Page 8 of The Billionaire's Royal Crown

“Think about what I said. I’d really like to be brothers again. In fact, I actually came here to ask you to be my best man at the wedding.”

Stephen huffed out an amused chuckle. “You’ve got to be joking.”

“I’m not.” Nate pressed his lips together as he stared at his brother. “Stephen, I really want to be brothers again. I don’t want this between us. I want to go back to the way things were.”

“Well, it’s too late for that. Way too late, Nate. Find someone else to be your best man. I don’t want any parts of your wedding.”

Nate let his gaze fall to the floor. “If you change your mind, let me know. I’d like you to stand beside me at my wedding.”

He flicked his brother one last glance, hoping he couldread the emotion in his eyes. With a nod, he stepped back toward the door.

“Hey, Nate,” Stephen called as Nate pulled the door open and stepped into the hall.

“Yeah?” Nate asked, hoping for a change of heart on Stephen’s part.

“Don’t count your royal blessings just yet,” Stephen said with a tone that sent a shiver down Nate’s spine. “I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that wedding never happens.”

Nate’s jaw dropped as he stared at his brother. Anger contorted Stephen’s face, concealing the hurt he harbored from Chloe’s betrayal. A hurt Nate knew all too well. It had almost destroyed his life once before. Would it happen again?

CHAPTER 3

ELENA

Elena drummed her fingers against her vanity as she waited for Caroline to finish with her hair. “What in the world could Julian want?”

“I cannot believe he refused to tell His Majesty,” Caroline murmured, her disbelief obvious even with the pin stuck between her lips.

Elena eyed her through the mirror, her reflection betraying a flicker of worry. “Yes, he claimed a lack of details as his excuse. But with Julian, one can never be too sure. His omissions are often more strategic than they seem.”

Caroline froze, her gaze meeting Elena’s.

“I don’t believe it either, Caroline. He knew. He is simply lording it over us that we don’t.”

Caroline finally tugged the pin from her mouth and settled it in Elena’s hair. “You don’t think…no.”

“What?” Elena asked.

“It’s nothing.”

“It’s not,” Elena insisted, her voice firm yet encouraging. She met Caroline’s eyes in the mirror, a silent plea between them. “Say it. I’d rather be prepared, no matter what it is.”

“Well, you don’t suppose…” Caroline leaned closer, her voice lowering, “Prince Julian is announcing his own engagement?”

“To whom? Who would marry him?”

“Chloe?” Caroline answered with a shrug.

A shock rippled through Elena, her jaw dropping in disbelief. She snapped her mouth shut a moment later, a mix of surprise and indignation flashing in her eyes. “No. Definitely not. She is far too common for him. Besides, hasn’t she slinked home with her tail between her legs?”

“You never know the sway a woman can wield over a man’s heart–be it by storm or whisper,” Caroline said.

Elena shifted, a tumult of thoughts whirling behind her pinched brows. “Wait a minute. Now, I’m concerned she slinked home to set her sights on my fiancé…again.”

“Mr. Kingsley would never entertain that.”

“No, he would not, however, that does not mean she hasn’t put him in a compromising position. One that Julian could take advantage of.”

Elena’s breath caught, tension coiling within her as her gaze lingered on her own reflection-a mix of resolve and apprehension. She huffed out a breath, letting her hand slap against the vanity’s cold, marble top. “This is the last thing I need. To have to explain to Father and Mother how Nathan has been set up…again.”

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