Fickle

Chapter 61

The house was silent save for the faint hum of the wind outside. Kulthum stood in the kitchen, absentmindedly washing the last of the dishes from dinner. The day had been eventful—a blend of laughter, deep conversation, and the quiet joy of seeing her family start to heal. Yet, she couldn't shake the awareness of the man who had re-entered her life with an intensity she hadn’t expected.

“Need some help?” Abdullah’s deep voice startled her.

She turned to see him leaning casually against the doorway, his shirt unbuttoned at the collar, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The sight was disarming, reminding her too much of the Abdullah she had fallen in love with years ago.

“I’m almost done,” she replied softly, turning back to the sink, though her hands moved slower now.

He stepped closer, his presence commanding yet gentle. “Kulthum…” His voice carried that familiar timbre that made her heart skip. She stopped what she was doing, the water running forgotten.

“What is it, Abdullah?” she asked, her voice steadier than she felt.

“I wanted to thank you,” he said, his tone earnest. “For giving me this chance to make things right. For letting me back into your life, even when I know I don’t deserve it.”

She turned to face him, drying her hands on a towel. “It wasn’t easy, Abdullah. You know that. But… I couldn’t hold onto the pain forever. It wasn’t fair to the kids, and it wasn’t fair to myself.”

He nodded, his gaze never leaving hers. “I’ve spent so much time regretting what I did. Every day, I thought about you, about what I lost. And now that I have you and the kids again, I don’t want to waste a second.”

Her breath hitched as he stepped closer, close enough that she could feel the warmth of him. She looked up into his eyes, searching for any hesitation, any lingering doubt—but all she saw was sincerity and the depth of his love.

“I missed this,” he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Just being near you.”

Kulthum’s heart thudded in her chest. The years of pain, distance, and unresolved feelings melted away in that moment, leaving only the man she had loved—and still loved—standing before her.

“You broke me, Abdullah,” she admitted, her voice trembling. “But somehow, you’re the one putting me back together.”

He lifted his hand, hesitating before gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you if you let me.”

The distance between them disappeared as he leaned down, his lips brushing against hers in a kiss that was both tender and full of promise. It wasn’t rushed or uncertain—it was the culmination of years of longing, an unspoken vow to begin anew.

When they finally parted, Kulthum let out a shaky breath, her hands resting against his chest. “You’re not allowed to mess this up again, Your Royal Highness,” she teased, a small smile playing on her lips.

He laughed softly, resting his forehead against hers. “I wouldn’t dream of it, Dr. Muhammad.”

They stood there, wrapped in each other’s presence, the past finally beginning to fade as the future stretched out before them, brighter than it had ever been.The quiet embrace between Abdullah and Kulthum was broken by a soft knock at the doorframe. Jenna stood there, her mischievous grin stretching wide. Behind her, Hudayfah hovered, looking uncertain but curious.

“Are you two done with your ‘grown-up’ moment?” Jenna asked, her voice lilting with amusement.

Kulthum chuckled and pulled away from Abdullah, her cheeks flushed. “What do you two need?”