When a man loves deeply, he finds the strength to forgive even the most profound mistakes. For Khaled, that strength was vast, yet the woman he cherished was forever changed. Alongside this personal pain, Khaled carries a heavy duty: as king of his Arab community, he must lead with unwavering strength, setting an example for his people. But tradition dictates that he should have a queen, typically one chosen for him. What will Khaled do if he resists marriage? Meanwhile, Sathara, also known as Aphrodite, won't make things any easier-she has no desire to be his queen and is passionately in love with another man. What destiny awaits them both?
Khaled Hashimi
After Alya's birth, she became the center of my universe. Unfortunately, as doctors warned from the beginning, she could be a special girl, and she was. My little daughter, with blonde hair, light and expressive eyes, with a tender look, a prominent nose and white skin, was Dad's pride.
Every day filled my life with happiness, even though his development was a little different from that of the other children. However, every afternoon we followed our routine: I put on her best dresses, combed her short hair, and got ready to visit her mother. Alya didn't understand why we did it, but I always explained to her that Mom was sick and that I should be there for her.
With my little girl in my arms, I headed to the only place that occupied my thoughts lately: the psychiatric hospital. In my mind and in my heart, I had already forgiven Jennifer for anything she had done. There was no room for resentment in me, I just wished that she would be the same as before, so that we could have her back in our lives.
"Good morning, nurse, how are you?" I greeted Dora, the nurse who had become almost a friend over time.
"Good morning, Mr. Hashimi. How is little Alya?"
"All right, thank you. Is Jennifer ready? We haven't been able to see you for almost a week, is there a problem?
"Mr. Hashimi, the doctor wants to talk to you."
A chill ran through my body as I held on tighter to my daughter. The anxiety grew, I feared that bad news was coming, just what I didn't need at that moment.
"What doctor?" I asked, with a sense of unease.
"Mrs. Mackenzie's case manager."
"Thank you very much."
"He's coming, wait a moment, please."
I sat with my little girl on my lap, as uncertainty enveloped me. Everything around me was fading away, what was so important that I should hear? Two minutes later, the psychiatrist in charge appeared behind those doors that had always troubled me and sat down next to me.
"Mr. Hashimi, it's nice to see you. Her daughter is beautiful."
"Yes, it's going to be five years old. I hope Jennifer can cut the cake with us."
The doctor gave me a compassionate smile and stroked my little girl's hair.
"Well, I think it's my duty to tell you that the time has come to let you go, Mr. Hashimi."
"What do you mean by that, doctor?"
"First, I want to thank you for your generous contributions to the hospital. They have been a great help, especially with the addition of more doctors to our team. But I am afraid that it would be selfish of us to go ahead with this process."
"Doctor, please be clearer," I asked, as I squeezed Alya tightly.
"Jennifer suffers from dementia. Gradually, you will lose even the ability to walk. It is a devastating diagnosis. Unfortunately, she no longer knows who you are, or who she herself is. It's a traumatic process for both you and your daughter. Jennifer has become a completely different person, and I'm afraid we won't even be able to afford her daily visits. It has become aggressive, posing a danger to you and the child."
My world fell apart in that instant. What little hope I had left vanished. How could that be? How did we get to this?
"No, doctor, there must be a mistake. No way. How is it possible that she is not well? "
"I'm deeply sorry, but it's time to start over."
With those words, and a more broken heart than ever, I saw Jennifer a couple more times before accepting the inevitable. I swore to her that I would love her all my life, even if she was not really with us anymore. In Arabia, my family was waiting for me, and there was no longer any reason to stay there. With the pain squeezing my chest and my mind shattered, I made the decision to return home.
I took Alya and Doroteo with me, who had become inseparable. I was going to miss the Mackenzies, Sherry, and everything that story had taught me, but it was time to write my own.
***
Six months later
In Riyadh, the days have gotten warmer, and the desert sand seems to burn beneath my feet. Alya is everyone's darling; they treat her better than a princess, because, in essence, she is already the queen of this place. Our mansion, located in the best area, surrounded by lush vegetation and with majestic architecture, gives us the respect we have always had. In our community, we are seen as kings.
"Khaled, can we talk?" I heard the voice of Elihan Hashimi, my father, the old man who gave up being king to preach.
"Sure, father, give me a moment. I'll entrust Alya and Doroteo to one of the maids," I did what was necessary, and then began to walk with him along the long path that surrounds our mansion.
"Son, I have noticed that you have been sad lately. Since you separated from your American wife, you haven't found love again. You know well that you can have up to seven wives."
"Dad, I know that, but I don't want any of them. I swore I wouldn't marry again. Alya will be the queen, and when she chooses her husband, he will be the king. There is nothing more to say."
My father stopped abruptly, and his dark eyes locked into mine, filled with obvious annoyance. The intensity of his gaze blinded me, hurt me, as if he could not understand my decision.
"Khaled, Alya is a long way from us being able to think of a husband for her, probably about twenty years. Meanwhile, this community needs a king, and that king needs a wife. Your coronation will be in the next few days, and since you don't have a wife, your mother and I have decided who it will be."
I felt my blood run cold as I listened to his words. I shook my head, incredulously.
"What!? Dad, I'm thirty-two years old, I'm perfectly capable of deciding who my wife will be. Neither you nor Mom have the right to impose it on me."
"Son, we've talked to your older brother, Raphael. He has also informed us that you left the business that has kept this family full of coffers, and although I know that it is not your priority, it is for the family. I'm not going to let you ruin our name. You will marry the princess of the southern Riyadh community, Sathara Nazal."
"What? They're completely insane, right? I don't plan to marry, much less Sathara. She is a rebellious, arrogant woman, and as a woman she does not attract me in the least. When the time comes, maybe I'll find someone for myself. "
My father looked at me haughtily, with a sarcastic smile that hurt me deeply.
"It's not a question of what you want, son. We've waited too long for you to get married, and you missed the chance to choose your wife. Now, you will follow the designs of our tradition, you will have your marriage, and in two years, Alya must have a brother."
"Damn it! What if I don't want to, Dad?"
"If you don't want to, you'll be imprisoned for breaking the mandates of our culture. You decide, son."
The word "imprisons" froze my skin. The very thought of leaving my daughter alone made me shudder. There seemed to be no other choice: I had to marry Sathara Nazal, against my will, never mind that my heart still belonged to my beautiful habibi.
A helpless woman, cheated on by her husband, after being broke and heartbroken, finds love and support in a man much older than her. A millionaire gentleman, who will not only give her a shoulder to cry on but will also make her feel the most loved and desired woman in the world.
A HELPFUL WOMAN, CHEATED BY HER HUSBAND AND WRAPPED IN MISERY, FINDS UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT IN AN OLD FRIEND, HE IS A POWERFUL CEO, AND DECIDES TO HELP HIM OVERCOME OBSTACLES, BUT SHE IS WILLING TO LET HIM ALSO SAVE HER HEART?
Madison, in her longing for love and stability, is completely immersed in a relationship that seems to be ideal. She dreams of a perfect life with her partner: a house with a white fence, two children, a dog and perhaps a cat. However, her illusions crumble when her lover betrays her at her most vulnerable, leaving her in deep despair. In his darkest hour, an unexpected savior appears: the uncle of his treacherous ex. To Madison's surprise, this man turns out to be the most feared millionaire and the most desired bachelor in town. As their relationship blossoms, Madison becomes the center of unwanted attention, being accused of being a gold digger and an opportunist. Despite the criticism and embarrassment, Madison is determined to do her part in this unusual alliance. What she does not know is that, for her benefactor, she was never just an agreement. He is determined to spoil her beyond his wildest dreams. Amid the chaos and turmoil, Madison finds herself in a whirlwind of emotions, caught between a painful past and an uncertain future that could offer her more than she ever imagined.
She was transferred to a gloomy city, where she met the love of her life. However, a disturbing revelation emerged: he was not like the others. He was special, a vampire, whose presence turned her world upside down and led her to confront her darkest desires. What will be the outcome of this forbidden romance?
Forgive me and love me again. I was forced to marry my boss, an eccentric billionaire, a man who didn't even notice my presence for over five years. He was an egocentric monster, obsessed with order and discipline, cold and calculating. This marriage separated me from my great love, and my initial plan was to set a trap to take his fortune. I pretended to love him, but over time, something changed within me. Not only did I fall deeply in love with him, but he also showed me the deepest pleasures of life. However, everything fell apart when he discovered my deceit. I'm not evil; I was just manipulated by my ruthless ex-boyfriend, a man without scruples. Now, I long to regain Jordan's love, to be by his side again. How will I manage to earn a second chance in his heart?
Lana, a woman who is over thirty, divorced and resigned to loneliness, decides to give herself a new chance in love with a man fourteen years her junior, defying all obstacles due to their age difference. Jhin Vernacci falls madly in love with her, but in her story, there is confusion, revenge for past loves and, above all, endless conflicting feelings. Can this beautiful couple live happily ever after? A story where not everything is what it seems, and only true love can prevail.
Jennifer Bennett, the rightful heiress to the Bennett legacy, fought hard for her family's recognition, only to be eclipsed by an impostor. Faced with false accusations, bullying, and public humiliation, Jennifer eventually gave up trying to win their approval. Vowing to rise above the injustice, she became the bane of those who wronged her. The Bennett family's efforts to break her only fueled her success, leading her to heights her rivals could only dream of. Someone asked, "Do you feel let down by your parents?" With a calm smile, Jennifer said, "It doesn't matter. In the end, power prevails."
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..."Â But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
Sheila had her back against the wall when her family tried to force her to marry an awful old man. In a fit of rage, she hired a gigolo to act as her husband. She thought the gigolo needed money and did this for a living. Little did she know that he was nothing like that. One day, he pulled off his mask and revealed himself to be the world's top magnate. This marked the beginning of their love. He showered her with everything she could ever want. They were happy. However, unexpected circumstances soon posed a threat to their love. Would Sheila and her husband make it through the storm? Find out!
Five years ago, he upped and left his wife without informing her. He had always felt unworthy. As a result, he decided to go and become a better man. It took him five whole years of daily hard work. When he was satisfied, he returned as a powerful and honorable man. He intended to start a family with his wife. But he got back to meet the greatest shocker of his life. He actually had a daughter!