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His expression softened, and he took a step closer, his hand reaching out to gently cup my cheek. “Emilie, I want nothing more than a real marriage, real love. But it has to be a choice we both make, not an obligation. I won’t force you into this, and I won’t let you sacrifice your heart for politics. I won’t let you put me on a stage to be paraded around like a fucking tool. I told you from the very beginning what I wanted. You’ve made it pretty damn clear you were playing a game. I’m not playing. I won’t do it for your father or anyone else.”
Tears welled up in my eyes as I realized he was serious. He was done.
“I’ll call you a cab.” He walked away with his phone to his ear.
As I stood there, Theo’s words echoing in my ears, I couldn’t shake the heavy feeling of guilt that had settled in the pit of my stomach. I felt terrible for having hurt him so deeply, for having played my part in what now felt like the destruction of something beautiful. But beneath that guilt was a simmering anger, directed not only at myself but at the pressure that had been placed on my shoulders by my parents. My parents were supposed to protect me and do their best to keep me from feeling horrible.
Theo walked back. “The cab will be here in ten minutes. I’ll get your stuff out of my car.”
My emotions boiled over, and before I could think, I was marching over to him. “Theo, you weren’t even supposed to be my match,” I blurted out. “You were meant for my sister, and you two would’ve turned out great together. This was never supposed to be on my shoulders.”
I could see the hurt in his eyes. “Emilie, I know this match wasn’t what either of us expected. But I’ve spent these last few weeks trying to build something real with you. I hoped we could create a future that went beyond duty. You just made it very clear you never had any intention of letting that happen. You’ve been stringing me along. I get it. Like you said to your interviewer, there are at least a few other prospects out there. Marry them.”
I had pushed away the one person who had shown me the possibility of a different kind of love. “Theo, I’m so sorry,” I whispered, my voice trembling with regret. “I didn’t mean what I said.”
He shrugged, shaking his head. “I can’t watch you sacrifice your happiness for politics. I won’t do that to you or to myself.”
Tears welled up in my eyes as I watched him turn away once more. The realization that I might be losing him for good hit me like a tidal wave. I had been given a chance at love, at happiness, and I had let it slip through my fingers.
As I watched him walk away, I felt my heart shatter into a million pieces. I never understood what people meant when they said they had a broken heart.
I did now.
The cab pulled to a stop, and Theo put my bags in the car. He didn’t look back at me as he got into his car and drove away. My legs felt like Jell-O as I walked to the cab and climbed in the back. I held the tears back, never letting them fall.
Astrid and Jack were waiting at the airstrip. Astrid looked at me and knew.
“Where’s Theo?” Jack asked.
“He went home,” I replied.
Jack nodded once, gave Astrid a quick kiss, and smiled at me. “Goodbye, Emilie.”
“Come on,” Astrid said and gently pulled me forward.
We settled in for the long flight home. The jet’s engines roared to life, drowning out all other sounds, and I found myself seated in the luxurious cabin, surrounded by empty seats. As I looked out the window, I watched as the familiar landscape of South Carolina disappeared beneath the clouds. My heart was left behind.
“Want to tell me what happened?” Astrid asked.
“No.”
“Can I get you something?” she asked softly.
“Thank you, but I’m fine. I just need some time.”
“I’m here when you’re ready,” she said, smiling.
“Thank you.”
I closed my eyes and leaned back in the seat. I was still trying to process everything that happened. Yesterday had been so good. I had everything I could want at my fingertips. It was all there for me to take. Theo offered me the world and love. Unconditional love. The one thing my great-grandmother wanted me to have.
And now, in front of the entire United States and ultimately the world, I had reduced him to nothing more than a business transaction. I had made it abundantly clear that our match was purely for political gain, a union meant to bolster my family’s fortunes. I had betrayed love and him. I could only imagine the hurt and humiliation Theo must be feeling.
As the jet crossed the ocean, heading back to Norway, I thought about the life I was returning to. The palace’s gilded halls, the grandeur, and the stifling expectations that came with being a Hansen. I knew my father would be pleased with the outcome of the interview and the image I had projected to the world. But at what cost?
What would happen when it was announced the match was broken? My father was going to lose his mind. I was going to be blamed for screwing things up. I didn’t think his parents would force him to marry me. My father would kick up a storm and try to force them to make Theo do it, but I had a feeling they would tell him to get lost. They weren’t the kind of people that got pushed around. They were fierce mama and papa bears. They were going to do whatever was necessary to protect their cub.
As the plane touched down in Norway, I couldn’t shake the feeling of emptiness that had settled within me. I had lost Theo, the man I loved, and in doing so, I had lost a piece of myself. The consequences of my actions were now poised to wreak havoc on my family, my country, and the man I had pushed away.
