Page 115 of Uncrowned

Me: for better

My Love: for worse

Me: for richer

My Love: for poorer

Me: through sickness

My Love: and in health. I will honor, cherish, love, fight, and kill for you. All you have to do is say the word, and it is yours. TELL ME… and I will come. To hell with everything else. I need you.

The smile wouldn’t leave me.

Me: LEGALLY

My Love: Then we wait and see what happens.

I put down my phone, heading to the weight machine. I wasn’t sure what would come from tomorrow, but I prayed it made some sort of difference. If not, I was terrified of what would become of it. Would I ever get out of here? Would I ever be set free?

I wasn’t sure, but something had to change. I couldn’t do this anymore. Not when I wasn’t making ground looking for proof of his family’s innocence.

From here on out, I’d have to do what I could to fight silently… strategically.

CHAPTER 39

Vaughn

HEIRESS PENELOPE TAYLOR: PROTECTED OR IMPRISONED? THE MYSTERY DEEPENS

In a startling revelation, sources close to the situation allege that Penelope Taylor—heiress to the late Taylor estate—is living under conditions akin to house arrest.

While official channels claim this is protective supervision following the unresolved disappearance and presumed death of her parents, insiders question the level of control. It is said that Penelope has repeatedly requested the freedom to return to a normal life, yet she remains confined within a high security London residence.

Complicating matters further, the masked captor responsible for Taylor’s abduction months ago remains at large, raising additional questions about why the young heiress continues to live under such strict supervision.

When reached for comment, King Lawrence expressed growing dissatisfaction with the lack of progress in the investigation.

“It is unacceptable that no resolution has been found,” the king stated. “I have requested to see Ms. Taylor and have been obstructed. One must wonder why access is restricted. A young woman's life cannot remain in limbo while the person responsible remains free. Transparency is owed not only to Miss Taylor but to the public.”

Sources close to the royal house suggest the king himself remains active in discovering the mysteries of Taylor’s welfare, and the questions remain about who ultimately controls access to the heiress and the conditions of her confinement.

If she is truly being protected, the question remains—who, exactly, is Penelope Taylor being protected from?

“What do you think?”

I looked between Theodore and the newspaper article, slamming the paper down on my desk.

“I think everything was perfect until the king publicly stated that he wants what’s mine.”

“Yeah…” Theodore cringed. “I sort of took it that way too. Do you really think the SLB is blocking him from seeing Penelope… or is she doing that?”

My head shook as I picked up my phone.

“Let’s find out.”

Me: Has King Lawrence reached out to see you?

Theodore tapped his fingers against the arms of his chair as we waited. It had my gaze lifting and my voice deepening in annoyance.