LAILA STARED AT THE MAN IN FRONT OF HER who ran out of words to say and stood there instead with her hands in his, his eyes peering into hers awakening the feelings she had for him and the pain she felt when she found out there was another woman in his life who was carrying his child. Something she failed to do.

"I know it's too soon for you to forgive me but at least talk to me. This silent treatment is killing me." Waheed pleaded, the familiar gleaming of hope coming back in his eyes.

Laila turned her head to the side feeling a sickening feeling bubbling in her stomach. She still loved this man more than herself but what he did hurt her considering she forgave him and agreed to stay just to find out he didn't tell her the complete truth and he was claiming he was protecting her when he just wanted to save his ass.

Waheed's grip on her hands became tighter but her gaze was unmoved as she stared at the frame of their pre wedding pictures tucked behind the console by her but seemed to be peeking out. Her eyes welled with tears at the thought but kept her mouth shut, not bothering to say anything to him.

"You can have all the space you want. I'll give it to you but I just need you to tell me. Hit me. Blame me for your pain. Let out all your frustrations on me. Anything. Just- just talk to me." Waheed let out getting emotional at the thought of losing his wife who had been there for him before he became the person he is.

"That's what I want." Laila spoke so soft he hardly heard her but caught the words. Her words stung but his actions were worse so him getting angry by her words was out of the question.

She turned her head to face him, her eyes dark and glossy. "I want you feel the pain you made me go through. The lies you told me, which I gladly ate up hoping that was the only thing you were hiding. I told you countless times if you wanted a child you could remarry but you refused. You told me it was alright and I left it at that oblivious to the fact that you already had plans I had no idea of. I couldn't give you a child Waheed! Do you know how it hurt to know you wanted your own child when you see everyone having them and you don't have one and you weren't with the problem? That guilt alone was eating me up but you just moved the task to another woman. Something I  failed to do." Her voice cracked at the end and she didn't even bother wiping the tear that fell down her cheek.

Waheed's jaw clenched looking down at her limp hands in his. "It was never like that. She's lying Laila." He spoke lowly which made her heart flutter by how he said her name and the fact that the confession he had made just now.

Laila looked up at him raising her brow as if she was asking him to elaborate or explain what he had said. Waheed licked his lips briefly brushing his hand over his clean cut. "The girl was lying. She just wanted money and tried pinning the baby on me. That was the reason we kept contact. I practically forced her to take the test and it came out negative. I deleted her number and cut ties right after." He explained.

"Then why did you need to hide that from me? Why did I need to find out for me to know what was going on?" Laila questioned tilting her head to the side when she noticed her hands in his. Some part of her weirdly wanted to be in his arms but the other side of her knew she couldn't just do that. She had self respect although she missed him and his presence.

"I didn't want to raise false alarms just for me to come back and say it was negative. I thought it would be easier to find out instead, and inform you about the results whatever they were. I'll admit, I wouldn't have told you immediately but I would've. And me replacing you with another woman just because of one problem is out of the question and I don't want to hear those words again. You're my life and there's no one who could replace you. You didn't choose for this to happen and it doesn't make that your problem. It makes it our problem. And we'll find the solution togther and work on it. I don't need you taking all the baggage. Have I made myself clear?" Waheed said sternly whilst Laila blinked wondering when the tables were turned.

But she wouldn't lie and say she didn't find what he did attractive. And she also couldn't help when she reached up pressing her lips to his which took him aback but circled his arms around her waist pulling her closer. She pulled away moments after with a faint smile on her lips.

"I couldn't help myself." She let out a laugh but Waheed's attention was trained on her lips as she reached her hand to cup his face making him look at her  snapping out of his trance.

"Yeah. Me too." Waheed replied drowsily, picking her up and her legs automatically wrapped themselves around his waist walking down the hallway as she screamed of laughter.

***

"CAN YOU TELL ME WHY YOU'VE been staring at me for the past seven minutes?" Halima asked playfully batting her eyelashes with her head resting on her palm.

Nasir's gaze didn't falter as he reached for her hand over the console running his thumb over it soothingly. "Because you're beautiful." He let out glancing back at the road then back at her.

Halima scratched her nose forcing an uneasy smile on her face trying as much as possible to make it seem genuine. She was uncomfortable and it didn't help that they were in his car alone of course and she couldn't just curve the subject.

She muttered a "Thank you." which made it seem like she was shy in Nasir's perspective making him chuckle shaking his head turning pulling up to her house which she told Nasir was her parents second home in Abuja. He questioned it but Halima got defensive so he hopped off the topic sensing it was a touchy subject for her. Maybe her parents were divorced and the last he wanted was her to snap.

Halima pulled down the mirror to check her makeup which still looked good as she rubbed her lips together after applying her ChapStick. She could feel Nazir's gaze on her the whole time but she acted like she didn't not to feel awkward as she pulled out her phone taking out a quick picture sending it to Sauda.

Sauda

2 attachments
How do I look?
Good enough to snatch a girl's husband🥵🥵

Yass girl
You can even trap an NBA player with that face
Slay that dattttteee

That's what it feels like to be perfect;)

Halima put her phone down after letting out a laugh at Sauda's reply. She turned her attention to Nasir who was looking out of the window with a clenched jaw making her furrow her eyebrows in concern.

"What's wrong?" Halima asked placing her hand on his shoulder and he let out a breath pulling the keys out of the ignition letting himself out of the car slamming the door shut leaving her in the car alone. She blinked taken aback by his attitude but her thoughts were cut off when she heard him open the door for her.

She rolled her eyes not bothering to say anything to him as she started walking towards the gate irritated by his attitude. Nasir sighed reaching for her arm before she could push the gate open. Halima turned on her heel staring at him blankly.

"Let's talk in the car." Nasir said causing Halima to raise a brow letting out a dry laugh. Here he was giving her a sudden attitude and when she's fed up he stops her just to tell her they should talk in the car. He was out of his mind if he can think about even talking to her like that.

She has someone who loves her out there after all she has done to him and she never chases a man. Men chase after her and if he doesn't get the job done, she would just move to the next candidate knowing men were attracted to her because of her looks, status and her family.

"So now you want to talk?" Halima shifted her weight to her left leg, crossing her arms over her chest irritated. Nasir pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration trying to refrain from acting out considering he was also mad but he didn't like having unnecessary arguments and go days without talking to each other when it could be resolved at the spot.

"Let's go to the car. We can't have a conversation out in the open like this." Nasir suggested slightly tugging her arm but she was quick to yank her arm out of his grip opening her mouth to speak but got off by her phone dinging.

She glanced at the screen and her eyes widened as she turned on her heel only for Nasir to gently pull her back. "What's wrong?" Nasir asked concerned, their argument flying out of the window as he stpped closer to her.

"Iman's sick. I have to go." Halima rushed out hauling into the house without another word leaving Nasir confused not recalling Halima talking about an Iman but he shrugged the thoughts off noting to call her later. He walked to his car hopping in driving off.

**

HALIMA BARGED INTO THE APARTMENT looking around frantically before spotting Khalifa on the couch with Iman laid on his chest covered with a blanket. She rushed to them as Iman raised up, her eyes lit up when she saw halima and was quick to embrace her as soon as she wrapped her arms around her.

Halima closed her eyes for a brief moment before reopening them, her eyes landing on a tired Khalifa with his head pelted back, his eyes closed. Iman shivered in her arms making her pull away looking down at her with concern.

"Did you go to the hospital?" Halima asked directing the question to Khalifa who looked up nodding his head tiredly, rubbing his eyes.

"They said it was just a fever." He replied sitting up pinching the bridge of his nose running his hands through his curls in frustration. He woke up to Iman having a high fever and she could barely keep her eyes open.

He drove to the hospital and was able to get straight to the doctor because of some people he knew who owned the hospital. The doctor claimed she just had a fever but told them they were free to take a test and Khalifa took them just in case but the tests come out in two days.

Halima merely nodded standing to her feet heading to the kitchen getting a bottle of water pouring it into a cup walking back to the living room finding Iman snuggled to Khalifa's side as he spoke to her lowly and she nodded closing her eyes.

Khalifa licked his lips raising up meeting Halima's eyes who looked rather angry. He tore his eyes from her standing with iman in his arms, walking to the back to take her to her room. He was in no mood for her attitude that seemed to be growing by the minute.

Halima was right on his tail with her arms crossed over her chest watching his every single move. Khalifa pulled the quilt to Iman's neck covering her whole body before leaving the room with Halima following behind him.

Khalifa stopped abruptly sliding his hands in his pockets making her halt her steps. Halima let out a breath walking around him to stand in front of him, shifting her weight to her left leg staring up at him.

"Whatever you're thinking of, I'm not in any mood for an argument. You can let yourself out." Khalifa didn't care to glance at her before heading to his room getting in the shower.

Song : Kendrick Lamar - Love