Nathaniel's POV:

"I was in need of the money for my daughter's surgery and it was the only reason I agreed, but I never knew her majesty would end up in an accident or I would've never agreed to it" he started crying and begging that no one hurts his family. 

"What exactly were you asked to do and who ordered you to do it?" George slammed his hands at the table and yelled at him.

"Prince Edward asked me to shut the cameras for 15 minutes and paid me 10 thousand for it as well as to remain silent about it"

I immediately stopped the video and glanced at Kate. She was frozen and her eyes were already in tears.

I turned to George "Get me the prince as soon as the sun is up and be discreet about it, I don't want him sensing anything and trying to run away" he nodded and left the room.

I went back to Kate and hugged her, trying to sooth her, as she was in hysterical tears right now.

"I'm sorry love. I'm so sorry" I kept repeating.

I knew how it felt like to be betrayed by your family and I never would've wanted her to feel the same, because the feeling was unpleasant. Putting your trust in them, giving them all your love, and in the end, all they do is stab you in the back and leave you broken.

She kept crying all through the night, up until sunrise and I was with her through it all. Once she calmed herself down a bit, each of us went to take a quick shower and changed into our daytime outfits. And now it was time to face the music.

We were both waiting in my office, sitting on the couch next to each other and hoping for the best, that all of this was just a misunderstanding. Two rough knocks were heard all of the sudden, and the door opened revealing the awaited prince.

Power and confidence were radiating off of him as he took a seat on the sofa across of us, all of which soon he will have none. He took his seat comfortably, crossing one leg on the other in a manly way, making it feel like the tables have turned around and he wasn't the guest anymore, instead we were.

By the time he was settled and looked more than comfortable, I've had enough with his attitude. I stood up, straightening my suit with a straight face and barely able to control my anger. I clenched my fists holding myself from punching him and moved to the back of my table, then slammed both hands at the table.

They both flinched.

"Enough of this acting Edward, we both know everything about the accident"

Both of his legs hit the ground and his face fell. His expression said it all now and there was no hiding anymore. What shocked me though was that he didn't try to mask it immediately, instead he turned to Kate, and apologised through his eyes.  

"Katy, I beg you, just give me one chance to explain it all"

Kate ignored him and got off her seat, moving next to me. She moved my arm wrapping it around herself and snuggled herself next to me, all the while silent and not giving her brother a single glance. Her gesture gave off what her mouth couldn't right now, she was giving me control of the situation.

I couldn't watch Kate suffer and maybe his explanation would help ease all the thinking going on in her mind, so I gave him what he asked for, one chance.

"You got ten minutes, and you either give it all without any hiding or you give none"

He nodded.

"I was okay with the fact that father wanted to arrange your marriage, as long as it didn't harm you, but when I found out he did it so he could merge the kingdom and hand you the throne, I lost it. I did whatever I could to stop it all. I caused the fight between the kings and I was the one who filmed the video and sent it to you Nathaniel-"

"You bastard!! This video almost cost us our marriage!" I was about to attack him, but Kate stopped me.

"Please Nate, I need to hear this"

 I nodded, taking a deep breath and gestured for him to continue.

"When all of this didn't work, I went to plan B. I heard that your second arranged wife, Eleanor, was in love with you so I used that to my advantage. I told her my plan and we decided to work together. One of the security guards was in desperate need of money so I gave it to him and asked him to turn off the cameras when I give him a call. I also had one of the cleaners watch you both, so the night you had a fight, she immediately called me"

He took a few deep inhales and continued.

"I knew it was the perfect opportunity, to take revenge for taking the crown from me, and to break the kingdom, but instead I hesitated. I remembered my love for you Katy and all the childhood memories we had, so I called Eleanor and told her that I want out and the plan was over, but I made the mistake of telling her you had a huge fight. She must've continued with the plan on her own, ruining the cameras and hiding in Katy's car to crash it and fake an accident"

Kate was sobbing in my arms by the time he was done telling the story, and it boiled my blood seeing her like this. I couldn't take it so I yelled at George to come immediately and ordered him to escort the Prince to a secluded area where he would be guarded until we figure out our next step.

Meanwhile, I ordered everyone to find Eleanor and get her to me, scene or not. She was now on the royalty's blacklist.

I was barely able to calm Kate, and when I did, I knew it was a matter of minutes before she'd crash all over again. I seized this moment of calmness, taking a deep breath, and asked her a question that would figure out our situation later on.

"Kate, I need to ask you this because it's all up to you, and no matter what you decide, I will always be by your side supporting you" she nodded gratefully.

"What do you want to do with the both of them?"

She exhaled, expecting this question "There won't be any executions because I know how you feel about them and we don't want any bad blood. Eleanor should be exiled and for Edward, I think there should be a trial for him. Maybe someone neutral doing the decision for me would be fair"

I nodded, smiling a bit at the thought of her doing her decision based on how I'd feel. I just can't believe how lucky I am to get a person as caring as her to be my wife.

Putting this now resolved matter aside, we both headed to the living room were the guards would bring Eleanor as agreed. Father was already there, a person who now seems like a stranger from how long I haven't seen him, pacing around the room with a furious look on his face.

"How dare you make a scene like this? Don't you know what this could do to the business between her father and I?" he started yelling the moment he saw us walk into the room.

"Don't you want to know my reason?" I asked calmly. I've had enough of him by now, caring for what he thinks and hoping I could get the love I've always wanted from him was now out of the picture. All I saw now in front of me was an absolute stranger. 

I didn't wait for his reply seeing how calm he was now, so I continued "Eleanor was the one behind Kate's accident, and no matter who's business falls down, Kate will always be my number one priority. Whether you like it or not"

He smiled and it freaked me out, because the smile was genuine "This is the first time I see you defend someone so passionately ever since your mother. I can see how much Katherine means to you, and since I have so much to make up to, I will support you against Eleanor and her father. I'm also going to divorce Mary, ever since she lost the crown she changed and I now figured out she was only after the crown and the money. A lot of changes are going to happen and I hope you can forgive me one day my son"

He literally left me speechless. The moment I decide to put it all behind me, he decides to open a new page with me. I never heard the word I've been yearning for all my life, son, and now that I did, I wanted the father-son relationship that I missed all my life. Maybe there was a chance for us after all.

Right after he was gone, my guards walked in with a screaming and struggling Eleanor, but once she glanced towards us, her expression completely changed. A smirk showed on her face, like she was expecting this exact moment. It took me by surprise honestly, but I will make sure to turn the tables around.

I started moving closer once the guards seated her in the chair in the middle of the room that we had set for her, a stern look on my face.

"We know everything Eleanor"

"I know" her tone was mimicking mine.

I raised an eyebrow at her, still serious.

"It's the only reason you would ask your guards to drag me here for, but don't worry, my daddy should be here soon"

"You probably shouldn't wait for him because you aren't leaving here anytime soon, at least not alive so you better start talking" she froze at my stone cold tone and not-so-empty threat.

"I loved you Nathan, I still do, and it was the only reason I did this" she started out innocently, her voice was fragile, but I wasn't falling for it. My mind was backwards, thinking of the only woman I love who was behind me, and how she was feeling right now. 

I took a quick glimpse behind me and turned back, relieved a bit. She was still in control of her emotions and that's what mattered to me right now, I would be there of her once we're done with this.

"I did what I did for the same reason you turned right now, you love her when you're supposed to love me. I should've killed this bitch when I had the chance" her tone was low and dangerous, implying she would do it all over again if necessary. I froze at one word though and I slapped her hard. No one insults my wife, no one.

I moved away before I'd kill her with my bare hands, while she yelled in pain.

"Again, talk if you want to get out of here alive"

She got the meaning behind my words, forgetting the pain she was just feeling, fearing her life and started talking. Her story matched exactly Edward's story, but with her feelings as extra, and even matched Edward's theory of what happened after he backed out.

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

Two weeks later

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It took a lot of convincing on my side to convince Kate that she was not to blame for anything that has happened, including Eleanor and Edward.

Right after the truth was out from both guilty sides, a trial in the royal court was held for Edward, while Eleanor was moved out of the country, with people from the royalty's security watching over her to make sure she doesn't attempt to come back to the kingdom and try to harm the Queen.

Her dad on the other hand, protested much, using the end of the business between him and my father as a threat. My father ended up breaking the contract as well as anything that tied them together, and moved him out of the country alongside to Eleanor, both being under surveillance.

The trial to charge Edward was held two days after the start of all of this, and a judge who worked for the royal court, but knew nothing of this matter was chosen. Several sessions were held and the judge got to hear from both sides and everyone involved in this matter.

The final decision was done by taking the Queen's opinion on the matter and by the Prince's actions. Since his actions were less extreme than Eleanor and he ended up regretting it in the end, the judge decided that the prince would be sent to a mental health institution, instead of prison, where he would be treated by a psychologist and guarded extremely until fully recovered.

Kate, instead of feeling relieved at the resolution of this matter, became anxious, always throwing the blame at herself. Once she was out of this state, with the help of a lot of people, she slowly started turning back to normal, but not fully up til now.

And that's were my surprise comes in.

The idea popped in my head after everything that has happened, wanting to open a new page. I prepared our usual place for the surprise, where we promised we'd make plenty of memories there, our planetarium. 

Kate was blindfolded all the way, not knowing were our destination is. Once we arrived, I removed the blindfold and led her into the planetarium.  

Roses were scattered all over the ground like we always do. but the difference this time is that I left out an empty passage through it all that led to the back where we once stargazed. Small artificial lights were added to brighten the place and make the stars look even more, and in the centre of it all, roses where scattered to word out 'Will you marry me again?'

Kate gasped and by the time she turned to face me, I was already on one knee, with a new ring that was similar to the old one. Her hands were on her mouth as she moved closer to me, and she was already in tears, happy tears though.

"When I first bumped into you, I mistook my feelings toward you for something else. I thought something was wrong with me, but now I know it was love at first sight. I took you for granted several times, misjudged you, and worse, I caused you a lot of pain. For that, I want us to start new and hopefully, none of the old mistakes will be repeated. So Katherine, my queen and the only person I've ever loved and will love, will you do me the honour of being my wife again?"

She nodded through her happy tears "I do, but I don't want us to forget our memories, whether good or bad. Our wedding might not have been the fairy tale wedding I dreamed of, and neither one of us wanted it at that time, but if it didn't happen then we wouldn't be here now. We can't erase the bad memories, because they led us to the good ones. Without them we wouldn't be who we are now, and we probably wouldn't be together. We went through a lot Nate, but I won't change anything if it meant having you in the end. If it meant having our happily ever after in the end"

"You're right, love. I love you my queen"

"And I love you my rich snob"

The End

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