Tears of joy streamed down her face as she held Ethan close, the pain of their separation momentarily forgotten. "Ethan, what are you doing here? I miss you so much," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Ethan's fingers gently removed the tears from Rania's eyes, his touch sending shivers down her spine. He stroked her hair, his voice soft and calming. "I'm sorry, Rania. This shouldn't be happening to us."
Rania's gaze locked onto Ethan's, her eyes searching for answers. "My father said...you committed...fornication with married women," she stammered, the words painful to utter.
Ethan's expression turned fiery. "That's a lie!" he snapped, his voice low and intense. "It was a setup, Rania. You know me, I'd never do that to you!"
Rania's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with doubts. "But why would my father say such a thing?"
Ethan's jaw clenched. "To keep us apart, Rania. To break us. But it won't work. I won't let it."
Rania's heart ached as she looked at Ethan, her love for him still strong despite the lies and deceit from her family. She knew Ethan would never betray her.
Her tears finally subsided, leaving her feeling drained but determined. Ethan's hand still held hers, his grip warm and reassuring.
"Why are you here, Ethan?" Rania asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you come for me?"
Ethan's eyes locked onto hers, his gaze burning with intensity. "Your sister brought me here. She's the one who coerced your father to take me as her servant. I don't know what she's plotting, but I don't care. You're the only one I want, Rania."
Rania's heart skipped a beat as she gazed at Ethan. "And I want you too, Ethan...but…but...oh god, I just got married!" she sobbed, her hands covering her face.
Ethan's expression turned fierce, his jaw clenched in anger. "That means nothing, Rania. You're mine, and I won't let anyone take you from me. Not even your father or that monster you married."
Rania's grief threatened to overwhelm her again. "But what can we do, Ethan? My father will kill us if he finds out. And what about Asher? I can't even think about what he would do to you!"
Ethan's jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with determination. "Enough, Rania! You can't let fear stop us from being together. You said you loved me and would marry me. That's all that matters. I'll make sure it happens."
Rania's heart ached, but Ethan's words sparked a glimmer of hope within her. "
"Don't worry too much, I'll take care of everything, as long as you still love me, we'll be together," Ethan whispered, his hand stroking her cheek that had now turn red from her crying too much.
"I don't want to leave you but I fear I have to get back to your sister's side before she notices that I've been gone too long my dear" he said as he held her hands and planted a heartwarming kiss on Rania's cheek. She gave a shallow blush as she held on to his tunic trying not to let him go,
Ethan whispered, his hand stroking her cheek. "You'll wait for me, won't you?"
Rania was about to respond to Ethan when suddenly, the sound of her father's angry voice shattered the calm. The door burst open, and Rania's father, Lord Asriel, stormed in, his face red with rage.
"What is the meaning of this?!" he thundered, his voice echoing off the walls. "You're consorting with a servant?! You useless prostitute! How dare you try to ruin my name on a day such as this?! Have you no dignity?!"
Rania cowered, fearing her father's wrath. She wanted to protect Ethan, but her father's anger was unforgiving.
"Father, it's not as it seems!" Rania pleaded, trying to defend herself. "We weren't doing anything that would bring shame upon the family! I just wanted to see him again!"
But Lord Asriel was beyond reason. He raised his hand to strike Rania, and Ethan instinctively blocked the slap. The sound of the blocked slap echoed through the room, and Rania's heart raced with fear.
"You imbecile!" Lord Asriel bellowed at Ethan. "How dare you try to sully my daughter?! I'll have you chained, you animal!"
Ethan stood firm, but his eyes were downcast; he didn't meet Lord Asriel's gaze, as his jaw clenched in defiance. Rania trembled, fearing the consequences of their discovery. Lyra, her sister, watched with a smug expression, her eyes gleaming with malice.
"Father, please calm down," Lyra said, her voice dripping with feigned concern. "I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation why these two are together. And besides, you can't hit Rania, it's her wedding day. What if her husband notices a bruise on her and starts to ask questions? We have to be careful."
Lyra's words were laced with a sly intent, her eyes gleaming with a knowing look. She was pretending to defend Rania, but her tone was dripping with malice.
"My sister is virtuous, she wouldn't do anything that would shame her…would she?" Lyra said, her voice heavy with sarcasm. The sly look on her face made it clear she was trying to provoke their father further.
Lyra sauntered over to Rania, her eyes gleaming with a malevolent intensity. "My dear sister, you need to think clearly now and behave accordingly," Lyra said, her voice dripping with condescension. "You wouldn't want strange rumors circulating about you, would you?"
Rania's face twisted in annoyance at Lyra's spiteful words. She knew her sister was trying to provoke her, but she refused to give in.
Lyra took a step closer, her voice taking on a sinister tone. "I hope you like my gift," she whispered, her breath hot against Rania's ear. "I told you you'd enjoy it."
Rania's eyes widened in shock as Lyra's words sent a shiver down her spine. What was Lyra talking about? What gift?
Suddenly, the pieces clicked into place. Lyra's mysterious smile, Ethan's sudden appearance, and the convenient 'coincidence' of their father stumbling upon them together. It all made sense now.
"You're behind this, aren't you?" Rania accused, her voice low and furious. "You're trying to ruin my reputation!"
Lyra's smirk grew wider as she stepped back, her eyes glinting with triumph. "Oh, Rania. You're so quick to assume the worst. But yes, I may have had a little something to do with it."
Rania's patience had finally reached its breaking point. With a fierce glint in her eyes, she pushed Lyra away from her, her hands shoving against Lyra's shoulders with a force that sent Lyra stumbling backward, causing her to fall. Lyra's eyes widened in shock, her feet tangling in her own skirts as she struggled to regain her stance.
"You manipulative, conniving bitch?! How dare you touch me?!" Lyra spat, her face reddening with rage as she regained her footing with Ethan's assistance.
Rania stood tall, despite her trembling heart. Her chest heaving with indignation, her voice dripping with venom. "You're a snake, Lyra, slithering through the grass, striking at the innocent. What twisted pleasure do you derive from torturing me with your games?"
Lyra's expression turned glacial, her eyes flashing with anger. "You're a fool, Rania. I'm trying to help you, to save you from yourself, and this is the thanks I get?"
Rania laughed, a harsh, mocking sound that echoed through the room. "Help me? You? Ha! You only care about yourself, Lyra, about your own twisted desires and schemes. You don't fool me, Lyra. I see through your lies, your manipulations. How can anyone be as malicious, as cruel, as you?"
Lyra's eyes widened and were blazing with malice, her chuckle sent shivers down Rania's spine. "You're no better than me, Rania. At least I'm not one to hold another man in a warm embrace while my newly wedded husband waits for me faithfully! You're just a hypocrite, a prostitute, just like Father said. I should never have defended you."
Rania's face burned with shame and anger as Lyra dusted off her dress and arranged her hair, her movements graceful and calculated.
"I said we weren't doing anything—" Rania began, but Lord Asriel cut her off, his voice thundering through the room.
Enough!" he snarled, his face red with rage. "Not another word from you, Rania. You're lucky you've already tied the knot with the Winters clan. You will no longer disgrace me."
Lord Asriel turned his wrath on Ethan. "And you, you will pay for this. You animal. You've ruined my daughter's reputation."
Rania's heart raced as she stepped forward to plead with her father to spare Ethan, but before she could speak, a knock at the entrance halted the scene.
The door creaked open and a hesitant figure entered…