The third point of view

"Why would you do such a thing for me?" Emily was unsure of his intention. This offer was quite a rare one

Perhaps, if he was in love with her, it would be a different case. Then, Ahmed would be doing it because of the genuine love he had for her.

Funny enough, that was not the case here! They came to that restaurant to know each other and none had romantic feelings for one other. This was just an arranged marriage; one made to strengthen the relationship between both families.

"My mother," Ahmed began," got pregnant with me at the age of seventeen. She was just a senior in high school when her devoted Christan parents discovered her pregnancy and it didn't sit well with them.

"They admonished her for such reckless act and putting their reputation in jeopardy considering they were deacons and deaconess at their local church respectively; it would be a huge shame if the members of the church were to find out about it.

"Turns out the father of the child was a major dork at school- typical bad boy- and her parents had warned her times without number to stay away from him; the boy was bad luck, yet she wouldn't listen.

"As expected, the son of a biscuit denied the pregnancy and went ahead to announce to the whole school that she was a lying bitch, trying to pin the unknown pregnancy on him.

"Her parents were mad when the news of the pregnancy spread across the town and insisted she should have an abortion.

"However, she refused and after a heated argument with her parents one day, she ran away from home and came to live with a distant relative from her mother's side.

"Unfortunately, people were not as open as they are now. Nosy gossips gave her the shaming look wherever she went.

"My mother was shamefaced remembering she was a teenager without even a high school diploma. At first, she was sad which gradually developed into resentment, and finally, she fell into a deep depression.

"Amid everything her relative did, my mother took her own life after giving birth to me. You know the funny part?" Ahmed gave her a pained look.

"That was the same day her parents pardoned her and were planning on taking her back home but they arrived too late; she was gone. Forever.

"I was raised by my grandparents and I've seen the guilt eat at them. The guilt of knowing they should have done the right thing without caring about public opinion and I don't want the same thing to happen to you," he explained.

Emily was speechless, she didn't know what to say at all. It was rare to see gentlemen like him these days. Maybe this marriage to him wasn't a bad idea at all, she thought.

"What were you planning on doing if I had rejected you?"He unexpectedly asked her out of sheer curiosity.

"I don't know?" Emily shrugged,

"Probably run away from home which is an unrealistic plan since my father would eventually find me and -"

"You'd commit suicide?" He interjected.

She bit on her lips, glancing up at him, "I strongly want this child to live since he's the only seed his father left on earth. But I don't know what I'll do if my father forces my hand, I might as well die with my child rather he dies alone," Emily declared, her slitted eyes flashed with determination

Ahmed gulped, a mother's decisiveness was scary. They could go to the depth of hell and return for the sake of their child.

"I think it was good you came clean with me else I would have been really mad if you had tricked me for years, only to find out one day that the child I invested all of my resources and time wasn't mine," he told her.

Emily lowered her head apologetically," I'm sorry," she said.

Well, how was she going to tell him that? Not every man was willing to carry such a burden.

"How late are you?" He asked with eyes on her stomach.

"Almost a month," was her reply.

"Then we need to get married quickly. The later we wait, the more rumors are to arise if you give birth prematurely to a perfectly healthy child," he saw deep into the future which warmed Emily's heart. She just hoped he extends this little affection he has for her to the unborn child too.

"When do you want us to get married?" She inquired, hoping to arrange it. That was the least she could do to thank him for everything he has done for her.

"Tomorrow. If that's alright with you?"

"Huh?" That quickly? How was she going to plan the invitation? Catering? Her wedding gown?

"I would clear my schedule and then we would go to the civil bureau tomorrow and get our marriage certificate. Then, my PA would plan the wedding afterward," he disclosed his plans to her.

Emily's eyes dimmed, she forgot she was having a shotgun marriage and a loveless one at that - she almost suggested they plan the wedding together.

Fine, she would take what was given to her. He has tried enough for her, not everyone was this accommodating.

Ahmed's eyes rested on her face,

"Why are you sweating?"

Oh right!

"I took the drugs too," was her response which made him mad.

"Why would you do such a thing? You almost risked the life of your child!" He reprimanded her.

"It was to make it easier sleeping with..." She didn't need to finish the rest of her words because the look on his face told her he understood it all.

"So where's the antidote?" He stretched out his hand expectedly.

Emily frowned," I don't understand,"

"The cure to his heat spreading through my body," he pointed to the beads of sweat on his forehead.

"Urm, the cure is the joining of our 'you know'," she pursed her lips, looking everywhere but at him.

Ahmed blushed," There has to be another way,"

"This was bought from the black market and is uncertified," she pointed out.

"You're saying if I don't sleep with you to wear off this drug, there would be side effects?" He queried, she nodded.

"No, that's not going to happen," he shook his head.

Emily's face fell, "Why? You don't desire me because I'm a used product?"

"No, that's not what I'm saying- God damn it, you're a beautiful woman, Emily- you're still grieving the love of your life," he said.

"We are getting married tomorrow and as my husband, it's expected that you'd demand your nuptial right and I'm sure, you wouldn't want to wait four years for me to end my grieving process," she added," I need to move on and this would help me recover quicker,"

Then Emily slid her arm around his neck, lowered his head, and kissed him. At first, Ahmed didn't respond but when the fire traveled to his groin, his primal instinct took over.

A man would always be a man, Ahmed forgot his self-control he had been holding onto a few minutes ago, deciding to eat the meal set before him.

"I'm sorry Judy but I hope you understand why I had to do this," Emily said mentally.