"Marriage?" Rayna whispered, her voice trembling as tears welled up in her eyes at the sound of that word. She glanced at Benjamin, her heart sinking as her hands slipped away from his.
But before she could fully withdraw, he pivoted on his heels and gripped her hands firmly, preventing her from leaving.
"I promise, I do not know of any of this," he said urgently, hoping his words would ease her pain. But the hurt in her gaze told him everything he feared—she felt betrayed.
Ever since Rayna had expressed her desire to visit this new place, she had envisioned a warm welcome, as Benjamin had assured her that his family would embrace her like one of their own. Yet, as they entered, only his mother had offered her a semblance of kindness; the king, his father, hadn't even glanced in her direction.
Yet that wasn't the most painful reality for Rayna. The true heartbreak lay in the revelation that Benjamin was to be wed to another woman—one who was not her.
