LOOKING down at his phone, Khalifa dialled Halima's number before glancing back at the road. After their conversation, she bawled her eyes out before picking up Iman leaving the house not getting a word from her ever since.

He only thought she needed her space and he was giving her that, but he was getting a bit worried considering she might have been hurt on the way or isn't in a good situation. Neither was great and he wanted to make sure his assumptions weren't coming to life.

It went to voicemail as he slammed the phone on the dashboard out of frustration, swerving into the driveway, not bothering to turn the car off as he bolted inside the house to find it empty. He checked the whole house which was easier for him mainly because of his long legs.

After ransacking the whole house, it was empty as he walked out of the house with his hands in his pockets trying to level his thinking. He wasn't the person to crack under pressure and he felt like pulling out his hair and that wouldn't help in any way.

He glanced at the spot Halima usually parked her car to find it empty. He ran his hands over his curls in frustration before getting in his car, driving off to the next place she might be. He hoped she was.

Khalifa finally arrived at Halima's office, appearing as calm as possible, walking into the building earning looks from people and greeted the familiar faces he had no idea what their names were. He wasn't a fan of being around people he was unfamiliar with but he had no idea Halima was so he didn't care as of right now.

Pushing the office door open, Khalifa found the office door open earning a strained sigh from him, not having a clue where she really was. He thought she might be in her parents house, but he knew she didn't like being around her mother and she tried as much as possible not be around her.

Halima suddenly paused mid sentence, when she saw Khalifa walking into her office. She turned to Nasir who was talking whilst looking around the spacious hallway, where people were putting up Christmas decorations. It was the ending of the year, and Halima hoped she would start afresh just like how the year was.

"I'm going to the restroom." She tapped Nasir's arm getting his attention. He absentmindedly nodded, walking into someone's office and Halima rushed to where Khalifa is, placing her hand on his arm and he glanced at her hand, then her face as a look of relief replaced his aggravated one.

She pushed her office door open, Khalifa letting her drag him into her office, closing the door behind her, leaning against it letting out a breath ot relief. She wasn't ready for Nasir to find out about Khalifa, nor did she want Khalifa to also find out and it'll only raise questions she wasn't in the mood to answer.

Khalifa furrowed his eyebrows to how she was acting, but then he knew his wife to be dramatic but that didn't stop him from getting worried when he took a step closer to her.

Hanging his head, Khalifa stared into her orbs that used to hold so much love for him. But all he could see now was hatred and regret. She probably regrets ever ignoring her parents pleas to break off every relation she had with him. And he just proved them right.

All he could see when he looked into her eyes were hurt and betrayal and he knew he was the cause of it. He thought his love for her was enough to prevent him from doing anything stupid, but seeing it now, it might have been the reason.

"I haven't heard from you for some days and you weren't picking up my phone calls." Khalifa said his eyes boring into hers. Halima let out a dry laugh, crossing her arms over her chest, staring at him in disbelief.

"So you show up at my office? What if my boss had seen you, he would have probably thought something was going to go down." Halima hissed. When in reality, she just didn't want Nasir to see him. She didn't want to put a strain in her relationship that was progressing for the other that died a long time ago.

Khalifa licked his lips, looking away for a moment, then back focused his attention back on her. "This isn't the first time they thought that, except that was true." Khalifa said, making Halima's cheeks redden, embarassment taking over her features when he said that. She couldn't help but remember the time. That was an eventful day.

"We aren't living together at the moment, so things like this are important. You might have been in danger, and where would I be? Nowhere close. And if something ever happened to you, I wouldn't forgive myself. I'm giving you the space you're asking for, but that doesn't I'm not going to do what I need to do to know you're both protected. As long as we're together, I'm going to be responsible for everything whether you like it or not. So I need to make this clear, and we can discuss anything else." Khalifa's tone of voice didn't give any room for Halima to object. She looked to the side instead, staying quiet

He curled his fingers under her chin, gently turning her head towards him. "I said, are we clear? " Khalifa repeated in a sterner tone, earning a nod from Halima. Knowing very well he wasn't joking about this matter.

Khalifa rose his eyebrows as Halima let out an inaudible breath, letting her hands drop to her sides. "Yes." Halima cringed at how raspy her voice came out, and cleared her throat looking away yet again. She didn't know why she couldn't look at him in the eyes anymore. She loved looking into his toned eyes, but it always got to her when she thought there was another woman who looked into his eyes, doing things only she was supposed to do with him.

Khalifa let his hand drop to his side, knowing there was no going back. Their marriage was long gone and there was no fixing it. He had to face reality.

He had lost his wife.

The love of his life

The mother of his child

The only person who actually cared for him, understood him and gave up whatever she could to be with him. And he had disappointed her, betrayed her trust and she was leaving him. And he just had to live for the rest of his life to remember it was his fault.

Song : Astrid S - Hurts So Good