The Royal Contract

She had no one else to blame but herself for ending up in this situation, hurting and mending a broken heart. She could not blame Evan because he had never promised her anything. But he had been true to his word. He had pretended to be her boyfriend for the night.

Unfortunately for her, her bubbles popped by morning, finding herself in the real world with no prince charming, no fairy godmother, and riding in her pumpkin carriage. She was no princess with a happy ending.

“So, you are saying he only pretended to be your boyfriend to protect you from Tony? That doesn’t sound like my grandson.” Angela had that look of disbelief. She felt like something was missing in the story.

“Yes, it was all a charade.” Amelia insisted, not wanting her friends to catch her with her lie.

“I would not say that I am a bit disappointed with Evan and you. Because it is clear that you two belong together, but you are both too stubborn and blind to see it.” Angela frustratedly expressed as she shook her head at her and raised her brows.

“I can’t agree with you more.” Eida seconded as she placed her hands on her belly, rubbing it in circular motions.

.....

Suddenly, a thought occurred to her. She immediately replayed the other night’s event, trying to remember their night together. Was it possible to get knocked up with one night of passion?

It was but not in her case, remembering that Evan had come prepared. She recalled that he used protection, and there was no way she would get pregnant unless those broke. But she doubted that Evan would allow it.

Evan would not allow any woman to trap him in marriage by using a child against him. Thus, the condom was always in his wallet for any eventuality.

“I don’t think Evan shared your sentiment,” Amelia answered resignedly. “Anyway, stop setting me up for your grandson because it will never happen.”

It already did, but it did not work out the way they all wanted. However, her friends did not need to know that. It was an event in her life that she did not wish to remember.

“Fine. Just open the envelope and let us see what Tony sent you.” Eida interrupted her thoughts, reminding her of the envelope still in her hands.

She quickly opened it, wanting to get over the crazy thing Tony had sent her. She had already imagined all sorts of things she might find inside, but when she finally saw it. She was speechless.

Her heart twisted inside her ribcage while her lungs refused to take on air. She seemed frozen in time, but she could not keep her eyes away from those pictures as her fingers flipped from one to another.

When she saw everything, she finally let it drop on the table as tears covered her eyes. She did not want to believe it, but the evidence would not lie to her.

“What is this?” Eida took the pictures and looked at them. “Why would Tony send you these pictures? What are you not telling us?”

But she did not answer her friend right away. She kept crying that night, rehashing all that happened and then recalling those pictures of Evan with another woman the night after he left her.

There was no denying it since it had a time stamp. It was the following night after something happened to them. He had already moved on to his next conquest. He was in a club, making out with another woman.

It took her another couple of days before she finally confided with Angela and Eida about what happened. She did not expect the support that they provided for her. Her recovery was easier and faster because of them.

“That is not me anymore. I promise you I have changed. It is all because of you. I am a different man.” He snapped her out of her reminiscing, bringing her back to the present.

She was still sitting in the driver’s seat while he was on the other side. They were still in front of a grocery store, talking about him. But could she believe any word that he would say? Was she still willing to trust him?

“Why come back now?” When she felt she was starting to move on. “How would I know that you are serious this time?” Then, she remembered what he said.

“Why should I believe you are not just doing this to get me off your system again? And once you get tired of me, you will not leave me again.” She continued with her line of questioning.

This time, she faced him, letting her eyes focus on his, watching every twitch and movement of his face. She wanted to see if he was lying to her again.

“I know it would not be easy to believe me after what I did. But I swear that those photos were all a lie. Yes, I was at the club that night with my friends, only because we were celebrating my friend Marcus.” Evan explained as his eyes beseeched hers to listen.

“Then, a girl suddenly came on to me. It happened fast.” He told her the detail of that event as he remembered them. “But after kissing her, I felt nothing. That is the precise moment I realize that you are the only one I want and need in my life.”

“You are lying.” She felt confused because her mind kept saying she should not trust him, but her heart was saying another thing.

He had easily thrown whatever happened to them that night as nothing but thrash as soon as he woke up the following morning. He could not be bothered to leave a note or a text to say goodbye.

Now, he was saying that she was all he wanted and needed. Honestly, that was all she ever wanted to hear, but hearing it now seemed to be unbelievable.

“No, I am not.” He moved closer to her and grabbed her hand. She tried to pull away, but he would not let her. Then, he placed her palm on his chest, allowing her to feel his heart.

“You ask me why now.” He lifted his free hand and took her other hand. He could feel her struggling underneath his touch, but he secured her hand firmly in his. “Because now, I would die first before I hurt you again.”

“Evan...” She did not exactly know what she would say to that.

“My hearts beat only for you.” Evan cut her before she could say more.

He had dreamed of this moment, thinking he would finally tell her how he felt in a very romantic setting, with flowers and candles over dinner. He was not exactly expecting that he would finally disclose his feelings to her in the parking lot of some grocery store.

But beggars could not be choosers as he waited for her reaction to his confession. “I love you, Amelia.” Evan proclaimed inside the car, holding both her hand across his heart.

This time, it was the truth.