Page 8 of His Kingdom

It hurts. Her betrayal.

My hand comes up and rubs against my chest, trying to ease the pain. It’s pointless. This pain is too deep. Nothing is going to ease it.

The sound of a chiming doorbell startles me. I roll over and take in the room. Which isn’t the same room I booked and paid for. This one is fancier than anything I could ever afford.

Not long after I got back to myactualroom last night, I was told I won a free upgrade. I questioned the staff member. I mean, how could I win something when I didn’t enter some sort of competition? And they just said thatit was my lucky night.

When I tried to refuse the upgrade, the poor girl looked like she was going to vomit. She pleaded with me to accept it. I felt horrible. And honestly, I just wanted to sleep, and that is the only reason I caved and took the room Ididn’twin.

I have to admit it’s a really nice suite, though.

The sound of the bell rings out again. So I drag myself off the bed, wrap the robe I discarded at the end of the mattress last night around my body, and make my way to the door. Where I’m met by a hotel staff member and a trolley. The smell of bacon hits me and my stomach growls. I didn’t eat much of anything at all yesterday.

“Um, hi?” I question.

“Good morning, ma’am. I have your breakfast. Where would you like me to set it?” the young man asks.

“Ah… I didn’t order anything. I think you have the wrong room,” I tell him.

“It’s complimentary, part of the package you won.” He smiles at me expectantly.

“Are you sure?” Like I said, I don’t know how I won anything and the lady from last night couldn’t or wouldn’t tell me how either. It’s strange, but the smell coming from that cart is too hard to resist.

“Positive, ma’am. Where would you like it?” the guy asks again.

“Um, okay. Anywhere, I guess. Come in, let me find my purse for your tip,” I reply as I step out of the doorway so he can enter.

“No need, ma’am.” He places the plates covered in silver domes onto the dining table, and then proceeds to set up a placemat, a plate, cutlery, and glassware.

“Thank you.”

With a nod of his head, the guy walks out and I’m left alone. In this luxurious room. With a table setting that looks suitable for royalty. I wonder if this is how Alice felt when she was in Wonderland. Because this is not normal. Well, notmynormal anyway.

The silence is deafening. Being alone with my thoughts isn’t what I need right now. I don’t want to think about what I’m running from. I want to be lost in another world—someone else’s world. I want to escape my reality. But first, I want to eat. The smells coming from the table are too good to ignore.

* * *

After stuffing myself with as much food as I could, I showered and threw on a shirt and a pair of cutoff shorts I purchased early yesterday. I came here with nothing but the clothes I was wearing. One of the first things I did was go and buy some essentials. Just enough for a couple of days. I can’t hide forever.

I pick up my phone and turn it on. I need to tell my parents I’m okay. I’m surprised my face isn’t all over the news outlets as a missing person yet. And the moment my screen comes alive, the notifications pour in. Missed calls, messages, emails. I skip past Owen and Melanie and click on my mom’s message first.

I’d intended to let her know I was okay yesterday. I just didn’t want to talk to anyone from back home. I should call her, explain everything. Then again, even if I tell her, she won’t believe what I have to say, not unless she sees it for herself. Which is why I send her a message instead.

Me:

I’m sorry for making you and Dad worry. I’m okay. I just need to take some time for myself. Please don’t look for me or try to follow me. I’ll come home soon. I promise. I had to leave. Owen and Melanie gave me no choice. I couldn’t marry him after seeing this.

As soon as I hit send, I click on the video I took of my fiancé and sister and forward it to my mom. It’s definitely not something any mother wants to see, her daughter having sex. But unless she witnesses it firsthand, I know Owen and Melanie will try to manipulate the situation in their favor or insist I got it wrong.

Clearly, they’re good at lying. I wonder how long they’ve been going behind my back? I never told my sister about my doubts. I didn’t tell anyone that I was doubting marrying Owen. I honestly thought it was wedding jitters and that I’d be fine come the day.

Now, I know I wasn’t in love with him. I’m not heartbroken over his cheating. Embarrassed, yes. But my heart isn’t breaking for Owen. It’s breaking because I’ve lost my best friend, my sister. How can I ever trust her again after this? How can I look her in the face with the same respect I did a few days ago?

I can handle losing my fiancé. I was prepared to break it off myself. But Melanie… I’m not sure how I will go through the rest of my life without her. She’s always been there. For every milestone, for every achievement, she was right by my side. Every heartbreak and hardship, she was the one who sat with me, the one who would always put me back together.

She’s the one who is supposed to be here with me right now. To tell me what to do after discovering that my fiancé is cheating. After running out of my own wedding.

Who is going to be that person now?

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