It was late at night, and Aura rolled on the bed, stretching out her hand, only to realize that Prince Khalid was not beside her. She sat up, surprised and confused. She had spent the whole day with the prince. She had even been naked in front of him, yet he hadn’t been aroused. He always seemed lost in thought. She had to scream at him several times just to get his attention. Something was wrong. Why was her man acting this way? Isabel and Prince Karl were not in the palace, so there were no distractions—yet his heart still seemed distant. She had tried everything to bring his mind back to her, but all her efforts had been in vain. Aura went to the balcony, only to find him sitting outside with a bottle of whiskey. “What’s troubling you, my love? You’ve been like this all day. You haven’t even noticed me like you used to,” she said softly. “Please, I just want to be left alone,” the prince grumbled. “But you can’t—” “I said leave,” he ordered. Aura immediately left his presen
It had been an adventurous week. Isabel had gone sightseeing, mountain climbing, and taken endless walks on the beach. The icing on the cake for her was that she hadn’t seen Prince Karl all week. Madam Eunice had mentioned that he was busy with the President of Malaysia. Isabel didn’t care about that—as long as he was out of her space, she was fine with it. Prince Karl was a hardworking man. He didn’t rely solely on his royal inheritance; he worked tirelessly to build his own empire. He had spent the past week closing a deal with the President of Malaysia so his airline could begin operations in the country, and the negotiations had been successful. Every elite entity in the world wanted to do business with him—he was a business magnate. As soon as the deal was finalized, he rushed back to his island, refusing to attend the dinner party the president had arranged in honor of their new partnership.Prince Karl thought of Isabel. He hadn’t seen her in days, and although he refused to a
Isabel stormed out of the room as if her life depended on it. As soon as she came out, Madam Eunice called to her, “Ma’am, there’s a call for your highness, he left his phone sun the sitting room ”“And who could that be?” she asked in irritation as she took the phone from Eunice.“Hello? Isabella speaking…”“My beautiful daughter… I am so glad to hear your voice. I’ve been trying to reach you to no avail, so I had to call your husband.”Isabella’s emotions melted immediately at the sound of her father’s voice.“I’ve missed you too, Dad. And you don’t need to worry — I’m doing very well with Karl,” she assured him.“Hope he’s treating you well? Does he love you?” her dad asked, not hiding the anxiety in his voice.“Dad, Karl is a good man, and I’m happy to be married to him. He treats me very well and would never hurt me like his brother did.”Hearing herself speak well of her husband made her smile ironically, because she knew she and Prince Karl couldn’t stand each other. But that d
Isabella leaned against the cool wall outside the art room, her chest heaving. The weight of what she had just seen—and what she had felt—settled over her like a heavy cloak. “Caramel”The name echoed in her mind, louder now than ever. The resemblance between herself and the woman in those portraits was no coincidence. She could feel it in her bones. Who was she? A former lover? A ghost from Karl’s past? Or something even stranger? She walked back to her room, each step echoing with the tension still vibrating in her body. As she shut the door behind her, she pressed her forehead against the wood. She needed answers, but Prince Karl wasn’t exactly the most approachable man in the world—not when he was shouting or throwing her out of rooms. Later that evening, dinner was served in her room again. She had no appetite, pushing the food around her plate. Her mind was consumed by those hauntingly beautiful paintings. The eyes of that woman—Caramel—still stared at her even when she close
Father, you have to listen to me. I just want to check on my brother—it’s been a week, and we haven’t heard from him.”“Khalid, you’ve been far too distracted these days. I need you to focus on your duties here in the kingdom. Besides, we both know you’re only going after Isabella.”The King muttered this as he walked into his study, with Khalid tagging along behind him.“Isabella is no longer yours. You have to get over this. She belongs to your brother now—thanks to you—and it can’t be reversed. Just let it go.”But Khalid wasn’t ready to let it go. “I know, Father. I sincerely just want to check on my brother.”“Fine, you can go—but be warned. If I hear of any trouble, you will lose your title.” The King’s voice was stern. Khalid bowed, a sly smile tugging at the corner of his lips.⸻Meanwhile, Aura was in the royal treasury, admiring the beautiful jewelry and the crown once worn by the late Queen—the boys’ mother.“One day, I’ll be the one wearing this crown. Not Isabella,” she w
As soon as Madam Eunice ushered them into the guest room, Aura slammed the door shut behind her and threw her bag across the room. The sheer audacity of Isabella—gliding around like she owned the place, glowing like a goddess, while she, Aura, was being treated like some afterthought.She marched to the mirror, her eyes burning with rage. Without hesitation, she stripped off what was left of her tight-fitting dress, the fabric pooling at her feet.“She thinks she’s won,” she hissed under her breath, slipping into a thin, barely-there silk robe that clung to her curves like a lover’s touch. “But this is far from over.”Just then, she felt strong arms wrap around her waist. Prince Khalid pulled her against his chest, his hands smoothing along her hips as he tried to calm her with gentle kisses to her neck.But Aura wasn’t in the mood for tenderness. She jerked out of his hold, spinning around.“Why did you let your brother speak to you like that?” she snapped. “Why didn’t you put him in
Morning sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the master bedroom. Isabella stirred beneath the silk sheets, her body sore in the most delicious way. The scent of passion still lingered in the air. Karl lay beside her, bare-chested, one arm slung possessively around her waist. For a fleeting moment, it felt like the world had melted away—quiet, still, and entirely theirs. But reality never stayed silent for long. A soft knock echoed at the door, followed by the careful voice of Madam Eunice. “My Lady… breakfast is ready. Prince Khalid and Lady Aura are already at the table.” Isabella exhaled slowly. Karl’s hand slid lazily up her thigh, his fingers grazing the sensitive skin just below her hip. “Don’t go,” he murmured, eyes still closed, voice gravelly with sleep. “Let them wait.” She smiled to herself, torn between temptation and pride. “As much as I’d love to, I won’t give them the satisfaction of thinking they’ve shaken me.” Karl opened his eyes, studying he
Prince Khalid was lost in thought, his expression unreadable as he stared out over the estate gardens. His mind kept circling the urgent phone call that had dragged Prince Karl away from the breakfast table. Something about the tone in Madam Eunice’s voice hadn’t sat right with him.Across the room, Aura fumed. She had watched him brood for long enough. Her patience was thinning by the second.“Let’s go swimming, my love,” she said, trying to lighten the mood, brushing her fingers across his shoulder in an attempt at seduction.“You go ahead,” he replied flatly, not even looking at her. “I need to think.”Aura’s hand dropped to her side. “What are you thinking about? Isabella?”His silence was damning.“You think I haven’t noticed how your eyes follow her around like a drone? What do you take me for?” she snapped, her voice rising in frustration.Khalid blinked and turned to her, his brows furrowed. “What are you ranting about?”“Oh, don’t you dare act clueless!” she seethed, storming
She had been locked in her room for days. Finally, Aura emerged, looking like the wreckage of her own life. Her hair was tangled in a loose knot, her eyes puffy and red from hours of crying. The scent of alcohol and cigarettes clung to her wrinkled clothes, and what remained of her makeup was smeared all over her face like war paint. It had been four days since she’d locked herself away—four days without food, surviving only on a bottle of whisky and a pack of cigarettes to numb the ache. Her father’s will had been read, and the rage that erupted within her was volcanic. He’d left Isabella his vacation home in Venice—a so-called token of apology on Aura’s behalf. Isabella had been handed the property, the money, the legacy—while Aura’s Uncle inherited the family company. She hadn’t wanted the business, but that house… that house was all she had cared about. And it had gone to Isabella. Why did Isabella always have to take something from her, even in her absence? Aura’s face twiste
What do you mean they went on vacation?” Prince Khalid snapped at Fabian, who had blocked him in front of the door just as he was about to enter.He had come to see Isabella, insisting he had something important to tell her—something that was a matter of life or death.“I told you, my sister isn’t here. Isabella and her husband went on vacation out of the country,” Fabian replied, his tone laced with pettiness. He relished the way Khalid’s emotions flickered when he referred to Karl as her husband. It was the least he could do instead of punching the man who had abandoned his sister at the altar.“She’s in the middle of a scandal, you fool! Why would you let my brother take her out of the country?” Prince Khalid shouted, his voice sharp with fury.Fabian stepped closer, unflinching. “You’ve got some nerve coming here and trying to tell me how to protect my own sister—especially after what you did to her. My sister and her husband can travel anywhere they please. Honestly, I should’ve
Back at the palace, Prince Khalid—freshly drunk from the bar—frowned deeply as he staggered into his brother’s room. He was heavily intoxicated and coughed loudly when his gaze fell on Isabella’s packed bags in the corner. The king had ordered that Isabella’s belongings be packed and sent to her father’s estate.Khalid wandered over to one of the bags and unzipped it, revealing her neatly folded clothes. His eyes darkened with longing.“So beautiful,” he whispered, pulling out a delicate piece of lingerie—black lace, the one meant for their wedding night. She was supposed to wear it for him. That night had never come.The ache in his chest deepened. Clutching a half-empty bottle of whiskey, he collapsed onto the bed, clutching the lingerie, bringing it to his face as he let his imagination run wild. But it wasn’t enough.Driven by obsession, he dug through the bag again and found one of her thongs. Slowly, almost reverently, he brought it to his face, inhaling deeply with a groan, his
The decision was finally made. The news of Isabella Stark being permanently banned from the palace spread like wildfire. Prince Karl was also temporarily banned for a few weeks due to his negligence of certain royal duties—something he didn’t really care about.Aura couldn’t help but smile at the news on the television. She switched it off just as Prince Khalid suddenly walked into the room.“I can explain,” she started.“Save it! What in the world is wrong with you?” he snapped.She couldn’t help but scoff loudly at how hypocritical he was being. After leaving her alone yesterday, he had absolutely no right to ask what was wrong with her. He had no right to demand anything from her now.“You are what’s wrong with me, Khalid,” she fired back. “You’re like this evil drug in my system, triggering me to do stupid things—all because of the envy I feel for Isabella. You left me alone during my father’s funeral visit just because you couldn’t bear to see Isabella, while she stood together w
In the midst of all the scandal going on in the kingdom, Isabella yawned loudly as she applied sunscreen all over her face. Thanks to Prince Karl’s private jet, they had arrived early in the morning, and now they were at the beach, sipping cold drinks and basking in the sun. She was right—coming back had been one of the best decisions she had ever made. The beautiful, tranquil surroundings helped erase every ounce of stress from her body and mind. “Help me, please,” she said to Prince Karl, who was swimming in his own thoughts. He snapped back into reality and nodded as he rubbed sunscreen on her back. It turned him on greatly, but he was determined to keep his self-control in check. They were here because she needed a break—not to make love, even though it was what he wanted more than anything.Isabella could feel her insides melting as his hands gently massaged her bare back. She wanted him too, more than she was willing to admit. “Can we talk about the new scandal?” Prince Karl
Prince Khalid, on the other hand, watched in stunned silence as Isabella went from Sophia back to Prince Karl, who was sitting on the couch. His mouth fell open in disbelief as Prince Karl kissed her on the forehead and held her hand. This was what he feared. It was just like the memorial scandal had brought them even closer. There were cameras everywhere, which meant they were proving the scandal wrong. They really did care for each other—as husband and wife. “I need to leave,” he muttered as he walked up to Aura. “You’re leaving now? I need your support, and you’re leaving?” Aura was almost going crazy. “I’m sorry, but I can’t stay here and watch those two.” “Why do you care?!” Aura snapped, drawing everyone’s attention—including Isabella and Prince Karl, who were starting to enjoy the drama unfolding. “Let’s take this conversation elsewhere,” Khalid whispered, looking embarrassed as everyone stared. “You’re causing a scene.” “I don’t care if I’m making a scene!” she screamed
Not long after, Isabella opened her eyes slowly and looked around. It didn’t take long for her to realize she wasn’t in the palace—she was in her own room at her father’s house. It almost felt like a dream.The door opened, and her father stepped in. Isabella looked around the room, a hint of sadness in her eyes. “Where is my husband?” she asked. “He went on an errand. He asked me to inform you that he’ll be back tomorrow to pick you up for the burial ceremony of Duke Miles ,” her father replied. “I think he’s trying to handle the people who were arrested—the ones that assaulted you at the grand memorial.”As he stroked her hair gently, she didn’t ask how he was doing or what he’d been up to. She only cared about her husband.He was aware of how deeply Prince Karl cared for his daughter . He could see the concern in his eyes and remembered how Prince Karl had begged for Isabella to be taken care of before he left. Prince Karl wasn’t a bad man—he truly loved his wife.Isabella was
The next day at the breakfast table, Isabella declared that she would love to go spend some time with her father. Prince Khalid scoffed. “Missing home already, huh? Don’t worry, I will go with you to see my father-in-law,” Prince Karl said, offering his support—which only angered Prince Khalid even more.“Send my greetings to your father,” the King told her, hoping the marriage between Karl and Isabella had softened the old man’s heart.“Sure, he will hear,” Isabella replied. After breakfast, she went to get ready.Prince Karl followed her into the room. “Are you okay, dear?” he asked with deep concern. This was the first time Isabella had requested to spend time at her family house since they got married.“Sure, I’m fine,” she smiled at him. “I just miss my family. I would love to spend some time with them.”Prince Karl ordered his driver to take them to Duke Stark’s residence. The journey was silent but comforting as Isabella rested on her husband’s chest, reminiscing about the even
*Three Days Later at the Queen’s Memorial*The grand courtyard of Redington Royal Palace was shrouded in mourning. Black banners fluttered in the breeze, and members of the royal family stood in somber silence as the Queen’s urn was placed atop the memorial altar. Dignitaries, royals, and citizens watched with solemn reverence. Every eye was on the ceremony… but Prince Karl’s never left Isabella.Karl entwined his fingers with hers in a gesture of support, and she nodded in gratitude. As they approached the chapel, the security guards pushed back the crowd that had come to pay their respects to the late Queen. The crowd cheered for the King and Prince Williams.“Ouch!” Isabella winced as a stone struck her shoulder.“Are you okay?” Prince Karl asked, instantly alert.“Yes… I think I’m fine. Someone just threw a stone at me.” She tried to downplay the situation, but it quickly escalated.Someone in the crowd suddenly yelled, hurling insults at her — “Royal whore!” — and chaos followed.