Page 30 of The Billionaire's Timed Wife

“Why, Father?”

“Why what?”

“Why do you hate me so much? I know you don’t respect my sisters either, but you can’t stand me—you’ve never even tried to hide it. If you hate me so much, why didn’t you let me go with my mother?”

“I would never give that whore the satisfaction!”

As always, my heart contracts when I hear him speak of my mother like that. But this time, after all these years, the truth finally hits me: he never wanted me. He only kept me to punish her.

“I want you back in Rheadur before nightfall tomorrow,” he says.

“I’m not coming home. Tomorrow or ever again.” I fight back tears; I won’t give him the satisfaction of hearing how deeply he’s hurt me. “I’m going to find my mother.” Years of restraint and silence give way like a broken dam.

“You’ll only go after her over my dead body.”

“I will, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”

“Oh, really? We’ll see about that.”

“I’m not afraid of you anymore,” I lie.

“You should be,” he sneers. “Let me warn you, if by some miracle you make it to the United States, which I doubt, you may only find a corpse.”

My knees buckle, and I collapse onto the bed. “What are you talking about?”

“Your mother has terminal cancer. She’s dying, penniless, alone, living in a shack with no one to care for her. I can make her final days comfortable. If you return home and marry the man I’ve chosen, she’ll be admitted to the best hospital in the United States. I’ll even allow you to see her one last time so you’ll know I’ve kept my word.”

Chapter 15

At the same time Adeela speaks to her father

“Peace be upon you, Father,” I greet him as soon as he answers.

“Kaled, my beloved son, I wasn’t expecting to hear from you today.”

“Yes, I know, but I’ve made a decision, and I couldn’t wait to tell you.”

“What decision?”

I can feel the tension in his voice.

“The deadline for Naim’s return ends in a few weeks. If he doesn’t show up by then, I’ll assume the role of sheikh of the emirate.”

“I never doubted that you’d rise to your responsibilities, my son.”

“It’s not only out of duty that I’m accepting your command. I want to do it, to govern our people and make Rheadur a nation our citizens can be proud of again.”

He sighs. “I know it was never what you wanted, but sometimes destiny orchestrates events, fitting together pieces that once seemed out of place.”

“I haven’t given up on finding your son.”

“I know, Kaled. But I also know Naim won’t return. I’ve hired dozens of detectives around the world, and every trail has gone cold. Perhaps the wrongs he committed have finally caught up with him.”

Though we’ve always shared the same thoughts, this is the first time my father has spoken so plainly about his eldest son. Until now, Naim’s failures were like the elephant in the room, visible to all but ignored by most.

Not by me. I’ve always despised him, even if he shares my blood.

“It pains me to say this, but I made a mistake in following the law so strictly,” he continues.