Shirk in Disguise

Chapter 33

Adnan was nothing like Faysal. Unlike the young, graceful and trim Faysal, Adnan was older, clumsy and pot-bellied. Perhaps it was the fact that he certainly wouldn't remind her of her ex that made her accept him, or because she was just tired of Bilqees's incessant trials to hook her up with one man or the other. Anyway, from that fateful day marking Bilqees's third marriage, things moved on pretty quickly.

Unlike most of Azeema's other suitors, Adnan wasn't a bachelor. He'd actually divorced quite a number of women and seemed in a hurry to get married. Therefore, he wasted no time in informing his prospective bride of his plans.

"I really want us to get married as quickly as possible," he once stated while they were discussing. He didn't even mince words.

"Oh, but why?" Azeema asked.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" he answered her question with another.

Azeema just sighed. Not for the first time, she silently asked herself why in the world she was sitting with this aging man. Because of his money, of course! Her mind reminded her. Nevertheless, she managed to smile. "No problem, you can start the preparations, then."

"What preparations?" he asked gruffly. "I'm only paying the dowry and that's it!" What he meant was that he wasn't prepared to pay for her bridal shopping or an exquisite Wedding Trousseau.

Azeema rolled her eyes. In the short time she'd known this man, she had come to the conclusion that he certainly didn't deserve his nickname, ATM. An ATM readily gives out cash but this man was Super Stingy. However, she wasn't going to let him get away with this. She also loved money and her days in the Femi-9 Fraternity were certainly not a waste.

"What do you mean?" she asked him with a frown on her face.

"I mean just what I said," he replied with grim determination.

"Well, then," she replied, standing up and turning to go, "I don't think you're ready to marry me."

Adnan quickly followed suit. He really couldn't bear to lose her. Other than his wealth, she could well be a priceless asset to him. He figured that not only would she boost his ego and social standing, he'd certainly be able to boast about her to his circle of friends, most of whom had tried winning her golden heart but had failed woefully. Also, he couldn't imagine the extent of the publicity their union would generate. All these would crash down if he let her slip away!

"Come on, dear. You know I wasn't really serious!"

"Really?" she asked with a smirk, her back still turned on him.

"Of course! You know I can't bear to lose you..."

"Well, it's a good thing you came back to your senses. I wouldn't hesitate to dump you, y'know." She really didn't love this man; the whole thing was just a pretty convenient arrangement. She'd figured that she had been hurt before because she'd loved Faysal wholeheartedly. She wasn't going to make the same mistake. Once bitten, twice shy.

"Come on, sweetheart. It really hasn't come to that..." Adnan cajoled. Her words actually made him wince. Husnah, his latest ex-wife, had said the same to him before leaving him for a much younger, much more handsome husband. He was determined not to let Azeema do the same.

With gentle steps, Azeema returned back to her seat. She was sure she could use her charm to tame his miserly attitude and she could do that without moving a muscle. What had happened just then had proven to her that she could keep him at her beck and call. After all, he had never agreed to paying for the traditional trousseau and other cultural responsibilities in his previous marriages. "I'll just extort money from him and then dump him when he's of no use to me," she promised herself.

Unknown to her, Adnan was also having his own private thoughts. "She really doesn't know me," he silently soliloquized. "I'll just oblige her all she wants before the wedding. When she's finally mine, then she'll know my true colour."

At that time, both just plastered fake smiles on their faces and none was aware of the other's thoughts. Perhaps if one or both of them had the power of mind-reading, the marriage wouldn't have taken place four months later...

The union of Azeema Yusuf and Adnan Tahir Mahmoud drew a lot of publicity. It was the wedding of the season, the one on everyone's lips. However, it wasn't a difficult guess that Adnan was only attracted to Azeema's beauty and she, to his wealth. The whispers went on but the wedding still took place.

However, it didn't take long for Azeema to figure out that she couldn't tame Adnan that easily. He loved his money more than anything...including her! Before long, she understood that he was only using her to boost his selfish ego and treated her just like a Barbie doll which was a decoration in his house. With the frustrated plans, she thought she was better off while still unmarried!

As she was preparing to bolt from the marriage, she realized that it was too late. She was pregnant!

A/N

Boom...a bombshell!😱

What do you think will happen next?

Will the baby make her stay?

Will she still maintain her
decision and become a divorced mother with a baby and a business to manage? If yes, how do you think she'll cope??

Oh...and tell me what you think of Stingy Adnan, aka ATM💳

After commenting, read on, my lovelies...not before voting and sharing of course😉

Thank y'all in advance!😌