Kano State, Nigeria.
2018.

Falak got dressed in the lace all her girlfriends are going to wear. It is golden and cream so they can match on Fikriyah's naming ceremony which was that very day. Her gown was sewn in an off shoulder and it is also maternity type since the blouse flew open and closed her growing belly. No one will really notice that she is hiding something with it then the mermaid skirt she is wearing accentuated her even more flared hips.

She took the golden slippers and wore them on her feet then her barrel golden bag to match with it. She managed to do her head tie in tuge style. Looking effortlessly beautiful and feeling her little makeup on point, she left the room and walked out knowing Shaddad has left for the hospital but will be back sooner that day. She took the day off so she can attend her best friend's naming ceremony.

"You look so yummy, baby mama." Inayah wiggled her brows and hugged Falak to herself in an enthusiastic way.

"So do you, my love." She grinned back at her and take a look at all the girls dressed in the same outfit as her but with different styles and makeup. They still manage to look beautiful and stand out amongst the other people in the Royal garden where the event has been held.

The place has been decorated in cream gold and little blue. There are balloons behind the golden chair made for the mother and son to sit on. The chairs are wrapped in silk golden material and the table is closed with blue silk then the foods placed alongside appetizers for everyone. Falak appreciated their work since they helped with everything that morning though she only lazed around, command and stuff her mouth with anything that appeal her eyes and stomach.

"How are you still glowing you wretched woman. I thought you will be all saggy by now trying to walk." She heard Anisa's voice from behind her as she cat walked to where she is standing with Inayah.

Ever since that little stunt Masrooq pulled, Anisa has been amongst them since then and she is also wearing the golden and cream lace they are wearing. They will be married in two weeks as the wedding has been fixed for two months then. Falak is so happy for Anisa and she is also already head over heels in love with the prince. The wedding has been the talk of the town since then and even though Anisa only want to marry him for love, she appreciate her wedding going viral and trending in every nook of social media.

There are friends that she has totally forgotten about but then she will see their DM's asking how she is and what she is up to. They just heard she is marrying a Prince and everyone suddenly wants to become her friend. Even her bully back in highschool contacted her, it was shocking. She had to check the account and ask someone to confirm it but it's true, she did talk to her. Since they only want to be invited, she will invite them and close their mouths. She is now better than them.

"I know you are jealous but even you can't compete with me now. And you are the soon to be bride." Falak flattened her lips and shrugged one shoulder which Anisa gave a sassy smile at.

"Don't go on with your verbal fight again. You should go and see whether your friends are here or not." Inayah touched both their shoulders and left the duo to go mingle with her guests around.

Falak tiredly sigh on the couch and smiled at herself. It is just five in the evening and the event is over since it started around twelve in the afternoon. Everyone was so tired and ate to their hearts content so they don't need anything more. Some danced with the woman of the day and took lots of pictures along the way. The people Falak took photos with are just too much and she was so tired to even think about it. She was happy though, it was a beautiful day.

"Tired?" Shaddad asked walking into the living room from their bedchamber and she nodded then turn on the television to watch something before going to sleep.

"Yeah." She yawned again and found something that peaked her interest, it is nearing the end but she understands what is happening there.

The woman got married to a man but didn't know she had an affair with his best friend. He was so mad when he found out but she explained to him that it was in the past before she even met him. He let it go but she went behind him and started plotting against both the best friends with another boyfriend of hers. She wants their money and she got them both in a hook then pack their money and left them for another country. She didn't even bother telling the other boyfriend that she has accomplished their plan.

She left the country just like that with none of the three men.

"Wow, women are really gold diggers. They can get married just for the sake of the changes." Falak shook her head and saw Shaddad looking curiously at the television when the movie ended.

"Did you marry me for it too?" He asked, the question taking them both off guard while his eyes are settled still on the television as the names started moving up in small letters.

"What?!" She bursted and stood up on her feet, suddenly not tired anymore because the violent uncontrolled anger shaking her whole being and she clenched her teeth hard so as to not rain insults on Shaddad's forefathers.

"I didn't..." He trailed off finally back in his sense while Falak is already wrapping the veil around her. She's removed her head tie and will only wrap her veil around her to go out and cool off before she does something she regrets.

"Save it to yourself. I need to go and cool off." She walked out of the room and made her way out of the Chamber and straight out to the garden where the event tool place. It is now empty with nothing but the light poles standing and illuminating the place with soft canary yellow hue. The sun hasn't set completely too.

She sat down and calmly start to think what Shaddad means. Knowing he didn't say that intentionally only made her mad. Why would he even talk about something like that to her when he knows she'd get whatever it is she wants and no money will make her marry any man. Ugh, it is not his fault that he blurt that out but that didn't stop her from feeling mad about the whole scenario. She didn't like that he even had that thought in his head.

He didn't mean it the bad way but he still did hurt her with his words. She don't even know whether she will forgive him anytime soon for the words really cut in deep. How dare he think about that even if he is forced to? What does he have that she won't get if she asks? Absolutely nothing! Well, except for the throne he is about to take nothing else will be hard for her to find.

Deep in her thought, she didn't know when someone creeped behind her and close her mouth with a soft handkerchief. From the looks of it, it is chloroform since she started losing consciousness little by little before the darkness surrounded her and she succumbed to it. She wanted to fight for her baby and run back to their Chamber or even scream to the nearest guard but it was too strong for her already weak form.

•~•~•

Shaddad worriedly glance at the door after an hour of waiting for Falak to show up but she didn't. He slipped his flip-flops and made his way outside. He saw her guards standing outside which means she stopped them from following her. He got more worried but made his way outside to the garden where he knows she will be however he found the place empty with no trace of breathing human there.

Concern and fear gripped his guts and he continue to search the places around, still no sign of her. He called all his brothers that are married and ask whether she is in their Chamber, they replied with negative answer and he almost yelled at them all. He called Masrooq and Yazid too but they have no idea where she is and didn't even see her for the whole day. He can't shake off the bad feeling again from his guts.

"Search the whole palace for her." He said to the guards outside their Chamber and the others scattered around in search of her.

The whole palace got searched but no one found Falak in it. Shaddad got more worried and went back to their Chamber, maybe the kidnapper will call him again this time around and ask for another ransom. His heart thumped loudly as the sky darkened further and Falak didn't return. Her phone is inside her bag making him all the more worried. She always takes her phone if she knows she will be going far.

"Check the CCTV footage and find out whether any suspicious car left the palace. Not only suspicious, any car that has left the palace around five." Shaddad ordered the guards guarding the gates of the palace and they immediately scattered away to check the security room where so many footages are.

"No car left the palace, your Highness." And he gripped his phone tightly in anger and fear then left the security room.

"I think Falak has went missing again. She left a little while ago but I can't find her." He explained to Suwaid who walked out of his Chamber when he saw Shaddad walking around and hearing the guards ferrying from one place to another.

"What?! How is that possible?" Suwaid's voice rose an octave before he calmed down a little not to notify everyone of something they are not sure if.

Shaddad didn't want to talk to anyone till he is sure she is kidnapped but he can't keep quite for a long time. She's taught him how to talk and now she is not even there to see him talking so freely to his brother like it should've been since then. He gets tired with just the thought of her missing. How can she always be kidnapped and not any other person out there? Maybe him or one of the princes.

"She said she'd be back but it's been two hours now." He explained as little as he could and Suwaid scrunched his brows thinking why the hell will Falak be kidnapped again in the confines of their palace.

Shaddad's phone rang in his hand and he was quick to take the call seeing an unknown number. For the first time, he is more than happy to pick up a random phone call as there is a possibility that this person has his pregnant wife.

"Hello there, your Highness." The voice said in mockery that has Shaddad clenching his hands in fist. He hates being mocked even by his own friends talk less of this lowlife nonentity.

"What do you want?" He asked curtly seeing Suwaid from his peripheral vision as he motion that he put the phone in speaker, he didn't.

"Your wife is here with me or should I say, soon to be ex-wife. I want you to go to the garden in the east wing and sit there. Don't try anything funny or you won't ever see your pregnant wife for the rest of your life. Don't inform a soul." The person explained and then hung up the phone.

Shaddad is utterly shaken at the thought of someone killing his wife or taking her away. It brought distress and melancholy to his soul. She has always being the spirit lightening him up and without her, he could already feel it going low. He needs to find his wife and unborn baby and bring them back home safe and sound. How is it that it is when something good started happening in his life that is when his hidden enemies make appearance?

He can't even deal with it because his chest hurts so much. He turned around and left for the garden desperate to apologize to his wife and risk his life for her. He can see that this time around, they don't want money but his wife and he can't give them that. Never will he let them take away his wife and his unborn child.

No matter who this person is, he will make him pay for what he is doing. He can't even think about any enemy that he has, he has no one. This person might be someone he didn't know he refused to talk to. He just hopes they ask for money and not his wife or child. He can't afford losing either one of them, it will ruin him for good. If people think he is already ruined because he doesn't talk, he don't want to think about what happens when he loses Falak in his life.

He confirmed something after sitting on a chair in the garden.

*****
Yoyoyoyo!
Another update? Heck yeah my loves! Kidnapped again?! What on earth is going on in this palace and who has any whiff of what is happening? Who is it that kidnapped Falak again and wants Shaddad? Hmm, I can't wait to find out. This is dedicated to muslimah_khadijah Leeenerh Fatee_Gashua
RQ; Would you rather live with your rich dad or live with your poor mother? Be open-minded because you can't just say my mother because it is said you should love your mother more and all that, me I will live with the one I love more. You?

Aishatu.