Bound by fate

chapter 2: Unwanted promises

Noor sat by the large window of her bedroom, staring at the golden hues of the setting sun. The sky was a blend of orange and pink, a stark contrast to the storm brewing inside her. She had spent the last three days in denial, hoping this was just a bad dream—that her father would change his mind, that Faizol would refuse the marriage. But none of that had happened. Instead, the engagement was moving forward with ruthless efficiency.

She clenched her fists, frustration burning in her chest. How could her father do this to her? She had spent her entire life being the obedient daughter, never asking for too much, never stepping out of line. And yet, when it truly mattered, he had made the biggest decision of her life without her consent.

The sound of footsteps outside her room made her sit up. A soft knock followed.

"Noor, it's me," came a familiar voice.

Her heart clenched. It was her older brother, Ibrahim. He was the only one in the family who truly understood her.

"Come in," she muttered.

Ibrahim stepped inside, his sharp eyes scanning her face. "You haven’t been yourself since Father announced the engagement," he said, closing the door behind him. "Talk to me."

Noor let out a bitter laugh. "What is there to talk about? I'm being sold off like some business deal, and no one cares how I feel about it."

Ibrahim sighed and sat beside her. "I care. You know I do. But Noor, you also know that once Father makes up his mind, nothing changes it."

She shook her head. "There has to be a way out."

Ibrahim was silent for a moment before he said, "I did some digging on Faizol."

Noor stiffened. "And?"

"He’s… interesting," Ibrahim admitted. "His reputation is spotless—on the surface. He’s ruthless in business, calculated in his decisions, and rarely shows emotion. But here’s the thing—he never wanted to get married."

Her brows furrowed. "Then why agree?"

Ibrahim hesitated before answering. "Because of his father."

Noor exhaled slowly. "So, he's as trapped as I am."

"It looks that way."

A strange sense of relief washed over her. If Faizol was also against the marriage, maybe she could find a way to convince him to break it.

Ibrahim studied her expression. "Are you thinking of something reckless?"

She met his gaze. "Maybe. But don’t worry, I won’t do anything that would bring shame to the family. I just… I need to find a way out of this."

Ibrahim sighed. "Just be careful, Noor. Faizol isn’t a man to be underestimated."

---

A Deal With the Devil

The next evening, Noor found herself at a high-end restaurant, sitting across from Faizol. Their fathers had arranged this dinner so they could "get to know each other."

She studied him as he sipped his black coffee. He was every bit as intimidating as she remembered—sharp jawline, piercing eyes, and an air of controlled dominance. He wore a dark suit, effortlessly elegant, yet there was something cold about him, as if he was used to keeping people at a distance.

"I assume you’re not happy about this engagement," Noor said, breaking the silence.

Faizol set his cup down, his gaze locking onto hers. "And I assume you aren’t either."

"No." She folded her arms. "So why are you going along with it?"

Faizol leaned back, his expression unreadable. "My father wants this alliance. He believes it will strengthen our family’s influence."

"And you?" she pressed.

His lips curled into a smirk. "I don’t let personal feelings interfere with business."

Noor’s jaw tightened. "So, this is just a deal to you?"

"Isn’t that what it is?" His voice was smooth, yet there was an underlying edge to it. "Two powerful families merging their assets through marriage."

Noor's nails dug into her palm. "What if I don’t want to be part of your business transaction?"

Faizol tilted his head slightly. "Then convince your father to call it off."

She let out a humorless laugh. "You know that’s impossible."

"Then you’re wasting both our time, Noor."

Her heart pounded. She hated his arrogance, his indifference. He was acting like he didn’t care at all. But then she remembered Ibrahim’s words—he never wanted to get married.

So why was he being so calm about it?

She took a deep breath, lowering her voice. "You don’t want this marriage either. That much is clear. So why don’t we work together to stop it?"

For the first time, Faizol’s smirk faltered. A flicker of something unreadable passed through his eyes before he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "And what exactly do you propose?"

Noor hesitated. She hadn’t thought that far ahead. "We make them think we’re incompatible. We fight, we make scenes, we—"

Faizol shook his head, cutting her off. "That won’t work. Our fathers are too invested in this. They expect resistance."

She clenched her teeth. "Then what will work?"

Faizol was silent for a moment before he spoke, his voice low. "If you really want to get out of this, Noor, you need to give them something bigger than just an argument."

A chill ran down her spine. "Like what?"

Faizol leaned back, his eyes dark and calculating. "A scandal."

Her stomach twisted. "Are you serious?"

"Completely." He swirled his coffee cup lazily. "A well-placed scandal would force them to reconsider. But it has to be believable enough to ruin the marriage without damaging our families’ reputations beyond repair."

Noor’s mind spun. Could she really go through with something like that? Would it even work?

Faizol studied her reaction, then smirked. "You’re hesitating."

"Because it’s crazy," she shot back.

"It’s effective."

She bit her lip, torn between desperation and logic. How far was she willing to go to escape this marriage?

Faizol tilted his head. "Or… we could just go through with it."

Noor’s eyes snapped to his. "Excuse me?"

He shrugged. "We could stop fighting it and get married."

She inhaled sharply. "You’re joking."

"Am I?" His gaze was unwavering. "Think about it. You’re already trapped. So am I. If we go through with this, we could negotiate terms—set boundaries."

Noor felt like the walls were closing in on her. "You actually want to marry me?"

Faizol’s smirk returned. "I don’t want to marry anyone. But if I have to, I’d rather do it with my eyes open."

Her pulse pounded in her ears. Faizol was offering her a different kind of deal—one where they both maintained control. But could she really trust him?

"I need time to think," she murmured.

Faizol nodded, his expression unreadable. "Take all the time you need, Noor. Just remember—one way or another, we’re bound by fate.