Chapter 4 YOU MUST HAVE AN HEIR WITH THE QUEEN

Khaled Hashimi

Leah... the third wife. If my second marriage had not been relevant, the third seemed like an illusion. It was only necessary to fill out some documents, as if it were some kinds of partnership or contract, and the new woman was already at my house.

The third wife, in this case, was in charge of the kingdom's maids. She ordered and took command over the employees, something like what they call in America a CEO, but of the community. Leah was an incredibly intelligent, capable, and most of all, beautiful and calculating woman.

From day one, she became Sathara's rival, as the first wife always wanted to be the center of attention of the entire community. Sometimes she seemed to forget her position as queen, and that she had authority even over the other wives. Still, Sathara would not allow any woman to be better than her or perhaps... will catch my attention.

"It didn't take long for you to agree to the third marriage, did you, Khaled?" Sathara stood in front of me with her arms crossed, looking at me out of the corner of her eye.

"No, but it's not because I want it, it's because my father has imposed it. You know, contracts and conveniences for our religion and community. You, as queen, should know what is convenient and what is not."

"The best thing is that you release me as your wife and let me go and look for Jael," Sathara's eyes filled with tears automatically. She was really in love with this man, who, it seemed, set her heart on fire.

"Sathara, you are free. You can stay married to me to avoid jail, but your mind and heart are free. So is your body."

Sathara wiped her tears with the hem of her dress, surprised by my words.

"Don't you mind that I love another man?"

"Not at all. I've loved another woman for more than five years, and she's not one of my wives. Like no one else, I can understand you. Look for that man, and if you can, run away."

Sathara swallowed hard and shook her head.

"I'm a married woman, I can't do that."

I looked up at her and slammed my computer screen shut. I had just received some stupid news accompanied by some images: Jennifer had not only been unfaithful to me with Dominic, but also with Douglas and with another man, a younger one than I ever knew, but I hired an investigator, and although it took a while, she found out everything.

Although my heart was on her side, it was my feelings that really mattered, not hers. And while he knew Jennifer was "insane," she couldn't justify her nymphomania.

I snorted and walked slowly towards Sathara.

"Woman, if you want to leave, there's the door. You are free to do so. I, in your defense, will argue that I do not know where you are and that I have two other wives with whom I can have children and a family. Osiris will become the first, and that's okay. In addition, there is already Leah, who is very skilled at taking control of the home. You're really not important in this house." Sathara was already driving me out of my mind, and after what I had just seen, I didn't care about hurting anyone anymore. I was hurt, and the last thing I wanted was to run after someone, let alone someone I didn't love.

"Yes, I do want to leave. In addition, we have been married for nine months now. On our second anniversary you must have an heir. My belly has been purified hundreds of times, thinking I have problems. No one knows that we haven't consummated this marriage, and soon they'll start pressuring you to get the others pregnant."

"I understand that perfectly, wife. So tonight, you can go."

I sat down again at my desk and lifted the lid of my laptop, ready to martyr myself with the image of Jennifer with her lovers. What a disappointment. I didn't even know what to think of her. Maybe she was always bad, literally claiming insanity.

Sathara sat there for a couple of minutes, as if she were expecting something from me. I turned to her again and raised my eyebrows.

"What? Do you need me? " She denied.

"No, I just want to thank you for what you're doing for me. Say goodbye to little Alya, tell her that I love her very much and that I will always carry her in my heart."

I got up from the table, furious, although it was not with her. I tapped the wood with the palm of my hand and stared at it.

"You tell her, dammit! I don't understand why women in this damn country bend so much. If you didn't want to be the queen, it's as simple as saying no. But we allow ourselves to be threatened. As soon as you leave, I'm going to ask for the annulment of our marriage. I don't mind losing business with your family, Sathara, but not my life anymore. Understand?"

Sathara frowned, and, as angry as she was, gave me a hard slap that made my cheek burn.

"Don't yell at me, enough! I'm not going to fuck with you, Khaled, but neither will you fuck with me. I'm going to get out of this damn community. I'm going to flee at dawn, I swear to you. And if they want to find me to put me in the dungeons, let them do it! "

Her eyes were shining, and in them was a cry for help. Was she that in love? What an irony. How I wish someone had felt that way about me at some point.

They were years of mourning, sentimental mourning, to realize that the one I called my great love only had me for entertainment. She told me that she loved me, but it wasn't true. And, on second thought, that was a worse pain than seeing her in the hospital, because as long as she was in her condition, she would always be her prisoner.

"That's fine, defend yourself as best you can. Do not allow anyone to trample on you, Sathara. But whatever you have to do, do it now. Do it now. I'm going through a bad time, and I don't know how I'm going to get through it. "For me, you can do whatever you want, okay? "

Sathara puffed out her cheeks and blushed.

"See? I don't know what I'm going to do, Khaled. I don't know where to go or with whom. Jael hasn't come to look for me, and he's alive, my employees confirmed. My father just told him to leave and gave him money, a lot of money, and he... He left without saying where. No one threatened him, no one hurt him. They just gave him money and he left, and he didn't care."

Sathara placed her hands on her face and began to sob in such intense pain that even I could feel it. We were both so broken that, without thinking, I approached her and, keeping all the hatred and pain I felt inside me, I hugged her.

It was strange, but she rested her head on my chest and allowed herself to comfort her. I could feel his heavy breathing make his chest rise and fall against mine, and the sensation was fascinating. Sathara didn't look as evil as she had led me to believe. At that moment, he discovered a side of her that she had very well hidden. Being so imposing and beautiful, any man would think that she was not an easy prey. And although she was in many ways, at this moment she had opened her heart to me, her husband.

"Sathara, don't worry, don't worry. If he left and didn't take you with him, maybe he's afraid that something will be done to you or fears for his own life."

"Not true! It's not true, because my family is good. No one was going to kill him, Khaled. I was forced to accept the contract with you because my father is broke, and your father is the only one who can save him. We need an heir or that contract will go to shit, and you know what that means?"

I nodded. I knew very well what that meant.

"How are we going to have an heir, you and I, if we haven't even consummated our marriage?" It's absurd, Sathara.

"I don't know if I can do it with you, because..." I-" Sathara turned away from me and began fiddling with her fingers. I'm not a virgin, Khaled, I'm sorry."

I laughed and covered my mouth so as not to sound disrespectful.

"Sathara, please, who is one in these times? But that's not the reason we haven't consummated marriage. We just don't like each other and that's it."

She turned and walked to the window.

"Of course not. You love another woman, and I love another man... That's real."

Her words didn't sound so convincing. After what she had seen of Jennifer, I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue loving her. My only true love was called Alya Hashimi, my daughter, my queen, and I had no competition. However, my heart still needed a woman's love, but neither Sathara nor any of my other wives could give it to me, as our marriages were for convenience, not for love. Muslims don't date, we get married.

"That's right, Sathara," I walked up to her and squeezed her shoulders from behind. "But let's fix it. There is something in America called vitro fertilization. We could do it together, and it would be our secret."

She turned, facing me. I was evidently taller, so he lifted her head to meet my eyes.

"That's a sin, Khaled. A sin that Allah will never forgive. We will condemn ourselves to hell."

In an unexpected outburst, I took her face in my hands and stared into her eyes.

"The only sin is to be married without love. Wipe away those tears and let's go to dinner. Everyone is waiting for us."

Sathara smiled and did as I asked. We went out together to the dining room of the house, where the whole family was gathered. The employees served the lamb. Sathara was on my right, Alya on my left, and my wives at her sides. The family seemed proud; The great king acted as such, surrounded by beautiful women, with business and agreements going wonderfully.

And while the mob kept the coffers full, family unity was also important. For the mafia, there was Raphael, my brother, the handsome, muscular and blond one. For the family, I was there. My other siblings, children of my father's other wives, were scattered throughout different parts of the country, also generating money for the family. This was how this circle worked.

"Well, we haven't heard from the queen's heir," my father interrupted us. When will the blessing be? " She wiped her mouth with her handkerchief and looked at Sathara and me.

She swallowed hard and hesitated, but I came to save her.

"Very soon, my father, don't worry, it will be in two years."

"I hope so, my dear Khaled, for you are the one who is married, and you must honor the name. Besides, you already know that male heirs are better. You already have Alya, who is half American, but we need you to bring out the original caste."

My father was an ambitious man, and his attitude sometimes bothered me, but I couldn't do anything about it, he was my father. Out of respect, I just nodded my head.

Dinner was over, and Sathara came over to me afterwards.

"Tell me, Khaled, what are we going to do about the heir?"

"I already told you, besides, you told me you were going to leave."

"No, I can't go, I have nowhere or with whom."

"So, in vitro fertilization?" I replied in an amused tone.

She shook her head and looked down.

"It's best if we do it the natural way," she blurted out suddenly and left, leaving me speechless.

Would Sathara and I have sex? Although he had been celibate for years and wanted to stay that way, he knew he needed an heir. Jennifer only had my love, she never offered me her body, why should I keep it?