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Chapter Thirteen
Last Updated:
2024-02-03 09:11:11
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Royal Masquerade - The Prince And Cinderella Chapter Fourteen
Saying goodbye to them both, Stephen turned and joined his friend outside.Ella breathed an enormous sigh of relief. Wanting to ensure her well-being, Stephen showed kindness.Her rudeness and sharp manner were so unlike her. However, their friendship was forever changed. She knew it was silly, but she could never trust him not to hurt her again. It wasn’t so much their engagement had broken up; it was how it had ended and that everyone knew in town. She didn’t want to be pitied. Even if they try for some sort of friendship now, Ava just wouldn’t allow it.Ella was pleased and stupidly angry that Nick remained unaware of the presence of his mysterious woman.Swinging around to her friend, Ella found Em leaning against the counter, looking at her. Waiting.“Well, safe for another day.” Ella rushed out.“Yes! But is that really what you want?” Em questioned“Why wouldn’t I? I don’t want anyone to find out.”Emily reasoned, “Maybe deep down, babe, you do. There must have been something be
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Tate saved her. “Ella, why don’t you come to the kitchen with me to help Sally bring in the appetisers?” Gratefully Ella smiled and followed Tate out of the room. She moved around Nick, being sure not to touch him or make eye contact on the way past.The kitchen allowed Ella to get her raging heart under control. Seeing Nick being around him made her heart race and her body flush. It also gave Tate the time she needed to vent.“……I still can’t believe Stephen is marrying her instead of you.”Ella walked over to Tate, touching her shoulder to get her to turn around. “Tate! Honey, while I love the fact you feel the need to fight my battles. This isn’t a battle I want to win.” Leaning against the table.How to word this to not upset Tate. “Stephen and I should never have been more than friends. We just let everyone push us along to get married. It really made everyone else more happy than we were. I loved your brother, but not in a way that a wife should love her husband. When you meet t
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Ella felt like the universe was working against her. Ella observed Nick was seated on her left. Tate occupied the seat on Ella’s right. Across from her was Ava, with Stephen sitting opposite Nick. Leaving her dad sitting at one end of the table with the two men and Mary at the other, with Jenny sitting next to her.Maybe it was better that Nick was beside her, rather than in front. He was less likely to see more than her profile throughout the meal.They received their creamy soup almost straight away. Mary was talking softly to her mother.“So Nick, we will see you at our wedding, correct? Being a good friend of Stephen’s, you can’t possibly let him down.” Ava said loudly.Nick looked up from his soup. “As I told Stephen, I would do my utmost to make it to the wedding. But unfortunately, until I get home, I will not be sure if I can get back.”“You have your own wedding to get ready for, I’m sure.” Ava replied pouting, because she would like the exposure and press coverage that it wo
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After getting off the phone the next afternoon, Ella felt depressed, hearing her mum complain. About how Tate had spoken so rudely to Ava last night and how Ella herself should have stood up for Ava.Also, how Ella herself had embarrassed everyone there, the way she clung onto Nick. Monopolising his time when the night should have been about Ava and Stephen. Making a spectacle of herself with a man who would get married to someone else soon. It made her look cheap.Ella couldn’t help but notice the irony. Her mother was raging at her for something Ava had done not so long ago by setting her sights on Stephen when he had been engaged to Ella. But she hadn’t seen it that way.Ava had fed her a story about star-crossed lovers. Ella knew the words coming out of her mum’s mouth were Ava’s. Even so, had mum been there last night? None of this was true. It hurt. That her mother thought so little of her.Ella had done none of those things. It was actually ridiculous. Her mother really believe
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Ella froze. Why hadn’t she thought of that? She could be pregnant, or worse yet. Have caught some disease. If he went around having unprotected sex with women. He could have given her something that could change her life forever. Ella felt like slapping herself in the face.“Well, thanks for that. Just give me something else to worry about.” Why hadn’t she thought of it before? She was a grown woman. She should have made him use something.“I didn’t tell you to make you worry. I want to let you know. It won’t be your problem alone.”Ella laughed bitterly. “Is that how you see a child as a problem?” Not wanting to think about anything else like an STD.“No, of course not. The child would be my heir.” Nick looked frustrated. He took a step as if to move around the pond.“Stop!” Ella pleaded.Nick stopped. “I’m not letting you get away from me again. What is your real name?”“I’m not telling.” Ella sounded like a spoilt child.“Why did you run?” Nick counted.“Because it was time to leav
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Ella brooded. Nick was gone! She had wanted him gone... right? Yes, she did…. Didn’t she? Ella rubbed her face. She was making herself crazy. Nick had gone home to his soon to be wife. Was he sleeping with her? Was he enjoying it?“Stop it.” Ella chided herself.Ella looked around her at all the packed boxes in her living room. She had found a job in London at a boarding school that offered a small living quarters. The money wasn’t great, but she wouldn’t have the living expenses of a job in a day school.It hadn’t taken long to find. Three weeks after Nick had left. She was starting two days after Stephen and Ava’s wedding. She hadn’t told her parents yet. But with Ava living at Blackmore manor, it wasn’t like they would miss her. Her parents are still very young in their 50s. They didn’t need her. Then why did she feel so guilty?Maybe because she was holding off telling them. Ella was expected at their home tonight to help create the gifts for the guests at Stephen and Ava’s weddin
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Nick surveyed the garden, having spent an hour here. He had been observing Tate and Ella grilling on the family bbq and serving food onto the long table for everyone’s enjoyment.When he looked around him, they were not with everyone else lined up to grab some of the food. He noticed they were at the back fence, taking advantage of the moment when everyone’s back was turned, sneaking out the back gate.He had been trying to shake Ava off for most of the last hour. She was always near, or one of her friends. Touching him or invading his personal space. It all made him very uncomfortable. He didn’t want Stephen to get the wrong idea. Because he wouldn’t touch the woman with a 10-foot pole.Smiling to himself, Nick moved to the back of the line and when no one was watching. Grabbed a bottle of wine from the cooler and followed the two women who didn’t care about him being a prince, who just thought of him as Nick. He enjoyed being around them.As he stepped out the back gate, Nick found
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The afternoon raced by after the wine and food was gone. They could still hear the party going on in the Conner’s backyard, none of them showed any interest in returning.Tate and Ella had slid down and rested their head on the pillows and Nick grabbed an extra one the girls didn’t use. Observing the blue sky, he reclined beneath the willow tree.“How long do you think they will party for?” Tate asked sleepily.“With Ava, who knows?” Ella didn’t really care. She was having a great time. In both Nick’s and Tate’s company.“I don’t care as long as I don’t need to go back in there. Her friends a like Piranha.”Tate giggled, “Scared of a few girls, Nick.”Nick grinned, looking over at Tate. “Of Piranhas. Yes.”His eyes drifted to Ella’s laid out form. Her arms lay across her flat stomach. She looked so different relaxed. Ella’s glasses had moved down her nose. Her lips looked even fuller than they normally did when she was resting. Her glasses really took away from her face. Had she ever
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Royal Masquerade - The Prince And Cinderella Epilogue
Ella lifted the earrings Nick had given her for their third wedding anniversary just last week. They matched her engagement ring and the necklace Nick had given her on their 2nd anniversary.They had a state dinner tonight. Nick was currently in the shower. Having arrived late from state affairs. Anthony had stepped down at the beginning of last year. So, he could spend more time with his beloved grandchildren. Anthony had been over the moon when she had fallen pregnant straight after their wedding.The wedding had been an emotional rollercoaster. Considering the state of her family, it hadn’t been surprising to Ella. She was just glad her sister hadn’t sold her story to the media. Ella had half expected her to. The UK had already experienced a similar drama with their royal family, and it didn’t end well for anyone. Perhaps that’s why Ava decided not to go down that path.Nick had helped her through it all. When Ava refused to come, so had Ella’s mother. But her father had gone agains
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Nick found her on the terrace one morning. Sitting down, he looked at Ella, studying her.She knew he wanted to say something. “What?”“How do you feel about a visit from Stephen and Ava? They are currently in Greece for their honeymoon. Stephen called to say their wanted to finish their honeymoon off with a few days here.”Ella wondered if it was truly Stephen’s idea or Ava’s. She knew she couldn’t very well say no. Stephen was Nick’s friend and it would seem unforgiving to never see Stephen or her sister again. With a sense of dread she said, “Ok.”“Are you sure? I have no issue saying, no, we don’t have the time right now.”“I think it needs to be dealt with, don’t you? At some point, we will see them again. Our wedding. It’s better that all the awkwardness is out of the way before then.” Taking a deep breath, she asked, “So, when do they plan to be here?”“This afternoon.” Nick said simply.“So soon?” she could do this. “Ok.”Later that day, the family limo pulled into the circula
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Ella moaned, stretching in bed. Her bones protested in a way that reminded her she had been well loved last night and into the morning.Sun streamed through the bedroom windows. It was the sunlight that had woken her up. Looking at the empty space beside her, she realised Nick must have left soon after she had fallen asleep that last time, in the pre-dawn hour. Picking up her phone on the bedside table, she saw it wasn’t as late as she had thought it might have been. 7:47am.She was going to be truly tired today, but she took comfort in the fact that if she was, then so was Nick. Grinning, Ella sat up in bed, stretching her arms above her head. She needed a shower, and what she really needed more than anything was something to eat. The energy used last night had really increased her need for food. Slipping from the bed, Ella headed for the shower.Twenty minutes later, she was dressed in a yellow and white flowery sundress and tan sandals, hair pinned back at the side and makeup free.
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Ella got into her nightgown and was brushing her hair, then she heard the door click closed behind her. Nick was leaning against the door with his arms folded over his broad chest, silently watching her. “Don’t you have your own room?” Ella said in a cheeky manner, laying her hairbrush on the dressing table and facing Nick. He grinned at her. “Yes! You’re mistaken if you think I’ll sleep there by myself. So it’s here or there? But I didn’t think you would enjoy sneaking back here in the morning.” “Oh, the dreaded walk of shame.” Teasing still. Nick laughed. “I hope leaving my bed isn’t a walk of shame.” Ella blushed, thinking of the things he did to her. It wasn’t shame she felt in his arms. Nick stepped away from the door, stalked her across the room. But she didn’t wait for him. Ella met him halfway, sliding her arms around his neck and reaching up on tiptoes to cover his mouth with hers and effectively moulding her body against his hard, desirable body. He was so deliciously w
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They wouldn’t be sharing a room, which left Ella disappointed. On seeing her downcast face, Nick pulled her into her assigned room, closing the door. “It’s only for appearance’s sake. I will still be in here with you at night, Bella.” Taking her into his arms.“Are you reading my mind?” She demanded, slightly worried.Nick laughed. “No, your face is an opened book though.”“I will have to learn how to hide my expressions better.”“I enjoy that you don’t hide anything. It’s so you. Now I better go and get ready.” Nick said before slipping from the room to find his own.They had little time to get dressed and Nick told her she didn’t need to dress up for dinner. But she still changed into one of the dresses Em had sent with her. A beautiful green dress that hugged her upper body but fell into a full skirt to her knees. With some light makeup. She was just putting on her shoes when Nick knocked on the door before pushing it opened. “Ready?”“As I’ll ever be.”Smiling, he held out his hand
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The next day was a hive of activity. Their flight to Cristonia was to depart from Heathrow Airport at 1pm that afternoon. Ella had already packed for her move to London. Nick had arranged for someone to come in and move the rest of her stuff to her new homeland.She was just taking two suitcases for now. This would be more than enough to see her through until the rest of her stuff arrived.To say she was nervous was an understatement. She felt petrified! Today she would meet his father, but not only that, the man was a king. Holy shit, was she ready to marry into this family? She had lived her life in the shadows, then all of a sudden, she was taking centre stage with Nick. It was a world stage at that, not just with her family.Their plane left Heathrow on time. She was glad their flight wasn’t too long. Because any longer and she would have brooded. Nick never left her side, held her hand during the flight.Ella hoped that her outfit, a simple white pantsuit with a royal blue shell
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“Stephen.” Nick acknowledged Stephen with just his name, taking Ella out of his arms and into his own. Ella had done so well today. It had been hard on her, he knew. But she needed to fight her demons, and she had come out on top.“Thanks again for coming.” Stephen reaffirmed, looking back at Ella.“Ella, why don’t you go get your bag and we can leave? Ask Tate if she would like a lift.” Before kissing her on the lips and staking his claim in front of Stephen.When she walked away, Ella felt slightly dazed.“Well, that showed me,” Stephen said.“Stephen, you are my friend…. but if I ever catch you looking at Ella like that again, I will break your nose, and that’s only for starters. Do I make myself clear?”Stephen responded like any spoilt child, “Ella is my friend, and I had her first.”Nick got in his face, saying in a deadly voice. “Let’s make one thing clear: you never had her.” Flicking his head towards Ava. “and after choosing Ava over Ella, you have no rights. So, I repeat myse
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As Ella sat down in her seat next to Nick, he put his hand on her thigh to let her know he was aware of her, even though he was busy talking to another guest.A feeling of relief washed over Ella, as if someone had taken a weight off her shoulders. As if sensing her feeling, Nick rubbed his thumb over her leg.Tate sat down as well in her assigned seat. They smiled at each other. Dragon slayed. This had been her biggest fear today. Thanking God that it had all happened in the bathroom. Ava had been waiting for her to come out of that toilet stall. But why was she so surprised when it was her that had stepped out? Because she had, Ella had seen the shock on her face.Frowning now. Needing to run this through. Was Ava still up to her old tricks? Looking for the richest man available. This was her wedding day. Surely, she wasn’t that mercenary. But nothing else made sense.Shaking her head, feeling sorry for Stephen and the Blackmore family. Almost glad though Ava wasn’t her problem anymo
Royal Masquerade - The Prince And Cinderella Chapter Thirty-Four
In the back seat of the limo, Nick squeezed Ella’s hand. “Are you ok?”“I will be,” Ella reassured him.“Do you want to pop back home before the reception? We don’t have to go to it if you don’t want to.”“I promise my dad,” Ella said, unsure.“You don’t owe them anything.” Nick growled, expressing anger at the way they had treated her. Not just today, but always.“I know, but I owe it to myself to finish this. If I don’t go to that reception, people will think I’m still hung up on Stephen.” Ella pleaded with him to understand.“Are you?” Nick asked. Needing to know.Ella looked at him. “Of course not. I know he wasn’t for me. I have known that for a while.”Taking her hand to his lips “Good.. maybe going back to your place isn’t a good idea after all.”Puzzlement overcame Ella. “Why?”“Because it was hard enough to leave the apartment without taking you the first time. If we go back there, you will not stand a chance and I would say screw the reception.” Nick clarified for her.Heat s
