Chapter 40 Ashes in His Heart
Hatim’s horse galloped through the palace gates at sunrise.
The journey across Chandlok had left him bone-tired, but the sight of the familiar stone towers brought no comfort. He had rushed through towns, spoken to farmers, healed wounds with his hands, and stood among strangers who bowed to his name. But none of it mattered—he just wanted to return to her.
Sana.
He leapt off his steed before it fully stopped, the reins tossed aside as he stormed into the palace halls.
Servants scrambled. Guards straightened. The court murmured.
“Where is she?” he asked, eyes wild, breath sharp.
One of the guards stepped forward, uneasy. “The Queen is waiting in the throne hall, Your Highness.”
Hatim didn’t ask again. He walked—no, thundered—down the marble corridor. The rhythm of his boots echoed like a warning.
The doors swung open.
Roshni stood at the center of the court, with other nobles. Clad in a deep violet robe, her crown heavy with green emeralds, her hands folded calmly.
“Welcome home, son,” she said.
Hatim didn’t bow. He didn’t even blink.
“Where is Sana?”
Roshni raised an eyebrow. “Shouldn’t you greet your mother first?”
Hatim’s jaw tightened. “Answer me.”
She sighed. “She’s gone.”
The words struck him like a sword. “Gone?”
“She left.”
Hatim’s breath caught. “Left? What do you mean?”
“She packed some royal treasures and disappeared. Perhaps the girl you married was never really yours to begin with.”
He shook his head slowly. “No. She would never leave without a word. Not without—”
“She left a letter,” Roshni interrupted, pulling a scroll from her sleeve.
Hatim stepped forward, snatched it, and read.
His hands trembled.
The royal court stood still.
The announcement had been made. Sana had fled the palace, stealing the royal jewels, leaving behind only a letter.
Hatim sat in silence as the High Council read the damning words aloud. His jaw clenched, fingers digging into the arms of his throne. The letter bore her handwriting. Her scent. Her seal.
> “I never loved you. It was all a trick. I only wanted the throne, the riches, and the name. Now that I have what I need, I’m leaving. Don’t look for me.”
Whispers echoed around the throne room. The nobles watched Hatim, waiting for him to explode. But he didn’t move.
Queen Roshni stood beside him, her expression painted in false sorrow.
> “I warned you,” she murmured just loud enough. “But I never wanted you to suffer like this.”
Hatim turned his face slowly toward her.
> “Where is she?”
Roshni blinked. “Gone. No one knows where. She vanished in the night. Perhaps she was never meant for royalty.”
Hatim’s knuckles turned white. He stood abruptly, his chair scraping back. The room quieted further.
> “Leave. All of you.”
The council hesitated. But when Roshni gave a nod, they bowed and slowly filtered out of the room.
Hatim remained still until the heavy doors closed.
Then, for the first time in his life, he broke.
He collapsed to his knees beside the throne. His chest heaved. He didn’t scream. He didn’t wail. But his shoulders shook violently.
Roshni descended from the dais.
> “My son—”
> “Why?” His voice cracked. “Why would she do this to me?”
Roshni gently placed a hand on his shoulder. Hatim leaned into her touch as if a child searching for warmth in his mother. And there, on the hem of her gown, his tears fell.
> “I loved her,” he whispered. “I loved her more than my crown. I would've given up everything for her.”
Roshni’s hand didn’t tremble. Her eyes held no softness.
> “Then let this pain teach you,” she said quietly. “A king must learn who to trust.”
Hatim looked up, eyes reddened. “She was my wife.”
> “And still,” Roshni replied, “she walked away. That speaks louder than any vow.”
He turned away, rising to his feet with effort.
> “I need to find her. I need to hear it from her mouth. If it’s true, I’ll let her go. But I won’t believe it until I see her eyes when she says it.”
Roshni stepped in front of him, voice suddenly sharp.
> “You will do no such thing.”
Hatim flinched.
> “Your people need you. This betrayal has wounded more than just your heart. The court is in chaos. Rumors are spreading. If you chase a girl who spat on your crown, they will lose faith in you.”
Hatim was silent. Torn.
> “You said you loved her more than your throne,” Roshni continued. “But now your throne is all that’s left. Be the king she never believed you could be.”
He closed his eyes.
Then nodded.
That night, he didn’t sleep. He sat alone in the royal balcony, eyes fixed on the stars they once counted together. His sword lay beside him. His silence stretched until dawn.
And miles away, across space and realms, Sana lay unconscious beneath the unfamiliar sky of Earth.
Alone.
Cold.
Forgotten.
The stars watched both of them.
And for once, even they stayed silent.
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?? Author’s Note:
Babes... my heart ?? Chapter 40 was devastating. Hatim’s return wasn’t a homecoming—it was heartbreak in its rawest form. That moment when he collapsed in front of Roshni? TEARS. And her coldness?? Ruthless.
He cried on the lap of the very woman who shattered him. And that fake letter? That lie?? UGH. It’s not just betrayal—it’s emotional murder.
This chapter wasn’t just pain—it was silence, distance, and the cruel twist of fate that separated two souls made of the same starlight.
And now… Sana is gone.
But not for long. Because love like theirs doesn’t just end. It burns.
Get ready, bestie. The storm is far from over ????