Chapter 18%
Davina’s POV
[Royal identity currently under investigation. All royal privileges of Miss Davina are suspended. Miss Cleo will temporarily assume her duties.]
The moment that announcement went public, the internet exploded–again. At this point, dang, the royal family’s drama had enough twists to fill an entire TV series.
The once–dismissed Cleo had officially “made it,” and now the public was split into factions. Some insisted she was a fraud. Others believed she was the real princess, finally reclaiming the life fate had stolen from her.}
Me? I couldn’t care less anymore–until the “new princess” showed up at my front door.”
She stood outside the gates of the Ashbourne estate, head high, smug smile in place, speaking sweetly to Humphrey.
“Humphrey. Since I’m now a royal princess, don’t you think it’s time you kept your promise?>
“You’re supposed to marry me.“>
Humphrey stepped out of his study in a black shirt, his expression icy.
“Promise?” he said with a cold laugh. “You mean when you crawled into my bed and lied about carrying my child? When I exposed you myself? That promise?”
Her expression flickered with something sharp and bitter, but she kept her smile intact.
“That’s all in the past. We don’t have to dwell on it… If you marry me, I’ll speak to the royal council. I can lift the sanctions on your family.”} “I don’t need anything from you.” He didn’t even look at her. “You only made it this far because of a fake report. The truth will come out- sooner or later.
“You’re nothing but a prop, Cleo. A mask the royal family wears to keep up appearances. You really think they’ll let you keep that title forever?”
“Shut up!” she suddenly screamed. Her composure snapped. “I’m the real princess! Davina should’ve been thrown out a long time ago! She stole everything that was supposed to be mine!“}
That’s when I started walking down the stairs.
Her eyes snapped to me, burning with rage. She looked like she wanted to tear me apart. Even her beautiful, features twisted under the weight of her fury.
“Why you?” she hissed. Her voice was low, shaking, filled with hate. “You’re an orphan no one wanted. You’ve been dumped by men. You couldn’t even keep your baby alive–so why do you still get to live a better life than me?!!
“You took everything from me. And now I want your life!”
Suddenly, she pulled a knife from her waistband and lunged at me, screaming.
“Davina!“}
A familiar voice cut through the chaos.}
Then–someone slammed into me from the side, shoving me hard.
The sound of the blade hitting flesh was sharp and sickening. Blood sprayed into the air, bright and brutal in the sunlight.
Daxon… He stood in front of me, pale and shaking. The knife was buried… in his shoulder! His blood was already soaking through his white shirt!?
“Daxon!” I shouted, my eyes suddenly brimming with tears.
He gritted his teeth, pressing hard against the injury as he turned to glare at Cleo.
“Are you out of your mind?! Do you even realize what you just did?!“}
She froze, like she had finally woken up from some kind of trance. She stumbled back, her eyes blank with disbelief.}
“I… I didn’t mean to. I just… I just wanted… her gone.”}
Her lipstick was smeared, her makeup ruined by sweat and tears. She looked lost, pitiful, and broken.
The next thing I knew, she grabbed Daxon’s arm with bloodied fingers, her eyes glinting with madness.
“Daxon,” she whispered, “help me kill that bitch! Do that, and I’ll marry you. You’ll be royal. We’ll have everything–money, power, all of it!” Daxon stared down at her like she was something rotting.”
“Cleo… You’re… insane,” he said flatly.”
She tried to shove him aside, but his body didn’t move an inch–he was an athlete, solid and strong. She may as well have been pushing a wall.
Suddenly, her eyes lit up, manic and deadly.
“Then you can both die together!“”
122 PM dd.
