Chapter 46
I hadn’t planned on spending the night of our engagement outside the walls of my palace, dealing with a group of rebels, but that’s exactly what happened.
The early morning was filled with trying to find a solution for the conflict, like so many times before.
Where there is a government, there will be opposition, and it irks me that the people I appointed to handle situations like last night can’t think for themselves without my guidance, just for once.
When I go back home, my mood is grim. I’ve never shirked my duties, but last night in particular, I wished I could have enjoyed it like an ordinary man and experienced the promises Madeline’s eyes made me during the celebration.
“Perhaps we should meet with the ministers now,” Adil suggests beside me. “Yesterday’s events might happen again.”
I face him. “Last night’s events will happen again as surely as the sun rises every day, but the conflicts can be handled by the men I trust. There was no need for me to be there on the night of my engagement.
I will reevaluate my subordinates. If I can’t rely on them in critical situations, what are they for? ”
“You’ve never delegated authority so loosely, Kamal. What’s happening?”
I stop in my tracks. “How long have we been friends, Adil?”
“Our whole lives.”
“Yes, and I regard you like a brother, but don’t think that gives you the right to question my decisions.
I am Kamal Hafeez Shariq Najjar Shadid, the Sheikh of Sintarah, and your supreme leader.
As such, I’m open to hearing your opinions, as well as those of my other subordinates, but I, and only I, will decide what is best for the future of my Emirate. ”
He stares at me. “You sound like your father. I see I was mistaken. Madeline not only owns the crown for future princess; she also owns your heart.”
“Yes, she does. Soon I’ll be a father and a husband. I have a duty to my country but also to my family.”
I leave him to ponder what I just said. Good friend or not, he needs to understand that Madeline and my child are matters beyond his purview.
I walk through the palace halls, eager to see her, but a servant comes to meet me before I reach the elevator that leads to my quarters.
“Your Excellency, if you’re looking for Miss Turner, your fiancée, she’s in the courtyard, on the left wing.”
I turn on my heels and soon spot her. I step closer hurriedly but freeze when I realize she’s not alone.
They haven’t noticed me yet, and a mix of anger and jealousy sears through my chest. Madeline, my fiancée, the future princess, and the mother of my child, is having what seems like an intimate conversation with Zarif.
She lowers her head, and he whispers close to her face.
I’m not sure if they sense my presence, but she looks up just as I enter her field of vision, and the guilty expression only increases my rage.
“What are you doing alone with my fiancée?” I ask Zarif.
Madeline comes closer, but I take a step to the side. I feel unstable and I need the anger from jealousy to dimmish before talking to her.
“Kamal, I was waiting for you so we could talk,” my fiancée says.
“Although I seemed to be filling that role quite well,” Zarif sneers. “I’m sure that if you hadn’t returned, I could have taken your place.”
I advance towards him, but Madeline intervenes, which only infuriates me more.
“Don’t do that, Kamal. He’s just provoking you. Zarif, please leave. I want to be alone with my fiancé.”
They stare at each other, and that silent exchange drives me mad.
Finally, acquiescing to her request, my brother leaves.
“What were you doing alone with him?”
“It wasn’t a date, if that’s what you’re insinuating.” Her voice sounds hurt. “I was in the gardens, and he showed up.”
“He was sitting too close. How could you allow that?”
Madeline takes a step back, as if I had struck her. “Are you questioning my fidelity? I am not Hiba.”
Before I can say anything, she runs away.
I should go after her, but instead, I lock myself in my study to think. I hurt Madeline by doubting her loyalty, and I need to mend things between us. My brother is an asshole who likes to get on my nerves, but my wife cannot be held responsible for his sins.
I stand up, determined to find her, but Adil knocks on the door before coming in.
“We need to talk, Kamal. But before anything else, I want you to know that I’m here not as a friend trying to meddle in your personal life but as the advisor to the Sheikh of Sintarah.
” His expression is hard, and I know something serious has happened.
“I just received a recording from the Intelligence Agency of our Emirate, of a phone call from your fiancée’s room. ”
“What? Who gave them permission to listen to Madeline’s personal calls?”
“That wasn’t the intention, Kamal, but when the person she was talking to mentioned one of the keywords, ‘bomb,’ the call was automatically recorded.”
He hands me the phone, already opened to the audio.
“Good morning, Mother. Isn’t it too early to be up?”
“Madeline, I must salute you. You dropped a real bomb on the international press. I knew I taught you well how life works, but I admit I didn’t expect you to be this clever. You’re finally applying my lessons.”
“Mother—”
“No, Madeline, listen to me. Now I understand. Of course a well-bred girl who studied in excellent schools and frequented the best social circles would never get involved with a man like him for nothing.”
“A man like him? What are you talking about?”
“Well, I have to admit his looks aren’t half bad, if we overlook the fact that his skin is too dark, but nobody’s perfect.”
“I’m pregnant.”
“What?”
“I’m expecting Kamal’s baby.”
“My God, you’re amazing, daughter of mine.
An heir—of course! Much better than I had imagined!
Now you’ve secured your financial stability forever.
I can’t wait to see the faces of those detractors here in Boston who humiliated us the last few months when they find out you’re going to be rich.
How long after getting married do you plan on asking for a divorce?
I know excellent lawyers for marital disputes. Enrico Lambertucci, for example.”
My blood turns to ice.
So that was the plan? She lied all along?
“What do you intend to do?”
“The only thing I can: protect my child from this woman.”