"Guy it was a hilarious! I didn't think it was that easy to kidnap a Bulama. Besides, have you seen how their business is crumbling? I thought it was funny until Aydah blamed that boyfriend of hers. Poor guy knew nothing about what happened. For a second I felt bad for framing him but guy! It was sol hilarious" Ammar chuckled.

Ammar glanced at his wife with eyes wide. He could feel his heart beating wildly against his ribcage. He didn't want her to find out the truth like this. This isn't what he expected. Yet, much to his misfortune, the video continued.

Maryam who sat beside Ammar laughed along with him, shaking her head in the process. "You should see the way Aydah was at the time. She was so depressed; it took everything in me to not laugh to her face. God knows how much I hate that girl"

Maryam clenched her eyes shut when Ummul Khair turned around to glare at her. Ummul Khair couldn't believe that Maryam said that. Maryam of all people. When she met Aydah back in school, Maryam and Aydah were already friends. She met them together so how could the girl say that about her? Besides, by the looks of video, it was taken during their university days and they were all friends back then.

But Maryam, had she been backstabbing them all this while? And what's this between her and Ammar?

JD who sat across them shook his head. He didn't encourage them but he didn't stop them either.

Maryam sat up, "Well, I have to go and pretend to like the girl so laters" She waved them goodbye, hugging Ammar before she left.

Immediately she's out, Ammar gagged. This made JD and Fahd who were in the room chuckle.

JD stared at the door for a while to make sure that she's left before he turned around to look at Ammar, "So, what are you going to do about this girlfriend of yours"

"Break up with her of course" Ammar said, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. "I'm going to date Aydah, and besides, I can barely stand this Maryam anymore. She's clingy!"

The guys laughed again, albeit Fahad's laughter was fake. Although he never said it, he hated the things Ammar did to Aydah's family, which was why he was secretly recording the conversation so he could use it as proof later to make Aydah stay away from Ammar.

"You know she loves you like mad, right? I won't be surprised if she peradventure you end up marrying someone other than her, she'll try to ruin it" Fahad said, speaking for the first time.

"As if" Ammar shook his head, "I'll never marry that girl. God forbid!"

ID simply chuckled by the side.

"If she tries to get me back..." Ammar continued, "She'll have to give up because once I break up with her, I'm done with her" He couldn't bear the thought of marrying Maryam. He knew the girl from the months they had spent dating. There's a reason he told her to keep their relationship a secret, he couldn't bear the thought of people knowing they're together, she's too clingy for his liking. Besides, he had seen the extent she's willing to for someone she claims to love. He couldn't imagine himself marrying her.

Most times, he had to put a stop to her else she would've ended up doing extremely stupid things. The extent he lets her go is to hug him, nothing more. He might be a jerk, but he wasn't completely stupid. He kept his virtue. He doubts she on the other hand did.

Who would want to marry her knowing all these?

"So..." JD spoke up, "You've successfully messed with the Barau family, why would you want to date Aydah again?"

Ammar shrugged, "Guy she's fine! Who knows? I might end up marrying her"

Fahad scoffed lightly, though they didn't hear him. "If she finds out what you did, do you think she'll marry you?" Fahad asked. He could never understand what's going on in Ammar's head. His step brother is one complicated person.

Ammar shrugged, "All I have to do is make sure she doesn't find out, that's all"

Aydah dropped the tablet, unable to bear watching the video again. She didn't know what to feel at the moment. How is she supposed to react to finding out that her husband and her best friend had been lying to her all this while?

She blinked back the tears in her eyes, "Is this true?" She spoke, her voice low. Everyone knew she was talking to her husband, so no one made a move to answer.

Ammar held her hand, "Aydah please..."

She slapped his hand away from her, standing up abruptly. "DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH ME AMMAR!" She yelled, the tears streaming down her face. "Tell me" She gritted her teeth. "Is it true?"

Ammar stood up, trying to reach out to her again but she stepped away from him. "Aydah..."

"TELL ME THE TRUTH AMMAR!"

He hung his head low and nodded slowly.

This made her scoff as more tears streamed down her face. She moved her gaze to Maryam who stood there with a stoic expression. She didn't look guilty in any way. "How could you do this to me?" Aydah whispered.

Maryam scoffed. "Don't you see it Aydah? You made a mistake by falling in love with Ammar. Everyone here does not want this wedding but you!" Maryam chuckled bitterly, "You just had to insist on marrying him. Well, congratulations on your wedding. I hope you're happy"

Aydah bit her lower lip, feeling the hot tears stream down her face. "I feel so stupid" She muttered, staring the faces of the two people that that betrayed her in the worst way possible.

"Aydah please, let me explain..." Ammar started again, but Aydah wasn't having any of it. She turned around and ran out of the room, yet no one made any move to follow her.

Maryam scoffed, glancing at the pile of pictures on the floor before turning around to look at Ammar. "Are you happy now Ammar? You just had be pathetic and marry that girl"

Ummul Khair held Maryam's shoulder, turning her around. The minute Maryam faced, she raised her hand, swung and landed a smacking slap right across the girl's face. Maryam wasn't given the chance to recover before Khair landed a slap on her face, then another.

Liana had to pull her back before Khair stopped her slaps. Still, she tried to get out of the girl's hold and slap Maryam again. When Liana's hold around her tightened, she calmed down a bit. Eventually as Liana realized Khair won't do any more damage, she released the girl.

Khair glared at Maryam and Ammar, moving her gaze to everyone else in the room, "All of you are despicable! How could you do this to Aydah? What had she ever done to you?"

It was as if her words snapped something in Ammar, he turned around and ran out of the room with a new determination of finding his wife and explaining everything to her. He wanted to give her space, but after weighing his chances, he realized that would be the biggest mistake he will ever make.

Aydah on the other hand had no idea where she was heading to, her eyes were filled with tears that blurred her vision. She wiped the tears yet more came pouring out.

From afar she could hear Ammar's voice, calling out her name.

She stopped and turned around, "Leave me alone Ammar! I hate you!" She yelled, her heart constricting the more she keeps hearing his voice.

She couldn't see him, yet she could feel his voice, distant.

"AYDAH!" She then saw him approaching her.

"NO" She yelled again, "STAY AWAY FROM ME AMMAR!"

"AYDAH--"

He was cut short when a car ran her over, sending her flying in the air. That was what he was scared of, that was why he kept calling her out, he wanted to tell her to get away from the road but it was too late.

He then ran to her bloodied body on the floor and placed his hand on her head, he couldn't exactly see where the blood is coming from, but it was coming out and fast.

"AYDAH!"

Aydah heard his voice. Instead of it to become more faded, it wa she coming more clear. She felt the tears stream down her face as her consciousness slowly slipped away from her, "I hate you Ammar" She muttered, feeling the darkness engulf her.

"AYDAH!" His voice yet again was becoming clear instead of it to be fading, and that only confused her more.

"AYDAH!"

Her eyes flickered close.

"AYDAH WAKE UP!"

Aydah jerked up, breathing heavily. The first person her gaze fell on was Ammar who stared at her with his brows creased in confusion and worry. Aydah while breathing heavily darted her eyes behind him. It landed on a picture of theirs that was taken a year ago on their wedding day. They looked so happy in the picture.

The outfit though was different from the one she was just in.

Then realization dawned on her. The wedding...the events...the chaos...the drama...the betrayal.

"Aydah!" Ammar shook her shoulder, making her snap her gaze to him.

She exhaled loudly, leaning forward to hug him tight. "It was a dream" She whispered, glad that all the hideous things that happened weren't real. "It was all a dream!" She exclaimed, chuckling lightly in relief.

~*~

20/6/21.

Love, Jannah.