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Chapter 145
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MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 146
When his father had died, Ariston had hoped that his older brother Antonios would include him more in the family business, that they would have a partnership. But Antonios had cut him off even more than his father had, making him nothing more than a frontman, the eye candy to bring in new business without actually having any serious responsibility.All that had changed six months ago, when Antonios had finally told Ariston the truth. Evangelos had been borrowing against the company, making shoddy and sometimes illegal investments and running everything into debt. He’d hidden it from everyone except Antonios, confessing all when he’d been on his deathbed. Antonios had spent the next ten years hiding it from Ariston .He’d finally told the truth when prompted by his wife Lindsay and by Ariston ’s own furious demands. And, while Ariston had been glad to finally learn the truth, the knowledge didn’t erase ten years of hurt, of anger, of being intentionally misled. His father and his br
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 147
At the cash desk she offered to pay for it, but Ariston silenced her with a single look as he handed over his credit card. He’d been the same when they were dating: he’d paid for all their meals and hotels, despite Lucette ’s insistence that she could pay her way. She hadn’t minded, because she’d still felt safe. Still kept him at a distance.This felt different. This was a wedding dress—the start of a new life that would be utterly intertwined with Ariston ’s.He said, "We should go back to the apartment," as he accepted the dress, now swathed in a designer hanging bag. ‘You should rest before the ceremony.’* * *A few hours later, Lucette ’s stomach was seething with a whole different kind of nausea, now caused by nervousness. She’d showered and put on her new dress and heels, then coiled her hair into its usual elegant chignon. The dress’s high waist hid her small baby bump, for which she was grateful. She’d rather not have some sanctimonious city official looking at her disappro
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 148
‘Three and one brother.’‘Your brother, I know about. He was CEO before you?’‘Yes.’ He’d told her that much at least, although he hadn’t even hinted at the strained and sinful relationship. Two of my sisters live on the estate. They will want to meet you.’‘They weren’t there before I came?’"No, they were visiting Maya, my third sister. She lives with her family near Patras. "‘Timon’s mother?’‘Yes.’Lucette exhaled a shaky breath. "And what about your parents?"They’re both dead.’‘I’m sorry.’ She glanced at him, her eyes dark. "When?"'It was ten years ago for my father, and six months ago for my mother.'Her eyes widened. "When were we together?"‘Yes.’He hadn’t told her. There was so much he hadn’t told her. And for the first time, Ariston acknowledged that Lucette had had a point, claiming their relationship hadn’t been going anywhere. He’d kept him inside its careful parameters as much as she had. It was only when he’d become CEO that he’d decided he should marry and have
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 149
Lucette thought she looked appalled."Yes." My wife. We got married today and, as you can see, we are expecting our first child in a few months.’ He placed a hand on Lucette ’s lower back, propelling her forward. ‘Iris, Zoe—please meet Lucette Colbert, Lucette Linard now.’She smiled weakly.‘Lucette —my sister.’"I’m pleased to meet you," she said, and they both nodded stiffly. Lucette couldn’t really blame them for the lack of welcome; they were clearly completely shocked. Still, it stung.Ariston said, 'Come inside,’ and drew her past his sisters into the villa.Ariston spoke to Maria in Greek as soon as they stepped inside the door, and Ariston spoke to her in English before turning to Lucette with a grimace of apology. Maria doesn’t speak English, but I’ve told her we’re married.’Lucette nodded. She couldn’t tell a thing from the housekeeper’s expression, but she felt too overwhelmed and exhausted to care. It had been an incredibly long day, and she didn’t have the ener
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 150
"Ariston hasn’t told us anything about you," Iris said after a few moments of strained silence, when all Lucette did was toy with her food and stare at her plate. "Where are you from?"She looked up and met Iris’s speculative gaze with what she hoped was a friendly smile. ‘I lived in Paris.’‘I love Paris!’Zoe jumped in quickly, and Lucette wondered if the sisters would actually be welcoming towards her after all.‘It must have been very hard to leave.’Lucette glanced at Ariston , whose face was as bland as ever. "A bit," she allowed, "but I have other things to think about now."She rested one hand on her small bump, which unintentionally but effectively silenced all conversation. Both Iris and Zoe excused themselves a few minutes later, leaving Ariston and Lucette alone with about an acre of polished mahogany between them."I’m sorry things seem a bit awkward," Ariston said after a moment. ‘They’ll come to accept you in time.’Maybe, "Lucette allowed. I don’t suppose it re
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 151
She followed him through the house as he showed her various rooms: a formal living room and a smaller, cosier TV room; the large dining room where they’d had breakfast; and another less formal room for family meals. A music room, a library, a second kitchen for parties... Lucette started to feel overwhelmed. The house was huge. And Ariston wanted her to be its mistress."What exactly do you want me to do, Ariston ?" she asked as they left the second kitchen.He turned to her with a frown. ‘What do you mean?’I mean, what are my responsibilities? You mentioned that you wanted me to be in charge of your household...I only meant that as a courtesy to you and your position here. I don’t expect you to have duties.’Which made her feel more confused than ever. ‘I don’t understand’Lucette , we’re married. You’re the… ’‘Mistress of the house? The chatelaine? Yes, I understand that.’You can do as much or as little as you like. If you want to consult with Maria about meals, or housekeepin
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 152
After a week, Lucette began to suspect that she and Ariston were on the same page. Things had settled, more or less, into a routine: Ariston worked most of the day, and Lucette drifted. She didn’t mind it for now, because with her nausea and her exhaustion, drifting through each day was about all she could manage.But as the days passed, and her nausea thankfully started to abate, she knew she needed to find some focus. Some purpose.Iris and Zoe had thawed towards her a little, which made life less tense, if not exactly easy. And her things had arrived from Paris. Besides her clothes and toiletries, she’d requested that some of her personal items—paintings and ornaments, and books—be shipped to Greece. It felt both comforting and strange to arrange her things in the bedroom, which still didn’t feel like hers. They were dotted around the yawning space like buoys bobbing in an unfamiliar sea.Still, life marched on, and Lucette knew she needed to march with it.She drove into Amfi
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 153
She spent a surprisingly enjoyable afternoon with both sisters once she’d got used to Iris’s nosiness and Zoe’s bustling, bossy manner. She realised they were both fun to be around, and she could tell they actually cared about her. It almost felt like being part of a family—something she hadn’t experienced since she’d been twelve years old, and even then not so much...They finally all agreed on a dress of deep magenta that brought colour to Lucette ’s face and complemented her dark eyes and hair. Its empire waist and swirling skirt drew attention away from her bump without hiding it completely.Zoe declared in satisfaction, "Understated, elegant, and just a little bit sexy." ‘Perfect' Ariston will love it.’And with a little thrill, Lucette realised she wanted Ariston to love it. She wanted to be beautiful to him again. A dangerous desire, perhaps, but still, caught in the happy glow of their shared afternoon, Lucette didn’t try and suppress it. Ariston was her husband, after al
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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
