A loud gasp escaped my throat as I suddenly sat upright, pain shooting through every inch of my body. My chest heaved, ragged breaths tearing from my lungs. The world around me was a chaotic blur—loud gasps, thuds, and the unmistakable sound of fists connecting just a few feet away.
I turned my head and froze. My eyes widened in disbelief. There, in the dim moonlight, I saw two Prince Hudsons—both fighting fiercely. One was familiar, his face contorted with anger and determination. But the other… the other had shoulder-length hair that shimmered in the faint light. He was grappling with the first, throwing punches, defiant and fierce.
My heart hammered in my chest. I stood and took a hesitant step back, trembling. Should I run? Or stay? Or… what?
The longer-haired man stretched his neck side to side, then grabbed his collar and straightened, as if nothing had just transpired. His voice cut through the chaos, sharp and taunting.
"Did you even tell your fake bride about me?"
Prince Hudson clenched his jaw, fists tight, eyes flashing with fury and something darker—shame? Regret?
"Did you even tell her about Princess Calixta?" Hunter pressed, voice dripping with mockery. "You fucked up big time, Hudson." His tone sharpened into a stern warning.
Prince Hudson's response was tight, full of angst. "Shut up, Hunter! I had to do what I had to do!"
My mind reeled. Hunter? That name sounded familiar—something in my memory prickled, but I couldn't place it.
I turned slowly toward Prince Hudson, my voice trembling. "Is he…?"
Before he could answer, Hunter reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his phone. He held it up, showing Prince Hudson a photo. My eyes flicked to the screen—there was a woman in a wedding dress, radiant and smiling.
Prince Hudson's face suddenly drained of all color. His jaw clenched tightly, and his eyes darkened with shock and despair. Without warning, he stepped forward, grabbing Hunter by his collar, his entire body tense with fury.
In that instant, I saw Hunter's hand dart to his waistband—he was pulling out a gun. My heart pounded in my chest.
Without thinking, I sprinted toward Prince Hudson, throwing myself into the middle of the chaos. I pushed myself between them, desperate to stop the violence. But instead of separating them, I found myself caught—sandwiched between two hard, unyielding bodies.
Hunter was breathing heavily, his face so close I could feel his warm breath on mine. Meanwhile, Prince Hudson pressed against me, his grip on Hunter's collar unrelenting.
Hunter's eyes flicked down at me, a strange, unreadable look. Then, suddenly, Prince Hudson snatched the gun from Hunter's hand and yanked my shoulder roughly. I thought—perhaps—he was about to run. To escape. But instead, he spun me around, pressing his muscular arm around my neck, the cold barrel of the gun pressed firmly against my temple.
The betrayal hit me like a freight train. My breath hitched, tears blurring my vision as panic flooded my mind.
"What the hell, Hudson!" I shouted, desperation thick in my voice. But he only tightened his grip, the gun unwavering.
Hunter looked stunned, almost amused, as if this was some twisted game.
"Better tell me, Hunter," Hudson growled through clenched teeth, voice low and dangerous. "What did you do with Calixta? Or I swear I'll use your own gun to end this woman's life!"
Hunter chuckled softly, shaking his head in defiance. "Go ahead," he murmured, voice calm and defiant.
My pulse thundered in my ears. My tears spilled over, falling freely down my face. I was trembling, overwhelmed by the betrayal, the fear, the helplessness.
What did I do to deserve this?
I struggled against Hudson's grip, fists pounding against his arm, voice raw with fury. "Let me go!" I demanded, voice trembling but fierce.
"Stop moving! I don't care if I have to kill you!" Hudson snarled, his grip tightening around my neck, his eyes cold with menace.
Hunter's face suddenly shifted, seriousness replacing his earlier mockery. His voice cut through the chaos, urgent and commanding. "Let her go, Hudson! She has nothing to do with this. I couldn't care less if you kill her."
I just felt my soul leaving my body. My life is meaningless to them.
"Start talking," Hudson spat, voice trembling with rage, "or I'll make you tell me."
Hunter took a deep breath. "Calixta is going to marry me in six months."
Hudson's eyes widened in disbelief. "What do you mean? Father ordered me to leave her. How did you get to marry her?"
Hunter's jaw clenched, his eyes burning with anger. "I guess her family likes a business-minded son-in-law rather than a a spoiled brat."
"How did Father allow that?" Hudson demanded, voice cracking with frustration and betrayal.
"Because I'm not part of the royal family anymore," Hunter explained, voice grim. "Father had to ask me to fix your mess. Why do you think the Halstead haven't waged war against Montero after what you did to the Princess?" His tone was furious and bitter. "I had to marry her for security. I was the collateral, and I am here to punish you."
Hudson's trembling voice betrayed his inner turmoil. "But I love Calixta! I should be the one marrying her." His hands shook as he spoke, frustration and heartbreak evident in his eyes.
My mind spun with a thousand conflicting feelings—anger, hurt, betrayal. I was the collateral, too. I was caught in this mess because of Hudson. My voice, thick with rage, broke free.
I kicked him hard in the shin, causing him to crouch in pain and stumble backward. His grip on me loosened just enough. I snatched the gun from his hand, my fingers trembling as I took a step back, aiming it at him.
"I was a collateral, too," I snapped, voice trembling with suppressed tears and fury. I clicked the safety off, holding the gun with both hands. The barrel aimed steady at his feet. Without thinking, I pulled the trigger—firing a shot into the ground.
Hudson flinched, scrambling back, terror filling his eyes as the bullet ricocheted harmlessly off the pavement. I wanted to hit him—wanted to see him feel the same fear I did.
Before I could pull the trigger again, Hunter lunged forward, snatching the gun from my hands and wrapping his arms tightly around me, pulling me into a desperate hug. His whisper was urgent, almost pleading. "Stop it! Don't do this. For your own sake."
Tears blurred my vision as I struggled against him, shaking with rage and heartbreak. I looked into his eyes—desperate, pleading.
In just a few seconds, the air shifted entirely. From behind the shadows emerged a squad of uniformed military men in blue, their faces covered and masked, rifles at the ready. They moved swiftly, encircling Hunter and I, our presence concealed from Hudson's view but clearly poised and dangerous.
Then, almost immediately, a second group appeared—palace guards in sharp suits, guns pointed directly at us. The atmosphere crackled with tension as the two groups formed a tight perimeter on each side. Hudson, limping slightly, raised his hand in a halting gesture, signaling them to stand down.
"Hold your fire," Hudson commanded, voice rough with pain and frustration. His eyes flicked to the guards, then to us. "Stand down."
Hunter freed me from his grasp and looked down at me. His eyes were emotionless. He stared directly at my eyes, voice soft but firm.
"Be careful," he said, his gaze lingering on me for a moment that felt like forever. His expression was uncharacteristically tender, as if silently warning me to stay alive.
Without another word, Hunter's guards stepped forward, pulling him away from the scene, disappearing into the dense hedges, leaving me standing alone amid the chaos.
Suddenly, a low hum filled the air. I looked up just in time to see a helicopter slicing through the overcast sky, its blades whipping fiercely as it circled overhead. The distant roar was deafening, a stark reminder that this was far from over.