A ROYAL SCANDAL

RONNIE'S POV

There was a deadly silence among us, and Mom had to be the one to intervene.

"Richard, please calm down."

Father glared at her.

"So you're taking her side? Like what she's done is a good thing? This is unacceptable."

Jake let go of my father's hand as he stood in front of me protectively.

"Sir, I just want us to talk in a civil manner so things don't have to get out of control," Jake said quietly.

Father immediately sat down.

"Sir, I really love your daughter, and I would never do anything to shame her. I know that you're angry because we got married in secret."

"I want to assure you that I'll keep her safe and protect her."

"I won't let any harm come to her or our baby as long as I'm here, and I'll make sure to provide for them."

Father seemed to be considering Jake's words. After the silence exceeded three minutes, Father got up and left the living room.

"Mom…"

"You already know how your father can be, Ronnie, and this is a big shock for him to take lightly."

"I'll try to talk to him once he calms down; meanwhile, you and Jake should definitely spend the night here."

I nodded quietly.

Once Mom was gone, I turned to stare at Jake sadly because I dragged him into this mess.

"I'm so sorry I brought you into this mess, Jake; maybe coming here was a bad idea."

He cupped both of my cheeks.

"This was bound to happen. Ronnie couldn't keep your parents in the dark any longer."

"I hope you understand that."

I sighed deeply.

"Jake, you already saw my father's reaction. He's not going to accept our relationship."

"If I were you, I would certainly take those negative thoughts away because they're not good for you."

We could hear my parents arguing.

"Maybe we should go to my room or go out."

"Sure."

Once our luggage was in my room, we left the house and went to a restaurant to have some lunch.

Halfway through our meal, Jake broke the silence between us.

"You still look worried, Ronnie. What's wrong?" he asked curiously.

"What if my parents want to know more about your background and family? What are you going to tell them?"

Upon hearing this, Jake stopped eating.

"I guess I would have to tell them the truth."

I placed my hand on top of his.

"Jake, what really happened between you and your parents?"

"They disowned me."

My eyes widened in shock.

"What? Why?"

"Because I chose you."

I was puzzled.

"What do you mean?"

"Ronnie, I was supposed to marry someone from a royal family."

He glanced at his wristwatch impatiently.

"It's getting dark; we should go back to your parents' house."

I nodded quietly.

He paid the bill, and we went back home.

Once we were back home, we went straight to bed. The next morning, Jake booked our flight tickets back to New York.

We were leaving that afternoon because my father refused to accept us as long as I was still married to Jake. And since I chose to stay with my husband, he didn't want anything to do with me or our baby.

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I recalled his painful words.

"As long as you walk out that door with that man, Ronnie, consider yourself dead to me because you won't be my daughter anymore."

"Dad, please don't make me choose between you and my husband…" I pleaded tearfully.

"I can't let go of Jake."

He stared at me in disbelief.

"Then there's not much left to say to you, Ronnie. You and your husband should leave immediately."

Before I could utter a word, he slammed the door shut in my face, and that was the last time I saw my parents.

It's been three years now, and I still miss them. A smile spreads to my lips as Karliah, my daughter, hands me a flower she picked from the garden.

"Mommy, this is for you."

I wiped my tears away.

"Why are you crying?"

"It's nothing, dear; thank you for the flower. It's very lovely."

I touched my swollen belly gently. I was pregnant again, and this time we were expecting a boy.

Life in London was good. We had everything; our jobs had very generous salaries, enough to carry us for a year.

Jake and I worked full-time, and we both made sure that Karliah went to the best school.

She was a very brilliant young girl. She was very witty, just like her father.

TEN YEARS LATER

KARLIAH'S POV

I remember arguing with my parents because they wouldn't let me go to a friend's party, which was going to take place at a very fancy club in town.

"Mom, it's not a big deal; just let me go to the party! You're seriously killing my social life right now."

Mom sighed softly.

"Karliah, you should listen to your mother; she knows best."

I folded my arms across my chest.

"I hate you both."

"Karliah," my father warned quietly.

"I won't repeat myself. Why can't you be more like your brother?"

I rolled my eyes at him.

"That's because Dylan doesn't have a social life."

Once my dad turned his gaze back on the road, lights flashed at us brightly, and the last thing I heard was my mother's terrified scream and the taste of blood on my lips.

"Jake!"

"Mom! Dad!"

When I woke up, I was in pain and I couldn't move. My vision was still blurry.

Once my vision cleared, I realized that I was stuck inside the car in the backseat.

Mom's lifeless eyes stared at me blankly, and tears rolled down my cheeks.

"No!"

"Mom, please wake up. I'm sorry for sneaking out. I won't ever do it again."

"Daddy, I'm sorry. I won't ever be stubborn again; just say something to me..." I sobbed miserably.

Everything is almost a blur, but I remember hearing sirens in the background and how cold my body felt because I couldn't breathe.

KARLIAH'S POV

It was snowing, and I remember being hurled out of the car. My vision was fading away, and I couldn't comprehend what was happening to me.

The paramedics placed a mask on my face. I remember them telling me to keep breathing, focusing my gaze on their voices, but my heart was somewhere else.

"You need to keep breathing, sweetie; everything is going to be okay," one of the female paramedics said softly.

I could see the bodies of my parents being put on separate stretchers, covered with white sheets.

Tears blurred my vision.

I could feel my heart pounding frantically in my chest. A gasp of shock escaped my lips, and when I woke up, I was lying in a hospital bed, unable to move.

The bright light hurt my eyes, and everything felt like a bad dream.

When I tried to move, I felt a sharp pain in my chest and froze. I placed my hand on my chest and felt something like a bandage.

My throat was dry, as if I had been screaming at the top of my lungs, but I couldn't remember anything. Just then, the door opened, and a nurse walked in.

She smiled at me.

"Karliah, you're finally awake. How do you feel?" she asked in a soft voice while placing the basin she was carrying on the table.

"My parents… where are they?"

She placed a cloth in the basin, squeezing it until the water was drained, and she wiped my arms.

"Karliah, dear, your parents didn't make it. I'm so sorry..." she said in a low voice.

I shook my head negatively but felt a lump forming in my throat.

"You're a liar."

She sighed softly.

"I know it's hard to accept, but it's the truth."

Tears blurred my vision as the nurse wrapped her arms around me tightly.

"It's okay, Karliah."

A painful sob escaped my lips.

"You and your brother will be taken to foster care until we find a way to contact your relatives."

I pulled back breathlessly.

"You don't understand; we don't have anyone. It's just me and my brother."

The nurse looked at me sadly.

"I'm sure we'll find someone, Karliah."

I wiped my tears away.

"They're dead because of me."

"No, sweetie."

"The last thing I told my parents was that I hated them just because they didn't let me go to a stupid party. None of this would have happened if I hadn't sneaked out that night."

"Don't blame yourself, Karliah. Even if you never snuck out, none of us can control death."

"Do you want something to eat?"

"No, I'm not hungry."

"Where is Dylan?"

"He's still at your neighbor's house. He doesn't know anything about your parents. Maybe you should be the one to tell him."

I nodded quietly.

"He's going to be devastated."

"Hey, it's going to be okay."

The nurse got up.

"Why do I have a bandage on my chest?"

"You had surgery."

"What?"

"Your heart was about to give out, and we had to do something."

"You're saying I have someone else's heart pounding in my chest?"

The nurse nodded quietly.

"Whose?"

"Your mother's."

The air left my lungs, and a single tear rolled down my left cheek.

"It was dying, Karliah, and you needed a heart; it was the only thing we could do to save you."

"Your mother would have wanted this."

"She loves you very much."

Once the nurse left, I clung to my pillow tightly; it was drenched with my tears.

The next day, I learned that the nurse's name was Rachel.

She opened the door to my room.

"You have a visitor."

"Who?"

She opened the door wider, and Dylan stood beside her.

"Karliah!"

He ran towards me and wrapped his arms around me.

Tears streamed down his rosy pink cheeks, and my own tears followed as well.

"I'm sorry, Dylan..."

"Where are Mom and Dad?"

"They went on a long trip, and they won't be coming back this time."

"Why did they leave us behind?"

"Because they want us to take care of each other, Dylan, and that's why we can't follow them this time."

I wiped his tears away.

"It's going to be okay, Dylan, and you don't have to be scared because your big sister is here, and I won't allow anything bad to happen to you."

He nodded quietly.

The mere thought of being separated from my brother made me feel very afraid; he was my only family now, and we only had each other.

"You'll be going to your new foster home in a few days," Rachel muttered quietly.

I stared at her.

"I don't want to be separated from my brother."

"I know, Karliah, and I don't plan on doing that."

I felt relieved to hear this.

"You have nothing to worry about because she's a single mother, and she has two daughters around your age."

"What about our house and properties?"

"Karliah, your parents' house and properties remain intact until you're eighteen years old. That's when you'll be able to claim them, but for now, you're still a minor."

"And that's why you and your brother will be put in a foster care home, but we'll make sure that you go to school so that you can complete your education."

I smiled at her.

"Thank you."

I turned to Dylan.

"Did you hear that, Dee? It's going to be alright? We'll have a new family soon, and we'll go to a new school."

He pulled away from me.

"I don't want a new family!"

Dylan ran out of the room.

"Dylan, wait!"

Rachel ran after him.

Tears rolled down my cheeks.

This was all my fault.

A few minutes later, Nurse Rachel came back.

"Where is he?"

"He's in the playroom."

"Just give him a few minutes to adjust, Karliah. He's just a kid, and this is hard for him to accept."

I nodded quietly.

"He probably hates me."

"That's where you are wrong, Karliah, because your brother loves you very much."

"He's just afraid of losing you."

Rachel grasped my hand gently.

"This storm will pass, Karliah, and I know that you're young, but you're a very strong young woman, and I have a feeling that you were made for greatness."