Page 53 of The Billionaire's Royal Crown

“Poor girl. She’s so eager to help. And you’ve turned her into a criminal.”

“Desperate times, Caroline,” Elena said, crossing her arms over her chest.

Seconds later, she fidgeted in her seat, drumming her fingers on the arm of the chair. “Perhaps I should go find her.”

“What if you make things worse?” Caroline asked. “I could go.”

“You don’t know your way around.”

“Do you?” Caroline asked, incredulous.

“More than you. I have been here…twice.”

Caroline wrung her hands. “I don’t know, Your Highness. I’d hate to see either of you get caught.”

“I would hate to see her get caught.” Elena rose, adjusting the hem of her skirt. “Well, I will go. I’ll–”

The door opened, and a red-faced Maddie, puffing forbreath, stepped into the room with a folder in her hand. “I’ve got it.”

Elena’s eyes went wide as her heart began to thud. “Good work, Maddie. Let’s have a look.”

The three women grouped around the white desk overlooking the back garden as Maddie opened the folder, spreading out the pages inside.

Elena’s pulse quickened as she read the notes scattered across the pages.

“Look!” Maddie pulled a copy of a photo from the pages, showing her mother walking across the lobby of the building.

“So, they have video footage of her arriving.” Elena tapped a set of numbers in the corner. “Here is a time stamp. I wonder how it stacks up to the time of death.”

Caroline shuffled through the pages. “His notes say it coincides. And…oh dear…”

“What is it?” Elena asked, her gaze rising to Caroline’s concerned features.

“It says…” Caroline swallowed hard. “It says Mrs. Kingsley was the last visitor seen on the video feed prior to Chloe’s death. She is the only person who could have committed the crime.”

Elena’s heart plummeted at the words. Nate’s mother would soon be arrested. Was there anything they could do to stop it?

CHAPTER 14

NATE

Nate shifted his weight, sliding a tentative glance to his brother before he flicked his gaze back to the queen. He forced a puzzled smile onto his face as he grappled with the fact that Elena was gone. “Gone where?”

Queen Sophia flicked her eyebrows up, an amused smile crossed her features. “Well, this is quite a strange situation, but…Elena has gone to Sterling City to support you.”

His jaw dropped open as his features crinkled. “What? She…”

His heart skipped a beat as disbelief washed over him, his hands covering his face as a chuckle escaped him. “Oh, wow. So… I came here to be with her…”

“And she was on her way to Sterling City to be with you, yes,” Queen Sophia said with a nod. “I’m so sorry.”

“There’s no need to apologize. I…should have checked with her before I came out. I wanted to surprise her.”

“I believe she had the same idea with you. She had hopedto surprise you and offer some support.” The queen motioned toward the sitting room. “Won’t you come in and sit down?”

They followed her inside, and Nate perched on the edge of the sofa as the queen settled into a perfect posture on an armchair. “Well, it’s rather late to head back now if you were considering it. I assume you’ll stay the night at least.”

“Uh, well, not if it’s any trouble. I…really should have let you know first.”

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