A/N: Surprise update! Today's labour day in Canada, which is an official holiday so I thought I'd give a surprise update, yay!

- - -

One Month Later...

"Sahara Akbar." The Dean reads the name out loud. This is one of Sahara's proudest moments. She's finally getting the degree she's worked so hard for. This is something she completed on her own with the help of the One and Only, Allah-mia.

The crowd cheers and claps as she makes her way onto the stage. She walks up to the stage and shakes hands with the females and slightly bows at the males with a hand on her heart to show respect. They take a picture of her on stage holding the degree. And she walks off. This is all she wanted. This piece of paper she worked so hard to receive. But it won't be any use now that she's getting married in a few weeks. She doesn't know if her future husband will approve of her continued work at Vasiliev Corporation Inc.

She walks off that stage, with a lot of pressure off her chest. She did it, she actually did it.

The President of UCL finishes off his speech with, "Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. At the end, everything is worth it." Applause and cheers filled the stadium.

Sahara thinks about how she feels a personal connection to that quote. She hopes that this difficult road she's about to face will all be worth it at the end.

•••

"Sahara, I want you to meet someone." Her Chachu says to her as her aunt was taking pictures of Ria and Sahara.

The three ladies turn to look at Sahara's uncle. From behind him emerges the dark prince, Damian Vasiliev.

Sahara's eyes widen, she hasn't seen Damian since the last time she took the day off. It was like he's been avoiding her. Now she understands why. This is why. He's the one. She's going to marry him.

"Meet Mr. Damian Vasiliev, Sahara's future groom." Hassan uncle introduces him. "He wanted to see you before the Nikkah (wedding), and I thought it was only fair."

She feels her heart beat increase is pace, her hands starting to sweat. Why didn't she make the connection before? Of course, it would've been crazy that he's the one her uncle chose. It would've never occurred to her in a million years even if the signs were as clear as the moon.

Ria starts choking on thin air when she sees Damian. So this is what Mr. Jahannum looks like, Ria thought. Ria's shook expression matches Chachi's and Sahara's.

Ria whispers in Bangla, "Ay ki kotha? Er poora ga tho ink diya bhora (what's this? His whole body is covered in ink)." She didn't say tattoo so Damian wouldn't understand. She didn't say this out of disrespect but the fact that Sahara's uncle chose a husband for Sahara who looks intimidating compared to her innocent image.

Even though Sahara's Chachi is Pakistani, being married to a Bengali for 30+ years has taught her the language so she understood everything.

Her aunt replies in Urdu, "Apnay sahi kaha (You're right)." to Ria. She turns to her husband, "Mujhay aap saye yeh choice umeed nahien thi (I didn't expect this choice from you)."

Ria nods in agreement as she understands Urdu as well.

Damian awkwardly stands there not understanding a single word. He clears his throat in order for them to acknowledge his presence because he feels disrespected to be talked about in another language he doesn't know.

Sahara's aunt gives him a smile as natural as possible but her shock couldn't be covered. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Vasiliev."

"It's nice to meet you as well, Mrs. Akbar." Damian greets back.

He looks at Ria, "I don't believe we've had the pleasure?"

Ria scoffs but Mr. Akbar gives her a look to not mess up so she introduces herself. "I'm Ria Fahim. Sahara's best friend."

"Oh, you're from around here? I thought– never mind." Damian's cocky tone seeps through.

"You thought wha–" Mr. Akbar cuts of Ria before she makes a scene.

"This is my beautiful niece, Sahara Akbar." Chachu introduces Sahara.

"We've already met." Damian says casually. "She isn't as innocent as you think she is."

Mr. Akbar' jaw clenches as she looks at Sahara thinking she's done something to scar their family name.

Sahara quickly inserts, "I work for him, Chachu. It's not what you think. I work at his company in the marketing department."

Her Chachu lets out a chuckle of relief. "You didn't tell me you worked at the Vasiliev Corporation."

"You never asked." Sahara replies.

"Shall we give them a few minutes to talk?" Her Chachu recommends.

The girls look at him in shock. Sahara says in Bangla, "Chachu, ayta haram. Ayta thik na. (This is forbidden. This isn't right)"

He simply replies, "They're going to be married soon anyways." And leads Ria and his wife away from them.

Once they are out of sight, Damian takes steps leading him closer to her until there are mere inches separating them. He grabs her waist and pulls her onto his chest. Sahara gasps as she feels his steady heart beat against her racing ones.

"Please let go, people are staring." She tries to push him off unsuccessfully.

He smiles at a slyly, "I don't think so, love."

The more she squirms in his embrace, the tighter his hold on her waist gets. "Ow– Sir, please, it hurts." She could feel her waist throbbing from his harsh hold on it.

He ignores her pleas. "I want you to get one thing clear, Sahara Akbar, you'll never truly be a wife to me." His words spun in venom. "I will never love you, nor will I ever acknowledge you as a wife. This is pure business."

"I need you to call off this marriage. I can't live like this. Please." Sahara begs him with pleading eyes. "You don't need me, nor do you want me, I'll only be a burden."

"Naive little Sahara, you think I'll let you off this easy? In your bloody dreams." An evil smirk crosses his face. "Even though I'll never accept you as my wife, neither will I love you, you're still mine. You'll be bound to me forever. I'll show you the real horrors of the world because you'll be living it everyday in a few weeks." He says in a low growl. His eyes full of distasteful fury.

Not only is he enjoying the torment he's inflicting on her already, he's also enjoying the bruised-look taking over her wide-eyed naive brown orbs. He's enjoying every moment of it like a sadistic psychopath.

"P-p-please..." tears threatening to fall from Sahara's eyes. But he only walks away leaving behind a wounded Sahara.

Sahara's climbed many mountains of difficulties in her life. One after another, she's conquered them through the love she has towards her Allah.

She's fought many harsh battles and there were times when she lost those battles but that has taught her lessons. It's not about how fast she reaches serenity or how long she waits to find tranquility but it's about the climb. It's about the effort she puts into every fight through the help of her faith.

This is just one of the struggles she's facing, she'll have to take a chance with this relationship. Allah has something good planned for her at the end, and she knows it. This obstacle might knock her down over and over again but she won't break faith, she will try her best to not breakdown. She will climb those impossible mountains and believe.

•••

As she's taking the steps towards the front, Damian's jaw almost drops. She looks goddamn beautiful, even he couldn't deny that.

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A/N: Yaassss Sahara. YOU CONQUER YOUR WORLD, GURL!!

♥️