Forbidden Love (5 page)

Standing in his room, Stefan was getting
ready for the ball. He was wearing his tux. It was getting late and he has to
be with his mom to invite guest. He went down to his mom. She wore her favorite
designer ball gown and was looking amazing. She was in the hall talking to the
prime minister. The prime minister is around in his late fifties but look
amazing in his age. Along with him was his wife who is the legal lawyer of our
palace. His dad was sitting in the armchair looking terribly ill. He went
straight to his dad and kneeled before him.

“Hello dad,” he patted his hand. He smiled
weakly at his son and kept looking around. The king had been ill for many days
and doctors were trying hard to keep him healthy.

Stefan stood up and went straight to his
mom. When they saw him coming towards them, the prime minister and his wife
excused themselves and left them alone.

“Mom I think dad should be taken in. He is
ill,” Stefan looked worried.

“I know that darling. But his presence is
important now. Just a few more minutes we will take him,” she smiled at her son
lovingly.

He nodded and went to greet his guest.
Everything was beautifully arranged. All the black and red combinations were
amazing. He knew that Sam needs guidance so he wrote them on her paper when he
left her in the dinner hall. But when was about to enter his room last night,
he saw her walking lazily and weakly. If he hadn’t come to catch her from
falling down she would have hit the ground.

She looked tired and pale after making the
whole arrangement. He carried her to her room and called one maid to change her
dress. Before leaving her room he wrote a message and left her. He turned
around to catch the glimpse of her but she wasn’t there in the room. His eyes travelled
to Edward who was at the bar talking to his friends. He walked to them and
involved in their conversation.

He was talking to Edward and other friends
when he spotted her. She looked stunning. She was wearing a long strapless
simple red dress with simple jewellery. She was walking down the alley looking
worried. She looked the same during their prom. She was more beautiful than
that.

“She looks gorgeous,” he heard someone
saying that. Even his heart said the same.

He was still watching her,” yes she is
lovely,”

Their eyes met but he broke the contact
when he felt hands over his shoulders. It was Edward. He then realized that he
was talking to him. He ignored him and started talking to his other friends.
Stefan went away from him and began to talk to his other guest. He saw Edward
walking towards her and took her hand. They walked straight to the bar where he
gave her something. He knew very well that it would be water because she
doesn’t like drinking.

***

“What? You don’t like drinking,” Edward
looked shocked at her.

“Yeah,” she smiled at him.

“Then what are we going to do now?” He made
a worried face.

She shrugged her shoulders and started
laughing.

“Excuse me; I will be right back,” He left
her there.

She couldn’t believe she was here until the
evening when Lucy came with a box and an invitation card. The queen wanted her
to attend the ball and she gave her a dress. She took the juice glass and
started walking towards the couch when somebody called her in shock. She turned
to see Noah. She felt so happy seeing him that she hugged him.

“You have changed. You look so beautiful,”
he looked at her with wide eyes.

“Thanks but you didn’t change a bit. What
are you doing now-a-days?”

“Hmm… here stands the great businessman,”
he gesture by bowing. She laughed at him.

“Wow… that’s cool,”

“Yeah it’s cool. I have a fashion company
in Paris,”

“You are living in Paris?”

“Yeah,”

“That’s amazing,” she smiled at him.

“Ladies and gentleman, the royal is ready
to begin. May I please present you our own Prince Stefan and Miss Elena,” the
announcement was made and everyone clapped.

The lights were made dim and the soft
melody was being played by the musicians. Sam watched Stefan and Elena dancing
together. She has just seen Elena once in the news and now she saw her in person.
She looks beautiful in her strapless red ball down with a sweetheart neckline.
Her hair was kept loose with thin clip in her hair with ends were made into
curls which came up to her waist.

“Do you with whom he is dancing?” He looked
at her knowingly.

“His bride, Elena” she frowned.

“Did you meet her?” He raised his eyebrows
at her.

“Not yet, you?”

“Yes, she is very sweet,”

She saw them dancing smoothly and smilingly
as if they are in love. She felt jealous and wanted to leave when Noah
surprisingly asked her to dance. He asked her so sweetly that she couldn’t say
no. They started dancing on the floor. Noah has been her friend since the day
she met Stefan. She always considered him as her big brother. They danced until
someone asked Sam to dance. She went on dancing with many known and unknown
guest and finally she came in hands of Stefan.

They looked at each other's eyes while
dancing. They danced the same way they used to dance. Though his hands were on
her waist she still feels the electric current between them. She neither talks
to him nor did he. From the corner of her eyes she saw Edward and Elena
dancing.

No one interrupted them so they danced
until it was time for dinner.

“So how was the dance?” Noah interrupted
her.

“I enjoyed it,” she shrugged.

“Good, even me too,” he said and continued
eating the dinner. They sat together enjoying the company of each other. She
was about to leave the hall when she saw the King in the middle of the hall,
looking tired and pale.

“Hello Sam?” Someone called her from
behind. She turned to see Elena. She stood there smiling at her.

“Hello Miss Elena” Sam greeted her.

“Oh no just call me Elena. The queen told
me about you, the ball is so amazing. I really liked it,” she expressed herself
excitingly.

“Thank you,”

“I am so happy to meet you finally; I hope
you can meet outside someday. I will talk to Stefan, he won’t mind” she began
to plan. Sam worried what would happen if she goes out with them.

“I…..Well…” Sam stammered thinking to
herself off any escape.

“Okay I have to go but we will meet some
day,” she waved and walked away from her.

Sam sighed in relief.

Only if she could refuse later..... She
thought.

“Hello Edward,” Elena stood right in front of
Edward. He was standing in the doorway when he saw Elena coming towards him.

“Hello, I hope you enjoyed the ball,” he
escorted her towards the door.

“Yeah, I enjoyed it very well,” she said
softly.

They were walking at a distance and Edward
tried his hard not to touch her.

“So, Edward I …” she turned to look into
his eyes. Edward’s heart began to beat faster. The way she looked at him, he
began to lose his heart for her.

“Edward there is something…” she stopped as
Edward’s cell began to ring. He excused himself and silenced his phone.

“Yes, you were saying something,” Edward
asked her.

“I…. Nothing” she shook her head and
smiled,” thank you for escorting me,”

She turned away abruptly and entered into
her car. Edward stood there until her car left the palace gates.

Elena closed her eyes and leaned backwards
to her seat.

Only if she had the courage to tell, she
could have told him how she feels about him.

After the day, when she met Stefan for the
first time, she met Edward. Her whole world shivered when she looked at him.
The one she dreamed about being what she saw in Edward. When he came to her
house, she felt so happy that they can spend some time together but he left
early. She couldn’t convince her parents as they are in their dreams of being
in relation with the royal. But her heart is not where it has to be. She sighed
as she knows that this wouldn’t happen ever.

***

Stefan stood next to Edward as the guests
were leaving. He has been observing Edward since the evening. He was acting
strangely and now the spark on his face was missing. He decided to speak to him
when the party ends.

“Edward, are you alright?” He asked Edward.
He looked confused for a moment and smiled.

“Yeah, I am fine. Why? What happened?” He
asked him.

“No since evening you have been…” he
couldn’t continue as he saw his mom coming towards them. She smiled at her
guest but looked worried.

“Stefan, when did you take your father to
his room?” She asked him.

He looked confused.

“I didn’t take him, mom. I thought you took
him,” he sounded worried now.

“No I didn’t” she was shivering.

Shit. His mom looked worried. Edward
already went for searching.

“Don’t panic mom. I will find dad,” saying
this he left her and went searching.

He first went to his dad’s room and began
to search the other rooms. When he could find him there he searched the hall
and the palace and finally came to the garden. It was there in the garden he
saw his dad on the wheelchair all alone. He ran to him and bends down to him.

“Dad? Who brought you here?” He asked him
worriedly. But his worry faded when he saw his dad smiling at him. It has been
ages he looked so alive.

“Stef?” He heard her. He turned to see Sam
standing at a distance holding a glass of water in her hands.

“You brought him here? How could you do
that?” He yelled at her.

“I brought him here because he deserves it
here more than your party,” she yelled him back.

She came forward with a glass of water in
her hands ignoring him. He grabbed her arm

“What do you mean?” He hissed.

“What do I mean? I brought him here 1 hour
back and now you realized it. You didn’t even care for him. Oh I forgot you
didn’t have time from your bride, I think,”

He didn’t say any so she continued.

“You left your father on his own. I brought
him here so he can have fresh air,”

He still remained quiet and gazed into her
eyes. She moved forward to give water when he grabbed her again and forced his
lips on her. It was so sudden that she didn’t have time to protest him. She
laid her hands on his chest to move him away but he held her so strong that she
couldn’t resist him. He kissed her so hard as if to punish her but finally it
turned into a passionate one. His kiss turned into a soft and hungry kiss. His
hands were all over her back making her captivity. She kissed him back with the
same passion. They separated with heavy breathing but she was still in his arms
looking into each other's eyes.

“SAM?”

They both turned to see who was there.
Stefan removed his hands and moved back. Sam gasped in shock.

“Rose?” She gasped.

The sun is shining brightly in the sky
making the lawn look beautiful with full covered green grass. The garden is
lovely with beautiful different types of flowers. The birds were flying and
making the early morning sounds. It is one of the early mornings that Sam loves
to spend her time.

She sat on the bench laid in the middle of
the garden. All the workers are busy in the preparing the garden for the
wedding. There is a fresh breeze and a fountain is being laid near the gate
with flowers decorating with it. In the middle of the fountain, there is the
statue of a medieval woman holding a water bag. She looks innocent and
beautiful. Her beauty was reflected from her perfectly cut marble. A small
smile was hanging on her lips.

Seeing those lips she remembered what
happened last night. Last night was something that Sam didn’t want to happen
but it did happen. The way Stefan kissed her made her remember the time they
were together. May be he forgot what that feeling was or has he ever had that.
The thought of this made her heart ache.

“I thought I will never see you,” she heard
someone talking to her. She turned to see Noah is coming towards her.

He sat beside her on the bench and smiled.
He wore his favorite singlet and jeans. He was the same Noah whom she met in
college. Nothing has changed in him.

“What made you say that?” She asked him to
raise an eyebrow.

“I have been searching you everywhere and
you are here in the middle of the garden,” he sighed.

“Well…” she avoided his eye contact and
looked away,” its peaceful here,”

The wind is playing with her hair and
coming over her cheek. He raised his hands and began to remove it. His hands
stroke her soft cheeks. His hands felt warm over her.

“You have changed,” his hand was still on
her cheek.

“Oh, really?” She chuckled.

“Yeah, you look more beautiful,” he smiled
while she blushed.

“It’s true. The time we spend at the
university was great. But it still confuses me,” he made a questioning face.

“What?” She asked confused.

“Why did you leave us earlier?”

She remained silent. She had never spoken
of those days; she realized that what she thought was hers was never hers. Noah
is waiting for her and rubbing her cheek. He leaned forward and kissed on her
cheek. They heard a throat clearing sound and turned back.

Standing there, Stefan looked at both Sam
and Noah. He knew better that they were always friends. But kissing her like
that in broad sunlight is making him jealous. May be she was moving forward
with new relationship but why his heart is aching seeing her with someone else.
Last night he saw her dancing with Noah and other guest. Though he danced with
Elena, his thoughts were filled with the prom night. He never spoke of that day
to anyone and the next day she left him.

“Hey Stefan, how are you doing dude,” he
removed his hands and stood up to greet him.

Stefan moved forwards with his hands in his
pockets. He kept looking at both of them.

“I see you guys are busy?” Stefan raised
his eyebrows at them at which Sam reacted angrily and turned over.

“Nothing much, just talking,” he tried to
convince him.

“I need to talk to you. Come lets go,”
saying this he left them standing.

“Well… I think I leave now. Catch you later,”
he hugged her and went after Stefan.

Sam stood there for a while thinking how
Stef could talk about her like that and he showed no reaction after what
happened last night. At least Rose didn’t get a chance to talk to her. Her busy
schedule with the queen, made Sam free to explore the place. She roamed the
garden giving the workers advice and helping them.

“Sam, the queen wants to see you for
breakfast,” Lucy came behind Sam.

She nodded and went to her room. Did she
know about the last night? What is she going to ask her?

She couldn’t make any sense. She showered
and dresses herself in simple white skirt and black shirt. She glanced herself
in the hall mirror and travelled towards the dining hall. She breathed once and
opened the door. But to her surprise there were no one inside.

“The queen doesn’t have her breakfast here.
She has it in the lawn,” a deep familiar voice came from her behind. She
doesn’t have to look up. She turned towards him and walked past without saying
any. He grabbed her hand and pushing her closer to him.

She looked at him in his wide angry eyes.
He had a smirk on his face. She knew very well that what his sadistic smile
means.

“How was your night? Hope you had a nice
sleep,” he smirked.

“Yes fine, thanks for asking. If you leave
me I have to meet the queen.” She tried to let her hand free.

He let her loose and she turned away with
her chin up showing that nothing happened. He followed her to the lawn where
she saw the queen and her aunt.

Their faces didn’t relieve anything. They
sat there drinking their coffee. The queen saw Sam coming. She stood up and
walked towards her. Instead of saying anything she hugged Sam. Sam looked at
Stef to ask what this means but he was dumb, too. He dropped his jaw and
watched them. Finally the queen raised and Sam could see a speck of tears in
her eyes.

“Finally, I couldn’t believe this,” she was
trying to control her tears.

Sam looked at her and her aunt confused.

“You do look like your mom. The same face and
eyes… oh no you have your father’s,” she said excitedly while looking all over
her face.

“Your majesty, I… you know my parents?” Sam
stammered.

“Oh my, yes I know them. I couldn’t believe
I found you,”

She hugged Sam with hand and made her sit
on the chair beside Stefan.

“Rose you never told her anything. Am I
right?” She looked to Rose.

“Yes your majesty,” Rose said shyly.

“Anyways, did your father ever say anything
about his family,” she turned to Sam smilingly.

“Well… he never mentioned it. Mom says he
never wants to.” Sam kept thinking about those days when her dad never talked
about his family.

“I know. He’s too angry; even he went away
leaving his family,” the Queen felt silent and sad.

“His family?”

“Yes, he loved his family until he met your
mom. She was the loveliest girl I ever met at that time. It was no doubt he
felt for her at the first time,” she sighed.

“Your grandfather never approved of their
marriage. Your father fought day and night so he could understand. Finally he
decided and left his house to marry your mom,”

Sam never heard this story. She knew that
her parents fell in love and married but never that it was against the wish.
She always feels proud of their love and always wanted to have that one.

“Your majesty, how could you so much of
this?” Sam never thought she would ask her this.

“It’s because your father is my cousin,”

It went like a blow to Sam. Her father, a
part of the royal family?

“I… are you sure. I mean I never…” she
began to shiver.

“My dear, your father was a prince. He left
the palace for his love. He knew that there are people here to take care of our
people but your mom was his first choice. Your mother being a commoner loved
him my brother whole heartedly. She even left him so that he won’t leave his
position in a palace but he insisted.”

Sam is shivering inside. She wanted to cry.
In her whole life she never knew that her parents had sacrificed a lot.

She looked at Stef, who was looking at her
with deep and caring eyes. It may be a blow to him to know they were related.

“But Rose,” Sam turned to her aunt looking
expectedly.

“I… your father made me promise to never
tell you. He doesn’t want you to know about your grandfather,” Rose said sadly
looking at her niece.

“But why? I mean….” Sam couldn’t go on
further.

“It’s because your grandfather is very
strict and your father feared if you come to know about them you will ask for
them. He didn’t want to hurt you,” Rose moved to Sam and held her in her arms.

“And do they… do they know that?” Sam
looked at Rose and then to the queen.

“No” Rose answered her before she say those
words. Rose knows very well her emotions.

“What?” She stood up angrily,” they don’t
know that… they...”

“Sam? What happened?” The queen also looked
at Sam trying to grasp what she is about to say. Stefan never saw her mom like
this before. Her eyes were filled with pain.

“See,” Sam let out angrily and tears began
to roll on her cheeks,” no one knows. No one gave a damn thing about them and I
am living among them now,” she yelled angrily.

A lot of truth came out and she doesn’t
have the capacity to handle it. She looked at Rose and the queen, she ran away
from them. She ran until her legs ached and fell down. Whatever the queen told
her was making her heart ache and tears rolling her cheeks. She lay on the
grass surrounded by big trees covering her from the outside world.

She doesn’t for how much time she kept on
crying. She remembered all those words her father used to tell her. He always
used to call her princess. Now she understood the real meaning of that. She
felt hatred towards his family. How come they don’t even know that her parents
are now dead? Not with her anymore. She hated her father's family from that
instant.

***

“Your Majesty,” Rose looked at now
curiously looking Queen,” Sam’s parents died two years back,”

The Queen covered her mouth with her hands
and stumbled back to the chair. Stefan caught her before she falls down and
made her sit on the chair. It was like a blow for both of them. The queen was
weeping while Rose came to hug her.

Stefan never met Sam’s parents and now when
he realized they are now related, he could never see her family. Thinking of
her, he realized that she ran away from looking hurt and crying.

He saw his mom and Rose is weeping together
and Rose comforting her. He left them there and ran towards the way she ran.
It’s the huge garden with huge trees covering the area entirely from outside.
He searched her everywhere and finally heard someone weeping. He knew that had
to be her.

He saw her sitting on the heap of dry
leaves, keeping her face on her knees and crying. He walked to her but she
didn’t look up. He sat beside her silently and wrapped his arm around her
shoulder. Slowly she laid her head on his shoulder and covered her face into
his chest. He felt her tears dripping on his shirt. He raised his hands and
made her chin up. He slowly began to wipe her tears. She lowered her eyes.

“I…. Did you….” She stammered.

He waited for her cry but she smiled weakly
at him.

“See I don’t have anything to say,”

“You just came to know about your family,
its happy news, right,”

“May be a happy, but why? Why didn’t they
tell me?” She started crying.

“May be they are waiting for the right
time,”

“And that time didn’t come … ever”

He hugged her and started stroking her. He
hid his face in her hair and she laid her face on his chest. Being so near to
him and his arms made her made her forget things and lighten her heart.

He slowly pushed her towards the ground and
laid her under him. They stared for a while when he lowered his head and
touched her lips. He kissed her lightly and then passionately. He didn’t lift
his head but he started kissing her neck and down to her chest. A small moan
passed through his lips and his hands came around her waist. He slid his hands
inside her shirt and stopped at her breast. He started stroking it and kissing
her. They came out of that atmosphere when they heard the drum sounds. Sam
pushed him and stood up. He murmured an oath in his breath. She took a deep
breath and turned towards him

“Why do you always do that?” She held his
shirt.

“Always do what?” He had a cocky smile on
his face.

“You always go on kissing me. I knew you
didn’t feel anything. Not now and never in the past,” she yelled at him
angrily.

“I don’t know but I always find myself
dragging you into my arms,” he smiled.

“Even when you are engaged and going to get
married next week,” her eyes were filled with rage. She couldn’t understand
what’s with him.

“May be I should stop looking at you,”

“Oh don’t worry, you won’t see me again,”
she said sadistically.

“Why?” He raised an eyebrow at her.

“Because, I am leaving. You have a
wonderful wedding,” she turned to leave him.

“I will have that, don’t worry. While you
stay here stop flirting with others,” he yelled.

“What did you say? I flirt?” She turned on
him furiously.

“Yes, you are an expert in that. You use it
on everyone,” he replied sadistically.