“And speaking of gypsies,” I say, “haven’t you ever wanted to find your family? At least your beloved sister, Estrella?”
“I’ve been thinking about it, and I think I’ll ask one of my children to arrange an investigation.”
“Oh, more cousins!” Iesha cheers.
“Do you think it’s possible to find them?” I ask.
“Insha’Allah[27], my daughter, I will find them.”
Kamal comes closer, and as if in silent agreement, his mother and sisters get up, leaving us alone.
“Ahsan is crazy about his uncles,” I say as he sits beside me.
“He can’t be crazier about them than about his father,” my jealous Sheikh jokes.
“I’m sure he can’t,habibi[28]. We’re all yours.”
He gets up and starts to pull me into the palace.
“We have guests, my Sheikh,” I say, laughing, because I know what’s going to happen.
“Woman, you know very well how hearing you speak my language turns me on. You provoked me—now deal with it.”
“Really? Then what will happen if I sayfi-date-ak[29]?”
“I’ll answer that yes, you are mine, Madeline. You always have been, and you always will be.”
Epilogue 2
Finally, the day has come.
About a month ago, I confirmed Adil’s death sentence. When the judge asked me if I would grant him pardon and convert the penalty to life imprisonment, I said no.
According to the laws of Sintarah, it is up to the Sheikh, and solely him, to make that decision.
Now, minutes before the prisoner bids farewell to this world, I asked to be alone with him.
“What do you want?” he asks as I enter his cell.
Staring at him makes me hate him even more, not just for what he did to me but because I loved him and trusted him my whole life. “I came to say that from your death onwards, I will never think of you again, not even to hate you as I do now. You will cease to exist not only on Earth but also in my heart.” It’s the first time I’ve visited him since the day he was arrested and confessed everything to us.
“Kamal, there was so much resentment inside me. I didn’t know how to love you.”
“But I did, Adil. I loved you and honored our friendship, and if it had only been against me that you had plotted, I couldhave commuted your sentence to life imprisonment. But you tried to kill my son and my wife, and for that, there’s no room for forgiveness in my heart.”
I leave the room without looking back.
Thirty minutes later, the sentence is carried out.
I didn’t wait for the crucifixion. I’ve already fulfilled my promise to protect my family above all else.
My duty here is done.
Years later
I watch my mother’s smile as she chats with her nieces and nephews at the welcome party she organized for her relatives. After years of searching, she found the three children of her most beloved sister, Estrella de León. Unfortunately, my aunt had already passed away.
My sisters are ecstatic about having more cousins to add to the family.
