RHEA'S POV"Why on earth would they mistake our names?" Leah paced around the living room before turning to my mom. "Mom, this is your fault for giving us rhyming names." "It was your dad's idea, not mine." Mom defended."Leah, calm down. I'm going to call the king now and sort out the misunderstanding," dad said as he picked up the phone.The whole time I was sitting on the couch, biting my nails as I prayed in my heart that everything turns out to be a misunderstanding because marriage was the last thing on my mind at the moment and also because Leah wouldn't take it lightly with me if she doesn't get to marry Estefan.My dad put the phone on speaker when the King picked up the call which made everyone quiet down to listen to the conversation. "Mr knight, how are you doing?""I'm doing fine, Your highness." "I assumed you have gotten Estefan's proposal letter. We are going to be making a public announcement about the wedding today," he said."Yes. About that, there seems to be a
ESTEFAN'S POV(ROYAL PALACE OF MADRID)That boring afternoon, I sat in my study doing the loads of paperwork that my brother left for me. As the crown prince with a lot of responsibility, Esteban would share most of his work with me to create some free time for himself. I wouldn't be surprised if he still requests my assistance when he becomes the king.The door opened followed by the annoying voices of Esteban and Esmeralda. Esteban walked in a plain white shirt and black jeans. If anyone was to come across him, they wouldn't even think of him as the Crown Prince of the country. While Esmeralda on the other hand was in an expensive Gucci dress. I rubbed my temple as I groaned. "What do you guys want?""We just came to see how you are doing." Esteban shrugged as he perched on my desk. "That's for you." Esmeralda sat on the chair in front of my desk. "I heard you sent the proposal letter today. So who was it for?" I knew from the moment they walked in that they had some hidden agend
RHEA'S POVThe one dream I had was to have my books read by people all over the world with my identity hidden behind the pages of each book. I spent each day of my life thinking about the future of my characters but I never for once thought about my future. I was too comfortable hiding within the four walls of my dad's mansion that I didn't imagine something would threaten to take me out of my comfort zone. I never for once thought about dating someone talkless of getting married. Even if I was to get married, I didn't want it to be arranged but the question was how would I ever get married when I couldn't leave the house to meet anyone?Estefan was the only opposite gender of my age group that I've met who was not part of my family relative and all of a sudden, he wants to get married to me. The one question that had been bugging me was why? His relationship with Leah was going well, so why did choose me over her?I told my dad to reject the marriage offer but I had a feeling it mig
RHEA'S POVPacking the last piece of clothing in my wardrobe, I zipped up my suitcase. My parents insisted I packed all my clothes which wasn't an issue because I could easily count the number of clothes I had in my closet.I didn't see the need to buy many expensive clothes since I only wore them around the house but my dad would get me some designer clothes once in a while which came in handy because it was suddenly required of me to leave the house.There was a knock on the door before it was pushed open by my mother. "Are you ready? It's time to go." "Yeah, I'm done." I checked out my white crop top and black leather trousers in the mirror before picking up my handbag and laptop bag as I dragged my suitcase out of the room.The driver took my suitcase from me when I got to the bottom of the stairs. My dad came down the stairs after me and I glanced up the stairs waiting for Leah to show up. It has been three days since the proposal letter came in and the Spain Royal family announ
RHEA'S POVThe chilly breeze blew my hair as I stepped out of the plane. The unfamiliar smell of the new environment hit my smell buds as I forced my legs to move toward the black limousine waiting at the bottom of the stairs. My parent entered the car while I looked back at the plane, wishing I could run back in and fly back to London but I knew that wish wouldn't come true."Rhea, get in," mom called impatiently. Turning back to the car, I took a deep breath before stepping into the car. I leaned into my seat and closed my eyes, praying that I wouldn't regret the decision I made. "Rhea, I know you hate the idea of this marriage but I believe it's a blessing in disguise," mom started."Of course, it's a blessing in disguise for you guys," I said with my eyes still closed."I meant for you. This might help you get rid of your fear of crowds," she continued."Who said I needed help?" I opened my eyes as I sat up. "I was fine the way I was.""Dear, you can't hide forever, you will eve
LEAH'S POV"You have to understand that this is not my fault. I thought I would be getting married to the prince but due to some unknown circumstances, my sister was chosen to get married to him," I shouted into the phone out of frustration."Then you should have been sure about it before making your announcement. The Hermes company are also withdrawing their deal." Mr Morgan, my manager sighed.That was the fifth company that was withdrawing my contract since the wedding announcement has been made. I'd been devastated, shutting myself in my room because everything I lived for and worked hard for was slowly slipping through my fingers. I couldn't sit and watch Rhea ruin my entire life."No, please try to stop them. If they need a male model, I can get them one who is way better than Estefan. Please I'm begging you.""Don't you think I've tried to convince them? Every company is dropping you because of your marriage scandal. If you don't find a way to fix this soon, I'm afraid it would
RHEA'S POVWaking up to voices whispering close to me, I looked up to see myself laying under an unfamiliar ceiling. I sat up and scanned the room to find Esmeralda and the blue-eyed girl from earlier staring at me with smiles on their faces. "Rhea, I'm so glad you are okay," Esmeralda said as they moved closer to the seat on each side of the bed.My brain was still trying to register where I was as my eyes scanned the room. My eyes caught a large portrait of Esmeralda on the left side of the room and dozens of Tiara on a wooden shelf beside it. The King sized bed was covered in gold and white sheet with a large piece of golden-coloured cloth forming a triangle with the bed. "Is this your room?" I turned to her. "Yes. You passed out earlier when you got crowded by too many people, remember?" she asked."Yeah." I haven't spent a full day there and it was already a fucking disaster. That was enough reason for me to conclude that accepting this marriage was a bad idea. "How are you
ESTEFAN'S POVIt was a lovely Saturday afternoon, the usual time I enjoyed some alone time in my study, reading books with my glasses perched on my nose. I was halfway done with the book in my hand when the flung open, revealing my brother, Esteban. "Why are you still here?" He raised his voice. "Your wife-to-be is here." That's right. Rhea was to arrive in the palace that day since our wedding was to be held in two days. I knew she was going to confront me about why I chose her instead of my sister but I was not interested in explaining myself to anyone so she would have to leave it that way.Making a bookmark on the Novel, I stood up and placed it on my table before taking off my glasses. I made my way out of the study and Esteban followed behind me. We took the elevator from the fourth floor where we stayed down to the first floor. "I can't wait to meet her." Esteban rubbed his palms together. "I wanted to see if she was as good as Esmeralda described her to be.""She is, but Es
ESTEFAN'S POV “Estefan,” Rhea yelled from inside the room and I glanced at Mrs Dutchman who was standing with me in the kitchen, before leaving the pan on the burning stove and running to the room.“What's wrong?” I stepped into the room to see Rhea standing with her legs apart in front of the closet. “My water broke.” Her eyes widened as she stared at the water on the ground.“Okay, no need to panic,” I said but I was the one panicking because I had no idea what to do.“She'll go into labour soon, we need to get her to the hospital.” Mrs Dutchman walked past me who was standing at the entrance, looking confused. I shook my head and got myself together before moving close to Rhea. She placed one hand on her huge baby bump while I held the other hand and supported her back with my other arm as we walked out of the room.“Fuck!” She cried out and squeezed the hand that she was holding. “That hurts.” “I'm so sorry.” I caressed her back as she kept walking.“We need to hurry up, the
LEAH'S POV “Asher, there's something I want to talk to you about,” I started as I sat next to him on the couch while he was busy typing away on his laptop. A few days ago, Asher brought up the topic of our wedding. He wanted to talk to my parents so that we could finalize the wedding date and start preparing for it. Like I told Rhea, I wanted to discuss the issue of not having babies yet before we proceeded. “Okay, but check this out first.” He placed his laptop on the table so that I could see what he was doing he was looking at.I raised my eyebrows when I saw that it was a picture of a house, a beautiful house at that. “What do you think about it?” He asked.“It's a beautiful house and I love the design too.” I nodded.“Would you love to live there someday?” He continued. My face scrunched in confusion. “Why are you asking me that?” He scratched the back of his head. “I'm thinking of buying the house for us. I don't want us to live in this apartment when we get married.” “
RHEA'S POV ONE WEEK LATER.“Do you think we should go with the Spiderman theme for the nursery?” I asked as we drove to the hospital because Esteban was getting discharged.“Why would you want to use a Spiderman theme for a baby girl?” Estefan looked up from his phone with raised eyebrows.“It's not a girl, it's a boy. I know that because I'm the one carrying the child.” I folded my hands. “It's called mother's instinct.” “It doesn't work that way.” “It does.” I countered. “Why don't we ask Mom when we get to the hospital?” “Fine.” He averted his eyes from me and focused on his phone.The car stopped in the hospital parking lot. We stepped out and made our way inside, heading straight to Esteban’s room.Esteban was heading out of the room with Mom and Esmeralda when we got there. “I told you not to waste your time coming.” He rolled his eyes at us.He had insisted that we didn't make his discharge a big deal and just meet him in the palace later. But Estefan and I being the adaman
ESTEFAN'S POV That morning, the doctor confirmed that my father had slipped into a coma and had no idea when he would be awake. Some of the court members visited the hospital to confirm it before they decided to proceed with their plans of making Prince Eugenio the ruling king.Princess Antonella contacted the officer and he told us the arrest warrant would be issued soon.I made Esmeralda and Mom stay in the hospital with Rhea and Esteban while I went to the appointment ceremony with Princess Antonella and her husband. We were sitting in the front row reserved for the member of the Royal family and the court members proceeded with the ceremony when everyone else was present.My feet bounced and I kept looking at the entrance of the palace Grand Hall, waiting for the police to walk in. “What's taking them so long?” Princess Antonella asked as Prince Eugenio was invited to the podium.“I have no idea.” “They have to arrest him before the ceremony is over or else he will be untouch
ESTEFAN'S POV Esmeralda and I were standing in the hospital reception when medics rushed my father who was lying unconscious on the stretcher into the hospital. My heart stopped when I saw the blood all over his white shirt. “Mom, where is Esteban?” Esmeralda ran toward Mom who was following Dad's stretcher with tears rolling down her cheeks.Before she could reply, Esteban's stretcher was rolled in by the medics. He was still conscious and groaning in pain. “Esteban, hang in there. You're going to be fine.” I followed the nurses as they pushed him toward the emergency room.“Please, make sure Dad is okay.” He groaned in pain as he spoke.“Dad will be fine, just worry about yourself.” I stopped as they went into the emergency room.Mom broke down in Esmeralda's arm and they sank to the ground while I watched them, trying so hard to control my tears. We sat outside the waiting room, watching nurses going in and out. “Where is Estevan?” Princess Antonella shouted and she ran towa
ESTEFAN'S POV“Go back there and check for the CCTV camera,” I ordered the bodyguards. “We need to find the people who left her there.” My bodyguards reported that they found Rhea lying in an alley. If I could get footage of the person who left her there and get him arrested, we might be able to get him to mention Prince Eugenio's name and add it to the list of his crimes. “Yes, Your Highness.” They bowed and left the room.Esmeralda walked into the hospital room with Mrs Dutchman who was holding a basket of food. I made her go back to the palace last night, even though she insisted on staying. I should have expected that she would be early the next morning. “Your Highness, I brought you some food.” Mrs Dutchman placed the basket on a small table and dragged me to sit on the chair in front of it. “I'm very sure you didn't get anything last night. Her Highness would get mad at you if she found out you have been starving yourself.” She was right. I didn't get anything to eat the wh
ESTEFAN'S POV I drove like a maniac to the palace and rushed into the living room where everyone was sitting. “Where is she?” I asked, breathing heavily. My father stood up with a dejected look on his face. “Prince Eugenio has her, and he won't release her unless I announce him to the Crown Prince.” My heart dropped at the mention of Prince Eugenio's name, and my shoulders slumped in defeat. After everything I did to save my family’s legacy, everything was going to go down the drain because I couldn't protect Rhea. If only I had chosen to let that maid go and follow Rhea to the hospital. I pulled on my hair before I picked up a vase beside me and smashed it against the wall. “Fuck!” I yelled. “Estefan, calm down.” Esteban rushed to hold me. “How can I calm down? I don't know what that bastard is doing to her. She must be scared all by herself.” I cried as I spoke. “I should have gone with her to the hospital. This is all my fault.” Esteban wrapped his hands aroun
ESTEFAN'S POV “Thanks for your help.” I walked toward the elevator with my bodyguards behind me. I took one of the regular elevators to the second floor. As if luck was on my side, the elevator stopped to reveal the kitchen maid holding two suitcases with her mother behind her. Her eyes widened upon seeing me, and she turned to make a run for it, but she stopped in her tracks when her eyes landed on her mother. I smirked, knowing she couldn't leave her mother behind to save herself. “Help them get in,” I ordered my bodyguards, and they stepped out of the elevator to usher them in. Gabriela shook in fear as she and her mother stood behind me in the elevator. The door closed, and I held the elevator before turning to her. “What's going on? Why isn't the elevator moving?” Her mother raised an alarm, looking at me and my bodyguards in fear. Gabriela kept her head down in fear, tugging on her mother's skirt. “What is it? Why are you quiet?” She turned to her daughter, e
ESTEFAN'S POV “You have a phone call,” Rhea brought my phone to me in the bathroom. She answered it and put it on speaker since I couldn't answer it in the shower. “Good morning, Your Highness, its Doctor Enzo,” the caller said. “The DNA results are ready, you can come pick them up.” “Thank you, doctor,” I replied and he hung up. Rhea left the bathroom and I finished up before joining her in the room. She sat on the bed, typing away on her laptop while I got dressed.“I have an appointment with my obstetrician today, do you think you can come along?” She asked as she closed the laptop. “What time?” I stood in front of the mirror and buttoned my shirt. “11:30, can you make it?” She stood up to help me with my tie that I still haven't gotten the hang of. “I'm not sure, but I'll try.” I wrapped my hands around her.I had to get the test results and explain everything to my father before the meeting which I was informed was scheduled for 2pm.“If anything comes up and I can't make