Only God knows how much time Laila spent in the room crying. The more she reminisced on what happened, the more tears would disobey her mind. She needed to stop. All this crying would make her sick eventually and she could not afford that right now.

No positive thought crossed her for even a second, so if her health did end up deteriorating she was screwed. Willing herself to calm down, she attempted at wiping her face meekly. Yet more tears escaped.

No. This would not do. She made way to the en suite and washed her face with cold water. This offered a temporary halt on the tear-works, much to her relief.

She was in for a shock upon entering her room. A slight scream escaped her mouth upon discovering the demon situated on her bed.

He sat there all composed and peaceful, nothing like Laila's internal emotions. She was brewing with rage upon the sight and wanted nothing more than to bash his head.

He motioned for her to come forward, delighted to finally call her his own. Now he would not need to worry which scoundrel she'd have liked, now that she was tied to him. Upon the thought, a devious smile lighted his face which only added to Laila's rage.

What was so good or funny about her current situation that the demon seemed to be smiling. If only she knew what he was thinking of her. She'd run back into the en suite and potentially never want to come out.

Laila shook her head, disobeying his command. Instantly the happiness drained from his face as he stood up to his full height. Laila was about to rush back into the en suite, but had it not been for her husband's fast reflexes, she would have surely succeeded.

"Why do you run away from me my wife. I would have presumed it was known by now that that was impossible" he seemed to gloat as mischief swirled around his eyes. Laila attempted at getting away, but he only pulled her in closely. Now there was nothing more than clothes separating them.

"Let go of me!" She bursted in vexation. Her husband only found this action amusing. "I will never accept you as my husband!"

A chuckle escaped from Rafael rendering all of Laila's movement to come to a sudden halt. Never before had she heard him laugh and that too with or around her. Why did it sound so...so good. She found herself conflicted. At this moment, she was supposed to be repulsed by each of his actions. Not in awe!

Rafael seemed to realise just how much of an effect he had on her. With the way her fighting and words died down. If it wasn't for his chuckle surely he would have heard more negative words coming out of that pretty mouth.

"You were saying" he raised his eyebrows in question, wanting to know what else she had to say. As if coming back to her senses, Laila shut her mouth instantly, gulping one last time before using all her strength to exit from his hold.

Thankfully he let her this time. She wasted no time into ensuring there was a good enough distance between then.

"I don't want to be here! I've got a family to get back to" she seethed, her hands crossed across her chest. Rafael raised a brow at her defiance. What did she not understand about a two lettered word.

"I will tell you this for the first and last time. I am now your family-"

"No!" She cried incredulously, pushing away at him. Rafael bit his lip in annoyance. "You're nothing to me-" before she could finish her sentence, he grabbed her arms with such strength, that the act rendered Laila still. Even breathing in the moment seemed to be too difficult a task, especially when he looked so dangerous.

His gaze trailed down to her face and stopped at her lips. Laila did not know what to do or what was happening. Rafael leaned into her, making sure to maintain eye contact. Meanwhile, Laila watched on with cautious eyes.

Under his finesse, Rafael could tell she was scared. His wife seemed to have forgot the ability to breath. Just to keep her on edge a little bit more, he licked his lips, slow and tantalising. Immediately her gaze followed the action, not missing a single second to view.

He smirked conceitedly as if he'd gained the world's biggest prize. Which in a way he certainly did. He was a married man.

"It's been a long day my darling. Let's go to bed"

Laila shook her head in absolute denial igniting Rafael's anger which he tried so hard to maintain. He didn't want to scare the poor girl away. Especially not on their first night together as man and wife. So he chose to be patient, until how long even he did not know. He was a Mafia leader and keeping patient was not something he excelled in when it came to women.

"No. I will not sleep with you. I don't care if we're bloody married. Not now. Not ever!" She thrashed around in his arms, finally gathering the strength to do so. Rafael looked down at her with boredom. If this is what he'd have to deal with then fine, so be it. But Laila must also know one thing. He was not a man to mess with.

Laila didn't realise what was happening until she felt the rapid sensation of wind, almost as if she was flying. It had come to her realisation that she was roughly thrown on to the bed. Oh no.

Rafael watched on with predatory eyes as she inched backwards. Not on his watch. With no time to spare, he grabbed her ankle in between his hand and easily dragged her towards him without so much as a pull.

Laila's eyes were shut in helplessness, as tears escaped her eyes. This was the moment she was dreading. If only she knew.

She felt the mattress dip on either side of her head and she knew exactly what had occured. She didn't want to open her eyes but one command from him and she obeyed like the scared little kitten she was. Rafael looked at the tears continuously pouring from her eyes.

He groaned in frustration, frightening Laila even more. Oh darling, if only you knew, you'd run straight for the hills. And I'd find you regardless.

He inched down towards her face causing Laila to press her hands against his chest. A sound of displeasure rumbled from deep within, as he gripped her wrists in between his hand and set them above her head. Meanwhile, his legs wrapped around her own, leaving her completely immobile. Laila was in peril.

He moved his face towards her own, eyeing the jewels which cascaded down her beautiful cheeks. With no hesitation in his next movements, he captured the travelling tear in between his kiss, before it could reach her temple.

A gasp so pleasing to Rafael escaped from Laila's mouth, not expecting such an action. Meanwhile, he could care less about how she was feeling as he continued with his adventure across her face, kissing away every last teardrop until there were no more visible to his eyes.

"See where all this fighting got you?" He began, using his thumb and index finger to outline the edges of her hijab. He could feel the air entering and exiting her mouth with the rapid rise and fall of her chest. It sounded like heaven, if heaven were to have a sound. So pleasing and relaxing, much better than any man's life he'd taken.

"Married to me, my dear. And now, hot under my body" he teased, bringing his thumb to caress the tear streaks away from her cheeks. Laila looked so scared, like a little baby under his arms.

This was all new to her. Being with a man. Experiencing such actions. Had it not been for the dimly lit room, Rafael would be able to see the slight redness of her cheeks upon his statement. She was only hot because the temperature was so high. Not to mention his body on top of hers.

She squirmed at the thought, which elicited Rafael to maintain his entire bodies weight upon her. Now there were no boundaries between them, and much to Laila's discomfort, she could feel every part of him. Sadly, even the places she did not want to in that moment.

Still, her discomfort and persistence to get away from him continued despite Rafael's own adamant nature.

"I can't breath" she managed to say with much difficulty. Her husband looked down at her disheveled state, wanting nothing more than to make her his own In every way possible.

"That's the plan, baby" he mumbled lowly next to Laila's ear. Her eyes widened in shock. What had gotten into him! Why was he being so crude. Or perhaps her thought process was just as much damaged as her heart.

With no last resort to turn to, Laila decided to take matters into her own hands. Perhaps not physically, but verbally, she could call for help. There must be enough servants and maids working here to recognise the cry for help. Surely.

"Help!" She yelled as loud as she could simultaneously thrashing around beneath him. With each passing second Rafael's anger seemed to be testing with his patience.

"Someone for god's sake help me!" She once again cried, feeling utterly helpless that no matter what she did, it was always her on her own. Trying to fight away the demons.

Tears of anger and frustration lined her vision and no longer than a second later, they cascaded down her cheeks. Was it possible to cry so many times in one night, especially on a night such as tonight. Albeit, she did not agree to this marriage in the first place, but still, she did not deserve to feel so much loneliness and sadness and helplessness.

"Everything is soundproof, my dear" Rafael rasped from above, staring down at her beautifully broken self. "No one can hear us" He watched as his wife let loose a sob upon his claim.

Rafael moved away from his wife, deeming it better to leave her alone for some time, perhaps then she would feel more relaxed, perhaps. With that he left her in the room without another word.

She lay there in despodence. Feeling hallow and empty. She wanted her mum. No needed her mum. It had been too long since she'd felt her warmth or even heard her voice. So much has transpired mother that I'd never wish it upon my worst enemy, Laila thought.

Without any more reason to object, she stumbled towards the bathroom and prepared herself for the night. Yes, she was now a married women, both in the eyes of God and the law yet still she was unable to fathom the concept. Her marriage wouldn't count if she didn't accept it from the heart right? Surely it was possible.

Mind submerged with all these thoughts, Laila was just a living corpse whom had yet to realise that at the end of the tunnel, light always shined through. She just needed someone to understand her situation. The only person whom was now supposed to do that, had a rock for a heart. No. She shouldn't keep these hopes up. What was happening to her thought process?!

Why was it relying on the demon. She was thoroughly confused for reasons unknown to her. She lay down, cocooning herself tightly in the blankets. One last tear dropped from her eyes before she swayed into dreamland.

There, she saw her mother, father and brother sat outside a mesmerising, fantastical cottage in the summer. The sun shone down, giving them the appearance of Angles, as flowers of all sorts, ranging from roses to tulips to lilies surrounded them. She could hear the melodious laughter of her family as it echoed around her ears. If heaven were to have a face, surely it was what transpired before her.

She was shook to the core at such a feeling. It had been so long. So long since she'd felt such peace. But within an instant, all that vanished when the sound of guns echoed around, filling every corner of her mind.

She was transfixed in place. The peace that once filled her was replaced by fear. Something she was already accustomed to.

Her husbands face appeared before her. She looked behind him to see the remaining members of her family dead. Lying in a pool of their own blood. Laila screamed loudly rattling the entire place. The sun was replaced by thunder and lightening. The cottage transformed into Rafael's house as the building increased in stature much like his own.

The ground rumbled beneath her feet as it opened it's mouth, ready for the fall. The last thing she saw before falling into the pitts of earth were Rafael's blood thirsty eyes. They pierced her mind with anxiety.

The motion of falling filled Laila's stomach deeply until it was unbearable. She awoke suddenly, her entire body sweaty and perplexed. What was that dream, ya Allah. Immediately she spat three times over her left shoulder and read dua under her breath.

She could not go back to sleep now. There was no phone either to alert her what time it was. She got out of bed with no energy and located the kitchen. She needed a glass of water.

Once she'd made it to the foyer, she looked to the left and then the right, recalling from the last time where the kitchen was located. It was dark, so hardly anything could be seen.

She was sure the kitchen was to the right, so she made her way in that direction. Once she was positive she'd reached the kitchen, she immediately set to locate the light switch. Where was the dang thing!

After a couple minutes of searching, she'd eventually made contact with the switch. Finally, she could get a glass of water. She sat down on the island, occasionally sipping the content in the glass, whilst her thoughts lingered on the events of today. Or was it yesterday. Most likely was.

She looked down at the heavy diamond ring on her finger, hating they way it glistened under the light. It reflected a false narrative of happiness and glamer. It portrayed all the lies of the world and a deception of the brain.

Laila was forced into this matrimony, just like everything else the demon wanted her to do. From her signature to the darned file and now, to these unfortunate circumstances.

She heaved a deep sigh full of melancholy. Her eyes shined with tears, a cluster of them landing on the diamond. It looked so beautifully distraught. The rock was carved to perfection, much to Laila's annoyance.

How could something so meaningless become so fulfilled. Laila In that moment envied the ring and everything it portrayed because only she knew what it really stood for. What each layer revealed. And none of the answers she had would ever be good enough to bring solace to her heart.

___