Hello! I hope you're all doing well.
Blissful Billie Review:
"OOOOOOooooooo! This is not what I expected at all. While I don't think Maxon cheated, why would his cousin care!"
WriterQueen123 Response:
You'll find out soon! Thank you so much for reading and commenting!
Guest Review:
"When will the next chapter come out? I'm so eager to red it!"
WriterQueen123 Response:
Thank you for your support!
Virtue01 Review:
"I bet that cousin of Maxon plan that she slept in Maxon bed and leave the bra joust a theory. American is feeling insecure about herself that Maxon could love her so deeply and her temper sometimes gets the better of her before she thinks logically. I bet Maxon is feeling so sad at the moment. Thanks for the update so looking forward to the next chapter."
WriterQueen123 Response:
I actually had no idea what I was doing when I made up the cousin excuse, and your comment inspired me to add a new element to her character. (You'll see it in this chapter!) Thank you for the creative thought!
Guest Review:
"I really want to see what happens!"
WriterQueen123 Response:
I'm glad you're excited!
Guest Review:
"WHYYYYYYYYYYY?!"
WriterQueen123 Response:
Hahaha! Thank you for commenting.
Thank you all! I'm going to try to start updating shorter chapters more often...we'll see how it goes! I hope you enjoy this chapter.
The next few days passed uneventfully. I spent most of my time with Marlee, Kile, and my twins. I met Maxon's distant cousin, Lady Dominique, who was staying at the palace for the week.
Maxon and I slept in separate beds, rarely speaking to one another and avoiding each other's gazes. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, and mine were rimmed with red from crying every night. I knew this couldn't continue, but I was too ashamed and proud to give in and apologize for my accusation.
It was one in the afternoon, so I brought Eadlyn and Ahren down to play with Kile in the Women's Room. Marlee and I had developed a routine of chatting while our babies played together in the afternoons.
"Are you okay?" my best friend asked, taking my cold hand in hers.
"I'm okay," I replied tiredly, noticing her sympathetic gaze.
"I'm here if you need me," Marlee promised with a knowing glance at my red eyes.
"Thanks, Marlee," I sighed. "Can you watch the kids for a moment? I need some fresh air."
"Of course," she smiled. "Take your time."
I kissed Eadlyn and Ahren's foreheads before heading out of the Women's Room. As I walked toward the front doors, I heard a muffled sound floating down from a hallway. Curious, I slowly walked to the right and heard Lady Dominique's voice coming from one of the conference rooms; the door was slightly ajar.
"Don't worry about it. They're already half driven apart, I can see it. The bra plan worked perfectly..." My heart was pounding in my chest, and I didn't dare make a sound. Did Lady Dominique want to break me and Maxon up? She had planned to leave her bra in his bed to make him look suspicious?
"Just don't come while they're together." Lady Dominique continued, her voice a little lower so I had to strain to hear. "Any time between now and three, because the king should be in meetings until then. Yes, yes. Hurry up, then."
Through the slit of space between the door and the wall, I could see that she pocketed her phone and took a step near the door. I quickly, quietly stepped out of the hall and ran into the garden, ignoring strange expressions from the guards.
What had Lady Dominique been talking about? Why did she want to drive me and Maxon apart? I could still feel the blood pumping through my body when I recalled her words, "Any time between now and three..." What was about to happen?
I took a few deep breaths outside and walked back to the Women's Room, anxious to keep my babies close if anything was going to happen. But the Women's Room was vacant. Where had Marlee taken the kids? I hadn't been gone for long, and Marlee wouldn't leave without letting me know. I bit my lip to let out some nervous energy and walked upstairs to the twins' room.
They weren't inside, so I stepped into my bedroom. The door to Maxon's suite was shut, but I could hear him moving around. Why was he back early from his meetings? It was only two, and like Lady Dominique had said, my husband was supposed to finish his work at three today. I sighed and knocked on his door. Maxon wearily opened it for me, raising his eyebrows when he saw that it was me knocking.
We just stared at each other, for the first time in days. I knew that Maxon was frustrated and angry with me, but I hadn't been empathetic enough to realize how hurt he was. Maxon was trying to mask his pain with anger, but what I had done was tearing him apart. Casting a cloud of depression over him.
I had never felt guiltier. I needed to apologize, say the words that might put us on the right track to getting closer again. I had caused all of this. Even if Lady Dominique had set the bra up, if I truly trusted Maxon, we wouldn't be here.
"I'm reall-" I was cut off by an earsplitting siren that tore through the room. I shrieked, covering my ears before they adjusted to the noise. The rebel alarm.