Chapter 214 The Sokolov Royal Family Secret
Liam took a step forward, his eyes narrowing as Emma’s words echoed in his mind. He couldn’t shake the growing tightness in his chest, the heavy churn of dread in his gut. There was more—he could feel it.
He asked, his voice low and tense, "What about Ann?"
Emma paused for a moment, then looked back at both Liam and Lana with a softness in her eyes, like she was holding something fragile in her hands.
"When Ann came to me," she said slowly, "she was hellbent on not marrying Prince Boris. She didn’t care about the company’s debt or what her parents said. All she kept repeating was that she had a man she loved... and that no matter what happened, she wouldn’t be with another."
Liam stood there frozen, the air in his lungs tightening. Every word hit him like a hammer to the chest. His hands slowly clenched into fists by his side.
Of course she didn’t want this. Of course she resisted. It was exactly what he always suspected but never dared to hope—Ann had never turned her back on him. She was forced into all of it.
He swallowed hard and took a step closer. "Then what changed?" he asked. "If she was so determined, why did she suddenly agree to the engagement with Boris? What made her flip like that?"
Emma’s face darkened. "The same thing that happened to her parents."
Lana tilted her head. "You mean the visit?"
Emma nodded solemnly. "Boris went to see her. Alone. No one else was present. It was just him and Ann in a private meeting. I don’t know what happened inside that room, but the very next day..." she let out a bitter breath, "...she was suddenly all in. She started talking about duty. About fulfilling expectations. She even told me to stop bringing up the man she loved—it was like she forgot he existed."
Liam’s eyes burned with intensity. "You’re saying he used something on her."