10th Sept, 2019

"Do you know what's the worst thing someone can do?" Shumail asked, his voice low and measured.

"What?" Eram replied, her eyebrows knitting in confusion at his sudden question. "Maybe… kill someone?" she guessed uncertainly.

"No. Break someone's trust." His gaze locked onto hers, unwavering and intense. It was as though every word he spoke was meant for her—and her alone. "When you kill someone, you only destroy their body. But when you break someone's trust, you kill their soul."

Her eyes dropped automatically, unable to bear the weight of his stare. Guilt surged within her, heavier than before. The courage to confess everything to him—she still didn’t have it. Not yet.

"Once trust is broken, nothing can ever truly fix it," he continued, his voice quiet but sharp, laced with pain. "Not only do you shatter someone's belief in you, but you steal their ability to trust anyone else. That person… they’re never the same again."

Eram jolted awake, gasping for air as though she had been drowning. Her chest heaved with shallow breaths, and her trembling hands clutched the bedsheet. Shumail’s words from her dream—his piercing eyes, his bitter voice—echoed in her mind like a haunting refrain.

As if she wasn’t already crushed by guilt, her subconscious had found another way to punish her—through memories wrapped in nightmares.

The days they spent together, the way Shumail had withdrawn from her while pretending to stay close—it all came rushing back. And yet, despite everything, he had helped her. He was the reason her brother was safe, by her side. And for that, she owed him more than she could ever repay.

She had wronged him. She knew it. And she knew he might never forgive her. But still, every night she whispered the same desperate prayer—Ya Allah, just one chance… one chance to thank him. To say sorry.

Each night, her pillow soaked her tears. Each morning, she woke with hope. A hope that never bore fruit. No news of him. No trace. Just a silence that grew louder by the day.

Letting out a sigh of defeat, she whispered a prayer under her breath. Ya Rabb, please… just once, let me see him again.

Dragging herself out of bed, a sharp pain surged through her skull, forcing her back down. The room spun around her like a whirlpool as she squeezed her eyes shut and held her head in both hands.

"Aapi, you okay?" Zain’s small voice pierced through her daze. She opened her eyes to find him standing near the door, dressed in his school uniform.

She managed a faint smile. "I’m fine, just a little headache. Why didn’t you wake me up?"

"I tried," he said, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "But you looked really tired, so I got ready myself."

She nodded, pushing herself up carefully and heading to the washroom. Splashing cold water on her face, she looked up at the mirror and saw a girl staring back at her—a girl who had destroyed her own happiness with her own hands.

"If you didn’t love me in the first place, you shouldn’t have married me," Eram had once said, her voice trembling.

"Do you think I wanted to?" Shumail replied, looking at her over his shoulder. "I told you—if I wanted Zain’s custody, I had to prove your financial stability. This was the best way. I wouldn’t have otherwise."

She didn’t know where the sudden courage came from, but she walked up to him and grabbed his collar. "Tell me you’re lying. Tell me this isn’t just about Zain. Tell me you’re doing this because you’re angry with me. Tell me it’s not true!"

For a moment, he just looked at her. Then, gently but firmly, he pulled her hands away, twisted one behind her back and drew her closer, his eyes cold and unreadable.

"Even if I am, you’ve lost the right to ask."

Her heart cracked at his words. "Don’t say that. I… I fell in love with you, Shumail. Somewhere in the middle of all this, I fell for you. Didn’t you feel even a little something for me? Wasn’t that why you apologized before you kissed me that day? To calm me down?"

He didn’t answer. Only repeated, "You’ve lost that right."

"No! Tell me why?" she cried. "Why were you so kind to me? Why fill my life with joy only to walk away? You should’ve just left me in my misery."

"So you’d know how it feels," he said quietly. "To be betrayed."

Her breath caught. She stared at him in disbelief.

"Just to make me realise?" she whispered. "You did all this… just to show me what it feels like?"

"I’m a businessman, Eram," he said with a bitter smile. "I return everything with interest. You played with my heart. This was just my way of giving it back."

Tears poured down her cheeks, but her lips curved into a smile.

He frowned. "Have you gone mad?"

"No," she said softly. "I’m just happy. You said I played with your heart. That means you had feelings. You felt something. That’s enough for me to keep going. I’ll win you back. No matter what it takes."

He didn’t answer. Instead, he walked over to the table, pulled out her handbag, and took out a tiny microphone chip. Tossing it on the glass table, he watched her face go pale.

"I heard it all. Everything you discussed with my aunt. Every lie. Every secret."

Her heart sank. He had known all along. And yet, he’d stayed silent, waiting for her to come clean.

"But if someone threatens what you love most, you tend to do what you’re told. That’s why… I don’t want to be won back by you anymore."

Her voice cracked. "You were waiting for me to tell you everything. I just did. I didn’t betray you. I came clean."

"So?" he asked, unmoved.

"You won’t forgive me?"

"I already have."

Relief bloomed in her chest—until he took a step back.

"But that doesn’t mean I want a future with you."

His words struck like knives.

"You’re still the girl who broke my trust. I can’t let myself be hurt again."

"I would never hurt you again," she pleaded, her tears unrelenting.

"It’s not about what you say, Eram. It’s about what I feel. And I can’t trust anyone—not anymore. You taught me that."

She was crumbling before him, but still she whispered, "Tell me what I can do to prove I love you. That I’ve changed."

He shook his head. "The wound you gave me… it’s too deep. I don’t know if it’ll ever heal."

"Then I’ll wait. No matter how long it takes, I’ll prove it to you. I swear, I’ll never betray you again."

"And then the next day," she sobbed, "you were gone."

It had been a year. A whole year. And she still hadn’t heard a word from him.

"Come back already… please." Her legs gave out and she crumpled to the floor, her cries echoing off the walls. "You should’ve stayed. You hurt me more by leaving."

Zain came rushing in. "Aapi! What happened?"

She looked at him, her vision blurry. Another sob left her lips.

"Does your head still hurt?" he asked, his voice laced with worry.

She nodded, unable to speak the truth.

"Let’s go see a doctor," he offered gently, helping her up.

"No need. I’ll be fine with a hot cup of tea," she tried to smile.

"But you're crying. It must be hurting a lot."

"I’ll see a doctor if it gets worse, I promise. Now go get ready. I’ll be there in a minute."

Later, as the day dragged on with unbearable slowness, she forced herself through work despite the blinding headache. Skipping her usual visit to the Ibrahim estate, she went to see a doctor instead.

"Have you been skipping meals?" the doctor asked. Eram nodded guiltily.

"How much sleep do you get?"

"Maybe five or six hours. I’ve developed insomnia."

The doctor scribbled a prescription. "I’m prescribing you vitamins and a mild sleep aid. But you need to start eating and resting, or this will get worse."

Medicine bag in hand, Eram made her way to pick up Zain. Her phone rang suddenly, and her heart jumped. Could it be?

She fumbled through her handbag, walking hurriedly across the street without realizing she was in the middle of the road. The blare of a car horn went unheard—but the headlights didn’t.

The impact came fast and brutal. She felt herself thrown sideways, her body crashing onto the cold pavement. Blood spilled from her head, staining her hijab, and her vision blurred. Her legs went numb.

Footsteps rushed toward her. But she couldn’t move. Couldn’t cry out.

"Shumail," she whispered, her lips barely moving. Please… just let me see him one last time.

A single tear slid down her cheek.

She felt arms lifting her, cradling her gently.

"I’m here," came a familiar voice. His voice.

And then—darkness.

Assalamualaikum!

Woah there! What's happening?
Is it really Shumail? O_o

Who's curious?

Let me know how was the chap...and I hope everyone got the answer why Shumail treated her the way he did? :D

Until next time...Annyeoung!