“That’s not true.”
“It is, Mom.”
Pregnancy & Maternity
Layla’s voice shook, but she continued.
“You were proud because everyone thought I was modest. Because everyone thought I was a virgin. Because nobody could say anything about your daughter.”
She looked down.
“But none of you ever asked who I actually was.”
Her father’s jaw tightened.
“So you went out at night dressed like—”
“Enough.”
The voice came from Zayd.
Everyone turned toward him.
He was no longer looking at Layla.
He was looking at his own father and mother.
Then he did something nobody expected.
He placed the earring on the table.
“My name wasn’t really Amir either.”
His mother frowned.
“What are you talking about?”
Zayd gave a tired laugh.
“You think Layla is the only person in this room who has been pretending?”
Layla looked at him.
Zayd leaned back.
“My family thinks I spend my evenings at business dinners. That I’m waiting for them to choose the right wife. That I want exactly the life they planned.”
Family
His father’s face hardened.
“Zayd.”
“No. We’re talking about truth now, aren’t we?”
He looked toward Layla.
“I met Nour because I was also somewhere my family believed I would never go.”
