Page 88 of Trapped with the Undercover Prince

“I’m fine, you know,” she said, looking him straight in the eyes.

“You’re shaking like a leaf,” he said gently. She was so strong yet vulnerable at the same time.

“Don’t,” she said, staring at him.

“Don’t...what?”

“Don’t ask?”

Her face had lost all its color, all its joy.

It hit him like a gut-punch. She knew he was going to ask her to marry him...again.

She was going to say no...again.

Pain whipped through him on gale-force winds. “Why?”

“You know why.” Tears pooled in her eyes.

The hurt and pain etched on her face made him want to ride into battle and destroy something. “Do you really believe I measure your value by the number of children you can have?”

Her lower lip trembled, but she said in a steady voice, “I believe they will be important to you...someday.”

She glanced at the queen and his sisters, who were watching them with unabashed interest. “And to them.”

Fuck. She was determined to save him from what she thought was a bad decision, Choosing her. Having all these witnesses made it all the more important for her to be clear in her refusal.

Nothing he said was going to change her mind.

It was time to call in some backup.

Zar looked for Nicolas, found him, then waved him over. They were still the only people on the dance floor, their audience waiting with palpable excitement for a proposal.

Nicolas strode over, his brows furrowed. “Your Highness?”

“Would you do me the honor of dancing with Anna for a minute or two? I must consult my family.”

“Zar,” Anna said. “Don’t.”

He looked at her, letting his gaze fall into hers, hoping she saw how much he loved her, how much she meant to him. “Promise me you won’t run off while I’m talking to my mother and sisters.”

“Zar.” Her voice sounded raw, anguished. “Just let me go.”

“Do you love me?”

She avoided his gaze and shook her head.

Gut tight, he ducked down so their gazes met again. “Do you?”

She managed to meet his eyes for an entire second before sighing and nodding.

“Please, dance with Nicolas for a minute. Don’t leave.”

“Zar, what do you think they’re going to say that will change anything?”

“I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking them for advice.”

He turned to Nicolas. “Dance with Anna until I come back.”

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