“My mother will be there supporting me.” She outlined her ideato announce the coronation and tour together. “Take Friday to get everything in order for the announcement.”
What was going on? “Is there a reason you don’t want me there?”
“No, it’s not like that. I just know you have other things you must take care of. The truth is, there will never be a good time to have the surgery where all our schedules align, and I don’t want to put it off.”
He took another step back as something else occurred to him. “You told your parents before you told me?”
“It’s not what you’re thinking. My mother’s been helping me with this from the start, so?—”
“Well, I've been there for a lot of this too. You should have told me about this and asked me to come with you. I’m your husband.”
“You’re also the future king!” She covered her face with her hands and shook her head. She took a deep breath and let her hands drop before she continued. “Your time is not your own anymore, Alex, and your time doesn’t belong to me, either. I understand that.”
He ran a hand through his hair. “And why are you still going to your parents before anyone else? I told you before that you can’t do that anymore.”
She scoffed and stood to face him. “Are you serious right now? I need my parents in my life. That isnotup for negotiation.”
“I’m not saying you can’t see them. Of course I’m not. But you must be more discreet.”
A fury he’d never seen before flared in her eyes. “Are you fucking kidding right now?”
He jerked back. “Rebecca.”
“Are you seriously doubting my discretion? My loyalty? My…ability to do my job?”
“I’m doubting your parents’ discretion.”
“I told you before that you don’t have to worry about them.”
“And we never finished that fight. We might as well do that now too.”
She shook her head and started to move towards the door. “I can’tdeal with you right now. I can’t have a civilized fight because all I want to do is yell at you and tell you all the ways you’re in the wrong.
“You have no idea what I’ve been through since our wedding. Since before our wedding really. I’ve put up with all of it, and I’ve stayed silent, I’ve beendiscreet.” She aimed a glare at him, tears filling her eyes.
“But I am fucking done. I’m so donefeelinglike shit. I’m done with beingtreatedlike shit. And I’m really done with you telling me I can’t see my parents. They’re the only reason I’ve been able to manage my mental health at all, and I’m not giving them up. Not for you, not for fucking anybody.”
Holy fuck.“I didn’t know any of this. How would I know you’ve been struggling if you don’t tell me, or if you’re not honest when I do ask you?”
A sob escaped her lips. “I can’t…I have to go. Oh God, I can’t go out like this.” Instead of the main office door, she headed for the secret passageway.
He caught her just before she slipped inside. “Please don’t leave like this. We should talk this through.”
“Not now.” Another sob.
It took every ounce of his will not to tug her into his arms and hold her close, and he barely managed to let her go. “We’ll talk later tonight then.”
She nodded and disappeared into the hallway, the wall shutting behind her, leaving Alex alone in his office and wondering what the hell had just happened.
Had he missed the signs of her distress? Or had he avoided seeing them, even subconsciously?
She had been right about one thing—his time was not his own anymore, no matter how much they might try to plan otherwise. Yet, his wife was the most important thing in his life.
Being king was important, but it wasn’t everything. It wasn’t her.
He had fucked up—royallyfucked up—and he would do whatever it took to resolve this between them.
He started by making a humbling call. “Hello. Yes, it’s me. May I come over? I’d like to talk about Rebecca.”
