Page 82 of Viral Affair

"Yes, pretty much. I was still scared that he might hurt you even from prison, so I decided to stay away. Then Spencer went on national TV and told the world that he was in love with Laura—which meant I was afraid that he might hurt not only you, but your family, too," she said.

"Damn it, Veronica, I should have known that you were up to something. I should have known," I said, holding her close.

We stopped walking now. The waves were gently beating against the shore.

"I made sure everything held up. I knew you didn't trust me in the beginning, so I kept spilling more lies," she said, stepping closer.

"I’ve been so miserable without you.” I felt so much regret that I hadn’t questioned anything she’d said, that I hadn’t investigated it. I’d wasted so much time wallowing in self-misery.

"I'm sorry, Rupert, but you must know that I did all of this for you because I love you. I never stopped loving you, and that’s a fact."

I grabbed the back of her head and brought her lips to mine. Everything that had plagued me lately was now in the past, behind us, because I finally had her with me again, so I could hold and love her. She tasted like rain and honeycomb. I devoured her lips, kissing her for a long time. I couldn't get enough, for the fear of losing her lingered—faint but still there.

"Baby," I moaned, stopping the kiss for a moment to bury my face in the crook of her neck and inhaling her scent to make sureshe was real. Here, in the flesh. “I love you too, but you have to promise me that you will never lie to me again."

"I promise to never lie to you again," she said.

"Good, because the consequences will be dire," I ground out, holding her close. "You have no idea what I went through when we were apart. It was torture, existing without you. You’re my life, Veronica—my past, present, and future.”

Epilogue

Rupert

“Rupert, pass the potatoes,” Andrew asked from across the table.

Mum was finally able to gather everyone together after weeks of dramatic phone calls and previous cancellations to celebrate Laura’s pregnancy and, of course, Andrew’s new film during the traditional Sunday roast.

This could finally happen after Veronica and I had flown back from Thailand. I still couldn’t fucking believe that she’d used TikTok to track me down all the way across the globe. My woman was crazy, but that was one of the reasons why I was so in love with her.

James was seated between Veronica and Laura, and he didn’t look pleased with that arrangement.

“So when are you going back to Europe?” I asked him after I passed the potatoes to Andrew.

My brother shot me an annoyed glare.

“Not right now. Another security guard was assigned to the princess, so I’m off the hook at the moment,” he explained.

“Really? I thought you were the best. Why would she take another bodyguard?” our mother asked.

A muscle in James’ jaw twitched. I smirked.

“Mum, give it a rest. Bellavista has the same protocol as the UK, so the princess would get security for life. James was assigned to her for a short time, probably to cover someone else while the palace was going through the transition,” Spencer explained from the other side of the table.

“But, hun, this is—”

“Mum, we can drop this for now. I’m no longer working for the palace, and you don’t have to worry. The princess is in very good hands,” James injected.

I sensed slight tension in his tone. He had an excellent poker face, but he’d been slipping lately, and I had a feeling that something must have happened between him and the princess. Veronica had rolled her eyes when I’d mentioned it to her. She didn’t believe James was capable of showing any feelings to anyone—ever.

“Yes, Sue, better check on that dessert in the oven. Maja already had her tiny fingers in the chocolate sponge,” our father injected.

“I didn’t, Grandpa.” Maja frowned at Dad’s sudden accusation.

“I saw you in the kitchen, little lady, so don’t tell porkies,” my father scolded.

“See, I told you, Veronica, that they would notice,” she said.

“Busted,” I muttered.

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