Cressida eyed them with a malicious grin across her face – she tapped something on her phone and then slid her phone into her pocket. She wore tight shorts and a tight shirt now – having replaced the dress she wore earlier. Fear rushed through him—his heart racing.

She looked at them with shining blue eyes.

"I figured you would slip up," she hissed.

Adrian quickly pulled Veronica to the side – hiding her exposed body from Cressida's glare. He felt wrong exposing Veronica like that – and, he tried to pull up his shorts the same time.

He knew it was too late – but he felt the need to put himself between Veronica and Cressida.

Cressida watched them with a sly smile, as they put their clothes back on.

Adrian pushed Veronica to the side, staring Cressida head on, "What you want?"

Cressida pretended to put on a pouty face – "Oh sweetie – dear fiancé, don't you want to apologize for what you've done?"

She blinked at him as if she was an innocent woman, heartbroken. Her eyes glistened sharply.

He should've known – he told himself, Cressida was playing a game this whole time, she was smarter than she looked. And she could see what was between Veronica and Adrian a mile away. She was winning.

Cressida looked between the two of them, tapping her phone within her pocket. Her long nails clacked against the plastic. The sun was hot now—searing down on them, making him burn throughout.

"Sweetie bun – I have what I need – but now, I need something from you." She tilted her head – as if he should know what she wanted. He stared at her—there were a million things he wanted to do to her face, and wipe that smile off her botox lips. Adrian felt Veronica's hand on his arm, his biceps bulged – he didn't even realize that his body was tense and shielding her.

Cressida grinned, "Oh Veronica – really, your sweet innocence was so obvious all over your face – I know a virgin when I see one."

Veronica gasped behind him, he felt her hand trembling a little. He turned to her, her face a crimson red—she looked ashamed.

Veronica spoke, "Why are you doing this—you were the last one anyway?"

Cressida clenched her jaw, "It should be obvious by now – you both have something to lose here – and I have everything to gain by using you."

Adrian felt his heart pounding – beating loudly through his body, slamming into his brain. Now, he felt his world turned upside down. Cressida had trapped them – she wanted to be his Queen – and she would make sure that Adrian did not have a choice.

Cressida continued, "I've sent the photos to my manager – and he will let them loose when I tell him to –"

She took a breath, raking her eyes over Adrian's body, like she possessed him.

"And you know better than anyone what those photos would do in a time like this."

Cressida put her hand up to her forehead – as if she was fainting – "Oh no – I had no idea that he was that way – I'm so ashamed – you don't even know half of it."

She pretended like she was talking to the paparazzi – pretending to be a victim.

Adrian tried to see his way out of it. He could bribe her – but his throne was more worth more than any money in the world. He could try to steal the photos – but, Cressida probably had a backup plan in case he started anything. He could trying to send her away for treason – but it would look suspicious under parliament's nose. He couldn't just get rid of a royal like that.

He couldn't see a way out – his jaw clenched and it made his temple ache.

Cressida laughed loudly – it was a horse and cruel laugh, she was finally showing her real colors under those blue eyes.

Those cruel eyes turned to Veronica. Adrian's instinctively put out a hand in front of her.

Cressida grinned, "Thanks for leading me to him – with your stupid blushes and your nervousness – I figured it was you – but you confirmed in the room."

Veronica stepped around Adrian, facing Cressida head on. She stood tall, "Look – you don't need to do this – you can have what you want, but you don't have to leak those – they'll hurt Adrian's image."

Cressida scoffed, "You should've thought of that sooner – this is actually your fault."

Veronica reached a hand out to her as if pleading, "Please you don't have to be so cruel."

Veronica's voice shook, as if she wanted to take away all the cruelty in the world, like she could help Cressida. Adrian felt his heart pull towards her—she was brave despite everything she had gone through.

Cressida sneered, "I'm surprised that you of all people would tell me that – I know about you and your dirt – you're just as terrified of these photos as he is."

Veronica started to tremble in front of him – and Adrian placed his hands on her shoulders.

Adrian realized what he had done. It wasn't just Cressida's fault – it was Adrian's too. Adrian had known that Veronica steeply relied on Brian – but, Adrian had persisted anyways. Adrian knew that Veronica would buckle underneath him. But now, he faced the fact that he had trapped Veronica by doing so.

His heart broke – he had pushed them into a corner.

There was no choice for them – no matter what fantasy played out – it all led to one thing. Perhaps he had been trying to fight against it, and perhaps he didn't want it to be true. But, he stepped in between the two, feeling the world crushing him.

"You win Cressida –" he looked back to Veronica, who's eyes were watering." He wished they could have parted as lovers – on a sweet and orgasmic note. But now, their memory was forever ruined.

Cressida held out a hand, smiling wickedly, "Let's get going my Prince—you have some honeymoon tasks to prove to me." He turned to her, taking in her sparkling blue eyes—a pair of eyes that he would loathe forever, that he would be married to.

Adrian took a final look at Veronica – he wanted to tell her so many things. But really, it wouldn't do either of them any good. He turned away and took Cressida's hand – walking away from Veronica, and leaving her alone on the cliff.