Page 92 of The Prince Who Loved Me

This was her fault. She was dividing Sebastien from his family. He had thousands of years of ancestors behind him. He couldn’t give that up.

“I don’t understand all of these words,” Charlotte said. “I think it’s about an investigation.”

“They sometimes speak in Italian,” Brandi mumbled,wishing she could understand the conversation for herself.

“That must be it.”

Brandi heard a rustle of papers, then Sebastien’s voice again. He sounded shocked. Livid. Charlotte turned toward Brandi. “Wait, how do you know they speak Italian? Are they guests here?”

Brandi fought between nausea and hopefulness. “They’re talking about me,” she whispered.

“This is your guy?” Paisley reached out her hand and Brandi gripped it, hard.

“That does change things.” Charlotte crept closer to the door. “The dad is talking about a prenup. Are you getting married?”

“No.” A hollowness settled in Brandi’s gut as she recalled the conversation with her mom and Pat at the hotel. Crumbs, she should have been more careful.

Charlotte cast a glance her way. “Apparently the dad thinks you’ve been…” She paused, eyebrows drawn down in concentration. “manipulating him. The son wants to know how the dad got his information. And the dad’s telling him you said it directly to the private investigator.”

“I don’t feel so good.” A wave of heat crashed over her and her legs weakened. Paisley led her to a chair.

Charlotte pierced her with a sharp look. “Have you been stringing this guy along for the past ten years?”

“No! I…” But she had, hadn’t she? When she needed help, Sebastien came running. With Andy, with all the men before him. When she needed to get somewhere. She’d never borrowed money, though she took the goods and services he offered as her due. Friends shouldn’t take advantage like that.

Even the books he bought, which she thought was sweet, were a way of fixing her problem. He’d always been generous with her and she always welcomed it. If this was going to be arelationship between equals, that couldn’t happen anymore. But then it wouldn’t be their relationship anymore. It was too much change all at once.

Charlotte refocused on the conversation. “Dad says she’s not the type of woman that would make a good wife.”

There was a long stretch of silence before Sebastien responded.

“Oh.” Charlotte’s face tightened.

“What did he say?” Brandi asked.

Her friend swallowed before answering. “He agreed. ‘You could be right, Father.’”

Even though his thoughts mirrored her own, his words still ripped holes in Brandi’s soul. She let out a small cry before covering her mouth with her hands, but it was too late.

Sebastien rushed into the library and stopped short when he saw her. “Brandi!”

The King joined him in the doorway and said something else in French. Charlotte’s face tightened up. “Thankfully she’s not too stupid to have a friend who can translate.”

Brandi took in Prince Charming’s face, the surprise, the confusion as his eyes widened. “I have to go,” she muttered. Before she threw up on the Queen Anne desk.

She brushed past Sebastien, who blocked the doorway.

“Brandi, stop.”

How was there relationship ever going to change? She was able to confide in him last night, and he listened, but what about the next time? What about the next time something broke or she had expenses she couldn’t cover? She’d never be his equal.

She paused, eagerly awaiting for Sebastien’s reassurance, for him to tell her he loved her, that it didn’t matter. To take her in his arms and stand with her, proving to both her and his father that their relationship was based on years of love and friendship, of trust between them.

Only he didn’t. And she shattered.

Chapter 21

Sebastien’s mind was spinning, eager to race after Brandi. His heart followed suit. Of course Brandi wasn’t with him for his money or status. If she was, they would have been together long before now.