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Motive

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Chapter 19: Motive (Delilah's POV)

I was standing off in a corner, taking all the questions Willow was throwing at me. I already told her the story that Spencer and I planned and not much to my surprise, she didn't buy it one bit. So, I told her the truth, I had to. Except, I left out the whole killing Spencer deal.

"I'm going to kill him," she scoffed. "This is forced marriage!" She whisper-yelled. 

"No, it isn't. I agreed," I huffed. 

"Because you had to, Delilah." 

"Not really," I mumbled under my breath. She stared at me wide-eyed, waiting for me to continue. "It's complicated," I said dismissively. I can't help but think that involving Willow would also put her at risk, and I most certainly don't want that, nor can I afford to have another person on the line. "It's convenient, okay?" I sighed, folding my arms across my chest. 

"Is convenience what you look at when you're getting married?" she hissed. 

"Willow," I whined, linking my arm with hers and leading us back to where we were standing earlier. "Please? He's not as bad as people think he is." 

"Please, he has a dungeon in here," she scoffed. 

I bit back a laugh. "He doesn't." 

Does he? I don't think so.

"He's scary, he's bad news, Delilah," Willow sighed. 

I shrugged, looking over at where Spencer was talking to the guy who pulled him away. "The people of our kingdom love him," I mumbled softly. 

"Do you?" 

My brows furrowed as I turned to look at her. "No?" 

"Then why are you marrying him?" she whisper-yelled, digging her elbow into my ribs. 

"It's too soon," I argued. 

She stared at me in disbelief. "It's too soon to love him but you're marrying him? Have you lost your—" 

"Shh!" I hissed as a group of ladies walked past us. I flashed them the fakest smile possible and then rolled my eyes once they were way ahead. "Willow," I smiled at her before digging my elbow into her ribs as she had done to me, making her wince, glaring at me. "Don't talk bad about my fiancé." 

She narrowed her eyes. "Look at you, already so possessive." 

"I'm not possessive. We have people around, come on." We got back to the gazebo and stood near it, talking about other things instead of Spencer. I don't like talking bad about him, it makes me feel more guilty, on top of all the guilt I feel when it comes to killing him. I'm not telling a soul about that plan. When I heard him say he should just kill his father, I couldn't have agreed fast enough. But if he plans to do that, he should do it before I have to kill him. I should just kill his father with him. But the problem is, I don't want to kill anybody! I don't want blood on my hands, whoever that may be. I don't think I'm in any position to decide who gets to live and who doesn't. 

I don't want to be a part of any of this, and the only reason I was dragged into it was because I was simply there, existing. I was at the wrong place, at the wrong time and it came back to bite me. The king saw me at the wrong time at the castle, Spencer saw me... not at the wrong time. He just happened to use me to his advantage. And now we're working towards a relationship, God! Jesus! Things don't work like that. There's no relationship built on lies and the wrong intentions that can last. And that's exactly what my marriage to Spencer is. A huge lie, a huge game, a huge pawn for him to keep his castle. 

I've never felt so pathetic before and I despise feeling this way. 

Spencer walked back over with his friend, I think that's who he is. I raised my brows at Spencer, asking if everything was fine. Was this guy a friend or a foe? Apparently, my friends and foes are based on Spencer's now. At least the main ones. He blinked, nodding reassuringly. "Delilah, this is my cousin and close friend, Julian. Julian, this is Delilah, my fiancé," Spencer introduced. 

I smiled, shaking his hand. 

"Pleasure to meet you," he smiled. 

"And you," I replied before turning to Willow. "You've heard about her," I said to Spencer. "But this is my best friend, Willow." 

Spencer nodded at her, tucking his hands into his pockets while he folded her arms across her chest, her eyes narrowing on him. 

I sighed and Julian looked between the two in confusion, asking, "Am I missing something?" 

"No," I replied. 

"Yes," Willow argued. "I'm against this marriage." 

"Well then, I suppose it's a good thing nobody cares," Spencer smiled coldly. 

Willow scoffed in response, "I'm her best friend." 

"I'm her fiancé." 

"She just met you!" 

"She's marrying me," Spencer reasoned. 

"She doesn't love you," Willow said triumphantly, making me hiss at her, smacking her arm. 

Spencer stared at me. "There's time for that." He smirked. 

I stared at him while Willow scoffed again, probably rolling her eyes. 

We stood in silence for a beat or two before Julian spoke up. "Well then, I guess it's safe to say you don't like each other," he cleared his throat, looking between Spencer and Willow. He stuck his hand out for Willow to shake. "I'm Julian." 

She looked at him, probably for the first time tonight and I saw her eyes widen a little. She blinked a couple of times then cleared her throat, shaking his hand. "Willow." 

He smiled before they pulled their hands away, still looking at each other. 

I looked between the two then over at Spencer. He shrugged, grabbing my hand and pulling me away while the two started conversing. "Your friend is a—" 

"Don't even think about saying something," I interrupted. "She's my friend, remember?" 

"She's rude." 

"You weren't any nicer." 

"Are you taking her side?" He acted offended. I hope he was just acting. 

"I'm not taking sides. Deal with it. She doesn't like you at all, you don't like her either. It's not my fault," I grinned innocently. 

"It's totally your fault for having a friend like her." He didn't mean it, his sarcasm was as clear as day. 

"Then I suppose it's my fault I'm marrying you too?" 

"Now, that's not a mistake, so there's nothing to be guilty of," he smirked, grabbing my hand and linking my arm through his. 

"People might disagree," I mumbled. 

He rolled his eyes at me and we continued strolling around, interacting with any guests who came up to us and tried chatting. That was until his brother decided it was his turn. He had a beautiful red-head on his arm for the evening, I suppose this is the girlfriend who's normally mentioned. "Spencer," he said with a smile. "Delilah." He looked at me, his eyes holding mine. 

"Long time no see, Spencer," the redhead grinned. 

I blinked, looking away from Nico and at the girl. 

"Where's your girlfriend, Nico?" Spencer asked. Oh... I guess she's not the girlfriend after all. 

"Still in the city," Nico sighed, sounding disappointed but it didn't sound genuine at all. "What a pity, isn't it?" He smirked, turning to the red-head. Someone should call his girlfriend. 

"Hmm," she hummed, still eyeing Spencer. 

Am I invisible or is she blind? "What's your name?" I asked her. 

She turned to face me, her smile slipping. "Jenna." Ah, Jenna Kimberley. The theater performer, I know who she is. 

"From the theater?" I asked, acting surprised. 

She nodded. The one she was fired from because she was caught having sex with a co-worker backstage. 

Right, how could I forget that story? A small chuckle escaped my lips as I looked down at the grass. When I looked back up, the look on her face told me clearly that she knew exactly what I was thinking. Everybody knows. I'm surprised Nico doesn't and it's obvious that he doesn't. Well, she's free to do what she wants, but I'm afraid public nudity is against the law. 

"And then you wonder why our people don't want you to be prince," Spencer sighed, looking around, targeting Nico with his words. I looked from Spencer to Nico who was still staring at me. 

"Everything is smooth sailing, Delilah?" he questioned. He wants to know if I can kill his brother, that's the only reason he even talks to me. Actually, it's not talking, it's interrogating. 

I ignored him and turned to Spencer. "I'll be right back." 

"I'll come with you." 

I blinked, my eyes flicking over to Nico, who seemed surprised too. 

No, Spencer! Just act cold to me, for fuck's sake! 

"It's fine," I mumbled. 

"I'm coming with you." He sent me a stern look and I understood he just wanted to get away from Nico. He grabbed my hand and tugged me along with him, passing by all the guests and going back inside the castle. We reached inside and he walked to the staircase, stopping at the first step. 

I glanced upstairs, then back at him. "Are we going upstairs?" I frowned in confusion. 

"We're just getting away from Nico," he muttered, leaning against the wall with a sigh. 

I stared at him, leaning on the banister right across from him. "I thought Nico was just a pawn." 

He nodded. "That doesn't mean I can't hate him just as much." 

I swallowed, biting the inside of my cheek, hesitating to ask the question I had. "Why do you hate them so much?" 

"They hate me too," he deadpanned. 

"Okay, so why do you hate each other so much?" He eyed me and I could see the doubt and uncertainty in his eyes. I shook my head softly. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." 

His jaw clenched and unclenched. "They—" 

"Prince Spencer!" We both turned to the sound, seeing Ms. Sunny walking over. "You two have a horrible habit of disappearing in front of your own guests," she scolded. "Tend to your guests," she hissed, folding her arms across her chest. 

Spencer sighed, rolling his eyes before grabbing my hand again and taking me back outside. "Does it count as tending to guests if we simply sit at the gazebo?" 

"Let's try," I chuckled.

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Chapter 19

Sorry I didn't update y'all fr I hate school so much it's making me so busy

 next chapter: perfect