"Mother, would you like to say something?" Salim asked the seemingly delicate woman in her late forties.
No one looking at her would imagine that a dark heart resides behind that beautiful face.
"What would I have to say, son?" Suhara asked with a sweet smile.
"That is enough, mother. All your crimes have proof. There are video images of your secret meetings with your tribes. You tried to kill three innocent children" Salim accused
The change in Suhara's expression was so dramatic.
"Whatever I did, I did it for you, Salim" Suhara claimed
People around gasped, failing to believe that the woman they respected over the years could be really so evil.
"For me? You tried to kill three innocent children for me?" Salim asked in disbelief
"The throne belongs to the baby your wife carries, Salim. You think some trash coming out of nowhere can usurp my heir?" Suhara asked furiously
"Who do you think you are calling trash? They are the next in line to the throne of Zidra" Zayed said coldly, glaring lasers at the woman he onced cared for a lot.
"Next in line? The illegitimate brood? Did you even marry that woman? What is the proof that you have? No one here has seen it. We only have your word for it." Suhara said evilly
"That's enough, Aunt Suhara. Another word from your mouth against my wife and kids, and I will forget you are a woman and that you're older to me" Zayed warned in a chilling voice.
"Imprison this woman immediately" Karim Ahmed said in his booming voice and for once, neither his son nor his nephew felt like opposing him.
"Imprison me? I am the mother of the ruler of this nation. You cannot Imprison me" Suhara said smugly
"I beg your pardon, mother. There is no law stating that being the mother of the king could be used as a leverage against prison sentence" Salim said without remorse.
He is seeing a new face of his own mother.
"But you will not do it, will you Salim? I am your mother. How can you let them do this to me?" Suhara shrieked
"You did this to yourself, mother," Salim said, turning a blind eye to his mother's crocodile tears.
A woman capable of killing innocent children has nothing good left in her.
"Don't let these people manipulate you, Salim. It's Zayed trying to usurp you from the throne." Suhara screamed, trying to create misunderstanding between the brothers.
But having known them all their lives, she should have known better.
The bond between the brothers is unbreakable.
Khalil Ahmed, Salim's father, was still reeling from shock.
He couldn't believe that the woman he had loved for over thirty five years was such an evil one.
How couldn't he see through her?
What a fool he was?
"Salim. I want Maksood Ali and Musafir Dawud imprisoned too." Zayed said
Maksood and Musafir are the bedouin tribe leaders and Suhara's older brother who were her accomplices in all her master plans.
Suhara let out a harsh laugh listening to that demand.
"They are the bedouin tribal leaders, Zayed Ahmed. If you touch them, a political war will break out. Do you think our people would simply watch on if you imprison their leader? And my son is diplomatic enough to know what is good for his country. And no brotherly love is bigger than this country for him" Suhara said with an evil smirk.
But again, she underestimated Salim.
"You are right, mother. This country is more important to me. And Maksood Ali and Musafir Dawud dared to harm the next in line to the throne. There is no way they will be spared." Salim said in a hard tone.
"What?" Suhara asked in shock.
She hadn't seen this coming.
If she was the only one going to the prison, her brothers would have managed to get her out by creating political chaos across the nation.
But if they go down with her, their tribe would be left without a leader.
All their plans over the years would go down the drain.
"Hugo" Salim called out for Hyder's second in hand
"Your Highness" the security team member curtsied in front of his king
"Imprison the two bedouin tribal leaders. Use violence if they oppose. Show no mercy" Salim decreed
"As your command, your majesty" Hugo bowed once more and left for the orders to be carried out immediately.
"Salim, you cannot do this. You are betraying your own blood" Suhara screamed
"My own blood betrayed me over the years, mother. I am now repaying the favor" Salim said
Zayed felt his control about to burst.
He couldn't stand the sight of the woman who tried to kill his beloved children.
But Ava had no such qualms.
She walked straight up to the woman and looked her straight in the eyes.
"How dare you try to harm my children?" Ava asked a moment before she slapped the woman.
The sound of that slap reverberated across the council room.
No one spoke for another two minute.
"You? You slapped me? A nobody from the trash dared to raise her hands on me?" Suhara asked in disbelief
"I am not a nobody, Suhara. I am Sheikha Aveline Zayed Ahmed al Zidra. Wife to Sheikh Zayed and mother to the next in line to the throne. And I dare to do more if you even try to touch the shadow of my children" the mother bear warned in a chilling voice.
Zayed smirked seeing the glorious woman in front of him.
Every day he finds a reason to fall in love more with her.
Suhara turned to a stoic Salim
"You are just going to stand and watch your mother being abused by this low life?" Suhara asked
"You heard her, Suhara. She is the Sheikha. Disrespecting her would do you no good" Rosaline Ahamed said looking at her co sister with so much disgust.
Salim snapped his fingers and a pair of security guards appeared immediately.
"Take her to the Palace prisons. Keep her handcuffed" Salim ordered
Suhara became hysterical as she tried to escape.
And when she realised there is no escape anymore, she turned to Salim with a look of loathing.
"If I am going down, I am taking you with me, my beloved son" Suhara said
Salim frowned without understanding what she is saying.
"You have no right to be the ruler of this nation. A position you are so proud of. Because you are not an Ahmed"