It had been close to a year since Umar and his mother had started living at Chaudhry's. While Sarwat was left with the duty of overseeing the servant staff of the farmhouse, Umar was drilled with a harsher reception.

He would have to wake up before dawn and work at the dairy farm. After that he was tasked with the duty of cleaning up and managing the horses at the stable. Following breakfast, his tutors would arrive and give him lessons ranging from regular subjects to business, finance, political sciences, Current & International affairs, alongside Law and Jurisprudence. By the time he would finish, it would already be lunchtime. He would then report to his duty of assisting the Factory Manager in overseeing the daily affairs. Before he could get his dinner he was supposed to tend to the horses and toil in the stables.

Umar did all this quietly and efficiently without batting an eye. Every night he would return home battered and bruised, but no matter what Sarwat said he wouldn't listen to a word about reducing his workload. Even the one day he had off from studying, he would spend it working or studying.

'More. I need to do more. I have to become the strongest.' Every single night he would go to bed with this one thought.

It was one of those days when Umar was cleaning up the Horses. A wooden bucket filled with dirty water tucked in his arms, while he walked away to dispose it off.

Even though he felt a little feverish that day, he wasn't willing to skip a day. That's when he collided into Chaudhry Nadeem and almost spilled the water on his clean clothes. Umar looked up to apologise for his mistake, when Chaudhry roughly grabbed the bucket from Umar's hands and turned the bucket over his head.

For a moment, Umar could do nothing but stand there in shock. But the next moment he had pushed against Chaudhry's chest, barely managing to budge him an inch from his place. However, unlike him Chaudhry pushed him down with one shove, but didn't stop there. Before Umar could get up, Chaudhry stomped on his chest, making Umar cry out in pain. His face scrunched up in pain but it did nothing to faze the old man.

"What? Are you feeling pain, brat? Or is it your big, inflated ego that is bruised?"

He crackled as Umar grunted in pain but without moving his foot, he bent down over Umar.

"That's right. The world is unfair. The last one standing is always going to be the one with most power. Nobody gives a damn if you did nothing wrong—You're weak and that is enough to make you the culprit."

He sneered and Umar clenched his teeth in restrained anger.

"Hah! After all the big words you spouted! You're nothing but a worthless piece of—" He couldn't finish because Umar threw the sand he'd gathered in his hand right into the old man's eyes; who pulled away from him instantly groaning in pain.

"Don't worry. I'll be the one having the last laugh."

Umar returned blankly and picked his bucket before making his exit.

———————

Standing barefoot in the balcony donning only sweatpants, Umar kept his piercing, cold gaze fixated on the illuminating moon. His one hand clutching at the railing and the other holding a lit cigarette against his parched lips, while he sucked in a long drag.

The fog of smoke releasing from his lips did nothing to the cloud of thoughts plaguing him. With an exasperated scoff, he casted the cigarette butt into the ashtray and returned to his room.

For a long moment he kept standing on the bedside, gazing at her peacefully asleep figure; a vacant look etched in his eyes. The next moment he'd come down to sit next to her.

'Why did you have to return....?' He thought to himself and slowly reached out his hand to caress her soft cheeks with the back of his fingers.

'The innocent guy you once knew is long dead. In his stead is me—A monster, who is only going to taint your pure and innocent existence.'

He mused distractedly. His gaze flickering across her face before he reached out to grab hold of a stray strand of her hair. Gazing down at her face with an inscrutable look etched in his eyes, he softly pressed his lips to the strand of her hair.

'...if you knew the real me, would you still give yourself to me so willingly, my little hope of dawn?'

He wondered as he closed his eyes and let go of the strand to watch it fall out of his reach.

As if Fajer had heard his silent thoughts, she moaned and turned away from him in her sleep. Immediately a sense of deprivation hit him, causing a displeased frown to form between his eyes.

Bending over, Umar passed his one arm under her neck and wrapped the other around her waist to make her face him. Slowly, she cracked her eyes open and looked up at him in a daze. Groaning in her sleep, she clutched his hand in both of hers and held it against her face before shutting her eyes close again.

"Don't leave—"

She murmured in sleep and snuggled closer to him. For a moment, Umar kept gaping at her wide eyed in surprise. Slowly a half grin extended across the corners of his lips and he carefully shifted her in his embrace, before planting a tender kiss on her forehead; his warm touch lingering.

'You should've escaped while I was still willing—Because now I keep getting greedier. I keep wanting you all for myself. That's why even if you beg me, I won't let you go.'

————————

"Sir, about the Karachi Derby—"

It was a weekend and Umar had brought Fajer to accompany him to his private stables. They had just got there when Umar's Stable Manager informed him about the emergency situation.

With a curt nod directed at Taimur; he signaled him to keep his mouth shut and gestured Buzdar to come over.

"Buzdar will take you around the stables. I'll be right there with you."

He turned towards Fajer and gently stroked her cheek, as he informed her this. In response, she smiled up at him in softly understanding and left with Buzdar.

"These are the training horses for Karachi racecourse, Madam. Gillani Sahab procured each and every one of them from the corners of the world. His love for horses is boundless." The head groom guided her across the stable, animatedly telling her all about Umar's love for horses; adding to the list of things Fajer didn't know about Umar.

"This is the oldest horse here, Badr. He's a wild one, Madam. Only Gillani Sahab can tame him. He had Badr with him since the very beginning."

When Fajer stopped in front of a black stallion, the groom cautioned her. Yet, Fajer didn't move away. Instead, stood infront of his stall and watched him curiously.

'Heh. You even resemble him.'

She thought bemused, and reached out to stroke his mane, but he whiffed his head and Fajer's hand accidentally hit the wooden door of the stall.

"Madam—!"

In a split second Buzdar had reached her side and gaped astonished at the trinkets of blood on her knuckles. She still couldn't bring herself to speak out in front of others, which made them create a huge fuss about the matter, causing Umar to hear about it.

"Why did you let her go near him—?! She didn't know but you did!"

Umar reached her side and began reprimanding the head groom. Instinctively, Fajer clutched at his shirt, beseeching him to stop.

Even though he'd stopped for the time being; yet, Umar continued to glare at the brute in frustration, restraining himself from lashing out at the poor, ignorant creature who was staring at Fajer with a hint of remorse, as if understanding his Master's anger.

Fajer watched the exchange bemused and took hold of Umar's hand and placed it atop hers.

"Fajer—" In a split second Umar realised what she was trying to do but he didn't pull away immediately, for fear of causing more harm than good. And true to her expectations, Badr didn't put up a fight this time.

"He's just like you..." She mumbled softly for Umar's ears only, who was now staring at a docile and obedient animal. It took him only a few minutes to warm up to Fajer, who brightened up in delight as Badr eagerly reached out to gobble the carrot from Fajer's hands.

'Don't even think about competing with me.'

Umar glared at the beast, who happily devoured down his meal from his Mistress's hand, completely unfazed by his master's displeasure.

————————

It was nearly midnight, when he returned to his room after finishing up his work in his study. He walked in to a dimly lit room to find Fajer standing in the balcony and watching the rainfall, completely oblivious of his presence.

With a smile, he carefully walked up to her and slowly wrapped his arms around her waist before burying his face in the crane of her neck.

"Why are you standing outside? You'll catch a cold." He murmured against her cold skin and brushed her hair to a side to press a soft, lingering kiss against her exposed nape.

Already familiar with his touch, Fajer closed her eyes with a sigh and leaned in his embrace.

"...it's warm..now..." She said with smile laced in her voice and draped her arms over his clutching at her waist.

"I have to go to Karachi tomorrow."

He mumbled and for a few moments there was only silence but Umar was well versed in reading her silence.

"...okay.."

"So you don't care if I go away?"

He kept distracting her by leaving a trail of kisses down her neck. She could feel the heat emanating from her cheeks even in this cold weather.

"..its work.."

Before she could finish, a sharp pain coursed through her neck when he bit on it sharply. She suppressed a moan by chewing on the inside of her lip.

"Oh? I thought you would try to stop me. Guess you're eager to get rid of me, huh?" He continued his torture and Fajer closed her eyes against his teasing caresses. Only a moment later, she pulled away from his embrace and turned to face him; who was looking at her with a cheeky smile caressing his features and eyes gleaming with amusement.

Watching the lack of remorse on his face, she glared at him reprovingly but it only caused to deepen his grin and he wrapped his arms around the small of her back. Before she could protest, he pulled her against his chest with a jerk leaving Fajer to gape at him open mouthed in shock. He took that moment to capture her lips in a kiss; leaving her breathless when he finally pulled away.

"I am not leaving unless you say it."

Fajer watched him through raspy gasps and glazed eyes, who was still holding onto her waist. Narrowing her eyes at him in anger she lifted her chin defiantly and shrugged carelessly; as if saying, 'Your call'.

Umar watched her response amused. A playful grin forming across his face at this unexpected development. Slowly, he leaned in closer and took hold of her chin.

"Don't regret your words later."

He smirked and without waiting for her response passed his arms under her knees and picked her up in his arms expertly. Fajer couldn't even cry out in surprise from the shock of it all.

"U—Umar—!" She finally cried out and gaped at him wide eyed in shock who could only chuckle at her frail attempts.

"It's too late to go back on your words now."

He teased. Still holding her in his arms who was tightly clutching at the front of his shirt in fear. Her face flushed and heart pounding rapidly against her chest.

"L-l-l-let—go—!" She ordered hotly through quivering lips.

"Hmm. What's in it for me?" He feigned seriousness and brought his face close to hers.

Fajer who was trembling in his embrace from shock and embarrassment kept gaping at him at a loss for words. She wanted to tell him that she was going to die of a heart failure if he didn't.

"I—I—-" She stuttered under his heated gaze and closed her eyes tightly before dropping her head against his chest, admitting her defeat.

Umar grinned at her reaction, throughly enjoying every second of it. He had found her weakness. And it was none other than himself and that thought pleased Umar to no end.

With a smirk, he carefully let her down on the bed and came to sit down on the floor beside her. Slowly and cautiously Fajer opened her eyes to find him kneeling beside her.

"What am I supposed to do if you're going to play unfair?" He inquired with dejection and Fajer felt her mouth dropping in shock. Who's being unfair here?! She wanted to ask him but could only glare at him.

"I didn—" She tried saying but Umar dropped his head with a disappointed sigh making Fajer worried for a second there.

"U—Umar—" She slowly reached out and touched his shoulder.

The next second Umar grabbed hold of her injured hand and placed a tender kiss on top of it. Leaving Fajer to gape at him wide eyed.

"You're so easy to trick. How could you fall for the same trick two times in a row?" He beamed mischievously, shaking his head at her naivety. He had just stood up to leave; when Fajer clutched at his hand abruptly.

"B—because its—you—"

At her words Umar stopped in his tracks. It took him another moment to turn over his shoulder; the smile no longer caressing his lips. Slowly he stepped closer to her and bent over her by placing his both hands on the bed on her either side, caging her in his clutches.

"I could trick you again you know. Are you sure you should trust me so blindly?" He peered into her face, getting pulled into those azure orbs.

Fajer gulped and blinked at him; only for her arms to come up and wound around his neck, pulling him closer to her.

"If it's you—I would gladly—without any doubt—give myself up—every single time—I am yours—afterall—each and—every inch of me—"

For a split second, a dark shadow loomed across Umar's face but the next moment he had pressed his lips against hers in a bruising kiss. His hands wrapping around her frail frame and bringing her down on the bed with him on top of her.

'It might hurt to love you. But not loving you has been impossible from the start.'

Assalamualaikum!! Hope you liked the update InshaAllah☺️Awaiting your thoughts. Don't forget to vote♥️