𝐂𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐲 𝐕𝐨𝐰𝐬

Chapter 53

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She was my chaos, and I was her control. Together, we were beautiful destruction.

•••

When Aamirah stirred from sleep hours later, the warmth beside her had long disappeared. The sheets, though fresh, still carried the scent of him, musky, possessive, inescapable. Every inch of her body ached in remembrance of the night, and the morning. Her limbs were sore, her thighs tender, and her core still pulsed with a dull heat that refused to fade.

She sighed softly, brushing her hair back from her damp forehead as she pushed herself up. She moved gingerly, wincing slightly as she sat upright, the memories of his touch still etched into her skin. Despite the ache, she felt something deeper, a sense of being wanted so fiercely it left her breathless.

But then guilt tugged at her.

Mohammed.

Her heart skipped. She hadn’t checked on him since the evening before. Swiftly, she got out of bed, choosing a modest dress and covering herself quickly, wincing slightly with each movement. Her instincts as a mother overcame everything else.

When she entered the nursery, she found Aunt Durnaz sitting serenely on the rocking chair, little Mohammed asleep in her arms. The older woman looked up with a gentle smile, her eyes full of knowing warmth.

“I’m so sorry,” Aamirah whispered, wringing her fingers. “I… overslept.”

Durnaz chuckled softly, patting the blanket over the sleeping child. “Don’t worry, Aamirah. If you won’t sleep now, how will you stay awake tonight?” she teased, her voice laced with humor and a subtle knowingness.

Aamirah's face flushed crimson, her eyes darting to the floor. She could hardly meet the older woman’s eyes, but the teasing wasn’t cruel, it was affectionate.

Sensing her discomfort, Durnaz added kindly, “It’s alright. These are precious days. One day, you’ll look back and realize… these quiet moments with your beloved, these stolen hours of love, they were the happiest moments of your life so live it.”

Aamirah bit her lip, heart swelling with emotion she couldn’t name. She gave a shy nod. “Grandmother asked for me earlier… I should see her.”

Durnaz nodded but paused before Aamirah turned to leave. “If you wish,” she said gently, “you can leave Mohammed with me tonight as well.”

There was a quiet implication in her voice. One that made Aamirah's cheeks burn deeper. She got that hidden teasing behind her kind help.

She didn’t respond right away, simply dipped her head in a flustered nod and murmured a thank-you before hurrying out of the room, her heart thudding far too fast for something as simple as a suggestion.

But as she walked back down the hallway, her mind replayed Osman’s touch, his gaze, and the way he said her name like a vow. Maybe, just maybe, she was beginning to understand this dangerous, intoxicating man… and the place she held in his world.

The golden hue of the evening sun bathed the garden in a soft warmth as Aamirah sat barefoot on the cool grass, her long dress pooled around her. Mohammed was crawling nearby, his tiny giggles floating through the still air as he chased after the hem of her dupatta. She watched him with a soft smile, her fingers absentmindedly plucking petals off a marigold.

A few maids stood nearby, hesitation written across their faces. One of them finally spoke up, asking if Aamirah could intervene, they had requested a short leave, but Madam Rania had denied it without hearing the reason.