Chapter 46

At first, Heather could not believe the ears. Although she was aware that Contessa and Heinrich disapproved of her, she never anticipated that they would move so quickly with Alexander’s marriage.
However, she should not have been surprised by the name Diona Gonzales. The moment she first saw her, Diona exuded a sense of nobility, and supposedly she was the woman Alexander was meant to wed.
Heather was so engrossed in her reverie that she failed to notice when Alexander's fiancée moved in front of her. Even she was unable to hear her own internal cry over the loud wave of applause in the hallway.
She noticed that although Alexander appeared a little bewildered, he was holding Diona's hand. However, when she glanced at his mother, Contessa Diadem had a smug grin.
It broke her heart.
Contessa's request for her help was nothing but a game in disguise. It was a cruel play, and she successfully played the part of a lover who helped arrange her lover's engagement party. She brushed away a tear that had fallen on her face, retreated a few feet, and then managed to escape the mob and make her way to her own temporary home.
There she was shocked to see Juan already seated on her doorstep.
“Juan?” In order to get his attention, Heather called his name.
She was so engrossed in her own thoughts that she failed to see that Juan was not faring well. He was glum and was embracing the seclusion he felt inside.
“Hey, Heather.” Juan greeted her but was startled when he saw her. She appeared lifeless; her face had completely lost its color. He was certain that something had gone wrong at the party. “What happened?” He asked her, standing up.
“I…I…” Heather was not unable to speak. She took a deep breath and told him, “Alexander is engaged to Diona Gonzales.”
“Shit!” Juan grunted.
He should have known about this. He should have realized that his parents' intention behind this celebration was publicly endorse the relationship between Alexander and Diona.
When his parents announced a sudden party, he did not pay much attention to it as it was customary in Diadem’s family to host frequent dinners, but he had not expected this party to convene in honor of his brother and Diona.
He shouldn't have left the feast, to begin with. He shouldn't have sprinted away from that to escape his own feelings.
He persuaded Diona to speak with him when he spotted her there. He made every effort to change her mind about choosing to marry Alexander. Despite his best efforts, she was resolute about not wanting to be married. She insisted adamantly on being Alexander's wife. He even tried to make her see the future of becoming Alexander's wife. He knew his brother well, and he was confident that even if Alexander married Diona, he would never love her. He even revealed to her Alexander's affection for Heather for her to change her mind, but Diona was adamant in her choice to form an alliance with his older brother.
They could have fled if only she wanted the same thing as him.
Instead, his parents have made the alliance official at the cost of four lives.
“Did you know that Alexander was to be married to Diona Gonzales?” Heather could not help but ask. It was nearly impossible that none of the brothers knew about this. The oath of marriage between royalty Is fixed beforehand.
Juan sighed. He had no interest in being the bearer of bad news, “Unfortunately, yes. I did know about.”
“Did Alexander know?” She was apprehensive about learning the answer to this question. Nevertheless, as Juan began to speak, her worst fear came true.
He did not want to deceive her any more than he had previously. Although he hadn't actually lied to her, he had kept the truth from her, and Heather didn't deserve that. Not when she left her own home for his brother.
“Yes,”
Heather’s heart, however, broke at his words.
“Heather, you need to understand that we did not have any ill intention behind hiding this. I promise you it was for your own benefit.” Juan made an effort to explain himself.
“Alexander should have said something. I deserved to know about this.” Heather spoke.
“He should have, and I agree with you in that regard. But things were pretty challenging for him. His alliance with the Gonzales family was fixed decades ago. In fact, this information was concealed for a long time. We were informed about this couple of years back. Alexander paid little attention when our parents first announced his engagement to Gonzales's first daughter. He never saw himself getting married, and he didn't believe in love, so it didn't matter to him. Yet as time passed, he also changed. Mother brought up the subject of his marriage a few months prior to his departure. She wanted him to meet Gonzales's daughter, but something shifted in him. He went into seclusion, and the next thing we knew, he had disappeared and returned with you.” Juan looked at Heather, who was deep in thought. "As far as I know, he had not even met Diona Gonzales until today." He waited for a minute for her to speak, but she kept quiet.
“Heather, when my brother returned, he was a changed man.” His words made her look at him. Juan smiled in return, “He was. I was able to see my older brother, who was more than just a potential ruler of the country. A sibling who smiled had his share of infamous moments and had his own goals. You are the one and the only reason that brother's world did not revolve around his work. He began leading his own life. I got my brother back because of you. I can say with certainty that he has eyes only for you and no one else. Alexander must not have been aware of this announcement; otherwise, he would not have attended this party altogether.”
“Contessa requested my help with the planning of this party and concealed the same from Alexander as she wanted to surprise him, and I agreed,” Heather spoke. She was still hurt by Alexander hiding about his engagement with Diona Gonzales.
Juan, however, was appalled at the length his mother went to. She made Heather arrange for Alexander’s engagement party.
"I was unaware of this. I should not have considered this gathering to be one of their professional events. Mother understood that if Alexander had even the slightest inkling that you were involved in planning this event, he would not have agreed to it, especially given the fact that he is still aware of their continued lack of respect for you. Alexander has his sights entirely on you, Heather, so please believe me when I say that."
“Does it really matter now? Diona is his fiance.” With a quiet voice, Heather spoke.
“But he loves you, not her.”