Three days passed and Noor's morning routine was making breakfast for Leonardo and accompanying him while he was eating.

She really doesn't know what is going on in his unpredictable mind.

"What do you need to get from here?" Noor asked to Jack as they unbuckled their seat belts.

" Maya ordered something and its ready. So we are here to take it "he said and Noor nodded in amusement while making a silent oh as they exited the car.

They were infront of an art store. Maya told Jack to retrieve her item as it's ready and she was busy to go herself.

Jack thought bringing Noor out would be a good idea for her to refresh her mind and not stay cooped inside the house.

Hearing the art store Noor didn't hesitate to accept because of her love for arts. She is a pretty good artist if you give her just a brush and colors. 

" You can look around and take something if you want. I'll buy it for you." Jack announced before he left her to take Maya's item.

Noor's eyes lightened with excietment seeing all the stationaries, colors and books. It's been a while she played with those.

Should I buy something?

She was so lost in the world of arts that she did not know there were people around her and among them were two that are close to her.

" Excuse me" Noor felt a tap on her shoulder and she was brought out from her peaceful excitement.

She turned around and to her surprise she met the person she missed dearly " H-haya?"

" Noor D!( sister). I knew it was you!!" The young woman infront cheered in happiness and she couldn't help but hugged Noor.

Noor was shedding tears due to excitement and happiness seeing her cousin after three months. 

" How are you D! Where have you been?" Hafsa broke the hug as she asked and Noor wiped her tears as she smiled.

" Leave about me , how are you? and how is uni?" Noor changed the subject not wanting to talk about herself and worry Haya.

Before Haya could say anything a male voice called out to her in anger
" HAYA!"

Both the girls turned to the source of the voice and was met with a fuming middle aged man and seeing Noor his expression added with a disgust.

What is she doing here?

" Dad look D-"

" Let's go Haya!" He dragged Haya by her arms, even though she was protesting he did not listen " Uncle!"

He stopped in his track listening to her called for him " W-what wrong have I e-ever did?"

Hafsa was confused at her words but the two clearly knows what she was talking about " What happen D? Dad what is she talking about?"

" Nothing! let's go!" but before he could go, Noor caught his hand and stopped him from going. 

She won't let him go until she gets her answer. She wasn't sure when they will be able to meet again, or will they ever meet again?

" Uncle j-just please tell me this. Have you ever accepted me as your o-own?" She bit her trembling lips trying to stop herself from crying.

The question she dread the most even though she knows the answer to it she still wants to hear it from her uncle's mouth. Even if it was a lie she would believe it.

Because she don't want to lose the only family she has.

"No and never I will." he declared with gritted teeth and clenched fist. 

Noor felt her heart was ripped from its place. Her uncle's words were replaying non-stop in her mind and she felt coldly lonely.

He never will accept her. She was officially an orphan right now.

Noor never thought this day would come to her. After her parent's death she considered her uncle and his family as her own but maybe it was just her alone who was thinking as such.

" Then why d-did you took me in?" She asked with heavy heart as she clenched her fabric holding her feelings.

Noor's uncle jerked her grip on his hand which took her by surprise making her go unbalance but thankfully she caught herself.

" You think I wanted? I was forced to take you in! People were looking at us and felt pity for you. My reputation would've been at stack had I not take you in!" he explained in anger and frustration evident in his tone.

Noor was at a disbelief what she just heard. Reputation? Everything he ever did was just to save his reputation!

People of the society are really vile creatures. Because of such societies, many households only cares about their Reputation infront of people who has no relation with whatsoever.

And every single time decisions are made for their (societies) satisfactions rather than for themselves.

Noor wiped her tears as she knows nothing will change and her uncle won't take her in ever again.

Why would he? When he himself didn't want to do it in the first place.

" T-thank you for taking me in and I am sorry I was a forced responsibility and a b-burden u-upon you " she apologized while giving a sad smile.

Haya sure doesn't knows what is happening but she knows she has to stop this and smack some senses in her father " Dad what are you doing! She is your niece! How could you be so cruel?!"

" SHE IS NO NIECE OF MINE! SHE IS A BAD OMEN!" He scowled heartlessly spitting those words out from his mouth " Just like her mother"

" Uncle please!" Noor warned her uncle while looking at him with angry eyes hearing him say something about her mother.

" Don't bring m-my mother in this! Why d-do you hate me so much?" She asked still couldn't wrap her mind on the reveled hatred from her uncle.

Noor's uncle walked to her close with glaring gaze as he whispered
" Because your father married a poor woman and you are her daughter"

"W-what?" She asked at the unreasonable reason of her uncle's hatred.

Just because her mother was poor he hates her so much that he does not accept her as his niece?

So all these years she meant nothing to him?

" You father married a woman below  our status!. That fool was so in love that he went blind and became her slave!. I told him that woman is a bad omen but he never listen and see what it did to him! He died!"

Noor has always known her parents are different. Both are from different countries but according to her father's family, her mom is a poor person as she was from village and illiterate.

Netheirless, her parents loved each other dearly and were a happy married couple. 

Even when her father's family side rejected her mother, her husband stayed with her. 

Noor never thought her uncle hates her just because she was the daughter of someone of a lower status.

But she is also his niece, his brother's daughter. Isn't that enough of a reason to accept her at least?

" You sure are no different from a bastard either" The voice came rumbling behind Noor as she felt a presence.

" Excuse me? Who ar-" before Noor's uncle could complete his question he remembered who the man behind Noor was.

"Y-you!" Omar stepped back and protectively hid her daughter behind him " I have already signed those papers!  What else do you want now!" 

" Dad who is that?" Haya asked curious when she saw her dad slightly trembling seeing the guy infront of them.

" H-haya you go to the car" Omar whispered which made her frown
" Why?"

" JUST GO!" He whisper yelled at her making her flinch and she left not wanting to anger her dad.

Jack was standing with a cold expression glaring at Omar. He got the item they came for even though it took time for the storekeeper to look for it.

" I see you have a daughter" Jack felt to shoot the greedy man straight on his forehead but he held back the urge to do so. 

If he wasn't Noor's uncle he wouldn't hesitate to do it but fortunately for him he was and Jack didn't want to upset Noor.

" Let's go Noor. We are done here"  he said as he locked his hand with her. He knows that if he stayed any longer he won't be able to control his anger.

Jack can't believe such people exists and hates someone due to some stupid reasons.

He heard everything from when Omar shouted rejecting Noor as his niece.

Seeing their hands intertwined together, negative thoughts were forming in Omar's mind making him disgusted by the sight.

" No wonder you are alive. So you were able to wrap him around your fingers." He commented and glared with dissapointment and disgust at Noor.

" Slut like her mother" he murmured under his breath but it was enough for Jack to hear.

Rage was an understatement when he heard what Omar said. His hand clenched into a tight fist turning his knuckles white.

If Noor didn't see his expression and stopped him, God knows what could've happened.

" J-Jack let's go. Please" she begged with her moist eyes as she held his hand with her trembling ones.

With great difficulty Jack dragged her out of the shop as tears finally fall freely from her.

"Hey Noor! yo-" Maya couldn't complete her greeting Noor went straight to her room while silently sniffling her sobs.

" What happen to her" she murmured to herself and saw Jack coming in with a fuming expression.

 Maya speculated the two couple may have fought on their way seeing their actions totally clicking .

An excited smile stretched on her face as she hoped her way to Jack " my oh my did you guys had your first couple fight?"

She teased the guy while wiggling her eyebrows as he scoffed irked " No Maya"

" Come on. You don't need to lie" she liglty punched him thinking he was hiding their couple fight as Jack sighed " I am not"

" Then what happened?" She asked with a frown and curious at what happened.

Jack brushed his hand through his thick brown locks and told everything what happened at the shop.

" That fucking greed!" Maya cursed after listening what Jack said.

" I want to go and talk to her but I think it's best to give her some time alone" He said and Maya nodded in agreement as they both sighed worriedly.

Have you ever wondered why physical pain is much better than emotional pain?

Because even when both pain leave scars; it wont hurt physically anymore but emotionally you will remember it and each time it grows more painful than the other.

Wouldn't death be a better pain? It hurts less and finishes fast.

What was her mistake to deserve such an unfairly treatment? If only they did not meet today.

" M-mama... Baba... I miss you" Noor sobbed as she hugged her knees and curled in the corner while letting all her feelings out.

Night arrived and Noor still did not come out of her room. Jack and Maya tried to make her come out but she shooed them away.

" It's ok. She will come out tomorrow morning" Maya assured Jack patting his back before she left the place.

Don't do anything stupid princess .

With the next morning arose Jack was not able to see Noor as he went out for some work with Andrew. 

Three days passed and Noor was depressed. No one was blind to miss it, anyone can tell she was depressed but she told them she was okay if asked.

Jack tried to talk with her or take her out to cheer her mood and make her forget those ugly things but Noor was not in the mood to go out.

Leonardo saw everything; how she was silent and always in her own thoughts. 

She looked like a walking dead body with the tired face and she seemed weak.

She was not talking with him like she used to whenever she sits with him for breakfast.

Yes, Noor talks with him sometimes during breakfast. It would be awkward if no one talked and Noor gladly took the initiative to do so.

" Get ready. I am taking you out" Leo declared as he placed down his cup and crossed his legs over each other.

He had enough of the dark clouds that was hanging over her head. He was not sure what happened but he doesn't want to see her like that. 

Ever.

Leonardo noticed she was again lost in her thoughts so he snapped his fingers in front of her breaking her from her thoughts.

"Y-yes? Did you need something?" Noor asked while fiddling with her fingers.

" I said we are going out" he repeated.

Noor wasn't sure what his intentions were but she didn't want to go out . At least not now.

" I-I"

" I wasn't telling you; it was an order "  He rephrased and looked at her with a daring look warning her to not argue with him.

" Get ready in 10"  He said as he stood from his seat and wore his coat that was hanged on the standing clothes holder beside his study table.

Noor internally sighed and have no choice but to go with him. She wasn't feeling to argue with anyone and knowing he is stubborn and won't back down she agreed.

"Let's go" Leonardo turned off the car engine as they reached the destination and Noor tiredly got off the car.

Finally they reached the place as Noor sighed while rolling her eyes, irked that she's been sitting in the car for who knows how long .

My bump hurts :(  .

She didn't know it will be this tiring going out with him. Noor looked at the place infront of her and they were at a mall.

Not any mall. It was a big fat humongous mall.

She can't believe Leonardo made her change her outfit many times just to come to a freaking mall?!

And finally he was satisfied with her simple gray abaya. She don't know why he even was choosing her clothes.

At first she wore a simple red anarkali and on the spot he told her to change which made Noor confused. 

Second she was in a lose shirt and pant with a long black cardigan and black scarf and he denied making her return to her room to change.

It continued for three more rounds and finally he was satisfied with the simple outfit.

She wondered why he even was minding her outfit in the first place. 

Leonardo knocked on his car roof noticing Noor was lost in her thoughts again. He gestured his head telling her to follow him.

Before she could ask what they are here for, Leonardo walked away and Noor quickly followed him behind.

Entering the building, Noor was amazed. It wasn't just any mall. It was an open mall with small other shops of different brands side by side.

There were even cafes and restaurants too!

There were so many people with their family and loved ones having their own fun time.

Noor was curious what Leonardo wanted to buy to come here with her. He could've taken Maya, Michelle or Fiona too.

Meanwhile somewhere else in a study room. The place was an utter mess.

Papers were all over the floor and shattered pieces of items that seemed to have been broken purposefully were scattered on the ground.

"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN YOU STILL CAN'T FIND HER?!" 

A guy screamed on top of his lungs at his subordinates, his veins were popping from its places due to his rage and his eyes were red.

" S-sir we tried our best to l-look for her b-but there was nothing we f-find" one of his subordinates reported, even though he was scared shitless and wants to hide.

" THEN FUCKING LOOK FOR HER HARDER! ITS BEEN THREE MONTHS!"

A knock interrupted them and the guy groaned frustrated as he brushed his hand through his already messy hair annoyingly.

" Go to her neighborhood and ask them again. If they refuse to tell. Kill them"

The subordinate nodded and quickly left the room not wanting to face the wrath of his boss any longer as another person entered the room.

The guy looked at the person with his  cold gaze as he stepped on the glass pieces and walked around to his chair " What is it"

" The girl you told me to look into during the party" he cleared his throat before continuing his report
" I think its the one you are looking for?"

The guy frowned at his words as he tried to remember which girl he was talking about when suddenly he recalled of the only woman that was covering her hair at the Grand Ball.

The man handed some papers he gathered to his boss as he took and read the reports he brought.

His gaze first landed on the top right corner of the paper that has a mini photo attached.

Seeing the photo he was silent for a while.

Soon he was trembling with laughter. His demeanor changed as his once angry gaze switched to one filled with madness.

" Oh baby. No wonder you were hard to find" he muttered under his breath as he caressed the photo.

" What took you so long for this" his hard voice and gaze made the man gulp a lump down his throat due to nervousness.

" Sir, it was r-really hard to get her information because no one in the party saw her and she barely c-comes out of the place. You know how loyal those people are too. S-so it took us some time to d-do it" he explained.

He hummed and let it slide for now
" You got me the reports so good job."

"Now.... shall we send another message to our friend?" he smirked.

" I don't w-want it" Noor declined at the jewel Leonardo was showing her.

It was a beautiful diamond necklace. A simple design, light weight but elegant styling was what made it beautiful and attractive.

" Why? You don't like it?" He asked with a raised eyebrow at her rejection.

" No no it's beautiful but... I just..." she trailed her words unsure of how to explain him without being mean.

" Sir, I can't accept this" she said as politely as she could and Leonardo hates that she still refuses him.

But the most he dislike was when she called him sir.

" I didn't say it was for you." Hearing him Noor felt a rush of embarrassment and she felt to walk away that instant.

True he didn't say that. He just asked her opinion on the necklace and it was her who thought he was buying for her.

Oh God!! How embarrassing >~<!.

Seeing her reaction a smirk stretched on his smug face and he felt to pinch her red cheeks that looked like tomatoes right now.

Cute.

At the end Leonardo bought the necklace . As they were exiting the shop Noor felt to choke her boss for embarrassing her.

He continued to drag her and ask her opinions on the item but also not leaving the chance to tease, flirt or embarrass her yet again.

Noor was left agape all the time as his smug smirk continues to stretch.

But amongst all these her mood lightened up.

One thing she noticed was that, he bought the things only which she recommended.

And all were women items only.

" WAIT!" Noor shouted and Leonardo stopped in his track as he turned.

Her face soon was splashed with redness seeing the next shop they were going to go.

On top of the shop was its name revealed boldly in the daylight.

Hot Night.

Anyone reading it knows what kind of shop it is.

Well it's obvious too by the dresses displayed behind the glass wall of the shop.

" A-are we going there?" She asked hesitantly shy as Leonardo looked her up and down as if thinking something.

" Yes"

Before she could say anything, he simply entered the shop and it was making Noor more embarrassed and shy than anything else he did so far!

She groaned and followed him unwillingly but was sure to make it seem like she did not come with him.

The place was filled with murmurs and flushed girls gawking at Leonardo instead of the clothing.

Shyness was filled in her system seeing the thin fabric that barely has any fabric .

" Do you like these styles?" The question caught her off guard and her gazed went up to to Leo's.

Noor could see people looking at them and she has never liked public attention so she avoided his question.

The blush on her cheeks was making Leonardo excited to turn it even more red if possible.

" I asked you something" he informed noticing that he was ignoring him.

" Why are we here?!" She whispered yelled at him and he was dumbfounded that he was getting scolded by her.

" Why shouldn't we be here?" He raised an eyebrow with a smirk as he knew he made her speechless.

This man!

Noor can't believe they stayed for a complete 15 minutes in the shop with him shamelessly showing her the clothes if it was possible to call it that even though it has no much fabric.

Finally they were out and Noor was  much relief and thankful for it than anything else today.

People were murmuring and showing their jealousy and lust when they saw Leonardo and Noor shopping.

Well in the public eyes they were a couple seeing how Leonardo was showing her the outfit and buying it.

A certain blue shop caught Noor's attention and seeing the poster stand and flyers all over the glass wall , her eyes beamed in excitement.

Leonardo watched her gaze looking at the aquarium at the far end and guessed she wants to go in there. 

" I will put these in the car, wait for me at the aquarium"  He said and took the bags Nor was holding and gave her his credit card.

He sprint off before Noor could talk anything about the credit card he gave her. 

Noor sighed and went to the aquarium excitedly. She's always had the love for marine animals, especially its habitat.

A calming, cool silent place she wish to be drowned in. 

Noor felt a presence beside her as she was looking at the fishes and other aquatic animal swimming behind the secured glass wall.

She knew who it was by the scent of his cologne " You didn't run away."

And she was right.

" Will you not search for me if I did?" She whispered and Leo chuckled at her question.

Even if she did run away, she has no where to go to and no one to depend. What's the use of running away only to be caught once again?

It will just be a futile attempt.

Memories of  when she first came to the aquarium with her uncle, aunt and Haya played in her eyes.

How she missed those moments. It was one of the memories she cherished the most because that day her uncle was trying to be funny for Haya who was crying.

A light chuckle vibrated from her as she recalled the funny things her uncle tried to do to cheer up her daughter.

SHE IS NO NIECE OF MINE! SHE IS A BAD OMEN!

Her uncle's hurtful words ringged in her ears once again and she still could not overcome the pain she got from him.

" I didn't knew- being a daughter of a p-poor woman w-will make him hate me s-so much" Words came out of her mouth before she could control them.

But she was too engrossed in her emotion to understand what she was saying.

Leonardo wasn't sure what she was talking about but he sure want to kill that bastard who made her sad.

" He was like a f-father to me but I never knew he didn't want me so m-much that he s-sold me" a drop of tear fall from her eyes as she let out all the emotion.

He stretched his hand to her cheeks and she turned herself to him. Her lips trembled as more tears filled her heart-rending eyes.

" H-he hates me" she sobbed and Leonardo clenched his free hand as he wiped off her tears.

Noor felt suffocating every time her emotions torture her. She can't stand it. She is not a strong person emotionally.

She never was.

She wants a break. A break from all the emotions. Oh how she wish to go numb.

" I am an orphan" she whispered as if telling herself and she went into silent hysterical cries while clenching her outfit trying to stop her sobs.

Leonardo was perplexed. He doesn't know how to care of people who cry. He only knows how to make them cry.

He cupped her other cheeks and it made her look at him. Her red damp eyes looked into his soft jet black ones. 

A meter distance between them which he so wanted to close as he whispered words making her heart calm " I will be with you. Till the end. Till death do us apart."

The voices of few people around and the screaming of the excited children blurred as they were lost with each other.

His thumb caressed her cheeks as his gaze went to her lips. The small gape was slowly closing as he closes the distance.

She knew what he was doing, she knew what he was going to do.

Her hand went up to his that was holding her right cheek as if bringing him to his senses and telling him to stop.

He halted at his spot. One wrong move and their lips would meet. One push and his lips would be on her soft ones.

As much as Noor was feeling it so wrong for them to be this close, she also felt it right. 

Unknowingly right.

His black orbs held mixed emotions Noor never saw in them and it never failed to attract her due to the hidden mystery it hold.

Without much thoughts, she placed her soft lips onto his catching him off guard. A pleasant feeling fluttered within him.

She kissed him.

◇  ◇  ◇  ◇  ◇

☆This weapon called emotion is really one hell of a weapon. Don't make it take a toll on you.

☆ But anyways another week another chapter! Hope you enjoy it!

Happy reading!.