Page 68 of Royal Deception
I hesitate, the words stuck in my throat. It’s been such an emotional night, and now that I’m here, sitting in Miranda’s living room, I can finally feel it all, the weight of everything pressing on me.
“You know I’m pregnant already,” I begin, my voice quiet, raw. “But I never told you who the father is.”
Miranda’s gaze remains steady, her expression neutral. She doesn’t interrupt, just lets me spill my story in my own time. But I can feel her attention, the way she’s waiting for me to say what I need to say.
I take a shaky breath, my eyes avoiding hers for a moment as the words settle in my chest. “The father… is my boss. Rory Brannagan.”
If Miranda’s surprised, it’s hard to tell. Her face flickers for just a moment, but she smiles gently, like she’s giving me space to go on.
I can feel the lump in my throat growing, my stomach turning as I continue. “It started with a few one-night stands. I guess I never thought it would turn into anything, so I never told anyone about it. But then…” My words catch, and I stop, staring down at the mug in my hands. It’s like I can’t bring myself to look up. “Then something happened between us. We entered into a kind of relationship…”
“A kind of relationship?” Miranda’s voice is gentle, but there’s a hint of curiosity in the way she asks, one brow rising, waiting for me to explain.
“Yeah.” I swallow, feeling the weight of my own words. “Not in the traditional sense. It was more… contractual. We would see each other once a week for a sort of power-exchange relationship.”
Miranda doesn’t flinch. She just nods, picking up her mug to take a sip, giving me the space to keep talking. “And then what happened?”
“I enjoyed myself,” I say, the words coming out slower now, like I’m trying to piece together the truth for myself. “It opened up something new for me, a part of myself I’d never explored before. I think it was good for me.”
I pause, my chest tightening as I try to make sense of everything. “But I can’t deny that… maybe some part of me wanted more. I thought Rory did too. Things changed. He wanted me to be his submissive full-time. Like a twenty-four, seven dynamic.”
Miranda frowns but doesn’t interrupt me. Her expression stays even, but I can see the worry in her eyes flickering beneath her calm exterior.
“I don’t know why I agreed when my heart was telling me it wasn’t enough, Miranda,” I confess, feeling the weight of my own words. “I was so stupid. But I felt like the whole thing was so empowering. It gave me the courage to stand up to my stepmother, finally. And then Rory asked me to move in with him… and I was over the moon.”
“Was this recently?” she asks, her brow furrowing. She sounds concerned, maybe even a little surprised.
“Yeah.” I nod, my throat tight. “Just this past week. But things have gotten complicated. Lately, he’s been spending so much time with Callie because of the gala planning. I don’t know… maybe I just got into my head, but we fought. I was jealous, and he knew it. We fought about it.”
Miranda takes another sip from her mug, her face thoughtful. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know that you and Rory were seeing each other. I might have said something to Callie to push her toward him.”
I shake my head, clutching my mug tighter, trying to find comfort in the warmth. “It’s not your fault,” I murmur. “You didn’t know. But after we made up, he gave me a gift… an Eternity Collar. In power-exchange relationships, it’s akin to a proposal. I really thought this meant he wanted to be with me forever.” I laugh, though it’s a bitter sound.
Shaking my head, I continue, “But tonight, he was so focused on Callie. On the event. And I just couldn’t take it anymore. I don’t know who I am to him anymore, or what I mean. He’s said he’s not interested in relationships, but I could see the way he looked at Callie. All that admiration, that respect. Something he’s never shown me before.”
Miranda leans in a little closer, her hand gently reaching out to rest on mine, warm and reassuring. Her touch grounds me, even just a little. She doesn't say anything yet, but her gaze is steady, knowing I need this moment to breathe.
“And when he sent me home, I couldn’t take it anymore. I felt trapped. So I broke the collar off and I left him.”
She doesn’t say anything at first, just gives my hand a gentle squeeze. Her eyes are soft with understanding, and I can tell she’s letting me take my time to work through everything, but also, she’s here. Here for me.
“Clary,” she finally says, her voice calm but firm, “you don’t have to go through this alone.” She stands up from the couch, her movements fluid as she gently pulls me to my feet. “Stay here tonight. You can have the guest room. You can stay as long as you need.”
I blink at her, a little overwhelmed by her kindness. “Are you sure?”
“Of course I am.” She smiles, but it’s a soft, reassuring smile. “Come on. Let’s get you settled.”
Miranda leads me upstairs, guiding me down a hallway to a door at the end. She pushes it open, revealing a cozy guest room with soft, muted colors—creamy white walls, a light blue duvet on the bed, and plush throw pillows scattered across the bed. A large window lets in a sliver of moonlight, casting a gentle glow across the room. It’s warm here, safe. Like I can breathe again.
I step inside and glance around, taking in the peacefulness of the space. It’s not just a guest room. It’s a sanctuary. And right now, that’s exactly what I need.
“This is lovely,” I say, my voice a little unsteady. I can feel the knot in my chest loosening just a little. I don’t know why, but I feel calm here. Like maybe, just maybe, I can escape the whirlwind of everything that’s been happening for a while.
Miranda steps inside and pulls open a dresser drawer. “It’s nothing much. Make yourself at home,” she says, pulling out a soft T-shirt and leggings. “I’ll be back in a minute. I’m going to make a phone call.”
I nod, taking the clothes from her, and watch her leave the room, the soft click of the door closing behind her. Walking over to the bed, I touch the soft duvet before sit down slowly, letting out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. Everything feels like it’s been crashing down on me, but here, in this quiet space, I feel like maybe, just maybe, I’ll be able to sleep for the first time in a while.
I pull off my sneakers and slip into the shirt and leggings, feeling a bit more like myself, even if just for a moment. The bed is inviting, and I sink into the pillows, wrapping myself up in the comfort of this place.
