Aria slept in Aali's arms, despite having woken up just an hour ago but she was exhausted, mentally and physically.

Aali held her close to him as she slept, occasionally placing pecks on her temple while he ran his fingers through her hair, massaging her scalp every once in a while. The only time he left was to take off the jellabiya and change into some sweatshirt and pants. Before returning to bed, he had picked up his phone and dialed Fahad's number, stepping out so he could make the call and not disturb her.

Fahad picked up almost immediately, saying his salaam to which Aali responded before he went on to ask.

"What happened to the Tayyus?" Aali asked. From the minute Maya was taken and Aria was asked for questioning Aali knew something is up, so he asked Fahad to look into it after the hearing he had.

After his hearing, Fahad went to the police and bailed Maya out. He planned on clearing her case the next day because he can discredit every evidence they have against both her and Aria. While doing that, he did as Aali had asked and checked to see if Aria's parents are alright, to which he is about to give Aali the answer now because obviously they are not. Judging from the phone call Aria got that is.

"What else? The Queen made a move against you two" Fahad sighed on the other end. "This is why I told you to strike first"

Aali made his way over to the living room, shaking his head though Fahad can't see him. "Where's the fun in that? Remember, idanbakaiyakamabarawo ba tohshizaikamaka" He reminded Fahad, using a popular saying he loves to use whenever he is trying to make a point. "Besides, it's better now that she has shown me her cards. I know where exactly to strike unlike her irrational move"

Fahad let out another sigh. He knew the Prince is making sense, and he had grown quite accustomed to that over the years. "Anyways back to the Tayyus, she had somehow gotten dirt on them and is now using it to try and send them to jail"

"What sort of dirt?"

"A couple of bribes here and there"

The minute those words left Fahad's lips, Aali shook his head. "That's not possible, they are good people. She probably faked it"

"No she didn't" Fahad said, certain of what he had gotten, "They are good people but they were in a desperate situation then, so they took it. That was about twenty-five years back. From what I can tell it's been a difficult stage for the family and we both know how they managed to fare and get back on their feet all these years"

Aali didn't need Fahad to elaborate. Of course he knows how the Tayyu's were able to fare for that long. But that wasn't what piqued his interest. "How did she get something from that long?"

Fahad paused, as if he couldn't believe Aali asked him that. How did Aria got the information she want on their family? How did Aali himself get information that he wants? "Same way I get my information" He eventually replied, "All it takes is the right connection and she has it, this case in the name of Eric Moyers"

The name sounded familiar to Aali, and he didn't have to think long to remember where he knows it from. "That Interpol?" The same person that crashed Muneer and Maya's wedding.

"The one and only" Fahad said, proving to Aali that what he said is indeed true. "He had worked with them for a while and you know the Interpol, they dig to make sure you are clean before they work with you. The organization deemed them clean but Eric did some digging on his own and found out the ugly truth"

So Eric is working with the Queen, Aali knew that much. Hence, why he didn't care to find out how he crashed the party then. It was simple, the Queen and her nephew, Muneer staged the whole thing and if Aria wasn't there, then Maya couldn't have gotten out of the situation even if Aali and Fahad decided to help.

Aria was the only one that could save her then.

Had it been she hadn't helped, then Maya would've been rotting in prison by now for something she hasn't and will never do. It wouldn't have mattered because one, Muneer is still married to her so he will get what he wants when the truth comes out, and two, he doesn't have to pretend to love her and can continue his life.

It's a win-win situation, or so they thought.

Had it been that happened, then at a point all their plans would've been ruined eventually because Aali has a trick up his sleeve, and no, it's not Aria.

The fact that they underestimate the Prince a bit too much is why Aali deemed them both as stupid. That is also why he address them as his 'stupid enemy'. Despite everything, he really isn't a bit threatened by them. The one he is worried about is the enemy he still can't identify.

"Still, it's been so long. They can't hold them accountable, right?" He said, getting back to the conversation he is having with Fahad.

"I honestly don't know Aali" Aali can assume him shaking his head when he said that, "But I'll try to see if I can do something after I bail Maya out. Her case is easy"

"You know you can't help them from here, right?" He knows the man is smart, but he felt the need to remind him again.

"Yes, I know. I've booked a first to Istanbul tomorrow. I'll see if I can round everything up within the week"

"That will be helpful, thank you"

"Don't mention it. What about Muneer?" He was indirectly asking to know if the man is still alive or not. Fahad has seen Aali beat up someone before, and it's never a good sight. Besides, after what Muneer had done, Fahad wouldn't be surprised if the man is fighting for his life at the moment.

Aali didn't tell him what Muneer did to Aria, Hudayya did when she called to ask if Aali is with him earlier after Aria called her, worried that her husband would do something irrational.

Aali gritted his teeth, clenching his fist by his side. "He's still alive" He said, his voice low and sounding disappointed as if he is sad that the man is still alive, "Would've preferred to big a couple of more bones but it's okay. I'll get back at him" And then he sounded certain, and confident—like always.

"I thought Aria would be the one to get back at him"

"We both will, as long as she regains health then we'll do it together" He wouldn't let her go through that alone, no way. Even if she doesn't want to get back at Muneer, which knowing her she definitely would, he will get back at the man for her.

Bottom line, Muneer must suffer. He just has to.

"Alright man--" Fahad was cut off by the sound of his wife calling him in the background. "Dude I have to go; my wife is calling"

"Alright thank you again" Aali ended the call, before going back to his room. Just as he had left, Aria is still in bed sleeping softly. A smile made its way on his face at the sight.

He reached his hand out and turned off the lights, before he made his way over to the bed and under the covers. Once he had done that, he pulled her closer to him, all wrapped up and safe in his arms before he let the sleep overcome him too while bathing in his new favorite scent.

The scent of his wife. The scent of his Askim.

~*~

"Zo nan"

A simple order, that had Hafsa swallowing thickly and nearly making a dash for her life that will undoubtedly not be spared. Her hands were suddenly clammy, and to get rid of it, she wiped it on the hijab she had put on when she was told he wanted to see her.

Hasnain stayed true to his words, and by the time she returned to the palace which she did a couple of minutes after he left with the intention of begging him to forgive her, or spare her at the very least.

However, she wasn't even allowed into the palace under strict orders by the man. Instead, all her belongings have reportedly been sent to her father's house, and the ones that wasn't which included of her suitcases were left by the side of the road along with the car he had bought her just a couple of months back, the third car he had bought her in three years of marriage.

He only allowed her to take one with her now that he had divorced her, the most expensive one of all while he gave off the other two.

One of the guards, the Sarkin Gida, gave her the car key and told her to never return to the palace else she should never return to the palace else she will not like what will follow afterwards.

No one, aside from Aria, Aali, Hudayya and Maya know of what transpired, and they intend to keep it that way. The decision was wordlessly left to Maya and Hasnain, and both of them decided to keep it that way but the marriages had to be severed.

Which is why Maya plans on taking Muneer to the court to get the marriage severed. The man would obviously not let her go, she had tried to get him to do so before but he is proving to be stubborn.

For the night though, she stayed at Sofia, her cousin's house which Hasnain took her to. It's the only place she could think of and they were willing to take her in. While she made her way inside, Sofia stopped to talk to Hasnain who undoubtedly needed to speak to her.

Maya could tell the man needed someone to speak to, even though they shared the same pain due to the betrayal they faced, he did not confide in her and neither did she. Instead, the man chose to confide in Sofia, the only person he could let his walls down around.

Anyone could testify that he had done justice to Hafsa, a lot more than she deserved to be honest but he did genuinely love the woman. At least, he did up until about an hour ago. His situation is better than Maya's in a way, because Muneer is plain toxic.

She wouldn't get the same type of divorce.

Hafsa didn't dare argue with Sarkin Gida when he asked her to leave. The man wasn't the type to repeat his words twice and now that she didn't have the royal title anymore, he wouldn't think twice to send her away the hard way.

So she went home at ten thirty in the night. Her mother was already anticipating her arrival as the letter had arrived already along with her belongings. She stood in the foyer waiting for her only daughter, and the moment she saw her car drive into the driveway, she quickly made her way down the stairs and rushed over to the car.

Not bothering to properly park the car, she quickly stepped out and rushed into her mother's arms. The woman hugged her back, whispering sweet nothings into the girl's ear as she sobbed in her mother's arms.

Sure, the woman is aware that what her daughter did wrong, because even though Hasnain didn't specify it in his letter what she did, he did hint that she had been having an affair. But, the woman didn't have it in her to be angry or scold the girl for her actions.

So she opted to pacify the girl before lightly pulling her into the house, leaving the chauffeur to turn off the car and bring in her belongings.

She led her to old room, before quickly excusing herself to get her water seeing as the girl looked ashen. However, while she was making her way up the stairs to the girl's room, she saw a particular figure she knows better than anyone storm all the way to the girl's room.

She hastened her step, trying to save the girl from what is about to happen but she was too late. Because by the time she stepped foot inside the room, a smack was landing directly on Hafsa's face with an intensity that had the girl clutching the side of her face. He didn't give her time to recuperate, because another slap landed on the other cheek with an intensity that had her falling on the ground.

Her mother quickly dropped the water bottle and rushed over to hold him back, or more like pushed him away. "Miye haka?" She yelled at his face, "Can't you see that she is already going through enough?"

He stared at her in disbelief, "Wallahi Mama this habit you have of defending her is the reason why that useless girl does things like this" He tried to not raise his voice but he couldn't stop himself. How could he? Simply staring at his sister makes his blood boil and the anger he feels ricochet. "Yau zanci ubanki a gidan nan"

Before his mother could speak he made a move to take off his belt prepared to beat the hell out of his little and only sister but their mother stood in front of her shielding her away from the beating that will without a doubt put her to bed and that's just his, without her father's that's bound to come.

Her mother know she can't save her from that, so the least she could do is save her from this one. Without a doubt the man loves Hafsa immensely and will do anything for her, except tolerate any act that will ruin their family.

Umar Shettima loves the respect he gets from people and he does not plan on ruining anything. The Queen is already trying to ruin his name by framing him for something he has no hand, what will happen if she hears of what Hafsa did?

Besides, why in the name of God will the girl do that to begin with? Doesn't she know the gravity of the sin she is committing?

"You will not lay a hand on her again, kana jina?" Her mother warned, the sound of her daughter's sobs reached her ears making her point a finger at her eldest child to prove her point more.

He gritted his teeth, clenching his fist by his side tight. He moved his glare to his sister, anger and mostly disappointment swirling in his orbs. He didn't get why she has to do that. The girl is loved and pampered by everyone in the family of four. What else does she need? "You deserve every problem you brought upon yourself kuma wallahi I'm not done with you. Bari Baba ya dawo. You will see" He hissed under his breath, before he stormed out.

The mother's arms slumped before she turned around to embrace the girl and pacified her. Hafsa hugged her mother back tight. For the first time since the whole incident happened she understood the gravity of it, at least, she understood the part of the hatred her father and brother will definitely, or more like have definitely harbored towards her.

If her brother reacted like that, then she feared how her father will.

She got her answer only fifteen minutes after that happened because her came back to inform her that their father wants to see her. There was this glint in her eyes that had her swallowing thickly.

"Yau zanci ubana" She thought as she gulped hard, throwing her mother a look of plead. But the woman couldn't do anything, not when Umar is involved. It's out of her hand.

Hafsa put on a long hijab, before she headed downstairs to the living room where her father was waiting for her. She took deliberate slow steps, as if that would prolong the inevitable. No matter how slow she walked, she eventually found herself in the living room.

Those two words he uttered, 'Zo nan' had her thinking of running for her life but she didn't. Instead, she swallowed thickly and stepped into the living room where her doom awaits her.

In other words, where her brother and father were waiting. This time around she was sure there's no way out.

She really is done for. People might probably never hear from her once the two are done with.

Maybe, she won't be alive to open another chapter of Hafsa because for then, it's closed.