Rania's hands trembled as she held the bouquet, her eyes darting towards the man standing behind her father and sister; Ethan, the one person she never thought she'd see again, now stood mere feet away, his piercing gaze locking onto hers.
Sweat formed in her palms as she felt a wave of unease wash over her. She couldn't concentrate on the wedding ceremony anymore, her mind racing with questions. What was Ethan doing here? Had he come for her? Was he going to stop the wedding?
Fear crept up her spine as she thought about the consequences. Her father was present, and Asher... Asher would never let her go without a fight. But, on second thought, a spark of hope ignited within her. If Ethan were to stop the wedding, it would mean she could escape this forced marriage. She could run away with him, start anew.
As their eyes met again, Rania felt a shiver run down her spine. She quickly looked away, trying to compose herself, but her heart raced with excitement and fear.
The vows were taken, and Asher held her hand, leading her to their seats. Rania's hands still shook, and Asher's grip tightened. "What's the matter with you?" he whispered, his voice laced with annoyance. "I know you don't want to marry me, but don't embarrass me. Pull yourself together... wife."
Rania's heart ached at the title, but her mind raced with possibilities. Could she really escape with Ethan? Would he even want her to? She dared to glance at him again, their eyes meeting in a flash of understanding.
As their eyes met, Rania's world crumbled. She felt Asher's grip on her hand, but it was Ethan's gaze that held her captive. She couldn't look away, couldn't breathe. The room faded into the background, leaving only the two of them, suspended in time.
Asher's voice broke the spell, his words laced with annoyance. "Rania, are you even listening?"
She nodded mechanically, her eyes still locked on Ethan.
The hall erupted in a cacophony of cheers and toasts, the clinking of glasses and the murmur of congratulations. But for Rania, the din was drowned out by the turmoil within her mind.
Rania's anxiety reached a boiling point as she took her seat beside Asher, the exotic dishes placed before her - smoked salmon and roasted pheasants - might as well have been ash and dust. Her thoughts were consumed by Ethan's mysterious presence, his piercing gaze, and the unyielding stare that seemed to bore into her soul. She had to know why he was here and what he wanted. She longed to escape the festivities and flee to his side, to unravel the mysteries that shrouded him.
…
As the ceremony continued, a steady stream of guests came to offer their congratulations and well-wishes to the newlyweds, but Rania's mind was elsewhere, her thoughts consumed by the one person she truly wanted to see. "I need to see him...even if it's just for a brief moment," she repeated to herself, her heart racing with a mix of anxiety and longing. Despite the forced smile on her face and the polite nods she gave to the guests, Rania's eyes darted towards the exit, her soul yearning for a glimpse of Ethan, the one who truly made her alive.
As Asher drank from his cup, Rania tried to speak, her voice trembling. "Um…um…my lord... please, may I—" Asher's interruption, his tone firm, "Call me Asher, we're married now. No need for formalities," only added to her distress.
Rania's mind raced as she tried to process his words, but her focus remained fixed on Ethan. She couldn't concentrate on the wedding festivities, her thoughts drifting back to the man who had once held her heart. The smoked salmon and roasted pheasants on her plate remained untouched, her appetite lost amidst the turmoil.
"Um…may I be excused?" she asked Asher, her eyes darting towards Ethan. "I need some air and... and to ease myself."
Asher's gaze narrowed, his eyes flashing with annoyance. "What?" he snapped, his tone like a whip crack.
Rania's voice trembled with urgency as she spoke, her words laced with a hint of desperation. " I…I need some space…my lord."
Asher's forehead furrowed in a deep frown, his eyes narrowing in irritation and disappointment as Rania refused to address him by his name. "Space, you say?" he repeated, his voice tight with frustration.
"I…I need to breathe, I feel suffocated" she said as she didn't dare to meet Asher's gaze, fearing he might see the truth in her eyes, the desperation, the panic.
Asher's glance was laced with disbelief, his sigh a clear indication of his annoyance, his disdain. "Fine," he spat, summoning a maid to escort Rania away from the festivities. "Go, but don't think you can hide from me forever."
Rania nodded slightly, her heart racing with anticipation, her mind racing with the implications. As she stood, she risked a glance at Ethan, their eyes locking in a fleeting moment of understanding, a spark of connection that only they understood. She felt a shiver run down her spine as their eyes met, the connection between them crackling with tension.
With the maid leading the way, Rania fled the hall, her steps measured and deliberate, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew Ethan would follow, and could sense his presence lurking just out of sight, waiting for his moment to strike.
The darkness enveloped her like a shroud, a welcome respite from the suffocating atmosphere of the hall. Rania's senses were on high alert, her soul reaching out to Ethan's, her heart begging for his touch, his comfort.
Rania strode through the hallway, her feet carrying her towards an empty space a bit far from where the wedding was taking place.
As she walked, her maid followed closely behind, a constant presence that Rania both appreciated and resented. "Please, I need to be alone," Rania said, turning to her maid with a polite but firm tone. "Just for a moment, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed."
The maid hesitated, her eyes darting back towards the hall where Asher was no doubt waiting. "But, my lady, Lord Asher instructed me to stay by your side."
Rania's eyes took on a desperate look, her voice trembling slightly. "I know, but I just need a brief moment to…to collect myself. And I'm feeling parched...could you please get me a drink of water and also a towel? I fear I may have sweated too much."
The maid's expression softened, her concern for Rania evident. "Of course, my lady. I'll be right back. Please don't move from here." With a slight bow, the maid departed, leaving Rania alone in the empty space.
Rania let out a sigh of relief as she watched her maid disappear from view. She needed this moment alone, needed to gather her thoughts and calm her racing heart. She looked around, taking in the empty space, the silence a balm to her frazzled nerves.
Her heart couldn't stop racing as she waited, her eyes fixed on the door. She knew he would come, knew he would find her. And then, suddenly, as she turned a corner, a figure emerged from the shadows, Ethan. His eyes locked onto hers, his presence radiating an aura of calm and strength. Rania's breath caught in her throat, her soul soaring with hope, he was there, the love of her life, the one she was forbidden to love.
"Rania, my love" he whispered, his voice low and urgent. "I had to see you. I had to make sure you're okay."
Rania's heart soared as she saw him, her love for him overwhelming. "I'm so glad you're here," she whispered back, her eyes locked on his. "I couldn't bear the thought of marrying that man without seeing you one last time." She said, locked in Ethan's warm embrace.