Royally Kidnapped by the Prince

39

KENNEDY

Princess Carlott Better Food for Better Learning Foundation. Its mission was to ensure to have

nutritious food for these beautiful abandoned and special children.

This foundation was too personal and close to her heart. I got it why. Just by watching how these

children with special needs rushed towards her to wrap their little arms around the Princess’ legs, it

melted my heart.

She was born with privilege, yet she chose to help these angels over other charities.

“What?”

“You care for them. You’re not only here to fulfill your duty. They have a place in your heart, Princess.

Again, you surprise me.”

“Thanks.” Her smile reached her eyes. “Most people don’t look at me the way you just did.”

“You deserve better recognition, but it doesn’t matter to you. You help these kids from your heart.”

“Correct. Kids are innocent little angels. They don’t deserve to be deserted or carry the hardship in life.

They are too young to feel the burden of this world. The rest I could do is help. Since I’ve been given

this chance, I grabbed it. So here we are. My brother helped and supported me in founding this. Until

now, this is close to his heart, too. Since you’re with me, he told me he’d left this to his girls.”

A smile broke out from my lips. At the same time, a pang twisted in my chest.

Yesterday, we went back home in silence. We didn’t talk about that topic again.

He respected my silence, and I gave him the peace he needed. He left the manor with nothing but a

kiss on my cheek, and the words have fun.

I felt guilty for not accepting his proposal when I already made a promise to his father that I would help

his son secure his birthright.

In all honestly, I was overwhelmed. Thayer didn’t have to propose to me for the sake of formality. If he

wanted to marry me for one purpose, I would willingly say I do. He didn’t have to hassle saying he

loved me and proposed to me at the same time.

I knew he loved me, I had no doubt, but marriage? I didn’t think so.

“You okay?”

“Yeah.”

“You zoned out for a while.”

“Your brother proposed to me?”

“What?” Her eyes widened. She looked surprised, like genuinely stunned. Then she looked down at

fingers on both hands. “Where’s the ring” She even took and checked my hands.

“I turned him down.” I shrugged wryly.

“What? Why?” Her brows knitted together. The room fell quiet. We settled back to the table they

prepared for us with wildflowers arrangement, so beautiful.

“I know about the law and his birthright.”

“And you think he proposed for the reason of securing his birthright?” She shook her head. “You

misunderstood everything, Kennedy. My brother must be so devastated. I will call him after this. Oh,

brother.” She sighed with deep sadness pooling in her eyes.

“What else is there?”

“Seriously? My brother loves you. He may have done some desperate measures, but if he wants to

marry you, it’s because he loves you.” She groaned in dismay.

“How come he doesn’t have an idea about what we talked about with your father?” Oh, no. I suddenly

remembered the video call of their father with my parents and the dowry.

“Daddy will tell him when everything’s arranged and ready.”

“What if the King will wake up?”

“Then it’s great. Everything will be back to normal. But trust me, Thayer will still propose again, with or

without the terms, or even if the King would run a mile.”

“He doesn’t have to propose to me. I made a promise to your father that I will help Thayer.”

“Then why torture my brother?”

“Because I don’t want him to expect something more.”

She shook her head in annoyance. “Jeez. You’re a complicated woman. You love my brother. Deny all

you want, but you love him as much as he loves you. Why not get married, enjoy each other and have

fun making babies? Nothing is complicated about that if you love the man who proposed to you.”

I nodded, seeming her words had sunk in. When she started bidding goodbye to the staff and

organizers, I went out ahead of her to clear my head.

The details were ready outside the car. I drew a deep breath. Still, my chest was heavy even after my

conversation with Carlott.

“Hi, can I ask you a question?” the lady reporter approached suddenly. I didn’t know where she came

from. In a second, she was right in front of me.

“I’m sorry.” I gave her a small smile.

“Miss, just one quick question. What’s your relationship with the Royal family?” a reporter in black-

rimmed glasses asked.

Then rushes and commotion caught me off guard as the reporters started shoving mics, recorders, and

phones into my face. I felt like I was a deer caught in the headlights. What Thayer told me in the yacht

came flashing into my head.

With my heart in my throat, I tried to get away from them. One of the details whispered to me to relax

while he blocked the reporters from throwing questions at me.

“Come on, give us something. The people are dying to know more about you. You’re an American in

the picture, right? The Cinderella in a blue dress?”

Wait. What are they talking about?

“How did you meet Princess Carlott? Are you two close?”

“Are you and Prince Thayer dating?”

Damn it. No matter how the bodyguard tried to push them away, they kept on asking questions. Once I

reached the car, I stopped and took a deep breath.

“Guys, why don’t you ask something relevant to the foundations of Princess Carlott. Her future projects,

her plans for the holidays. Ask something appropriate. Come on.” I stared at their faces. “None? Then

I’m not answering any more questions. You can ask them during their press conference.” I held the

door ready for me when a man in a thick accent called me by miss made me pause.

“Are you banging the Prince?”

I froze dead in my tracks. I shivered. At the same time, I felt the rush of adrenaline in my head, my face

burning. I turned around and searched for that man. The redhead guy was grinning.

“What was your question? And your name is?” I tipped my head. My brow arched. I was shaking with

anger, but I kept my poise.

“Are you banging Prince Thayer? It’s Conor.”

“Conor, you have the guts to put the words you, banging, and Prince Thayer together in one sentence.

You just disrespected the Prince to get my attention. Now listen to me while you still have a job. You

won’t disrespect Prince Thayer. You can write or post anything about me because I have nothing to

hide. Prince Thayer is one of the hard-working members of the royal family. He works hard day and

night to prove to these people that he’s not just a pretty face prince. He has privileges, yes, but for

years, he’d proven that he deserves a little recognition that he never asks. He deserves a little respect

from all of you. What does he do during his free time? It’s none of your business. He deserves a little

privacy in his personal time. He’s single, and there’s nothing wrong to have the fun while he’s off duty.

He’s human like you. He’s just a man. At his age? He’d fulfill so many things, solved conflicts, built

something for these young generations. He’d accomplished something bigger, and it’s not because

he’s born with a golden spoon, but he worked hard. Now, if you have nothing to say something right,

you won’t use bang in Prince Thayer’s name.”

Once I was in the car, I held my breath. I just realized what I did. “I screwed up. God, I just screwed up

big time.”

The driver who would send me back to the manor just smiled at me through the rearview mirror. What I

just did was damaging. I lost control, and I just ruined everything Thayer had worked hard for, including

his image.

As soon as the car parked, I ran inside towards my room. I was still shaking.

I didn’t know what to do. My tears kept streaming. I wiped away, but they kept rolling down.

I would be paying the consequences of my actions, but Thayer didn’t deserve these. I sniffed back the

tears. I sobbed impatiently, opening the closet. I grabbed the old clothes I wore when they kidnapped

me. Then I threw them to the bed. Then I cried again.

“Kennedy?”

I jumped, yelped, hand on my chest. Then there he was, the most beautiful man I’d ever seen, staring

at me with brows knitted in confusion.—the man I just ruined his reputation.

“Darling, are you okay?” He took calculated steps closer to me.

“Don’t come closer.” I raised my hand to stop him. “I messed up,” I said between sobs.

“What’s wrong? Why are you crying?” His voice was thick with sorrow.

I sniffed. “I now realized what you said to me.” My voice grew weaker.

“Jesus, what’s going on? Why in the hell do you keep crying? And you don’t make any sense.”

“I’m going home. You don’t have to kick me out. I’m going home, Thayer. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“You’re not leaving me again, Kennedy.” He took the leap, closed the gap between us, and wrapped his

arms around me. “I’d rather end my life than living alone without you.”

“You should be mad at me for what I did earlier. I’m so sorry. I messed it up.” I curled my arms around

him as I sobbed in his chest. I needed to feel him even for the last time.

God, I love him.

“Earlier? What are you talking about?” He pulled away, cupped my face, wiped the hair off, and

pressed his lips on my forehead. “You mean when you stood up for me from that son of a bitch? You

called that messed up? No woman had ever stood up for me like that. You even made me prouder,

darling. And I didn’t know you’ve been checking out my obligation. I’m touched. And I want to make

love to you right now, my love.”

I blinked away the blurry off my sight. “You’re not mad?”

“Nope.” He popped the word nope and shook his head. “Why would I when my woman just defended

me from those gossip-greedy assholes.”

I let go of a shuddering breath and looked down. “But I just crossed the line. You’ve just reminded me

yesterday that I should be careful. One mistake could ruin everything. And people are watching every

move you make.”

“I remembered saying those.” He kissed me on my lips. “Stop crying. It breaks my heart seeing you like

this.”

“I’m so sorry. It won’t happen again.”

“Oh, it will. We will make mistakes along the way. As long as we have each other’s back, it won’t

matter. We’re strong together, Kennedy. And we would be stronger once we get married.”

“I remember turning you down.”

“You’ll take it back because I won’t stop proposing until it stuck in your head, and you’ll get fed up Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

rejecting me.