Layla

I regain consciousness around 2-3 hours later. I am in a soft bed unknown to me. I look around and see Prince Joshua sitting on an armchair by the door. He looks so tired. Must be because of us. I quietly get up off the bed and head to the door to leave, but somehow he woke up and cleared his throat. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked. "To check on Aria. Where is she?" I say. "Resting in my brother's room. She's fine, trust me. Please go back and lay down on the bed. Your wounds have not yet fully healed," he said.

I head towards the door to open it and leave, but he gets up and blocks my path. "Please get out the way. I need to go check on my sister because what had happened to her was my fault. So, get out of my way," I say. He grits his teeth and says, "None of what happened to you and her was your fault. Don't ever say or think like that." I try to go open the door but he pulls me gently by my shoulders back into his chest. "You and Aria will see soon, but I need you to rest now," he said.

He guides me back to the bed to lie down. I end up giving in to just resting some more. He covers me with a blanket as I lie down. "Rest well, babe. I'll be here if you need me," he whispered in my ear. 'Why did he just call me babe?' I think to myself. I doze off and wake up to loud banging and yelling. I hurry out the bed and out of the room. It sounds like it's coming from downstairs.

I head down towards the noise. I see an open basement door. I head down to where the loud noise was coming from. I see Eze and Aria's boyfriend in handcuffs and beaten up. I covered my mouth to stiffen the gasp that wants to come from me. Somehow, Eze notices me and glared at me. "This is all your fault! Wait until I get out of here!" he yelled at me. Prince Joshua turns to face me.

"Why are you down here, Layla?" he asked. "Because the loud screaming and noise woke me up," I say, nervously. Prince Joshua motions for a guard. "Take her to the kitchen for her dinner. Aria is waiting for her," he says. The guard nods his head. "Please follow me, ma'am," the guard says and motions for me to come along. I quickly head after him to find my sister in the kitchen eating.

"Aria, are you okay? I am so sorry for this. This was all my fault," I cry to her. She gets up from her seat and hugs me tight. "Don't you ever say it was your fault. They deserve all the harm coming their way," Aria says. We sit at the counter table and began eating some food by the chef.

"Mm. It's amazing," I say. "Don't expect to stay here too much longer. We helped you as much as we should," we hear a guy say. We turned to find Prince Joshua's brother, Prince Levi, by the door. "What do you mean by that?" Aria asked. "Exactly what I had said. Both of you have to realize that we are engaged to women who are not abused leftovers. Do you understand?" he says.

Aria keeps quiet and turned her face back to the food. I grit my teeth. "Aria, let's go. Go and get your things. We're not going to stay with people that actually think they are above us," I say. I grab the dishes and wash them. I walked past Prince Levi and whispered, "You need to change your attitude. It's ugly." I head back up to the room I woke up in and grabbed my things.

As I was ready to leave, the door opened and in walked Prince Joshua. "What's the problem? Why do you look like you are trying to leave?" he asked. "Nothing. Because my sister and I are leaving. It's not right for us to stay here," I say. I head to leave out the room, but he steps in my way.

"Well, you both are not leaving. So, put your things down. Alright? Who said something to you?" he said. "Your highness. Prince Levi said we are not welcome here and we are leaving and that's final," I said. He grits his teeth. "Try leaving and see if you don't see another side of me that you may or may not like. So, put your things down and I'll deal with my brother. Got it?" he said.

I head around him anyway to leave. What he does next is a shock to me. He pulled me back to him and turned me to face him. He kissed me and I try not to give in. He pinches my waist and I ended up gasping, in which he took the opportunity to push his tongue in my mouth to deepen the kiss. I begin hitting him on his back for him to stop, but he pins my hands behind my back.

I am squirming against him and he growls lowly. He pulls back and I step out of his grasp. I smack him across the cheek. I quickly grab my things and leave the room.

We need to leave immediately.