His Substitute Wife

The Beginning of the End

Once the signing process had been complete, the celebrations had begun. There were kids running around happily, adults eating and dancing while catching up as well as people walking up to and greeting the new bride and groom. 

Aleena couldn't understand what in the world was happening. For a temporary marriage, the Arslans were taking it way too seriously and all Aleena could do was stand around stoically and greet everyone as they happily introduced themselves to her. Had the situation been different, Aleena would have felt very accepted and would have felt extreme gratitude for the warm welcome and acceptance. However, no matter how beautiful the people were, she just couldn't bring herself to be moved. It was instead somewhat torturous to her.  

However what really made the situation all the more terrible for Aleena was the fact that Nihal just stood to the side and watched the entire interaction between the bride and groom and their guests with a sad look in her eyes. Aleena was sure that she was reminiscing the days that it was her standing beside Zayd and greeting their wedding guests. To make the situation all the more harsh though, all the guests were aware that Nihal was Zayd's first wife yet instead of feeling sad for her, they all looked at her with judging eyes and gossiped about her right in front of her. Somehow she got all the blame for the divorce and they believed that watching her ex-husband get married to someone else was evidence that she had done something so terrible that the Arslans were punishing her so harshly. 

Aleena really wanted to shout at all of them to shut their mouthes and keep their noses in their own businesses but her friend was excellent at reading her so every time she had been riled up to her brim, Nihal gave her the same disappointed look, telling her to keep her cool. Once again, she couldn't help but admire her friend's patience. 

But to make everything all the more confusing and frustrating for Aleena, her new husband didn't look bothered at all by anything that was said about Nihal. He just greeted everyone respectfully with a smile on his face. And the number of men he had to greet was plenty since he was the very well loved and respected tribe leader of Mardin. However, that also meant that the number of people judging Nihal was also plenty. 

Finally as the sun came down, the people slowly began to disperse and leave for their homes. Aleena couldn't help but sigh in relief. She felt exhausted. She couldn't help but wonder what the wedding would have been like had they actually had more than one day to prepare. 

"You should leave too now," Rezan sultan suddenly said, gaining Aleena's attention. "You are not the lady of this household anymore so don't come and go as you please. There are basic rules of respect you should follow." 

Aleena felt her heart sink, knowing that the madam was talking to Aleena. She really knew how to hit someone savagely when they were already down. She had absolutely no remorse at all. 

"In Mardin, is it not disrespectful to kick a guest out of your home?" Aleena found herself asking the madam as she walked beside her friend. "I was taught that honouring and respecting a guest is one of the most significant values a person could have." 

Although she didn't mean to, Aleena had just started a silent war with the madam of the house. Rezan sultan already did not like the girl too much, but now that she was showing her true colours and speaking back to the madam, she found her even less likeable. 

"It's okay," Nihal suddenly said, breaking the tension between the new bride and her in law. If Nihal knew one thing about Rezan sultan, it was that she would never let something like this pass by. She would attack Aleena with her words in the most painful way possible. She needed to stop the brewing fight before it could explode and cause an explosion that would break down the entire house. "I'm going to miss my plane if I don't leave soon." 

"You're place?" Aleena turned to her with a confused look. "Don't you live in Mardin?" 

Nihal walked towards the exit of the house and pulled Aleena with her before she whispered, "The man I am marrying lives in the capital. I'll be there for the next few months." 

Aleena had completely forgotten that Nihal too was getting married to someone else. It was why the madam had insisted on her son marrying someone else too. 

"I know your upbringing and lifestyle is very different to the people of Mardin, but please try to fit in. I'm not telling you to give up your beliefs, but try to understand where everyone else is coming from before starting a fight with them." 

As much of a good and respectfully person as Aleena was, she still had a very stubborn streak to her and she also had great pride. She wasn't rude to others however she made sure her opponent knew that she didn't like something if she didn't. She was truthful and didn't hide her feelings. 

"I won't start fights," Aleena told her friend. She wished it was a promise but she already knew that she would not be able to get along with Rezan sultan. They were bound to butt their heads together over one thing or another. However, she would definitely try her hardest to stay calm in every situation she faced. That she promised. 

"If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to call me," Nihal then said as they walked towards her car. "I will also call you whenever I have the opportunity to do so." 

Aleena nodded her head in response before the two tearfully bid their goodbyes. Aleena waited until her friend's car was completely out of sight before she returned to the Arslan  residence. 

The moment she entered however, she felt her heart sink. The house was huge and although all the maids stood in front of her and smiled at her face, she felt small and unwelcome. 

Rezan sultan suddenly showed up in front of Aleena with a cold look on her face. 

"Zeynep," she called, causing the young maid to run towards her. "Take her to her room and prepare her for the night." 

Aleena's brows furrowed in confusion. She didn't understand what Rezan sultan meant by "prepare her for the night" but she assumed that there was some sort of traditional wedding after party that she needed to prepare for. 

Zeynep uttered a quick, "Yes, madam," before she turned to Aleena with a smile, took her hand and lead her towards the bedroom. 

However, Aleena froze when Zeynep turned to the opposite direction of the room she had been staying in.

"Where are you taking me?"

"To your room," Zeynep smiled.

"My room is that way." 

"You will be living with your husband from now on," Rezan sultan's voice sounded from down the stairs. Aleena turned to her with a shocked expression. "Your place is beside him." 

Aleena started to slightly hyperventilate. She couldn't understand why they were taking this marriage so seriously despite knowing the conditions of it. 

"No," Aleena gasped once they entered the room. "I can't live here with another man!" 

"Don't be silly," Zeynep giggled, as if forgetting the condition of the marriage herself. "He's not just any man, he's your man!" 

Aleena was speechless. Had she entered some sort of asylum? How was everyone acting so naturally? How were they disregarding the biggest fact of this marriage despite being very aware of it? Or was this some sort of sick joke to test Aleena's patience? 

Zeynep suddenly moved behind Aleena and unzipped her dress, the sound causing Aleena to focus out of her thoughts again. Once she was out of the dress, the girl moved her to the bathroom that was adjoined to the bedroom. She then helped her strip naked but Aleena stopped her before she could take her undergarments off. 

"I can do it myself," she told her, feeling shy. She wasn't used to having another woman in her life to help her with undressing and certainly not with showering. 

"Are you sure?" Zeynep asked, causing Aleena to quickly nod her head. 

Zeynep smiled at her before she stepped out of the bathroom. 

Although Aleena was still very confused with everything that was happening, she still appreciated the warm water that hit her skin. It calmed her nerves and for a second, made her completely forget everything that had been going on the past couple of days. She let the water completely cleanse off all the dirt from her body and stress from her mind before she stepped out and dried herself. When she realised she didn't have clean clothes inside with her, she called out for Zeynep.

"Yes, my lady?" 

"I didn't bring any clothes with me," she told the maid. "Can you please bring me something to wear?" 

"Here you go," Zeynep said, without even wasting a minute. 

Aleena took the dress from her hand only to gasp from shock when she saw the tiny nightgown in her hand. It was a red silk nightgown that had a very low neckline that was made from lace. As for the height of the dress, it was so sort that had Aleena moved even slightly her entire backside would be on display. 

"I-I can't wear this!" Aleena breathed out, holding the towel tightly around her. "I thought I was supposed to dress for the night. How is this appropriate?" 

Right as the sentence left her lips, she realised what exactly it was that she was preparing for. 

"No, no, no!" she threw the gown to the floor. "Is this some sort of sick joke?" 

"My lady, o–"

Aleena didn't let her finish. 

"No, get out!" she all but shouted. She was so shocked by what was happening. How could they dare even think such a wretched thing? Aleena would rather die than let anything happen between her and Zayd. 

"Please," Zeynep breathed, an almost scared look on her face. It was clear that Rezan sultan was not going to be able to accept hearing that the new bride didn't dress in the dress she had prepared. 

"Get out!" Aleena shouted again, picking the dress off the ground and throwing it at the maid. 

"What is going on here?" Rezan sultan's rough and angry voice sounded from the door. Apparently Aleena was louder than she had thought. 

"What's going on?" Aleena scoffed, as she took an angry step towards the madam. "What is going on is that you seem to think you have bought some sort of prostitute for you son! How dare you assume I wou–"

The loud sound on skin hitting skin sounded through the room. The impact of Rezan sultan's hand one Aleena's cheek was so strong that Aleena fell to her feet. Red coloured her face and tears fell down her eyes, trying to cool the heated skin. 

Aleena could not believe what had just happened. Her own dad had never even lifted his hand at her yet this stranger went as far as to hit her. Aleena was so shocked that she just sat on the ground silently with her hand holding her cheek. 

Rezan pulled her to her feet before she pulled the towel off her and told Zeynep to dress her. Aleena had been so shocked that she couldn't bring herself to move or speak at all. Instead she just let the maid do whatever she wanted as the madam watched. Once she was dressed in the impossibly short night gown, Rezan sultan walked towards her with a warning look on her face. 

"Forget whatever you have in your mind. In this house, your sole purpose is to be a wife to Zayd. You will shut that mouth of yours and you will do everything you can to please my son. If I hear you speak up to him the way you speak up to me, you won't get away with only a slap," she warned. 

Aleena began to hyperventilate upon hearing her words. It seemed that her and Nihal had been played. Rezan sultan never intended this to be a contract and temporary marriage in which Aleena and Zayd stay out of each other's ways until he end of their term. She had always intended for Aleena to be a true wife to Zayd and she would make sure it ended up that way no matter what. 

"Tonight you will fill out your duties and consummate this marriage. I will check the sheets tomorrow morning." 

With that said, she left the room with a sorry looking Zeynep in tow. It was at that point that Aleena felt completely numb. She wanted to cry but she couldn't. She wanted to scream and shout, but she also couldn't do that. All she could do was silently stand in the exact same spot Rezan sultan had left her and stare at the wall in front of her. 

She wasn't sure how long she stayed like that, but it wasn't until the door creaked open and her groom walked into the room that she finally managed to snap out of her thoughts. 

She didn't know what was going to happen next but she knew for a fact that it was going to be a very long night.