Page 43 of Royal Secret

“Thank you,” I whisper before sliding down to sit on the cool tile floor, knees hugged tight to my chest.

Time crawls by in the sterile quiet of the bathroom, each minute an eternity until Mimi arrives. Eventually, my phone buzzes again, her text a beacon:I’m here.

Taking deep breaths, I steel myself for the onslaught. I unlock the door, stepping back into the chaos. The crowd has swelled, the store’s entrance now a stage for the curious and the cruel. But I’ve played the damsel in distress for the last time today.

With newfound resolve, I weave through the onlookers, their voices fading to a distant hum. There’s no prince coming to save me; I’m claiming my own escape.

Mimi’s car is at the curb, the window rolled down so she can wave me onward. I launch myself into the passenger seat, slamming the door shut with a finality that matches the closing chapter of my Bergovian adventure.

“Drive,” I gasp, and she doesn’t hesitate. The engine roars to life, and we zoom away.

The car speeds through the city, a blur of morning light and shadows. I don’t look back as Mimi weaves through traffic, each turn putting distance between me and the life I thought I was building with Jakob. My heart pounds in my chest, and I feel like I might vomit any moment. I keep it down, though, not wanting her to stop the car at any cost.

“Hey, so…” Mimi’s voice breaks through my daze. “I saw the pictures of you with Prince Jakob. When you told me about him, I had no clue he was royalty!”

I turn to face her, feeling the sting of betrayal afresh. “Neither did I, at first,” I confess, my words heavy with sorrow. “But finding out who he is wasn’t the worst part.”

She glances at me, her brow furrowing in suspicion. “What do you mean?”

“Jakob… he was shadowing me,” I admit, a lump forming in my throat. “His father thinks I’m some sort of national threat because of my family’s history with the royal family. We’re old rivals, apparently.”

“Wait, what?” Her eyes widen. “That’s insane!”

“Tell me about it.”

The pain is raw as I curl into myself, hugging my arms tight around my middle. I stare out the window, watching the city pass by in a haze. Memories of Jakob’s smiles, his gentle touches, play on loop in my mind — each one now tainted by doubt. Didanyof it mean anything to him?

“Are you okay?” Mimi reaches over, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder.

“No,” I reply quietly, a single tear tracing its way down my cheek. “I thought… I really believed he cared about me.”

“Hey, listen to me,” she says firmly, squeezing my shoulder. “You are strong, Courtney. You’ll get through this.”

Her words are meant to be soothing, but they can’t reach the hollow space where my trust in Jakob once lived. My heart feels like it’s been cleaved in two, the fracture line jagged and deep.

“Let’s get you somewhere quiet,” she murmurs.

I just nod, grateful for her presence yet unable to shake the heartbreak that feels like it will always and forever more be with me.

CHAPTER 23

JAKOB

After Courtney leaves, I don’t know how much time passes while I sit on the couch and stare at the wall. Our conversation replays over and over in my head, the hurt in her eyes tearing my soul in two.

I was only trying to tie together the jagged pieces of my life, but I should have known that is an impossible task. For a man who is living a double life, there is no seamlessly tying the parts together. I should have told my father the truth, to hell with his anger. Now Courtney never wants to see me again, and I have lost the best thing that ever happened to me.

Perhaps.

There must still be something I can do, something I can say, to win her back. If only she will give me a few minutes.

I bolt out of the apartment, my heart pounding, desperate to catch Courtney before she disappears from my life completely. But as I rush towards the elevator, my elderly neighbor Mariana steps out, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.

“Jakob, dear,” she calls in a voice that’s seen more years than I can even fathom. “Who was that lovely young lady? She looked quite smitten with you!”

“Can’t talk now, Mariana,” I say, trying to sidestep her without being rude. “It’s urgent.”

“Ah, young love,” she sighs, clutching her hands to her heart. “Always in such a hurry.”

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