𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 - 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘭 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺

𝐕𝐈𝐈. 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬

❛ ━━･❪ ❁ ❫ ･━━ ❜

❝You had my heart
in your hand and shattered
it. Now I can't figure out how to put
the pieces back together❞

❛ ━━･❪ ❁ ❫ ･━━ ❜

Charles sat in his office. Just a week ago they had returned from Balmoral. He was glad to be home, the holidays had a tendency to stir up family drama, something he didn't need any more of. He was about to get up to have lunch when his private line rang.

"Hello?"

"Charles, darling." He recognized the voice immediately. It was a voice he was trying to forget, but it haunted him, pulled on his heartstrings.

"Camilla..." he glanced through his office door that was open a crack, checking to make sure no one could overhear, "How have you been?"

"I've been missing you terribly." She responded.

"Yes, we haven't seen one another in a while." In that moment he realized he had been missing her. They hadn't seen each other since Diana's pregnancy.

"Why don't you come over for dinner tomorrow?" She invited him.

Charles felt slightly guilty about what he was about to say but he needed to see her, "Yes that would be wonderful. I must discuss it with my secretary, and I will let you know."

"Please do darling." And with that she hung up the phone.

The next evening Charles arrived at Camillas for dinner. She opened the door and invited him in. "Don't worry, the children and Andrew are not home tonight. They are at his parents."

Charles nodded and made his way inside. To Charles' surprise, Camilla began kissing him. She held onto him desperately. Charles began kissing her back feverishly. "You don't know how much I've been missing you." Camilla moaned against his lips.

Before Charles knew what was happening, they ended up in Camillas bed, the idea of dinner long forgotten as they made love to each other.

❛ ━━･❪ ❁ ❫ ･━━ ❜

Two weeks later Diana sat in her Kensington apartment with Furgie across from her at the lunch table. She had invited Furgie over for lunch and tea, hoping to catch up, having not seen one another since the holidays.

"How are you doing Dutch? You know with Charles and all." She used Diana's childhood nickname.

"Quite wonderful actually. Things have been better since the baby." She took a sip of her tea.

"Oh really. Well, I thought you wouldn't be on speaking terms. With him being with the other one and all."

"He hasn't seen her for months." Diana explained, confused about why Furgie wasn't up to date. She was usually very on top of gossip.

Furgie shifted uncomfortably, "Oh I thought you knew..."

Diana froze, "Knew what..."

"Well apparently two weeks ago he went and spent the night with her."

"What?!" Diana couldn't believe it. She had trusted him, believed that he wouldn't go back to her. She felt tears beginning to form but she quickly wiped them away.

"Yes... I'm so sorry." Furgie gave her a sympathetic look, "If there is anything I can do for you..."

"Thank you, but I think I need to be alone right now."

Furgie nodded and stood up, grabbing her handbag, "Of course. Don't hesitate to call if you need anything." And with that she left.

Diana didn't know how long she sat there in silence with tears rolling down her cheeks. She thought he had moved on from her. But apparently, she would never be enough for him. Even when she was carrying his third child, he still didn't love her. As she thought about this, the angrier she became. Suddenly she stood up and walked to his office. Without even knocking she barged in.

Charles looked up, surprised, "What is it darling?"

"How could you do this Charles?!" She yelled, her voice cracking from crying.

"Do what?" He looked at her and realized she was crying, "What's wrong darling?" He stood up and walked over to her, trying to grab her hand.

"Don't touch me!" she yelled, pulling her hand away.

"What's wrong? Please tell me."

"I know you saw her again, didn't you?" She spoke with disgust, refusing to say her name.

Charles looked uncomfortable and guilt imminently consumed him, "I- yes I did."

Diana was surprised he admitted to it. In that past he had gaslit her, "I thought you had moved on? What happened to focusing on your family?"

"I'm so sorry. She called me out of the blue and I... I should have said no." Diana became slightly less angry when she realized how sorry he was. "I promise it will never happen again. Actually, I promise I will never speak to her again. I'm your husband, I should be devoted to you. I should be there for you."

Diana was shocked, maybe he really had changed, "Well I don't forgive you and I don't think I ever will, but I do believe you are sorry." Diana realized how they could have solved so many problems earlier in their marriage if they had just stopped and talked to each other. Instead, they both suffered in silence, "never complain, never explain" was one of the House of Windsor's mottos.

Charels nodded. He didn't expect her to forgive him. But in that moment, he realized he loved the woman standing in front of him. No this wasn't infatuation, like during their courtship. He truly loved her. She deserved the world and all he had given her was an adulterous husband.

In that moment he leaned forward and kissed her. A passionate kiss full of all the love he felt for her, all the love he had not shown. It was her, and only her he cared about. Diana accepted the kiss with surprise and began kissing him back feverishly. Although she did not forgive him, she loved him and in the end that was all that really mattered.

❛ ━━･❪ ❁ ❫ ･━━ ❜

AN:

Gosh I'm so bad at updating on time lmao. Again very sorry for the late update and I apologize that this chapter is shorter than normal. I do have finals coming up soon and I might not update for a week or two but I will let you know! But thank you so much for all the support! I am truly blown away by all the positive feed back this book has received!