Page 14 of Royally Taught

My father walks out of the room, his shoulders shaking as he does. I hate that I’m hurting him, but I know that it’s the right thing to do. Being here isn’t healthy for me or my baby, and especially not when my mom is acting the way that she is.

* * *

“I’m not here to change your mind,” my father says as I step out of the vehicle. “I know that right now, it’s the best thing to do, but it doesn’t mean that I can’t hate it.”

I smile up at him. “I love you dad, I really do.”

He nods as he swallows hard. “I love you too, Ana, I’m sorry about your mom.”

I shrug. “No matter how much I try to get her to like me, she won’t. We’re too different, and I think that’s why. She despises everything that I am.”

“No,” he tells me as he places his hands on my shoulders. “Listen to me, Ana. Your mom is jealous. She was thrust into this life at a young age. I love your mother, but that happened over time. She, like you, fell pregnant, and that’s why we married. But unfortunately, we lost the baby at ten weeks.”

My heart aches for them both. “Dad, I’m sorry,” I whisper.

I never knew. They never told me.

“You being pregnant, it has brought up a lot of memories for her. It doesn’t excuse how she has behaved or the things she’s said. She’ll soon realize how much she has messed up, and she’ll be calling begging for forgiveness.”

I sigh. “Probably, but I’m not sure if I can forgive her.”

He nods. “Forgiveness isn’t something that can be given easily. Not when the people that you love most, hurt you the worst.”

‘She’ll call whenever she realizes what she’s done,” he says softly. “Call me when you land.”

I nod. “I promise.”

“Good. Will you go see that gentleman of yours? Find out why he was here?”

“Yes,” I assure him, it’ll be one of the things I’ll be doing when I arrive in America. “I love you, Dad. I’ll speak to you soon.”

“Love you too, safe flight.”

I press a kiss against his cheek. “Bye, daddy,” I whisper as I take a step backward. “I’ll call you soon.”

I wave him goodbye as I board his private plane. My heart is heavy with sadness. This could be my final goodbye to Delcia. But I know that as much as it hurts to say goodbye to this beautiful country, I’m going to do what’s right by me, and my baby.

I’m going home to find Jacob.

ChapterEight

Jacob

Aknock at the door pulls me from my sleep. I groan as I turn over, reaching for the pillow and pulling it over my face to block out the noise. Christ, my head is pounding with this headache. I really need to lay off the whiskey.

Going to Delcia was a bust. I wasn’t allowed anywhere near the palace. Anastasia’s mom made it known that I wasn’t welcome and that if I were to continue to try to see Anastasia, she’d have me arrested for trespassing as well as contacting the university and telling them that I slept with a student of mine. The woman meant business, and I know it wasn’t an idle threat. She was determined to ensure I stay the hell away from her

So I returned home and continued to drink myself into a stupor. I know that I’ve lost her, and I kick myself every fucking day. God, I shouldn’t have reacted so badly. I should have realized before it was too late that we hadn’t known each other that long or that well to have delved deeper into our lives and pasts. She has no idea about my family dynamic, and yet here I was, pissed that she hadn’t told me about hers.

I was a hypocrite, and now I’m paying for it.

The knocking continues, and I release a louder groan as I roll out of bed, my feet hitting the ground, and I don’t bother to slide on my pants. I’m in my underwear, whoever the fuck is at the door is early, it’s not even nine in the morning, on a Saturday.

I pull open the front door in anger. “What?” I snarl.

“Sorry,” I hear the soft voice, and my knees practically buckle at who I see standing before me.

Anastasia. Christ. She looks beautiful. Her blonde hair flows loosely down her back, her skin has a golden tan, and she’s wearing another sundress, this one stops below her knees but does a hell of a lot to her cleavage. Is it me, or has her boobs gotten bigger?

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