Evan looked at her for a long moment. He had come prepared for a battle of legalities and retribution, but Juniper had transformed into someone entirely unrecognizable from the woman who had once thrived on palace drama.

“Are you sure, June?” Evan asked, his voice low with caution. “Because once I pull these filings, the case is closed. You won’t get another chance to hold them accountable. Also… Dominick likely won’t take this well. He’s looking for a definitive end to this.”

“I’ve decided this with a clear head,” Juniper insisted. “I don’t want any more punishment for these people. I can’t bear the weight of any more hatred, Evan. Nick is a prince; his status protects him from the fallout of things like this. But I’m a commoner now. I have to live my life among these people, and I can’t keep running to him every time something goes wrong.”

She took a slow breath, looking out the window at the crowded street. “He has a mate now. He can’t stay involved with his ex-wife forever. It’s time I handled my own peace.”

Evan finally nodded, slowly closing the navy blue file. He realized she wasn’t being weak; she was being pragmatic.

Her safety didn’t lie in a legal document or a prince’s protection, it lay in the quiet life she was trying to build for herself.

“I’ll let him know,” Evan said, tucking the file back into his bag. “But I suspect he’s going to want to hear this directly from you.”

“Then call him. I’ll tell him myself,” Juniper said, her voice firm despite her pale complexion.

Evan gave a slow nod and dialed Dominick’s number. When the call connected, he didn’t waste time with small talk. “Juniper wants to speak with you directly. I’m handing the phone to her.”

“Sure,” Dominick replied. He glanced at his watch, checking the time just as Juniper’s voice came through the speaker.

“Hello,” she spoke softly.

“Hmm? What is it? Do you want to add a more brutal punishment to the file?” Dominick asked, lowering his hand and slowing his pace.

“No. I don’t want any of them to be punished,” Juniper replied.

Dominick stopped dead in the middle of the palace corridor. “What are you implying? You don’t want them punished? Are you serious, Juniper? One of those people almost killed you.”

“I can’t give them another reason to hate me,” Juniper stated. “I want to forgive them. You don’t understand because you’re protected all the time, you have guards, status, and even power. I have no one around me. I have to live a normal life among people, and I can’t keep bothering you all the time. You have a mate now, Dominick. You can’t stay involved with your ex-wife forever.”

Dominick gripped the phone. He wanted to argue that his protection was hers for the asking, but her words about his new life and his mate hit a chord of truth he couldn’t ignore.

“Are you sure?” Dominick asked for the last time.

“Hmm. I have nothing to do with you anymore,” Juniper said.

She didn’t wait for a rebuttal or a goodbye; she simply handed the phone back to Evan, cutting off the connection before Dominick could say another word.

Evan took the device, pressing it to his ear to listen to Dominick’s final instructions in silence. After a brief acknowledgment, he hung up and pulled the navy blue file toward him, tucking it away.

“From now on, you will be responsible for whatever happens. If any danger falls upon you, it is your own burden to carry,” Evan said. “The Prince has wished you the best for your life ahead.”

“Tell him to not hurt his mate this time. I hope he learns from what he did to me,” she pronounced.

Evan nodded and stood up. He had booked the entire space for an hour to ensure their privacy, but the meeting had ended far sooner than expected. Without another word, he turned and left.

Juniper remained in her seat. She picked up the already turned cold coffee cup, and took a slow sip. She then rose to her feet and walked out of the cafe, taking a deep breath in the fresh air.

~~~~

Gabriel and Amelie sat on a wooden bench just back from the shoreline, side by side as the seagulls circled the water one last time before the sun dipped below the horizon.

The sky was in a purple shade now, the air cooling as the tide pulled back.

“I’ve had so much fun today,” Amelie said, her voice light and genuinely relaxed. “This date was even better than the last one.”

Before Gabriel could respond, a sudden burst of rhythmic music drifted over from the beach. A small crowd was gathering near a makeshift stage for a sunset concert. As the beat picked up, Amelie didn’t hesitate; she stood up and turned to Gabriel, catching the look of pure amusement on his face.

She began to dance right there on the sand. She moved her hands and body freely, caught up in the tempo. The evening breeze caught her hair, whipping it around her face as she twirled, her feet sinking in the sand of the beach.

Gabriel leaned back, his eyes fixed on her. He couldn’t help but laugh that matched the joy in her expression.

He watched her with a quiet sort of pride, admiring the free spirit she showed to him after such a long time.

Amelie extended her hands toward him, her eyes bright with a silent invitation. Gabriel didn’t hesitate; he reached out and took them, letting her pull him up from the bench.

While he couldn’t quite match her natural rhythm, he moved with her anyway, his efforts dedicated entirely to keeping the smile on her face.

A few onlookers on the beach began to recognize the royal couple, quietly lifting their phones to capture the candid moment. Oblivious to the cameras and the growing crowd, Gabriel and Amelie remained locked in their own world.

As the music finally drifted into a silence, they came to a halt, still breathless. Before the quiet could settle, Gabriel reached out, pulling her close for a sudden kiss.

“You dance well,” he whispered against her lips. “Keep doing it for me.”

“I will. Let’s go back home. Noah must be waiting for us,” she said, holding his hand only to find the people around them, who started cheering for them.