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
Rueben led me into the grand throne room. I could feel the tension in the air. The queen, Rueben's mother, sat on the throne, her face contorted with anger. Her eyes locked onto me, and I could see the disappointment and disapproval in her gaze."Rueben, how dare you bring her back here!" the queen exclaimed, her voice filled with venom. "After everything she's done, you still choose to be with her?"I felt a wave of shame wash over me as the queen's words echoed in the room. The memories of Rueben's betrayal and the pain I had endured resurfaced, threatening to overwhelm me. But I refused to let it break me. I had come too far to let anyone tear me down.Rueben stood tall beside me, his voice steady and unwavering. "Mother, Naomi is the woman I love. She has shown me forgiveness and acceptance, and I will not let go of that."The queen scoffed, her eyes narrowing in disdain. "Love? Rueben, you are blinded by your foolish infatuation. This girl is nothing but trouble. She will bring s
Rueben's mother commanded him to step down from the throne, and a hush fell over the room. I looked at Reuben, surprised by his calm demeanor. His response was unexpected, yet filled with a sense of resolve."Is that what you want, Mother?" Rueben asked, his voice steady. "If stepping down is what it takes for Naomi and me to find peace, then I am willing to let go of this position."The room erupted in a chorus of protests. The elders pleaded with Rueben to reconsider, reminding him of his strengths as a leader and the dire consequences of leaving the throne to his brother, Demetrius.But Rueben remained resolute, his eyes locked with mine. He knew that our love and happiness were worth more than any crown or title. And in that moment, I understood the depth of his sacrifice.Tears welled up in my eyes as I realized the magnitude of Rueben's decision. He was willing to give up his birthright, his position as king, all for me. It was a gesture of love and devotion that touched my hear
I stood there in shock, unable to comprehend the magnitude of Rueben's words. All my life, I had believed that Rueben was nothing more than a playboy, a man who cared only for his own pleasure. But now, I realized that it was all an act, a facade that his mother had forced him to put on.Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked at Reuben, my heart breaking for the pain he had endured all these years. I had judged him so harshly, never knowing the truth behind his actions. And now, everything has changed.Rueben's mother, the queen, tried to interject, to silence Rueben and maintain control over the situation. But Rueben stood tall, his voice filled with a newfound strength.."No, Mother," Rueben said firmly. "I will not keep quiet any longer. I am tired of pretending, tired of living a life that is not true to who I am. I refuse to be a playboy like you trained me to be."The elders, who had been silent witnesses to the unfolding drama, looked at Rueben with a mix of surprise and admir
The tension in the room began to ease, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. It seemed like Rueben's mother, the queen, was finally starting to understand his desire for a different path. I held onto that hope, believing that we could create a kingdom that valued love and happiness above all else.But just as I thought everything would finally settle down, the doors to the room swung open, and a young woman entered. It was the princess from the neighboring kingdom, Isabella. She walked with confidence, her presence commanding attention.I watched as Rueben's mother's face lit up with delight at the sight of Isabella. It became clear to me that the queen had been planning something all along, and Isabella's arrival was no coincidence. My heart sank as I realized that the queen saw an opportunity to secure power and control through a strategic marriage.Isabella approached Rueben, a smile playing on her lips. "Rueben, my dear childhood friend, it seems fate has brought us togethe
Naomi's POVI stood frozen in disbelief as the queen's words echoed in the room. "Imprison Naomi." The air seemed to grow heavy with tension as the reality of the situation sank in. I couldn't believe that the queen, Rueben's own mother, would order such a cruel and unjust action against me.Fear coursed through my veins as I pleaded with the queen, my voice trembling. "Please, Your Majesty, I beg you to reconsider. I have done nothing wrong. Our love is genuine, and I have only ever wanted to bring happiness to Rueben and the kingdom."But the queen's expression remained cold and unyielding. She looked at me with disdain, her voice filled with contempt. "You may have fooled my son, but I see through your deceit. You are nothing more than a commoner who has seduced him with your lies. You will not be the queen, no matter what you do."Tears welled up in my eyes as I realized the depth of the queen's hatred towards me. I had hoped that she would come to understand and accept our love,
Naomi's POVI stared at Demetrius in disbelief, my mind reeling from his words. He claimed that I was carrying his child, but that couldn't be true. I had never been intimate with him. The thought of being connected to him in such a way made my skin crawl."No, that's impossible," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "I am not carrying your child. You're lying."Demetrius chuckled, a sinister sound that sent shivers down my spine. "Oh, my dear Naomi, you underestimate my power. I have ways of ensuring that you carry my child, whether you consent or not."Fear gripped my heart as I realized the extent of Demetrius' manipulation. He had somehow orchestrated this situation to his advantage, using my love for Rueben against me. The thought of being tied to him for the rest of my life filled me with dread.Just then, the door to the room swung open, and the queen entered, her expression cold and unforgiving. She looked at me with disdain, her voice dripping with venom."Naomi, you are a f
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