Chapter 7
“Who’s been messing with my stuff? Audrianna! Someone, go find Audrianna!” Mom shouted.
Crap, I totally forgot to put everything back the way it was.
“Audrianna, come with us,” one of the guards said, his tone firm.
I pretended to give in, then, when they least expected it, I whipped out a handful of chili powder and flung it straight into their eyes.
“Stop right there,” one of the guards shouted.
I scrambled up the wall, and Mom was shouting at me from below, her voice full of scolding. “Audrianna, are you out of your mind? Where do you think you’re going?”
I didn’t even look back and just flipped over the wall with ease, only to land right in the middle of another pack of guards.
“Audrianna, why put yourself through all this? Wouldn’t it be easier to just settle down with Draven?” Her voice rang out.
Right then, an arrow came flying out of nowhere, cutting her off right in the middle of her nagging.
“Trevor, you traitor, how dare you show your face here!” Draven shouted.
But Trevor wasn’t about to be scared off by that.
“Looks to me like the real traitor is someone else.”
Trevor shot back.
Trevor casually flipped down from the wall, his crossbow trained right on Draven.
Draven narrowed his eyes.
“Framing Me? That’s a serious accusation,” Draven said.
“Why don’t we find out just how serious it gets,” Trevor shot back.
Before Trevor could finish, a sudden commotion erupted outside. Soldiers stormed in, Reginald Daniels, the King’s servant, right behind them.
“His Majesty’s decree!” Reginald announced. “Rebels have been stirring up trouble in the court lately, giving Me a headache.
“Trevor, young Master of the Dominguez family, is brave and skilled. He’s been granted a chance to clear his name by capturing the traitors. Anyone who resists will be executed on the spot.”
A flash of resentment flickered in Draven’s eyes.
“Catching rebels? What’s that got to do with me?” Draven replied coolly.
This time, Trevor just scoffed. “We’ll find out soon enough in court. Can you really say you married Audrianna without any ulterior motives, Draven?”
Reginald, standing behind them, chimed in right on cue. “Go on, Your Highness, don’t make things harder for me.”
MOM was shocked, her jaw practically on the floor.
“Mr. Daniels, isn’t this all just a Misunderstanding? He’s such a good man. How could this happen?” she pleaded.
Reginald glanced at her, giving a fake, tight–lipped Smile.
“Or Maybe you’d like to take a trip inside yourself, Madam?” he smirked.
Dad quickly clapped a hand over her mouth.
Trevor and I walked side by side through his place.
“I really thought you were actually thrown in jail,” I said.
Now that the danger was over, Trevor was back to his usual cocky self.
“Come on, who do you think I am? You really thought I’d go down that easily? Besides, His Majesty saw through everything from the start. He was just waiting for the right moment,” Trevor said.
“So… was I the timing he needed?” I asked.
Trevor brushed my hand aside and knocked lightly on My head.
“Not really. Remember how I set his garden on fire at the wedding?” he said, grinning.
Then it hit me.
“Wait, so Draven was using the marriage as an excuse to stir up trouble behind the scenes?” I blurted out.
Trevor nodded, then shook his head.
“When I was checking out the grounds, I stumbled on his secret chamber,” he explained. “And just the day before your wedding, he was having some pretty secretive meetings with high–ranking officials.
“He even smuggled out a whole lot of gold.
I sucked in a sharp breath.
“So he was trying to drag us into his mess too?” I asked.
It all made sense now. His so–called love was just a cover for his own selfish schemes.
Trevor nodded. “Exactly. That day, I was planning to get you out of the city first, then work with His Majesty to slowly bring him down. But I never expected him to snatch you back.”
At that, we both stopped, turning to look in the direction of our home.
“Relax, that whole Marriage thing with Draven is off the table now. They can’t use it against you anymore,” Trevor said, sounding steady and reassuring.
I nodded, but another thought suddenly came to mind.
“I’ve been dying to see your parents, but I just couldn’t get out,” I admitted.
Trevor reached over and ruffled my hair again.
“Don’t worry about them. His Majesty had people watching over them ages ago. They’re totally safe,” he assured Me. “But your MOM…”
“Whatever happens to her, I couldn’t care less,” I replied.
She used me for her own selfish reasons, so she could forget about getting any sympathy from me.
Trevor quickly switched topics, and that rare bit of calm lasted all the way until I got back to the Manor that night. Passing by Mom’s room, I could hear her crying and yelling inside.
Looked like Dad finally found that bracelet.
“I’ve done everything you’ve ever asked, so why are you still holding onto that bracelet?” Dad shouted.
“What do you want me to do? He treated me so well. How could I just throw away something he gave Me?” Mom shot back.
Dad was practically fuming.
“You still have feelings for him, don’t you? You were willing to toss our daughter aside for that man. I’ve wanted to say this for ages, but I can’t just sit here and let you treat me like a fool,” Dad yelled.
From the sound of it, Mom was starting to throw things around.
“Oh, so you think you’ve been such a perfect husband?
Ever since Audrianna was born, all your attention’s
been on her. Anyone would think she’s your wife instead of Me! What’s wrong with me keeping the bracelet?” Mom yelled.
“What kind of nonsense is that?” Dad snapped.