Forever His

Chapter 55: Office

Mahnoor's POV:

1 week later...

The morning sun filters through the large windows of the bedroom, illuminating every inch of the luxurious house in soft, golden light. I sit up in bed, scrolling through my phone, only to be met with an onslaught of notifications. My heart sinks as I skim the headlines:

"Billionaire Shahmeer Jafri's Romantic Honeymoon—Exclusive Photos!"
"The Power Couple Takes Santorini by Storm!"
"Is This the Most Glamorous Honeymoon Ever?"

I swipe through the photos attached to the articles, feeling a strange mix of frustration and disbelief. There's one of me laughing—genuinely laughing—on the beach, the hem of my dress fluttering in the breeze. Another shows Shahmeer with his hand on the small of my back as we exited a mall. To the untrained eye, we might look like a couple deeply in love.

The irony isn't lost on me.

I glance over at Shahmeer, who's standing by the mirror adjusting his cufflinks. His dark suit clings to his frame, radiating the kind of authority that makes people follow his orders without question. His hair is still damp from the shower, and he moves with his usual precision, completely unbothered by the storm of media attention.

"Care to explain why our private honeymoon is suddenly public knowledge?" I say, holding up my phone.

He doesn't even glance at me. "Because nothing about me is private, Mahnoor. You'll get used to it."

I narrow my eyes. "A heads-up would've been nice."

"You didn't ask," he replies coolly, fastening his watch with practiced ease.

I open my mouth to retort, but the sharp buzz of my phone cuts me off. The screen lights up with an incoming call. My heart freezes when I see the name.

Rohail.

My fingers hover over the screen, debating whether to answer. But before I can decide, Shahmeer's voice slices through the air.

"Are you going to answer that, or just stare at it all morning?"

I shoot him a glare, turning my back to him as I press the phone to my ear. "Hello?"

The voice on the other end is sharp, angry. "What the hell is this, Mahnoor?"

I wince, gripping the phone tighter. "Rohail—"

"Don't 'Rohail' me!" he snaps. "I told you this marriage was a mistake. I told you not to go through with it. And now, what? You're flaunting it? Smiling and laughing with him like you don't care?"

I glance over my shoulder, making sure Shahmeer isn't paying attention. He's scrolling through his phone now, seemingly uninterested in my conversation. Still, I lower my voice. "It's not like that," I whisper.

"Then what is it like?" he demands, his tone bitter. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're enjoying playing house with that man."

His words feel like a slap. "You don't understand—"

"No, you don't understand," he interrupts, his voice rising. "You're mine, Mahnoor. You've always been mine. And I'm not going to let some rich bastard take what's mine."

A shiver runs down my spine. His. As if I'm an object to be claimed.

"Rohail, please—"

"Please what?" he snaps. "You're wearing his ring. You're sleeping in his bed. Do you even think about me anymore? Or have you completely forgotten who you belong to?"