LOVE WITHOUT DESTINY

part 21

The first rays of sunlight seeped through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. Amal stirred, shifting slightly under the cozy warmth of the blanket. She stretched, only to feel the familiar softness of the bed beneath her. Her eyes fluttered open, and her brows furrowed in confusion.

Wait... the bed?

She sat up abruptly, her heart skipping a beat as she looked around. She had fallen asleep on the sofa last night-she was sure of it. But now, she was on the bed, tucked neatly under the blanket. Her gaze darted to the sofa, where the folded sheet and pillow lay untouched.

Her mind raced. Did Zain...?

Just then, the door creaked open, and Zain walked in, carrying a tray with two steaming cups of tea. His hair was slightly damp, and his relaxed demeanor only added to her confusion. Amal quickly composed herself, adjusting the blanket around her as if shielding herself from the awkwardness of the situation.

"Good morning," Zain said casually, placing the tray on the small table by the bed.

Amal glared at him, her voice sharp. "What is this?"

"Tea," he replied nonchalantly, then added with a smirk, "Unless you were expecting breakfast in bed."

"That's not what I meant!" she snapped, her cheeks warming as she pointed toward the bed. "How... why am I here? I was on the sofa last night!"

Zain shrugged, picking up his cup and leaning against the wall. "You didn't look comfortable. So, I moved you."

Amal's jaw dropped. "You moved me? Without asking?"

"You were asleep," he replied matter-of-factly, taking a sip of his tea. "Should I have woken you up and asked for permission?"

She was too stunned to respond, her mind replaying the scene in her head. She could almost picture him carrying her, his strong arms lifting her effortlessly. The thought made her cheeks burn brighter.

"You... you had no right!" she managed to say, though her voice lacked conviction.

Zain leaned forward, his tone softening. "I had every right to make sure my wife was comfortable."

The word wife hung in the air, making Amal's pulse quicken. Before she could form a response, a knock interrupted them.

"Come in," Zain called, his eyes not leaving hers.

The door opened to reveal Noah, her bright expression faltering as she took in the scene-Amal sitting on the bed, clearly flustered, and Zain sitting relaxed, enjoying tea with her.

"Oh," Noah said, her voice tight. "I thought we'd all have breakfast downstairs. Safina prepared it."

Zain glanced at the tray. "Well, Safina's efforts are appreciated, but Amal and I started early."

Noah's gaze flicked to Amal, her smile forced. "I see."

She turned to Zain, attempting to mask her frustration. "I just thought we'd eat together. You know, like a family."

Zain leaned back, his smirk returning. "Next time, Noah. Maybe let Safina know we're good here."

Noah's face reddened, her jaw tightening. "Fine," she said stiffly. "Enjoy."

As Noah left, the air in the room felt heavier, thick with unspoken words. Amal sat in silence, staring at her hands, unsure of how to process everything that had happened. Zain had moved her in the night, as if it was nothing, yet that strange sense of intimacy lingered in her mind. She wasn't ready for it-not yet.

Zain, sensing the tension, finally spoke, his tone softer than before. "You okay?"

Amal nodded, though the unease in her eyes was impossible to miss. "I'll be fine."