The Stolen Papyrus by Cate M. Turner

Author:Cate M. Turner [Cate M. Turner]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wandering Scarab Publishing
Published: 2024-04-13T00:00:00+00:00

• • •

Amir returned the next day, but nobody would tell Leila whether his hunt had been successful or not. But Xander must have gotten away. Amir would have boasted about it otherwise. Instead, he seemed preoccupied with other matters, such as practicing for a polo match. The only thing she heard from him via Salma was he would bring her the contract to sign in two days. If she didn’t, she could imagine how he’d react.

Sign it or be beaten to a pulp.

With no chain or schedule, she spent the day roaming the ornate halls and gardens, wondering how someone could manage to build a home that, despite its extravagance, despite it bustling with gardeners, servants, and armed guards, seemed so empty.

Night had already fallen as she walked back to her room. She passed a door that stood open a crack and came to a stop at the sound of a soft voice. Her mother’s voice. Unable to resist her curiosity, she peeked inside.

The only light in the room was a dim lamp in a corner next to an armchair where her mother sat. The young boy who had brought her Xander’s note sat in her lap. Aisha read out loud to him from a book spread open before them, both seemingly unaware of Leila’s presence. Aisha murmured the words into the boy’s ear as he leaned back into her, his eyes focused on the pages.

It can’t be.

With a lump forming in her throat, Leila tore herself away from the sight and escaped back to the strange new comfort of what used to be her prison.

In her room, Leila leaned a shoulder against the wall next to the window, unable to forget the image of her mother reading to the boy. Her brother?

Whether that was true or not, it only reminded her of what she had missed out on. Her father had spent a lot of time with her, as if trying to make up for the hole in their lives. Despite that, she had always envied her friends who had both parents. She had once begged her father to remarry, but he had only given her a small smile and taken her in his arms.

Even though her mother was here, Leila would never belong. She didn’t want to. Aisha may not have chosen this life or this family, but Leila realized with a sinking heart she had no place in it.

Wishing she had never seen them, she turned from the window and gasped. Amir watched from her doorway, arms crossed, wearing a slight smile that didn’t meet his cold eyes.

“Ever heard of knocking?” she snapped.

“My lawyer emailed me a draft of the contract,” he said dryly and held out a stack of papers. “He would appreciate it if you had a look.”

Leila kept glaring at him as she walked over and snatched the papers from his hand. She sat down on the chaise lounge and read over the pages, wondering how signing her soul to the devil could feel so businesslike.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.