Alayla's Pov
Today I went to shop for groceries and I've just returned home tired,I slipped out of my abaya and changed into something comfy before heading to the kitchen to prepare dinner,i ate with the kids, prayed with them,helped them with their homework,bathed them and put them to sleep but Khalid was yet to come home. His late meetings had become routine, and I no longer asked questions. My phone buzzed with notifications from the mall's management team: sales reports, staff complaints, a supplier delay. I skimmed through them halfheartedly. I laid on the couch in the living room,thinking of my life something which is slowly becoming a habit
I had everything: a beautiful home, a husband who adored me,and the city's largest mall under my name. Yet beneath the surface, cracks were forming. I had studied law for years, dreaming of courtrooms and cases, only to be placed in a palace where everything was handed to me. Khalid called it protection, but sometimes, it felt like a cage.I curled up on the couch, staring at the ceiling. For the first time in years, I wondered what would happen if I pushed back against his decisions. Would he listen? Or had he already decided who I was supposed to be?
The sound of the front door opening snapped me back. Khalid's deep voice carried through the hallway, calm and commanding as always. I sat up quickly, tucking away my thoughts.
He entered with a smile that could melt steel.
"My queen," he said, leaning down to kiss my forehead. His scent, familiar and grounding, filled the room.
"You're late," I murmured.
"Meetings dragged on," he replied, removing his jacket. "But I thought about you the entire time."
I forced a small smile," did you observe your salah on time?(salah is the five daily prayers of Muslims)
He nodded his head "yes mummy " and i laughed, he looked like a bigger version of Ahmed
He tried touching my cheek but i broke that moment with a question,i didn't know why or how,it just rolled out before i could even stop it,maybe it's because am so much bothered about it
"Do you ever regret not letting me work?"
His hands stilled, mid-air. His eyes met mine, sharp yet soft.
"No. Why would I let the woman I love tire herself in courts and offices when I can give her everything?"
"But what if....." I started, then stopped. His expression had already hardened.
"Alayla," he said gently, but firmly, "you are my responsibility. Let me carry the world for you. All I ask is that you smile when I return home."
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. He didn't understand,or perhaps he did, and simply refused to bend,rather he pulled me to himself and crashed his lips on mine
....
Khalid's pov
After the blissful moment
I watched Alayla sweaty self as she lay against me, her body warm and delicate in my arms. She didn't know how much peace she brought into my life. In a world where every man fought to prove his worth, I had already won the greatest prize ,her.
The mall was just one of the many ways I showed her that she was cherished. I had built it with her in mind, imagining her graceful figure walking through its glass doors, her name etched into the heart of the city. Yet sometimes, when I caught her quiet stares, I wondered if she truly saw the depth of my love.She thought I am unfair for keeping her from work. Perhaps. But the thought of her struggling in courtrooms, dealing with harsh words and endless hours, unsettled me. Alayla was too precious for that world. I wanted to protect her, to shield her from 0the storms. Was that wrong?
I kissed her hair softly. "My Layla," I whispered, though I wasn't sure if she heard me.Earlier she looked distracted, her eyes carrying questions she didn't voice and i decided not to press her,marriage required patience, and mine for her was endless.I have always known she didn't want the mall but i just hope she understands,one day, that everything I did is for love.
As she slept peacefully, snoring lightly, I leaned back and let my own thoughts wander. A man could own businesses, build empires, and command respect, but none of it mattered if his home wasn't whole. With Alayla, I had peace. With her smile, I had victory.
Little did I know, a shadow from the past was already stirring - a shadow that carried the name Zaynab.