(Warning: This chapter contains Suicide and Rape Attampts. So read it at your own Risk)

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She stared at me blankly, her eyes wide as if she were slowly processing the venom in my words. I could see the shock settle in, followed by a flicker of hurt that she tried to hide behind her defiance. But in my heart, a storm raged. I had thought letting her go would be simple, that I'd feel nothing but satisfaction.

Then why the hell was I so restless?

My grip on her chin loosened, but my hands seemed to move on their own, trailing down to her waist, pulling her body against mine. I felt her stiffen, a soft tremor running through her-whether it was fear or something darker, I couldn't tell. But her reaction... it did something to me. It stirred something primal, something I had tried to keep buried beneath the hate.

My hand slid from her waist, skimming her soft skin, creeping upward to her throat. Her pulse quickened beneath my fingers as I touched her neck, feeling the rapid beat of her heart. I could sense her breathing shallow as I moved slowly, my thumb tracing the line of her jaw, then brushing over her trembling lips.

Fuck. What the hell was I doing?

Even in these days when she was near me I didn't felt this pull that much I'm feeling right now. Why now?

My mind screamed at me to stop, but my body was already betraying me. Her scent, her warmth, the way she shivered at my touch-it was addictive, intoxicating. My thumb lingered against her lips, feeling the softness, the way they parted ever so slightly under my touch.

"Before I change my mind, get lost," I whispered, my lips dangerously close to her ear, the heat of my breath grazing her skin. I leaned in, my mouth almost brushing her neck. "Go. Now."

Her breath hitched, but her eyes flared with defiance, those hazel eyes meeting mine without fear. "You don't need to repeat it," she spat, her voice laced with contempt. "I have no intention of staying in this hellhole for another second. Tell your men to drop me at the hospital where my father is."

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I'm finally being released from this prison.

I should be relieved, maybe even overjoyed, but instead, all I feel is a strange emptiness. No sense of freedom, no rush of victory.

Just... nothing.I'm not the same Tania anymore. That girl-the one who believed in hope, in love, in a future untouched by darkness-she's gone. What remains is a broken version, shattered by his hands and the cruel reality I've been forced to live in.

The damage is done. Not just to me, but to my family. Our reputation, our honor-everything has been dragged through the mud, beyond repair.

How can I ever face them again? How can I face him-my father, my Baba, who has always been supportive to me?

What will he say when he sees what I've become?

Will he even forgive me?

The thought alone makes my chest tighten with dread, but I push it down, refusing to let the fear consume me.

The sound of the door creaking open snaps me from my thoughts. He opened it for me.

I hurriedly tie my hair into a messy bun, my fingers trembling slightly, and wrap the shawl tighter around me over the skirt I was wearing.

I can feel it-the weight of his burning gaze, searing into me, as if he's trying to burn the last bit of defiance out of me. But I won't give him the satisfaction. Even now, I won't let him see me break. Not completely.

He grabbed my hand, and we exited the room in complete silence.

His grip was firm, almost painfully so, as if he was holding on tighter than necessary-like he didn't truly want to let me go.

Whatever that meant, I refused to dwell on it. I needed to focus on what was ahead.

We reached the gate, and for the first time in days, I felt the warmth of the sun on my skin.

But before I could even adjust to the brightness, he shoved me into the car with the same forceful control that had marked our every interaction.

He slipped in beside me and muttered to the driver, "To the hospital."

The car lurched forward, the tension between us thick and suffocating. His hands were clenched into fists on his lap, knuckles turning white with the pressure. The silence stretched out, heavy and oppressive.

I dared not look at his face, terrified that if I did, he might change his mind and drag me back into the darkness.

My heart raced as the car finally pulled up in front of the hospital. This is it. The moment. I'd be free of him, of his control, his torment.

But just as I reached for the door handle, eager to escape, he grabbed my chin, forcing me to turn and face him. His eyes bore into mine with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.

"Don't let me see you again, Hazel" he said, his voice low and dangerous.

For a second, my mind faltered, clouded by confusion and something else I couldn't quite place. Hazel. That name.

But I swallowed it down, not daring to respond. I pushed the door open and practically bolted from the car, clutching the long skirt I was wearing as I ran toward the hospital's entrance.

Every step felt like a desperate flight toward freedom.

And I didn't look back

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Tania finally found her father's room, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and anticipation.

He had been moved out of the ICU yesterday, now recovering in a private room.

As she walked through the hospital corridors, judgmental eyes followed her every step. The whispers, the stares-they all pierced her, but she pushed forward. There was only one thing that mattered to her now: seeing her Baba.

When she reached the door, her hand trembling on the knob, someone yanked her back by the wrist. Tania turned, startled, and was met by her older sister, Nazifa, the woman who had practically raised her like a second mother.Before she could utter a word, a stinging slap landed on her cheek.

"What are you doing here?" Nazifa's voice was cold, filled with bitterness. "Did you come to see if he's still alive after the shock you put him through?"

"Api..." Tania's voice cracked, her eyes brimming with tears. "I'm sorry. Please, just listen to me. Let me explain."But the pain in her heart outweighed the sting from the slap. The sister who had once loved her like a daughter, now looked at her with disgust.

"Explain?" Nazifa's voice rose. "What more is there to explain? Are you going to claim you were kidnapped? Do you think we're fools?"

Tania opened her mouth to speak, but her other sister, Mahima, stepped forward, holding up her phone. "If you were really kidnapped, Tania, then why did you send us photos from your wedding day? Look at your smile. You looked happy. You've disgraced us. You're a shame to this family."

Tania's heart plummeted at her sister's words. The pain cut deeper than she could have imagined.

That's exactly what he said. "You've become a shame to them," Sarfaraaz had warned her. And he was right.

They didn't believe her, and nothing she said would change that.With a deep breath, Tania turned away from them and opened the door to her father's room, ignoring their protests.

There he was-her Baba-lying in the hospital bed, his eyes fixed on the window, lost in thought.

"Baba," she whispered softly, taking a tentative step forward.

His gaze shifted to her, and for the briefest moment, she saw a flicker of relief in his eyes. But it was gone as quickly as it came, replaced by coldness and anger.

"Who let you in here?" His voice was a low growl. "Did you come to see the mess you made? Or maybe to check if your father is still alive after the disgrace you brought upon him?" He paused, bitterness lacing every word. "Oh, I forgot; I only have two daughters now. Nazifa and Mahima."

"Baba, please don't say that," she cried, rushing to his bedside and kneeling by his feet. "I'm sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen."

"No use apologizing over those legs," he said, his voice filled with pain. "I don't feel them anymore."

Her chest tightened at his words. The guilt crushed her, knowing her father's condition was partly her fault.

"Don't come here again, Tania," he said, his gaze returning to the window, distant and cold. "You've chosen your path. You broke my trust, my pride, and betrayed me. There is no place for a traitor in my life."

His words left her breathless, a lump forming in her throat. She wanted to scream, to beg him to listen, but she could feel that it was pointless.

The damage had been done, and there was no going back.

"And that's my last request of you," he added, the finality in his tone cutting her like a knife.

Her voice was barely a whisper. "Baba..." But he didn't even look at her.After a few agonizing moments, Tania stood, her heart heavy with rejection. She turned to leave, her tears falling freely as she walked out of the room.

Outside, Mahima's husband blocked her path. "Don't contact us anymore. Thanks to you, our father is not only paralyzed, but on the verge of bankruptcy. His company is collapsing. Your sin is destroying all of us."

Tania's eyes darkened. She knew who was behind her family's suffering, who had orchestrated their downfall.

Sarfaraaz.

But she said nothing. There was no use explaining now. No one would believe her.

She glanced at her sisters, searching for some sign of compassion, of love, but they averted their eyes, unwilling to even look at her.

What had she done to deserve this? The hatred from the people she once loved the most?

"Okay," Tania whispered, a sad, broken smile on her face. "I won't bother you again. Just... take care of Baba."She turned and began walking away, her heart aching with every step.

The whispers from onlookers followed her like a shadow."That's her. The one who staged her own kidnapping to run away with her lover."

"Such a liar. She's a disgrace."

But Tania kept walking. If her own family wouldn't listen, there was no point in explaining herself to strangers. The people who truly mattered had already passed judgment on her.

As she stepped onto the street, she realized she had nowhere to go. No money, no purse. Her belongings were all back at the hostel-150 kilometers away.

How was she going to get there?Her gaze fell to her left hand, where a diamond ring still glittered on her finger.

When it came to her hand?

It was on her finger from the day her downfall started.

A bitter laugh escaped her lips. Who buys such a large diamond ring for a revenge marriage? she thought. But this ring could help her get away.

She walked to a nearby jewelry shop and sold it. The amount she received was more than enough.As she left the shop, she noticed a slum nearby, filled with children playing in the dirt. She didn't need all the money. Without hesitation, she donated most of it to help the kids.

Finally, she hired a cab and climbed in, closing her eyes as the weight of everything crashed down on her. Exhaustion, sadness, and loneliness engulfed her.

.

.

.

.

Tania reached her medical college by the afternoon.

The weight of exhaustion and dread made her footsteps feel heavy, but that was nothing compared to the emotional storm brewing inside her. As she stepped onto the campus grounds, familiar faces became unwelcome reminders of her shattered reputation.

"Hey, drama queen!" A voice called out, dripping with sarcasm. "You should have just dated me instead of running off! I would have happily taken my parents to ask for your hand. But no, you had to be shameless!" The boy who spoke was someone she'd rejected before-one of many. His words were a mockery of what little dignity she had left.

Tania kept walking, not even sparing him a glance. The whispers, the taunts, they all became background noise. Her only focus was getting back to her room. When she arrived, the door was locked. She had lost her keys during the kidnapping, just one more piece of her life snatched away.

She waited for Jubi, her best friend, hoping for solace. When Jubi arrived half an hour later, her face was a picture of disbelief.

"Tania? What are you doing here now?" Jubi's voice was cold, laden with disappointment. "I thought you'd quit studying after marrying your 'lover'."

"No, Jubi, it's not like that-" Tania tried to explain, but her friend cut her off.

"You could've told me, Tania. Did I mean nothing to you? Was I never your friend?" Jubi's words pierced through her heart, and once again, Tania found herself unable to speak. It was as if the universe conspired to silence her truth at every turn.

"Open the door," Tania said, resigned. "I'll explain everything later."

Jubi sighed, but complied. "I would've let you stay for the night, but... you're expelled. The college issued an indefinite suspension because of the 'disgrace' you've brought upon yourself."Jubi's voice softened in regret.

Tania's eyes widened in shock. "Expelled? For what? It was my personal life!"

"I'm sorry," Jubi said quietly. "Some of our classmates lobbied for it. They felt... justified."

Tania muttered, "I hope you weren't one of them."

Jubi's face softened. "You know me better than that. I'm angry, but I trust you. Something must've happened for you to take such a drastic step."

That was all it took for the dam to break. Tania collapsed into Jubi's arms, her sobs echoing through the room.

For the first time in days, she let herself cry, the weight of the world crashing down on her fragile form. But her grief was short-lived, interrupted by footsteps outside.

"Why is she here? She's been expelled." The cold voice of her class representative reached their ears.

"I'm leaving. Don't make a scene," Tania said quickly. She didn't want Jubi to suffer the consequences of her presence.

"Take your things," Jubi urged. "Who knows when they'll lift the suspension."

Tania nodded, though she had no idea where she'd go. She packed only the essentials-a few personal belongings, her childhood hair clip, and the money she had earned. She left behind her father's credit card, the symbol of the life she no longer had.

Before leaving, she wandered to the forest to find Marshmallow, her little child, her cat, but even he was gone.

His home was destroyed. Maybe some kids did it she thought.

"Just like everyone else, you've left me too, huh?" Tania whispered, her heart aching in its loneliness.

Night began to fall as she walked along the streets, her mind consumed by the emptiness of her life. Everything she had-her family, her education, her future-was ripped away from her. She was left with nothing but memories of pain.

"I'm missing you Ma." she said closing her eyes trying to remember the face of her mother even though she didn't have any memories of her. She died when she was only 11 months old.

Reaching a bridge over the river, her thoughts grew darker. What's the point of living anymore? she thought, her feet carrying her closer to the edge. Shakily, she climbed over the railing, her body trembling with fear and resignation.

"I'm coming to you, Ma" she whispered.

Just as she was about to jump, a voice interrupted her despair.

"What a waste of beauty. How about you entertain us before you die?" A man sneered, grabbing her roughly. There were three of them. Tania's heart seized with terror.

No, Allah! Not this!

Panic flooded her veins as she pushed the man away with all her strength and began to run. But they caught up easily, pinning her against a wall. Their hands were everywhere, tearing at her clothes, violating her space.

A hand slipped in her waist where a small amount of her bare skin was showing.

She felt disgusted at this touch.

She kicked the man who was hovering over her. This gave him more amusement to destroy her.

"Let me go, you bastard" she hissed.

"Of course. But after having some fun" another man said laughing darkly.

Her voice broke into desperate screams, but no one was around.She felt filthy, broken, and helpless as their hands roamed over her body, their laughter echoing in her ears.

Please, Allah, save me!

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The emptiness in my heart had grown unbearable. I told myself freeing her was for the best, but I found myself walking into her empty room, her scent still lingering in the air. Something about it... made me inhale deeply, a sharp ache twisting in my chest.

Am I missing her?

A knock at the door shattered my thoughts. Rahat entered cautiously, "Bro, your wife... I mean, the daughter of Major Hussein... sold the wedding ring."

My jaw clenched. She sold it? "Why are you still keeping an eye on her?"

"It's a habit now," Rahat muttered.

"Where is she?"

"Her family abandoned her. She went back to her hostel, but..." Rahat hesitated.

"But what?" I snapped.

"She's been expelled. She's on the streets now."

My heart clenched unexpectedly, her teary eyes flashing in my mind. Without hesitation, I demanded, "Get her location. Now."

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An hour later, we found her. My blood boiled when I saw what was happening.

Three men were trying to rape her- my Hazel.

Without thinking, I stormed out of the car, gun in hand. I didn't hesitate. Three bullets, three bodies dropped, careful not to harm her.

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Tania felt the weight of the men on her, their hands tearing at her clothes. Just as she gave up hope, sharp gunshots echoed through the air. Blood splattered on her face, the grip on her body vanishing as the men collapsed at her feet.

Disoriented, she touched her face, her fingers coated in blood.

Sarfaraaz stood before her, his gun still smoking. His eyes were dark, murderous.

"Hogy merészeled megérinteni a feleségemet?" he growled, stepping over the bodies without a second thought. "How dare you touch my wife?)"No one has the right to hurt her but me. She's mine-to touch, to hurt, to heal."

In a daze, Tania stumbled toward him, her body trembling with shock. She collapsed into his arms, seeking the security she once despised. For a moment, all that mattered was his warmth, his presence.

Sarfaraaz stiffened at the unexpected embrace, but his hand hesitantly pulled her closer and caressed her back. His heart thudded in his chest, confused by the emotions stirring within him. He was supposed to hate her, but seeing her like this...

Tania, realizing her mistake, pulled away, her eyes wild with pain and anger. She spotted the gun still tucked into his belt and, in a sudden motion, grabbed it.

"So, you've come to pity me, huh?" she spat bitterly. "Congratulations to you. My family hates me now, just like you said they would. I'm finished. Let me end it."

Before Sarfaraaz could react, she pointed the gun at her own head, her finger trembling on the trigger.

"Stop!" he barked, lunging toward her.

"I'm exhausted, Sarfaraaz," she whispered, tears streaming down her face. "I don't want to live anymore. This is what you wanted, right?"

His heart twisted hearing his name from her lips for the first time. "You can't die, Hazel give me the gun."

They struggled, both trying to gain control. A sudden gunshot rang out, and the world froze.

Blood seeped through Sarfaraaz's shirt. His left bicep was hit.

Tania's eyes widened in horror, her hands shaking as she realized what she'd done.

She shot a person!

"Sarfaraaz..."

Before she could say more, everything went black, and she collapsed into his arms.

Sarfaraaz caught her, cradling her fragile body against him. His chest tightened, the sight of her broken and defeated making something deep inside him stir painfully. "Even though I hate you, I can't bear to see you like this, Hazel. Don't give up.Hate me all you want, but live."

Suicide!! This is what he fears the most in his life.

Ignoring the blood from his wound, he covered her with his coat, shielding her torn clothes from the cold. With Tania in his arms, he carried her back to the car.

"Clean this mess up," he commanded Rahat, his voice low and cold.

"But, boss... your arm-" Rahat hesitated.

"I'll deal with it. Just stay here."

He laid Tania gently in the back seat, slipping in beside her, his hand pressing a napkin to his wound. Her head rested against his chest as the car sped away.

"Don't wake up just yet," he murmured, his voice barely audible. "You're too feisty to handle in this state, Hazel."

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