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Broken Billionaire's Bride
Broken Billionaire's Bride
Author: RavennSage

ONE

Author: RavennSage
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56

  HAYFA ABDULRAHMAN KASSEM ’S   POV

 As I took my seat I caught sight of it; a blood red rose tucked in the locker compartment of my desk. A small smile crossed my lips on seeing it, it wasn’t the first I had received of recent, but like always I feared it would be the last.

 What I didn’t understand was why anyone would take interest in the almost invisible girl in school. Not that I blamed anyone for not noticing me, not at all. As a kid I had made myself as scarce and quiet as I could be, no one ever noticed me, and I was cool with it. Why?

 I, Hayfa Abdulrahman Kassem, have been betrothed to my cousin; the arrangements long concluded before I was born, thus, training to be the perfect wife and daughter in law was made my first and only priority. For twenty two years I have lived having not a single soul to call a friend, of course mother said it didn’t matter, but the feeling of loneliness was one I couldn’t shrug.

 The wedding is to take place after graduation, and graduation is in two weeks. Am I excited? I do not know really.

 The feeling is a mixture of everything, happiness, sadness, anxiety, everything you could think of.

All my life I have been training and preparing for this, but now that it is so close I can’t help but  doubt myself, doubt everything I have learned, I can’t help but ask myself, is this what I want?

 It doesn’t matter though, it is what the family wants, and it is what I will do. I take one more look at the rose before I sigh and put my books over it.

 ~~

HAIDAR ABDULKAREEM KASSEM’S POV

I stared blankly at my mother as her lips moved continuously; I heard nothing of what she said.  I raised my glass of wine to my lips and took a small sip, it was my second glass and I was hoping it would somehow numb away the stress.

 This was no doubt getting bothersome; I rubbed my temple wearily and shifted my gaze to the glowing embers in the mantle fireplace. I loathed this topic, loathed the discussion in general, but what choice did I have? After all, I was dealing with Sa’adiya Kassem, she called the shuts.

 A linear chain of command existed in the family, and I was accustomed to it. Being the last on the chain of three I was obliged to follow what the first two bids. My lack of power only ended in the family though, only ended within us three, anywhere else and I find myself being the one in charge, being the domineering bastard the men in the family were, I find myself walking the earth like I was born to rule.

 Letting out an exasperated sigh I leaned into my seat. Mother was still talking, and I had had just about enough.

 “Is  it too much to ask that you do as you please?”. I said.

 An irritated look crossed her face but vanished almost immediately, she regained her cool and composure at once.

 “Where are your manners, son?”. She said coolly.

 “Forgive me if my level of enthusiasm does not meet your expectance, I find myself less inclined to talk about this with every passing second”. I said.

 She said nothing, but I knew her, and from the twitching in the vein on her long and elegant neck, I knew she was upset.

 “It would be easier for both of us if you do not bother asking my opinion ‘cause it will not be given, just do as you please and leave me out of it”. I said calmly. “If you don’t mind I’ll excuse myself, do have a goodnight, mother”.

 With that I set the glass on the table, stood up, and walked away.

 My parents and I didn’t get along well ,and to maintain a peaceful relationship we simply gave each other their space and stayed the hell away from matters that didn’t concern you, the only times we actually worked together and agreed on something were during business hours.

 The ‘parents-son’ relationship never existed between us, not because I didn’t try but simply because they didn’t care about the so called relationship, they cared about money, profit, prestige and whatnot. Getting married to a cousin of mine would only boost the family’s wealth.

 I’ve known about this for a while but of course if I was to be unbothered I would have to look at the whole thing from a business perspective, which was simple, by marrying her I would profit because women didn’t run the affairs of the company, they could work but not lead, thus her father; my uncle would leave me in charge of her share of the company. I gained something without giving anything.

 All that aside though, the thought of marrying to acquire more wealth sickened me to my very bones, I may have deceived everyone into thinking I’m chill with the whole thing but I can’t lie to myself, I can’t pretend to myself that my life is perfect and everything is alright. And it is for that reason that I have visited therapist and told them my problems, it all came down to depression, which is nothing new if I’m to be honest.

 “Socialize more”. They said.

 What’d I do my whole life if not socialize?

 My problems are within me and I know it, they curse through my bloodstreams like the curse that they are, my problems lie within my blood.

I pushed the door open and stepped into my room; it was dark, just as I liked it. Twisted as it may sound I find the darkness more comforting than the light. I dreaded every rising moment of the sun, I cursed every streak of sunrise seeped into my room at the break of dawn, I hated every day that I had to put on a show, that I had to be someone other than the person I truly am.

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  • Broken Billionaire's Bride   TWO

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    “What game are you trying to play, Haidar? I watched you throw that cold attitude at Hayfa throughout the evening”. My mother hissed. “What would you rather have me do? Pretend to be something I’m not?”. I asked her.“Don’t talk to your mother like that, Haidar”. Father chastised. I shook my head, I wasn’t exactly pleased at the moment.“No, it’s you who shouldn’t talk to me like this, both of you”. I said to them. “I believe we owe each other some level of respect seeing that I’m not a kid anymore”. “I beg your pardon”. Father said. I pried my gaze from my laptop screen and met his.“Just because I choose to avoid a scandal and get married to Hayfa doesn’t mean I can’t do what I want”. I said to him and his expression hardened. “We’re getting married in a week’s time, I beg of you to let me be till then”. He made to say something but I shook my head.“Don’t lecture me about my attitude, don’t talk to me about the party, don’t talk to me about the wedding, and don’t talk to m

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  • Broken Billionaire's Bride   NINE

    “What game are you trying to play, Haidar? I watched you throw that cold attitude at Hayfa throughout the evening”. My mother hissed. “What would you rather have me do? Pretend to be something I’m not?”. I asked her.“Don’t talk to your mother like that, Haidar”. Father chastised. I shook my head, I wasn’t exactly pleased at the moment.“No, it’s you who shouldn’t talk to me like this, both of you”. I said to them. “I believe we owe each other some level of respect seeing that I’m not a kid anymore”. “I beg your pardon”. Father said. I pried my gaze from my laptop screen and met his.“Just because I choose to avoid a scandal and get married to Hayfa doesn’t mean I can’t do what I want”. I said to him and his expression hardened. “We’re getting married in a week’s time, I beg of you to let me be till then”. He made to say something but I shook my head.“Don’t lecture me about my attitude, don’t talk to me about the party, don’t talk to me about the wedding, and don’t talk to m

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    She stood there bathed in the soft golden hue of the limelight, she was dressed in a long red gown, the smooth fabric glistened ever so slightly as it absorbed the lights causing her to look almost ethereal. My gaze raked over her form slowly, from her shoes to her dress; how it fitted her perfectly, how the snug sleeves trailed down her hands, her face; the delicate features, from her wide almond shaped eyes to the soft curve of her nose, to her lips; small but full. And the golden veil wrapped loosely around her hair, she was…..beautiful.She was beautiful but I could see feel the nervousness oozing off her from where I stood, I could see the uncertainty in her eyes as she begun descending the stairs slowly, the quiet sounds of her heels clacking against the tiled steps were all that could be heard as the hall had hushed completely. I recalled what Aunt Atina had said and I began making my way towards the staircase. ‘Do you think her dress is a Versace?’. ‘Look at those shoes….’.

  • Broken Billionaire's Bride   SIX

    And as I stepped into the elegantly decorated hall a hush travelled around; it wasn’t something I wasn’t used to, so I ignored the staring eyes and scanned the place in search of my parents. I sighted them standing by the drinks stand with her parents, their cold gazes found mine and I cast them all a defiant look, I wasn’t sorry, I wanted them to know that. Our glare-off came to an end when my cousins suddenly crowded me, each one saying something different at once, and before I could say a word I felt a sharp pain on my arm caused by a pinch Sunaina had delivered, knowing how aggressive my cousins could be, I backed away from them. Low-key aggressive, yes, but aggressive nonetheless. “What took you so long, jerk?”. Sunaina hissed under her breath. I merely smiled at her as I regarded her wearily, her smooth face foundation tempting me. I reached for her nose subtly but she backed away waving her hands. “You’ll ruin my make-up”. She shrieked. That was the plan of course, but sh

  • Broken Billionaire's Bride   FIVE

    HAYFA’S POV Today’s the party, everything’s set, and my dress fits perfectly. Mother took her time and did my makeup herself, she kept talking about Haidar and I was almost dizzy and nauseous from anxiety. Every step I took down the stairs which lead into the event hall felt like torture, every breath I took sort to choke me, my body trembled so bad I feared I would faint. The lights soon went dim and my heart almost leapt out of my chest when the limelight suddenly came on and settled upon me, silence traveled all over the hall like wind would, the only sound that could be heard were the clacking sounds of my heels against the marble floors. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me, it felt as though I would melt under their scrutiny. My eyes darted around in search of nothing in particular, I didn’t know what I sort to find but as my gaze landed on a familiar face everything seemed to come a halt. ~~ HAIDAR’S POV I glanced at my phone when it beeped for the hundredth time, I had re

  • Broken Billionaire's Bride   FOUR

    HAYFA’S POV I rushed upstairs to my room, pushed the door open and walked in before I shut the rest of the world behind me. I rushed to my bed and collapsed on it, it was only then that I let the stinging tears streak down my cheeks. Painful sobs choked me and at that moment I felt like I would die. I shuddered at the thought of having to get married from someone who had the cursed Kassem blood running through his veins. I cursed the day I was born. I found myself wishing I could simply disappear, I wished I could run away and never look back, I wished things were different. Mother had invited all the family members and friends to my graduation party, even business associates would be there yet not a single soul from school was invited, none at all. They just needed an excuse to throw an extravagant party as the trailer before the real thing happened; the wedding. It hurt to know that I was just a pawn in their game, and I could do nothing but play along , I could do nothing bu

  • Broken Billionaire's Bride   THREE

    HAIDAR’S POV Zarah laughed. “Oh Hussein, you have a problem”. She drawled. “Alright alright”. He said raising his hand in surrender. “Well Haidar, we’ll leave now”. I nodded. “Thanks for dropping by”. I said as I made my way around the table. “Yup”. Zarah replied. Not much was said as I saw them off, I left orders with my secretary telling her I wanted no one else in my office, not even my parents, especially not them, with that I returned to my seat. Left to my solitude once more I turned on my laptop with the intention of getting to work, however, once it was connected to the Wi-Fi notifications began begun trooping in, I blinked as I caught sight of an article, it couldn’t be, I had to be mistaking, but of course I wasn’t.‘KASSEM WEDDING PART TWO’ More of its kind flowed in, and as much as I wanted to look away I couldn’t, I began scrolling. HAI-FA HAY-DAR Stupid articles like these were all

  • Broken Billionaire's Bride   TWO

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  • Broken Billionaire's Bride   ONE

    HAYFA ABDULRAHMAN KASSEM ’S POV As I took my seat I caught sight of it; a blood red rose tucked in the locker compartment of my desk. A small smile crossed my lips on seeing it, it wasn’t the first I had received of recent, but like always I feared it would be the last. What I didn’t understand was why anyone would take interest in the almost invisible girl in school. Not that I blamed anyone for not noticing me, not at all. As a kid I had made myself as scarce and quiet as I could be, no one ever noticed me, and I was cool with it. Why? I, Hayfa Abdulrahman Kassem, have been betrothed to my cousin; the arrangements long concluded before I was born, thus, training to be the perfect wife and daughter in law was made my first and only priority. For twenty two years I have lived having not a single soul to call a friend, of course mother said it didn’t matter, but the feeling of loneliness was one I couldn’t shrug. The wedding is to take place after graduation, and graduation is

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