Steam rose from the copper pot, carrying the sharp, sweet scent of crushed cardamom. Subiya stood on her tip-toes, reaching for the porcelain sugar jar on the top shelf. Her fingers brushed the smooth ceramic, but it slid just out of reach. Warm, solid heat pressed against her back as a pair of strong arms bracketed her body. Farhan reached up effortlessly, his fingers wrapping around the jar and bringing it down. "How many times must I tell you to call for me, Princess?" Farhan murmured. His voice was a low, gravelly vibration against her ear. Turning in his hold, Subiya looked up into his dark, searching eyes. She leaned back against the counter, her heart doing a familiar, wild flutter. "I wanted to surprise you, baby," she whispered, a soft blush creeping up her cheeks. "I wanted to make your favorite tea all by myself." Farhan placed the jar on the counter, but he did not step back. His gaze locked onto her face, scanning every feature with a terrifyingly beautiful intensity. Slowly, he reached out, his thumb gently brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. His touch was feather-light, yet it sent a shiver straight down her spine. "Your safety is my only concern, Mohtarma," he said, his voice dropping to a dangerous quiet. "Even a tiny burn on your skin would feel like a scar on my own soul." Subiya smiled, her chest aching with the sheer weight of his devotion. She reached up, her small hands resting on his broad chest, feeling the steady, rapid thumping of his heart. "You worry too much, my king," she teased softly, her fingers tracing the fabric of his shirt. "It is just tea." "Nothing involving you is ever 'just' anything to me," Farhan corrected. He reached past her, turning down the flame of the stove. He picked up a glass of water from the island and held it to her lips. It was a silent, daily ritual she had grown to love. "Drink first," he commanded gently. "You have not had enough water today. I have been counting." Subiya drank, her eyes never leaving his. She loved how he noticed every detail, how he kept track of her well-being as if it were his ultimate mission in life. "Better?" he asked, wiping a tiny droplet from the corner of her lip with his thumb. He looked at his thumb for a second before his gaze snapped back to her eyes. "Much better, jaan," she whispered, her voice filled with a sweet warmth. Farhan smiled, a rare, breathtaking sight that softened his sharp jawline. He took her hands in his, rubbing his thumbs over her knuckles, noticing the slight dryness of her skin. "We are going to buy a better moisturizer for these beautiful hands tonight," he decided, his tone leaving no room for argument. "And when we are married, you will not have to lift a finger in the kitchen unless you absolute want to." "But I want to cook for you," she protested softly, leaning her forehead against his chest. "I want to make you happy." "Your existence makes me happy," Farhan replied, wrapping his arms securely around her waist. "Just breathing the same air as you is enough to keep me alive." --- Rain began to patter against the windowpane, casting a soft, rhythmic hum over the quiet bedroom. Subiya lay in the center of the plush bed, the warmth of the room wrapping around her like a blanket. The tea was forgotten, replaced by a deep, heavy exhaustion that settled in her bones after a long week. Farhan entered the room, his eyes instantly finding her. He closed the door softly, shutting out the rest of the world. Walking over with silent, deliberate steps, he climbed onto the bed. He pulled her gently into his lap, his strong arms wrapping around her in a tight, protective embrace. Subiya let out a soft sigh, burying her face into the crook of his neck. She inhaled his scent—a comforting blend of cedarwood, rain, and pure safety. "Hold me tight, Farhan," she whispered, her fingers clutching his shirt as if she were afraid he might disappear. Instantly, his grip tightened, pressing her body so close to his that she could feel every beat of his heart. He felt like a fortress, protecting her from every storm outside. "I have you, Princess," Farhan murmured, his lips pressing against the crown of her head. "I will never let you go." Slowly, he shifted, pulling her down with him so they were both lying on the bed, facing each other. He kept one arm locked around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest. His free hand came up, his fingers gently threading through her soft, dark hair. He played with the silky strands, running his fingers through them with a reverence that made her feel like a sacred deity. "You are so incredibly beautiful, Subiya," he whispered, his eyes dark with an emotion so intense it bordered on obsession. He leaned in, his lips gently pressing against her forehead. The kiss was long, warm, and filled with a silent promise of eternal protection. Moving down, he kissed her closed eyelids, first the left, then the right. He lingered there, feeling the slight flutter of her eyelashes against his lips. "These eyes," Farhan murmured against her skin. "They hold my entire world. When you cry, my world falls apart." Subiya let out a soft, trembling breath, her heart swelling to the point of pain. She had never felt so utterly cherished, so deeply seen. His lips drifted lower, kissing the tip of her cute, small nose. A tiny, breathless laugh escaped her lips, making him smile against her skin. "And this laugh," Farhan whispered, his gaze dropping to her lips. "It is the only sound that keeps me sane in this dark world." He leaned in further, his lips brushing hers in a slow, agonizingly gentle kiss. It was not a kiss of passion, but of absolute devotion, a silent vow of his soul to hers. Subiya melted into him, her hands winding around his neck, pulling him closer. He tasted of warmth and safety, a sanctuary she never wanted to leave. When he pulled back slightly, his thumb traced the outline of her lower lip. His eyes were dark, burning with a quiet, fierce possessiveness. "You are mine, Mohtarma," he whispered, his voice shaking with the intensity of his feelings. "Every single part of you belongs to me, just as every breath I take belongs to you." "I am yours, darling," she replied, her eyes shining with unshed tears of happiness. "Only yours." Farhan pulled her head back to his chest, his fingers resuming their slow, soothing stroke through her hair. He held her as if she were the most fragile, precious glass, ready to shatter if he let go. "I will protect you from everything, Subiya," he murmured into the dark room. "Even from the shadows of my own past. No one will ever hurt you again." Subiya smiled in the darkness, her heart wrapped in a blanket of absolute security. She closed her eyes, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart, convinced that she was the most special woman in the universe. Suddenly, the sharp vibration of Farhan's phone on the nightstand broke the silence. Farhan did not move, ignoring the screen as it lit up the dark room with a harsh, blue glow. Subiya opened her eyes, her gaze drifting to the screen. A single message preview was visible, the words chilling her blood instantly. *"She doesn't know what you did to keep her, Farhan. If you don't pay, I'll tell her everything."*

Chapter 1: The Sanctuary of His Arms