CHAPTER 16

"Kate! Wait!" Jeremy shouted. This is not what Jeremy thought of to happen. He was hoping to explain everything to Kate and she would understand. He was planning to talk to her, tell her the reason why he retired from the music industry and at the same time confess about his identity as future prince. Yet, none of those things came about. It was the other way around. The Principality of Monaco announced his succession to the throne after they saw the news that he has just retired. They thought that he was already ready to face his future. This has resulted in more problems for Jeremy. Kate was angry, for some reasons, he didn't know why. He wanted to explain but she wouldn't hear him out. The plan was ruined.

Kate opened the door and tried to push Jeremy out, forcing him out of her way.

"You don't understand!"

Kate ignored him. She continued to walk toward the elevator and Jeremy rushed up behind her. She wanted to get her things at their condominium before Jeremy arrived. Before she could get out of her room, he was already there waiting for her, wanting to explain his side of the story. But Kate was already resolved not to listen to him.

"Kate!"

Kate spun around. "I want you out of my life." She hissed.

The hatred in her voice shocked Jeremy into stopping. It's the first time that they fought and it seems it won't be okay anytime soon. Jeremy saw great hatred in her. He loves her dearly. He didn't want this kind of situation. He wanted that they would be okay. He wanted that she would understand everything. Yet, not all the things that he wanted were easy to do. There was soreness. There was detestation involved. He didn't know how to appease her. He didn't know how to explain everything to her.

"You betrayed me." Kate said, "You used me." She didn't wait for Jeremy to respond, "You wanted to try to make things better – not for me, but for yourself. You thought if you hide it, you'd feel better about yourself."

He paled, incapable of saying anything.

"You planned everything from the beginning." She went on, "And you're willing to remain silent about it without me ever knowing the truth until I found out until you have no place to hide."

"No, that's not the way it happened."

"Stop lying to me!" She boomed, "How the hell can you hide the truth from me?"

The comment lashed at him, and he responded defensively. "You've got it all wrong, and you didn't even care." Jeremy can't believe that this was happening. He wasn't prepared with this kind of reaction from her. He thought that as long as he would explain, everything would turn out well.

"I didn't care? I'm not the one who did anything wrong here."

"Neither did I."

"And you expect me to believe that?" Kate was bursting in anger but at the same time trying to compose her self away from tears. She felt betrayed. She deemed that everything that she saw in him were all lies. She didn't know if she could trust him anymore. She was afraid of such things. Be hurt by the person she loves. She never wanted to experience it again. But it's happening. History seems not letting her go.

"It's the truth!" Then, despite her anger, Kate saw his eyes begin to well up with tears.

Kate paused momentarily but showed no sympathy at all. "You don't even know what you did wrong."

With that, she turned and opened the door of the car. She slammed the door of the car as she got in behind the wheel. Jeremy was too shocked to say anything more. He watched as Kate started the car, pressed the accelerator, and then jammed the car into gear. The tires squealed as the car moved into reverse, backing toward the road.

Kate, in tears, never glanced his way, and a moment later, she vanished from sight. Kate doesn't want to talk with him again. She was not only in pain but she felt devastated of experiencing another lying. This time is not about another woman. This time is about the person she came to love. She's angry and confused. Was the Jeremy that she came to love really existed or was it also a lie? She didn't want to talk with anyone. She wanted to be alone, away from him, away from people, and away from everyone.

Jeremy didn't try to go after her. He didn't want to cause more trouble. He felt her agony. That was enough. He already tried reaching out to her, trying to explain his side. Unfortunately, she was not into listening mode. After few minutes being alone, he realized his mistake. He was amenable to it. He should have told her earlier but it was already done and in the past. Nothing could be changed now other than explaining his side of the story. That would only be happening when she's ready to hear him.

After some hours, "Grace, is she with you?" Jeremy called Grace. He was worried. Kate's phone could not be reached. He sent several messages but he received no reply. It has been two hours since she left him at the entrance of their condominium. Where is she? Could he talk to her now? Is she ready to listen? He was jittery. He wanted to talk to her but conscious of the space that she wanted to have.

"No. Ah… Jeremy… I know you wanted to talk with her but… maybe… you should give her time and space. She was shocked by the revelations. She couldn't take everything at once. Just give her time and space." Grace slowly said.

"I don't have much time."

"If you want you could tell me then and if ever I see or contact her, I will tell her."

Jeremy did not reply. He was thinking what happened the whole day. He didn't expect that they would announce it immediately after publicly told his retirement. It was not as he had planned out. He was supposed to see her and explained the truth about him as the reason for retiring. He did not expect to turn out like this.

"Jeremy, still there?" Grace asked.

"Yeah… thanks Grace." Jeremy disappointingly said. He was at the embassy hiding from the media since they had surrounded his place. Spes told him that he needed to return to Monaco immediately as it was already announced. How could he leave with this kind of situation? He wanted to at the very least, amend with Kate. Even though she might not forgive him, he wanted her to hear him out. He would be contented if that would happen.

"Have you talked with her?" Tobby asked.

Jeremy kept silent. His mind was still on what happened between them at her condominium. He was thinking on how to reach her. He does not know where she is or what is she doing. He wanted to know but has no way of finding it out.

"Your highness, the King wants to talk with you." Spes gave the phone to Jeremy.

The King had ordered him to go back immediately since the state needs his presence. He could not refuse since it was already announced. He was listening to his grandfather but his mind was on Kate. He would be leaving soon but how about Kate?

After talking with the King Jeremy instructed Tobby to prepare their things. They will leave for Monaco without delay. Tobby, feeling the pain of Jeremy, just nodded. He did not want to ask or say a thing. He knew that Jeremy did not want to leave. He knew that Jeremy wanted to talk with Kate. He knew that Jeremy wanted to explain everything. He thought that after telling her everything, if she still rejects him, then he would give up. But he couldn't do anything. He did not know where she was. He checked Grace, May and Abby but she was not with them. He was not at peace leaving but he has to for the sake of the many, he has to leave.

"Do you want to me stay in case she looks for you?" Tobby offered.

"Nah… It's okay. We need to go tomorrow. Just prepare everything. In time, maybe, our paths will again cross." Jeremy hopefully said.

"But…"

"It's okay."