Page 44 of Royal Rebel

“Hear, hear.” Everyone holds their glasses up along with mine.

I don’t miss the way Parker runs a hand along her back. I make a mental note to talk about it to her later, but I also tell myself not to be nosey.

“I see one of my father’s business associates over there.” Tristan points out an older man in the crowd. “I need to go see how he’s doing. You want to come with me?”

“No, I think I’m going to go sit with my parents for a few minutes.”

I watch, my eyes on him as he walks across the room. No matter what room he’s in, he commands attention.

“Marriage is going to suit you,” I look over at my mother.

“I think so, too.”

“You’ve been ready for this since you were a kid.”

What she’s said is true. When I was a little girl, I played with dolls and I was always the mother, always the one taking care of everyone else. I can distinctly remember when I was ten, walking around, wearing my mom’s high heels with a fake wedding ring on my finger. Being a wife and a mother has always been the endgame for me.

“I’m thankful I get to do this with Tristan. At first I was scared, but there’s no one else I’d rather be in this situation with.”

Mom hugs me, and over her shoulder, I see something that makes my blood run cold. Tristan is leaning down, kissing another woman on the cheek.

But it’s not just any other woman.

It’sthe one, the one the tabloids thought he would marry. The only one I’ve ever seen him be serious with besides me.

As they pull back, I see his arm around her waist, and her hand on his hip.

I’ve never felt jealousy like I feel in this instant. I don’t even remember what I say to my family, but I get up quickly, only knowing I need fresh air.

I’m not sure where I’m planning on going, all I know is I need to get away. Running around to the back of the house, I battle with the doorknob, trying to open it. Tears are pooling in my eyes, making it hard for me to see. My fingers fumble again, but this time I manage to get the door open, barreling into the cold night air. The wind whips around the balcony, but there’s no snow tonight.

Below me, the ocean is calmer than normal. Ironic since it’s usually raging in turmoil, much like I am right now.

Inhaling deeply, I close my eyes, but the only thing I can see are her lips on his cheek and his arm around her waist.

“Amelia!”

The voice of the one person I don’t want to hear right now is the voice of the man who’s going to be my husband.

CHAPTER 26

AMELIA

I don’t wanna talk to him. There’s not even one part of me that wants to speak with him. I move further into the darkness, hoping to get away from him.

“Amelia! Stop running away from me! What’s happening?”

I hold my dress up, running as fast as I dare, but I’m screwed as I come to a dead end. There’s no other place for me to go.

Right now I feel more trapped than I ever have. Which is saying something, since I was promised to him at a young age. Even then I didn’t feel trapped, but right now? I do.

“I don’t wanna talk to you.” I hold my hand out, hoping to stop him.

“It doesn’t matter, I wanna talk to you. What the hell happened?”

“How could you?” I wrap my arms around myself now. “How could you with her?”

“With who?”

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