THE PRINCESS AND HER MARRIAGE

### THE PRINCESS AND HER MARRIAGE ### Chapter One: The Dinner That Never Happened Urielle Tarinabo stood beside the floor-to-ceiling window of her luxurious living room, her eyes fixed on the entrance to the estate. It was almost nine in the evening. The dining table behind her had been beautifully arranged for two. Crystal glasses sparkled beneath the chandelier, white roses sat in the center of the table, and the aroma of freshly prepared food filled the house. Everything was perfect. Everything except the man she was waiting for. Her husband, Jake Tarinabo, had promised to be home early for dinner. It was a promise he had made three days ago, after she had complained that she barely saw him anymore. And because she loved him, she had believed him. Urielle glanced at her phone for the fifth time in ten minutes. There was no message, no missed call, not even a simple text telling her he would be late. She sighed and turned back toward the window. Three years ago, she would never have imagined that she would spend her evenings waiting for her own husband. When she married Jake, she had left the comfort of the Ayebanua Empire to build a life with him far away from her family. She had not been forced to leave. She had chosen to go because she loved him and wanted them to create something that belonged to them alone. Her father had offered to help Jake establish his business, but Jake had insisted on building his success with his own hands. Urielle had admired him for that. She had stood beside him through the difficult years, helping him make connections, reviewing business proposals, managing expenses, and encouraging him whenever things became overwhelming. She had never considered herself too privileged to work. To her, marriage meant partnership. When Jake had nothing but ambition and determination, she had believed in him. When investors rejected his proposals, she had encouraged him to try again. When the company struggled to meet its financial obligations, she had helped him find solutions. And when the business finally began to flourish, she had celebrated his success as though it were her own. Then Eva Daniel arrived. At first, Urielle had welcomed the new employee without suspicion. Jake needed a competent personal assistant, and Eva had appeared qualified for the position. But gradually, things began to change. Jake started coming home late. Business trips became more frequent. Meetings extended into the night. His phone was constantly ringing, and Eva's name appeared on the screen at the most inconvenient moments. Whenever Urielle complained, Jake became defensive. "She's my personal assistant, Urielle. What exactly do you expect me to do? Leave my work unfinished because you want attention?" The first time he said it, Urielle had been stunned. The second time, she had argued. The third time, she had cried. Eventually, she stopped complaining. Not because she had stopped hurting, but because she was tired of being made to feel guilty for wanting her husband's time. And now, she was standing by a window, waiting for a man who had promised to have dinner with her. Her gaze fell on the dining table. Tonight was important to her. The company was doing well, just as Jake had promised it would when he asked her to postpone having children. For almost two years, whenever she raised the subject of starting a family, he had asked her to wait. "Let the company stabilize, sweetheart. Once we're comfortable, we'll have all the time we need to raise our children." She had agreed because she trusted him. But lately, she had begun to wonder when her own dreams would finally have a place in the future they were building. Tonight, she had planned to discuss it again. She had even prepared his favorite meal herself, dismissing the cook early because she wanted the evening to feel personal. She wanted to sit across from her husband, hold his hand, talk about their future, and remind him that beyond the company, there was a home waiting for them to fill with the laughter of children. A family. Their family. Urielle looked at the clock. Nine fifteen. She picked up her phone and considered calling him. Then she put it down. He promised, she reminded herself. Perhaps he was caught in traffic. Perhaps the meeting had taken longer than expected. Perhaps there was a reasonable explanation. She was still making excuses for him when headlights swept across the windows. Her heart lifted. Finally. Urielle moved closer to the glass, a small smile forming on her lips as a black luxury car drove through the estate gates. But the smile slowly disappeared. Jake stepped out of the car, adjusting his suit jacket. Eva emerged from the passenger side. And then, to Urielle's disbelief, Jake said something that made Eva throw her head back in laughter. He laughed with her. The two of them walked toward the house together, still talking as though they had all the time in the world. Urielle stood perfectly still. She watched her husband smile at another woman with an ease she had not seen directed at her in months. She watched Eva touch his arm while making another comment. And she watched Jake lean toward her to hear whatever she was saying. Something inside Urielle tightened. It was not the first time she had seen them together. She had attended company events where Eva stood beside Jake, travelled with him on business trips, and called him late at night. But seeing them arrive home together, laughing as if they were returning from an enjoyable evening, felt different. This was the home Urielle had built with him. The place where she was supposed to be waiting for her husband. The place where she was supposed to feel loved. She drew a slow breath, straightened her shoulders, and walked toward the dining room. She would not cry. Not tonight. If Jake had forgotten their dinner, she would not beg him to remember. She would simply sit at the table and see what happened. A few minutes later, the front door opened. "Jake, darling?" Urielle called from the dining room. "I'm home, sweetheart!" he answered. She heard his footsteps, followed by Eva's voice. "Honestly, Jake, I still can't believe you managed to convince Mr. Williams to reconsider the deal." "It wasn't difficult," Jake replied. "He simply needed to understand the long-term benefits." Urielle lowered her eyes. Even now, they were talking about business. She heard them enter the dining room. Jake stopped abruptly. His eyes moved from the beautifully arranged table to the woman sitting quietly at its head. Then he looked at the food. His expression changed. "Oh, damn." Urielle lifted her gaze. Jake stared at her for a moment before glancing at his wristwatch. The realization struck him. Dinner. He had promised her dinner. And in the excitement of discussing the acquisition with Eva, he had completely forgotten. "Baby..." Urielle said nothing. He walked toward her. "I'm sorry. I completely lost track of time." She looked at him calmly. "Clearly." Jake winced at the coldness in her voice. "I know I promised to be home early. We were wrapping up a discussion, and things got complicated." "Of course." "Urielle, please don't start." She almost laughed. There it was. She had not even said anything, yet he was already preparing to defend himself. Jake pulled out a chair and sat down. "Come on, sweetheart. Let's eat. I'm starving." He turned toward Eva. "Eva, why don't you join us? We can continue discussing the acquisition over dinner." For a moment, Urielle thought she had misunderstood him. She looked at Eva. Then at Jake. Then at the two plates she had carefully arranged. She had spent the entire evening preparing a private dinner for her husband, hoping to talk about their marriage and the family they had postponed having. Now he was inviting his personal assistant to join them as though the evening were an ordinary business meeting. And the most painful part was that he did not seem to understand what he had done. "Jake," she said quietly. He looked up while reaching for his napkin. "Yes, baby?" "Do you remember what you promised me?" He paused. Something uncomfortable flickered across his face. "Of course I do." "Do you?" "Urielle, I said I'm sorry." She nodded slowly. Then she picked up the plate in front of her. Jake frowned. "What are you doing?" She placed the plate back on the table with a soft clatter. "I'm no longer hungry." He stared at her. "Come on. Don't be childish." Urielle's fingers tightened around the edge of the plate. Childish. Spoiled. Princess attitude. How many times had she heard those words from the man who once swore he would cherish her? She carefully released the plate. Then she stood. "Enjoy your dinner." Jake looked at her in confusion. "Where are you going?" "Upstairs." "Why?" Urielle turned to face him. Her expression was composed, but the hurt in her eyes was impossible to miss. "I don't want to intrude on your business discussion." Silence fell over the dining room. For the first time since entering the house, Eva looked uncomfortable. "Mrs. Tarinabo," she began sweetly, "please don't misunderstand. We were only discussing work. I wouldn't want you to feel uncomfortable because of me." Urielle turned toward her. "Then perhaps you should remember that this is my home, Eva." The words were quiet. But they landed with unmistakable force. Eva's lips parted slightly. Jake immediately intervened. "Urielle, that's enough." Urielle looked at him. "Enough?" "Eva is my employee. She has done nothing wrong." Urielle stared at her husband for several seconds. Then she smiled. It was a small, humorless smile that made something flicker in Jake's eyes. "You know what, Jake? You're absolutely right." She turned and walked away. "Urielle!" She continued toward the staircase. "Urielle, I'm talking to you!" She did not turn around. A few seconds later, the sound of her bedroom door closing echoed through the house. Jake sat motionless at the table. He had expected an argument. Perhaps tears. Perhaps another complaint about Eva. He had not expected Urielle to walk away so quietly. And for some reason, that silence unsettled him more than her anger ever had. Eva was the first to break the silence. "I'm so sorry, Jake." He rubbed his forehead. "This is not your fault." "Perhaps I should leave." He looked at her. "Why?" "I don't want to come between you and your wife. I respect your marriage, and I would never intentionally cause problems between you." The words were perfectly chosen. Eva lowered her eyes, appearing embarrassed. "Maybe I shouldn't have accepted your invitation to dinner." Jake shook his head. "Don't be ridiculous. I invited you because we were discussing work. You have nothing to apologize for." "But she seems upset." "Urielle has been upset about you for months. I've explained the situation to her countless times." Eva sighed softly. "Perhaps she simply needs reassurance." Jake looked at the staircase. He knew Urielle had been unhappy lately. He knew she wanted more of his time, more attention, and another conversation about having children. But he had convinced himself that once the company completed its latest acquisition, he would have more time for her. He had been so focused on building their future that he had failed to notice how lonely she had become. Still, he was not ready to admit that to himself. "Don't worry about it," he told Eva. "I'll speak with her." Eva nodded. "All right." She picked up her handbag. "Good night, Jake. And please, don't let this affect your relationship. You both deserve to be happy." He offered her a distracted smile. "Good night, Eva." She walked toward the front door, her expression changing the moment Jake turned away. The moment she stepped outside, the gentle, apologetic woman disappeared. A satisfied smile curved her lips. Everything was unfolding exactly as she had planned. She had spent months making herself indispensable to Jake. She knew which meetings to extend, which conversations to interrupt, and which words would make him believe that Urielle was becoming unreasonable. She had never needed to openly compete with his wife. She only needed to make Jake believe that his wife was the problem. And tonight, she had succeeded again. Eva entered her car and started the engine. "Enjoy your marriage while it lasts, Princess," she murmured. Her smile widened. "Because you're already losing." The car disappeared through the gates. Eva had no idea that she had made one serious mistake. She had underestimated the woman she was trying to replace. And she had no idea what it meant to hurt the only daughter of the Ayebanua Empire. Upstairs, Urielle stood in front of the mirror, removing her earrings. Her hands were steady. That surprised her. She had expected to cry the moment she entered the bedroom, but the tears refused to come. Perhaps she had cried too much over the past few months. Perhaps her heart had finally grown tired. She removed her necklace and placed it carefully on the dressing table. Then she began taking off her makeup. Every movement was slow and deliberate. She had learned something during her years in business: when emotions threatened to overwhelm her, she needed to stop, breathe, and think. So she thought. She thought about the dinner she had prepared. The promise Jake had made. The way he had looked at her when he realized she was upset. And the way he had immediately defended Eva. She had never asked Jake to fire his assistant. She had never demanded that he abandon his business. She had simply wanted her husband to remember that their marriage required attention, too. Was that really too much to ask? A soft knock sounded at the bedroom door. "Urielle?" Jake. She picked up her nightdress and walked into the bathroom. "Baby, open the door." She had left it unlocked. He pushed it open and entered the room. Urielle emerged from the bathroom wearing her nightdress, a silk robe draped over her shoulders. She walked toward the dressing table and began applying her night cream. Jake watched her in silence for a moment. "Are you seriously ignoring me?" She continued rubbing the cream into her hands. "Urielle." She placed the container on the dressing table. Then she reached for her hairbrush. Jake exhaled sharply. "Can you at least look at me when I'm talking to you?" She met his eyes through the mirror. "What do you want, Jake?" He seemed momentarily taken aback. "What do I want? I'm trying to talk to my wife." "Then talk." He walked closer. "Why are you behaving like this?" She turned in her chair. "Like what?" "Like I deliberately humiliated you." Urielle stared at him. "You invited another woman to join a dinner you promised to spend with your wife. A dinner she prepared herself because she wanted to discuss starting a family with you. And somehow, I'm the one behaving badly?" Jake opened his mouth, then closed it. "I didn't know you had prepared everything yourself." She looked at him in disbelief. "Would that have made a difference?" He hesitated. "That's not what I meant." "Then what did you mean?" He ran a hand through his hair. "Urielle, I apologized for being late. I invited Eva to join us because we were discussing an important business deal. I didn't think it was such a big issue." "That's the problem, Jake." "What problem?" "You don't think." His eyebrows drew together. She continued before he could interrupt. "You don't think about how your actions affect me. You don't think about the promises you make. You don't think about how often I've had to sit alone in this house waiting for you. And when I finally tell you that I'm hurting, you accuse me of acting like a spoiled princess." Jake's expression hardened. "I never said you were spoiled." She laughed softly. "You have called it princess attitude more times than I can count." "Because sometimes you act like the world should stop whenever you're unhappy!" The words rang through the room. For a moment, neither of them moved. Urielle slowly stood. "Is that what you think marriage is, Jake? That because I come from a wealthy family, I should be grateful for whatever little time you choose to give me?" "That's not what I said." "But that's what you keep showing me." He looked away. She took a slow breath. "I left my family because I wanted to build a life with you. I didn't ask my father to establish your company. I didn't ask my brothers to protect your business. I didn't ask anyone to make your journey easier. I stood beside you because I believed in you." Her voice trembled, but she continued. "When the business was struggling, I was here. When you were discouraged, I was here. When you needed someone to believe in your dreams, I was here. And when you asked me to postpone having children because you wanted the company to become stable, I agreed." Jake's face softened slightly. "Baby..." "No. Let me finish." He fell silent. "For two years, I've waited. I have watched other women announce their pregnancies, welcome their babies, and build their families. Every time I ask you when we will start ours, you tell me to wait. And I wait because I trust you." A tear slipped down her cheek. "But now the company is doing well. You are successful. You have the future you wanted. Yet I still have to beg for a dinner with my husband." Jake stared at her. For the first time that evening, he seemed to understand that the argument had never really been about Eva joining them at the table. It was about everything that had happened before that moment. Still, understanding the pain did not automatically mean he knew how to respond to it. He reached for her hand. "I'm sorry." She withdrew it gently. He looked wounded. "Urielle, please. I know I've been busy. I know I haven't spent as much time with you as I should. But everything I've been doing is for us." She shook her head. "No, Jake. Some of what you've been doing is for the company. And some of it is because you've forgotten that I'm supposed to be part of the life you're building." He stood silently. She turned away and picked up her hairbrush. "I want to sleep." He stared at her. "That's it?" "What else do you want me to say?" "I came here to make things right." "No, Jake. You came here because you didn't like the way I walked away from the table." He flinched. She placed the brush down. "Good night." He remained where he was. "Are you going to keep punishing me with silence?" Urielle looked at him one last time. "I'm not punishing you." "Then what are you doing?" She held his gaze. "I'm tired." Two simple words. But something about the way she said them made his chest tighten. Jake had seen Urielle angry. He had seen her cry. He had watched her argue passionately when she believed something mattered. He had rarely seen her withdraw. He stepped toward her again. "Baby, I love you." For a brief moment, the words almost broke her resolve. She loved him, too. That was what made everything so painful. But love could not keep her pretending that she was happy. "I know you love me, Jake," she whispered. "But I need you to remember how to love me properly." He stood frozen. She turned off the dressing-table light and walked toward the bed. Jake remained beside the door, watching her settle beneath the covers with her back to him. He wanted to say something. He wanted to reassure her that everything would be fine. But for the first time, he could not find the words. After several minutes, he quietly left the room. Urielle listened to his footsteps disappear down the corridor. Only then did she allow the tears to fall. She pressed her face into the pillow to muffle her sobs. She did not want to lose her marriage. She did not want to become another woman who returned to her family with a broken heart and questions she could not answer. But she could no longer ignore the growing distance between the life she had dreamed of and the life she was living. She reached for her phone. Her mother's contact appeared on the screen. Mummy. Urielle stared at the name for a long time. Then she typed a message. Good night, Mummy. I miss you. She almost deleted it. Instead, she pressed send. The reply came less than a minute later. I miss you too, my daughter. Remember that no matter how far you travel, you will always have a home with us. Urielle covered her mouth. This time, she could not stop the tears. Downstairs, Jake stood in the kitchen staring at the untouched dinner. The food had gone cold. He lifted the lid of one dish and recognized the meal Urielle had prepared for him. His favorite. He remembered her standing in the doorway of his office earlier that week, smiling as she reminded him about their dinner date. He had promised her an evening together. He had meant it when he said it. Yet somehow, he had allowed the day to pass without thinking about her. His phone vibrated. A message from Eva appeared. I hope you and your wife are okay. I'm sorry if my presence caused any misunderstanding. Have a good night, Jake. He stared at the message. Then he looked toward the staircase. For the first time, a question entered his mind that he had not seriously considered before. When did my wife become so unhappy? He set the phone down without replying. He did not know that, upstairs, Urielle had already begun making a decision. She would give him one more chance to understand what their marriage required. But she would no longer spend the rest of her life competing with his work, his excuses, or another woman's carefully manufactured importance. She was Urielle Tarinabo. Daughter of the Ayebanua Empire. Sister to three men who would stand against the world for her. She had chosen Jake because she loved him, not because she needed him. And if she ever had to choose between losing herself and losing her marriage, she would finally have to decide which loss she could survive. Because the princess had spent three years building a home with her husband. She had never imagined she would one day have to fight to be treated like its queen.