Becky's POV
This was getting truly unbearable. Why couldn't he just play along like a normal person? Why did loving him have to feel like swallowing broken glass every single day? I wished more than anything that I could wipe him from my mind, burn every memory of his voice, his touch, that infuriatingly perfect smile. It was toxic. Poisonous. Completely destructive. Yet no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop. I truly, desperately loved him.
I sat rigidly at my desk, blinking back the hot tears that threatened to ruin my flawless makeup. My booty lift was digging painfully into my skin, but I refused to adjust. Showing discomfort was the same as showing weakness, and I couldn't afford that right now. I straightened my posture, took a slow, controlled breath, and stared down at the important business documents laid out before me. These papers were meant for Her Royal Majesty today. But how was I supposed to present them confidently when that bitch was still hovering in the picture like a dark cloud?
How could I eliminate this threat once and for all?
The thought had barely settled when the door swung open without so much as a knock. My heart leaped into my throat. I opened my mouth to scream for security, but strong, familiar hands were already clamped tightly over my lips, muffling any sound.
"Shhh," a deep, velvety voice hissed dangerously close to my ear. "You seem quite desperate. Why don't I help you? I could satisfy your wildest dreams… with that pathetic king you so foolishly call 'love'. Don't you dare scream when I release you."
He let go slowly. I spun around, chest heaving, glaring at him with all the fury I could muster.
"I don't need your help," I spat, my voice low and venomous. "I didn't need it fifteen years ago when you abandoned me, and I sure as hell don't need it now. Get the hell out of my office before I call security and have you dragged out like the worthless scum you are."
He smirked, clearly amused by my anger. "Still fiery as ever. That's what I always liked about you."
The door creaked open again. Tatiana stepped inside, her sharp eyes immediately scanning the room. The suspicion was written all over her face. "Who were you speaking to just now?"
I glanced frantically to my side, but he had already vanished into thin air. My hands trembled slightly as I gathered the documents, trying to compose myself.
"Are the documents ready?" Tatiana asked coldly, her tone leaving no room for delays. "I don't have all day to waste here."
I forced a sweet, professional smile even though my blood was boiling. "Yes, ma'am. Here you go."
She took the files and flipped through them carefully before fixing me with a long, piercing stare. Those striking green emerald eyes seemed to cut right through me, embodying the power of a goddess.
"Don't make me come here again, Becky," she warned, her voice sharp as a blade. "Next time, I won't just fire you. I'll make sure you never work anywhere in this kingdom again. Do I make myself clear?"
The threat hit me like a slap across the face. I hated her. I hated everything about her — her confidence, her authority, the way Derek looked at her.
"Yes, Your Majesty," I replied with fake sweetness, my nails digging into my palms. "Crystal clear."
As soon as she turned and left the office, I slammed my fist hard on the desk. The pain shot up my arm, but it was nothing compared to the rage burning inside me. I should have been the one wearing that crown. I should have been the queen. Not her. Never her.
Tatiana's POV
I walked out of Becky's office with dangerous fury boiling just beneath my skin. I hated competition, especially the sneaky, backstabbing kind that pretended to be loyal while plotting in the shadows. Something was definitely off about that woman. I could feel it deep in my bones.
That strange scent lingered in my mind — mint mixed with scorched lilies. It felt disturbingly familiar, but I couldn't place where I had encountered it before. The memory teased me, just out of reach.
I entered my own office, still lost in thought, when instinct suddenly kicked in. I whipped around with lightning speed.
"Who the hell are you?!" I demanded, backing away quickly while reaching for the alarm button under my desk. My heart pounded fiercely in my chest.
A tall, shadowy figure stood near my desk, cloaked in darkness. He slowly raised his hands in a gesture of peace.
"I'm here to protect you," he said calmly, "until they find you. Someone will be very glad to see you again. Your husband, especially."
I stepped forward despite my fear, refusing to show weakness. "Protect me? I don't even know who you are! What do you want from me? Who sent you?"
Before I could demand more answers or press the alarm, he simply smiled mysteriously and vanished — disappearing faster than he had appeared. The air in the room grew noticeably colder in his absence.
I stood there frozen, staring at the empty space where he had been. My mind raced with questions. What was happening around me? Who was this man, and what did he mean about my husband?