Chapter 50
The air in the grand hall was thick with anticipation. Azalea’s heart raced as she clutched Federico’s arm, trying to draw strength from his unwavering presence. It was time for the meeting, and though she tried to keep her mind clear, unease gnawed at her. With each step forward, she felt like she was inching closer to some dark revelation.
Federico led her into the room where members of the court were already seated, their gazes piercing. At the head of the table sat the king, his expression as unreadable as ever. As Azalea and Federico took their seats, she noticed Maya seated nearby, her hands twisting nervously in her lap. Bennett was present too, looking annoyingly calm, as if he hadn’t a care in the world.
The king cleared his throat, demanding the attention of the room. “Azalea, Maya,” he began in a voice that commanded authority, “please stand.”
Azalea felt her heart skip a beat as she and Maya rose to their feet. The king’s cold gaze flickered between them, studying them with scrutiny.
“Now, I need to know how you are involved with Bennett,” the king declared, his voice echoing off the walls. His question seemed to hang in the air, a storm of judgment poised to break.
Azalea swallowed, feeling Federico’s tense stare beside her. She was about to speak when Bennett stepped forward, cutting her off.
“If I may, Your Majesty,” Bennett said smoothly, bowing his head with exaggerated respect. “I think I can provide some clarity.”
Azalea’s heart pounded with dread as Bennett turned his gaze to her, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “You see,” he continued, feigning sincerity, “Azalea and I have known each other for a long time. She even once begged me to elope with her.”
Azalea’s eyes widened in shock. “That’s a lie!” she gasped, but her voice trembled.
Beside her, she felt Federico stiffen, his face darkening. The entire hall seemed to draw in a collective breath, hanging on Bennett’s every word.
Bennett continued, undeterred. “She would visit me in secret, begging me to take her away. She didn’t want this life, this marriage.” He glanced at Federico, eyes gleaming with malice. “I thought I’d never see her again, but then she showed up at the ball. Imagine my surprise.”
Azalea’s face flushed in anger and humiliation. “None of that is true!” she exclaimed, struggling to keep her voice steady. “I never did any of those things!”
Federico’s gaze was hard as stone, his face unreadable. She could see the anger simmering beneath the surface, his fists clenched at his sides. But more than that, she saw a flicker of something that made her heart sink-doubt.
“Bennett,” the king’s voice cut through the tension. “And what of Maya?”
Bennett shifted his gaze to Maya, who looked as pale as a ghost. “Oh, Maya and I merely knew each other from high school. No special connection.” He shrugged, a smug smile playing on his lips. Maya looked visibly relieved, though Azalea could sense the worry in her eyes. Bennett wasn’t done with her; he was simply laying the groundwork for something much larger.
“Enough,” the king said, leaning back in his chair, clearly dissatisfied but no less curious. He dismissed them with a wave of his hand. “You may all go. We shall reconvene if necessary.”
Azalea quickly exited, keeping her head down, her heart pounding. She felt Federico close beside her as they made their way back to their quarters. The silence between them was unbearable.
The moment they stepped into their bedroom, Federico turned to her, his face filled with an emotion she couldn’t decipher. “Tell me the truth, Azalea,” he demanded, his voice low and dangerous. “Is there anything between you and Bennett?”
Azalea’s chest tightened. “Federico, please,” she began, her voice trembling. “I swear to you, I have no connection with him. I’ve never done any of what he said.”
Federico let out a frustrated breath, raking his hand through his hair. “I want to believe you, Azalea, but do you understand how this looks? My father, Leandro, Thomas-they’re all waiting for any excuse to destroy us!”
“I would never do that to you,” Azalea said, her voice breaking. She reached for his hand, but he pulled away, his face filled with hurt and anger.
“Then why does Bennett keep showing up, always saying things that make you look guilty?” he snapped. “Why does he act like he knows you better than I do?”
Azalea felt the sting of his words, the doubts stabbing at her heart. “You think I’d betray you?” she whispered, tears filling her eyes. “After everything we’ve been through?”
Federico’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, they simply stared at each other, the tension thick and suffocating. “I don’t know what to think, Azalea,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know who to believe.”
Her heart ached, but she refused to back down. “You know me, Federico. I’m not lying to you. I swear it.”
But he only shook his head, frustration etched across his features. “How can I be sure? How can I trust you when Bennett keeps twisting everything?”
Azalea clenched her fists, anger, and heartbreak boiling over. “I am your wife, Federico! You’re supposed to trust me, not him!”
“And what if I’m wrong?” he shot back, his voice rising. “What if everything he said is true?”
Her voice broke, the pain in her chest too much to bear. “If you can’t trust me, then there’s nothing left between us.”
The silence that followed was thick and heavy, both of them standing mere inches apart but feeling like miles away. But then, almost without warning, Federico’s hand reached for her, pulling her close, his mouth crashing down on hers in a desperate, heated kiss.
Azalea’s breath hitched, her heart pounding as she felt the raw intensity of his emotions, the anger and frustration mingling with something deeper, something powerful. She wrapped her arms around him, clinging to him as he kissed her with a fierceness that left her breathless.
Their argument was forgotten, Federico lifted her, guiding her toward the bed, his lips never leaving hers. There was an urgency in their movements, a need to feel close, to erase the doubts and fears that had haunted them.
As they sank onto the bed, Federico’s hands gently traced her skin, his touch both tender and possessive. He paused for a moment, his gaze searching hers, and she felt a shiver run through her as he whispered her name, his voice filled with emotion.
“Azalea…” he murmured, his eyes softening as he realized her vulnerability. She was his, completely and undeniably, and in that moment, he knew she had been telling the truth all along.