“Your abdication, your divorce, and your immediate departure from the kingdom require your esteemed attention, if you can arrange it,” I reply sweetly, making room for my mother to sit opposite him, while I stand behind her and Ced stands next to her. Our lawyer immediately approaches my father and puts the folder on the table, while the ministers sit down on the free chairs.
My father’s face is twisted with pure rage, and he’s about to speak when the lawyer interrupts.
“Before you say anything foolish, you’d better take a look at these documents. Now.” He gestures toward the folder, and my father snaps it open—never before have I seen him go so pale so fast. His face drains of color, and he stares at my mother, shocked and completely speechless. Her fingers tighten around the armrest at his gaze. I place a comforting hand on her shoulder because this is the hardest part for her.
“Mary, what… I… This… I can explain,” he stammers, and I should feel satisfied seeing him like this. But I don’t. On the contrary. It hurts. It hurts like hell, and I grip my mother’s shoulder tighter.
“No. No, Edward, you can’t. You’ve gone too far. Not only have you tainted our marriage, no, you betrayed your son, you…you slept with the man he loves… sent that reporter after him… how… how could you? HOW COULD YOU?” She screams the last words and tries to stand up, but I gently push her back down. She turns to me, eyes shimmering with tears, and I shake my head slightly. My mother swallows hard, and by God, I want to kill my bastard father.
The knife keeps cutting deeper and deeper, and I want to roar. But I don’t. Instead, I lift my head and look coldly and mercilessly into his face.
“You will abdicate immediately. Mother will govern the kingdom in the name of the Harlington family until Amelia and I are ready to take office.” My voice is hard as steel, and my father goes even paler, avoiding my gaze and swallowing.
“Furthermore, you will sign the divorce papers and turn yourself in. You will be prosecuted, Father. Because you have betrayed your family, your office, and above all, your country. You have the blood of my brother—your own son—on your hands, and almost that of my wife too.You have tainted this family, tainted your country. I… this is the last time you drag us through the dirt. Fuck, I want to punch you.”
I run my hand through my hair, trying to calm down, to control the rage burning hot through my veins. Ced pats me briefly on the shoulder, and my mother lays her hand over mine.
They’re here. They’re my family.
Mother stands and looks down at my father without any emotion, who suddenly looks incredibly old and tired, bowing his head in defeat.
“Sign, Edward. After that, I don’t want to see you again.”
She doesn’t look back at him once as she spins on her heel and walks away, leaving the ministers and lawyer to handle my father.
Ced and I follow her in silence until we reach the salon. There, she turns to me, and the sight rips open my heart all overagain as she finally lets her guard down and breaks into bitter tears. Ced steps away to check on Lizzy and her preparations for Amelia, while I hold my mother close, trying to hold together the fragile pieces of her that are left.
King Edwardthe Third abdicated that very day and was soon after escorted out of the castle by the guards.
The days ahead will be difficult for my mom, but I’m here, and somehow we’ll get through this together.
My father has done immense damage. He fostered outdated beliefs that discriminate against and marginalize people in my country. He ensured that gay people felt too afraid to come out or express their love openly, despite being attracted to men himself.
He betrayed his sons—especially Phil—which ultimately cost Phil his life.
He exploited the media to spread lies, nearly destroying my wife, Amelia, in the process. People are often quick to judge, eager to follow the crowd, and willing to believe whatever they’re fed instead of seeking the truth, getting to know someone, or questioning their motives.
We tend to forget how much damage that can cause.
I’m just as much of an idiot. I did exactly the same thing and got taught the hard way.
My father now has to face the consequences of his actions, though that won’t undo the damage.
Richardson was arrested and connected to two other blackmail schemes involving high-ranking politicians. He’ll rot in jail, but it will still take time to undo the damage he caused.
Only that bastard Henry hasn’t resurfaced yet. But I will drag him out of his hole, and then he’ll pay for what he did to Amelia.
The moment I step into our apartment, I know without even looking that she’s here, her scent filling the air. My heart skips a beat, and I head straight to our bedroom because I’ve missed her. Every fiber of my being longs to be near her, and when I open the door, I lean against the frame, smiling at the sight before me.
“Shouldn’t you be resting?”
Amelia startles slightly and glances up at me. A smile spreads across her face, and though she still looks quite rough, she can now open one eye and seems much more alert. She’s nestled against a towering pile of pillows, her hair tied up in a messy bun, wearing one of my hoodies as she reads.
“I am. I’m in bed and not moving,” she shrugs, a grin playing on her lips, making my heart leap again. Slowly, I stroll over and sit on the edge of the bed, leaning down to give her a gentle kiss.
“Hmmm, I missed this. Hello, Goldilocks,” I hum against her lips, and again I get that smile that always throws me off balance. The one I never get tired of seeing.
“Did you miss me or my lips? Hello, husband,” she whispers back, and I die a little inside. My chest feels like it will burst with pride and joy. That word.
