Royalty Gone Bad novel Chapter 78

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Saïda’s POV:

I was afraid. Afraid that he was angry at me. He looked so stern while he drove and I felt awful. He kept his frown on and the vein at his temple was still swollen. I wanted to say something but decided to shut up.

I was a little confused when he took a road other than the one that led to the palace. We literally drove out of the sultanate and headed towards its outskirts. I didn’t say anything.

We drove for a while until the little woods and Asahd ended up parking at the top of one of the beautiful hills at the outskirts of the sultanate of Zagreh. It had an amazing view.

When he stopped the car, I watched him silently. He closed his eyes and leaned forward, resting his head on the stirring wheel. I decided to speak because I was worried for him.

“Are you okay? What’s wrong?” I asked gently and he was silent at first, but then answered.

“I can’t return to the palace in this state,” he muttered and my heart broke a little. He was trying to calm down.

“I’m sorry all this happened,” I started, a lump in my throat. “I told Noure about us because I thought he would call the engagement and wedding off or something. But things didn’t turn out the way I expected them to and I’m so sorry, Asahd. Please, don’t be angry with me.”

He took a deep breath and raised his head, opening his eyes. He turned to me and said:

“I’m not angry at you, sweetheart.”

Relief immediately washed over me.

“I’m angry about that fool that insists on having you when he doesn’t deserve you,” he closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead like his head was aching.

“He–” he started softly and spoke like there was a lump in his throat too. “He succeeded in making me insecure, you know.”

I stared at a suddenly fragile Asahd and I broke even more on the inside. He opened his eyes and looked at me, they were watery. My breath literally hitched and I was already sad as hell, seeing him in such a state.

“He made me doubt if you really love me,” Asahd swallowed and blinked several times, looking at the stirring and seeming to regain his composure in order not to shed a tear. “He made me doubt for a while, telling me that you were only using me and stuff.”

He swallowed and faced me again, his beautiful brown eyes still watery. The look he had on was the purest I’d ever seen and I thought I would sob or something. My eyes were already prickling.

“I know,” he started, finding it difficult to speak as he definitely was fighting back the urge to cry. “I know I used to say that even if you were just using me, all that was important was you desiring and being with me. But now I want more. I take back what I said, Saïda. I don’t want you to just desire and use me or whatsoever. I want you to love me. I need you to love me.”

I didn’t even know when the tears rolled down my cheeks and the goosebumps covered my skin. My heart was palpitating and I’d lost my speech.

He turned on his side and held my hands in his, looking me in the eyes.

“P– please love me,” his voice was shaky as he begged me. “I don’t care about the rest. Just love me. Please. I know you already do,” he smiled a little, caressing my cheek gently. “When I came to get you in his apartment, before entering, I heard everything you told him about me and your love for me. Yes Saïda, I will forever put your needs before mine.”

I stared into his beautiful eyes, leaning into his touch. Yes I loved him. So much. More than I’d ever loved anyone else. Yes, it was at that moment that I accepted the complete fact. I’d doubted a little for a while. But it was over now.

“You made me confident again. Strong. When I heard you,” he smiled a little and I melted. “But I need to hear you confess it to me one more time,” his voice was soft and gentle, so was his touch.

He looked so innocent. So pure, emotional and fragile. How could I not fall in love with him?

′I love you to death, Asahd.′

I broke my silence, more tears rolling down my cheeks.

“Asahd,” I started, my emotions overwhelming.

“Yes,” he replied softly.

“I love you. I love you very much,” I kissed the hand he was rubbing my cheek with. “More than I have ever loved Noure. I love you in a way I have never loved him.”

Saying it out loud was a total relief. I saw the look in his beautiful brown eyes, brighten and he smiled.

“Does this mean–” he started but I cut him.

“Yes. I love you. And only you. I don’t love Noure, anymore. It’s you I love, wholeheartedly. I swear my heart completely belongs to you now Asahd.”

He smiled happily and closed his eyes in relief. Immediately he did so, a single tear succeeded to roll down his cheek.

“You don’t know how bad I wanna jump right now,” he chuckled gently and I giggled a little, holding his beautiful face in my hands, wiping that tear.

He opened his eyes and leaned over till our faces were inches apart.

“You own my heart,” I whispered one last time before leaning in and kissing his soft lips.