MR. BILLIONAIRE UNWANTED BRIDE

His proposal

Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together." - Marilyn Monroe

Samiya p.o.v

I clutched my notebook tightly to my chest as I rushed outside to meet Zunaid. My breath caught in my throat as I spotted him leaning against his sleek black Jaguar, glancing at his wristwatch with his signature air of confidence. He looked every bit the celebrity in his formal suit.

Just as I was about to approach him, Mannat appeared out of nowhere, inserting herself between us and bringing me to an abrupt halt. "What are you doing here? Are you stalking me?" she asked, her tone dripping with rudeness.

I expected Zunaid to flare up in response, but instead, he looked almost bored. "I have better things to do," he drawled.

Our eyes met, and for an instant, his face lit up. But before I could process the spark of connection, Mannat's voice cut through the air again. "Like what? Following someone to a party and ruining the vibe?" She tilted her head, her eyes flashing with annoyance.

Zunaid's expression darkened, his anger simmering just below the surface. "If I hadn't been there, you would've-"

His gaze suddenly locked onto mine, and his words trailed off. The air seemed to vibrate with tension as our eyes held, the world around us melting away.

"Move, you're blocking her path." Zunaid's voice was firm, but I didn't like the way he spoke to Mannat. She turned around, a sarcastic smile spreading across her face.

"Look who's here, Samiya, my sister, the apple of my eye," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. I felt a pang of hurt, but I tried to smile, not wanting to show her how her words affected me. She walked away, her grimace a stark contrast to the warm smile I was used to.

I watched her go, feeling disappointed and sad. We used to be so close, but now it seemed like there was a chasm between us.

Zunaid's voice broke into my thoughts. "Don't feel sad, she's just a spoiled brat." He walked toward me, his eyes glinting with a warmth that made my heart skip a beat. He glanced in Mannat's direction, and I followed his gaze, watching as she disappeared into the distance without looking back.

The warm weather seemed to grow cold in her absence, but Zunaid's presence was like a ray of sunshine. "You called?" I spoke shyly, trying to maintain eye contact, but failing miserably. I was sure my cheeks had turned a deep shade of red.

"We're coming over for dinner tonight," he said, his voice gentle, like a soothing balm to my soul. I loved the way he spoke to me, always so kind and considerate. It was a stark contrast to the way he interacted with Mannat, and I couldn't help but wonder what had happened between them.

I know it felt so weird we used to be best friends, the only male friend I ever had but after growing up trying to be a good practising Muslim I need distance because if it's meant to be it will be you don't have to do anything extra which will lead us to heartbreak.

I stumbled backward, my feet faltering beneath me as if the ground had given way. "M-marriage?" I stuttered, my voice barely audible.

Zunaid's confident smile only added to my bewilderment. "Yes, Samiya... I want to marry you. I don't think you're not aware of it," he said, his words dripping with conviction.

My heart racing, I felt like I was drowning in the depths of his piercing gaze. "I-I just came to ask... Can I?" he asked, his voice low and husky.

I was taken aback by the intensity of his emotions, and my breath caught in my throat. This was all so sudden, so unexpected. I had never been in a situation like this before.

Somehow, I managed to stammer out a response. "I-I want you to ask my father first."

And then, like a coward, I turned and ran, my feet carrying me away from the overwhelming emotions that threatened to consume me. I stopped after a while, knowing I was out of Zunaid's sight, and let out a deep blush.

As I stood there, trying to process what had just happened, a smile spread across my face. Finally, my dream was coming true...

But little did I know, our conversation had been overheard by someone else... someone with a broken heart.

Mannat p.o.v

I trudged along, my feet carrying me to my favorite spot, the cliff, where I could escape the suffocating feeling that threatened to consume me. The city sprawled out before me, a distant hum of activity that seemed to mock my isolation.

I hadn't meant to eavesdrop, but their conversation had been impossible to ignore. Zunaid's words still echoed in my mind, "I want to marry you... I don't think you're aware of it." The pain that gripped my heart was like a vice, squeezing the air out of me.

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I thought about how I'd always been compared to Samiya. My mother's words still lingered, "You're a spoiled brat, a shame to our family." The weight of those words had crushed me, making me feel like I was worthless.

I'd tried to be good, to be like Samiya, but no matter how hard I tried, I was always found lacking. And then, the worst thing had happened - my mother had expressed her wish for me to marry Zunaid one day. I'd tried to ignore the feelings that had grown inside me, but I couldn't help the way I felt.

Now, as I stood on the cliff, the wind whipping my hair into a frenzy, I felt like I was staring into the abyss. Zunaid and Samiya were getting married, and I was left with nothing but the bitter taste of rejection.

"Why does Samiya always get all the love?" I whispered to the wind, my voice torn apart by the anguish that ravaged my heart. "Why never me?"

Third person p.o.v

As Mannat entered the room, she carelessly threw her bag on the table.

Noor watched her daughter's entrance with disapproval-no greeting, no manners, nothing.

"Mannat!" Noor called out from behind just as Mannat was about to leave the room.

"What is this behavior? Don't you know where to keep your bag?" Noor's voice rose in frustration.

Mannat froze in her spot. Her brown eyes glistened with unshed tears as she bit her cheek in anger. Without a word, she picked up her bag, her glare fixed on her mother like a dagger.

Just as Mannat was about to leave again, Noor's voice cut through the room. "You don't have a greeting in your mouth? Have you even seen Samiya ?"

"Samiya! Samiya! Samiya! Oh God, I am tired of hearing her. Why don't you start worshiping her?" Mannat yelled.

A sharp slap resounded in the room as Noor struck Mannat across her cheek. Her face stung as she stared back in shock.

"Astaghfirullah! How dare you say that?" Noor's voice trembled with anger.

A humorless chuckle escaped Mannat's lips. "Did I utter something wrong, Mother?"

Noor's heart raced. The girl standing before her was no longer the sweet little daughter who once never left her side. The same girl who once cried over the smallest tear in her dress now stood with hatred blazing in her eyes-for her own mother.

How had Mannat's heart filled with such bitterness?

"What happened to you, Mannat? Why are you carrying so much hatred for your sister?" Noor's eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

A slow, bitter laugh escaped Mannat's lips as tears rolled down her cheeks, one by one. "Hate? You think I hate Samiya?"

She paused, her voice breaking. "No, Mother, I don't hate her. I hate you."

The words felt like a slap across Noor's face, more painful than any physical blow.

"I hate you because you took away my childhood," Mannat continued, her voice trembling with years of bottled-up anguish. "You wanted to be a good mother for Samiya so badly that you forgot your own daughter."

Her voice cracked as she spat the words, leaving Noor stunned and silent.

"I loved Samiya, Mom. I really did. She was my sister, my friend. But you took that away from me."

"Do you remember when I came second in class, and Samiya came first?"

"You literally celebrated her achievement, yet you didn't recognize mine."

Mannat's voice trembled as her eyes glistened with unshed tears.

"I never told you not to love Samiya, but at least you could have given the same love to me as well."

Noor stepped closer, her voice cracking. "Mannat, I love you."

Mannat shook her head, tears finally spilling over. "No, you don't."

Mannat's voice wavered as she continued, "Do you know I am scared of darkness?"

Noor's silence spoke volumes.

"Tell me why I fear darkness," Mannat challenged, crossing her arms.

Noor hesitated, unable to respond.

"Because you don't know!" Mannat's voice cracked as she shook her head. Her trembling hands betrayed the calm facade she tried to maintain. Tears streamed down her face, telling the story her words couldn't.

"I was locked in the locker for hours by my classmates. They used to beat me, tease me. But when I came home, your concern was Samiya. 'Is she okay?' You knew she had medical issues, but Mom, my hands were blue, and you didn't notice for a week." Mannat shouted.

"So don't! You made me bitter toward Samiya. So don't say that I hate her."

She paused, her voice trembling with pain and anger. "Yes, it's true that I am a horrible daughter-but only because you were a horrible mother as well!"

With that, Mannat stormed out, leaving a tense silence in the living room.

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Sometimes people get bitter because we don't give them chance to get better