Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 49415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
“It is.” Rayyan shoved his hands deep into his pockets. “She has no one else—-”
“What a load of crock,” the sheikh’s normally genteel mother exclaimed, and it was shocking enough to render her son speechless. “Love doesn’t work that way, my boy. There’s no right or wrong, and there’s certainly no place for guilt.”
“If we had let the dictates of our conscience rule us,” Anthony said quietly, “we would have stayed here and raised you like normal parents do. But you mark my words – such a thing would only have lasted for a few years. Both of us would have ended up driving each other crazy, and we’d have eventually filed for divorce and you’d probably have turned into a junkie even before you hit puberty.”
“Is this still about me,” Rayyan asked mildly, “or it’s just that it took the two of you 32 years to come up with a plausible excuse for your abse—-ow!” He stared at his mother in shock. “Did you just—-”
Rowena thumped the back of his head again. “Now, do you believe it happened?”
“Mother!”
“Do you want me to do it again?” she asked very sweetly.
He shot her a disgruntled look, but when she started to raise her hand again, Rayyan said right away, “Maehdina, saydati.” Apologies, madame.
Rowena inclined her head in regal acceptance. “Your apology is accepted—-” She saw her son start to speak and glared him into silence. “But I am not finished.”
Rayyan managed not to roll his eyes. What the hell was this? After 32 years of letting him do his own thing, why were his parents suddenly in the mood to interfere? Maybe, they’ve had one too many to drink –
“No, son.” Anthony’s tone was wry, with the look on his son’s face all too easy to read. “Your mother and I are very much sober.”
“I, ah, didn’t say anything.”
“You didn’t have to,” Rowena retorted. “It’s written all over your face—-”
“Can you two stop going around in circles and just say what you want to say?” Rayyan was exasperated. “Because it’s obvious you’re both wanting to get something off your chest—-”
“You do not look happy.”
Ah.
A humorless smile flashed over the sheikh’s lips. “An unavoidable occupational hazard—-”
“Or of choosing the wrong woman to be with?” Rowena asked quietly.
Rayyan’s lips tightened.
“I know you are not used to having someone tell you off, and it’s causing you to instinctively resist people’s advice. I also know it’s our fault – but surely, you must know as well how much we love you?”
Rayyan nodded. “I do. I...know.”
“Then please believe me when I say love isn’t ever meant to tie you down.” Rowena placed a hand over her son’s arm. “And if the woman you’re with doesn’t know that – then she doesn’t know what love is.”
She waited for his answer with bated breath, and when Rayyan moved to take her hand off, Rowena feared all was lost – until she felt her son give her hand a gentle squeeze.
“Maehfam.” I understand. “And thank you.” Rayyan had to clear his throat before he could speak again. “I...needed to hear that—-”
“We just want you to be happy, son,” Anthony said gruffly.
“Although I have to say, it took the two of you a rather long time to get your shit together—-”
Thump!
Rayyan gave his parents a crooked grin. “Muzha.” I kid. He bowed. “If you will excuse me?”
Because everything was clear now.
Too damn clear, actually, that he had to fight against the stirrings of panic that was making his chest feel like it was about to explode.
First things first: he should look for Cecile, let her know that he could no longer be there for her in the way she wanted – but not needed.
Because one only needed the person one truly loved, and he wasn’t so sure anymore if Cecile truly loved him.
After asking Gadi to look for Marwan and Hyacinth, he returned to the table he shared with Cecile. She was nowhere to be found, but she had left her purse on one of the vacant chairs, and as he picked it up, its lid flipped open and her phone fell out.
And that was when he saw it - a message thread between Cecile and Hyacinth, which the former had never told him about.
The old Rayyan, the one who placed honor above all things, would have simply waited for Cecile to come back so he could ask for an explanation.
But that Rayyan was gone.
Who he was now knew better and had only one thought in mind.
Fuck honor.
This was about Hyacinth, the woman he loved, and she was the one who mattered the most.
Rayyan started reading the messages.
I hope you’re doing well there. Rayyan and I are doing okay. I’ve tried talking to him about you, but he says you no longer matter. I’m so sorry.
The sheikh bit back a curse. Lies, all lies. The truth was the very opposite – countless times, he had tried to bring up Hyacinth, and every time he did, she would start crying. But knowing what he knew now, he wouldn’t be surprised if those tears had been lies as well.