AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Was that what she was doing here? Had Khaled lured her here with the promise of a commission in order to ‘steal’ her from Paolo? It all seemed too incredible. It couldn’t be true.
But then, didn’t it make more sense than his assertion that he’d fallen in love with her from a photograph and set out to woo her?
She read on, feeling each new revelation like a body blow. Paulo had married Helene to save her from an arranged marriage to Khaled. The arrangement was to be in force only until Khaled found another wife. Then their marriage could be annulled and they would be free to continue with their lives and the relationships they chose. Neither of them expected that twelve years on Khaled would still be waiting, watching, casting the long shadow of his revenge over them.
What kind of bitterness made someone act that way?
No wonder Paolo had been frightened of commitment. No wonder he had pulled away from talk of marriage and the future. He had no choice. Words blurred on the page as tears pricked her eyes at the sacrifice he’d made for a friend, the sacrifice that had cheated him for twelve years of any chance of love.
She blinked the moisture away, clearing her vision enough to allow her to read the final paragraphs.
Sapphy, bella, perhaps I’m wrong. Perhaps the fact that Khaled told you of my marriage is evidence that he’s over the past and ready to put it behind him. Maybe it means nothing to him any more. I sincerely hope so.
I know things didn’t work out between us and I hope you can start to understand some of the reasons why it was so difficult for me to be honest with you, but I do care for you, Sapphy, I care for you immensely. So please, I beg of you, be careful in your dealings with Khaled. Don’t take anything at face value as he has a score to settle with me and I am afraid he will stop at nothing to do it.
Her insides were gutted, totally empty, her heart a black empty chasm pulling wider apart with every breath. Her legs lashed out as she kicked off her heels, reading the paragraphs again, tucking her legs underneath her on the chair, curling tighter and tighter into a ball.
Over the past? Not a chance. Khaled hadn’t used his information in the spirit of forgiveness, he hadn’t shared it with her over a drink and a laugh for old times’ sake. He’d used it as a weapon against Paolo, its barbs designed to dig deep and twist and bury his nemesis completely.
As for stopping at nothing—hadn’t he told her he loved her? What was that if not just one more attempt to prevent her leaving and ensure the success of his plan?
She let the pages fall to her lap and hugged herself, her breath jerky, her sobs strangely silent, unable to make a sound because there was absolutely nothing left inside.
Nothing—except anger. Into the shell where her heart once resided white-hot anger rushed in on a tidal wave—foaming and crashing, filling the space and gaps, its heat fed with the oxygen from every breath she took.
Khaled had played her for a fool all along. But no longer. Her hands formed into fists and she sprang from the chair, energised by the sudden rush of emotion, letting the pages scatter on the floor.
She had to get this dress off. It was a dress for a bride to wear when she wedded the man of her dreams. She’d been kidding herself that she could ever be that bride. She’d been kidding herself that there would ever be a real wedding. Her dream had turned into a nightmare.
Her hands had tackled only the first of the pearl buttons when behind her someone tapped on the door. She swivelled in time to see the door swing open and suddenly he was there.
‘I came as soon…’
With one look at her his words died on his tongue. She was wearing the dress. His blood pumped harder, louder in his veins, spiralling warmth and pride through him. Soon, she would be his.
‘Beautiful,’ he said, his tone almost worshipping. ‘Just stunning. The most beautiful bride ever.’
She sniffed, raising her chin and rubbing her cheek with the back of her hand, and it was then that he noticed her eyes, large and luminescent as if he’d startled her with his sudden appearance, yet smudged around the edges, almost as if she’d been crying.
She dropped her arm to the side and brought herself up taller and suddenly her eyes looked less doe-like and more glacial, and set amongst features that seemed to harden even as he watched.
‘Do you think so?’ she said, her lips tilting into a harsh curve. She looked down at the dress. ‘I was thinking of it more as a going-away outfit.’
‘What do you mean?’
She turned her eyes back up at him. Back to where their frosty spears could inflict the most damage. ‘When were you going to tell me?’
‘Tell you what?’
‘Were you going to spring it on me before I’d walked down the aisle, or wait until we were hitched? Or even better, maybe you were saving it for a honeymoon treat?’
‘Do you mind telling me what you’re talking about?’
‘It must have been challenging—always finding ways of keeping me here. But you sure came up with the trump card to beat all today. You love me. Yeah, right. What were you going to try if that didn’t work?’
Breath rushed out of his lungs on a growl and he closed the space between them, latching on to her shoulders. ‘What’s happened?’ he said.
‘Oh, I get it,’ she said, wincing, looking pointedly down on his hands. ‘You were planning on physically restraining me. Nice touch. No doubt there’s a dungeon somewhere down below where I can be kept for as long as it takes.’
