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His mouth twisted, and she knew he didn’t believe her. “And the ambassador’s wife?”
“I met Janet at her charity against hunger. We’ve been working together for the past six months.” Her voice trailed off when she noticed that she was following the same pattern and getting the same results.
Both times she had placed all of her energy into another person’s interest. Both times she had thought the commitment would pay off. That they would see how she fit seamlessly into their world and welcome her with open arms. At the very least, appreciate her efforts.
It shouldn’t be this hard to keep her loved ones in her life. She had to stop giving her all to people who didn’t want it. Didn’t want her.
“And you just happen to become friends.” Hafiz’s voice broke through her thoughts. “With the two women who could destroy everything I’ve worked for if they mention a rumor to one of their powerful friends or husbands.”
“Is that what you’re worried about?” Lacey began to tap her fingers on the table. “In all our time together, I’ve never done anything to hurt you. Why would you think I’d do that now?”
“Because you thought I would marry you one day, and instead I’m marrying someone else. You want revenge.”
“Wait a minute! Are you saying—” She sat up straight and pressed her hands against her chest. “Do you think I’m trying to—”
He speared her with an icy cold glare. “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”
“Scorned woman? You’ve scorned me? No, you’ve sacrificed me, but—”
“And you needed to hit me back.” He widened his arms as if offering her another shot.
“You think I have the power to hurt you?” she asked through barely parted lips. She realized that she did have that power, temporarily. “That’s why you didn’t tell me. I never thought you were a coward. And you aren’t. You just don’t give information unless it’s in your interest.”
She bit the inside of her lip as he walked to her, his stride reminding her of a stalking panther.
“Explain yourself, Lacey,” he said softly with just a bite of warning.
“The agreement between you and the sultan,” she said hurriedly. “The one about you becoming the crown prince if you marry his choice of bride.”
Surprise flashed in his dark eyes before he placed his fists on his lean hips. “How do you know about that?”
Lacey dipped her head as the last glimmer of hope faded. So it was true. He gave her up for a chance to become the next sultan. “Everyone knows.”
“The agreement came after I was engaged,” he said stiffly before he turned around. “I don’t know why I’m explaining this to you.”
You mean, to someone like you, Lacey silently added. “Do you want to be the sultan?”
Hafiz’s shoulders grew rigid as he turned around. “Of course. I know I can do the job. For the past ten years, I’ve worked hard to prove it to others.”
“Don’t you want to do something different?” she asked.
“Why would I give up this opportunity?”
Why would he, other than to have a life that would include her? It wasn’t worth the sacrifice. And he supposedly made the decision to end their relationship before the sultan’s offer.
“Look at the impact you’ve made on your own,” she pointed out. “Think of what else you could do without the interference of the palace.”
“You don’t understand, Lacey,” he said wearily as he thrust his fingers in his dark hair. “I was born for this. It’s my destiny.”
“I know. It’s why you push yourself.” Her toe tapped a nervous staccato beat before she dove into uncharted territory. “It’s not out of ambition, is it? You’re looking for redemption.”
He tilted his head as if he was scenting danger. As if she was getting too close to his secret. Too close to the truth.
“You lost your birthright ten years ago. That’s why your brother was chosen over you. And you’ve been trying to get it back.”
* * *
She knew the truth. Shame swept through Hafiz. It burned through his veins, and he instinctively hunched his shoulders to ward it off.
