The second Cleo showed up, Humphrey’s face darkened like a storm rolling in.
I reached out and wrapped my fingers around his clenched hand, whispering, “Humphrey. I trust you.”
He took a sharp breath, then turned to the butler. “Get this crazy woman out of here.”
Cleo clearly hadn’t expected her big, dramatic entrance to crash and burn in one sentence. Her whole plan–destroyed.
She shouted, “You bastard! You slept with me, got me pregnant, and now you’re dumping us to marry some royal bitch?!”
She was dragged out, but the cameras were already rolling. The international press had caught every juicy line.
[Humphrey Ashbourne Abandons Pregnant Lover]
[Humphrey Ashbourne Marries the Princess]
[Missing Royal Princess Found After 20 Years]
The headlines went nuclear. The identity I never wanted revealed was now plastered all over the internet, on every news outlet, in every language.
My grandfather sent royal staff to fetch me, and just like that–our wedding was canceled.
“Your Royal Highness,” the envoy said with a polite smile that didn’t reach his eyes, “after careful evaluation, we find Sir Humphrey unfit to be your partner.”
He was using soft words, but the judgment was cold and final.
To be honest, I didn’t feel much for this so–called family. My real parents were dead. I grew up with adoptive ones, and while that came with its own trauma, it was still my life.
If I had to name anyone who felt like real family… it was Grandpa.
I looked at him. He was frowning, silent.
“Davina,” he said finally, “I’ll support whatever you choose. But… to marry down into the Ashbournes, with your title… it’s a hard price.
His words made my eyes sting. I shook my head, tears falling.
“No, Grandpa. I’m not being shortchanged. Humphrey… He’s the one I want to spend my life with.”
he envoy, clearly done with the emotion, stepped in again. “Regardless, Your Highness, you are required to return and attend the formal recognition ceremony.”
Grandpa gave me a quiet pod while Humphrey looked me in the eyes and said gently, but firmly, “I’ll wait for you. You’re the only one I’ll ever love.”
The ceremony was held in the palace’s Great Hall, broadcast live across the world.
I wore a royal gown, a sapphire crown that once belonged to my mother resting on my
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head. I sat on the ceremonial throne, high above the crowd, soaking in the flash of a thousand cameras and the pressure of a billion eyes.
And of course–chaos doesn’t knock before it barges in.
Before the ceremony ended, the massive hall doors slammed open.
Every camera whipped around.
Daxon walked in, pale as a ghost, wearing a suit. He dropped to one knee and pulled out a
ring.
“Davina! Marry me!”
His three words made the room go dead silent. Even the translators paused.
His voice echoed through the chamber, and through every speaker in the world.
“We were already married! She was pregnant with my child! We’ve been in love for seven years–she promised to love only me!”
The royal court froze.
I stood there on the throne, looking down at him, playing the tragic, heartbroken lover–and for the second time, I felt nothing but disgust.
‘Who gave him the right to keep crashing into my life like this? Have I been too soft all along?‘
But this was live, global, and diplomatic. Officials quickly labeled him “a delusional ex” and escorted him out of the room.
After the ceremony, I barely made it to the inner chamber before the royal envoy cornered me again.
“Your Highness,” he said, voice icy, “while it is heartbreaking that you lived apart from the family, the royal image must be protected. Your past is… deeply embarrassing to the monarchy. Your future marriage will be handled by the crown. Until then, you are not to leave the palace.”
I bit my lip and said nothing. I felt like I’d been bolted to the marble floor.
But things weren’t done unraveling.
The next day, Cleo made a public statement.
She included a notarized DNA test.
[Father: Humphrey Ashbourne]
[Match: 99.98%]
She’d actually had the baby.
The internet exploded with photos of the child and Cleo’s smug, camera–ready face.
[Ashbourne’s Love Child Confirmed]
[Royal Engagement in Crisis] [Will the Princess Be Rejected?]
The palace went into meltdown.
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“From now on, Your Highness, you are not to have any private contact with Mr. Ashbourne,” the envoy ordered. “Your marriage will be reassigned. The royal household will handle it.”
The next morning, the Royal Press Office released an official notice.
[Due to conduct that has damaged the monarchy’s public image, all royal relations and business ties with the Ashbournes are hereby suspended.]
Grandpa collapsed from the stress.
Humphrey’s company stock plummeted. Investors pulled out. Overnight, the Ashbourne. name went from elite to radioactive.
That night, I sat alone by the fountain in the royal garden. I didn’t sleep a second.
I could’ve let it all burn and walked away.
But when I saw Humphrey on the news, standing in front of reporters, gaunt and exhausted, something in me broke. I couldn’t breathe from how much it hurt.
I took a deep breath.
‘I have to do something!”
The next morning, I stood before my grandfather and said clearly.
“Please lift the sanctions on the Ashbournes. They did nothing wrong. I’ll accept the engagement the royal family arranged for me.”
