The mansion was abuzz with people. Mary and I managed to slip from the servants’ area through a back hallway to the ballroom with little notice from anyone else.

Once we were in the ballroom, we weaved our way, holding hands with her dragging me through the crowds as she greeted people quickly and politely, to where Mark and Dee sat. Dee waved us over.

“Hiya.” She smiled wide but her eyes were filled with worry. “How are you two feeling?”

“Better,” Mary muttered. “Needing a nap but better. We had tea at least.”

I nearly corrected her but remembered the English always called dinner “tea.” It was so weird.

“Are you all right?” Mark asked me.

“No. I’m humiliated, if I’m being honest.” Which was hard because I didn't know Mark well at all. He was always working when we saw Dee. But he was kind and seemed like a genuinely sweet guy.

“You are the talk of the party, Fin. But not for the reason you think. Sitting at the back might have been a mistake,” Dee warned in her elegant way.

“I know. And someone got photos of it.” I furrowed my brow. “Where’s Linna, Jess, and Bea?”

“Over there.” Dee nodded her head in their direction. Their table had Johan, Jess, Hattie, Linna, my dad, Jack, and Bea. They were eating and laughing and drinking, but my father’s eyes managed to drift our way, checking on me. I nodded to reassure him.

“And Aiden is there with his parents.” Dee darted her eyes in the direction of Aiden, Alex, his mother, his father, and the ministers who performed the ceremony. They were seated facing us all, like a wedding. Alex sat at one end of the table, not beside Aiden, but close enough to make my skin crawl.

“How can my mother be such a bitch?” Mary growled, glaring at their table. “She’s completely taking advantage of the fact my father is so ill.”

Aiden stood, silencing the room with nothing more than his presence, and said something in Catalan and then in English, “Please, let the dancing commence with the first dance.” His mother and father also stood, her helping him but being discreet about it, and made their way to the floor. The music began to play as they danced, reminding me of something from an old movie or Disney cartoon.

“I take it we missed the big speech?” Mary asked, eating Dee’s dessert.

“You did. It was magical. He’s really quite good, charming actually. He’s charming. The crowds and people love him,” Dee gushed.

Prince Charming, who had become King Charming, walked across the room as the crowd was wowed by the former king’s ability to still dance. They parted for him like a sea, making me nervous as the sea suggested he might be coming this way.

Seeing him made my stomachache worsen.

“Oh shit,” I whispered as he drew nearer.

“Fin.” He held a hand out for me.

“Take it,” Mary whispered harshly, making me jump and place my hand in his. My gloves were abandoned earlier when we ate like savages in the other room, so my skin was against his, a feeling I didn't know how to react to. But he didn't react.

He lifted me from my seat and walked me to the dance floor. The song ended and his father was helped back to his table. A different song started to play, another symphony piece that made the dancing seem fancier than I was prepared for. Dee and I had practiced a few times so I knew how it felt to be led, but we never listened to this level of orchestra.

He squeezed my ribcage harder than Dee ever did and forced me to dance with him, avoiding my gaze. I didn't need to see the storm inside his stare to know he was pissed. He clenched his jaw and danced us around the massive ballroom dance floor.

The smell of him was intoxicating but the grip of his fingers reminded me of where we were and how we’d gotten here.

“We need to talk,” he whispered finally. “I want you to meet me in my room. I’m going to take my father to his room in fifteen minutes.” His eyes flickered to mine.

“No.”

“Fin, I’m not asking you, I’m telling you to meet me there.” He lost the politeness and replaced it with what had been there moments before, a storm. “And you will be there.”

“Fine. Fifteen minutes.” I gulped, it was a lie. I wouldn't be there.

The song ended and he let me go, walking me back to my seat as everyone clapped. He kissed my hand and turned and left me there, crossing the room with his long strides, back to his dad’s side.

“That was awkward as arse. Was it as tense as it looked?” Bea asked over my shoulder.

“Worse.” I gulped again and watched Aiden take his mother to the dance floor. Knowing it was now or never, I pointed at the doorway. “I need to go to the bathroom. I’ll be right back.” I hurried from the room, smiling and greeting people as I made my way to the grand staircase.

And like Cinderella, I hauled ass to leave the party. Only I didn’t lose a shoe, I lost my heart.

As the music played, I raced to my room and laid out clothes to change into and packed everything quickly, ensuring my bags were sitting by the door. I hurried as fast as I could, hoping he wasn't finished the dance. With a bit of difficulty, I managed to get out of the gown and pull on my regular clothes. I left the gown on the bed, but the last piece of the puzzle needed to be taken to his room. I wouldn't be there, but the ring and the note would be.

My stomach was in knots, but I forced myself to leave and run down the hall to his bedroom. I lifted a hand to the door to knock, just in case he was in there, something I should have done that morning. The door ajar, the voices, the kiss. Had I just knocked, none of it would have happened. My knuckles on the door hurt, it was such thick wood.

When no one answered, I turned the knob and slowly opened the door.

His room was dark and shadowy, with a small fire burning in the large fireplace across from his bed, making the shadows dance.

I crept in, seeing the window where they’d kissed. To torment myself, my brain relived it, over and over. Her in lingerie and him dressed formally. Her hands on his chest. You’re beautiful. Their kiss. Over and over.

The flames danced, making the window come to life, making the imaginations more real.

It replayed so much, I wondered if I’d glimpsed into his future. Was it going to be her? Would she be the one? I couldn't see it.

He loved me. He was losing me. He would be angry. He would hate his mother and Alex. He would never forgive them. Maybe never marry.

The idea of that made me hate myself. I didn't want to ruin his entire future. And it didn't matter how I handled this, it seemed I was.

I spun the ring on my finger, his heart, contemplating the choice I was making. I wanted to take it back already. I wanted to take all this back. His being king. My being me. Everything from the moment we arrived in Andorra the first time. The helicopter accident and everything that had gone on since then. I wanted to erase it.

The ring, the heart, weighed more and more the longer I kept it on.

I knew what I had to do. But I couldn't do it. Praying for bravery and selflessness, the kind he was filled with, I stared out at the snow falling softly on the balcony, overlooking the city of Andorra la Vella.

Breaking up with him would kill us both, almost. Our traitorous hearts would continue beating, forcing us to live on in agony. Our worlds had collided violently, and all that would be left were footprints leading away from the rubble, survivors escaping. There would be no going back from this. There was nothing to go back for.