Chapter 8 – Returning

No one seemed to notice the return of the former princess but Eleanor was sure several surveillance cameras already spotted her. It wouldn't be long until her mother or brother would appear.

When she arrived in her room the first thing Eleanor did - even before raiding her drug supplies - was pulling out one of her long necklaces.

She told herself she would keep her wedding ring around her neck so no one could accidently find it. Although the truth was, since she started wearing it she kept touching it. Every time she felt nervous or a little insecure – which has been a lot in the last few days – her hand automatically went to the golden piece of jewellery. If she wore the necklace with the ring on it she could keep it close to her without anyone noticing.

Right after she put it around her neck and hid the ring underneath her clothes the door opened, revealing Liam coming towards her.

He hugged her without a word and Eleanor had no good explanation she could offer him.

"I know you said everything is fine but you really had me worried, Lenny."

She let out a sigh.

"I know, I´m sorry. What have you been up to while I was gone?"

They both took a seat on her couch.

„The usual. Nothing too special. Mom is planning another party, Cyrus is the same asshole he always is and, oh, you`re gonna love this. We have a special guest at the palace for a few days. "

Liam`s grin was almost scarily happy and Eleanor blinked in surprise. She hadn`t seen him smile like this in a while – especially not because of someone at the palace.

On the other hand the busier Liam was with whoever this guest was the less time he had to worry about what his sister had been up to.

„So who is this mysterious friend of yours? Don't say Ophelia is back from America? "

Eleanor was instantly regretting her words as she saw the sadness in her twin`s eyes.

Not Ophelia then.

Liam did his best to hide his pain from her and Len decided to let it go for now. After all she was curious who their guest was.

„Actually he is here specifically because of you, I think. I'm just happy because I know you`re gonna be happy about it. "

Only a part of Eleanor was confused now. The other part of her had a suspicion she'd prefer to not be true.

Not now.

„Come on. "

Liam got up, grabbed her hand and pulled her with him out of the room. Eleanor's fingers were toying with her necklace under her shirt while Liam dragged her along the hallways of the Palace towards the guest quarters.

He knocked twice before the door opened.

Beck was standing right in front of her.

When she hugged him it felt much different from what it had felt like a few months ago.

As long as she knew Beck he always reminded her of how it must feel like to be loved. Even when for a long time it wasn't her his love was for. Eleanor had been jealous of his wife for so many years, solely because she could be with Beck every day.

No one knew about this but the day Beck got married, with Robert by his side as his best man, was the first time she did harder drugs. When she was younger she had been good at refusing all the offers she got – from drugs to sex and everything in between people would offer the young princess – but suddenly it didn't any longer make sense to her to be the 'good girl' for him.

Beck didn't want her anyway so it didn't matter what she did, who she was pretending to be.

Why suffering while sober when you can be high as a kite and suffer at least a little less? Even if it was just for a short period of time.

But now with him here right in front of her it was like a dream come true.

Only it was the dream of a little girl, waiting for her handsome prince. And she was not a little girl anymore.

The last time she had seen him was in Monaco and even then she noticed something was not as it used to be. The entire time there has been this thought in her head she couldn't seem to let go completely.

He just didn't feel right anymore.

Not in the same way Jasper did.

While Beck felt familiar and save, Jasper was home. As much as she wanted to deny it, it was still the truth.

Still she put up her best smile as she entered her room.

Of course Liam excused himself, pretending do have stuff to do, but Eleanor knew he tried to do her a favour when leaving her alone with Beck.

But sitting next to him on the Couch was awkward. At least for her.

He was closer than necessary, which was strange. Usually he tried to keep some distance between them to avoid getting her hopes up – which did almost never work but at least he tried.

Luckily he didn`t question why she had been in Vegas, only asked about her flight. She answered politely but of course didn`t go into any details. She couldn't without revealing anything that would make him suspicious.

„Len, I have to tell you something. "

Eleanor smiled at Beck, trying to act interested in what he had to say while all she wanted was to get out of this situation as fast as possible – and maybe some alcohol but mostly she wanted to get out of here.

„I left her. "

„You did what? "

Eleanor was sure there was something wrong with her ears.

„I left her. For good this time. We tried to make it work so many times but I didn't see any point in trying any longer. "

Oh.

God.

By now Eleanor was more confused than ever. It just didn't make sense. Why now?

„So why are you here than? Don't you want to celebrate your new found freedom? "

Beck laughed at her forced joke.

„Probably yes. But that`s why I`m here. I want to be with you Lenny. We`ve been waiting for so long now we finally can be together. "

Lenny was looking at the floor with her fake smile still on her lips.

„Beck, I…"

„I know Lenny, I know. This is very sudden but we shouldn't waste a second. "

He took her hand in his, waiting for her to look up to him and fall into his arms like she used to do when they were younger.

But she couldn't.

In a rush she got up and left the room, paying no attention to where she was going, leaving a very confused Beck behind.

Behind her she could hear him following her, but it didn't matter. Why did her life have to be so confusing all the time?

Eleanor didn't have enough energy for a crying breakdown right now but a few tears escaped her eyes none of the less. Out of breath she leaned with her back against the next best wall, grabbing her necklace under her shirt, when Beck caught up with her.

He must think she reacted like this because of drugs or whatever reason because there was no sign he thought that she was going to refuse his offer.

Why would she?

She wanted this since she was 14.

He lifted her chin with his hand. Slowly his face came closer to her as it would be in one of those stupid romance movies. In the last second she turned her head away, leaving Beck confused once again.

She released her breath she didn't notice she`d been holding and pushed him away from her.

„I can't do this. I'm not going to cheat on my husband. "

It wasn't more than a whisper but it was enough for Beck to take a step back.

And not just that.

The angry voice not far from them made Eleanor freeze inside.

„YOUR WHAT?"

So, the secret is out, what so you think? Thank you for those nice reviews Exams are over now so I hope I can write a little bit more in the next few weeks. I think this story might have 15 chapters or so all together but I'm not exactly sure yet. See you next time and thanks for reading:))