Can't Win Me Back

"But why?" Yuliana was extremely reluctant.

"Why, you ask?" With a look of reproach, Alyssa answered, "I'm afraid of the diplomatic repercussions after your parents learned that you had given away your crown as a wedding gift. It might even lead to misunderstandings between our nations.

"You're a beloved princess, free to pursue most whims. While you may not face consequences, your actions can impact others. Do you still think that this would be a good idea?

Upon hearing that, Yuliana lowered her head regretfully and dejectedly. She fiddled with the fabric of her dress. "Actually," she mumbled, "I had another motive."

Alyssa turned, her gentle eyes meeting Yuliana's glistening ones; Yuliana had finally revealed her intentions.

"You were aware that Lauren is like a younger sister to me. So, you decided to dig deep to please me. With that, you want me to matchmake you with Liam. Am I right?"

A blush stained Yuliana's cheeks, and she bashfully stammered, "Y-You saw through it all. That was manipulative of me, wasn't it? That was awful of me. I'm sorry."Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

Alyssa's heart melted to see Yuliana like that. Alyssa gently caressed Yuliana's back. "Don't be so harsh on yourself. Using a little ingenuity to get close to someone you like isn't a crime. As long as there's no harm done."

Yuliana's nose had turned red. She sniffled. In a miserable voice, she said, "I like Liam... I like him very much. I'm willing to give up my title as a princess to be together with him. My aunt married a commoner whose background isn't even half as good as Liam's. Liam is wealthy enough to take care of me."

Alyssa was at a loss for words. While the Taylor family's fortune rivaled the Kontinian treasury, Yuliana's bluntness could be misconstrued as gold-digging.

"Please help me, Lyse," Yuliana pleaded, burying her face in Alyssa's arm. "Remember our sleepover? And you're Liam's favorite sister. With you on my side, maybe Liam will treat me like he used to. This distant version of him... it's unbearable."

Yuliana cried as she said all that.

"Don't cry, Yules..." Alyssa coaxed her. Deep down, she felt terrible. How ruthless was Liam with his words that night? What had Liam said to reduce a princess to such a state?

"Lyse, am I really not good enough?" Yuliana's cries got louder and louder.

Immediately, Alyssa hugged her tightly.

"Not at all! Don't you ever think that. It's Liam who has climbed over his station. He's the one who isn't good enough. How could he make you cry?"

Alyssa hated seeing women women

lose their self-worth for love. She also hated seeing their complete absorption in the agony of self-blame and fear of losing their beloved, trapped in a cycle of despair. This was because she'd

spent three years trapped in that very spiral. Her days and nights were filled with pain and suffering.

Liam and Cyrus were riding in the car behind Alyssa and Yuliana's.

Liam stared intently at the vehicle ahead, desperately trying to see through it.

"Why are your eyes so red, Liam? Is it because you didn't get enough rest?" Cryus asked, leaning closer. Then, he exclaimed, "Liam, are you... are you crying? Are you that deeply moved to see Lauren getting married?"

"Yeah."

Liam squeezed his eyes shut briefly before quickly diverting his gaze out the window. "I wish them a lifetime of happiness."