The Price Of Revenge

Prologue

Hamida's POV

Hamida left her phone on the kitchen island and walked into the living room, where her husband was too busy typing on his laptop to notice her.

She sat beside him, shaking her legs nervously and smiling like she had lost her mind.

"Hamida, please tell me, what is it?" he asked, glancing at her.

"I invited Fuad for dinner," she said, turning towards the window to avoid eye contact.

"What?" he asked, clearly annoyed.

"I'm sorry. I should have told you first, but he's really sorry about what happened."

"After what he said to us, how could you just invite him to our house without consulting me first?" he asked, his expression hardening.

"I know, but..."

"If he wants to ruin his life, then so be it, but he won't drag us down with him. I warned you about talking to him, and yet you still did."

"He called me multiple times and I didn't pick up, but then..."

"But what?"

"He talked to Rumaisa about everything, and she told him the truth. He decided to leave her once and for all, but Baba told him that he either had to choose to stay with her or leave her and forget the fact that he had a family. And honestly, he's my friend. I can't hear that and say nothing."

"Wait, what? How is he doing now?" he asked, his voice dropping.

"I told him to come over and have dinner before we solve anything."

"Okay. After that, he and I are going to have a man-to-man talk."

"You had to stress that I wouldn't be there?"

"Yeah. Man to man. No woman, no baby, just two men talking privately about another man's wife and child. Let me get some water from the kitchen."

He got up and walked away.

He returned only seconds later, throwing pillows around as he hurried into the room.

"Ismail! Ismail! What happened?" Hamida asked, frightened by his sudden behaviour.

"Fuad. I went to the kitchen and saw your phone ringing. He was calling you, so I picked up. I was told he got into an accident, and your number was the last one he called."

Hamida stood completely still, shocked.

"Which hospital?"

**"Garden City."

"That's not far from here. Let's go."

She hurried away to pick up her hijab.

"What about Khalipha? He's still sleeping," Ismail asked when she returned.

"Munira can stay with him."

"I forgot she was here. Come on, let's go."

⸻

Ismail was speaking to the doctor while Hamida stood nearby, impatiently waiting for him to tell her Fuad's condition.

Moments later, he returned slowly.

The expression on his face was one she desperately hoped she had misunderstood.

Just then, Fatima and Momi ran into the reception area, both panting heavily, tears dried across their faces.

"Where is he? Is he okay?" Momi asked.

Hamida was relieved to see them. She knew she would not be able to handle whatever she was about to hear alone, which was why she had called them and Rumaisa as well.