Sunday morning, Ella had breakfast with Emily at her friend’s apartment before Ella made her excuses and left. Emily had questions that at this time Ella wasn’t ready to give. Only repeating the same part of the story she had told her last night. She couldn’t tell her friend the whole truth. She couldn’t even voice it out aloud.Ella didn’t sleep well last night, running the events of the ball through her mind. Feeling sick just thinking about it all.If she had stayed the previous night in her own place, Ella was sure she would have cried herself to sleep. She had stayed a virgin this long. If she was going to give away her virginity so easily, why hadn’t she pushed to sleep with Stephen during their engagement? Instead, she had given it to someone she just met at a masked ball.A two-timing asshole at that. Ella felt very discontented and disappointed in herself. In the end, she solely held herself accountable. She had behaved recklessly last night. The situation was contributed bec

Saying goodbye to them both, Stephen turned and joined his friend outside.Ella breathed an enormous sigh of relief. Wanting to ensure her well-being, Stephen showed kindness.Her rudeness and sharp manner were so unlike her. However, their friendship was forever changed. She knew it was silly, but she could never trust him not to hurt her again. It wasn’t so much their engagement had broken up; it was how it had ended and that everyone knew in town. She didn’t want to be pitied. Even if they try for some sort of friendship now, Ava just wouldn’t allow it.Ella was pleased and stupidly angry that Nick remained unaware of the presence of his mysterious woman.Swinging around to her friend, Ella found Em leaning against the counter, looking at her. Waiting.“Well, safe for another day.” Ella rushed out.“Yes! But is that really what you want?” Em questioned“Why wouldn’t I? I don’t want anyone to find out.”Emily reasoned, “Maybe deep down, babe, you do. There must have been something b

Ella felt like the universe was working against her. Ella observed Nick was seated on her left. Tate occupied the seat on Ella’s right. Across from her was Ava, with Stephen sitting opposite Nick. Leaving her dad sitting at one end of the table with the two men and Mary at the other, with Jenny sitting next to her.Maybe it was better that Nick was beside her, rather than in front. He was less likely to see more than her profile throughout the meal.They received their creamy soup almost straight away. Mary was talking softly to her mother.“So Nick, we will see you at our wedding, correct? Being a good friend of Stephen’s, you can’t possibly let him down.” Ava said loudly.Nick looked up from his soup. “As I told Stephen, I would do my utmost to make it to the wedding. But unfortunately, until I get home, I will not be sure if I can get back.”“You have your own wedding to get ready for, I’m sure.” Ava replied pouting, because she would like the exposure and press coverage that it wo

Ella froze. Why hadn’t she thought of that? She could be pregnant, or worse yet. Have caught some disease. If he went around having unprotected sex with women. He could have given her something that could change her life forever. Ella felt like slapping herself in the face.“Well, thanks for that. Just give me something else to worry about.” Why hadn’t she thought of it before? She was a grown woman. She should have made him use something.“I didn’t tell you to make you worry. I want to let you know. It won’t be your problem alone.”Ella laughed bitterly. “Is that how you see a child as a problem?” Not wanting to think about anything else like an STD.“No, of course not. The child would be my heir.” Nick looked frustrated. He took a step as if to move around the pond.“Stop!” Ella pleaded.Nick stopped. “I’m not letting you get away from me again. What is your real name?”“I’m not telling.” Ella sounded like a spoilt child.“Why did you run?” Nick counted.“Because it was time to leav

Nick surveyed the garden, having spent an hour here. He had been observing Tate and Ella grilling on the family bbq and serving food onto the long table for everyone’s enjoyment.When he looked around him, they were not with everyone else lined up to grab some of the food. He noticed they were at the back fence, taking advantage of the moment when everyone’s back was turned, sneaking out the back gate.He had been trying to shake Ava off for most of the last hour. She was always near, or one of her friends. Touching him or invading his personal space. It all made him very uncomfortable. He didn’t want Stephen to get the wrong idea. Because he wouldn’t touch the woman with a 10-foot pole.Smiling to himself, Nick moved to the back of the line and when no one was watching. Grabbed a bottle of wine from the cooler and followed the two women who didn’t care about him being a prince, who just thought of him as Nick. He enjoyed being around them.As he stepped out the back gate, Nick found