Eternity

Chapter 46

As-salamu alaikum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuhu

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The words hit Zayan like a physical blow, knocking the air from his lungs. His hands clenched into fists at his sides as a surge of fury swept through him, hotter and more intense than anything he had felt before. For a moment, he stood there, his body trembling with the effort to contain the rage bubbling up inside him. It was as if a dam had burst, unleashing a flood of emotions that he had been trying to suppress for too long.

Without thinking, he strode toward her, his movements swift and purposeful. There was a dangerous glint in his eyes, a fire that burned with a ferocity that both frightened and excited him. He was like a predator closing in on his prey, each step bringing him closer to his target, his pulse pounding in his ears.

Ayzal’s breath hitched as she saw the fury in his eyes, her heart racing as he approached. She wanted to stand her ground, to show him that she wasn’t afraid, but the intensity in his gaze made her knees weak. She took a step back, but it was too late—he was already upon her.

Zayan’s hand shot out, grabbing her by the wrist with a grip that was firm but not painful. He yanked her toward him, their bodies colliding with a force that sent a shiver down her spine. She gasped at the sudden contact, her heart hammering in her chest as she found herself pressed against him, their faces inches apart.

“Don’t you dare,” he growled, his voice rough and thick with emotion. “Don’t you even think about it.”

Ayzal swallowed hard, her mind racing as she tried to process the situation. His proximity was overwhelming, his scent intoxicating as it filled her senses. Despite the anger in his voice, she could feel the heat radiating off him, a potent mix of fury and something else—something primal and raw that sent a thrill of fear and desire coursing through her veins.

“Why do you care?” she whispered, her voice trembling as she met his gaze. “You have made it clear you don’t want me. Why should I bring a child into this?”

Zayan’s grip on her wrist tightened slightly, his breath hot against her skin as he leaned in closer, their lips nearly brushing. “Because it is my child,” he rasped, his voice a low growl that sent a shiver down her spine. “And I will not let you take it away.”

Ayzal’s resolve wavered as she felt the intensity of his words wash over her, the sheer force of his will almost too much to bear. There was a part of her that wanted to resist, to push him away and hold on to the anger that had been her shield, but another part—a deeper, more instinctual part—found herself drawn to the fire in his eyes, to the heat that pulsed between them like a living thing.

She tried to pull back, but Zayan didn’t let her go. Instead, he brought his other hand up to cup her face, his touch surprisingly gentle despite the storm raging within him. His thumb brushed against her cheek, sending a jolt of electricity through her as she felt the calloused warmth of his skin against hers.

“You think I don’t care?” he asked, his voice rough and filled with a raw, aching intensity. “You think this doesn’t matter to me? You are wrong, Ayzal. You are so damn wrong.”

Ayzal’s breath hitched as she felt the sincerity in his words, the deep, underlying emotion that he was struggling to keep in check. It was as if all the barriers he had built around himself were crumbling, exposing the vulnerable, conflicted man beneath the anger and resentment. For the first time, she saw him not as the cold, distant husband who had hurt her, but as a man who was just as lost and afraid as she was.

But that didn’t make her any less furious. “You have treated me like I am nothing,” she whispered, her voice shaking with the weight of her own hurt and anger. “Why should I believe you now?”

Zayan’s jaw clenched, a muscle ticking in his cheek as he fought to maintain control. He leaned in even closer, his breath fanning across her lips as he spoke. “Because I am here, Ayzal. I am standing right here, fighting for you. For us. For this baby.”

Her heart skipped a beat at the intensity of his words, the undeniable truth in them striking a chord deep within her. But she was still scared, still uncertain of what the future held, and the pain of everything they had been through weighed heavily on her.

“I don’t know if I can do this,” she whispered, her voice breaking as she finally let some of her own fear and vulnerability show.

Zayan’s expression softened slightly, his eyes searching hers for any sign of hope. “You don’t have to do it alone,” he murmured, his thumb brushing away a tear that had slipped down her cheek. “I know I have been a bastard, and I am sorry. I am so damn sorry for everything I have put you through. But I am here now, and I am not going anywhere.”

Ayzal’s breath hitched at the sincerity in his voice, the raw emotion that he was finally letting show. She wanted to believe him, wanted to trust that he was telling the truth, but the scars of their past were still fresh, and she wasn’t sure if she could open herself up to more pain.

Zayan seemed to sense her hesitation, and his grip on her wrist softened as he slowly released her, his hands sliding down to her hips as he held her close, his gaze locked onto hers. “Please, Ayzal,” he whispered, his voice filled with a quiet desperation that tugged at her heart. “Don’t do this. Don’t take away the one good thing we have left.”