A Secret Birthright - By Olivia Gates Page 0,58
only parent, our whole family.”
Those were more shocking revelations to Fareed. More insights illuminating Gwen’s life and character and choices.
“Your father had better be dead, too, or I will avenge her,” his father rumbled as he rose.
Gwen started in alarm. “Oh, no. He’s not worth it.” Then she gave him a tremulous smile. “And then Mom always said it was the best thing that happened to all of us that he walked. She was happy without him. We were happy together. What happened afterward…blind fate was again to blame.”
Fareed hugged her into him, unable to bear her losses, the gratitude that she’d survived it all, that he’d found her.
His father approached, his steps not completely steady. “I was only stating facts when I mentioned your pending adoption.…”
Fareed cut him off. “Adoption or not, I will fight you, and I will win.”
His father looked at Gwen. “Will you hold your dragon of a husband back?”
Gwen stared at him. Fareed did, too. A shaken king was unbelievable enough. An indulgent one had to be a hallucination.
His father exhaled. “I came here to negotiate, and that’s why Emad let me come. But I won’t now. Not because I believe you would triumph over me in any fight, Fareed. And not because I’ve learned a lesson I’ll never recover from with Hesham. It’s because seeing you together, talking to Gwen and meeting Ryan has changed everything. Gwen has given me a reason to live again with her forgiveness, on her own behalf and that of Hesham and her sister. I’m not losing this reason or more of my flesh and blood to the demands of duty and pride.” He placed a hand on each of their shoulders. “You are Ryan’s mother, Gwen. I will swear to that to the world, starting with the Aal Durrah. Ryan will be your heir, Fareed. While I only want to remain part of your lives, if you would have me.”
Fareed gaped at him. He’d never…ever…
His stupefaction was interrupted by another surprise.
Gwen threw herself at his father, clung around his neck, reiterating, “Thank you, thank you.”
His father was as taken aback. It took him long moments before he brought his shock under control and hugged her back.
At last he put her at arm’s length, looked down at her. “You are all heart, aren’t you? But you don’t have to accept me. Your husband can get me off your backs permanently if he so wishes.”
Her smile trembled up at him. “I don’t want him to. And Ryan doesn’t either. He wants his grandfather. He…recognized you, like he recognized Fareed.”
“He was far more eager with me,” Fareed protested.
His father dared placate him. “Of course he was. He knows his priorities, recognized you’d be the one who would be constantly present in his life and therefore in need of more intensive…humoring.”
Fareed harrumphed. “With all due respect, Father…”
His father suddenly laughed. “I think you left it too late to even mention respect where I’m concerned, Fareed.”
“Fine, we won’t mention it. But even though I am thankful for your change of heart—make that flabbergasted by it, not to mention distressed that I have to revise my opinion of you, and of my whole life, and we do have to discuss the past, present and future down to the last detail later—please, go away now.”
The king went away. Eventually. After the dinner Gwen had invited him to.
She was sorry she had. Not because it didn’t turn out to be beyond her wildest expectations. It was because Fareed constantly looked about to explode with wanting him gone.
He didn’t, thankfully, but he kept prodding him with demands to eat faster. He even cut up his food so he’d finish it sooner.
Now everyone was gone. She was alone with Fareed.
She wanted to do one thing. Beg. His forgiveness.
Before she found the words, he said, “Tell me. Everything.”
Everything was made of one simple statement. “Lyn was with me during that conference party.”
He looked at her as if he was revisualizing the past. It was as intense a gaze as what had mesmerized her during that conference. And changed her life forever.
“And Hesham was with me. I walked out, but he stayed behind, approached her.”
She nodded. “I didn’t notice much that night, but she told me later it was love at first sight.”
“And the rest is history.”
She had nothing to add. Not about this. But she had so much to say about everything else.
Words rushed under pressure. “I never dreamed your father could be this way. Hesham and Lyn made