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)
“Mom? You have a mom?” Her anger snapped like a whip. “Are you sure? Are you positive? That cannot be right because if you had a mother, you would not lie to her! You would not tell her you are going to break up with a man, only to end up agreeing to be his future queen! You would not then allow your mother to find out from a thousand other people as they blew up her phone at three in the damn morning, Odette! Also, of course, who is calling my personal phone from a blocked number now.”
“Mom, I am sorry,” I said again because I really was.
“Sorry? Odette, you are sorry? I have press outside of my home! Augusta has press outside of her home. We have all been trapped inside as we try to figure out what is going on because once again, you dove headfirst into something. I am a planner. Your father was a planner. What is with you, child?”
“They are your genes, Mom. I do not know.”
“When I get to you, I will smack you so hard there will be no head for a crown! Have you seen the news? Twitter? Facebook? Any social media?”
“No, I am actively avoiding all of them for my mental health.” I really didn’t want to know what was happening outside. Too much was happening on the inside as it was.
“You are stronger than you think, so here, let me enlighten you on what is trending. Spoiler alert—it is you. #PrincessOdette, #QueenOdette, #BlackQueens, #QueenofErsovia, #OdetteWyntor, and #WyntorNation. I would go on, but the top twenty are also about you, and I think you get my point.”
“I really do,” I said, gently fluffing the pillow under me. “I did not plan on doing this. However—”
“You saw him again, and you melted into a pool of love juice.”
“Aww, Mom, don’t say that.”
“Am I wrong?”
I rolled my eyes. “It wasn’t like that. I mean, Mom, it’s complicated.”
“It’s simple, really. You’re in love with him even after all these months. You wanted to throw caution to the wind and run off with him all along.”
I really didn’t like being read like this. “What do you want me to say, Mom? I thought I had gotten over him. I thought I let go. But then seeing him again...he makes me want to trust him and follow wherever he is going. One minute, I was trying to leave him.” And the next, I was in his arms kissing him. “The next thing I knew, I ended up in this palace, smiling for photos, sitting and standing, curtsying, and having terms, rules, and protocols thrown at me left, right, and center.”
“All because of the choice you made.”
“Mom, please give me a break. I am trying to talk to you,” I begged.
She sighed, and I gave her a moment. “You are there now, Odette, so you know what to do, right?”
“Follow their rules—”
“Do not back down. Do not be bullied. You need to remember at all times that they are the lucky ones. You are not some nobody with nothing from a nowhere little town that they are bringing up to their world. You are Odette Rochelle Wyntor. Your father was one of the richest men in the world. You are to be one of the richest women in the world. You are educated, talented, and magnificent. No one is doing you a favor. You are not Cinderella. They need you! You do not need them! If anyone ever tries to make you feel inferior, remind them of that. And if you cannot do it, put me on speakerphone, and I will.”
I grinned. I loved her. “Yes, Mom, I know. I am stronger than you think too, because you raised me. The queen complimented me this morning. She liked my secret smile and wave.”
She laughed. “See, look at that. I might have been preparing you for this your whole life.”
“So, you no longer have objections?”
“Oh, I have many of those, but there is no point now. You are there. All you can do is stay strong. Odette, I am serious. I do not know how you are going to do this. I can’t help you. All I can do is remind you that you are an extraordinary young woman. You are much more talented, educated, and passionate than I ever was or hope to be. So, do not let them hurt you, okay? Be careful. Please.”
My throat ached, and my vision blurred. “Mom, you are going to make me cry. Don’t say stuff like that. It sounds like I am never going to see you again.”
“Oh, don’t worry. You are most definitely going to see me. The moment it calms down, and you get your footing, I am taking the first flight over and letting some of those so-called journalists have a piece of my damn mind,” she snapped, and just like that, the moment was gone. “There is one, in particular, I’m seeing on Twitter right now and—”