I stood there frozen in disbelief as the queen's words echoed in my ears. Pregnant with Rueben's child? How could she even suggest such a thing? I had slept with Rueben but we haven't confirmed if the child was his. The accusations were baseless and I refused to let her claim my child as a royal heir.Summoning all the courage I had left, I looked the queen straight in the eye. "Your Majesty, I assure you that I have not slept with only Rueben," I said firmly, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. "I am carrying a child, but we haven't confirmed the paternity. It is not a royal child. It is mine, and I will protect it with everything I have."The queen's smirk turned into a scowl, her eyes filled with anger. "You expect me to believe your lies?" she spat, her voice dripping with venom. "You think you can deceive us all and walk away with our legacy?"I took a step back, feeling the weight of her words crashing down on me. The queen's accusations were unfounded but I knew that
As I stood outside the airport, my heart heavy with the weight of my decision, Salie pleaded with me to have a change of heart. Tears welled up in her eyes as she grasped my hand tightly, her voice filled with desperation."Naomi, please reconsider," Salie begged, her voice trembling. "I understand that you're scared, but leaving everything behind is a drastic step. You don't have to face this alone. We can find a way to protect you and the baby here."I looked into Salie's eyes, seeing the genuine concern and love she had for me. Her words tugged at my heart, but I knew deep down that staying would only bring more danger and uncertainty. The queen's power and influence were too great, and I couldn't risk the safety of my child."I appreciate your concern, Salie," I replied, my voice filled with sadness. "But I can't take that risk. The queen will stop at nothing to control our lives. I have to do what's best for my child, even if it means leaving everything behind."Salie's grip on m
As Demetrius's words echoed in the airport, confusion washed over me. How could he claim that I was pregnant with his child? I had only been intimate with Rueben, and I couldn't fathom how Demetrius could have any proof to support his claim."No, Demetrius, you're mistaken," I stammered, my voice filled with disbelief. "I haven't been with anyone else but Rueben. I'm carrying his child, not yours."Rueben's eyes darted between Demetrius and me, his expression a mix of shock and confusion. "Naomi, is this true? Did you sleep with Demetrius?"I shook my head vehemently, tears welling up in my eyes. "No, Rueben, I swear. I would never betray you like that. Demetrius is lying."Demetrius sneered, his eyes filled with malice. "Oh, how naive you are, Naomi. You think Rueben is the only one you've been with? I have proof that you were with me, willingly or not."My heart sank as Demetrius's words hung in the air. How could he have proof? I had no memory of being with him, and I couldn't unde
As Rueben stood before me, his eyes filled with a mix of vulnerability and determination, I couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope. His words, though hesitant, carried a weight of sincerity that resonated deep within me."Naomi," he began, his voice filled with emotion. "I can't begin to express how much I regret the choices I made. When you were gone, I realized the depth of my love for you, and the misery I endured without you by my side. I was lost, Naomi, and I knew then that I had made a terrible mistake."Tears welled up in my eyes as I listened to Rueben's confession. The pain of his betrayal had left a deep wound in my heart, but his words offered a glimmer of hope for healing."I'm so sorry for choosing my mother over you," Rueben continued, his voice filled with remorse. "I was blinded by her influence and the weight of my responsibilities. But I've come to realize that my love for you surpasses any duty or expectation. I don't love Rachel, the woman my mother picked for m
Salie squeezed my hand, her eyes filled with sisterly affection. "I want you to be happy, Naomi. Just remember to take things slow and be cautious. Our family has been through a lot, and I don't want to see you get hurt again."I nodded, the weight of Salie's words sinking in. "I will, Salie. I've learned from the past, and I won't rush into anything. But I believe in Reuben, and I believe in our love. With time and patience, I hope we can rebuild what was broken."As I walked into the house, a sense of trepidation settled over me. I knew that talking to my mother about going back to Rueben would not be an easy conversation. But I also knew that I needed to be honest with her and explain my decision.I found my mother in the living room, her back turned to me as she stared out the window. Taking a deep breath, I approached her, my voice filled with determination."Mom, we need to talk," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I've made a decision, and I need you to listen."My mother
I was torn between my love for Rueben and my desire to have my mother's acceptance. But it seemed that in their conflict, I could only choose one. As I lay there, my heart heavy with the weight of my decision, I vowed to myself that no matter what, I would fight for the happiness and well-being of my unborn child, even if it meant facing the disapproval and rejection from my own mother.But for now, in the seclusion of my room, all I could do was cry myself to sleep, I woke the next morning to the sound of urgent knocking on my door. Startled, I stumbled out of bed and made my way to the door, wiping the remnants of sleep from my eyes. Salie stood on the other side, her face etched with worry."Naomi, you need to see this," Salie said, her voice trembling with a mix of concern and shock.Confused, I followed her into the living room where she had her phone in hand. My heart pounded in my chest as she handed it to me, gesturing for me to take a look. I glanced down at the screen, and
I pleaded with Salie not to follow me, tears streaming down my face, I could see the determination in her eyes. But before we could continue our conversation, the sound of footsteps echoed outside my bedroom. My heart sank when I realized my mother had overheard us."Naomi, what is going on here?" my mother's voice was filled with anger and concern.I turned to face her, my voice trembling as I tried to find the right words. "Mom, I...I need to leave. I can't stay here anymore. It's not safe for me or the baby."My mother's eyes widened in disbelief. "Leave? Are you out of your mind? You're carrying my grandchild, and you think you can just run away like that?"Salie stepped forward, her voice steady and resolute. "Mom, I understand your concerns, but Naomi needs our support right now. We need to protect her from the media and any potential harm."My mother glared at Salie, her face red with anger. "And who are you to think you can protect my daughter? You're just a sibling, not a par
Almost immediately, the car began to move, a wave of fear washed over me. The reality of what I was about to face hit me with full force, and my heart raced in my chest. Salie noticed my distress and reached out to hold my hand, offering me a reassuring smile."Naomi, it's going to be okay," Salie said, her voice calm and soothing. "We're in this together, and we won't let anything harm you or the baby."I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "I know, Salie. But what if Rueben's mother, the queen, tries to chase me away again? What if she doesn't want me to take my rightful place?"Rueben, who had been driving silently, glanced at me through the rearview mirror. His eyes were filled with determination and love. "Naomi, I promise you that nothing like that will happen. My mother may have opposed our relationship before, but she has come to understand and accept our love. She will support us."I wanted to believe Rueben's words, to trust that everything would work out as he s
lThe weight of Demetrius's words hit me like a ton of bricks. My heart raced, and a sense of dread settled in the pit of my stomach. I couldn't believe what I had just revealed to him in my moment of desperation. I had unknowingly given him a weapon to use against me and Reuben."You can't be serious," I whispered, my voice trembling. "You wouldn't stoop so low as to deceive the Queen and claim my child as your own."Demetrius's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with malicious delight. "Oh, but I would, Naomi. I would do anything to secure my place on the throne. And what better way than to present the Queen with an heir, one that she believes is mine."Tears welled up in my eyes as I realized the extent of Demetrius's wickedness. He was willing to manipulate everyone, even his own mother, just to fulfill his lust for power."But the Queen will see through your lies," I pleaded, my voice barely above a whisper. "She knows the truth, and she will never accept you as the rightful King."
The events of the past few hours came rushing back to me, and I felt a wave of fear wash over me. Demetrius had captured me once again, and I was at his mercy.Before I could gather my thoughts, the sound of the door creaking open filled the room. Demetrius stepped in, his eyes filled with a sadistic gleam. My heart pounded in my chest as he approached me, his presence filling the room with a suffocating aura."Well, well, well," Demetrius sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "Look who's finally awake. Did you miss me, Naomi?"I shrank back, trying to create as much distance between us as possible. "Demetrius, please, let me go. I beg you. There's nothing between us. I want to be free."Demetrius chuckled darkly, his voice laced with contempt. "Oh, Naomi, you always did know how to make me laugh. But you see, you're mine now. And I won't let you slip away again."Tears welled up in my eyes as I pleaded with him, my voice trembling. "Please, Demetrius, I'm begging you. Think of the
Chapter 156Jade pleaded with me to reconsider my decision, I could feel my resolve weakening. His words echoed in my mind, reminding me of the love and happiness I had shared with Reuben. But deep down, I knew that returning to the palace was not the right path for me or my child."Jade, please understand," I pleaded, my voice trembling. "I can't go back. I can't live a life that isn't true to myself. And I can't bear to grow up in a world of duty and tradition."Jade's eyes filled with tears, and he reached out to gently touch my arm. "Naomi, I can't force you to do anything you don't want to do. But please, consider the consequences of your decision. Reuben loves you, and he wants to be a part of your life."I nodded, my heart heavy with the weight of my choices. "I understand, Jade. But for now, I need to do what I believe is best for myself and Please, respect my decision and don't come back."Jade's expression was filled with a mix of sadness and understanding. He nodded slowly,
It had been two weeks since I left the palace and settled down in the bakery with my parents and sister, Salie. Life had taken a drastic turn, and while I missed Rueben dearly, I knew that leaving was the right decision. The weight of tradition and duty had become too heavy to bear, and I needed time and space to sort through my emotions.But lately, something unusual has been happening to me. I had been feeling nauseous in the mornings, and my appetite had changed. The thought crossed my mind that I might be pregnant, but it seemed impossible. Rueben and I had never been intimate more than once, and I couldn't fathom how it could have happened quickly.The morning sickness persisted, and I couldn't shake off the worry that gnawed at the back of my mind. I confided in Salie, who listened attentively and offered her support."Naomi, it's possible that it's just a stomach bug or something you ate," Salie reassured me, her voice filled with concern. "But if you're really worried, maybe y
Surprised by my mother's statement, I turned to face her, confusion evident in my eyes. "Rachel?" I repeated, my voice laced with uncertainty. "But mother, I thought we agreed that it was best for Naomi and me to part ways."The Queen's expression softened, her eyes filled with a mix of understanding and determination. "Rueben, I understand your reasoning, and I respect your desire to do what is best for both yourself and Naomi. But we must also consider the implications of breaking the promise made by our forefathers. The council members and the people of our kingdom hold great importance to tradition and stability. By choosing Rachel as your queen, we can maintain that sense of continuity while also fostering a sense of unity among our people."I took a moment to absorb my mother's words, feeling torn between my own desires and the weight of responsibility placed upon me. The council members watched me expectantly, their eyes filled with a mix of hope and concern.But as I glanced a
Exhausted from the weight of my decisions, I decided to lie down for a quick nap. Sleep had eluded me in recent days, my mind consumed by thoughts of Naomi and the consequences of my actions. As I drifted off into slumber, I hoped for a moment of respite from my troubled thoughts.But even in my sleep, I found no solace. My dreams were plagued by visions of Naomi, her tear-streaked face filled with anger and rejection. I reached out to her, desperate to explain myself, but she turned away, her words echoing in my mind."No, Rueben. I can never forgive you. You have hurt me too deeply."My heart pounded in my chest as I jolted awake, my body covered in a cold sweat. The image of Naomi's tearful rejection lingered, haunting me even in the waking world. But as I blinked away the remnants of my dream, I realized I was not alone.Standing by my bedside was my younger brother, Jade, his concern evident in his eyes. Jade had always been the calm and level-headed one, a stark contrast to my i
As I turned to walk away from the queen, my heart heavy with the weight of my decisions, her voice cut through the air like a knife."Think, Rueben," she sneered. "Think about what you've done to that poor girl. You took her innocence and claimed not to know her. Do you honestly believe she would ever accept you back? Even if you were to beg on your knees, she would never be your betrothed again. You have lost, Rueben. You have lost everything."Her words pierced my soul, each one a painful reminder of the irreversible damage I had caused. The realization hit me like a tidal wave, and I stumbled back, feeling as though the ground beneath me was crumbling away.No, it couldn't be true. I couldn't have lost Naomi forever. I couldn't bear the thought of a life without her by my side, of never hearing her laughter or seeing her smile again. But deep down, I knew that the queen was right. I had betrayed Naomi in the worst possible way, and there was no coming back from that.Tears welled u
As I closed the curtains, blocking out the view of Naomi's house, I made a vow to myself. I would do whatever it took to earn her forgiveness, to prove that I had changed. It wouldn't be easy, and there were no guarantees that she would ever accept me back into her life. But I couldn't live with the regret of losing her without trying.But as the days turned into weeks, my frustration and anger began to consume me. I couldn't shake the image of Naomi's smiling face, her laughter echoing in my mind. It haunted me, a constant reminder of what I had lost.Unable to contain my emotions any longer, I found myself smashing things around my apartment. The anger and regret boiled inside me, fueling my destructive actions. It was as if the physical pain could somehow alleviate the emotional turmoil I was experiencing.But no matter how many things I broke, the pain remained. I couldn't escape the reality of what I had done to Naomi, the hurt I had caused. It was a heavy burden to bear, and I f
A few days had passed since the intense encounter with the reporters, and I was determined to move forward with my life. I had made the decision to take my younger sister, Salie, out for a day of shopping, hoping to distract ourselves from the chaos that had consumed our lives.As we walked through the bustling shopping mall, I couldn't help but feel a sense of freedom. The weight of the world seemed to lift off my shoulders, replaced by a newfound lightness. Salie skipped ahead of me, her laughter filling the air, and for a moment, I allowed myself to forget about the pain and betrayal that had plagued me.But as we turned a corner, my heart skipped a beat. There, standing in the middle of the mall, was Rueben, arm in arm with Rachel. My breath caught in my throat, and I felt a surge of anger and hurt wash over me. How dare he show his face after what he had done?Rueben's eyes met mine, and for a split second, I saw a flicker of remorse. He began to approach me, his lips parting to