Chapter 55: Will I demean myself

Caroline stared at her reflection in the mirror after emerging from the shower, the image blurred by the faint steam rising around her. Everything that had transpired in the private pool kept replaying on a loop in her mind.

No matter how hard she tried to hold back, she lost herself to him every single time. Her hand trailed up to touch her neck, her fingertips tracing the red marks he had left behind.

"Am I falling in love with him already?" she mumbled to herself, staring at her own bewildered eyes in the mirror. "How is that even possible? Can someone really feel this way in just a few days? Or am I just... attracted to him?"

Even to her, the words sounded strange. She couldn’t make sense of her own heart. She was torn completely between the speed of it all and the undeniable intensity of what she felt.

Turning around, she leaned back against the counter, placing her hands flat against the cold surface for support.

"But it isn’t just attraction. No one has ever taken care of me the way he does. He could have walked away from me that night, but he didn’t. He brought me into his home, gave me protection, and made me his Luna. He is the man I always dreamed of having."

As the words left her lips, her heart fluttered with a sudden surge of pure joy. Deep inside her, even her wolf hummed in agreement, fully affirming the truth of her feelings.

Caroline finally dressed, blow-dried her hair, and stepped out into the lounge where Andrew was waiting for her. He was leaning back, eyes fixed on his phone as he typed out instructions to Miller.

Glancing up, he caught sight of her, noticing the soft flush still warming her cheeks.

"Did you enjoy today’s session?" he asked, rising smoothly to his feet.

"Yes," Caroline answered, keeping her voice light.

"And what about the service I provided you?" Andrew smirked, taking a slow step toward her as he slid his phone into his pocket.

Caroline took a small step back, attempting to turn and leave without answering, but he caught her wrist in a swift grip.

"Feedback is important," he whispered, pulling her just a fraction closer.

"You must already know," Caroline replied, biting her lower lip.

"I want to hear it straight from your mouth," he asserted, his gaze dropping to her lips.

"It was good. I enjoyed it," Caroline replied, her cheeks burned even more.

He pressed a kiss on her cheek which left her with wide eyes for a second. "Let’s go then. Time to have our lunch." Holding her hand, he guided her out of the spa.

~~~~~

Seraphina took the file from the butler to sign off on the palace renovation project just as a maidservant entered and bowed deeply.

"Your Majesty, forgive the interruption. Miss Jessica Jones requests an audience with you."

Seraphina looked up from the documents. "Send her in," she instructed calmly.

The maidservant bowed again and withdrew hurriedly. Moments later, Jessica stepped into the chamber. The butler quietly gathered the file from the Luna Queen and bowed out, leaving the two women alone.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," Jessica said, offering a formal curtsy before taking a seat at Seraphina’s invitation.

"I was actually planning to call for you," Seraphina admitted, leaning back slightly. "I simply couldn’t determine the right moment to request your presence here."

"I am here to return the engagement ring, Your Majesty," Jessica said, her eyes filling with tears as she set the velvety ring box onto the glass table. "I wanted to throw it away the very day Prince Andrew married another woman, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Your Majesty was the one who gave this to me," she added, wiping the wet edges of her eyes with a trembling hand.

"Forgive me, Jessica. I failed you," Seraphina apologized softly with regret. "No one anticipated Andrew’s actions—even we were caught completely off guard. By the time we reached Redwood High, he had already bound himself to that omega."

"Prince Andrew never once came to see me, nor did he answer a single call during all the years we were engaged. He always despised his mother’s choice. Yet I wasted three long years on a man, convincing myself that one day he would truly be mine," Jessica said, giving a faint laugh. "I suppose I just let myself dream too much."

Seraphina found herself devoid of words to soothe the young woman’s deep anger and heartbreak.

"Jessica, you may ask anything of me, and I will do everything in my power to grant it," Seraphina offered softly. "You are my dearest friend’s daughter. I gave my word that one of my sons would marry you, and I genuinely believed you were the perfect match for Andrew—beautiful, composed, and brilliant. I never imagined he would disgrace our bloodline like this. The Alpha King has granted that omega a single month to prove her claims before she is cast out of Andrew’s life for good. I would not dare ask you to wait, but if you choose to, my promise stands. I will ensure that you and Andrew are joined in a proper, royal ceremony."

Jessica shook her head, her expression hardening with resolve. "I no longer wish to marry him, Your Majesty. He is not a man who will ever accept me, nor will I demean myself waiting for him."

"Then whom do you wish to marry? My three older sons are still unwed. None of them would defy my wishes if I asked them to take you as their bride," Seraphina stated with quiet authority.

"Since Your Majesty insists, then I would choose Alpha Prince Alarick," Jessica answered evenly. "However, I cannot accept any more one-sided promises. I have endured enough heartbreak. I’m sure my mother told you I haven’t stopped crying for three days."

Seraphina nodded slowly, remembering her best friend’s frantic words. "I will call Prince Alarick immediately." She reached down and pressed the small bell on the table, prompting her attendant to step into the chamber at once.

"Inform Prince Alarick that I require his presence here immediately."

’Andrew, just wait and watch, how I destroy your life from here onwards. I won’t let you live with that omega bitch,’ Jessica thought in her mind.