Chapter 60 I got in the car and was about to drive to meet my father when a truck lurking in the dark suddenly rushed towards my car !!! By the time my father reached the crash site , he had already put a team of the country's best physicians on standby . " It was my older brother , Felix , who tore the car door off and pulled me out . The driver was already gone , and when my father saw my condition , he was devastated . In his strong arms I was rushed into the hospital's emergency ward . " Sir , the princess has a very faint pulse , " a doctor reported . " It appears she was in an earlier accident and underwent surgery , and also- " He hesitated until my brother Jake's voice cracked like a whip . " Also what ? " " The princess appears to have suffered a miscarriage . She isn't stable enough for another operation . The best we can do is attempt defibrillation to restore her pulse ." With my father's consent , the doctor hurried away . " " But , Dad , what if- " " There are no what - ifs , " my father said . " Mia is my daughter . She will make it . She has to ." " My mother , Queen Elena , clutched his arm , eyes brimming though her gaze burned with unmistakable wrath . " " She called me , " my father murmured , his voice breaking for the first time in years . " Before the crash . She sounded terrified . " "My little girl said she'd been a disappointment . The bastard who did this to her - his life will be worse than death . " " Elsewhere , anxiety had Xavier in a chokehold . He reached for his phone to check that I'd gotten home safely , but Vanessa stopped him . " Let Mia cool off . She's surely home by now . " " Fine . If I give in now , she'll think tantrums work . " The next morning Xavier phoned the house staff . " Is Mia still sleeping ? Why isn't she answering ? Put her on . I'm at her favorite café - ask what she wants . " " Sir , Mrs. Mia didn't come home last night . " 1 A pang hit his chest . He told himself I was at the office and ignoring his calls after our fight . " " Is this Mia's supervisor I'm speaking to - Sarah ? " > " Yes , " Sarah answered , startled to hear from him so suddenly . " Put Mia on . How can she be so irresponsible , not even calling me- " " I don't know what you mean , but Mia didn't come in today ." " What do you mean she ... she isn't home either ? " Xavier's confidence crumbled by the second . Then a breaking news banner flashed across the café TV . PRINCESS MIA IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER DEVASTATING ACCIDENTE His phone buzzed with a conference call from Vanessa and his mother . Vanessa was sobbing while his mother tried to soothe her . " Xavier , the banquet has been canceled . The royal advisors refuse to attend while the princess is fighting for her life . Vanessa is devastated- " " I don't care ! " Xavier snapped , losing his patience for the first time . " The banquet means nothing if I can't find my wife ." \ " What ? Where is Mia ? Imagine her throwing a tantrum and disappearing when she's carrying a child . Xavier , you never should have married that orphan- " W The rest was lost as the phone slipped from his fingers . " His blood ran cold when the broadcast cut to a family portrait : the king and queen seated with their two sons standing beside them , a small child on the king's knee . It screamed of privilege - of a princess who had never known real hardship . It was only that the princess shared something with his wife : the same golden hair streaked with black ... and the same name -Mia . Xavier could still see the first time I'd cooked for him . " I'm sorry - nobody ever let me cook , so it might taste awful , " I'd laughed , hands shaking with nerves . At the start of our relationship his mother had scolded me for my lack of polish . In that moment , though , Xavier had wondered quietly whether I was simply too noble for small , everyday tasks . " The reporter replayed yesterday's accident over and over . " PRINCESS MIA IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENTM P P · " Princess Mia was traveling in a taxi when a drunk truck driver collided with the vehicle . The driver died at the scene . The princess suffered serious injuries . Doctors say this is especially troubling because she underwent emergency surgery a week ago and spent three days in critical care . Some fear she may be targeted - she was kidnapped three years ago , and now this . " } Xavier remembered my bloodshot eyes from the night before and the words I'd said : " I understand . You want to set her aside because she's sick and can't take care of herself , while I can go home on my own . " But I never made it home . My whereabouts were unknown . " Three days ... three days ... she was kidnapped , " Xavier muttered , his body trembling . A week earlier - on the day of our anniversary - I had disappeared and missed the royal celebration . I'd been so excited I'd bought a whole new wardrobe , almost as if I wanted him to show me off . To whom ? My family ? " At that moment , Xavier staggered back like he'd been struck . Was this really my life - the princess's life - hanging by a thread ? Or was it some terrible coincidence ? \ - lay unconscious in the hospital's large room while doctors watched the monitor's faint , wavering beeps . The pulse could fade away at any moment . < " Your Majesty , we've done everything we can , but the princess shows no improvement , " the lead physician said , hesitating as my mother gripped his hand . It was the first time anyone in the palace had seen Queen Elena unravel like this . " It's like what ? Tell me she'll wake up , " my mother begged . " Your Majesty , I'm afraid the princess may be suffering from severe shock and grief . Her will to recover appears diminished . Medically , we've completed all procedures . For now , the only thing that might help is surrounding her mind with comforting memories - family , laughter - things that could stir a desire to live . " The moment my mother heard that , she fainted . My brother was left to hold me . " In the corridor , my mother - in - law walked with Vanessa , both noses wrinkling against the antiseptic smell . " Vanessa , are you sure this is the right ward ? Did Mia really have an accident , or is she playing for sympathy ? If anything happens to my grandchild , I won't let her go unpunished ," my mother - in - law snapped . " Aunt , my friend's a paramedic , " Vanessa replied smoothly . " He said a woman matching Mia's description was involved in the crash at the crossing . I'm worried for Xavier - this could be a ploy to manipulate him . " " " A trick ? " my mother - in - law scoffed . " Let me see what that - what that woman is capable of . If she dared cheat on my son , I'll ruin her . " Vanessa hesitated , then forced out , " Well ... my friend said a man arrived first , broke the car and carried the woman - Mia - out . He held her in his arms and took her straight to the hospital . What if she's been unfaithful to Xavier ? " } Vanessa's words were sharp , a steady stream of poison disguised as concern . " Isn't it odd that her husband wasn't the one who found her ? " " Let me see how low that woman can fall ," my mother - in - law hissed . " If she cheated on my son , she'll pay . " They skirted past security - Vanessa pretending to be staff - ready to barge into my room without knocking . Then a man's voice floated out from inside . < " You were right . This is her true face . Even if she lives , I'll make sure she wishes she were dead . " Xavier's mother recorded the voice on her phone . Inside the room , Felix held my hand and broke down . " Mia , I should never have let you marry that bastard , " he sobbed . " We've been inseparable since we were kids . How could I let you suffer like this ? God , I was a fool . " He cupped my pale face , tears slipping free . " Do you remember when you were nineteen and snuck out to drink ? I found you and scolded you , but I wasn't angry - I was only worried because you looked so small and sad . I lied when I said I hated your wildness . No matter what , I love you . Mia , don't leave me . Wake up and yell at me - call me a boring fool who wouldn't survive without your smile . " Felix placed a large bouquet of tulips by the bedside . " When you wake , we'll go somewhere far away . I won't let you stay in this place one second longer . " % Outside the room , Vanessa and my mother - in - law continued their venom.N " Look at the kind of woman carrying my son's child , " my mother - in - law sneered . " After seeing this - this filthy affair - I'm not even sure it's Xavier's child . " " You mean- " Vanessa began , but was cut off . " " Yes . She must have been sleeping around . She fooled my son , and everyone will see the truth now . " They stalked away in a fury while Vanessa followed , mouthing sympathy but radiating malice . " I've always liked Xavier , " Vanessa murmured . " If not for circumstances , we could have been together . Auntie , why not make me the new daughter - in - law ? Xavier cares for my boy , and I like him too ." " What if Xavier won't accept it ? " Vancer- P P " What if Xavier won't accept it ? " Vanessa asked . " Don't worry , " my mother - in - law snapped . " I'll make that woman pay . If she survives , she won't forget it . I'd rather she die . " / Soon after , a video of me and Felix - private , intimate moments - was uploaded to social media from an anonymous account . The footage spread fast , and whispers began before anyone even knew the full truth . " P P ·