Page 121 of The Billionaire's Timed Wife

“Asleep too. The nanny just put him down. He came to show me his teeth so I could check how well he’s learned to brush them.”

I laugh, and then, out of nowhere, tears start to fall. “I’m the worst mother in the world.”

“No, love, you’re human. You’re doing an incredible job showing our local products to the world. That deal you closed with the French restaurant to be their exclusive chocolate supplier was brilliant.”

“But I want you all. More time with the three of you. To make love to you all night, not just once and then pass out from exhaustion.”

He starts laughing, and just like every time, I fall in love with him a little more. Kaled’s smiles are special to me. He told me he didn’t smile much before we got married.

“I’m serious,” I mutter, but by then, he’s already laying me down on the bed, kissing me.

My husband has been trying to adjust his schedule so that one of us is always there when our kids go to sleep. We talked about it, and he believes it’s important for them to feel that someone’s always there for them. I think we both crave that stability for different reasons.

Me because my mother was taken far away from me. Him because he lost his.

“We make one hell of a team, Adeela. As parents and as lovers.”

“As lovers, modesty aside, we’re perfectly matched,” I say, feeling my face heat up. “But as parents, if there were a competition, I’d come in last.”

Instead of comforting me, he slides his hand under my blouse and pinches my nipple.

“Ow!” I protest.

“If you could eat something right now, what would it be?”

What a strange question!

“I don’t know . . . something sweet and salty at the same time?”

He smiles, like he’s keeping a secret I haven’t figured out yet. “And how’s your appetite in the mornings?”

My eyes widen, caught between shock and delight. “You think I’m pregnant again?”

“No, love,” he says, pulling me on top of him. “Weare.”

Epilogue 2

Loire Valley – France

One and a half years later

“Daddy, I’m a prince,” Tajj declares proudly, as if the whole world didn’t already know. “And I need a castle of my own. Can this one be mine?”

“No, this one belongs to your mother,” I tell him, amused. “But since she’s very generous, she’ll let you spend your vacations here too.”

I hide a smile, watching my firstborn and heir unfold his unique personality.

At his age, five, all I wanted was to cause trouble—run, jump, climb trees—and drive the servants insane with my mischief.

Tajj, however, seems to have been born an adult: composed, confident, already ready to rule a kingdom. He’s also a natural charmer, and one flash of his smile is enough to make anyone rush to fulfill his wishes—which forces Adeela and me to go in the opposite direction.

Even though we know the chances of him ever lacking anything material are slim, he needs to appreciate what he has and understand that just because we’re financially privileged, it doesn’t mean he can have everything he wants.

I refuse to raise another Naim, whose indulgent mother made him believe he was above right and wrong—and learned, in the worst possible way, that he wasn’t.

“And a horse?”

“Another one? You already have two in Rheadur.”