Zoe's Heartbreak: A Royal Betrayal
"Come in," Zoe said as she heard a knock on the door. Alice, her personal assistant, walked in holding a file.
"Ma'am, here's the file you asked for," Alice said, handing it to her.
Zoe glanced at the file. "Okay. You did a good job," she said, flipping through it.
"Thanks, ma," Alice replied.
"Anything else I need to go through?" Zoe asked.
"No, ma," Alice answered.
"Okay, then I'll be on my way. See you tomorrow," Zoe said, standing up and grabbing her bag. "Before I forget, take these files and go through them carefully. I need you to edit them," she added, handing Alice another set of documents.
"Yes, ma," Alice replied, taking the files from her.
Zoe nodded and left the room.
,********
"Gina, did you finish the assignment I gave you?" Amira asked. She was the youngest daughter of King Alexander and Queen Mirabel, while Regina was a close family friend—and Amira's best friend.
"Yeah, I've done it. Here you go," Regina said, handing her the book.
Amira flipped through it. "You got all of it right," she said with a smile.
"Told you, there's nothing difficult about it," Regina grinned.
Regina sighed and smiled. "I accept. Now, I have to go to the restroom. I'll be back in ten minutes."
"Okay," Amira replied, and Regina left.
*******
Regina eased herself, washed her hands, and left the restroom, heading back to meet Amira. As she walked, she suddenly stopped when Henry appeared from nowhere, blocking her way.
"Hi, Gina," he greeted, a smile on his face.
"Hi. How can I help you?" Regina asked, a little confused.
"Sorry for approaching you like this, but I just need a minute of your time, if you'll allow me," Henry said.
"No problem, I'm all ears," Regina replied.
"Can I get Amira's phone number from you, please?" Henry asked.
"Nope, you can't," Regina answered firmly.
"I said please," Henry insisted.
"I seriously can't give her number out without her permission," Regina said. "And why ask me when you could ask her directly? After all, it's her number."
Henry sighed. "Do I need to tell you how your sister is? I doubt she'll even listen to me, let alone give me her phone number."
Regina thought for a moment. "Okay, you've got a point. I would've given you the number, but it's her rule: Never give out my number without permission."
"Well, I guess that's it then," Henry said, frustrated.
Regina didn't respond and simply walked off.
*********
Zoe usually spent weekends with her fiancé, so after work, she headed to his house. This time, she didn't tell him when she'd be coming.
When Zoe walked into the house, the silence hit her. "Why is the house so quiet? Did he step out?" she wondered aloud.
After looking around and not finding him, she decided to check the bedroom. As she climbed the stairs, she started hearing strange noises—like a woman moaning.
"It shouldn't be what I'm thinking," she muttered, walking toward the room. But as she got closer, the noise grew louder and clearer.
She opened the door, and what she saw made her freeze. It was like her world had crashed, along with her heart.
"What the hell is going on here?" Zoe demanded, after regaining her senses.
"I never wanted you to find out this way, but here we are," Alex replied, as the woman in the room sat up.
"This has been going on for so long, hasn't it?" Zoe asked, her voice shaking.
"She's my wife-to-be," Alex answered, his voice cold.
"And me?" Zoe asked, her tears starting to fall. "What was I to you?"
"You were my gateway to success," Alex replied, his words slicing through her heart.
The tears came freely now. "I loved you. I cared for you. I supported you. I gave you everything, including my body, and this is how you repay me?"
"Can you stop this already? I cheated, so what? Am I the first to cheat?" Alex scoffed. "I never loved you. If you know what's good for you, leave my house and never return."
Zoe stood there, stunned. The man she once adored had turned into a source of unimaginable pain. She couldn't bear to look at him anymore, so she left the house, numb and heartbroken.
Zoe's Heartbreak
When Zoe arrived home, she found her mother, Queen Mirabel, looking through fabrics for her wedding dress.
"Thank God you're back. Come take a look at this," Queen Mirabel said, holding up a swatch of fabric.
Zoe's voice cracked. "The wedding has been called off."
"What happened?" Mirabel asked, her concern rising.
"I caught Alex in bed with another woman," Zoe whispered, tears streaming down her face.
"Oh, my baby," Queen Mirabel said, opening her arms. Zoe collapsed into her mother's embrace, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Sorry, dear," Queen Mirabel comforted her. "You just have to move on."
"Move on?" Zoe wailed. "I fucking loved him. I thought I finally found the one, the one I would grow old with."
"Why is life so unfair to me?" Zoe cried. "What crime did I commit? Why am I never lucky in relationships? Why?"
"Calm down, baby. Your man will come," Queen Mirabel soothed, stroking her daughter's hair. "You just have to be patient. Don't be desperate, and your man will find you."
Zoe, exhausted from crying, wiped her tears. "I'll try," she said, her voice shaky. She stood up and left for her room.
Amira and Regina
"What took you so long?" Amira asked as Regina walked back into the room.
"I met a friend, and we were just talking," Regina explained.
"Can you ever change?" Amira teased.
"I promise, he's just a classmate," Regina said defensively.
"Okay, if you say so," Amira replied, raising an eyebrow.
Regina paused. "Sis, can I give out your number to a classmate? He asked politely."
Amira turned to her, raising an eyebrow. "Why even ask when you already know my answer?"
"I just said he asked politely," Regina protested.
"I don't care if he asked politely or not," Amira said firmly. "Just don't give anyone my number—especially a guy."
"Yeah, yeah. I've heard you," Regina said, rolling her eyes.
Just then, the bell rang for the end of break, and students rushed back to class. Miss Linda, their math teacher, walked in, and the students greeted her.
Classroom Drama
"So, today we're talking about sets," Miss Linda announced, writing examples on the board. "Can anyone solve these problems?" she asked.
"I just taught you this, so go ahead and solve it," Amira whispered to Regina.
"I don't know how to solve these," Regina admitted.
"Don't know, or are you just too shy?" Amira raised Regina's hand.
"Okay, Regina, come up here," Miss Linda said, offering a marker.
Regina gave Amira a death stare before standing up and walking to the board. She solved the problem quickly and returned the marker to Miss Linda.
"A round of applause for Regina!" Miss Linda said as the class clapped.
"Go back to your seat, Regina," Miss Linda said.
"How does it feel to be applauded?" Amira teased with a grin.
"Don't ever do that again," Regina said, but there was no hint of a smile.
"Can't promise you that," Amira replied with a smirk.
After a few more classes, the bell rang for dismissal, and Amira and Regina walked out to the gate where their driver would pick them up. Henry and Frederick approached them.
"Hi, Mira! Gina," they greeted.
"Hi," the girls replied.
"Regina, can I talk to you for a minute?" Henry asked.
"Sure," regina said, walking a little farther from amira
********
"Are you stalking me now?" Regina asked, narrowing her eyes at Henry.
"Call it whatever you want, but I want Amira's number, and I won't give up until I get it," Henry said, his frustration showing.
Regina sighed. "I can't give it to you. Amira doesn't want anyone to have her number, especially you. So just stop."
Henry frowned. "Why is this so hard for you to understand?"
"Maybe because you're being rude," Regina snapped. "Amira's decision is final."
********
At home, Zoe was still heartbroken. Her family continued to try and comfort her, but nothing seemed to help. Amira remained practical and unsympathetic toward Zoe's constant cycle of failed relationships.
"She's been through four failed relationships in two years. She needs a break," Amira said, exasperated. "She's just desperate to be married.
*********
Amira sat in the living room, flipping through a book, when Regina walked in with a worried expression.
"Sis, I really can't believe Alex broke Zoe's heart," Regina said, shaking her head in disbelief.
Amira put down her book and sighed. "Honestly, I'm not surprised. I never liked him in the first place. I couldn't figure out why, but now I know. He was always too smooth, too calculated."
"Why do you look so calm? Mom's worried. Even the maids are whispering," Regina pointed out, her concern clear. "I'm sure when Big Brother comes home, he'll be worried too."
Amira didn't even flinch. "You really think I'm not worried? Of course, I am. But I also think Zoe is being childish about it."
"Childish?" Regina echoed, confused.
"Yes, childish. From January to August, she dated someone, and it crashed. Then again from September to January, and it crashed. From February to June, and it crashed again. And now, she's done it a fourth time. She's obsessed with finding someone, but she keeps repeating the same mistakes over and over. Why can't she give her heart a break?" Amira's tone was frustrated.
Regina didn't know how to respond. "But… she's not getting younger, and having everything—money, success—but not having a family, or kids, or someone to grow old with... it's kind of... weird, don't you think?"
Amira stared at her sister for a moment, then shook her head. "Zoe is only 23. She's still so young. There's no need to rush into another relationship. And what's worse? She does it because she's comparing herself to others. She's watching her friends get married, and she feels like she's running out of time. It's desperation, not love."
Regina bit her lip, unsure of what to say. "I get what you're saying, but... it's not easy to watch her in pain."
"I know," Amira said, her voice softening. "But sometimes people have to hit rock bottom before they realize that forcing things never works. And Zoe is stubborn. She's always been that way."
"Can we change the topic?" Regina asked, sensing the conversation was getting too intense for both of them.
Amira shrugged. "Sure. Let's talk about something else."
********
The next day at school, after Miss Violet's test, Regina rushed to the cafeteria, feeling parched. As she grabbed a bottle of water, she spotted Henry and Frederick approaching her once again.
"Hi, Gina," Henry greeted with a somewhat sheepish smile.
"Hi," Regina replied flatly, rolling her eyes. "How can I help you this time?"
"Well, you know how you can help me," Henry said, his expression serious.
Regina's eyes narrowed. "Are we really going through this again? I've already told you—I can't give you Amira's number. She wouldn't be happy if she found out."
Henry sighed dramatically. "Look, Regina, I just need to talk to her. I'm not giving up on this."
Regina crossed her arms and shook her head. "I already told you. She's made it clear. And even if I wanted to, I wouldn't give it to you, so... can we drop it?"
Frederick stepped forward, trying to reason with her. "You know, Amira is your sister. She won't be mad at you if you just give him the number. It's not a big deal."
Regina shot him a withering look. "You have no idea how stubborn she is. And you know what? If I gave you the number, she'd be livid. You wouldn't want to see that."
Henry seemed frustrated, but he still pressed on. "I just want to talk to her. That's all."
"No, Henry," Regina said firmly. "Go ask her yourself. Stop stalking me. This is ridiculous."
Right it is really ridiculous then why not give what I want and I will stop disturbing you henry said.
Okay,0854367834 is the number she said.
Thanks he said.
You are welcome she replied and left.
*********
Later that evening, as Regina and Amira sat together in their room, Regina glanced over at her sister, who was already buried in her homework.
"Sis, what do you think will happen with Henry?" Regina asked quietly.
Amira didn't look up from her notes. "I think he'll eventually get the message. I don't care how persistent he is. It's a no from me. If he keeps pushing, it's just going to make me more annoyed."
"Do you think he's really serious about you?" Regina asked, looking at her sister with a raised eyebrow.
Amira finally looked up, her expression neutral. "Does it matter? He's been after me for ages, but I'm not interested. I don't need to settle for someone just because they're persistent. I don't care if he's rich, handsome, or whatever. If he doesn't respect my boundaries, then he's not worth my time."
Regina nodded, understanding her sister's perspective. "I guess you have a point. But I'm worried about Zoe. She's in so much pain right now, and it's hard to watch."
Amira's face softened slightly. "I know. But sometimes, she has to experience this for herself. She needs to figure out what she really wants, instead of jumping from one relationship to another."
Regina stared at Amira for a moment, then sighed. "You're right. But it still hurts to see her go through this."
†***********
Meanwhile, Zoe sat in her room, staring blankly at the wall. Her heart was still in pieces after the betrayal. She had thought Alex was the one—the person she could trust, the person who would be there for her forever. But now, all that was shattered. She had given him everything, and this was how he repaid her?
Tears welled up again, and she let them fall freely. But deep down, she knew that she couldn't keep crying forever. She had to move on, even if it felt impossible.
The next morning, Queen Mirabel came into her room to check on her daughter. "How are you feeling, dear?" she asked gently.
Zoe wiped her eyes and forced a weak smile. "I'm trying, Mom. It's just... hard."
"I know," Mirabel said softly, sitting beside her. "But you're strong. You'll get through this, like you always do. You're a princess, Zoe. You can't let anyone break you like this."
Zoe sniffled, nodding. "I know. I just need time."she replied .