Page 18 of The Billionaire's Timed Wife

In my heart, I know my father chose him deliberately to degrade me, and to make sure my life would be miserable.

Chapter 9

After a few minutes of conversation between my father and the prince on the phone, I realized Jazmina’s plan had worked.

His face was red with fury when he handed the phone back to the messenger, clearly eager to get rid of the man who, however, made no move to leave.

Grudgingly, my father told me to go to my room and pack my things.

I pretended not to understand when he explained that I would be traveling to Paris as the daughter of the former sheikh’s companion.

I nodded, head down, and was about to leave the room when I heard the man say that, under Prince Kaled’s orders, I was to spend that last night at the palace to help the princess pack as well.

Even in my nervous state, I realized that my friend had thought of everything. If I had to spend one more night in my father’s house, who knows what could have happened?

It was also lucky that I’d gotten a passport almost two years ago, back when Jazmina’s father had approved our studies abroad. Even though I never got to use it, my friend had wisely kept it locked in her own safe, instead of giving it to my father. She told me today that a treaty between France and Rheadur makes travel between the two countries visa-free.

I packed my things in record time, not even worrying whether my clothes matched.

To my embarrassment, it wasn’t until I arrived at the palace that I realized I’d forgotten my undergarments, so I had to borrow some of hers—brand new, thankfully. Jazmina said that once we arrived in France, we’d go shopping and take care of whatever else I needed.

Two soft knocks on the suite door pull me back to the present.

“Come in,” I answer, my throat dry.

A moment later, my beautiful friend appears.

She’s not wearing her chador, and she told me that in France we’d go back to wearing only the hijab, like before Naim’s rule, and if we wanted, we could even go out with our hair uncovered.

I’m not so sure about that. I don’t believe Prince Kaled would allow us to break his brother’s laws, even abroad.

“I love the color of your hair,” I tell her.

Her strands are coppery, with a unique glow.

She nods, but her face is tense, a tiny frown forming between her brows. “You can take yours off too,” she says.

“We haven’t taken off yet.”

“He won’t come after you, Adeela. Your father would never dare to defy my brother. You have my word, you’re safe.”

“I’m scared,” I admit quietly. “I’m stepping into an entirely new world.”

“We’ll be fine. As soon as we get to Paris, we’ll start looking for your mother. If we have to, we’ll hire a private investigator. I brought enough money with me.”

“And what will the prince think about that?”

“He doesn’t need to know everything.”

“You don’t trust him?”

“I do. But I prefer to keep some things between us.”

I look at her warily. “What are you planning, Jazmina?”

She stares back at me with the most innocent expression in the world, but after knowing her since we were five, I can read every nuance on her face. “Isn’t this suite beautiful? Out of all my family’s planes, Kaled’s is the prettiest.”

I glance around and have to agree. Despite the luxury, the décor isn’t oppressive like on Sheikh Naim’s jet. I’ve never flown before, but Jazmina once showed me her brother’s plane, and I still remember how my eyes hurt from all the gold-plated metal.