Page 62 of My Arabian Billionaire

I loveyou.

But it wasn’t enough.

“K-Khalil---”

He crushed her to him. “Please.” His voice was savage. “Don’t say it. Please. We’ll find a way to make itwork---”

“Not t-this time.” A painful laugh bubbled inside of her, and she…let it out. She had to. If she didn’t laugh, she’d end up crying, and God, the pain was already toomuch.

The thought of having to share him with another woman –

Even if it was for the right reasons –

She couldn’t doit.

She just couldn’t doit.

It would be no different from being skinned alive, the pain peeling her soul bit by ravaged bit until she would no longer be able to recognize herself.

Harper pulled away, managed to get to her feet, but just as she turned away, the sheikh gripped her hand, not letting hergo.

“Please.”

“I loveyou.”

Harper squeezed her eyes shut. “I know y-you do. And I can’t even blame you for doing this. You wouldn’t be the man I loved if you hadn’t done this, but please---” Another shuddering sob struck her, and she nearly had to gasp for breath. “I’d do anything for you, but not this. Never this. So please don’t ask it of me. Please---”

Slowly, his fingersfell.

And she ranaway.

* * *

Years and years from now,it would go down as one of the saddest days in the kingdom’s history when the crying, trembling figure of their queen was seen at the gates of the palace, performing the public ritual of ending her marriage to theking.

News traveled fast, and the area was soon swarming with people – reporters who were out to sensationalize this unprecedented sight, gawking guests who were titillated by the hint of scandal in the air, and men like Mahmud, who didn’t hesitate to sow seeds of discord to further their cause.

Terrible accusations began to take shape, broadcasted in viral headlines---

Queen Harper publicly disavowing marriage to travel alone and leave Ramil?

Princess Safiya, daughter of Sheikh Mahmud, to be Ramil’s next queen?

Ramilians to be fined if found offering aid to Queen Harper?

Later, there would also be stories of loyalty – of how secret enemies of the sheikh had incited a rabble, and of the queen’s most trusted guards coming to her defense. Witnesses had sworn they heard the queen tearfully begging her loyal guards not to endanger themselves for her, but still they had shed blood for her, their loyalty to her unwavering.

You will always be our queen.

And when the tide seemed to swell in the favor of the sheikh’s enemies, there came the thundering, ground-crushing sound of the army’s footsteps, led by the king and his vassals. They fought their way to the queen’s side, infallible in their power, strength, and valor –

It was a breathtaking sight, witnesses from that night were known to avow. But what they would never ever forget was the sight of their king finding his queen---

Only to let hergo---

You are free, mylove.

---