Page 64 of The Reluctant Wife

"Ryot, don’t. He’s not worth it," she cries. I hear her, but my anger has me in a chokehold. I continue to glare at him and note he’s beginning to turn purple.

"Ryot, stop. Please." I hear her footsteps, then she tugs at my arm. "Please Ryot. Let him go."

"He was rude to you. He disrespected you. He refused to take no for an answer. He deserves to be put out of his sorry life."

"I agree. And believe me, I’m pissed off at him too. But choking him is only going to draw attention to the Royal Family, and scandal could overturn everything my family and I have been working for all these years. Not to mention, what could happen to you." Her voice cracks on the last word. "Please, Ryot, let him go."

The urgency in her voice cuts through the noise in my head. I look up into her pale but resolute features. "There are other ways to punish him."

"I’d rather kill him right now, so he pays for what he did." My voice is remote. I’m aware of a cold sensation weighing down my chest and my stomach. It’s as if I’ve slipped into a full body armor made of ice. One which has infused my veins and sunk into my very cells. My mind is fixated on one thing. He made her uncomfortable. He pushed himself on her. He hurt her. The woman who is not only a real-life princess but the queen of my life.He. Hurt. Her.

"Ryot," she says softly. "Let him go. Please. I promise. We’ll make him pay."

Our gazes meet and hold. The strength in hers, the resilience, the grit I see in her eyes is not a surprise, because of course, she’d be such a peacemaker. This is such an Aura thing to do. It makes me appreciate her sense even more. She may have been brought up in luxury, but the experiences she’s been through have developed a strength of character in her I can relate to. I might have come to her help, and I’m glad I did, but even if I hadn’t, she’d have found a way to help herself. She’s no shrinking violet, my woman. She’s her own knight in shining armor.

A small smile curves her lips, and I have a feeling she’s read my mind. I jerk my chin, then take my foot off Gavin’s neck. He draws in a sharp breath.

As he lays there gasping, the princess and I continue to be locked in this strange meeting of our gazes which communicates without words. The air between us heats. My pulse rate jumps. And when her fiancé jumps to his feet, she closes the distance to me.

I place a proprietorial hand on her hip and pull her close. She melts into me. She wraps her arms around my waist and lifts her chin.

"Stop you can’t—" Gavin clutches at his throat, which now carries my shoeprint, and fuck, if that isn’t satisfying.

I shut out his voice and lower my head. I press my lips to hers, and when she parts hers, I sweep my tongue in. The kiss goes on and on, and when I slide my palms down to her butt and bring her even closer, she squeaks. But she doesn’t pull away. We kiss until our breath’s mingle and I’m lightheaded. When we finally break for air, she stares at me with flushed features and swollen lips.

I tuck her into my side and turn to her fiancé. "In case there’s any doubt, I took her virginity." I add that, just to see his face fall.

Next to me, I sense a shiver gripping her body.Is she remembering how it was when we came together? Does she realize it was as big a deal for me that I was her first?I’ve never understood why virginity was important for some people… But the fact that there’s no one else who’s known her this intimately makes me want to hold onto her and never let her go. And then, seeing how her fiancé tried to take advantage of her roused my protective instincts in a way I know I can’t shove aside. It’s a dangerous line of thinking; one I’m helpless to do anything about.

"You— She—" Gavin shakes his head again, a look of despair on this face. He levels his gaze on her. "Look here, I understand the two of you have been intimate. But I’m willing to overlook it if?—"

She fixes him with her best princess stare and tosses her head. "I’m not."

32

Aurelia

“I’m sorry, Papa, I know this means his family will not invest in Verenza. It’s going to affect the future of our country.” I wring my fingers together. “But I can’t marry him. Not when he did what he did—” I swallow and gather my thoughts. “And not when I have feelings for someone else.”

I’m conscious of Ryot’s gaze boring into me, but I don’t dare look at him. If I do I’m going to lose my courage. And I need every bit of it to get through what I have to say. I’m done not being true to myself. From now on, I’m going to say and do the right thing, no matter how difficult.

Spine straight. You’re a princess.

I appreciate my mother’s advice even more now.Perhaps that’s what her words really mean? To be a true princess, I need to start by staying true to myself.

“I can’t start my married life on a lie. That would be disrespectful for everyone concerned, including you.”

Gavin shuffles his feet. He opens his mouth to speak, but Ryot glares at him, and he subsides. Ryot hauled him to Arthur’s study where my father was waiting for us. I followed them and narrated what had happened.

So far, my father hasn’t said anything. Once I started speaking, his gaze slid away from me. Now, his forehead is furrowed. A look of disappointment crosses his features.Oh, no.My heart sinks.

“I truly am sorry, Papa. I know how disappointed you must be.” I swallow.

My father leans back in his chair. He and Arthur were seated in front of the fire in Arthur’s study, deep in discussion when we arrived.

Arthur walks over to his bar, pours out a finger of whiskey in a tumbler, then returns, handing it over to my father. “Your Highness, perhaps this will help?

My father nods his thanks and takes a sip, then stares into the contents of his glass with a contemplative expression.

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