/1/112007/coverbig.jpg?v=a50eb2275df9d10a1189d151a3617521&imageMogr2/format/webp)
a
e sound of peop
rough the curtains, my brain slow to reboot. The voices were getting louder
thday, dea
to see a small parade entering my room, Delia leading the way with a cupcake on a tray, Dad trailing behind her holding a p
was smooth and artificial, like she'd sprayed it
nyway. Delia got birthdays. Princess themes, balloons, new dresses, and a chorus of relatives pretending they lik
his felt l
d, my voice rough fro
offering. "I made the cupcake myself," she said sweetly, which meant
te frosting and one lonely candle jam
ere doing that thing they always did when he was nerv
. "Okay, seriously
g the correct instincts. She sat down on the edge of the be
he said gently. "That'
. "Should I be bracing for
gled. Dad
now, Katia. And your father and I have somet
g in the frosting. The
traighter.
ut to hand me a tiara. "You've be
't go quiet;
he words. I stared at her, waiting for
ven though I'd he
he Windsor heir. Their family has been interested in an all
ked. "
ok. "We didn't want to ov
You mean when
ch. His family is very private. Very powerful. Thi
ck
as some kin
down because I was the golden ticke
to wrap my head around the casual horror of what s
f things had gone differently, she would've marri
d. "How generous
sed to be really handsome. And rich. Like... rich rich. The Windsors own, like, ev
marrying a ghost with a trust
d. "Don't be dramatic. He's real. And th
aited four years to tell me I was promised to a c
ought we'd wait until the Windsor
"You mean this
aid. "There will be dinner. Formalities. You'll get to
sn't a relationship. It was a
I said, my voice flat. "
unities like this," she sai
iling mother with a cupcake anymore. She was the CEO of this fa
cupcake toppled sideways, the candle smearing fro
air,"
"Katia, don't
think. I'm go
her off gu
. You want me to marry a stranger? Fine. Bu
rgue, but Dad touched her arm.
r expression. In the end, control won.
rning. "Go. Take some time. But don't f
n't a
cking the second
at they didn't know was that I wasn't goin
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