54
Maryam's POV
"I have a date".  I tried to answer him as quickly as I can. Even though it's so wrong of me to go out with another guy, since I'm still married to him but I just can't help it. I just want to live my life according to my wishes. I need to leave as possible as I can, I don't want to stay long here with him.
"Date?" . He asked grabbing my arms.
"Will you please stop all this nonsense?  Mansur is waiting for me" . I said trying to control my self and get out from his grib. I wanted to ask him that who was that woman he was with, but I think I'll only look more stupid. Instead, I keep my mouth shut.
He hold my arms tightly as I feel the pain but I suck it in, I won't show him that I'm that weak. I'm no more th Maryam he used to know. "you're dating the Back stabber? While you're still married to me? Did you hear yourself clearly?  No, you're coming home with me.
How can I escape from him? He's too powerful for me even if I wanted to do that. All of a sudden, I heard a woman voice. "Excuse me" she said,she look at the mid of forty's, she also wanted to use the restroom but she couldn't because I and Kareem was blocking her way.
Kareem's tight hold on me loosen as I find that as my opportunity to escape from him but unfortunately for me he followed me and grab my arm again.
"For Allah sake...can't you leave me alone? Why can't you just go back to the woman you're with!". I finally said it, I couldn't hold it anymore, it's really killing me.
"Fuck" . He rake his hair roughly with his right hand.
'It's not what you think Maryam, walahi I'm not dating her!"
"Then who's that woman?"
He won't lie right? I caught him red handed already.
"No! I'm not dating her! It's just a business meeting"
Business meeting in a fancy restaurant?
"Business meeting at dinner? " I asked sarcastically .
"Yes business meeting!  nothing more Maryam".
"Business meeting with that beautiful woman? Great! Just great Kareem!" . I rolled my eyes.
I thought we would continue to argue and when I saw the idiot smirked. Seriously? he just smirk?
"Let me go" I said getting angry already.
"You're jealous Maryam" . He said in a low voice,locking his gaze with mine.
"I'm not" I quickly denied.
"You're beautiful"
"Let me go Kareem "
"OK fine, I'll introduce you to. We just have a business deal tonight I swear to you,I've planned to visit you this evening after this" . He told me as he was pulling me to their table.
"You're not coming to my parents house tonight"
"Yes I won't visit you again because, I will be bringing you to my place instead, you're not going with that Shabsuma" he said dangerously in an authoritative tone.
I noticed that she was a very beautiful lady the moment we reach their table and saw her.
"Ms Zahra I'll like you to meet my wife, Maryam Kareem Abdulazeez"
Wife? Was he really saying that?
Somehow somehow the smile on the woman face faded "wife?" She asked.
"Beautiful " Kareem turn to me "as I said, this is the Lady I was having dinner with"
"How do you do?" She feigned a smile. Well that was a fake smile woman!
She stretched her hand and I clasped mine with hers and and told her with all seriousness "he's just kidding, I'm not his wife..Miss Zahara"
"Maryam" Kareem called.
"If you don't want me to make a scene here,just stop all of this " I whispered to him in a firm tone.
"Now, let me go" and slowly, he released my arm.
I turned back to the woman and smiled at her. "miss Zahara, I'm actually having a date right now...that's my date right there" . I point to where Mansur was sitting.  "Please excuse me,do have a wonderful dinner with Mr Abdulazeez!"
I walk out on them and went immediately to Mansur. He didn't have a slightest idea of what was going on,I just told him we needed to leave and he agreed.
I think he left already,he just surrendered just like that, just great! At least, I'll get a piece of mind.
Then I decide to sleep, only me been at home is really really annoying and boring. I decide to lock the door but something in me decide to just check if he was still there or not. 
I wide my eyes out of shock as I saw him sitting on the floor and was leaning his back  
 on the wall. He looked up all of a sudden and our eyes met.
The idiot hadn't left.
What was I going to do now? I thought he would have left already.
I don't think all this is an acting! No I doubt it.
Slowly he stood up.
Without saying anything, I opened the door widely for him to come in.
He came in and closed the door. Was I appearing strong? I think so, but deep down I'm weak. I don't know why he have to this now? Why can't he just remain the same heartless man he used to be. He was never this kind of a gentle man.
"What are you doing here? Why exactly are you here by this time of the day?". I asked with my back facing him.
I heard his footsteps behind me but i never imagine that he would do what he did next. He wrap his arms around my waist. I squealed in surprise but instead of him to loosen his hands he tightened them more on me.
"Can't we stop all of this? All the fight we've been having are killing me Maryam, aren't you tired of all this?"
I wanted to cry.
"Because you annoys me...and I could continue like this with you. Just divorce me and leave me in peace".  
Did I mean any of my word? No.
"Why do you have to show up your self here? Why can't you stay with that woman or Hafsa?".  I can't help it, I'm just jealous of those women.
"Do you really want that?". He asked still hugging me from my back.
No! Of course not!
"Answer me,do you really want that?"
"Yes Kareem,I want you to stop coming here,just be with someone else please"
"I'm afraid I can't do that".
What?
"I just want to be with you". He said placing his chin on my shoulder.
I couldn't hold them back anymore. The familiar Kareem scent reached my nose and then i realised at that moment that I missed him so much.
"You never like the idea of you being with me,even for the past years when I was still your wife..then why now? Why the sudden change?"
Unexpectedly Kareem lift my body up with his strong arms. I called out his name in shock as he carried me in a bridal style to the couch. In spite of my wriggling,he sat on the couch and sit me on his lap.
"There's no change of heart Maryam. I've been wanting you ever since". He said brushing his mouth on my left upper arm. He was giving me the goose bomb again.
"You don't have the right to-". I hit him but he cut me off.
"There you go again, hitting me the way you like".  He said,his voice rough and husky. "Hitting your husband is no good...you know that?" He added, embracing me tighter than before.
"You're not my husband"
Yes keep denying the fact Maryam when indeed, he's really your husband.
"And I'll hit you when ever I want "
"Beautiful calm down". He said embracing me more again. "let have a proper talk"
"Proper? How can this be proper when I'm sitting on your lap?" I complained as I felt my cheeks burning up from embarrassment.
Oh my God! Why won't I blush? I was putting on a transparent gown,though not that it's too transparent but this brat sitting here could easily see through what I was putting on with his pervert eyes.
"Don't struggle too much to stand up... Just calm down Please ...You're making me feel so uncomfortable here "he groaned .
Huh?
If he was uncomfortable, it was he who was putting the two of us in this awkward situation and he was complaining.
"I love you Maryam, I've always loved you". he suddenly blurt out of the blue. 
He was telling me again that he loved me,my heart wanted to confront him. i won't let it go this time around,I needed to know the reason why he had treated me that way.
"I love you very much Maryam".  he said softly.
"H..how could you say so?".  I asked confused. He couldn't really be serious..could he?
"You hated me...don't you? You even once said that I'm the most annoying girl on earth, who was forced upon you. So why saying this?". Kareem bit his bottom lip and stared at me.
"You see, you can't even answer me". I said.
"I'm sorry princess". He said breathing hard.  "Yes I know I'm guilty, I'm really guilty..I hated you but believe me it was in the past,totally in the past when I was still stupid to even admit that I had feelings for you"
Wow! Now I was even speechless,I couldn't even say a word
How could I believe that he loved me then? 
He just say that he was holding back his feelings because he hated me? Is that possible? I used to follow him like a mad woman for all my life. I humbled my self for him,endured his hatred and insult. But only to find out now that all those times when he was been arrogant and proud, he actually was falling in love with me!
Did he expect me to be happy now that I knew he had feelings for me?
Tears drop from my eyes,I leaped to the floor from his lap and Kareem was so stunned by my sudden change.
"Maryam-"