Page 64 of Crowned for His Son

‘Don’t think I can’t see it,mi hijo.’

Eden stopped in her tracks. King Alfonso was talking to Azar.

She’d had no idea Azar would be there—and honestly, she’d been cowardly and avoided him for most of the last few days.

She feared she was falling in love with her husband, despite the insurmountable barriers between them. Her heart was a foolish organ, she’d decided upon waking this morning. And it needed a serious time out.

She needed to walk away. If nothing else, she could trust that Azar would ensure Max didn’t tire his grandfather.

‘See what?’ Azar replied.

Her feet stalled, her heart thumping wildly.

‘The strain between you and your wife. Put on a show for the public, but you can’t fool me. I know the challenges of dealing with an unhappy wife, remember? This path you’re on…leaving things to fester…it’ll only lead to further strife.’

‘You don’t need to worry about us. We’re making it work.’

His father snorted, then coughed for a few minutes before chuckling. ‘You’ve never been one to bury your head in the sand, Azar. That you insist on doing so now makes me think you’re afraid.’

‘Afraid?’ he scoffed. ‘Because I don’t subscribe to some false notion of baring myself wide open in order to satisfy someone’s grand expectations?’

‘Tell me what hiding your true feelings has achieved for you?’

‘Papá…’

‘You’re a skilled negotiator in diplomacy and lately, with the help of your wife, very skilled at getting the whole world to fall in love with our beautiful kingdom. But you’re terrible at seeing what’s right in front of your face. Do the right thing. Drop the pretence and be straight with her,’ he warned.

‘Doing “the right thing” is one thing. Strangling a relationship with unwanted emotion is quite another.’

Through the dull roaring in her ears, Eden heard the former King sigh. ‘I should’ve insisted your mother do better with you, shouldn’t I? Should’ve put a stop that silly rivalry before you and your brothers were caused irreparable damage.’

Tense silence. Then, ‘What’s done is done. There’s no point dwelling in the past,’ Azar said.

She didn’t need to be in the room to know he was pacing. He’d be hating not being able to control the whole nonsensical notion of love his father was pushing on him.

A notion he was dismissing out of hand.

‘Is it done when it’s affecting your future? Wake up, Azar, before it’s too late.’

Something she recognised as hope shrivelled within her as Azar’s bitter laugh caught her right in the chest, snagging hard at a very soft spot.

‘I appreciate the advice, Papá, but for the sake of my son I can’t—won’t—risk upsetting the status quo.’

‘Not even if it’ll bring you greater happiness?’ his father pressed, even though his voice had weakened with fatigue.

The long stretch of silence wrecked her to her core.

Then, ‘I haven’t seen any evidence that it’ll be worth it. So, no. Things between my wife and I will stay the same.’

An imperious declaration that completely shattered her, and her breath caught on stifled sobs as she stumbled away towards the privacy of her suite.

* * *

‘I’ve arranged to visit my mother. Max and I are leaving in three days.’

His espresso cup froze halfway to his mouth. ‘When was this decided and why am I only hearing of it now?’

She was doing that thing again—staring at his chest instead of meeting his gaze.

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