— ☆⋆｡𖦹°‧ Aizal's POV :

If destiny has nothing to offer me, then death is what I'll have to surrender to, anyhow.

If those people kill me, they will take Miraal with them. And if Ashan kills me, he doesn't even know about Miraal.

Yet, if those people find out I'm dead, Miraal won't be safe. I just can't die, I have to protect my little sister. But living isn't in my control.

My life is in two hands, either theirs or Ashan's.

But if I'm bound to die, then I'll first make sure Miraal is safe. I'll protect her, hide her before they can even reach her.

I'll have to do something.

"You can't go there, your life is in danger," Ashan says, standing in front of me, not allowing me to go.

"My life is in danger, everywhere!" I say, annoyed, my voice icy cold.

"I know! That's why I brought you here. You are safe with me, right in front of my eyes," he says. The room fills with silence as I look up at him with teary eyes.

He knows I'm Rosalyn Moon and wants to kill me. He has learned everything about me, and it's his plan to keep me in front of him.

"I can't guarantee my safety with you. I don't trust you anymore, Ashan Hussain," I say, trying to push him away slightly as I make my way to the door.

"And why the hell would you think that, Aizal Mustafa? I'm doing everything I can to protect you and keep you safe from harm, even though I know nothing about you. You're a nobody, and yet I'm still willing to help you, even though it's not my responsibility. You could've gone to the police, but I'm choosing to help you anyway. And still, you think I want to hurt you or kill you?" His words come out harsh, and I can feel a knot in my stomach.

The fact that he called me a nobody stings more than I want to admit. Why does it bother me so much?

"Nothing in this world will change my mind. I don't need your help, and I appreciate everything you've done so far. But now, you don't need to care whether I live or die." I push him away firmly and walk out the door.

"Aizal," he calls after me, following closely behind.

"Don't you dare follow me now. Leave me alone. I don't need your help anymore," I snap, striding away with long, determined steps.

Tears stream down my face, blurring my vision. I failed. I couldn't save myself, even after everything went perfectly. I'm going to die. They're going to kill me. I need to reach Miraal before it's too late.

I don't have much time. I have to save my sister. Panic surges through my body as I see vehicles whizzing past. I'm about to wave down a taxi when my phone rings.

It's the leader. He's going to kill me. I end the call, my fingers trembling. I can't face him. Aizal, you're getting weaker by the second. This isn't you.

He calls again, then sends a text demanding I pick up. I have no choice. I answer.

"Rosalyn, there's been a misunderstanding. We received information yesterday that Lorenzo Martin revealed your identity to Ashan Hussain, but we just got word that Ashan actually knows nothing about you. You still have your mission to complete. Be careful and stop messing things up. If you fail again, your six months will be revoked immediately, and your sister will be ours." His words are a lifeline.

My heart eases, and I collapse onto the pavement, hugging my legs to my chest.

Ashan. He doesn't know yet. I messed up again. But I haven't lost my chance to live. I have to go back, somehow. I need to make everything normal. How do I do this?

My chest heaves as I try to catch my breath. It's going to be incredibly embarrassing, but I'll do anything. I'll apologize if I have to.

I'll make stories if I can. I will somehow have to get into his house again. I have to do this.

I take a deep breath, wipe all of my tears and turn around, walking towards the penthouse which I left behind.

The door was open as I prepare myself to face them all. As soon as I stand near the door they all look at me as if they have seen a ghost. I smile awkwardly.

Fuck, I don't know what to do next. My eyes fall on Ashan who is sitting on the couch now, looking at me coldly. As if he expected this.

"Aizal," Hareem says walking towards me.

"Are you okay? Tum chali gayi thi na?" She asks, concerned etched on her face.

I have to make up something.

"I'm hungry, can I get some food?" I caress my stomach, gazing at the girls with a sad pout.

"omg yes sure, sit here," Rasha calls as I walk inside, my eyes slowly moving to see Ashan who was looking at me terribly. As if he will eat me alive.

I close my eyes and sigh, a wave of frustration washing over me.

I have to do this, no matter how embarrassing it is.

"I'm sorry, Ashan," I stammer, my words tumbling over each other, "I didn't realize what I was doing. I'll explain everything." But Ashan doesn't even look at me. He rises from the couch and disappears inside, leaving me standing there, feeling utterly rejected.

Asshole.

I knew he'd react this way. Who wouldn't? After what I did, I can't blame him.

I need to make things right with him, or he'll kick me out of here in a heartbeat. If I want to stay, I have to convince him I'm telling the truth. And for God's sake, I need to stop messing things up! It's so difficult to fix my mistakes once they're made.

"Here you go," Rasha says, placing a plate piled high with warm, fluffy pancakes in front of me as I sit at the dining table.

"Aizal, would you like chocolate or caramel syrup?" Seerat asks, holding both bottles aloft.

I smile softly, "Anything would be fine," my eyes darting towards the hallway, searching for any sign of Ashan.

They all set down their plates and settle in to eat breakfast, a mix of girls and boys. "Ashan Bhai, doesn't want to eat?" a blonde guy asks.

"I'll send him food in his room," Hareem informs.

I fiddle with my fork and pancake, my appetite completely gone. My stomach is churning with anxiety.

"Calm down, Aizal! I know Bhai can be mad, but his anger will fade away. You don't have to worry or be scared, okay?" Seerat says, placing her hand over my trembling ones.

I nod at her and force down a bite of the food.

"It's okay bhabi, couples do fight often you don't have you worry about bhai." A guy says playfully.

"Ruhaan, shut up!" Rasha says to the guy whom I assume as Ruhaan now.

Why can't they stop?

"Let's plan a hangout guys!" Seerat suggests.

"Yes, we're gonna leave tomorrow, let's do a plan," Hareem says.

"How about we go to the beach tonight and have a barbecue party?" Ruhaan suggested.

I look at every one of them thinking I'll get to be there in the house when everyone will go to the beach. I like this plan. I smirk internally. My anxiety leaves the chat.

"BBQ party, this is gonna be fun. It reminds me of our parents' story which they told us all." The other blond guy says.

"Oh yes, Hassan, I know right. How Mama Baba and Mehran uncle and Hamdan uncle went for a barbecue party and ended up in the hospital." Hareem says talking about some old times.

"And then Baba lost his memory after that incident," Ruhaan and Rasha say in unison.

"Dad would tell me how of a bad driver Minahil aunty is," the Hassan guy speaks.

They all try to hold their laughs, while I don't know what to even react because they all are legit laughing at their parents' stories while even saying they ended up in the hospital.

Crazy people.

"My mom isn't a bad driver, talking about your dad, Hamdan uncle would just love being Baba's passenger princess, how gay."

Hareem fights back and the argument there starts, the blond twins arguing and fighting with Hareem while the other three try to calm them down.

"Why are you all fighting! Stop!" And boom, everyone sits down quietly in their place.

My face turns to see the person who's voice and presence made everyone quiet. My eyes stop at his dark brown ones, they lose every spark of emotions when they look at me.

"I'm trying to work but you guys are so loud, now I don't want you all to make any noises," He warns before going back to his den.

"What's up with bhai, why is he behaving so strange, he isn't like it always," Seerat says.

"Tumhare bhai hamesha se Aise hi hai, ekdum sadiyal akdu type. Add lots of syrup in his food, only if sweetness could help him." I don't realize what I was saying when everyone looks at me with their jaws hanging on the floor.

"I-I didn't mean that—" my words cut off when they all laugh their asses off rolling on the floor. I sigh, holding my head, oh Aizal.

"This is so funny, I wish bhai would have heard it, he would know what you think about him," Hadi laughs off loud, and I instantly look at the hallway to see if that grumpy grandpa is standing there or not.

Thankfully, he isn't. I'm saved.

"Thank you for the food. I'll go home, I have to get my stuffs here, I'm still in my uniform since yesterday." I smile, showing gratitude, and walk towards the door. As soon as I open the door, I meet two men holding bags.

I take a step back, startled.

"I was told to get stuffs from your house by Ashan sir," one of them hands me a huge bag.

"I was told to buy stuffs for you by Ashan sir," the other hands me another bag.

They're so heavy, I can't even hold them.

Suddenly my hand touches someone's as I look up to see Ashan standing in front of me, my eyes widening. He slowly takes the bags from my hands.

I feel a tingling sensation in my hands, because of his freaking touch.

"Sir, I did what you asked me," the one who handed me bags from my home says.

"Great," Ashan replies short and firm.

This is suspicious now.

Or maybe he is talking about bringing my stuffs here. Yes, probably that's what he is talking about.

Nothing else Aizal.

As the both of them go, Ashan grabs the bag towards the hallway and walks towards the guest room, me following him behind.

He enters the room as I follow him suite. He places the bags on the bed and turns around to find me standing in front of him.

"Why are you doing this?" I question looking at him, while he doesn't even bother looking at me or replying. He ignores me as he's about to walk away when I stand in front of him spreading my hands not allowing him to go.

"Why are you being so nice if you only want to ignore me in the end?" My jaw clenching. What does he want? What is he up to?

"Move aside, before I do something you wouldn't like." He warns, his voice demeaning.

"I won't move aside until I get my answers." Why the hell am I arguing with him? I don't learn from my mistakes at this point I should go all silent and apologize on my knees if I have to stay here, but I'm doing the otherwise.

"Move aside Aizal!" His voice demanding, hand balled in a fist. Is he going to hit me now? Wait? I can't expect this. Or can I?

"I won't," the stubbornness gets to me.

I'm digging my own grave since day one now.

"Okay then," he says calmly before lifting me up on his shoulder. My eyes widen as if I have seen a ghost, my heart beating rapidly in my chest. My body wriggles as I hit him to leave me. Then he throws me on my bed.

"I will not treat you the same, after what you did," his voice deep, cold, and scary. The air around him seems to crackle with an unseen energy, and the room feels colder than it should be.

My heart is in my throat.

My breath catches in my chest, and my body is frozen in fear. The warmth of the bed, the familiar scent of my sheets, do nothing to soothe the terror that has gripped me.

What does he mean by that?

Comment for next chapter <3