telling me I’m good enough to sing. Good enough to learn at one of the top schools. Good enough to pursue my passion.
“How do you know we wouldn’t want you to leave, Cara?”
“You barely let my sisters leave for holidays. After Luca dumped me, Mother wouldn’t even let me leave the house. You’ve had my future planned out for me since I was a little girl. Now, when Theo came here, the only thing that’s changed was who I’m supposed to marry.”
My father sighs, and I finally force myself to meet his gaze.
The lines on his face seem to have deepened since I last saw him. He runs his hand over his eyes. His rich, dark skin has been weathered by the water and wind and rain, and for the first time in a long time, I see his age.
My father is getting older.
He lifts his eyes to mine and lets out a sigh. “I would never stop you from living your dream, Cara. If this is what you want, you should do it. You should go to music school.”
My heart thumps. Did I just hear that right? He’s supportive? He wants me to pursue my dreams?
Tristan Shoal is legendary in Argyle for being a hard-headed, determined man. The type of person who wins Olympic gold medals and breaks world records. The type of person who goes down in history books.
He’s a hugger, sure. But he’s fierce as hell.
I didn’t think he’d be the type of man to let me chase my own dreams, especially not when they didn’t align with his.
But my father walks toward me, pulls me off the chair and wraps his arms around my body. He crushes me in a hug, and I think I hear him sniffle.
“I’m proud of you, Cara. You’ll make a wonderful singer.”
My head is spinning. I stare at the crumpled letter of acceptance in my hand that didn’t quite survive my father’s embrace.
This is what I’ve always wanted. It’s the reason I would sneak out of my house and go to the beach to sing. It’s the reason my heart nearly exploded when I met Prudence Halloway.
Singing means everything to me.
But I stare down at my stomach, and I’m not sure that’s still the case.
Three weeks ago? I’d already be gone. I’d take my acceptance letter, pack my bags, and say goodbye to my family. I’d be high on life and chasing my wildest dreams. I’d work my ass off to be the best damn singer Argyle had ever seen so I could be right there beside my father in the history books.
Now?
Things have changed. There’s a baby growing inside me.
How can I go to music school when I know I’ll be a mother in under nine months’ time? How can I say goodbye to Theo and choose music over him? Over the baby? Over the Kingdom?
“What’s wrong, Cara?” My father chucks my chin. “I thought you’d be happy.”
I wipe a tear away and shake my head. “I am happy. Just shocked.”
“You look tired. You should get some sleep.”
I lift the letter up. “Does Mother know?”
My father pinches his lips, shaking his head. “Not yet. I wanted to talk to you first.”
Relief washes over me. I nod, forcing a smile. “Okay. Thanks.”
“Hey,” my father says with a soft smile. “I always knew you’d do big things. Luca never deserved you.”
I give him a short nod and slip out of the library. Rushing up the stairs, I toss my bag on the floor of my bedroom and lock the door. Flopping down on my bed, I cover my face with my hands and groan.
Just when the choice seemed simple—be with Theo, if he’d have me—life throws me another curveball. I thought I knew what I wanted. I thought I was realizing how much the Prince of Argyle meant to me. The terror of being a mother was starting to fade, and excitement was mounting. I could see a future, bright and hopeful and full of love.
Now, I’m not so sure. With this letter, my dreams are still within reach.
I lift my shirt up to stare at my stomach, wishing I had ultrasound vision to see the little nugget of life growing inside me. I already love it. This baby already has my heart, and I know I’ll do my best to provide for it.
I don’t want to stifle my baby’s gifts like mine were stifled. I don’t want to prescribe a life for this child based on what I want for him