Arranged: Betrothed

chapter 17

When he began lifting her shirt slightly higher, baring her soft stomach, her body shook with the force of the sob. He froze, looking up at her face. Tears were running down the side of her face, and her brows were furrowed. She bit her lip hard, so hard that they would start bleeding any minute.

He quickly stopped whatever he was doing, pulling off her. "Zahara." He called, but she gave him no response. She gripped the bedsheets between her fingers, and she sobbed again.

He hesitantly touched the side of her face and pulled away quickly when she flinched. She sat up quickly, leaping off the bed, but he was faster. He held her against himself as she struggled to get out of his grip.

"Let me go! Let me go!" She cried as tears poured out of her eyes. "Enough Zahara." He ordered and watched as she stilled in his arms out of fear.

"I don't want to. I don't want to, please! I won't mention University again. I promise." She sobbed, pushing at his arms.

"Is this what you've been upset about? Is there anything I should know?" He asked gently. "Tell me, Zahara."

"No. You wouldn't believe me."

"Of course, I would." He frowned. She shook her head.

"Is this about yesterday?" He asked quietly.

"No. You don't even want me. Just finish this. Take what you want and leave me alone."

"What are you talking about, doll?"

"I'm just a rebound for you." She whispered. She knew she shouldn't be hurt. After all, she had been rejecting his advances. But what hurt her more were the chances of getting divorced at such a young age.

"Who said that?" He asked lowly. She looked up at him with fear. He was staring at her intently, his light brown eyes seeming dark.

"C-candy. And your sister was there too."

"Did they say anything else?"

She averted her gaze, feeling ashamed as she remembered the other things they had said.

"Hurry up and speak." He growled. She flinched again.

"She said I'm a downgrade, chubby and average." She repeated exactly as they had said.

He pulled his phone out, dialling a number on it.

"Where is Ileana?" He asked loudly.

She shook her head, clasping her hands together so that he would stop. Samir ignored her as he waited.

"Turn the speaker on." He ordered and did the same on his phone.

"What's happened, son?" Asked his mother.

"Why don't you ask your beloved daughter?"

They were both listening closely as his mother asked Ileana, but she denied that anything had happened.

"Ileana and Candy both insulted Zahara when I went to call Father. They said that she was a rebound after my break up with Candy, which was a year ago. They also insulted the way she looked. I'm not coming over again until they both apologize, sincerely."

"I agree with you, but - "

"There are no buts in this, Mum. You shouldn't have allowed her to bring Candy over. I don't care if they are best friends. It was a family event, and Candy is not family. If I can do the same for her, why can't she do it for me? She embarrassed me in front of my wife and then hurt her feelings. It's unacceptable. Until this isn't rectified, we're not visiting. That's it." He finalized and then cut the call before anyone could answer.