Ever After | Book 2 of the Selected Series

10.

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4PM, West Coast, Limia. DAY 6

"This blue or this one?... Madison? Darling, please focus." Zoe snapped her fingers in front of Madison's face, bringing her out of her thoughts.

"I'm sorry, Zoe, you were saying?" Mady forced a smile, hands curling over her stomach. Zoe showed her two samples of tiny blue diamond pearls that were going to ornate her hair during the wedding and Mady mindlessly picked one, they looked practically the same any way.

"Something seems to be bothering you, love, what's wrong?" Zoe inquired, opening a massive box filled with eyeshadow palettes. Mady pursed her lips, so much was happening and nothing was going as expected. Where even to start? Of course, she trusted Zoe with her life, but she couldn't reveal anything to her and all these build up secrets were suffocating. One thing in particular was driving her senses crazy and she had yet to tell anyone else other than Adeline. Could she even tell people? Or the Queen?

"Zoe?"

"Hmm?"

"How...How did it feel when you learned you were...pregnant?" Madison's eyes looked down at her intertwined fingers, earning a short, confused silence from her friend.

"Well, I remember feeling shocked at first of course, but then there was this feeling of...of euphoria? Happiness? It was crazy, knowing life was growing inside of me." She giggled, mind picturing herself many years ago, wrapped around her husband's arms as they both cried out of joy at the news. "Why are you asking?" Zoe turned to look at Madison, seeing her looking so tense suddenly, hair held up in a tight ponytail and exposing how exhausted she looked. Their eyes met and without any words being shared, realization hit Zoe like a truck. "You're pregnant? You're pregnant!" She gasped loudly, face splitting into a wide smile as she rushed to hug Madison. This last one hugged her faintly, making Zoe frown and pull back. "You're not...happy?"

Mady bit her lip, shrugging. "I... don't know anymore." It was true, she was so confused and too many feelings were battling inside of her, she felt like a massive cloud of emotions was thundering inside of her constantly. Was she happy? Was she excited? Was she terrified? Was she depressed? She didn't even know anymore. One thing for sure though, this was not how she expected to end up pregnant or to learn the news. Harry wasn't here to celebrate with her, she wasn't married yet, and her life was probably in danger. Add to it that she was a month pregnant now and she hadn't even realized she had missed her period in the midst of everything. Thanks to Adeline for making her take notice and do tests.

"Does Harry know?" Zoe sat down in front of her, holding her hands in hers. Madison shook her head, feeling guilty. She desperately wanted to tell him, but she couldn't even contact him. And with the shocking letter... Lindsey had explained everything to her a couple hours ago and she was relieved that it wasn't true, but the thought just couldn't leave her mind. Also what it meant regarding their security... Someone within the castle was trying to ruin them and she didn't know who or why.

3PM, London, UK. DAY 7.

"Of course, everything relies on both of you being there. We need you to testify clearly the events you do remember; we will reinforce the argument with the visual evidence that she provided." Harry's lawyer explained, handing the Prince a notepad.

"I don't want to be in the same room as her when we settle this." Harry said sternly, earning a nod from the lawyer.

"I can arrange a meeting with her lawyer and the judge, you won't have to physically be there."