Page 36 of The Billionaire's Royal Secret

“Why don’t you ask him about who has him constantly glued to his phone?”

Nate shook his head, a scoff escaping him. “Obsessed much?”

“Or where he’s been sneaking off to for the past few weeks. He’s doing the same things he did when he was drinking.”

“I’m not drinking. Dad knows that.” He shifted his gaze to his father. “Didn’t I prove that the night you brought the cops here for the breathalyzer?”

Stephen raised his eyebrows. “You had him tested? So you’ve had the same suspicions, and you never mentioned it.”

Charles stabbed at the steaming eggs delivered to himmoments earlier. “I didn’t think I needed to run it past you, Stephen. He came back clean.”

“Oh, well, I’m not surprised. He may be up to his old tricks, but this time there’s a new game.”

Nate screwed up his face. “What are you talking about? Maybe that hospital I had you committed to released you too soon?”

Stephen’s fork clattered to his plate as he curled his fingers into fists.

Victoria placed a steadying hand on his arm. “Stop this. We are not going to have you two coming to blows at the breakfast table.”

“Then Stephen ought to shut his mouth about my habits. I’m not drinking,” Nate answered, his jaw tight.

“I never said you were.” His brother shot him a haughty glance, raising his eyebrows.

“So, what are you accusing me of now?”

“I think you’re hitting something way harder than the bottle, big brother.”

Nate narrowed his eyes, his lips tugging into a frown. “You want to actually say it without dancing around it or are you just trying to cause trouble?”

His brother threw his arms out to the sides. “Fine, I’ll say it. I think you’re on drugs.”

Victoria gasped as Nate huffed out a sharp laugh, his eyes rising to the ceiling as he shook his head. “Come on, Stephen, even you aren’t that stupid.”

“No, but you are. Vodka not drowning the pain anymore, Nate?”

“What pain? Oh, wait, while we’re confessing each other’s sins, maybe you’d like to tell Mom and Dad what you’ve been up to the past few weeks? Or rather who you’vebeen up to it with.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Stephen said with a shrug.

Nate pounded a fist on the table, rattling the china. “Don’t you?”

“Stop it!” Victoria said. “If you two cannot sit at this table without fighting, then leave.”

“Which one of us, Mom? The problem son or me?” Stephen asked.

“Bothof you,” she said, giving him a glare. “I’m not going to tolerate this fighting between you again.”

“Fine,” Nate said as he pushed back from the table. He strode toward the door, his eyes narrowed as he passed his brother. “I’m watching you.”

“Good, maybe you’ll learn something,” Stephen shot back.

Nate’s teeth gritted as he stormed to the foyer. He gripped the edge of the entryway table, sliding his eyes shut with a growl.

“Bad morning?” Maddie asked as she hopped down the stairs.

“Really bad morning,” Nate said.

“Did you have a fight with Ellie?”

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