The Other Barnes Sister ⭐️

13 - Hurt & Heartbroken

**Steve**

"I have shit to plan Bucky, why am I humoring this man right now?!" I asked walking through the halls to the throne room.

"John insisted on this meeting, he won't tell anyone what it's about." Bucky said.

"I'm already letting him have your sister after this fucking voyage what more does he want?!"

"Wait, you were giving them permission to marry?!" Bucky asked stopping me in the hallway.

"Yes, she deserves a life that he can give her. She needs to have that life." I said sounding defeated.

"I don't think she wants John anymore, but she just won't say. Just the feelings I'm getting from her." Bucky said as we continued walking.

I just stayed silent. I knew I didn't want Sophia to marry John but with how I have been ignoring her lately, it's how I could be to her if we were to be together and get married and she didn't deserve to be ignored.

We got to the throne room, and I sat in my chair, Bucky standing beside me, and John was brought in, sporting a very fresh, lightly colored bruise on his cheek which piqued my interest, causing me to sit up in my chair.

"Your Highness." John bowed to me.

"What can I help you with? Why did you call this meeting?" I snapped, wanting to leave before this even began.

"I came to inform you that I have recently gotten married before I left on my voyage and I was asking for permission for my wife to join me on this voyage seeing as she is most likely with child, my child." John started off saying.

"Your wife?! With child?!" Bucky yelled. I held up my hand to stop him.

"What are you speaking of Mr. Walker? Is this still about Lady Sophia Barnes?" I asked.

My heart sank knowing if she was pregnant, it wasn't John's, she had never slept with John. She was always with me. I knew she was untouched when we had our night together, the blood-stained sheets I burned in the fireplace the next morning were proof of that. She must not feel safe enough to bring this to my attention, so she was trapping John in this. Had she even had time to be alone with him?

"Um...this is not about Lady Sophia Barnes. I have met another..." John openly stated. He then motioned for someone to walk in and that's when I saw her, the woman I used to call to my bed, Sharon Carter. She was getting too clingy to me and was imagining herself as my bride, knowing it was never possible.

"Ms. Carter?! You and Mr. Walker are married and with child?" I asked in shock, and she placed one hand on her stomach and her other linked in John's arm. I then noticed Sharon's deep purple bruise she tried to cover up.

"Ms. Carter and I have known each other for a long time, and we reconnected recently. It was not my intention to hurt Lady Barnes in this way and I certainly didn't mean for her to find out the way she did-..." I held up my hand again.

"How did she find out?!" I yelled.

"She found us on the dock together, in a very public display of affection." John said.

"We were kissing your highness." Sharon stated.

"She found you like that?!" I asked and they both nodded.

I looked at Bucky, "Did Sophia come back?"

"I don't know...I thought I saw the carriage she would have taken come back..." Bucky said.

"So, you two are here to what exactly, hope I grant my blessing over this union and allow your new wife to accompany you on the trip?" I asked and they both stood up straighter giving a slight nod.

I just looked at the two of them and then huffed a laugh.

"Well seeing as you are already married, I'm assuming you ran away and got married. I don't bless that union at all, and I truly don't bless any child you may be carrying. What I can bless is that when the ship you will both be on reaches the new port, you will both disembark and make a new life. I do not want you to return to my kingdom. I will make sure you have papers to take with you tomorrow morning to make your travel easier as well as money to get you started. I want you both out of my sight now!" I yelled the last few words. They gave a quick bow and just as quickly left.

I looked at the errand boy, Peter Parker who was standing off to the side.

"Go to Lady Sophia Barnes room and tell her I request a meeting with her in the throne room." I said trying to stay calm. He was gone before anything else could be said. I could feel Bucky's eyes on me.

"What are you going to say to her?" Bucky asked.

"I need to make sure she is okay. You think I didn't see the bruises John and Sharon had? I can only imagine those are from your sister. We need to check on her." I said and Bucky half nodded.

We waited in silence for what felt like an eternity until Lady Sophia's arrival. When I finally heard footsteps, my heart leapt into my throat. It was going to be the first time I had seen her in days, I heard her coming to the secret door every night and I heard the whimpering as she walked away. I had shut her out, I told her she was what I wanted, and I shut her out.

Peter Parker walked into the throne room and bowed.

"Where is she?!" Bucky snapped.

"Your Grace, your Highness, I went to retrieve Lady Sophia and she isn't in her room, her ladies haven't seen her." Peter said.

"Haven't seen her?!"

I couldn't contain my anger from slipping out.

"When no one had seen her, I went to speak with the driver of the carriage, and he said he was looking for Lord Barnes to give him this..." Peter said and handed a letter to Bucky. I watched him rip it open feverishly and read it.

"Well...?!" I asked.

"She is fine and safe, she is staying at the Barnes Estate for a few days to work through this. She asked for me not to come and get her, she is asking me to give her a few days." Bucky explained and I just looked at him.

"You aren't going to, are you?" I asked.

"Of course I am! She doesn't need to be here until Walker and Sharon are gone. Give her a day or so to get over this. If she isn't back in 3 days, I will go get her myself." Bucky explained. I just growled to myself getting out of my chair and going to the big window the throne room had and I sighed.

"3 days Bucky, no more." I ordered and he nodded.

"Your highness." Bucky said and excused himself from the room. I just looked out the window knowing the woman I loved was out there hurt and heartbroken for more reasons than just John Walker.