Hi guys. This is a long chapter by the way and pretty good honestly, atleast that's what I think lol.

Enjoy. Make sure to vote and comment, tell me what y'all think.

Also, pretty sure there's like five more chapters left of this :)

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@RoyalArchives : Prince Illyas Najaf spotted in Buredaan this morning. The Prince will be accompanying King Najaf and Queen Beyza on their one day trip to Maraaish.

Haya.

There were a lot of things that I had been called throughout the 26 years of my life. I had been called spoiled and stubborn, I had been named bratty and bitchy, I had been labelled as the Princess who cared more about her shoes that she did about people.

I had been called spoiled by my own family, by my own husband. I had been called stubborn by the very same people.

And yes, to an extent I always ended up agreeing with them. I acted spoiled at times, I was stubborn and hardly ever listened to what the other person had to say, I was even a bitch sometimes and yes, I didn't care about how someone felt at times.

But, in my entire life, I'd never been called selfish and I'd never felt selfish either.

Today, I felt that way. I felt like I needed to call my own self selfish.

For the first time, I didn't feel happy for someone of my family. I felt devastated. I felt awful. I felt like something was being taken away from me when it wasn't even like that.

I felt jealous.

I'd never been jealous of anyone in my lifetime. I'd never been jealous of Aaliyah, out of all people.

Not because I was the daughter of the King and she wasn't, but because Aaliyah was like the sister I never had. She had been my confidant and my best friend for the longest time. She was the last person I wanted to feel jealous from. She was the last person I didn't want to be happy for.

She desrved to bw happy after all that she had gone through in her life. I wanted her to have the best. I wanted happy and secure and here she was, having both of these things in her life and here I was, not even able to feel happy for her.

Was I really selfish?

Did I not think about anyone but myself?

How could I focus on my misery when my own brother was going to be a father? How could I focus on my own grief when my best friend was going to be a mother?

How could I think that I deserved the same when my family was about to add a whole new generation?

I had not been able to think straight, hadn't been able to feel anything but useless and pathetic, hadn't been able to even feel good enough about anything or anyone.

A part of me had really started to feel like I wasn't ever going to have a child. All of Amir's hopes and dreams, they would never come true because of me. My entire obsession with being a mother, with holding my flesh and blood in my arms, being a person that my children could look up to, it was all going to go in vain.

I would never be able to become a mother.

Yes, there were ways to have a child. There was surrogacy and adoption, there was IVF and so many other new ways but knowing the traditions of Maraaish, they would never let it happen.

And even if I were to argue and fight over it, even if I were to do what my heart desired, what was to stop my child from getting his rightful share? What was to stop them from not even considering him my child? Or Amir's child for that matter?

And then there was the Amir's position, his stature.

He was a Crown Prince.

What would happen if he didn't have an heir?

I didn't even want to think about that.

No matter how much I thought or who I thought of, it all ended up making me feel like I wasn't good enough.

Like I'd never be good enough to be a mother.

Once again, Amir's other mother's words rang in my ear.

My sins were the reason I wasn't having a child.

What if I asked for forgiveness? Would God give me a child then? Would he let me feel like myself again?

But then what about Amir? He was also in the same boat as I was. He also needed a child.

He was the most spiritual and religious person I had seen in my side of the world. He prayed, he prayed and he prayed so much. He tried to do everything right. Why was he being punished then? Why was he not being blessed?

Why was all of it so complicated?

Why did my heart feel so heavy? Why did my body feel like it was burning? Why did my head scream jealousy and insecurity?

It was Aaliyah and Yusuf.

It was my best friend and my brother.

I needed to be happy. I had to be happy.

Amir.

It wasn't the fact that the Prince didn't feel happy for his Buredaani counterpart, it was simply his own insecurity that had chosen to poke at his heart once again. It was his own guilt that had arose one more time. It was his own complex situation that was nagging him again.

It was his own mind, telling him that he might not be able to see this kind of bliss anytime soon. It was his own heart screaming that he was the reason behind all of it. It was his past mistakes that were making him so conscious of the current situation.

The what ifs were going on and on in his head. What if he had forgiven Haya at the right time? What if he had been able to cause her to not stress so much? What if he had embraced her the day he had asked her not to let her go? What if he had listened to her pleas and told her to stay?

What if he hadn't been so stubborn and so angry about a past mistake? About a broken promise? What if he hadn't hurt her, just to get back at her because she had done the same?

He knew everything in life was God's will but he also knew that God took our own actions in consideration too.

If hardwork and prayers could lead to success, then hurting someone could lead to personal loss too.

Hurting a fellow human being was known to cause punishment in this world and in the hereafter. Hurting a spouse was way worse, much worse.

And as if he hadn't hurt her enough which led to the loss of their baby, he had also told her to let go of the child she was so willing to adopt. The beautiful boy that she had named with such a big heart.

When he had married Haya, he'd never expected her to be so open to the idea of starting a family or having a child and now, when she was so concerned and so obsessed with the idea of it, they weren't going from two to three.

He was heartbroken.

For Haya, and for himself.

It was everytime he looked at the way his brothers would act with their children. It was the way they would make them wear the traditional Maraaishi clothes. It was the way they would teach their children how to spray their hands and clothes with Bukhoor. It was the way the children would yell baba and whine or complain about something. It was the way his brothers continued to have children.

He wasn't envious of them, God no. They were all a blessing and he prayed for God to bless them with more but he had just started to feel a little complete.

Even a little more after Yusuf's announcement.

He let the warm water of the shower try to make him feel better but with his closed eyes, he could only see Haya's shocked expression and the heartbreaked he had witnessed with the way she had smiled with tears in her eyes.

He didn't know what to do. He didn't know how to make her feel better, how to feel better himself.

It was the third time his father had asked him if there was any news he wanted to share with them..it was the first time he had replied with When God wills, baba.

He knew he had no control over it. All he could do was pray, all he could do was wait.

He knew that his family thought Haya was the reason be didn't have a child yet. They thought she didn't want to start a family so soon.

If only they knew, if only they could understand the pain she was going through.

After the visit at the Palace and making sure Yusuf and his wife were comfortable enough to sleep for the night, Amir had returned to his own room at the Palace.

Haya, who had feigned a fake smile throughout lunch hadn't spoken ever since. She hadn't even taken her makeup off or changed clothes.

When Amir told her he was going to shower, she told him she would just sleep for a little while.

When he returned to the room, Haya was already asleep.

When he pulled the duvet on his body and closed his eyes, all he could think about was how she must have been feeling throughout the day.

Amir turned to her side, putting his hand on her waist and pulling her closer.

If Haya even woke up due to the stir, she didn't say anything. Neither did he.

In reality, both of them were awake. They just didn't have much to say tonight.

"I wanted to apologize to you, your majesty. I'm sorry that all of it turned out this way. I hope you can forgive me."

It was Illyas apologizing to King Abdullah, an act that was absolutely surprising to his siblings.

King Abdullah let out a gentle nod.

"You're going to be a part of this family from now on, Prince. All of it is forgiven."

"Thank you. It means a lot to me."

He turned to face Amir, exhaustion and worry evident on his face.

"Amir, I hope all is forgiven?"

Amir hummed, nodding again.

"Of course, Illyas. My sister is going to be your responsibility soon, I can't afford to be angry with you."

"My sister is literally married to you, man. I can't afford you being angry with me." He shot back, chuckling as everyone's attention went back to the King's.

"Since the dates are finalized and everything is planned, why don't we proceed towards lunch now?"

"Adil, is your-"

"They're already present in the dining hall, baba. Everyone's waiting on King Najaf and you."

"Good."

It was the way things were supposed to be in the monarchy.

King Najaf and King Abdullah moved side by side, walking in the front. Behind them were Crown Prince Amir and Yusuf, as per tradition. Right behind, it was the Prince Illyas and Prince Adil. Two of Amir's other brothers were not in the country and Prince Shahid had chose not to be a part of a miserable affair.

No one had forced him to come.

On the other hand, Queen Azeezah had greeted the Buredaani Queen on the entrance of the Palace. It was the way she would always meet with the women of heads of state, separately. It wasn't very common but it was still something she understood and knew how to handle well. She hardly ever showed her face to the men.

It was the first time Haya had seen her this way. In the almost two years of her marriage, this was the first time she was witnessing Amir's mother in all her glory..

Of course, they had their own tradition. Aaliyah had joined her mother in law the moment their aircraft landed in Maraaish.

For the first time, Haya hadn't been there to greet her family.

Amir had told her to play the role of the Crown Prince's wife today. She didn't have any energy to argue or protest.

She stood by the side of Amir's other mother, the second Queen or whatever bullshit role she was playing right now. The sweet smile on her face and the humbleness was nauseating.

Queen Azeezah always radiated positivity and warmth, Haya never felt like that with the scorn woman.

Once the woman had greeted both the Queen and Aaliyah, Haya moved forward to embrace her mother.

The Queen immediately sensed something was wrong. Call it mother's instinct or the way her eyes weren't shining today, the woman knew Haya wasn't well. Something was clearly bothering her.

When she pulled back and put her hand on Haya's cheek, in a way asking if she was okay, Haya only leaned into the touch and wanted to give into her own vulnerability.

When she looked at Aaliyah by her mother's side and everyone witnessing the exchange, Haya managed to let out a small grin.

"Hi mom." She whispered with a smile, kissing her cheeks in the traditional Buredaani way to freak her out.

She changed everyone's curious gaze into a surprised one, then she moved onto Aaliyah.

After all the pleasantries and talk, Suhoor was called into the huge hall. She entered with her sister Najma and her sister in laws, immediately greeting the Queen of Buredaan with a respectful salam.

Haya saw her mother stand up on her feet, taking the girl in an embrace. Aaliyah managed to shake Suhoor's hands with a smile, shooting Haya a look.

Haya gave another fake smile, faking herself over and over again throughout the day.

When it was time for lunch, once again, the traditions were followed. Queen Azeezah and Queen Salma walked by either side of Buredaan's Queen.

Haya was right behind them, with Aaliyah walking by her side. Next were the wives of Akbar and Waleed, and right behind them were Najma and Suhoor.

The women sat on one side of the dining hall and the men on the other, with Illyas and Suhoor at so much distance that they couldn't even gaze at one another.

After lunch, King Abdullah asked for a personal meeting with Illyas. King Najaf didn't decline and the way Illyas stood up with no hesitation or intimidation, it surprised everyone in the dining hall.

When the men sat in the hall, King Najaf instructed Yusuf to visit the Buredaani embassy in Maraaish. Yusuf stood up and nodded, since it had been decided way earlier.

Amir asked Adil to accompany the man, leaving king Najaf and Amir all alone in the big hall.

Since it was a private family event, even the closest of Uncles were kept at bay.

"We have some time before your father and my son come back, Amir. You can talk to me freely."

He didn't know how but the King had sensed that Amir wanted to have a talk with him. He had sensed that the Prince was not alright.

On the other hand, Amir had also seen how the man had only greeted his daughter with a salam and asked about her health in the most simple way possible.

Haya hadn't even looked her father in the eye. On any other day, Haya would have fought the man for acting this way with her.

When the Prince looked up at the King, he didn't see the King of Buredaan, he saw Haya's father.

"It's about Haya." Amir told the man, causing the King to frown in concern.

"What about Haya?" King Najaf asked, Amir took a deep breath.

"You have to forgive her, your majesty."

He knew that the terms between Haya and her father weren't good, and while she had talked to him once or twice, it had been literally out of courtesy and Haya was impacted by it.

"I've always called you son, Amir. I'm not the King right now, I'm just a father and you know that."

King Najaf said, Amir let out a nod and thanked the man first.

"You have to forgive Haya. Please." He murmured, not liking the fact that he was interfering but he really had no other option.

"Please understand that I would have never interfered in this. I would have never uttered a word because this isn't my concern but she's my wife and-"

He hesitated for a moment, looking at the man with helpless eyes.

"And I don't know how to make her feel better right now, you do." He stated, King Najaf motioned for him to go on.

"I can't tell you what happened but she's not alright. She misses you obviously, you're her father but lately, it's been more than that."

He added, waiting for a response.

"Haya is my daughter. She's the child that I have the most love for, Amir-" The old man waited for a moment, as if he was also trying to contemplate whether he wanted to complete the sentence or not.

After a moment, he spoke again.

"But she broke my faith in her when she hid something of this sort. Daughters are supposed to make their fathers proud, not embarass them."

He never wanted to discuss Haya this way with Amir but he also knew that Amir was not the kind of man who would feel good hearing about someone's shortcomings, especially his own wife's.

"I understand that, and I was mad at her about it as well but it wasn't her fault." Amir defended, continuing.

"Haya didn't choose to do this, it was Illyas and Suhoor." He insisted, the King hummed.

"I know that Amir, but for Haya to grow, she has to realise that there's a difference between choosing to not interfere and choosing to talk about the things that can impact her own relationships."

He wanted his daughter to understand this. How could she not tell something of this sort to her husband atleast? How could she not talk about it with her father, especially if Illyas had denied to listen to her advice? She was supposed to be smarter than this.

"I am sure this impacted your relationship too, did it not?" The King enquired, causing Amir to swallow.

"Yes, it did." He murmured, the King looked at him knowingly.

"But we came out stronger and we are in love more than ever," he fondly answered, seeing the way Haya's father smiled at his words.

"Which is why it's important for you to forgive her and tell her how wonderful she is,"

Amir put his hand on the old man's fragile one.

"It's a request, please. She's struggling and I don't think I can help her the way you can." He told him, going into a little more detail.

"She is a strong woman but every strong woman is happily vulnerable in front of her father. You're the only one who can ease her worries."

"You underestimate yourself, Amir."

"How do I make her believe something that I'm struggling with too?"

Amir's own vulnerability caused the man to frown again with worry etched on his forehead

King Najaf did not know the context behind Amir's words. He waited for Amir to explain after questioning him.

"What happened, son?"

"It's not my place to tell, but what I can say is that some things in life aren't in our control..no matter how much you want them to be."

And then, he understood.

He understood it plain and clear. He knew about Haya's struggle with adoption, about her miscarriage, about her trying for a child.

"There's nothing wrong with my daughter, Amir."

King Najaf stated, because if anyone was blaming Haya in Amir's family..he needed to know.

"I know, she's perfect." Amir affirmed, agreeing with the man.

"There's nothing wrong with you either. It's all about timing, God gives a blessing when he knows that you're ready to receive it."

He advised, continuing because Amir deserved to feel good enough too.

"It will be soon, InshaAllah."

"InshaAllah."

Amir murmured, as the man in front of him only studied him further.

"Don't fret, Amir. Everything will be okay, think of all of this as a test from God and pass it with a smile."

It's just an exam, Amir. You need to have faith. It's just a test. It's a lesson about patience. You need to believe. You need to strengthen your faith.

His own heart told him, trying to calm his own self down.

The Crown Prince let out a slow nod.

"You're right. I shouldn't fret."

"I'll talk to Haya, don't worry."

"Thank you."

"Akbar and Waleed are the ones we see the most at home. Amir doesn't live in the Palace anymore and Adil is always on his tours. This is the first time that both of my older ones aren't home."

It was Queen Salma, who had been mentioning pregnancy or children throughout her conversation with Haya's mother.

Haya understood what she was trying to say indirectly but she was too exhausted to give a shut up all.

"It's actually nice that they're in Buredaan mostly, because of their children. Now look,"

She pointed towards her daughter in laws.

"This one just had a baby and now this one is expecting. It's God's blessings over and over again, alhamdullilah."

Haya found her mother's lips form into a thin line, as she gave a very small smile and murmured a simple congratulations.

"Congratulations." She said, turning towards her quiet daughter.

"Haya, I know that you are not happy with this marriage but please cheer up. Atleast talk to me."

Haya hadn't talked to the woman throughout the night properly.

"I am not okay with this marriage but I am talking to you. I just don't like his other mother." She grumbled, shrugging.

"Haya, hush." Her mother sighed, and went back to conversating with Queen Azeezah this time.

"Are you okay?"

Aaliyah put a hand on Haya's arm. She gave a nod, trying to put a brave face.

"Obviously. It's just that this woman gets on my nerves all the time. Did you see how Illyas was?"

Haya decided to change the topic of conversation, knowing that she needed Aaliyah to think everything was okay.

"Do you know what conversation he had with King Abdullah?"

Haya further asked, causing her best friend to shake her head.

"No, I haven't had a chance to talk to Yusuf. He's at the embassy still."

"Tell me what happened, okay? I don't think Illyas is going to tell me and I can't expect Amir to snitch on his own father."

"I will, don't worry." She assured Haya, who let her eyes wander towards Aaliyah's neck.

"I love the necklace, you know? I always wanted you to wear it and now you are."

She faked a smile, complimenting Aaliyah.

"Aunty gave it to me before coming here. She said you'd be the happiest seeing me wear it. I was honestly waiting for you to acknowledge it."

"I was too busy playing nice daughter in law to notice it."

Haya and Aaliyah both chuckled out, since it sounded so unlike Haya. Before they could talk even a little bit more, Aaliyah's attention had diverted due to being called out.

"So Princess, any good news from your side?"

It was Queen Salma, Amir's other mother talking to Aaliyah.

"Soon, InshaAllah."

Aaliyah responded in the very same tone.

"Hopefully our Haya can say the same. Right, hmm?"

On any other day, she would have responded brutally. On any other day, she would have had the energy to answer back in a way that would have embarrassed the woman in front of everyone but today, she was embarrassed herself.

Today, she didn't feel anything but hurt.

Haya slowly let out a nod, looking at her.

"InshaAllah."

She repeated, surprising everyone with the humble response.

Everyone got back to talking to each other after that.

Once Haya realised that no one was noticing her fragile position, she slowly stood up from her seat.

"I'll just be back, okay?"

She assured to everyone, then decided to hide away from the world for a little while.

Maybe if the world couldn't see her, she wouldn't feel so embarassed.

"Yes, mother? Is everything alright?"

The Crown Prince had been called by Queen Azeezah in an emergency, as the woman had called him directly on his number..asking him to come and see her immediately.

The Prince had figured it was something related with Suhoor, but when he saw everyone laughing in the hall and his mother slowly excusing herself to come and see him, he knew it couldn't be related to his sister.

As the old woman looked at her son, greeting him with a salam, the Prince returned the gesture and went straight to the point, asking her if everything was okay. 

"Amir, I know that you're occupied but I want you to check up on Haya. I don't think she's alright."

The woman replied, causing a frown to etch on Amir's forehead. He knew Haya wasn't well already but the idea that even his mother had noticed something, it caused him to worry even more.

"What? Did something happen?"

"Salma happened. She taunted Haya in front of Queen Beyza. I figured Haya would respond with something too but she didn't. Something must be on her mind."

It was the moment that had caught the Queen off guard. Ever since that moment, she had been observing Haya and her pretence of acting that everything was okay.

She would try to genuinely smile everytime her mother or Aaliyah would talk to her, but once their attention was not on her, Haya would seem lost in her own little world.

Amir let out a nod at his mother, once again disappointed that his second mother had taunted Haya.

"Okay, I'll go and check up on her. Do you know where she is?"

Queen Azeezah shook her head, since she had no idea where Haya had went off to. She hadn't been back since the past twenty minutes.

"I don't know." The woman replied, causing Amir to sigh at his mother.

"Mother, if I go around checking the Palace to find her it will take me hours." He murmured, frustrated.

"Go to your room then, she might be there." She advised, since Haya and Amir had managed to stay in the Palace in Amir's room last night.

Amir nodded one more time, thanking the woman and proceeding to practically run in the opposite side of the Palace, hoping to find Haya in their room.

When he entered his room, he did find her. She was sat on the bed with her back facing him. When he closed the door and stepped inside, even the sound of his footsteps didn't cause her to stir or look back.

When he walked towards her, Haya didn't turn around to even see him.

He knew she wasn't okay. He knew she had stored everything up inside and would burst it all out in any moment now.

He slowly put his hand on her shoulder, she didn't turn or look up at him.

"Haya," he murmured, but the Buredaani Princess kept her head down and only stared at the floor.

"Baby..your family's looking for you."

He didn't know how to make her feel better, didn't know what words to use to make her feel at peace. 

"I'll be there, Amir. Just a minute." He could hear her shaky voice, the way she was trying not to break and the vulnerability that laid beneath it all.

"What happened?" He questioned, not even caring about the fact that her was sitting on his knees, just so he could stare at her.

"It's nothing." Haya said, looking up at his face.

Her eyes were red, but there weren't any tears yet. Her cheeks looked flush with embarassment and her nose was red.

"We both know it's not nothing." Amir responded, waiting for her to let it out.

"Okay. It's everything." Haya affirmed, taking a hold of his hand with her shaky one.

She never thought she would bare her soul to Amir about something that she felt right now. The shame, the embarassment, the humiliation, she would have rather died than admitted it.

Yet, here she was.

"I've never felt the insecurities that most girls do.. I've felt beautiful, I've felt confident, I've felt like I could say anything and do anything and not have to worry."

Haya spoke up, continuing when Amir just squeezed her hand in comfort and waited for her to speak again.

"I've felt like I had the world right in my fist and nothing could ever change that."

She told him, adding more.

"All my life, I've felt extra ordinary. All my life, I've felt like I had everything, and more."

She was a Princess. She was Royalty. She was married to a future King. What more did she need?

Her life was perfect. Except, it wasn't.

"And today, I finally feel ordinary. I feel unworthy and disgusting. I feel so disgusting, Amir."

His breath hitched in his throat as he heard her pronounce the words.

He hadn't expected it, he hadn't expected this.

Her throat tightened as she let the words out of the mouth, being real for the first time throughout the day. The tears came out just as the words did, and Haya found herself breaking apart.

"Because I can't give you the one thing that's supposed to always keep us together. I can't give you a baby,"

She cried, and Amir still stayed still, not understanding how to react.

His heart hurt. It ached. He felt like something had stabbed him as he heard his wife call herself disgusting. He felt absolutely useless.

"And I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry that I can't. I'm so sorry."

Her gut wrenching sobs tore through her chest, but Amir felt them just as much. She covered her face and cried with her face in her hands, body shaking as she finally let herself feel free, as she finally let herself feel incomplete.

"Haya." He shakily whispered, putting his hand on her knee.

"Haya, no please no." He pleaded, taking her hands away from her face.

She let them fall into her sides as both of his cupped her face.

"You can't say that, how can you say that?" He asked with so much pain in his eyes that Haya stilled as well.

"You're so beautiful, you're so perfect,"

Her lip wobbled as her body shook after the sobs slowly started to die down, causing him rub her back with one hand.

"You're the noor of my life, Haya. You're everything to me. You're not disgusting, you can never ever be disgusting."

He insisted, gulping.

"Haya. We will have a baby, we will have everything we've ever wanted. You can't blame yourself like this."

He never thought she would say all of what she had said tonight.

Was it because of Aaliyah's pregnancy or did his mother really cross the line this time?

"You can't, okay?" Amir whispered, placing two kisses on her palm.

"Never ever again. Never say that. How can you break my heart by saying something like that? How can my Haya think this way?"

He questioned, seeing the tears that were continuously leaking out of her eyes.

"Come here," Haya didn't force herself to stay strong, she let his arms envelop her and she put her head on his shoulder lazily, falling in his embrace.

"Hayati."

He didn't care that all of her weight was on him, or that he was still on his knees and he was on the bed, he let her cry in his arms and kept whispering sweet nothings in her ear.

His hands continuously rubbed her back, his lips repeatedly placed kisses all over her hair, he didn't know what else to do.

After a while, when his knees felt like they would give up, he slowly pushed Haya back into her sitting position and stood up from the floor.

He held her shoulder and asked her to stand. Haya, with her heels stood up..matching his height.

"Come on, wipe these..okay? You can't show people you've cried. You can't show anyone your weakness. They think that you're not having a baby out of choice? Let them think this way."

He didn't really know what had happened but he knew that his family had this ideology that Haya didn't want to have a child so soon.

"If my mother is taunting you, I won't tell you to not say anything back. You're a Princess but you're also Haya. It's expected of you to stand your ground. Hmm?"

This surprised her, and she sobered up.

"Are you telling me to misbehave with your mother?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

Amir shook his head, thumb reaching out to remove the tears that were still on her cheeks.

"No, Haya. But I don't want you to take hurtful words from anyone and cry in the corner. That is not the woman I married."

He said, pulling her in for another hug. She calmed herself down even more in his arms again, pulling out once she felt slightly better.

Haya took a deep breath as he handed her a glass of water, drinking it in two gulps.

"Come on now, there's someone who needs to talk to you. He's waiting."

She frowned at him.

"Please tell me you didn't bring Illyas out of all the people to cheer me up? He's half dead himself."

Haya murmured as he fixed her hair himself, putting all of it behind her shoulders as Haya took a little powder and dabbed it under her eyes.

"And that's something wonderful to hear from the man whose sister he is about to be married to."

He sarcastically said, giving her a small smile through the mirror.

"And, I didn't." He told her next, confusing her because she didn't know who wanted to meet her.

"Amir told me dad wanted to see me."

It was Illyas who had made an appearance, not her father. After sitting with the family for another hour and exchanging gifts, Amir had told Haya that King Najaf wanted to meet her in private.

Haya hadn't had a private moment with her father for so long that she didn't ask any questions and waited for him in the designated area, not caring about the fact that her father had totally ignored her even after her apology.

She figured that maybe she was feeling so overwhelmed because her terms with her father weren't perfect either. Usually, everytime something troubled her, she would go to her dad and they would figure it out together. It was the first time that she hadn't been able to pour her heart out in front of the old man.

Her feet were dangling in the hot water as she waited for her father, only to see her brother in front of her. 

Illyas repeated Haya's actions, pulling his pants up to his knees as he sat down by her side with his feet in the warm water as well.

"Yeah, he's coming I guess. I heard them say that you were here so I came to see you for a bit."

Illyas replied, causing her to frown.

Either, he had noticed Haya wasn't alright or he wanted to tell Haya that he wasn't.

"Are you okay?" He asked, causing her to turn and look at his face.

He looked so drained, she'd never seen him look so mentally exhausted before.

"Are you?" She question in the same tone, he sighed.

"No." Haya hummed, nodding at her.

"No." She affirmed in the same tone.

"What happened?" She further asked, even though she knew that it was a forced marriage.

Still, he could've looked pissed or angry. Here, he just looked sad and exhausted.

"I broke Nikki's heart." Illyas admitted, not telling her any more details. She didn't want to fish for more.

"You?"

"Aaliyah's pregnant." Haya stated, not saying anything more.

Illyas understood. He took the news in for a moment, he was happy for his brother but he could understand why Haya was so disturbed.

"Do you think Yusuf got her pregnant so soon because Sara was pregnant and he just wanted to get back at her?"

Illyas asked her all of a sudden, as if the thought wasn't crazy at all.

"What have you been watching lately?"

"I think it's the drugs." Illyas said with a chuckle, Haya narrowed her eyes at him.

"You said you stopped."

"I did. It's a joke." He clarified, but with such dead eyes and tired face..no one could have understood that he was joking.

"What did you and King Abdullah talk about?" Haya enquired, Illyas groaned.

It was such a fucking intense conversation, he didn't even want to repeat it.

"It shouldn't be anyone's business what Illyas talked about with the man."

It was King Najaf's voice that startled both of his children.

"Dad."

"Illyas, Yusuf is here. Go and respectfully bid goodbyes to everyone."

Illyas stood up, wiping his feet with the towel placed on the right and quickly wearing his shoes. He pulled his pants down his knees and walked out, leaving Haya with her father.
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Thoughts?