Break My Heart a Thousand Times (The Selection Series Story)

Chapter X: "To the Beautiful You"

Chapter Ten

For the last week since Maxon had asked me to come to the beach with him and Chase, I was constantly dreaming of spending a weekend on the beach. I'd never actually seen an ocean in real life, but I'd heard stories and seen pictures.

Sighing, I bustled down the hall, anxious to get to my room so I could lie in bed for awhile on my break.

"So you've painted all your life?" Maxon's voice came from a hallway ahead of me. I suddenly remembered that a painter was coming this weekend to paint King Maxon and Prince Chase together to hang up in the entrance hall. I knew it was a woman, but I didn't know her name or her age.

A familiar laugh sounded out, and I blanched as the woman started speaking. "Yeah, I started finger painting when I was a baby, and I've been doing art my entire life. Don't worry, though, I am pretty sure I've improved since I was two." The familiar voice laughed again. My jaw dropped as I stopped walking. That sounded like...

King Maxon and my sister May turned the corner into the same hall as me.

I just stood there, staring, as they came my way. Was May the painter? Why didn't she tell me?

"America?" May looked happy, but not very surprised, obviously. She had known I was here, but I hadn't known she was coming here.

"You know this maid?" My eyes snapped to Maxon as he said this, and I saw he was frowning. But I noticed a small twinkle in his eyes as he tried not to smile.

"Know her?" May rushed up to me, enveloping me in a warm hug that I returned. "She's my older sister!" She looked up at me, as she was a few inches shorter than me, and gave me a huge grin, her face happy and bright. "I've missed you so much! I didn't think I'd see you until later, but I thought I'd ask for you or something!"

I thought that the tears flowing out of my eyes would never stop. I missed her. I missed her so much. All this time, I don't know what I was thinking, but I never stopped to think about my family. My sister came to me, and I felt overjoyed and saddened at the same time.

It was bittersweet.

It had pained me that I couldn't make the effort to come back home. It pained me, not being able to show my never-ending gratitude for my family. I felt so horrible inside.

Yet, that all shattered away when she mentioned a name that I haven't heard in so long. "Adelynne misses you a lot, America. We all do." She said, wiping the happy tears on her face. A small smile quirked up her lips. "It's really lucky I brought her with me because she was begging to see you."

I froze, comprehending what she had said. My eyes widened when I understood. My baby. My baby daughter was here. In this very Palace.

"Oh, May... How did you... ?" I trailed off, unable to think, my heart was nearly bursting with joy. "Oh thank you! May, I love you so much!" I cried out as I threw my arms around her and embraced her with all I had in me. My beloved sister was here, and my daughter was here too. I couldn't wait to see my baby.

I glanced over my shoulder and looked at King Maxon. He was grinning from ear to ear. I couldn't believe it. Did he make up all of that rubbish he said to me about being sorry, and not being able to have my daughter here?

I smiled and bowed. I was grateful and overjoyed, but, I'm pretty sure the smile I had on would say it all.

He stood up swiftly and cleared his throat. May turned around and giggled a bit. "You know, he's quite fond of you America. I'm glad you were able to make peace with the King."