LET ME HATE YOU

Found

"Y-Yes," Mehwish's stutter confirmed Feriha's suspicion.

Rodriguez subtly disappeared from the scene, instructing his team to clear the premises. As a loyal subordinate, he read the room and gave the family privacy.

"And what did Asmaira reply?" Feriha took a few steps towards her, emanating an intense aura. The last fiasco at the Gala hadn't been sorted, and now she found her daughter at the center of another.

"S-She...." Mehwish glanced at Amaan, only to see realization dawning on him.

"If you told Asmaira you were taking Kabir—even when I specifically told you not to—then why did she say she doesn't know? Only you knew Amaan was returning," Feriha's agitation wasn't missed by Salar, who started putting two and two together.

"Ma...you are questioning me for that low life?" Mehwish tried distracting from the narrative, but Feriha wasn't in the mood to let this incident subside.

"Your sudden interest in the so-called low life makes me question you. Only you were there with Asmaira during the Gala. Knowing her reserved and shy personality, Ishaal had specially designed a gown for Asmaira. Raina confirmed sending the same gown to the salon. Asmaira never saw the dress, or even Raina's saree, or, for that matter, didn't even know that necklace belonged to her sister. It was you who knew how possessive Amaan was about her things. Asmaira didn't."

Amaan's expression hardened, recollecting the night. He remembered Asmaira saying the same, but intoxicated with hatred, he assumed she was pretending to be innocent. It was Mehwish who brought his attention to her that night. His sister never liked Raina, but with time and warning, she stopped meddling in their life. How could he not realize she would target Asmaira?

"M-Ma..tha—" Feriha harshly cut in, "I saw you hovering around Asmaira and Amaan that night, and the same night she was sent to the hospital. And tonight, she was blamed for something you orchestrated to create more rift between her and Amaan."

Amaan's head snapped in his sister's direction, who tried to save herself, "Amaan... it's all a misundersta—"

"You better tell the truth, Mehwish. You should know your mother would not say things without giving thought, and from what she is comprehending, it makes me believe you indeed planned to instigate Amaan," Salar said, approaching his wife and standing beside her as her support.

Tears of humiliation brimmed in Mehwish's eyes, and before she could utter a word, Amaan beat her to it, "She is not the one to be blamed."

Mehwish's shoulders sagged in relief while Feriha scoffed in disbelief, ready to reprimand her son when his next words surprised them, "I'm the one who is to be blamed."

"If I can be provoked or instigated by insignificant means, then the problem lies with me rather than Mehwish," he lowered his gaze in realization.

The guilt he harbored since the Gala night took a toll on him. Even today, there was no evidence that Asmaira was involved, but he did what he did every time. He blamed her. He also knew blaming Asmaira was his resistance to how deeply she got under his skin without his knowledge.

A long silence fell, which was broken by Kabir's irritated wail. Turning cranky with sleep, he started wiggling in Amaan's hold.

"I'll take him to the room," Hania offered, giving a disapproving look to Amaan.

Once she was gone, Salar walked up to his younger son, "Since you threw her out without giving her a chance to talk, you will be the one to get her back."

Amaan didn't raise his head, "You will apologize to her and, if need be, to her parents. Understood?"

"Yes, Dad. Tomorrow morning, I wi—"