CHAPTER 20 Schemes

Hawthorne's usual calm demeanor shattered as he flicked through the pages of the Herald newspaper, his eyes narrowing in disbelief and anger. The headline screamed out at him, bold and accusatory: "Royal Scandal Rocks the Kingdom: Eligible Bachelor, Baron Alexander Wintergate gets caught up with a royal mix." "This can't be happening," Hawthorne muttered under his breath, his hands trembling with rage. He knew with certainty that the scandal couldn't have leaked from his end. As the head of the royal communications department, he prided himself on maintaining the utmost confidentiality and discretion. Furrowing his brows in frustration, Hawthorne turned his attention to the article, his eyes scanning the damning accusations against Prince Fredrick, Duke of Sussex. Every word felt like a dagger to his heart, a betrayal of the trust he had worked so hard to uphold. Summoning his secretary with a curt gesture, Hawthorne wasted no time in getting to the bottom of the situation. "Bring m