She loved a man who had had his heart broken, not just by one woman, but by two. And while Anaïs’s betrayal had been short-term, his mother’s had gone on for years.
Her heart stuttered and tears prickled her eyes. He stirred in his sleep.
She turned away and walked quickly out of the bedroom before he woke. She couldn’t risk him seeing her expression. He’d been too adept at reading her moods lately. She couldn’t afford to let him see that, while she was certain he’d love their baby, she could foresee herself yearning for a love he could never give her.
Going to the window, she gazed out at the twinkling lights of San Domenica. This place was now her home, for better or worse.
She intended to do everything in her power to make sure it was the better.
She was going from delinquent to princess. Was she being selfish in asking for the icing on the cake?
Yes! She wanted it all.
Tears slipped down her cheeks before she could stop them.
‘You’re crying. Tell me why.’
She whirled around.
Reyes stood a few feet away, dressed in only his boxers, intense eyes scouring her face.
‘I wasn’t crying.’
One eyebrow was raised at her wet cheeks. ‘Unless it’s raining in here and I’m not aware of it, I beg to differ.’
‘I never cry. Tears are for the weak.’
His eyes narrowed. ‘Who told you that?’
‘A gang leader years ago.’ She shook her head. ‘I’m sorry. That whole trip down memory lane has dredged up things I’d rather forget.’
He stepped closer, cupped her cheeks. ‘And that’s what woke you?’
About to nod and let that assumption hold, she hesitated. And spoke the words that scrapped up from her shredding heart. ‘Are you sure you’re making the right choice, Reyes? Not for your people, but for you?’
His eyes grew wary. ‘Why the sudden introspection?’
‘I know we’re only doing this primarily for the baby, and for your people. But we’ll be in this marriage, too.’
Jaw clenching, he paced in tight circles in front of her. ‘What are you saying?’
‘That you need to be sure before we take a step we can’t retrace.’
He froze. His nostrils flared as he jerked his fingers through his hair. ‘What’s going on, Jasmine? Why are you crying? Are you having second thoughts?’
She swiped at her cheeks and grappled with what to say. Settling on a half truth, she met his gaze. Slowly, she nodded. ‘Yes, and I think deep down you probably are, too.’
His brows clamped together. ‘Don’t put words in my mouth.’
Jasmine would’ve given anything not to utter the words. ‘Then tell me in your own words.’
He stared at her for a long time. Then shook his head. ‘I don’t have the luxury of being whimsical about this situation. It is what it is.’
The vice tightened around her heart. ‘What about love, Reyes? Surely you have a view on whether you want love in your life or not?’
His hand slashed through the air. ‘My father married for love. Look where that got him.’
‘Are you saying if you fell in love and were loved back, it wouldn’t be enough for you?’
‘I’m saying love is never equal, no matter what anyone says. Someone always loves more, and that person has the most to lose.’ Shadows flickered in his eyes before he turned to pace the room again.
Her beautiful eyes clouded. ‘You really believe that, don’t you?’
Striding to her, he grabbed her arms. ‘I don’t believe in fairy tales. And my reality speaks for itself.’
She pushed out of his arms and padded to the window. Tugging the sheet closer, she wrapped her arms around herself.
Reyes watched her, the action both angering and disturbing him. ‘Jasmine?’
After a moment, she turned. ‘How is your father?’
He frowned, struggling to keep up with everything she was throwing at him.
Waking up to find her gone, he’d had a chilling sense of déjà vu, before he’d remembered he was back home, in a place where Jasmine wouldn’t be able to escape him easily. Except she was trying now. The woman he’d gone to sleep certain of spending the rest of his life with was having second thoughts.
And probing subjects he didn’t want to discuss. Yet he found himself answering. ‘As well as he can be considering his heart and organs are days away from failing.’ The throb of pain the thought brought made his breath catch. His father had had a good day today. Straight after his council meeting, Reyes had gone to see him. They’d talked for a full hour, during which Reyes had stumbled over himself in his plea for his father’s forgiveness for treating him so harshly.
His father had merely smiled and said, ‘Finally, you love,’ before he’d fallen asleep.
‘Can he speak?’ Jasmine asked.
He shoved a hand through his hair. ‘A few words when the medication isn’t strong enough to make him sleepy.’
She nodded. ‘Can you do me a favour? The next time you see him, ask him if he’d do it all over again. Love your mother with unconditional love.’
His insides clenched and he exhaled. ‘I don’t need to ask him. I know he would.’
‘Do you think that’s foolish? Those brief moments of happiness to balance the pain and the betrayal?’
‘Jasmine—’
‘Just humour me. You have no idea how many times I wished for my mother to just tell me she loved me, or for her to remember it was my birthday without the shopkeeper down the road having to remind her. Was it always that bad between your parents?’
Reyes thought back to birthdays, skiing holidays, family gatherings. His mother had made an effort on those rare occasions. Those were the happiest he’d seen his father. But as with all things, the happy moments were fleeting, the painful moments lingering the longest.
He shook his head. ‘It wasn’t, no. But it was a life...so-called love...without trust and respect. And to me that’s no life at all. Do you not agree?’
Her shoulders slumped. A flare of panic lit his insides.
‘It doesn’t really matter what I think, does it? You’ve made up your mind. We have a wedding to plan and a baby to look forward to.’
She was staying. The panic should’ve abated, yet it escalated. ‘We can make this work, Jasmine.’
Her dejection grew even more palpable. ‘Reyes—’
He cupped her shoulders. ‘We will make it work. That is my edict.’
Her chin rose and although her eyes filled with more tears, they didn’t spill. But they spiked her lashes and clung like tiny diamonds.
‘I know you’re the Crown Prince, possibly soon to be King, but I’m really tired of you ordering me around like I’m some type of minion. Get over yourself already.’
She flung away from him, trailed the sheet to the bedroom and then reversed her trajectory back to the living room to snatch up her gown.
Watching her try to manoeuvre the dress on while keeping hold of the sheet tugged a reluctant smile from his lips, despite his churning feelings.
She