Broken Promise, Restored Affinity

Before I could speak, Princess Hilton had already lowered her head, her expression filled with sorrow. "I'm sorry, I’m truly sorry for you," she said softly, her voice trembling with emotion. "Don’t worry, once I marry Jonathan, I’ll live in the princess's mansion. You can treat everything as it was before."

I kept my eyes down, remaining silent. Everything as before? How could she say it so lightly? Did she really believe that my life would go on unchanged while she and her son took their rightful place in Jonathan’s world?

Seeing that I didn’t respond, she moved closer to me, her delicate hand reaching out to gently tug at my sleeve. Her eyes, red like those of a distressed rabbit, shimmered with unshed tears. "Lana," she pleaded softly, "I just want to give my son a home..."

I pulled my arm back sharply. The sudden motion caused her to lose her balance and she swayed slightly on her feet. Just then, a maid entered the room and reported that Jonathan had arrived.

When he entered, his eyes immediately fell on Princess Hilton, who was still unsteady. He only saw her as she began to fall and she looked up at him with those same pitiful eyes, calling out, “Jonathan...” Her voice was filled with such grievance.

Without hesitation, Jonathan rushed forward, crouching down to carefully help her up. His movements were tender and caring, the way they had once been for me. The concern in his eyes was painfully familiar, but now it was directed at her.

"Wendy, why are you sitting on the ground?" he murmured, his tone soft and full of affection. "The floor is cold, get up quickly."

"My dear Jonathan," she said, resting her hand on his arm, "don’t blame your wife. I didn’t sleep all night and I was feeling lightheaded... I must have lost my balance."

Jonathan’s face tightened with concern at her words. He bent down and scooped her into his arms, as if she were the most fragile thing in the world. "I’ll take you back to the mansion," he said, turning to leave.

"Husband!" I called out, my voice sharp. "The princess is not married yet. If you take her away like this, won’t it damage the royal family’s reputation?"

He paused for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he barked orders to the servants. "Prepare the sedan chair!" He spoke with the authority of someone used to being obeyed.

It was only then that he seemed to notice me. Seeing the hardness in my tone, Jonathan placed the princess on the sedan chair, his anger barely concealed. The servants moved quickly, ushering her away, leaving the room feeling colder than it had before.

"Lana..." Jonathan began, stepping toward me.

"Are you blaming me for bullying her?" I asked, my voice cutting through the tension in the room.

Jonathan sighed, his shoulders drooping slightly. "I know you’re not that kind of woman," he said softly, "how could I bear to blame you?" His tone was soothing, but the disconnection between his words and his actions was jarring.

His gaze, tender as it was, felt foreign now. Though his eyes looked at me the same way they always had, everything had changed. I felt a strange sense of loss, as if I were watching the last remnants of my old life slip away before me.

My tough words from earlier faded, replaced by a softer plea. "Why did you hide it from me?"

He hesitated before responding, his voice deep and measured. "I was afraid of hurting you," he said finally. "If it hadn’t come to this, I would never have let her appear before you."

He frowned slightly, as if he truly believed he had done no wrong. To him, it seemed that fate had simply forced his hand, turning the concubine he once tried to shield from me into a princess who could no longer be hidden.

His innocence felt like another blow. He was the same Jonathan who had promised me the world, yet the reality we lived in was one of betrayal. It wasn’t just the royal titles or societal norms that separated us—it was the fact that I was no longer the center of his world.

And despite his apologies and explanations, I knew there was no going back.