"Who da fūck that was dropping you off in the driveway?" Imran's seething question greets me as soon as I unbolt the front door and step in. He is pinning me with an incensed bloodshot gaze full of suspicion.Has he been drinking again or recovering from a hangover?I am rooted at the spot in trepidation and fear. I slump my shoulders forward and my head cast down in brisk consideration.Was he watching for me through the windows?In a fraction of a second, my mind blanks out since I don't contain a believable answer to provide him. It's beyond obvious he would display a complete lack of conviction over the truth."I see you've been whoring around already huh" He spat as he trudges towards me."Just as I suspected, you're a fūckin whore in hijab!"Instantaneously I whip my head up, my brows knit in umbrage from his resentfully dirty slander. I end up revealing the reality albeit in a shaky tone than intended. "I-I was a-abducted by dangerous people, t-they was holding me at the g-gunpo

I am beyond alarmed by this unsettling revelation concerning Imran. Without blinking my state of shock shifts into that of irateness as I glare at Mister Mirza rightfully so."After knowing such horrid details about your son, you had me marry him?"Mister Mirza flinches at my words as his expression slips into guilt and deeper sadness. "It was done to save you. Listen to me, your stepmother Naheed was scheming for your execution with Razia over the phone before all of this proposal business. Khalil had overheard them speaking a few months ago and he notified me. I thought I had persuaded Razia to have you as our daughter-in-law instead, I thought we'd fix Imran's life and save yours. But I had no idea of what Razia and Imran's ulterior motives are!"My stomach churns in complete unease over the knowledge he's imparted. I feel as if I'm being suffocated by his words alone. My hands tremble, my palms developing clammy. I slide a finger under my hijab below my chin to loosen it. Mister Mir

My shoulders stiffen at the sound of Imran's angered voice. I turn around and find the guy who was making out seconds ago is actually him.He's glaring up at me with complete vexation. The scantily dressed girl continues to grind on him as she monotonously peeks at me from under artificial eyelashes."Shut that fūckin window now!" Imran barks.Without a word, I slide the window pane down and then began to walk away when he addresses me again."Say hello to my girlfriend, Nasirah" he orders."Hello." I glumly state and she only throws me a dirty look."Bįtch! You thought you could steal Imran away from me?" She snaps."You can have him," I mutter under my breath."Hazel madam! Help me! Please help!!" Khalil shouts in despair as he hastily enters the lounge from the kitchen.His clothes are a tattered mess and he's suffering from a black eye. As he gets closer to me, he falls at my feet. Cigarette burn marks are trailing his arms.Promptly I reach down and pull him to his feet. "Khalil,

Within a flash of a second, a looming figure appears out of the shadows in between nearby alleyways, dressed in an equally shabby outfit as him.A hand shoots out and snatches the bottle from the grips of the homeless guy The toothless grin and cheery squinted eyes vanish into a glower. "Give me back my dollars worth! found it first"He hops onto the looming homeless guy What ensues is a crazy scuffle as they fall to the pavement, rolling about over a bottle.Inwardly I feel guilt wash over me, surely I could spare some money for these men.I reach into my duffel front pockets and fish out two crisp 100-dollar bills.I didn't have the change to spare for them since I needed that for a phone call from a pay phone. I doubt it would harm me to spare two hundred dollars.I very much hoped that would have been the case, but alas the sympathetic gesture of mine nearly did harm me. Out of major greed, the two scruffy-looking men demanded I provide them with more.Their grimy hands almost go

HAZEL -The rest of the drive lasted over twenty minutes in silence. My mind was reeling from the past couple of terrifying hours of my life.The skin irritation had diminished from the allergy med I had taken. I decided it would be rude if I don't thank Grigori for suggesting the medicine and just when I'm about to, Bev interrupts."Finally! We're here," She points towards the window excitedly.I had been too lost in my chain of thoughts to have noticed that we were in a very metropolitan setting of the city.Serge parks the car in parallel. They all began departing from the vehicle so I follow along.Stepping out into the cool night air, I sling my duffel over my tired aching back and shoulders. The guys stride ahead into a glassy entrance guarded by the security of a modern high-rise skyscraper.Right above the entrance, massive golden letters etched into polished granite read Nielsen Enterprise And Corp, Gold Coast Headquarters.Bev grips my hand firmly as she tugs me behind. I cra