Royally Bounded

Chapter 22

Clara

Isabella sat beside me as Violet placed down dinner for us. I stared over at the head of the table, the place where he usually was, but tonight, he had been missing for the past few hours. I tried to sneak information out of him except he would never tell me what he was doing.

He had the habit of keeping secrets, and it worried me to know he could be doing anything dangerous out there. I understood that was how he lived through his life, but he still had a family that cared for him. I didn't want him to be reckless and took innocent lives for no reason.

"Clara?" Isabella snapped my thoughts.

I turned my head to look over at her. She had a small smile on her lips, and she placed her fork down, her hand on top of mine.

"I know that look on your face," she recognized my thoughts immediately. I tried to clear my worries, hiding any hints that she could spot. "He's on your mind."

"Hayden's not on my mind," I mumbled, twirling my fork over the spaghetti.

"I never even mention his name, and you already assume that I'm talking about him."

I sighed, relaxing back on my seat. "He thinks he can do everything on his own. He doesn't even know he has an entire family behind him."

"I'm sure he's more than capable of handling matters. You should trust him."

I almost wanted to laugh at the word trust. I trusted him too much, and it was starting to scare me to know what he was doing out there. It's been only a few weeks, but I was clear to know what his personality was like. I could never trust a reckless Hayden who had issues retaining his anger.

"I don't need him to make this a proper marriage," I stated. "I only want him to think about his choices before doing something terrifying. He punched Arnaldo at the party. He almost wanted to hurt George, and now, it's Gale that he wants to deal with. I don't know when he could just relax and find better solutions."

She laughed then patted my hand. "You have to be lying if you said that you don't have feelings for him. Look at you. You clearly show an image of a concerning wife."

"Isabella," I groaned at how she kept pushing the topic again.

She nodded comprehensively and returned to eating dinner. Before I could speak again, Hayden walked right into the dining room and threw a file on the table. I jumped at his action, and he didn't say anything.

Isabella and I exchanged glances, and I immediately grabbed the file, scanning my eyes over at the words. My attention fell straight at the signature at the bottom.

Gale Bramer.

It was a divorce paper.

"Oh my God," Isabella gasped, her eyes widening with shock. She could barely process what was happening exactly like me. "T-This is a divorce paper."

My mouth dropped open, and I thought I was hallucinating at the sight, but it was right at my eyes. Hayden managed to have Gale sign this even if Gale would never commit to anything. He was a man who wanted to drag Isabella with him, and I was surprised how Hayden found his ways to break Gale open.

I slightly shuddered at the imagination that he could use violence to deal with Gale. I didn't know how else Gale would have agreed, and Hayden had never made peace with anyone. My stomach churned as I thought about how Gale could have been bruised and hurt.

Gale had committed crimes, but I didn't think Hayden should treat him privately especially since the royal family couldn't interfere with the law. It was illegal for him to even lay hands on Gale, but somehow, he would do the exact opposite of what was right.