Chapter 13: The Birthday Revelation
Leyla's birthday arrived with a mixture of anticipation and unease. Emmad had planned a small gathering at their house, inviting close friends and family. Despite the turmoil in their marriage, he was determined to make the day special for her.
The evening started beautifully. The living room was adorned with flowers and fairy lights, and a warm, inviting atmosphere filled the space. Guests mingled, chatted, and offered their well-wishes to Leyla. Emmad stayed close to her, trying to show his support and love despite the tension between them.
As the night progressed, Leyla found herself momentarily at ease, enjoying the presence of those who cared about her. Emmad was about to make a toast when the doorbell rang. The room fell silent as Maham stepped inside, her eyes scanning the room until they settled on Leyla and Emmad.
Maham's presence caused a murmur of confusion among the guests. She walked to the center of the room, holding her head high, a determined look on her face.
“Good evening, everyone,” Maham began, her voice cutting through the silence. “I have an important announcement to make.”
Leyla felt a knot form in her stomach, sensing the impending disaster. Emmad’s face turned pale as he took a step towards Maham, trying to intervene.
“Maham, please don’t—” Emmad started, but Maham raised a hand to stop him.
“No, Emmad. This needs to be said,” she replied firmly. Turning back to the guests, she continued, “Today is a special day, and I thought it was the perfect time to share some news. I’m pregnant. And Emmad is the father.”
Gasps filled the room, and all eyes turned to Leyla, who stood frozen in shock. The words echoed in her mind, and she felt as though the ground was slipping away beneath her feet.
“This child,” Maham added, her voice laced with bitterness, “is Emmad’s gift to me.”
Tears welled up in Leyla’s eyes as she looked at Emmad, searching for any sign that this was some terrible mistake. Emmad’s face was a mask of pain and frustration, his eyes pleading silently with Leyla to believe him.
“Leyla, I swear it’s not true,” Emmad said desperately, taking a step towards her. “She’s lying.”
But Leyla couldn’t process his words. The weight of the accusation, combined with the public humiliation, was too much to bear. Without another word, she turned and fled the room, the guests parting in shock and sympathy as she passed.
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Forced Vows | Age gap | fictional characters |
RomansLeyla Arzhang, a 27-year-old doctor, had always been her father's pride. But when she eloped with a man her family disapproved of, the scandal threatened to ruin their reputation. Her father, a respected doctor himself, was desperate to salvage thei...
