Captive of His Dark Heart (Chapter One)
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Chapter One
He is a man who resembles darkness.. a man cruelly stabbed by fate, leaving nothing but the remnants of a soul that rejects life.. As for her, she came and pierced his dark life by pure chance.. with a pure, innocent heart and a soul desiring nothing but safety, she found herself trapped in his frightening darkness.. And another who knew nothing but that she loves him madly, a woman born with a heart that beats for one man.. It is the tale of a man lost in his own darkness.. his endless darkness.. A man trapped between two women.. the first owned his heart, and the other's heart he owned..!!
He stands before his mirror adjusting his tie, a feeling of absolute happiness completely taking over him..
He finished adjusting his tie to pick up his favorite perfume, spraying a lot of it before heading towards the bed to grab his jacket and put it on. He looked one last time at his elegant attire, which suited him perfectly as the groom tonight..
Today is the most important day of his life, as he will officially bind himself to the love of his life after years of passion and adoration..
Today, their love will be crowned with an engagement ring that documents all the moments of their love, which began in childhood when she was just a little girl who caught his attention with her long blonde hair and wonderful smile. She gradually grew up before his eyes, and he grew up with her, his adoration for her increasing until he discovered that his feelings were mutual. His love was not one-sided; it was reciprocated by her as well. Finally, hearts united with devotion and a love crowned today after years of waiting...
He heard knocks on the bedroom door, followed by his mother entering, cheering happily:
"My son, everything is ready and everyone is waiting for you both.."
Then she stepped towards him, contemplating him with joyful eyes, repeating:
"Mashallah, my son.. May God protect your youth and handsomeness, soul of your mother.."
He joked lightly:
"Don't exaggerate, Sabah Hanem..."
Then he bent towards her, kissing her forehead. she patted his shoulder with tenderness and joy, repeating:
"Your bride is ready, my son... Go to her so you can go down together to start the party.."
He buttoned a few buttons of his jacket, then headed towards the bouquet of flowers, carrying it with him as he left his room heading towards her..
..........................................................................
He stood before her, breathlessly contemplating that pure beauty which was, and will always be, his alone..
His eyes began to contemplate her long, carefully styled hair falling on the sides of her face in wonderful wavy blonde locks, then her unique eyes filled with that pure honey, radiating a sparkle that resembled her...
Her sculpted face with its delicately drawn features made him see no one else, and that shy smile tinged with pure joy..
Her distinctive dress made of white lace, which suited her snow-white skin perfectly..
He approached her, captivated by that European beauty and precious features, presenting her with the bouquet of tulip flowers she adores so much..
She took the bouquet, giving him a gentle smile, her voice coming out husky:
"Thank you..."
He smiled calmly, like a lover who finally won the prize of his passion, murmuring while his eyes passionately contemplated her radiant face:
"If you only knew how happy I am today.."
She interrupted him with a poetic voice:
"Not as much as my happiness, Nadeem.."
Then she added, gripping his hand while her other hand held her flowers:
"Aren't you going to say anything about my look today..?!"
He went back to contemplating her with the same passion, his tongue uttering what was churning inside his heart:
"The night, oh Layla, reproaches me... and tells me to greet Layla
Love's breezes are not sweet... unless passion sings for Layla"
Then he repeated, her smile widening and tears welling up in her eyes:
"Love's breezes are not sweet... unless passion sings"
"I love you.."
And that word was enough of an answer for him to reply with a long kiss, broadcasting his passion and desire through it..
....................................................................
Ammar stood in front of the window, contemplating the dark streets with their dim lights, his features rigid, nothing moving within them..
He felt a hand touch his shoulder while its owner asked:
"Aren't you going to your brother's engagement, Ammar...?!"
He turned towards her with eyes igniting with a fiery flash expressing what was going on inside him.. a flash that quickly disappeared as he replied:
"I will go, of course.. Is it conceivable that I don't attend my only brother's engagement..?!"
His last sentence came out with a sarcasm she realized, so she sighed, telling him:
"You won't cause any trouble there.. will you..?!"
He gave her a sharp look that made her feel dread, hearing him say firmly:
"I am not small-minded to do something like that.."
Then he left her and headed to his room to wear suitable clothes to go to that party, a deep desire inside him not to go, yet he had to..
.......................................................................
In the middle of the garden where the party is held..
Nadeem was standing with his arm around Layla, receiving congratulations from the attendees with great joy..
A handsome young man approached them, repeating with sincere delight:
"Congratulations on the engagement, my dears.."
Nadeem laughed, patting his arm, replying:
"Thank you, Akram.. May it be your turn next..."
"Amen.."
Akram said it while looking towards Maryam, Layla's younger sister, who was standing next to one of the party guests. Nadeem winked at him lightly, and Akram whispered to him:
"May it be my turn and I become your brother-in-law.."
Nadeem said 'Amen' to his prayer, while Akram excused himself, heading towards a group of his friends. Maryam approached them after a while, asking them happily:
"Do you need anything..?!"
Then she added with happiness and love:
"You both look absolutely wonderful and beautiful..."
She stopped talking as she noticed the disappearance of Nadeem's smile and the tension in Layla's features. She turned around to find Ammar approaching them, wearing a meek smile on his face...
She looked at him as he extended his hand towards his younger brother, repeating:
"Congratulations on the engagement, Nadeem..."
Nadeem replied, gripping his hand firmly:
"Thank you, Ammar.. May it be your turn next.."
"Congratulations to you too, dear Layla..."
He said it with the same affability. Layla smiled, answering him gently:
"Thank you, Ammar.. May it be your turn next, God willing.."
He smiled indifferently before looking at Maryam and greeting her formally. Then he withdrew, heading to a corner of the party, contemplating everyone with rigidity before his younger sister, Ghalia, approached him happily. He gave her a tight smile while she hugged him with love. He wrapped his arms around her body with difficulty, and she pulled away after a few moments, asking him about his well-being with sincere interest.
........................................................................
The next morning...
Nadeem descended the stairs enthusiastically, finding his mother in front of him ordering:
"No going out before having breakfast..."
He said seriously:
"I am late for the pharmacy... I promise you I will have my breakfast there.."
"But.."
"No buts, Sabah Hanem.. See you in the evening.."
He said it after interrupting her with a kiss on her cheek, rushing out of the villa towards the attached garage..
He got into his modern car and drove it out of the villa, stopping at the gate to greet the doorman:
"Good morning, Uncle Fadel.."
Fadel replied happily:
"And a good morning to you, my son.. Congratulations on your engagement, my son... "
"Thank you, Uncle.. "
Nadeem said it amiably, then turned his steering wheel towards the external road heading towards his pharmacy...
He arrived there after a while to find a police car parked next to the pharmacy and two policemen standing in front of the door. His features wrinkled with confusion and anxiety as he parked his car aside and got out of it..
He approached them, asking after exchanging greetings:
"What's happening here..?!"
He asked them in astonishment, and one of the officers asked him:
"Are you Nadeem Al-Khouli...?!"
Nadeem nodded, hearing the voice of the officer who came out from inside the pharmacy with one of the employees:
"Mr. Nadeem, we have an order to arrest you..."
"Why...?! What exactly is happening..?!"
He asked without comprehension, and the officer replied with what shocked him:
"You are accused of selling harmful narcotic drugs without a license..."
........................................................................
Sabah screamed in disbelief after hearing the words of one of Nadeem's friends who came to tell her what happened...
Ghalia ran towards her quickly, trying to find out what was going on, and Sabah told her while crying:
"They arrested your brother.. They arrested him, Ghalia.."
"Why..?! What did he do..?!"
She said it while turning towards his friend, asking him, and he replied:
"They say he sells narcotic drugs without a license.."
Ghalia shouted in denial:
"Impossible.. Nadeem would not do something like that... my brother would never do this... impossible..."
His friend agreed with her, saying:
"Of course, Nadeem wouldn't do something like that, but we must act now and find a good lawyer.."
Ghalia ran towards her room to fetch her phone, repeating:
"Ammar.. He must know what happened.."
Then she rang him, and he answered her with a sleepy voice:
"What's wrong, Ghalia..?! Why are you calling so early..?!"
Ghalia cried out:
"They arrested Nadeem, Ammar.. The police arrested him..."
She heard his voice saying quickly:
"I am coming right away, Ghalia..."
She hung up the phone and resumed crying before rushing out to her mother to tell her about Ammar's arrival, despite the latter's opposition to it, as she didn't want any help from him..
.......................................................................
In one of the popular areas, specifically in a very small, somewhat dilapidated old house..
When you step inside, you find the place simple, but warm and full of calm and peace..
Meanwhile, Hayat was sitting at the wooden desk placed in a corner of her small room, studying for her last subject in the final exams..
She heard the sound of the front door opening and realized that her father had finally returned from work..
She stood up quickly, welcoming him happily, as was her custom every evening..
She threw herself into his arms with joy, and he tightened his embrace in relief, enjoying her heart, which still worried about her staying alone all day..
"How was your day, my little one..?!"
Her father asked her with intense tenderness. She pulled away from him, telling him with her usual chatter:
"Very good.. I finished the subject and started reviewing it..."
Then she began telling him about the ease of the last chapters of the subject and how she completed them in a few short hours..
She was talking very enthusiastically before finishing her speech, saying:
"I will prepare dinner for you right away..!"
Her father objected, saying:
"Don't tire yourself, my little one.. I will prepare it.. As for you, go back to your studying or rest a little.."
But she firmly refused:
"I am not tired at all, Father.. Please let me prepare your food.."
And before he could object again, she was running towards the kitchen to prepare food for him..
She returned after a while carrying a medium-sized tray with some food on it..
She placed the tray on the table in front of the sofa he was sitting on, and her father started eating his food in silence..
"I put the tea on the stove.."
Her father loved drinking tea made by her hands in the evening after he finished eating his dinner..
Hayat felt her father's change and his sadness over something, so she asked him worriedly:
"You seem upset about something, Father.. What's wrong..?!"
He looked at her, answering:
"Nadeem Bey.."
She asked him anxiously:
"What about him..?!"
He replied, stopping his eating, sadness taking over his features:
"The police arrested him this morning.."
"What..?!"
She exclaimed in astonishment, then added inquiringly:
"Why..?! What did he do..?!"
Her father replied with distress:
"I don't know exactly what the reason is, but they say he sells unlicensed drugs in his pharmacy or something like that.."
"Is it conceivable that Nadeem Bey would do something like that, Father..?!"
She asked him in disbelief, and her father replied, defending him fiercely:
"Impossible.. Nadeem Bey would not do something like that.. I know him well... I have known him since he was a little child and he grew up day by day before my eyes.. He is a man of high morals who could not do such an act.."
Hayat knew that too, based on her father's talk, who always mentioned Nadeem Al-Khouli for his good upbringing and morals, so she felt surprised when he told her the reason for his arrest..
"It seems someone wants to frame him.."
Hayat said it seriously, and her father nodded, exclaiming in turn:
"Of course, my daughter.. May God help him and his mother and the rest of his family.."
Hayat asked him with interest:
"And what will his family do, Father..?! Won't they act and try to find the person responsible for this..?!"
Her father replied affirmatively:
"Of course they will... I hope their wealth and influence will help them prove his innocence.."
Hayat sighed, saying 'Amen' to his prayer:
"God willing, he will be released as soon as possible.."
Her father smiled sadly, while she got up from her place and approached him, hugging and comforting him:
"Do not be sad, Father.. God willing, he will get out as soon as possible.. I know how much you love the Al-Khouli family, especially Mr. Nadeem.."
Her father nodded, replying:
"I am sad because he does not deserve to go through this.."
Hayat smiled, telling him:
"God will release him, God willing..."
"Amen.."
Her father said it hopefully, while she pulled away from him slightly, saying:
"I will go check on the tea.."
Then she walked away towards the kitchen, leaving her father thinking about Nadeem's situation and his fate after being accused of such a charge..
..............................................................
After a period of time has passed..
In the courtroom..
Everyone stood in respect for the judge who was about to pronounce his verdict on the case in a few moments...
Layla turned towards Nadeem, contemplating him with eyes that hadn't stopped crying for a single moment since what happened, while Nadeem shifted his gaze between her and the judge, his heart praying to God to grant him victory despite his realization that all indications were against him, even after his lawyer's desperate attempts to prove his innocence..
Sabah was placing her hand on her chest in pain, supported beside her by her daughter Ghalia, followed by Ammar, who stood with his usual rigidity waiting for the judge's verdict...
"The court sentences the accused, Nadeem Hussein Al-Khouli, in his presence, to five years of imprisonment with hard labor, along with banning him from practicing his profession due to non-compliance with its ethics.."
As soon as the judge finished his verdict, his mother let out a loud scream, while Layla lost consciousness at the exact same moment...