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Amora's P.O.V

An inaudible sigh pushed past my lips as my fingers gently brushed over his tender flesh as we laid silently secured in each other's embrace. His free hand ran through my wild curls while the other one laid interlocked with mine under my worried gaze.

"William." I called softly unable to hold it in anymore. I couldn't quite understand how he could possibly be this calm after practically loosing it mere hours ago at the confession.

"Amora." He sighed his hands going still in my hair.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked not quite knowing what else to ask him. There was no easy way to start such a conversation especially knowing that there was nothing I could possibly say that would make what he was now facing any easier to bear but I was willing to try. He was hurting and for the first time he did very little to hide that fact. His guarded walls had crumbled right before her tear stained face as she sobbed an apology to the person who once loved and cherished he leaving him heartbroken as he watched her walk out the door.

"I'm fine once you're here." He mumbled after a long pause  placing a gentle kiss on my forehead a soft lopsided smile tugging at his lips but it didn't quite reach his distant blue eyes. His response did very little to ease my worry.

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* flashback
Earlier that morning

I sat looking as my fingers lazily ran through the silky curly mess of my sleeping two year old daughter's raven hair. For the first time in days the castle seemed to be at peace. The grey skies were no longer lit by bolts of lightening and the loud raw of thunder instead the sound of gentle rain drops kissing the moist earth filled the cool air. "He's going to kill her!" A panicked maid half screamed through labored breaths barging into the room scaring me half to death.

"What are you...,""My Queen you must go this very instant! The King ...he's going to hurt Dora! She's  in the kitchen." She panted yanking me out of my seat and pushing me in the direction of the door. The sound of my bear feet slapping against the cold marble rang in my ears as the realization hit me. The calm I just enjoyed was simply the well needed calm before the storm. And this storm was going to be like none that we've ever experienced before.

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William's P.O.V

My jaw tightened, my fist clenched crushing the ivory paper I held in my hand with meaningless words neatly written onto it in my father's handwriting faded into the deafening silence that surrounded me as I made complete sense of my current reality. My tired eyes slowly assessed her deathly pale skin and somewhat relaxed features. The perfectly round hole in her skull spelt instant death. I didn't care that he chose to kill her. Nor did I care that he thought that hiding it and leaving a crappy note with the words, "It had to be done." Would comfort me. What I cared about was the fact that he killed the only person who would be willing to tell me the truth.

The missing key to the puzzle of who my mother really was now laid covered by a white sheet in the mortuary with a bullet riddled body. "Prepare the body for burial and release a statement to the media that she died of a broken heart, heart attack or whatever I don't care really ." I spat before leaving the morgue. My head sagged low allowing my overgrown hair to fall onto my forehead and in that very moment in the dissolute hallway I allowed my walls to collapse.

The last bit of hope I secretly  held deep within me that I would find her was now gone leaving behind nothing but a empty feeling in my chest. And just like that I couldn't act like I didn't care that my father chose to lie to me for my entire life even up until death. He used my respect and love for him against me. He knew that once I learned about his ailment I wouldn't push him in fear of causing his weak heart to give out. Once was enough I couldn't bare to be the cause of another one of his heart attacks. In the end he played his cards right leaving me behind with a multitude of unanswered questions and he got to keep his secret.

Well guarded and practically known by no one left alive. Sighing heavily I pushed aside the stinging pain that blossomed within me at my lost hope straightening my shoulders and suit I left the hospital feeling like half the man I was less than an hour ago.

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My strides slowed as I gazed down at my leather shoes as they sank into the moist earth beneath me. It's been three days since my father passed due to not one but two massive heart attacks and since then the skies seemed to be permanently colored grey as the clouds' never ending tears blanketed the mourning city. Looking up from the wet earth my eyes settled on a white rose. Rose was the only reason I was out here.

I couldn't find the courage to go in there and tell her that Milla was dead. I didn't want to see her go through it all again she only started acting somewhat like her old self less than twenty four hours ago and now she has to deal with this. My mental worry faded into the background when they landed on Dora running into the palace's back entrance her once spotless white and black uniform was now colored with the earth's handprint.

"Dora what happened to you?" I asked approaching her where she stood greedily gulping down a bottle of water. "Www...William you scared me." She stuttered nervously resting her hand onto her chest dramatically. "I'm sorry I just wanted to know what happened to you. Are you okay?" I asked doing very little to hide my worry toward the woman who practically raised me. "Yeah I'm fine hijo I just...went to gather some mushrooms for dinner later that's all." She dragged out smiling sweetly at the end. "You're allergic to mushrooms." I blurted out the known fact causing her smile to drop.

"You're lying to me so I'll ask again. What happened to you?" I asked as a thousand thoughts flooded my mind. I've never seen Dora this flustered before except...
"I went to carry a basket for the other maids I just slipped and fell on my way back that's all. Nothing to worry about." She replied attempting to leave the kitchen. "You're still lying to me just like you lied to me when I asked you about my mother." I grated out my words causing her to freeze before slowly turning so she faced me once more.

"William.""Dora if I were you I would think really hard and long before I said anything else. Especially if you're just going to lie to me again." I spat cutting off whatever lie she was going to say next resulting in a tense silence falling over us. "I know you lied when I asked you about my mother." I announced proudly although I honestly believed her at first. Throughout my entire life Dora and my father were the two people I knew without a doubt I could've trusted and so I accepted and respected them almost never questioning if they were telling the truth or not.

Obviously that needed to change. I spent my entire life never questioning them and in turn all they did was sell me lies throughout my entire life. "Milla told you didn't she." She sighed, her shoulders sagging as a deep frown settled on her dried lips. Her statement solidified two facts: (1) My father killed Milla to protect his secret and (2) Dora knew all along and I was going to get it out of her at any cost. "William I need you to understand that we did this to protect you. It needed to be done in order to ensure that you inherited the throne it was rightfully yours. A child born out of love and not just out of greed for power and fame." She explained before I could say anything her bright brown eyes glossing over with unshed tears.

"Who is she?" I asked after a long pause trying desperately not to give into the silent rage that now gripped my entire body in its numbing grasp. "I...I'm sworn to secrecy. If Milla told you then fine but I can't and I won't tell you." She said sternly the tone resembling one that she would use to scold me as a boy. "Dora I don't care that you're sworn to secrecy you've done a damn good job at keeping it for the past twenty eight years but today you don't have a choice. You are going to tell me who she is. It's not a request but as King it's a direct order." I spat my anger and frustration hanging off of every word as I glared at the petite woman before me.

"William I raised you and I'll be damned if I allow you to speak to me in that manner. King or not you will respect me...,""Dora I'm not in the mood for one of your bloody lectures it's a simple question. One that you clearly know the answer to." I grated out my patience growing thin with the baseless conversation she was trying to have. "Milla told you already why do you need me to say it as well? Don't you believe your stepmother you were desperate enough to go to her in the first place." She said proudly after a long pause and though I tried desperately to control my raging anger I lost the battle with the liquid rage that corrupted my every nerve.

"She's fucking dead! Sergio killed her and I'm pretty sure you know that as well. You're nothing more than his fucking lap dog and walking bank of secrets it seems. I didn't go to Milla she, unlike you had the common decency to enlighten me that it was all a lie. I'm sick and tired of being lied to! I've been lied to my entire life by everyone I grew to trust and love. So don't stand there and talk bullshit about me respecting you I once did and clearly you used that to your advantage. I'm only going to ask you once more... who is she." I asked through ragged breaths closing the distance between us all I wanted was an answer.

"Don't you dare speak about me or your father in such a manner. What I do know about your mother is that if she could see your behavior right now she would be extremely disappointed with you." She spat her Spanish accent heavily coated her every word as her face grew red with anger. "Well I guess it's a good thing she was a screw up and decided to abandon me the last thing I would want is to disappoint my lowlife whoring mother. That is if she could see...," My words died on my lips when Dora's palm connected with my cheek causing a dark smile to tug at my lips.

"You need to shut up! I'm not going to tell you anything I prefer to go to my grave with this secret than tell you. You're nothing but a self conceited bastard of a child! I failed in raising you and I failed your mother. It's best just the way it is with you knowing nothing." She screamed earning us a small crowd of worried staff members. Silently walking away from the red faced woman I approached one of the two guards who stood looking on at the scene. "Give me your gun." I ordered the middle aged man who looked at me wide eyed after my request.

"Now!" I screamed growing frustrated with how long his shaking hand took to reach for the weapon that sat on his waist. "Clear the room." I ordered once I held the shiny silver object in my hand turning off the safety. Once the room was completely cleared leaving Dora and I alone once more i turned to face her body which seemed to be overtaken by shock. "I do believe that I'm a fair person and sticking to that I'll give you two options. The first option...I grant you your wish of going to the grave with the secret just like my father. The second option would be that you simply tell me. Every time you refuse I'll put a bullet in you." I explained before pointing the gun at her.

"William what on earth are you doing?!?!" Amora screamed barging into the kitchen which made me sigh internally. "I'm talking to Dora please just go back upstairs." I pleaded knowing fully well that she wasn't going to leave. "Why would you even want to hurt the woman who raised you. William I'm sure the both of you can talk this through just please put the gun down." She sobbed causing me to mumble a string of curse words under my breath. "Fi...,""I'm your mother's twin sister. Her name is Daisy." Dora said cutting me off.

"She didn't abandoned you. She was forced to send you to the castle once the council learned about you. Her only request was that she chose your guardian and the council allowed it and she chose me. That way you would know exactly what her face looked like. The exception is that your eyes mirror hers. I grew attached to you and after a while I accepted you as my own. I kept you away from her in fear  that you'd love her more than you did me...like your father did. I'm sorry William I never meant to cause you and your sisters any pain I just loved you all and I wanted to have what Daisy and your father had." She explained through breathy sobs as a salty stream ran down her puffy red cheeks.

Raising the gun once more I pulled the trigger looking on as fear and hurt contorted her features as the thunderous sound swirled through the once quiet castle.

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"You can say it." I mumbled as I looked into her eyes knowing that she was dying to say what she really thought about what took place a few hours ago all the facts simply confirming that my family was truly  messed up. "I know that you're angry with Dora and your father  especially but you have all the time in the world to fix things with Dora but tomorrow is the last time you're  going to see your father. You should find it in yourself to forgive him before saying goodbye forever." She said softly while her fingers ran through my messy hair. "And pulling the trigger was horrible you almost gave the woman a heart attack." She scolded me causing a genuine smile to grace my lips at the memory.

"You almost had one as well." I reminded her causing her frown to deepen. "I thought you killed her William how was I supposed to know the gun had no bullets in it." She defended herself her point caused my smile to fade. I hated the fact that although Dora lied to me and had the balls to speak down to me I still love and respect her too much to hurt her. For the first time in my life I couldn't find it in myself to hurt someone who hurt me the most. I found it disturbing that my "aunt"
(Dora) and my father had fooled around for many years. She clearly loved him but apparently his heart belonged to one woman and I guess I'm a bit proud that it belonged to the mother of his children. My mother.

I was just glad that this chapter of my life was over. I got the answers I wanted and I could now focus on what was important to me. Firstly, I had to make things right between Amora and I. In this new chapter of my life I was determined to focus on my family and ensuring that I was the best husband, father, brother, son  and King to both my family and my country. "You wanna know something?" I asked Amora who now laid on my bare chest with her eyes closed. "What is it?" She asked her eyes fluttering open to meet mine. "That night in the hotel room when we found out that you were pregnant was the happiest day of my life." I admitted smiling at the shock that flashed across her perfect features.

"The initial thought of committing to someone never crossed my mind after Ria screwed me over honestly but when I heard that you were pregnant it put everything into prospective. At that moment me spending the rest of my life with you was the only thing that made sense. I loved you the very first time I saw you and though I didn't think it was possible my love for you has grown to the point where I can't find the right words to express my true feelings towards you. I love you with every fiber in my body Amora and even if it takes me the rest of my life I'm going to make it up to you for hurting you." I whispered leaning forward I placed  a gentle kiss on her plump lips.

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A/N
Hey guys I must apologize for the wait I went on vacation with the intention of finishing the chapter and well it happened later than I'd hoped. I hope you guys had a great Christmas and I want to take this time to wish you all a Very Happy New Year 😘.

Okay so I have some announcements to make!!!!

* There's only going to be two more chapters left of this book before it's concluded. 😔😍

* I've changed William's picture to this dude ---> (I hope he's to your liking he's much younger)

* the other chapters are going to have a few more surprises!! (Good ones 😌)

Questions?
* What did you guys think about this chapter? (I hope I answered all your questions)

* What do you guys think about Dora being Will's aunt?

* what would you guys like to see happen before the book is completed?

* Do you guys want a sequel?

* what type of book would you guys like me to write next?

I'll be updating again in this week so look out for the next chapter 😘😘

Bye for now
🎀itgrl🎀