Chapter 14
The morning air felt heavier than usual as I stepped out of my room, still replaying the events of the night before. My thoughts were a whirlwind, caught between Kian and the prince. Kian… that night, that almost… that near-moment—it shouldn't have affected me as much as it did, yet my heart betrayed me, pulsing with confusion and desire. And the prince… I couldn't stop thinking about him. The way he looked at me in school, the quiet intensity in his eyes—it had rooted itself in my mind. I tried to convince myself that maybe Kian was meant for that, that he deserved my attention, that the prince was out of reach. But every thought circled back to the prince, and I couldn't escape it.
As I reached the driveway, my eyes widened in surprise. A sleek, black Lamborghini Aventador gleamed in the sunlight, its polished curves reflecting the morning light. My jaw dropped slightly. "Mimi? Is that… your car?" I asked, hardly believing what I was seeing.
Mimi laughed, stepping out of the driver's seat. "Surprise! My mom got it for me yesterday. Can you believe it? I thought I'd give you a lift to school today." Her excitement was contagious, and I couldn't help but smile despite my tangled emotions.
I stepped closer to admire the car, still processing the sudden luxury. "Wow… it's beautiful. I can't believe this is yours."
"Of course it's mine," she said, brushing off my astonishment. "Now, hop in. We don't want to be late for school."
Sliding into the passenger seat, I tried to shove away my lingering thoughts about Kian and the prince, though it was impossible. My heart still throbbed with the memory of last night, the tension, the closeness, the almost-kiss that neither of us could speak of. And now, the prince, who had been snubbing me, was lingering in my mind more than Kian. My heart was betraying my reason, and I felt the ache of confusion deepen.
The drive to school was thrilling. Mimi weaved through traffic with ease, the Aventador's engine roaring like a wild heartbeat. Halfway through, she turned toward me with a mischievous grin. "By the way… did you hear about the prince's pre-birthday party tomorrow?"
I stiffened slightly, caught off guard. "Pre-birthday party?" I echoed, trying to sound casual.
Mimi nodded. "Yes! Apparently, it's at his mansion. Exclusive guest list, fancy decorations, the works. I managed to snag an invitation through my mom—she's close to the queen. And I can get one for you too if you want."
My pulse quickened at the thought of seeing him there. The prince—so close yet so distant, and here was a chance to be in the same room. "You… you can do that?" I asked cautiously, trying to hide the excitement in my voice.
"Of course!" Mimi said, with a gleam in her eye. "You'll thank me later. You need to see him, maybe clear the air… or whatever it is between you two."
I nodded, trying to steady my racing heart. Seeing him, speaking to him, maybe understanding his silence—that was all I wanted. But deep down, I feared what I might discover.
At school, the day began in a haze of distracted thoughts. As soon as I entered the classroom, I caught sight of the prince. My stomach tightened instantly. I tried approaching him, attempting casual conversation, but he… ignored me. He didn't give me a glance, a word, or any of the small gestures he normally reserved for me. The sharp sting of rejection settled deep in my chest.
Was he still angry about last night? Or maybe it was because he had seen Kian comforting me… hugging me, even? The uncertainty twisted inside me. I tried to convince myself he had other reasons—maybe obligations, maybe his own responsibilities—but my mind couldn't stop circling back to the possibility that it was something I had done.
Throughout the lectures, I tried focusing, but my thoughts betrayed me. Every glance at the prince, every movement, seemed like a question, a judgment, a silent accusation. I caught myself hoping for a hint, a sign, anything. And yet, he remained distant, unapproachable, almost unreachable.
Later, in between classes, Mimi and I found a quiet corner to talk. She was brimming with excitement as she explained the details of the prince's pre-birthday party. I felt a thrill I couldn't quite hide, but my mind kept drifting back to the prince's cold demeanor. "Do you think he'll even notice me?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
Mimi laughed softly. "Of course he will. Just… don't overthink it. Be yourself. Maybe it's time to figure out what you really want."
I nodded, feeling the truth in her words, though it was complicated. I wanted him—no, I loved him—but the weight of Kian's presence lingered too. The memory of last night's closeness with Kian, the almost intimacy, made my heart ache with conflicting loyalties.
Later in the day, I encountered Kian briefly. He tried to ask about the near-incident from the other night, the tension we had shared, but I deflected. I couldn't let my thoughts dwell on that, not when the prince's distance was tearing at me. I steered the conversation elsewhere, laughing lightly, trying to mask my turmoil. Yet, even in that moment, my heart betrayed me—beating faster when I thought of the prince, longing for a gesture, a smile, any sign that he still cared.
The final bell rang, and I left the campus with Mimi. My thoughts were tangled webs of emotion—Kian, the prince, the upcoming party, the unresolved tension, and the lingering uncertainty of who I truly loved.
When I arrived home, a familiar sight froze me in place. A car sat parked in the driveway—a vehicle I recognized immediately. My father's car. My mind spun. Why would he be here? He knew I was at school. Why hadn't he called? Heart hammering, I stepped inside, moving first to the parlour to see if he was there. The room was empty.
I made my way straight to my mother's room, my steps hesitant but urgent. My mind raced with possibilities—had something happened? Was it an emergency? Or was this some strange coincidence? Without knocking, I pushed the door open.
And then… I froze.
There they were. My mother and my father, coming out from the shower. My breath caught. My mind spun in disbelief. My father—married, with another family, two children—was here, with my mother, in a private moment I could never have imagined. And my mother, proud, controlling, powerful, always so untouchable—here, with him.
I could not move. I could not speak. Every thought collided: anger, confusion, disbelief, fear. How had this happened? What had led to this? Why now? The pride, the secrecy, the impossible betrayal—I was trapped in a moment that I couldn't escape, that I couldn't process, that I couldn't yet understand.
I stayed frozen, staring at them, my heart pounding, my mind screaming, the world narrowing down to this impossible scene. And there, in that frozen instant, I realized that everything I thought I knew about my life, my family, and the secrets around me had changed forever.