The Price Of Revenge

Nine

Rumaisa had just finished posting on her blog and was lying on her bed, scrolling through the comments, when Sarah walked in.

"Hey, you!"

"Hajiya, what do you want?" Rumaisa asked, sitting up slightly.

"Fuad is here to see you."

"Oh, really?" She jumped off the bed, a flutter of anticipation settling in her chest.

"Yeah, but he doesn't seem to be in a good mood," Sarah warned.

Rumaisa giggled. "I know. What about Mutassim? Did he leave?"

Sarah rolled her eyes. "Oh, how nice would that be? But no. Mutassim didn't leave with your dad, Mum, and sisters. He and his wife are going back in two days, and he told me to personally escort you there."

"He's prying. I can handle myself," Rumaisa said, adjusting her veil.

"Well, that's why I was lucky enough to be an only child," Sarah teased.

"Actually," Rumaisa muttered with a smirk, "it wasn't luck. Especially not for your parents."

She grabbed her veil and walked out.

•

She found Fuad sitting on the couch, typing on his phone, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

Probably Hamida, she thought.

Who was she kidding? It probably was.

But she wasn't jealous. Really.

"Hey," she said, sliding into the chair across from him.

"How are you?" he asked.

His face was unreadable, and there was none of the usual warmth in his eyes.

"What's wrong?" she asked cautiously.

"How are you?" he repeated, almost as though he hadn't heard her question.

"I'm okay. And you?"

"I'm good."

He returned to typing on his phone, his attention deliberately fixed on the screen.

Rumaisa leaned forward.

"You know I don't exactly love the idea of us getting married, right?"

Fuad's fingers paused over his phone, but he didn't look up.

"I know. And I don't expect you to. There's no need to force yourself."

She frowned.

"That's exactly what I don't understand. I don't understand why I'm okay with marrying you. It feels like a heavy weight has been lifted, and I don't understand why. I don't understand why I still have feelings for you, and I definitely don't understand why I'm actually looking forward to introducing you to people as my husband."

He finally looked up, his gaze steady on hers.

Rumaisa looked away, her cheeks warming.

Fuad gave the faintest smile.

"I know you don't love me. It's fine. All we need is time, right?"

"But time doesn't fix situations like ours," she said softly.

"Then maybe all you need is to let go of the past," he replied, his voice calm, almost gentle.

"It's easier said than done."

"No matter how hard it is, you have to try. Because it seems like this affects you more than it affects me. And we don't really have a choice."

"So marrying me affects you?" she asked, tilting her head.