5| Mrs Humza Junaid

M R S   H U M Z A   J U N A I D

W O R D  C O U N T : 2889

Anaabiya's hands clenched into fists at her sides, her nails digging into her palms. She wanted to scream, to fight, to throw something at him—but none of that would help her sister. And he knew it.

Humza watched her with maddening patience, as if waiting for her to come to the inevitable conclusion. As if he already knew her answer.

Her mind raced, searching for a way out, an escape, a loophole. There had to be something—anything—but every path she could think of led to the same cruel truth: he held all the power.

Her sister's life was in his hands.

Anaabiya's breath shuddered out of her. "You're a monster," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Humza tilted his head, his smirk never wavering. "Maybe." His gaze raked over her, assessing. "But at least I'm an honest one."

Her vision blurred with rage and helplessness, but she forced herself to stand tall. She refused to break. Not in front of him.

"What guarantee do I have that you'll not use my sister as a pawn again?" she asked, forcing steel into her voice.

Something flickered in his eyes—approval, maybe. Or amusement. "You don't."

She sucked in a sharp breath.

"But," he continued, stepping even closer, until she could feel the heat of his presence, "I'm a man of my word. You do as I say, play your role, and after one year, you and your sister will be free. That's the deal."

Anaabiya swallowed hard. It wasn't a deal. It was blackmail, wrapped in cold logic and ruthless control.

She hated him.

Hated that he was forcing her into this.

Hated that he had planned it so well that she had no choice.

"I want to see her," she demanded. "Before I agree to anything, I want proof that she's safe."

Humza studied her for a moment, then nodded. "Fine. You'll see her tomorrow."

Tomorrow. Not now. Not immediately.

It was another power play, she knew. A way to remind her that he was in control.

She forced herself to breathe through the anger and fear clawing at her chest. "Then I'll give you my answer tomorrow." It was a bait. A challenge.

Humza's lips curved slightly—not quite a smile, not quite a smirk. Just a small, knowing look. "Take all the time you need," he said, voice smooth as silk. "But we both know what your answer will be."

Anaabiya couldn't help but feel panic clawing at her chest. Tomorrow. The word echoed in her mind like a cruel joke.

She didn't have until tomorrow.

She couldn't leave her sister to his mercy for even one night, let alone an entire day. What if something happened? What if this was just another one of his manipulations? What if "tomorrow" never came?

The thought made her stomach churn. No. She wouldn't take that risk.

Her fists tightened at her sides as she forced herself to meet his eyes. "No."

Humza raised an eyebrow, pausing mid-step. "No?"

"I'll sign it now and you will release my sister right away." The words left her mouth before she could rethink them. She didn't have the luxury of hesitation.

His expression flickered—something unreadable passing through his dark gaze before amusement settled back into place. She thought he would deny her but he didn't. "Impatient, aren't we?" He said instead.

She glared at him. "Let's not pretend I have a choice."

His smirk deepened, and he turned back toward her with unhurried ease, like a man who had already won. "You're learning fast."

Anaabiya swallowed the bile rising in her throat. "Give me the contract."

Humza studied her for a moment longer before pulling a sleek black folder from the table. He flipped it open, revealing neatly printed pages filled with legal jargon.

"Read it," he said, holding it out to her.

She snatched it from his hands, scanning the lines, though the words blurred together. Did it even matter? Every clause, every condition—it was all designed to bind her to him.

Humza watched her with lazy amusement. "You're not actually reading it, are you?"

Her grip on the folder tightened. "What, afraid I might find a loophole?"

He chuckled. "Find one, and I'll double your payment."

Her jaw clenched. "I don't want your money."

"Ah, yes," he mused. "You're doing this purely out of love and goodwill, aren't you?" There was a hint of sarcasm. She didn't really care what he thought of her yet she wanted to clarify.

Her nails dug into the paper. "I'm doing this for my sister."

He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "Exactly."

She hated how easily he could unravel her, how he wielded her love for her sister like a weapon.

With a deep breath, she grabbed the pen lying beside the contract. Her fingers trembled as she hovered over the signature line.

This was it.

One signature, and she would belong to him for a year.

One signature, and she would seal her fate.

Anaabiya squeezed her eyes shut for a brief moment, blocking out the suffocating weight pressing down on her. Then, before she could let fear paralyze her, she signed her name in sharp, decisive strokes.

The ink barely had time to dry before Humza plucked the contract from her hands. He glanced down at her signature, satisfaction flickering across his face.

Anaabiya's nails dug into her palms as she watched Humza slip the contract back into the folder with an infuriating sense of ease, like he had just closed a casual business deal—like she hadn't just signed her life away.

He tapped the folder lightly against his palm, his smirk unwavering. "You know, for someone so reluctant, you signed rather quickly."

Her glare could have set him on fire. "I didn't see the point in dragging out the inevitable."

"How efficient of you." His tone was mockingly appreciative. "I like that."

"I don't care what you like."

Humza chuckled, clearly entertained. "Oh, but you should. For the next year, Mrs. Humza Junaid, my preferences will be your preferences."

Her stomach twisted at the name—his name—attached to hers. "I'd rather drink poison and don't you call me that."

"That would be a bit dramatic, don't you think?" He tilted his head, studying her with mock amusement. "But if you are planning to die, I'd suggest waiting until after the year is up. I'd hate to go through the trouble of finding a replacement wife."

Anaabiya gritted her teeth. "And I'd hate to go through the trouble of poisoning myself, so I guess we're both stuck."

His lips twitched, as if holding back laughter. "You know, you're much more fun when you're not trembling in fear."

"I wasn't trembling," she snapped.

"Sure." He stepped closer, and she forced herself not to move back. "I think I like this version of you better—fiery, feisty. It's cute."

Her eyes flashed with fury. "Call me cute again, and I'll make sure your year of marriage is a living nightmare."

To her annoyance, he didn't look the least bit threatened. If anything, he looked delighted.

He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a teasing whisper. "Promise?"

Her fists clenched. She was this close to throwing something at his stupid, arrogant face.

Now that she thought about it, a new wave of unease settled over her. She had been so desperate to sign the contract, so frantic to ensure her sister's safety, that she hadn't even read all the clauses properly.

Her stomach twisted. Had she made a mistake?

Did she have to share a room with him?

The thought alone made her skin crawl. Her face must have betrayed her horror because Humza let out a quiet chuckle, his lips curving in that insufferable way.

"If you're wondering whether we'll be sharing a bed," he said smoothly, "then let me put your worries to rest."

Anaabiya exhaled in relief—until he added, "You are not really my type."

Her head snapped up, eyes narrowing. "Excuse me?"

He smirked. "I have a certain taste, you see. And you don't quite meet the criteria."

She folded her arms, seething. "Oh, how devastating. I'll be sure to cry about it later."

He chuckled. "Try not to take it too hard."

"Believe me," she shot back, "I wouldn't share a room with you even if the world was ending."

"Is that so?" He arched a brow. "What if it were the last room available during a storm? No power, no heating?" He was testing her patience.

"I'd sleep outside."

Humza placed a hand over his chest in mock sympathy. "That's a shame. I was almost tempted to offer you the couch."

Anaabiya let out a frustrated breath. "Spare me the generosity."

His gaze flickered with quiet amusement, but then he said something that made her stomach drop.

"You really should have read the contract properly."

She stilled. "Why?"

He took his time, watching her like a cat toying with a mouse. Then, with that same frustratingly casual tone, he said, "Because while you won't have to share my bed, you will have to live under my roof."

Her heart sank even though she had already guessed it.

His smirk deepened. "Oh, don't look so horrified. It's only a year. Surely you can survive that?"

Anaabiya clenched her jaw. "I'd rather—"

"Sleep outside?" he finished for her, smirking. "Yes, yes, we've covered that."

She hated him.

Hated that he was forcing her into this.

Hated that he had backed her into a corner with no way out.

And most of all?

She hated that, for the next year, she was trapped with him.

Humza let out a low chuckle and straightened, clearly enjoying her frustration. "Well, wife," he drawled, "I'd love to stay and continue this delightful conversation, but I have things to do. You have already wasted a lot of my time for something that could have been handled easily, had you not listened to your boyfriend."

He didn't wait for her to give it back to him. Just like that, he turned and walked away—without so much as a second glance, without even the courtesy of dropping her home.

She wanted to shout at him for calling her his wife but technically, he was right. The moment she had signed that contract, it had legally bound her to him as his wife.

There was no undoing it now. No escape clause. No way to take back the ink that had sealed her fate.

The ceremony—if there was one—would only be a mere cultural formality. An illusion for the world to see.

But on paper?

She already belonged to him.

She had never despised anyone more.

And yet, the worst part?

She had a feeling this was just the beginning.

Without a second glance, he had left—along with the man who had brought her here.

Anaabiya watched, seething, as he strolled out the door, his victory stamped all over his stupid, smirking face.

She stood there for a moment, her hands clenched at her sides, watching the taillights of the sleek black car fade into the distance. The cold night air bit at her skin, but it was nothing compared to the storm raging inside her.

She had to walk back.

Her mind was a mess, tangled with fear, resentment, and an exhaustion so deep it threatened to pull her under.

What have I gotten myself into?

She tried to reason with herself. Maybe this won't be so bad. After all, he said he wouldn't bother her as long as she kept up appearances and stayed at his home for a year.

How bad could it be anyway?

Her heart clenched at the thought, but she forced herself to focus on the practical side. She wouldn't have to worry about her sister's education, her dreams—she could fulfill them all. That was what mattered, wasn't it?

And she wasn't naive. She knew money was necessary. She had just hoped she wouldn't have to earn it this way.

With each step, her shoulders sagged, the weight of what she had done pressing heavily against her chest. A desolate, empty feeling settled inside her, like she had given away a part of herself she could never get back.

But then, from a distance, she saw her.

Nabiha.

Her little sister stood in the backyard, her small frame barely visible in the dim light.

Something in Anaabiya's chest twisted painfully, and before she knew it, her steps had quickened. She nearly broke into a run, desperation clawing at her.

As soon as Nabiha spotted her, her face crumpled, and she bolted toward her.

"Anaabiya!"

Tears streaked her little sister's face as she crashed into her, wrapping her arms around her in a tight embrace.

For a moment, Anaabiya forgot everything. The contract. The deal. Humza.

Right now, all that mattered was this.

Her sister's arms around her. The warmth of her small body pressed against hers. The way she was clinging to her like she never wanted to let go.

It had been ages since Nabiha had hugged her like this. Since she had shown her even a fraction of this emotion.

Anaabiya felt something inside her crack open—a painful yet beautiful ache. Even in her distress, even with the suffocating reality of what she had done, this moment made it worth it.

Then, instinct took over.

She pulled away just enough to cup Nabiha's face in her hands, scanning her with sharp, desperate eyes.

"Are you hurt?" she asked urgently, tilting her little sister's chin up. "Did they hurt you?"

Her gaze swept over Nabiha, checking for any signs of injury, any hint that Humza or his men had laid a finger on her.

But there were none. No bruises, no cuts—nothing to suggest she had been harmed.

Relief flooded through Anaabiya so quickly that her knees nearly buckled.

"I'm okay. I'm okay," Nabiha whispered, her voice trembling. "I was just scared for you."

Anaabiya's breath hitched.

For her?

Her fierce, independent little sister—who had spent the last many years pushing her away, who had barely spoken to her unless necessary—had been scared for her.

A lump formed in her throat as she pulled Nabiha into another hug, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "I'm fine, baby," she murmured, though the words felt like a lie. She wasn't fine. Nothing about this situation was fine. But Nabiha didn't need to know that.

She just needed to know she was safe.

With a deep breath, Anaabiya pulled back, gently wiping the tears from her sister's cheeks. "Did they say anything to you? Did they threaten you?"

Nabiha shook her head quickly. "No. They just told me to stay here and wait. But I didn't know what was happening. I—I thought you weren't coming back." Her voice cracked, and the raw fear in it made Anaabiya's chest ache.

She cupped her sister's face again, forcing her to meet her eyes. "I will always come back for you. No matter what happens."

A silent promise. One she would die before breaking.

Nabiha nodded, sniffling, and Anaabiya forced a smile, trying to be strong for both of them.

"Come on," she said softly. "Let's go inside."

As she led her sister inside the small house owned by her aunt, the weight of what she had done settled deeper into her bones.

She had signed away a year of her life.

And Humza hadn't even begun to show her what that truly meant.

It hit her then—how wrong her first impression of him had been.

The night she had first met him, she had assumed he was the silent, brooding type. The kind of man who barely spoke, who observed from a distance, who thought himself too superior to waste words on someone like her.

But now?

Now she realized he was nothing like that.

That night, he hadn't been silent because he was reserved—he had been assessing her. Watching, calculating, weighing his options. Or maybe he had simply been too pissed off to bother with words.

Because this Humza?

This Humza was insufferable.

He wasn't just talkative—he was maddeningly relentless. The kind of person who never let the other have the last word, who always had a comeback ready, dripping in sarcasm and laced with amusement.

His words weren't just spoken; they were weapons. Sharp, precise, designed to slip under her skin and set her on edge before she even realized what was happening.

And the worst part?

He knew it.

He knew exactly how to rile her up, how to push her buttons without ever raising his voice, how to make her seethe while he remained perfectly composed, watching her unravel with that arrogant smirk playing on his lips.

She had thought silence was his strength.

But no—his real power lay in his words.

And unfortunately for her, he seemed to enjoy using them against her the most.

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E D I T E D on 8.02.2025