Chapter 10
Princess Alexandra didn’t wait for any explanation. She gave the order, and I was immediately dragged into her private
estate.
“If my fiancé is so taken by that face,” she said coolly, reclining on her chaise, “why don’t we peel it off and hang it over his
bed? That way, he can stare at it every night.”
“Your Highness!” Colton stepped in front of me, shielding me instinctively.
The effect was immediate-and the opposite of helpful.
Alexandra’s smile dropped, her tone icing over. “You’re protecting her now?”
Her eyes flicked between us before she let out a cold laugh. “You’ve clearly forgotten your place, Colton Prescott. Let me remind you.”
Then, calmly and deliberately, she drew a small blade from her belt and held it out to him.
“Here’s a compromise. You ruin her face yourself, and I’ll let her live.”
Colton’s jaw clenched. His fists tightened at his sides.
He knew she wasn’t bluffing.
With trembling hands, he took the knife, guilt flickering across his eyes as he turned toward me, his steps slow and heavy.
“Isla… to save your life, I have no other choice…”
I stepped past him before he could finish. My eyes met Alexandra’s.
“Your Highness,” I said steadily, “if I can offer you something that truly satisfies your grievances-will you spare me?”
She arched a brow, intrigued.
“I’m listening.”
I leaned in and whispered in her ear.
As I spoke, her expression shifted-from confusion to disbelief, then amusement.
By the end, she burst into laughter. “Well, Isla Warren… I’ll admit, you’re far more interesting than I think.”
She was about to say more when a steward rushed in, breathless.
“Your Highness! The Crown Prince is here.”
Alexandra immediately rose to her feet, smoothing her dress as she strode out to greet him.
She ordered the guards to lock me in a side room.
It wasn’t long before someone slipped through the window-quiet as a shadow.
Chapter 10
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Colton.
He landed lightly on the floor, worry etched into his face.
“I’m sorry,” he said softly. “You didn’t deserve any of that.”
He reached for my hand, but I pulled away.
His brow creased. “Isla, now’s not the time to be difficult. If you hadn’t shown up unannounced, none of this would’ve happened.”
“Oh, so I was supposed to stay locked away forever? Hidden? Out of sight and out of mind?”
“That’s not what I meant.” His voice softened. “I’ve missed you.”
His gaze drifted to my collarbone. His throat bobbed, and before I could react, he pulled me into his arms and leaned in to kiss me.
I slapped him across the face-hard.
The sound echoed through the room. Colton froze, stunned.
“You’re insane!”
“General Prescott,” I said coldly, “you’re a married man. Please act like one.”
He pressed his fingers to his temple in frustration. “I told you-just because I married Alexandra doesn’t mean anything has to change between us.”
“Well, I’m not like you,” I replied, stepping back. “I don’t play both sides.”
His eyes narrowed slightly, studying me. “You’ve changed…”
Before he could say more, the door burst open. The steward from earlier stepped in, startled to see Colton inside.
Colton stiffened. “Alexandra sent you to get me, didn’t she? I’m coming.”
The steward looked between Colton and me, a flicker of confusion-and something else-passing over his face.
“Mr. Prescott… I was actually sent to escort Miss Warren.”
Colton didn’t seem to catch the peculiar way he referred to me-Miss Warren, not this woman or her. Instead, he frowned again.
“What does Alexandra want this time?”
He moved toward the door but paused, glancing back at me with concern. “Don’t worry. I won’t let her hurt you again.”
I let out a quiet laugh.
He was here the whole time earlier-watching, calculating-and he still almost carved up my face for Alexandra’s approval.
Having him around wasn’t comforting.
Chapter 10
