Chapter 45: Chapter 45

Elara

I get ready for class. I wear a backless dress and heels. I carry my new bag and go outside. I find Lou waiting for me in the living area, wearing an impeccable suit as usual.

‘My lady,’ he bows.

‘Good morning, Lou. You don’t have to drive me to uni. I can call a cab while I wait for my car,’ I tell him. He scowls.

‘A cab? No, my lady. I can’t allow that,’ he insists on taking my bag. Lou leads me to my husband’s private garage. There are so many different types of cars. He has a fine taste in cars. Lou picks a sedan and opens the door for me. I drop my gaze to my phone when it beeps. Solena asks where I am, or if I’m attending school today. I text her back.

We reach the school parking lot, and he opens the door for me.

‘Shall I walk you in, Lady Crawford,’ Lou asks. Lady Crawford. It has a good ring to it. His words suddenly made me feel better. The slight heartache I felt earlier vanishes. I smile at him,

‘No, I’ll wait for my friends and we’ll go in together,’ I say. He only nods,

‘Call me when class is over. I’ll be driving you around until your driver gets here,’ he informs me.

I watch him drive away.

Solena squeals and hugs me from behind.

‘My princess! I missed you. How was your honeymoon,’ she asks at once. I giggle and turn around to face her.

‘Relax, and one question at a time,’

I take a deep breath. She grabs my hand urgently.

‘It was alright,’ I’m suddenly shy to speak about it. A pink color tints my cheeks, I’m sure.

‘Alright?! No! way. I need details, now!’ she demands. I avert my eyes from her intense gaze.

‘Hello, my lovely ladies,’ Brendon comes to hug me. I hold him tightly. I missed him.

‘Hey, Mr. Why didn’t I receive any calls from you when I was away?’ I poke his shoulder. He frowns.

‘I know you were busy. Heck, you didn’t even respond to Sol’s messages and calls,’ he says. I sigh and stand between them. I link my arms, and we walk inside the school together.

‘Tell tell us, please,’ Solena begs.

‘Zuriel is passionate,’ I start. Three girls walk over to us.

‘Congratulations on your marriage, Princess Elara,’ they say, smiling at me. I raise an eyebrow. I vividly remembered them snickering at me and calling me whore princess. I smile and thank them politely.

It was like that for the rest of the day. My fellow students were coming to congratulate me and ask me about the honeymoon. There were pictures of Zuriel and me going around the internet. We looked insanely in love with each other. How did they even get them?

After my design class. I met Solena outside. She had a concerned expression on her face.

‘What is it?’

‘Let’s talk about that woman, River,’

Zuriel

We were being watched last night. I felt it, but I had to assure the little Princess she was safe. I didn’t want her worrying about anything.

After the princess fell asleep, I checked the building’s security cameras. Indeed, we were being watched. I could see a shadow in the corner building. However, I didn’t know how the princess sensed the intruder as faster than me. I was irresponsible. I was reckless in her presence. That was why I hated being around Elara. She made me reckless. She made me … unrestrained. It was such an odd feeling.

‘You have developed feelings for her,’ My wolf, Riel says.

‘I can’t. I’m incapable of love,’ I say.

‘Well, you are wrong. I see the way you are when she’s around,’

Her bright smile flashes in my head. Her twinkling eyes replay in my mind. I shake my head and banish all memories of Elara in my mind.

My phone beeps, and I receive a clear picture of the man watching us last night. He looks harmless. He is a stranger to me. I send the picture to my team of men. They need to find him ASAP.

I notice there’s an open message on my phone. I unlock the chat, and I’m sure my face pales when I read the message.

[They found you. Are you going to run again, Coward? Your Lovely Sister]

I stand from my chair and go towards the large windows. My hands are slightly trembling as I lean against the wall. I re-read the text message again from my sister. Is this really from her? My sister. I’m sure she hates me after leaving her behind. What she went through in the hands of our father must have been horrible.

No day went without thinking about her. It ate away my sanity that we left her behind. Until Patricia just told me not to think of her anymore. That I should expel every memory of my sister. It took time, but I did. Until I saw her text.

All the memories we shared in the castle come back rushing hard to me. She was the only one who could make me smile. She was my comforter. She loved me, and I betrayed her. I should have fought harder to have her come with us. I did, but we had no way to reach her. She was locked in her room by my paranoid father.

I try calling the number. There is no answer, yet I know she is seeing this. She picks up my call but doesn’t say a word.

‘Eloise,’ her name left my lips breathlessly.

My beautiful sister. My chest is strangling.