Four

Chapter Three

{Khalid's POV}

From the airport, the driver drove us back to the new mansion I bought. I wasn't going back to the old mansion I used to live, a new mansion for a fresh start.

Jemima was escorted to her room, since we agreed not to sleep in the same room.

She set all the rules and he had no objection. She shouldn't meddle in her life and I wouldn't do the same. We're just destined to be stuck in this loveless marriage.

I entered the room, my head hurts due to stress. Taking a shower and closing my eyes will do it.

After having a nice shower, I sat on the couch. My eyes were red and I couldn't close my eyes to sleep.

Not when the different flashbacks I didn't want to forget. A lot of things have happened in my life yet I numbed all the pain alone.

But no matter how hard I had tried to forget the bad days of my life, I couldn't forget one day.

***

Six years ago.

I had negotiated contracts worth millions, flown across oceans for deals that could topple empires.But nothing felt more difficult than proposing to a lady, especially when you're nervous.

I was really anxious, and it's not really good because I had to be brave to propose to Zara.

Zara had been with me for three years and it's actually the best, though our relationship wasn't public.To me love was her, she was the best thing that has ever happened to me aside from my family. She meant the world to me and I've always loved her and hoped to love her till my very last breath.

I smiled, checking my wristwatch waiting for Zara to walk through that door. I couldn't wait to see her face, when she finally saw the surprise I planned for her.

Hundreds of candles flickered on every surface, casting soft golden shadows across the white roses I had ordered freshly from the only florist in the city who never disappointed me. The string quartet was already in position behind a silk screen, instrument polished, bows at the ready.

Every detail had been chosen for her. And still my heart felt it was about to split into half, maybe because I was so nervous. I never proposed to any woman before, she'd be the first and I hope she was the last as well.

I turned to look at the double doors again, the emptiness pressed down on me like a weight.

“You look like you're about to be shot,” A voice drawled behind me .

Aiden, my younger brother,was actually one of the organisers and he made it all perfect.

"Man, you look so nervous" He said and I smiled

“I thought you left?”.I said and he shook his head.

Aiden's shoes clicked softly as he crossed the room,to stand beside me, his hands tucked in his pocket with an expression in between amusement and pity.

He was happy for me but also not in support of me and Zara's relationship, he never liked her but since I had the final say, his thoughts didn't matter.

“Bro,yunno most men just pick a restaurant, maybe a ring,they don't hire an orchestra” He said.

“Well I'm not most men and she's not most women either”

“That’s one way to look at it,but... you really should do things simple for her.”He huffed and laughed quietly.

“For me,Zara is a simple person. A simple woman and to be honest, she would prefer a simple proposal”

I said nothing, we're not supposed to be talking about this anyways.

“Khalid”He shifted to face me fully,his tone lower.

“She might accept this proposal today but trust me she's not the one for you,she's not the girl for you.” He said, his usual words.

I met his gaze and for the first conversation about my relationship, I saw no mockery, only concern for me.

“She never was,” he said simply.

“You’re talking like this because you don't know her.” Something cold coiled in my stomach, his words were intimidating and I didn't wanna listen to him at all. I love Zara so much to let him talk me out of it.

“I know you Khalid, yeah I don't know her, and I've seen you twist yourself inside her life, trying to earn her affection”

“She doesn't seem like you, she never did, she's not in love with you, Khalid,to her you're just forcing yourself on her"Ryan muttered.

I turned away from him.

“Khalid you're ignoring the signs here, you think love is something you can buy if you just perform well enough. You've called her since two PM and checked that it's almost eight o'clock. Does she even call you unless you call her or text her, even the day you had an accident she didn't bother to visit you in the hospital, and yet....”

“That’s enough,”I cut him off coldly.

He nodded before walking out and I watched him leave.

I reached into my pocket and ran a thumb over the velvet ring box, just to reassure myself it was still there.

The diamond inside had cost enough to make my CFO raise an eyebrow, but I didn’t care. If I was going to do anything, I was going to do it properly and perfectly.

A man like me doesn't beg for love but for Zara I would do more than that, to prove myself to her.

My phone buzzed, vibrating so hard against the table it nearly fell. I snatched it up, hoping so bad that it was her, telling me she was already on her way.

It wasn’t.

It was my mum. I exhaled, scrubbing a hand over my face before answering.

“Mum”

“Finally. I’ve been calling you since afternoon”she complained.

“Are you working late again?”

“No” I said carefully, glancing at the time. Ten minutes to seven.

“I’m handling something at the moment”

She let out a sigh, which came from the phone.

“Khalid, you’re thirty-three. You can’t keep hiding behind work forever.You need a wife, you need a woman by your side, you can't be alone forever”

“Mom, please be patient”

“I mean it. You’re not getting younger. I want to see you settled down before I’m too old to dance at your wedding”

I closed my eyes, picturing her face, stern, but hopeful. She didn’t know, she had no idea I was about to propose, she had no idea I’d built that night around the hope she’d get her wish.

“I understand mom, very soon” I said softly.

“Can we talk about this later, please mom?”

She made an irritated noise.

“Fine. But listen son don’t think I’m giving up on this conversation”

“I know” I chuckled, and hung up before she could keep going. I heaved out a sigh, assuring my mother from my heart that I'd fulfill her wish.

I set the phone aside, pressing the heels of my palms to my eyes. My head was starting to ache, waiting for Zara.

Then Zara stood in the doorway, framed by the warm glow spilling over her. Her hair fell loose around her shoulders. She wore the pale blue dress I’d once told her made her look like she belonged somewhere I’d never be allowed to follow.

My heart stuttered,she looked around, her lips parting in a silent breath as her gaze took in the candles, the flowers, the string quartet waiting discreetly in the corner. When her eyes met mine, something flickered there.

A 'What’s this?‘ look,and I smiled taking it as a surprise look.

“Khalid” Her voice was so soft it almost didn’t reach me.

I cleared my throat.

“You’re here.“ I smiled, embracing her,she only froze. Looking shocked and surprised.

Her fingers fidgeted with the strap of her bag.

“You said it was important.”

“Yeah, it's very important”I replied

“I know this is unexpected,” I began. My throat felt dry.

“And I know…I know I’m not the best man on this planet.” Her gaze dropped to the floor, staring blankly at me.

“But you made me believe I could be more than the man everyone expects, that I could have something real, something lasting, something beautiful”

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the ring box. For a second, I just held it between us, as if it weighed more than it should.

“Zara, I love you,” I said, my voice rough.

“And if you’ll let me, I want to spend my life proving it to you.”

She swallowed with her eyes widened.

“Will you marry me?”I sank to one knee with my emotions overflowing.

The silence was instant, complete .As though the room itself was waiting.

Her hand came up to her mouth. Tears welled in her eyes, but they weren’t the kind I’d hoped to see.

“Khalid” She sounded strangled.

I forced a smile, though I felt something inside me begin to crack.

“Will you marry me?”I asked again.

Her shoulders trembled.

“No,I can't marry. C'mon we didn't talk about marriage, even if we've been tight for years, it doesn't mean I want marriage or I want to settle down with you, Khalid”

“No–no–no”She shook her head.

Shock.

Confusion.

Hurt--Washed through me at once, and pain struck me in a thunderous manner.

“What do you mean?”

“Khalid, we can't be a thing, I mean marriage isn't for us,I can't marry someone like you. You're not the type of man I want as my husband.” She said with a carefree voice.

I felt numb, still staring at her with the ring in the same position.

“I tried,”she whispered, as if suddenly feeling guilty.

“I tried so hard to feel what you feel,but I don’t and no I can't”

My chest hollowed.

“But you told me you loved me” I found my voice again.

“But I don’t feel anything for you and I found the one stronger than you Khalid, my type of man Khalid, unfortunately for your money I had to act like I care.” Her expression became venomous again.

It broke me completely. I was unable to stand on my feet. I couldn't feel my legs anymore,her words shattered every piece of my emotions.

“Zara, it's me.”I said maybe she didn't recognise me.

Zara chuckled,she looked around mocking me with her laughter.

“ Let's end this thing, it's over,”she said.

I stood up to hold her hand but she yanked it off.

“Zara, I love you, I can't imagine myself, my life without you”I said and she turned to leave as if my words were trash.

“Zara, please”I pleaded,a tear dropped from my eyes.

“Zara. Zara. please.” I was ready to go on my knees and plead with her not to leave me.

But she didn’t look back.

She just kept moving until she was out of sight and the candles were all that remained.

And my heart crushed into pieces, tears rolled down my cheeks.

***

I had no idea she felt that way. All the years we've been together, I thought we were building a future together. I didn't know she was just making a fool out of me.

That day was the worst day of my life, and with this experience I don't think I can ever believe in love again.