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“You’ve already done too much,” Dina said. “If you ever land in any legal trouble, call me. I’ve got you covered.”

Aliyah grinned at her. “I have a few speeding tickets,” she said.

Dina returned her smile. “Consider them gone.” Her gaze returned to the table where Arshad had settled once more beside Samir and Hania. Lucky was surrounded by his family, her parents grouped at the other end with Samir’s parents.

“Do you trust him to keep quiet?” Aliyah asked, her voice low.

Dina shook her head. “Not even a little. But he’s right. This isn’t the place to have it all out, not when my parents are in the dark about everything. Could I hire you to take a closer look at the Haq Law books?”

Aliyah shook her head. “You’re family now, Dina. And if it means putting that pretty boy in his place, it would be my absolute pleasure.”

Her mother had ordered in advance, and as soon as everyone was seated, the servers started to bring out large bowls filled with nihari, a slow-cooked curry slightly thickened with flour and flavored with star anise, fennel, cumin, garam masala, and mace, full of meat that was falling off the bone, enjoyed with platters of fresh-made tandoori naan. There was also a bright-yellow potato curry, fried diced okra, raita made from diced cucumbers and tomato in yogurt, and sweet halwa made from cream of wheat, spiked with slivers of toasted almonds fried in ghee and flavored with saffron. Everyone had their choice of nimbu pani, lime water made with mint and black salt, or mango lassi. The party, with the exception of Dina and Lucky, was relaxed and in a magnanimous mood. Her father even complimented Yahya Uncle on the superb walima and went so far as to ask for his art dealer’s number—he wanted to get an original Kamyabi too.

“It would look wonderful in the Toronto office,” Azeez said. “Perhaps another one for the Chicago location as well. What do you think, Dina?”

Dina exchanged a quick glance with Lucky. “I heard Kamyabi has a long waitlist, Dad. You might have to pay extra to skip the line.”

Her father waved a hand at her words. “Let me worry about that. I have my ways to make sure I get what I want.” His eyes gleamed.

“I would be happy to share the contact. In fact, I will personally make a present to you of a painting, Azeez Bhai,” Yahya said, winking at Lucky.

Dina’s drink went down the wrong way, and she started to cough, waving away any offers of help. Had Yahya Uncle known the identity of the artist behind his precious Kamyabi this entire time? He had kept quiet to help Lucky, Dina realized. Yahya was the definition of still waters. In contrast, her father wore every emotion out loud, including his current need to show off to his younger daughter’s new in-laws.

“I am more than capable of paying for a painting, Yahya Bhai,” her father said now. “Let’s make it three paintings, the third one for our brand-new London location. Right, Arshad?”

“Dad, this isn’t the right time to discuss Haq Law business,” Dina whispered. “Let’s enjoy this brunch Mom arranged, okay? We’ll have plenty to discuss when we get back to Toronto.”

Her heart clenched at the thought of leaving Lucky behind, and once again her gaze sought his. He was staring at her now, looking determined.

Azeez ignored his daughter and leaned across the table to Arshad. “You wrapped the deal up, right, beta?”

It stung, hearing her father call her ex-husband by the Urdu endearment, which translated as “son.” That was how her father saw Arshad. Lisa had been right all along. Dina should have come clean to her family months ago. Perhaps years ago, when the cracks had first started to appear in her marriage.

Except Dina had been right too, when she feared her family’s reaction. For as much as her parents loved her, they also took her for granted and ignored the pivotal role she played, both in their lives and at Haq Law. It was time to start living for herself. Once more, she looked at Lucky, and this time she could read him as if his face were a teleprompter. You’re okay, he seemed to say. You will always be okay. I’ll make sure of it. Serious, steady, loyal, lovely Lucky. She took a deep, grounding breath.

But before Dina could say anything, Arshad beat her to it. He raised his glass as if to give a toast, even though their teetotal family didn’t do that. Something in Dina’s gut twisted in sick anticipation.

“Assalamu Alaikum, everyone. On behalf of the Haq family, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone for being here to celebrate Hania and Samir’s wedding,” Arshad said, smiling. “The past week has brought back so many fond memories of the happiest days of my life, when I married Dina, and then later, when I joined Haq Law. Of course, many years have passed since then. We can count on nothing in this life besides change. Right, Dina?” He turned to look at her, and the malevolent expression on his face stopped her cold.

She stood, unsure what she was about to say. “Arshad,” she said, a warning in her voice. Which he proceeded to ignore.

Arshad turned back to the guests, most of whom were smiling at him. Only Lucky had narrowed his gaze, suspicion aroused. “Now that the wedding festivities are over, I have a big announcement I wanted to share with our entire family, one that I am afraid might come as a shock. I hope you will accept it in the spirit it is given, because I truly believe that honesty is the best course of action in these matters.” He took a deep breath, affecting a passable tragic expression. “I am sorry to share that Dina and I have come to the end of our road together. We have decided to make the painful decision to end our marriage.”

Gasps sounded around the table, and Dina looked at her parents. They were open mouthed, the color drained from their faces.

“Dina, is this true?” Azeez asked. “How could you do this to us?”

Before she could respond, Arshad continued. “I love and respect Dina deeply, and I want her to be happy in her new life. With her new love.”

Dina froze. What was the Arshole up to?

Her ex-husband made a big show of wiping his eyes. “Dina, I won’t stand in your way anymore. I’m happy to step aside. Please know that I remain your biggest cheerleader.”

“What are you talking about?” she said, heart pounding so loudly, she was positive everyone could hear it.

Arshad nodded at Ambreen. To Dina’s horror, her sister’s social media manager pressed play on a portable projector, which whirred to life on the blank wall facing the wedding party. Scenes passed before Dina’s blurred vision: her first meeting with Lucky at the airport in Toronto, their awkward dance at the mehndi in the CN Tower, the two of them emerging from the same car at Hania’s nikah, standing too close together, and then, most damning of all—a close-up of Dina and Lucky outside the walima tent last night, his hands on her shoulder. Dina gaped at the screen before rounding on Ambreen.

“You were supposed to be filming footage for Hania’s social media!” she said hotly.