Page 93 of Tall, Royal Hater
Prince Arsh chuckled lightly. “Yes, I heard from Katiya. She said they’d already downloaded the app Mariyah recommended and were asking when she would tell them the meeting ID and password.” He shrugged one shoulder. “Still, maybe if Katiya and I had decided a bit sooner, we could have let them know when they visited at the end of September and helped them book another ticket then, or just extended their stay until the wedding.”
My lips tightened in a stiff smile. “Hmm. Maybe.”
I could feel the older man’s gaze lingering on me, see his face pointed towards me from the corner of my eye, but I stared down at my lap, brushing off invisible lint from my suit trousers and dark green jumper, feigning not to notice.
Guilt whistled between the rungs of my ribs, and maybe it played tricks on my ears, but I was sure he sighed dejectedly once he eventually looked away. The gnawing feeling expanded like a glutinous ball of dough. I was overly aware of Prince Arsh looking solemnly around the small room.
Within seconds, I became agitated to break the suffocating silence, but there was only one thing I could think of saying.
“Did you know he was emailing her?” The words tumbled out quietly before I could second-guess myself. It wasn’t exactly the right time or place for the conversation.
Prince Arsh was quiet and still for a moment. “Your father? Yes, I did. She told me the first time he emailed her, not knowing what to do or say.”
His answer lit a small flame under my displeasure, and I rubbed my teeth together.
Why hadn’t Mum told me? Why had she confided in him but not me?
I didn’t doubt that it was because of how hot-headed and reckless with my anger I could and would have been, but it still grated to know she hadn’t even tried to loop me in.
Raising my head to look at him, I said, “And what did you say?”
“I told her to do whatever she felt was right for you.” His hazel eyes held on to mine, sure but open and soft. “And I believe that’s what she did. Her decision to reply to him allowed you to stay in power of your choice to contact him or tell him to stick it where the sun doesn’t shine.”
I stared at him, trying to gauge the truth of his words and how it made me feel. “I emailed him,” I heard myself say absently. “I’m meeting him tomorrow.”
Prince Arsh’s expression gave nothing away in his silence. “How do you feel about it?”
I scoffed and glanced ahead, shifting my tight shoulders. “Other than wanting to break his face the moment I see him, nothing.”
“Well, that’s something.” He offered me a slight smile. “And completely reasonable too.”
“But then what?”
The older man shrugged. “Up to you.”
“I don’t think I want to hear what he has to say. It won’t change anything.”
“No, it won’t.”
I narrowed my eyes warily. “Aren’t you supposed to tell me to give him a chance to explain?”
A grin burst across his face. “Is that what you want me to say?”
“No.”
“And I hadn’t planned to.”
I eyed him closely. “Do you still talk to your father?”
Prince Arsh grunted, a flash of bitterness crossing his eyes. “No,” he said like the idea was ridiculous. “I hardly spoke to him when he was still a part of our family, let alone after. The moment Mother divorced him and kicked him out, I cut all ties with him.” He nodded his head to the side. “I know Rami talks to him a few times a year to see how he is, but I frankly couldn’t care less.”
“Do you regret it?”
“No.” He adjusted his jacket as he leaned towards me. “But Shehryar, the difference is that I grew up watching my father act like an asshole, and I was a well-informed adult when I chose to break off my relationship with him.” He paused. “You were achild. He didn’t live with you, he abandoned you, and you never got to hear or understand why. You’re an adult now, so you can decide what you want to do. But you might regret it if you make a decision without being well-informed first.”
I took a second to process what he said, and none of it sounded unreasonable or disputable. But I arched my brow questioningly. “So youaretelling me to hear him out?”
Prince Arsh let out a surprised chuckle, and my lips curved in a quiet smile. I still felt awkward, but it was a relief to see the playful gleam return to his eyes.
