CHAPTER | TWENTY | SIX | UMAYMAH | POV

Lightning and thunder crashed in the sky making me jump involuntarily at the sound - it didn't make it any better knowing that I was all alone in a huge mansion with no one to keep me company this eventful night. I had been asked to stay in my room and try and get some sleep by Martha, but with this ruckus, I doubt sleep would come soon.

"Hello?" My head whipped up to my door which the sound came from. I cautiously slipped out of the velvety, soft bed and slipped on my hijab before opening the door.

There stood with Mr Colton still in his suit from earlier on looking down at me because of our major height difference. He had a frown etched on his face making it known that he wasn't happy. Then again, the times I have spent with this man, he was never happy and I was beginning to think if he ever is.

"Yeah?" I asked out to him once I opened the door of the room fully and he went in, pushing past me.

'Well then.' I mentally scoffed at his rudeness. Even though it was his house, he could still have the decency to to ask for permission before going into someone's bedroom. I also didn't fully trust this man and so I kept the door open before following his trail inside.

He sat on the edge of my bed while looking up at me, meanwhile I kept my distance and leaned against the wall opposite him. I didn't know why he was in here, but I hoped that he wasn't going to cross his boundaries by being here.

"Not to be rude or anything, but why are you here?" I asked bluntly, well aware that I was actually being rude. Ever since earlier on when Mr Colton left, I knew something fishy was up because he couldn't have just bought me and left.

He raised a brow at me and proceeded to take his blazer off which left me wide eyed in wonder as to what he was doing. His actions couldn't mean nothing more than him being hot and relieving that - that's what I tried telling myself at least.

"We need to talk." He stated and after a moment of deliberation he carried on talking, "you're not here for the normal errands a girl does when she is bought. Though that would be nice." A devil like smirk appeared on his face which disgusted me, but I kept my mouth shut.

"Why am I here then?" I asked in a monotone in an attempt to not show any emotions to his words.

He now looked amused which scared me as to what he was about to say; whatever it was, it would leave me in a state of shock, that's for sure.

"Don't you wonder why your sister isn't the same happy person as she used to be?" At the mention of my sister I stood up straight and narrowed my eyes at the man in front of me, "it's a pity that she chose to stay out late one night and I happened to have bought her -"

"YOU WHAT?!" I cut him with a sudden outburst that caught him off guard. My hands were clenched and all I wanted to do at that moment was to strangle this man just so that he could feel what he makes other go through.

"Let me finish." He said abruptly and I tried calming myself down even though he didn't deserve it. With deep breaths, I closed my eyes and with a hand motioned for him to continue. "I didn't do anything to her because that's when your husband and his little gang of friends saved her and the other girls Ross was selling off that night. He could have killed me on the spot if he wanted to, but he didn't. Instead I owed him big time and so this is me repaying it."

His words sunk in and I began taking in what exactly he was talking about. Sure enough a gasp of surprise left my mouth as I understood that by Shoaib letting him go alive, he owed him a favour - a favour which he was completing now by getting me away from Ross.

Still, I couldn't help but feel disgusted at this man in front of me who could have done many things to my my sister if Shoaib hadn't stepped in. Shoaib; I owed him so much and the fact that I didn't even know about this made my heart swell. There was so many things to take in at the moment.

I stared at him while he did the same though his face was blank of emotions while mine had many flashing through it; I had no idea how I how was supposed to be feeling at this moment. Angry, relieved or exhausted by all of this.

"I expect you to say something you know." He stated with a chuckle that shouldn't have been used in this conversation, though I didn't voice my opinions out loud.

Out of the many things I wanted to say and ask, only one seemed to have been bothering me the most. "Why do you do it? What pleasure does it give you?"

It was obvious that he too did not expect me to ask a question like that when there were many other things I could get answers for. His personal life was of no interest to me, but this little bit did considering it's what got him in debt in the first place.

"That's really none of your business." He stated and proceeded to get up before I stepped forward and harshly pushed him back on the bed.

"When it regards you nearly raping my sister and being bought by you, then it is my business." I stated coldly, leaving no space for arguments. I was quite a persistent person and I wanted answers.

Mr Colton looked shocked that I even had the strength to shove a grown man but he quickly concealed it; not that it bothered me. I had already seen his expression.

In the background, the thunder and lightning which I could hear prominently, was now only faint. Though I was glad for the noise other than just the two of us talking.

"Well you have to understand that most people that choose to do these kind of things are mostly driven on lust," I was about to cut him off with a disgusted response before he put his finger up to silence me. "But that's not why I buy girls."

"Then why do you do it? I can't stand here all night trying to figure things out with your short answers." My patience was running out and now I was in no mood to try and act even remotely nice to this person.

He too seemed annoyed with my constants questions and wanting to know more about his choices with the way he gripped the bed sheets in an attempt to maybe not hit me.

"The way I was grown up was not to respect females. My mom left my dad for another man and forever left him heartbroken with a child to look after. As I grew up he made the thought of a woman seemed despicable to me, and that's probably why I used to buy them." At that moment he stopped and looked up at me.

I narrowed my eyes at him, ready to fire him with another set of question. "What do you mean used to?" Did he suddenly stop buying them?

A smile appeared on his face as he leaned back on my bed, with both his hands keeping him steady on so that he didn't fall down.

"I haven't been to one of those auction since the incident with your sister. Shoaib talked to me, not as nicely as he could've, but nonetheless talked to me and I realised how wrong it was to generalise to women because of what my mother did." My eyes softened at his words and no longer were they shooting daggers at him. For a moment I could only feel sympathy for Mr Colton.

"It's weird really. I can still remember the innocent look on your sisters face and her pleads for me to let her go - of all the women I've had, she's the one that sticks in my memory. And so I tried forgetting about her. I began drinking more and more, but your sister just won't leave my head to be honest."

No matter how inappropriate this was in a situation like this, I couldn't help the squeal that left my mouth. "You like my sister?!" A hand flew over my mouth as if I couldn't believe the words that came out of it.

For the first time since I have been in the presence of Mr Colton, I saw him smile a genuine smile that showed dimples that resembled very much like Shoaib's. And at that moment I knew the answer to my question, for he really did like my sister.

"Like, love, adoration. Whatever you want to call it. All I know is that I want to change the way impression I first made on her. I don't want her to see a monster, but rather a man she can love." I eyed Mr Colton in front of me to see the sincerity in what he had just said. Sure enough the smile didn't leave his face.

"Well you do know there are major differences between you two right?" I asked, even though I didn't want to break this happy moment of ours.

His smile didn't falter at my words and I wondered if he knew what I was talking about before he spoke up, "during these months of thinking, I also did my research about your religion, Islam. I didn't know why, maybe it was because your sister kept muttering words to a God above to save her and I saw how devoted she was. Needless to say I found peace and reverted." If it was possible, an even bigger smile was now on his face.

Me on the other hand was in shock again, trying to make sure that what I heard coming from Mr Colton was in fact true.

"You're telling me that you reverted and you're now a Muslim?" I asked out slowly as if talking to a child.

"Yes. Alhamdulilah." I was in awe at how perfect his Arabic pronunciation was when he had had just newly converted.

The bigger emotion I was feeling though was happiness. This man truly loved my sister and despite his actions before and all the angry thoughts I had about him, I could tell that Jasmine and him were going to be a great pair.

"So when are you thinking of her hand? There's loads of things to do for a wedding you know. Dress, jewellery, cake, wedding invit-"

The sound of Mr Coltons laughter stopped me from talking and I looked over at him to see if he was alright.

"Whoa, let's get you out of danger first and then I'll go okay? But, I don't think she'll agree." He seemed sad about the last part and I could understand why. The last time they saw each other wasn't in the best of situations and now he was going to ask for her hand in marriage.

But being the best sister I am, I spoke up to ease his thoughts. "Don't worry about it, I'll speak to her. After listening to what you have to say, there's no doubt that Jasmine would be fortunate to have a husband like you that's gone through so much for her. I'll make sure she understands and you two can always get to know each other so she's sees the change in you." I reassured him with a smile.

My words seemed to have made a huge impact on his mood as the smile that was gone for the moment, returned to show his dimples that made him look like a young boy.

"You know, I might just like to have you as my sister - in - law." He said and playfully punched my shoulder.

Rolling my eyes, I replied to him, "there's no maybe to it. I tend to leave a lasting impression on people." I said smugly and heard him laugh before I joined in with him. Who knew being kidnapped and sold to my future brother - in - law would be kind of fun?

"I now see why Shoaib loves you so much." That caught me off guard. Love?

"What do you mean?" I asked trying to play it cool, though my mind went into a state of frenzy by hearing that four letter word.

Mr Colton looked at me as if I was a dumb child not knowing what was happening. Truthfully, at the moment I kind of was.

"Well when he called me up for my little mission, let's just say he wasn't in the best of moods. Screaming, breaking things, cursing - you name it. He wanted you back even if my life depended on it." Even though I was expecting Shoaib to act like this, it seemed even more real now that Mr Colton was telling me.

A shaky laugh left my mouth, unsure of how to react to his words. I knew over these months I had come to love Shoaib, but I was too chicken to confess to him. Now all I wanted was to run away from this problem where I could just live with Shoaib and Laila to annoy him for the rest of our lives.

The thought made me smile and I felt reassurance in knowing that this wouldn't last long. He was coming to get me.

* * * *
Well that was a plot twist! Some of you guessed that Mr Colton was on Shoaibs side, so I decided to add a bit of plot twist with the whole Jasmine thing because we still needed her side of the story ☺️ It turned out to be quite a cute bonding session at the end 😼
Picture is what I imagine Shoaib to look like when he's frustrated - running a hand through his hair 😩 Let me know your thoughts 😊
Also, it's results day tomorrow and for whoever else lives in England - please pray that I get good results so I don't get deported back home 😂