THAYER     We enjoyed dinner with a little chat. Kennedy seemed to have an appetite and smiled and laughed at my terrible jokes. “Can I make a request?” I nodded. “Of course.” She raised her hand with my engagement ring. “I think this is too flashy. Do you have a smaller stone than this?” Instead of getting offended, I laughed. “I’m not a jeweler, darling. But I picked that stone myself. I mean, I requested the carat and the color. So, it’s too special for me, and I would be sad if you take that off.” She checked it out again. “I’ve never dreamed wearing an engagement like this. Don’t get me wrong. This is so gorgeous, and it’s the color—” “Of your eyes.” She looked at me, seemingly surprised. “Yeah.” “See? That’s why it’s important to me. And I only intended to be engaged and married once. Even if I get married again, I’m sure to be with the same person who’s wearing my ring right now.

THAYER     The announcement was out. It was all over the front page of leading newspapers, magazines, tabloids, and gossip sites. It was the headlines of any news channels, trending on social media with our own hashtags #PowerRoyalCouple, #Kenyer, #Thayedy. But if there were more excited and ecstatic about our engagement, some people called it propaganda, a publicity stunt, and an act of shame towards the King. I wanted to throw my phone across the room. How dare did they call this a publicity stunt? “You can’t please anyone. What’s important is your feelings and intentions? From what I’ve seen, this is not about the terms anymore. You both are in love, so prove them all wrong,” Ash said. “And show them your middle finger,” Lud added. I glanced at the woman I loved. She was scrolling on her phone. I couldn’t really read her expression or what was in her head. Then she burst out laughing. “What’s funny,

KENNEDY     My arrival at the JFK Airport was overwhelming. With my disguise, keeping my head down, my blending in didn’t work. I didn’t know how did people know about the time of my arrival. I received flowers, people took pictures of me and gave me a warm welcome, which I wouldn’t ever get used to it. Thankfully, I spotted my dad instantly. “I missed you both.” I hugged Dad first, then Mom. I didn’t know how much I missed them until I was already in their arms. “Follow me. You’re now officially a celebrity, sweetheart.” “How did they know my arrival?” “I don’t know. I think the princess just posted her picture and you together. Her followers must have figured it out,” Mom explained, taking bouquets from me. “Get in the back of the car.” “What about that SUV?” I noticed the black SUV parked just right beside their car, “That’s a diversion. Hurry up.” “Thanks.” I climbed in our old fami

KENNEDY   Grinning, I put my phone down. I just talked to Thayer. I hadn’t realized how much I loved him until he was miles away from me. God, I missed him already, but I also missed being with my friends. “So, you’re leaving?” Siena asked, pouring a liberal amount of milk into her coffee. “Since when do you prefer a cow over almond?” I looked down at her creamy cup. “Since today. What’s your deal, Siena?” Serenity asked, curling her bronze hair around her finger. “Nothing. Just our friend is gonna be in the other part of the world with her prince charming,” she said incredulously. “We can just be supportive and be happy with her decision.” Her brow arched. “She loves her job, Serenity. Then prince charming came along. I mean they barely know each other and now look at her. She just broke up with her asshole ex, yet she’s like under the prince's spell. How convenient? Now, she’s in love. isn’t it crazy?” She snorte

KENNEDY “You destroyed me. Bitch.” I had not been able to process what just happened. Why Thayer had gone insane, cursing the living shit out of me?Serenity and Siena barged into my room. I looked at them through my blurry vision—they were wearing the same expression on their faces—pain and sorrow.In silence, Siena picked the remote control and turned the tv on. My picture flashed on the screen.***It hurt when people judged you something you didn’t even do, but no one could ever imagine what I’d been going through for the last couple of hours, knowing the man I loved had hated me for ruining his life—their lives. I cried into my pillow. My life was ruined. My career was over because of something I had nothing to do with. My name, family, and even my friends were all tangled with the mess I didn’t even do. That was now people could easily judge m