He cannot believe this. This can't be happening.

"You were in love with Laith?" He asked shocked, "It was I who told him you were worthless and all".

She nodded knowing clearly she heard his voice when Laith spoke to him in the room.

He was the one who degraded her before the person she thought she loved.

"B-But that's not the truth". He said after getting back from his initial shock

She frowns, "What do you mean?"

He racks his hand through his hair as he tries to come with the correct words.

"I don't want to say it because it's disgusting". He said sighing as he knows he has to say, "Back in our high school, we had a group of boys who were after several girls. They would use them and throw them away. None of them ever spoke about them so not many know. They would share all the details in the boy's locker room. That was why Zafar always protected Inaya and Akbar did the same with Zainab".

She knows she didn't like where this was going.

"I heard him. I heard Laith". He said gulping as his anger starts to rise, "He was speaking to his friend about some stupid nerd who fell for him in a short time and how he was going to mark you".

That's one way to put it.

"I didn't know who he was speaking about but he mentioned that the girl will come to meet him soon". He said looking at her blank face, "I just did the first thing that came to my mind. I started saying anything and everything that came into my mind so she can hear them and run away. I wanted to make sure that I fill his head with the idea that him chasing after this girl will not do him any good".

He stopped talking as he looks at her who stayed there without any words.

"He was going to use me?" She asked as she shudders in fear of imagining herself in that situation

He holds her hand tightly in his hand, "But he didn't. You are safe. You are far away from him".

Tears brimmed her eyes, "But I hated you. I did so much bad to you. I am sorry, Awais. I am not worthy of you--".

Before she could have said any more words his lips descended on hers.

She blushes when he pulled away and he chuckles wrapping his arms around her closing his eyes to feel all of her.

"I am sorry. I shouldn't have said those words. I am an idiot. I missed you so much". He said kissing his shoulder and she shivers in his touch, "Did you?"

She gulps not being able to find the right words to say as her body ignites on a different fire from his touches. He turns her around claiming her lips again and this time none of them stop from claiming each other.

She moves away from his arms when the sun shines brightly heading to shower and change for the day. She went to the kitchen to start with the breakfast when his arms wrapped around her.

"Why did you leave me?" He asked nuzzling his head in his neck

She shivers, "I am making breakfast. And I have to go to the cafe".

He turns her around, "Is that cafe yours?"

She nodded hesitantly, "Akbar asked me what I wanted to do and the first thing that came to my mind was that I always wished for my own cafe".

"At least that idiot did one right thing". He growled angrily, "I will punch him the next time I see him".

"You should change". She said softly and his eyes continue to look at her mesmerized making her heart pound harshly

"I don't have clothes so I will just shower and wear the same clothes until I buy new ones". He said kissing her cheeks walking away

She smiles and the smile seems to be permanently on her lips since she opened her eyes. She completed the breakfast when her phone rang and she went to answer it without watching the caller id.

"Why is Awais there?" Akbar's voice boomed through the speaker and her heart stopped

"I-I don't know. I just found him yesterday". She said scared

"I told you to stay away, didn't I?" Akbar said and she can feel her heart ready to explode at any given time

His feet stop when he saw how pale she looks and he walks faster towards her when he heard Akbar voice. He didn't even have to know the full conversation to know what he was saying. He ripped the phone out of her hand and she looks at him shocked and scared which he hated.

"I found my wife, Akbar". He snapped, "And I will kill you if you ever threaten her again".

"You will lose everything". Akbar shouted

"I am intending to". He replied

He ended the call blocking Akbar's number as he brushes his hand through his hair.

"He is just trying to protect you". She said in a low voice, "Maybe you should--"

"No". He shouted startling her, "Stop deciding for me. Stop deciding what I should do and what I shouldn't. I am not a young boy who needs help. I know where I want to be". He said wrapping his hand around her pulling her closer, "This is where I want to be".

"He will take you out from the top tiers". She said scared, "I don't want you to lose all your life because of me".

"I don't care. I will live without all of those things but I can't live without you". He said moving a strand of her hair away

"Why?" She asked as tears brimmed her eyes watching him sacrifice everything he loved for her

"Because I love you. I love you more than words can say. I love you more than anything even my wealth doesn't even stand a chance against you. If I have to leave everything, so be it. I will not leave the one person I love". He said smiling as she cried hugging him

She enters her cafe as greeted her employees walking to the kitchen to work on her mixture for the cake. She has to deliver it by noon so she starts mixing the ingredients.

He stands on the side looking at her busy with the mixture. He can see how peaceful she looks while she works on it. She wasn't even this peaceful when she worked for him. She was always running and stressing but this looks like where she belongs.

"When did you came?" She asked looking at him as a smile appears on her lips instantly and his heart flutter

He shrugged, "A while ago. Just bought a few suits and sent them to your apartment".

He moves towards her looking at the mixture as she pours it into a container.

"Should we move permanently here?" He asked thoughtfully

"I don't feel at home here". She said truthfully as she places the cake in the oven

She still has some chocolate on her fingers as she moves towards him.

"If that what you want". He said nodding, "Teach me to make something. what's your favourite thing to do?"

"Honestly, I love baking. But I love working on different beverages". She said grinning as she thinks about her favourite coffee, "You won't believe it when you drink Matcha green tea".

"That green liquid?" He asked making a face, "That's just awful".

She slaps her hand on his clothes and her eyes widen when his white shirt was covered with a mark.

"I am going to get back at you". He said taking the flour throwing it at her as she tries to escape

She narrows her eyes at him as she takes the food colouring throwing it at him.

His eyes widen at the blue colour all over him and he holds her hand pulling her towards him when she breaks into laughter. The sounds ring through the kitchen and it reaches his heart as he continues to see her liveliness.

He kisses her cheek and she blushes.

"We have to change again". She whined looking at herself

"Whose fault is that?" He asked rolling his eyes

"I am not leaving until I am done with this order". She said taking the cake out as she starts to work on it

He sits on the chair at a distance as he watches her work delicately on the cake. He loves how a smile is on her face and her eyes were calm. He hates the fact that she suffered for years because of him. He just wanted to save her and he had no idea he ended up being the one to hurt her.

"What about the stocks?" He asked confused

She raises her head sighing, "I went to buy them from that man because I wanted a share from your company. I didn't get it because the man was stupid. Romaisa met me that day in the elevator asking to speak to me. All she said was that my past is coming back and that she will buy those shares for me. I told her that I don't want them now. I have no idea how they are under my name".

He nodded thinking about it, "It could be that someone bought them in your name".

"Why will someone waste so much money for me?"

"Maybe they wanted to create a fight like the one we are in now. They wanted to break the bond between us for some reasons".

"I don't understand why to use someone as weak as me?"

"You are not weak". He said frowning, "You are the strongest woman I know. They knew I will flip worst than anyone else, I guess".

She sighs, "That is why I want you to leave--".

"I said I am staying. Pushing me as hard as you want and you will still find me here".

She shakes her head with a smile, "You are very stubborn".

"And you are very beautiful, my love".

"That I am".

He chuckles, "Are you done?"

"You are distracting me". She said as she tries to work on the cake but his eyes on her make her cheeks red, "Look somewhere else".

"Why? I like where I am looking".

She rolls her eyes as a deep blush remains on her cheeks and he absolutely adores this sight.

He walks closer to her watching how she managed to get chocolate on her cheeks and not realise it. Though she is covered in a mess, a hot mess to him, he had an urge to remove that chocolate.

He wraps his arms around her pulling her to his chest and she yelps as she looks at him. He leans on the counter behind her.

"I think we should stay in Italy. It's called the city of love and I am in love with you". He said smiling as he raises his hand wiping the chocolate away from her face

She looks at him beaming, "Do you want to go and see Colosseum? I didn't go there yet. I want to see it".

His heart melts at how carefree she looked and the comfort level for her around him was something he was enjoying. He brushes a strand of her hair away kissing her forehead lovingly, "I would love to. We can even have food in the nearby restaurant".

"You mean that famous expensive restaurant?". She asked shocked, "We can't get in. They don't allow anyone without appointments".

He laughs, "My love, are you forgetting you are not married to an ordinary man? I can get through anything as long as I want to"

She slaps his chest huffing, "I do know that you can. No need to act proud of it".

He smirks, "How can I not when I built that empire?"

"Did you buy a new car?" She asked looking out of the window

"I got her from my factory last night when you decided to run away". He explained watching as she gets embarrassed, "At least, it ended well".

That only intensifies the heat on her cheeks and he couldn't help but laugh.
She kicks his leg hard and he winces.

She smirks, "I told you I will kick you if you annoy me".

He hissed in pain holding his leg and he wonders why he spends so much time in the gym when he cannot even bear her hits.

"Do I have to live in this pain my whole life?" He said groaning

"You are the one who said that you love me. Not me". She said smugly

He narrows his eyes at her, "So you don't love me?"

She shrugged moving to take her bag when he pulls her by her wrist to him. Her breathing hitched when his eyes darkened looking at her. Her heart starts to beat loudly.

"I am sure I will have you confess your love for me". He said smirking, "Just wait and watch".

She pushes him trying to call her heart down when they step out of the cafe. She enters inside his car as they start to drive out on the road. He takes a sharp turn when a car almost hit him. He pulls on his break looking at the black jeep in front of him.

The door opened and their eyes widen when they found Romaisa walking out towards them. He holds her hand tightly as they got out of the car.

"You need to sit in my Jeep". Romaisa deep voice said and she shudders in fear

Both time she had met this woman, she was not the friendliest but the deadliest for sure.

"Why?" Just as he asked the gunshot sounded

"Now". Romaisa ordered as she takes the gun out shooting a man

He enters inside with his wife sitting in the back seat holding her hand tightly.

Romaisa sits in the car with a man in the passenger seat as they drive away hearing the gunshot.

He wraps his arms around her pulling her to his chest.

"What in the world is happening?" He asked confused

Romaisa sent an unimpressed look at him and he could care less, "If you haven't noticed, we are in a car chase".

He frowns until he looks behind him at least five black SUV following them.

He looked back at Romaisa who was driving while shooting at the car.

And he wasn't even sure who was his friend and who was his foe anymore.

"They have a helicopter on us". Romaisa said calmly to the man in a mask in the front seat

"Take the jeep underground". He heard a familiar sound

Before he could think his wife whimper looking at him. She never saw these situations before so he knows she must be scared. He tightened his arms around her whispering comforting words for her to calm down.

"I thought you would have more guts". Romaisa said looking at her as they entered a tunnel

Something snapped in her the way Romaisa said those words just like when she said them at the party.

"It was all because of you". She snapped angrily, "I had to suffer because of you. I don't trust you".

"Sweetheart, I am the one holding your lives in my hand. Be grateful". Romaisa said chuckling darkly as she pressed on the break

The car stops in the middle of the tunnel and Romaisa leaves the car with the man beside her with their guns.

He exits the car with her looking around hearing the loud sounds of helicopters and guns firing.

The man jumps on him and he hits the ground hard groaning in pain. He heard marching footsteps and the man move away from him.

He looks around to find his wife when his eyes fell on the figure on the floor.

"Laila". He shouted running to her as he picks her body in his arms

His eyes widen when he saw the blood coming out of her stomach from a bullet mark.

He taps her cheeks as his eyes brimmed with tears, "Please, no. Not now. You can't leave me".

She opens her eyes hearing his cries and a small sad smile on her face, "You were right". He frowns, "You did make me say it". She coughs violently, "I love you, Awais".

Then she closed her eyes.

*****

1 more chapter and we will have Epilogue :(

How was it?