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Chapter 80
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MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 81
“Then what? I loved you.’Her eyes became pincers. If you loved me as much as you say you did, then why did you try to change me?I didn’t try to change you.’Well, that’s what it felt like, “she said, a tremor carrying in her voice. She rubbed her forehead. Before we’d even exchanged our vows, you’d thrown tutors at me to teach me elocution and all that other stuff. You got your sister to take me shopping to all the best places; you hired me my own personal trainer and dietician... The only reason you went to all that effort was because I wasn’t good enough for you and your perfect family as I was.”For the last time, I was trying to help you fit in.And why was that? It was because I didn’t fit in.’He slammed his fist on the steering wheel. ‘I was trying to protect you!’Astonishment crossed her features. Protect me from what?“From my world and the people who live in it. I didn’t want you in social situations where you felt intimidated or unable to hold your own.”The only sounds
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 82
Grabbing her bag, she slipped out of the car and slammed the door with so much force the Lotus shook.Taylor stared at her rapidly retreating figure, his heart thumping, something sharp tearing at his throat.What the hell had just happened?It took a few heartbeats before the shock of her reaction dislodged him and his body unfroze.He unbuckled his seat belt, jumped out and, ignoring the dozens of angry drivers honking and waving their fists at him, slammed his own door shut.For a moment, he couldn’t see her, and there were seconds when his heart seemed to stop with the panic of it all. Then he spotted her, already far in the distance in the middle of a crowded pavement.Dianne slipped through the crowds and into a narrow side street where cars were banned, not knowing and not caring where she was going. All that mattered was escape.A hand grabbed her arm. Her throat opened to scream, but then she saw it was Taylor who had hold of her.She yanked out of his grasp. “Taylor, please,
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 83
Taylor let himself into the villa and threw his keys on the sideboard.The house sat in silence, the staff having long since retired for the night.He rubbed his temples and headed to the bar. After fixing himself a strong drink, he sat on a stool, used the remote to turn the television on, and flicked through the sports channels until he found the highlights of the evening’s La Liga games.Sipping at his drink, he concentrated on watching Barcelona demolish Celta Viga. There were some good goals to enjoy and ordinarily he would have been cheering his team on football. His guilty pleasure.Tonight, though, he was distracted. Something in his trouser pocket was digging into the top of his thigh. He should pick it out.Instead, he waited for the advertisements to finish, swallowed his drink, and poured himself another.The damn thing still dug into him.With a grimace, he shoved his hand into the pocket and fished the small square box out. Without looking at it, he stuck it on the bar a
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 84
She sat up straight, suddenly as certain of something as she’d ever been in all her life.Taylor loved her with all her imperfections.She jumped to her feet, bouncing, then slumped back down as another thought occurred to her.He might love her, but she’d hurt him badly. His pride was enormous, and she’d wounded it not once, but twice.He might not want to listen to her. Even if he did listen, he could still walk away.Oh, get some backbone, she snapped at herself. If he walks away, it’ll be nothing less than you deserve. You’ll still live.It is better to try than to spend the rest of her life wondering what if.But before she could do anything, she realized there was something that needed to be taken care of first.She’d spent the years of their marriage searching for her self-respect. Somewhere in their short time together, she’d found it. She didn’t know where or when, but it had nestled inside her. And now she needs to claim it. Until she claimed it and embraced it, she would ne
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 85
She was wearing a royal-blue lace dress that fell to mid-thigh and displayed her gorgeous curves; her now even lighter blonde hair was loose around her shoulders. She wore black heels, which made her fabulous legs appear even longer.Even with the distance between them, he could see the animation in her eyes.A tall man he recognized—possibly a famous American singer—stepped in front of her and the contact was broken.Everyone took their seats.The wine was poured and the evening began.Course after course was brought out to them by an army of attentive waiting staff, laughter filling the room, overshadowing the piano player in the corner.Through it all, through all the conversations he had with the others at his table, Taylor’s eyes didn’t stray far from his wife.Dianne's table of twelve looked as if they were enjoying themselves immensely, and she chatted away happily as she ate her food. Every so often, she would look over to him and catch his eye, and he would feel that pull tha
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 86
‘Allowed what to happen? For your father to correct you, as was his right as your father?’At least she wasn’t pretending not to understand.‘My own father was far harder on me than Frederick ever was with you.’ She lifted the sleeve of her arm and showed him the old silvery scar that ran along her biceps. ‘My father did this to me in a drunken rage when I was seven. For all his faults as a father, Frederick never once lifted his finger to you.’He felt as if he’d been punched. She’d always shrugged it off as a childhood accident. ‘I never knew.’‘It was a long time ago when such things weren’t spoken of, especially amongst people like my family. Personal problems were kept behind closed doors. We both suffered at the hands of our parents and we tried not to repeat that with you and Audrey.’He laughed without any trace of humour.‘You think your father was hard on you?’ his mother said, a sharpness in her voice. ‘William would beat him when he failed at anything or disappointed him i
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 87
‘For you?’ she asked, confused at the turn of direction.‘I’ll pay for the building and any renovations that need doing. The funds raised can pay towards staffing and day-to-day running costs.’ He must have caught her dumb silence. ‘I’m happy to pay outright for it all, staff costs, upkeep, everything. The money raised tonight has been earmarked for the centre and it’s only right it be spent on it, but it can also be used to help other children in the same position. If we keep fundraising we can raise more awareness of what these children are living with and help even more of them.’‘And you want me to help you?’‘I want you to run it all for me. I’ll pay you a salary—’‘I don’t want a salary.’‘I know but I’ll pay it anyway. That’s if you choose to accept my offer.’She opened her mouth, not sure what to say, but he spoke forcefully before she could make a sound.‘Don’t make a decision now. Think it over. Let me know when you come to a decision.’If Dianne had felt dazed before, that
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 88
‘It’s beautiful,’ she whispered.‘I bought it to show you that my love for you is for ever,’ he said, taking it out of the box and sliding it onto her empty ring finger.It fitted perfectly.‘See—now you are mine again.’She beamed, happiness radiating through her.‘Dianne, we will build our own bubble to live in,’ he said, placing a reverential kiss to her hand, ‘and we will love and celebrate all our imperfections in it.’‘You, me and our babies?’The laughter died, a serious expression forming in his eyes. ‘We will have children when you’re ready and not a day sooner. I don’t care for the perfect family any more—perfect is boring,’ he added with a crooked grin. ‘Our children will be an expression of our love and commitment, nothing else.’‘How does seven months from now sound to you?’The shock ringing from him was so palpable that Dianne was the one to burst into laughter. ‘Yes, you wonderful man, you’re going to be a father.’His eyes were so wide she feared they would pop out. ‘
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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
