Sandonnia Book 1 - The Crowned Prince

CHAPTER 8 - Like A Princess

Amy told Cherry everything over the phone as she sat in the garden. She watched all of the flowers growing around her. There was every flower you could possibly imagine here. The birds chirped happily. It was a calm and serene atmosphere.

"I personally agree with Ethan," Cherry was saying on the other side of the telephone. "Because Ethan is a public figure, it's actually safer if he dates you in public. You do need protection if you're dating a public figure, especially if the word is out."

"If we go public, I'll be key leverage for Ethan's enemies. I don't want to make him weak."

"Don't forget to live a little, Amy. Stop stressing. I'm sure, you don't make him weak. Where are you right now?"

"His mansion," Amy mumbled. "He gave me a day off."

"Where?" Cherry repeated quickly. Amy could imagine her grinning. "Did you two ..."

"No!" Amy said quickly. "Something about protecting my virtue."

"He's talking about protecting your virtue?!" Cherry exclaimed, excitedly.

"Should I be confused? Does he not want me, Cherry?" Amy rambled off the thoughts in her brain.

"What? No! God, girl, are you stupid?" Cherry took a deep breath. "Riviera brides have to be pure. They have to be virgins. Read between the lines. You're the girlfriend of the Riviera son."

Amy's mouth dropped open. How had she missed that?

"You think he w-wants to marry me?" Amy repeated.

"A blind man can see he wants you, Amy," Cherry grinned. "He's toyed around plenty before you. You're the only woman he's serious about."

"I-I - um - isn't it a bit early to be talking about marriage?"

"Would you say no if he proposed?"

"I would not - I don't know ..." Amy heard herself say, confused.

"You don't even know how much you're in love with him. And he's the same."

"I'm genuinely speechless. Sorry, girl, give me a moment ..."

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Ethan sat in his Layton office writing some notes while the executives droned on, on the Zoom meeting; his father suddenly walked in. Ethan quickly put the meeting on mute.

"Father," he greeted confused.

"You know our brides are pure," Sebastian started. "Now that you've slept with your whore, all she can ever be is your mistress."

"First of all, stop calling her a whore," Ethan gritted through his teeth. "Secondly, I do intend to make her my bride when time is right. She is still pure, father. We have not slept together."

"Rae was certain ..." Sebastian started.

"You interrogated my mansion staff?!" Ethan exclaimed, knowing very well how ruthless his father's interrogations were.

"Only two," his father shrugged. "Very well, since you have not heeded to my warnings, I will have to deal with it."

"If you lay a finger on her or her family," Ethan said slowly, walking up to his father, face-to-face, "it will be bad." He didn't know where the confidence was coming from. Normally Ethan was terrified of his father.

"What can you do, boy?" Sebastian laughed.

"I lead your army," Ethan said slowly and quietly, "and I will lead them against you, should you harm Amy or her family in any way. You know I can do that as your army swears loyalty to me, your heir."