Page 83 of The Billionaire's Royal Secret

“Your Highness…” Caroline shook her head.

“No! It must work. I can do both. I will do both. It will be fine.”

Elena collapsed on the couch, her heart still thudding hard. She needed to live both lives tomorrow night. And she needed to do it seamlessly. If not, her entire world could crash down around her, leaving her live in a pile of rubble.

As she plotted her impossible evening, darting between date and duty, she couldn’t shake the foreboding feeling that the balancing act was a prelude to a choice she wasn’t ready to make. Her decision to juggle both worlds became a tightrope walk over a chasm that could swallow her whole.

CHAPTER 18

NATE

Nate's gaze fixed on the drawer containing the ring box, adjusting to the room's lights. He tossed his keys on the dresser and tugged open the drawer, fishing the box from within.

Their dinner had gone well, even with the unwanted interruption by his brother and his former fiancée.

Elena had handled it beautifully. She’d been her usual supportive self when they’d spoken in private, and had even managed to put Stephen in his place at the dinner table.

The corners of his lips turned up as he recalled her clever statement about not being able to embarrass him.

He collapsed into his armchair and snapped open the box, staring at the emerald inside. He hoped he could wait a few days to give it to her.

But he had to. He wanted it to be perfect. And that night would provide exactly what he needed.

He pictured her in her evening dress, him in his tuxedo.As the gala wound down, he’d take her to the gazebo outside. He’d tell her how he felt before he got down on one knee and asked her the big question.

His eyes narrowed. Maybe another spot would be better. Poolside? No. Maybe in the library. Or under the massive crystal chandelier hanging in the upstairs hall.

A knock interrupted his thoughts. He climbed to his feet, closing the box and depositing it in his drawer on his way to the door.

He pulled it open to find his mother on the opposite side. “Hey, Mom.”

“I just stopped by to see how Ellie was on the ride home after everything that happened tonight.”

“She seemed okay. She said she really enjoyed the evening and likes everyone very much.”

“With the exception of Stephen, I assume,” Victoria said.

A tiny chuckle escaped his lips. “She didn’t mention that. She just said you were very welcoming, and she liked you very much.”

Victoria raised her eyebrows as she shrugged. “Well, I guess we didn’t scare her off.”

“Nope. We’re still on for tomorrow night. Oh, unless she sent me a break-up text because of that private conversation you had with her.” Nate pulled his phone from his pocket to check as he shot his mother an amused grin.

Victoria grinned at him. “Very funny. Our private conversation was just that…private. There’s nothing you need to know about it.”

“Really? Because Iamcurious. Did you threaten her within an inch of her life to get her to agree to come to the gala?”

“I didn’t threaten her.”

“She seemed reluctant, didn’t she? Was thatmy imagination?”

Victoria cupped his cheek in her hand as she offered him a soft smile. “No, it wasn’t your imagination, but it didn’t have anything to do with you.”

“The dress thing?” he asked.

Victoria nodded. “Yes, but we solved that.”

“I’m glad you did because I’m really looking forward to the gala.”

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