Mihai
MIHAI
I walk with Maddy down the quiet hallway toward Cat’s suite, the sound of her soft footsteps beside me grounding me in a way I never thought possible. She’s quiet, but it’s not the kind of silence that feels uncomfortable. It’s the kind that makes you want to lean in closer, to soak in the presence of someone who matters.
We spent the entire day locked up in my suite and me trying different ways to get her to scream my name, before Chiara suggested the girls have a sleepover with Cat since she needs her friends.
Of course, the suite will be armed to the teeth with guards, but that also means Gio and I will be with Nikolai tonight, stopping him from doing something reckless.
When we reach the door, she hesitates, glancing up at me with those big brown eyes that make my chest feel tight.
“Thank you,” she says softly, her voice like a melody I’ve been craving.
“For what?” I ask, smirking as I lean against the wall. “Walking you to a door? I didn’t exactly slay a dragon, Maddy.”
She rolls her eyes, but there’s a smile tugging at her lips. “For today. For… everything.”
I can see the sincerity in her gaze, and it does something to me—makes me feel like I’ve done something right for once. I reach out, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear before cupping her cheek.
“Enjoy your evening with the girls, baby,” I say softly, leaning down to press a kiss to her lips. It’s slow, lingering, and makes me wish I could keep her locked up in my suite all night. When I pull back, her cheeks are flushed.
“I’m never going to get used to this,” she says with a shy smile, and I can’t help but chuckle.
“Tough luck, you’re stuck with me now, Little Rebel,” I murmur, my hand dropping to my side as I step back. “I’ll see you tomorrow, okay? And text me if you need anything.”
She nods, her lips curving into a shy smile. “Goodnight, .”
I watch as she disappears into Cat’s suite, the door clicking shut behind her. For a moment, I just stand there, replaying the kiss in my head and wondering how the hell I got so lucky.
I turn to head back to my suite, but the sound of sharp heels clicking against the floor halts me in my tracks. I already know who it is before she even speaks.
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
I turn slowly, bracing myself for the storm that’s clearly brewing. She’s standing a few feet away, her arms crossed over her chest, her green eyes blazing.
The perfect blonde hair, the mole beneath her full lips, the confident stance—all of it screams Sofia Reyes. But it’s the fury in her expression that tells me this isn’t going to end well.
“What’s your problem?” I ask, keeping my voice steady but firm.
“What the fuck was that?” she snaps, pointing toward the door Maddy just walked through.
I raise an eyebrow, already annoyed. “That was me kissing my girl goodnight,” I say coolly, shoving my hands into my pockets.
“Your girl?” Sofia scoffs, her voice rising with disbelief. She takes a step closer, her green eyes narrowing. “You threw away everything we could have had for someone like her? ”
My jaw clenches, and I force myself to stay calm. “Someone like her?” I repeat, my tone cold. “You want to explain that?”
Sofia rolls her eyes, her arms tightening around herself. “Oh, don’t play dumb, . She’s not one of us. She doesn’t belong in this world, in your world. She’s?—”
“Don’t finish that sentence,” I cut her off sharply, my tone dropping.
Her eyes widen in shock, but she quickly recovers, crossing her arms over her chest. “Oh, I see. She’s off-limits now, is she? The little damsel in distress you’ve decided to play savior for?”
“Watch your fucking tone, Sofia,” I say evenly, my voice laced with warning. “You don’t get to talk about her like that.”
“You and I could have had everything, ! We’re both heirs, both part of the same legacy. You’re throwing away your future for what? A charity case?”
I take a step toward her, my voice cold and clipped. “Don’t you dare talk about her like that.”
“Oh, please,” she says, her tone dripping with disdain. “You’re deluding yourself if you think this is anything more than a distraction. You and I—we were supposed to be?—”
“Supposed to be what?” I interrupt, my voice rising. “Perfect? Convenient? A fucking alliance?”
“You’re throwing everything away for a girl who has made you forget who you are!”
I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. “She hasn’t made me forget who I am. If anything, she’s reminded me of who I want to be. You wouldn’t understand that, Sofia, because all you care about is appearances and power.”
“That’s not fair,” she snaps, her voice trembling with frustration. “You don’t even realize what you’re throwing away!”
I step closer to her, my tone cutting like a blade. “What I’m throwing away? Sofia, I’m choosing the one person who makes me feel like I can fucking breathe again. The one who doesn’t see me as just Vasile, heir to the Romanian Crown. When I’m with her, I don’t have to pretend. I don’t have to carry the weight of this legacy or be the perfect heir. She sees me for who I am, not what I am.”
Sofia’s jaw tightens, her eyes blazing with anger. “And what about me, ? I’ve been by your side through everything. I’ve always had your back. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”
“It does,” I say, my tone softening slightly. “But not in the way you want it to. Sofia, I care about you. I always will. You’re family to me, and nothing’s going to change that. But that’s all it can ever be.”
Her eyes narrow, and she takes another step forward, her voice dropping to a hiss. “You’re making a mistake, . And if you think I’m going to stand by while she takes everything?—”
“Stop right there,” I interrupt, my tone turning icy.
Her mouth snaps shut, and I step closer, my voice dropping to a deadly calm. “If you so much as look at Maddy the wrong way, I’ll make sure you regret it. You know what I’m capable of. You know why I have the highest body count of the Five Crown heirs. Don’t make me remind you.”
She stares at me, the bravado slipping for a brief moment. I don’t break eye contact, letting her see that I mean every single word.
Then she takes a step back, forcing a smirk on her lips. “You’re serious about this, aren’t you?”
“Dead serious,” I say, my voice unwavering. “Stay out of my way, Sofia. And stay the hell away from her.”
“You’re choosing her,” she says quietly, her voice barely audible. “Over me.”
“I’m choosing what feels right,” I say, my tone softer now. “And for the first time in a long time, that’s not you.”
Her face pales, and for a moment, I think she might cry. But then her expression hardens, and she juts her chin out defiantly.
“You’ll regret this,” she says, her voice shaking. “One day, you’ll see that I was right.”
I shake my head, letting out a humorless laugh. “No, Sofia. One day, you’ll see that you’re wrong. And when that day comes, I hope you find someone who can give you what you want—because it sure as hell isn’t me.”
Her eyes glisten with unshed tears, but she doesn’t say another word. She just turns on her heel and storms off, her heels clicking angrily against the floor.
I let out a long breath, running a hand through my hair. My heart is pounding, and my other hand is still clenched into fist, but I feel lighter somehow. Like I’ve finally put something to rest.
Maddy is worth it. Every fight, every argument, every moment of chaos. She’s worth it all.