PROLOGUE

THE ROYAL car finally entered a tall, familiar gate. Will Gabriela's heart ever calm down? She could not move. The only thing that reminded her that she was still alive was her heart pounding hard. The night felt so long. She thought she could finally breathe in relief once they escaped the stubborn reporters and gossipers, but she was wrong.

With her trembling hands, she hugged Tristan tighter. Her poor boy fell asleep on her chest. She jumped when the door beside her opened, and Theo's handsome, unwelcoming face welcomed her. She could only stare and swallow.

"I'll carry him," he said.

Gabriela hesitated. She still could not look him in the eye.

"Papa..." Tristan lifted his head, his voice croaky and tired. He could barely open his eyes.

"I'm here, baby." Theo's voice suddenly became soft. He stretched his strong arms, and Gabriela could not do anything but give Tristan away. Theo instantly pulled him to his chest and kissed his temple.

Gabriela's heart felt like melting. She still was not used to that overwhelming view. For the past ten years, she was used to having her son to herself. Just Tristan and her.

She got down from the car. Her knees felt weak. She took a deep breath, but it did not help. Theo closed the door of the backseat and sauntered to the front door of the house. His driver had already carried their stuff inside Theo's place – the very same place where she fell in love with him and got her heart broken. It was the same place she tried so hard to forget but failed.

Gabriela's feet felt cold. She did not want to go back to the place that changed her life forever. But maybe, there were just things no one could run away from, especially when that was her only option at the moment. She wanted to protect herself back then. Now, she had a son. She watched Theo's tall figure as she walked behind him. They had a son. She had to protect him more than anything else in this world.

"Thank you, Danny," Theo said as his royal assistant and driver left her luggage in the living room.

"Is there anything else you need, Your Highness?"

"No, that's all for today."

Danny bowed. "I will see you in the morning then, Your Highness."

Theo nodded. Danny exited the house. As the door clicked, Gabriela found it hard again to breathe.

Tristan lifted his head once again.

"Papa, I thought I would never see you today."

"What made you say that, son? I would move heaven and earth for you. Are you all right?" Theo asked softly.

"Are the scary people gone?"

"Yes, they're gone. I'm not going to let them near you again. I'm sorry if I was a little late."

"It's not your fault, Papa. I'm just glad you're here. Mama was scared, too. You saved us."

"Oh, yeah?" Theo turned to her. He just threw her a glance and looked at Tristan's face again. "You must be tired. I'll put you to bed, okay?"

"Thank you, Papa."

Theo entered the familiar door of the room they used to share together. It was hard to fight the memories that came flashing on Gabriela's mind. The bed and the interior looked different now, but the impression was still there. It was making her more and more uncomfortable each time.

Theo carefully tucked Tristan into the huge bed. Tristan turned to her as she stood by the door.

"Mama..." He reached out a hand.

Gabriela came rushed to his side at once.

"Yes, baby?"

Tristan caressed her cheek.

"I'm glad you stopped crying, too. Papa's already here. We're safe." He smiled.

Gabriela stopped. She did not realize she was crying, too. All along, she thought she was holding her crying son in her arms. She did not know she was crying with him, too.

She smiled weakly and kissed his forehead.

"Yes. Your papa's here. Everything is all right. Go to sleep now, okay? I'll watch you."

"I love you, guys." Tristan smiled sweetly at them despite his sleepy eyes.

"And we love you, too." Theo dipped his head and planted a kiss on Tristan's cheek.

Tristan drifted off to sleep, looking contented.

"We need to talk," Theo said in his usual cold tone a moment later.

Gabriela took a deep breath and stood up from the bed. She followed Theo outside the room. He headed to the kitchen and grabbed two mugs from the glass cabinet.

She settled on one of the stools. She felt weak that she could not bring to lift her head.

"I'm going to introduce Tristan as one of the members of the royal family to the press as soon as possible," he said.

Gabriela straightened her back.

"He will live in the palace. He will have the best education. I will give him only the best of things." Theo had his back on her as he pressed the coffeemaker.

"B-but..." She swallowed the imaginary lump in her throat. "Are you... are you going to take him away from me? How can I be there for him? I want to be there for my son!"

He turned to face her and gave her a cold stare. He casually rolled to the side of the table and sat beside her. Gabriela shifted.

"Of course." He reached a hand to caress her weary face.

Gabriela flinched. Contrary to his demeanor toward her, his touch felt surprisingly warm and soothing. She fought back the urge to hold his hand and make it linger for a while.

"I can't just disregard the fact that he would need his mother by his side while he's growing up. Tristan, despite being my first-born son, is still illegitimate because his mother and I are not married. So, I might need your cooperation here. Let's give our son a normal family, even if it's temporary." Theo unceremoniously pressed his lips against hers.

Gabriela froze as she felt her world stop and her heart melting. When he pulled away, she could only blink and stare in wonder.

"That would do," Theo said nonchalantly. "Let's get married in a couple of months. Don't worry. We don't have to stay married that long. By next year, you're probably free again." He stood up and went back to the coffee he was making.

Gabriel felt her heart drop to the floor, crushed.