Page 69 of Redemption of a Prince

He clasped his hands in front of him. “I don’t think I would have.”

“And if we’d known then that she wasn’t your child?”

Ezekiel sighed. “I don’t know what I would have done, but it would have changed the last fourteen years significantly.”

“You wouldn’t have left me?”

“Would you have given the baby up for adoption anyway?”

Nikki leaned back in her chair and stared at him. “Probably. I wasn’t ready to be a mother. Even less so if I didn’t have your help and support. She wouldn’t have grown up in the palace, but she still would have been loved.” She dropped her gaze to her desk. “She wouldn’t have had you for a big brother.”

“I can’t imagine my life without Lydia,” he said softly. “I adore her.”

“I know you do. I could see it whenever I saw the family together in videos or photographs.”

“She was always closer to David until he disappeared, but we definitely had our moments.”

Nikki couldn’t bring herself to look at him. “I’m glad you had those moments, even though you’re not biologically related to her.”

They sat in silence for a few moments.

Ezekiel spoke first. “I don’t know how Mum knows or even how long she’s known. We haven’t had a chance to talk to her about it since you left the waiting room.”

“How is your father? I saw the press conference.”

“About the same, last I heard. He’s unconscious, tubes and wires everywhere. But he’s stable, so that’s good.”

Nikki glanced up. “I’m glad to hear that. I’ve been praying for him non-stop.” She took a deep breath. “I’ve been praying for you, too. I know this can’t be easy, especially with everything else.”

“Thank you. So far, I haven’t had to do anything of consequence. I hope I won’t have to.”

“I hope not.”

There was another silence.

Ezekiel broke it again. “Who was he?”

Nikki blew out a breath. “Are you sure you want to know this?”

After a second’s hesitation, he nodded. “I do.”

She picked up her pen and fiddled with it. “Just this guy. He was a couple of years older than me. All of the girls had crushes on him, including me. He attended a private school across town, but lived near me. He’d joined the military and was leaving in a few days. He flirted with me. I was still heartbroken, got a little tipsy, and did something I normally wouldn’t have.”

“Do you ever see him?”

Nikki shook her head. “He was killed in the line of duty. That helicopter accident in Eyjania.”

It was Ezekiel’s turn to exhale. “I suppose that’s for the best, for our situation at least. I don’t mean I’m glad he’s dead or anything, but it makes things a little less complicated.”

“I don’t know anything about his family,” she warned. “For all I know, he has amazing parents and siblings.”

Before he could reply, his phone buzzed. His eyes widened. “My father is awake and asking for me.”

Nikki shooed him with her hands. “Go. I’ll be praying for you both.”

“Thanks.” He practically bolted out the door.

Once it closed behind him, Nikki rested her forehead on her desk. The conversation had gone better than she could have imagined.

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