The morning sun filters through the windows of Rami’s beach house, casting a warm glow over the chaos we’ve created. Balloons, streamers, and boxes of decorations are scattered everywhere. I’m holding a string of fairy lights, trying to untangle them, while Rami paces the room, his phone pressed to his ear. His jaw is tight, and I can tell by the way he’s muttering under his breath that his father isn’t answering—again.“He’s not picking up,” Rami says, finally lowering the phone. His voice is calm, but I can see the frustration in the way his shoulders tense. “I’ve called him five times already. I even texted him. He knows it’s her birthday. He has to come.”I set the lights down and walk over to him, placing a hand on his arm. “He’ll come, Rami. He has to. It’s your mom. He wouldn’t miss this.” I say it with more confidence than I feel. His father has always been... unpredictable. But today isn’t about him. It’s about her.Rami sighs, running a hand through his hair. “I just don’t g
The invitation came as a surprise. My mother-in-law, the woman who had perfected the art of backhanded compliments and subtle jabs, wanted to meet me for brunch. At a famous café, no less. She said it was to thank me for helping Rami plan her birthday party surprise. I stared at the text, my fingers hovering over the screen. Thank me? Since when did she ever thank me for anything? My gut twisted. This had to be a setup.Still, I couldn’t refuse. Not without looking ungrateful or, worse, giving her more ammunition to use against me. So, I typed out a polite reply, thanking her for the invitation and agreeing to meet. But as I hit send, I braced myself. I knew her too well. This wasn’t going to be a simple thank-you brunch. It was going to be another one of her performances, where she’d smile sweetly while twisting the knife just enough to remind me I’d never quite measure up.The morning of the brunch, I dressed carefully—nothing too flashy, nothing too casual. I had to strike that imp
I stood beside Rami, my hand resting lightly on his arm, as we navigated the sea of elegantly dressed guests. Tonight was important—his father’s first public speech as the prince’s new advisor, and the charity event was the perfect stage for him to solidify his reputation. But I could feel the tension in Rami’s posture, the way his eyes scanned the room, alert and cautious. He had warned me earlier about his father’s rivals, how they would stop at nothing to undermine him. I hadn’t realized just how far they might go until the man approached me.He was unassuming, dressed in a tailored suit, with a polite smile and a small notebook in hand. “Excuse me, Miss Dema?” he said, his voice smooth and practiced. “I’m with Society Today I was hoping to feature you in an upcoming issue. You’re quite the rising star, and our readers would love to know more about you.”I blinked, surprised. A magazine feature? Me? I glanced at Rami, who was momentarily distracted by a passing acquaintance. The ma
As I stood there, the weight of the moment pressing down on my shoulders, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride and anticipation. The room was filled with dignitaries, their eyes fixed on Rami’s father as he stepped forward to deliver his speech. The air was thick with expectation, and I could sense the gravity of the occasion settling over everyone present.From my point, I watched him closely, noting the way he carried himself—calm, composed, and radiating a quiet confidence. He began to speak, his voice steady and resonant, filling the room with a sense of authority and purpose. "This new position is not just an honor," he declared, "but a profound responsibility. One that I do not take lightly."I felt a shiver run down my spine as his words echoed through the hall. He spoke of his commitment to serve his Majesty with unwavering dedication, to utilize every resource at his disposal, and to draw upon the depths of his knowledge and experience to fulfill his duties. His voice wa
I sat in the sitting room, my hands folded neatly in my lap, trying to steady the nervous flutter in my chest. The afternoon light filtered through the tall windows, casting a warm glow over the ornate furniture. My father-in-law had insisted that this woman, Salima, would be the perfect guide to help me navigate the complexities of the royal court. I trusted his judgment, but the weight of what lay ahead pressed heavily on me. I wasn’t just a newcomer to this world; I was an outsider, and every misstep felt like it could cost me dearly.The sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway, and I straightened my posture instinctively. The door opened, and there she was—Salima. She carried herself with an air of quiet confidence, her posture upright but not rigid, her gaze sharp but not unkind. She was older than I had imagined, her hair streaked with silver, but there was a vitality in her movements that belied her age.“Good afternoon,” she said, her voice calm and measured. “I am Salima. Yo
The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across my room. I was still half-asleep, the remnants of last night’s grandeur lingering in my mind—the glittering chandeliers, the hum of conversation, the way Rami’s hand had felt steady on my back as we navigated the crowd. But the peace was short-lived. A soft knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts, and Tala entered, her usual calm demeanor replaced by something tense, almost urgent.“Good morning, Dema,” she said, her voice low. She held her phone in her hand, her fingers gripping it tightly. “There’s something you need to see.”I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. “What is it, Tala? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”She hesitated, then handed me the phone. “It’s about last night. The engagement party. Someone… someone filmed it. Everything. And now it’s all over social media.”I blinked, trying to process her words. “Filmed? What do you mean, *everything*?”“The entire event,” she said, her voice t
I’ve been watching Rami closely these past few days, and something feels off. He’s not himself. The man I know is calm, patient, and thoughtful, but lately, he’s been a storm of emotions—irritable, moody, and quick to anger. It’s like living with a stranger, and it’s starting to worry me. This morning, I heard him yelling at the maid from the kitchen. His voice was sharp, cutting through the quiet of the house like a knife. I rushed in to see what was wrong, only to find him berating her for putting sugar in his coffee. “I don’t take sugar anymore! How many times do I have to say it?” he snapped, his face red with frustration. The poor maid stood there, trembling, holding the offending cup. I tried to intervene, reminding him that he’s always taken sugar in his coffee, but he just brushed me off. “I’ve stopped consuming sugar lately,” he muttered, as if that explained everything. But it didn’t. Not to me. Later, I found him in the garden, pacing back and forth in front of the flowe
I sat on the edge of the couch, my fingers nervously twisting the hem of my sleeve. Rami had been so distant lately, so angry, and I couldn’t figure out why. It wasn’t like him. He used to come home with a smile, pulling me into his arms as soon as he walked through the door. Now, he barely looked at me, he's stressed all the time and his temper flaring over the smallest things. I felt helpless, and I hated it.Tala stood across from me, dusting the shelves with her usual efficiency, but her eyes kept flicking toward me, soft with concern. “Tala,” I began, my voice hesitant, “I don’t know what to do anymore. Rami’s been so stressed, so angry. I’ve tried talking to him, but he just shuts me out. I want to help him, but I don’t even know where to start.”She paused, the duster hovering mid-air, and turned to face me fully. Her expression was thoughtful, her lips pursed as if weighing her words carefully. “You know,” she said slowly, “Rami’s always been a mama’s boy. If anyone knows wha
Dema was incredible today. She spoke with confidence, delivered her best performance, and impressed everyone at the meeting. I’ve never been prouder of her. Though I could tell she was nervous, she didn’t stutter or hesitate—not even once. Afterward, I teased her about it just to mess with her, but the truth is, she was absolutely amazing. Following the meeting, I treated everyone to dinner. It was a fun and enjoyable time, but what I really wanted was to unwind alone with my brilliant, lovely wife. So we retreated to our hotel room and spent the rest of the night together—just the two of us. "I’ll take you shopping tomorrow," I told her later, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Get you whatever you want—designer dress, shoes, a new bag. Name it, it’s yours." She laughed softly, shaking her head. "Actually, I’ve decided to stop buying top brands. I’m boycotting."I blinked. "Boycotting? Since when?" "Since I realized how much waste they produce, how they exploit wo
Dema hadn’t been sleeping well. I noticed it almost immediately—the dark circles under her eyes, the way her hands trembled slightly when she reached for her coffee in the mornings, the distant look in her gaze as if she were somewhere else entirely. It had been a full week of this, and it was eating away at her. She was exhausted, barely able to focus at work, jumping at the smallest noises. I hated seeing her like this. One morning, after catching her staring blankly at her computer screen for the third time in an hour, I pulled her aside. "Dema," I said, keeping my voice low, "if you need a break, take it. No one’s going to blame you." She hesitated, chewing on her bottom lip the way she always did when she was torn between pride and necessity. But eventually, she nodded. She went home that day, and I hoped—maybe foolishly—that rest would be enough. When I got back that evening, she was sitting on the couch, her knees pulled up to her chest, her fingers wrapped tightly around a
The first time I said "I love you" to her was during our honeymoon. We were in a café by the beach when it started raining, and in that moment, everything felt magical—the most magical moment of my life. The words came out so spontaneously, so naturally, as if they’d been waiting forever to be said. I never knew love could be this easy. If I had, I would’ve searched the whole earth to find it. But I suppose I’m the luckiest man in the world—love didn’t make me chase it; it simply walked into my life, it walked in my company in jeans, and I didn’t have to suffer to have it.The first time I saw her sick, she looked so vulnerable—adorable, like a little kitten. I didn’t want to leave her side, but I had work the next day, so I slept in another room. Later, I realized how much it hurt her. I wish she had slapped me, knocked some sense into me back then. I was selfish. No—I’ve always been selfish.I take what I want and turn away, never learning to truly consider others. Growing up, t
Before we boarded the plane to the Maldives, I knew I had to do something—something to show Dema that this wasn’t just a contract anymore. That she wasn’t just an arrangement to me. Not after everything we’d been through. Our wedding had been traditional, simple. No rings, no grand declarations—just signatures and obligations. Back then, I hadn’t thought much of it. But now? Now, the thought of her not wearing my ring, not having something that screamed mine in the way my heart had already claimed her, felt wrong. So I went to the most exclusive jeweler in the city. I didn’t just want a ring—I wanted the right ring. The one that would make her breath catch, the one that would make her eyes light up the way they did when she was genuinely happy. The saleswoman showed me countless designs, but the moment I saw it—a stunning, elegant piece with a diamond that caught the light like fire—I knew. This was Dema’s ring.I imagined sliding it onto her finger, the weight of it against her s
It was August fifth.We had our first real fight—not just an argument, but a heated clash where we said ugly things to each other. I know I hurt her feelings, and I owed her an apology. I made sure to make that right. Looking back, I’m still not entirely sure what started it. The fight happened two days after a barbecue at my uncle’s house with my family. Most of the party, I was with my cousins, laughing and catching up. I assumed she was having a good time too, chatting with my mom and aunts—but apparently, she wasn’t. When we got home, she told me one of my cousins had been rude to her, even making mean comments, and that my mom hadn’t been kind either. At the time, I hadn’t noticed anything wrong. I told her they didn’t mean any harm, that she might be overreacting—but I realize now how that must have sounded. I was trying to lighten the mood, not dismiss her feelings. I took her out, hoping to distract her, but it didn’t work. Frustrated, I lost my patience and called her a
The transformation in Dema over those few months was nothing short of astonishing. It wasn’t just her appearance—though that alone was enough to leave me speechless sometimes. Her clothing, once simple and practical, had shifted into something elegant, refined, as if she had always belonged in that world of sophistication. Her hair, always perfectly styled, framed her glowing face like a portrait. But more than that, it was the way she carried herself—her voice, steady and sure, her words deliberate and wise. She wasn’t just playing a part; she had grown into a woman who commanded respect without even trying. No matter the situation, I knew I could rely on her. Business meetings, family gatherings—it didn’t matter. She handled everything with a grace that seemed effortless, as if she had been born for it. Work came naturally to her; she had a sharp mind, a talent for reading people and situations that I admired. But the one thing that ever seemed to shake her was my family—especiall
The first week of our marriage was… overwhelming—for both of us, but especially for her. I could see it in the way her shoulders tensed whenever my mother or aunties gave her another task, another expectation to meet. They weren’t making it easy for her, and I knew it. Tradition was one thing, but the way they scrutinized her every move, as if testing her worth, made me feel sorry for her. Still, she never complained. She just kept trying. Then there were the events—gatherings where the women floated around in designer gowns, their jewelry glinting under the chandeliers like it was part of their skin. She stood among them, beautiful but uncertain, her fingers twisting the fabric of her dress—something simple, something not a top brand. I caught the way the others glanced at her, the subtle arch of their brows, and it burned something inside me. Not because I cared about their approval, but because she did. And damn, did she learn fast. Every day, she absorbed something new—how to
When we arrived at my parents' mansion, the grand entrance we made was everything I had expected—flashing cameras, exaggerated cheers, and the heavy weight of judgmental eyes following our every move. The party was already in full swing, the air thick with expensive perfume and roses. To my surprise, Dema handled it all flawlessly. She smiled at the right moments, greeted my relatives with just the right amount of polite warmth, and even managed to charm my notoriously hard-to-please uncle. I watched her from the corner of my eye, half-expecting her to falter, to show even a hint of discomfort—but she didn’t. Then, as if sensing my thoughts, she leaned in slightly, her voice low enough that only I could hear. "They're starting to doubt us," she murmured, her lips barely moving. "Your relatives has been staring at us for the past five minutes. We need to do something."I glanced over and sure enough, my relatives were watching us like hawks, their sharp eyes flickering between
The moment I pushed open the door and stepped inside, my breath caught in my throat. There she was—Dema—standing by the window, the fading sunlight painting her in gold. The delicate embroidery on her dress shimmered, and the way her fingers lightly traced the edge of her dress, my chest tighten. She looked… breathtaking. Ethereal, even. Like something out of a dream I hadn’t dared to have. For a second, I just stood there, frozen. Words piled up in my mind—You’re stunning. You’re perfect. I don’t deserve this, deserve you. But my tongue felt heavy, my usual confidence slipping. This wasn’t just another negotiation, another deal. This was her. And the way she held herself, so still, so distant—something was wrong. I swallowed hard, forcing myself forward. Now wasn’t the time for poetry. The guests were outside, waiting. The contracts were signed. The alliance was set. “Dema,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “What are you doing? We don’t have time for second thoughts. Everyone’s