WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.919 I don't know what happened after texting Kayvon. 00:00:03.220 --> 00:00:05.980 I must have fallen asleep in a daze because the 00:00:05.980 --> 00:00:09.859 next thing I hear is pounding, loud, relentless 00:00:09.859 --> 00:00:13.460 banging on my door. I drag myself out of bed, 00:00:13.779 --> 00:00:17.839 heavy and numb. When I open it, Kayvon is standing 00:00:17.839 --> 00:00:21.519 there in a suit, looking unfairly gorgeous. His 00:00:21.519 --> 00:00:24.239 eyes are weary though, and the moment I see him, 00:00:25.140 --> 00:00:28.879 I break. I collapse into sobs, and he grabs me, 00:00:29.000 --> 00:00:32.259 pulling me into his arms. I don't hug him back. 00:00:32.420 --> 00:00:36.600 I feel weak, hollow, and hopeless. But he holds 00:00:36.600 --> 00:00:40.920 me anyway, firm and steady, while I cry against 00:00:40.920 --> 00:00:44.280 him, soaking his perfect suit with my tears. 00:00:45.100 --> 00:00:48.420 He walks me to the couch, sits, and keeps holding 00:00:48.420 --> 00:00:52.439 me. I'm so sorry, La. He whispers. I'm so fucking 00:00:52.439 --> 00:00:56.700 sorry. They couldn't save him. I choke out. They 00:00:56.700 --> 00:01:01.219 just couldn't. I thought I had more time. I thought 00:01:01.219 --> 00:01:04.299 he'd at least stay another week, but he... He 00:01:04.299 --> 00:01:08.879 died. I'm sorry. He says again, pulling me closer. 00:01:09.819 --> 00:01:13.640 This time, I hug him back. Because right now, 00:01:13.980 --> 00:01:17.959 he's the only one who knows. The only one who 00:01:17.959 --> 00:01:22.500 cares. I have no one else. We stay like that 00:01:22.500 --> 00:01:26.170 for what feels like hours. Until it hits me, 00:01:26.569 --> 00:01:31.189 I jolt upright. Wait, your proposal? Why are 00:01:31.189 --> 00:01:35.310 you here? Because your dad died, Lara, and you're 00:01:35.310 --> 00:01:39.549 all alone. What about your birthday? What about 00:01:39.549 --> 00:01:44.909 Natasha? What about... Shh. I'm here, exactly 00:01:44.909 --> 00:01:49.030 where I'm supposed to be, with you. But why? 00:01:49.489 --> 00:01:52.689 I whisper. Because I want to be a good friend. 00:01:53.280 --> 00:01:57.700 Is the engagement off? For now. I haven't done 00:01:57.700 --> 00:02:01.500 it yet. I came here instead. You left me such 00:02:01.500 --> 00:02:04.280 a cryptic message. I didn't even know where you 00:02:04.280 --> 00:02:07.739 were. I went to the hospital and they said you 00:02:07.739 --> 00:02:11.360 left. But your car was still there. I couldn't 00:02:11.360 --> 00:02:17.300 drive. I felt sick. I still feel... Shhh! He 00:02:17.300 --> 00:02:22.990 strokes my hair. It's alright. I'm here. I don't 00:02:22.990 --> 00:02:26.349 remember what happens after that. All I know 00:02:26.349 --> 00:02:30.229 is when I finally wake, I'm in my bed. And Kayvon 00:02:30.229 --> 00:02:33.889 is lying beside me. I jerk upright at the sight 00:02:33.889 --> 00:02:37.669 of him. He's in my bedroom. He must have been 00:02:37.669 --> 00:02:40.650 here the whole time, holding me while I slept. 00:02:40.969 --> 00:02:45.409 His suit is gone. Now he's in just a shirt, unbuttoned 00:02:45.409 --> 00:02:49.949 at the collar. What? What happened? My voice 00:02:49.949 --> 00:02:55.250 is hoarse. You fell asleep. He says softly. I 00:02:55.250 --> 00:02:57.569 didn't want to leave you alone, so I came here. 00:02:58.949 --> 00:03:02.610 Is that a problem? I glance around the room, 00:03:02.949 --> 00:03:05.710 like I might find an answer hiding in the corners. 00:03:06.449 --> 00:03:09.750 But then his hand catches my chin, steadying 00:03:09.750 --> 00:03:13.710 me, turning my eyes back to him. Are you okay, 00:03:13.870 --> 00:03:17.830 Lara? I shake my head. I don't feel too good. 00:03:18.569 --> 00:03:21.909 He presses his palm to my forehead, like I'm 00:03:21.909 --> 00:03:24.990 a child he's checking for a fever. The gesture 00:03:24.990 --> 00:03:29.270 is so simple it makes me almost smile. Not that 00:03:29.270 --> 00:03:33.009 kind of bad, I murmur. My stomach just feels 00:03:33.009 --> 00:03:37.830 empty, that kind of sick, that kind of loss. 00:03:38.889 --> 00:03:42.490 He doesn't say anything, just waits. He was all 00:03:42.490 --> 00:03:46.469 I had left, I whisper. After mum died eight years 00:03:46.469 --> 00:03:50.159 ago, it was just us. We've had this bond forever. 00:03:51.259 --> 00:03:56.599 I'm sorry, Lara. Truly. You didn't have to stay. 00:03:57.599 --> 00:04:00.960 I wanted to. Your parents are going to be livid. 00:04:02.139 --> 00:04:07.319 Then let them be livid. They can fire me. Over 00:04:07.319 --> 00:04:11.879 my dead body. I roll my eyes. Do you always have 00:04:11.879 --> 00:04:15.300 a comeback for everything I say? Silence falls 00:04:15.300 --> 00:04:18.699 between us. He just looks at me. and I can't 00:04:18.699 --> 00:04:22.379 handle the weight of it. I stand, breaking away. 00:04:22.959 --> 00:04:27.000 Are you hungry? Well, I'm hungry. But all I've 00:04:27.000 --> 00:04:29.899 got is soup. It was supposed to be for my dad, 00:04:30.040 --> 00:04:36.040 but… He nods. Yes, I'm starved. Didn't you eat? 00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:41.040 At your function? Barely. I'd rather have some 00:04:41.040 --> 00:04:44.680 soup. I eye him. You're just saying that to make 00:04:44.680 --> 00:04:49.759 me feel better? No. He says quickly. I haven't 00:04:49.759 --> 00:04:52.879 had a home -cooked meal in a long time. You eat 00:04:52.879 --> 00:04:57.579 at home often. Yes, but it's not really home 00:04:57.579 --> 00:05:03.060 -cooked. Not like this. He shrugs. Besides, I've 00:05:03.060 --> 00:05:06.819 never tasted your food. You had no reason to. 00:05:07.660 --> 00:05:11.600 I turn and walk to the kitchen. He follows, of 00:05:11.600 --> 00:05:15.639 course. The soup might be bland. I warn. I don't 00:05:15.639 --> 00:05:19.629 care. I dish it up, hand him a bowl, and we sit 00:05:19.629 --> 00:05:22.870 together on the couch. He takes a sip. I know 00:05:22.870 --> 00:05:25.970 it's awful. I didn't use much salt or sugar. 00:05:26.389 --> 00:05:29.850 Hospital regulations, apparently. I don't even 00:05:29.850 --> 00:05:32.509 know what that has to do with dad's cancer, but 00:05:32.509 --> 00:05:39.350 whatever. How is it? Good. Really good. I squint 00:05:39.350 --> 00:05:44.230 at him. You're a horrible liar. No, actually. 00:05:47.840 --> 00:05:52.060 We sit in silence for a while, then I grab the 00:05:52.060 --> 00:05:55.620 remote and flick on the TV. And there he is. 00:05:56.199 --> 00:05:59.879 The headline blares, Prince escapes his birthday 00:05:59.879 --> 00:06:03.800 party, leaving girlfriend alone. I should be 00:06:03.800 --> 00:06:07.300 panicking, calling in, managing the fallout, 00:06:07.519 --> 00:06:11.360 but my replacement is already on it. Still, if 00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:13.779 the King and Queen knew he was here with me, 00:06:13.879 --> 00:06:17.759 They'd have my head. Can we watch something else? 00:06:18.639 --> 00:06:20.259 Shouldn't you be at least a little concerned 00:06:20.259 --> 00:06:25.600 about this? Nope. I chuckle. You're making their 00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:29.300 lives hard. As long as I'm here with you, it 00:06:29.300 --> 00:06:34.079 doesn't matter. I swallow, then add, almost without 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:38.720 thinking. Here, with me, as a friend. I don't 00:06:38.720 --> 00:06:43.220 even know why I said it, but I did. Cave -on 00:06:43.220 --> 00:06:47.220 looks at me, his brow furrowed. As a friend. 00:06:47.660 --> 00:06:52.240 He repeats quietly. The night drags on. We talk, 00:06:52.720 --> 00:06:55.920 filling the silence with small things, bits of 00:06:55.920 --> 00:06:59.720 catching up, random stories, until his phone 00:06:59.720 --> 00:07:02.939 rings out loud. I thought you had it on silent. 00:07:03.939 --> 00:07:07.339 I did, but I set a timer for it to come back 00:07:07.339 --> 00:07:11.000 on. If I don't, and I go missing longer than 00:07:11.000 --> 00:07:14.060 I should, They'll send a search party. And I 00:07:14.060 --> 00:07:17.800 don't want them showing up here. He steps away 00:07:17.800 --> 00:07:22.199 to answer. When he returns, he sighs, sliding 00:07:22.199 --> 00:07:25.620 his phone into his back pocket. I have to go, 00:07:25.939 --> 00:07:29.980 unfortunately. He pauses. Hey, can you give me 00:07:29.980 --> 00:07:33.660 an update on your dad's funeral? I nod. Four 00:07:33.660 --> 00:07:37.439 days pass. I don't send him an update. I'm too 00:07:37.439 --> 00:07:41.209 scared to plan it, too drained to face it. It's 00:07:41.209 --> 00:07:44.629 going to be small. Two people from dad's side. 00:07:45.029 --> 00:07:48.709 No one from mum's. They're all overseas. On the 00:07:48.709 --> 00:07:52.310 fifth day, I finally text him. The funeral is 00:07:52.310 --> 00:07:55.370 today. He doesn't sound pleased when he replies. 00:07:55.910 --> 00:07:58.449 Three days ago, he announced his engagement to 00:07:58.449 --> 00:08:01.170 Natasha. Maybe that's why I didn't bother telling 00:08:01.170 --> 00:08:04.189 him sooner. He's busy with his perfect royal 00:08:04.189 --> 00:08:07.829 life. The funeral comes and goes. He doesn't 00:08:07.829 --> 00:08:11.829 show. And honestly, I'm glad. When I get home, 00:08:11.870 --> 00:08:14.490 I kick off my shoes and curl up on the couch, 00:08:14.990 --> 00:08:18.209 wrapped in a blanket. The sadness rolls over 00:08:18.209 --> 00:08:22.209 me again. Dad is gone. Really gone. At least 00:08:22.209 --> 00:08:25.930 he's with mom now. I sigh. And then, there's 00:08:25.930 --> 00:08:31.170 a pounding on my door. Loud. Insistent. Oh God. 00:08:31.810 --> 00:08:34.149 I open the door, still in my funeral clothes, 00:08:34.450 --> 00:08:37.690 and before I can say a word, Kayvon crashes into 00:08:37.690 --> 00:08:40.950 me, his arms wrapped tight around me, and just 00:08:40.950 --> 00:08:44.169 like that, I break in his embrace. Because he's 00:08:44.169 --> 00:08:46.610 the only one I feel safe with right now, and 00:08:46.610 --> 00:08:50.129 every time he holds me, I feel to release. I'm 00:08:50.129 --> 00:08:53.870 so sorry I missed it. I fucking missed it, Lara. 00:08:54.389 --> 00:08:57.789 Ugh. They had me tied up in endless public speaking 00:08:57.789 --> 00:09:02.669 bullshit. It's fine. I manage, my breath trembling. 00:09:03.129 --> 00:09:06.409 He kicks the door shut behind him, still holding 00:09:06.409 --> 00:09:09.649 me close. At least I have you here now as a friend. 00:09:09.990 --> 00:09:14.210 I add. There's a beat of silence. Then, softly, 00:09:14.649 --> 00:09:18.070 but firmly, he says, I don't see you as a friend, 00:09:18.190 --> 00:09:23.370 Lara. I see you as something more. I pull back 00:09:23.370 --> 00:09:27.330 and meet his eyes. He looks devastated, torn 00:09:27.330 --> 00:09:31.649 apart. I like you. And I know this is the worst 00:09:31.649 --> 00:09:34.559 possible time to say it. And yes, I'm engaged 00:09:34.559 --> 00:09:38.679 to another woman. But I fucking like you. I've 00:09:38.679 --> 00:09:43.220 always liked you, not as a friend, as more. I 00:09:43.220 --> 00:09:46.679 blink at him, stunned. Why would you say this 00:09:46.679 --> 00:09:51.899 now? I turn away, shaking my head. But he follows 00:09:51.899 --> 00:09:55.519 and grabs my hand, swinging me back around. I 00:09:55.519 --> 00:10:00.840 love you. Can you please stop? My voice breaks. 00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:04.210 None of this makes sense. Even if you love me, 00:10:04.289 --> 00:10:07.250 nothing can happen. I won't be your fuck buddy. 00:10:08.070 --> 00:10:10.830 You're going to ruin my life just by saying this. 00:10:11.629 --> 00:10:15.590 How selfish can you be? I rip my hand free and 00:10:15.590 --> 00:10:18.730 back away, clutching my head. Couldn't you have 00:10:18.730 --> 00:10:22.169 picked a better time? I'm still grieving my dad. 00:10:23.309 --> 00:10:27.149 I've fallen for you. He says, broken. I love 00:10:27.149 --> 00:10:31.730 you, Lara. Don't lie to me. I point at him, furious. 00:10:32.059 --> 00:10:35.259 Tell me the truth. Haven't you felt something 00:10:35.259 --> 00:10:38.860 more than friendship between us? I know I have. 00:10:39.480 --> 00:10:42.139 And I can't shake the feeling. I know you must 00:10:42.139 --> 00:10:45.860 have felt it too. I shake my head. I don't know 00:10:45.860 --> 00:10:49.139 what you are talking about. You're delusional. 00:10:50.200 --> 00:10:54.559 If I'm delusional, then deny this. Kayvon yanks 00:10:54.559 --> 00:10:58.159 me forward, pressing his lips against mine. I 00:10:58.159 --> 00:11:01.259 immediately melt against him like a lovesick 00:11:01.259 --> 00:11:06.399 fool. God help me, because I kiss him back. I 00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:09.100 kiss him like I'd been waiting for a moment like 00:11:09.100 --> 00:11:13.059 this. He swallows my tongue, drinking me in like 00:11:13.059 --> 00:11:16.460 his first cup of coffee. Good God, this feels 00:11:16.460 --> 00:11:21.039 good. We are desperate, careless, frenzied like 00:11:21.039 --> 00:11:25.019 anxious teenagers. We struggle, breathing hard. 00:11:25.259 --> 00:11:29.519 My denial crashing into grief. I moan against 00:11:29.519 --> 00:11:33.779 his sweet kisses. And now I know why he's him. 00:11:34.419 --> 00:11:38.019 Why his women never stop chasing him. He's fucking 00:11:38.019 --> 00:11:42.120 magnetic. When I finally pull away, my voice 00:11:42.120 --> 00:11:47.899 cracks. This, this means nothing. Kayvon's hand 00:11:47.899 --> 00:11:53.700 cups my cheek, steady, gentle. Lara. I whisper 00:11:53.700 --> 00:11:57.409 against him. guarded. I'm only doing this because 00:11:57.409 --> 00:12:01.990 my day and week has been shit. He exhales, and 00:12:01.990 --> 00:12:05.789 it's more like a sigh. I ignore him. I want you 00:12:05.789 --> 00:12:09.649 to fuck me like you did to those girls. His jaw 00:12:09.649 --> 00:12:13.629 tightens. I don't want to fuck you. He says firmly. 00:12:14.350 --> 00:12:17.950 His eyes search mine, and for once, he looks 00:12:17.950 --> 00:12:22.090 completely stripped down, raw. I want to make 00:12:22.090 --> 00:12:26.419 love to you. He lifts me into his arms, and I 00:12:26.419 --> 00:12:29.320 wrap tight around his neck as he carries me into 00:12:29.320 --> 00:12:32.399 my room. He lays me down on the bed with a care 00:12:32.399 --> 00:12:35.620 that makes my chest ache. His shirt comes open, 00:12:35.700 --> 00:12:38.500 and even though I've seen him bear a hundred 00:12:38.500 --> 00:12:42.519 times, I still can't look away. That body, God, 00:12:42.639 --> 00:12:45.379 it always leaves me breathless, no matter how 00:12:45.379 --> 00:12:49.700 hard I try to hide it. Lift for me, he murmurs, 00:12:50.039 --> 00:12:54.009 and I do, letting him peel away my blouse. My 00:12:54.009 --> 00:12:56.950 bra is the only thing left, and his mouth finds 00:12:56.950 --> 00:13:00.509 me there, kissing down my neck, across my shoulder, 00:13:00.970 --> 00:13:03.710 until he pulls the lace aside and takes my nipple 00:13:03.710 --> 00:13:07.450 between his lips. A gasp slips from me, soft 00:13:07.450 --> 00:13:10.330 and shaky, as I clutch him closer. His kisses 00:13:10.330 --> 00:13:14.529 are slow, tender, nothing like the careless way 00:13:14.529 --> 00:13:17.389 I've seen him with other women. With them, he 00:13:17.389 --> 00:13:20.750 was rough, detached, he never even kissed them. 00:13:21.009 --> 00:13:25.970 But with me, He's gentle, sweet, and that scares 00:13:25.970 --> 00:13:29.269 me more than anything. He slides my bra away 00:13:29.269 --> 00:13:33.230 completely, leaving me bare, and tugs down my 00:13:33.230 --> 00:13:36.470 skirt until I'm in nothing but panties. Do you 00:13:36.470 --> 00:13:40.789 have condoms? He shakes his head no. My hand 00:13:40.789 --> 00:13:44.970 fumbles in the drawer, pulling one free. I'm 00:13:44.970 --> 00:13:48.929 on the pill, but just in case. Ironic, really. 00:13:49.230 --> 00:13:52.700 I never use them. My love life has been a ghost 00:13:52.700 --> 00:13:56.639 town, but now, because of him, they finally have 00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:59.940 a purpose. I watch as he rolls the condom on 00:13:59.940 --> 00:14:03.580 with ease, then hovers over me. But I shake my 00:14:03.580 --> 00:14:07.120 head, grip his shoulders, and shove him down 00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:11.240 onto the bed. My body follows, straddling him, 00:14:11.700 --> 00:14:14.440 hovering above. I don't even bother stripping 00:14:14.440 --> 00:14:18.519 my underwear. I push them aside, sink down onto 00:14:18.519 --> 00:14:22.159 him. and my palms slap against his rigid stomach 00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:26.980 for balance. He exhales hard, gripping my waist 00:14:26.980 --> 00:14:30.580 as I move over him. He's thick, hard as stone, 00:14:31.179 --> 00:14:35.679 stretching me perfectly. A broken whimper falls 00:14:35.679 --> 00:14:39.019 from my lips as he thrusts up into me, burying 00:14:39.019 --> 00:14:43.039 deep, my claw at his chest, my body rolling as 00:14:43.039 --> 00:14:49.360 I ride him, faster, harder. He groans, His grip 00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:53.620 bruises my hips. You feel so good. And then, 00:14:54.100 --> 00:14:57.759 in one powerful motion, he flips me beneath him 00:14:57.759 --> 00:15:02.500 again, stealing control. He slams into me, deep 00:15:02.500 --> 00:15:06.840 and relentless, his face buried in my neck as 00:15:06.840 --> 00:15:11.379 he inhales me, groaning against my skin. My legs 00:15:11.379 --> 00:15:14.940 wrap around his waist, locking him closer, pulling 00:15:14.940 --> 00:15:20.769 him deeper. Don't stop. He kisses me hungrily, 00:15:21.049 --> 00:15:24.370 and I answer with equal fire, my tongue sliding 00:15:24.370 --> 00:15:27.490 against his as we devour each other. We roll 00:15:27.490 --> 00:15:32.009 again, tangled, and I end up back on top, grinding 00:15:32.009 --> 00:15:35.710 down on him. My moans echo through the room as 00:15:35.710 --> 00:15:39.370 I bury my face against his, kissing him desperately, 00:15:39.909 --> 00:15:44.120 riding him harder and harder. Something explodes 00:15:44.120 --> 00:15:47.879 inside me, my stomach clenching, my whole body 00:15:47.879 --> 00:15:52.600 stiffening. He sees it. The way I break apart, 00:15:52.899 --> 00:15:59.120 and his hands lock on my hips. I thrash, my head 00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:02.340 rolling, my palms slapping against his stomach 00:16:02.340 --> 00:16:06.120 as wave after wave of ecstasy tears through me. 00:16:07.179 --> 00:16:11.879 I scream. The release rips out of me, leaving 00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:14.779 me a trembling mess. And before I can catch my 00:16:14.779 --> 00:16:18.120 breath, he flips me beneath him again. He pushes 00:16:18.120 --> 00:16:22.019 into me slowly, deliberately, dragging every 00:16:22.019 --> 00:16:25.720 ounce of pleasure out of my body. I cry. I don't 00:16:25.720 --> 00:16:28.659 even know if it's from grief, from bliss, from 00:16:28.659 --> 00:16:31.740 everything colliding inside me, but I cry like 00:16:31.740 --> 00:16:35.799 a baby. My tears soak my cheeks, my neck, and 00:16:35.799 --> 00:16:39.009 still he doesn't stop. He kisses them away while 00:16:39.009 --> 00:16:42.470 his body moves inside me, deep and unyielding. 00:16:42.710 --> 00:16:46.889 I cling to him, nails raking his back, sobs shaking 00:16:46.889 --> 00:16:49.950 through me as he holds me tighter, his breathing 00:16:49.950 --> 00:16:56.330 turns jagged. I wrap myself around him, holding 00:16:56.330 --> 00:17:00.649 him close as his body jerks. Once. Twice. Three 00:17:00.649 --> 00:17:05.400 times. before he collapses against me, shuddering. 00:17:05.779 --> 00:17:09.000 A broken exhale escapes him as I feel him pulse 00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:12.619 inside me, the last surge of him spilling into 00:17:12.619 --> 00:17:16.700 me, filling me. And then it's just us, sweaty, 00:17:17.400 --> 00:17:20.700 tangled, breathless, clinging to each other like 00:17:20.700 --> 00:17:24.460 the world outside doesn't exist. We stay like 00:17:24.460 --> 00:17:28.319 this, tangled in each other, for what feels like 00:17:28.319 --> 00:17:31.960 forever. He plays with my hair. brushing his 00:17:31.960 --> 00:17:35.519 fingers through it. And every so often, he kisses 00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:38.980 my forehead. I've never seen this side of him 00:17:38.980 --> 00:17:44.160 before. So tender, so gentle. But I know better. 00:17:44.599 --> 00:17:47.920 This is all it can ever be. I may not even have 00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:51.380 a job after this. Fine. I'll take over dad's 00:17:51.380 --> 00:17:54.720 shop, rebuild it. I've always dreamed of doing 00:17:54.720 --> 00:17:58.099 cakes. And with my publicist skills, I can make 00:17:58.099 --> 00:18:02.450 it work. This Whatever this was, was a one -time 00:18:02.450 --> 00:18:06.210 thing. He'll go on and marry Natasha. And me? 00:18:06.730 --> 00:18:10.450 At least I got to experience it once. The best 00:18:10.450 --> 00:18:14.470 sex of my life. Kayvon pinches my cheek, pulling 00:18:14.470 --> 00:18:17.210 me back from my thoughts. What are you thinking 00:18:17.210 --> 00:18:22.390 about? Nothing. I lie. I can see those bees buzzing. 00:18:23.250 --> 00:18:27.549 It must be something. It's nothing. I slip off 00:18:27.549 --> 00:18:30.809 of him, pulling the sheet over me. It's after 00:18:30.809 --> 00:18:36.549 midnight. You should go. He blinks. What? You 00:18:36.549 --> 00:18:39.529 finally got what you wanted all along. Now go. 00:18:40.130 --> 00:18:43.710 Don't you want to be with Natasha? His face hardens. 00:18:44.029 --> 00:18:47.250 What the fuck are you saying, Laura? I know you 00:18:47.250 --> 00:18:51.349 wanted to get an edge off. I did too. But the 00:18:51.349 --> 00:18:55.609 night's over. His expression shatters. You think 00:18:55.609 --> 00:18:59.559 I just wanted to fuck you? Isn't that what you 00:18:59.559 --> 00:19:02.160 do with all your women? Are you being fucking 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:05.759 real right now? Yes. You really think this could 00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:08.640 be something? You're engaged for fuck's sake. 00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:11.359 This isn't going to work. And I'm not going to 00:19:11.359 --> 00:19:16.759 be your mistress. He glares, his jaw tight. You 00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:18.400 think I'll make love with you and then still 00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:21.859 marry her? I laugh bitterly. You don't have a 00:19:21.859 --> 00:19:24.880 choice, Kayvon. You're the prince. You don't 00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:28.019 get to choose. I don't match up to your world. 00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:32.059 I'm just me, a lowly person who doesn't belong. 00:19:32.940 --> 00:19:37.259 The fuck you will. He snaps. Excuse me? I'm not 00:19:37.259 --> 00:19:40.539 going to marry Natasha. I'm going to marry you. 00:19:41.059 --> 00:19:44.859 I blink up at him, and then I laugh again. Not 00:19:44.859 --> 00:19:48.839 a sweet laugh. A sharp, manic laugh that fills 00:19:48.839 --> 00:19:54.460 the room. Is my pussy that good? But there's 00:19:54.460 --> 00:19:58.160 no laughter on his face. No joke in his eyes. 00:19:58.519 --> 00:20:04.140 He's deadly serious. Yes. He says, steady. I 00:20:04.140 --> 00:20:08.940 am marrying you. Good Lord, you've lost it. I 00:20:08.940 --> 00:20:13.019 shake my head. Maybe you should really go. Just 00:20:13.019 --> 00:20:20.759 leave. Lara. Leave. My voice cracks. Anger flickers 00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:24.220 in him. He bends, grabbing his clothes from the 00:20:24.220 --> 00:20:27.000 floor. yanking them on with sharp movements. 00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:30.839 How dare you! How dare you come here and insult 00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:35.579 me like this! My chest tightens. Am I the fool 00:20:35.579 --> 00:20:39.480 then? I shove back tears. I'll be sending my 00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:42.180 resignation tomorrow. I won't be played by you 00:20:42.180 --> 00:20:45.519 or anyone at that palace. I know how this ends 00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:49.099 and I won't sit around waiting for it. Lara, 00:20:49.140 --> 00:20:54.200 please! Go! He glares at me, fully dressed now. 00:20:54.410 --> 00:20:58.910 his face hard and wounded. Then he storms out, 00:20:59.190 --> 00:21:02.710 the door slamming behind him. Silence crashes 00:21:02.710 --> 00:21:05.849 into the room. I sink onto the couch, burying 00:21:05.849 --> 00:21:08.990 my face in my hands. I don't know what I feel. 00:21:09.450 --> 00:21:13.829 I stare at the blank wall, numb. The next day, 00:21:14.269 --> 00:21:18.490 I keep my word. I send in my resignation. For 00:21:18.490 --> 00:21:21.890 the next three weeks, I lock myself inside my 00:21:21.890 --> 00:21:25.190 apartment, drowning in silence and card games, 00:21:25.789 --> 00:21:28.970 scribbling down half -baked ideas for Dad's shop, 00:21:29.450 --> 00:21:33.190 cake making, a restart, anything that doesn't 00:21:33.190 --> 00:21:36.789 involve the palace. I don't turn on the TV. I 00:21:36.789 --> 00:21:40.190 don't want to see him. And Cave On hasn't called. 00:21:40.609 --> 00:21:45.430 Not once. Good. When my remuneration package 00:21:45.430 --> 00:21:48.420 comes through, I drag myself to the palace to 00:21:48.420 --> 00:21:51.859 collect it. Being back there is nauseating enough. 00:21:52.339 --> 00:21:56.039 But then, out of nowhere, a wave of sickness 00:21:56.039 --> 00:21:59.480 rips through me. I barely make it to the bathroom 00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:02.599 before I'm puking my guts out. The thought of 00:22:02.599 --> 00:22:05.200 being here again makes me want to retch harder. 00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:09.220 Thank God I haven't seen Cave On. If I had, I 00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:12.759 might have collapsed completely. Back home, the 00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:17.339 nausea doesn't stop. It lingers. gnaws, stretches 00:22:17.339 --> 00:22:20.779 into three miserable days until I finally end 00:22:20.779 --> 00:22:24.339 up at the doctor. She frowns at me, then hands 00:22:24.339 --> 00:22:27.940 me one of those sticks. I shake my head. That's 00:22:27.940 --> 00:22:31.960 impossible. I'm on the pill. And the last time 00:22:31.960 --> 00:22:37.119 I had sex, only once, we used condoms. Just to 00:22:37.119 --> 00:22:42.420 be safe, she says. Five minutes later, I'm sitting 00:22:42.420 --> 00:22:46.130 there, head in my hands. staring at the stick. 00:22:46.869 --> 00:22:51.970 Two lines. Two fucking lines. I'm pregnant. By 00:22:51.970 --> 00:22:54.250 the end of the day, the doctor tells me I'm six 00:22:54.250 --> 00:22:58.509 weeks pregnant. Six weeks. Exactly when Kayvon 00:22:58.509 --> 00:23:03.410 and I... Oh dear God. The one thing I swore would 00:23:03.410 --> 00:23:07.049 never happen, the one thing I tried so hard to 00:23:07.049 --> 00:23:11.670 prevent, happened anyway. But how? I used condoms. 00:23:11.829 --> 00:23:14.849 I was on the pill. What kind of fucked up joke 00:23:14.849 --> 00:23:18.529 is this? The condoms were fine. I bought them 00:23:18.529 --> 00:23:22.569 myself, for him. They weren't old. They weren't 00:23:22.569 --> 00:23:28.130 faulty. And the pill? Oh no. My stomach drops 00:23:28.130 --> 00:23:31.750 as I sort through my batch, doing my math. A 00:23:31.750 --> 00:23:34.450 couple of missed days right after dad's death. 00:23:34.930 --> 00:23:39.049 Two days. That's all it took. How can the world 00:23:39.049 --> 00:23:43.700 be this cruel to me? Nausea slams into me, and 00:23:43.700 --> 00:23:47.200 I hurl into the sink, dry heaving until my ribs 00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:50.759 ache. There's no way I can tell him. No way. 00:23:51.400 --> 00:23:54.640 The palace would have to know eventually. Rumours, 00:23:55.119 --> 00:23:58.579 whispers, medical records. But if I don't decide 00:23:58.579 --> 00:24:01.339 what to do now, the choice will be ripped from 00:24:01.339 --> 00:24:05.500 me later. I have to make a decision. And soon. 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:08.740 It doesn't take long for word to spread about 00:24:08.740 --> 00:24:12.259 my sudden nausea at the palace. Of all the days, 00:24:12.859 --> 00:24:15.980 why did my body have to betray me there, in front 00:24:15.980 --> 00:24:18.880 of the entire staff, while I was only supposed 00:24:18.880 --> 00:24:21.900 to collect my damn cheque? Now everyone's whispering. 00:24:22.380 --> 00:24:24.920 I'm in the kitchen boiling an egg when my phone 00:24:24.920 --> 00:24:28.500 rings. The sound slices through the silence like 00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:33.019 a knife. Cave -on. My chest tightens. I don't 00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:37.450 answer. because deep down I have this sick, sinking 00:24:37.450 --> 00:24:42.369 feeling he knows. It's after eight when the pounding 00:24:42.369 --> 00:24:45.609 starts at my door. Five hours since his first 00:24:45.609 --> 00:24:49.289 call, five hours before he came knocking, I try 00:24:49.289 --> 00:24:52.309 to ignore it, but the banging rattles the walls, 00:24:52.789 --> 00:24:56.829 rattles my chest. Finally, I take a deep breath 00:24:56.829 --> 00:25:00.670 and open it. Kevon stands there looking miserable. 00:25:01.630 --> 00:25:06.160 He says, His voice breaking, I hold my ground. 00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:09.799 What are you doing here? You know why I'm here. 00:25:10.160 --> 00:25:14.180 No, I don't, actually. The last I checked, you 00:25:14.180 --> 00:25:16.119 were supposed to be getting engaged to Natasha, 00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:19.539 preparing for your wedding, leaving me the fuck 00:25:19.539 --> 00:25:25.099 alone. His eyes sharpen. You're pregnant. My 00:25:25.099 --> 00:25:29.079 stomach twists. I narrow my eyes. Well, God's 00:25:29.079 --> 00:25:32.319 being generous with you, huh? Imagining things. 00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:36.779 There are whispers at the palace. He says his 00:25:36.779 --> 00:25:40.180 jaw tight They said you were sick when you came 00:25:40.180 --> 00:25:43.539 in for your package that you puked your guts 00:25:43.539 --> 00:25:48.740 out Why can't it just be the flu? I snap He pushes 00:25:48.740 --> 00:25:51.859 past me slamming the door behind him. Do you 00:25:51.859 --> 00:25:56.480 take me for a fool? Yes He reaches for my shoulder. 00:25:56.539 --> 00:26:01.259 I shove him away. Leave me alone Are you pregnant? 00:26:02.099 --> 00:26:06.690 No The lie tastes bitter. Then why were you sick? 00:26:07.450 --> 00:26:10.589 Why is any of this your problem? It's not your 00:26:10.589 --> 00:26:15.750 problem. It is, he says fiercely, because I actually 00:26:15.750 --> 00:26:20.210 care. Even if you don't believe me. You don't 00:26:20.210 --> 00:26:25.250 care. How dare you? His voice shakes. He grabs 00:26:25.250 --> 00:26:29.769 my wrist, pulling me close. I swear to God, if 00:26:29.769 --> 00:26:32.890 you're pregnant and lying to me. You'll what? 00:26:33.869 --> 00:26:37.269 What can you do? Even if I was pregnant, what 00:26:37.269 --> 00:26:41.970 could you do? His face hardens. So you are pregnant. 00:26:43.190 --> 00:26:47.250 I rip free and storm off, but he follows. Talk 00:26:47.250 --> 00:26:52.410 to me, La. Please. I don't know how it happened. 00:26:52.730 --> 00:26:56.970 We were careful. My chest cracks and the words 00:26:56.970 --> 00:27:00.630 tumble out. I probably skipped two days. With 00:27:00.630 --> 00:27:04.970 Dad. With everything. I missed days on my pills. 00:27:05.529 --> 00:27:09.190 That's all it took. His arms close around me 00:27:09.190 --> 00:27:13.069 before I can break again. It's fine. I peer up 00:27:13.069 --> 00:27:16.750 at him, fury and grief tangled. How can this 00:27:16.750 --> 00:27:20.309 be fine? Everything I did these past months, 00:27:20.750 --> 00:27:23.710 everything was to prevent this. To keep from 00:27:23.710 --> 00:27:26.789 giving you a bastard child. And now I'm carrying 00:27:26.789 --> 00:27:32.720 yours. The condom broke. What? I noticed after 00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:37.279 I slipped it off. Anger boils inside me. And 00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:40.900 you didn't think to say something? He shrugs, 00:27:41.579 --> 00:27:45.240 nonchalant as if a child is not a big deal. You 00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:49.400 said you were on the pill. Honestly, I didn't 00:27:49.400 --> 00:27:52.619 think of it as a big deal, but now it makes sense. 00:27:53.720 --> 00:27:57.859 You're an asshole. This feels like a trap. Why 00:27:57.859 --> 00:28:01.369 on earth would he not say anything? It's as if 00:28:01.369 --> 00:28:06.250 he wanted this. Did he? Oh my god. What is wrong 00:28:06.250 --> 00:28:09.569 with this man? I promise you, it's not a trap. 00:28:10.150 --> 00:28:13.130 I had no intentions of impregnating you. At least 00:28:13.130 --> 00:28:16.769 not like that. I press my fingers to my forehead 00:28:16.769 --> 00:28:20.470 where a headache surfaces. Come on now. We'll 00:28:20.470 --> 00:28:25.269 deal with it. Together. No. My voice is steel. 00:28:26.130 --> 00:28:29.130 I'll deal with it. Alone. I'm getting an abortion. 00:28:30.130 --> 00:28:34.690 You absolutely will not." He snaps. My chest 00:28:34.690 --> 00:28:37.630 heaves. You cannot tell me what to do with my 00:28:37.630 --> 00:28:41.509 body. You think I want this kind of life. To 00:28:41.509 --> 00:28:44.650 be whistled at, chastised, dragged through the 00:28:44.650 --> 00:28:47.509 mud for carrying a bastard child. For trapping 00:28:47.509 --> 00:28:50.430 the prince. That's the worst thing that could 00:28:50.430 --> 00:28:54.670 happen to me. His eyes flash. You have no choice 00:28:54.670 --> 00:28:58.769 in this anymore, Lara. Excuse me? You're carrying 00:28:58.769 --> 00:29:02.410 our child. You're carrying a royal. You cannot 00:29:02.410 --> 00:29:06.609 abandon them. Get out of my apartment. I spit. 00:29:07.329 --> 00:29:11.009 He steps closer, but I shove him back. Get out. 00:29:12.190 --> 00:29:15.390 Kayvon's anger fades, his shoulders loosening. 00:29:15.869 --> 00:29:19.250 Can we at least talk about this? My engagement 00:29:19.250 --> 00:29:21.809 has been off for the last two weeks. I'm sure 00:29:21.809 --> 00:29:24.990 we can work something out. The words slam into 00:29:24.990 --> 00:29:29.079 me. Wait. What did you just say? I called it 00:29:29.079 --> 00:29:32.119 off. I couldn't bear marrying someone I don't 00:29:32.119 --> 00:29:35.279 love. My parents were livid, said I wasn't doing 00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:38.819 my duty, but I didn't care. I didn't love her. 00:29:39.339 --> 00:29:41.539 I told them I was in love with someone else. 00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:46.299 My mouth falls open. Did you tell them about 00:29:46.299 --> 00:29:51.279 us? No. His voice softens. I didn't tell them 00:29:51.279 --> 00:29:55.980 it was you. He takes a step closer. And now this. 00:29:56.680 --> 00:30:01.259 You're pregnant with our child. Our child. I 00:30:01.259 --> 00:30:05.440 shake my head. They'll never accept this. Your 00:30:05.440 --> 00:30:09.180 mother has hated my guts from the start. Perhaps 00:30:09.180 --> 00:30:12.960 because she knew, he says quietly, knew the kind 00:30:12.960 --> 00:30:17.759 of woman I'd fall for. I clench my jaw. This 00:30:17.759 --> 00:30:22.980 doesn't change anything. Then wait. Think about 00:30:22.980 --> 00:30:27.720 it. Give it time. I need to tell my parents about 00:30:27.720 --> 00:30:31.480 us. But I won't tell them you're pregnant. Not 00:30:31.480 --> 00:30:36.539 yet. I blink at him. He's serious. He's really 00:30:36.539 --> 00:30:41.720 going to do this. Are you sure? Yes, he says 00:30:41.720 --> 00:30:44.700 firmly. They'll have to accept you, no matter 00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:48.460 what. Maybe it's time for a change at the palace. 00:30:49.059 --> 00:30:52.940 A traditional change. I bury my face in my palms. 00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:56.400 shaking my head. All of this could have been 00:30:56.400 --> 00:31:01.019 avoided if I hadn't fucked him. Kayvon, sweet, 00:31:01.319 --> 00:31:04.680 stubborn Kayvon, takes my hand and kisses the 00:31:04.680 --> 00:31:07.559 back of it gently. The last thing I would ever 00:31:07.559 --> 00:31:11.519 want is for you to abort our child, La. I love 00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:15.539 you. And I would love them just as much. I look 00:31:15.539 --> 00:31:19.819 up at him. His eyes are so soft, so certain. 00:31:20.579 --> 00:31:23.859 But I know. The moment he tells his parents, 00:31:24.180 --> 00:31:27.380 none of this will make sense anymore. Two days. 00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:30.680 That's all it takes before he lets the king and 00:31:30.680 --> 00:31:33.880 queen know who he's in love with. And then it's 00:31:33.880 --> 00:31:38.539 everywhere. The news. The headlines. The world. 00:31:38.980 --> 00:31:41.599 Apparently, his parents didn't take it well. 00:31:42.259 --> 00:31:47.019 Not at all. So he does the unthinkable. The headline 00:31:47.019 --> 00:31:50.630 scrolls across the screen in bold letters. Prince 00:31:50.630 --> 00:31:54.910 abdicates the throne. Reasons unknown. I blink 00:31:54.910 --> 00:31:59.930 at the screen. Frozen. Oh God. He's done it. 00:32:00.190 --> 00:32:03.970 He's actually done it. Prince Kayvon has abdicated 00:32:03.970 --> 00:32:07.630 the throne. Now his parents are cornered, their 00:32:07.630 --> 00:32:11.009 only living heir gone. The crown will pass to 00:32:11.009 --> 00:32:13.930 his father's brother when the king dies. The 00:32:13.930 --> 00:32:18.069 palace is in chaos. A sharp knock rattles my 00:32:18.069 --> 00:32:22.099 door. I jump. my heart in my throat. The news 00:32:22.099 --> 00:32:25.319 is still blaring from the TV when I force myself 00:32:25.319 --> 00:32:29.339 to answer it. Cavon stands there, and behind 00:32:29.339 --> 00:32:35.059 him, the King and the Queen. Everything happens 00:32:35.059 --> 00:32:38.940 in a blur. I'm whisked away under private security, 00:32:39.339 --> 00:32:41.880 though I don't need it. They don't even take 00:32:41.880 --> 00:32:45.440 me to the palace. We end up at some hidden residence, 00:32:45.920 --> 00:32:49.660 a private home tucked out of sight. Two hours. 00:32:50.160 --> 00:32:53.279 That's how long the negotiations last. Two hours 00:32:53.279 --> 00:32:56.740 of my life carved up and bartered over like property. 00:32:57.140 --> 00:33:00.920 But eventually, his parents concede. Kavon and 00:33:00.920 --> 00:33:04.759 I will marry. I will carry this child and I will 00:33:04.759 --> 00:33:08.859 become royalty, securing the next heir after 00:33:08.859 --> 00:33:12.640 him. My head spins. It's happening too fast. 00:33:12.920 --> 00:33:15.779 Kavon pulls me into his arms, hugging me tight. 00:33:16.029 --> 00:33:19.869 I stand there, stiff, numb. My dad isn't here 00:33:19.869 --> 00:33:23.029 to see any of this. And maybe he was right all 00:33:23.029 --> 00:33:26.390 along. Yes, I would have my blessing someday. 00:33:26.809 --> 00:33:30.789 But at what cost? Kavon kisses me as he holds 00:33:30.789 --> 00:33:34.829 me. He's made this real. Made it happen. And 00:33:34.829 --> 00:33:39.930 I do love him. God help me. I do. But all of 00:33:39.930 --> 00:33:43.109 it feels surreal. Like a dream I can't wake from. 00:33:43.559 --> 00:33:46.619 I stay hidden away at the private residence, 00:33:47.039 --> 00:33:51.140 counting down the days. In five days, the world 00:33:51.140 --> 00:33:55.720 will know who I am. The woman who stole the prince's 00:33:55.720 --> 00:34:00.339 heart. The woman carrying his child. Kayvon stays 00:34:00.339 --> 00:34:03.259 with me through it all. He watches me carefully, 00:34:03.660 --> 00:34:07.000 seeing how unsettled I am. Are you sure you're 00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:12.039 okay with all of this? He asks. I nod. I'm just 00:34:12.039 --> 00:34:16.079 overwhelmed. He hugs me, kisses my forehead. 00:34:16.599 --> 00:34:21.340 It's okay. I know it's big news. I know it's 00:34:21.340 --> 00:34:24.980 a lot to take in. But we'll get through it, won't 00:34:24.980 --> 00:34:30.920 we? I nod again. Then he smiles. That mischievous 00:34:30.920 --> 00:34:35.619 smile. Since we're all alone here, are you up 00:34:35.619 --> 00:34:41.820 for it? I raise an eyebrow. Up for what? He winks. 00:34:42.179 --> 00:34:45.039 I laugh. You're not thinking of fucking, are 00:34:45.039 --> 00:34:49.099 you? It's not going to be fucking. He murmurs. 00:34:49.679 --> 00:34:52.860 It's going to be love making. To my wife to be. 00:34:53.920 --> 00:34:59.199 Oh dear. I smirk. Can you handle it? He chuckles. 00:34:59.940 --> 00:35:04.699 Me? It's you I'm worried about. Me? I tease back. 00:35:05.260 --> 00:35:08.519 It's different when you're pregnant. Heard we're 00:35:08.519 --> 00:35:12.219 ravenous. You might be in for some trouble. He 00:35:12.219 --> 00:35:16.480 smirks. takes my hand and pulls me up, lifting 00:35:16.480 --> 00:35:20.119 me into his arms, carrying me towards the bedroom. 00:35:21.300 --> 00:35:25.159 He strips down, and I can't help but laugh. It 00:35:25.159 --> 00:35:27.219 has been like this since the very beginning. 00:35:27.860 --> 00:35:31.619 Maybe, just maybe, he did it all on purpose, 00:35:31.960 --> 00:35:35.179 just so I would fall in love with him. He's always 00:35:35.179 --> 00:35:38.059 been so comfortable around me. No matter how 00:35:38.059 --> 00:35:41.340 many times I've seen you naked, I murmur, it 00:35:41.340 --> 00:35:47.159 still awes me. Really? His lips curl into a smug 00:35:47.159 --> 00:35:51.679 smile. I always thought you hated me. Never. 00:35:52.239 --> 00:35:55.800 I was jealous of what I couldn't have. His eyes 00:35:55.800 --> 00:35:59.539 widen, softening. You could have always had it. 00:36:00.260 --> 00:36:03.659 That's why I kept showing you. I roll my eyes. 00:36:04.179 --> 00:36:07.900 I used to think you were a creep. Perhaps I was. 00:36:08.300 --> 00:36:13.269 He admits, voice low. For you. He moves toward 00:36:13.269 --> 00:36:17.829 me slowly, deliberate, heat radiating with every 00:36:17.829 --> 00:36:22.489 step. I wrap my hand around his erection. His 00:36:22.489 --> 00:36:26.809 lips curl into a slow smile, his eyes never leaving 00:36:26.809 --> 00:36:30.829 mine. I lower, sliding down until I'm on my knees 00:36:30.829 --> 00:36:34.929 before him. I don't look away, not once. I want 00:36:34.929 --> 00:36:37.670 him to feel how much control I have right now, 00:36:38.030 --> 00:36:41.719 how much power is in my hands. His chest rises, 00:36:42.280 --> 00:36:45.920 heavy and uneven, as if bracing for the inevitable. 00:36:46.960 --> 00:36:50.380 I cover my mouth over him and his body jerks. 00:36:51.039 --> 00:37:07.789 A moan tears out of him, raw, guttural. You have 00:37:07.789 --> 00:37:12.650 met the end of The Arrogant Prince Part 3. This 00:37:12.650 --> 00:37:16.449 is the final part. Stay tuned for a different 00:37:16.449 --> 00:37:20.230 story. And if you haven't already, subscribe, 00:37:20.710 --> 00:37:25.030 share, and follow me on TikTok and YouTube. See 00:37:25.030 --> 00:37:26.449 ya. Bye.