Page 49 of Lily and the Billionaire Prince

“Do not turn your back on me,” he ground out in his most commanding voice. Lily got the impression this was the voice he used on anyone who wasn’t willing to do his bidding. Yet, she didn’t fear him. Her only fear was that if she faced him now, he might see the sheer agony that had overtaken her as she set her mind to leave.

She couldn’t run a country. She’d thoroughly messed up her parents’ business. How could Henrik trust her when she’d made such a big mistake? She couldn’t bear to see Henrik’s face when he learned the truth. So leaving now was more than necessary. It was absolute.

* * *

Henrik didn’t sleepthat night. He couldn’t help but revisit his argument with Lily every time he shifted, lay still, or closed his eyes. What did she mean by leavingnow? She knew he intended to propose to her. He’d told her as much. Though, admittedly, he’d also given her a way out before they’d left Vermont.

“Idiot,” he called himself, pounding his pillow. They’d been here in Einvar for less than a week. Perhaps she was feeling rushed, though he suspected her insistence on leaving had something to do with whatever she’d been speaking about with his father. She’d looked so distraught when Henrik had interrupted the two of them. What had Father said to her? He’d spoken so softly before storming out and then Lily had never told Henrik what it’d been.

“She thinks she can’t trust me,” he mused with realization. She’d told him how insecure she’d felt the last few years with the move and her nasty ex-boyfriend. She never specified to Henrik much about the guy or why he demanded money of her on occasion—or why she agreed to give that money to him. Did her ex have something to do with her reticence?

Henrik had to make her understand how he felt about her. He had to make her see. A proposal was what she needed, to prove just how serious he was about her. Because the thought of Lily returning to the United States and leaving him here was too much to bear.

* * *

Nestled in the comfortable bed,Lily checked her social media feed, grateful to have good signal here on the other side of the world. Ethan had checked to make sure she’d made it okay back to Florida. She gave him a quick reply to let him know she’d decided to go to Einvar instead, and this time he was slow to reply, which wasn’t unusual for him.

The next message was from Snow and it included a picture that made Lily’s heart stop. She recognized her front door’s festive wreath covered with paw prints in various shades of red, but more than that, the image of Damon bent, hand shielding the sun from his eyes as he attempted to peer into her front window was arresting.

Thought you should know he’s been snooping around,Snow said.He’s been here every day since Christmas, knocking on your door and shouting your name. It’s almost as though he thinks you’re in there hiding from him or something. He even knocked on my door, but I didn’t answer. He swore a couple of times and then called that Doug guy he’s always hanging around with. I heard him talking about you as he stormed back to his car. I almost called the police.

Ugh. As much as she didn’t like Damon, she liked his best friend, Doug, even less. Doug was a backcountry rustic who always wore camouflage pants and shirts, who didn’t know the meaning of a razor or deodorant, or toothpaste for that matter, and had no sense of propriety. He’d made more than one lewd suggestion that Lily cheat on Damon with him when they’d been together. And just being in the same room with him had made her skin crawl.

Sorry he’s been bugging you too,Lily texted

Does he know you went to Vermont?

Apparently not,Lily replied. She hadn’t told Snow where she was either. And she wasn’t about to, not with her future so up in the air. Lily had been pushed against a wall and could see only one way out of this situation.

She’d been formulating this plan for years. It seemed as though the time had finally come to put her pieces into play.

Thanks for telling me and for keeping an eye on my fur babies.

No problem,Snow replied.I’m happy to do it. They miss you.

This tightened Lily’s throat. Her cats, dog, turtle, bird, they wouldn’t understand why she was gone. Did they feel abandoned? She wasn’t sure what else she could do now, though.

Oh my gosh, he’s back,Snow said.

Now?

Yes! He’s outside, pounding on your door and shouting again. I think it’s time someone told him to get lost.

Lily’s entire body hummed.Don’t talk to him, Snow. Just call the police. And—

She didn’t want to finish the statement. Everything in her told her to wait, to hold off and talk to Henrik. Tell him the truth.

But her head won. She couldn’t do that. Nor could she allow this to happen any longer.

Snow, I’m not coming back.

What?

Lily forced her fingers to tap out what she needed to say. The story would sound so unbelievable, but she didn’t know what else to say.

I didn’t tell you this, but the Prince of Einvar was staying discreetly at the Elir and I’ve been working with him the past few days.

Um, what? You met Hottie Prince Henrik?

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