“Your latte is already on the table, so drink it and we can discuss the current situation,” his deep voice booms behind me, and I freeze.
He got me a latte? How does he know what I like? And what situation?
I slowly turn around, and the sight of them hits me like a punch.They look so much alike, yet I can see Philipp in both of them as well.
My heart aches for my best friend, who doesn’t get to witness any of this.
Lizzy casts me an apologetic glance, but I’m not quite ready to let it go. Without acknowledging Nicolas, I head to the table where my coffee is waiting, pick it up, and take a long sip. I have a strong sense that I won’t like what’s coming. Then again, nothing has been particularly pleasant lately, so one more unpleasant surprise won’t make much of a difference.
“So, what exactly have I done this time to warrant a visit from both of you? Especially you,” I ask, locking eyes with Nicolas. I nearly flinch when he holds my gaze with startling intensity. His gray eyes fix on me, and I can’t seem to look away.
“This,” he replies, pulling a rolled-up newspaper from his back pocket and tossing it to me without a word of warning.
Now he really has my attention, and I can already tell this isn’t going to be good.
My gaze shifts between the paper and him, but his expression remains unreadable. I slowly unfold it, and it doesn’t take long to find what I’m looking for.
My face looks back at me from the front page, and the photo is anything but flattering. It must have been taken at Purge while I was out with Lizzy. I’m clearly caught in the middle of a party. My heart skips a beat, and a wave of nausea hits as I read the headline.
Scandalous images of Prince Nicolas’s fiancée surface. Is Lady Amelia damaging the royal family’s reputation?
The photos showing Lady Amelia in front of a questionable club now cast serious doubts on her suitability as the future queen…
The article goes on, and it doesn’t take a genius to realize that it’s written without any kindness or good intentions.
I have to swallow hard because the lump in my throat grows tighter and tighter.
“Apparently your people think I am pretty incompetent,” I say bitterly and look up, only to meet his intense gaze again.
“The question is, are you?”
My eyes hold his as he fires again and hits the mark. He is fully aware of what he is doing.
“Nic! For God’s sake, what is this nonsense? Shut your stupid mouth. Of course she is competent. You could not have found anyone better than Lia,” his sister snaps at him.
But I just shake my head.
“No. I am obviously not. But thank you for standing up for me,” I say indifferently to Nicolas. My emotions disappear behind a thick gray veil that I draw tightly. Empty. I am absolutely empty, and I do not want to and cannot feel anything. The weight of what is happening to me right now threatens to crush me. I am so tired of this whole drama.
“You should hold a press conference and try to minimize the damage as much as possible. Then talk to your father about whether I really am the right choice. Meanwhile, I will stay away from the public. I only have to go to the orphanage today because I have training with the kids but that should not be a problem. Let me know how we will proceed going forward.”
With that, I turn to leave the room, but Nicolas has other plans. He stands in my way, and I stop just in front of him because I can’t get past. Lizzy watches silently with raised eyebrows, but doesn’t intervene like usual.
“Ah-ah, Goldilocks. You are not getting out of this that easily. I will not hold the press conference alone. We will do it together, you and me together. Eric has already arranged everything. In one hour, we will face the reporters’ questions.”
His voice is calm but firm and I look up at him with irritation. He is so tall that I have to tilt my head back to look him in the eyes.
“Aren’t you afraid that I might embarrass you again? Me, the unsuitable future wife of the heir?” I ask in a flat tone that sounds very cold, but my nerves can’t take much more, and I have to protect myself.
Nicolas’s mouth curves into a devilish grin as he leans down to me. I swear the air around us starts to flicker as his nose touches mine. His lips are so close I can feel them. I am just about to close the tiny distance and kiss him.
“No backing out now, Goldilocks. And whether you are unsuitable or not is still my decision and not some random reporter’s. So, get ready and this time, wife, play your role convincingly.”
His breath brushes over my lips, and I clench my fists so hard my nails dig into my skin as he straightens up and slips his hands into his pockets.
“In one hour, Goldilocks.” He throws me a last look and strolls out of the room calmly.
“Holy mother of God, what was that?” I hear Lizzy speak behind me, but I am frozen. His closeness, his scent, his presence, the words he uses to torment me again and again like whiplashes are too much for me.
