Chapter 9 - "My Daughter"
Claire stood frozen as the tall, powerful man stepped closer to her. She saw her own eyes reflected in his—the same shade of blue, the same stubborn set of the chin.
Alexander dropped to one knee right there on the marble floor of the country club, breaking all royal protocol, and looked up at Claire.
"Claire," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I am sorry it took me seventeen years to fight my way back to you."
The entire room gasped. Vanessa’s jaw dropped open. Richard Whitmore turned pale, his hand trembling so violently that his drink spilled onto the carpet.
Alexander stood up, gently taking Claire’s hand, and turned to address the silent crowd. His voice carried effortlessly across the ballroom.
"I am King Alexander of Valoria. Seventeen years ago, my nation was torn apart by war, and my wife and daughter were forced into hiding to survive. Tonight, my exile is over."
He looked directly at Richard Whitmore and Vanessa.
"I hear someone left an empty chair for my daughter tonight. I hear someone questioned her family legacy."
Richard swallowed hard, taking a step back. "Your Majesty... we... we had no idea... it was merely a misunderstanding..."
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"It was not a misunderstanding," Alexander said coldly. "It was cruelty. And tomorrow morning, my legal team will be purchasing Blackwood Academy’s entire debt portfolio, revoking your chairmanship, and launching a full investigation into your financial dealings with this school."
Vanessa looked at her father, waiting for him to fight back, but Richard could only stare in horror as his power evaporated in a single moment.
