All Chapters of Love on the Queen; The Quest for Freedom: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

PROLOGUE Vienna Carter watches, numb and desensitised, as her husband violently thrusts into a screaming prostitute. Her wrists are sore and painful from the rope clutching them together behind her chair. She is exhausted and can barely keep her soulless eyes open. Her mind is blank and beyond ready to shut down. She could fall asleep right now, even with the moans and cries piercing the air and the sound of sweaty bodies slamming against each other filling the room. But she shouldn’t. Not if she wants another searing slap to the face. She almost wishes he would knock her out. Hit her so hard her lights would go off instantly. But she’s not sure if she would survive another concussion. Though right now, a coma doesn’t sound so terrible. In fact, it sounds pleasant. Despite her efforts to stay awake, her head falls slightly. She tries her best to straighten it but fails. Her eyelids follow suit. They slowly droop over her eyes until her lashes touch. She is too weak to resi

My husband doesn’t bother returning my greeting. I didn’t expect him to. Even though he claims to detest me and wishes me fates worse than death, he’s adamant that I speak to him as though I couldn’t fathom a world without him. I wouldn’t mind him burning in the hottest depths of hell but I’m forced to call him things like ‘Dearest’ or ‘Honey’ or ‘Darling’. Names I should reserve for the man I actually love. “Is there a reason you seem to be visiting my wife more often these days, Mrs Jacobs?” He asks Nicola in a low but demanding tone. His voice planting seeds of fear in Nic and I. He always calls her by her husband’s last name even though she never adopted it. He says the word ‘wife’ with a hint of possessiveness. Despite the fact that I’m more his prisoner than his wife, he wouldn’t pass up the chance to establish the fact that, unfortunately, I’m his. On paper at least. I risk looking at his face and immediately regret it when I’m met with a frightening scowl. For some reason,

I’m standing in front of The Queen Odette and I’ve never been more simultaneously scared and excited in my entire life! Zeke left three days ago. He was gone before I even woke up and relieved the house staff of their duties. It was the first time I was completely alone in the house. Walking around in pin-drop silence was definitely weird at first. But I later found comfort in it. I was surprised to see the fridge and pantry filled to the rim with food. But then I remembered that Zeke has an event a day after he returns and if I show up looking like I haven’t eaten in a month, people will talk. Nic came over two hours later and stayed with me for those three days. She even brought a tech guy who removed the tracker I had no idea Zeke planted on my phone. We decided to leave the tracker functioning but kept it on my bedside table. That way Zeke will think I’m still at home dying in silence. I shake myself out of those thoughts. I’m not at home. I’m not alone. I’m not Zeke Richards’

His harsh words pierce me like daggers and more tears fill my eyes. I try to think of what to say.“Hans. Please...” I start to say before he storms off in a cloud of heated anger. I refuse to turn around. I refuse to watch him leave me again. I catch my breath and make my way back into my room. I slam the door and press my back to it, my face buried in my hands. I have thought of the day I finally see him again everyday since the incident. I have imagined a million ways I run into him. But I could never have imagined this. I slowly sink to my knees. My hands are already soaked with tears. I start to cry without my consent. My whole body quivers as I cry for what Hans and I once were. I cry for who I was once. I cry for his rightful hatred of me. I cry for the love he once had for me. I cry because no matter how much I had hoped for it in the past, the truth is I’m never getting him back. He’ll fall in love with someone else and I’ll be stuck with Zeke til the day I die. Or he do

I stare at her, waiting for her to laugh it off or whisper-shout ‘Gotcha!’. Nothing happens.“Is it really that hard to believe, Darling?” she says with a look of feigned hurt.“No, no. I just…” I trail off, not sure of what to say. “I’m just surprised. Meeting the owner on my first full day on the ship was not on my bingo card.“Expect the unexpected, Darling.” She sings while adding some layers of paint on Miss Nibbleton’s ears. “And don’t worry. If I end up hating you, I won’t order you off the ship or anything. I could… but I won’t.”That gets a small laugh out of me. “But I have a feeling we’ll be good friends, Vienna.” She says turning to face me again.“I would love that. And I’m not just saying that because you own the ship, though that does have its perks. Could you get me to cut the line for the water park?” I ask like a toddler asking a parent for candy.“I may be inclined to abuse my power a little. I’m sure the kids won’t mind waiting a few more minutes.” She says with a