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Chapter Eighteen

“Let’s go,Sami. We have to get you inside. The crowd along the border of the compound has tripled.” Devin wrapped his arm around my waist as we ran toward Jacinta’s house.

The second the helicopter lights had flashed on, I knew the media would be camped out in full force. Ashur and Veer had called in friends of theirs who specialized in high-profile client security. The team mobilized within twenty minutes and were doing an incredible job of keeping anyone and everyone away from the house.

I couldn’t help but feel bad for all the guests in the boat that had to cut their evening short. All of Jacinta’s Independence Day festivities had gone down the toilet. There had been a lot of confusion and rumors as the boat emptied. Thankfully, Jacinta had arranged for transportation to be waiting for everyone to leave.

I entered the kitchen and headed straight for the fridge, pulling out a bottle of sparkling water and drinking deep.

My stomach was in knots, and I had to settle it before I faced my parents.

Resting my hand on my abdomen, I closed my eyes.

“Are you ready?”

I shook my head and said, “Give me a few more minutes.”

“Baby, you can’t hide in the kitchen. Our families are waiting for us.”

I looked up at him. “Dev, this is only the beginning. Are you sure you can handle this?”

“Yes. I’m prepared.” He gripped the edge of the island.

“I mean it. I’m making my announcement in a few hours. Once I do this, there is no going back. If you have any doubts, tell me now.”

“When are you going to understand I’m here for good? What do I have to do to prove I’m committed?” He clenched his jaw. “I know I fucked up. But you can’t keep expecting me to let you down.”

Before I could argue, Veer walked in. “Sorry to interrupt but the parents are beginning to circle. Everyone is in the family room. I’d get the discussion over with as soon as possible. You have enough on your plate.”

Nodding, I took another sip from the bottle.

I released a deep breath, set my water on the counter, and made my way past Devin and Veer.

I walked down the hallway and opened the door to find both dads pacing, the moms pretending to sip drinks, and Tyler, Jacinta, and Ashur on their phones.

Veer moved into the room, positioned himself by the window next to Ashur, and pulled out his own mobile.

“Samina, I want an explanation this minute. What is this spectacle outside? How could you let someone take pictures of you?”Papa demanded in Gujarati.“Do you have any idea what this will do to our reputation, to the company stock? Have you no integrity?”

“Let her talk,”Mommy pleaded.“She didn’t take the pictures. How can you blame her?”

“Anya, stay out of this. She is turning our family name into a laughingstock.”

Ashur stuffed his phone into his pants pocket and responded in English. “Leave her alone, Papa. Mommy only speaks the truth.”

Papa loved to use our language when it kept others from knowing what he was saying. This was his not-so-subtle way of making the Camdens feel excluded. Ashur responding in English made it look like he was challenging Papa.

Papa narrowed his eyes. “I am still the head of this family. If you don’t like the way I do things, get out.”

Ashur opened his mouth to respond but stopped when he saw me shake my head. It was time to stand up to the man who thought of me as a commodity instead of a child.

I approached my father. “Papa, what happened was an act of a coward. He broke into my house and took pictures of me in the shower, and then threatened to hurt me. I was lucky to get away from him before he was able to lay a hand on me.”

“You invited this kind of act. If you hadn’t let him—” he glowered at Devin, “—or that Zain girl influence you, you’d be married to a respectable man and in a respectable position. Not become this trash magazine starlet.” He gestured to me as a whole.

“Papa,” Ash warned, “tread carefully.”

“Samina, you are an embarrassment. How could you throw away everything I’ve done for you to live a life like this?”