James Harper straightaway ascended the few stairs to get onto that grand podium. Every ounce of his existence emitted confidence, determination, arrogance — the power he held. His sharp gaze scanned the woman sitting in her wheelchair, looking at him, still in shock.
His expression remained the same — cold and aloof — as he looked at her.
"Mr. Harper, good to see you here, but..." the Queen began, not knowing what exactly was going on.
If it had been someone else who disturbed the royal ceremony like this and arrived uninvited while creating such a ruckus, she wouldn’t have tolerated it. But she couldn’t treat someone like James thoughtlessly. James was not the type to act impulsively, and there had to be a reason for him to be here all of a sudden.
"Your Majesty, apologies for intruding like this, but I had to," James said firmly.
The Queen quickly composed herself, awkward in front of everyone. She managed a light smile. "It’s alright, Mr. Harper. You may be part of this ceremony."
"But I am not here to be part of it either," James began as he turned to look at Caryn. "I’m here to take my woman with me."
His words shocked everyone, but James didn’t waver, even when Caryn was glaring at him as if warning him to stop this nonsense.
Everyone followed his line of sight, which was fixed on Caryn. Natalie could not believe her ears. Did he just call Caryn Shaw his woman?
"My woman, Caryn Shaw — mother of my only child, Natalie," James said very clearly for everyone to hear.
"James!" Caryn finally broke her silence, but everyone else had fallen into dead silence.
There was only one question running through everyone’s mind: Did he mean Natalie is his and Caryn’s daughter? Was Natalie’s unknown father, in fact, James Harper?
Natalie had just heard the most shocking revelation of her life — so much so that she forgot to breathe. She hadn’t been this shocked even when she learned she wasn’t Jay Ford’s daughter. But this... this was something beyond shock.
Before anyone could react, James had already stepped toward Caryn and scooped her into his arms as she said, "We are going home."
"James..." She tried to speak, but he warned, "Say a word, and everyone will see how I silence you."
Caryn swallowed all her words and let him carry her. She knew he wasn’t going to let her go now that he was here — there was no need to create a scene. James always did what he said.
Before descending the stairs, James stopped for the last time and looked at the shocked Natalie.
"I am taking your mother ahead. Take care of things here and then come back home — back to your parents, Caryn and I," he said and left after offering a farewell nod to the Queen.
Natalie didn’t know how, but she ended up nodding. Just like her mother, she found herself helpless in front of him. What was this man, really?
The Queen didn’t know what to do. She looked at Natalie, who was equally lost.
Everyone could only watch as James Harper carried their princess to the chopper and left. The man came like a storm and left, leaving dead silence in his wake.
No one knew what to do now. So many people, citizens of Belvorn, had gathered at the palace to witness this, and if that wasn’t enough, the coronation ceremony was being brodcasted live across the world.
The entire words had witnessed what had just happened.
"Your Majesty," the assistant approached her, urging her to act as everyone was waiting for some explanation.
"Will you let me go now?" Caryn gritted her teeth. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
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