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She wondered what had happened to the apartment. Hafiz undoubtedly got rid of it. He no longer needed a hideaway, since he would live in the palace with his wife.
Lacey’s fingers paused on the piano keys for a moment as the pain ripped through her. She continued to play, her touch a little harder, as she imagined Hafiz as a newlywed.
The last news she read about Rudaynah was about the preparations for his wedding. After that, she stopped searching for information about the sultanate. It didn’t matter if his marriage was arranged or if his bride was incompatible. Hafiz would do whatever it took to make the marriage work. Even give up the woman he loved.
When the audience applauded while the last mournful note clung to the air, a uniformed waiter approached the piano. “A request.” He presented his silver serving tray with a flourish.
The Damask rose lying on the cream card caught her attention. The sight of the pale pink flower was like a punch in the stomach. They were just like the roses Hafiz used to send her.
Lacey swallowed and hesitated before she took it from the waiter. Her hands trembled as she nestled the fragrant flower between her fingers before picking up the card.
She stared at bold slashes in black ink. Lacey blinked, scrunching her eyes closed before opening them wide. She stared incomprehensively at Hafiz’s handwriting.
It couldn’t be. It looked like Hafiz’s scrawl only because she was thinking of him. She was always thinking of him. But the request was for the song Hafiz always wanted her play. It had been their song.
The clink of stemware clashed in her ears. The murmur of different languages boomed in her head. She wet her suddenly dry lips with the tip of her tongue. “Where did you get this?” she asked huskily. She felt as if she was paralyzed with shock.
“That man.” Lacey’s heart leaped into her throat as the blood roared in her ears. From the corner of her eyes, she saw the waiter pointed in the direction of a window that offered a breathtaking view of the Bosphorus strait. “Well, the man who had been over there,” he said with a shrug and left.
Lacey’s shoulders tightened, and her pulse continued to pound a staccato beat. Had it been Hafiz? If so, then why did he leave once he found her? Had he given into temptation to see her one more time and thought better of it? She couldn’t stop the pang of betrayal even when she wanted him to stay away.
Lacey cast a furtive glance around the lounge, ignoring the disappointment that flooded her bones. She didn’t understand how Hafiz had found her. She thought she had made it impossible for him to follow, but then the prince never gave up on a challenge. The more difficult the test, the more determined he was to conquer.
She returned her attention to the rose in her hands. She thought she would never hear from Hafiz again. She had been his vice and the one thing in the way of his goals. No matter what she did, she could never give him what he needed.
This time he had stayed away longer. She knew it was because of his upcoming wedding. It had been ridiculously easy to avoid all news sources after that tidbit of information. She wouldn’t have been able to look at his wedding pictures or cope with comparing herself and his chosen bride. But why did he seek her out? Was the pull just too strong to deny?
Rubbing the rose petals with short, agitated strokes, Lacey gave into temptation and brought the exquisite flower to her nose. Inhaling the delicate fragrance, she relived everything from the instant Hafiz invaded her life to the moment she’d retreated from his.
Regret seized her heart until the last of her strength oozed out. With clumsy fingers, Lacey set the pink flower aside on the grand piano. She couldn’t cope with the sweet ache of remembering.
Her gaze fell upon the card again, wincing at the song title. The lyrics had captured how she felt about Hafiz. About them. She’d had so much faith in their love. She had believed anything was possible.
Now she knew better. Lacey wanted to crumple the card in her fists and toss it away. She knew the song by heart, had sung it to Hafiz countless times, but she no longer had the resilience to play the song. It held a glimpse of her innocent, carefree days. It was a testament of her naïve love.
And she still loved Hafiz. That was how naïve she truly was. Even though he was forbidden, married and out of reach, she still loved him.
