We both sat on one of the chairs, giving us a perfect view of the stage where Aleena was seated with her fiance. Her face seemed expressionless. She hadn't told me why she was stressed, but seeing her like this stressed me out.

"Why were you ignoring my calls, Ms. Hayat?" Zaid's deep, dangerous voice came from beside me. I turned slightly towards him, noticing he was staring at me continuously, sitting just a few inches away. Without responding, I shifted my gaze back to Aleena.

"I'll die if I don't hear your voice right now, Ayesha! At least shout or even curse. I'm ready to hear anything from you," he said instantly, his voice impatient to hear me. His expression was full of concern, and my heart fluttered at the sight of him.

First of all, I was speechless seeing how hot yet cute he looked today, and now he wanted me to speak, as if I wouldn't end up stuttering in front of him.

There is no way I am going to embarrass myself in front of him.

I ignored him again and lowered my gaze.

Within seconds, I found myself being pulled closer to him-he moved my chair toward his.

I shot him a sharp look for his actions.

"Shout, yell, punch, kick-I'm waiting," came Zaid's impatient response.

"Are you that desperate to hear me?" I finally spoke, fixing him with a pointed gaze.

"I'm addicted to your voice, Ms. Hayat. I need it to survive," he said softly, though there was something deeper in his words.

He's not good for me, I reminded myself, even though my crazy heart refused to listen.

"Now, do you care to explain why you were ignoring my calls, Ms. Hayat?" Zaid's voice held more firmness this time.

"Why do you care?" I asked him with the same sternness.

"Because I have to. Only I have the right to care for you, Ayesha." He said calmly.

I was still getting used to him calling me Ms. Hayat, and now he suddenly started using my first name, and how am I supposed to handle my heart now?

"You're just wasting your time on me, Dr. Zaid." I thought it better to tell him this rather than give him false hope.

"I only feel alive when I'm spending my time with you, Ms. Hayat. It's okay if you hate me, just don't take away the happiness I feel when I'm with you." There was pain in Zaid's voice this time. Am I being too harsh on him?

But why does he care so much about me when he have other people in his life? Especially when he have someone who had even tried to kiss him-or maybe they already had.

If he already had someone in his life, then why on earth did he find every opportunity to be with me? What did he even think of me? Was I just something to play with until his girlfriend came around?

I felt annoyed by his words. One part of me believed that everything he said was true, but my mind refused to believe a single word from his mouth-not after I had seen him with another woman in his own cabin.

And he thinks I'll melt just because of his charms? I don't need a man who already has many women in his life. I need a man who is only mine.

Part of me wanted to punch him right now and ask if she was really his girlfriend or if it is just my misunderstanding. But on the other hand, I didn't want to deal with the drama of him lying to me and convincing me otherwise.

Ayesha, how can you even expect him to love you? He's not the man you've been praying for. He's not!

And yet, here I was, getting hurt by my own thoughts.

It's been two years since I saw them together in his cabin, standing so close that I felt my heart was about to shatter into pieces. Before I could muster the courage to see what else they might do, I walked away. But even after that, he didn't leave me alone. And now, I'm even more confused as to why he hasn't left me.

I know this isn't the right time to be thinking about my problems, but my fate isn't on my side. That same woman was walking towards us-the face I could never forget, the one who dared to kiss him.

After seeing Zaid's actions and listening to Aleena, I thought about giving us a chance, about telling him that I am falling for -

"Zaid!" My thoughts were interrupted when I saw her standing close to him, too close, to be exact.

"Don't tell me you've forgotten my name, Zaid," she said again, and I felt the urge to tape her mouth.

Zaid didn't respond; he just stood there, looking at her and I was still seated on my chair.

"Let's talk later, Inaya-

"Ouch!" he yelled in slight pain, bending down.

"Better, get a room," I whispered, pulling him closer as I pressed my high heels into his shoes.

"I will, but only with you," Zaid whispered near my ear, placing another soft kiss on my earlobe before standing up straight to talk to her.

My cheeks were about to blush, but my mind stopped me, urging me to punch him for having friends like her.

They both became engrossed in conversation, and the more she said his name, the more irritated I got.

Why can't I stand hearing someone else say his name so softly?

And why is he talking to her so gently? He never speaks to me that way, so why her?

Why does he make me feel special one moment, and the next, act like I mean nothing to him?

And why-just why-am I feeling so uncomfortable?

It's his life, his girlfriend, he can do whatever he wants. So why on earth am I feeling jealous?

I just hope he doesn't smile, or it won't take me a second to punch him and knock his teeth out.

Then he won't be able to talk, smile, or laugh at all.

"Ayesha, just control yourself. You can do this," I told myself, trying to remain calm despite it being against my nature.

"Let's dance," Inaya offered, extending her hand toward him.

"Will you dance with me, Dr. Zaid?" Before he could react, I quickly asked him.

I wasn't sure why I was doing this; all I knew was that I couldn't bear to see him with anyone else. I didn't want to see him placing his veiny hands on someone else's waist, gazing into someone else's eyes, or standing close to any other woman who isn't me!

"What?" Zaid asked, shocked by my offer.

"Will you?" I asked him firmly.

"Of course," he replied softly.

He extended his hand, and I took it, relieved that he didn't accept Inaya's offer.

The lights were dimmed, perfectly matching the mood of the song. Aleena and Asad were on stage, busy whispering to each other, and there was no sign of Jasmine. We stood in the center, our outfits making us the highlight of the event. He wore a black suit, while I was adorned in a dark red saree.

He placed his hands on my waist, pulling me close, and I felt as if millions of punches were landing on my stomach just from his touch. There was an indescribable sensation inside me, something I couldn't put into words.

Zaid reduced the distance between us, standing just a few inches away. His eyes, his breath, his broad shoulders-all of his features made me feel weak for the first time. I had never felt this weak and shy before, but tonight, I couldn't help but experience a whirlwind of emotions-fluttering heartbeats, burning cheeks, and racing breath-all because of his hands on my waist!

"Why is your face turning red, Ms. Hayat?" he whispered deeply near my ear.

Don't do this, Mr. Rude. I'm already struggling to balance myself here. I screamed internally.

"Why did you agree to dance with me?" I asked, placing one hand on his broad shoulder.

"What was I supposed to say, then?" Zaid asked with a slight smile.

"I'm surprised that even though you have a girlfriend, you're still here with me," I said through gritted teeth as the music began to play.

"Girlfriend?" Zaid asked, being puzzled, as I tried to step back but he pulled me closer.

"Yes, I'm sure she is your girlfriend," I said, about to move for a dance step, but he tightened his grip on my waist, pulling me even closer.

"And what makes you think she is my girlfriend, Ms. Hayat?" His voice was stern and dangerous, yet it made me shiver.

"If she had the audacity to kiss-"

"Are you in your senses, Ayesha?" Zaid cut me off before I could finish, pulling me even closer to his chest.

"Yes, I am," I said confidently.

"My first ever kiss was on your earlobe, and my second was also on your earlobe. And you really think I would kiss anyone who isn't you, Ayesha?" Zaid said with frustration, though his voice also held some pain.

"I don't believe you, Dr Zaid" I said sternly, trying to back away.

"But I want you to believe me, Ayesha. Believe your Zaid. He wouldn't kiss anyone who isn't his Ayesha," he said deeply, making it even harder for me to breathe.

His grip tightened as he lifted me up while securely tightening his grip on my waist and spun me around. When he brought me back down, his face was touching the fabric of my saree, which did nothing but gave me another mini heart attack and I again felt millions of punches in my stomach.

He held my waist tightly, not letting me move, and I was thankful the lights were dim. But my heart was on the last stage by his actions.

"Even if I want to believe you, then what about my eyes, Dr Zaid, which saw you both so close to each other two years ago, it was as if, she was about to-"

"I instantly backed away from her, Ayesha," Zaid cut me off urgently as we moved together with the song.

"I don't understand anything, Zaid. Just tell me everything so we can get out of this situation and I can free myself too," I said, feeling frustration building inside me.

He stepped even closer, leaving no space between us.

"Just know this: if I ever kiss someone, it will only be you, cupcake. No one else," he whispered deeply, dangerously, slowly into my ear before kissing my earlobe-no, he started biting it.

And in that moment, my heart stopped because of his actions. What's happening to my stomach? Am I hungry? I was completely frustrated by these punches going on in my freaking stomach.

"Z-Zaid!" I whispered, half-yelling at him, lightly hitting his chest.

"What's wrong with you?" I asked him, even though I should've been asking myself this question.

"This is the first time I'm seeing you so shy in front of me, Ms. Hayat. I never knew my lion had this side too," he whispered, continuing to suck on my innocent earlobe. And here I was, unable to pull myself away from him-nor did I want to.

What is happening? This is the first time I've ever felt so weak in front of this man!

"Stop it," I said firmly.

He stopped and looked deep into my eyes.

"Can you tell me what this is called?" Zaid asked, pointing at my outfit and pulling me even closer, tracing small circles on my waist.

"Why do you want to know?" I asked, trying to keep a straight face, desperately hiding my blushing cheeks from him.

"So that I can buy it," he said with a soft smile.

Oh no, not that smile now!

"Who are you buying it for?" My tone instantly changed.

"You," he said as the song hit its main line, and he pulled me even closer to himself in seconds.

"And why do you think I would accept it?" I asked, giving him a pointed gaze.

"I know you will," he said with a slight laugh.

"And what makes you think that, Dr. Zaid?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.

"If you have the audacity to punch anyone but still didn't move when I kissed and sucked your earlobe, then it's clear that you can never say no to my gifts, cupcake." He finished, and I found myself at a loss for words.

What. Is. Wrong. With. This. Doctor. Today?

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