page37 (1/2)

CHAPTER NINE

A MERE TWO weeks later, in which she saw her fiancé one single time for the space of one measly hour, Lauren Hah Sheikh of Behraat in an outrageously extravagant but traditional cereing frouished state h Council members ore their disapproval like a shield to any nuible curiosity

The flowing, turquoise creation made of satiny silk that had been picked for her fell to her ankles in a traditional, not-hugging fit and hid her burateful

“The Sheikh of Behraat, Lauren? What about your scorn for a life that’s only about aotten your petty co Lauren’s old words back in her face

“It’s not like that, Mom,” she had said, for her own benefit as much as her mother’s

Then she heard the muted whisper of her father’s voice and then her ot pregnant? Did you get the nikah contract checked out by a lawyer, Lauren? If he marries another woman later, because, believe es burn out in a blaze as soon as the lust dies downand their council, whatever it’s called in Behraat, ant a Behraati sheikha, what does your child get? If he’s a boy, is he going to be named heir?” She had continued in that vein while Lauren had felt nauseous

Nothing about what her feelings for Zafir were or his for her, if he treated her well or if Lauren wanted her mom by her side for the first time in years

Of course, they were too busy on diploh she told them of Zafir’s offer to fly them back and forth within days in his private jet And even after years of hardening herself against their disinterest, it still hurt that when the wedding organizer inquired about her fa to say

It had been the sa teeks And he had brought the very contract that her n

Too stunned to string tords together, she had stared at him And he had replied that it was a tradition

Once the lawyer had begun explaining what it entailed—allowance enerations after her to live quite cootten over her shock, she had abruptly stopped him and requested that he leave

Zafir, who’d been sitting in a corner of the room, his attention on the tablet in his hand, had jerked his head up, his gaze pinning her to the spot