Page 3 of The Royally Broke Billionaire
The color completely drained from Sebastian’s face, taking with it any lingering shred of hope Tess had been clinging to that this was all a mean-spirited ruse.
Feeling brokenhearted, Tess covered her mouth with her hand and ran from the foyer.
Her husband jogged after her, yelling her name, but she slammed her office door behind her.
3
“Tess, please let me in.” The king pleaded, sounding uncharacteristically desperate.
She hadn’t paused to lock the door behind her, so she appreciated the fact that he didn’t just barge in before she had a moment to collect her thoughts. She wasn’t ready to face him just yet.
The hot tears burned in her throat as she flopped facedown onto the fancy settee that had come with her office. Its inaugural use by her was not a pleasant one.
“Please hear me out, sweetheart. I’m sorry.” Sebastian’s voice sounded muffled through the door, but she was still able to make out what he was saying.
She wondered how loudly his voice echoed out in the hallway and if any palace workers were nearby. Even though she was already certain this story would spread like wildfire around the castle––and kingdom, she didn’t want to add any unnecessary fuel to the rumor mill’s fire.
Geoffrey had already proven himself to be incredibly discreet, and all of the employees who had access to the royals signed non-disclosure agreements, but it would still be next to impossible to keep something as juicy as an illegitimate son of the king under wraps––especially with Sebastian yelling apologies about it in the hallway.
Not seeing another viable option, Tess got up, stalked over to the door, and flung it open. She shuffled back to her settee and flung herself on it as Sebastian quietly entered and shut the door behind him. She didn’t particularly care if she was acting like a spoiled diva in that moment because she deserved some time to absorb this life-altering twist.
After settling himself in the chair across from her, Sebastian said, “Tess, please hear me out.”
“Don’t even try to deny it. I saw the recognition and guilt in your eyes.”
“I won’t,” he promised, which only served to deflate her even further. Somehow, having her husband verbally confirm it made the entire scenario feel so much worse.
Her expression must have looked crestfallen as she sat up and stared at the floor because he quickly went on. “It happened long before I ever met you, sweetheart. It was a one-time thing after a night of drunken debauchery, and it meant absolutely nothing to me––less than nothing, in fact. I barely even remember it.”
Hearing his explanation alleviated her fears that he might have feelings for the other woman, but it did little to help the burning cantaloupe that seemed to have taken up residence in the pit of her stomach upon seeing Sebastian’s son.
“I’m glad to hear that I don’t have to worry about you leaving me for another woman,” she told him honestly.
Sebastian looked shocked that she would even say such a thing. “Never!”
Ignoring his shocked denial, Tess went on. “Our main concern in all of this should be Liam because he is your first-born son.” Tess was proud that her voice only cracked a little when she continued. “So, he’s the rightful heir to the throne.”
It was obvious by the greenish tone that suddenly tinted his already deathly-pale pallor that Sebastian had been too concerned with Tess’s reaction to arrive at this conclusion on his own. He dropped his head into his hands and ran his fingers through his thick, dark hair.
After contemplating it for a long moment, he evidently came to the same realization his wife had because he said, “Tess, I’m so sorry.”
4
Piper Pearson stood awkwardly shuffling from foot to foot in the elegant entryway to the palace as she held her precious baby boy. The king had raced after the queen when she stormed off, and the butler was glaring at Piper unflinchingly from his perch on the stairs.
It was tempting to quietly retreat out the door she had arrived through and go back to the simple, small studio apartment that she called home. There was absolutely nothing wrong with her life, other than the fact that it was utterly average in every way.
She wanted more for Liam than her meager hourly wage working as a seamstress could provide. Her son had royal blood flowing through his veins, so he was worthy of the best that life had to offer. He deserved better than she could give him as a single mom living on her own, hemming pants to make a barely-livable wage.
The last thing Piper wanted was to hurt anyone. She had always been a quiet, gentle soul. The devastated look she had seen in the queen’s gaze had almost prompted her to leave. In fact, if she had been standing there for herself, she definitely would have made a quick exit.
She was doing this for her son, though, and she would face any foes for Liam. This kingdom was his birthright, and she was going to make sure he received what was rightfully his. She would do anything for her sweet baby boy.
Although she hated it that the queen was being hurt, Piper knew those hurt feelings would quickly dissipate. King Sebastian obviously loved Queen Tess with all of his heart. Piper didn’t want to interfere in their relationship in any way. She merely wanted to claim her son’s spot at the royal table.
The wait seemed interminable as she hovered and wondered what would become of her son’s introduction to his father. She feared the royal family might try to pay her off to get her to slink quietly away. As tempting as a large sum of money would be, since she could make sure Liam’s future would be blessed with financial security, she wouldn’t sign away his birthright without giving him a say in the decision.
Piper was stunned when the queen herself returned to the entryway. It was obvious by the regal woman’s red face and puffy eyes that she had been crying. Although guilt swirled in a heavy cloud around Piper over being the cause of those tears and hurt feelings, she silently reminded herself that her son’s future was all that truly mattered.
