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Her sister winked at her. “You didn’t think I wanted to make content about my clothes forever, did you? I’ve got big plans for what I want to do next. Marrying Samir and getting a cover story in Vogue Arabia is just the beginning.”

With one final look at her flawless face, she led the way outside, where her adoring entourage and even more adoring fans waited, leaving a mystified Dina behind.

Chapter Seventeen

Hania’s entrance into the banquet hall, where hundreds of guests waited to catch their first glimpse of the bride, was the centerpiece of the afternoon wedding. At the wedding planner’s mark, the A girls walked inside in pairs, some throwing rose petals on the floor, others holding colorful trays adorned with flameless candles and sweet-smelling fresh jasmine flowers. They were followed by Nasrin, holding her husband’s arm and waving at the crowd as if they were part of a parade. Dina waited patiently for her turn. Hania had already orchestrated a brief but stirring reconciliation scene in the foyer, which Ambreen caught on camera, of course. Her sister seemed happy with the result, even if Dina hadn’t been able to cry on command.

Just then, Arshad slithered to stand beside Dina. “Just following orders,” he said, nodding at Kulsoom, who was nearly done marshaling the bridal party, her face creased in concentration. He offered his arm, but she gritted her teeth and grabbed a tray to hold instead as they walked to the very front of the banquet hall, which had been transformed to look like a lush garden.

Hania’s wedding planner had outdone herself, Dina thought as she walked stiffly at Arshad’s side. The walls of the hall were decorated with climbing vines and large, ostentatious blooms set in massive planters. Even the centerpieces, made up of tall glass vases, were filled with lilies, orchids, and bougainvillea. As she scanned the crowd, she spotted Lucky sitting with his family in the middle. He met her gaze, the ghost of a smile playing about his lips. Arshad leaned close to whisper in her ear.

“I know you didn’t sleep in your bed last night,” he said.

She stiffened. “I told you already, I spent the night at my parents’ place.”

“Hania said you were nowhere to be found,” Arshad said.

“What’s it to you where I was last night?” she asked. “We’re not together. Which means you no longer have to think about me. At all. That should be easy, considering how much practice you’ve had not thinking about me these last five years.”

Arshad’s smile was sly. “You seem defensive. Is there something you want to tell me, Dina?”

She attempted to keep hold of her smile, especially after she spotted the photographers from Vogue Arabia waiting by the stage, their cameras focused on the bridal party. She didn’t want to mess up the photo shoot for the second time today. She took a seat at the reserved table, Arshad beside her.

“Actually, I do have something to say,” Dina said, keeping her gaze fixed on the main doors where her sister would be making her entrance momentarily. “Or rather, a question. Who were you talking to at the mehndi? I heard you on the phone. What happens in one week?”

Beside her, she felt Arshad stiffen, then relax. “I take a dozen phone calls a day, Dina. I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’ve been trying to take on more work these last few weeks, to lessen the burden on you and Dad so you can focus on Hania’s wedding.”

“Don’t call him that,” Dina snapped. “He’s not your dad anymore.”

Arshad smiled at her. “I’m just following your orders, Dina. Putting on a good show for your family and friends, acting like the perfect husband. I know how much performance matters to the Haqs. Maybe more so than reality.”

Dina recognized the change in tempo in Hania’s entrance music and got to her feet, along with the rest of the guests, to welcome the bride. “You’re up to something,” she said quietly. “I can’t believe I didn’t catch on before. You never agree to anything without knowing what you get out of it.”

“You’ve become paranoid, Dina. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were feeling guilty about something. Or maybe someone,” Arshad said. “Did you ever consider that perhaps I feel badly about everything I put you through these last few years? I’m not a monster.”

Dina considered his words as she watched her sister walk slowly down the rose-strewn path toward the stage, her gaze demurely fixed on the ground. Hania snuck a quick look at the stage, where Samir waited for his bride, flanked by his parents on either side, and a shy smile lit up her face. She hoped her sister never knew what it felt like to have all that love and hope turn into hate.

She leaned over to her ex-husband and whispered in his ear, “I’m not buying it. I know who you are, Arshad. Just remember one thing: You’re better at the cheating part than the getting-away-with-it part.”

As they smiled pleasantly at each other, one of the Vogue Arabia photographers captured the moment with a bright flash of light—the gauntlet thrown down, battle lines drawn.

“Interesting choice of words,” he said quietly, eyes staring straight ahead. He nodded and smiled at acquaintances and friends, waved at someone sitting in the back of the room.

“What are you talking about?” she said.

“You brought up cheating. Makes me wonder if you have a certain mutual friend on your mind. I’ve seen the way you look at Lucky,” he said.

“I’m not doing this with you,” she said flatly.

“I just think it’s interesting. You’re the one who was so concerned about keeping up appearances during the wedding. But the minute Lucky showed up, you immediately jump into bed with him and—”

“Shut. Up,” Dina hissed. “Lucky and I barely know each other anymore, thanks to you. You never told me about his father. And you were the one who didn’t even bother to show up at Deepak’s yesterday. Where the hell were you?”

Arshad shrugged. “Something came up. Not that it matters. Those guys never go anywhere or do anything. It’s always shit talking and video games.”

“They’re your friends. You never make time for them,” she said.

“I’m busy. I have a real job. Those guys are all part of my past,” Arshad said. “As for Lucky, I never thought you’d go for someone who hasn’t even passed the bar and still lives with his mother.”