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Tabitha wanted to run after her and beg her to stay, but what else could she say that she hadn’t already said? She shuddered as a sob wracked through her body. How could this be happening?
Perhaps JK had been right. She had been foolish to delude herself into thinking that this could end any other way.
But that didn’t mean she wouldn’t fight it.
Tabitha wiped her tears away and strode through the corridors, bursting into JK’s room.
“No! No, JK. This isn’t going to stand. So, I’ll be disowned. So what? I’ll move in with you. I’ll get a job. We can figure this out, together. Please, I’m willing to fight for us. You just need to be willing to fight too.”
JK put down the toiletry bag she was holding and came to take both of Tabitha’s hands in hers. “Tabitha, I am fighting for you in the best way I know how. When you love someone, you do what’s best for them, even when it breaks your own heart in the process.”
“You are what’s best for me.” Tabitha sobbed
“I know you think that, but you’re wrong. We live in different worlds. I’m your first love, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other loves out there for you. There are plenty of other women out there. I am sure your mother will find you someone wonderful who you can be with and not cause friction within your family.”
It was like talking to a brick wall. JK had clearly already made her decision and Tabitha’s pleas weren’t doing anything to change it. Tabitha didn’t know what else she could say.
She turned away, tears still streaming down her face.
“Goodbye, Tab,” JK said softly.
Tabitha didn’t say goodbye. She couldn’t. She wasn’t ready to say goodbye to JK; she never would be.
She walked woodenly down the hall and collapsed into bed.
A few minutes later, the door opened. Tabitha shot up, sure for a moment that it would be JK, having changed her mind and willing to fix everything.
It wasn’t JK. It was Alice.
“You!”
“Don’t worry, Ma’am. She is gone. She said she’s going to wait outside until your new bodyguard arrives.”
“Alice, did you or did you not tell my mother about JK and me?”
“I did, Ma’am. It was my duty. I—”
“You’re fired.”
“What?”
“You heard me. I don’t understand how you even have the nerve to look surprised. You betrayed me.”
“I was loyal to the crown.”
“I don’t want to hear it, Alice. If you’re so loyal, I’m sure my mother will offer you another job, but you are no longer part of my personal staff. Get your stuff and get out of here. Tell Richard to book a flight back to the U.K. with you so that you can return with him.”
“But, Ma’am,”
“I don’t want to hear it, Alice! GO!”
Alice wisely went, leaving Tabitha with nothing but her shattered heart.
Maybe two hours later, there was another knock on the door. Tabitha couldn’t help the stupid hope that flared within her at that sound.
Once more, however, it wasn’t JK. This time, it was an unfamiliar man dressed in a suit.
“Princess Tabitha? My name is Peter. I’m your new bodyguard.”
