s Clara grabbed the tra
ed to run away. From what? And wh
re. She put on a plain green wool dress and left the room without call
e entrance straighten
goin
sy. "The King said you were t
esterday? What d
ed to leave without security
uard to the other. "An
r man a
ep into her path, Mia turned on him. "Are you going to lay hands
pen and walked out. Th
t the market. People moved around her in every direction. Stall owners shouted out prices, cars roll
stepped inside, the cool air hitting her face right away. Mia paused
. "Would you like to
on't. Just call me Mia." The wo
ing out clothes and shoes. It felt refreshingly normal. S
ce came fro
heck-up with the do
standing a few feet away in a dark gray
id you
he said, taking a step toward her. "Half
So you sent men
didn't h
earby. "You came all the way out here
for you if you didn't wa
to buy so
asked someone to
permission to
sion went hard. "
g." Mia crossed her arms. "I
closed the distance between them, dropping his
t him. "You d
" William said. "No driver, no guards
ake care
t her. "You were
went dry. "P
n completely different sinc
hard. "I took
change your ent
his shoulder. "Then maybe I jus
emeanor breaking for a second into pla
exit. When Mia didn't move, he lo
lack sports car waiting at the c
pped in after her, shutting the door. The driver
d her arms and stared out the dark window. Willi
Mia broke
napping, or do I g
her. "You weren't kidnap
let out a short la
d her. "Your safety i
his tone was different now. He sounded genuinely
out first and held out a hand. Mia looked at hi
the pavement. William dropped
to my stud
s covered the walls from floor to ceiling, and a large dark desk sat in fron
don't think you realize what y
nobody was watching me. I didn't want anyone tell
should have
ou have s
g. Mia gave him a fa
his desk. "You're
e treating me l
lf why everyone is worried about you. You claim you don't rememb
ring at the floor. "I
a pen from the desk. "The bags will be taken to yo
k, stunned that he was dropping the argument just l
hel
William didn
an allowance today. Y
y looked b
that account in two
years. She stayed silent. William picked up his
eaning back against the wall once it shut. What k
ond she stepped inside, her stomach turned. Mia covered her mouth a
for the glass of water on the nightstand, but the room tilted violently. M
ng with me?"
ass, she reached for the bel
moment later. "Your Maj
gasped out before sin
he physician walked in
r Maj
alm to her head. "I'm sick to my stomach,
nd asked a few quiet questions.
ed. "What?
is expression seriou
at i
aren't
"Then why can'
ated. "You are te
air leaving her
Wh
n we
gainst the bedsheets. Pregnant. She had never even bee
y one person who c
h, her chest tight. The c
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