Troubled past

CHAPTER 3 : LOVE AND FEAR

Alexander takes my hand as we walk down the palace corridor. His fingers are warm, strong, and steady, like they always are. I cling to him a little tighter than usual. He doesn’t say anything about it; he just squeezes my hand gently.

We’re heading to the private dining room for dinner, away from the eyes of the staff and guests. I’m grateful for the quiet. Lately, the constant presence of cameras, guards, and advisors has been exhausting.

Alexander glances down at me with a soft smile. “You look pale. Are you sure you’re alright?”

I force a smile. “I’m fine. Just tired.”

He studies me for a moment, and I know he doesn’t believe me. He never says it out loud, but I can see the worry in his eyes. That’s the thing about Alexander—he notices everything.

When we reach the dining room, he pulls out my chair like a gentleman, and I sit down, smoothing my dress. Dinner is simple tonight: grilled fish, roasted vegetables, and wine. I try to eat, but my stomach is knotted.

Alexander notices. “You’ve barely touched your plate.”

“I’m not that hungry,” I say softly.

He leans forward, resting his elbows on the table. “Elena.” His voice is calm but firm. “Something’s wrong. Please talk to me.”

I look down, unable to meet his eyes. How do I tell him that I’m haunted by a man he doesn’t even know existed? That I can still feel Daniel’s presence, like a shadow following me through the palace halls?

“I… I’m just tired, Alex.” My voice is barely above a whisper.

He sighs but doesn’t push further. Instead, he stands and walks over to me. He kneels beside my chair, cupping my face in his hands. “You know I’d do anything to protect you, right?”

Tears sting my eyes. I nod.

He kisses my forehead, then my cheek, then my lips. His love feels so safe. But deep down, I know he can’t protect me from the ghost of my past.

After dinner, we walk together in the gardens. The night air is cool, and Alexander puts his jacket over my shoulders.

We stroll for a while, hand in hand. The sound of the fountain nearby is soft and soothing. For a moment, I let myself relax.

“Do you ever wish we could disappear?” I ask quietly.

He glances at me. “Disappear?”

“Just… leave everything behind. The palace, the cameras, the titles. Run away and start over somewhere no one knows us.”

He smiles softly. “Sometimes. But then I look at you, and I realize it doesn’t matter where we are. As long as I have you, I’m home.”

My chest tightens. He means every word. That’s what makes this so hard. I love him deeply, but I’m hiding a secret that could destroy everything.

I lean into him, resting my head on his shoulder. For a moment, I feel like a normal woman in love with a good man.

But then I see movement in the shadows near the trees.

I freeze, my heart skipping a beat.

“Alex,” I whisper, gripping his arm.

He follows my gaze, but there’s nothing there now. The guards are stationed at a distance, their faces calm. Maybe it was just a trick of the moonlight.

“Everything okay?” he asks gently.

I force a nod. “Yeah. I thought I saw something.”

He wraps an arm around me, kissing the top of my head. “You’re safe, Elena. Always.”

I wish I believed him.

That night, I lie awake again while Alexander sleeps peacefully beside me. I turn onto my side, watching his face in the soft glow of the lamp. He looks so calm, so untroubled.

I envy him.

Every time I close my eyes, I see Daniel. I see him lying on the floor, blood pooling around him. I hear his voice, angry and bitter. And worse, I hear his whisper: I’m not dead.

I slip out of bed, careful not to wake Alexander, and walk to the balcony. The night air is cold, but it feels good against my flushed skin. I wrap my arms around myself, staring out at the dark city below.

Somewhere out there, I feel him. Watching. Waiting.

I shiver, even though I’m not sure if it’s from the cold or fear.

The next day, I try to distract myself. I spend hours working with the palace staff, reviewing charity reports, and attending meetings. On the outside, I’m calm, polite, graceful. On the inside, I’m unraveling.

People bow when I pass. They smile at me like I’m someone to admire, someone to envy. If only they knew the truth.

By the afternoon, I’m exhausted. I retreat to my study, locking the door behind me. My body trembles as I sit at my desk, staring at the photo of Daniel I keep hidden in a drawer.

I don’t know why I haven’t burned it. Maybe because I need the reminder. Maybe because a part of me feels like I deserve the pain.

I trace his face with my fingers. He was so handsome, so charming when we first met. I thought he was my forever. But forever turned into fear.

I press the photo against my chest, tears sliding down my face.

I can’t keep this up.

That evening, Alexander surprises me with dinner in our private suite. He knows I’ve been tired, so he orders my favorite dishes and lights candles around the room. Soft music plays in the background.

“You didn’t have to do this,” I say softly as I sit at the table.

“I wanted to,” he says with a smile. He pours me a glass of wine and sits across from me. “You’ve been working so hard. You deserve a break.”

I force a smile. “Thank you.”

We eat together, and for a while, I feel normal. We laugh softly as he tells me a funny story about one of his advisors. I tease him about how serious he always looks in meetings. He grins and leans over to kiss me, his lips soft and warm.

For a few precious moments, I forget about Daniel. I forget about the fear clawing at me. It’s just Alexander and me, two people in love, sharing a quiet evening together.

But the peace doesn’t last.

After dinner, while Alexander is in the shower, I sit on the edge of the bed scrolling through my phone. A message pops up from an unknown number.

I freeze.

The message is just one sentence:

Did you miss me?

My blood runs cold. My hands shake so badly I almost drop the phone. I read the message again and again, my heart pounding in my chest.

Daniel.

It has to be him.

I delete the message quickly, terrified that Alexander might see it. My stomach churns as I toss the phone onto the bed, my body trembling violently.

I run to the bathroom and splash cold water on my face. My reflection in the mirror looks pale, terrified.

He’s alive.

I stumble back into the bedroom, clutching my arms around myself. The walls feel like they’re closing in.

When Alexander comes out of the shower, I’m already under the covers, pretending to be asleep. He kisses my forehead before sliding into bed beside me.

I lie there, frozen, my mind racing.

How long has he been watching me? How did he get my number? Is he here, in this city, in this palace?

My body shakes so badly I’m afraid Alexander will notice, but he doesn’t. He wraps an arm around me and falls asleep quickly.

I stay awake all night, staring at the shadows on the ceiling.

The next morning, I can barely function. I sit at the breakfast table, staring at my plate. Alexander notices immediately.

“Elena.” His voice is soft but firm. “Something’s wrong.”

I swallow hard, forcing a smile. “I’m fine.”

He reaches across the table, taking my hand. “You’ve been on edge for days. I can see it in your eyes. Please, talk to me.”

Tears sting my eyes, but I blink them away. I can’t tell him. I can’t drag him into this.

“I’m just tired,” I whisper.

He sighs but doesn’t push further. Instead, he moves to sit beside me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “We’ll take a break, alright? No meetings today. We’ll spend the day together. Just us.”

I nod, leaning into him.

We spend the day walking through the palace gardens, riding horses on the royal estate, and having a picnic near the lake. Alexander tries so hard to make me laugh, and for a while, it works.

He makes me feel safe. He makes me feel loved.

But the fear is always there, like a shadow trailing behind me.

When he takes my hand and tells me he loves me, I smile, but my heart aches. Because I know Daniel is out there, watching, waiting.

And when he makes his move, he won’t just come for me.

He’ll come for us.