“So your brother doesn’t know?”
She shook her head. “I wouldn’t even know what to tell him.”
The look in her eyes told Grayson this was all very troubling for her. It was best to change the subject. “I always wanted a brother or sister, but fate had other ideas. And now looking back on things, I guess it was for the best. They were spared.”
“Your home life was that bad?” She pressed her lips together as though realizing she was being nosey. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”
“It’s okay. I started this conversation. As for my family, we saw things differently. My father grew up working with his hands, tilling the ground and planting seeds. I was never interested in that sort of life and it infuriated him. He thought I should do the same as he’d done and follow in the family tradition of farming.” Grayson shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “Let’s just say those discussions became heated.”
“And your mother?”
“She always sided with my father. They were always so worried about what I should be doing with my life that they never stopped and asked what I wanted to do with it.”
“I’m sorry. That’s tough. But somehow you overcame it all and made yourself into a success.”
“Trust me. It wasn’t easy. And I wouldn’t want to do it again.”
“Do you still speak with your parents?”
“I haven’t seen them in years. When I walked out, my father told me that if I left I would never be welcome again. I guess he meant it because I’ve never heard from them.”
“That’s so sad.”
“The reason I told you that is because I don’t want to see the same thing happen with you and your family.”
“But this is different—”
“Not that much. You are struggling for your freedom and they are struggling to keep you safe. You can’t both have your own way. Someone is going to win this struggle and someone is going to lose. The key is not to destroy your relationship in the process.”
“You sound so wise for someone so young.”
“I don’t know about that. Maybe I just wish someone had given me some advice along the way instead of me always having to learn things the hard way.”
“Well, don’t worry. Things are about to change.” She pressed her lips together and glanced away as though she’d just realized she’d said too much.
“Ah, you have a plan.”
“It’s nothing. I should be going. I’ve forgotten to give the king a message from my father.” And with that she rushed off down the hallway.
Grayson watched her go. He couldn’t help but wonder about this plan of hers and if it was going to get her into trouble. It was obvious that she wasn’t ready to share the details with him. But that didn’t keep him from worrying about this plan. His mind told him it was absolutely none of his business, but his gut told him that she might get herself into trouble trying to prove a point.
And he might have just met her, but he already realized she was stubborn. Stubborn enough not to ask for help? But what was he supposed to do about any of it?
CHAPTER FIVE
ALONE AT LAST.
The next morning, Annabelle hurried to her suite of rooms as soon as she’d returned from the police station. Grayson had stayed behind in Bellacitta to meet with a business associate. They’d agreed to meet up later to go over the financial projections for the South Shore Project.
She’d been relieved to have a little time to herself. At last, she’d recovered her mother’s journal, and she had some privacy to look at it. And if she’d had any qualms about invading her mother’s privacy, the police had remedied them. They had her open the journal and read just a bit to herself to verify it belonged to her. She didn’t correct their assumption that it was her journal.
Alone in her room, Annabelle sat down at her desk in front of the window that overlooked the blue waters of the Mediterranean. And though usually she took solace in the majestic view, today her thoughts were elsewhere.
As the hours ticked by, she turned page after page. There were old snapshots stuffed between the pages. Some of her mother and father. Some of Annabelle and her brother. There was so much history crammed between the leather covers that it floored her.
And thankfully, there was nothing scandalous or cringeworthy within the pages. Not even anything blushworthy lurked in the passages, which was a gigantic relief to Annabelle. It was almost as if her mother had known that one day one of her children would be reading it.
Instead, the journal read more like the highlights of a royal’s life. There were mentions of birthday celebrations, picnics, holidays and countless other events that Annabelle had either been too young to remember or ha