Isra's POV.
How the fuck could she slap me? The sting still burned on my cheek, a sharp reminder of her audacity. How dare that old bitch lay a hand on me? I couldn't wrap my head around it—why was it always me? First, those people ripped my parents away from me, leaving me orphaned and drowning in grief, and just when I thought I could carve out some fragile peace for myself, Zorain stormed back into my life like a fucking hurricane. Now his so-called grandmother had the nerve to blame me for shit I didn't even start. Let her keep thinking she can control me. I'll make sure she pays for every ounce of pain she's caused—for my parents' death, for the years of venom she injected into my life. She'll never forget the hell I'll unleash.
I sat on the edge of my bed, knees drawn up, staring at the wall as if it held answers, when a soft knock broke the heavy silence. The door was already ajar, and I saw Grandpa standing there, hesitant yet familiar.
"You don't have to knock like a stranger, Grandpa," I said quietly, my voice still laced with residual fury.
He stepped inside and sat beside me, the mattress dipping under his weight. A long, weighted silence stretched between us before he finally spoke.
"Ummm, I know what Sofia did was wrong," Grandpa murmured.
I let out a bitter chuckle that tasted like ash on my tongue. "You came here to apologize on her behalf?"
"No, but Isra, try to understand her too, beta," he said gently.
"What is there to understand?" I snapped, the anger still simmering just beneath the surface.
"She is really connected to Zorain, and when it comes to him, she gets possessive. She's been taking care of him from the very beginning," Grandpa explained, his tone careful, almost pleading.
"But as far as I know, Mom and Dad were the ones who actually took care of him after his parents' death, right? Your wife wasn't exactly overflowing with love for him because of his mother. It took her so long to accept him with that black heart of hers." My words came out bitter and sharp, but they were nothing but the raw truth.
"Tell me I'm wrong. And about the Ibna thing—it was always him chasing after me, not the other way around. I never asked him to choose me over her," I added, my chest tight with frustration and unspoken hurt.
"I know, but just try to stay away from him as much as you can. After one month, Zorain will move out once he marries Ibna," Grandpa said.
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I couldn't breathe. "What? Marriage… in one month? He's getting married in one month?" My voice cracked despite my efforts to sound indifferent.
"Yeah. Sofia decided he will marry Ibna by the end of this month," Grandpa confirmed.
"Cool. I'll be free from this guardian bullshit," I muttered, but the words felt like poison on my tongue, forbidden and hollow. Freedom? It tasted more like abandonment.
Grandpa sighed and pulled me into a warm hug, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. "Okay, I have to leave now—I have some work. Take care of yourself, and please, Isra, try to control your anger, beta."
"Okay, I'll try," I whispered, though we both knew it was a fragile promise at best.
"Grandpa loves you, my little Isra," he said softly before leaving.
I locked the door behind him, sank back onto the bed, and replayed his words in my mind. Zorain was getting married. In a month. So fucking fast. But I don't give a flying fuck about it. I'll enjoy watching it all burn. Or at least, that's what I told myself as the ache in my chest deepened.
Zorain's POV.
God, sometimes Grandma behaves like a stubborn child who refuses to see reason. Marrying Ibna in a month—it's all happening too fast. No matter how hard I tried to focus, my thoughts kept circling back to Isra. I felt like shit knowing Grandma had slapped her, but I couldn't summon the courage to go to her room. She was a wounded lioness right now, raw and dangerous, and she would tear me apart if I showed my face. Better to let the storm settle first.
Night || 10:45 pm.
I was seated on my bed, laptop balanced on my lap as I fired off replies to urgent emails, when a soft knock echoed through the room.
"Come in," I called out.
The door opened, revealing Isra standing there in the dim light. What the hell was she doing here at this hour?
"What happened? Do you need something?" I asked, surprised.
She didn't answer. Instead, she walked in, closed the door, and sat on the edge of the bed with a strange, almost dazed smile. Was she drunk?
"Congratulations, my dear cousin," she said, her voice carrying a mocking edge that made everything click.
"Thank you," I replied evenly, refusing to rise to the bait.
"Tum sach mein shaadi kar rahe ho?" Isra asked, tilting her head.
"Hmm. It's Grandma's order," I told her flatly.
"And what about you? Are you happy?" she pressed. Now I was certain she was drunk—her words were too bold, too unfiltered.
"It doesn't matter. If she's happy, then I am," I said, keeping my tone neutral.
She said nothing at first, then burst into laughter—wild, bitter, and unbroken.
"Did I crack some joke?" I asked, frowning.
"No, but who the hell marries without their own will?" she shot back.
"I am," I answered simply.
"That is why you're a fool." Before I could respond, she closed the distance in one fluid motion and captured my lips with hers.
I froze for a heartbeat, stunned, but then she bit down on my lower lip—hard enough to spark fire in my veins. I responded instantly, the kiss turning hungry, lustful, and desperate. It was raw need pouring out after days of tension, making my body ignite with desire.
After what felt like five fucking minutes of devouring each other, we finally parted, gasping for breath.
"What was that?" I asked, voice rough.
"I need release," she said straightforwardly, no shame, no hesitation.
"What?" I echoed, barely processing her words.
"You can touch me however you want when you get horny, but I can't even get a release when I'm horny? What a fair fucking thing," Isra said, her mouth running without any filter. God, she looked insanely sexy in that oversized t-shirt and shorts, the fabric clinging to her curves in all the right ways, driving me wild.
"Okay then. Come and sit on my lap," I commanded, setting the laptop aside on the nightstand.
Isra didn't hesitate. She moved with confident grace and settled onto my lap. This time, I was the one who attacked, claiming her lips like a man starved for years—deep, possessive, and filled with all the pent-up emotions we both refused to name.
________
Hey everyone 👋🏻, how are you all doing?
Guys, it's so sad that you read but don't comment about how you felt about the chapter.
I want to know your thoughts so share it with me.
I know Zorain is a red flag but what can we do?