ROME “What the fuck, man?” Linden came, narrowing at me. “Did you just kick her out?” “That’s exactly what I did,” I proudly said, even if my heart disagreed. “And stop helping her with her stupid ideas because she and I are not going to happen.” Fuck. What happened to us? Not so long ago, we were at our happiest, and it seemed nothing could tear us apart. Until she walked away from me. I told her I loved her because that was how I felt. Even now, I still love her. I never stopped. I gave up my job for her. But I wouldn’t go through that pain again until she was sure what she wanted in her life, and if I meant for her, I was sure she could wait until I was ready. I wouldn’t let her play with my heart. That was not how love worked. But seeing her in my house today was the best feeling since she walked out of my life. At least she looked fine and still looked beautiful despite losing weight. And watching her cry as she apologized, I thought I stubbed my chest over and over agai
CARLY “Your Royal Highness, I have an update for you?” Seth marched in. Heera went out on a date with Zee, and I was left in the apartment in my PJs. I hadn’t combed my hair. I only washed my face to remove the smudged makeup on my face. And I brushed my teeth after I was able to put something in my stomach. “Mr. Langston has arranged a meeting with you.” I froze for a while. Did I hear it right? I paused the docuseries I was watching. “Come again?” I turned to Seth. “Mr. Langston would like to see you, ma’am. You should wear something presentable. He will be here any minute from now.” “I’m fine. He’d seen me at my worse. What does he want?” I hid my excitement. Maybe he wanted to kick me out of his city this time. If I knew one thing about Langston, he was true to his words. Perhaps he still cared, but I lost all my hopes of getting us back together. And I didn’t know how to escape the fate that was waiting for me back home. “Princess—” “I said I’m good. Let him go to h
ROME“How did it go?” “She did not suspect me. I’ll be waiting for her answer tomorrow.”“And she thought it was a business deal.”“Yeah.”“That’s great. Keep it that way. And Rome, I trust you that you will take care of my sister. Just go easy on her.”“I love her, Prince Thayer. That’s the truth, and it won’t change. I’m just teaching her a lesson.”“Just no other women. You don’t want to see the look on her face for days.”I laughed. “Is your advice based on experience?”“Yes, and it’s still taunting me.” He laughed with me.“No other women, I promise.”“Great. Thank you.”“No. It should be me thanking you.”“My pleasure.” I ended the call.“That’s the worse plan you’ve ever come up with. Why not just admit that you don’t want her to marry the scumbag.”“Just shut up, Linden.”He shook his head in amusement. “Love. Love makes people do stupid things. And teaching her a lesson? You mean hurting the love of your life. What more stupidest idea than that?”“I’m not listening to someon
CARLY I arrived back home. My work was waiting for me. I was still worried that I might be making my biggest life mistake. I loved Rome with all my heart, and I couldn’t drag and tie him over a sham marriage. At the same time, I was also selfish, thinking about my own happiness and maybe, one day, he’d learn to trust and love me again. When I looked at Rome, all I could see was the cold and brooding man I first met wrapped in the hard shell of his expensive suit. I knew he had a good heart, but that good heart had gone cold because of me. But I had hope. “You’re back.” My brother rushed in my direction, pulling me into a hug. “Tell me some good news.” “I missed you too. How’s my baby prince, and how’s Kennedy?” When he pulled away, he furrowed his brows. “They’re great. How about you?” I went to the sofa and sat there. “I don’t know if I made the right decision. We kinda made a deal.” “What deal?” He joined me. I told him everything— well, except the contract—the deal I made
ROME My eyes were tired, but my mind was running a mile and constantly visiting the viridian-eyed woman, my fiancee. She looked striking in a dark purple dress, wearing my ring, while I chose a dark blue suit that perfectly matched hers. Our photoshoot for the official engagement photo and announcement came out quickly. The pictures were well-shot. And I was beyond satisfied with the outcome. It was myself the whole time— the in-love Rome Langston, and everything went well. “You did a great job.” “Was that a compliment, Your Royal Highness?” “I saw the picture, Rome. You both really look in love. Your eyes and hers while you were staring at each other. Who knows you were faking it?” You haven’t the slightest clue. “You’re telling me that I could be a great actor?” “My wife just rolled her eyes at me. I’m gonna spank her pretty ass later.” He laughed out loud. “TMI, dude.” “Did you just call me dude?” I laughed with him. “I was not faking it, Prince Thayer.” “You know, you
ROME “Thank you for coming with me.” Prince Thayer glanced at me as I sat with him in the backseat. “Anytime.” He then smiled as if he had read my mind. “Or you miss your friends back home.” I met him in the eye. “They are my brothers. We are still brothers whether I see them every day or once a year.” He nodded in understanding. “I have a pretty good idea. Ash and Lud are like brothers to me, too.” “Yeah. You three are pretty tight.” “True. Three peas in a pod.” “So they helped you kidnap your wife?” “Yeah. We stick together even in my stupidest actions.” He laughed, meeting Ash’s gaze in the rearview mirror. “I have a fair share.” I smiled as I recalled how my best friends told me I was an idiot and had the dumbest idea to plot revenge against Carly. Ash cleared his throat. He was our driver for today to the Polo game. Prince Thayer was the guest of honor, and my company was one of the sponsors. “You have something to say, Ash?” “We didn’t actually have a choice at that
CARLY It had been a month since our engagement. Today the Caprean celebrated the newly crowned King Isodore III and my mother, the Queen, Queen Aimbrose. There was a lot to celebrate. My also brother became the heir apparent, and my fiance secured the ten-year contract deal for the housing project and a football dome. As for me, I was well-received by the people, thankfully. I got their respect back. My duty became one of the most important things I had ever had. Despite many good things happening around me, there was only one thing I couldn’t fully have— Rome was slipping off my fingers. He utterly changed— he was the complete opposite of the man I met months ago, as if I didn’t know him anymore. He always came home late and was still asleep when I went to work. We barely talked. I knew his company was flourishing, but he just changed. He became cagey and secretive. And I was losing all hope and option I had left. “Are you okay?” my brother asked me. He looked dazzling in
CARLY “What’s that supposed to mean, Carly?” His voice turned cold and stiff. I was pissing him off. Well, good for him. “I don’t know, Langston. Try asking yourself in the mirror.” “I thought you don’t care where I go, what I do.” His tone softened. He blew a breath. “Damn right, I don’t.” I looked at him again, scowling. “Anything else?” He shook his head, frowning. “Nothing.” He sighed one more time before he turned. Then he paused and faced me again. “You know what? This is bullshit. I’ve been patient, but you seemed to have enjoyed avoiding me too much. I’d never met anyone who loved her work so much that she forgot she had a fiance waiting for her. I mean, I also work hard, but what I’m doing is for us, for our future, but I still think about you all the time. But I don’t know about you, Storm.” He wallowed hard before he licked his lips. He stood there wallowing in pain, and I just broke my heart over and over again. “Maybe this is a mistake. Maybe you should marry Domeon.