● S A R A H ●

I could feel the tension building between us again, the pull toward him almost magnetic. My body was already leaning in, lips parting as if on instinct, ready to meet his again when—

"Ahem."

The cough cut through the moment like a knife, making me flinch back. In an instant, I put distance between us, heart racing with the abruptness of it all.

"Your Highness," Alfred spoke, his voice neutral, expression steady as though this wasn’t the first time he’d walked in on something like this. Of course, it probably wasn’t. He must have seen Chris with plenty of women, in moments just like this one.

The realization hit like a wave of cold water, dousing the fire in my veins. He’s done this before. With others. The regret settled in, heavy and sour. What was I thinking?

I noticed Chris reaching for me, his hand about to touch me again, but I moved away, avoiding him like his touch would burn me.

"I’m going to my room," I muttered, not daring to look at him as I straightened myself and started walking away. My chest felt tight, my thoughts swirling as I passed Alfred, only to be betrayed by my own body. My stomach growled, loudly.

I stopped, feeling my face flush as I glanced at Alfred. "Um, Alfred…" I started, unsure of how to ask, but he turned to me with a kind expression, waiting patiently. "I don’t know how to say this, but I’m a little… hungry."

Before Alfred could respond, Chris’s voice cut in. "What would you like to eat, then?" He asked, his gaze still locked on me, full of confusion, maybe even frustration. He was waiting for me to turn around and explain myself.

But I wasn’t going to. I refused to give him that.

"I was talking to Alfred, wasn’t I?" I said, not even glancing his way. I focused on Alfred instead, softening my voice as I made my request. "Would it be too much to ask the cook to make me tomato pasta? I’m suddenly craving it."

Alfred’s neutral expression broke slightly with a light smile, and he gave me a small bow. "Of course, Miss Wayne."

"Thank you," I said, returning the smile, though mine was tight. I wasted no time in turning away, walking faster as the embarrassment of the entire scene hit me full force. I prayed Chris wouldn’t follow me. I couldn’t handle another confrontation right now.

By the time I reached my room, my steps quickened, and I ignored the guard who was about to greet me, throwing the door open and shutting it behind me with a little more force than necessary.

I collapsed onto the bed, a sigh escaping as I grabbed one of the pillows, hugging it tight against my chest.

What the hell am I doing?

I kept telling myself to stay away from him, to avoid this dangerous game we kept playing, but here I was, hoping he’d come barging in after me like he usually did. The anticipation was maddening.

I squeezed the pillow harder against my face, trying to suffocate the thoughts that ran wild in my head. What was wrong with me?

When the silence stretched on too long and I realized he wasn’t coming after me, I pulled the pillow away and reached for my phone. Maybe I could distract myself. Maybe Alex would pick up.

The phone rang twice, each ring pulling at my nerves, but there was no answer from Alex. I frowned, a familiar unease settling in the pit of my stomach. I shot her a quick text, asking how she was doing and why she hadn’t been around the palace lately.

I was about to toss my phone aside, letting the worry fester, when it buzzed in my hand. An incoming call—unknown number. I hesitated for a moment, then swiped to answer.

"Hello?" I pressed the phone to my ear, waiting for a voice on the other end.

"Sarah," came Alex’s voice, and I immediately sat up, tension in my body unraveling slightly. But something in her tone felt off, like a thread pulled too tight.

"Alex? What’s going on? Where are you?" I asked, concern creeping into my voice. But she didn’t answer directly, instead firing back a question of her own.

"Where’s Chris?"

"Chris?" I blinked, confused. "Umm, he’s in the castle, but—"

"Can I trust you?" she cut me off, her voice sharp and urgent.

I paused, her words taking me by surprise. The weight of the question pressed down on me, sinking deep into my chest. Can she trust me? I didn’t even know if I trusted myself with all the conflicted feelings swirling around Chris.

"I... I don’t understand," I finally replied, my voice faltering. I could hear her exhale, like she was steeling herself for something.

"Can I trust you, Sarah? I just... I need to know," she repeated, and this time, her tone was almost pleading, like the answer held more importance than I could grasp. Something in me twisted—a mix of worry and fear.

"Yes," I breathed out before I could second-guess myself. "You can trust me, Alex."

"Good," she sighed, and there was relief there, but also something darker. "I don’t know why I’m telling you this... I don’t have many friends left. If this is too much, just tell me, and we can pretend this conversation never happened."

Her words hung heavy between us, and I felt a lump form in my throat. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to hear what she had to say, but something inside me couldn’t turn her away. We weren’t that close, not yet, but in just a few weeks, I had somehow grown attached to her. And now, there was no backing out.

"I’m listening," I said, my voice quieter now, softer. I didn’t realize how much she needed this, needed someone to just hear her.

"Thank you," she whispered, the emotion in her voice startlingly raw. There was a pause, and I could almost feel her gathering herself before she continued.

"I’m in Atlanta right now," she started, but her words seemed like a distraction, a prelude to something bigger. "I don’t think I’ll be back at the palace for a while, but I have to come tomorrow. It’s mandatory." She let out a weak laugh, but I could hear the tension behind it, the way she was avoiding what she really wanted to say.

Then she said it.

"I’m pregnant."

The words dropped like a stone into still water, rippling through me. "What?" I blurted, and immediately winced. "I mean, congrats?" My attempt to soften my surprise fell flat, making me cringe inwardly.

Smooth, Sarah. Real smooth.

But then Alex laughed—a real, hard laugh, and I felt some of the tension in my chest ease.

"It’s okay," she said, her voice lighter now, "I know we’re not exactly best friends for me to drop this on you, but like I said, I don’t have many real friends left. Most of them... they’re only around because I’m royalty."

"Then they’re assholes," I muttered, the words escaping before I could stop them. "If they only care about your title, they’re not worth your time." The thought of her being surrounded by fake people made something inside me burn with anger. Even royalty wasn’t safe from shallow, selfish people.

She let out a soft chuckle. "You sound like Chris when I complain about my so-called friends," she said. "Seems he’s rubbing off on you."

In more ways than you know, I thought, but kept that to myself, biting my lip. "Well, he’s right," I said instead. "You deserve better than that."

There was a brief silence before Alex's voice softened, more serious now. "I just needed to tell someone... aside from Chris."

"Oh, so he knows?" I asked, relieved yet curious.

"Yeah, I told him this morning. I wasn’t sure what time it was over there, but I just took a chance and spilled everything."

"So, what did he say?" I leaned back, fiddling with the edge of my sleeve, trying to imagine his reaction.

"Well," she laughed lightly, "the first thing he said was, 'Fuck.' Then he asked if I was happy, since I told him I planned on keeping the baby."

"And what did you tell him?" I couldn’t help but ask, feeling a strange mix of relief and discomfort at the thought of Chris knowing before me.

"I told him I haven't been this happy since I was allowed to leave the castle whenever I wanted. And that was ten years ago."

"Wait, hold up." I sat up straight, my mind racing. "You're telling me you’ve been living in the castle all your life? That’s—"

"Crazy, wrong, stupid," she finished for me, her voice laced with a hint of bitterness.

"I was going to say 'fucked up,' but yeah, those work too," I muttered, still in disbelief.

She chuckled, but then her tone shifted, turning softer, more vulnerable. "You're such a good person, Sarah. I’m happy for that. Really happy that I didn’t think twice before pulling you into our lives... especially Chris’s." Her words made my stomach twist, heat prickling at the back of my neck. "I know I said no sexual contact with him, but... can you be there for him? As a friend? He really needs one."

"I...I'm not so sure about that." I said,feeling the guilt once again rush over.

As a friend? I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. If only she knew how complicated that request was. The truth was, I’d already crossed that invisible line the moment I laid eyes on him.

Friends don’t crave the way I craved him—don’t want to be fucked again, maybe even harder than last night. They don’t lie awake at night, replaying every moment, every touch, imagining how his hands would feel gripping their hips while he goes deeper, whispering those filthy praises. How he’d bite down, sending shivers through every nerve in my body as he told me what a good girl I was for him.

Friends don’t want that. They don’t need that.

And friends don’t feel a sense of peace when they sit on his lap, resting against his chest while he feeds them, murmuring sweet words like queen. The way he looked at me when he said that—like he meant it, like I was everything. It wasn’t just lust. It wasn’t just another game for him.

It felt real.

But Alex wasn’t finished. "Could you try, though?" she asked, almost pleading. "Just be there for him? I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s still trying to sleep with you. Don’t fall for it. He never gives up once he sets his eyes on someone."

I swallowed a groan, feeling the weight of her words settle over me. Where was this advice yesterday? If she had said this a day earlier, maybe I would’ve turned down his offer, stayed in the room, and drowned myself in smutty novels to keep my mind distracted. But now? It felt like I’d already sunk too deep.

"It’s funny," Alex continued, her voice lighter now, almost amused. "It’s been a while since I’ve seen him chase anyone. What am I saying? He doesn’t chase. They just come to him. That cocky bastard," she scoffed playfully. "That’s why I need you to keep rejecting him until the contract is over."

My heart stopped. He hasn’t chased anyone... but me?

That thought bounced around in my head, louder than it should’ve been. I tried to shove it aside, but it lingered, making my pulse race. Get a grip, Sarah, I told myself. There were more important things to focus on.

"Of course," I said, forcing my voice to sound calm. My fingers unconsciously crossed themselves, as if sealing a deal I wasn’t sure I could keep."You have my word. I won’t let him."

I could almost feel Alex smiling on the other end, satisfied with my answer. "Thank you, Sarah. I really appreciate this. Chris means a lot to me, and I just... I want him to be okay, you know?"

"Yeah, I get it," I murmured, guilt twisting in my gut. How could I be the one to help him when I was already falling apart because of him?

There was a brief silence, and then Alex’s voice softened again. "I know this is a lot, and I’m sorry for dumping it all on you. I just... I don’t have anyone else to talk to."

"It’s fine, really," I said, swallowing the lump in my throat. "I’m glad you told me."

We exchanged a few more pleasantries before the call ended, and the moment I hung up, I let out a shaky breath. The weight of the conversation pressed down on me like a heavy stone. I glanced at my reflection in the mirror, the tension in my eyes, the faint flush still coloring my cheeks.

"What the hell am I doing?" I whispered to myself.

I couldn’t be what Alex wanted me to be. Not when Chris was involved. Not when he was already so deep under my skin, messing with my head, pulling me into this twisted game of push and pull. I ran a hand through my hair, frustration bubbling up inside me.

But there was no going back now.

And I had a sinking feeling that this was only the beginning.

Lying back on the bed, I tried to clear my thoughts, pulling the blanket tighter around me as a sudden chill crept into the room. I needed a plan. A way to push him away and make sense of this mess before it consumed me. But no matter how hard I tried to focus, my mind refused to cooperate. Instead, the exhaustion took over, and before I knew it, I drifted into an uneasy sleep.

Time slipped by—an hour, maybe two—and though hunger gnawed at me, no one had come with food. No Alfred. No guards. The emptiness in my stomach had dulled, but the restlessness in my mind hadn’t.

Where is the kitchen anyway?

My thoughts drifted, inevitably landing on Chris. Why hadn’t he come yet? Was he avoiding me too? Maybe he’d finally realized that this, whatever this was between us, was wrong. Maybe my distance had been the wake-up call he needed.

It should’ve been a relief. He’s engaged. He has obligations. This was all for the best, right?

But then, the weight of those thoughts hit me like a punch to the gut. My hand moved almost unconsciously to the engagement ring he’d given me. The cool metal pressing against my skin felt like a reminder of everything I needed to let go of.

I should take it off.

Opening my eyes, I stared at the ring. Without hesitating, I slid it off and placed it on the nightstand. The moment it left my finger, a strange emptiness settled inside me. It was as if I’d let go of something deeper than just the ring, something I couldn’t quite name.

This wasn’t real. It couldn’t be real. To Chris, it was just lust. And even if it were more than that… Could he ever really want me? With all the baggage I carried? All the mess I couldn’t escape?

I highly doubt that.

My thoughts shattered when the door creaked open. My heart jumped in my chest, and I quickly squeezed my eyes shut, pretending to sleep.

Chris.

I didn’t need to see him to know it was him. His presence filled the room, making the air feel heavier. His voice, soft but unmistakable, confirmed it.

“Sarah?”

I kept still, willing myself not to react, my heart racing wildly beneath the blanket. I could hear his footsteps drawing closer, feel the shift in the air as he moved toward the bed.

The mattress dipped under his weight, and I tensed. He slid under the blanket, his body brushing against mine. His arm snaked around my waist, pulling me closer. I felt his breath against my neck, warm and slow, and then the gentle press of his lips, placing soft kisses along my shoulder. My pulse hammered in my ears, and I was sure he could feel it.

“I know you’re awake, Love” he whispered, his voice low, teasing. His hand traced lazy circles on my side, sending sparks through my skin, making it impossible to breathe steadily. “You don’t have to move, but you need to eat.”

His lips brushed my ear now, a tender, almost intimate gesture, but his words... His words sent a shiver down my spine. “But I’ll make you wake up.”

I squeezed my eyes tighter, fighting the urge to react. If I stayed still, if I kept pretending, maybe he’d leave. Maybe I could avoid the inevitable.

But then he spoke again, his voice turning darker, more dangerous. “Either you wake up and eat what I made for you…” His arm tightened around me, pulling me against him. I gasped when I felt him hard, pressed against my lower back. “Or I’ll fuck you until you do.”

●●●●

CHRIS IS SUCH A DADDY!! 🤧

I LOVE HIM SO MUCH THAT IF I WAS SARAH I WOULD HAVE JUMPED ON HIM THE MOMENT HE LAYED NEXT TO ME. HEHE

HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE CHAPTER ♥️