Chapter 1

Audrey

“And this is the final stop of the cruise, Penevia.” The guide, Tony, grinned with a satisfied smile on his lips. He hadn’t been able to hide his happiness at the sight of his motherland.

My sister, Ashley, was in awe and covered the sun with her hands to take a better look at the magnificent architecture while all the other cruise attendants joined her. “Oh my gosh.” She squealed. “I didn’t even know this island existed, did you?”

I shook my head and squeezed Mars’ hand. Just like my sister, I had not heard of this island before. It might’ve been the biggest surprise in my twenty-six years on earth, and from what I could tell, the island was way too big for me to find Mars if he would get lost. Mars was an energetic five-year-old, and I didn’t even want to take him on this cruise in the first place.

The only reason why I had agreed to it was because my sister forced me. It was a 30-day cruise with about a hundred others which started from California. After visiting Hawaii, Bora Bora, Tahiti, and Australia—we had finally reached our final destination, a kingdom near Australia called Penevia.

“These Penevians sure know how to party.” Ashley pointed out. I moved my eyes to the group of women in colorful bikinis who waved at us from a distance. “I wouldn’t mind living here.” One of the men who had been on board with us commented while lowering his sunglasses.

“That’s right!” Tony grinned. Even though he was in his late forty’s, he never seemed to lack any energy. “We have the best food, the best royals, and the best women.”

“Welcome, Americans!” One of the women yelled out in a heavy accent before raising her top, freeing her breasts. All men cheered while their wives tried to keep them in control. “Wow, mommy!” Mars gasped. I quickly covered the five-year-old’s eyes and turned to Ashley to complain, but it seemed pointless because she had also raised her top.

“Greetings, Penevians!”

“Ashley, stop it!” I hissed, embarrassed. At the age of twenty-four, she was just two years younger than I was, and nothing could stop her. She was known as the wild child of the family and was a free-spirited person.

With her fair skin and straight brown hair, Ashley took after our dad, Milan. Meanwhile, I was a split image of our mom, Trisha. I had inherited my mother’s toffee skin tone as well as her dark, tight curls.

Although we differed in looks and personalities, I wouldn’t change anything for the world. Ash was not only my sister but my best friend as well. She was the only one who truly understood me.

“So, yes—as I was saying, we have the best women.” The guide cleared his throat after Ashley had recovered herself. He guided us through the crowded streets and gave us some knowledge while Ashley, Mars, and I followed behind the group.

“Marsie, do you like it here?” Ashley asked. Mars's eyes lit up with happiness. “Yes, aunt Ashie!”

I tittered at Mars’ bright reaction. “At least one of us is having fun.” I patted his head. Mars had a bubbly personality and was easily impressed—which he didn’t get from me. If anything, I was difficult to satisfy. “Hey, come on!” Ashley pouted. “Don’t lie. You had fun!”

She had a point. I did have fun—but definitely not as much as she did. Ashley loved going on trips, and Mars was a preschooler who loved a good adventure, but it was not the same for me.

After losing my stable job, I could not sit around and pretend as if nothing had happened. While everyone’s lives would get back to normal once we would get back, mine had turned into an absolute disaster. Money was tight, and I was even pathetic enough to stick my fingers into Mars’ savings so that I could pay the bills.

Of course, Ashley didn’t know about it, and neither did my parents. I knew my parents would do everything in their hearts to help me—although they also did not have the money, so I kept it a secret. Trisha and Milan Sinclair were the types of parents who would walk through fire for their daughters—but I didn’t want their help, not this time.

“Okay, everyone—listen up!” Tony called out. “I will let you guys explore on your own, and we’ll meet each other here in two hours to see the palace from up close. Does that work?”

Everyone agreed to Tony’s plan, while I could almost cry after hearing about our open schedule. I knew it would be no different from the other places we visited, meaning Ashley would have the time of her life—which included flirting with various men, making new connections, and fighting to be the center of attention, while I would fade away in the background.

After exploring Penevia, the three of us sat at a nearby eatery. I had to admit that Penevia was indeed a beautiful kingdom. They had lovely buildings and, most importantly, friendly people. It seemed as if no one had a single worry in their life as all they did was smile.

“It’s too bad we’re already leaving in six hours,” Ashley complained, stuffing her face with a cheesy snack. “I also don’t want to leave, aunt Ashie!” Mars spoke with his mouth full.

“Who cares?” I mumbled. Ashley not being able to go clubbing tonight was not necessarily a bad thing. “Oh, come on, don’t be boring.” Ashley laughed. “You were so fun in Vegas all those years back. What happened?”

Yes, what happened.

Oh, absolutely nothing. I had the time of my life with my sister, met two foreign men, got drunk and married one of them, woke up with an unfamiliar man and a wedding certificate by my side, and had to get my marriage annulled—no big deal.

Nothing could beat the positive pregnancy test, which I had the privilege of receiving just a few months after that.

“Is that why you didn’t want to go on this cruise?” Ashley falsely accused me. “Is it because those accents remind you of Roman and his cousin?”

Roman.

Mars’ dad, who I hadn’t seen in six years. I would’ve loved to tell him about my pregnancy, but he was in such a hurry to get the marriage annulled and vanished into thin air.

There were, of course, no excuses because I could always search for him—but I did not like rejection. I was okay with it, and so was Mars.

“I don’t care about Roman or his cousin,” I told Ashley. I cared so little for Roman that I could still see his face whenever I looked at Mars, who was a carbon copy of him, and I cared so little that I had named my son after the name we had decided on when we joked around about our children while I was still sober.

Ashley snickered and shot me a judgmental look.“Sure whatever suits you, baby momma of Mars—the Roman god of war.” She cackled.

“Anyway, won’t you guys look at that thing? I thought these things only existed in storybooks.” Ashley turned around to look at the beautiful palace behind us. Even though it was at a far distance, we could not miss the gigantic size.

It had come to my attention that it didn’t matter where you were. You would always see the palace. Apparently, the royal family of Penevia was the pride of the kingdom and loved by many.

“I can’t wait to see it from up-close,” Ashley spoke. “Mom and dad are not going to believe this!”

“Mommy, does the prince live there?” Mars asked with hopeful eyes. The idea of a prince was a huge deal for little children. “He does.” I smiled at his enthusiasm.

“Do you think we can meet him?”

Ashley and I gave each other a look and burst out in laughter. “He’s still so innocent.” Ashley brushed her hand through his hair.

“Who knows,” I added to Mars’ happiness.

“Maybe he’ll come out to greet us, and maybe he’ll even let us visit the palace.”