The Forbidden Love 𖥔 ͙ࣳ

˓𓄹 ࣪˖ 𝒢𝓁𝒾𝓂𝓅𝓈𝑒𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝒮𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒰𝓃𝓈𝓅𝑜𝓀𝑒𝓃 ˓𓄹 ࣪˖

THE MORNING SUNLIGHT streamed gently through the tall windows of the palace, casting soft golden rays across the marble floors. Bridget paced the length of the hall, her soft slippers making little sound on the smooth surface. The events of the previous day weighed on her mind more than she'd like to admit. The lingering image of Captain Hook, with his guarded expression and piercing gaze, had lodged itself in her thoughts like a splinter. 

She tried to push the memory aside as she passed through the ornate corridors. It was absurd to dwell on such a fleeting moment. She had seen plenty of men come and go from Wonderland—business associates, royals from other lands, even the occasional adventurer who had wandered too far down the rabbit hole. But Hook was different. There was something about the way he carried himself—like he belonged nowhere yet owned every space he stood in—that unsettled her. 

Bridget shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. It was nothing. A glance, a passing stranger. Yet the feeling of his eyes on her remained. She wasn't accustomed to being noticed like that—sure, people saw her as the daughter of the King of Wonderland, but this felt different. It felt... personal, as if he'd looked beyond the title, beyond the royal façade, and seen her. 

She paused at one of the palace windows, looking out at the bustling courtyard below, where preparations for the evening's ball were already underway. Tonight, her father was hosting a gathering for his most important business associates. Hook would be there, of course. Bridget's chest tightened at the thought. She sighed, resting her forehead against the cool glass. Why does it even matter?

Meanwhile, down by the docks, Hook stood on the deck of his ship, overlooking the sparkling waters of Wonderland's harbor. The salty breeze ruffled his dark hair as he gazed out at the horizon, his hands resting lightly on the railing. His mind, however, was far from the sea. It was on her—Bridget, the daughter of his business partner, the royal he had no business thinking about. 

He'd seen her from a distance before, fleeting glimpses during business meetings at the palace, but yesterday had been different. That moment by the docks when their eyes had met—it was nothing, yet it had left him unsettled. He thought she was beautiful, of course, with her soft blonde hair and elegant demeanor, but it wasn't just that. It was the way she seemed so out of reach, not because of her royal status, but because of the unspoken boundaries that came with it. 

Get a hold of yourself, Hook, he thought, gripping the railing tighter. She was his business partner's daughter, a princess—off-limits in every way imaginable. He couldn't afford to let himself be distracted by some fleeting attraction. He had more important matters to focus on: securing his business deal, maintaining his reputation. 

Still, his thoughts kept circling back to her, as if something about her pulled him in, despite his best efforts to push it away. 

Back in the palace, Bridget sat at her vanity, absentmindedly brushing her hair as her sister, Mirana, entered the room. 

"You're lost in thought again," Mirana said with a playful lilt to her voice, taking a seat on the bed.
"What's on your mind, sister?" 

Bridget blinked, pulled out of her reverie. "Nothing important," she murmured, though her fingers stilled on the brush.

Mirana raised a brow, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "Oh, I highly doubt that. You've been distracted since yesterday. It wouldn't have anything to do with a certain captain, would it?" 

Bridget shot her sister a look, but her attempt to appear unaffected faltered under Mirana's teasing gaze. "I don't know what you're talking about." 

"Really?" Mirana leaned forward, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Because I think you're thinking about him more than you're letting on." 

Bridget rolled her eyes, setting down her brush. "It's not like that. I don't even know him." 

"But you noticed him," Mirana said, tilting her head as if daring Bridget to deny it. 

Bridget sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "It was just a passing glance. Nothing more." 

Mirana laughed softly, the sound light and melodic. "You may not know him, but something about him clearly caught your attention." 

Bridget turned to face her sister, her brow furrowed. "Even if it did, it doesn't matter. He's just one of Father's business associates. There's nothing more to it." 

Mirana studied her for a moment, her expression softening. "Perhaps. But don't dismiss something just because it feels inconvenient." 

Bridget frowned, not sure how to respond. Mirana's words echoed in her mind, but she pushed them aside. She couldn't afford to get caught up in feelings for someone she barely knew—someone who was essentially a stranger. 

࿐

That evening, the grand ballroom of the palace was alive with music and laughter. Crystal chandeliers bathed the room in warm light, casting shimmering reflections on the polished marble floors. The air was thick with the scent of roses and sweet wine, as guests in lavish gowns and tailored suits mingled beneath the golden arches of the ballroom.

Bridget moved through the crowd, exchanging polite greetings with Wonderland's elite, but her mind was elsewhere. She hadn't seen Hook yet, but she could sense his presence in the room. It was as if the air shifted slightly whenever he was near, the space between them charged with a subtle tension. 

Finally, as she stood by one of the large windows overlooking the gardens, she felt it—that unmistakable awareness. She turned her head just slightly, and there he was, standing across the room, his dark eyes meeting hers. 

For a moment, the world around them seemed to fade, the music and laughter a distant hum in the background. They stood on opposite sides of the room, but it felt as though they were the only two people there. 

Hook inclined his head slightly, a polite gesture, but there was something in his gaze that made Bridget's heart flutter. She nodded in return, feeling a strange mixture of warmth and unease settle over her. 

As the night wore on, they exchanged brief, stolen glances, but neither made a move to approach the other. It wasn't until much later, as the crowd began to thin, that their paths finally crossed. 

"Your Highness," Hook said, his voice low and formal as he bowed slightly. 

"Captain," Bridget replied, her voice calm despite the rapid beating of her heart. 

They stood there for a moment, the conversation stilted and polite, but beneath the surface, there was something else—a tension, a pull that neither could quite ignore.

"Enjoying the evening?" Hook asked, though there was a slight edge to his voice, as if he too felt the weight of the unspoken. 

"As much as one can," Bridget said with a faint smile, her eyes meeting his once more. 

Their conversation was brief, formal, and yet, as they parted ways, Bridget couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between them. She glanced back once, just in time to see Hook doing the same. For a moment, their eyes met across the room, and in that brief second, something unspoken passed between them. 

Later that night, Hook stood on the deck of his ship, the cool night air washing over him. He replayed the evening in his mind, particularly those brief moments with Bridget. He shouldn't be thinking about her—she was the daughter of his business partner, a princess. And yet, the memory of her soft gaze lingered, despite his best efforts to push it away.  With a heavy sigh, he turned away from the view of the palace, resolving once more to keep his distance. But deep down, he knew it wouldn't be that simple.

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-Sorry for late upload!! I'll update Thorn and Ember too in a few minutes ! Am I going too fast tell if I am !