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Catherine barely made it to the bathroom before she collapsed at the sink, her body convulsing with violent waves of nausea. The sound of retching filled the space as her hands gripped the porcelain basin tightly. Her legs wobbled, her strength giving out with each heave.
Just as her vision blurred, a pair of strong arms caught her mid-fall.
"Cathy!" Hadrain's voice was a mix of panic and concern as he cradled her weak form in his arms. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, and her breathing was labored.
"Cathy, what's wrong?" he demanded, his tone sharp, but his eyes betrayed his fear. "You were fine a moment ago—what is happening?"
Catherine opened her mouth to speak but only managed to whisper hoarsely, "I… I don't know… I just feel so weak."
Before she could continue, another bout of nausea overtook her. She turned her head just in time to vomit on Hadrain's shirt. The sickly stench made him grimace, but he quickly masked his discomfort. Her wellbeing was his priority.
"Cathy, it's okay. We'll figure this out," he assured her, though he felt lost and helpless.
Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed in the hallway. The bathroom door burst open, and Lamia stormed in, his face pale with worry.
"Cathy! What's going on? Tell me what's wrong!" Lamia dropped to his knees beside her, his hands trembling as he reached for hers.
Hadrain glanced at Lamia, his own uncertainty etched into his face. "I don't know. She's… she just started throwing up."
Lamia's panic grew. "We need help! Someone—please, someone help her!" His voice cracked as tears welled in his eyes.
At that moment, Queen Fiona entered with Malcolm, the family's ever-reliable butler. Her regal presence brought a sense of calm to the chaos.
"Malcolm, take them to the royal clinic immediately," Fiona ordered. "And summon the specialists. This is urgent."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Malcolm bowed before gesturing for Hadrain and Lamia to follow.
Hadrain, ever protective, hoisted Catherine onto his back. She felt fragile, her weight barely noticeable as he carried her out of the bathroom. Lamia walked beside them, his fists clenched and his mind racing. He couldn't bear the thought of losing Catherine—not again, not after everything they had been through.
ROYAL CLINIC
The ride to the clinic felt endless. Catherine drifted in and out of consciousness while Hadrain and Lamia remained silent, each consumed by their thoughts.
When they arrived, a team of physicians immediately began examining Catherine. Lamia paced outside the room, his heart pounding with dread. Fiona stood nearby, her expression unreadable as she observed her son.
"You seem… deeply attached to this girl," she remarked softly, her voice laced with curiosity.
Lamia froze mid-step and turned to his mother. "She's more than just a friend, Mother. She's… everything to me. She stood by me when no one else did. I can't lose her."
Fiona's heart softened at his words. She reached out and pulled him into a rare embrace. "Then we will do everything to ensure she is well. But tell me, Lamia… do you love her?"
"Yes," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I love her more than anything."
Before Fiona could respond, Malcolm approached with a wide grin on his face.
"Your Highnesses, I have good news," he announced. "The lady is perfectly fine."
Lamia's relief was short-lived as confusion took over. "What? How can she be fine after everything? Tell me the truth, Malcolm."
Malcolm chuckled. "I assure you, my prince, I speak the truth. The physicians have confirmed that Lady Catherine is four weeks pregnant—with twins."
The words hit Lamia like a thunderbolt. His jaw dropped, and his mind reeled. Pregnant? Twins? He began to piece the timeline together, remembering their passionate night four weeks ago.
"Twins…" he murmured, his voice filled with awe.
Without another word, he rushed into the room where Catherine was sitting up, her cheeks flushed and her lips curved into a weak smile.
"Cathy!" Lamia cried as he ran to her, wrapping her in a tight embrace. His lips found hers in a passionate kiss, one filled with love and relief.
"I love you so much," he whispered against her lips. "We're going to be a family. Finally, we can have the happiness we've always dreamed of."
Catherine smiled but quickly voiced her concern. "But Lamia, what about our education? I don't want to be a dropout."
Lamia cupped her face, his gaze steady and full of resolve. "You're not dropping out of anything. You'll attend the best school in Scotland. We're leaving Ivory High behind."
---
Hadrain watched the couple from the corner of the room, his heart aching. The love he had buried deep within himself now felt like a cruel joke. He was an outsider in their story—a mere footnote. Silently, he slipped out of the room, his mind set on leaving everything behind.
As he wandered the palace grounds, he encountered Callum and Ayla, the mischievous children of Prince Aiden. They smirked as they approached him, sensing his vulnerability.
"Hello, Hadrain," Callum greeted, his tone overly friendly. "You seem… troubled."
"I'm fine," Hadrain replied curtly. "Now, if you'll excuse me—"
"Don't go," Ayla interjected sweetly. "We were hoping to spend some time with you. It's so boring around here."
Hadrain hesitated, but his emotional turmoil made him susceptible. He reluctantly agreed to join them in the garden.
The trio sat by the fountain, the serene surroundings a stark contrast to Hadrain's inner turmoil. Callum leaned in with a sly grin.
"So, Hadrain… are you in love?"
The question caught him off guard. "What? Why would you ask that?"
"Because it's written all over your face," Ayla chimed in. "Come on, you can tell us. We won't tell anyone."
Hadrain sighed, the weight of his emotions too heavy to bear. "Yes, I'm in love," he admitted.
"With whom?" Ayla pressed.
"Lamia," Hadrain confessed, his voice barely audible. "I'm in love with him, but he doesn't feel the same. It's… devastating."
Callum and Ayla exchanged a knowing look, their minds already scheming.
"Well," Callum began, his voice dripping with false sympathy, "maybe you just need to show him how much you care. A grand gesture, perhaps?"
"Yes," Ayla agreed. "Something subtle but meaningful. Let love work its magic."
Unaware of their ulterior motives, Hadrain nodded. Perhaps they were right. Perhaps he still had a chance to win Lamia's heart.
Little did he know, he was walking straight into a trap—one that would not only test his love but also threaten to destroy everything he held dear, because in Scotland homosexuality is strictly forbidden and if caught in the act the punishment is being flared and burnt alive.
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