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A’s ruling Now a male child is needed to settle the succession”

So that hy Farooq wanted—no, needed ashe was probably pregnant by now, had no reason to suspect she was daed, barren…Oh God

She couldn’t tell him, couldn’t bear to But she had to do what she’d known needed to be done Retreat froone out, had taken her car and banned her guards fro to juain

She came into their quarters, pale, subdued He went to her, tried to take her in his ar as she stu the sea

Then she said, “I want a divorce, Farooq”

And there was nothing left In existence In hi you not to let this affect Mennah, that you’ll let her have her ony and disillusion and despair There was a wos of unity and destiny and bliss, only to gut hi you? How is heyou do this toWas she crying? Shocked?

She must be Now she’d turn, explain this insanity away…

She turned “It doesn’t o”

No No He’d only accused her to hear her denial, would have believed anything she said But what she’d said i in every step “If you can side with a criave you my love, myself, I can’t trust you near Mennah”

Horror shredded her nuoodif you letto hang on to her Even use Mennah “You want Mennah, you reive you more children,” she shrieked

“Why?” he thundered “Because you won’t sleep with me now that your mission is accomplished? Now that you broke uish pummeled them both The moment he could ain

“I had endometriosis Was declared infertile by a dozen specialists…Steve divorced me because I couldn’t provide an heir to his faht it safe to make love without protection…why I ran from you to protectand I couldn’t afford the endless procedures and the incapacitation when I had to take care of her This scar is not only froered, the bolt of horror al him He clutched his head “Ya Ullah, ya Ullah…”

Horror became panic as Carering up, stuht her, tears he’d only ever shed on his father’s andtiht have jeopardized everything because of me already But I didn’t know, or I would have told you, risked anything, even seeing this look—oh God—tears in your eyes…”