Divorcing His Royal Highness (English-R18)

Chapter 2

TAYLOR

Once back at my shop, I took care of some inventory before deciding to close up for the night. My living quarters were conveniently located right next to the flower shop. After locking the shop's door, I made my way to the small one-bedroom apartment adjacent to it.

I kept myself occupied, attempting to push aside the memories of our unexpected encounter. It had been a whole year since we last laid eyes on each other, yet he still had the power to affect me. After visiting his office to request a divorce, I received a copy of the divorce papers the very next day. Without hesitation, I signed the papers and hastily packed my belongings, leaving everything behind. I didn't bother to read the contents of the document. All I wanted was to swiftly escape that place and embark on a fresh start, discarding the luxurious lifestyle associated with my former title. It's a title that doesn't really mean anything.

I headed straight for the bathroom to freshen up. Today had been an exhausting day. I had done similar work in the past, but this particular one had taken a toll on me. I couldn't shake off the familiar feeling that washed over me the moment I locked eyes with his mesmerizing blue gaze. His lips, just as I always remembered, had a captivating red hue.

When I was young, I used to admire him from afar. Everything changed when his father seized power, forcing my father to relinquish the throne. However, I never held him responsible for what transpired. After all, we were merely children back then. My admiration for him only grew, unbeknownst to me, developing into feelings I was unprepared for.

I felt sheer elation when I discovered that I was to be married to the second son of the king. It didn't matter to me that his father was the reason for our family's exile. All I wanted was to be with him. Unfortunately, it dawned on me too late that the dream I had been envisioning was nothing more than a haunting nightmare.

I let out a deep sigh as I finally stepped out of the refreshing shower. Grabbing the towel hanging on the wall, I diligently dried myself off before making my way out of the bathroom. Slipping into a comfortable robe, I ventured out into the room, my attention focused on drying my long, black, curly hair with a towel. It was then that I heard a soft knock on the door.

Glancing at the clock, I furrowed my brow as I realized it was already past midnight. Wondering who could be at the door at this hour, I cautiously made my way toward it. Peeking through the peephole, my heart skipped a beat, and I quickly took a step back.

"What is he doing here?" I whispered, my mind filled with uncertainty. Should I open the door or pretend to be fast asleep? After a moment of contemplation, I decided on the latter, convinced that he would eventually leave. "He'll surely go away," I reassured myself under my breath.

Suddenly, another knock reverberated through the door, more persistent this time. Startled, I turned to retreat to my room when, unexpectedly, the door swung open. My eyes widened in shock as I beheld him standing just outside, a bold and audacious move.

"What on earth! You can't do that! It's against the law!" I exclaimed, momentarily forgetting who I was addressing. I looked at the two men behind him. The other man was holding something in his hand what seemed to be the tool he used to unlock my door.

"Go ahead, call the police," he challenged me defiantly. His eyes landed on my bare feet as it slowly made it way up to the robe that was losely

I hastily wrapped my robe around my body, securing it tightly as if seeking some semblance of protection. His gaze, filled with an unfamiliar intensity, ignited a fiery response within me. Never before had he looked at me with such desire. Confusion clouded my thoughts. What could be the reason behind this?

As Vladimir recognized the situation, he turned to his men and issued a command. "Wait for me in the car."

"Yes, Your Highness," they replied in unison, discreetly closing the door behind them, leaving us alone within the confines of my apartment.

He began to wander around, and with each step he took, my living space seemed to shrink in size. His scrutinizing gaze roamed the room, seemingly inspecting every nook and cranny.

Feeling increasingly uneasy, particularly as I had nothing underneath the thick bathrobe, I yearned for a swift resolution to this uncomfortable encounter.

"I apologize if I seem disrespectful, Your Highness, but may I ask about the purpose of this unannounced visit? I'm certain you have more pressing matters to attend to than my shabby apartment." My words escaped in a gasp as he abruptly redirected his gaze towards me. I swallowed hard, attempting to alleviate the invisible lump in my throat. Involuntarily, I took a step back as he closed the distance between us.

"Am I not allowed to miss my wife?" he whispered, his arms encircling my waist, pulling me firmly against his chest.

I instinctively placed my hands on his chest, attempting to create a semblance of space between us, but my efforts proved futile. His face drew nearer until our breaths mingled, mere inches apart. The scent of his minty breath enveloped me, intensifying the fire that his touch had kindled within me.

"You mean ex-wife, Your Highness. Allow me to refresh your memory—we divorced a year ago," I reminded him, my voice trembling slightly.

A sly smirk danced upon his lips, sending shivers down my spine. "Is that so? Perhaps I missed the memo," he replied, his tone laced with mischief, before closing the remaining distance between us.

His lips brushed against mine, and a surge of conflicting emotions surged through me. I attempted to tilt my head away to create a barrier between us, but he swiftly gripped the nape of my neck, preventing any escape.

My eyes widened in shock as his kiss deepened, his tongue teasing its way into my mouth. I fought the instinct to resist, to push him away, but my body seemed to betray me. Against my own will, I found myself craving more of his touch. Confusion overwhelmed me. Was this reality, or was I trapped within a vivid dream? Why was he kissing me now? He never bothered showing up to our wedding day. And he didn't say anything when I asked for divorce.

My mind raced, searching for answers amidst the whirlwind of sensations, while his kiss continued to consume me. His strong arms enveloped my waist, drawing me closer to him, and I couldn't ignore the undeniable presence of his growing arousal pressing against me. In that moment, a surge of clarity cut through the haze of desire that had clouded my mind. I suddenly became acutely aware of the line he was crossing as his hands began to undo the knot of my robe.

Summoning every ounce of strength, I pressed my hands against his chest and forcefully pushed him away. Thankfully, he didn't offer much resistance, and I managed to create some space between us. Taking in deep breaths, I tried to steady myself after our intense kiss came to an end.

"I need to ask you to leave, Your Highness. You have no authority in this land, and you can't act as you please. What you just did amounts to trespassing and s****l assault."

"Oh, so you're going to let your husband go to prison in a foreign country?" he retorted, brimming with confidence.

"Enough of this!" I yelled, disregarding his royal status. "I am not your wife, and you are not my husband anymore! I don't understand why you're here or why you're subjecting me to this. But I want nothing to do with you. Please, just leave," I pleaded, my voice filled with determination.

At once, the playful expression on his face vanished, replaced by a sombre intensity. He took a deliberate step forward, his imposing presence making me instinctively retreat until my back met the wall. He leaned in closer, his features dark and forbidding.

"I'm not leaving without my wife," he declared, sending a shockwave through my core.

"I-I have no idea what you're talking about. If you're searching for your wife, she's not here," I replied, doing my best to conceal the tremor in my voice.

"What do you mean? She's standing right in front of me," he insisted, his words only adding to my confusion.

His response left me even more bewildered. "W-What are you talking about?"

Instead of answering, he simply smirked, a cryptic expression on his face. Then, he took a step back, creating a tangible distance between us. "My coronation is scheduled for next week. I require my wife by my side. You can either accompany me willingly, or I can have my men forcibly remove you from here. The choice is yours," he declared coldly, his words devoid of any additional explanation.

"No, I'm not coming with you," I bravely asserted, my voice tinged with determination. "My life in the palace is over. Can't you see? I've built a new life for myself. Please, don't drag me back into that hell again," I pleaded, hoping he would understand.

A glimmer of frustration flickered in his eyes. "How I wish I could grant your request so easily. But I'm afraid my patience has worn thin. I gave you a year to do as you pleased to live your life freely. But now, I need my wife by my side, and I'm taking her back. I won't accept no for an answer," he declared sternly. "So, be a good girl and pack your belongings. We'll be leaving within a few hours."

His words echoed through the room, striking me with a chilling realization. A wave of dread and helplessness washed over me, and I knew that resistance would be futile. Despite my inner turmoil, I had no choice but to comply with his demands, at least for the time being. I had to bide my time, strategize, and find a way to escape from him, to regain control of my life.

Lost in my thoughts, mapping out my escape plan, his voice pierced through the air once more, sending shivers down my spine. "Just so you know," he coldly remarked, "there's no use trying to run away. You won't get away from me this time."

My mind raced, anxiety gripping me as his words sank in. The weight of his threats hung heavy in the air, reminding me of the power he believed he had over me. But I refused to succumb to fear. Deep within, a spark of defiance flickered, reminding me of my inner strength.

"Let's see about that, Your Highness," I replied.

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