The next day, after their final class, Mahnoor stood outside the lecture hall, casually flipping through her notes as Edward approached. She had orchestrated this meeting with deliberate precision, knowing exactly how Daemond would react when he saw them together. It wasn't that she particularly cared about Edward; in fact, he was nothing more than a pawn in the bigger game she was playing. She wanted to see Daemond fight for her, to see him possess her with that same dangerous intensity he had shown before.
Edward, oblivious to her intentions, smiled as he approached, leaning in slightly as they spoke. "Hey, Mahnoor. I was wondering if I could borrow your notes from last week? I missed the class, and I heard you have the best notes," he said, his tone friendly but casual.
Mahnoor flashed him a coy smile, her eyes subtly scanning the hallway. Daemond was late, but she knew he wouldn't be far behind. "Sure, Edward. I can send them to you later tonight, or..." She trailed off, her voice soft and teasing, "...I could go over them with you. I don't mind."
Just as Edward's face lit up at her words, Daemond rounded the corner. Mahnoor's heart raced with anticipation, though she kept her expression neutral. Daemond's eyes locked onto them, his gaze immediately darkening as he took in the scene—Edward standing too close to Mahnoor, her smile too friendly. The jealousy flared in him, igniting like a wildfire.
Without a word, Daemond stormed over, grabbing Edward by the collar of his shirt. Edward's eyes widened in shock, his hands coming up in reflex as Daemond shoved him hard against the wall.
"Daemond, what the hell?!" Edward yelled, confusion and fear mixing in his voice. But Daemond wasn't listening. His grey eyes blazed with fury as he punched Edward square in the jaw, sending him stumbling to the ground.
Mahnoor watched, her heart pounding with excitement. This was exactly what she had wanted—Daemond, unhinged, fighting for her. But she had to play her part. She gasped loudly, her face a mask of feigned shock as she stepped forward.
"Daemond, stop!" she cried out, reaching for his arm. "What are you doing?!"
But Daemond wasn't stopping. He grabbed Edward again, throwing him against the wall. "Stay away from her," he snarled through clenched teeth, his voice low and menacing. "Do you hear me? Don't ever come near her again."
Edward coughed, holding his ribs as he looked up in disbelief. "I-I wasn't doing anything! We were just talking about notes!"
Mahnoor pulled on Daemond's arm, pretending to be horrified, though a thrill ran through her. "Daemond, please! Stop it! He didn't mean anything by it!"
Daemond finally relented, breathing heavily as he stepped back, his fists clenched, still glaring down at Edward. He was panting, his chest rising and falling with the effort to control his rage. His body trembled with a mix of adrenaline and possessiveness.
Edward scrambled to his feet, his face bruised and blood trickling from his lip. He shot Daemond a fearful glance before quickly walking away, not daring to look back.
Once Edward was out of sight, Daemond turned to Mahnoor, his eyes still wild with anger, but softening when they met hers. "I couldn't stand the way he was looking at you," he muttered, his voice low, almost apologetic. "I'm sorry... I just—"
Mahnoor placed a hand on his chest, her expression calm now that the scene was over. She gave him a soft, understanding look, as if she hadn't been the one to provoke it all in the first place. "It's okay," she whispered, her voice soothing. "You were just protecting me. I understand."
But deep down, Mahnoor reveled in the moment. She had orchestrated everything perfectly. Daemond's jealousy, his anger—it was all a testament to how much he wanted her, how much he needed her. And now, as she held him, acting the part of the concerned girlfriend, she knew she had him right where she wanted him.
"Let's go back to your dorm," she suggested softly, knowing he would follow her lead. "You need to calm down."
Daemond nodded, his anger slowly ebbing away as he followed her, still shaken by his outburst but grateful for her understanding. Little did he know, Mahnoor's games had only just begun.