His Accidental Second Wife

"You didn't eat again," he said quietly.

She didn't turn. Didn't even flinch.

"Maira," he spoke again, softer this time, taking a step closer. "I brought dinner. Atleast have a few bites."

Her voice came out barely above a whisper, low, trembling. "Why? So I can stay strong enough to keep pretending?"

The words hit him hard, knocking the breath out of him.

"You're not pretending," Hadi said quickly, defensively, though he wasn't sure who he was trying to convince, himself or her.

She turned slowly, eyes red and hollow. "Aren't I?" she asked, voice trembling. "I sleep in this room like a stranger. Even though I'm your wife. I exist in your world, Hadi... but can I ever exist in your heart?"

"Maira," he began, this was the first time she had openly claimed her title as his wife and he didn't know how to respond, but he said with his tone heavy, "you know everything. I... I married you because I..."

"...felt guilty," she finished for him, her voice sharp, cutting through the air. "You hit me with your car. My life shattered. And you had to save me to get rid of your guilt."

He froze. Words deserted him.

Her eyes dropped to the floor, tears gathering along her lashes. "At least Lubna has your love. Your son has your name. Me? What do I have?"

---

𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐚 𝐀𝐥𝐢. 24. No identity beyond that. No one to call hers. No place she could truly belong. Except in one nikahnama... where her name sat beside his.

𝐋𝐮𝐛𝐧𝐚 𝐀𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐢. 28. A talented interior designer. Graceful, and passionate about her work. Hadi's first love, and the woman the world recognizes as his wife.

𝐇𝐚𝐝𝐢 𝐀𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐢. 30. Successful. Respected. A loving husband. A devoted father. A man who did the right thing, even when his heart wasn't in it, and married a woman out of guilt... not love.