MINE (EDITED)

Chapter 34

Paris, France 🇫🇷

After spending two unforgettable weeks in the lively streets of New Orleans, we had now found ourselves in the heart of Paris, the city of love. We planned to spend a week here, inshallah, and had already made the most of the past three days.

Our home for the trip? The Four Seasons Hotel George V—an oasis of luxury and elegance that exuded Parisian charm. The moment we had checked in, I had been in awe of its grandeur. Every detail, from the lavish chandeliers to the breathtaking floral arrangements, felt like a dream.

Norah had flown in from the UK yesterday to join us, taking advantage of her short school break. She was staying in her own room, while I was in ours, getting ready for dinner.

After slipping into something elegant, I dressed Sabrina in the cutest mustard and white outfit. Her top had "Lovely" written across it, and mashallah, she truly lived up to the word. I smiled as I brushed back her soft curls, my heart swelling with love for my little angel.

Muhammad and I made our way to the hotel lobby and waited for Norah and Sabrina. A few moments later, they arrived, Norah looking effortlessly stylish as always. We stepped outside and took a cab to Diếp, a highly-rated Vietnamese restaurant.

As soon as we sat down, Norah leaned over, holding out her phone.

"Leyloş, look at this picture of Coco. I had to take a million shots before she finally sat still!" she whined playfully.

I took her phone and scrolled through the pictures, smiling at the sight of my baby girl looking absolutely adorable. Mashallah.

After ordering, I decided to try Sole Caramélisé, while Sabrina got mashed potatoes with garlic sauce. Muhammad and Norah made their selections, and in no time, our food arrived. As we ate, we talked about everything and nothing, the conversation flowing effortlessly between laughter and nostalgia.

Once dinner was over, we lingered at the table, snapping pictures to send to Ni'imah, Ya Meena, and Ibty. I even captured a candid shot of Norah, sitting gracefully with a cup of coffee—her greatest addiction—in front of her. She looked stunning, as always. She had an undeniable talent for fashion, always knowing exactly what to wear and how to wear it.

As the golden hour cast a dreamy glow over the city, we boarded a boat for a sunset tour of Paris. The air was crisp, and the Seine sparkled under the fading sunlight. Norah snapped a picture of Muhammad and me with the Eiffel Tower in the background. The moment I saw it, I knew—it had just become my new favorite picture of us.

We had returned to the hotel an hour ago, and exhaustion was weighing heavily on me. I collapsed onto the plush bed, sighing dramatically.

"Babe, I really need a massage," I groaned, stretching out beside Muhammad, who was, as usual, engrossed in his laptop.

I waited for a response, but he barely acknowledged me, his fingers still typing away. My irritation flared. This was supposed to be our post-baby honeymoon, yet his laptop seemed to be his real companion.

I rolled my eyes. "Seriously, Muhammad? You're always on your laptop! You're not even giving me your full attention. I thought this was a vacation?"

That got his attention. He finally shut the laptop and set it aside, turning to face me. He took my hands gently, pressing a light kiss on my fingers.

"I'm so sorry, baby. I just needed to finish up some work. But I promise, from this moment on, I'm all yours."

I huffed, pulling my hands away. "No, it's fine. Just go back to work. I'm going to sleep."

I turned away from him, dragging the duvet up to my chin. A beat of silence passed before I felt his arms snake around my waist, pulling me close.