King Liam sat in the seat of his private jet on his way to an address in Hershey Pennsylvania. This was the first lead he had in years to where the love of his life might be. He had been searching for Riley since she left him at Madeleine's estate after at least hearing him out. He recalled that night like it was yesterday. He had been surprised and shocked by her arrival at the estate. In fact, he had planned for her to return to court at the palace he hadn't planned on her returning at Madeleine's. The cold hard glare he received from her, he also hadn't expected but understood. He had proposed to her unofficially and then choose Madeleine moments later she had every right to be pissed. Thankfully, they both agreed they needed to talk.
To soften her heart Liam sent flowers to her room and a note on where they could meet to talk and he waited for her to arrive. She had scaled the outside of Madeleine's home to get to the meeting location unseen. He had been disappointed when she halted his advance to her and sitting at the table before motioning him to do the same. She quietly listened to his complete thought process and all it had done was make her angry. Once he was done explaining all he had come up with to keep her safe while she cleared her name. He stressed they'd continue to see each other while she worked to clear her name. He then awaited her response and had been shocked by the look on her face.
Riley glared at Liam finally replying, "So let me get this straight you, Regina, and Madeleine all agreed that you could have me as the what? Would I be the other woman, your mistress, a scandal waiting to happen or maybe the whore the papers are calling me? Should I live up to that reputation because you the queen and Madeleine all think it's a good idea?
Liam had blushed in embarrassment he hadn't really thought of that when he agreed to the plan. Riley glared at him as she added, "Do you know me at all Liam? Did you really believe I'd carry on a relationship with an engaged man? You have committed to Madeleine and while I don't like it I don't date men in a committed relationship. It doesn't matter to me if you don't love her and it's a political relationship. She will be your wife I will not sit on the sidelines and watch as she flaunts you in front of me. Even worse she will make my life miserable and it will even worse once she becomes queen. Do you really believe I will be safe from her or would she plot to get rid of me? What about children Liam I have always wanted them would I ever be able to have any?
Liam's shoulders slumped at her answer but he still pitched her staying and clearing her name until the end of the engagement tour. He wanted her close for safety reasons to protect her from those after her. Riley shook her head no before replying, "I'm not safe here Liam those pictures were taken at Applewood your family owns it. That means your parents provided not only their security but hired outside security for the event. I have talked to the company they hired looking for the photographer and got the name of one person they were forced to be part of the team. It's a woman that was placed in their employ by Bastien they caught her taking photos and confiscated a camera. I have the camera it's a fake toy, not a real one which is why she had photos to release. I have talked with Tariq's staff and he had packed quickly and left with no information as to when he'd return. I suspect he was told to leave until the heat died down or after you are married to Madeleine."
He paced back and forth aggravated at her words but, agreeing it was a possibility as while she had no proof her theory held merit. Riley held up a hand silencing Liam from saying anything in reply before adding, "Why else would both Olivia and myself receive threatening letters the night of your coronation leaving Madeleine as the only possible choice. If that's not proof enough I have heard this whole plan came from Madeleine the night before the coronation. I also heard you told her no and right after your refusal both Olivia and myself are attacked and forced out of the running. Congratulations Liam for doing exactly what everyone wanted. You could have refused all together and stated you wouldn't accept the crown until you sure the photos are true and you had a chance to look into why Olivia left. I certainly did and know the reason but, I won't betray her trust by sharing it. Now I will be safer alone and outside Cordonia and I will find Tariq quicker on my own without the interference of having to travel around the world. I have a flight scheduled to leave tomorrow. I still have favors to call in you see I have no choice but to clear my name."
Liam now asked concerned, "Why?" She stared at him hard like the question was ridiculous. Eventually, she added, "I won't be able to work as long as people think I am a whore and a slut. I have talked to Daniel and he told me I have been in all the papers and on the news there as well. I have no job and I gave my apartment to Daniel when I left to come to Cordonia. This scandal you think could be worse had left it so that I am both homeless and jobless. I have no hope of ever getting a job unless it's for a strip joint or a john. Not only would I have been raped had Drake not come to my aide but, now I risk starving to death or being killed on the streets since I am homeless and there is no magic money fairy to take care of me. I doubt anyone thought of the big picture when they choose to do this to me. You know instead of being a cowardly toddler throwing a fit they could have been an adult and actually talked to me. Perhaps, even expressing any concerns they had. I have never met so many children playing adult until I came to Cordonia. So I am leaving I won't stay with children who are out to do me harm and have money to hire people to do it." Liam's face fell before he nodded and let her go only to be stunned when she skalled the wall to leave the balcony.
The engagement tour had reached Italy when he ran into Riley for a brief moment as she chased a woman from the restaurant he had been in with Madeleine. He saw her again in Paris, France at the airport she was boarding a flight to Germany. When he finally made it to New York he found time to go to her old apartment. Daniel had been kind but hadn't seen her. Then he saw the news report from California where both Turwig and Riley held a press conference finally clearing her name.
Daniel upon seeing it turned to him and said, "Leave her alone. Do you have any idea how many times she has been attacked or stalked? The last one left a warning for her with me. He told me to tell her to stay hidden until after your wedding or she'd wish she were dead. It was a woman who told me to remind her that you were hers and unwelcome in Cordonia. Liam returned to his duty and then to his country having no choice but, to leave the woman he loved behind. However, as he left New York he lost Drake Walker too he had been angry at Liam for not going after Riley when they loved each other.
Drake had argued he needed to drop Madeleine and join Riley and by not doing so would make her believe Liam never had any feelings for her. Drake had really yelled at him and had finally left him stating that he couldn't watch his best friend make the worse mistake of his life. Liam returned to Cordonia a sad and defeated man. It was during the plane ride home that he became determined to find all his enemies and then find Riley and hope she'd forgive him. He'd spend the rest of his life making it up to her if she'd give him a second chance.
In Cordonia Bastian had gotten shot the day he had planned to announce that he was breaking his engagement to Madeleine. It got put off due to the attack and then Madeleine was poisoned. After the poisoning Madeleine was kidnapped Liam couldn't rescue her in time she was killed. He had, however, kill the kidnapper so the threat was gone. He then hired a team to look into any possible threats to him and his country. It took years to change laws and end all threats to his country as well as himself. Then he had to hire a team to find Riley. He had to know if there was any hope for him with Riley before he could move on to consider anyone else. It took way to long for him to get any results and there had been many false findings frustrating Liam. This time they had found Drake Walker with a woman and he himself had to go to the address where they were located. He had a gut feeling that Riley was with Drake and that his best friend was watching over her.