Forever His

Chapter 90: Borrowed

Shahmeer's POV:

"What the hell did you say to her?" I slam my hand against the table, hard enough to rattle the cutlery.

Both men look at me — my father and hers — like I'm some emotional boy out of line. Like they don't deserve every inch of the fury burning in my chest.

"Shahmeer," my dad says, calm, collected. Too calm. "Lower your voice."

"I will not," I snap. "Tell me what you said. What did you tell her that made her break like that? What did you say that made her slap me like I'm the villain in her story?"

Mahnoor's father leans back in his chair, arms crossed. "She deserved to know the truth."

That stops me. My jaw clenches.

"What truth?"

The silence between us grows too loud, too sharp. I look between them and something cold claws up my spine.

"What. Truth," I repeat, voice low now. Deadly.

My dad sighs. "She found out about the contract."

The room tilts. My hands ball into fists before I even know it. My heart punches against my ribs.

"You told her?" "You told her everything?"

"She was going to find out sooner or later," Mahnoor's dad mutters, no remorse in his eyes. "Might as well be from someone who wasn't lying to her face every day."

"You piece of—"

I lunge forward, grabbing him by the collar. My father stands up but doesn't intervene — maybe he knows better right now. Maybe he's just waiting to see how much damage I can do before I break.

"You don't get to talk about her like that," I hiss. "You don't get to act like you did her a favour by selling her off for profit. You ruined your wife. You ruined your daughter. And now you're trying to ruin me."

He shoves me off, but I'm already turning. I don't need more words. I don't need more lies.

I just need her.

I rush out of the house, ignoring the way my legs feel unsteady, like they might not carry me far enough, fast enough. I grab my keys, jump into the car, and push the engine harder than it's ever been pushed.

Red light. I don't stop.

Pedestrian crossing. I swerve.

I cut through traffic like a madman, horns blaring behind me. I barely notice. My blood is screaming, and her name is the only thing echoing in my head.

Mahnoor.

Mahnoor.

Mahnoor.

She has to be at Meerab's. It's the only place she'd go. It's her safe zone — away from all of us, away from me. And I hate that I might've become someone she needs space from.

I pull up outside the house, tires screeching, and jump out before the engine fully dies.

The guards step forward. "Sir, you're not allowed—"

"Move," I say.

They don't.

I try to push past them, shoulder-checking one hard, but the other grabs me. My body fights, struggles—but it's already given up hours ago. My knees buckle. I hit the ground, palms scraping concrete. My breath leaves me in a rush.

And then I break.

"Mahnoor!" I yell, the name tearing out of me. "Mahnoor!"

My voice cracks.