Love, Hate Destiny and Fate.

A Way Inside...

A/N: Can I just say how much I absolutely love and appreciate all the comments? It makes me very happy to see that you guys are enjoying my story 😊🙃 Hope you enjoy this chapter.

*Richard's POV*

"Hey Mal" I say as I flash a smirk to my fiancé.

"It's a good thing I found you. I kinda wanted talk about some stuff" I continue saying.

She seems pretty disturbed whenever I'm in her presence, but guess she's going to have to get used to it. Especially with what I'm about to ask her.

"What do you want" Yup she is annoyed.

"I was just thinking. Ya know, since we're getting married in a couple weeks, I think it'd be a good idea if I were to move into your bedroom. I mean, it'd show that we are getting along and accepting of our arranged marriage" It takes her a minute to comprehend what I just said. I'm not asking to move into her room just because I wanted to get in her pants. I'm not that type of guy...

Er, okay, maybe I am. But can you blame me? She's probably the most gorgeous and hottest girl I have ever seen. No wonder my cousin wanted all this for himself.

"You want to move into my bedroom?" she asks incredulously. "Yeah, I mean. Why not?" Now she looks pissed.

"Now tell me this. How exactly is it going to show that we're "getting along"? Because the only thing that I can think that would be a pro to this idea for you is of you taking advantage of us in a room alone"

"Well gee, thanks for putting me on blast like that love" I say sarcastically, which only worsens her angry. "We're alone right now, are we not? Doesn't seem like I'm taking advantage of you right now. Though if only I could, you don't know what I'd do to you" I say smirking but whispering the last part. She must've heard it though because instead of getting a reply back, she slaps me across the face and walks away.

Okay. So if asking nicely isn't the way in, guess I'll have to resort to plan B.

Oh Mal, I chuckle to myself.

If only you had just said yes

This would have been a lot easier on you.

*Ben's POV*

I sneak around the back of the castle and find the window to the my mother's library. As I suspected, the key to window was still where it was.

Hidden underneath some rocks under the window.

I had my dad install a little lock on this window when I was younger because he knew how much I loved going out using that window. Guess they never thought about it.

I take the key and quietly unlock the window, and place the key back to where it belongs. I climb in and shut the window and look around. Nothing really changed since I last saw it. I look for the door and walk over to it. I peek out first before I head out, making sure I won't run into anybody who'd report me to the guards or notice who I am. Once I made sure the coast was clear, I ran for the stairs and was going to turn a right until I heard a familiar voice.

"Okay Richard, calm yourself. They're going to throw you out if they find out what you're going to do" I hear my cousin talking to himself. Wait, was is he going to do?

Whatever. I don't have the time to think about it right now. Someone could walk up these stairs soon. I wait for Richard to leave, and as soon as he does, I walk quickly over to the bedroom that I once shared with Mal. I take a deep breath before knocking on the door and walking inside.

Nobody was there.

"Mal?" I walk and look around.

Dammit.

Maybe she has a meeting or something...

I turn back to exit the bedroom. Where could she be? I needed to find her.

Ask I walked into our main room, I looked over to where the picture frames were. Or where they use to be. They were still there, except all the frames were laid down. Maybe she really is still sad about it, which only made me feel even more guilty about everything. I go over and pick one up, facing it toward me. It was a picture of us at the Cotillion we had when Mal became my Lady of the Court. We seemed so peaceful, with my face in her hair, our hands intertwined together, and us looking over the ocean.

As I was admiring and reminiscing about our high school days, I didn't notice the door opening and someone walking inside, until I heard a soft gasp and something was dropped on the floor. It was silent for a second between me and person who had just walked in, until they spoke about, speaking with that beautiful, but so broken sounding voice that I've longed to hear.

"Who are you? What are you doing in here?" I didn't answer for a second.

"Tell me now or I will call the guards!"

I turned around and looked at her, seeing her eyes go wide and her jaw drop, and I say, with a sense of longing in my voice,

"Mal"