Page 44 of The King's Secret Baby

Her brow furrows. “Oh. When do you leave?”

“As soon as possible. Probably this evening.” I stuff my hands in my pockets, feeling awkward and unsure. This thing between us… it’s still so complicated, so fraught. And now, with the baby on the way, the intricacies of it are a sea of knots.

Hailey sets her book aside, and I see that it’s a nonfiction about navigating challenging times — a knife to my heart.

She stands up, coming closer. “Is this about… about the pregnancy? Are you running away from me?”

“No!” The denial bursts out of me. “No, Hailey, that’s not it at all. It’s just… my duties as prince come first. You know that.”

But even as I say the words, they ring hollow in my ears. The truth is, Iamrunning away. From my feelings for her — which I’m still waiting to miraculously go away — and from the terrifying reality of impending fatherhood.

Her eyes shimmer with unshed tears. “I understand,” she says softly. “Duty comes first.”

I long to reach out and take her in my arms, to promise her that everything will be all right. But I can’t. Not when I’m not sure of anything anymore.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper. Then I turn and walk away, hating myself with every step.

Three hours later, I board the royal jet with a heavy heart. Simon — sent by his father to oversee the talks from a financial viewpoint — is already on board, lounging in one of the plush leather seats with a glass of scotch in hand.

“Well, well,” he drawls as I take my seat across from him. “Someone’s in a mood today.”

I glare at him. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Come on, Luca. I know you better than that. What’s going on?”

I clench my jaw, staring out the window as the plane taxis down the runway. Part of me longs to unburden myself to him, to confess the truth about Hailey and the baby. But I can’t. Not yet. Not when just thinking about it all guts me.

“Nothing,” I mutter. “Just tired.”

Simon studies me for a long moment, then shrugs. “If you say so. But you know I’m here if you need to talk, right?”

I nod, grateful for his friendship even as I push him away. “I know. Thanks.”

As the plane lifts off, I close my eyes and try to push all thoughts of Hailey from my mind. But it’s impossible. She’s a part of me now, whether I like it or not. And sooner or later, I’m going to have to face that fact… and all the messy bits that come with it.

The flight stretches on, and even though it’s only a couple of hours to Prague, it feels like I’ve been stuck in this cabin for days. The silence between Simon and me grows more and more oppressive with each passing minute. I try to focus on the briefing documents in front of me, but the words blur together on the page, my mind too consumed with thoughts of Hailey and our unborn child.

I’m doing the right thing… right?

Of course I am. How can I even ask myself that? And yet…

Finally, I can’t take it anymore. I set the papers aside with a sigh, rubbing my temples.

“Hailey’s pregnant,” I blurt out.

Simon’s head snaps up from where he’s been looking at his phone, his eyes wide with shock. “Excuse me? What?”

I nod, the words tumbling out of me in a rush. “She’s pregnant. With my child. And it has to stay a secret, Simon. No one can know. The palace lawyers are already drawing up contracts to ensure the staff’s silence.”

He stares at me, his mouth agape. “Ensure their silence? Why?”

Does he really not see it?“Because it would be a scandal of epic proportions. It’s exactly what my opponents?—”

“Screw your opponents. Why are you thinking aboutthemright now?”

My jaw clenches. “It’s not them I’m really concerned about. It’s our people. They need me to be a role model.”

His eyes narrow. “And you’re doing it by lying? By keeping your girlfriend and child a secret?”

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