Chapter 5 - The Real Wife Returns
The shouting began before they reached the main floor.
“You put her in my dress?”
Princess Laila stood in the private reception room surrounded by three assistants.
Her blond-streaked dark hair was pulled back.
Her diamond earrings shook as she turned toward Khalid.
Then she saw Maya.
The room went quiet.
Laila stared at the red gown.
Her gown.
“You.”
Maya immediately lowered her eyes.
“Your Highness.”
“Take it off.”
Khalid stepped forward.
“Laila.”
“I said take it off.”
“She can’t exactly do that in the hallway.”
Laila’s eyes flashed.
“You humiliated me.”
“You refused to attend.”
“I had a reason.”
“You locked yourself in the coastal residence four hours before a diplomatic dinner.”
“I told you I wasn’t coming.”
“And I had three ambassadors arriving.”
“So you dressed a servant as your wife?”
Maya wanted the floor to open beneath her.
Khalid rubbed his forehead.
“It was a bad decision.”
“A bad decision?”
Laila laughed.
Then she looked at Maya more carefully.
Her anger shifted.
“Wait.”
Maya stiffened.
Laila stepped closer.
“Turn around.”
“No.”
Khalid’s tone changed.
Laila ignored him.
“I know that dress.”
“Obviously,” Khalid said.
“No.”
She pointed at the hem.
“That seam was repaired last year.”
Maya touched it unconsciously.
Laila saw the movement.
“What fell out?”
Nobody answered.
Laila looked from Maya to Khalid.
“What fell out of my dress?”
Khalid held up the pendant.
Laila’s face changed instantly.
Maya noticed.
“So you recognize it too,” Khalid said.
Laila stared.
“Where did you find that?”
“In your dress.”
“That’s impossible.”
Maya spoke.
“It belonged to my mother. I hid it in my uniform this morning because the clasp broke. When I changed into your dress, I moved it into the lining so it wouldn’t be stolen.”
Laila looked at Khalid.
“You opened the archive.”
He didn’t answer.
Her face tightened.
“You opened it.”
“How did you know there was an archive?”
Laila went still.
Khalid took one step toward her.
“I never told you.”
Laila’s anger disappeared.
She looked frightened.
Maya saw it.
Samir saw it too.
“Princess,” he said quietly, “who told you?”
Laila looked toward the door.
Khalid blocked her path.
“Who?”
“Noura.”
Silence.
“When?”
“Years ago.”
“Why?”
“She said your mother kept private papers there.”
“What kind of papers?”
“I don’t know.”
Khalid didn’t believe her.
Neither did Maya.
Laila crossed her arms.
“You think I’m involved in whatever you found?”
“I don’t know what to think.”
“Well, I do.”
She pointed at Maya.
“I think a maid walked into my home, put on my dress, sat beside my husband, and now everyone is looking at her like she belongs here.”
Maya’s face burned.
“I never asked for any of this.”
“Then leave.”
Khalid said, “She’s not leaving.”
Laila stared at him.
“What?”
“Not until I know she’s safe.”
“Safe from whom?”
He held her gaze.
“Maybe from the people who killed my mother.”
The color left Laila’s face.
Maya watched her carefully.
Not surprise.
Recognition.
Khalid noticed too.
“You knew her death wasn’t an accident.”
Laila whispered, “Lower your voice.”
“Answer me.”
She stepped closer.
“Khalid, this palace has walls older than your family’s current dynasty. You should assume every room listens.”
“Answer me.”
Laila looked at Maya.
Then at Samir.
Finally she whispered, “Two years ago, I found something in Noura’s study.”
Khalid frowned.
“What?”
“A bank ledger.”
“Whose?”
“Your father’s chief adviser.”
Samir went pale.
Khalid noticed.
“Name.”
Laila hesitated.
“Minister Kareem Al-Sayeed.”
Maya had heard the name.
Everyone had.
Kareem was the current chairman of the royal council.
He had been Sheikh Hassan’s closest adviser.
He was also the man standing closest to Khalid’s throne.
Khalid slowly looked at Samir.
“That’s who my mother meant.”
Samir nodded.
“I believe so.”
Laila pulled something from her purse.
A small memory card.
“I copied the ledger.”
Khalid stared.
“You had this for two years?”
“I was trying to understand it.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because Noura caught me.”
Maya whispered, “What did she do?”
Laila’s eyes hardened.
“She told me if I ever showed Khalid, my younger brother would disappear.”
The room went silent.
Khalid held out his hand.
“Give me the card.”
Laila didn’t move.
“Laila.”
Before she could answer, the lights went out.
Maya heard a scream.
Glass shattered.
May you like
A body hit the floor.
Then two gunshots exploded in the darkness.
