It had been a while she was feeling surreal. First, the obvious happiness of attaining motherhood and then after nine months of pain, mood swings, and hardships molded with small joys and then finally being able to hold a small bundle of fluff which you were holding for so many months, was beyond description.

She had a different glow since then. Maybe at times, the difficult times of pregnancy and then raising a newborn came in between, but none could overpower the ethereal feel of being a mother. She now didn't even feel loneliness in this house as happened before Jannat made her way in their life.

Jannat Haider.

Their cute and adorable little daughter had just turned one and a half months today. Ishmal had discovered that she was pregnant when they were back from two weeks of honeymoon. And the way Haider had cared for her was mind-blowing. He didn't even let her do anything and she felt like a useless princess who had nothing to do but get pampered by her husband.

When the truth of that night came in front of everyone, Aqia felt guilt. She actually asked for forgiveness from Ishmal and admitted that she shouldn't have acted impulsively and acted hard with her. But seeing the forgiveness words came out from a woman whom Ishmal considered her mother, she herself felt bad.

She had now Haider with her; her husband who loved her dearly and was willing to go to any extent to get her the respect she deserved. Moreover, very soon, she was going to have a baby. She had nothing more to desire. Then why to hold grudges against someone who was even a mother figure even if at that time, she felt her heart slashed due to her words?

When their pregnancy was announced, Aqia specifically came to their house to meet her and asked Haider to come back to the house. However, he didn't comply. According to Haider, it was ideal that some time would pass because the ties were still raw and something that was not solid had the potential to fall apart with more might than before.

When Jannat was born, the same thing arose again. In the hospital, Aqia was adamant that from there, they should directly go to their house. But again, Haider excused.

"You are clearly hurt, Haider. On the other hand, Ammi and everyone else too. Please don't do that anymore. It's not necessary. We should go back. To our house. We belong there. Jannat belongs there, in between her the affection of her grandparents and the love of her Uncle and Aunt." Ishmal remembered she had said this to him after they remained alone in the hospital.

Haider caressed the side of her face. "Ishmal, whatever happened that's something I can't forget. And nothing had changed very much till now. Letting you have the respect is something I had vowed to myself so let me do that."

Ishmal couldn't say anything in return. He was right in his place maybe.

Following her night routine, when Ishmal came back in the room, her eyes exhilarated to find Haider cradling their daughter in his arms, gently rocking her for her sleep. It was ironic that in front of Haider, Jannat would never want to go anywhere else other than his embrace, not even her mother's. Hence in the night, it was Haider who put her to sleep.

Whenever he looked back into the past, now it made him laugh at how he was holding onto some worthless things. He had fallen in love with Ishmal. His wife, his soulmate, his lover, and his companion. Allah made him a father of a girl; a gender which he loathed before. However, now he could give up his life for his daughter. Jannat was his orbit of attention now and he could not see her in minor pain. And he was truly happy with the life he was living. It was wholesome.

Ishmal sat on the bed beside him and ran her palm on Jannat's soft, chubby cheek. She still had her eyes slightly parted but she looked relaxed.

"Sometimes it amazes me how small she is. Her face isn't as big as my fist," Haider chuckled as his eyes never left the baby. "Though I was fairly old when Hiba was born but I don't remember her newborn days obviously."

Ishmal smiled. "I faintly remembered those days of my brothers but yes, the feeling of having your own baby is ethereal. It makes you feel complete."

Jannat had finally gone to sleep. Ishmal carefully took her from Haider and put her into her crib before kissing her forehead.

After she was done, Haider grabbed her hand. "I have said it before but tonight I want to confess it again that Ishmal, I am in love with you. You and Jannat are absolutely my relief, my love, and my everything."

Tears brimmed in Ishmal's eyes but she felt delight seeping into her. He had rectified everything which he had done in the past. One might could get love but having love and respect at the same time is very rare these days. And Haider managed and tried his best to make sure she would receive this. He had been living away from his family just because of her. And today she wanted to let him know that how much he meant to her.

Ishmal leaned forward and pressed her lips against his. "I might not be very vocal with my words but I want to tell you Haider tonight that I had been in love with you when we were living together. When we had that contract between us. But at that time, I repressed my love for you because I thought we didn't have a future together but today I am very proud to announce to the whole world that I am deeply in love with you. All of me loves all of you."

Haider cupped the back of her head before bringing their lips into a passionate union once again.

"Damn Ishmal, years have passed but I still crave you like there's nothing and none more fascinating for me than you. You should be sentenced for looting and robbing my heart. You should get a conviction for being so damned gorgeous and making me so drugged for you," he whispered huskily as he pulled her into his lap.

Ishmal shuddered at the intensity of his words and because of her own germinating weird feelings. Haider turned the lamp placed on the bedside of. And in the darkness, all they could see was a vague silhouette of each other and the whites of their eyes. While their ragged breathing was the only sound in the room. Haider settled his broad hand over her nape and pulled her down for another kiss. This time, they took time devouring each other's lips. Haider bit her lower lip and kissed her like there was no tomorrow.

Soon they again found themselves on a subjugation of love, discovery, the union of souls, and passion. As Haider pulled her into his arms, Ishmal closed her eyes while feeling the warm skin of his chest flexing beneath her head. The sound of his heartbeat brought a consolation to her.

She belonged here. She belonged to this man who loved her dearly. She belonged to this life. And she was exactly there where she should have been.

Haider encircled Ishmal's waist while seeing her slowly submitting to the sleep. She was looking relaxed in his arms. He pecked her hair and realized that that was what the true bliss of life was.

He had to meet Ishmal hence everything happened because it would lead him to him his soulmate. He had to leave his house after a heated argument with his parents about not marrying that night and he had to find Ishmal.

And the moonlight was their matchmaker. And what a beautiful matchmaker it was.

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AssalamoAlaikum/ Hi dear readers!

How are you?

So here's the epilogue of MMIM.

I hope you like it and I was able to give a proper closure to this book and the second couple of Arranged series. ❤

Well, that's all for MMIM for now. I may write a few bonus chapters but for now, that's the end of this boom.

But don't worry, we will see Haider and Ishmal in Her Step Husband very soon.

You might be wanting to actually read Aqia apologizing and all. It was out of the scope of this epilogue but we will see this happening in HSH.

Do you think Haider will go back to his house ever?

Well to know how, when, and even if this will happen, you need to follow HSH.

So officially signing off from MMIM (new ideas popping up for bonus chapter is another thing).

I love writing about Haider and Ishmal.

Haider's journey was very difficult to write. He was and still is very dark and ruthless. And I was very worried that if I crossed a thin line between being a non-toxic and toxic alpha male lead and a bad boy, it would be difficult for readers to relate to him. But thankfully, Haider remained behind that line. He is an alpha male and dark as well but he is not toxic. ❤❤

Ishmal's character was someone I would always relate to as she was someone who has social anxiety and even I have the same. And I never wanted to push the stepfather thing and the running from house thing under the rug. I didn't want this fleeing only to be a mean for our main leads to meet and then completely forget about it, hence a lot of focus was laid upon this aspect that what girls have to hear and bear if they do this willfully or not.

I hope you like this book. ❤❤

Please vote and comment. 🧡

Till HSH, Allah Hafiz/ Bye. ❤❤

And in this wait, you can read 'Forbidden'. it's a spinoff of Her Replaced Husband. So if you have read HRH, then you should really read it. If you love spiritual themes, then it's something that you can find in Forbidden and HRH both. 💫

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