26

Ava felt something poke her in the back, but she was too comfortable to wake up enough to figure out what it was. But when something poked her head, she couldn't ignore it any longer.

"Aveline," she heard a deep, masculine whisper.

Instead of responding, she snuggled deeper.

Rocky and Bruno the two dogs couldn't talk and Maggie the cat, even if she could, wouldn't do it this early in the morning.

Ava was so sure that her facts were right, but was too sleepy to figure out who was calling her.
"Aveline, wake up." The voice hissed again

"No," she mumbled and pulled the pillow closer. Why was her pillow so hard? But it was warm. That was the only thing that mattered now.

Her feet were cold though. She shifted, pushing her feet under what she thought was a blanket.

The hiss in her ear didn't make sense and it woke her up a bit more from her stupor.

"Damn woman, your feet are cold." Zayed whispered.

Ava lifted her head to look around. Well, she tried to lift her head. Something was lying on it. She twisted around, trying to see what it was.

"There’s a cat on your hair," he told her. "I would push it off, but you're lying on my arm and I can't move my legs."

Ava finally figured out what was happening.

"Don't move anything!" she told him warily. "I'll get us out of this," she assured him, but the laughter was bubbling up despite her need for several more hours of sleep.

Despite wanting to question Zayed, what he was doing on her bed

"You find this amusing, woman?" he demanded with a mock growl. "I am pinned down by a woman ,three kids and other creatures I am afraid to identify."

Ava laughed softly and wiggled her hair out from underneath the lazy cat. When she had enough movement, she identified an exit strategy.

"Okay, so Rocky is lying over one of your legs. Zahir is on your left side and Zada is curled up on your right. And Zian is on my right and," She looked down and realised that she was still hugging his arm. "And you're now free with this arm." She pulled away and caught Maggie just as she was about to nudge Zada with her wet nose.

"Stupid cat" she mumbled as she pushed Maggie off of her pillow, then grabbed Rocky's collar so he couldn't chase after the cat.

"Okay, so slip your left leg out and try to get out of bed," she whispered, a cat and a dog tenuously under control.

Zayed eventually sat up and surveyed the bed, shaking his head as he took it all in.

"Does this happen every night?" he asked, a bit shell-shocked.

Ava smothered a laugh. "Every night, I have developed an exit strategy that usually works."

He sighed and lifted his leg up, careful not to knock Zahir's head.

"I need coffee," he grumbled.

Ava smothered another laugh, afraid of the repercussions so early in the morning. But she wasn't able to keep her eyes from following him. He certainly had a great butt, she thought.

Ava shook her head to dispel those inappropriate thoughts.

He's the enemy, she reminded herself.

He is the man who accused you of infidelity. He is the man who took advantage of you and your love mercilessly. He is the man who abandoned you when you needed him the most.

And he is the same man who walked back into her life as if nothing happened. As if he never broke her heart.

He is the man who threatened to take your babies away from you, Ava thought, hardening her heart.

There is no way she would let him take her babies.

They are all she has left in the world.

Life had never been fair to her.

She doesn't even remember her real parents. All she remembered is her lovely elder sister, Milly.

Life had snatched Milly too away from her.

She thought she was given a second chance when she got adopted by a lovely couple, only for her to lose her adoptive father to cancer very soon.

Her adoptive mother had fallen into depression after her husband's death. Yes, she did love her and Ava was eternally thankful for that love. But Ava never got the security and protection of a family.

It was she who looked after her mother. At a young age, she had to take over the household management, because her mother was physically and mentally weak.

And then Zayed had come as a knight in shining armour and saved her from the biggest monster in her life.

Young eighteen year old Ava, who had believed in fairy tales, was thrilled.

She didn't question anything, when he told everyone that as a member of the Royal family of Zidra, their marriage has become legal without officially signing any papers.

That much was true anyway, but she hadn't considered the other side of the coin.

As easily he had declared the marriage, he could easily declare the divorce too.

And he had done that. Or he lied to her that he did it.

Only for him to come back six years later and claim that the divorce couldn't be official if there were no witnesses.

What kind of nightmare is this??

Once the bedroom door was closed, she released Rocky's collar and soothed Maggie.

Maggie curled up by Zian's side and Ava quickly brushed her teeth and walked out of the bedroom.

***

Zayed walked out of the bedroom and stretched his limbs and neck to relieve the muscles.

His phone rang and he saw it was from Salim.

"Salim? Everything alright?" Zayed asked with a frown of worry, as it was close to midnight in Zidra now.

"Zayed. You need to get back home. Things might get out of control soon." Salim breathed in worry.

"What? What is wrong? Are the council members still pressuring you for divorce?" Zayed asked furiously.

"They never stopped. And now Uncle Karim has started searching for a bride for you." Salim said.

"What the f*ck?" Zayed cursed

"He had been in talks with the Kingdom of Muhair. Uncle Karim is talking about your alliance with their princess. You know political alliances are common in Royal families. I fought against it and married Cami. I don't know how you are going to get out of this situation," Salim said.

Zayed smirked.

His nation is in for a surprise.

A wonderful triple surprise.

So far, he hadn't thought of that angle.

Salim would be out of pressure to produce an heir. His father could relax knowing that his bloodline will continue ruling.

But not yet!

He is not ready to share his family yet.

"Salim. Everything is under control. You can relax." Zayed said coolly. There is nothing to worry about.

"Do you have a plan?" Salim asked.

"Destiny had a plan," Zayed said.

"What are you talking about?" Salim asked in confusion.

"I will tell you in detail soon. Now I need to hang up the call. Take care Salim." Zayed said and hung up the call.


"Want to tell me why you were in my bed last night, Zayed?"