Page 44 of Twins for the Secret Prince
“This whole time, you’ve let me call you by a made-up name.”
“Yes, I have. I’m sorry.”
“So why lie to everyone about it?”
Pieter took a deep breath. “Would you like to sit down so that I can explain?”
“I’ll stay standing, thank you.”
Pieter nodded, his expression contrite. “Okay. Derek and I were roommates at college. That’s how he knows who I really am.”
“But I don’t get it. Why did you have to change your name? Are you here undercover or something?”
“No, nothing like that. There’s something I didn’t tell you about my family, in Laagestein.”
“There’sa lotyou haven’t told me, Pieter.”
“I know.”
“So what is it? What about your family?”
He bit the corner of his lip. “I know this is a little hard to believe, but my mother is the queen of Laagestein. My father is an American who married into the royal family.”
“Wait — you’repart of the royal family?”
Pieter nodded. “I am. My older brother, Jan, is heir to the throne. He’ll be king one day. I’m just a prince.”
“You’re just a prince? Can you hear yourself right now?”
“I know, it probably sounds crazy to you. But Derek will confirm it.”
“So, what — you ran away from home and joined the US military?”
“Something like that.” Pieter looked very sad as he spoke. “I’m so sorry for lying to you, Eva. Again.”
“Do your parents know you’re here?”
Pieter took a deep breath before answering. “We haven’t spoken since I left Laagestein. But my brother knows. He’s running interference, you could say. My parents told me I had to leavethe military — in Laagestein, I mean — and return to full-time royal duties. I refused.”
“You refused and came here instead?”
Pieter nodded. “That’s right.”
Eva was shocked and hurt, and still angry. All at once she realized that any hope she’d still had of being able to find a way to be with Pieter was dashed. He was a prince, for heaven’s sake. She was anobody. Worse than a nobody. There was no way that someone with her sad lineage, with her messy family background, would be accepted into a royal family.
There was no hope for them, no future. The truth hurt, and she reacted by lashing out in anger. “So what are you going to do, just say sorry and think that’s going to solve everything?”
Pieter shook his head sadly. “I know it won’t solve everything. But I really am sorry.”
“You can shove your apologies, Pieter. You’re a terrible person, taking advantage of me and lying to me this whole time.”
“Eva, I hope you can understand why I did what I did. If we’d met in my country, where I didn’t have to hide who I am, you’d know that I’m an honest man. I’ve hated lying to you!”
“And yet that’s exactly what you’ve done, right from day one!” Eva started to pace across the office.
“I know. I’m sorry. But can’t you see why I couldn’t exactly tell everyone here the truth about my background?”
She stopped and looked at him. “You shouldalwaystell the truth. Especially here. Trust is everything.”
