A Heart's Safe Haven

1: Crash

Dedicated to striving_muslimah because all the credits for this story idea go to her. And her writing is beyond amazing maa shaa Allaah. Also, a great big Jazaakallaah to her for the tips she gives 

;)

#1Flashback  

"Maureen," Matthew started. He leaned over the mahogany table and tucked a stray strand of Maureen's brunette hair behind her ear. 

"Yeah?" Maureen asked with a shy smile. A blush spread over her fair cheeks and Matthew chuckled. 

"I love you," he proclaimed, a solemn look in his icy blue eyes. Before Maureen could reply, he continued. "Maureen, you are my oxygen. Without you I would not be able to breathe. You are my light. Your smile is my sun. And your eyes are my moon. Your happiness is my happiness. And as soppy as it sounds your grief is my grief. All I want is for you to spent the rest of your life besides me. So please Maureen, my love, my sweetheart... Marry me and make me the happiest man in the world. I promise to make you happy. I promise to love you. I promise to cherish you. I promise to honor you. I love you Maureen," Matthew finished. 

Tears of joy slipped down Maureen's face and she was absolutely speechless when Matthew gracefully knelt down on one knee, attracting the attention of the customers of the posh restaurant. 

Ignoring the spectators who started chanting 'say yes' one by one, Maureen stood up and slid her hand onto Matthew's neatly trimmed blonde hair. 

"Of course Matthew!" she exclaimed. "Of course I'll marry you," she said sincerely.  

The onlookers applauded in the background when Matthew stood up and embraced Maureen into a tight hug. With the utmost gentleness he wiped the wet trail of tears of her face and placed a chaste kiss on her cheek. Maureen melted into his embrace and soaked in happiness. She and Matthew had been dating for half a year now, but she felt as if she knew him very well. He was the perfect prince charming. He was such a gentleman.  

Maureen sighed. Matthew was the kind of man who opened doors for you and said 'ladies first.' He was the kind of man who gifted you chocolates and flowers when it wasn't even your birthday. He was always so considerate and sweet. Maureen felt like she was the luckiest woman in the world. It was a shock that such a well off and handsome business man wanted to marry her. 

It felt like a dream to Maureen. She felt as if she was a character in a fairytale. She wanted to scream out her happiness to the entire world. 

Matt Bailey proposed to me. 

#2Flashback 

"Don't marry him Maureen. Don't marry Matthew." 

"Isa!" Maureen snapped. "Are you seriously telling me not to marry the love of my life?" She questioned, glaring at her mobile phone in confusion. 

"Yes, I am," Isa answered calmly. "You're a good woman Maureen and you don't know Matthew like I do. I don't want you to get hurt. Matthew isn't as sweet and caring as you think he is. He is violent and abusive. You may not believe me but what I am telling you is nothing but the truth. I have known Matthew for years and you've only known him for a few months. Don't marry Matthew. If you marry him he'll use you then break you." 

Blood rushed to Maureen's cheeks and she felt faint. She had no idea why Isa would badmouth his half brother in such a way. Matthew was such a prince charming. She had no doubt that Isa's words were untrue. But she had no idea why he would say such things about her fiancée and his half brother. In truth she didn't know Isa very well, but until now she had had a good impression of him. In their few encounters he had always kept a respectable distance -she guessed that was because he was a Muslim- and he had been extraordinarily polite. She noticed that he didn't actually look at her and kept his head bowed. She found that fact intriguing.