Page 59 of Reckless Royalty

I nod. “Thank you,” I whisper, my voice barely audible, but he hears it. I know he does.

Now his smile is small, and it reaches his eyes. “Anytime, Little Rebel.”

My heart stutters at the nickname, but before I can ask, he’s already turning toward the door.

“I’ll check on you later,” he says over his shoulder, his tone casual, but there’s a hint of something deeper there.

I watch him go, feeling the warmth of his presence linger even after he’s left the room. And as the door clicks shut behind him, I realize that I’m still smiling.

And it feels good.

MADDY

Cat shows up around noon, a nervous smile on her face as she steps into my room. Chiara couldn’t make it, and Marina was buried in some sculpture project, so it’s just the two of us today.

At first, we sat in comfortable silence, Cat perched on the edge of the bed while I sat on the windowsill, gazing out into the garden. There’s a strange energy between us, something that feels heavier than usual, but I can’t put my finger on it. Cat seems off—fidgety, a little more quiet than her usual gentle self.

I turn toward her and take a deep breath, deciding to break the news that’s been weighing on my mind since I started talking again.

I haven’t spoken to anyone except Mihai, but if there’s anyone I trust right now, it’s Cat. She’s been a constant presence, her calm demeanor like a balm to my anxiety. I feel like I owe her the truth.

“Cat,” I start, my voice soft and tentative.

Her eyes widen even more, and her mouth falls open slightly. “Wait… what?”

I nod, smiling a little. “I’ve started talking again,” I say, the words feeling more comfortable now. It’s still strange, but every time I say something, it gets a little easier.

Cat stares at me in awe for a moment before a huge smile breaks across her face. “Oh my God, Maddy!” She practically lunges forward, hugging me tightly. “That’s amazing! I’m so happy for you!”

I laugh softly, hugging her back. “Thanks,” I murmur against her shoulder before pulling away. “But you can’t tell anyone yet. Especially not the guys. It’s… it’s complicated.”

Cat’s smile fades a little, and she nods solemnly. “I won’t say a word, I promise. But still… this is huge, Maddy. I’m proud of you.”

I smile again, feeling a warmth spread through me at her words. It feels good to hear someone say they’re proud of me, even if I still feel like I have a long way to go.

We slip back into our usual comfortable silence for a moment, but something about Cat’s quietness nags at me. Today she’s more withdrawn than usual, her eyes darting around the room like she’s avoiding something.

“Are you okay?” I ask gently, watching her closely.

Cat’s smile falters, and she bites her lip, looking down at her hands. For a long moment, she doesn’t say anything, and I can feel the weight of whatever she’s holding in the air between us.

She takes a shaky breath, her hands trembling slightly. “I don’t know what to do, Maddy,” she whispers, her voice breaking.

My stomach tightens at the sound of her voice, the pain laced in every word. I reach out, placing a hand on her knee. “What’s going on? You can talk to me.”

Cat looks up, her eyes shining with unshed tears. She hesitates, like she’s trying to find the right words, but then everything spills out at once. “I’m… I’m pregnant.”

The words hit me like a punch, and for a second, I don’t know how to respond. Pregnant? I blink, trying to process it, but then I see the fear in her eyes, the way her hands shake as she wipes away a tear.

Something in my gut tells me it’s not just the fact that she’s pregnant—it’s about who made her pregnant.

I don’t say anything at first, letting her get it all out, and soon the rest of the story tumbles out in a rush.

“It’s… Nikolai is the father,” she says, her voice barely a whisper. “We’ve been fooling around for a while, but it was never serious, and I was always careful, but now…” She trails off, shaking her head as more tears slip down her cheeks.

I reach out and take her hands, squeezing them gently. My heart aches for her, but I can see the panic in her eyes, the fear of what this means.

“He doesn’t know?” I ask softly.

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