Page 50 of A Million Shades Of Love and Betrayal

I rushed over to him, placing a firm hand on his arm to steady him. "Rafael, you need to calm down," I urged gently, trying to infuse my voice with the calm I felt. "Getting worked up isn't going to solve anything."

He jerked away, glaring at me with eyes wild with frustration and confusion. "How can you be so calm, Yasmin? Why aren't you as upset as I am? He just outed you to the world."

A small smile tugged at the corners of my lips. I couldn't help the warmth I felt knowing how determined he was to protect my honor. "Because," I said, guiding him to the couch. "We have nothing to worry about."

"What do you mean we have nothing to worry about?" he asked. "He's trying to box us into a corner."

"Rafael, there's something I need to tell you," I began, my voice steady despite the nerves twisting in my stomach. "Something I suspect only my father and I know."

He looked at me, eyes wide trepidation. "What is it? Whatever it is, I can handle it."

"My name..." I began, feeling the weight of the revelation about to unfold. "...is Yasmin Rashid."

He blinked, confusion clouding his features. "Yeah, I know that, Yasmin. What does your name have to do with anything."

I took another deep breath, steeling myself. "My name is Yasmin Rashid and the name on the marriage certificate...it's Yasmin Alarie."

For a moment, he just stared at me, his expression blank. Then, slowly, the realization dawned on him. "Wait...you mean...?"

I nodded, a weight lifting off my shoulders as I finally revealed the truth. "Ethan and I were never legally married. My real name is Yasmin Rashid, and the name on the certificate is Yasmin Alarie. It was a fake marriage. Yasmin Alarie doesn't exist. It was a name I used to protect myself."

Rafael's eyes widened in shock. "But...why? Why would you do that?"

I could see the questions swirling in his mind, the pieces slowly falling into place. "It was a safety net," I explained. "A way to protect myself and my family. I didn't trust him enough to tell him who I was and with the way how he married me in secret, I knew something might go wrong. It would also be weird if I asked him, the millionaire, to sign a prenup stating he'd get nothing from me."

"Speaking of prenups, my parents want you to sign one."

I would have laughed if I didn't think he was serious. "Have you told them who I am?"

He shook his head. "I was hoping we let them figure it out themselves."

"And do you want me to sign a prenup?" I asked, needing to hear him explain himself.

"Of course," he started, the words knocking the wind out of me. "But only to protect yourself. I'm a billionaire in my own right but even I know your family's wealth surpasses mine. I don't want you to feel like you have to worry while you're with me, so it'll be best your lawyers draw up one and I sign it."

"You would do that for me?"

"I would do anything for you."

I took his hand in mine, squeezing gently. How could I have been so blinded by Ethan's bullshit when there was someone willing to be right for me? I thanked my lucky stars that I met Rafael and allowed myself to be talked into getting revenge.

Rafael let out a long breath, running a hand through his hair. "So, all this time...you were never really tied to him. That's why you were so calm about his threats."

"Exactly," I said. "There's nothing he can do to us. Legally, we were never married, so any threats he made were empty."

He looked at me with a newfound respect, his anger melting away into relief. "Yasmin, you're incredible. I can't believe you managed to keep this a secret for so long."

"It wasn't easy," I admitted. "But it was necessary. And now that you know, we can move forward without fear."

Just as the weight of our conversation started to lift, my phone rang, startling us both. I glanced at the screen and saw my father's name. I answered quickly, my heart racing.

"Dad."

"I saw the press conference," he continued. "It's time for you and Rafael to get married. Do you understand?"

"I understand," I answered, even though I was now confused. I was almost certain he knew the name I signed on the marriage certificate and if that were the case he would have known Ethan was full of shit.

After hanging up, I turned to Rafael, who was still looking at me. "What did he say?" he asked.

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