Sheikha (Between Love and Hate)

"Kasia Galliano, a well-known rising model, was found by her two daughters to have committed suicide in her apartment."

The death of the 35-year-old model immediately became the hottest news on the plains of Europe where Kasia Galliano and her two daughters live after a dramatic divorce from a Qatari prince that led to the revocation of royal titles and luxury amenities by the royal party.

The poor woman's funeral was attended only by a few relatives who still cared for her and also her two daughters. However, there were no representatives from the royal party who were expected to attend, even only to express their condolences.

"If only your mother had not been arrogant and decided to divorce your father, maybe your life would still be fine and wealthy. Her stupidity has made it difficult for me, her biological mother and younger sister."

Zahara shouldn't have made such scathing remarks as if she was cursing Galliano's stupidity – his daughter, for the divorce that made their family life back to normal as it used to be.

In fact, when her daughter decided to accept the proposal of a prince of Qatar several years ago, it was like getting a golden rain from the sky that made the Galliano family's life instantly change from being just ordinary people, to becoming part of the Qatari royal family.

Sheikha and Zamira were silent and focused on their mother's body, which had just been put in the grave. They already know how materialistic their grandmother and aunt are, who still hate and cannot forgive their mother's stupidity.

"If only mom and dad's separation hadn't happened, maybe we would both—"

"Zamira, never mind. It's not good to regret what happened. Mom must have had some reason why she decided to separate from her father. You see for yourself. In fact, on the last day mommy was in this world, not a single member of the royal family came to give respect to our mother. Then, why are you still thinking about people who never thought we existed?" Says Sheikha Moza to Zamira–her younger sister.

"I'm sorry, sis. I'm just annoyed to hear what my grandmother and aunt said about you. Why do they hate her so much? What's wrong with you?" Zamira said, looking at her mother's coffin, which was starting to be covered by red earth.

"Just let them be like that. As long as we don't hate them either. Just be quiet and don't say anything. It's better if we focus on thinking about our future life after mother is gone," Sheikha said wisely and hugged Zamira to calm her down.

She did not want to dissolve in prolonged sadness. She knew her mother would never like her. That's why Sheikha tries to keep looking strong, even though her heart is broken. Now, only she is the backbone and pays for Zamira's studies. Luckily, six months ago, she got a job as a model, even if only in a small agency. At least, she can still cover both their college and life expenses.

Unfortunately, the grandmother and aunt who were supposed to help, actually took advantage of their mother's death by taking all the life insurance belonging to the late Kasia Galliano. When Sheikha demanded some of the insurance funds that came out, Zahara, her grandmother, actually kicked her out and insulted her with hurtful words.

"If it wasn't for your father stopping your financial support, my daughter would not have died in vain in solitude. Why didn't you come to Moussa al Bintani and ask for your rights as his daughters? Don't continue to trouble the Galliano family!" Said the grandmother in a high tone and looked down on her two grandchildren.

Likewise with Janice Galliano–their aunt who thinks the same as Zahara–the grandmother. Even more painful, the woman told Sheikha to approach and seduce rich men as her late mother had done before finally marrying the prince of Qatar.

"Why don't you follow in the footsteps of your late mother who liked to seduce rich men and take advantage of her beauty at that time? You, too, can be like your mother. What's more, supported by your beautiful face, there must be many men who are interested in sleeping with you, Sheikha."

"Watch your words, Aunt Janice!! Don't you ever insult my late mother after the sacrifice she has made for you and grandma. You think I don't know about your life in the past after grandpa's death? You and Zahara purposely used my mother for life all this time. Meanwhile, her mother has been struggling to sway her body on the catwalk just to earn money for the two of her. But, what have you done? You and grandma actually spent it fulfilling a hedonic life without thinking about my mother's feelings. You should be ashamed because you have become a parasite in your mother's life. Even after she is gone, you are still taking advantage of the situation by taking what is not rightfully yours!"

"Shut up, Sheikha!! Who do you think you are to say that in front of me? You were only a child yesterday afternoon and don't know anything. So watch your words, or I'll—"

"What are you going to do, Aunt Janice? Go to law enforcement on charges of defamation? Go ahead. That way, it will be much easier for me to expose the forgery of signatures for my late mother's life insurance fund."

"Y-you!!!"

"I warned grandma and aunt. In the past, mothers might not be able to fight back when you kept forcing her to work. But, I'm not that poor Kasia Galliano. I, Sheikha Moza, will never submit to her for your crimes all this time. I will fight back if that's deemed true. Memorize and store my words in grandma's and auntie's internal memory. Goodbye!"

The threat, of course, made her aunt and grandmother's guts shrink. With great compulsion, they finally gave some of the cash from Kasia Galliano's insurance fund to Sheikha Moza, who was far more entitled than the two of them. However, Sheikha chose not to accept the money. Because, according to her, they both needed more than he and Zamira. Of course, the refusal made both of them even more angry. One hard slap floated across Sheikha's cheek which was done by Zahara–her grandmother.

"I will remember this slap, Granny. One day, you will receive something far more painful than this slap. Remember that, Zahara Galliano!" Sheikha said, walking away from the presence of the two who looked at her with a face of fear that could not be hidden.

"What are you doing? You're just making things more complicated! Argh! I hate you, Mother!" Janice shouted at her mother.

**

Meanwhile, on a different continent, Moussa al Bintani chose to visit the twelve residences of Kasia Galliano – his ex-wife. A luxurious residence where they used to spend time together before happiness finally disappeared and was replaced by sadness and tears.

Moussa regretted his separation from Kasia Galliano, leaving their two daughters without the luxurious facilities they should have. And it's all because of his inability to fight against his birth mother, who did not agree and asked him to divorce his wife. Under the threat of losing all his wealth and being banished from the kingdom, Moussa chose separation, and it hurt him deeply. He still remembers how his mother did various things so that he could quickly part with Kasia Galliano.

Not only that. Her mother committed a bad deed by deliberately asking her men to mix drugs into her drink when she and Zulaikha Salim were asked to attend a business meeting held in Dubai. Until the next morning, Moussa was found in a bed with Zulaikha, who kept crying for accountability.

"You must be responsible for marrying me, Moussa. I have been stained because of your actions. What should I do if my parents find out about this? They must be very embarrassed. Because there will not be a single man who will be willing to marry a girl who is already tainted like me," he said, playing a small, and stupidly Moussa believed, then married Zulaikha.

"You take it easy. I will marry you when we return from Dubai later. Better clean yourself up, and get out of here before the reporters see you with me," Moussa replied without looking at the woman.

After successfully removing Kasia Galliano and her two daughters from the Qatari kingdom, Moussa kept his promise to marry the daughter of the Salim family, who are very ambitious to turn their daughter into a part of the royal family. But, apparently, Zulaikha would not have been satisfied if she had not seen Kasia Galliano die. Until the woman terrorized her ex-wife into depression, and ended up ending her own life

Now, after Kasia's death, Moussa has a deep regret. Until he hated his biological mother and also Zulaikha – his wife, who in his mind was the cause of Kasia Galliano's death.

"Sir, may I come in?"

A man who was his confidant knocked on the door of his office in the corner of their house. An important piece of news about the whereabouts of her two daughters with the late Kasia Galliano, who have been found. Of course, that made him happy. However, tucked in sadness mixed with anger when she just found out how the former mother-in-law and sister-in-law treated her two daughters.

"Make that old lady and her daughter suffer! I want the report tomorrow! Find out where my two daughters are now. However, be careful. I don't want the royal family to know that Moi still thinks about them."

"Yes, my lord prince."