I had spent so much time making sure that Sophia was calm, but I had forgotten to do the same for myself. We barely had an hour’s rest before we had to get ready to catch our next flight. Sophia and I made love again in the shower at the hotel and took our time getting ready, knowing there was a comfortable king-sized bed on the plane for us to sleep in during the long haul to Qatar.

We knew a long flight was ahead of us, so we both dressed casually. Jeans and a T-shirt for me, and leggings with an oversized sweater for Sophia. She looked amazing in all styles of dress, and her legs looked amazing in the tight fabric.

When we were safely in the air, Sophia headed to the bedroom. I had told her that I would be there soon, but I never ended up fulfilling that promise. The television wasn’t much of a distraction, but I ended up staring out the window, watching the clouds roll over the wing of the plane as I contemplated my future.

I knew in my heart that I had made the right choice when I proposed to Sophia. I had no doubt about our life together, but I could have prepared Mother better. In her mind, she believed that I would be able to get Sophia out of my system and eventually settle down with someone from my own country. Being an adopted member of the family, I was never on the same page with the rest of them. I wanted more out of my life than tradition and custom. I wanted love and happiness. If I could find a way to meld the two parts of my life together, I knew I would come out on top.

Getting over the hurdle with Mother was step one, and then Jaabir was step two. I wasn’t naive enough to think my life wouldn’t have challenges, especially being a king, but I hoped with Sophia by my side, we would overcome it all.

“Hey,” Sophia said from behind me.

I turned to see a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed woman scoot into the seat next to me. She kissed me, and I tasted the crisp minty flavor of her toothpaste.

“Did you get any sleep?” she asked.

I rubbed a hand over my face. “Not at all.”

She frowned. “I thought you told me not to worry about it.”

“I did,” I said. “There’s a lot of work to do when I get back. I’m just going through all of it in my mind.”

I knew she didn’t believe my white lie, but she didn’t push me to explain further. Both of us were going into this situation blind, unsure of how Mother would react to the news that I was about to marry an American woman—the furthest choice for an acceptable marriage.

“Let’s watch a funny movie,” Sophia said, grabbing the remote. Her hand was still firmly in mine, and I was unwilling to let her go just yet. She gave me the strength to overcome all of these issues with my family and the council. No other woman could have done that for me.

Sophia went through the list of all the new releases for movies and picked one without my help. It was as if she knew that I was tired of making decisions and just wanted to go with the flow for once.

In an hour and a half, I managed to calm down a little before the anticipation of getting to the palace crept up again.

The hours flew by, and before I knew it, we were in the car on the way to my home.

Both of us were silent as the familiar sights filled me with a sense of dread. As much as I loved my country, I had the urge to flee and never return until I knew it was safe from Mother and her hatred of my soon-to-be wife.

---

When the palace came into view in the distance, I squeezed Sophia’s hand. Mine was slick with sweat, but I didn’t let go.

“I love you,” Sophia said. I snapped back to reality and looked at her. “I don’t know what else to say, so I wanted to leave you with that. No matter what happens, I’m not going anywhere.”

“Thank you,” I said. “That helps.”

“Here we go,” she muttered as the palace gates opened for us. “This view never gets old.”

She stared out the window at the palace grounds. Even though I’d spent a majority of my life living in the palace, we had the same view of it. Each time I returned home, I always marveled at the beauty. The palace had been my second chance at life, and I had promised myself I would never take it for granted.

Either the car moved at warp speed, or my sense of timing was off. Before I knew it, the driver was out of the car and holding my door open.

One of the valets was already helping Sophia out of the car.

As I didn’t want Mother to attack my fiancé first, I didn’t hesitate a moment longer.

Stepping out, I rounded the car and grabbed Sophia’s hand in mine. Until Mother could accept us together, I wasn’t allowing Sophia anywhere in the palace without me.

“Luke!” Abir called from the top of the main steps. “Sophia!”

Sophia’s face broke out into a wide grin.

It warmed my heart that Sophia got along with Abir. He and Father had similar views of her, and I appreciated that not everyone in my family was as disapproving of us as Mother was.

Sophia pulled me alongside her to meet up with Abir. Abir had a broad smile on his face, and he hugged Sophia first.

“It’s so good to see you again,” Sophia said.

“I knew it wasn’t going to be the last time,” Abir said.

He pulled away first and lightly smacked my arm. “You had me scared for a little while there. Now, let me see the ring.”

Sophia flourished her hand, and Abir let out a long whistle. “Good job, brother. I’m going to have to try and outdo you when it’s my turn.”

“Tell me all about Alda,” Sophia said to Abir.

If it were possible, Abir smiled more. “She’s amazing. I can’t wait for you all to meet her.”

“I’m sure she’s lovely,” Sophia said.

“She must be if Mother approves,” I muttered. It didn’t matter that Abir was Mother’s little boy, even at sixteen. As long as he chose anyone in the country, he was a step above me in Mother’s eyes.

“I do approve,” Mother said from the shadows. She came out from behind a pillar, and I wondered how long she had been there.

Sophia grabbed my hand, and I squeezed it before breaking away and walking toward Mother.

Mother’s eyes were slits as she glared at Sophia.

“Not even a hello?” I asked.

She tilted her head up at me. “Not after your betrayal. How could you, Luke? It’s bad enough you went to visit America. It’s another thing entirely to propose to one of them.”

“Don’t sound so surprised,” I said. “You know I’m in love with her. I never stopped loving her.”

“I thought you were over this,” her voice was louder, and even Abir couldn’t hide the fact that he’d heard.

Sophia’s eyes met mine as if she were asking if I needed help. I could handle Mother. Now, I would have to. This wasn’t going to get resolved in one day, but even Mother would get tired of the fighting eventually.

I shook my head once and winked at Sophia.

“I will never be ‘over this.’ Sophia is going to be my wife, so you better start getting used to it.”

“Luke, I did not raise you to speak like this to me,” she said. “I will not tolerate it.”

I gritted my teeth. I didn’t enjoy arguing with Mother, but I wouldn’t allow her to make me feel bad by playing the victim.

“Mother, you don’t understand. You’re not listening to me when I tell you that I love Sophia. If it were that easy to let her go, I would have. She’s everything to me. Don’t you want to see me happy?”

Mother crossed her arms, but her lips remained firmly pressed together.

I sighed. “I don’t think love like this comes more than once in a lifetime. I wish you were on board with us as Father was. He wanted to see me happy, no matter what. I complied with both of your wishes and stepped up to become king. Isn’t that enough? Can’t I choose my path when it comes to my happiness?”

She still refused to speak to me. I wasn’t sure which was worse, her yelling or pretending to ignore me.

Sophia and Abir had moved quite a distance away from us, and I wished I was with them. But standing up for Sophia and me was what I was here to do.

“Are you going to say anything?” I pressed.

At that, she finally met my eyes. “The council wants to meet with you.” She turned on her heel and walked away.

“That’s it?” I called after her, but she continued her silent treatment, leaving me with a sinking sensation that tugged at my stomach, threatening to tear it from my body.

Why would the council want to meet so soon after my arrival? How did they even know I was coming back? We rarely met on the weekends, so maybe they had urgent business they had needed to discuss in my absence.

I tried thinking of the meeting as business related, but I couldn’t help feel that it had something to do with the woman I returned home with. Without the blessing from Mother, I knew I would have a tough time convincing the council that marrying an American was a good idea. I hoped that our love could overcome all, but the battle was far from won.