Page 62 of A Million Shades Of Love and Betrayal

We all laughed, the ridiculous nature of his questions being so funny. If this get-together has proven anything to me it’s that Ivan and Khalid were the biggest teddy bears when you got to know them. It was either that or the alcohol was doing wonders.

He waved his hand dismissively. “Just kidding. I’ll be walking her down the aisle twice, after all.”

There was a comfortable silence as we each sipped our drinks, the reality of the upcoming events settling in. Ivan broke the silence, his tone more serious. “Rafael, I want you to promise me something.”

I nodded, meeting his gaze. “Of course, Ivan. Anything.”

He sighed, his expression softening. “Take care of my daughter. She's a strong woman but she's still my little girl. She isn't one to share her pain especially when she thinks it's her fault. You'll have to be attentive but not overbearing, and loving but also give her space. Think you can do that?"

I placed my hand over his, offering a reassuring squeeze. “Ivan, you have my word. Yasmin is in great hands with me. I love her more than anything, and I will always put her first.”

Ivan seemed to relax at my words, his eyes reflecting his gratitude and relief. “Thank you, Rafael. That means more to me than you know.”

Ivan’s expression softened, and he nodded, satisfied with my response. The conversation shifted, but there was an undercurrent of unspoken concern. Eventually, I brought up the topic that had been gnawing at the back of my mind all evening.

“Any updates on Ethan?” I asked, trying to keep my tone casual but failing to mask the edge of concern. "I don't want him to mess up my wedding."

Khalid’s demeanor turned serious. “You’ll be the first to know if anything changes. Right now, we have things under control. He’s not going to disrupt anything. We'd never allow it.”

I nodded, reassured but still wary. Ethan had caused enough trouble already, and I didn’t want anything to mar the happiness Yasmin and I had found.

The evening wore on, filled with more drinks and stories. The camaraderie among us grew stronger with each passing hour, and I felt deep gratitude for these men who would soon be my family.

-43-

Yasmin

Shopping with Amirah was always an adventure, and today was no exception. We were on a mission, scouring the stores for the perfect lingerie that would knock Rafael’s socks off. I could feel the excitement bubbling inside me as I imagined his reaction. Amirah, my ever-enthusiastic partner-in-crime, was equally thrilled, though probably more for the gossip than the actual shopping.

“Oh my god, Yasmin, look at this one!” Amirah exclaimed, holding up a delicate lace number that was more revealing than covering. “Rafael will go wild.”

I laughed, taking the piece from her and holding it up for inspection. “It’s definitely...something. I don’t know if I’m brave enough for this one.”

“Come on, Yas. You’ve got to push the boundaries a little. Besides, you’ve already crossed the biggest one.” She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, clearly fishing for details.

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. “Amirah, I already told you, I’m not giving you a play-by-play. Some things are private.”

“Oh, please! How am I expected to live vicariously through you if you don't share? Spill the beans!”

“You’re hopeless,” I teased, placing the lingerie back on the rack and moving on to a selection I was more comfortable with."You'll just have to use your imagination."

As I got lost in my thoughts, reminiscing about the moments Rafael and I had shared, I noticed Amirah had wandered off. I scanned the store and spotted her near the window, admiring a silky nightgown. But what caught my eye was the young man outside, staring at her with what could only be described as heart eyes. He was practically glued to the spot, his gaze fixed on Amirah like she was the only person in the world.

I couldn’t help but smile. It was adorable how taken he was with her. But it also made me curious. Why had Amirah never mentioned any guys? She was twenty, after all. Surely, she must have had some romantic interests by now.

I walked over to her, casually glancing at the guy outside to see if she’d noticed him. She seemed oblivious. How hadn't she noticed him when he was blatantly staring at her?

“Hey, Amirah,” I started, trying to sound nonchalant. “That guy out there seems pretty smitten with you.”

Amirah looked up, puzzled. “What guy?”

I pointed subtly, and she followed my gaze. The moment she saw him, she rolled her eyes and quickly turned away. “Oh, him. He’s just window shopping and guys stare all the time.”

“He's a window shopper with heart eyes,” I said, raising an eyebrow. “Didn't you notice him? You didn't mention him. Or any guy, for that matter. Why is that?”

Amirah busied herself with rearranging some lingerie on the rack. “Because there’s nothing to mention. I’ve had crushes, sure, but nothing worth talking about.”

I wasn’t convinced. “Come on, Amirah. You’re twenty. You must have had at least one serious crush. Spill.”

---