I was in my office, immersed in work, it's been nine months since Valeria simply decided to deceive me and leave. I refused to allow her absence to distract me from my responsibilities as the company leader. However, missing her weighed on my heart and mind with each passing day.
The weeks turned into months, and I hadn't heard from Valeria since that fateful day when she left to get some things for me. I heard rumors through Said and other reliable sources that Valeria had lied and taken the opportunity to leave the country. The fact that she lied and ran away without explanation left me consumed by hatred and anger.
I banned everyone in my company from mentioning her name, and any mention of her was quickly repressed. This isolated me in my pain and resentment, plunging even deeper into work to try to forget the betrayal I felt. Yet as much as I tried, the void left by her absence continued to haunt me, constantly reminding me of lost love and the betrayal I felt I had suffered.
I isolated myself from the world, burying my face in work day and night since then. How could she have fooled me so well, taking care of me, showing so much concern, only to run away later like a damn traitor? She promised me that she would be by my side, a perfect liar.
"Damn it." I shouted, knocking everything on the office table to the floor. I took her photos and burned them all in the fireplace, furious with all the feeling I was feeling.
During those months, my mother called me several times, begging me to return home. My father was very ill and ended up passing away. I decided to heed her call and traveled there, spending two months by her side.
As I tried to comfort my mother in her grief, I realized that I too was broken inside. The loss of my father, combined with Valeria's departure, weighed on my heart like an unbearable burden. Still, I stayed by my mother's side, trying to be the support she needed, while struggling to deal with my own pain and despair.
After the two months in Saudi Arabia, I returned to Jordan afterwards.
The dragging days that followed were the worst of my life, but I tried everything to keep being the strong and resilient man I've always been. Gradually, I returned to my routine, forcing myself to resume my life. The one who was by my side during all this time was Ayla. She put her own family aside to keep me company, offering support and comfort when I needed it most.
Ayla's constant presence helped me face the difficult days. Her strength and dedication gave me the courage to move on, even with the void left by Valeria and the loss of my father. Little by little, I began to find a new balance, determined to rebuild my life and my heart, even though the scars were still present. But I have become a harder and more closed man than I already was.
As I was working, there was a knock on the office door.
"Come in," I allowed, without looking up to see who it was.
Heels clicked against the floor, the familiar scent flooding the office. I immediately looked up to look at her, thanking myself internally for seeing her better.
"Mother, good to have you here. You finally decided to leave your quarters for a bit," I said, walking around the desk and towards her.
She smiled, but there was a concern in her eyes that I couldn't ignore.
"Khalil, we need to talk, son," she said, her voice soft but firm.
My heart clenched, but I nodded, motioning for her to sit down. I knew the day for that conversation would come, I wasn't ready for that conversation.
I sat down in my chair and faced her.
"I'm all ears," I gave her a smile.
"Son, it's time for you to consider marriage. Your father is gone, and you are the sole heir. You knew this day would come."
"I know, Mother, I know." I stood up, looking at the garden beyond the glass windows. "I will marry." I looked at her, but added firmly: "But don't ask me to give heirs to the lineage, because I don't want to."
She sighed, visibly concerned.
"Khalil, I know you're hurt by what happened with Valeria, but..."
"It's not just about Valeria, Mother. And don't say the name of that…" I paused. "That woman." I growled. "It's a decision I made for myself. I don't want children, I don't want to go through this again. It's been enough. As if it wasn't enough what she did to me, all this shame came out in the damn newspapers, they could have put the truth." I massaged my temple. "She was the one who ran away from me like a damn coward, I wonder what I did to her, besides chasing after her like a puppy, when I was never like that with other women. I don't even know if I hate her, I hate myself." Tears welled up. "But all this served to make me a worse man than I already was."
She nodded slowly, respecting my decision, but I could see the sadness in her eyes.
"I understand, my son. But as ruler, you are expected to continue the lineage. The responsibility to lead our people now rests on your shoulders."
I looked back at the garden, feeling the weight of expectations. I knew that assuming the throne meant more than just leading; it meant sacrificing parts of myself for the good of our people, and carrying on from where my father left off.
"Mother, I will do what is necessary to rule our kingdom well. But children…" my voice cracked for a moment "…that is something I cannot promise."
She came closer, placing her hand on my shoulder.
"I trust you, dear. I know you'll find a way to balance your responsibilities with your own needs. Just remember you are not alone."
I nodded, absorbing her words. I knew that, despite everything, my mother would always be by my side, just as I was by her side in difficult times. Now it was time to accept my destiny and lead our kingdom with the same strength and determination that my father had shown.
"Think of your people, son," she said before leaving the office.
"Said…" I called. Within moments he was in my office.
"Yes, my lord."
"Pack up all my things, we will return to Saudi Arabia tonight. And tell Ayla to get ready for the wedding. I will do this for the sake of my people," I said, looking back out the window.
Said nodded and quickly left to carry out my orders. I continued staring at the horizon, trying to mentally prepare myself for what was to come. The weight of responsibility seemed even greater now that I had made the decision to marry Ayla. She has always been by my side, but I never thought our relationship would come to this.
I turned my attention back to the office, organizing papers and closing out pending tasks before the trip. I knew that returning to Saudi Arabia meant more than just a geographic change; it was a return to my roots, to the responsibility to lead my people and honor my father's legacy.
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