Chapter 151. At His Study

Later that evening, Zahra found herself alone in her room, the silence pressing down on her like a heavy blanket. She sat on the edge of her bed, her mind racing with thoughts of the future.

The rukhsati was only two days away, and the thought of leaving her family behind filled her with a deep, aching sadness. She had always been close to her mother, her cousins, and even Dua, who had become like a sister to her. The idea of being separated from them, of living in a mansion that felt more like a prison, was almost too much to bear.

She thought about Irtaza, his cold, calculating eyes, and the way he had looked at her the last time they spoke. He had made it clear that he would not tolerate any defiance, that she was his now, body and soul. The memory of his words sent a shiver down her spine, and she wrapped her arms around herself, trying to ward off the chill that seemed to seep into her very bones.

Her thoughts drifted to Daniyal, the man she had loved with al