Kano State, Nigeria.
2018.

Falak sighed because she doesn't know how to tell Bilal that Shaddad wants to see them both and if she says that, it will start another argument. He will definitely find out that she saved Shaddad's number with that red heart and will see just how much she still likes him but then again, she saved the rest of her brother's name with red hearts then their initials.

"B, my brother wants to see us together in his office right now. Shall we?" She asked, nervously shifting from one feet to the other but he didn't notice her nervousness and agitation, he only spared a dazzling smile and agreed that they should go.

She calls him B because she doesn't feel like saying baby or boo or anything related to those stupid cliché nicknames girlfriends give their boyfriends or in her case, fiancée so she settled with B because that is the first letter of his name but he thought she was using another thing, it's good though. She prays to get comfortable enough to call him Baby after they get married, she only find it too cliché, everyone calls their partners Baby and she hates being anyone.

Leading the way, Falak walked to the elevator and prayed that they won't be alone in there. One thing she hates about the single elevator, she doesn't like being alone with any man if not for her step brothers or the King. She is afraid that all other men are perverts and would like it if the hospital will produce two elevators for male and female, that will be more convenient for everyone and married women especially.

Upon arriving at the Cardiological Ward, her apprehensiveness is just escalating, she could feel that something dreadful and unpleasant is going to happen. Shaddad will never call her and ask her to visit his office just like that. He hardly ever approve of her going to his office and now he wants to have another person in their sacred place? Something is definitely out of place around the hospital, the air is denser and glutinous.

When she saw Nawar anxiously sitting by her table with other nurses looking equally nervous, she knew that she is in a deep shit bit still don't get what she's done that he will request or more like demand she get there with her fiancée. She gulped and smiled at Nawar who mouthed their code word when Shaddad is in bad mood 'Danger' and her feet almost gave out. This time around, she is the one in danger not any other person.

Nawar told Falak that she doesn't know when Shaddad is mad or happy because he is always like he is. Falak sat her down and explain all the signs she get to see when Shaddad is mad so that they can save themselves from his wrath which never happens. She just likes being cautious, she wouldn't like seeing an angry Shaddad and so she bites her tongue whenever he is in a bad mood. Today is another day!

"Come in!" And she moved the doorknob, stepping inside before Bilal followed.

"Good afternoon, sir. You asked for me and my fiancée?" She bite her tongue tightly because she is about to start rambling her thoughts which won't help her case at all.

"Yes, have a sit." He gestured to the chairs facing him as he trained his attention back to the intercom and gave it a tap, letting the thing blink red before it turned green.

Falak's brows furrowed yet again because she doesn't understand what is going on and she can't even see anything in his eyes, they are blank. She is too eager to find out what is going on in that Statue's head and she started unconsciously hitting the table with her well manicured nails that is covered with maroon red henna which almost distracted Shaddad from his mission.

Shortly after, a knock came from the door and Falak's fingers stopped moving along with the knock and so Shaddad asked them to come in.

Falak recognised the woman dressed in ankara and her children right by her sides. The girl that looks around the age of four is dressed in cute Cinderella blue dress with matching loafers while the boy Falak once treated looks healthy now except for the scar on his forehead and he is featuring black jeans and brown button up shirt. They look like one happy family but Falak don't understand what they are doing there in Shaddad's office.

Shaddad sat down calmly waiting for Bilal to stand up and start throwing questions and he did. Bilal started looking around the office and after setting his eyes on the woman and the children beside her, his heart dropped to his legs.. What are they doing there? Did Falak's brother call them there so they could get rid of him for being a liar? The latter is the only explanation for everything.

"I hope you can recognise your family?" Shaddad asked Bilal who is too pale and nervous to blurt out anything but Falak stood up after processing what Shaddad's words meant.

"What family? Whose family are they, Statue?" She bit her lip after releasing the nickname she gave him and prayed that his attention is not on her words and will explain everything to her.

"I think he should explain everything to you himself." Shaddad gestured to Bilal with his eyes as he quietly watch everything unfold.

Shaddad didn't want to talk to Falak about it but when he found out that she doesn't know about her fiancée's little secret, he snapped. He's known that the man has another family since he met him that day with Harith. After he went back to his office, the first thing he did was ask one of the workers in the hospital to capture Bilal's photo and he gave it to an investigator who delivered everything to him in just two hours.

Feeling like the man betrayed one of the closest person to him, he let it go thinking he's told them about his family. Getting tired of holding it in, he went to ask his stepmother who gave him a negative answer so he decided to tell Falak the truth about it sooner than later and if she still wants to marry the man, she is free to do so because he won't feel guilty for not telling her.

He didn't like the look she is already throwing him at the moment. He feels something crumbling within but didn't pay heed and continue to stare at Bilal as he silently moved from where he is to his family looking disappointed. Shaddad's eyes were very sharp as he calculated all his moves and from the look in his wife's eyes, he knew she is facing domestic violence with him.

Even if she will want to marry him after this, he won't let her do that, he's changed the decision. He doesn't even need to worry, his stepmother cancelled everything and before he gets home, his gifts will be there waiting for him. If he could, he would help the woman run away from Bilal because if there is anything he is strongly against is domestic violence! Why marry the woman when you know you can't handle her?

This is another reason why he doesn't like the idea of marriage. Forgetting about the fact that he doesn't know what to say to this woman to make her happy. He just has a lot of reasons to not want to marry. He knew something is for sure, he can't keep his wife happy no matter how much he tries. He is just self centered and never try getting to know any woman in his life and he'd like to live alone without having another problem weighing him down. Women are very difficult in his own point of view.

"What is he saying?" She asked Bilal, moving forward to stand right in front of Bilal with a little distance which she didn't notice because she feels betrayed already!

How could he perfidy her like this?!

"He is right. They are my family, she is my wife and they are my children-" He didn't finish talking when her delicate hand collapsed on his right cheek. The sound alone made his wife move away from him and let another woman avenge what he does to her.

She knew he would beat the hell out of her when they reach home but for now, she will enjoy him getting manhandled by another fellow woman, maybe she could learn how to do so too because the look on his face at that moment is priceless. She agreed to come here only because she hates the idea of another wife in her husband's life. Though he beats her, she still loves him and he is the father of her children.

"I wanted to tell you about it before we get married and i-" and she collided that same hand to his left cheek, making his head whip to the right side.

"You dare say you wanted to tell me? When? After we get married and she decided to show up in my house to claim that you are her husband or when I am called again to treat your son only to find out that you are the father? The father who could care less about his own kids? Your son was here in this hospital that day when you came to see me but you didn't bother showing up to see him? How heartless can you be? This would've happened to me if the tie was knotted huh? When were you going to tell me? We are supposed to be married in a week and I'm just finding out about this? I bet you haven't told her also-..." She yelled, her voice fading slowly as the tears rushed down her cheeks because of how betrayed she felt.

As soon as she said 'we are supposed' Shaddad's shoulder sagged down because he won't have to pursue her into not marrying the betrayer. He watch as she continue to yell and cry then kept quite before asking him to leave and never show his face while he tried his best to apologize and deny being accused as a betrayer when he indeed perfidy her.

When everyone left the office, Shaddad was still in the exact same location on his chair not knowing what to do as she silently stood by the door watching as Bilal walked out of the hospital, more like stomped out leaving his family behind to hastily follow him in tow. She didn't move and if she wasn't sobbing with her shoulders shaking, he would've thought she had a heart arrest.

His chest clenched when she slowly turned around and lurched herself at him taking him by surprise and the chair almost fell behind if not for his quick reflex to stop it with the windowsill. He didn't know what to do so he let his hands stay on the windowsill while hers clung to his neck like a baby monkey would do to it's mother. Shaddad never found himself in such situation and he felt awkward.

Her body is so distracting and when she moved, he missed her warmth immediately. He stared at her, her complexion was that of porcelain, with large unguarded eyes that revealed storm of pain and betrayal. He wished he could help in any way but he can't so he watch as she made her way out of the office. . .

*****
YoYoYoYo!
How's the chapter up there? I know a lot of you are jumping up and down after reading that😹 Finally ba, Bilal is out of the picture but I'm not sure if he won't come back o. And Shaddad is one mumu, the girl was emotional but he stood like the statue he is. Anyways, flood comments and votes and our cuppa of tea will be ready soon.
RQ; Would you rather build your own company or have someone give you? I will like to build it myself so I can look up and feeeel proud, you?

Aishatu.