CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO – FINN #2
If she ever disappeared again, I would burn this country to ashes just to find her. I would throw away everything—my position, my wealth, the crown that will one day be mine—just to get her back by my side.
She’s the most precious thing in my life.
Even her dark, vindictive side is utterly enthralling to me.
I have no doubt that it wasn’t all one-sided from Rosalyn and Jasmine tonight.
I know she’ll have bitten back, probably even started it all, and that the way she’s feeling now is compounded by an adrenaline crash from whatever she threw at them.
She doesn’t give in that easily. If she can provoke Jasmine so openly in a public place, then God only knows what bear she’s poked in private tonight.
Not that I care.
I will stop at nothing until she’s satisfied with her revenge.
And if she never feels that, I’ll keep going until she is.
Her happiness is all that matters to me.
Tap.
Tap tap tap.
Tap, tap.
I look towards my office door tiredly. What the fuck does he want? I lean over and grab my phone from the desk, then send a quick message to Alec.
ME: What do you want?
ALEC: It’s important.
ME: My wife is asleep.
ALEC: She’s not your wife yet.
ME: I don’t care.
ALEC: You need to hear this. I’m coming in.
The door opens before I can tell him not to, and I glare at him.
“Get out,” I order. “It’s too late for you to be here.”
He traces his dark gaze over us. “You look cosy,” he remarks. “Is this what you call working?”
“If you won’t get out, keep it down,” I say quietly. “If you wake her up—”
“Yeah, yeah.” He sits on the sofa opposite and looks at Hattie. “She’s adorable.”
“Don’t look at her.” I cover her face with my hand, glaring at him.
“Relax, Your Royal Highness. I’m not going to steal your woman.” He smirks. “Just noting that she’s adorable when she sleeps. Incredible, considering she’s bloody terrifying when she’s awake.”
He has a slight point.
He’s never seen the softer, hidden side of her.
And he never will.
Fuck that. It’s for my eyes only.
“Why are you here?”
“Ah.” He presses his hands together in front of him, leaning forwards so his elbows are on his knees, and lowers his voice. “Rosalyn is making a move to de-legitimatise Harriet.”
Jesus fucking Christ, it’s barely been two hours.
“De-legitimatise her?” The ice in my tone could freeze an entire country. “And how exactly does she intend to do that?”
“DNA test. Harriet’s belongings were still at the Sinclair residence until earlier, and she’s going to claim they conducted a test with a hair from her brush.”
“She’s been with them for two years. Why now? Why not when she returned?”
“She swept in to take Jasmine’s place as your fiancée at your birthday celebration, humiliated Jasmine at Lammens, and has all but stolen her place as the online royal fandom’s sweetheart.
And according to Marina, she raised merry hell in that house just an hour ago and left Rosalyn so “red-hot angry” that she was practically evaporating.
Rosalyn is going to claim that the real Harriet Sinclair is still missing, presumed dead as she always has been.
” He glances at Hattie. “And the woman you’re engaged to is nothing more than a pretender who happens to share similar looks. ”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Is there any way to stop this?”
“I think that’s a question you should ask your fiancée. She’s probably expecting something like this. She’s guessed all their moves rather accurately to this point.”
“Mm. She had a rough time at the Sinclair house earlier, though, and I’d rather not put her through any more pain that absolutely necessary.”
“That ice queen can feel emotional pain?”
“Alec,” I say darkly, my arms tightening protectively around Hattie.
He holds up his hands, smirking. “I’m joking.
I know she’s a softie under all her bravado.
But Rosalyn Sinclair is coming for her—openly, too.
She’s determined to pressure the royal household into changing your fiancée to Jasmine, despite everything you’ve said about it never happening.
Marina believes she’s going to throw a lot of shit at Harriet.
It’s no longer a sneaky little stitch up from Jasmine.
It’s an all-out attack from Rosalyn. As soon as something sticks, she’s going to run with it... and Harriet dared her to come for her.”
Of course, she did. “I’m going to kill Rosalyn.”
“Your fiancée may have something to say about that.”
“Fine. I’m going to help Hattie kill her.”
“That’s the spirit, Finn. Support your wife’s murderous ambitions.”
I smirk. “You’re one of my best friends, and I’d help her murder you if that’s what she really wanted.”
“I don’t doubt it,” he says dryly. “Anything you want me to do?”
“Yeah. Get her proof of Rosalyn’s prior affair with William.”
Alex pauses. “You mean of Jasmine’s parentage, right?”
“If that’s the evidence you happen to come across.” I smile tightly. “Whatever you find, make sure it hits harder than anything Rosalyn can come up with.”
“Sounds like fun.” He gets up with a smirk. “I’ll see what I can find out and come back tomorrow.”
I nod once and turn my attention back to Harriet. Seeing he’s getting no more out of me tonight, Alec heads for the door and makes his escape. The door clicks shut behind him, and I cradle Hattie’s head to my chest, kissing the top of her head.
De-legitimatise her?
In favour of her illegitimate daughter? Who stands no chance at marrying me?
How fucking delusional are they? When will they give up? Why won’t they give up?
Anger sparks across my skin.
She fucking wishes.