Walking down the lawn of her quarters, Hanifah decided to put her thoughts into action. She arrived at Neil's office as always, in disguise and approached him.

"Good day Doctor, how are you?" She asked making herself comfortable on one of his sofas. Hearing her voice, he stopped what he was doing and went to seat opposite her on the couch and welcomed her.

"Your highness, I don't know you were coming today if not, I would have prepared at least something nice before your arrival". He said smiling at her. She sighed and asked what his plans were about his innocent lovely boss and he answered swiftly.

"For now, we are having a conference in London by next week and from what I am hearing, she won't be able to attend or so. So, we have to create a reason for her to attend no matter what" he stated. Hanifah, being the lady she is said that they definitely need to create a reason for her to go and no matter what or who they use, she has to go.

"I think I have an idea" Neil said smirking

"And what is it?" She asked looking at him while typing away on her phone.

"I will definitely make her come, your highness. By crook or by nook" he assured her. They spoke for a few more minutes exchanging their mobile phone numbers, and went their separate ways. Later that day, Neil called Alia and passed a false information to her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Later that day Kulthum was feeling a bit relieved and could move around the room without the help of either Anisa or her hubby. Since she was off salat, she proceeded to study some more in Abdullah's personal library.

"Why are you here? You are supposed to be resting not reading Angel" Abdullah's voice suddenly echoed throughout the room startling her. She turned and saw him standing closely behind her.

"When did you arrive?" She asked closing the book and standing up. "I was feeling a little better and decided to study a little, because I haven't been able to lately"

"You are just over working yourself and I don't like that. Leave that and come with me" he ordered towering above her. She wanted to deny him but thought otherwise because she know how he can become when someone denies his request.

When they both arrived in their bedchamber, he made her lay down and told her not to stand up without his permission he would be seating close to her.

"Are you the doctor here or me?" She asked laughing. He scoffed and decided to read her a book to make her sleep. But before she could close her eyes, her mobile phone started ringing flashing the ID caller boldly. She looked her hubby and he nodded his head for her to answer

"Hello Dr. Neil?" She answered. The only thing Abdullah could hear was, "okay I will see to it, or, why? Is something wrong with her? Or, okay I will be there" and the call ended with her sighing. Abdullah asked if everything was okay and she said no.

"What's wrong Angel?" He asked

"Remember I told you we are having a conference at the hospital in London next week right?" She started, and with a nod of his head she continued.  "So Alia was the one I appointed to lead the team but then, something important came up and she wouldn't be able to go now" she explained

"And that leaves you with no other options but to be there right?" He analyzed and she said yes. She being the boss, she has to be there.

"When is the trip then? I mean when are you leaving?" He asked holding her hands in his.

"On Wednesday morning" she mumbled. She actually thought that he won't let her go and they have to make a fuss about it, to say she was surprised would be an understatement but nonetheless, she was happy.

"The actual trip is on Monday, but I have pending surgeries that I need to attend too. It is a complicated surgery about two to three in a day. Then after I am done, I proceed to join my team in London." She explained calmly

"That is four days from tomorrow right?"

"Yeah" she sighed

"Are you doing the surgery in your condition tomorrow?" Abdullah asked and she nodded. He chuckled lightly and adjusted his seating position so that he was now facing her completely.

"Are you sure you can do it Angel? You see I don't want to see you in the same position I found you in yesterday by the time you are done with your surgery". He said, sincerely worried about her.

"Don't worry Abdullah I will be fine Insha Allah" she commented. They spoke for a long while then she decide to call Alia to check on her but it ranged out she tried again but all in vain. This is so unlike her, is she okay at all? Kulthum wondered.

"Don't worry she might be busy you know how she is, she never leaves he phone unanswered" Abdullah coaxed her and she reluctantly calmed down saying she might be busy and when she sees her missed call she will call back. But, Alia never called back that day.

The next day, Kulthum woke up very early and prepared herself for her surgery packing a few sanitary items into her bag. When she was done, she told Abdullah's personal chauffeur to drop her off at the hospital. By the time she arrived, the OR was already ready and was just waiting for her to come so that the surgery could commence. They had three complicated surgeries scheduled for that day.

"Good morning Ma'am" they said in unison.

"Morning, how are you today?" She asked slipping into her surgical scrubs. Once she was done, she stood beside the anesthetic patient and asked, "Anna Williams, age: 26, surgery: aortic aneurysm. Is that correct? She asked

"Yes ma'am" her assistant bellowed

"Let's proceed then, scalpel please" and the surgery began. Half way through the process of the surgery, Kulthum said, "pay attention, the most complex part is this surgery here. I am going to remove the heart" she announced concentrating on it. After a long while, the surgery was finally over and successful and the patient was shifted into the ICU for observation.  She went to her office to rest a little before the scheduled time for the next surgery. After spending twelve hours in the OR without having her breakfast or anything to put in her stomach, she ordered for a shawarma and a pack of apple juice to go with it.

For that day, Alia didn't show up for the whole day and took the week's leave off work which concerned Kulthum more. 'What is wrong Alia?' She thought silently sipping her apple juice. A knock came on her door, driving her out of her reverie and in walked Doctor Neil majestically like he owned the place.

"Hello professor!" He waved at her smiling calmly. Even though he knew she was married, he pretended not to and flirt with her.

"Doctor Neil? What do you think you are doing?" She asked chewing on her snack elegantly, staring at him. He chuckled and took a sit beside her looking at her charmingly which made her a little uncomfortable.

"Don't worry dear I am not flirting with you after all, you are my girlfriend. So, why would I do that? You are all mine, you belong to me!" He exclaimed and she choked on her snack. Coughing hysterically. He passed her the glass of water that she kept beside her apple juice on the table and she sipped on it trying to calm herself down.  "Are you alright dear?" He asked collecting the glass and dropping it on the table. She nodded and cleared her throat before saying,

"Doctor Neil?!" She started with a serious look on her face. He hummed, and she continued. "First things first, I am not a property that you can own. Neither do I belong to you nor am I yours. I am already married" she declared angrily

"What?" He managed to cough out after a moment of silence. "What do you mean, you are married?" He asked again.

"I mean I am someone else's wife" she answered

"You are kidding right? You don't mean that do you? Hah! I know you are joking" he pretended. "My Kulthum can never do that to me, never. So please just stop it is not funny". He sounded angry. How can she tell him something so absurd that like? It is not funny even for a joke.

"Why would I joke about something that serious Neil? I am serious I am a married woman now. So, whatever happened between us, was in the past now and I can't remain your girlfriend anymore I am sorry". She sincerely apologized. She knew how he felt, because, they were once deeply in love with each other but due to some personal reasons, he had to shift to New York for almost three years and when he came back at intervals to visit his family, he never misses the chance to see her even when she is in the operating room.

He always waits for her until she is done and drives her home after a long tired day. When he finally came back, he applied for a job as a professor in her hospital just to spend some more time with her but then, his mother suddenly became ill and he had to go look after her because he was the only son. After that, they both started drifting away for some time but eventually, they came back together until three months before her wedding that he left without saying a word to her.

She tried his mobile line, but he changed his number to a new one. She even hired a personal investigator but nothing came out of it. He just vanished into thin air without a trace of where or how he is. Soon, she gave up and decided to accept her destiny as it came to her and agreed to marry the crowned prince, which she is undoubtedly in love with.

"I know you have many reasons to hate me for what I have done to you, but how can you say you are married, flower? I am sorry, but please don't leave me alone. You know no matter where I go or who I meet, you would be the only one in my heart please just stop this nonsense please" he begged. "I...." He wanted to say but she cut him short,

"Please Neil, you have to stop now. I am a married woman and that too, I am married to the crowned prince. I can't be  with you anymore. Where have you been the whole time I was waiting for you? Where have you been the whole time I was searching blindly for you to come back to me? I cried my eyes to sleep almost every night I stare at your picture, longing for you to show up but you never did. I waited and waited for four months thinking you might show up before my wedding and stop the marriage but you never came. Did you know how I felt that day? I got my hopes up high for nothing Neil. I loved you more than I loved myself but what did I gain in return? Betrayal and deceits.

And then you show up in my office today telling me to stop joking around and welcome you with open arms like I did before? Are you crazy?" She chuckled wiping the tears that fell on her cheek.

"Look, I am comfortable in my marriage and happy with my relationship please don't destroy it like you did our relationship" she grimaced wiping away her tears.