"It's too late." Nicolette flopped dramatically onto the couch. "The damage has been done. Once again, we get to clean up the mess someone else has created." She flicked her gaze to Libby, then back to Alex.
Alex opened his mouth to protest, but Libby surprised him by stepping forward.
"I have done nothing wrong here," she said, voice shaking with fury. "I have done everything you asked of me, and yet once again, I'm the one who ends up getting the raw end of this deal."
"Really?" Nicolette said coolly. "And here I thought we were compensating you quite nicely for the job we asked to have done."
"Mother," Alex said, his tone sharp. But beside him, Libby gave a harsh laugh.
"I don't know if any amount of money is worth this. I've had to lie to my family about my relationship with Alex. I'm constantly on edge and under scrutiny." She shook her head. Tears sparkled in her eyelashes, hitting Alex right in the chest. "I'm not sure I can do this anymore."
"Libby." Alex grabbed her hand.
"Let her go," the queen said, her voice ringing out over the room.
Libby blinked and tears cascaded down her cheeks. She wrenched her hand from Alex's and walked briskly from the room.
Alex whirled on his mother, fury making dark spots dance across his vision. "What do you think you're doing?"
Nicolette raised her chin. "Protecting this family."
Alex stared at his mother. A million replies danced through his head: Libby's trying to protect this family, too. If you want to protect me, you'll treat Libby with more respect. But one thought stood out above everything else, and it made his heart hammer.
"Libby is family to me, Mother," Alex said. Somehow, over the past few weeks, she'd become the most important person in his world.
Alex stormed out of the room without waiting for his mother's response. He ran down the hallway, catching up to Libby just before she disappeared down a corner. He caught her hand with his, pulling her to a stop.
"Libby, please."
She yanked free and quickly brushed away the tears on her cheeks. "Please what, Alex?"
He took her hand in his again, but it felt cold and limp in his grasp. Desperation clawed at his throat. "Please don't leave."
She wouldn't meet his gaze and he thought his heart might break. "I don't know if I can do this anymore."
"I know tonight was bad-"
"It isn't just tonight, Alex. It's your whole lifestyle. It's this." She thrust out an arm, as though to take in the palace at large. "This is so different from what I'm used to. From what I'm comfortable with. Your life is insane. People watching your every move. Vindictive women trying to ruin your reputation. The whole thing is so overwhelming."
"I'm here to help you," Alex said. "I know it's a lot, but together, we can-"
She held up a hand, cutting him off. His heart galloped in his chest.
"I need time to think," she said quietly.
It hurt to breathe. He took quick, shallow breaths. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying I don't think we should see each other for a few days. I need to get my head on straight. Decide where to go from here." She shook her head sadly and more tears dripped down her cheeks. "I want to help my parents, but I don't know if I can keep doing this, no matter how much I'm being paid."
The words were like daggers, piercing Alex's very soul. He knew what she was really saying-he wasn't worth the effort. Whatever positives she saw in a relationship with him were vastly outweighed by the negatives that came with dating a crown prince.
Libby had given him a chance, taken measure of his worth, and found him lacking.
She brushed her hair behind one ear and bit her lip, not meeting his gaze. "I'll call you in a few days. I just need some time, okay?"
His entire body had gone numb. He couldn't even come up with a response. Instead he sagged against the wall and watched as Liberty Claybourne walked away.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Libby stumbled down the hallway, feeling numb. The first time she'd walked this path she'd been so in awe of the opulence and wealth on display. The gold leafing. The intricately carved moldings. The expensive vases and artwork. But now she barely noticed any of it.
Had she just broken up with Alex?
Outside the palace, a car waited for Libby. The moment the door shut behind her, the tears began to flow. The driver kindly ignored them as she cried the entire way back to Connie's flat.
She couldn't believe Isla Martin had really shown up tonight. Over the past five weeks, Libby had heard so much about the woman that she'd become a mythological demon in Libby's mind. Now she understood better what Alex had seen in Isla and the kind of vindictive fury he'd been dealing with since the breakup. But it had also made Libby realize how completely inadequate she was for the role she'd been thrust into.
Isla was magnificent. Flawless. The kind of woman Durham expected Alex to marry. And Libby was just some nobody from rural Oregon.
Libby unlocked the flat door with shaking hands. It took three tries to get the key back in her clutch. By then, Connie appeared in the hallway, hair standing on end and face makeup free.
"Sorry," Libby said, wiping underneath her eyes. She probably looked like a deranged raccoon. "I didn't mean to wake you up."
"You didn't. I fell asleep doing some illustrating, but Kenzie woke up about an hour ago and I haven't been able to fall back asleep." Connie flipped on the hallway light and walked closer. "Whoa. Libby, what's wrong? Are you crying?"
It was like a dam burst. Libby covered her face with her hands, shoulders shaking as sobs overcame her. Connie rushed forward and wrapped her arms around Libby. She leaned into the hug, unable to stop the tears.
"Let's go sit down," Connie said, glancing at Kenzie's closed bedroom door.
Libby nodded-no sense waking Kenzie-and let her friend lead her to the living room. She sank onto the couch that had become familiar over the past weeks and took the box of tissues that Connie offered her.
If Libby broke up with Alex, would she be able to stay in Durham? No doubt the fallout from their breakup would be astronomical. The paparazzi would hound her endlessly. Probably follow Connie to work in an attempt to get answers to questions the palace didn't want asked. Libby wouldn't be able to take Kenzie out anymore. They'd be stuck in the flat day in and day out, using delivery services for all of their shopping needs.
But she couldn't stay with Alex because it was convenient, either. She could no longer stay because she was worried about the financial ramifications of leaving.
"What happened tonight?" Connie asked.
Libby wiped under her eyes and took a shuddering breath. "Isla Martin showed up and unleashed her reign of terror."
Connie's eyes widened. "No way."
"Oh yes. And apparently I'm her new target." Libby quickly told Connie about her encounter with the famous actress, giving every detail.
"Oh, Libby," Connie breathed.
"I know. So I told Alex I needed a few days to think and left." Libby curled her hands into fists, feeling sick. A board book rested on the coffee table, the one Alex had read about a bear learning to be kind, unleashing a flood of memories. "I don't know what to do."
Connie gave her a sympathetic smile. "Gee, I wonder why. It's not like your life is complicated or anything."
"The queen hates me." Libby grabbed another tissue and blew her nose. "Apparently I'm part of some revenge plot an actual movie star is trying to pull off. Now I'm going to be attacked and hated by the press for something I didn't do."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Connie held up her hands, one eyebrow raised. "Let's back up about ten steps here. I've never known you to care very much about other people's opinions. Why do you care so much now?"
Libby looked down, heat flooding her cheeks. "I'm such an idiot. He drove me so crazy in the beginning."
"Wow." Connie shook her head, eyes wide with disbelief. "You like him, don't you? Maybe even love him."
Libby covered her face with her hands. "It wasn't supposed to happen," she said, the words muffled. "But Alex is kind of amazing."
Connie blew out a breath. "I'll admit he is nothing like I expected. The way he took care of things after the flood was awesome, and he's earned my grudging respect. But are you sure about this, Libby? He's the crown prince."
"I know. I don't know if I can handle all this." Libby motioned helplessly, as though to encompass everything that had happened the last few weeks. "My life has turned into a three ringed circus since I met him."
"And how does Alex feel?"
Libby pulled a penny from her pocket and rubbed a thumb over the surface. The copper was still warm from her body heat. "We kissed. That's got to mean something."