"It's alright baby, I'm here now" Abdullah caressed her back gently. He led them to the couch and placed her on his lap wiping her wet face.

"I really didn't mean to keep him a secret, it all happened in the past and since before our marriage, we lost contact and hadn't seen each other since then. When I saw him, was after our marriage and he came as a doctor not as my boyfriend I promise" she cried

"I didn't do anything with him I swear. All those pictures were fabricated, I didn't cheat on you" she sniffed. As she wiped her face, she casted her gaze down avoiding his eyes.

"Hey look at me" he whispered, she shook her head negatively wiping the stubborn tear that rolled down her cheek. " Look at me Kulthum" he said again pulling her chin up forcing her to look at him. "I know you didn't do anything with him, to be sincere, I wasn't really angry with you but at myself. I was mad at myself for believing the pictures, and for chasing you away I didn't know how to start confronting you because of how guilty I felt. If anyone is to apologize, it should be me because I acted irrationally about the whole thing. I'm sorry. And about leaving your job, how could you even think of doing that?"

She looked up at him speechless, she wasn't expecting that from him. He felt guilty? So he knew since the beginning that she was innocent yet he acted the way he did? Why?

"You knew since the beginning that I innocent?" She asked

"Mmhm, I knew. To be honest with you, I was angry at the person who took the photos and sent it to me. I knew you could nerver do something like that so believing it at first was the mistake I made and I'm sorry. I shouldn't have doubted you"

"You spent a week without me Abdullah, didn't you miss me at all?"

"Miss you?" He asked cocking his brows at her. "I yearned for you each second that passed by. I missed everything about you. I was miserable without you. I couldn't sleep on my own. I always come to you at night whenever I can't sleep and leave before the sun rises to show you how much I got so used to you. You are my everything and when you left, I became nothing." At this point their lips were only an inch from making contact. As they stared at each other's eyes and not saying anything, it felt as though the world had become stagnant and they were the only ones in it.

Abdullah as anxious as he was to say what was in his mind became distracted by a sudden knock on his door pulling them away abruptly.

"Come in" he cleared his throat and Kulthum immediately stood from his lap and sat beside him with a flushed face and beating heart. She clearly knew what he was about to say and anxiously waited for him to say so but that person chose the perfect moment to ruin it for her. She mentally sighed angrily frowning her face gently.

"Your royal highness, sorry for the disturbance but your attention is needed out here" Mustapha said casting his gaze low.

"Is it important?" Kulthum asked

"Yes my lady, it is" she looked to Abdullah pleading with her eyes for him to say with her a little longer but he assured her that he would be back soon. He kissed her forehead and headed out leaving her staring at his back. She sighed and entered the washroom to shower and when she was done, she called Alia. She noticed that since they came back, they haven't spoken and she just realized that she had missed her so much.

After the call with her, she laid on the bed waiting for her hubby and a crazy thought jumped into her head while a devilish smile appeared on her face. She carried her phone and was playing games on it but the moment she heard his steady footsteps, she pretended she was asleep and tossed her phone on the nightstand.

"Baby girl, sleeping already?" She heard Abdullah's voice vibrate throughout her body. As he crawled on the bed and put his face on the nook of her neck sending some strange sensations down her body, she ignored him and continued to sleep.

"Are you really asleep now?" He sounded a little irritated. She smirked and ignored him.

"Okay I will just eat this shawarma alone then" she knew he was tempting her and every inch of her body begged her to give in but her mind refused. She used all her might not to wake up and she almost succeeded but guess what, the power of shawarma is nowhere compatible with the battle of the mind and heart.

"What is it Abdullah?" She frowned with a dull eyes.

"Were you really sleeping just now?" He asked. She stared at him and said nothing then laid back and closed her eyes. He sat there dumbfoundedly looking at her, unable to say anything. "Are you giving me attitude?" He continued

"Abdullah I'm trying to sleep here and you are disturbing me" she complained.

"C'mon why are you angry all of a sudden?" He asked seating her up

"I'm not angry, I'm just trying to sleep and you are frustrating me" she complained bitterly

"Did I do something to anger you?"

"I'm not in the mood to speak with you, just leave me alone. You left me for a week willingly and now you are thinking twice before doing so? Just leave me alone" she fired.

"Baby!! Listen to me please, I'm sorry, I can continue to say so till you forgive me but for now just let me hold you at least once please" she turned her back to him smiling under her face with a satisfied sigh escaping her mouth.

"Please baby girl" he said again. She stood up with tears in her eyes and faced him angrily. "What? Why are you crying?" He asked sadly

"I'm not crying, I'm just...." She started laughing hysterically. He stared at her as if she had grown three heads right in front of him but couldn't say anything.

"You were joking?" He asked, perplexed. She nodded and wiped her face with her thumbs still laughing.

"You look so cute darling" she mumbled sitting on his lap. She hugged him and straddled him with her legs then said,

"I can never be angry with you darling" she said sensually in his ears. She felt his arms snake around her slowly pressing her to his body. The hug said more than they needed to convey to each other, it was a calming apologetic hug promising her that he would never doubt her again. He would never let a single tear roll down her face because of him. The hugged said many things that they both wished to say but were finding it difficult to come clean about it.

"Never doubt me again darling" she finally said.

"I promise baby" they stayed that way till they decided to pull away and lay down together.

"Alia is getting married on Saturday" Kulthum said playing with Abdullah's fingers.

"Wow that's great news, we need to hurry up and make her an aunt before she does don't you think so too" Abdullah teased.

"Shut up" she blushed profusely hiding her face in his chest.

"I'm serious baby, c'mon let's make a baby" he kissed her cheek.

"Darling!" She laughed loudly pushing him away from her. "What has gotten into you?"

"You have, you have gotten into me robbing me of my sanity and shame. Don't pretend you dont like kids, you like them dont you?"

"Of course I do, I love kids and I can't wait to have mine. You see I have always been thinking how many children I am going to give birth to since I was a child. I always had different fantasies about my children and my mom once said that the moment I get married, the first thing she was going to ask me is if i am pregnant! Can you imagine?" She laughed.

"And what did you say to her?" He asked, smiling at her.

"Well, because of how childish I was back then, I told her that it depends on my mood. If I am happy, I will give the man I marry 5 children and if not, I will give only 1 and then he can seek himself out. I don't care, who told him to annoy me?" They both laughed and he asked.

"What would you like more? A boy or a girl?"

"I'm not one to choose, anyone I am given I will take it. There are people out there who are yearning to give birth and they can do anything if it means they will be able to have their own children. So if i am given without having to pay any price for it, I will be the happiest woman on earth. So it doesn't matter which I am given" she answered.

"I'm proud of you baby girl" he kissed the corners of her lips lingering a little longer than usual. " You will become a great mom I can already see it" he said as soon as he pulled away from her.

"And you will be the best dad ever" she smiled caressing his face slowly. He caught her hand and kissed the middle of her palm and she quickly withdrew it from him with a dazed look.

"Darling?!" She exclaimed. He passed her an innocent smile as if he didn't do anything and drew her closer to him readying himself to sleep.

"I want to sleep baby, are you sleepy?" She shook her head negatively,

"I want some air, I'm going to the balcony" she said

"It is cold outside, why are you going there?"

"I don't know, I just miss my mom" she said slowly

"Come here" he opened his arms for her, "dont worry we will go visit her tomorrow, do you want me to accompany you?" He asked and she couldn't be more happy.

"Really? Will you come with me?"

"Of course I will but only if you lay down with me now" he passed her a teasing smirk. She rolled her eyes playfully and laid with him and after a short while, they both slept off in each other's arms.

~~~~~~

"What do you think about those two?" Hanifa asked Neil, who was in his bedroom laying on his bed with his phone on speaker mode shit his eyes and laughed. "Why are you laughing? Am I a joke to you?" She asked angrily.

"C'mon on Hanifah chill for once okay? I'm just feeling a little guilty at the moment but dont worry, it is just for the time being. Oh, before I forget, i met with Abdullah. Why the hell didn't you tell me he was that handsome? I would have hooked him up with someone he used to know" he laughed

"You are not serious" Hanifah chuckled. "Well it seems as if they have reconciled after a long rocky week. But how did you take all those pictures while she was with you?" Hanifah asked curiously.

"I just gave a little tip to a waiter and he did the rest for me. He did a great job didn't he?"

"Of course he did! I was just wondering if he wouldn't go about telling his fellow waiters what you did to an innocent woman" she faked pity

"Nah! He wouldn't do that, I gave him something that will change his life forever he doesnt need to continue working there if he wills"

"We need to come up with something more enticing and intriguing. Something that will leave them in awe. I hate it to the core whenever I see them together, she wasn't the ideal woman for him and now he is crazily in love with her. We need to create a reason for him to divorce her before she gets pregnant with his child"

"You have a point there, I will really hate it if she does carry someone's child with her. Kulthum is mine and mine alone. I will do anything in my power to get her back even if it means the Prince's death" he smiled with wicked eyes. "But for now, let's give them a short break, the doubt has already been instilled and that is all that we need. They should enjoy their little time together don't you think so?"

"Oh please, don't soffacated me" Hanifah rolled her eyes.

"I'm being generous lately, I think i will give her a breathing space till after Alia's wedding. I don't want to ruin baby Alee's wedding" he laughed.

"You are evil Neil" Hanifah pouted

"Am I?" He asked

"Of course you are, you should at least be calming down sometimes"

"I can't do that whenever I am with you" he flirted

"Oh really? Then should I come over?" She asked

"Perfect solution" he answered. He knew she had feelings for him but she dared act upon it. What he doesn't understand is what she was fighting for, because each time he raises the topic, she always finds a way to discard it with another question. Quite alright she's attractive, beautiful and smart, but he just doesn't feel anything for her and that alone is enough reason for her to hate Kulthum, or so he thought. He knew she had an underlying reason why she wanted to separate the love birds and he must know what it is.

"You think I can't come now?" She asked, raising her voice a little more necessary.

"I know you can, but I will pass on this one. Not today, I have someone I have to bring back before it gets late" he chuckled

"Your loss" she said uneasily.

"How do you plan on bringing her back?" She inquired

"Only time can tell," he mumbled.

~~~~~

The next morning Abdullah woke to pray and woke Kulthum up to. Praying fajr together has become like a daily routine for them and after praying, they recite the Quran together with Abdullah. Sometimes he adds for her and sometimes he listens to her memorization carefully correcting her here and there. Though he had finished memorizing the holy book, he still reads it on a daily basis not to forget.

Today as they sat down on the prayer mat facing each other, Kulthum started reading her chapter with sleepy eyes. Apparently, she was so excited that she was visiting her family today and couldn't get enough sleep the night before.

"Are you sleeping?" She heard Abdullah's smooth voice ask

"Mmm?" She said opening her eyes

"You are sleeping" he stated matter of fact and she nodded slowly.

"Okay why not finish this page then we can go back to bed?" He suggested, kindly

"Thank you so much, you are the best" she quickly finished the page and then left the place leaving her Quran and prayer mat for him to arrange. He smiled at her act and continued reading his own without the Quran till he was done. By the time he finally finished it was past eight in the morning and he needed his morning coffee.

He stood up, gathered all the Qurans and placed in its place then folded the mats and then called for a maid.

"Good morning your royal highness, how may I help you?" The girl asked as soon as she came in.

"Where is Anisah?" He asked

"She is not feeling well, your royal highness," came her short reply.

"Tell her to come in later today. And bring me my morning coffee to the garden"

"Yes, your royal highness,' ' she said and left. He gazed at his sleeping wife one more time and headed out to the garden with a neutral face. As he arrived, the morning breeze and natural scent of roses attacked his nostrils, making him shut his eyes and savor the rich scent. One reason he always comes to the garden was because of the calming scent it brings to his tensed body. As he sat down patiently waiting for his coffee, his mind randomly wandered to the great days he spent his mornings in this garden with his deceased brother Ammar. That was one of the reasons he stopped visiting till he married Kulthum and had another reason to start coming again.

Whenever she was seated in the garden, she fit really well like a mesmerizing painting. His brother Ammar was the only friend he truly had before he met Saddique, he was always there for him no matter how much they fought with each other, he never got angry no matter what. Thinking about him now only made him extremely lonely and he couldn't afford that feeling this early in the morning.

As the maid brought his coffee, he sipped it gently savoring the flavor and taste of it till he visualized the face of Ammar.

"What are you doing here?" He heard Kulthum's silk voice. She wrapped her hands around him, gently kissing his cheek.

"Are you ready to go visit your parents?" Abdullah asked, dropping his coffee cup.

"I've never been ready darling" she responded.