Broken Promise, Restored Affinity

Five years ago, Jonathan married me with a grand ceremony that made me feel like royalty. I wore a wedding gown that rivaled those of true princesses and the life that followed was nothing short of a dream. He spoiled me relentlessly, giving me everything I could have imagined and more. His love seemed boundless and though it had been difficult for us to have children, I was content. I never dared to ask for anything beyond the happiness we shared.

That was until the day he welcomed back Princess Hilton, a woman who had been living among the people, in front of everyone’s eyes. The air at the estate changed in an instant, heavy with the weight of her arrival.

It was only then that I learned the truth—the husband I had believed loved me beyond measure had actually been in love with another woman for many years. And even worse, they already had a child. That boy, now three years old, bore an unmistakable resemblance to Jonathan.

Jonathan stood beside Princess Hilton, gazing at their child with a look of pure affection. As Maria, Jonathan’s mother, held the boy in her arms, cooing at him as he nuzzled into her. The smile on her face was one of triumph, the weight of her family’s future now cradled in her arms.

"My grandson!" Maria exclaimed, her voice filled with pride. "With the blessing of our ancestors, the Bridgerton Family finally has an heir!"

She was so overwhelmed with joy that she nearly stumbled backward, all the while casting covert glances in my direction, her lips curling into a barely concealed smirk. The whole scene unfolded like a cruel play—one that had been rehearsed and I had unknowingly become part of.

Princess Hilton, for her part, stood quietly by Jonathan’s side. There was nothing grand about her demeanor, no royal airs that one might expect from a princess. Instead, she looked more like a concubine, long accustomed to life in the shadows. Her presence was soft, meek even, as if she had long accepted her role in this twisted narrative.

Jonathan, aware of the gravity of his actions and perhaps sensing the storm brewing inside me, attempted to smooth things over. His voice was gentle, but the words stung.

"Lana," he began, his eyes searching mine for understanding, "don’t worry. The princess isn’t difficult to get along with. She has agreed to treat you as a sister, regardless of age."

He paused, his tone shifting slightly, as if preparing me for a deeper betrayal. "But in front of others, I’ll have to ask you to make a small sacrifice. For the sake of the royal family’s face, you’ll need to step back slightly. I hope you can understand her position."

I stood there in silence for a long time, the weight of his words pressing down on me like stones. The vows he once swore under the moonlight seemed to mock me now. He had promised to take no other woman, to love only me and yet here we stood—before a princess, a child and an entire family who had erased me from my own marriage.

Finally, I spoke, my voice cold and sharp like a blade.

"You once promised that I would be your only wife. I’m sorry, but Jonathan, you cannot become a prince consort."

The room went silent. Princess Hilton’s eyes immediately welled with tears. She tried to hide her sobs behind delicate hands, but her sadness filled the space. The child, sensing his mother’s pain, turned to her, his small voice rising in distress.

"Don’t cry, mother. If you cry, Quincy will be sad too…"

Maria’s face twisted in distress as she tried to comfort the child, all the while casting me an accusatory glare. "Good child, don’t cry. As long as Grandma is here, no one will bully your mother!" She then turned her sharp eyes on me, her tone turning cold. "The princess is willing to share a husband with you and yet you’re making trouble!"

But I had already made up my mind. My voice was steady as I repeated, "I said, Jonathan will not marry another woman."

Without waiting for a reply, I turned and walked away, never looking back.