From Pain to Paradise

CHAPTER 14

After dropping Saman off at her home, Faris and Hannah found themselves alone in the car once again. The silence between them was comfortable, a sense of ease that only comes with being with someone you truly connect with.

Faris parked the car at a distance from Hannah's home, turned to her, and held her hand. "Thank you so much for coming into my life, Hannah," he said, his eyes filled with sincerity.

Hannah smiled, looking down, and began to play with his fingers. "Faris, how will we handle this matter? I'm scared of Baba and Shehryar."

Faris held her chin, making her look at him. "You don't have to worry about anything, I will protect you till my last breath."

Hannah's voice trembled. "Faris, promise me you will never leave me."

Faris cupped her face, his eyes locked on hers. "I didn't marry you to leave you. I can't imagine my life without you. I can betray myself, but I can never betray you."

Hannah's lips curved into a smile as she said "Thank you Faris." Faris rested his forehead against Hannah's. "I love you," he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion.

Hannah's eyes fluttered closed, a soft smile on her lips. "I love you too, Faris. More than words can say."

__________

Hannah woke up to a gentle morning glow, her heart still basking in the warmth of Faris's love. She reached for her phone on the nightstand and smiled as she saw a message from Faris: "Good morning, Mrs. Faris." She replied, her fingers dancing across the screen: "Good morning to you too."

As she got ready for university, her thoughts drifted to Faris, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of joy. But her mood quickly shifted when she saw Shehryar sitting at the dining table, having breakfast with her family.

She tried to ignore him, focusing on her food, but her father's words cut through the silence. "Hannah, Shehryar came to drop you off at university."

Hannah's instincts kicked in, and she quickly replied, "Baba, I can go myself. I think he's really busy with his work."

But Shehryar, trying to impress her father, said, "No, I'm not busy. Especially not for my soon-to-be wife."

Hannah's breath hitched, and she choked on her water. Her mother patted her back, concern etched on her face. Hannah stood up, her eyes flashing with anger.

"I'm getting late," she said, trying to escape the tension.

As she walked outside with Shehryar, her father said to his wife, "Look, I was right. Shehryar is a good boy. Hannah will be happy with him."

As Hannah was about to sit in the car, Shehryar grasped her arm tightly, his voice low and menacing. "Why didn't you pick up my calls last night? Were you with your lover?"

Hannah's eyes widened in fear as Shehryar's grip on her arm tightened. She felt a chill run down her spine, but she composed herself, trying to hide her fear. "You don't have any right to question me, Shehryar. I'm not your wife yet," she said, trying to sound firm despite her trembling voice.

But Shehryar's grip only tightened further. "You will be one day," he hissed, his eyes blazing with possessiveness. "And from now on, you have to live accountable to me. Wherever you're going, whoever you're meeting, I should know everything. You have to ask for my permission before doing anything. Do you understand, Hannah?"