Chapter 1 The marriage that was never mine
Aliyah POV
Ariyah Haleem learned the cost of silence the day it destroyed her life.
Her father’s office in Dubai smelled like antique leather, bitterness, and desperation. The walls were lined with awards older than her dreams, shelves heavy with trophies of a fading empire that no longer belonged to her father only to whatever miracle came next and that miracle wore a man’s last name.
Rahman, the contract lay open across the black glass desk like a death sentence disguised as opportunity.
Ariyah stood with her fingers clenched so tight her palms ached. The words on the paper were formal. Clause after clause spelled out her obligation in clean legal lines: marriage, compliance, reputation, silence.
There was no love in it only survival.
Her father sat across from her with gray threading his temples where black once lived. The weight of failure pressed deep lines into his face lines she had watched form over years, not days. “Ariyah,” he said quietly, voice stripped of authority and pride. Just exhaustion remained but she didn’t answer.
Because if she spoke, she would beg and if she begged, she would break. “You know what this marriage means,” he said, softer. “Without Rahman Group’s backing, we will collapse every employee and every family tied to this company ruined.”
Ariyah’s knuckles whitened. “And without me?” she whispered her father hesitated and that was the answer.
She stepped closer to the desk anyway. The pen lay waiting, heavily for her.
She stared at the line bearing her full name each letter perfect, each curve merciless.
Signature line: Ariyah Haleem
Future: erased.
Marriage: arranged to a man she had never met.
Sacrifice: demanded by blood.
Her chest tightened as if someone had wrapped invisible fingers around her heart and was slowly squeezing the air from her.
There was no escape route and no negotiation she signed and the ink bled into paper. Just like her future bled into nothing. Her father closed his eyes in absolute relief but Ariyah didn’t. Someone had to stay awake through this nightmare.
The world changed shape overnight and by morning, she was no longer Ariyah Haleem. She was to become Ariyah Rahman.
The Rahmans owned half of Dubai’s skyline, their money curved laws and their influence destroyed enemies quietly. The man she was being handed to was rumored to be colder than the towers bearing his name. Zayn Rahman.
Power said he was ruthless, the press said he was untouchable and the society said he was perfect. Ariyah had learned more truth in silence than noise.
The wedding came too soon then she expected. White silk wedding dress wrapped her body like chains disguised as luxury and gold threaded through her veil like a crown she never wanted.
Cameras flashed, the society watched and she walked not into love but into the captivity her parents had dragged her into. Zayn waited at the altar like a man waiting for a business deal to finalize there was no anticipation not even a little bit of softness.
He was taller than she expected, his jaw was razor sharp, lips tight, eyes calculating behind a mask of calm control. His suit was cut from thousands, his presence from millions.
He looked like money and he smelled like power. He did not look like a husband when she reached him, his gaze slid over her without reverence. No hunger or admiration. Just assessment and ownership being measured.
They didn't even meet before the wedding, he took her hand and his touch was cold. Not cruel but just empty. The vows were spoken and rings were exchanged and her fate was sealed before hundreds of witnesses who clapped for a complete lie.
Their palace was not a home, It was a museum of riches. Marble floors that were too cold. Walls too tall and silence too heavy. That first night, Ariyah waited for her husband on silk sheets. In a room bigger than her childhood home still wearing white that meant nothing now. Hours passed and the door never opened. By midnight, she understood she had married a wall. A cold, unmoving wall of money and masculinity the second night was the same, and the third week followed by the fourth night, she stopped waiting for him.
Zayn had not married her as a woman, he had acquired her as an asset. I want to work she had told him during breakfast that morning. Zayn raised an eyebrow. Just once “You don’t need to,” he said coolly. I can provide you with whatever you want.
“I want to,” she replied. Silence stretched like a blade. “Fine,” he said. “But understand this, your presence in my building will not earn you attention.” Her voice was steady when she answered. “I’m not asking for it.” He studied her longer that time. Then dismissed her. It was the closest they had come to connection.
Rahman Group headquarters felt alive. Money vibrated in its glass nerves, men moved like predator, women like queens
Rahman Group headquarters felt alive. Money vibrated in its glass nerves, men moved like predator, women like queens and power felt like oxygen.
Ariyah stepped inside wearing a tailored navy dress that hid her fear and sharpened her resolve. She was not here as a Rahman, because her so called husband had refused to drop her off even though he was coming to work but she has decided to find herself again and become the smart and intelligent Ariyha she was before marrying but was her thoughts until she heard her name.
“Mrs. Rahman.” The voice stopped her heart. It was not loud but controlled in a way that makes her heart beats loudly.
She turned slowly and met danger wearing a suit. Cassian Wolfe, he was british, very handsome and a billionaire. Imvestors always whispered his name like a prayer and a warning.
He stood with hands in his pockets, and he looked confident but hs eyes were dark enough to be a promise and a threat at once. He was the kind of man who did not need permission to ruin you and he knew it.
His gaze did not acknowledge her ring but It acknowledged her. She hated the rush that tore through her body, hated the warmth that pooled in her stomach and how suddenly she felt seen. “Yes?” she breathed, too soft.
That made his mouth twitch. He stepped closer not invading. Inviting. “Cassian Wolfe,” he introduced. “We’ll be working together.” Something in his voice wrapped around her ribs and pulled without warning her life split down the middle.
Before him after this moment her soul recognized trouble long before her mind caught up. Her pulse thundered her breath betrayed her and her heart whispered something reckless This man will ruin your life and part of her answered back let him. His eyes lingered just long enough to be inappropriate. Then he smiled it was dangerously slow Ariyah Haleem was gone and she was claimed.but something else, something forbidden was just beginning.
