Chapter 34
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When Deborah told Damian that Simon might as well divorce her, she hadn’t fully meant it. It was a rash moment, born of desperation.
At the time, standing in front of Damian, she had felt completely hopeless. And the things he said… they’d truly shaken her.
She thought, ‘Who else could it be on our wedding night? No–it had to be Simon. There was no way it wasn’t.
‘Damian is his brother, yes, but impersonating Simon that night? No. Impossible. The two of them just look far too alike—that’s all. Sometimes, it messed with her head.
She’d known Simon for a year. She still remembered him riding into enemy territory, blood–soaked and fearless, to save her. That kind of memory didn’t just vanish. Maybe… maybe he had his reasons. Maybe it was Emily who was keeping him away.
By the time she returned to her room, Zyla had already finished tidying everything up.
That night, Deborah locked herself inside. She didn’t know how long she lay there, aching inside, before finally drifting into a fitful sleep.
The sky was still dark–just before dawn–when it happened. The room remained dim and quiet, when a white–robed figure stepped silently through the door, accompanied by the faint scent of sandalwood.
Deborah stirred, blinking drowsily. And then, all at once, she sat bolt upright in bed, startled by the sudden presence.
“Your Highness, I thought I made myself clear—if this house won’t have me-” She froze.
Her eyes locked onto the man’s face. The rest of her sentence caught in her throat, stuck somewhere deep inside, never making it out.
“…Simon?”
At the corner of his eye was a small beauty mark.
He wore his usual white robe. His gaze was warm. And that faint smile–gentle and comforting–felt like sunlight after a storm. It was really him.
“Why?” Her voice trembled, thin and raspy.
Simon walked over and sat beside her on the bed, quiet.
She wanted to throw her arms around him, to hold him close–God, she wanted that more than anything–but she hesitated.
He looked so much like Damian. Even now, face–to–face, even seeing that mole near his eye… she still couldn’t quite believe it.
She reached out, touched it gently. Rubbed it once. Again. No smudging. It was real.
Her eyes burned. Her chest ached. The kind of ache that comes from too much fear, too much hope.
“Why?” she whispered again.
He was her husband–the man she’d loved for more than a year. The one she’d been searching for desperately for days. And now, with him finally here… she didn’t even dare touch him.
“Why would you do this to me?”
“I’m sorry…” he murmured.
That did it. She threw herself into his arms, clutching him tightly. “Simon, don’t do this to me again. I was so scared.”
Simon closed his eyes and sighed. At last, he returned her embrace, holding her gently.
“Don’t be afraid,” he said softly. “I’ve been here all along.”
“Then why didn’t you come see me?” Her voice broke. “I thought you didn’t want me anymore…”
“Was it your mother? Did she forbid you from seeing me?”
“How could that be?” Simon’s smile was soft, his tone reassuring. Calm. He had always been like this–warm, steady, soothing.
“Then tell me the truth. Why?”
“There are some things I can’t explain,” he said gently. “But believe me–I would never abandon you. I’ll never let you go. Not now. Not ever. Do you
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Chapter 34
understand?”
Deborah stared at him, momentarily stunned. “Did… did Damian come to see you?”
She’d thought that cold–hearted man didn’t care at all. That he’d written her off.
A flicker of surprise passed through Simon’s eyes.
A beat later, he smiled. “Of course. After you stormed into his room like a madwoman, accusing him of everything under the sun, how could he not come find me?”
Deborah flushed. She thought, ‘I wasn’t that out of control… was I? I’ve just… been desperate!
She reached out and took his hand, gripping it tightly. “Simon… promise me you won’t leave me again. I’m scared, being alone in this place.”
Simon drew her into his arms again, brushing away the tears at the corners of her eyes with his fingertips.
Warm skin, soft perfume. Her face pressed to his chest, her lips trembling, her eyes wet. It was all too much. Too real. Too close.
He had come here simply to comfort her. That was all. But the moment she was in his arms, the calm he’d forced himself to maintain began to
crack.
His fingertips brushed across her lips. His voice dropped, tinged with something deeper–something unspoken. “How could I ever bear to leave you?”
“Simon…” she breathed.
But before she could say another word, her lips were covered by his.
His hand slid to her waist. With the softest tug, her sash came undone.
