Chapter 148: Chasing Her Open Your Heart Part II
Killian’s POV
“Wow… she’s stunning!”
“Whose picture is that, Uncle Killian?”
The twins‘ voices rang out in unison as they pointed at a photograph hanging on the wall. It showed a breathtaking woman with ocean–blue eyes, dressed in a flowing white gown. Her golden hair tumbled down to the middle of her back. Her skin glowed beneath the light, radiant and flawless, framed by a sea of flowers. Her smile was serene, timeless–frozen in a moment of pure happiness.
“That’s my mate.”
The twins gasped, wide–eyed with excitement. They leaned in toward the photo, chattering all over again.
“Uncle Killian’s mate is so beautiful!” Anna exclaimed.
Alice nodded eagerly. “She is! We really want to meet her. Where is she now?”
“Yeah! I want to meet the angel.”
“Angel?” I echoed.
They both nodded enthusiastically, practically bouncing with energy. Then they turned to me, tugging at the hem of my
coat.
“She must be a queen. A beautiful, cool queen, right?”
Anna grinned wide. “Alice, she looks like the queen from our fairytale book! Do you remember?”
“Oh yeah! What was it called again?!”
Alice pressed her thumb against her forehead, clearly struggling to dig up the title. The room, however, had taken on a new tension. On one side stood Leonidas and Sean, both silent and completely still. They stared straight ahead, but their stiff posture revealed more than words ever could. They knew exactly who the woman in the photo was.
My eyes shifted to Rosalyn. She stood frozen, trembling ever so slightly. Shock flooded her face as she stared at the image at a version of herself from long ago, now displayed for all to see. A moment passed, and then her eyes locked with mine. Those hazel eyes gripped me, pulling me in just as the sea–blue ones once did.
There was pain in her gaze. A flicker of regret stirred within me. Rosalyn had finally found peace, and now because of this old wounds were reopening.
“Alright, kids. There’s still a lot left to see on the tour.”
Sean stepped in smoothly, redirecting the twins‘ attention with cheerful chatter about the palace. Leonidas gave me one last look, a silent message in his eyes before joining his mate. He moved to Sean’s side, his hand resting gently, protectively, on the younger man’s back.
And just like that, it was only the two of us. Me and the woman in the photo.
Or rather, the woman she had become. Rosalyn stood motionless. And then she spoke.
“How long?”
I closed my eyes briefly before answering. “Since I realized I was a fool falling for you long before I ever understood it.”
“You called me your mate.”
Her voice trembled. Then she inhaled sharply, trying to steady herself.
“You didn’t even deny it when the twins called Ruby a queen. What was that, Killian?”
“I’m sorry-”
“No. That’s not the point.” Her words cut deadly and cold. “The truth is, I was never your mate. Let alone your queen. So don’t go around claiming things that were never yours, Your Majesty.”
Her sclera flushed with red, and her irises shimmered, threatening to spill over. Both fists clenched tightly at her sides, a physical restraint against her spiraling emotions.
“It’s a long story,” I confessed quietly. “This visit I had hoped it would be my chance to explain what I’ve kept buried all this
time.”
Successfully unlocked!
urned her face away, took a step back; putting
Rosalyn looked ready to retaliate. Her lips parted but space between us, not just in distance, but in trust.
“It would be wise not to overstep, Your Majesty,” she said with steel in her voice. “I won’t ruin the twins‘ day because of you.”
She scooped Elias into her arms and followed Sean, who was already guiding the twins to another part of the palace. I
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Chapter 148: Chasing Her – Open Your Heart Part II
pressed my fingers to the bridge of my nose, letting out a quiet sigh. I had braced myself for this moment because I knew. I knew this was inevitable. That’s why I had planned everything, hoping Rosalyn wouldn’t come away from this visit hating
me more.
Her presence here meant I still had a chance to speak the truth I’d kept focked away for so long.
I turned my gaze once more to the photograph. My hand rose instinctively, fingertips brushing against the glass that held her image. Untouched by time.
My lips lifted into a faint, melancholic smile.
“I’ve miss you, my love.”
And then, I walked away with the weight of all that had been left unsaid pressing against my chest.
I kept my word. I didn’t let the twins‘ joy be ruined. But they kept circling back with questions–about the angel, the queen, the queen with eyes like ice, like Anna’s favorite storybook heroine. Their insistence only grew. Sean glanced at me with an apologetic look; he couldn’t distract them.
“The queen passed away, darling.”
Rosalyn’s voice broke through the moment. I froze who stood. She glanced at me, only briefly, then turned her forced
smile toward Alice and Anna.
“What?!”
“NO WAY!”
Alice and Anna cried out, one after the other. Their eyes widened with disbelief and hurt.
“Mom must be lying!” Alice cried.
I knelt down immediately, soothing Alice while gently reaching for Anna’s hand.
“My dear, your mother is telling the truth. She’s no longer with us.”
The words came out like shards of glass in my throat as though saying them out loud chipped away a piece of myself. Across from me, Rosalyn kept her composure barely, running a comforting hand over Alice’s hair.
“Oh… okay.”
Alice lowered her head, her eyes growing dim. Anna followed suit, quietly absorbing the grief. These two such gentle souls. Sweet, empathetic little angels. And yet, despite their age, they turned to me and offered something unexpected.
“We’re sorry,” they whispered, voices trembling, “for upsetting the king and making you sad.”
I exhaled, the breath catching somewhere between sorrow and awe.
“You don’t need to apologize, especially not with tears like that.” I told them softly,.
I reached out to wipe away the tears from Anna’s eyes, then Alice’s. Taking their small hands into mine, I looked into their faces with as much warmth and honesty as I could summon.
“If she’s watching from above. I think your queen would be heartbroken to see you cry like this.”
Alice looked up faintly and glanced at Anna. Their eyes met, communicating without words. Then suddenly, their arms were around me, wrapping me in a hug so full of emotion, it nearly stole the air from my lungs.
I froze. For a brief moment, I lost my footing. I didn’t know how to respond. What if my embrace hurt them?
“Uncle must be very sad,” Anna whispered.
I turned, desperately, toward Leonidas. The bastard caught my look but offered no help, deliberately keeping his face calm and unreadable as if this moment wasn’t unfolding at all.
“Yes,” I said at last. “Yes, I am. I always have been. And it’s not wrong to grieve. Or to miss someone you love, even for a very long time.”
Across the room, Rosalyn looked at me stunned. She hadn’t expected that. Not that honesty from me. I picked up Anna gently, letting her settle into my arms. Alice, no longer shaking, held on to my hand, her little fingers now dry from tears. “You two must be starving,” I said gently. “Here in the palace, you can have any sweet treat you like.”
Anna clung to my neck, sniffled, “Can we have chocolate?”
“And ice cream?” Alice chimed in, hopeful.
“And candy?” Anna added again, barely missing a beat.
One by one, they listed their desires. I nodded, with the condition they’d only have small portions. Just like that, the shadow lifted, and laughter returned to the faces of two little girls who had just moments ago cried for a queen they never knew but loved all the same.
“I’ll notify the head chef and the staff to begin preparations for the banquet, Your Majesty.”
Chapter 148: Chasing Her Open Your Heart Part II
Sean offered a courteous bow before disappearing toward the kitchens. Leonidas, ever attentive, turned to Rosalyn and gently offered to escort her to the guest chambers. Elias was already growing fussy, rubbing his eyes and whining for sleep.
I gave Rosalyn a faint nod. She returned it with a look I couldn’t quite decipher. But then, her lips moved ever so slightly.
‘Meet me in the music room I love tonight‘
My heart slammed hard against my ribs, the sound of it roaring in my ears. For a moment, everything else faded into silence. I repeated her words in my head barely able to believe them.
Had Ruby changed her mind?
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