Lovers
“What, I’ve adopted a child? Mother, when will you stop believing in cheap gossip?”
“They saw you getting off the plane with that woman and a baby in your arms.”
“It’s Cambell’s child, and even if we decided to adopt, it would be our own problem. You know we would never accept someone who isn’t of our bloodline as an heir. You’ve been warned, son. If you don’t have a child soon, your brother will do it for you.”
Basima ended the call. Could that really be her son? When did he become so disobedient? She was swamped with work, piles of documents on her desk that had accumulated while she was gone for just one day. Her assistant helped her, but she had to read everything before signing.
“I could help you read some of the documents so I can tell you what they’re about, and then you can sign them yourself.”
“Would you do that for me?”
“Of course, anything I can do to help.”
They worked until late, and after looking at the clock, they decided it was time to rest. They would continue working the next day.
“Thank you, my love. You’ve helped me so much.”
“I see you’re exhausted; maybe a massage will help you relax a bit.”
“Thank you, a massage would be great.”
He undressed, leaving only his underwear, and lay down on the bed facing down. He was truly fatigued, and Aisha took some aromatic oils and approached him, starting to massage his back skillfully.
“This is heaven,” he exclaimed, satisfied.
“I’m here to help in any way you need, Your Majesty.”
He turned to look at her, and she had a seductive smile on her face.
“Oh no, Sheikh, you’re tired, you need to rest.”
“I won’t resist if you help me, don’t you think?”
“No way, Ahmed, rest,” she said, giving him a kiss on the forehead and covering him with a blanket. It was an irresistible offer, and he had to use his willpower to refuse.
“I guess I’m not irresistible anymore. I never thought the day would come when I’d be rejected,” he said jokingly.
“Come on, sleep.”
“Lie down next to me, hold me.”
She did as he asked, and they fell asleep quickly.
In the early morning, the alarms in the palace started ringing incessantly. Aisha woke up anxious, and Ahmed got dressed quickly.
“What’s happening?”
“Someone broke into my office; that’s why the alarms are ringing. Don’t leave the room; I’ll be right back.”
Aisha stayed in the room, and Thara sent her a message.NôvelDrama.Org content.
“Friend, what’s going on?”
“I don’t know, Ahmed left, and he asked me to stay in the room.”
“Same with Cambell, but he’s taking too long, and I’m so nervous.”
Later, Aisha heard noises outside her door and grabbed the fireplace poker, standing behind the door. When the door opened, she let out a scream and tried to hit the person entering with the poker.
“Hey! Calm down,” Ahmed managed to dodge the blow.
“I’m sorry, I’m really sorry,” she said nervously.
“Come, sit down, you’re trembling.”
“What happened?”
“Someone broke into my office. The strange thing is that nothing was taken; they only left our marriage certificate on the floor.”
“What would someone want with our certificate?”
“No idea. We’ve reviewed the security cameras, and it shows someone running away dressed in an abaya. It has to be someone who knows the palace very well.”
“Do you think…?” Ahmed didn’t let her finish the question.
“Do you think it was my mother? I believe she’s capable of this and more.”
“It’s strange that nothing was stolen, and they took the certificate; maybe they just took a picture.”
“That’s what I thought.”
In the morning, the two couples had breakfast.
“It’s better to have breakfast here so Aisha doesn’t have to wear the burqa, which is incredibly uncomfortable.”
“And it is, believe me.”
Raccha entered at that moment. “Sir, sorry to interrupt, but you need to see this,” he said, handing Ahmed a newspaper. As Ahmed read the headline, he stood up in anger.
“So, last night was because of this, damn it!”
“Ahmed, you shouldn’t curse, especially at the table,” Basima entered at that moment.
“Who let you in, mother? I’ve made it clear that you’re not welcome here.”
“You ungrateful son! I only came to ask you to get this woman out of here. As you can see, she’s not your wife; you’ve been living in sin all this time. I’ve asked the court to have her flogged and then sent out of the country.”
“Dare anyone come for her here!” Ahmed called his guards, and they came immediately.
“Escort my mother out of here, and it goes without saying that she and Arkham and Aracha Amin are not to be allowed access.”
“What’s happening, Ahmed?” Aracha approached and read the newspaper. “How could this happen?”
“I’ll talk to my lawyer immediately and ask for increased security in the palace.” He walked away with Cambell.
“What’s going on, friend?”
“Last night, the person who broke in must have taken a photo of our marriage certificate. Ahmed needs to present a court-issued divorce decree and a final divorce certificate. According to the news, our marriage is not valid, and we’re accused of living as lovers. That’s unthinkable under Sharia law.”
“But his ex-wife died, why present all that?”
“It’s a way to tarnish his reputation; no doubt my dear mother-in-law has something to do with this.”
Ahmed met with his legal team, and they verified that the marriage was legal. He had submitted all the necessary documents before the wedding.
“Zamir, take all the newspapers that spread this false news out of circulation. Also, remove anything related to me and my wife from the internet.”
“Right away, sir.”
Ahmed remained alone with Cambell in his office.
“Yesterday, the adoption, and today this. Will my mother ever leave me in peace?”
“I don’t know what to say, my friend. They’re determined to make your life impossible.”
“I’m afraid Aisha might get tired and decide to leave.”
In the Sheikh’s palace, Basima, Aracha, and Arkham were celebrating the trouble they caused Ahmed.
“Hahaha, I would have loved to see my brother’s face when he read the newspaper.”
“Perhaps we’re being too cruel, but he brought this upon himself. Maybe soon, my dear, you will take your rightful place,” Basima said to Arkham.
Aracha seemed like an affectionate kitten, always by Arkham’s side. She didn’t love him, but she was excited to finally become the Sheikha.
In Italy, Carlo received a photograph of Vinizzio’s daughter.
“But there must be some mistake; this is my ex-sister-in-law, Caroline.”
“We’ve verified the information, sir. Mr. De Vincenzo had a DNA test done, and we gained access to the results. It’s positive; this other photograph is of Alessia, Vinizzio’s deceased daughter.”
“Unbelievable, they look so much alike. Investigate thoroughly; I want to know the whole story. If she’s Vinizzio’s daughter, then she’s not Mía’s sister. Now I understand why Sonia didn’t want them to bond.”
Vinizzio, on the other hand, was trying to please Caroline in every way. She didn’t understand why he needed so many bodyguards.
“Is there something I should know?”
“What do you mean, daughter?”
“Is all this security necessary?”
“It is; there are people who don’t like me. I don’t want to risk you getting hurt like they did to Alessia. Your sister was killed in a cruel way, and I couldn’t do anything to save her. She was shot to death.”
“But who could do such a thing?”
“My enemies, the Román Conti.”
“Carlo?”
“Yes, Your brother-in-law Ahmed has offered me unconditional support; I think I’ll accept it. It’ll be the only way to end that family once and for all.”
Caroline once thought Carlo was a good person, and his only mistake was being obsessed with Mía. Now she understood she was wrong; he was worse than she thought, completely deranged. Her sister was in danger if that man found her.
Carlo was on the trail of one of the men involved in Mía’s kidnapping at the church that day. One of his accomplices, who wasn’t present during the kidnapping, gave information to Carlo for a large sum of money.
He informed Carlo that one of his accomplices was there that day and would know who gave the order because he was the one responsible for escorting Mía to the plane.
In the underworld, one could eventually get the required information; one just needed to be patient and offer a lot of money.
“Mía, Mía, soon I’ll know where you are, and you’ll come back to be by my side. You’ll be my wife; there’s no doubt about that.”