Who will get the happy ending?

Over the weekend, I stayed glued to a live coverage over CNN of the wedding of Monaco’s Prince Albert to commoner Charlene Wittstock, an Olympic swimmer from South Africa, in the courtyard of the Royal Palace in Monte Carlo.

Though not as highly anticipated and publicized as that of Britain’s Prince William, third-in-line to the throne, and Catherine Middleton, the wedding of Prince Albert and Princess Charlene was also the stuff of fairy tales. A handsome prince, a beautiful commoner from a faraway land, a magnificent palace that represents the apex of riches, white lace (her Armani wedding gown had a five-meter-long train, 40,000 Swarovski crystals and 20,000 mother-of-pearl teardrops) and promises. Andrea Bocelli sang at their wedding, estimated to cost the Prince some $75 million.

Like Prince William, Prince Albert had a stunning celebrity mom, Princess Grace, who was of Hollywood royalty as well. She died violently, just like William’s mom Princess Diana did  in a car crash.

The Monaco wedding unfolded after some drama  there were reports that Charlene was a real-life runaway bride, threatening to flee Monaco after receiving reports that Albert may have fathered a third child out of wedlock.

At around the same time as the Monaco wedding, some Canadians were showing their disgust during the visit to Ottawa of Prince William and Catherine, now Duchess of Cambridge. Just two months ago this couple was the darling of the civilized world. The magic that enveloped them not only came from their obvious love for each other, but by the affection in which they were held by the world. Today, people (a noisy minority to be sure) are daring to pelt invectives at what they represent: royalty.

According to AP, they carried signs that read: “Parasites go home,” “War Criminals” and “Your future came from the blood of our ancestors.” Yup, the honeymoon is over.

At around the same time, too, Maria Shriver, an American princess in her own right (the niece of JFK, the “king of Camelot,” if you will) announced she was divorcing action megastar and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger after 25 years of marriage. For a time there, they were a Hollywood rarity  a happily married celebrity couple whose union has passed the test of time.

According to the tabloids, Maria had known about Arnie’s illegitimate son with their maid (who reportedly earned $1,100 a week and was getting $10,000 in child support) for some time now but believed her husband when he said the boy was the product of a one-time tryst. When she reportedly discovered it wasn’t so, she ended their marriage. Now it was her turn to become the “terminator.” (So what makes Albert different from Arnie?)

Also in the same week was Princess Diana’s 50th birth anniversary. She is the face of the fairy tale that did not have a happy ending.

Maria Shriver and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. AP

So as I watched the blonde Princess Charlene, 33, say “I do” to Prince Albert, 53, her face solemn and her huge blue-green eyes sometimes betraying a hint of sadness and fear, I wondered if her orbs mirrored the uncertainty of her future and her marriage. Come to think of it  no one, prince or pauper, is really certain about his future. You can predict it to a certain extent and the rest is really writ by God, or destiny, or the force you believe controls your life.

So in the meantime, hold on tight to the page that brings you oohs and aahs, the page that makes you happy. Savor each chapter and live the moment. Don’t flip the pages too fast. And don’t obsess too much about the happy ending. A happy ending doesn’t make the book, it’s also the pages in between.

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In contrast, the person whose nightmare seems to be headed for a happier ending that he thought is former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Khan. Accused by a maid in the luxurious Sofitel Hotel in New York of sexually assaulting her, he is now out on bail and his accuser’s credibility being seriously questioned. According to Reuters, a new report says the 32-year-old spoke of the possibility of financial gain from the incident with Strauss-Khan in a phone conversation with her boyfriend. That conversation with the boyfriend, who is in jail, was recorded.

“As the woman’s stature falls, that of Strauss-Khan has rebounded,” says Reuters.

And to think that just last May, Strauss-Khan was the devil personified and the world wanted to bury a pitchfork in his back. Though it is too early to exonerate him, it is not too late to say, things are not always what they seem to be. Emotions can make a mob murderous and quick to judge, especially if the supposed aggrieved person is seen to have less in life. But Lady Justice is blind to one’s station in life.

In the end, the greatest love story in this article of mine may be that of Strauss-Khan and his wife Anne Sinclair. She is said to have stood by him and even paid for his legal fees. A real life Alicia Florrick of the series The Good Wife (starring Julliana Marguilies).

Who knows the fate of Strauss-Khan? Or his accuser? Of Will and Kate, Albert and Charlene, Arnold and Maria? Will she forgive him someday? Who will have the happy ending?

Am not jumping to conclusions.

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