Read Chapter 8 Episode 8 - Love Beyond

I walk to him, wordlessly, wrapping my arms around his shoulders. After a moment, he lets out an exhale of relief and clutches onto me, pressing his face into my shoulder.

...

I come by the couch, holding out a mug of hotel coffee to the conflicted man seated. He takes it, gesturing with his arms.

"They literally own me, Mia. I have no say about the path of my life. They name my wife, my titles, my agendas, what charities I can be apart of. And they expect me to do so, willingly!"

I sit on the edge of the side rest, lifting my mug to my lips. I'm letting him rant, get his anger out.

"I didn't ask for this life. I didn't ask to have this responsibility to the people. I don't want it."

He exhales, lifting the mug to his mouth, taking his first breath in minutes.

"But it's yours, Henry," I whisper, looking at him calmly. His eyes meet mine and after a moment, he nods.

"I know."

I rub my neck, tilting my head. "Is there no way to get your say in? I mean, maybe being able to retouch your schedules? Name which charities you'd like to support?"

He presses his lips together, shaking his head. "We support what our Queen and country want us to support. As for the schedule, Mia, I've skipped most of my obligations this week."

I raise my brow. "But you're always going somewhere."

"Exactly."

I look down at my feet. "And there's no way you can choose who you want to be with?"

"There would be, as long as she was from a good, wealthy English family and matched all requirements needed to become a princess of the crown. I don't see how anyone can be attracted to the kind of woman they're looking for."

"It can't be that bad. They're probably strong and-"

"Probably, Mia. But that will be taken from them. They won't be allowed to be strong. They won't be able to go against me if they don't agree. They won't have any power, over me or my family. They won't be able to go against my brother or the Queen. They are just another element designed to keep this country together. That's what my brother's wife is to him... It makes me sick to think to do that to another person."

I turn, looking at him, shocked by his bluntness. He's right- who would ever want to enter that kind of life? As I stare at him, I realize how much he probably envies my life- and all this time, I've been envying his.

"You feel like a prisoner," I whisper, softly, rubbing my thumb against the warm plastic in my hands. He stares at me, deeply, entering my soul. It's effortless for him.

"Except when I'm with you," he confesses, shrugging with a sigh. I smile, uncrossing my legs. He holds out one of his arms, gesturing me closer. "Come here."

I scoot from my spot, settling down beside him on the couch. I kiss his neck, laying my legs over his as he squeezes my shoulder.

"I'm sorry," I utter, wishing I could comfort him. This is the first time he's actually opened up to me, letting me into a small but significant part of his brain. He kisses my hair, shaking his head.

"You are the kind of woman I wish I could be with, in every way," he confesses, softly. I blink, silently, shocked at the confession. I don't know how to answer him, so I don't reply. It hits me now that we could never go further than this. I knew it already but his words now are the seal on the places I'd allowed my imagination to go.

We'll never be able to go out together. We will always be confined to an apartment. I can't stay. In two days, I have to leave for New York.

Chapter 8 Episode 8

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