Page 49 of The Billionaire's Royal Crown

He couldn’t blame her. “Okay, Mom. If it helps, we’ll go.”

“It does. Maddie needs to stay. She’s just…she may be best here.”

“Okay,” he said with a nod. “I guess Stephen and I will spend some quality brother time.”

“You need it,” she answered with a smile as she patted his cheek. “I’ll walk you down so I can say goodbye to Stephen.”

Within twenty minutes, they’d said their goodbyes, made the short trip to the private airstrip, and boarded the plane, and several hours later, they were descending through Eldorian airspace.

The plane’s wheels bounced off the ground, and within minutes, he and Stephen climbed into the car he’d arrangedto take them to the palace. He hoped arriving unannounced wouldn’t be an issue, but he wanted to surprise Elena.

They easily made it through the gates and were in the palace’s foyer shortly after. Nate shifted his weight from foot to foot as he waited for one of the maids to deliver the message to Elena.

“Hope they’re not mad,” Stephen whispered.

“Yeah, me too.”

A moment later, Queen Sophia appeared at the top of the stairs, descending them with grace as she offered a warm smile. “Mr. Kingsley and Mr. Kingsley, this is a surprise.”

“Yes,” Nate said, curious about Elena’s whereabouts, “sorry for the unannounced arrival. I wanted to surprise Elena.”

The queen’s smile never left her face as she joined them, hands clasped in front of her. “How lovely, though I’m afraid impossible.”

His stomach clenched at the words. “Impossible?”

“Yes. Elena is not here. She’s gone.”

His world tumbled around him at the words. Where was Elena?

CHAPTER 13

ELENA

Elena stared, her jaw hanging open and her brow furrowed. “What do you mean, Nathan is not here?”

Her stomach twisted into a knot. “Is he at the police station? Has something happened?”

“Umm, why don’t you come in and sit down. I’m not sure what you know, but…a lot has happened.”

Elena slid a nervous glance to Caroline who slipped a consoling arm around Elena’s shoulders as they followed Maddie into the living room.

“Can I get you anything?” Maddie asked as Elena perched on the edge of a chair.

“Nothing other than answers. Maddie, have you been crying?”

The girl’s features pinched as she eased into an armchair. “Yes. Did Nate tell you that Mom had to go in for questioning?”

Elena sucked in a sharp breath. “No. I knew she’d visitedChloe before her death, but not that she’d been taken in for questioning. Has she been charged?”

Maddie shook her head. “No.”

Elena bobbed her head. “Well, at least that’s something. Do you expect charges?”

Maddie opened her mouth to answer when Victoria strode into the room. “Maddie, I–“

Her eyes went wide as her gaze flicked between Caroline and Elena. “Ellie!”

Elena rose, a tentative smile on her face. “Hello, Mrs. Kingsley. I do apologize for the interruption, however, I felt I had to come to support you all.”

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