Chapter 391: Give me a perfect reason
"Passionate?" Sage frowned. "We never were. My terms were clear with you even before recognizing you as my girlfriend, that we wouldn’t be sharing any feelings with each other," he reminded her.
"Yes, I remember it. But how could you do this to me? We have been together for months, Sage. You simply broke up with me because you found out your father wanted Princess Katelyn’s hand for you. I know everything. Your mother told me," Eleanor stated.
Sage clenched his fist at his side. His stepmother was again into it, ruining his life.
"You don’t remember anything, Eleanor. Before spending a night together and becoming a couple, I was very clear: not to return crying to me if one day I broke up with you. Your answer was: ’Don’t worry. I’ve no interest in falling in love with you.’"
Katelyn, from the other side of the room, kept glancing in Sage’s direction.
"Where are you looking at?" her friend, Hennah, asked. "Wait! You came with Sage Nightshade, didn’t you? The hardcore player who changed girls like garments."
Katelyn got annoyed to hear her. "I’m seeing Sage," she said.
"Him? Why?" Hennah handed her a glass of strong champagne. "Out of all the men in this kingdom, you found him!" She rolled her eyes and shook her head in disbelief.
"Dad thinks Sage is suitable for me. He made a promise with Sage’s father, so I’ve to keep my father’s promise. However, he said I should consider seeing Sage for just a month. If I still don’t develop feelings for him, I can refuse," Katelyn asserted.
"Kate, why didn’t you tell your father that Sage is a player? He isn’t going to be loyal to you. Look at his audacity—talking to another woman when he came with you to the party." Hennah lifted the glass and swallowed the champagne in a single shot.
"Because my fate is locked. If not Sage, then some other Alpha. But I won’t marry him. I’ve made up my mind long ago. I will refuse Dad as soon as the month passes," Katelyn affirmed. She took a few sips of the champagne and felt its strong taste in her mouth.
"Well, your brothers chose what they wanted to have. Look at Prince Gabriel. He defied everyone to be with Amelie, who was discarded by her own family. How is she? I heard that she will give birth soon. The reporters try to give news about her and Prince Gabriel, but everything wipes out as soon as it comes out."
"Amelie is fine. Well, there’s good news. Though my father wants to tell the media about it tomorrow, since you’re my trusted friend, I’ll tell you. I’ve become an aunt!" Katelyn said, smiling radiantly.
"OMG! Really?" Hennah widened her eyes in shock and surprise.
"Yes!" Katelyn hushed her voice, whispering. "Don’t tell anyone. Okay?"
"I won’t," Hennah assured her.
Sage watched Katelyn laughing and smiling with her friend. It made him smile too. ’She hardly smiles like that in front of me,’ he thought.
"Sage, you can’t do this to us. I’ve tried forgetting you from the moment you broke up with me. But it’s hard. I love you deeply," Eleanor said.
Sage snapped his head to hers, meeting her eyes with his cold ones. "No, you don’t love me. Stop bothering me before I show you my worst possible side," he muttered. Without giving her another glance, he simply walked away.
"He’s coming here," Hennah murmured, and Kate turned her head. "I’ll excuse myself. He’s too annoying and I can’t stand his sight."
Hennah excused herself, leaving Katelyn alone. Because she was at the corner, not many people were around. Sage finally stopped in front of her and took the glass of champagne.
"I told you not to drink," Sage said, gulping the remaining content from the glass.
"Wait!" Her lips remained parted as she saw him drink the champagne from her glass. "Your friend ran away seeing me. She must be telling you how terrible I am," he stated.
Katelyn laughed. "So, you know how women think of you. How’s your ex doing? She proudly introduced herself to me. Don’t you think, as a princess, I’m quite tolerant toward such people?"
"Yes, you are. None of my past relationships were full of commitments. So, you don’t need to judge me from my past," Sage answered.
Katelyn shook her head, not believing a word coming out of his mouth.
"Sage, you can’t change my heart. I’ll not marry you," Katelyn replied firmly.
"Why? At least, try to know me in the remaining eighteen days. Maybe you’ll regret one day losing me," Sage answered.
"Why would I regret?" Katelyn snapped. "I never even kissed anyone before I was set up with you. You do everything against my will. I’ve been a good daughter to my parents because it hurts me when I talk loudly to them. That’s why I am bearing this bullshit of yours. You’ve slept with many, but I’m not like you. I-I want a man who’s like me. Hope you will get this into your head soon."
"You mean you want Karmen!?"
"Shut up!" Katelyn’s anger flared. Her eyes gleamed silvery.
"What are you so afraid of? If you don’t want me, then at least give me a perfect reason to tell my Dad why you can’t marry me! You think I enjoy all of this? Only I know..." He abruptly paused, not revealing his vulnerabilities to her. Most importantly, he didn’t want anyone to hear about him. He took a deep breath before exhaling it to calm himself down.
"What do you know?" Katelyn frowned.
"Nothing. Let’s just go back," Sage murmured, feeling suddenly disturbed.
"No. I want to stay here till it ends. If you want to leave, then you can," Katelyn replied and walked past him. She went back to Hennah, who was surrounded by many people.
Seeing the princess, everyone bowed, offering her their respects.
"Don’t mind my status. Just treat me as equally as yours," Katelyn told them.
Hennah quickly moved close to her ear and whispered, "Eleanor is coming this way. I hope she doesn’t say something which—"
But Elevator’s immediate words cut her off.
"Princess Katelyn, were you with Sage earlier? I can’t seem to find him. I wanted to return this to him," Eleanor said, showing her the ring.