𝐂𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐲 𝐕𝐨𝐰𝐬

Chapter 21

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"Her heart raced, her mind went blank, and the world seemed to narrow to just him and the overwhelming sensation of his lips on hers."

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The Next Morning

Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting warm patches on the marble floor. Aamirah stirred, her body nestled in the soft sheets that smelled faintly of Osman’s cologne.

Her eyes fluttered open slowly, and for a brief moment, she forgot where she was. But then the events of the previous night hit her, and her heart sank.

She sat up quickly, her pulse racing. The heat of Osman’s touch, the bite, the possessive words—they were all too vivid in her mind.

Her neck ached where he had bitten her, and when her hand instinctively touched the spot, a rush of emotions flooded her: fear, confusion, and a strange, unsettling warmth.

Glancing at the clock on the wall, panic surged through her—she had overslept. She was supposed to be at college by now. Aamirah scrambled out of bed, but dizziness swept over her, forcing her to sit on the edge. Her hands trembled, clutching the sheets.

What is happening to me?

Before she could collect herself, a soft knock on the door startled her. The door creaked open, and Osman entered, his tall frame casting a shadow that seemed to make the room colder. Aamirah stiffened immediately, her heart pounding against her ribs.

She dropped her gaze to the floor, her fingers twisting in her lap.

"You missed your classes," Osman said quietly, his voice low and unreadable.

Her breath hitched. “I-I’m sorry,” she whispered, keeping her eyes firmly on the ground, as if looking at him would summon another overwhelming encounter.

She didn’t know why she is apologising but she didn’t had any other answer plus his presence is overwhelming so she did said what came to her mind.

He exhaled through his nose, his frustration simmering just beneath the surface. The way she shrank from him, the way she avoided his gaze—it gnawed at him in ways he couldn’t understand. Osman’s temper flared for a brief second, but he forced it down.

"I told you to rest," he said, his tone sharper than intended. "You don't need to apologize."

She nodded quickly, still not meeting his eyes. Her hands fidgeted nervously, twisting the hem of her shirt as silence stretched between them. The tension in the room thickened, making it hard for her to breathe.

Osman clenched his jaw. She was treating him like a monster—as if any moment he would lash out or hurt her. And that frustrated him more than he cared to admit.

He was used to people fearing him this way— but not in his own home, not from his wife, and he hates to admit it but it does bother him and he do not know why.

“Look at me, Aamirah.”

Her heart skipped a beat, but she couldn’t bring herself to obey. The weight of his presence made her feel small, and the memory of his kiss from the night before left her both terrified and confused. She shook her head slightly, still staring at her hands.

Osman’s patience frayed. He crouched before her, bringing himself closer to her level. "I won’t hurt you," he said, his voice low but tense. "Stop acting like I will."

Aamirah bit her lip hard, holding back the flood of emotions threatening to escape. She wanted to believe him, but her fear felt too overwhelming. She knew how unpredictable he was, how easily his temper could ignite.