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Chapter 401
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MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 402
Ahsan was silent for so long that she risked another glance at him and was startled by the hardness of his expression. "He married a woman who had not been chosen for him," he replied at last. Farhan was engaged to the daughter of an influential family in Qubbah, but before his wedding he eloped with another woman and brought great shame to his family."When you say that his fiancée had been chosen for him, do you mean that it was an arranged marriage?" Kate queried and was shocked. "Isn’t that a rather outdated tradition?""It is the tradition in Qubbah," Ahsan informed her coldly. My father had selected a number of potential brides, and Farhan chose one of them."But he didn’t love her," Kate said, her voice ringing with conviction. "He loved Farrah." He talked about her all the time, and I know that her death left him heartbroken. Why did Farhan have to elope with her? Why couldn’t he have married her and stayed in Qubbah?"Because Farrah was promised to another man," Ahsan said fl
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 403
It had stopped snowing when they left Ingledean. The evening air was crisp and cold, and Kate shivered in the cream linen skirt and jacket that she had changed into for the journey. Ahsan had warned her that it would be hot in Qubbah, and she only hoped he was right.At least she no longer looked like a "menial domestic," she thought, recalling his scathing description of her when he first learned that she was Farhan’s widow. Stung by his remarks, she had taken time with her appearance and teamed her suit with a pale blue silk blouse, swept her unruly curls into a knot on top of her head, and even added a touch of make-up—just a soft taupe shadow on her eyelids and pink gloss on her lips.She had felt supremely self-conscious when she’d walked down the stairs to where he'd been waiting in the hall with Hazem, and the flare of sexual heat in his eyes had caused her heart to jerk painfully beneath her ribs.Her doubts about taking Hazem to visit his family in Qubbah were intensifying by
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He waited for Kate to absorb his words, noting how the color had drained from her face. She looked very young, and that air of innocence was very convincing. It was easy to see how she had fooled Farhan three years ago, when he had been a grieving widower with a baby son. "Hell, she had almost fooled him," Ahsan mused grimly. But the information his personal assistant had emailed him after running a data check revealed things about her that he was sure his brother knew nothing about. Things like a shoplifting conviction and details about a life that had spiraled out of control—until she was fostered by an elderly couple who took her to their home in the caretaker's cottage on the grounds of Ingledean House.There she had managed to catch up on her education and had trained as a nanny, but more controversy followed with her first job, looking after the children of a respected barrister and landowner at his country estate on the outskirts of York. Zaid had unearthed talk of an affair be
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 405
Her feeling of unease had grown from the moment Ahsan’s jet had landed in Qubbah and she’d seen the fleet of vehicles lined up on the runway, flags fluttering on their bonnets. Ahsan had said that his family was influential in Qubbah, but she’d been startled when they had descended the plane’s steps and several Arab men, whom she’d guessed were members of his staff, had immediately leapt from the cars and bowed to him. Anyone would think he was royalty, given the way people seemed to worship the ground he walked on.With a heavy sigh, she resumed her contemplation of the barren landscape, relief flooding through her when she spotted the distant outline of walls and high towers. But her relief gave way to sheer astonishment ten minutes later, when they drove through the huge arched gateway of what was clearly an ancient fortress and then down a mile-long, sweeping driveway, lined on either side by palm trees, before halting outside the most amazing building she had ever seen.She turne
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 406
From a corner of the room came an audible gasp, and she swung around to see a young woman dressed in traditional robes staring at her with a look of undisguised horror on her pretty face."This is Jamila, who will be Hazem’s nanny," Ahsan said tightly. His face was a taut mask of fury, and Kate’s spurt of angry defiance wavered when he gripped her arm and dragged her over to the door. "I will escort Hazem’s stepmother to her room." He addressed Jamila in English, and the young woman nodded and smiled faintly, clearly still shocked that Kate had shown such disrespect to a member of the royal family. "We will leave you so that you and Hazem can become acquainted."To Kate’s relief, Jamila replied in perfect English. "Of course, sir." I will let Prince Hazem explore the nursery, and then I will give him his lunch—if you wish me to," she added hesitantly when Kate opened her mouth to argue that Hazem was her responsibility.Before she could comment, Ahsan tightened his hold on her arm and
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 407
"You can’t kidnap him." "I'll go to the British Embassy," she cried wildly. I agreed to bring him to Qubbah to visit your father, and I trusted that you would not stop me from taking him back to Ingledean. You can’t go back on your word."I said nothing about you taking Hazem away from Qubbah," Ahsan shrugged impatiently, as if bored with the debate."You are free to leave whenever you like." But he is staying here at the palace—for good.‘No! You can’t do that.Kate’s face drained of color, and Ahsan felt the faintest tug on his conscience. Her eyes were huge in her pale face, and her vibrant hair seemed to have a life of its own, fighting free of the pins that secured it to tumble around her shoulders.She was so beautiful, he thought angrily, infuriated by his body’s unbidden response to her. He had never met a woman so exquisitely lovely or wanted one with such shaming hunger. But the level of his desire for her surprised him. He had spent his adult life enjoying the company of bea
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 408
The command was a low growl that resonated through her, and when she lifted her heavy lids, she saw that Ahsan’s sharp cheekbones were stained with dull color, his face a taut mask of undisguised hunger. Once again, the voice in her head advised caution, but her body had a will of its own. Her fingers fumbled with his shirt buttons until eventually the last one was freed, and she pushed the material aside and ran her hands over the olive-gold skin that felt like satin beneath her fingertips, while the mass of black hairs that covered his chest tickled her palms.She traced the ridges of his powerful abdominal muscles and felt his stomach contract. She heard him growl something against her skin as he dragged her bra strap down her arm to expose her other breast. She gasped when he caught her swollen nipple between his lips and sucked hard, causing a peculiar sensation to spiral down through her body from her breasts to her pelvis.She twisted her hips restlessly as she felt a flood of
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 409
She refused to stay here for another day, and Kate vowed to return the following morning as she stood at the nursery window, blinking back angry tears. She would not allow Ahsan to manipulate her and treat her as if she were worthless—particularly where Hazem was concerned.She screwed up her eyes against the brilliant glare of the sun and scanned the palace gardens. But only the peacocks that lived in the grounds were strutting along the paths, and there was no sign of a man or a small boy.She’d spent the previous night plagued by memories of her shameful response to Ahsan and worrying over his shocking statement that he would never let her take Hazem back to England. She'd eventually fallen into a restless sleep and awoken late as a result.The sun had already been streaming through the blinds when she’d hurried to the nursery, where Jamila, the nanny Ahsan had appointed, had explained that "His Royal Highness" had taken Prince Hazem for a camel ride in the desert.How dared he take
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
