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Chapter 135
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MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 136
Someone’s here to see you sir.’Ariston glanced up from his laptop at his assistant Chantel, who stood in the doorway of his office on the Linard estate. He’d been going over some figures for a new deal with a large North American restaurant chain, and it took a few seconds for Chantel’s words to penetrate.‘Someone? Who is it, Chantel?’‘A woman. She wouldn’t give her name, but she said it was urgent.’Ariston frowned. His office was on the family compound in central Greece—the middle of nowhere, as Lucette had so acerbically reminded him. He didn’t get any unexpected visitors to his office here, ever.Well, why on earth wouldn’t she give her name?’ He asked as he pushed back from his chair.I don’t know. But she’s well-dressed and well-spoken. I thought perhaps ’Chantel trailed off, blushing, and Ariston took her meaning. She’d thought this woman might be one of his lovers. Only he hadn’t taken a lover in months—not since he’d last seen Lucette .And he very much doubted Lucett
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 137
She winced at that. ‘Clearly you don’t have a very high opinion of me.’‘And you think I should?’‘No.’ She let out a little defeated sigh. ‘No, I don’t.’So why didn’t you do either of those things, Lucette ?’It was the first time he’d said her name since he’d seen her again, and it caused him a sudden, surprising flash of pain. He clenched his hands into fists, then deliberately flattened them out, resting them again on his desk.She replied with a bit of her old spirit, "Because I am not, no matter what you think, completely without morals." ‘I want my child, and I want my child to know its father.’ She took a deep breath. And more than that, I want my child to have a loving, stable home. A home where it knows it’s safe, where its parents are loving and protecting it. always. "Her dark brown eyes seemed to glow with an inner fire, an utter conviction.'And how do you think that will work,' Ariston asked after a brief pause?"That’s the other thing I want," Lucette said, still h
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 138
Lucette risked a look up, wondering if he’d taken her meaning. Ariston was silent.He asked, his voice toneless, ‘that you are giving me permission to violate my marriage vows?’"It would be a marriage of convenience.""But still a marriage."I’m trying to make this more amenable to you.To sweeten the deal? He cut across her, his voice hard. ‘It still tastes rancid to me.’"Please, Ariston ..." She swallowed, hating the fact that she had to beg.Maybe he was right. Perhaps she should go back to Paris and raise the baby on her own. Ariston could be the sort of weekend father he claimed he didn’t want to be. Plenty of couples have done it—why not them?Because she was afraid of going it alone. because she wanted more for her child. She'd had so much more."You ask so nicely," Ariston said, his eyes glittering now.He was furious with her, even after so many months apart. She wondered if his anger could ever be appeased. Perhaps if she told him the truth...if only he would believe it
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 139
Lucette had thought she wouldn’t be able to sleep, but she was so tired that she’d fallen into a deep and thankfully dreamless sleep the moment her head had hit the pillow, after Ariston ’s housekeeper had shown her to her room.When she awoke, it was dark and the room was chilly. The curtains were open to the night sky. Lucette rolled over in bed, feeling disorientated and muzzy-headed, as if she were suffering from jet lag or a hangover, or both. She heard a knock on the door, an urgent rat-a-tat-tat that made her think it was not the first knock.She rose from the bed, pushing her hair out of her face, and went to answer the door.The housekeeper, Maria, stood there with a tray of food. The salad, bread, and lentil soup looked and smelled delicious, but Lucette ’s stomach roiled all the same. She didn’t think she could manage a mouthful."Efharisto," she murmured, and reached out to take the tray.But Maria would have none of it. She shook her head and bustled into the room, sett
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 140
Lucette took a deep breath and let it out evenly. ‘First, we drive to Athens this afternoon and you undergo a paternity test.’It was no more than she’d expected, although the fact that he believed the baby might not be his still stung. This, at least, was easy to comply with. "Very well."Second, you resign from your job immediately and come and live with me here in Greece.’So he wanted complete control of her and their child? She couldn’t say she was really surprised. ‘Fine.’Third, you agree to have a local doctor of my choosing provide you with medical care.’Her temper finally started to fray. ‘I think I’m capable of finding my own doctor, Ariston .’‘Are you?’ He arched an eyebrow, coldly sceptical. "Because you came here looking dreadful.""Thanks very much, but my looks have nothing to do with my medical care or lack of it," Lucette snapped.How much of this was she supposed to take? Maybe, she thought with a surge of reckless fury, the answer was none of it. She’d come to
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 141
"I’m glad we’ve come to an agreement," Ariston answered, inclining his head. "We’ll leave for Athens this afternoon.""I will have to return to France at some point," Lucette warned him. ‘I have to give notice and deal with my apartment.’She swallowed, the realisation of all she was leaving behind hitting her with sudden force, making her breathless. The career she was so proud of. The friends she’d made The home she’d created for herself—her sanctuary and haven, the only place she felt she could be herself. All of it is gone.But it’s worth it. It has to be worth it."When you are fit to travel," Ariston said, his tone implying that he would be the one to make the decision. "You may return to France and deal with your job and apartment."His imperious tone, as if he were giving her permission, grated on Lucette ’s already raw nerves. "Who do you think you are," she demanded, "to order me about in such a way? I chose to come here, Ariston —’I’ll tell you who I am,’ Ariston cut a
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 142
Lucette had never been to Ariston ’s city home before. Now she walked around the elegant rooms that took up the top floor of a nineteenth-century townhouse. The living room and dining room had been knocked together to create a large open space scattered with black and white leather sofas and tables of chrome and glass.A huge canvas of wavy green lines and white splotches was the only colour in the whole room. She stood in front of it, wondering if this was the kind of modern art Ariston liked. It had probably cost a fortune, and it looked as if it had been painted by a five-year-old."A masterpiece made by my nephew Timon," he said, as he came to stand beside her.‘I didn’t know you had a nephew.’There was, she realised, so much she didn’t know about him. She knew what he liked in bed, and what kind of food he liked to order in, and that he preferred classical music to jazz. She knew he shaved with an old-fashioned straight razor and that the only cologne he wore was a splash of c
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 143
‘It’s a bit uncomfortable,’ the doctor said, ‘but I promise you it’s not hurting anyone.’Ariston didn’t look convinced, and Lucette said quietly, ‘I’m all right, Ariston .’‘There we are,’ Dr Tallos announced, and they all turned to look at the fuzzy shape on the screen.Lucette blinked, trying to connect what looked like nothing more than a few blobby circles into a shape that resembled a baby.Then Dr Tallos started pointing things out on the screen. ‘There’s the head, and the stomach, and you can see fingers and toes—look.’And almost as if by magic Lucette could see it: the curled up bud of her baby unfurling as he—or she—stretched out arms, kicked tiny legs.‘Kicking up a storm,’ Dr Tallos said cheerfully. ‘Do you feel anything?’Lucette shook her head. ‘Not yet.’‘Well, don’t worry, you’re sure to in the next few weeks. And there’s the heart, beating away.’ She pointed to the flickering image on the screen, pulsing with life. ‘Let me turn up the volume and you can hear it.
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MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 440
He moved suddenly, turned to her, and gripped her arms; she glimpsed the desperation in his eyes as he dragged her against his chest. "I will do whatever it takes to win you back, Kalila." "You are my wife, the love of my life, and I won’t let you go." His warm breath fanning the curls that framed her face, he pressed his lips to her temple, his eyes briefly closing as if in pain."I have told my father to name his brother Sulim as the interim ruler of Qubbah in the event of his dying before Hazem comes of age." Kate stared at him, shocked beyond words. "But... but why?" she finally stumbled.I thought that you were to rule until Hazem was older. "You are the King’s only son, and it is your duty." Ahsan shook his head. "My first duty is to my wife, and my father agrees." Even if he did not, I would still be here for you."Don't you understand, Kalila?" he asked urgently. "You are more important to me than Qubbah, my father, everything." You, me, and Hazem are a family, and the only thin
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 439
The still silence in the garden that followed his astounding statement was broken by the piercingly sweet song of a blackbird. Kate licked her suddenly dry lips, her heart beating so fast she was sure it would explode. "I don’t understand.""It’s quite simple." He sounded impatient and stared at her haughtily. But to her amazement, streaks of dull color highlighted his cheekbones, and his eyes veered from hers as if he were afraid to meet her gaze. "I love you, Kate."Her rebuttal was fierce and immediate. "No, you don’t.""I should have known you would want to argue about it, Kalila." A little of his tension left him, and his smile stole her breath."You don’t love me," she said again. It was probably some cruel trick, and she had more sense than to be fooled. "You married me for Hazem." You love Farrah. Malika said so.Malika said a lot of things, most of them untrue. Ahsan’s voice was suddenly harsh."But not the things she said about me," Kate said thickly. "My mother was a prosti
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 438
The blue sky was dotted with cotton wool clouds, and the warm breeze carried a scent of lavender and old-fashioned roses. There was no place on earth more beautiful than Ingledean on a spring day, Kate mused—except an oasis in the middle of the desert, where palm trees provided shade from the scorching sun and an azure pool glinted beneath a cloudless sky.She had been home for a month—although Ingledean no longer felt like home without Hazem. The image of his huge brown eyes and impish smile caused the familiar agonizing pain in her chest, and she bit down hard on her lip, tasted blood, and cursed the tears that slid unchecked down her face. She couldn’t cry forever. Somehow she was going to have to find the strength to move on, pick up the threads of her life, or maybe make a new one, far away from Ingledean and all its memories. But since she had left Qubbah, a terrible lassitude had settled on her, and she could not plan anything when the only two people she loved were far away on
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 437
In less than an hour, she was expected to attend the lavish dinner organized in honor of King Kabir’s recovery and his return as supreme ruler of Qubbah. And somehow she was going to have to do so without revealing that she was breaking up inside, which Kate acknowledged despairingly as she stared in the mirror at her paper-white face and red-rimmed eyes.When she first returned to the palace after her explosive confrontation with Malika, she locked herself in her dressing room and recalled, in stunned disbelief, everything the young Arab woman had told her. Could it be true? Had Ahsan always intended to divorce her once he’d gained custody of Hazem and marry his beautiful advisor?She did not know how long she’d sat there, but eventually her maid had knocked on the door and reminded her that it was time to prepare for the banquet. She should have made the excuse that she was ill—no one who saw her pallor would fail to believe her. But the steely backbone of pride that had seen her th
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 436
Despite the warmth of the early-evening sunshine, Kate shivered. "You’re talking nonsense," she said firmly, striving to sound confident despite the sudden lurch of her heart. She was perfectly aware of why Ahsan had married her, but he had given no hint that he wanted a divorce. Ahsan told me he was never engaged to you. She lifted her chin and glared at Malika, trying to ignore the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach."He wasn’t," Malika agreed, looking surprised. "I was engaged to Farhan; Ahsan was engaged to Farrah."The world seemed to tilt alarmingly for a few seconds, and Kate actually gripped the edge of the wall for support. Ahsan and Farrah! It couldn’t possibly be true, could it? "Jamila told me that Ahsan was in love with his fiancée," she said faintly. "She doesn’t know why the marriage didn’t take place."Malika gave a careless shrug. ‘Jamila knows. Everyone at the palace knows that Ahsan adored Farrah and that she eloped with his brother on the eve of their wedding.
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 435
He was suddenly aware that the children had finished their dance and everyone was waiting for his response. Kate had turned her head to him, frowning at his inattention, and he quickly clapped his hands in applause. Once the dancers had filed out of the marquee, his personal assistant Zaid appeared at his side and informed him that a group of local potters had brought their best work for his gracious inspection. Stifling a sigh, he led the royal party out into the blazing sunshine.The garden party continued all afternoon, and Ahsan was not in the best of moods when he strode back to the palace. He suddenly realized that he was too far ahead and slowed his pace, waiting for Kate to catch up with him. He frowned when he noted how pale she looked beneath her wide-brimmed hat. She made no attempt to speed up, and the dejected droop of her shoulders fueled his impatience."I appreciate that an afternoon spent admiring traditional crafts and customs is not likely to top your list of exciti
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 434
Her feet briefly touched the floor, and he spun her around, tugged her zip down her spine, and removed her dress before she had time to catch her breath. Her bra went the same way before he lifted her again and threw her onto the bed as if she were a rag doll, his eyes glittering with a mixture of anger and sexual hunger that made Kate’s stomach dip."At night, I’m happy to give you all the attention you could possibly want," he growled, his shoes, trousers, and shirt hitting the floor with barely controlled savagery until he stood in his silk boxers. "This is the only bed you’ll ever sleep in." The boxers joined the rest of his clothes, revealing his powerful, unashamedly aroused body in all its glory. "But I wouldn’t bank on sleeping for many hours yet."Kate stared up at him, her breath coming in shallow gasps as she struggled to control the wild excitement that was pounding through her veins. She was conscious that she was wearing nothing but a pair of tiny lace pants and the pric
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 433
Clearly embarrassed, Aaliyah determinedly changed the subject to Hazem and how fast he was growing. But although Kate smiled and made token conversation, her mind was whirling. If Malika’s family had expected her to marry Ahsan, was she the woman he had been engaged to years ago—the woman Jamila had said he had loved? But, if so, why had they not married? It didn’t make sense, and she brooded miserably as she stared at Ahsan. He was smiling at Malika and clearly enjoying her company. Perhaps they had argued and broken off their engagement. Was he now regretting his lost chance to marry a beautiful, clever Arab girl who would have made him the perfect wife?From that moment on, the party became a blur of faces and stilted conversation with people she had never met before. She was sure they viewed her as an oddity, with her pale skin and vivid hair—and her glaring lack of sophistication. But until his father had recovered, Ahsan was king, and one of her wifely duties outside of the bedr
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 432
As Ahsan had predicted, his team of advisors was waiting for him when they arrived back at the palace. Even on the journey across the desert, he’d had his mobile phone clamped to his ear, and Kate had sat silently beside him, lost in her thoughts. The honeymoon was over, and he had made it abundantly clear that he now saw her role as his wife as a walk-on part—or perhaps a lie-down part, she thought bitterly. But what had she expected? She had married him for Hazem, and he had married her for sex, and they had each gotten what they wanted.At least she had Hazem, she told herself later that evening, when she tucked the toddler into bed. She had missed him desperately, and his evident delight that she was back was a comforting balm to her raw emotions. She was Ahsan’s wife, a member of the Royal Family of Qubbah, and no one could ever take him away from her now.But as she prepared for the state banquet, her insecurities returned, and she felt sick with nerves. She had been horrified w
