Wow. Family brunch? Bold move. Nafissa hadn’t been invited until she and Khizar were engaged. “I thought I told you last Sunday, I’m missing next week. I’m going to Amira’s for the weekend. She’s having a housewarming.”

“Reena! This is important! You can come back for Sunday brunch. Ask Nadim what kind of daal he likes.”

“I can’t come back early. Amira’s party is Saturday night and will probably go late. I’ll be too tired to drive home early Sunday. And also”—she took a deep breath—“please stop setting me up with men.”

Saira snorted loudly. Reena raised a brow at her sister. She still had no idea why Saira was here. Maybe for the eggplant recipe?

“Reena, please. I’m not setting you up,” Mum huffed. Did Mum not know the definition of setting up?

Mum bit her lip slightly and looked at the door before turning back to her daughter. “Is it wrong to want my daughter to be happy? I want you to find a nice man and settle down. But … ” Mum sighed. “This time isn’t like the others. The family needs you now.”

What the everlasting hell? Had she stumbled into The Godfather? The family needs her? Other than the fact Nadim worked for Dad, he was exactly like the others: educated, from a parent-approved, good family, and a complete stranger to Reena.

Except for his toned legs and firm biceps. Okay, that was not like the others.

“Mum, tell me what’s going on. Why do you need me all of a sudden?”

Mum sat heavily on the barstool next to Saira and rubbed her face—an unfamiliar gesture from her mother.

“Girls, please don’t tell your father I told you this, but he’s in trouble.”

Finally! Honesty! So refreshing. But … why was Dad in trouble?

“The Diamond project is at risk. Your father was swindled. The first architect he hired turned out to be a crook. I never trusted the man. In fact, I told your father that from the beginning. I can just look at someone and know they’re lying. But your father—”

“He took Dad’s money?” Reena froze. Her father worked with a lot of people on a lot of projects, and she worried that one day someone would take advantage of his trustworthiness.

Mum nodded. “Yes. Cash flow is empty.”

“Wait, isn’t this the last guy you tried to set Reena up with?” Saira asked.

Actually, about three potential husbands ago, not that she was keeping track or anything. “Can’t you guys go to the cops?”

“What, and let everyone know he was cheated?” Mum said. “People will laugh at our misfortune!”

Reena didn’t doubt others would enjoy watching the mighty Manjis fail publicly. Just like Dad enjoyed watching his rivals’, like the Shahs’, downfall.

Mum sighed. “Shiroz Remtulla’s investment is essential to keep the project going. But he will only invest after his son finishes a three-month probation period. I would never have agreed to this plan … What do we know about this boy? To tie up the business in this—”