Enough
The first thing Maya saw was the color red.
Not the bright red of roses or table napkins, but a deep ceremonial red cut with black, gold trim, and polished boots moving down the aisle with military control. Two guards followed behind the man in uniform. Their faces were still. Their presence made the laughter die without being asked.
"Enough," Alexander said.
Maya knew his voice before she trusted her eyes.
Alexander Rowe walked toward her with his dark hair pushed back by the sea wind and his jaw set in a way she had seen only once, the night a drunk man outside a diner had shoved her friend. He had been quiet then too. Quiet and immovable.
But this was not the man in a faded jacket who bought secondhand books and said he hated expensive restaurants. This was a prince in full uniform, his medals plain but unmistakable in the daylight, his posture older than the man she had loved in private.
Maya's voice came out smaller than she wanted.
"Your... Your Highness?"
Alexander's face softened only for her.
Evelyn's mouth hung open, caught between accusation and calculation. Her hand lifted halfway to her pearls, then stopped, as if even her jewelry could betray her.
The guests shifted. Chairs whispered against stone. A rich uncle who had smirked a minute earlier stood too quickly and bumped his knee.
"Prince Alexander Rowan Rowe," murmured one of the older aunts, suddenly pale. "The Northhaven heir."
Maya barely heard her.
Alexander stopped in front of Evelyn first, because some insults deserved to be met at the source. He did not raise his voice. He did not need to.
"Mrs. Carrington, you called me poor when you believed I could not answer. You called your daughter a disgrace for choosing me. I arrived late because your staff was instructed to hold my car at the service road."
Evelyn's eyes flickered.
That flicker told Maya everything.
"I never gave such an order," Evelyn said, but the sentence came too fast.
Alexander looked past her to the event manager standing near the wall. The woman swallowed and lowered her gaze.
Maya felt something inside the room change. Her mother's control had always depended on people obeying before anyone asked questions. Now questions were everywhere.
Alexander turned to Maya and held out his hand.
"I am sorry I was late," he said. "I am sorrier that you stood here alone."
May you like
Maya looked at his hand, then at the man attached to it. The crown was new. His eyes were not.
She placed her hand in his.
