But then I look at him and realize what he’s doing. This would be his final act of revenge: to see me step out of the role of the Sheikh and become an ordinary killer. To dishonor my oath to be a fair leader obedient to my own laws.
Suddenly, I feel peace spreading through me. I know what I’m going to do.
I stand up. “You will stand trial, Adil, and I will ensure you are sentenced to death.”
“A firing squad?” He scoffs. “That’s quite boring.”
I smile. “For a criminal, you know little about our penal laws. When the judge asks me to sentence you after theconviction, I will decree that you be beheaded.” I take pleasure in seeing surprise on his face.
“The penalty of beheading no longer exists,” he says.
“Yes it does. We haven’t issued it in a long time, but it’s still in effect. And I’m not done yet. I will also order that your body be crucified for three days. It will be displayed to my people so that everyone sees what happens to traitors.”
I don’t give him time to respond. I turn my back, sure that I’ve won.
Chapter 52
“The baby is alright,” my mother-in-law says, placing her hand on my belly as soon as she steps into the hospital room.
“Are you sure?” I put my hand on hers, my eyes filling with tears.
“I am, yes. The future Sheikh of Sintarah will grow strong and healthy, just like his father.”
I hide my face in my hands and start crying. Amapola lets me pour my heart out, and now I understand why she asked her daughters to let her come in alone.
“Thank you so much. You have no idea how happy I am. I was so afraid I had harmed my baby.”
“Because you ran away?”
“Do you know what happened?”
“Not in detail. Tell me.”
I recount everything, from my mother’s first reaction when she learned I was dating a Sheikh, what she said about Kamal’s skin color, to the conversation I witnessed between her son and Adil. Then I told her about my escape.
“I was terrified. The only thought I had was to prevent him from taking my baby away from me. I don’t want to be a prisoner; I want to be by his side by choice.”
“He made a mistake by letting jealousy take over. It wasn’t just hearing what your mother said on the recorded phone call that caused that reaction in my son; I’m sure of it because I know him . . . It was because he feared you’d leave.”
“What?”
“Kamal isn’t used to needing anything. He’s always had everything at his fingertips. Then you show up, beautiful and free, making it clear that you have no interest in wealth or social status. He doesn’t know how to deal with that or with what he feels for you. He also couldn’t stop you from leaving, so he threatened to take away the only thing that would keep you from leaving: your child.”
“The love I feel for him would prevent me from leaving. The threat of someone taking my child away made me want to run far away.”
“I know, Madeline. Don’t think I agree with what he said. My son was wrong. I’m just trying to explain that it wasn’t because he didn’t love you; it was because he loves you too much. My Zayn was like that too. When I first came to Sintarah, he tried to keep me in a golden cage, but like you, I wanted to make my own decisions, even if it meant choosing to stay by his side. We had terrible fights. Breakups that lasted five minutes and others that lasted a whole day.”
I stare at her, astonished. “I never imagined your marriage was like that. Kamal told me his father was crazy about you.”
“He was, indeed. And I was crazy about him, but that didn’t prevent us from arguing. Living together is very difficult, even when people come from the same roots. Now imagine uniting two completely different cultures . . . Add to that the factthat our men are arrogant leaders, used to being obeyed. It’s not exactly the best combination for a marriage.”
“So, how did you make it work?”
“Above all, we loved each other madly. The differences didn’t matter; the idea of being separated was inconceivable.”
“I’m confused,” I confess. “Since I went to London, from the moment I laid eyes on your son, my life turned upside down. I think I fell in love instantly. Kamal is intense, and I have no problem with that, but we need to set boundaries. I’ve been submissive my whole life, but I don’t want to be the kind of wife who fears contradicting her husband. You said your son is used to being obeyed. I’m used to not having a voice. We need to find a balance because I don’t want to stay silent for the rest of my life. That would make me lose respect for myself.”
“What do you intend to do?”
