The Secrets Within- Romantic Suspense Book

The Secrets Within

Alisha Adnan

Daastan Publishing

First Published in Pakistan by Daastan PVT LTD

House # A-41, Madni Street, Lala Rukh, Wah Cantt, Punjab 47040

www.daastan.com

www.meraqissa.com

Text copyrights © Alisha Adnan

Book Design copyright © Alisha Adnan

The moral rights of the writer, illustrator and editor have been asserted.

All rights reserved

This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or distributed in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

ISBN 978-969-696-736-1

THE SECRETS WITHIN

Rose crept to the window. 

“Hey, mom. Hey dad.” She whispered into the glimmering crystal-clear glass, “I hope you are doing okay. And that brother Edmund is good.” 

She sighed and went back to her hard bed. How long could she survive in this dungeon of hell? She was here because of her own stupid mistakes of the past that kept getting in her way. She had secrets that would make people despise her if they knew, she wouldn’t be considered human if they knew. Rose lay in bed, listening to the noisy night outside. Raindrops hammered against her window with the occasional blast of thunder and the flash of lightning. It was a stormy night and if this storm continued until tomorrow, there was a chance she would not have to go to King Ben’s Royal banquet. She felt a jab in her stomach. She turned in anger and surprise only to see it was her friend –Leonard.

“Leo!” Rose snapped angrily.

“Hey, Red. Go to sleep. You need to be in good shape for the journey tomorrow. Especially if this storm continues.” He said, speaking in very short-direct sentences.

“I’m not the one who’s jabbing people.” Rose said before adding, “Do I have to go?” 

“Yeah. I don’t think that your Aunt will let you skip this banquet. You know what she’s like.” Leo said a little sadly.

Rose didn’t reply and Leo left the room. Leo was Rose’s only friend in her prison. Her life was controlled by her Aunt who was desperate to marry Rose off to a rich family- or a dynasty. These two years of her life with her heartless Aunt had been better than the previous fourteen ones with her cruel and abusive Family Head. Her family was well-known across the nation. Feared, mostly. Leo and Rose were the only ones in the family who were born with a heart. The Family Head had tried very hard to strip the humanity out of Rose for fourteen years. Ever since she was two, she had lived with, played with and eaten with the Family Head. But The Family Head had been a different person back then, Rose didn’t know what happened to him. He had been like an older brother to Rose but then…he changed. The day his father left him- he became bitter. 

As the morning fast approached, Rose was awoken by her Aunt. 

“Get ready! I sent Leonard to wake you up but you always need me to do this stuff.” She scolded.

Leo had never come to wake Rose up but that was just in his nature. He couldn’t- just couldn’t disturb Rose in her sleep. Her Aunt stormed away, no doubt to scold Leo. Rose sighed and got up from her bed. Why had she been born into such a heartless family? Her parents had just sold her to the Family Head, and her brother had always ignored her cries for help, yet she couldn’t bring herself to hate her family. After Rose got ready in a purple dress and pink-fur slippers, she went downstairs straight to her Aunt.

“Does Ac- I mean, the Family Head know about this?” 

Her Aunt glared at her before replying in an angry tone, “He is My Son and he has no control over me.” 

That was a lie. Ace- the Family Head had all control over his mother- Lady Liz. And he would get mad if anyone went anywhere without his permission. Especially if any one of his family went near King Ben’s son, Prince Raymond. Rose and Prince Raymond had met before on several occasions, but they had never really spoken. Today, her Aunt might try to marry her off to Prince Raymond. With a heavy heart, Rose got into the car after her Aunt and Leo. She listened as the raindrops splashed on the ground making a loud tip sound. The rain was still going on but it was much lighter now, the occasional thunder had vanished. Now it was just the raindrops alone, falling from the skies in great numbers. 

After the half-hour drive to the venue, Rose stepped out of the car. Prince Raymond was there, in front of the doorway, welcoming the guests. As Rose approached the entrance, the guards around her gave her cold glares but Prince Raymond greeted her with a warm smile and escorted her inside. The feast was about to begin. Rose sat in the middle of her Aunt and Leo, and across her sat Prince Raymond who would barely look at her.

‘Maybe…Raymond is trapped too. Just like me.’  Rose thought as her Aunt added some food to her plate. 

Everyone’s attention turned to Rose as her Aunt was giving her the plate of food, she felt weird and she felt like everyone was staring at her like she wasn’t human, she began to feel insecure about herself. Before handing it to her, her Aunt gave Rose a sharp jab in her stomach and whispered,

“You better make this work-out…or else.” 

Rose politely finished her food as all of the men in the room laughed at ridiculous jokes, except Prince Raymond and Leo. Rose got the idea that he was different from others, just like Ace and Leo.

“I need to be excused.” Rose declared as she stood up and made her way to the restroom to clean her hands.

As she made it out, she found Prince Raymond waiting for her in the passageway. This was going to be the first time that Rose would hear his voice directly addressed to her.

“Rose…” He said. His voice was soft and reassuring which made Rose feel somehow…safe.

“Prince Raymond…may I help you?” Rose responded politely.

“Your Aunt and my father, they expect us to get married.” Prince Raymond said, jumping straight to the point.

“I am aware.” 

“And they shall- no doubt force us to. So, I thought I might get to know you a little first. Would you like to take a stroll around the garden?” Prince Raymond asked. 

Rose reluctantly agreed, knowing that Prince Raymond was right, they would be forced to marry, no matter what. As they were passing the Dining hall on their way out, Rose spotted Leo, glaring. She ignored her, her Aunt couldn’t look happier as Rose made her exit. In the garden, Prince Raymond turned to her.

“So…what are your main interests?” He asked Rose in a very friendly tone. That question made Rose feel insecure about herself again.

“I- I like reading and writing.” Rose stuttered, “How about you?” 

Prince Raymond smiled,

“I asked you what YOUR main interests were, regardless of whether your Aunt approves or not. You shall be out of her control as soon as you leave her house.” He said.

“Well then don’t make fun of me,” Rose said. She was getting comfortable around Prince Raymond now, “I like to play soccer, listen to music and play video games.” 

Prince Raymond nodded, “I despise soccer but yes, I like to play video games as well.”

“And what are your other interests, Prince Raymond?” Rose asked.

“I like to play polo and I like dangerous stuff…like hunting.” He replied before adding, “Drop the Prince…please.” 

“Okay…” Rose said, “Raymond.” 

It sounded weird when she ‘dropped the Prince’ but it also made it sound like Rose and Raymond were friends, and that they had known each other for a long time now. They chatted in the garden and Rose began to like Raymond.

‘Maybe, being forced to marry him won’t be that bad.’ She thought as they headed back indoors. Leo was waiting by the door and he dragged her away as soon as she entered.

“What, Leo?” Rose asked in an annoyed tone.

“Just...making sure that you’re okay. King Ben proposed on his son’s behalf, and your Aunt agreed on your behalf.” Leo said with a hint of jealousy in his voice. 

Rose smiled, lost in thought of her soon-to-be husband. They both walked back to the party where Raymond smiled at Rose and Rose returned his smile. Leo quickly grabbed her hand which made her snap back to reality.

“Such a fine young man, is he not?” Her Aunt asked Rose. 

“Yes, Aunt,” Rose replied emotionlessly.

“Your niece is very beautiful too,” Raymond said in the same tone as Rose. 

Rose felt her cheeks grow red. Their wedding had been set, she was to marry Raymond, Raymond gave her the engagement ring and this time…she wasn’t going to argue. She would do it, by her self-will.

Ace woke up, he put on decent clothes and combed his hair before leaving his well-furnished bedroom. His Advisor met him by his door with a grim look on his face.

“Hamish, wipe that smug look off of your face once in a while.” Ace scolded.

“Yes Sir,” Hamish replied with the same grim face. Ace rolled his eyes,

“You’re a hopeless case.” He said as he made his way down to the dining room where his two sisters sat in wait for him. 

His sisters were big on gossip, whenever he saw them, they were giggling over something on their phones. 

“What?” Ace asked, the sly and snickering look on their faces told Ace that they had some gossip to share.

“You’ll find out soon enough, dear brother.” Mary, his oldest sister giggled.

“Oh, and your favored guest, Rosaline is coming for lunch, with our mother and Leonard.” His middle sister, Lily smiled. 

‘Rose? And Mother? Something is going on.’ Ace thought.