The tension between the newest couple thickened as Rania struggled to find words, unsure of how much she could reveal without putting Ethan at risk. She swallowed hard before finally responding, her voice shaky and unsure.
"H-He's…a-nobody," she stuttered, trying to control her trembling voice. "Just a friend…from my village…"
Asher's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he replied, "Just…a friend? hmm…" His response was laced with a hint of disbelief, his hand absentmindedly scratching his head as he tried to process the situation.
"I can't believe I've pushed my wife to the point where she has to call out another man's name out of fear while lying in bed with me."
Rania's worry deepened as she swallowed hard, unsure if Asher was being sarcastic or genuinely angry. The tension in the room was palpable as they both struggled to find the right words to say.
Asher let out a heavy sigh as he pushed himself off the bed, his bare feet sinking into the plush carpet beneath. He retrieved his tunic from where it had been carelessly discarded on the floor and began to slowly pull it over his head, his muscles flexing with each movement. Rania watches in heightened arousal admiring the way he moved with a masculine grace, but her thoughts are suddenly interrupted when she notices his belt hanging loosely around his waist and his trousers sitting low, exposing the top of his hardened privates. Heat rushes to her cheeks as she quickly averts her gaze, feeling a mixture of shame and desire. Asher noticed her sudden shift in posture and assumed it was fear, not realizing the true reason for her discomfort.
"Relax, Rania," he said in a reassuring tone. "I won't fly into a rage just because you said another man's name," he declares sharply. But deep down, he couldn't deny the jealousy that flared up at the thought of her mentioning another man.
"You look mad…" Rania muttered to herself, unable to meet his gaze.
"But make no mistake, if that name ever leaves your lips again in my presence, I will hunt him down and rip him apart limb from limb." Rania trembled at the thought of crossing Asher's possessive and dangerous nature.
Her heart fluttered nervously at his words, unsure whether to be frightened or flattered by his protectiveness.
But his words also sent shivers down her spine as she imagined his violent wrath towards any potential threat.
As Asher walked towards the door, he turned back to face her one last time.
"You may think of me as a weakling like the others do, but the fact is that I'm strong enough to secure and protect what's mine" he declared before exiting the room confidently, leaving Rania alone with her thoughts and her trembling with terror.
….
After Asher left the room, Rania was filled with worry and doubt. She had been the one to tell him to leave, but now she questioned if it was the right thing to do. Fear consumed her as she realized she had not properly fulfilled her duties as a bride to her husband. They had not fully consummated their marriage, and she had made a grave mistake by calling out another man's name in front of her husband.
Part of her wanted Asher to come back and complete their marital duties, but at the same time, she didn't want that either. Her heart and mind were at war with each other. She was torn and conflicted in her emotions, leaving her feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about what the future held for her marriage.
Her heart raced as she lay back on the bed, her mind swirling with conflicting emotions. The soft sheets felt cool against her flushed skin, a stark contrast to the heat of shame and worry burning inside her. She stared up at the ornate ceiling, replaying the moments that had just transpired.
Asher's cold expression flashed before her eyes, making her wince. "How could I have been so careless? Calling out Ethan's name in such an intimate moment with my new husband". The mistake weighed heavily on her conscience.
She pulled the covers up to her chin, as if they could shield her from the consequences of her actions. What if Asher told her father? The thought sent a chill down her spine. Her father would be furious, and unforgiving. And what of her godmother? Rania's carelessness could bring trouble to them. But on the other hand, she couldn't deny the fleeting feeling of relief that Asher had left.
"Would he really tell father? He said he wasn't angry…but?" she muttered
Rania's chest heaved with sobs as she curled up on her bed, the weight of her worries crushing down upon her. Tears streamed down her face, leaving damp trails on her pillow. She squeezed her eyes shut, desperately wishing that when she opened them again, all of this would be nothing more than a cruel nightmare.
"Please," she whispered into the darkness of her room, her voice barely audible. "Please let me wake up. Let this all be a bad dream."
But as the minutes ticked by, reality refused to fade away. The ache in her heart persisted, a constant reminder that this was her life now, not some figment of her imagination that she could simply will away.
Exhaustion began to creep in, her body and mind worn down by the emotional turmoil. Rania's eyelids grew heavy, and her breathing slowly became regular.
As she drifted off to sleep, she prayed for a peaceful rest and hoped that when she woke up, things would be better.
Rania's eyelids fluttered closed, and she surrendered to the exhaustion that had been haunting her for weeks, unaware that her mind had one final trick in store for her...
Her mind replayed the painful moment from just a few months ago. She was back in her father's study, the same room where he had dropped the bombshell that would change her life forever; the scent of old books and leather enveloping her like a shroud.
"Rania, you're to be married," he said, his voice firm and laced with a hint of contempt.
She felt the same shock and disbelief wash over her as she had on that fateful day. "But father, I can't marry someone I don't love!" she protested, her voice shaking with emotion.
The dream replayed the scene with perfect clarity, every detail etched in her mind like a scar. She saw her father's face, his expression unyielding, and felt the weight of his words crushing her.
As the dream progressed, she saw Ethan's face, his eyes filled with love and longing. She remembered the secret meetings, the stolen glances, and the whispered promises.
Rania's heart ached anew, the pain still raw and tender. Her eyes darted beneath her closed lids as she surrendered herself more into this vivid dream. She felt the tears prick at the corners of her eyes as she held Ethan, his face filled with despair as he said goodbye to her "Don't leave me Ehtan, please…don't-!
"NOOOOO!" Rania screamed, her voice shattering the silence of the room. She jolted upright, her heart racing, and her body drenched in sweat. The dream still lingered, its vividness making her feel lost and disoriented. She frantically looked around, realizing she was alone in the room, and the familiarity of her surroundings slowly sank in.