Bound by fate

chapter 3: The terms of Betrayal

A Dangerous Proposal

Noor spent the night tossing and turning, Faizol’s words replaying in her mind.

"We could stop fighting it and get married."

She had expected him to be just as desperate as she was to end this arrangement. But instead, he had calmly suggested going through with it. Not as lovers, not as partners, but as two people making a calculated decision.

It unsettled her.

Morning came too soon, and she found herself in her father’s office before she could even process her own thoughts. She had been summoned, and she already knew why.

Her father sat behind his grand mahogany desk, flipping through business reports as if he hadn’t just ruined her life days ago. His presence was commanding, his features sharp with years of experience in negotiations. Noor had always respected his intelligence—until he had decided to trade her future away.

"You met with Faizol last night," he said without looking up.

Noor straightened, keeping her voice steady. "Yes."

"And?"

She hesitated. "He… seems exactly as you described. Intelligent. Composed."

Her father finally lifted his gaze, studying her. "And do you still think this marriage is a mistake?"

Noor clenched her fists. "I think it's unnecessary."

His eyes hardened. "It is necessary, Noor. Not just for the family, but for you."

"For me?" She almost laughed. "How is this for me?"

Her father sighed, leaning back. "Because I know the world you will face as a woman in business. Because I know you will need a powerful partner to survive it. I am giving you that. You may not see it now, but one day, you will."

Noor's chest burned with frustration. "I never asked for a powerful partner. I wanted to build my own path, my own name."

"And you still can." His voice was firm. "But Faizol will ensure that no one dares stand in your way."

She shook her head. "So, you’re saying I’m too weak to do it alone?"

"I am saying you shouldn’t have to," he corrected. "You are my daughter, Noor. And I will not send you into this world unprotected."

There was no use arguing. Her father had already decided.

But so had she.

She stood. "If that’s all, I have things to do."

Her father studied her for a long moment before nodding. "Very well. But remember, Noor—this engagement is final."

Her heart pounded as she left his office. We’ll see about that.

---

A Dangerous Alliance

That afternoon, Noor sent a message to Faizol.

Meet me. Same place as yesterday. 8 PM.

She didn’t expect an immediate reply, but within minutes, her phone buzzed.

Fine. Don’t be late.

A frustrated sigh left her lips. Even through text, he was insufferable.

By the time she arrived at the restaurant, Faizol was already waiting. He sat at their usual private booth, his fingers lazily tapping against the table as he watched her approach.

"You’re late," he said smoothly.

Noor ignored him and took her seat. "I thought about what you said."

Faizol leaned forward, intrigued. "And?"

"If I agree to this marriage, I want conditions."

He smirked. "Of course you do."

Noor inhaled sharply. "You need to understand something, Faizol. I refuse to be controlled, not by my father, and certainly not by you."

His expression darkened slightly. "I have no intention of controlling you."

"Good," she said. "Then let’s make this clear. This marriage will be nothing more than a contract. A partnership on paper."

Faizol raised a brow. "You don’t want a real marriage?"

Noor’s stomach tightened at the thought. "No."

For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, finally, he spoke. "Fine. But I have conditions of my own."

Noor braced herself. "What are they?"

Faizol’s gaze was unreadable. "We stay married for a minimum of two years. No scandals, no public fights. Our families need to believe this marriage is real."

Noor hesitated. Two years? It felt like a lifetime. But if that was the price of her freedom, she would pay it.

"Agreed," she said. "What else?"

Faizol leaned closer. "You keep my secrets, and I’ll keep yours."

Her breath hitched. "And what secrets do you have, Faizol?"

His lips curled slightly. "Wouldn’t you like to know?"

Noor hated the way her pulse quickened. Faizol was dangerous in ways she couldn’t yet define, and she wasn’t sure if that excited or terrified her.

She forced herself to focus. "Anything else?"

Faizol’s smirk faded slightly. "Yes. No falling in love."

Noor blinked. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," he said. "This marriage will be a contract, nothing more. That means no expectations, no emotions. You will not fall in love with me, Noor."

She let out a sharp laugh. "Trust me, Faizol. That won’t be a problem."

For some reason, his eyes darkened at her words.

"Then we have a deal," he said quietly.

Noor extended her hand. "Partners?"

Faizol looked at her hand for a moment before shaking it. His grip was firm, his touch warm.

"Partners," he echoed.

For the first time, Noor felt like she was taking control of her fate.

What she didn’t realize was that fate had other plans.

---

A Wedding Without Love

The announcement of their engagement spread like wildfire. The media painted it as the union of two powerful families, a fairy-tale romance between two heirs. Noor wanted to scream at the absurdity of it.

The next two weeks were a blur of preparations. Dress fittings, venue selections, endless meetings with event planners. Noor barely had time to breathe.

Faizol, of course, remained as calm as ever. He attended every event with the perfect balance of charm and detachment, playing the role of the devoted fiancé flawlessly.

To outsiders, they were a perfect match. Behind closed doors, they were barely speaking.

The night before the wedding, Noor stood on her balcony, staring at the city skyline. This is really happening.

A knock at the door made her turn.

"Come in."

Ibrahim entered, his expression unreadable. "Are you okay?"

Noor exhaled. "I don’t know."

Ibrahim walked over, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I still don’t trust him."

Noor gave him a small smile. "Neither do I."

Ibrahim frowned. "Then why go through with this?"

She hesitated before answering. "Because I need to play the game long enough to win."

Ibrahim studied her. "Just be careful, Noor. Faizol may be more dangerous than you realize."

She nodded. "I know."

And tomorrow, she would officially become his wife.

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