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Knowing this place, and the power it signified, hat Rashid really wanted and not her was suffocating, literally, and the world started to fade Cries rang out in the di a dark tunnel filled with sounds of distress, Laylah opened her eyes to see beautiful faces coated with concern

She’d fainted And the ladies had taken her back to her roo now, Laylah?” Mara as she continued to e her hands

Laylah tried to sit up, found Johara and Aliyah helping her “I’m fine Sorry for that”

“That first tri, no doubt re her own “Good news is, you’ll feel the best you ever did during the second one”

Not wanting to infornancy, she went along “Can’t wait”

“Wait until you see e came back to the room to find!” Lujayn exclaimed as she rushed away

Laylah’s eyes widened as she sahat she cahed “You reh you’re not ready to forgive hihtful and his choice is as perfect for you as Shaheen’s was for aped at Rashid’s “choice” A creation the likes of which she’d never iined

A one-piece Arabian/Indian masterpiece, it had a sleeveless bodice that nipped to a waist she was certain was the exact size of hers, with a décolleté that would emphasize her breasts and expose her neck and most of her shoulders and any necklace she would wear With its base a golden any the exact color of her hair and eyes, it was al hand-embroidery of sequins, beads, pearls, crystals, sehtest coral to the deepest verold

A skirt in hues echoing the top’s embroidery cascaded in any silk taffeta lining, its eenious scalloping at the hemline A veil with heavily embellished borders was cri to a luolden-brohere it would trail on the floor

But it was the patterns covering the whole outfit that robbed her of breath again Those of Rashid’s house

It was as if he wasputting his brand on her with that dress, just like he had branded her body and soul

The ladies interrupted her heavy-heartedfor her to try on the outfit at once Just as she’d expected, it fit her perfectly Rashid always knew exactly what he wanted, down to the last detail

As Maram and Aliyah contacted their husbands to demand jewelry that would match the outfit, from Zohayd’s and Judar’s royal collections no less, Laylah watched the other ladies flipping through catalogues to pick their complementary dresses, and wondered

If she felt this terrible just preparing for this farce, hoould she feel on the day itself?

The day was here The minute she had to marry Rashid And not really marry him