Nathaniel's POV:

Probably every groom says it all the time, but Kate really did look like the most beautiful bride I've ever seen. I tried my best not to look at her as she walked down the aisle but I ended up catching a glimpse, and oh did she take my breath.

The stunt she did though, or so I thought it was one, almost gave me a heart attack. I mean at first I was mad at her because I thought she was faking a scene to get out of the marriage, but when I got to know that she is allergic to lilies, I felt somewhat worried and terrible for blaming her for something she never did. 

I spent the whole time during the ceremony trying to remind myself that she is just like everyone else and she doesn't deserve my worry for her. I even got to the point that I almost slipped the question 'are you alright?' a couple of times, even now in the reception, since she looked tired and like she would faint again any second now. But why do I keep reminding myself that she is like everyone else? Why do I think deep inside of me that she is different? 

"Nathaniel"

I shook my head to get back to the real world and looked at my father giving him a 'what do you want look' without even bothering to actually ask him. 

"Aren't you going to introduce us to your new wife?" He cockily asked, probably glad that all of his plans went well. What he didn't know is that it's going how I want it as well.

"Sure, let me just go get her" I gritted through my teeth trying to control my anger.

I walked away from my father and his evil twin-my stepmother and headed towards Kate who was talking to someone a bit similar to her. Probably her mother, since she had this motherly aurora radiating from her and clearly, giving it all to Kate. Gosh, how much I miss this feeling, I really miss my mum.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I need to introduce Kate to someone" both nodded "Nate, meet my mum. Mum, meet Nate, my husband" Kate introduced and I couldn't help but smile as I heard 'husband', how I wish this was real.

"Nice to meet you ma'am" I extended my hand for her to shake, but instead of shaking it, she pulled me into a motherly hug 

"No need for formalities now as you are family, please call me mum, but only if you want. I know I could never take your mum's place, but I could try giving you some of the love you always wanted from her" she whispered in my ears and I gasped as I heard her say something no one knows of.

"H-how did you know?" I stuttered a bit from the shock and feeling some tears gather in my eyes as what she said hit my soft spot that I thought was long gone.

She smiled as she brushed my cheeks "Will and I used to be close with your father at that time, but don't worry, no one else knows. It's your choice if you want to tell anyone else and let them in, but I suggest you tell Katherine. Both of you have wounds, even though they are different, but I believe you can help each other. I've seen what you've been doing for years and how you won't let anyone in, but trust me, Katherine isn't like everyone else" I nodded not knowing what else to say

How could she know that's exactly what I think of Kate? Am I that visible?

Victoria, or should I now say mum, smiled as she pulled me into another motherly hug and whispered into my ears "Take care of my baby and don't forget to take care of yourself as well sweetie"

I nodded and turned to Kate walking us both away towards my father "What was that about between you and mum?"

"That's something between us" I smirked seeing her frustration from not getting an answer. Seeing my father, I sobered my face and it instantly became emotion less. I can't risk him see that I have a somewhat soft spot for Kate.

"Father, meet Katherine. Kate, meet my father and mother" I didn't mean to but the word mother came out bitterly.

"You guys are already on nickname bases, how cute" my stepmother said dripping fake sweetness in her tone, and I was this close to unleashing my angry inner demon at her and hitting her. Sadly, I don't hit women and I also don't want to cause a scene.

"Katherine is too long for him, that's all. Pleasure meeting your acquaintances your majesties" Kate beat me to answering them which I'm kind of grateful for, but I would never say that out loud. She even talked in a somewhat formal and cold tone but at the same time in a polite manner as if backing me up against my parents. That put a small barely noticeable smile on my face, but why would she do that?

Why would she do that if she is just like everyone else? Why would she back me up and be on my side when people usually side with my parents as it would benefit them more? Is she trying to impress me that way in hopes of me changing my behaviour? Why do I think that she isn't really any of what I'm thinking?

Is she really different as everyone says?

Katherine's POV:

Seriously, he didn't even bother introducing me as his wife! Well that hurts.

"We aren't king and queen anymore and since we are now family, please call us by our names" Benjamin said with a smile that seemed to be too good to be true, and I nodded in reply fearing that I might say something wrong.

Sensing the tension that is here further, I decided to excuse us "If you would both excuse us, we need to meet a couple of other people"

Ben and Mary nodded, so Nate and I walked away "Don't think that I'm going to thank you and be grateful for what you did, I could've helped myself on my own" Nate said dryly and walked away.

Ladies and gentlemen, the arse is back!

.............................

The rest of the night was spent in pure fake bliss. Nate and I waltzed our first dance as husband and wife, then spent the rest of the night dancing with other people, mostly relatives.

Now is the time to get going and go back to the palace. That's right, we are going back home, no honeymoon, now or later on.

Our parents said that the month we were forced to spend together back in America where we were getting to know each other was considered as our honeymoon, therefore, no need to have an actual honeymoon after our marriage. 

Not that I was excited to spend a whole month stuck with the grumpy rich snob, but it could still be considered as a vacation. A vacation to get away from this miserable royal life. 

With a sigh and a heavy heart, I started to say goodbye to everyone and prepared myself to live the rest of my live with the guy I love who can never love me back. As crazy as it might sound, I'm in love with my husband. I came in acknowledgment with that fact, the night Bella and I talked after Nate proposed to me, or rather blackmailed me into marrying him.

I kept on trying to deny in, not just to convince everyone but to convince myself as well. It never worked though and I knew that for sure today. The moment I walked down the aisle, and the moment I saw Nate have a good bond with my mum. 

I saw a true smile on his face that I never saw before and I was literally head over heels for him all over again, the only thing I wished is that that smile was directed to me and not my mum. God, now I'm jealous of my own mum.

I sneaked out of the reception making sure that no one notices me and headed to the car as Nate was taking a lot of time in his goodbyes. About a half an hour later, I was about to dose off when I saw two shadows coming towards the car. 

Once the shadows were near enough that I saw their faces, my jaw dropped. So that's why he took a lot of time, he was picking someone and probably making out with them.

God, that literally broke my heart into pieces. He even had to do it on our wedding night.

With a small smile that sadly wasn't for me, Nate opened the car door and let his mistress into the limousine before him. I rolled my eyes, what a true gentleman.

"Who is this?" His mistress asked while pointing at me with disgust. Luckily, Nate didn't answer, but that didn't stop her. She kept on asking that question over and over again like a broken radio until Nate eventually had to answer her just to shut her up.

He sighed and turned to look at her not bothering to look into my eyes as if he was avoiding them "No on-"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence, I'm your bloody wife!" I gritted through my teeth angrily as I felt tears started to gather in my eyes.

No one said anything after that and I was really glad for that, up until I saw the mistress all of the sudden starting to move her hand up on Nate's thigh while smirking at me.

I clenched my fists tightly, trying to control the anger that was running through my blood. Sadly, that stopped working the moment the mistress pulled Nate onto him and crushed her lips on his. What hurt most was that Nate didn't push her, but at the same time never kissed her back.

"Enough!" I screamed as I wasn't able to watch them anymore and luckily for me, they broke it off.

"Please, just please, respect my only wish and don't do this in here" I muttered with a broken voice. The mistress was looking at me with a bored look, clearly not seeing the hurt written all over my face, but Nate. Nate saw it perfectly clear, and the look on his face says it all.

He looked broken, just as I was, but what I didn't know is what was he broken from?

I thanked the lord a million times as I saw that we arrived to the palace. I immediately headed to the kitchen, even though I wasn't allowed as the servants get us whatever we want, and grabbed a tub of ice cream and a spoon.

I went to the floor that Nate and I's room is in and started walking towards my room, but ended up stopping in front of Nate's room as I heard voices. The tub of ice cream slipped from my hand as they quickly went over my mouth to prevent a loud gasp that was at the tip of my mouth.

Once I heard the moaning, loud and clear, I broke and started crying right by his door. Five minutes later and with a broken heart, I dragged myself to my next door room. I literally threw myself on the bed and started crying all over again until dawn, and until I was literally out of tears.

My marriage ended before it even started.

..............................