Prince Nadir's Secret Heir(84)

                ‘My lawyers will be in touch about visitation rights—isn’t that what they’re called?’

                Isn’t that what they’re called?

                He was so cool and remote she wanted to scream. ‘I meant—what about your desire to be part of her life? Permanently.’

                Her body started shaking. This couldn’t be happening. It just couldn’t be happening.

                ‘I still plan to be in her life. I just...’ He looked away as if it was too difficult to look at her. ‘I have reconsidered my position.’

                He had reconsidered his position? As if they were nothing more than a piece of furniture he had decided he no longer wanted.

                ‘Oh, my God!’

                ‘I still want her,’ he rasped harshly. ‘But not this way.’

                Stunned, Imogen could only stare at him, his words barely registering as her heartbeat raced out of control and her thoughts went along for the ride. All she could think was that he had changed his mind. ‘I told you this would happen.’ Suddenly she was fifteen again and her father was standing in the doorway and her mother was crying on the sofa. Thank God Nadeena wasn’t old enough to witness her own humiliation at the hands of this man. She lifted her chin. ‘Where’s Nadeena now?’

                ‘I told you she’s with Zach.’ He swiped a hand across his face but Imogen barely noticed.

                ‘Damn it, Imogen. I thought you’d be happy.’

                Imogen felt bile rise up in her throat but she held it back by sheer force of will, determined that he would not see how much he had hurt her again. How much she had let him hurt her again. God, she was an idiot of the most astonishing proportions. ‘I am.’

                He nodded. ‘Then there’s nothing left to say.’

                ‘Nothing,’ she assured him and sailed into the en suite bathroom before he saw the utter despair in her eyes.

                * * *

                Nadir sat behind his father’s old desk, staring at his computer screen. When the door banged open he looked up and found his brother dressed in celebratory robes with a scowl on his face.

                Zach didn’t waste any time on niceties. ‘What are you doing?’

                ‘Working. You look better.’

                ‘It’s amazing what a shower and a shave will do.’ Zach parked himself in the chair opposite the desk. ‘Why are you working? You’re getting married in less than two hours.’

                Nadir focused on the email he’d been trying to read. ‘Not any more. I’ve instructed Staph to send the guests home.’

                ‘I know. He came to me.’

                ‘Well, it’s good that you’re here. We need to discuss who will lead Bakaan and I’ve reconsidered my position. If you don’t want the position then I’ll be the next King.’

                ‘Big turnaround.’

                Nadir grimaced. ‘It’s amazing what can happen in a week.’

                He’d found his ex-lover and his daughter, he’d fallen in love with them both and he’d lost them both. And taking on the role of leading Bakaan into the twenty-first century would keep him busy enough so that he wouldn’t think of any of it.