Page 141 of Wanted

“Then what do you want?”

I breathed him in. “I’ve got everything I wanted. We can start anew. I’m going to fill this room with all the books...”

I could already envision it. Frowning, I asked him, “What will you do?”

“I’ll consult my sister whenever she asks for it,” he said, his tone somber. “Other than that, I’ll fuck you a little bit, here and there. I’ll try myself as a cook. Perhaps we can start a farm! Isn’t that what ranches are for?”

I chuckled in his embrace. Shifting, I turned to face him. “Are you sure you want to live here? We can move to a city. I wouldn’t mind...”

“We both wanted something peaceful, quiet, and removed from other people. You like it that way because you have zero social skills, and I can stand it because, quite frankly, the only American I like is you.” I almost laughed at his statement, but he wasn’t joking.

“What about Alex?” I asked pouting. “And Fylox? And Jordan?”

“Don’t even say their names,” he said playfully. It had been a little over a year, and Weston hadn’t fully warmed up to the new men in Kamila’s life.

Weston cursed under his breath, kissing the top of my head. “Fine. I don’t hate them.”

“But you envy them,” I added.

He gave me a quick nod. “Their bonds are strong. Jordan is everything my father never was. He’s the caretaker. He’s got shit under control. Nothing gets past him. I can’t hate him because when I let you leave, he came and saved you. He saved my sister, too. There aren’t a lot of things I value in this world.”

He exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “I value loyalty, family, and friendship. Jordan, Alex, and Fylox show me that my values aren’t a pipe dream... What my mother instilled in me is possible. She wanted us to remain close no matter what. That’s why I could never despise Kamila for being mom’s favorite.”

I gaped at him. “She was?”

Weston nodded. “Kamila tells her old stories in a way that it seems we were equal, but we weren’t. My mom’s bond with her first child was unbreakable. When Kamila started going off the rails, my mom was hurt and disappointed. Whatever anger brew between them came from a place of love. Meanwhile, Aris and I got the short end of the stick. We were there, but we were Dad’s favorites, the heirs to the throne my mom hated.”

“When mom wasn’t there anymore, the lies were uncovered. We weren’t a unity. We were a shell of a family. My... Aram used us for his benefit. He needed us to make people believe in Katantia. We were young, fresh, and deeply embroiled in Katantia’s traditions.”

“You fucked a lot. I get it,” I uttered. I couldn’t comprehend the estimates he’d once given me. On most days, I attempted to forget that we were two entirely different people. The doubts seeped in at night, and when I woke, they still troubled me. What if we had an expiration date?

We’d decided to stay on Katantia a little longer for the family’s sake. Penelope Jade was growing so quickly, and everyone in the family was mesmerized by her. It was almost a contest. Who’d get PJ the most gifts? Weston and I went shopping one day, and we were stopped by a skinny model-type with hips that could fit in me three times. She’d been pregnant and glowing like she was Beyonce, but the Korean version.

She’d trotted toward us, almost jumping into Weston’s arms. “I haven’t seen you in such a long time! What a year it’s been. I can’t believe Kamila’s queen now. Congratulations! I’m sorry about your brother.”

Weston had hugged her back, and a strange feeling found its home in my body. Jealousy. I wasn’t possessive. I didn’t even consider him to be mine most of the days. He was of the people, a public figure owned by Katantians who adored him and his siblings. When this pregnant woman hugged him so freely, all of my insecurities trickled down upon me.

“Is this... Are you Mandy?” The young woman addressed me. While I was drenched in jealousy, there wasn’t a hint of it from her. Her interest was genuine. “I saw you at the coronation on TV. You looked gorgeous, by the way. So you’re the girl that’s taken Weston off the market?”

Stunned, I stood there, unable to respond. It would take some time for trust to build again. A lifetime of my father’s bullying wouldn’t fade in a couple of weeks.

The young woman continued, “Whenever anyone manages to get him on the phone, he’s all about the foreigner that stole his heart. And he never came to my wedding! You promised, Weston! My owner and I reserved you and the family the best seats.”

Weston wrapped an arm around the small of my back. When I felt his warmth, the knots of tension began to loosen up. I had to work on myself. It wasn’t his responsibility to make me feel good about myself. Weston said, “We’ll make it up to you...”

She interrupted him, “By the way, I’m Hae-Won. I was born here. Weston and I met in high school. Funnily enough, I married a foreigner, too.”

She lifted her hand, proudly displaying a ring that rivaled my mother’s most expensive jewelry.

I finally spoke. “We’re not married.”

“Yet,” Weston added.

Hae-Won said, “Are you guys pregnant, too?”

Her eyes fluttered with excitement. We were in a baby store, after all. I shook my head. “I can’t have children.”

Her face fell. “I apologize. I’m so rude…”