Shabiyu arrived exactly at noon to pick up Anees from school. Since morning, she had been wrestling with indecision: should she go to him as he had ordered, or should she ignore him? She decided she wouldn’t go. No one could force her to do something against her will—not even God Himself would do that. If he was so powerful, let him come and drag her out by force. She had fortified her house like a fortress, locking every window and door. She knew Kainat would see her now, but only when God willed it, because she wasn’t even in Abuja—she was in Emo with one of her sugar daddies, a soldier. Despite the brave face she put on, her heart was gripped with intense fear. She was terrified, constantly checking the time on the clock with every passing second. When the clock struck exactly 7:00 p.m., her chest tightened with dread. Fear overwhelmed her heart. She knew, without a doubt, that this man was dangerous, a true enigma. In just a short time, he knew exactly where she was and even knew about the car she had left at the club. If he knew that much, there was likely nothing he couldn’t do. Who was this man? Why had their encounter been filled with nothing but trouble from the start?

She let out a hot, heavy breath and adjusted Anees, who was sleeping beside her on the couch. She gently touched her face, reciting a prayer over her. With a deep sigh, she turned her attention to the TV, where she was watching a Korean series, Queen of Tears. Despite her love for the show, she couldn’t enjoy it. She stared at the screen, but her mind was restless, jumping at every sound, glancing toward the door or window, fearing he might send someone to drag her out by force. She sat there until 10:00 p.m., and there was no sign of movement. Only then did she let out a massive sigh of relief, pick up Anees, and head to the bedroom. She took a shower after laying Anees down, emerging in a bathrobe that reached her knees, drying her hair with a small towel. She slipped into a light nightgown, went to bed, sprayed herself with perfume, and put on a hijab. She spread out her prayer mat, performed the Isha prayer along with optional prayers, and spent a long time supplicating, seeking protection from God against this man before picking up the Qur’an to recite. That night, Jaleela slept with one eye open.

The next morning, she got Anees ready and left to take her to school. Her heart was heavy from the moment they stepped out. Even in the car, she kept looking around nervously. For almost a week, Jaleela lived in fear of what might happen next. But gradually, everything seemed to pass, and their encounter began to feel like a distant story. Seeing that no further incidents occurred during this time, she pushed it to the back of her mind. Slowly, she started to regain her normal life. She bought a new Samsung phone and, upon activating it, called Kainat. Her ears ached from Kainat’s loud screams and chaotic chatter over the phone. She didn’t stay on the call for long and hung up. Shaking her head, she watched the crowd of people passing by the school gate. Glancing at her watch, she saw there were only two minutes left before dismissal. When the bell rang, Jaleela waited quietly for Anees to appear, but there was no sign of her, as if she had vanished into thin air. As other children came out and were picked up by their parents until none were left except the teachers, Jaleela began to sweat profusely inside the car. Her body trembled as she opened the door, got out, and rushed into the school. She searched everywhere for Anees, calling her name frantically, but there was no trace of her. She began to act like a madwoman, scouring every corner of the school, shouting Anees’s name. The remaining teachers joined in, checking if she had wandered somewhere else. As they searched, Anees’s teacher emerged from the principal’s office. Jaleela ran to her, screaming,

“Where’s Anees? Where’s Anees? How could you let her leave before dismissal?”

The teacher, visibly shocked, replied, “I was just coming from the principal’s office about this. It’s been a whole week since Anees last came to school.”

Jaleela’s eyes widened in terror, and she clutched her chest, saying, “I don’t understand what you’re saying. Anees hasn’t been to school for a week? Then who have I been dropping off and picking up every day?”

She spoke as if she were about to attack the teacher. The nearby teachers quickly intervened, urging her to calm down. Jaleela continued in a rage, “What kind of nonsense is this? I bring my daughter here every day and pick her up, and you’re telling me she hasn’t been to school for a week? Are you insane or blind? Where is my child?”

The teacher, now angry, retorted sharply, “Madam, don’t insult me. Why would I lie to you? I’m paid to teach and care for your daughter. Part of my job is to ensure her well-being, and if I weren’t doing that, I wouldn’t have noticed her absence or reported it to the principal. There’s no reason for me to lie. It’s been a week since she last came.”

Jaleela’s heart sank. “Innalillahi wa Inna’ilaihi raji’un,” she muttered, collapsing into tears and wails. “Oh God, I’m doomed!”

Her cries drew a crowd, including the principal, who came out to see what was happening. Her wailing was so pitiful that it evoked sympathy from everyone. She was completely out of her senses. She explained how she brought Anees to school every day and picked her up after dismissal, yet no one had noticed her absence or departure. Something wasn’t right. Like someone possessed, she jumped up from where she had been sitting in despair and ran out of the school. She stopped abruptly at the gate, frozen in place, her eyes locked on a sleek PRADO parked nearby. It wasn’t the car that halted her—it was the man leaning against it. He wore casual blue baggy jeans and a fitted shirt that clung to his body, paired with a black leather biker jacket. His hair was tied back in the middle, with loose strands falling over his face, partially covered by dark sunglasses. His striking appearance was impossible to ignore. Jaleela stood frozen, seeing nothing and no one but him. Her brown eyes locked onto him, her chest burning as if boiling water were being poured over her.

He tilted his head slightly, eyeing her from head to toe, then flashed a smirk. Slowly, he opened the car door, and Anees’s small legs appeared as she stepped out. He extended his hand to help her down. Jaleela let out a heavy breath, her chest pounding as if struck by a hammer. She clutched her chest, gasping. A wave of relief mixed with hot tears streamed down her cheeks. Trembling, she rushed toward him, yanking Anees from his grasp with force. Before he could react, she slapped him hard across the face, causing his head to turn. He kept his face turned, staring to the side, not looking back. Only God knew the pain in his heart. He was furious, his eyes turning red with anger. For the second time, she had made the same mistake.

When he turned to face her, his piercing, coal-like eyes made her step back in fear. But her burning, defiant heart refused to back down. She began hurling insults at him, saying everything that came to her mind. She didn’t stop until she unleashed a torrent of curses, concluding with, “InshaAllah, just as you’ve entered my daughter’s life and robbed me of peace and tranquility, may Allah test you with the same torment you’ve thrown me into. You’re the cause of every hardship I’m facing, and I’ll never forgive you. Get out of my life and my daughter’s!”

His lower lip twitched as he stared at her with a strange look. What was she ranting about? Was he the cause of her troubles? With a huff, she turned away, and he watched her with his fiery red eyes. As she put Anees in the car and walked around to get in, she heard him say, “You just made the same mistake you made before. So watch out for me.”

His words sent chills through her entire body. Without looking back, she jumped into the car, started it, and sped off, leaving him and the onlookers in the dust. This man terrified her now. Honestly, she couldn’t continue living like this with him around. He was like a jinn. How could he take Anees every time she dropped her off and return her for pickup without anyone noticing? Was he even human? She let out another heavy breath and glanced at Anees, who was clutching a large pink teddy bear, sitting silently as if unwell and reluctant to part with the man. That couldn’t happen—she had to act fast to keep Anees away from him. She felt he might take her daughter away. But where could she go now? Home, her heart answered. Tears washed over her face as she repeated home under her breath.

He stood for a long time before opening his car door and sitting in the back. Leaning back, he closed his eyes, breathing slowly. Her words echoed in his ears: “InshaAllah, just as you’ve entered my daughter’s life and robbed me of peace and tranquility, may Allah test you with the same torment you’ve thrown me into. You’re the cause of every hardship I’m facing, and I’ll never forgive you. Get out of my life and my daughter’s!”

What did she mean by that? Zain, sitting in the driver’s seat, turned to look at him with concern. Today, only Zain had come with him because they were investigating people he suspected were following Jaleela without her knowledge. Their target seemed to be Anees. What Jaleela didn’t know was that every move she made was in the palm of his hand. He knew things about her that even she didn’t know. He had noticed people following her every time she took Anees to school. After she dropped her off, they would park nearby, plotting to take Anees. The day he confirmed his suspicions, he devised a perfect plan. As soon as Jaleela dropped Anees off, before anyone could get to her, his boy inside the school would bring her out to him. He didn’t know why he was protecting a girl whose mother he despised, but he couldn’t shake the strange connection he felt whenever he saw Anees or was near her. He convinced himself he was protecting her because she was an innocent, pure child, even if she wasn’t raised in the way of the Sunnah. Letting out a deep breath, he gently touched the side of his face where she had slapped him.

“But her hand is so soft.”

“What? Dude, no.”

A smile crept onto his face as he argued with himself internally.

“You know this is messed up,” Zain said. “What’s going on? Did you know her so well that she could slap you, and you did nothing?”

He opened his eyes, meeting Zain’s confused gaze. They locked eyes, and he could see the worry in Zain’s expression. Without breaking eye contact, he said, “She’s that girl from seven years ago.”

Zain’s eyes widened in shock. She was the same girl who had slapped him years ago, making him do something out of character. This world was terrifying. He let out a heavy breath, feeling a weight in his chest. Now, seeing Jaleela clearly, he couldn’t deny the sudden attraction he felt toward her.

“Follow her,” he ordered.

Without hesitation, Zain started the car and sped onto the road. Jaleela parked her car in the compound of Zain’s house just as their PRADO pulled in. Her heart raced as she jumped out, grabbed Anees, and rushed toward the house. As she opened the door, he reached out and touched her. Before she could turn, he said, “Meet me at the address I gave you today by 7 p.m.”

Without waiting for a response, he turned and returned to his car. Jaleela let out a hot breath, clutching Anees tightly. Watching them drive off, she opened the house and went inside. By 7 p.m., she had made her decision. She packed her things into the car’s trunk, wearing a long maroon Dubai-style gown. Anees was dressed in a pretty peach outfit. She handed the house keys to the gateman, and they left. She headed straight to the address he had given her—a luxurious house in Maitama. The gate was heavily guarded, but to her surprise, it opened before she even reached it, as if they were expecting her. She parked, and a man was already waiting for her. Holding Anees, she stepped out and followed him to the entrance. After a brief wait, the door opened, and their eyes met. He was wearing a white shirt and black pants, his hair damp as if he had just showered. His face showed no emotion as he said, “Come in.”

He opened the door wider, and she stepped inside, holding Anees tightly. Stopping at the entrance, she faced him directly and said, “I’m here. What do you want?”

Instead of answering, he looked at her with narrowed eyes and asked, “What would you like to drink?”

As if provoked, she snapped, “You’re wasting my time. Tell me why you wanted to see me here.”

He glanced at Anees, who was looking at him with a clear desire to go to him. With a small smile, he extended his hand and said, “Come here, baby.”

Anees quickly slipped out of Jaleela’s grip and ran to him, laughing. Jaleela’s jaw dropped in shock and disbelief as she watched them. He kissed Anees on the forehead before gently setting her down, saying, “Go and play, okay? I need to talk to Mummy.”