– I’m marrying her.
These words fell into the silence of the courtyard like stones dropped into water. I felt the world around me sway. My heart beat so hard that I was afraid it would jump out of my chest.
– You… what? I whispered.
Jamal looked at me, and something in his gaze made me tremble. Not from fear. From something far more dangerous.
– Because that’s what I decided, he said, not taking his eyes off me. – She becomes my wife. Period.
– This is haram! Mariam cried, clutching her heart. – Jamal, you can’t marry the wife of your father! It’s a sin!
– Haram! Zamira echoed. – Allah will punish us all for this!
Jamal slowly turned to them, and I saw in his eyes such cold fury that I shivered.
– I don’t care about your bans, he said quietly, but every word sounded like a whip crack. – I don’t care what you think. The decision has been made.
– But you have a wife! Zamira screamed. – You have a child!