ROYAL REPLACEMENT [ON HOLD]

CHAPTER 8: THE MIDNIGHT FLUTTER

'Fuck, I hate period,' Sahar thought, her head resting heavily on the dressing table, her hand gripping her stomach as waves of pain rippled through her body. She had been trying to push through it, willing herself to get ready for the day, but the cramps were too much.

The sharp, twisting pain made even the thought of standing unbearable. Tears of frustration welled up in Sahar's eyes, spilling over before she could even stop them. She wiped at her face quickly, but the more she tried to hold it back, the worse it got.

She hated this—hated how her period always made her a crying mess over the smallest things.

'Why does this always happen?' she thought angrily, her emotions spiraling. 'Why am I crying like an idiot' She sniffled again, cursing her body for betraying her at a moment like this.

After sitting there for what felt like an eternity, Sahar finally gave in. The day would have to wait. She wasn't in any condition to follow through with her plans.

With great effort, Sahar moved from the chair and laid down on the bed, curling into herself as she clutched her stomach. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she tried shifting to find a comfortable position, but no matter how much she moved, the pain persisted, stabbing at her relentlessly.

"God, just stop already," she cried, her breath shallow as she tried to calm herself.

The only thing that had ever offered her any relief in her periods was a hot water bag, so she grabbed her phone and dialed the house staff.

"Can you please bring me a hot water bag?" she requested softly, trying to keep the pain from creeping into her voice.

Once the call was over, Sahar closed her eyes and focused on her breathing, each exhale a small attempt to ease the pain gripping her body. When the maid finally arrived with the hot water bag, Sahar wasted no time pressing it against her stomach. The warmth seeped into her skin, spreading soothing relief like the gentle melting of ice under the sun.

A sigh escaped her lips as the tension began to ease, just a little, making the pain somewhat bearable. She took a deep breath of relief, letting the heat do its work. Pulling the blanket over herself, Sahar decided to surrender to the exhaustion that had been creeping over her all morning. Maybe, if she could just sleep for a while, the pain would fade into the background.

With the comforting warmth of the hot water bag on her abdomen and the weight of the blanket over her, she let herself drift off, hoping that sleep would bring her the reprieve she desperately needed.

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Sahar slowly opened her eyes, her body feeling stiff from having slept too long. She groggily reached to remove the hot water bag resting on her stomach, surprised to find it still warm. Strange—it should have been cold by now. She brushed that thought aside as she shifted in bed, stretching.

Her breath caught in her throat when she realized Abhimaan's face was mere inches from hers, peaceful in sleep. Her pulse quickened, caught off guard by the intimate proximity.

Sahar hesitated, taking him in. He was undeniably handsome. His sharp jawline was softened in slumber, and his tousled hair brushed lightly against her forehead. The gentle flutter of his long lashes against his cheeks was oddly mesmerizing.

Her gaze traced his features, noticing a small mole on the bridge of his nose—something she hadn't seen before. He looked so serene and vulnerable, and that thought made her heart flutter with an unfamiliar warmth.

The peaceful moment shattered as Sahar's stomach growled loudly, pulling her from the trance of watching Abhimaan sleep. She blinked, suddenly aware of the gnawing hunger twisting in her gut. 'I haven't eaten anything since morning'  she realized with a groan. Glancing at the bedside clock, she saw it was already past midnight. She had slept far longer than she intended.