I’m no longer pregnant. Whatever remaining thread, however tenuous, that tied me to Jace is now fully severed.

I can’t keep waffling. I can’t let Jace waffle. I need to let him know that I’m fine. Not the wobbling mess who could hardly hold it together when he left. Charles is a good person. He’ll be a good husband and a good king. That’s what I need. That’s what Marcedenia needs. It doesn’t matter what I want. Not if everyone else will be the better for things remaining as they are.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

JACE

I don’t know what to do, and it’s eating at me. I can’t talk to anyone about it. I don’t want to hear what they’ll say.

I’m too afraid they’ll tell me to do it. Too afraid they’ll tell me not to.

Five million dollars.

It’s a lot of money. But I haven’t spent much of my advance. I’m living in a house owned by the Sharks for free. I don’t spend thousands of dollars each weekend buying random women drinks the way many of my teammates do. I was saving it for my family. And I’m still short. I’d have to take out a loan for the rest of it.

I’m paralyzed. I’ve always been a decisive person, but this isn’t just a decision. It’s the path of the rest of my life. And I’m worried if I try to talk to Viv about it, she’ll tell me no again. When I realize it’s been two months since I last saw her, the vacillation becomes too much. I have to talk to her. Her opinion is the only one that counts regarding this topic.

I can’t get through to the palace on any of the public numbers I find online. After sitting on hold for what feels like hours, I finally dial the one direct number I have.

“Anne Riley.”

“Finally! I haven’t been able to get through to anyone. I need to talk to Viv, Anne. I can’t reach her any other way.”

“Oh, no,” Anne says. Her voice is morose. “I’m so sorry, Jace. I didn’t realize she ended up telling you. I thought she was going to wait until she was further along.”

“What are you talking about? Further along on what?”

Anne sucks in a sharp breath. “Nothing. She’ll be back tomorrow. I’ll have her call you as soon as she returns, okay?” Anne hangs up before I have a chance to say anything else. I sit there, puzzled.

How would Anne know I needed to talk to Vivienne? Not only needed to, but was expecting I would call? Why would she think there was something Vivienne needed to tell me? I’m more confused than ever, but finally give up on trying to solve the mystery. I’ll call Viv tomorrow and straighten things out.

Sam calls as I’m eating dinner.

“Hey, how’s it going?” I answer.

“Pretty good. I’m going to be an uncle!” he informs me. “I was just home for the weekend. Tim said they weren’t going to tell anyone yet. She’s not very far along, and I guess people usually wait…” He keeps talking, but I’ve stopped listening. Anne said Viv was waiting to tell me something until she was further along. Did she mean Viv is…pregnant?