Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 116570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
I did not change the channel. Instead, it turned off by itself. I lifted the remote, trying to turn it back on, but it shut off again.
“You are supposed to be working, not watching this to drive yourself mad.”
I turned back to see my mother standing behind the couch. I moved to get up, but she held up her hand, stopping me. “You knew it was going to be like this. So why did you do it anyway?”
“I was hoping I was wrong,” I said as she sat beside me.
“There are other rich women, Ersovian women.”
“Not as rich.”
“We did not need them to be as rich, simply rich,” she stated.
And I did not want to hear her doubts, either. “If you are here, that means you finished lunch with Odette. Why are you trying to talk me out of it? Did you not like her?”
She frowned, shaking her head, and my heart just sank.
“Mother, give her a chance—”
“No, you misunderstand me. I do not dislike Odette, and I see why you like her,” she said with a look of displeasure. “She is beautiful and smart, but that is your standard. It is her boldness, her undeterred and stubborn manner of approach, and lastly, her openness to her flaws yet confidence, as well as her slight awkwardness that makes her endearing.”
I grinned and nodded. “That is only scratching the surface. She also puts up a strong façade, but she has a soft heart; she just does not want anyone to know. She has a temper but is fiercely loyal. She refuses to allow anyone else to talk bad about her mother. Even though she knows her mother may be wrong. She has no problem ordering me around, by the way. Oh, you should have seen how she yelled at me when I burned breakfast once.” I covered my mouth to keep from laughing as I thought about it. “When she’s hurt or upset, she has to vent about it almost immediately. When she is happy, she smiles so wide you’d think she was mad. She is like a child who has just been given sugar. But then there are these moments when she is wiser and kinder than anyone else. She is so many things at one time. She always leaves me wondering how she will react, and nine times out of ten, I am wrong. Oh, and you should hear her sing, Mother. She has the most gut-wrenching voice. I am—”
“In love.”
I looked at my mother, who just watched me too, a small smile on her face. “What?”
“You are madly in love with this woman.”
“Madly is a bit of a stretch—”
“I have never heard you speak with so much detail and joy as you are right now.” She snickered.
“I like her a lot—”
“So, are you telling me you do not realize you are in love with her?” she pressed back. “Since you cannot see it, let me remind you of your actions over the last several hours. You left the palace the moment you could upon finding out she was here. You did not bring her back; instead, you stayed there with her all night, and the next morning, you arranged for an introduction without speaking to anyone—”
“You all were the ones who chose her! Of course, I did not think to ask because I already knew your decision.”
“You are lying to yourself,” she said. “You could have brought her back as Iskandar suggested, but you refused. You did not tell anyone else because you did not want to hear anyone else’s opinion, good or bad. You knew the dynamic had changed. You knew that the press would react as they are, which is why you forced the introduction, which is why you are flipping through the coverage now. You wanted to make sure there was no space for anyone to stop you. I was told you also checked out of the hotel with her. She had some issue there apparently, and you wanted people to see who she was to you.”
“The queen sees and knows all,” I joked, but she just went on as if I had not spoken.
“You prepared the introduction flowers for her. You personally wrote the statement. Now you are distracted from your work because you are worried about her and the media. Does any of that seem like the actions of a man who merely likes a woman?”
My mouth opened, but no words came out. As I thought of everything again, it was ridiculous to deny that I was in love with her. It was odd. Months had gone by, but it was as though my feelings had been on pause and resumed at the sight of her. Slowly, I sat back in my seat, and I could hear my own heart thumping in my chest as I thought for the first time about everything I had done. I had not stopped to think much since she arrived. I just acted—desperately.