Seeking Her Forgiveness

25. You'll hurt me

Shahana froze in place, momentarily stunned to see Azlan standing before her. His gaze lingered on hers, and a slow, familiar grin crept onto his face—one of those charming smiles that had always been his weapon of choice. Shahana glanced away, still caught off guard, and turned toward Musa, who was grinning mischievously, clearly enjoying the moment.

"Api, what could I do?" Musa said, half-laughing. "He wouldn't leave me alone! I had no choice but to drag him along."

Azlan took a step forward, effortlessly slipping into the role he knew best, closing the distance between himself and Shahana. "My dearest wife..." he drawled with playful ease, his voice warm enough to melt the coldest heart. "Looks like you missed me, didn't you?"

His eyes sparkled with mischief as he tried to catch a glimpse of her expression beneath the veil of her niqab. Shahana quickly lowered her gaze, her heart racing. Though her blush remained hidden, Azlan could feel it—he didn't need to see it to know the effect he had on her. His smirk deepened, satisfied with the silent victory.

He thrived on these moments. The unspoken conversations, the way they communicated through fleeting glances, and the subtle shifts in her posture—each one was a small triumph for him, a reminder that no matter how reserved Shahana seemed on the surface, she wasn't immune to him.

"Consider yourself lucky," Azlan teased, his grin widening. "Your darling brother here managed to rescue you from your father's clutches. If it weren't for him, I'd be left with nothing but the dream of spending time with my wife."

Shahana shot him a sharp look, her eyes gleaming with silent disapproval. If Musa weren't standing there, Azlan was certain he'd be getting an earful.

Musa, oblivious to the charged undercurrent between them, jumped in with a cheerful grin. "Enişte, I know Baba can be a bit strict, but you really should be grateful to him! If it weren't for him, Api would never have agreed to leave the house. I had to practically drag her out!"

Azlan raised a playful brow. "Oh, I'll be sure to thank your father properly. I'll write him such a heartfelt letter that every father-in-law in the world will aspire to be like him," he said with a chuckle. "But before that, let me express my heartfelt gratitude to my dearest brother-in-law, who has blessed me with this rare opportunity to spend some quality time with my wife."

Placing a hand dramatically over his heart, Azlan gave a playful bow toward Musa. "Thank you, dear brother-in-law. I owe you a debt I can never repay."

Shahana rolled her eyes, exasperated by Azlan's antics, but despite herself, she couldn't suppress the small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. Azlan seemed unusually cheerful today. Maybe it was the excitement of their first trip outside Bangladesh, or maybe it was the hope that he'd finally get some uninterrupted time alone with her.

"I don't understand why people complain so much about their brothers-in-law," Azlan continued, glancing at Shahana. "Mine is a gem—one in a million! No, one in a billion!"

Before Azlan could pile on more praise, Musa grinned and jumped in. "Come on, enişte, there's no need to be so formal. You're welcome to tag along with us. It's no problem at all!"

Azlan's grin faltered, his cheer fading like mist under the morning sun. "Wait... you mean you're coming with us?"

"Of course! Who else will give you a proper tour of Istanbul? I know every corner of this city," Musa said brightly. "Come on, Api. Let's start with Istiklal Street!"

Azlan's shoulders sagged in defeat as Musa cheerfully took Shahana's arm and led the way. All Azlan could do was trail behind them, his hands stuffed in his pockets, frustration lining his features.