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But Willem remained silent, determined not to let her know the truth when he was certain it would only hurt her. Serenity was too young to understand that his forbearance – which was killing him – was for her own good.

She might have forgotten the years that separated them, but he hadn’t. She was only nineteen years old, with the rest of her life to look forward to while his was about halfway done. He did not want to tie her with him until she was absolutely sure she would not mind marrying a man who could give her everything except his heart.

They had been secretly seeing each other for several months now, and while the time he spent with Serenity in his arms were the best days of his life, he also knew that it could not – would not – last forever.

In half a year’s time, her gap year would end, and she would start fresh in college. She would meet boys her age, and he would have to let her go to spread her wings. Even now, he knew it would kill him to set his angel free, but Willem was just as certain he would be able to do it.

She had to have time away from him and find out on her own if a life with him was what she really wanted.

And if it was,a voice inside him asked mockingly.

Willem took a deep breath. If it was, then he would have a ring on her finger faster than she could blink. Because he knew now. In fact, he was absolutely certain. Serenity Raleigh was his perfect match, the only woman he could imagine growing old with.

But right now, he was hurting that very woman, too.

He hadn’t known it until it was too late. As the car slowed to a stop, he heard the tiniest sound from her—-

Serenity, trying to swallow back a sob.

Willem’s chest constricted.

Goddammit.

He started to reach for her, but then the door opened, and Serenity moved to sit on the opposite row with clumsy haste just as her older sister slid inside the limousine.

“I couldn’t wait,” Shane said gaily as she took her place next to the billionaire. As soon as the door closed, she reached for Willem to kiss him. He started to turn away, but she didn’t let him, murmuring throatily, “It’s just my sister.” She giggled. “She won’t tell the queen.”

Serenity heard the two kiss, and slowly she forced herself to look at the pair.

Willem’s eyes were open, and his gaze was on her even while Serenity’s sister was kissing him.

She stared back at him, unblinking, even as a tear slowly slipped down her face.

****

WILLEM WAS NOT USEDto being ignored. He was not used to being jealous either. But he found himself struggling intensely with both as he watched Serenity spend all her time with an assortment of his cousins, all of them younger and definitely more easygoing than the old and dreadfully grim Executioner, which was how the entire de Konigh family had come to describe him.

Beside him, Shane continued to pout and fume, and he was beginning to realize that everything about her was an act. He had thought her remarkably easygoing and understanding, and he was now disconcerted and uneasy to realize that her pretense had led him to once consider making her his bride.

Shane tugged on his sleeve again. “Can’t we dance once?” As she spoke, Serenity whirled past their table, dancing in Gabe’s arms, and Shane gritted her teeth.

Willem frowned.

There was something about the look in her face...

A thought occurred to him, and he abruptly made a decision. Coming to his feet, he smiled charmingly at his date and offered his hand. “Your wish is my command, my dear.”

Shane brightened and happily took Willem’s hand. Her laughter rang out in the ballroom as Willem expertly swung her onto the dance floor, the sound drawing lots of admiring glances their way.

It caught Serenity’s attention, too, and before she could stop herself, she was already looking around—-

“I don’t think it’s worth feeling sad about,” her dance partner murmured wryly.

Serenity was startled. “Pardon, Your Highness?”

Gabe said gently, “My cousin’s just dancing with his date, and she’s just whoring for attention.”

She choked. “T-that’s my sister.”