Chapter 31

SAAFIA'S POV:- I was so done with him. I won't forgive him this easily, he couldn't take me for granted. He couldn't accuse me, hurt me whenever he wanted. I won't let it slide. I decided to act normally with everyone except him. Ignoring him, being harsh with him but being a stone. He was incapable of understanding. I was in the hall alone because Jacey left for dinner with Sam and I had no intention of going to the room for now. 'Hey." He called coming down with a frown lingering on his stoic features. 'What?" 'Did your desire to paint end in one work? I found another teacher only to know you are no longer interested. Do you want to do anything else?" He questioned, standing before me. I couldn't get him. One moment all nonchalant and chill and in the other, rude, horrible and arrogant. I couldn't tell when he was sincere, when he meant his words. 'I don't want to do anything." I replied coldly, taking a seat, not bothering to look at him, deepening his frown. 'What happened?" He asked, sitting beside me but I moved back in the farther corner. 'You are asking that?" I scoffed. 'Hmm?" 'Leave it. You won't understand." Sighing, I wanted to be away from him so I got up to leave but he had decided to come after me. He was perplexed as to why I was angry. After breaking my expectations, becoming charming and then heartless. He was confused. Wow. 'Did I say something?" He came after me like a kid. 'You don't say anything at all. I am the one who is always wrong." Hissing, I was about to leave but held my wrist, turning me to him. Not liking his touch at all, I ripped my wrist off from him and folded my arms at my chest, not bothering to look at him. 'Come on, are you going to be like that with me forever?" He sighed. 'Tell me why shouldn't I be? You always hurt me in the end. Always. It's been three months now." I continued in a dejected voice. Each time I thought about latching hopes with him, he broke them. Here I thought about knowing him and becoming better but he ruined it. 'And you have no idea that I don't. Unintentionally like in the lift, with Jared, yes, I did. But willingly? No. I didn't. And if it broke your heart then I don't know what to say, your heart is fragile." He whispered in a lowered, softer resonance, bringing his hand to cup my cheek but I didn't let him. Is it just me or nowadays he is touching me frequently? He kept staring at me with a mystifying look, lips parted to speak but no sound was released. Shaking my head, I moved back slowly. 'You should realize what you say sometimes." With a saddening statement, I walked away, leaving him all alone in the hall. The next day, there was a crushing silence between us which none of us dared to break. Holding a grimace on his handsome face, he was resolved to not take a step. Being stubborn and left for work. I watched him leave from the balcony, usually I stay at the entrance, waving him goodbye but today I didn't. ‘Are you going to look? Hmph, why would you care?' I thought, resting my hands on the railing. He was about to sit in his car but stopped and looked up only to find me standing and watching him, bringing a devilishly eye-catching smirk on his lips. Resting his elbow on the roof of the car, he waved his hand at me, 'I knew you would stay! You're weak after all! You can't even stay angry properly, woman!" He shouted. My mouth gaped, 'I was staring at my garden. Why would ‘I' stare at ‘you'?!" I shouted back, holding my head high. He only smirked at my flushed reaction and sat in his car and left. When he was gone, I looked down at my hands. This time I will stay angry. I won't let him… But how could I convince my heart? I couldn't do it… He was right, when I could forgive Jared for cheating then how could I be infuriated with him? 'Damn you, do you think I am that desperate to fall for a toxic man? No way I would-" Muttering, I walked down the corridor and bumped into Jacey. 'Ah, there you are Saafia. Where is Sam? Have you seen him?" 'He went to see his parents, I guess. He was saying this yesterday, did you forget?" I replied calmly, shifting my mind from him. 'Oh, yeah, yeah, I totally forgot." She chuckled as we went to the main hall. 'Saafia. Can I talk to you?" 'Hmm? What is it?" We took a seat and she took my hand firmly, worrying me. 'Look. I know Dariel married you for revenge. I know my brother, he only did it to teach Veronica a lesson. Didn't he?" My throat dried. Here I was vexed about her reaction and she knew it. 'I am sorry we are not the type of couple you wanted us to be." I apologized sincerely. 'But, you can be, Saafia." To say I was shocked would be an understatement, 'What?" 'I have seen how he was staring at you, I have seen him behaving around you, Saafia. He was not like that with Veronica. You cannot imagine how harsh he was with her. She was unable to breathe without his permission." So Jared was right… he was this horrible with her. How am I supposed to live with a restrictive man like him? 'Why are you scaring me?" I whispered, pulling away from her. Was he acting to break me? 'Because I think you can help my Brother. Please Saafia, Dariel is like this because he had never seen happiness in his life. Our Father died, it was hard for all of us and when our Mother left us too, he broke." She explained, holding my hand desperately. She was pleading with me for her brother and I.. was not sure. 'He had never seen happiness to be happy in the first place. He didn't even know how to smile anymore. Mother's death had broken him." Is it worth it? Can I do it? He didn't feel any attraction towards me? In fact, he considered me inferior. And mainly- 'And what if I don't want to, Jacey? I am sorry but I can't live with a toxic man. For a second, I could bear anything but he doesn't trust me. A relationship without trust is meaningless." Without faith, this bond was baseless. I could bear anything but not doubt my loyalty. I couldn't live without trust. 'Your brother is ruthless, he is self-centered and the way he has made himself, he is incurable. I can't do this. I am sorry." Sighing, I got up, waving my hand to stop her. 'Don't sound like Veronica, please." She whispered hopelessly. 'Because I think she did the right thing by leaving him. He is not worth it, he is hubris. I tried, believe me I did but I can't do it anymore. Sorry." Apologizing sincerely, I walked away. I couldn't start a bond he was not ready to start. He always told me to stop. He never wanted me to be a wife because he would never consider me one. This marriage was only his source of revenge. Nothing more. Nothing less. With these heartbreaking thoughts, I was in the garden, staring at the flowers on the bench. I wanted to show him that I grew them but.. He wouldn't appreciate it. He never did. 'Well, you look sorrowful. Are you okay?" Coming back, Sam came to me, waving his hand sweetly. 'Hmm." I forced a smile. 'Here. Drink some juice. You will feel better." He said sweetly, offering me a box of juice. 'Thank you." He sat beside me and instinctively moved back which made Sam arch an eyebrow. 'What? Are you afraid of your husband's reaction?" He chuckled, teasing me but it made me frown. 'Sam, please. Don't talk about my husband like this." I whispered, averting my gaze. 'Why not? Do you think we cannot notice that you are unhappy in this marriage, you poor soul." He continued, pinching my nerves. I was already gloomy and his comment enhanced my misery. I didn't want anyone to tell me that. 'I appreciate your concern but I know how to handle my bonds." I hissed, turning my head to the side. 'I feel pity for you, Saafia. Why are you bothering to be with him? Can't be money, I don't see it. A beautiful, innocent girl like you with a heartless man like him?" He continued, moving his hand behind me. Hugging myself, I got up instantly, 'Sam, if I am respecting you doesn't mean you can talk whatever you want about him. Enough." I whispered, becoming uncomfortable when he invaded my proximity. I was silent because he was Jacey's partner or else I would have slapped him. 'I am only offering to help." He continued in a low, husky tone, standing too close to me and was about to hold me as well but I moved back instinctively. 'Get away. I don't need any help." Muttering, I hastily left, distressed by his closeness. I entered and saw him, back from work. We both stared at each other for the next few seconds, remaining stubborn, none of us broke our silence. He raised an eyebrow temptingly, waiting for his ‘welcome home' but I ended up scoffing at him and walked away with a pout. Cursing him in my heart, he was taking advantage of my kindness.