Chapter 47
There are at least half a dozen other doctors around me, as well as my father, who was notified the moment we arrived at the hospital.
One of my helicopters is always kept ready because of the former sheikh, whose health requires attention. So it took less than ten minutes between my wife’s phone call and our being ready to fly. A palace physician had already begun first aid while we were en route to the hospital.
I have never been so afraid in my life.
When I heard Adeela’s voice asking me for help, the same desperation I felt when my mother died hit me again.
It was like being knocked out without even knowing I was in a fight.
When I scooped her into my arms, she was pale, her forehead slick with cold sweat, writhing in pain. It felt like my heart was being torn from my chest. There was nothing I could do except run as fast as possible to save them.
Life has been good, despite too much work. I’ve tried to organize things so I could spend more time with her from mid-pregnancy onward, but now I know I didn’t do enough.
Guilt spreads like poison through my veins.
“The symptoms don’t look like a miscarriage, Your Highness.”
I step back, unsure I heard correctly.
Did someone try to hurt her? Harm my wife and child? It was pure luck my phone was within reach when she called; it was almost dead.
Bile rises in my throat.
I couldn’t live with myself if Adeela lost the baby and I hadn’t been there to protect her.
Except during sex, I’m a man who keeps his emotions in check. Too much joy or grief, or even hatred and love, are dangerous if they’re allowed to run wild.
But right now, I feel like a barbarian. Primitive and cruel. Barely human.
More than anything else, an animal hunting revenge against whoever dared try to take my family from me.
There is no room for mercy in my body or mind.
“Are you telling me that if I hadn’t gotten to her in time, she would have suffered an induced abortion?” I ask the obstetrician overseeing my wife’s pregnancy. I know my voice comes out as a roar because the man flinches, but I am beside myself. Stripped of the civility I usually wear.
“I can only be certain after the tests, but everything points to yes, although . . .” The doctor hesitates, glancing around us.
“What?”
“May I speak freely?”
“Yes. Say what you need to say. Forget for a moment that I’m your sheikh. Standing in front of you is a father and a husband.”
He swallows and nods. “Yes, sir. What I’m trying to say is that I’ve had many patients who miscarried naturally within the first few months.
It’s more common than people think, but nothing like what your wife was feeling.
Spontaneous miscarriages can even go unnoticed, as many patients don’t know they’re pregnant.
Her Highness, however, was in severe pain, clutching her abdomen.
If you want an off-the-cuff opinion . . . ”
“I do.”
“She was given something to cause an abortion.”
My father gets up and comes closer. “What are you saying? Someone tried to kill my daughter-in-law and grandchild?”
The doctor shakes his head. “Generally, these concoctions are lethal only to the baby. I suspect some kind of herb, but I’ll only know after the lab results.”
I keep my face impassive, but inside I’m howling, consumed by rage. “I want to see her now.”
“She’s sleeping, Your Highness. We had to sedate her because even after she was out of danger, she remained extremely anxious.”
“I won’t wake her, but I need to see her.”
He nods and leaves.
As soon as the door closes, my father embraces me. “I’m so sorry, son.” He’s shaking, and the weight of my responsibility won’t let me break, even though I’m close to the edge.
“I’ll find who did this, Father. I don’t care about the culprit’s name or lineage. If it’s proven they tried to kill my child, I will go to the ends of the earth to punish them.”
The moment I enter the room, my mother-in-law slips out to give me privacy. Her eyes are swollen from crying, and the German doctor who shadows her, Konrad, waits in the hall.
Daisy and I have barely exchanged a dozen words tonight. Some things can’t be said out loud, the absolute terror I’m sure we both felt.
I move to the bed, my heart tight.
My adrenaline hasn’t dropped; my protective mode is still engaged.
I pull up a chair, trying not to make noise, but as soon as I sit, her eyes open, frantic, and she starts to cry.
“Kaled, our baby.”
“Shhhh . . . it’s all right, habibti. Our son is safe,” I say, laying my hand over her belly.
“I don’t want you to sugarcoat it. Please tell me the truth.”
“You almost miscarried, but the doctors saved him.”
“Was it something I did?”
I could dodge the question, but that wouldn’t be fair. “No. The doctor thinks . . . someone tried to make you miscarry. A tea, in his opinion.”
To my surprise, the fragility vanishes from her face and she tries to sit up.
“No, Adeela. You are not getting up.”
“Are you telling me someone tried to hurt my baby? That some monster deliberately wanted to harm our child?”
“I need you to stay calm.”
She takes a few breaths. “Okay. For the baby, I’ll try not to lose my mind. But tell me what the doctor said.”
I recount the facts quickly, hiding how repeating them drags up a thirst for vengeance I didn’t know I possessed.
I always thought the years I spent in the West had distanced me from my warrior ancestors, from the wild blood in my veins, but now I know I’ve just been camouflaged all this time. Deep down, I’m like them, ready to destroy anyone who stands in my way or touches my family.
“Do you remember anything that was different about last night?”
“No. A maid brought me the tea I always drink before bed. It helps me relax. I spoke to the obstetrician, and he said it was fine.”
“Do you know which maid?”
“Sajida. Since we married, she’s the one who handles every detail in our rooms.”
“One minute,” I say. I text Amin the name she gave me.
“Do you think it could have been her?” she asks.
“I don’t know, but I’ll find out.”
I bring her hands to my lips, but it isn’t enough, so I stand and lean over, gathering her in my arms. “Forgive me.”
“You did nothing wrong.”
“I did. It was late. I should have been by your side.”
“Don’t blame yourself, Kaled. If someone did this on purpose, they would have found a way even if you were with me. How did the doctor figure it out?”
“He suspected from the symptoms. You were in a lot of pain.”
“I was. My abdomen seized in spasms. I panicked,” she says, closing her eyes. “I need you to promise me something.”
“Anything, my wife.”
“Find who did this and punish them. Right now, I could kill that person myself, but the law won’t allow it, so make them pay for what they tried to do to our baby.”
“I promise, Adeela. Whoever attacked our child’s life will never again see the light of day as a free person.”
She doesn’t cry again—the pain has been replaced by anger, which is a good thing. Anger will make her strong.
“Now, will you lie with me for a while? I don’t want to sleep alone,” she says, scooting over.
I eye the narrow hospital bed, unsure it will hold us both, but there’s nothing she could ask now that I wouldn’t do.
I fit myself in as best I can, and the moment I cradle her delicate body in my arms, I can breathe properly for the first time since this began.
The storm inside me, however, doesn’t subside.
More than a promise, finding the culprit is my life’s mission now.