The broadcast lingered on discussions about Prince Christian, delving into his role as the heir to the Swedish throne. Lizzie sat motionless, her emerald eyes glued to the screen as the news anchors spoke in reverent tones about the young crown prince.
“Prince Christian, the only son of King Gustaf V and Queen Alexandra, is now the sole heir to the throne of Sweden. Known for his charm and dedication to humanitarian causes, the prince has always been seen as a beacon of hope for the future of the monarchy,” the anchor said, her voice steady yet filled with admiration.
Another anchor chimed in. “Yes, but with his grandfather’s passing, the weight of responsibility now fully falls on his shoulders. It’s a pivotal moment for the prince, who is not only navigating his role as a future king but also dealing with the personal loss of his beloved grandfather.”
The screen showed clips of Christian’s past—public appearances at charity events, official ceremonies, and moments where he charmed the press with his warm smiles and effortless charisma. It felt like they were talking about someone else entirely, not the Christian Lizzie had come to know and love.
“They’re painting him as this perfect prince,” Lizzie muttered under her breath, her voice barely audible. “But he’s just... Christian.”
Scarlett tilted her head, watching Lizzie closely. “Isn’t he, though? He’s still the same man you fell for, Lizzie.”
Lizzie shook her head, her emotions swirling in a whirlwind of confusion and heartbreak. “I don’t know, Scar. I don’t know if I ever really knew him at all.”
The broadcast continued, shifting back to live footage of the cathedral steps. Christian stood at the top, surrounded by his family. The camera zoomed in on him again, capturing every detail—the way his jaw clenched, the way his shoulders sagged under the weight of invisible burdens, the way his piercing blue eyes seemed to hold the entire world’s expectations.
“He’s Sweden’s future,” one of the anchors added. “And from what we’ve seen, he’s more than ready to step into that role.”
Lizzie’s chest tightened. The man they were describing was a prince, a future king, someone destined for a life she couldn’t even begin to comprehend. But the Christian she knew wasn’t defined by crowns or titles. He was kind, thoughtful, and utterly human—the man who made her laugh until her stomach hurt, who held her when she felt like the world was falling apart.
And yet, the man on the screen felt like a stranger.
“Turn it off,” Lizzie whispered, her voice trembling.
Scarlett reached for the remote, silencing the television. The room was plunged into an uncomfortable silence, the weight of what they had just seen hanging heavily in the air.
Lizzie buried her face in her hands, her tears spilling over once again. “I can’t do this. I can’t watch him like that and not... and not be with him.”
Jarnette moved to sit beside her, wrapping a comforting arm around her shoulders. “Lizzie, sweetheart, maybe this is for the best. His world is so different from ours, so full of... pressure and expectations. Are you sure you could ever fit into that?”
“I don’t care about his world,” Lizzie said through her tears. “I just want him.”
The words hung in the air, raw and full of pain. Lizzie’s family exchanged worried glances, unsure of how to help her.
Scarlett finally broke the silence. “Then maybe you need to tell him that. If you still love him, Lizzie... maybe you need to fight for him.”
Lizzie looked up at her best friend, her heart torn between hope and despair. “But what if it’s too late? What if... what if he’s already moved on?”
Scarlett shook her head. “Do you really think he has? Did you see the way he looked today? He’s just as broken as you are, Lizzie.”
Lizzie wiped her tears, her mind spinning with possibilities. Maybe Scarlett was right. Maybe it wasn’t too late. But even if it wasn’t, could she really step into Christian’s world? Could she bear the weight of being with a man destined to be king?
She didn’t know the answer. All she knew was that her heart still belonged to him. And it always would.
---
Lizzie’s sobs echoed through the living room until exhaustion finally overtook her. Jarnette held her daughter close, gently stroking her hair as Lizzie drifted into a restless sleep, her tear-streaked face buried in her mother’s shoulder.
David paced the room, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. His usually calm demeanor was replaced with an expression of unbridled anger. He couldn’t believe the pain Christian had caused his daughter. Lizzie had always been the light of their family, so full of life and joy, and now she was utterly broken.
“This is unacceptable,” David said, his voice low but laced with fury. “How dare he come into her life, make her fall in love, and then destroy her like this?”
Ashley and Mary-Kate exchanged uneasy glances. They’d never seen their father this upset before.
“Dad,” Ashley said softly, trying to calm him down. “We’re all upset, but yelling about it isn’t going to help Lizzie.”
David stopped pacing and turned to face his daughters, his expression grim. “I trusted him. I welcomed him into our home. And he repays us by lying to her, by breaking her heart like this? He doesn’t deserve her.”
Scarlett, who had been sitting quietly beside Lizzie, finally spoke up. “David, I don’t think Christian ever meant to hurt her. You saw how he looked at her. He loves her, but he’s stuck in a world that’s tearing him apart.”
“Then he shouldn’t have dragged her into that world,” David snapped, his frustration boiling over. “He should’ve stayed away if he couldn’t be honest with her.”
Jarnette looked up from where she cradled Lizzie, her voice calm but firm. “David, enough. Lizzie doesn’t need us to be angry right now. She needs us to be here for her. Save your anger for later.”
David sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. He knew his wife was right, but the sight of Lizzie’s pain was unbearable. He hated feeling so powerless to protect her.
“She loved him so much,” Mary-Kate said quietly, her voice breaking. “You could see it in her eyes every time she looked at him.”
“And he loved her,” Scarlett added. “But love isn’t always enough, not when there are secrets and lies in the way.”
The room fell into silence, the weight of the situation pressing down on everyone. Lizzie stirred slightly in her sleep, her face still damp with tears. Jarnette adjusted her position, holding her even closer.
David finally sat down, his shoulders slumping as the anger began to give way to sadness. “I just want her to be happy,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
“We all do,” Jarnette said softly. “But maybe happiness isn’t something we can give her right now. She needs time to heal, to figure out what she wants.”
The family sat together in the dimly lit room, united in their concern for Lizzie. Despite their anger and heartbreak, they knew one thing for certain: they would do everything in their power to help her through this, no matter how long it took.
