Chapter 9
Colton Prescott had just returned to the estate when he saw Princess Alexandra lounging on a garden swing, holding out her fingers as a maid painted her nails with carmine polish.
A young woman knelt on the ground nearby, her cheek red and swollen from a slap, crying and begging.
“Please, Your Highness! I won’t sing again, I swear! Please-have mercy!”
Colton recognized her immediately. Just yesterday, he’d passed a performance downtown and casually praised a young
singer for her voice-light and clear, like a songbird.
The girl had met his gaze for a brief second, then blushed and looked away.
And now, less than twenty-four hours later, she was here, dragged into the estate and broken down like this.
It wasn’t the first time.
Since returning to the Raventon, every dancer or server he’d glanced at during official dinners, every young and pretty maid
who lingered too long-Alexandra had dealt with them in private.
Her possessiveness was suffocating.
Colton’s jaw tightened slightly.
Alexandra raised a brow, playful yet sharp. “What’s wrong, darling? Feeling sorry for her?”
“Of course not,” he replied smoothly, offering a faint smile. “Just a singer. If she displeased you, she deserved it.”
And he meant it.
To him, she was no more than background noise. If Alexandra wanted her gone, so be it.
Still, something about it made him uncomfortable. He turned his gaze and noticed a crimson blossom budding on the
plum tree at the far edge of the garden.
He paused.
The more domineering Alexandra became, the more he found his mind drifting back to Isla-soft-spoken, gentle, always so careful to please him.
He wondered if she had grown more subdued now.
The Holding Facility wasn’t exactly a safe haven. No doubt she’d been frightened out of her wits.
By the time he brought her back, she’d probably cling to him like before-maybe even more obedient than ever.
Yes, he’d have to be patient, coax her a little.
Perhaps it was time to bring her back to the country house.
As long as he was discreet, Alexandra wouldn’t find out.
Chapter 9
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He missed Isla. Badly.
That was when I arrived in Raventon.
Damon had gone to speak with a local jeweler about the jade pendant, and I wandered the main street alone. In the crowd, I caught sight of a woman whose silhouette looked so much like my sister-in-law that I instinctively followed her.
I didn’t get far before someone grabbed my wrist.
I turned-and froze.
Colton was standing right in front of me, eyes wide in stunned disbelief.
“Isla?”
I stood still, just as startled as he was. I hadn’t expected to see him. I was just passing through, trying to track down my sister-in-law.
“They brought you here so soon?” he asked, his voice laced with something like happiness. But it was fleeting-his brow furrowed immediately after.
“You shouldn’t be out here. If Alexandra sees you, it’ll be trouble for both of us.” Without waiting for a response, he pulled me into the nearest building.
It was a restaurant-elegantly furnished, discreet. He dragged me into a private booth upstairs.
We’d barely sat down before chaos broke out downstairs.
A loud crash echoed up as someone kicked the main door open. Footsteps pounded up the stairs, then fanned out as armed bodyguards stepped aside.
Princess Alexandra swept into the room like a storm in silk-flawless, regal, and furious. Her voice was cold as ice: “Well, now I know where my fiancé’s been spending his precious time-sneaking around with his little mistress.”
Chapter 9
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