
her. Fine. I’ll just have to start compiling a death list. And I won’t need an
assassin—I’ve never minded getting my hands dirty. In fact, I rather enjoy it.
“I’m listening,” I said
sedately.
He turned to his son with a
smug little grin, as if he thought I was about to crumble. He had no idea. If
another human being so much as touches Sakina, I’ll murder the devil himself
and take over the job of wreaking havoc on this godforsaken land.
“We’ll give you two of our
companies,” he said. “And the Mystic Mountain Estate. We know how much you’ve
always wanted it.”
I had always wanted Mystic
Mountain for myself—a quiet place, secluded and serene. Perfect for raising a
family. The lake that split the land and ran up to the foot of the mountain was
breathtaking. But even that beauty paled in comparison to her. My wife was
everything. No estate, no amount of land, could ever compete with that.
I smoothed my brow and held my
composure. “How about you go fuck yourself,” I said with a calm, intentional
smile. Then, pointing at both men—the ones who dared to believe money could
ever be worth more than my wife—I added, “The both of you. Go fuck yourselves.”
I spoke low enough so no one
else in the room could hear, just for their ears.
“I don’t think you’re talking
to us,” his son snapped. “Papa, everyone here knows I saw Sakina first.”
I growled. “Why don’t you go
cry about it with your dick in your hand? Hell, cut the damn thing off and
shove it up your own ass.”
I rose slowly, making sure they
felt the shift in power as I stood over them. “You know this side of the family
isn’t made up of soft men. We’re murderers when we need to be. And don’t think
I didn’t notice your little move at the party—” I paused as my uncle swung his
cane, but I caught it mid-air, calmly, easily. “Trying to scare me, Uncle?”
Then my eyes locked with his
son’s. “She’s mine.”
“She’s not yours until you’re
married. Her parents can still call it off.”
I grinned. “They already know
who they’re fucking with. And you two should remember as well.”
I stood tall, firm in my
conviction. Then, turning to the room: “Everyone, please excuse yourselves from
my office. My butlers will escort you to the main hall for the ceremony.”
My tone left no room for
argument. People began to file out quickly as the two butlers appeared at the
door.
I turned to the two men still
seated. “Get. Out.” The words came out like a lash.
My uncle stood slowly, eyes
narrowed. “This isn’t the end.”
I leaned in slightly, letting
my grin sharpen. “It better be.”
“Yeah—unless I’m not chugging
your balls in my next protein shake,” I muttered coldly.
“Sick bastards,”
His son pulled him up, both of
them slow and pitiful.
“Fat fucks,” I spat after them.
I turned to my personal butler,
who had been standing quietly in the corner the entire time.
“Yes, Ma’am. At your service.”
“I want a list of every single
suitor who’s ever laid eyes on my wife,” I ordered. “Make a trip to the family
estate headquarters. I want names, histories, intentions—everything. And once
you have them, send out invitations. Every last one of them. I’m welcoming everyone.”
I smirked at the thought.
“Yes, Ma’am,” he said, bowing
slightly before disappearing from the room.
I sat down again, a dark
satisfaction curling in my chest. If there were too many eyes on her, good. Let
them look. It only made me want her more. I’d lose my damn mind over that
woman. Hell, I already was.
She was mine. My soulmate. It
was love at first sight—for me, at least. And that was enough.
A low groan escaped me when the
door opened again, dragging me out of my thoughts. My eyes flicked up,
narrowing as I recognized the woman standing in the doorway.
Khadija.
Once, she meant something.
Maybe more than something. A fling, yes—but there was history. Time had passed,
though, and I wasn’t looking back.
She struck a pose, clearly
thinking her beauty still had power over me. I rolled my eyes and returned to
my paperwork. I had deadlines to finish, a ceremony to get through—and then,
finally, my wife in my bed.
I heard her heels clicking
closer before her voice followed. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks,” I said without
looking up.
"Please, Hassan. You
disappeared for months—and then the next thing I hear, you’re getting
engaged?"
"I am engaged," I
replied flatly.
“We both know an engagement
isn’t binding. It’s not marriage. Engagements can be broken.”
I leaned back in my chair.
"Is that your subtle way of making a suggestion?"
"You promised to marry
me," she snapped. "And then you vanished… Didn’t you hear what I just
said?"
Her lips, painted a sharp red,
were the only thing visible under the shadow of her broad fedora. Khadija
always dressed like a goddess—and spoke like a cursed one.
"If I recall correctly,
you left. You went off to America, didn’t you? Or has time started blurring
your memory?”
“I did leave. But you abandoned
me at the Wilton Estate. Left me stranded with nothing but maids and butlers.
One month of hell, Hassan. I nearly went insane.”
“Then maybe you need a
therapist.”
She blinked, caught off guard.
“What?”
“You said you nearly went
crazy. So clearly, a therapist would be the next step.” I watched her remove
her hat and place it carefully on the edge of my desk, where it swung slightly,
like a pendulum counting down her patience.
“At least I didn’t leave you
completely alone,” I added, my tone dry.
“I can’t stand your foul
attitude,” she snapped. “You’ve always had the worst personality.”
“And yet here you are,” I said,
smirking.
She scowled. “Exactly. That’s
what I don’t understand. I don’t get why I’m still attracted to you.”
“Delusional, my dear,” I said,
folding my arms. “But go ahead. What do you want to talk about? I’m sure it’s
of no real importance, but I’m willing to waste a few minutes listening.”
“I know you have no intention
of leaving my cousin for me.”
“Well,” I said with a slow nod,
“you’re absolutely right about that.”
“Just… hear me out.”
“I’m all ears.”
“By law, you’re allowed to have
multiple wives—as long as they’re treated equally. You can still have me. This
is a one-time offer.”
I chuckled dryly. “Seems
everyone’s full of offers today. Of all days. Brilliant ideas flying in from
every direction.”
“I mean no disrespect to your
ceremony. Congratulations, by the way,” she added with a tight-lipped smile
that barely masked her disdain.
“My answer to your ‘one-time
offer’”—I made air quotes—“is simple: you can be the third person today I’ve
told to go fuck themselves.”
“Two women in your bed…”
“You think I’m marrying for
lust? To boast about how many women warm my bed?” I narrowed my eyes.
“Not exactly.”
“Then kindly excuse yourself
from my presence. I hope to see you at the ceremony. And I sincerely hope your
congratulations are more genuine later on—otherwise, I may have to remove your
tongue myself. It doesn’t seem to be serving any good purpose lately.”
She gave a sardonic laugh. “You
didn’t say that when I was using it on you.”
“Excuse me?” I stared at her
sharply.
She rose to her feet, smoothing
her dress. “I’ll see you tonight.”
“Yes,” I replied, leaning back
with a smug grin. “You will. I’m the one winning here, after all.”
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