AUTHOR POV
The evening air was heavy.
Inaya stood near the garden fountain, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, fingers digging into her sleeves as if she could physically hold herself together.
The palace lights glowed behind her, but she felt none of their warmth.
She felt exposed.
Watched.
Her heart thudded painfully when she sensed it— him.
Zeeshan.
He stood a few steps away, dressed immaculately in black, hands in his pockets, posture calm—too calm.
His hazel eyes were fixed on her, dark and unreadable, like a storm trapped behind glass.
She hated that look. It still had power over her.
"You shouldn't be out here alone," Zeeshan said finally, his voice low, controlled.
Inaya laughed bitterly without humor.
"really," she replied softly. "I've been alone for ten years."
His jaw tightened.
"That was your choice." Her eyes snapped to his, burning.
"You think I chose that?" she whispered, pain cracking through her calm
. "You think I chose to be abandoned, blamed, erased?" Zeeshan took a step forward.
"And Zoya?" he asked quietly. "Did she choose that too?"
The words hit her like a blade.
Her breath hitched.
Tears welled, but she refused to let them fall.
"I didn't kill her," Inaya said, her voice shaking. "I've said it a thousand times."
Zeeshan's eyes darkened, rage flickering. "but i didn't believe you."
Before she could respond—A shadow moved at the edge of the garden.
Inaya felt it, feel him.
He stood partially hidden by the trees, black suit blending into the night, eyes locked on Inaya with an intensity that made her skin prickle.
His presence was silent, dangerous—like he had been there the whole time.
Zeeshan noticed her expressions immediately.
His mind alert. "What happen inaya?" Zeeshan asked coldly.
inaya stepped forward into the light. "nothing....i was just thinking something,"she replied evenly ,sharply.
He ignored her statement completely, his gaze fixed only on her.
"then why You're shaking," he said quietly.
The concern in his voice—real, unfiltered—cracked the wall she had built all evening. "I'm fine," she whispered, even though she wasn't.
Zeeshan moved forward .
"you didn't need you to hide anything from me ," he said softly.
"you can trust me.
" inaya smiled—but there was no warmth in it. "trust....really,"
she lough. "are not your the one who was blaming me a little ago," she said suddenly, her voice louder than she intended.
he said nothing.
The tension was suffocating now.
both was looking at each other
one with helpless love and other with broken hate.
"Inaya, you're my fiance."he said coldly
"And that gives you the right to hurt me?" she shot back.
Armaan stepped closer to her side—not touching, but close enough that she felt his presence like heat.
"yes,"he said harshly.
inaya laughed darkly.
"ohh really....i m scared"
his hands slowly curling into fists but he stay calm and composed.
"can't you see my feeling for you" Armaan replied.
zeeshan's heart pounded.
"but according to you i don't deserve to be loved?" she asked brokenly.
"And yes! i don't care about your feelings," she said sharply, his fists clenched their eyes meet.
"your selfish," he said. Zeeshan's fists clenched. "you only think about yourself."
"just like you," she shot back.
The air felt electric.
Dangerous.
Inaya stepped back suddenly, overwhelmed.
"i dont want you....not this marriage," she said, harshly finally spilling.
"keep that in mind."
That silenced everything. Zeeshan's chest tightened painfully.
but he stand compost
"I don't want to be loved a man like you," Inaya continued, her voice breaking.
"first you hurt me then pretend to be guilty then again hurt me."
A single tear rolled down from the corner of her eye.
But she wiped her tears angrily. "what about past....did you forget what you did with me in past "
She turned and walked away toward the palace,
leaving her standing there—frozen.
zeeshan watched her disappear, guilt and fury tearing him apart.
He whispered under his breath,"i known i hurt so much.... i m sorry for that"
And somewhere deep inside,
Zeeshan realized—he dont deserve her after what he did in the past with her
Author POV
Sleep held her gently, like a dark ocean pulling her deeper with every slow breath. The room was silent, drowned in midnight. Only the faint silver of the moon slipped through the curtains, laying pale light across the bed.
Inaya shifted slightly in her sleep, unaware that the silence had already been broken.
The door had opened without a sound.
A shadow slipped inside.
He moved slowly, carefully—like someone entering a sacred place. The air itself seemed to hold its breath as he approached the bed. His gaze settled on her, soft but burning, as if he had been waiting for this moment for far too long.
"angrybird…" he whispered, barely louder than the wind.
She didn't wake.
Her dark hair spilled across the pillow, her lashes resting against her cheeks, her breathing calm and steady.
He sat at the edge of the bed.
For a moment he only watched her.
Then his hand rose, hesitant at first, hovering over her forehead before finally touching her skin. His fingers brushed away a strand of hair, slow and careful, like he was afraid she might disappear if he moved too quickly.
He leaned down.
His lips pressed against her forehead.
The kiss was soft—almost reverent. Warm breath ghosted over her skin as he lingered there for a moment longer than he should have, as if memorizing the feel of her.
His thumb traced lightly along her temple.
Then his gaze fell to her lips.
A dangerous silence filled the room.
He bent closer.
His lips touched hers gently, barely more than a whisper of contact. It wasn't hurried or rough—just slow, lingering warmth against her mouth. He held the kiss there, still and quiet, as if time itself had paused in the darkness.
When he finally pulled back, a faint smile ghosted across his face.
From his coat he drew out a black rose. 🥀
The petals were dark as night.
He held it delicately and brought it to her skin.
First, the soft petals brushed across her forehead.
Then slowly down to her cheek.
The cool silk of the rose glided along her face, tracing the curve of her jaw. From her cheek it slipped to her chin, the petals grazing her skin with feather-light touches.
Down.
To the delicate line of her neck.
He watched her the entire time, eyes filled with something intense—something almost possessive.
"mine…" he murmured again.
Finally he placed the black rose beside her pillow.
For a long moment he simply looked at her sleeping face.
Then he leaned down once more and whispered against her hair,
"see you soon."
He stood.
The shadow moved away from the bed, crossed the room, and slipped out the door as silently as he had entered.
The door closed.
The darkness returned.
And beside Inaya's pillow, the black rose waited.
inaya ali shah pov
Morning arrived quietly.
A pale ribbon of sunlight slipped through the thin gap in the curtains, stretching slowly across the room until it reached the bed. Dust floated lazily in the golden light, the air still heavy with the silence of early morning.
Inaya stirred.
A faint crease formed between her brows before her eyes even opened.
Something felt… wrong.
Her lashes fluttered as she woke, staring up at the ceiling. For a few seconds she simply lay there, her mind thick with sleep. The room looked exactly the same as it had the night before.
The same walls.
The same furniture.
The same quiet.
Yet a strange feeling crawled beneath her skin.
A feeling she couldn't explain.
Her chest rose and fell slowly as she stared ahead, her thoughts moving through the fog of sleep.
Why do I feel like something happened in the night…?
Her hand brushed over her forehead unconsciously.
A faint shiver ran down her spine.
Her lips parted slightly as a strange memory-less sensation lingered there… like a ghost of warmth.
Her eyes narrowed.
"What the hell is wrong with me…"
She pushed herself up slowly, the blanket falling from her shoulders.
That was when she saw it.
The flower.
It rested against her pillow.
A single black rose.
The colour was so dark it looked like a piece of the night had been left behind in her bed.
For a second, her brain refused to process what she was seeing.
Then reality slammed into her.
Her heart stopped.
Her eyes widened in pure horror as she stared at it.
The room suddenly felt smaller.
Colder.
Her breathing became shallow.
"No…he can't enter my room...."
Her voice came out as a whisper.
She grabbed the rose with trembling fingers, staring at the dark petals as if they might bite her.
Her pulse began to hammer violently in her chest.
he come to room last night.
The thought exploded inside her mind.
Her head snapped toward the door.
It was closed.
Just like it had been last night.
Her gaze flew to the window.
Locked.
Every nerve in her body screamed.
Her heart started racing so fast it felt painful.
"how the hell even he come—"
Her phone lit up on the nightstand.
The sudden vibration made her flinch.
Her eyes slowly moved toward it.
The screen glowed in the dim room.
Unknown Number
Her stomach twisted.
Something cold slid down her spine as she picked up the phone.
The message opened.
You look beautiful when you sleep.
For a moment, everything inside her went still.
Her fingers tightened around the phone so hard her knuckles turned white.
A slow, burning rage began rising through her chest.
Her heart slammed violently against her ribs.
Her thumbs moved across the screen.
"You bastard....how dare you".
The message sent.
Three seconds later, her phone vibrated again.
Another message.
By the way… your lips feel like heaven.
For a second she didn't breathe.
Then something inside her snapped.
Her entire body went rigid as fury exploded through her veins.
Her teeth clenched so hard her jaw ached.
Her fingers flew across the screen.
"I'll kill you. You jerk".
Her breathing had turned heavy now, chest rising and falling quickly.
The reply came almost instantly.
"Are you angry because I only kissed you… and didn't go further"?
Inaya froze.
The words felt like poison crawling across her skin.
Her eyes slowly closed.
Her fists clenched so tightly the phone creaked in her grip.
Her teeth ground together.
The rage inside her was no longer just anger.
It was volcanic.
Her chest heaved as she typed again, each word like a bullet.
"I swear… I'll kill you".
She didn't wait for a response.
With a furious motion she threw the phone onto the bed. It bounced against the mattress and slid across the sheets.
Her breathing was uneven now.
Fast.
Sharp.
Her eyes opened again, burning with fury.
how dare her to enter my room..…come closed to me.....
Thinking that her hands curled into fists.
"I will find you."
Her voice was low. Dangerous.
"I swear I will."
The black rose still lay in her hand.
She glared at it for a moment before throwing it onto the bed like it disgusted her.
Then she swung her legs off the mattress and stood up.
Her body was tense with anger, every muscle tight.
Without another word she turned and walked toward the bathroom.
The door slammed shut behind her.
In the silent bedroom, the phone screen lit up once more.
Another message appeared from the unknown number.