Page 62 of Lily and the Billionaire Prince

“I’m finally free,” she said aloud, tossing her hands into the air and resting them on the floor beside her.

The victory was only shadowed by one thing. By another man, actually, a man with gray eyes, a Norwegian accent, with blonde hair and an uncanny way to make her feel special no matter what. Henrik. She couldn’t think of his name without equal waves of desire and sadness. She’d had him for a short amount of time. But he wasn’t hers. He couldn’t ever be.

“I miss him,” she told Pooksy, who came around to wag his furry tail at her. “I think I’ll always miss him.” She’d never met anyone like Henrik, and that qualification wasn’t because of the prince in him. It was because he’d made her feel like the most important person in his life. He’d allowed her to see a future for herself that didn’t involve living in secret. He’d allowed her to breathe, to know she could still be wanted and loved.

Where was he? Had Lady Eden been sent for? Were marriage arrangements in order already?

She couldn’t wonder long before Snow’s stereotypical rapid knocks sounded on the door. Lily hurried to answer and found herself in a warm hug. Snow gripped Lily by the shoulders. Her long hair fell in silver curls. Her lashes were extended around violet eyes, her makeup flawless as always. She was thin and fit from her regular workouts, and her energy was palpable.

“You’re back? I thought I saw you haul your suitcase up, but I couldn’t double-check until now and I can’t believe it. What happened? Are you not marrying the prince anymore? And your hair is adorable, by the way. How come you didn’t tell me you were cutting it?”

Lily closed the door behind her and welcomed her friend to sit down. Immediately, Dr. Grumbles, who loved Snow more than he liked anyone else, situated himself onto her lap. Snow scratched his head but kept her attention on Lily.

“Sorry to give you such a scare,” Lily said, sitting across from her friend. “Did you see the pictures Damon leaked on the prince’s feed?”

“What pictures?”

Lily breathed in relief. Snow was the queen of social media. If anyone had seen Lily’s compromised emails, it would have been her. From what she’d heard, Henrik’s security staff had been able to get the images removed fairly quickly, and this proved as much.

She filled Snow in on everything. It felt so good to shareeverythingtoo, to not keep anything back anymore. There wasn’t any reason to now.

“So Damon is—”

“In a cell in Einvar’s castle.”

Snow exhaled. “Let’s hope he stays there.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

Artemis rubbed his head against Lily’s ankles, and she petted him.

“So what now?” Snow asked. “What about you and Henrik? I can’t believe he wanted you to marry him!”

Lily let the exhale slow her pulse. Everything in her deflated a little bit when the breath left her. “I think our relationship was a fairy tale. I mean, I’ve known all along that it was, that it was too happy and fluffy to be real. I just let myself get carried away.”

Snow analyzed her. “You must have had good reason. You’re more cautious around guys than anyone I know.”

She supposed she did have good reason to get swept away in being with Henrik. But the prospect of a life with him was over now, and the sooner she accepted that fact, the easier it would be for everyone. Soon enough, the gossip magazines would come out with pictures of Henrik and Lady Eden, with announcements about a royal wedding to a true noblewoman who was worthy of being by his side.

“I’m glad you didn’t do what I asked,” Lily said, changing the subject and tapping the side of the chair to get Pooksy’s attention. The fluffy dog bustled over like a walking poofball, tongue panting in a happy, doggy smile. Frou Frou finally gave in, hopping onto the armrest and allowing Lily to pet her too.

“You mean by re-homing all these guys?” Snow petted Dr. Grumbles. “This fellow would never have forgiven me.”

The two friends sat in silence with only the occasional purring rumbling from the pets between them until Snow let out an excited, audible gasp.

“Oh my heart, I don’t think I told you!”

“Told me what?” Lily asked.

Snow placed both of her feet onto the floor and rested her hands on her knees, looking directly at Lily. “Do you remember me saying I wanted to enterHeartthrob’s Most Wanted?”

The dating show? Lily had helped Snow record her interview, but the spunky girl had played it off as though she wasn’t intending to send her entry in. “You didn’t.”

“I did! I sent in the recording you helped me with.”

“And?”

Snow’s exuberance punctured. Her shoulders slumped. “And now we wait.”

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