I know.. it has been literally a year, oooops! I don't even know if you guys are gonna remember this anymore haha. Anyway, here's to a long awaited chapter 8!

Maxon's POV I guess?

I carefully opened the door in case America was sleeping — indeed she was, which I am proud to be called her husband for knowing her so well.

The sheets started shuffling as she tossed and turned, I scuttled towards her. She had her knees curled up close to her body, suddenly muttering, "Please, don't hurt me…don't hurt me…" America was having bad dreams. I have never seen her being so frightened of something. Slowly, a tear rolled down her cheek. I had to wake her up from this nightmare.

I gave her a little nudge and she immediately woke up.

"My dear, are you having bad dreams?" She shook herself up a bit.

"Oh no no… I'm fine. You actually woke me up from my deep sleep!" She forced a smile. I could tell she was lying, the way she immediately fiddled around with the blankets.

I placed my hands on top of hers, "America, know that I'll always be here for you, okay? Whatever is bothering you, you can always tell me."

"I told you I'm fine." I could sense a slight irritation in her voice.

"Okay whatever you say." I grunted and headed for the shower. I know something is bothering her, my guess is it is my father, but I cannot do anything if she is not confiding in me with her worries.

America's POV

I guess you could say the following couple of days were not any better. Every morning before I wake up, Maxon had to go off to see his father for his "kingly" duties. I wake up alone, carry out the same morning routine and when I am done with breakfast in my room I walk around the palace, keeping my profile as low as possible. I was unlucky enough to bump into King Clarkson a few times and have him yelling at me for "trespassing" confidential palace grounds, because of that I am escorted by a guard everyday and he brings me to specific locations at the exact same time everyday, as if driven by a clockwork. Honestly this place feels like being in a prison.

"Why am I even stuck here," I groaned as Mary combed my hair. "I should probably consider moving back with family. Their house is nearby anyway, it wouldn't even make any difference in my relationship with Maxon anyway… considering how our lives are like now." I have never been so pessimistic in my whole entire life.

"Your highness, I think you should really consider talking to your husband about this."

"I don't even know how he's going to react! I haven't talked to him in days — our longest conversation is at night, me asking how's your day, he responds with it's alright and returns the question, then I reply, 'the usual'."

She swept my hair to one side, "I'm sure he would absolutely understand your feelings."

"Thus, I don't want to burden him with even more problems. On one hand he has to deal with his father and on the other he has an incapable wife!"

I don't know if I was cursed with bad timing but Maxon entered the room.

Back to Maxon's POV! (This goes back to earlier in the same day)

Honestly I have never felt so lost in so many days. I am stuck to this tight schedule which I am forced to follow or else I would be punished. I pretty much have to leave my room way earlier than any normal person for my work, go back to my room way too late at night even if I did not have that much workload during the day.

There were times where I tried to sneak off during breaks and head to my room, hoping to find America there since she would not have anywhere else to go in the palace, but it seems like every single time coincidently she has gone off elsewhere.

I swear it is my father who is behind this, creating a boundary between us, only allowing us 15 mins each night to catch up on our days and she ends up having to sleep.

We have not had a full conversation in days, but I think our silence mutually agrees that my father is causing all this tension. I honestly feel terrible for her. I feel as if she has to suffer to be my wife. With my father around, there is simply nothing for her to do. I think it is time to give my wife another present.

Flash forwards to where previous scene ended

I enter the room to see America sitting there on the armchair looking ever so beautiful as she always does.

"Hey darling," I walk over and kissed her on the cheek.

"Well you're early today." She smiles. I turned to Mary, "You may take a rest now. Good night." She bows and leaves the room.

"I came to tell you that I got you a gift!"

"Really? Out of the blue?"

"Yes, it's really good news."

"What is it?"

AN: I really considered just ending it here because I love cliffhangers if you hadn't noticed haha but I'm nice so imma continue letting you guys find out what the present is :P but I'm going to split this chapter into two or else it becomes too long.