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Chapter 235
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MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 236
She stared, unblinking. Her nostrils flared. "You're..." disgusting.It was addictive to play her own game with her, so compelling to watch the different expressions pass through her eyes. At that moment, there were no lies she could tell him. At that moment, the connection between them was as explosive and destructive as the wildfire that had wrecked through the surrounding acreage a few years ago.A fire that was going to need feeding soon if he didn’t want it to consume him, as it had already begun to...if he didn’t want to lose all sense of right and wrong.And what was wrong with wanting his own wife in his bed? Maybe if he gave in to the fire, he could function normally again."You wanted to know," he goaded her."No, I didn’t. I was just trying to make a point. ""You sounded like a nagging, jealous wife. Just what I wanted my marriage to be. "All color fled from her face, leaving her gaze stricken. Tears pooled in her eyes. And the sight of those big brown eyes brimming with
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 237
Kassandra would have had her meeting with the retail buyer this afternoon.The small nugget jolted through Darian’s subconscious like he had set up a reminder chip in his brain to go off every hour. All through his day, through numerous meetings, he found himself thinking of her, of how nervous she had been last night, of how he had seen her work long hours, only remembering to eat because Rosa threatened her.In the last two weeks, he had found that he couldn’t fault her dedication or hard work. And the night before last, learning that she had once again skipped her dinner, he had gone into her workroom.He had found himself on her doorstep, stunned into silence as Kassandra commanded Anna to turn around slowly. Anna was almost as tall as him, so he was the perfect model to showcase a knee-length sheath dress in red silk.Simple yet chic, it touched Anna with a sophistication she hadn’t possessed before.Suddenly, he was extremely glad that Romanos had pushed him and Kal to start the
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 238
Kassandra smoothed down the fabric of the beige, supremely boring satin silk she was wearing and suppressed another sigh. The dress, picked by the stylist and coming with a hefty designer tag, wasn’t ugly per se.But the classic-fitting bodice and the flaring skirt were not all her style. With her hair pulled back from her face and the cashmere wrap, she felt thoroughly unlike herself. The heavy diamond choker lay against her throat like a dead, cold weight that could siphon off every bit of warmth from her skin.Blinking, she looked at Darian, sitting on the other side of the wide cabin, his arrogant head bent over his laptop.She unbuckled the seatbelt and paced the length of the long cabin, all the way to the rear and back.Her back ached from all the work she had done in the past few weeks, once she had received the delivery of all the raw materials she had ordered.In the evenings, she had had meetings every day of the week, some arranged by her, some by the man who, it seemed, w
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 239
She fought the urge to burrow into herself like a turtle, and said, "I look like your version of me.""My version of..." He looked stunned. "Explain.""In this dress and jewelry, I am Kassandra Timandros, the demure and dutiful wife of respected billionaire Darian Timandros. There’s nothing of me in this. It is all you."He froze and it seemed air and sound, the very matter around them froze along with him. "I do not understand.""That stylist you hired, she—" she forced a breath, "—this is what she gave me."Frowning, he ran his gaze over the straps and over the tight ruffles of the bodice.Her skin warmed up as if she was a flower and he was the very sun she craved. Kassandra tightened her fists to stop from covering herself.He cleared his throat, his nostrils flaring. "I agree that it is not your usual...style."She nodded, wondering why she couldn’t have just shut her mouth. Why some stupid, irrational, brazen part of her always insisted on putting herself in his line of fire. Wh
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 240
"I don’t believe you."Trembling with panic, Kassandra locked her hands by her sides, the urge to pound at him rising again.I’m not lying about this. Kal, and you are welcome to it. Now, if you could please tell your pilot to turn around and head back to your estate—"He didn’t even blink. "I won’t. "Maybe I forgot to mention it, but this is one of the conditions you have to meet for your freedom, Kassandra."Her throat felt like it was made of glass. "You can’t do this."Rising from his seat, Darian planted himself in her way. He frowned, taking in the trembling of her shoulders and the real flare of panic in her eyes. "Kassandra, what’s going on?"Her chin tilted up, her gaze slowly focusing on him again. Her jaw gritting, she squared her shoulders. "I don’t want anything to do with Romanos or his legacy. He...rejected my mom without looking back just because she fell in love with my dad. He didn’t even come when she died; he never accepted my dad."He was heartbroken that he had d
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 241
Crippled by Rhode’s loss, stunned by Darian’s decision, she had refused to even look at Romanos. If she didn’t love him, if she didn’t hug him as her arms sometimes ached to, if she didn’t pin all her love on her kind grandfather, who told her thrilling tales about a mother she had never known, she wouldn’t have to live through another loss.If she didn’t love him, there would be no pain when he was gone. Even when Romanos had recovered from his heart attack, she had refused to see him.Darian was right. She had truly become selfish. A coward who cared about nothing but protecting herself from pain.Something broke her reverie and she turned around.She stood slightly behind him. For support, she knew, her grandfather stood under the archway, his brown eyes hungrily studying her. "Come close so I can see you." His voice, soft and coarse, reverberated in the stillness. She took a few steps back, tugging as though by invisible cords. Her heart thudded in her chest."You look so much mor
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 242
She looked down into her drink, and he had a feeling she wanted to hide from him. That she didn’t want him to see her like this at all."I’m telling you to leave me alone, Darian." She confirmed his suspicions. "I’m telling you that I feel as reckless and deranged as you have always called me. I’m telling you to not dissect my actions today and pronounce judgment. "Even as her tone rose, she still didn’t meet his eyes.Had he made it so hard for her to show him anything but that selfish facade? Was he truly such an unfeeling monster then?Had he always been like that?He had worked so hard at his grandfather’s small farm, trying to pitch in for his father’s negligence, afraid that they would throw Rhode and him out on the streets.He remembered a strange calm the night his grandmother had said his mother wasn’t coming back; he remembered not shedding even a tear when he had found out that his father was dead. All he had thought of even that day was how he would shield Rhode from it.
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 243
She couldn’t let him touch her, she couldn’t let him kiss her.If she let him touch her tonight, if she let him hold her tonight, something inside her would break. She would pour out the whole wretched truth; she would blurt out how lonely she had been.If she let him see the real her, she would have no shield, no armor against him. And even in the fragility of her emotions, Kassandra knew she couldn’t let Darian go."Why are you acting like this?"Her arms ached with the effort it took to hold herself so stiffly in the circle of his body; every inch of her hurt to stay unaffected in the warmth of his rough embrace."Like a man acts with his wife?"She fought back stupidly hot tears, knowing that she didn’t have a chance against that claim.When she pushed against his wrists again, he grabbed her hands this time. He laced her fingers through his and pulled her forward. Her hip touched his rock-hard thigh, and she bit down on her lip.Giving up her struggle, she leaned her forehead aga
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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
