RHEA'S POVI sat on the balcony of my room, enjoying the sight of the sun setting on the horizon. Everyone in the palace have been busy preparing for the wedding which was five days away. I was not surprised that Leah haven't found a way to stop the wedding because Estefan has been scarce around the palace premises. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't as if I was looking for him or something, I only knew that because Esmeralda would always talk about him anytime she came to visit me in my room. I understood his reason for staying out of the palace most of the time when Princess Anna told me that she caught Leah trying to seduce Estefan. I busted into a fit of laughter when Anna told me that Estefan threw her out of his room.It didn't come as a surprise to me though because I expected something like that from Leah. She wasn't the one to give up on what she wanted without fighting for it, she was bound to get rid of the person who was between her and what she wanted. I haven't had a problem
LEAH'S POVMy blood boiled as I watched Rhea dancing in Estefan's arms. I should be the one dancing with him like that. I should be the one wearing that engagement ring. I should be the one being showered with love and affection by the Spanish Royal family. Rhea should have been nowhere in the picture. All this while, she has been living hidden behind the shadows and everything was going smoothly for me at that time. Just when I was about to attain the happiness of a lifetime, living a life of royalty, she stepped out of the shadows and snatched everything away from me. She didn't only take Estefan, she took my career as well, leaving me on the verge of losing everything.Since Estefan rejected my advances and threw me out of his room, I'd been trying to talk to him but I couldn't find him anywhere around the palace. It was as if he disappeared from the face of the earth. When I tried to go to his room at night, I would always meet two guards at the door who claimed to have received
RHEA'S POVFOUR DAYS TO THE WEDDING.Sitting on the ground on my usual spot on the balcony, I faced the horizon to catch the sunrise, keeping my legs crossed with my laptop on it and my book and pen sitting beside me. As I typed furiously on my laptop, my eyes catch the diamond stud on my finger, glimmering as the rays of the rising sun hit it. I paused my actions as I brought the ring close to my face, caressing it with my other hand. Memories of the event that occurred last night came back to me as my mind dwelled on the conversation that took place between Estefan and me.FLASHBACKMy hands were draped around his shoulders and his hand held onto my waist as we danced in sync with the rhythm of the song. Although I caged myself in the house, my dad made sure that I didn't miss out on anything. He made sure I was educated in various aspects including dance, music, graphic designing and many others. When I turned six, he hired diffe
LEAH'S POVThe daylight that streaked through the window was the first thing that made me wince the moment my eyes opened. I blinked them to adjust to the bright light before I sat up on the bed.My phone lit up with a ping and I checked its screen to see a message from my dad. 'Your grandmother is here. She's on her way to Rhea's room, meet us there.' The message said. Swiping away the message notification from my device screen, I was greeted by Rhea's smiling face which I took and used as my phone wallpaper. The picture reminded me of the good times we spent in London, we were so happy even though she was the most annoying sister. The conversation I had with my mom yesterday rushed back to me which made me realize she was right. None of this was Rhea's fault, she didn't want the wedding to happen as much as I did. If I should be mad at anyone, it should be Estefan for playing with my emotions and tossing me aside when he got bored of me.
RHEA'S POVMarilyn spent the entire day in my room, entertaining me with stories of how she and grandpa got together. Their marriage was also an arranged marriage to create an alliance between two families but as time went on they fell in love with each other. She had a strong belief that Estefan and I would end up like them but I doubted it. There was something about his face that pisses me off every time I look at him. And I was sure his heart was as cold as the man himself that any warm feeling wouldn't be able to penetrate inside. Later that evening, Esmeralda and Anna joined us in my room to see Marilyn. They laughed at my expense as she told them stories about my childhood. I had to admit, I was stubborn and mischievous as a child. Marilyn told them about the time I hid her reading glasses so that she wouldn't be able to read Grayson's suspension letter for getting into a fight in school. I was ten years old at that time and Grayson was thirteen. He and Marilyn came to stay i
ESTEFAN'S POVThe cold air penetrate through my sweater, sending chills down my spine as I took a stroll outside the palace to enjoy the quiet night alone. That night Esteban had dragged me downstairs for dinner since I haven't been joining the family for dinner because I was avoiding Leah. The stupid attempt she made to seduce me that night fuelled the hatred I had for her. Seeing her just made me sick to the stomach.During the dinner, I was surprised she didn't make any attempt to talk to me but at the same time, I was happy about it. Just when I thought I could enjoy my dinner in peace without anyone sticking up my business, the Knight's Grandmother had to show up. Marilyn kept telling me about how fragile Rhea was and making me promise to take care of her. But in reality, she was threatening me because she wouldn't stop talking about how she beat up a boy for breaking her daughter's heart when she was in high school. Her words took me back to what Esteban said, 'I don't know w
RHEA'S POVNIGHT BEFORE THE WEDDING The last two days passed by in a blur with the wedding on everyone's lips. I sat on my bed, staring at the white sparkling dress worn on the mannequin in front of me. Back when we were young, Leah and I would always talk about our dream wedding and wedding dress. I had always imagined my dress to be a full, long, off-shoulder ball gown with long sleeves, designed with white diamonds that sparkle under the light. It seems like my mom had registered my childhood dream in her mind and got me the exact dress I wanted.Esmeralda and Anna have been filling me in on everything that was going on with the wedding and I realised every single thing was done to my taste. It was so ironic that everything starting from the dress, cake, flowers, and colour scheme was to my liking except for the most important thing which was the man I was getting married to. The conversation we had two nights ago outside my room was still lingering at the back of my mind. I kn
ESTEFAN'S POVI stood in front of the mirror in Esteban's room in my white three pieces suit, gelling my hair to the back. My mom had instructed me to stay out of my room and I had no idea what the reason was. The door opened and I didn't bother to check who it was because I was expecting Esteban to come and help me with my tie since I still haven't learnt how to knot it."What took you so long?" I stretched the white tie with red stripes to him as I kept my eyes fixed on the mirror. If it was up to me, I would have gone with a white tie but the Queen refused since I was already wearing a white suit and insisted that I added a touch of another colour to my outfit. He took the tie from me and my eyes widened when he came to stand in front of me, wrapping the tie around my neck."Dad? I thought it was Esteban." "I told him not to bother since I needed to talk to you anyways." He began to knot the tie. "It's high time you learn how to knot your tie. Esteban won't always be there to he
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