CHAPTER | TWENTY | SEVEN | UMAYMAH | POV

After a night filled with rain, lightning and thunder, I expected it to be anything but sunny in the morning yet that's exactly what it was like. The weather represented my mood as after last night, I was more than happy to know that I could sleep without having to worry about someone coming in my room in the middle of night to do something.

Getting myself up in a sitting position on the bed I stretched out my arms over my head, just to get the tiredness out of my system. Next thing to do would be to take a shower and freshen up for today would be a day I was waiting for desperately.

Mr Colton had told me last night that Shoaib would be coming to get me since he fulfilled part of his deal and got me away from Ross. At the time I wanted to squeal and jump around, but in order to prove that I can be sane, I simply smiled. However, as happy as I want to be right now, I can't help but think that this was too easy.

There must be something going on because I couldn't be escaping from this situation in just a matter of two days without any scars or bruises. I may be thinking of the worst but these thoughts lingered at the back of my head; warning me not to get my hopes up.

After getting out of bed and spending about 20 minutes in the bathroom I was ready to go downstairs where the delicious smell of breakfast could be smelt from my room. The thought of food made me happy once again since I hadn't eaten in two days - being in this mansion worrying and talking to my future brother - in - law made me forget about food. Shocking, I know.

Skipping down the stairs I saw Martha hurry out of the kitchen as soon as I set foot inside, making me frown because I had grown fond of the short woman. Though Mr Colton was seated in a chair with a mug of coffee in his hands and a similar frown was etched on his face.

"Morning, is something wrong?" I asked straight away, not bothering to make small talk.

He looked up from his mug and to my face, shocked to see my sudden appearance in the kitchen. "Morning and no, nothing's wrong. Shoaib is coming to get you. What could possibly be wrong?" I eyed him weirdly and he continued to look down at his mug. Even though he probably mumbled the last bit to himself, I still heard it.

"Well something seems to be bothering you and I don't like being kept in the dark. So if you may, please tell me what's wrong." I added a pout, much like Laila's, for extra measure so he would spill.

Though it looked like he wouldn't budge and so from where I was sitting on the kitchen table, I lightly punched his shoulder to tell him that I was serious. An unexpected wince left his mouth and I tried not to laugh at a man getting hurt by me.

"You didn't have to do that," he stated while glaring at me and rubbing the spot I punched. "And if you must know then I'll wait for your husband to get here so that he can tell you himself."

"Which will be when?" As much as I liked Mr Colton, all I wanted was to go back home with Shoaib and see my family who I had realised meant so much more to me over these past few days. I also wondered if they knew I was missing, or if they were simply going about their life not knowing something was wrong.

"Well about now really." He said after taking a look at the time on his watch.

True to his word at the exact moment the doorbell rang and not being able to hold my excitement in, I dashed out of my seat and walked towards the front door which had already been opened by Martha. Well that was quick.

I stood a few inches away from the guests, looking at one person in particular who hadn't seen me yet. His light stubble seemed to be nearing towards a beard now and the bags under his eyes were very prominent. I also noticed his left hand which had been wrapped in a bandage, showing that he was hurt.

Finally his eyes landed on me and he sprang from the sofa he was sitting on, towards me to engulf me in a bear hug. I, however didn't respond. The sight of him so worn out and injured left a scowl on my face and affected my mood.

He seemed to have noticed as he pulled away from me, narrowing his eyes down at me. "Umaymah, aren't you happy to see me?" I could tell how tired he was by his voice and now that he was closer, his bags were more visible to me.

It hurt to think that I was the one who caused him to look like this.

"No, no I am. But I think you need to rest, you don't look very good." I mumbled the last part as I took his hand with mine and dragged him last everyone and to the room I was staying in upstairs. At least he would be able to lay down for a while.

Behind me I could hear him protesting that he was fine but I didn't believe him - the more I saw him looking like this, the more guilty I felt about ever leaving that classroom in the first place.

Closing the door of the room behind us and pushing him down on the bed, I took a seat beside him as he entwined our finger together. A simple gesture yet it meant so much to me at that moment.

"Is it right for me to ask how you've been?" I ask him, looking into his face and watching how he wouldn't keep eye contact with me. He knew that I wouldn't be happy with the answer he would give me.

Finally he managed to look at me and let out a sigh before replying to me, "you probably would have slapped me if you saw the way I was acting. Using people as my punching bag to let my anger out, not eating, sleeping. Nothing." He seemed disgusted with himself whereas I saw this in a different light - he cared but he just didn't know how to show it.

"You're right, I would have slapped you, but what's done is done now. When we get back you apologise to everyone you've hurt, is that understood?" I asked, sounding stern and pointing a finger at him to which he smiled at, showing his dimples.

It was all too soon though that his smile vanished and yet again he refused to make eye contact with me. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion as to what the matter was when I remembered that Mr Colton was also worried about something. He had asked me to ask Shoaib.

"Shoaib, what's the matter?" I dreaded to know the answer, but it was important for me to know what was happening.

"Things may take longer to sort out than we thought." He stopped talking for a while before he carried on, "we had men surrounding Ross's mansion and we caught him saying that he knows where you are and Mr Colton doesn't intend to use you for...the purposes he thought he would have."

I was slowly starting to catch the drift of the problem and my initial instinct on getting out of here started to come back; I knew this was too easy.

"So what are you saying exactly?"

He didn't reply at first, as if debating with himself if I should know or not. Seconds later he eventually spoke up, "Ross is coming here and he intends to take you with him." In a sudden Shoaib was sitting upright, cupping my cheek in his hand, "we won't let him get to you though. We have our best men here and I'll make sure that he doesn't touch you. But you have to stay put okay?"

His wide eyes and worried tone was enough to assure me how much my safety meant to him and how I wasn't to interfere with his plans. I was sure I owed him this much.

I smiled at him before taking his hand away from my face and into my own ones. "I promise I'll stay put. Just as long as I'll get to go home with you." As soon as the words left my mouth, I couldn't believe how cheesy I sounded.

Shoaib must have noticed by me making an ugly face and asked me what was wrong.

"Did you not hear how cheesy I sounded? Urgh." I complained and made a face again which Shoaib began laughing at.

His laughter didn't stop and I made no move to silence him. Who knows how long it had been since he was amused?

"We've got a massive fight coming up and the only thing you're worried about is how cheesy you sound? God, I missed you so much." He said and again I was in a bear hug, though this time I wrapped my arms around him and returned the gesture.

God, I missed him too.

It was the sound of a gun shot that made us fall away from our embrace. Shoaib emerged from the bed and strode over to the windows where he looked down to see what was happening. Whatever it was, it didn't sound very good.

He turned back to me and his lips were set in a straight line showing that he wasn't happy. Taking quick, long steps to me, he grabbed my wrist and began pulling me behind him where I began struggling.

Once we were outside the room, everything was a mess and chaotic as dozens of men were running outside, all equipped with guns and other weapons I wasn't familiar with. Now that I had seen what was happening, I didn't bother struggling against Shoaib's tight hold because I knew what was happening. The war had just started.

My focus had turned to see where Shoaib was leading me and as we began fading away from all the mess, we started going under the main ground, to I presume the basement. Cobwebs lined the walls as we went under the flight of stairs and came face to face with a bare wall.

My mouth remained shut as I watched him push something in the wall, which then opened up to a spare room with necessities and weapons lined up on shelves. A gasp left my mouth as I turned to face my husband.

"This is so cool!" I momentarily forgot the situation we were in and went inside the room which was larger than it looked from the outside. It certainly looked like a room to keep refuge in.

"Well we have one at home." At that I turned around so quickly that I nearly lost my balance. Luckily I held onto a shelf to balance myself and looked up to see Shoaib trying to conceal a smile, though his stance was urgent and I knew he had to leave soon.

"What do you mean we have one at home? Where? When? How? I never knew about this!" I said exasperatedly trying to think if this room was also in our basement.

Shoaib discarded my question and made his way over to me, stopping right in front of me. "Remember what I said about staying put. I won't be able to concentrate out there if I know you're not safe. I will come back to get you though." He promised and I watched him close his eyes for a second before opening them again, staring at me with intensity.

"I'll be down here. You know I'm too lazy to go back up the stairs anyway." I said in a lame attempt to see him smile again.

It was a small one but nonetheless he offered me a smile before turning away and retreating up the stairs and locking the door behind him. All was left for me to do was possible chill down here until this was all over.

I wasn't about to just forget that there are men up there fighting for me while I stayed down here and watch TV. The worry was evident in me as I began pacing back and forth, imaging if anyone lost their lives because of me today - it just wasn't fair how they were willing to fight over someone insignificant.

As I walked around I began wondering why I couldn't hear any noise from above and that's when I realised that these walls were probably sound proof. I let out a groan and resisted the urge to throw something across the room from all this frustration built up.

"I'm going to go mad if I sta-" I stopped talking out loud when a light caught my eye in a particular corner of the room.

It wasn't very big; it seemed to be blocked by a large cabinet. I may either be stupid or really curious as I began using all my strength to push the cabinet away so I could see where this light was coming from.

Groans and moans erupted from me by pushing this large piece of metal since the after pains of the drug I was given, still lingered.

As soon as I had a full view of where the light was coming from, I bent down to see that it was coming from outside and that I could actually hearing grunting and gunshots being fired out. My curiosity heightened as I looked closer towards the peephole and outside to see movement.

Everyone was dressed in black and so I couldn't possible tell who was on our side or who our enemy was. However the two people I did spot, I know was from our side and the opposing team.

Against a tree was Ross with Shoaib's hand at his neck - I had never seen him in action before but I guess that was about to change. Shoaib was barring his teeth while Ross was struggling against his hold and somehow I felt sorry for him; he didn't deserve to die though I made a promise to stay put and not interfere.

The hole I was looking out from was big enough for me to squeeze through if I wanted, but for my safety I stayed where I was and watched the scene in front of me.

Nothing else had my attention apart from the two men and by now it seemed that everyone else was watching the two man show. Curiously I looked around to see a dozen men on the floor with blood oozing out of their wounds. This was definitely not a pretty sight.

Just as I was about to turn away, I caught a glimpse of my younger brother - in - law Omar who held a gun in his hand and was panting heavily. That was when I knew that the enemy was down and all was left for this war to finish was for Shoaib to kill Ross. The thought didn't settle well with me, in fact a cold shiver ran through me as I thought about the man dead.

Everything was silent now and as I turned my head to Shoaib and Ross, I saw that they were now on the ground with Shoaib hovering over Ross with a revolver directed to his forehead and a sneer on his face. In all my time knowing this boy, nothing else scared me than what I saw now.

What I saw of Shoaib told me that he could press that trigger without a bit of remorse at the end. In fact, he would be ecstatic if Ross's heart decided to stop working. And that's when I knew I had to step in.

Fuck the promise.

From where I was, I jiggled through the hole until I was on two feet in the war scene. Being outside, the intensity of the moment caught up to me as the smell of blood lingered and I saw more and more weapons scattered around.

Unfortunately for me I felt a hand grip my forearm, "Umaymah what are you doing here?!" Omar hissed in my face, trying not to bring any attention towards us.

"I need to stop him before he kills him. This isn't right." I tried pulling away from, but his grip tightened. If anything, I would say these brothers had just about the same anger and strength in them.

"You know I can't let you do that." He hissed once again, but this time I wasn't having it.

Peeling myself away from him I ran towards Shoaib, feeling Omar right behind me, though that didn't stop me from running.

"Shoaib stop!" I screamed just as I heard the click of the revolver and pushed his hand away from where it was aimed at Ross.

Shoaib, Omar, Ross and I were all on the ground and slowly Shoaib turned his face towards me. He was red with anger and I couldn't blame him - this was his chance to stop everything and yet I interfered.

"Get her back inside!" Shoaib barked at Omar and I felt a grip on my waist, but I began struggling.

"Shoaib you know this isn't the right way to settle things! If anything you can just send him to jail, but don't kill him!" I begged and I felt a tear run down my face as I began struggling even more against Omar's hold on me.

"What if he decides break out and come after you again?! I am not taking that risk." He roared at me and for the first time, his absolute anger was directed at me.

"And what about after you killed him? Will you live knowing that you have a guilty conscience?"

I heard him laugh and saw him roll his neck back before facing me again.

"I've killed before and I'm perfectly fine. Knowing I killed the one bastard that was going to take away my happiness from me will be sensational and I doubt a guilty conscience is what I will have at the end of it."

This time I had no words to say to him. I knew just how wrong this was yet I could also see that spark of determination in his voice - I was his happiness and he wouldn't let anyone take that away from him. Right now I didn't know whether to be sick or angry with myself.

And so I tried one last time. I clung onto Shoaibs arm and begged, "please." I whispered and felt more tears run down the side of my face.

He looked down at me and I heard the revolver in his hand fall to the ground making a loud thud. What a coincidence as I too lost the strength to stay upright as well as keep my eyes open.

Hearing Shoaib call my name was the last thing I heard before my eyes closed against their will.

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Attention! I tried my best with this chapter and next chapter will be the last & then the epilogue 🙌🏻
Also, some people have requested me to do a separate story about Jasmine and Mr Colton, so let me know if you'd like that 😌
Thank you all who prayed for me - I got a C in science & B in English 💙