Chapter 52

As soon as I was within the safety of the pack walls, I allowed my façade fall and I leaned against the wall to catch my breath. I thought dealing with Ryker would be the hardest part of this ceremony but I did not account for Tyson.

I have done well all these years to keep him at the back of my mind. It’s not like I am still hung up over what he did to me. I found my own way to get over and through it but seeing him is like dumping me back in ice cold water with no way to swim.

I had half a mind to call off the entire thing but I knew I couldn’t. I wouldn’t even allow myself do that simply because of two men. That would be setting the kingdom back by thousands of years. Just because I have a duty though doesn’t mean that I want to do it.

“Hey, are you okay?” Christine asked as she walked over to me.

Audrey was walking right next to her and I nodded as I slid down to kneel on the floor and opened my arms out for my daughter. She walked right in and I buried my face in her hair so I could get her perfect scent to calm me down. She allowed me hold her tightly and all she did was wrap her tiny little hands around me.

“That man was mean mommy,” she whispered, “Is he going to come back?”

“Yeah he will,” I admitted and I saw her smile fall, “He has to be at that ceremony that your grandmother organized. You won’t have to see or talk to him though. You are going to sit right next to Christine and grandma.”

That seemed to lift her spirits because she squealed and clapped her hands together in barely contained glee. Her happiness was infectious and I found myself smiling alongside her as I finally stood to my feet and kept my hand entwined with hers. She liked the fact that I was holding her hand because she leaned her head against me as we walked back into the castle.

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Although we had just eaten less than two hours ago, the interaction I just had brought a hollowing feeling in stomach and I just wanted to snack on something. I realized my tendency to stress eat when I was pregnant and Christine gave me a healthy alternative.

-I would snack-on fruits or healthy snacks basically. It didn’t give the same high that greasy junk food gave but it was enough to allow me realize that I was actually full and didn’t want to eat. I noticed that Audrey had also started picking up the habit and I’m just grateful that it is healthy food and not junk.

As if the maids knew why I was there, they didn’t even ask what I wanted to eat, they just brought a bowl of fruits and put in front of Audrey and I. They tried to give Christine one and she politely refused them but settled for stealing from my bowl.

“Was that Tyson?” she whispered after a few minutes of silence and I nodded, “I pictured him different.

“Different how?” I asked and she shrugged.

“Ugly, disgusting, body odor, I thought his bad attitude would bleed into his appearance,” she said and I had to hold back my laughter, “Ryker is hotter though.”

I rolled my eyes, “I don’t care about who is hotter. I want both of them gone as soon as possible.”

“Today was a close call,” she said with a jerk in Audrey’s direction. “I wasn’t even paying attention, it wasn’t until she mentioned the yelling that I looked and saw what was going on. They’re going to find out about her sooner or later.”

“I choose later, hopefully twenty years later.”

Christine frowned, “If you never give her the chance to know her father, she might hate you forever.”

I knew she was right and as I glanced at Audrey who was sitting absentmindedly and shoving fruits in her mouth, I realized that one day, she wouldn’t be a child anymore. She will grow up and start asking about her dad. One day I might have to face the reality that my daughter will want to know her father regardless of whatever went on between us.

I knew what I had to do but I couldn’t bring it to myself to do it. I would have to meet Ryker and I would have to be cordial with him for her sake.copy right hot novel pub