Page 69 of Princessa
“On the night Camille and Finn told us they were getting married, we all drank probably too much champagne. And back in Grayson’s suite, I figure the liquor gave me a boost to act out some rather risqué sexual moves. I clearly wasn’t myself. Grayson lovingly teased me about it the next morning.”
Mama stayed silent, stroking my hair, the expression on her face unreadable.
“The private, licentious, moment between me and the man I love was captured on a spy camera that a woman named Iris Godiva—a horrible being that Grayson was sort of betrothed to—planted days before.”
Mama gasped, pulling the hand she was stroking my hair with to her mouth.
“Three nights ago,” I continued, “Iris confronted me with the video, promising to release it to every media outlet on Earth if I didn’t leave Grayson.” My lips quivered; my whole body felt cold.
Mama reached over, hugging me tight. “Oh, my sweet love. I am so sorry. So, so sorry.”
Rocking in her arms, I cried out, body shaking. “Missing him hurts, Mama. Make the pain stop, please make it stop.”
Mama sat stroking my hair as I curled up next to her, head in her lap. “Love is a beautiful gift, something we should never be ashamed of. Sex with someone you love is also something we should never be ashamed of. And while the world doesn’t have the right to see what an engaged couple does in the privacy of their bedroom, you cannot run away from a man who loves you as much as Grayson does.”
“That video will not only destroy him, it will wreak havoc on you, on Papa, on the resort,” I breathed out.
“No, Arabella. It won’t. Because you have to fight,amor. We have to fight.”
I sat up, met by a look of determination in her eyes. “What are you saying?”
“We take Iris down. Make her pay. I’m going to my office to call Queen Isadora now.”
“Call her? You have the queen’s direct number?”
Mama cupped my chin. “Amor, when Grayson asked for your hand in marriage, your father and I made contact with King Matteo and Queen Isadora the minute after our FaceTime chat had ended. Up until now, Isadora and I have been chatting every single day—she’s kind and lovely. I’ve been ignoring her calls since you came home, convinced Grayson did something to hurt you.”
I shook my head. “He could never hurt me.”
