A Love that Endures 3 Read online

  “What did you and your dad come up with?” Katy pressed. Her fingers ran gently over his palm as she spoke, catching on the calluses he’d developed during his homeless months, making him shiver.

  David paused before replying, both to gather his distracted thoughts and because the idea might be hard to swallow. Was this whole idea too bold? “We confront her. At her wedding.”

  Katy’s eyes bugged.

  “I know, I know,” David quickly followed up. “But think about it: if we accuse her in public, she’ll be crazy to carry out her plan and think it wouldn’t get traced back to her. People will start to look at her actions more closely, even if we look like crazy people. And we might not have a lot of hard evidence, but we have testimonies. Witnesses. Marcos is actually working on that right now; he’s trying to find as many people as he can that were personally affected by Cassie. I think, with Mia’s help, we could find even more.”

  Katy took a deep breath and looked away, focusing on the floor. Her uncertainty was obvious. But she hadn’t let go of his hand.

  “It’s just so . . . bold. Accusing her of all of these things when I can’t be certain that they’re all true. So much of this could be paranoia on my end. Or a bad instinct. If somehow we’re wrong, and I do this to her on her wedding day . . .”

  Katy trailed off, the end of her sentence clear as day.

  “I can’t imagine how hard this must be for you to come to terms with, Katy,” David told her. And really, he couldn’t. He had only a few friends in his life that he had considered family, and of course he still had Joseph and Cerise (two people he really owed a call as soon as everything died down in London). But to find out that one of them was the exact opposite of everything that he had believed? It would be traumatic and terrible. And Katy had to do it with her cousin and her parents, both in a very short span of time.

  Katy looked back over at David, her beautiful gray eyes pained, as he continued.

  “But this isn’t just hearsay. We have multiple people who can tell Cassie, the police, and whoever exactly how Cassie wronged them. Even if she isn’t planning anything at all with your parents, and even if she isn’t responsible for putting me in jail, she’s still victimizing people for her own personal ends. And if we don’t step in, she’ll just keep doing it.”

  “I know. Deep down, I know you’re right,” Katy replied sadly. David knew how painful it must’ve been for Katy to think about bringing down someone she loved. But when she looked back up, her voice was steadier. “What if there was a way that we could try to beat her at her own game first? Without doing it in front of a room full of people. What if we could get her to slip up and accidentally admit something in private?”

  “Hmm . . . How?” David asked. Cassie might not have been the most tight-lipped, but surely she’d be smart enough not to admit her crimes to the very person who was most likely to work against her.

  “I don’t know, David,” Katy admitted. “But please, let me try. I’ll have unrestricted access to Cassie tomorrow and the day of the wedding. I’m her maid of honor, for goodness’ sake!” Her words picked up pace as she strengthened her resolve. “I can wear a wire or something and try to get her to admit to something, even if it’s just what she did to you or what she does to palace employees. Then at least we have some hard evidence to start with.”

  “A wire? Katy, do you really think she’d fall for that?” David wasn’t confident in this plan. And they didn’t have a lot of room for error. Every day they spent conspiring, every wrong move, added to the risk that Cassie could find out about them and try to come after David or Katy.

  “Just let me try, David. If we can avoid doing all of this out in the public eye, it’d mean a lot to me. I’ve suffered enough at the hands of paparazzi. And no matter what we find out, this plan is a press nightmare.”

  David took a deep breath. He couldn’t argue with that.

  “But if my plans fail, we’ll have the backup plan in play. And we’ll take her down any way that we need to,” Katy continued, her eyes hardening with purpose.

  David stared at Katy for a few long seconds, then nodded. “Okay, Katy. You work on Cassie. Marcos and I will work on the backup plan. Hopefully we can get Mia on board, too.”

  And while he didn’t want to say it out loud, his reasoning behind that was clear.

  We’re up against a serious foe.

  “Okay,” Katy replied. And, just like that, their plan was established. But, when she stood, presumably to leave, David instinctively reached out to grab her hand.

  She looked back at his quizzically.

  “But, maybe first . . .” he started awkwardly, trying to find a good reason to keep Katy for just a moment longer. He was sick of thinking about Cassie.

  He just wanted a few minutes with Katy. With the woman he loved.

  Katy didn’t need him to spell it out for her. At his touch, a little spark seemed to kindle in her eyes. His breath caught in his throat as she turned back toward where he was still sitting on the bed, then slid her legs over his, curling up in his lap with her arms around his neck. They looked at each other for a moment, the tips of their noses almost touching, her shining gray eyes staring into his; surprise, love, and desire flushed through David’s body at once.

  “Five minutes,” Katy whispered, her lips curving up into a beautiful, playful smile before they came down to meet his own.

  34

  Katy

  “It’s very, um . . . modest,” Katy managed, struggling to find a proper compliment for the dress.

  “Well, you know. Lorrellian values,” Cassie joked, offering Katy a wink. “But you will honestly look lovely in it tomorrow. Hopefully I’ll be able to say the same thing about Boris’s sister. Poor heifer had to have extra fabric sewn in to make it fit. Looks like two dresses smashed together.”

  In her high-necked, long-sleeved, floor-length lace bridesmaid dress, Katy cast a furtive glance at her cousin. She’d known Cassie to make the occasional uncouth or even downright bitchy comment at times, but she’d always tried to excuse the behavior. Cassie just speaks her mind. Or: Well, Cassie had a rough childhood. Or: She can be a little rude, but she truly means well!

  But now Katy was pretty sure that was just what Cassie had always wanted her to think. Now Katy thought that Cassie had probably been awful her whole life, right under Katy’s nose, but she had been too naïve and forgiving to see it. Ironic that her cousin had spent so much time warning her about being taken in by bad men when she’d been the one always pulling the wool over Katy’s eyes.

  Well, not anymore. And right in time for your wedding.

  “Besides, you can get back at me at your own wedding. Dress me in a trash bag for all I care. I’ll just be happy to be standing beside you at the altar,” Cassie went on. But her sentimental, loyal sappiness came off a bit too saccharine for Katy’s taste—as though she were putting on a show.

  Katy tried to get things in perspective again. She was second-guessing everything now: it all sounded fake or put on. None of her cousin’s personality quirks or her sentiments seemed real.

  Well, except the bitchiness.

  And Katy had to keep pretending like everything was okay, even as the storm of emotions inside of her swirled.

  “You’re right, Cass. I’m just happy to be here to support you.” Katy faked a smile and smoothed down the front of her gown. Thank goodness for that acting club all those years ago.

  “I can’t believe it’s all happening. Tomorrow! It’s just a dream come true,” Cassie went on.

  Having watched Cassie’s so-called “relationship” with Boris over the past few days, Katy couldn’t believe that either. Cassie and Boris rarely talked, especially when they weren’t being watched by the press or introduced to royals and the elite. They spent most of their time together looking at their phones—and Katy was supposed to believe they wanted to get married? What the upcoming wedding really meant was that Katy only had one more day to try to catch Cassie in some sort o
f confession (no matter which crime; at this point she wasn’t picky) before they’d have to go to plan B.

  And Katy really didn’t want to do plan B.

  Imagine what the papers will say! The confusion, shock, and shame! The look on the queen’s face!

  But David was right, and Katy knew it. If they were going to accuse her cousin of something so serious, they needed to do it in such a way that she wouldn’t be able to covertly fight back. In a way that put her under a spotlight and forced her true colors out into the open.

  There was safety in numbers, so to speak.

  “I’m really happy for you, Cass. Boris is such a lucky guy,” Katy went on. But it was hard to filter out the things she really felt versus the things she knew she had to say.

  And why should I be happy for you anyway? Is Boris in on the plan you have for my parents? Is that what he’s getting out of this? Even if he isn’t, the guy is an idiot you clearly are only marrying so you can be an eligible ruler. But you’re going to get yours . . .

  “And the bridesmaid dresses go so well with your wedding gown,” Katy went on.

  The wedding gown you took me to buy and asked for my opinion on, knowing full well the whole time that you were planning to ruin my life. How could you be so heartless? What did I ever do to you to make you hate me like that?

  But Cassie and Katy simply smiled at each other in Katy’s room, neither revealing the deep, dark truths that now felt like they lay just beneath the surface.

  “I guess you can take it off again,” her cousin said casually. “Looks like it still fits. I was worried that it’d be too big now, since you haven’t been eating much.”

  It was hard to read Cassie’s motives. Katy had always been so used to assuming that her cousin was on her side, that any weird implications she made were accidental, a result of a lack of tact but plenty of good intentions. Now it felt like what she said could mean anything. Was that concern in her voice? Manipulation, trying to tell Katy that she looked bad? A declaration that Cassie knew something was wrong—and that she knew Katy was too afraid to say anything?

  Nonetheless, she was happy for a chance to get out of this horrible dress. Though she had certainly noticed that with all the skin it covered, it would be easy to find a place to hide a wire.

  Katy started for her powder room to change, then stopped and turned back. Who knew how much time she’d get alone with her cousin for the rest of the day?

  Maybe I should do a little practicing before tomorrow.

  Katy still wasn’t sure how to handle things. She thought she knew her cousin so well, how to get Cassie to open up to her and be honest about her feelings. But if that was all fake, then she would need to find a new way to get Cassie to talk.

  Katy realized belatedly that she must’ve been staring in Cassie’s direction for a bit too long, because her cousin smiled and cocked her head in confusion. “What?”

  It was such a familiar gesture. The sadness, confusion, and even some lingering warmth hit Katy like a wave. In spite of everything, she still couldn’t quite hate her cousin. Cassie had been her first friend and her best friend for almost her whole life. They’d grown up together like sisters. Surely it couldn’t all have been fake. Once, Cassie had been too young to have aspirations to the throne. But when had the fun stopped and the lies begun?

  “Are we . . .” Katy took a breath, wondering if the route she was embarking on could possibly work. “Are we okay, Cass?”

  Cassie wrinkled her nose. “Okay? I mean, we’re both healthy. And rich. And in love with great guys. So yeah, I’d say we’re doing pretty okay.” She giggled. “Sorry, I’m not sure what you mean.”

  “I mean you and me. Are we okay?”

  Cassie’s smile slowly faded away. “I think so, Katy. Unless you don’t feel the same way?”

  That guilt again. Katy struggled with how to proceed. She couldn’t be certain that her fears about the king and queen’s safety were based in reality. Maybe Cassie’s crimes were lesser. Maybe she was only guilty of trying to staff the palace with her own choices, though, as David had pointed out earlier, that was certainly not a victimless crime. But it wasn’t as bad as framing and ruining David. Or trying to off the king and queen.

  In any case, Katy had to find the truth. She had to try to see if the Cassie she knew and loved was still in there somewhere, beneath the bitterness and anger of being overlooked for far too long.

  “No, no, I feel fine. I just like to think that if anything was bothering you—if anything I did upset you—you’d want to talk it through with me.”

  Cassie’s eyes narrowed, and Katy felt nervousness bloom in the pit of her stomach. Was she blowing her cover?

  Or would she actually get through to her beloved cousin?

  A few quiet, tense seconds passed before Cassie looked down and sighed. “All right, Katy. You’re right. I should’ve been honest with you.”

  Katy’s eyes widened.

  “I was just so nervous. Things have always been so great between us, and I . . . I didn’t want to throw us for a loop.”

  Still confused and surprised, Katy shook her head. “No, no. Of course not, Cass. I’ll always listen and be there for you. You can tell me anything.”

  “All right,” Cassie replied. She was still standing in Katy’s sitting room, but she suddenly made her way to one of the plush, tufted leather sofas and threw herself down dramatically. “Just . . . just don’t hold it against me, okay?”

  Katy followed and sat at her cousin’s side. “Cass, I would never. I just want us to be honest.”

  Cassie took another deep breath. “Okay. Katy, I . . .”

  Katy’s breath caught as she waited for Cassie’s confession. You what? Conspired against me with the king and queen? Had David sent to prison? Are trying to kill for the crown? What, Cassie?

  Cassie took another deep breath and then looked sorrowfully up at Katy’s eyes. Katy wrapped her arm around her cousin’s waist, trying to show her support and her understanding love.

  “Just say it, Cass.”

  Cassie leaned against Katy’s shoulder and, with a sudden, tearless sob, said, “I chose those ugly bridesmaid dresses intentionally.”

  What?

  Cassie pulled away and mischievously looked up into Katy’s confused eyes. Then she laughed uproariously, slapping Katy’s knee in her mirth.

  “Oh, Katy. I totally had you going!”

  Katy couldn’t even fake a laugh or a smile. Her mind was still reeling, rapidly deflating as her hopes for the conversation—and her entire future relationship with Cassie—were dashed.

  All that for a joke?

  “Can’t blame a bride for wanting all eyes on her for the big day!” Cassie went on playfully. “And in any case, you still look really good in the ugly dress. It’s actually so unfair.”

  Her cousin giggled again and then stood. “All right, enough fun and games! I’ve got to get some last-minute stuff together before the big day tomorrow!”

  Katy remained sitting, unable to muster the strength to stand. She felt so lost and confused and defeated. Was Cassie so cruel that she enjoyed playing with Katy’s emotions that way?

  Had she enjoyed flirting so brazenly with David and staking her claim when she knew how Katy felt about him? Had she secretly relished Katy’s tears and heartache over the photo scandal and the cheating allegations?

  Has she always hated me? Or is this all in my head after all?

  As she reached the door, Cassie looked back at her cousin.

  “Hey, you okay?” Her voice was once again thick with sympathy and concern.

  Katy opened her mouth to speak, but Cassie went on.

  “You look like you thought I was actually going to confess to something.”

  Katy’s mouth closed again.

  “You look like you thought I was going to admit to trying to murder someone . . . or something ridiculous like that.” Cassie winked.

  Then she turned and walked out, leaving Katy to unsuccessf
ully try to keep the shock and horror off her face.

  * * *

  “Princess, we talked about this. I spoke to David, too. It’s not safe for me to—”

  “I know. I’m not asking you to come back to London, Mia.” Katy’s voice was strong and resolved. She had made up her mind, and there was no more doubt in her heart.

  They’d have to use plan B. But first, Katy wanted to make sure that they’d have all the evidence they needed. Because ambushing Cassie wasn’t just about making her lose her composure in public and build up to a confession, or getting the accusations out to momentarily guarantee their own safety by making Cassie a suspect if something did happen.

  It was also about making sure the charges stuck after the drama died down. Because after all of this, Cassie needed to go down hard. And if Katy’s parents were just as guilty, then they’d have to prove that, too.

  It wasn’t about family anymore. It was about honor. It was about doing the right thing.

  And this was the right thing.

  “I helped David with what I could, Princess. Some names and addresses. He’s gathering people together now, and we didn’t even bother with false documents this time. We just bribed several caterers to not show up for their positions tomorrow, so decoys can come in their place.”

  Katy nodded. “Thanks, Mia.” She’d discussed the details of the plan with David earlier, after she’d come to terms with what she needed to do next.

  “I must say, it’s quite the bold plan,” Mia said. She sounded wary, but also . . . impressed. A rare occurrence, so Katy felt that was a good sign.

  “It’s our best chance. But it’s missing something. I need you to help me locate one more person. And I need them before tomorrow, if there’s any way we can do that.”