The moment Marley, Shayne, Amira, and Duncan were out of the apartment, Dad sighed and sat heavily on that hideous green armchair. Reena looked from one parent to the other, wondering if she should offer them chai or vodka or anything that could cut through the thick tension in the room, but decided against it—Nadim’s coffee cups were packed. She motioned for Mum to sit on the couch and took the seat next to her. Ashraf and Saira took the barstools in the dining room, and Nadim sat on the other side of Reena, immediately putting his hand on her knee and squeezing shakily. She squeezed back, giving her husband the strength he was looking for.

She smiled. Husband, husband, husband.

She freaking loved that. Her hand covered his.

Dad cleared his throat. “I wanted to come speak to you alone, but all of … them insisted on joining us.”

“As they should,” Reena said. “This is a family, right?”

Dad gestured to Nadim with his hand. “Your father called me ten minutes after Reena did. But you probably knew that.”

“I assumed he would,” Nadim said.

“He thinks I forced you to elope so I could get his money back. That’s not true, but I had no answer as to the reason why you have done this. He wants you to get the marriage annulled.”

“We did this because we want to be married. This wasn’t about money,” Reena said, teeth clenching.

Nadim squeezed her even tighter. “I married her because I love her, sir. More than I’ve ever loved anyone. And I will spend the rest of my life showing her that.”

Damn. Why weren’t they alone? She wondered briefly if she could pull this man to his bedroom to kiss him senseless.

Mum frowned sharply. “So, you’re going against your father’s wishes?”

Nadim nodded. “He pulled his investment in the Diamond project, so it doesn’t matter what he says anymore. My life, and my job, are no longer tied to him. He wanted me to marry Reena, and I have. I don’t care that it’s not according to his terms, or that’s he’s suddenly decided she’s not good enough. He’s wrong—Reena is everything. More than I deserve.”

Dad’s face softened just a hint. “This isn’t a game. This is my daughter’s life.”

“Yes, Dad. It’s my life,” Reena clarified. “And you used us both. Used Nadim because you needed his father’s investment and me because his father wanted a good wife for him. So don’t pretend you’re suddenly concerned—”

Dad put his hands up to prevent her from saying more. “I know, Reena. I wanted you to get to know each other, not run away and get married so fast. If this is some sort of rebellion against us … you cannot gamble your life, or your happiness, because of your family’s mistakes.”

“Why can’t you believe it’s real? Why would you think either of us would marry someone as a rebellion?”

“I don’t know what to think.” He looked at Nadim. “First engaged to marry Jasmine Shah, and now eloping with my daughter? So, tell me, how can I trust your loyalty to this family?”