Page 104 of The Billionaire's Timed Wife

“Thought what, Mother?”

She glances around to make sure no one can hear. “This isn’t common here, since the punishment is severe, I know, but I once suspected they were having an affair.”

“What? That’s impossible.”

Adultery is a serious matter in Rheadur. The laws aren’t as extreme as in some countries, where infidelity can be punished by death, but the penalty is still harsh: the woman iscast out with nothing but the clothes on her back. Not even her jewelry, unlike in a regular divorce.

Sadly, that punishment applies only to women, something Kaled plans to change by introducing equal penalties regardless of gender.

“Mother, are you sure about this?”

“I can’t be sure, but when I was married to your father, I caught them whispering together more than once. I thought maybe her hostility toward me was out of jealousy.”

“That’s serious. She’s the first wife of my father-in-law. To dishonor her husband with his own advisor—withanyone—would be shameful, but those two? They’re both part of Kamran’s inner circle.”

“My point, daughter, is that I want you to be careful with her. I trust Eiza as little as I trust your father—both are sly and cruel. Her sudden friendliness now that you’re pregnant gives me chills.”

Instinctively, I rest my hands over my belly. “She wouldn’t dare hurt me. I’m carrying the sheikh’s child.”

“Not while I’m here. I’d kill her first. No one’s going to harm you. But after the baby’s born, I worry you’ll be more vulnerable.”

Mother told me yesterday that she plans to spend some time in Germany with Konrad after the baby arrives. She can’t date him here in Rheadur, and since they’ve grown closer, she wants to get to know him better before making anything official. Where she was born, people don’t marry without living together first.

“Mother, I’m sure that once our son is born, Kaled will build a small army to protect him.”

“And you?”

“Me too. Go in peace. You deserve to be happy more than anyone here.”

“Doesn’t it bother you that I’m leaving basically to . . . uh . . . date a man?”

“I don’t judge you, Mom. It’s not something I’d do, but we were raised differently. Everyone copes their own way. I just know I could never be with another man if I ever lost Kaled. He’s the only one for me.”

She squeezes my hand.

“Did you feel that way about my father?”

“No. I loved him, of course, or I wouldn’t have married him, but he wasn’t my world the way Kaled is yours. Your father was a passion. I’ve thought about it a lot. I think I was enchanted by someone exotic, possessive, so different from my culture. But over time, the magic faded. Once the novelty of sex wore off, the fights began. Less than six months after the wedding.”

“Did he ever hit you?”

“Not me. But I know he did it to the others. Maybe that’s another reason they hated me.”

“Is that why he sent you away? Because you didn’t get along with the other wives?”

“I think it was just the excuse he needed. He was already losing interest in me because there was no real love left.”

“I don’t think any love can survive betrayal. If your suspicion is right, and Father had an affair with Eiza—”

“Had? I don’t think it ever ended. I noticed the way they looked at each other at your wedding. Even if he no longer has access to the palace, I wouldn’t be surprised if they still find ways to meet.”

“I’m shocked.”

“I know. Betrayal is always hard to swallow. I was so naïve when I got married. You know what’s worse? Eiza was the first woman I suspected of being involved with your father but notthe only one. Maybe the most sordid case, since she was the sheikh’s wife.”

“So you think there were others? But how? You said he was obsessively jealous. He barely let you talk to anyone.”

“Probably because he was the one doing wrong. He assumed I’d do the same.”