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
Oh, Daddy…” Aura’s voice broke as she stepped into the ICU, her eyes flooding with tears. Her heart clenched at the sight of her father, Duke Miles, lying still and pale on life support. Monitors beeped softly in the background, echoing the fragility of the once powerful man before her.He looked nothing like the robust figure she had always known. The Duke’s face was pale and gaunt, tubes and wires connecting him to machines that fought desperately to keep him alive. It was a brutal sight, one that shattered every ounce of pride Aura had left.According to the royal bodyguards outside the room, his car had veered off the road and fallen into a steep valley. But that didn’t sit well with her.“His driver has always been cautious,” Aura whispered through clenched teeth. “He never speeds, never takes unnecessary risks. What really happened? Was someone trying to kill my father… or was this just cruel fate?”Her voice, already hoarse from hours of weeping, cracked under the weight of des
It was dinnertime at the royal palace. The grand chandelier cast a golden glow over the long, polished mahogany dining table. Prince Karl was already seated with his father, Duke Stark, and his brother, Prince Khalid. The aroma of roasted lamb, truffle mashed potatoes, and herb-glazed carrots filled the room—but something was amiss.“Where is your wife?” the King asked, raising a brow as he reached for his wine.Prince Karl blinked, glancing toward the entrance. “She’s supposed to be here,” he replied, a faint crease forming on his forehead. He’d assumed she was just taking a stroll in the courtyard after his nap, but now—something felt off. He pushed the thought aside, not wanting to show concern.“I believe she’s fine,” he added, dismissively, trying to focus on the plated delicacies in front of him. Only now did he realize how hungry he actually was.“Trouble in paradise?” Prince Khalid smirked, biting into his bread roll with smug satisfaction.“You wish,” Karl snapped back, grabb
The next morning, Prince Karl awoke to find Isabella’s side of the bed empty.It was unusual—he was always the first to wake. A flicker of confusion passed through his sleepy mind. Where could she have gone this early? He glanced at the clock. It was just after dawn. With a tired yawn, he tossed the covers aside and walked into the bathroom.He stopped dead in his tracks.Isabella was standing before the mirror, wrapped in his robe. Her damp hair clung to her shoulders, beads of water trailing down her bare neck. She had just stepped out of the shower, and the scent of lavender lingered in the air.She turned slowly, fluttering her lashes at him, and something in Karl’s chest tightened. Her beauty was maddening. Soft. Raw. Intimate. She was radiant in the early morning light—and yet the ache in her eyes tugged at him more than her body ever could.For a moment, neither of them spoke.She looked at him like she was seeing someone she couldn’t have.He looked at her like he didn’t know
The King checked his watch for the tenth time, assuming Prince Karl wasn’t going to make it. He was about to commence the meeting when his stubborn son finally walked in. Prince Karl blatantly ignored the greetings from every family member in the room and took a seat in the far corner. All he wanted was for the meeting to be over. The ache in his body had worsened, only proving how much being close to his wife acted like a drug—calming and healing.Prince Khalid’s friend, seated beside Karl, glanced at him with concern. “I had to drop my wife off at her father’s place. She’s banned from the palace, remember?” Karl said flatly, then turned to his brother. “You don’t look well yourself, Khalid.”Prince Khalid nearly coughed but swallowed the urge. Of course he didn’t look good. The past week had been hell. He couldn’t sleep. His ex-fiancée was now married to his brother and seemed to be living happily. Worse, Aura wouldn’t pick up his calls. She wanted nothing to do with him.The meetin
Seeing how happy Claire was with Fabian made Isabella wish she could carry a child of her own. As soon as she stepped in, Claire was all over her, asking about every detail of the vacation—how it went, where they stayed, what they ate. Isabella spent the whole afternoon chatting with Claire and Fabian. She was already exhausted by the time she excused herself, deciding that a walk was exactly what she needed. Slipping on a baseball cap, she boarded a taxi to Border town.She always remembered how she used to take walks down those streets as a teenager, admiring the lights. When they arrived, she paid her fare quickly. The taxi driver almost recognized her, but thankfully, she was quick to get out. As she walked down the familiar streets, memories came flooding back.Border town was where she’d had her first kiss with Prince Khalid. It was where he’d asked her to be his girlfriend at fifteen. She stopped in front of an empty bakery, and a tear streamed down her left cheek. It was the s
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