Chapter 22
520 Words
Chapter 22: Distance
Morning came too quietly.
Monica opened her eyes slowly,
unfamiliar light spilling across the room.
For a second—
she didn’t move.
Didn’t think.
Then it came back.
The estate.
The announcement.
The kiss.
Her breath slowed as she stared at the ceiling.
Everything felt real.
Too real.
She sat up slowly, the silk sheets shifting around her, the room around her impossibly pristine.
Perfect.
Untouched.
But it didn’t feel like hers.
Monica exhaled softly, pressing her fingers against her temple.
“…What am I doing?” she murmured under her breath.
A soft knock came from the door.
“Come in.”
The door opened and a staff member stepped inside.
“Good morning, Miss Hale. Breakfast is prepared. His Highness is expecting you when you’re ready.”
Monica paused.
Of course he was.
“Thank you,” she said quietly.
Left alone again, she stood and walked toward the window.
The view stretched endlessly—
gardens, gates, distance.
Distance.
Her chest tightened slightly.
Meanwhile—
across the city—
Kian hadn’t slept.
He sat on the edge of his bed, phone still in his hand.
Waiting.
He called again.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
No answer.
His jaw tightened.
“Come on, Monica…” he muttered under his breath.
He tried again.
Still nothing.
The silence on the other end felt heavier than rejection.
It felt like something was keeping her away.
Back at the estate—
Monica stood in front of her mirror, dressed once again in something chosen not entirely by her.
Elegant.
Refined.
Expected.
Her phone buzzed.
She froze.
Kian.
Her fingers hovered over the screen.
One call.
Then another.
Then another.
Her chest tightened.
She wanted to answer.
She almost did.
But then—
her eyes shifted slightly.
To the door.
To the space.
To the reality she was in now.
And slowly—
she lowered the phone.
Not answering.
Instead—
she typed.
A simple message.
“I’m at the estate now. Don’t worry about me.”
She stared at it for a second.
Then sent it.
Across the city—
Kian’s phone buzzed instantly.
He grabbed it—
hope flashing across his face.
Then—
he read it.
Silence.
That was it.
No explanation.
No call.
No voice.
Just distance.
His grip tightened around the phone.
“The estate…” he repeated quietly.
His expression hardened.
Because now—
he knew exactly where she was.
And exactly who she was with.
Back inside the estate—
Monica slipped her phone into her bag.
Her expression calm.
Controlled.
But inside—
nothing felt settled.
Because that message—
wasn’t the truth.
Not entirely.
She wasn’t okay.
And she knew it.
A knock came again.
“Miss Hale,” the staff said softly. “His Highness is waiting.”
Monica took a breath.
Then another.
And stepped toward the door.
Not because she wanted to.
But because right now—
it felt like the only direction she had.
And somewhere deep inside—
a quiet thought lingered.
Why didn’t I answer?
But she already knew.
Because answering him—
would make everything harder.
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