The Royal Contract

Count Thomas only stopped when he was a meter away from his son, who sat on the other side of the long table. “Lance, you have to stop this foolishness.”

His assistant just informed him about the latest activities of his son. He heard that his son had called for their top investigators and ordered the search for that girl.

But his son only looked at him indifferently, acting like he had done nothing wrong as he sat on his chair and continued eating. Lance had ignored him since their last heated argument about the Kingdom and the girl.

“Are you going to bring this Kingdom down just because you think she deserves your love despite what she had done to you?” He clicked his tongue, showing his disappointment with the man he expected to do great things.

He had raised him to be the best at everything he did. He had done all that was necessary to secure his future. Therefore, he could not accept that a mere insignificant woman could ruin everything he had dreamt for his son.

Their ancestors would turn on their graves if they learned he had allowed an opportunity like this to slip through his fingers. It was unlikely that the crown would end up in their descendants again.

.....

His son had to accept his obligation put on his shoulders like him and the rest of their families. Count Thomas had to put aside his interest and make the ultimate sacrifice for their legacy by marrying his mother and letting go of the woman he loved before. Now, it was Lance’s turn.

“I love her. I will find her.” Lance insisted, dropping the fork and knife he had in his hands. Then, his gaze focused on him. Anger and defiance were evident in his eyes. “And, I will marry her.” His son emphasized his last words.

He could see the determination in his eyes as his son wheeled his chair, ready to leave the room. He was glad that his son was recovering well. Soon, he would walk again without the help of an apparatus or a chair.

However, he could not allow him to proceed with his plans. He had to stop him from pursuing to look for this reporter who would only ruin his life. He could not allow him to see her again.

But how? He had to find a way.

“When will you open your eyes that she will only disgrace this family? You are throwing your life away.” How could he make his son see that he was only looking after him? “You are wasting your chance to sit on the throne by pursuing this path.”

He could not permit this woman to ruin everything he had worked hard to build. He knew now that he had to resort to extreme measures because it seemed his initial plan did not work.

“When will you see that Eida is my life?” Lance countered as he disappeared into the side of the room, leaving him behind.

It would seem that reasoning with his son would not do the trick. Even planting fake evidence seemed to be ineffective. He had to think of something to convince his son that he was better off without Ms. Harlowe.

He returned to his office to find ways to remedy this situation. It seemed the reporter was not the problem since she had already agreed to vanish in his son’s life. The problem was his son, who would not give up on her.

“I want you to arrange a meeting with these people within an hour.” He immediately called his secretary, asking her to arrange the appointments from the list of names he had given her.

It was an emergency appointment that could not wait. The urgency called for the soonest possible time because the King might change his mind if he learned Lance had other plans and suddenly decided to look for another alternative.

His secretary immediately left him, leaving him with his thoughts. Now, he had to make an important phone call. Something he had prepared for but wished he did not have to resort to, but desperate times required desperate measures.

He opened his secured vault hidden behind a cabinet, pinning the keys and placing his thumbprint to unlock the door. Then, inside was a file. He pulled it out and searched for the information he needed.

He took his phone out of his pocket and stared at the screen. He keyed in the number in the report and waited for the ring. It took several minutes, but eventually, the line connected.

A female voice answered the call. “Yes, who is this?” Of course, she would not know this number, but he had hers.

He had his team surveilling her every move from the day he had learned about her pregnancy. He knew what she had been doing and where she went when she left their country.

He wished he did not have to make this call to her, but it appeared he had no choice. All his other plans failed. Now he had to improvise, but he would need her help.

“I am sure you still recognize my voice.” Count Thomas answered the woman on the other line.

If he remembered her distinct voice, he assumed she would never forget the voice of the person who destroyed her plans. Well, he never believed that her intention was pure.

“I am sorry, but I think you made the mistake of calling me.” She sarcastically answered. He could sense the hostility in her voice and her desire to end this call harshly.

Maybe in some way, she loved his son, but he still believed she was also using him for her benefit. Luckily, he discovered her plans and stopped her before she could use that baby to trick his son into marrying her.

Of course, being naive and kind, his son would easily believe her. As seen now with the way his son was behaving. He would accept responsibility for this baby that he was not even sure was carrying his blood.

Who knew how many men she had been sleeping around when his son was not looking? He could not accept her and her bastard child in their lives.

“Please, do not end the call because I think we need to talk.” The Count only heard her fast breathing on the line, but she did not reply immediately or hang up.

She only stayed silent for a few seconds, probably internally debating whether she should hear him out or not. But he believed that a part of her was curious. She was a reporter, after all.

“I don’t think we have anything else to talk about.” She finally responded with ire in her tone. He could not blame her after everything he did. But it was a necessary evil for the greater good. “I already left your son. What else do you want from me?”

Honestly, she had fulfilled her end of the bargain with him. She packed and left without saying goodbye to his son, which was what he wanted. She never informed his son about the baby growing in her womb.

But it seemed that was not enough for his son to forget her. His made-up lie was insufficient to drive his son to drop all his hopes for a reunion with this woman.

“Honestly, I wish we never had to cross paths again, but I will need you to do me another favor.” He told her as he leaned on his chair and made himself comfortable.

Somehow, he had to convince her to cooperate with him again for one last time. He hoped this final act would convince Lance she was not worth throwing his life away.

“Favor?” She laughed at his choice of words. “I am not doing you any favor. I did not do any of this for you.” She corrected him, hearing the irony in her voice.

He already expected that she would not take his call lightly. But he had to make her submit to his will. Whether she liked it or not, she had to agree to what he wanted to happen.

He was not taking no for an answer from her. Either she agreed to him willingly, or he would have to resort to coercion by blackmail or force. Because he was willing to go to lengths to make this happen.

His son would marry the girl of his choosing and take the crown as their new King. While this girl, she and her child would vanish from their lives for good.

“Then, just like before. If you love my son as you claim, do this for him.” The Count once again used this card. “I need you to clear your schedule and meet me. I will text you the place, date, and time.”

At the moment, all his cards against her did not work to stop his son from looking for her. He required something to finally persuade Lance to give up on her and obey him. He had to stop his son’s ridiculous obsession with her.

He needed a wild card to solve all his problems and end this once and for all.