The Prince's Bride
“Good. I hope it’s enough to buy your silence.”
Nodding, she says, “I’ll never tell a soul.”
***
After they leave, I scroll through my phone, find the photo and delete it, then check to see if he’s somehow texted it to anyone. I can’t see an evidence of it, so thank God for small miracles. Deciding I’ve had enough of Edwin’s shit, I dress and text Gabriel to bring the car around because I’m ready to go home.
Chapter 15
Addison
It’s nearly one in the morning and I haven’t heard from Henry. I would have thought he’d have texted me by now, but I haven’t heard a peep from him. Every few minutes, I check my phone to see if I’ve somehow missed a message from him, but nothing comes, and I’m filled with a sense of dread. I finally shut off the light and close my eyes.
“Oh, it’s no use,” I say, throwing the covers off and getting up. Crossing the room, I make my way to the window to stare out at the view of the mountains. It’s snowing softly and I sigh, wishing I could enjoy the beautiful view. But the sense of dread that grips me won’t let me go. My phone buzzes and I hurry across the room, jump on the bed, and pick it up.
It’s a snap chat from Henry. I smile, swiping the screen to see what he sent me. Maybe a sexy pic of him.
I gasp when I see what he’s sent. It’s a picture of him lying in bed with a naked woman. She’s smiling at the camera and groping him with one hand while her enormous, fake breasts are right in his face. Dropping the camera, I start to shake a little as I stare at it until it fades off the screen. Why would he send me that? Is that his way of getting rid of me? To make me dump him?
Sobs shake my body and I force myself to stand. I rush to the closet and throw my things in my suitcases, then get dressed. I can’t stay here for another minute. Calling a taxi, I then sneak to the front doors of the palace and stand outside, waiting, and trying to stop crying. I’ve never felt so alone, so betrayed in my life. Everything he said was a lie.
Finally, the cab pulls up and I get in while the driver loads my things in the trunk. When he gets in, he asks, “Where to, Miss?”
“Airport please,” I whisper.
I need to get away from this place as fast as possible. I don’t know how I’ll pay for the flight, but I know I can’t stay here even a moment longer.
***
The airport is dead quiet. Nothing is open. Other than a janitor mopping the floors, I’m the only person here. He looks up at me and starts to say something, I imagine he’s going to tell me there’s no use waiting here, but then he sees my teary, red eyes and a look of understanding crosses his face. He gives me a little nod and goes back to mopping.
I find the kiosk for Delta Airlines, and sit at a nearby chair, curling my legs up under my chin and trying not to sob. You’re okay, Addie. You’ve been through worse. You’ll get through this too. Just forget about him. By tonight, you’ll be back home, safe in your little apartment, in your real world.
Before long, exhaustion takes over me and I drift off to sleep.
***
I’m almost woken with a kiss on the cheek. I don’t startle because I’ve been dreaming about Henry and this kiss fits with my dream. I snuggle into his warm body and sigh happily. Then in an instant, it all comes back to me. Bianca. The photo. I sit up fast and open my eyes, only to see Henry’s gorgeous face.
He looks so worried as he says, “Why are you leaving?”
“Isn’t this what you want?” I ask, standing to get away from him.
He stands too and takes hold of my upper arms gently. “No, of course not. Why would you think that?”
“Because you sent me that…photo.”
His shoulders fall. “Let me explain. It wasn’t what it…”
“Looked like?” I roll my eyes. “Please. Just don’t.”
“Addison, I promise you, I left as soon as I saw what was going on tonight. I went straight to my room to read. After I fell asleep, they sneaked into my room and took that photo.”
Shaking my head, I s
ay, “It doesn’t matter anyway. We can’t make this work.”
“Of course we can, but you have to believe in us.”