Someone’s Someone

by Curious Girl

I've always been someone's someone. I will always be known as the sister of. The sister of the wonder child; the sister of the Nobel prize laureate; the sister of Princess Anastasia of Romanov; the sister of the next Queen of England; the sister of the Olympian... and the daughter of Troy and Gabriella Bolton. But I am so much more. I am Josephine Bolton.

33. Chapter 33

Josephine

Dr. White walls over to us. "I'm very sorry, but none of your children are able to donate stem cells." He gives us the world shattering news in such a neutral tone that I want to slap him. Maria's got leukaemia - and he doesn't show any emotion?

Maria bursts into tears immediately. Oliver wraps his arms around her. It's heartbreaking to watch.

"Mrs. Bolton, a word?" Dr. White asks me.

I frown before I nod and follow him into a separate examination room. Dr. White closes the door behind me and shuts the blinds to prohibit anyone looking inside from the hallway. That's strange. Very strange.

"Mrs. Bolton, I have some very different news for you." He tells me before inhaling deeply. "Your blood test showed a pregnancy."

That's not news to me at all. "I'm aware and so is my husband. We just didn't tell anyone yet." And we probably won't for another ten weeks.

"Your blood test also revealed that you are a possible donor to your mother-in-law."

"What?" Now that's news I didn't expect to hear.

"You share the same blood type as her. Golden blood is the nickname for Rh-null, the world's rarest blood type. Fewer than 50 people have it worldwide. 43 to be exact and from our databases, it seems like most of the Bolton Family shares this very unique feature. However, your HLA factors are an almost perfect match. She couldn't wish for a better donor."

"But that's great! Why didn't you say that back there?"

"The needed injections to produce enough stem cells in your blood increases the risk of getting leukaemia. And in your current state, that's not an option."

Rory and Nate are no options either. Because they're royals. My brothers are too small to go through such a unique situation. That leaves me Della. But she's in Geneva, working her ass off to find a cure for Alzheimer's. Dad can't donate because of his liver transplant. And Mum doesn't have RH-null. I am Maria's only option! I have to do this. "What are my options then?"

"Mrs. Bolton, given the aggressiveness of Mrs. Rodriguez' blood cancer, she could only be saved by a bone marrow harvest."

"What does that mean?"

"It means a rather large needle will be pushed through the skin and into the back of your hip bone. It's pushed through the bone to the centre and the thick, liquid marrow is pulled out through the needle. This is repeated several times until enough marrow has been taken out, in other words harvested. The amount taken depends on the donor's weight. Often, about 10% of the donor's marrow, or about 2 pints, are collected. This takes about 1 to 2 hours. The body will replace these cells within 4 to 6 weeks. If blood was taken from the donor before the marrow donation, it's often given back to the donor at this time."

"That sounds painful."

"It's usually not because the patient is under general anaesthesia. However, in your case, with the pregnancy an anaesthesia is very likely going to cause a miscarriage. Especially in this very early stage of pregnancy. So that means if you still want to donate, it had to be done with no anaesthesia or with it but then the embryo would most likely die. But even if you do decide to go for it without the anaesthesia, the chances for a miscarriage are still pretty high. We would try to make it as painless as possible with topical creams to numb the pain but I'm not going to lie here. It's going to hurt a lot. But giving birth will be a piece of cake after this." The man dares to show me a small smile.

This time I actually do slap him. My palm has hit his cheek before I even know what I'm doing. But I'm not going to lie and say it didn't feel good.

Because it did.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to-"

"It's okay. You can blame your hormones. A mother's instinct is always to protect their baby first." He rubs his beetroot red left cheek. "Mrs. Bolton, I'm aware this situation is quite unusual, so I'm sure you want to discuss it with your husband first-"

"I'll do it." I interrupt him. Maybe this bubble is meant to burst. I can't not save Maria. She's everything that Oliver has left from his parents. He can't become an orphan. His brothers can't become orphans. I can't let that happen.

And if the bubble has to burst to make it happen, then so be it.

Dr. White's eyes widen. "Okay. But you're aware there will be no anaesthesia?"

I nod. I won't go under anaesthesia and kill the bubble. I'll let God decide while I'm going to cry out in pain. I've said it before, I am not a murderer.

But I'm not a saint either.

"Good. I'm going to see if I can get us an OR as soon as possible. I'll arrange for your husband to join you during the surgery. You're going to need someone to lean on to."

I'm going to need more people than just Oliver. "Could you page Dr. Romanov?"

"Yes, of course. I'll get Dr. Romanov out of the OR. I'll make sure she's going to be with you, Mrs. Bolton." He smiles before turning on his heel.

"One more thing,"

He stops in his tracks with his hand on the door handle, "Yes?"

"I don't want Maria to know it's me." I tell him. I don't want her to feel the need to own me something when Oliver and I get divorced.

Because we will definitely get divorced after I killed our bubble. He won't forgive me.

"That's confidential then." He shows me another smile. "How about you wait here? I'll send you in a nurse that's coming with a lot of paper work for you to sign before we can start. I'm going to inform you as soon as we have a date."

I nod and sit down on the examination lounge.

I'm the only hope that Maria has.

I hope Oliver's going to forgive me for this.

Oliver

I have never been a pessimist in my whole life but today's a day in hell. I always thought of Mondays as a brand new chance, as a start to a fabulous week - but even I can't see anything good in this Monday.

Dr. White opens the door and walks out of the examination room. "Mrs. Rodriguez, I think we should talk about your options. We're going to get you hospitalised first."

Clothes. We didn't even bring anything with us. Because we didn't expect such world shattering news.

My mother nods before following Dr. White down the hallway.

I can see my wife standing in the empty examination room. "Mama, I'll be right with you."

"She's in room 405." Dr. White says with a smile on his lips.

My gaze locks with my wife's and I know instantly that something happened. I can sense it in the air. She has that runners look in her eyes. She looks guilty and afraid. She quickly looks away as I make my way into the room. I close the door and lean against it.

"Everything ok?"

"You should be with your Mum."

"You're avoiding my question."

"Dr. White just confirmed in private that I'm pregnant."

I frown at her words, "But you didn't give any blood yesterday."

"I did because Johna was scared, remember? I guess the nurse put it on the tray and got it tested anyway." She shrugs.

No, that's not what's going on here. "Josephine,"

"I'm a possible donor." She interrupts me.

"What?"

"I am RH-null. I have golden blood just like my siblings do. We've got it form our father. But Rory and Nate can't donate because they're royals. Della's busy in Switzerland. My Dad can't donate because he has had a liver transplant and is sometimes still taking meds for it. And my brothers are too little. So that leaves it to me."

I stare at her in shock for a moment. Of course she has golden blood. Of course the whole Bolton Family is special in that department as well. Blood is considered Rh-null if it lacks all of the 61 possible antigens in the Rh system. It's very dangerous to live with this blood type because so few people have it. Accidents - any injury - can be your death sentence. If a Rh-null carrier needs a blood transfusion, they can find it difficult to locate a donor, and blood is notoriously difficult to transport internationally.

All the reasons more why today is a day in hell.

"I'm a regular blood donor and so is the rest of my family. Because of our condition, for our own safety. There are 43 people in the world that have golden blood so we need to help each other out whenever we can."

"Well maybe we can get some blood conserves from somewhere-"

"No, there are not enough stocks on that blood type here and it would take hours for the blood to get prepared. Your mother's cancer is very aggressive. She needs help now. She needs it today."

"They want to extract your stem cells from your hips."

She nods, "And I cannot go under anaesthesia because of the bubble."

"Because of the high risk of miscarriage."

"Yes." She licks her lips, "But I have to do it. You can hate me for the rest of your life but I will not let your mother die!"

"I'm going with you in the OR."

"No, you should stay with your Mum."

"Tesouro..." She really is our treasure. She's a life saver. A superhero.

"Go and be with your Mum. Ana will take care of me."

I can't divide myself between my Mama and her. "I'll wait until Ana's here."

"That might take a while. Really, I'm good. Just tell your Mum I had something to take care of."

"You don't want her to know?"

She shrugs, "She's no fan of me and I don't want to force her appreciation and love. I want it to happen naturally. So please, be with her and don't tell her who the donor is."

Josephine

The lights in the sterilised OR are bright. I'm only wearing one of those blue capes but I am nude underneath. My chestnut waves are hidden underneath a cap that looks like a shower cap. A team of five doctors is around me, including interns, residents and a gynaecologist. Dr. White will harvest the stem cells from my hip bone. He said he'd start with the right and then see how it's going. Maybe he won't have to touch the left side, he said.

He is a terrible liar.

I am laying on my stomach as the doctors start using a kind of terminology that Rory studied at Oxford. I still remember a few words but I don't understand everything.

Maybe that's good.

Ana hasn't made it yet as she's stuck in the ER. They said she would be here shortly.

That was three hours ago.

"You can do this."

His deep voice roars through the room until it reaches my ears. I was a fool to think I could hide something so big from Oliver. As soon as he saw me not coming back to them he found out my room and pretty soon he found out what I was about to do as well. To my surprise he didn't try to talk me out of it. He knows of the consequences but he's not angry with me.

I squeeze Oliver's hands and nod. "This won't be pretty."

"Sweetie, that's what they say about giving birth as well." A big red haired nurse says to me with a smile on her lips. "But we've got the best doctors here. We're going to take very good care of you."

Suddenly, the door to the OR opens and my sister walks in, dressed in a navy uniform with a mask around her mouth and a bright pink cotton cap on her head to hide her blonde hair. The cap has pink peonies.

She looks very pretty. Like sunshine.

"Ana," I cannot hide my relief to have her here. I didn't want Oliver to see me like this. Not because I'm afraid of showing him my weak side but because I fear it'll traumatise him forever.

"I'm here." She says before rushing over to me. She looks at Oliver. "You can go now."

"I'm not leaving." He tells her in a strict voice.

I can feel how someone applies another layer of numbing cream on my right hip. I can still feel the fingers and the pressure so I'm pretty sure it's useless.

I will feel every single bit. No matter how much cream they will put on me.

God, I am nervous!

My older sister sighs, "Oliver, this won't be pretty. She will cry out of pain and beg for it to stop before the needle has even penetrated fully. Trust me, you don't want to see it if you don't have to."

"She's my wife."

Ana nods, "I know and I'll be right here for the next three hours."

Three hours?! Dr. White said one or two!

"No, I'm not leaving her."

"Oliver, your wife is very strong. Have trust. If she says she can do this without you than she can."

Oliver grinds his teeth so much that I fear he might break his jaw.

Ana and Oliver look at me. I open my mouth to answer as I feel a sharp cutting pain in my hip.

"Can you feel that, Mrs. Bolton?" Dr. White asks me.

Yes, I bloody can! "Oliver, go."

"But-"

"Go. I want Ana here with me. Wait with your Mum. Spent time with your mother."

"But you are my family as well."

Tears form in my eyes. Bloody hell, he has to make me cry now?! "Oliver, please. I don't want you to see me like this and get traumatised from it. What I am about to do is not to make you feel like you owe me something. I am doing this for your Mum. I know you would do this for mine as well."

"Of course I would."

"Yes because you could get an anaesthetic!" Ana hisses before looking up and behind me. "We have to start. Oliver, get out."

But Oliver doesn't move an inch.

"Oliver, please go."

He picks up my hands and kisses my knuckles. "I love you." With that he rises from the chair and walks out of the OR.

He didn't even give me the chance to say it back.

Ana sits down across me. She grabs my hands and shows me her genuine smile that makes me feel loved, respected... and full of peace.

That's why I wanted her here. She can deal with the pain. She sees it daily.

"I think we should get started." Dr. White says and suddenly it's full concentration. "Light." I can hear how the big light gets moved and feel the warmth on my skin moving a little more to the left.

Bloody hell, this will hurt!

"Mrs. Bolton, I will now start. I suggest you hold as close to your sister as possible." Dr. White announce.

"Focus on me. Listen to my voice. Look me in the eyes." My sister says to me in her angelic voice.

That's when I feel the needle getting pushed into my skin. I cry out in a kind of tone I've never heard me do before. It's full of the excruciating pain that's running through every nerve in my body right now. I start shaking and winding as tears start running down my face immediately. My body starts tensing up every muscle in me.

It's protesting and protecting me from the pain.

"Mrs. Bolton, I need you to lay still." Dr. White's voice is dull, almost not hearable.

Ana grabs my head with her hands that are covered in white gloves. "Lay still." I can't hear her but I can read from her lips as I stare at her face.

Even her big green eyes are so mesmerising right now.

Suddenly, Dr White crashes against the bone. It's a painful sound but even a more painful feeling. I cry out again and start shaking my head from left to right. I can't do this. I really can't. I thought I could but this is a kind of pain I wasn't prepared for.

"Team A start working."

Suddenly, I feel many hands on my back, legs and shoulders pushing me down. That's what the team of doctors is here for. I thought they were here to learn but no they're here to control me and keep me still.

Cries from the depth of my throat escapes me. It's so deep, so full of pain that I am afraid of myself. This is not me. I am someone else.

"I know it hurts." Ana says to me.

No she doesn't. She has no idea how much this hurts. Dr. White pulls something out of the needle but it's still sitting against my bone. I have a feeling the next step is going to be far worse.

"Focus on my lips. I will tell you..." she inhales. "Your future."

Now?! She wants to tell me what she knows now?! She never wanted to share what she knows in the past so why now?! "You fucking bitch! You knew I was going to do this-"

"Mrs. Bolton, I'm going to start drilling now."

Did he just say drilling?!

Suddenly, the sound of a drill - like at a dentist - starts filling the room. Bloody no! No, this is not what I agreed to! This is not-

"Team B, please."

I feel more pressure on my body that's pushing me down until I am unable to move. I can't even breathe freely.

And then I feel the long drill getting inserted into the hollow needle. I can feel how every other centimetre Dr. White crashes against the wall of the hollow needle.

And then the drilling sound starts filling the room.

Along with the vibrating feeling that goes through my body.

And a kind of cry I didn't know I had.

The next ten seconds are a blur. I am in so much pain that I lose my voice from crying. I have a red head because I don't breathe properly but the worst is this excruciating pain.

And then the drilling stops.

And I feel liquid filling up the hole immediately, trying to heal what he just broke. My stem cells. My bloody stem cells!

"We've got some nice stem cells everyone! Looks very good. Tube please!"

Another thin tube gets inserted into the hollow needle and suddenly I feel suction. It's getting pumped out of me.

The suction is the best part of the procedure. It still hurts but not as much as the drilling and the needle getting pushed into my bone.

"You're doing an incredible job, Mrs. Bolton." Dr. White says. "We almost have one third of the container full. That's very good for the first time. Maybe the left hip will serve enough stem cells."

He's such a bad liar!

I look at my older sister and stare at her big green eyes. "Tell me what you know."

Her lips and eyes will be my focus for the next three hours.

Oliver

I can't sit still. My wife has been driven to the ORs, so I'm left alone in the hospital room with my Mama. And it's scary. Beyond scary. My Mama's nervous and I don't feel better as well. We're waiting for my wife's stem cells, which are getting extracted from her hip bone right now. I can't imagine the pain she's going through and I wish to be with her - but she sent me away. I was torn between being with my wife and being with my Mama, but she made the decision for me.

"Everything alright?" My Mama asks me. She's sitting on a chair and has a blanket wrapped around her. She's connected to several infusions and a hemodialysis. In hemodialysis, a dialysis machine and a special filter called an artificial kidney, or a dialyzer, are used to clean your blood.

Over the last two hours my Mama has lost the colour in her face and the life in her eyes. She has started giving me one life advice after another. Tips on how to raise children and what to do when they ask the big questions of life.

She's afraid of death.

And she has no idea my wife is about to save her life - and I can't tell her because Josephine told me told me not to.

"Yes. Don't worry, everything will resolve itself." I promise her and grab her hands. They're icy cold. "Do you want me to get another blanket? You should have another blanket."

"I'm okay."

I let go of her hands and get up from the chair. "I'll get you another blanket. Just stay here and try to relax." I have to move otherwise I might go insane. Dr. White said the cancer was aggressive but we caught it early which is good. And with Josephine's stem cells the chances of healing are very well.

"It's not like I can go anywhere." My Mama jokes as I walk out of the private hospital room.

I close the door behind me and walk over to the front desk where a group of nurses from a variety of ethnic backgrounds are working. The whole medical team here has been exceptionally well. In that perspective, I am glad that we did all the tests yesterday and we're here now. Because otherwise it might have been to late. "Can someone tell me how my wife's surgery is going?" I ask the nurses in pink scrubs. A black woman with curls that remind me of my wife turns around.

"Mr. Bolton, you're wife's in very good care. Don't worry." Her warm brown eyes and soft smile calms me down. I notice her name Nakisha embroidered on her left chest.

"Okay. Do you have some extra blankets? My mother's a little cold."

"Yes, of course we do. Follow me."

I follow her down the hallway until she stops at a wooden closed door. She opens the door and shows me hundreds of blankets, pillows and sleeping mattress. The blankets and pillows are organised by size and colour. There are beige, navy, light grey, apple red and black blankets. All of them have the Bolton Family's Coat of Arms embroidered on them.

"Wow that's quite a lot."

"We give them out to homeless people in the night." Nakisha explains.

"I didn't know this place was a safe haven for homeless people as well."

"We don't like to brag around with it but the fact is very much known among those in need. We help and treat everyone here. Which colour and size do you want?"

"Navy in two meters by two meters." I answer. That should keep my mother warm.

She nods before handing me a folded blanket. "If you need anything else, don't hesitate to call me."

I nod, "Thank you."

"Do you need another pillow?"

"No." I follow the nurse out of the room. I turn around as I hear lots of footsteps walking down the hallway. A team of doctors is walking towards us. I spot Ana among them and I know that my wife's excruciation has come to an end. "Ana,"

She stops across me while the rest walk past me. "Oliver. It's over. Jo has done a very good job. She's resting in a room down the hallway. I gave her something to sleep and calm her down. Have you called our parents yet?"

"No. But I should."

"Do that now. I'll bring that to your mother. We will start giving her the stem cells right away. She should feel better very soon." Ana grabs the blanket out of my hands. "I suggest you call my Mum."

I nod, "Okay. Thank you."

I walk over to a window front and look at the garden that's behind the hospital. It's beautiful with lots of trees, a little lake and lots of sunshine. I get the iPhone out of the pocket of my jeans and call Bolton's Enterprises as I don't have Gabriella's personal number.

"Bolton's Enterprises, Sophie Winterbottom speaking, how may I help you?"

"Hi, this is Oliver... Bolton. I am Josephine's husband. I'd like to talk to Gabriella."

"Mrs. Bolton is currently in a meeting. Is it urgent? Otherwise I would suggest you try another time in two hours."

"Yes, it's very urgent. Please pull her out of the meeting."

"Stay in the line. I'll connect you with her in a moment."

I can hear the pulse humming in my ears as I wait for Gabriella to pick up. Every parents deserves to know that their child is in the hospital.

"Hello?" Gabriella's voice is clear and soft.

"Gabriella, this is Oliver."

"What happened?"

"Josephine's in your hospital. Along with my mother. My Mum has an aggressive form of leukaemia and Josephine is donating her stem cells. They share the same blood type."

Gabriella's silent on the other end of the line.

"Gabriella, have you heard me?"

"Yes, yes I have. I was thinking. I'll be there in half an hour with my husband. I'm sorry for your Mum and I'm glad Jo can help her."

"She's already in the OR and resting in her room. She won't wake up in a few hours. Ana gave her something to sleep, so there's no rush."

"Okay. Thank you for letting me know."

"Of course."

She hangs up without saying another word.

That wasn't as bad as I thought.

I walk back into the hospital room of my Mama. She has another blanket wrapped around her and she's connected to another infusion: Josephine's stem cells. The doctors have left, even Ana. She's probably with Josephine.

My Mama looks at me with tears in her mocha coloured eyes, "This is a miracle!"

I smile at her and sit down in my old spot. I don't know if I can keep this a secret.

But I gave my wife a promise and I can't break it.

"Where's Josephine?"

"She had a work emergency. I just talked to her. She asked me to voice her happiness."

"Just imagine what could have happened if Josephine didn't insist on us doing these tests! I could have died and made you all orphans!"

I try to gulp down the ball in my throat, "Mama, there's something I have to tell you."

Josephine

I wake up because of an excruciating pain in both of my hips. Every point that has been used to collect stem cells is hurting so badly that all I want to do is scream, cry and be held by my Mummy. It's a pain like no other.

And I can't take anything to ease it.

I hate being pregnant. From the moment I found out to this... this pregnancy was the worst that's ever happened to me!

My whole body aches, but my hips, the incisions hurt the most. After all, I donated my stem cells directly from my bone marrow.

When I open my eyes, everything is a blur. My focus is only a tiny circle that slowly grows as my head is killing me. The first thing I recognise is Oliver sitting next to me. The man who is married to me, who knocked me up... who should be with his Mum instead of his wife.

He looks tired. He has bags under his stunning green eyes and his beach blonde hair is messy. He should get some sleep.

But who am I to judge. I probably look worse because I feel the worst I've ever felt. My Mum once said to me that pain only lives in your head. Well, I can confirm it lives very much in my hips right now.

"Hi..." I whisper and see how his emerald eyes widen.

"Josephine," he breathes my name in a way he has never done before. He fills this one word with so much gratitude that tears form in my eyes immediately. He didn't expected me to do this at all.

Well, Maria's family and you don't let down family. You help where you can.

And sometimes the help can be found in the bones of your hips.

Suddenly, he buries his face in my chest and I embrace him tightly. He doesn't say anything and I don't either. We've always communicated without words the best.

I embrace him and ignore the growing pain in my hips from the added pressure to my chest as best as I can, but tears start rolling down my cheeks anyway. Maybe it's from the pain in my hips, maybe it's from the pain in my heart because Oliver didn't think I would help his Mum... or maybe it's out of gratitude that I made it through the most painful hours of my life. Three hours of pure torture.

I don't know how Ana deals with this on daily basis. It would traumatise me, haunt me in my dream, but Ana... she can still smile and find joy in the little things.

She really is very special.

"I love you." His whisper is muted, but I heard him. Or maybe I felt him say these words, I don't know. All I know is that this pressure on my chest becomes unbearable.

"Oliver, would you mind lifting your head off of my chest?" I ask him as politely as I can.

"Yes, of course." He says as he does so. He runs his fingers through his beach blonde hair.

"Are you guys done?!"

I wince at my father's voice. I didn't realise we weren't alone. I look across me and see that my parents are sitting across my bed like I am a little girl.

I am not a little girl. I am a 26 year old woman.

My father is wearing a light grey suit with a black tie, so I assume he came here from work as soon as Ana or Della called him although I prohibited it. My mother is wearing a pair of ripped jeans by Paige, chestnut sandals and a white linen blouse into which she tucked in her tortoiseshell sunglasses. Her dark brown curls are open and she's not wearing an ounce of makeup. They look so different, yet they're inevitably connected. Not only because they're holding hands or are wearing wedding bands, it's because of this aura - this bond that is evident to everyone.

My father doesn't even try to hide how pissed he is and my mother, well my Mum looks like she's about to burst into tears any moment.

"Give us a moment alone with her, Oliver." My father demands in his scary deep, CEO voice.

I reach out to my left and grab Oliver's hand before he can say a word. The stretch hurts as hell but I refuse to let my parents see that. "No, he's staying. He's my husband, remember?"

My father fakes a laugh, "How could I forget?! The homeless you married in Rio overnight!"

"That's not our story."

"Really?! Well then explain to me why your story ends up in a freaking hospital where you donate stem cells from your hips to his mother?!" He tells so loudly that I wince. "Josephine, you are not Mother Theresa! These people are perfectly fine and capable of taking care of themselves! They don't need you or your money - or your stem cells - to help you out!"

"Daddy,"

"I know Oliver is important to you but you can't just bring a stranger into our family-"

"Daddy," I interrupt him again and lick my lips. If he doesn't shut up very soon I will explode.

"Listen,"

"Shut up!" I yell at him. "I'm not having this conversation right now. If you want to know how I'm doing please ask my doctor. But in the meantime, I don't want you in my room, where I am recovering from a very painful surgery. I did this to save Maria, Oliver's Mum, who has a very aggressive form of leukaemia. And as it turns out, I am the only person available to help. This is not some Mother Theresa thing I'm trying to pull off here." I explain and grimace from the pain in my hips. "And now get out!"

"Jo-"

"GET OUT!" I say in a louder voice.

"Alright, but don't think this conversation is over. We will revisit it when you're doing better." My Daddy says as he rises from the chair.

My Mummy is rooted to her chair.

"Gabi,"

"I'm staying. Take a stroll down the hallway to clear your head. I am not leaving our daughter alone." She says in an icy cold voice that makes me forget my pain for a moment.

"Fine." He walks out of my single bedroom.

My Mum doesn't even watch him walking out. Her deep brown eyes are trained on me like a cat focused on the prayer. The door snaps in place with a loud bang but she doesn't even wince. She's as calm as Buddha.

It's weird but also admirable.

"Mum, I'm okay."

But my Mum doesn't even seem to have heard me. She just stares at me, at our joined hands and Oliver.

"Mummy-"

"I love you and you deserve a medal for what you did. We need more people on this planet that are like you. But if you ever - and I mean ever - pull a stunt like this again than I swear you will put your father and me into our graves faster than you guys can choose a coffin."

I gulp at her words and suddenly feel tears rolling down my cheeks. I didn't mean to scare them so much. I just wanted to help Maria as quickly as possible.

My Mum rises from her chair and walks over to me. She doesn't embrace me because she probably knows in what pain I am. Instead she kisses my forehead. The touch has something soothing and calming. It decreases my pain in a way didn't think was possible.

My Mum looks at Oliver, "I am sorry for what my husband has said. He doesn't see straight right now. He's worried and scared. He tends to be quite protective over our daughters."

"I can see that." Oliver answers.

My Mum licks her lips. "I hope your mother will be doing better soon. I want you to know that I don't view you the same way as my husband does. You are family to me. Not because of the marriage but because of your emotions for my daughter. And clearly she returns them in her own, very unique, way."

I don't deny the truth that came out of my mother's mouth.

"I'm going to leave you two now and look for my husband. We'll be back tomorrow evening if you don't get released." She smiles at me. "Oh and I brought you some dinner from Luigi's. Pasta verde and some tiramisu."

"Thank you, Mummy." She has no idea how much it means to me.

She squeezes my hands before looking at Oliver. "Call me if something happens."

He nods. "Of course."

"Okay, sleep tight."

I probably won't sleep at all but I decide to not tell her that. "You, too."

"Goodnight, Oliver."

"Goodnight." He shows her a smile before my mother leaves us alone.

"How are you?"

"In pain." I answer honestly. "Did the bubble burst?"

"They don't know yet but there hasn't been any bleeding during the surgery so it still looks like our baby is still alive."

Baby. It's not one yet. It's an embryo. "Embryo."

"I'm sorry?"

"It's not a baby but an embryo."

"It is our baby however you name it." He insists.

I don't have the strength to correct him. Maybe because he's right.

He runs his fingers through my hair and gives me this look that makes my heart nearly burst with love for him. "I swear I couldn't love you more than I do right now, and yet I know I will tomorrow."

"You're not mad at me for putting our embryo in danger?"

He licks his lips, "How could I be mad at my wife when she saved my mother's life? Our child will be proud of its mother. She's a superhero and so is our baby."

"I'm not a superhero. Frankly, I'm the worst mother there is. I risked our bubble's life-"

"To save my mother. It's grandma. Your mother-in-law!"

"I know but still... parents should protect their children from any harm. Not literally put them in harm."

He cups my face, "Listen to me, don't beat yourself up. You did the right thing. We would have waited forever for matching stem cells. You were her only hope."

My lips are trembling at his words and tears start burning in my eyes. "I hope this didn't cost our child its life."

Oliver

It's the first time she called it our child. Not embryo. Not peppercorn. Not bubble. But child. Like a real human being made of flesh and blood. She accepted it.

Yet, I can feel my heart tearing in half.

She leans forward and rests her forehead against mine. I can feel her shaky breath against my face. I can feel her trembling lips and the wetness of her tears. She's worried, scared and feels guilty... and therefore I feel the same. It's just like she said. We're entwined. We're one... we're two sides of the same coin. What she feels, I feel and vice versa.

I don't know what to do, so I just hold her and breathe with her. There's nothing I can do or say to make her feel better.

She has to come to the conclusion herself.

"Forgive me." She whispers against my lips after a few minutes.

I almost do a double take. Did she just really say that? She has never asked for my forgiveness. She has apologised, yes but she's never begged for my forgiveness. She's scared stiff. "What?"

"Forgive me." She repeats before opening her eyes. They're welled up in tears. "Forgive me for killing our child."

My throat tightens at my wife's look. My own eyes well up as I feel her pain and fear. It's overwhelming. It takes me a moment to get myself together. "You didn't kill it. The doctors said there was no bleeding."

"Not this one... Well, we don't know about this one yet. I meant the other one. The one I killed due to my excessive drinking."

I wipe the tears off of her cheeks, "Tesouro, you didn't know."

"But I promise to look after this one better... if it's still alive." She inhales with a shaky breath.

"And if it's not than it's okay as well. Because you saved my mother and she's the only parent I have left. You saved my brothers from a life in which they had to grow up as orphans. Children need their mother and they always will even when they're grownups. And you made that possible. If this meant our child had to give its life to make this possible, then it's okay."

"Oliver,"

"We can always try again. Both babies have been there for a reason. The first one was there to show you that we can't be separated, that we're entwined and the second... if the purpose of the second one was to save my mother's life then that's okay. Everything happens for a reason."

"But we're the cumulation of our decisions."

"God has his ways. Don't question them. He knows what he's doing and his plans for us are clearly not the regular one and that's okay. I've got you and you're all I need."

"That's not true. You want children. You want lots of them. You want sticky fingers, dirty feet and endless impatience on long car drives."

She knows me so well. "Yes, I do. But I'm a very patient man and I'll wait until you're ready."

"What if I killed this one subconsciously on purpose? What if I'll never be ready? I'm not enough for you."

Shit, does she really think that? "Josephine, you are absolutely enough for me. You are my world! I love you to the moon and back! If we aren't going to have any kids than that's okay as well. We can do so much good together, help children in need for the rest of our lives. That's okay for me as well. As long as I've got you by my side I'll be fine. I only need you."

Before she can respond, the door of her hospital room swings open and a nurse along with Dr. White wall inside. Nakisha is pushing some device with a monitor into the room.

"Your mother informed me that you're awake so I called Dr. White." The nurse says with a smile on her lips. On her bright pink scrubs is the name Nakisha stitched in a royal blue above the pocket in her top. There's also the coat of arms of the Bolton Family embroidered above the name with the hospital's name underneath it. I can't believe she's still working. She's been here for over 24 hours now. She really meant it when she said she was there for me if I needed anything.

"And I figured you'd probably want to know how your baby is doing." Dr. White says with a smile on his lips.

"Yes, I do actually. We both do." My wife says before squeezing my hand.

"Good. There was no bleeding during the extraction of the stem cells but having a look won't hurt. We brought an ultrasound." He sits down on a rolling chair and picks up a long thong. "I think we should do an internal one, just to get a better picture."

Josephine nods before removing the blanket and pulling up her legs while Dr. White puts a condom over the long thong.

That thing is going into her vagina?! It's bloody huge!

My wife chuckles as she sees my reaction. "I told you pregnancy is no fun."

"You don't say."

"This could be a little cold. Inhale and try to relax." Dr. White says before pushing that monster thing into her perfect pussy. Nakisha switches on the monitor but all I see is a black and white mess. It's blurry. "So, you said you're two weeks along?"

"Yes."

I have no idea how he can see anything there!

"That would've been my guess as well." Dr. White nods. "That's the embryo." He points at the monitor, right at a tiny little dot. "It's about the size of a peppercorn but in a week I'd say it's about pea size and then hazelnut size, macadamia, grape... and eventually you start seeing limbs."

It's teeny tiny! It's almost invisible! I can't believe this will become a human!

"But it's still there?" Josephine asks him.

"Yes, but you're going to have to wait until about the eighth week to hear a heartbeat." He says before pulling out the long thong out of my wife.

"That's a relief. Thank you for coming and checking on the embryo."

We're back to embryo. At least, in public.

"Any time. Your vitals look good. How's the pain?" Nakisha asks my wife.

"Bearable." She answers simply.

"We can't give you anything strong against the pain because of your pregnancy."

"I know. I'm coping."

My wife's a freaking superhero!

Josephine

I woke up the next morning with a huge headache. I've had a rough night with little to no sleep at all. I was in pain and beyond uncomfortable. I am beyond tired and feel weak. But I'm not hungry. I noticed how smell changed and food tastes different. None of that is unusual according to Ana. The cells in my mouth, muscles, stomach and intestines, and even my hair are all re-growing. I should take my time going back to my normal routine. A full recovery usually takes at least a year. In that year I can't donate any blood. But all I want to do now is go home. I want to rest and recover in my own bed, in my own home.

And I'm so glad I got the approval of the doctor.

I wrap the scarf around my neck as the door to my room opens. Oliver went to see his Mum, who is getting released today as well. Ana and Della will check on us regularly so there's really no reason for us to stay here any longer than we have to. The wounds on my back and hips have started to heal really nicely. It feels like very bad lower back pain that makes sitting and walking the stairs hard, but not impossible. According to Ana this should last a several days. Dr. White said I won't have any scars but I know he's a really bad liar so I've prepared myself for some scars. I don't really care because they saved Oliver's Mum's life. I couldn't be more proud of them.

"I'm coming!" I yell before turning around. To my surprise I'm not standing across my husband but my mother-in-law. "Maria,"

"I asked Oliver to give us a moment in private." She looks good. Her olive coloured skin has come back to life. She's no longer pale as snow. Her cheeks have become a little rosy as well. Her mocha brown eyes have their usual glow back and her dark brown hair is shiny again. She looks healthy. Like she was brought back to life.

I can't believe that's because of me.

I know she's not the biggest fan of me, so this conversation won't be pleasant. "Okay."

"Thank you so much." Maria tells me with tears in her mocha coloured eyes. The look makes my throat tighten. "You saved my life."

Oliver told her that it was me but I don't blame him. It was too much of him to ask. "Don't thank me. You don't owe me anything. I did it because I love your son and I promise you I will never ever hurt him again. But if God forbid, he somehow one day falls out of love with me then I will let him go. I will set him free because his happiness is more important than my own. I love him with all my heart, body and soul but I will never stand in the way of his own happiness. I know you don't like me but all I have done was to make sure your son's dreams come true. I am not perfect, I have many flaws but loving Oliver is not one of them. I will not divorce him ever - unless he finds happiness somewhere else."

Maria gulps, "I never hated you, Josephine. I'm a mother and I worry about my sons. I always wanted them to have a better life, to find a way out of poverty and have a well paid job. I wanted a future for them. But I didn't expect this future to come in the form of you. You came into our lives like a cannonball and you changed everything. You brought us to London, you gave us a home, you gave my children the education I always wanted to give them... You turned our worlds upside down and up until yesterday I thought I was dreaming. But today I've woken up and I see that you have no bad intentions, you never had. You just do things your way."

I'm so glad she's finally seeing me in better light. "My parents have raised me but Oliver has shaped me. He has helped me open up to love. He taught me what a relationship should look like. I am the woman I am today because of him. Because of his love and his unshakable belief in us. He is the true hero, not me. Don't be fooled, Maria. I didn't save you guys. He saved me." I bite into my lower lip. "I was happy to help you, I really was. You're family after all."

She grabs my hand and squeezes it softly. "Yes, we are."

"How are you?"

"I should ask you the same question. I didn't get my stem cells extracted. All they did to me was put an IV into the back of my hand." She holds up her left hand to show me the plasters. "But I imagine it was harder for you."

She has no idea how hard. "For us Boltons, nothing and no one comes above family. Protecting them and making sure they're safe and sound is our biggest priority. Donating stem cells was a piece of cake compared to the life saving effect it had."

"Josephine,"

"I think you can start calling me Jo now. We're sharing the same incredibly rare blood type as well as stem cells. We're almost blood related now."

She smiles at me, "Jo then."

The door swings open again and Oliver steps into the room. "Ready to go home?"

"Yes." Maria and I say out of one mouth.

STATEMENT BY HIS MAJESTY THE KING

His Majesty The King has asked for the following announcement to be published:

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I have to announce the following. Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have chosen to step back from their Royal duties and spend their lives in private as private citizens. Therefore, their titles will be adjusted.

As private citizens, The Duke of Sussex will from this day on be known as Prince Henry of Wales. The Duchess has chosen to not take a title into this new chapter of her life. Thus, she will be known as Mrs. Rachel Meghan Mountbatten-Windsor.

Their patronages and their position as president and Vice-president of Queen Elizabeth II's Commonwealth Trust will be re-staffed. An announcement will be made in due course.

Although, Prince Henry of Wales and his wife aren't working members of this Royal Family anymore, they will stay a part of this family.

Royal Earthquake: King throws the Sussexes out of the family!

Breaking news coming straight from Clarence House! His Majesty has thrown the Sussexes out of the royal family! King Charles has stripped the Sussexes not only of their home but also their titles! Meghan and Harry are said to be moving abroad. The statement comes after previous media coverage that accused the senior royals of racism and harassment especially behind palace doors.

The Sussexes have long been known for the untraditional Royal way of life - paving the way for the Duke and Duchess of Oxford. From keeping their son's birth private, to choosing to not give him a royal title, keeping his christening and their godparents a secret, Prince Harry and his wife tend to do things their way. The Sussexes have long been absent from the famous Christmas Morning walk in Sandringham, the last being attended when Meghan was pregnant with Archie. The only annual appearance they make with the rest of the royal family is at Trooping the Colour and occasionally Remembrance Day.

Some say, they do as they please - and the King has had enough of it.

He pulled the emergency break and kicked them out of Windsor Castle's grounds while also taking their titles. It has long been known that neither Harry nor Meghan were happy with their Royal life. Meghan was facing a lot of hatred from there very beginning of her relationship to Harry. They fought and took legal action against some tabloids but it seemed to not be enough.

We take off our sparkly crowns for this couple. Not all battles can be won and sometimes it's wiser to not start a war.

Is the King a racist?

King Charles has faced serious hatred from Twitter and Instagram shortly after he announced he will be stripping the Sussexes of their titles. People start calling him racist because of it.

But is this what really happened? Was the British Royal Family not ready for the breath of fresh air that Meghan was? Is marrying a divorcee and a woman of colour really such a big deal for the Royals? Was it really a question of black or white? Or was it their behaviour?

Or could it be that the King has chosen to slim down the monarchy? But maybe it was also the press with their racist articles and comments as stated by Prince Harry many times?

We will never know. Either way, it is clear that the monarchy has turned from a rainbow of colour back to the old white people, who rule the country. An institution that hasn't changed for centuries. With Sussexes gone, there is no diversity left within the Royals.

But Duchess Meghan will always be our Duchess of hearts.

Can Prince Louis save the monarchy?

With one decision, the King has upset a whole nation. Commonwealth countries are thinking of claiming their independence because they don't want to be associated with a monarchy that is, allegedly, racist.

Although a spokesperson of Harry and Meghan stated that the reasons for them choosing to live a normal life as private citizens was due to the constant ongoing media backlash, not many seem to believe that. For some, if not all, this was a question of colour. While it is known that the Royals tend to marry outside their class, with Prince William, Harry, George and Princess Charlotte all married to commoners, there is no real diversity represented within the family. With Great Britain being a melting pot of all ethnics and skin colour, it seems odd that the Royals are a bunch of white people from, more or less, the same aristocratic background. The British Royals have long married among themselves, and Meghan was clearly not a fit.

So all eyes are now on Prince Louis, who is the only unmarried Royal left. The Prince is currently at St. Andrews where his parents met, studying history of art like his Mum, the Princess of Wales. While he has been snapped with women from several backgrounds in several sizes and of all different skin colours, the true type has not been yet discovered. It seems like Prince Louis loves all women and sees them as equals. It will be interesting to see who the young Prince is going to pick as his princess.

STATEMENT BY PRINCE HENRY

Prince Henry of Wales has asked for the following statement to be published:

As a couple, we have made the decision to become fully private citizens and step away from our Royal duties completely.

We feel incredibly lucky to have so many people supporting us and know what a fortunate and privileged life we have led. When I met my wife and we just started dating, the first wave of harassment rolled over us, creating a snowball-effect over time. We are aware that there is significant curiosity about our private lives. We have never been comfortable with this, but we have tried to develop a thick skin about the level of media interest that comes with it.

After almost two decades of seeing and fighting the racist press, my wife and I have chosen to give up our titles and live a private life. Unfortunately, my wife and our son have become one of the latest victims of a British tabloid press that wages campaigns against individuals with no thought to the consequences – a ruthless campaign that has escalated over the past decades, until our son was unable to enjoy his time at university due to constant media coverage over his every move. Journalists and paparazzi have been following his steps, spreading false rumours and made socialising impossible. My son is unable to live a normal life. I am deeply worried about my son and wife's safety and am deeply disappointed that I have not been able to protect them as much as I wished. It is not right that a family of three should be subjected to such a storm.

There is a human cost to this relentless propaganda, specifically when it is knowingly false and malicious, and though we have continued to put on a brave face and an united front as a family – as so many of you can relate to – I cannot begin to describe how painful it has been. Because in today's digital age, press fabrications are repurposed as truth across the globe. One day's coverage is no longer tomorrow's chip-paper.

Up to now, we have been unable to correct the continual misrepresentations - something that these select media outlets have been aware of and have therefore exploited on a daily and sometimes hourly basis.

For these select media this is a game, and one that we have been unwilling to play from the start. I have been a silent witness to their private suffering for too long. We fought, took legal actions to stop them from spreading their lies, but a line has been crossed.

Therefore we have decided to step away from all of our Royal duties and hopefully flourish as fully private citizens.

Though this action may be a surprise, we feel, as a family, it is the right one. Because my deepest fear is history repeating itself. I've seen what happens when someone I love is commoditised to the point that they are no longer treated or seen as a real person. I lost my mother and now I watch my wife and son falling victim to the same powerful forces.

We will be moving out of Frogmore House and into a new country to start a new chapter in our lives. With a blank canvases, knowing we can fully enjoy privacy.

We would like to voice of gratitude for those who have had our backs and supported us and our work. However, over the last years especially, we have found ourselves facing exceptional scrutiny, criticism and unfair treatment. The threats against my wife and especially our son have solidified our decision to make this step.

We ask you to respect our decision. We thank you, the public, for your continued support. It is hugely appreciated. Although it may not seem like it, we really need it.

- H

With the titles gone: What will happen to Brand Sussex?

After Prince Harry's statement was released, many royal fans are deeply sad about the departure of their most loved royals. The family of three have chosen to give up their titles, put their Royal work at rest and move away from the country to live a normal life. While neither Clarence House nor Windsor Castle are making a comment on the future home of the family, it has left the world wondering. Will they move to Africa? Or back to Canada, where Mum Meghan lived while working as an actress? Is Archie going with them?

And what will happen with the Sussex brand?

The Sussexes have built a royal empire over the last two decades with their Instagram account but also their own foundation. They have trademarked the title on an array of products and services. Their plan was on turning their brand into a global empire as they stamped their name on the list of good and services. The move has seen the royal submit trademark applications on dozens of products including T-shirts, social services and more surprisingly newspapers for their foundation Sussex Royal. Harry and Meghan have trademarked their Sussex royal brand on more than 100 items, from teaching materials and emotional support groups to clothing, printed educational materials; printed publications; educational books; textbooks; magazines and newsletters. The pair have also trademarks in periodicals; printed reports; fact sheets; brochures; programmes; booklets; pamphlets; leaflets; manuals; journals; diaries; calendars; posters; art prints; notebooks; postcards and greeting cards. Also on the list are clothing; footwear; headgear; t-shirts; coats; jackets; anoraks; trousers; sweaters; jerseys; dresses; pyjamas; suits; sweat shirts; hooded tops; caps; hats; bandanas; headbands; socks; scarves and neckwear; gloves; sportswear. The royal pair hoped to trademark the title on developing and coordinating volunteer projects for charitable purposes; providing volunteering opportunities and recruitment of volunteers and information, advisory and consultancy services.

Sussex Royal really was a global empire.

But what will happen to that now that the title is gone?

Royal experts claim that the brand will remain the same, just under a new name. Sussex Royal could simply be changed to the Harry and Meghan Foundation. Their Instagram name could change from Sussexroyal to Harry and Meghan. Everything else would remain as it is. The couple could continue doing their charitable work under the new name, living their private lives in their new home.

---

Josephine

My ringing iPhone rips me out of my nap on the sofa. It's getting bombarded with texts, e-mails and links. I roll over on the emerald coloured sofa as I read the first few texts from my sister and brother. The statement of the king has been published and now the world is going wild, accusing the British Royal Family of racism. This has nothing to do about racism - at least there was none from the Royal Family. They were and still are open towards Meghan and her family. It were her actions, her behaviour and lies that made the King make this decision. She slowly isolated Harry from his friends and family until it was just the three of them - against the rest of the family. They were absent from birthday parties, cancelled meetings with patronages last minute and simply refused doing their Royal duties correctly. They've taken several breaks over the last two decades, usually more than one per year, with each lasting not less than eight weeks. The press used to call the Princess of Wales lazy and criticised her for the way she raised George, Charlotte and Louis. Because she didn't drag them into the spotlight and usually showed photos taken by her on their social media every so often.

And then came Meghan who demanded more privacy and the press wasn't having it. The world wasn't having it. Because she didn't give the press what they wanted, the press started rumours, lies and fake stories.

It caused her downfall.

"You should be resting."

I wince at my husband's voice and look up from the screen of my mobile. "It's out."

"What is out?"

"The King stripped Meghan and Harry of their titles. The internet is going bananas."

Oliver sits down on the sofa next to me, "Wait, he did what? Why did he do that?"

"Officially, they have chosen to become private citizens. Unofficially, the King has become knowledge of Sussexroyal's money laundering in the States. They have been doing it for years. Legally, I might add."

"How's that possible?"

"The Foundation has been registered as a company in Arizona. That means they only have to give back 10% of all the donations the foundation is receiving. Oxford Royal and the Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales on the other side are registered as charities in London. They are no company meaning they have to be absolute transparent about the donations. They have to give away every penny that's donated."

"But not so Meghan and Harry's foundation."

"No. I mean, I'm sure they gave away most of the money most of the time. Apparently, Meghan has been making billions but Harry didn't find it until recently. If it's true or not, I don't know. But the King must have some kind of evidence to make this decision. Or maybe he needed this excuse to free them from the chains of the royal titles. However, Harry is not planing on leaving her. Instead, he has chosen to give up his title and the foundation to become a private citizen along with Meghan and their son."

"What happens to the money?"

I shrug, "It's theirs. They did nothing illegal. They used a loophole. They'll be fine. Whatever they choose to do or where to live, they're still part of the family."

"But they haven't been photographed with the rest of the family for decades now."

I lick my lips, "But that didn't come from the royals. Meghan didn't feel welcomed and she faced a lot of hatred. I don't blame her for feeling tired. She fought this fight for decades and nothing changed. Diana was killed by the paparazzi that chased her and before it's going to happen to Archie or Meghan, they have chosen to full the emergency break."

"Where will they live?"

"I don't know. I don't think they're going to move to LA. Maybe New York or Toronto. Canada could give them the peace they seek. There they could live a normal life. Something Harry never had."

"Wow and what happens with the patronages?"

"They'll get new patrons. Rory and George are taking their place at the Commonwealth Trust."

"When will that be announced?"

"In a few days. George and Rory have to go to Malta as their first engagement and want us to watch the girls."

"Do you feel fit enough for three girls?"

I bite on my lower lip. My body is still healing. "I don't know. The trip is in three weeks. I hope I'm going to be okay by then."

"Did you meet Meghan?"

"Once. She and Harry have been absent from family events for the last decade or so. I met her when I was still a teenager, right when Rory started dating George. At the King's birthday party. She seemed nice, polite and friendly but I saw how drenched she felt in her eyes. The media has thrown a lot of hatred at her. I can very much understand her decision to make a financial cushion in case she has ever to give away her title. She was never happy with the title but just like Rory she understood it was part of loving a royal. This is also why Archie doesn't have a title. It comes with less pressure but not with less interest. The media wanted a new Diana so badly that they threw themselves at Meghan."

"And then Rory came along."

I nod, "Rory followed in Diana's very large footsteps. Very intentionally. She was aware of the interest right from the start but she wasn't as naive as Diana was."

"Well, I wish Harry and Meghan all the best."

"Me, too."

"Are they throwing them a goodbye-party?"

I chuckle, "No, they have already moved out of Frogmore House. They're currently on the plane, on their way to their new home."

"So quickly?"

I shrug, "You should know by now that the media gets informed about the royals' actions last. Everything is set in stone when the statements get released."

"What about Archie?"

"He's going to change unis to be closer to his parents."

"How is he?"

"I don't know. I never met him."

"That's odd."

Odd doesn't even cover it. "It is what it is."

"What about Beatrice and Eugenie?"

I smile as I remember my last encounter with the York sisters. "Oh, yeah they're fun! Beatrice is such a party mouse. She even threw some of Louis' birthday parties. She tends to celebrate anything in life which is great if you ask me. She was also part of Char's hen do last year. Eugenie on the other hand is a bit more serious. She's really close to her cousin William and therefore Catherine... and therefore sort of us. We're all linked together."

"And the Wessexes?"

I grin, "Oliver, I think I have to explain to you how Royalty works. This is a big family but there's only a close circle that's constitutional relevant. Whoever comes after that is not just less important in the eyes of the crown but irrelevant as harsh as that may sound. On top sits the King with his Queen. Then comes the Prince of Wales with his wife, that's always the oldest child of the monarch. After that comes the second heir family, which is again the oldest child and the spouse. Then come their children. After them, everyone is irrelevant."

"Including Charlotte and your brother?"

I nod. "As well as Beatrice and Eugenie, the Wessexes..."

"And Harry and Meghan."

"In a nutshell yes. Meghan and Harry got praised for their relationship in the beginning. Because Meghan was the first divorcee, American and biracial woman to marry into the family. She was going shake up royalty, the press wrote in the beginning. But what they and she didn't understand was that she has to adapt to the family, not the other way around. But she refused to do so from the beginning. She wanted to do things her way and back then the Queen gave her some space. But it was always against Charles' option. I'm not saying he doesn't like her. He's actually very fond of her but as I've just explained to you she and Harry are constitutional irrelevant. Their funding has been to the minimum for years now. The press didn't stop from spreading their lies and then the whole scandal around their foundation was uncovered. It's their way out. Their way to live a normal life. Though, I'm not sure how Harry's going to cope with that. I mean, he grew up in luxury."

"Well, it's not like they're poor all of the sudden."

"True, they made sure to go with a financial cushion."

"Will the scandal come out? About their foundation?"

"No, I don't think so. They will officially blame the press for their mental health issues. It's better that way."

"Just now the press is accusing the king of being racist."

I shrug, "Believe it or not, this family has been through worse. This will die down. Meghan and Harry will post some family photo with the king and all will be good. It's just a matter of the right timing."

"Is it really just as easy as posting a photo on Instagram?"

"Perhaps with another statement, but yeah. If you give the press a bread crumble than they will use it, twist it and play with it until nothing's left. And then the whole scandal is forgotten. Harry and Meghan will be occasionally photographed doing whatever wherever and the newspapers will go crazy over it for a few weeks but even that will die down. The monarchy remains. That's how it's been working for centuries."

"Wow, that seems pretty cold. I mean, they're real people."

"It's nothing against Harry and Meghan. I mean, I wouldn't want to be in their shoes. It's hard to be the first couple of anything but they were that under the limelight of the world's lens. I can't imagine what they went through and while I myself had to develop a thick skin over the last year, it's nothing against them. They have been attacked not only on daily basis but hourly basis. I'm sure most of that they didn't read but that doesn't mean it didn't affect them. I think they're better off this way. Away from the press, the crown and the pressure. They're private citizens now which means they will remain a part of the family."

"Except you still won't see them at birthday parties or Christmas Eves."

I shrug, "You never know. Maybe they stayed away on purpose. Maybe they wanted to get away from the attention and not steal the spotlight from any senior royal."

"So you're saying they're saints now? You can't have it both ways. Either they're bad people or good people. God knows that stealing money from people is not a good thing to do."

"I'm saying I don't know them. And that's why I can't judge them."

"What does Rory think of this? And Ana?"

I sigh, "They say there are bad auras. Whatever that means."

"So they don't like them."

"Not them. Just her."

Oliver frowns, "Because of her skin colour?"

"What? No! It's not a matter of her skin colour! You can dislike a person and that has nothing to do with the way she or he looks. They didn't like how she behaved around them. They found her fake."

"Fake?"

"Yes, but as I said I can't say anything to that. I don't know Meghan and I refuse to judge until I have evidence. Can we please close the topic now?"

"One more question."

I roll my eyes, "Fine."

"Will they be at the King's birthday party?"

I shrug, "I don't know. But I do know who is going and that's us."

"Us? I'll be going to Clarence House?"

"Yes, to the formal party at Clarence House and to the real birthday bash at Highgrove House a day later."

"The King celebrates his birthday twice?"

I nod, "He's the King. He can do whatever the hell he wants."

---

Thank you for taking the time to read this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it!

This chapter was not supposed to be released any time soon as this was my 'buffer' in case I wouldn't have any inspiration or my personal life would get too busy. But things have changed and I felt the need to speak out, to explain and apologise.

Due to one review posted on the last chapter, I feel the need to apologise. Please remember, this is a story based on fiction with occasional facts. Facts like the names and houses of the Royal Family as well as some articles written about them. The same goes for the Rothschild Family. I never intended to put out racist anecdotes or anything other racist related. It shook me to the core when I read the words in that review as this is nothing I want to be associated with. I have many friends of different backgrounds and skin colours and I love them all the same. I believe love knows no skin colour, ethnicity, class, sex or age. This is what my stories are about. Love in all of its form - not racism.

If some of my writing has come across as such then I am deeply sorry for causing pain and anger.

I've also been interested in the Royal Family for a very long time now, which is why the whole story of Rory and George started. I love all members of the Royal Family - yes, even Prince Andrew with the current scandal is, deep down in his heart, a good person in my opinion but he did very shady and disgusting things. I believe he will get what he deserves, one way or another and I feel sorry for his daughters. Maybe he has some cosmic karma to work out, I don't know. I believe people always have a cosmic reason for the things they do, not just subconsciously or consciously. I don' t judge celebrities or royals without knowing all the facts, so I hope for the best. I'm a big supporter of Harry and Meghan. When Harry released the first statement via KP, my heart stopped beating for a moment. The Royal Family and my favourite TV star in a relationship?! That was like Christmas, Eastern and my birthday in one day!

I loved the series Suits from the very first episode with Rachel Zane being my favourite - and Harvey, but who doesn't love Harvey? ;) I always admired Meghan's style, casual and smart, dressy and chic. I followed her Instagram, the Tig blog and watched every interview or news coverage on the internet and YouTube - I'm a hardcore fan I admit it. We even share the love of calligraphy, though mine is not as good as Meghan's.

More so, I admire the good she is doing with her title and her voice. She's a role model, someone we can look up to. I feel utterly angry for the way the press, especially the British, is ripping her every move apart. They turn a smile into a scandal and a wave into an insult. However, the rest of the world's press is absolutely smitten by her - especially the German press which I am very happy about! In Germany, I have never not once seen a negative article written about her and I'm quite proud to say that. Even when the allegedly rift between William, Catherine, Harry and Meghan happened.

The British Royal Family has come a long way and I would be very sad if Harry and Meghan ever choose to give up their titles as this would be an enormous loss.

However in this very fictional story this is what happens. Because honestly, you can only take so many punches and fight so many times back until one side gives up. I also believe that the BRF have an exceptional PR-team and I do think they often twist and turn stories so they're in a better light. They've been waiting the bad press out for decades now but this has clearly changed since Catherine's been photographed in France topless and William fought back. The same way Harry and Meghan have chosen to fight back.

Again, I apologise for words that could have been misinterpreted as racist. This was and never will be my intention! I don't hate people. I don't judge people by looks. It's not in my nature. It's their hearts, the souls, what attracts me to people and how I find friends, not the way their 'outer shell' looks like. I always give them the benefit of the doubt even when they've hurt me before, which is my weakness I guess as I've been misused many times in my life before but I believe in the good of people. I believe everyone is equal just like love is what connects us.

I'm a philanthropist by heart - it's what Jo and I have in common, maybe even the only thing, I don't know. As a writer you give each character a piece of yourself, unintentionally or intentionally but racism is no part of me. It never will be. It's the most disgusting attribute and belief to have and it hurt me very deeply to be accused of such. Especially with Germany's history. The review gave me nightmares and made me go within me and question my stories - and the message I was sending with them, which some misinterpreted. With my stories I process the news - good or bad - and everything that life throws at me on daily basis. It's my coping mechanism, in a way.

With that said, I wish you a very Happy New Year and a great start to this decade! Treat people with respect and love. Stand up for yourself and voice your feelings, especially if something seems wrong in your eyes. Hold out your hand to help the ones in need. Love your neighbour as yourself.

In gratitude,

Nicole

P.S.: Thank you for the great support you have given me over this last decade. It brings me so much joy to see how you enjoy reading the words I put on paper (yes, I have a notebook with story ideas and even a drawing of The Bolton Family's Coat of Arms). I hope this will continue in the future.

P.S.S.: I hope this author's message was not too long. I'll see you in the new year!