Strangely, it feels wrong, and the feeling of disappointment rises in me, even though he has no obligation toward me.
So, I spend the day with Lizzy and my future mother-in-law, which actually feels good. Tomorrow is the civil ceremony, and the day after comes the grand church wedding and a massive reception. Just thinking about it twists my stomach and makes my hands break into a sweat. I’m scared of what those days will bring, especially because I have no idea what to expect from Nicolas.
That’s why I welcome the distraction of simply being a regular young woman for once. Shopping, chatting, having coffee. Nicolas’s mother makes it easy for me, and I actually manage to relax a little.
But the moment I return to the castle and enter our apartment, I know something is wrong.
Nicolas is packing a bag without even glancing at me. No greeting, not a single word. My stomach sinks, and I fidget withmy hands, unsure of what to do. Still, I choose to give him space. I do not know him well enough to read him properly.
But when he tries to leave the apartment without a word and with the bag in hand, I cannot hold myself back.
“What is going on? Where are you going?” It just slips out, because something here feels deeply wrong.
He freezes in place and slowly turns his head toward me. And I swear I feel my whole body going cold as our eyes meet. His gaze is cold, hard, and furious.
“I do not see how that is any of your business. We are not married yet, Goldilocks. So don’t wait up for me.”
His voice is cold and shut off, and it hits me hard because I truly believed we were beyond this. Clearly, I was mistaken.
My expression goes blank as I simply nod. Then he walks out and leaves me behind with a storm of unanswered questions and a sinking feeling in my gut.
Hours later, I scroll through my Instagram feed and my heart skips a beat when a photo catches my eye. It shows my future husband, but I am not the one sitting on his lap. Instead, it is Sarah, that bitch.
It’s hard to tell if they are kissing, but it’s obvious he is not at The Purge. Instead, he’s at the Royals Club. Still, it’s not the image itself that cuts the deepest, even though it pains me greatly to see it. What truly makes my stomach churn are the comments below.
Has he already dumped the Perlington bitch?
So the rumors are true, and he finally realized it
Get rid of the whore. Go Sarah, go
That other slut should be hanged for coming between them!
The knot in my stomach tightens.
Because I cannot help myself, I go to Sarah’s profile and click on the first video. I have to swallow hard.
Nicolas smiles at the camera, holding her close as she kisses him. A shout sounds from the background. Nicolas spins around, stumbles, and drags Sarah with him as they both collapse onto the couch behind them.
My heart pounds fiercely in my chest and, heaven knows, it aches to witness this. What hurts most is not understanding why he’s acting this way when he promised to protect me.
He has declared me fair game, making them even more likely to come after me. If Henry finds out about this, he will kill me.
My stomach twists violently, and the fear I had barely managed to hold back until now crashes over me in full force.
I set my phone down and rise, moving to sit by the large window that looks out onto the park.
Tomorrow I am supposed to marry Nicolas. From the way things look, he has changed his mind. I’m going to have to protect myself.
My heart feels heavy and the weight on my chest is overwhelming. Yet I sit quietly, gazing up at the sky.
I can do this.
I have to do this.
I do not have another choice.
Eventually, my eyes grow heavy. I shuffle back to bed and fall into a restless sleep.
