Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79563 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79563 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“Then maybe you should try.”
“What if he doesn’t love me back? What if he doesn’t have that in him? I mean, to really love me. Like the kind of love you had with Mom.”
“Anyone who is around you for any amount of time can’t help but fall in love with you, Star. You shine so bright you can’t be missed.”
I smile at his praise. He’s my dad, he’s supposed to think those things about me. “What if the stories are true? He could rip my heart apart.”
“Where is she?!”
We hear the words bellowed through the castle, and my eyes grow wide with shock. I jump up, but my dad doesn’t move from his seat.
“Looks like maybe he’s more interested than you might have thought.”
“Oh my God, he’s here! How did he get in?” I squeal, as I look around the room, trying to find somewhere to hide.
“I’m guessing the front door,” my dad deadpans as he watches me panic.
“I want my wife!” echoes off the walls, and this time the voice is closer.
“They let him in?” I panic and put my hand over my mouth.
“Of course. You didn’t think I’d want to have words with him?” I almost snort at how my dad is so calm. “He sounds like a man on a mission.”
My dad stands up, and I run behind my little sofa, ducking down behind it. I hear my dad chuckle right before the doors to my room fly open.
4
Romy
“Your Highness, I need to speak with my wife, Star. I know this may come as a shock, but I love her, and I will fight to the death to have her.”
I stand there, my chest heaving from exertion as Star’s father gives me a small smile.
Seeing movement behind him, I watch as Star pokes her head out from behind a couch. What the hell?
“What did you say?” she squeaks.
Her dad reaches out and squeezes my shoulder. “Let’s have a quick chat before I turn you over to your bride,” he says, and leads me out into the hallway.
It’s all I can do to stand still, needing to go in there and check on Star. I just want to explain what happened and make everything okay. I feel like a caged tiger pacing around, and the thought of her in distress is eating away at me.
Out in the hall, he pulls the door slightly but doesn’t close it. He must sense that I need to be near her right now. He’s still smiling. At least he isn’t trying to rip my head off. That’s something.
“It’s not how it looks,” I start, but he holds his hands up. “The media—”
“I understand, Romy.” He sighs and shakes his head. “They love to make up stories about my little girl. She’s been hurt a lot by the lies people spread.”
I nod, knowing how cruel they’ve been to her reputation. They can say what they want about me. I just let it roll off. But now my name is attached to hers, and I don’t want that tarnish to hurt my princess.
“I know what you must be thinking. But I love her, Your Highness. I’ve loved Star for a long time, but I didn’t think I was good enough. My brother will take the throne, and she shouldn’t have second-best.”
He gives me an appraising look. “You should know her well enough to know that’s not what she’s after.”
“It’s what she deserves. The very best. I was willing to step aside to give her that,” I say, pleading my case to him.
“And now?”
“And now I’m done trying to be the better man. I let people think that I slept around and partied with princesses all over the world. I may have had a good time with friends, but I never betrayed my love for Star. I never touched a woman after the first time I saw her. She’s been the one for me since then, and I haven’t dared to disgrace her in any way. Even though I knew I couldn’t have her, I still didn’t want another. I allowed the media to ruin my reputation, thinking that it would never touch her. But now that it has, I will do everything in my power to make it right.”
He nods, and I see the door open slightly behind him. Star peeks out and glances between the both of us.
“You will take care of her, and she will take care of you. You have my blessing for a long and happy life together.” Her father looks at her and then looks to me. “Just don’t wait too long to give me grandbabies.”
With that, he pats me on the shoulder and steps out of the way.
I stand there for a moment, just looking at Star. God, she’s so beautiful with her white-blonde hair and pale cream skin. Her face always heats with her emotions, and oftentimes I say things I know will stain her cheeks. Her parents were right to name her Star. She truly does shine bright. Unmissable. That’s partly why the media follows her around, just to look at her.