Page 18 of The Billionaire's Royal Secret

Who was his brother meeting? He followed the sound of the voice, rounding a large tree and spotting his brother grinning at someone. His eyes flicked to the other person, his heart stopping. His chest tightened as he stared at the woman who kissed his brother’s cheek.

Chloe.

His heart plummeted. For a moment, the world seemed to tilt, his breath caught in his throat as memories of betrayal and pain surged to the forefront. He had come so far, found solace in Ellie’s laughter and the simplicity of their carousel ride, yet the sight of Chloe, her hand lingering on his brother’s arm, threatened to unravel him. The shadows of the past seemed to claw their way back, determined to drag him down.

Old hurts surged back through him as shock coursedthrough his veins. His breathing turned labored as Chloe’s laughter echoed across the park, slicing at him like a knife.

His mind spiraled, questioning if he’d made any progress at all after their painful separation.

As he turned away from the disturbing scene, a battle raged within him. The old urge to seek oblivion in a bottle whispered seductively, promising escape from the pain that Chloe’s reappearance had reignited.

His foot moved him away from the scene as his mind wondered if he was moving closer to a glimmer of hope or reverting to the man he once was. Could he find a different path, or would he wind up slipping back into old habits?

CHAPTER 5

ELENA

Elena stared at the message on her phone, a frown forming on her features. Her heart sank, a familiar weight pressing down on her shoulders. The freedom she’d tasted with Nathan felt a million miles away as she re-read her father’s words.

“You’ll get wrinkles from doing that, Your Highness,” Caroline said as she leaned against the door jamb.

“I will not,” Elena answered, pushing up to sit in her bed.

Caroline shuffled to the bed and eased onto the edge, grabbing Elena’s foot through the duvet. “And what is so concerning that it has given you such a sour expression this morning?”

“This.” Elena twisted the phone toward her.

“A message from your father?”

“Yes, read it.”

“I have. Why are you frowning at it?”

Elena let the phone fall into the covers. “It sounds a bit ominous, doesn’t it?”

Caroline chuckled as she rose and wandered to the closet to select clothes for the day. “It sounds like your father, Your Highness.”

Elena shook her head at the yellow blouse Caroline held out. “It sounds like he has someone following me. Have you noticed anyone familiar-looking?”

“No, I haven’t. What about the teal and silver?”

“Mmm, all right. Paired with the black trousers please.” Elena tossed back the duvet and slid her feet into her slippers as her phone chimed. She rolled her eyes. “Oh, tell me that’s another from my dear father.”

She glanced at her phone, her expression changing as warmth filled her.

“With a smile like that, I dare say it isn’t.”

“It’s not,” Elena answered, her grin broadening as she typed a response. “It’s from Nathan.”

“Your young man?”

“He’s notmyyoung man. Not yet, anyway.”

Caroline laid out jewelry to match the clothing as she arched an eyebrow. “Not yet? My, we do have ambitions.”

“Of course, we do,” Elena said as she rose and stretched before donning her robe. “I like him very much.”

“After just one date.”

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