Next Day — Late Afternoon, Zayd Enterprises
Noor flipped through the project files in her office, her rhythm steady—until something odd tugged at her attention. Her email inbox… flooded with odd anonymous messages. Some were blank. Some carried incomplete documents with no context. Others were fake complaints, all coming from different addresses but sounding similarly malicious.
Her brows furrowed.
Then a call came—unknown number.
Noor answered cautiously, "Hello?"
A pause… then a low voice, deliberately distorted:
"You think you've won, Noor Khanzada… but this office isn't where all battles are fought."
The line cut off.
Noor's stomach tightened. Her fingers pressed against her desk, but her expression didn't break.
Seconds later, another email popped up—this time, a picture attached. A blurred photo of her walking near her house last week, from a distance.
Noor stood abruptly, controlling her breathing.
Ahmed stepped in just then, noticing her expression. "Everything okay?"
Noor shut the laptop softly. Her voice came out calm… too calm.
"Ahmed, I need surveillance checked… both in office and outside. Someone is playing dirty."
Ahmed's jaw tightened. "Malik?"
Later — Office Security Department
Noor walked into the security floor of Zayd Enterprises confidently, head held high. Ahmed was already there, along with the senior IT lead, Yawar.
"We've traced the spoofed numbers," Yawar said, impressed by her fast investigation notes. "It's a looped server… but we found the root IP linked to a small private company—subcontracted under Malik's circle."
Noor's jaw tightened, but her voice stayed level. "Prepare a full report. I want everything documented, every single attempt logged."
Ahmed stepped forward. "Boss will want to know."
Noor's stare was sharp but calm. "He will. But first… we secure our side. And tomorrow… we make Malik regret playing with fire."
Ahmed's lips twitched in admiration. "You're handling this like a storm, Noor."
Noor's eyes darkened with quiet power. "If they want to play dirty, I'll teach them how clean power wins."
Night — Zayd Enterprises Parking Area
Rayyan's phone rang—an unknown number. He usually ignored such calls, but something in his gut forced him to answer.
"This is Rayyan Zayd."
A cold voice replied, no introduction, no hesitation.
"If you want Noor Khanzada back… stop interfering in Rahim Malik's business."
The line cut.
Rayyan's body froze for a second—just a second—before his blood roared. His fist slammed against his car door, jaw tightening to the point of pain. His breath came harshly.
Within seconds, he was speed-dialing Zayan.
"Pick up… pick up…" Rayyan's voice came out raw, clipped.
Zayan answered, "Bhai?"
Rayyan's tone was already thunderous. "Noor's been kidnapped. I just got the call—it's Malik."
Silence. Then Zayan's voice sharpened, "Where? When?"
"On her way home," Rayyan replied quickly, already heading back into the office, "she fought, but they got her."
Zayan's tone shifted, urgent, "We'll track the car—"
"No," Rayyan cut him off, pace quickening, "track her phone location. Her number."
Zayan blinked, on the other end. "Bhai… I don't even know how—"
"Shut up, Zayan!" Rayyan's tone snapped, harsh but controlled, his fingers flexing, pulse racing. "There's no time for how. Just do it. Ahmed will send you access codes. Use them. Get me her location."
Zayan hesitated for half a breath.
Rayyan's voice dropped lower, filled with something cold and dangerous. "We are not waiting… we are getting her back tonight. I don't care how illegal it sounds—just find her."
Zayan's voice came back, firm this time, "I'm on it."
Rayyan ended the call, jaw clenched, pacing hard. His chest ached—not from his injury—but from something fiercer.
His hands curled into fists.
Noor… just hold on. I'm coming.
Noor blinked through the dim light, wrists burning slightly from the tight rope binding her hands. Her scarf was loosened around her shoulders, one side of her cheek scraped from the struggle she put up earlier. Her breathing was steady, even though her heart thundered in her chest.
Her first instinct wasn't fear—it was calculation.
The moment they grabbed her, she knew this was Rahim Malik's doing. The way they grabbed her, the way they spoke—this wasn't random street crime. This was a power play. A cheap shot by someone too weak to fight in daylight.
Her eyes darted around. One small window, too high. A single wooden door. Footsteps outside. Maybe three men, rotating in shifts. From the small gap beneath the door, she could hear low voices—cursing, joking. Unprofessional.
Good.
Idiots like these make mistakes, Noor thought.
Her phone had been snatched but… she smiled faintly.
Her watch.
Rayyan had gifted her a sleek smart watch after a project win. One of those gifts Noor pretended not to care about… but wore every day.
She pressed her wrist awkwardly against her thigh, tapping rapidly against the side button three times—silent SOS mode activated. The last person paired to her device was Rayyan.
Her lip twitched, a grim smile on her face.
You think you've outplayed me, Rahim Malik?
Wrong game.
She shifted her legs slightly, feeling the loosened ankle strap she managed to kick halfway during the struggle. Her wrists were tight, but her mind stayed sharper.
Her jaw clenched, whispering to herself:
"I don't get rescued… I survive. You'll see."
And in that silent room… Noor waited, but not like a victim. Like a fighter planning her next move.
Noor's POV — Abandoned Warehouse, Late Night
Her wrists burned from the coarse ropes, skin rubbed raw, and every part of her body ached from the struggle. Two men had entered, their stares disgusting, their behavior worse—mocking her, tugging at her, pulling off her scarf without a second thought, treating her dignity like some plaything.
Her hair was scattered around her shoulders, tears staining her cheeks as she fought back every second, refusing to give them the satisfaction of begging.
They untied her, shoving her roughly against the wall, trying to corner her.
But Noor wasn't the girl who folded.
The moment the rope loosened, she reacted.
A sharp elbow into one of the men's ribs, a fast kick at the other. They underestimated her strength—her will.
She made a run for it, lungs burning, chest tightening, vision blurring with tears, but her legs moved, faster, determined.
Her feet barely hit the threshold of the main door when it crashed open—
And there he stood.
Rayyan .
His face was stormy—dark eyes wild, jaw clenched with fury she had never seen before. His usually sharp suit was crumpled, his breathing fast, his entire focus—on her.
The moment her blurry eyes caught his, her body just gave in.
Her strength crumbled, but before she could fall, Rayyan closed the distance, gathering her into his chest, arms wrapping around her protectively, holding her like she was something fragile and precious.
Noor broke.
A sob escaped her lips, muffled against his chest as he hugged her tighter, one hand gently cradling the back of her head, his palm shielding her tangled hair, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
Her scarf was forgotten on the floor. Her hair messy. Her cheeks stained. Her fingers clutching the fabric of his coat like it was her only anchor.
"I'm here… you're safe now… you're safe," Rayyan whispered hoarsely, lips brushing the top of her head, his voice breaking at the sight of her condition.
Her lips trembled. Her words came out in gasps, barely controlled. "They… they tried to… they touched me… they—" her throat closed, unable to finish.
Rayyan's jaw flexed painfully. His hand shifted to her cheek, thumb wiping away the tears, voice low but seething, "I swear, Noor… none of them will be breathing by sunrise."
She sobbed harder, clutching him tighter, feeling his steady heartbeat under her palm, his warmth shielding her broken pieces.
"I didn't give up… I fought back," Noor whispered, her voice raw, her pride bleeding but alive.
Rayyan's chest tightened. His other hand cradled her head, pressing her gently to his chest. "You did everything right… you survived. You fought like a warrior."
Around them, Zayan and Ahmed stormed in, handling the men left behind, but Rayyan didn't move. He didn't rush. He just stayed right there, holding her like his life depended on it.
"Noor… you'll never be alone again," Rayyan promised, his breath ragged.
"Not now. Not ever."
Noor sat quietly beside Rayyan, body tucked close to the car door, head resting lightly against the seat. The streets passed by in a blur outside, but her mind… was trapped elsewhere.
Rayyan glanced at her, concern laced in every feature. He had called her earlier, his voice calm, comforting, urging her to leave the suffocating hospital walls for a peaceful ride, away from stares and questions. She agreed… but the storm inside her hadn't settled.
She closed her eyes, fingers clutching the edge of her coat as Rayyan's voice softened, "Relax… breathe… you're safe now."
Noor's lashes fluttered, but instead of calm… darkness greeted her.
Memories she had locked away.
---
Flashback — Years Ago, Childhood
Noor stood in a crowded family room, much younger, much quieter. That suffocating feeling in her chest… it was the same. The touch wasn't protective back then… it was wrong, uncomfortable, terrifying. An older cousin who used to corner her, who used to grab her arm too tightly, whisper disgusting things, trying to make her feel powerless.
She remembered sitting alone in the corner after, hiding her face in her little dupatta, afraid to tell anyone, afraid of blame, afraid of shame. Too young to understand why her small heart ached that way… too fragile to scream.
---
Back to Present
A single tear escaped Noor's closed eyes, trailing down her cheek. Her body tensed beside Rayyan, shoulders curling inwards as if shielding herself from an invisible weight.
Rayyan noticed instantly. His hand gently moved to her knuckles, thumb brushing against them lightly. "Noor… open your eyes… you're here… with me… nothing can harm you now."
Noor's breath shook, hands trembling.
Her whisper cracked as it left her lips, "It… it's not just what happened yesterday… this fear… it's old… it's from… before."
Rayyan's expression shifted—softer, heavier. He turned the car to a quieter route, stopping near a secluded roadside spot with soft sunlight filtering through the trees.
He turned toward her fully, unbuckling his seatbelt. His hand came up, cupping her jaw softly, wiping away the tear. His voice was low, anchoring her, "You don't need to hold it in anymore… not in front of me… not ever."
Noor's lower lip quivered, more tears slipping through, but this time… it felt lighter. Like the air didn't choke her as much.
Rayyan rested his forehead lightly against hers, breathing with her.
"You fought all your life, Noor… and now… you don't have to fight alone."
Noor pressed her eyes shut, letting the tears fall, but her heart… it finally felt safe.
Two Days Later — Private Beach Villa, Outskirts of the City
The cool breeze carried the salty scent of the sea as waves crashed rhythmically against the shore. The private villa stood secluded, carved into nature—no city noise, no staring eyes—just quiet, open sky, and the endless ocean.
Rayyan stood at the wide balcony, watching Noor as she walked barefoot along the soft sands, her white dress fluttering in the wind, hair loosely tied, scarf draped around her shoulders but not forced to stay perfectly in place. Her cheeks had gained a little color again, her steps were steadier—but her eyes… they still carried that storm.
Rayyan had watched enough. Waited enough.
When Noor turned, surprised to find him walking down toward her, she stilled, sensing the change in his energy—something was different tonight.
Rayyan didn't waste time with small talk. He walked straight up, eyes locking onto hers, voice calm but deeply intense.
"Noor… I brought you here because you needed peace… but also because I can't pretend anymore."
Her breath caught in her throat.
Rayyan's jaw flexed, his hand reaching to gently tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear, fingers brushing against her soft cheek. "I've watched you… fight. Endure. Break… and rebuild yourself without anyone to catch you."
His gaze hardened. "I want to be that person… not because you need me… but because I've realized I can't breathe right when you're not beside me."
Noor's lips parted slightly, her heart stuttering in her chest.
Rayyan's throat bobbed, voice lowering. "I don't want you to return back to that apartment, to those suffocating office walls… not without knowing you're mine."
His hand curled gently around her wrist, possessive but gentle. "I'm not asking this because of pity, Noor. I'm asking because I've felt this pull since the moment you walked into my office… and it's only grown stronger."
Her chest rose and fell rapidly, words caught in her throat.
Rayyan took a step closer, invading her personal space but in the safest way possible. "I want to marry you. I want to protect you… hold you… celebrate you. I want you beside me in every boardroom, every rooftop, every battle."
His voice dipped, almost a whisper, "I want to wake up every morning knowing you're mine… and no one—no man alive—gets to touch you, scare you, or hurt you… ever again."
Noor swallowed hard, eyes suddenly misty, her walls trembling.
Rayyan's thumb brushed her wrist slowly, calming yet claiming. "But I won't force you. I won't rush you. I know you've carried too much weight for too long."
Noor blinked rapidly, her voice cracking, "Rayyan… I… I need time. I need to… breathe. To believe this is real… that someone like you could… want me after—everything."
Rayyan's expression didn't falter. He stepped even closer, pressing his forehead softly to hers. "Take all the time you need, Noor. Just know… I'll wait. But don't expect me to stop being possessive… don't expect me to stop dreaming about you sleeping beside me in my home, my bed."
A shaky laugh slipped from Noor despite the emotions swirling inside her. "You're intense."
Rayyan's smirk was soft but fierce. "With you… I'm never going to be calm. And I don't apologize for it."
Noor's fingers curled into his shirt, her forehead resting fully against his. "Just… give me space to heal… to trust this."
Rayyan's arms finally wrapped fully around her, hugging her against his chest, eyes closing in quiet relief. "I'll give you space… but I'll always be close enough to catch you if you stumble."
And in that peaceful place, under the sky and sea, Noor found something she had long forgotten—safety, desire… and hope.