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Derek was confused and empty as Ellery walked out of the ballroom. He’d conquered ninja courses, given more than a hundred percent mentally and physically to win, and never felt this exhausted and depleted.
His family were all talking in small groups, trying to riddle out everything that had happened. Derek stood alone, watching everyone. Nobody looked at him like he was to blame or anything, but he felt it. He’d brought Ellery here. How could she have believed Naomi Rindlesbacher and the media who’d been fed lies by the Rindlesbachers?
Yet Derek had never brought up the truth about Hattie or confided in Ellery. Would she have gone to Naomi or believed and trusted him?
His dad broke away from speaking with Jensen, Chad, and T, and walked up to him. His blue eyes looked tortured, the way Derek felt.
“Son.” He put a hand on his arm. “I didn’t see this coming.”
“Neither did I.” He hung his head. “I’m sorry. Ray and Macey’s day is ruined. Steffan and Hattie are in danger again. Things with Henry are a mess. Kiera’s a mess.”
I’m a mess.He didn’t say that out loud.
“Everythingiskind of a mess.” His dad lifted both hands. “That’s life sometimes. It’ll work out. Somehow.”
A few beats of silence passed. Derek didn’t know if it would work out. His dad’s relationship with Henry looked to be in serious peril, and what could happen if that spiraled out of control? Would their country and his family be overthrown? Was their close friend and prime minister really in league with the Rindlesbachers? Either that or they were blackmailing him. Nobody would be surprised if that were the case. Steffan and Hattie were in peril. The Rindlesbachers were evil and scheming as ever. What were they after? The crown or simply wanting his family to be as miserable as they were? He hated that all of them had to lie to Henry. That wasn’t his family. They’d been taught to be upright and honest, but protecting Hattie and Steffan had to come first.
What a mess.
His dad’s blue eyes became piercing. His dad. His anchor. The country’s anchor. He’d been so kind to Ellery when she’d wrecked that car. He’d imagined in his fantasy world his dad could be a surrogate father to Ellery. A father-in-law that would be there for her through thick and thin, just as Derek had planned to be as her love and someday as her husband.
Would any of those dreams ever happen?
“Do you love Ellery?”
His dad’s question shouldn’t have surprised him, but it did. Their country and his kingdom were in upheaval. His father’s closest friend had just squared off against him and shown his loyalty to the lying and traitorous Rindlesbachers. And his dad was concerned about Derek and Ellery.
Derek swallowed and nodded. “Yes, I do.”
“Then go hold her and work this all out.”
Derek’s heart leapt. Holding Ellery. That alone would make everything better.
“Nobody’s going to want her around after this.” He gestured at the beautiful wedding setting. It was ruined. Maybe they wouldn’t want him around either.
His family was strong and had been through worse. Losing Mum had been worse. T burned and Curt and Aliya almost killed and Hattie framed for murder had been almost as bad.
Somehow, his family would pull it together and nobody at the reception in the courtyard this evening would have a clue what went wrong. Well, Prime Minister Henry Shule and a few others would know, but the general public and the media wouldn’t.
“I don’t know about that,” his dad said. “You’ve got impressive siblings and sisters-in-law who have been through hard things too. They’ll figure out how to forgive and forget. We all love you. We want what’s best for you, and for Ellery.” He nudged him. “If she’s the right one, go get her. She was tricked by Naomi and she showed true remorse. She needs to know that you’re committed to her, that she matters to you.”
Derek stared at him for a beat then he nodded. His family loved him and wanted what was best for him. Ellery was best for him. He loved her. He’d worked to gain her love for months and he wasn’t giving up on her now.
He embraced his dad and then strode to the door.
Malik stepped in his way. “Are you going to find Ellery?”
“Yes.”
Malik studied him. They’d had their share of brawls over the years, and it was usually a fair fight. What if Malik tried to stop him from going after her? What if Malik and the rest of his brothers, Kiera, Hattie, Aliya, and Macey couldn’t forgive and love Ellery? It was a lot to ask and they didn’t know and love her as he did. The last thing his family needed was more pain, but he had to stand up for the woman he loved.
“She isn’t to blame,” he said, holding his brother’s gaze steadily. “How many people have believed Naomi Rindlesbacher’s lies? Mum and Aunt Leslie used to be her best friends before she showed her true colors. That narcissist would do anything to make herself, her husband, and her loser son get ahead.”
Malik said nothing for a beat, and Derek chafed with impatience. His dad was right. He needed to show Ellery that he’d never walk away from her, that she mattered to him and they’d fight through anything together. Even if they had to fight through his own family’s resentment at her misplaced trust in Naomi and almost getting Hattie arrested and blowing up everything in Jensen and Ray’s faces.
“You’re right.” Malik clapped him on the shoulder.
Derek relaxed. He needed his brother’s support but he also needed his opinion. He tilted his head to Ray and Macey, quietly talking in the corner. “Will they ever forgive Elle? Will Steffan and Hattie?”
