THE FORGOTTEN PRINCESS IS NOW THE QUEEN

CHAPTER FIVE

“You should have seen the look on her face, Grace. It was priceless—absolutely satisfying.”

I grinned as I told my best friend, Grace, about Amelia’s reaction when she learned I had returned to reclaim what was rightfully mine. Ever since I was disowned, Grace had never trusted Amelia. She had always sensed there was something off about her.

Grace and I had been inseparable since childhood. Through every stage of my life, she had remained by my side. During the darkest period after I was cast out, she was the only friend who never turned her back on me. She helped me uncover Louis’s betrayal, and now that I was finally divorcing him, she was almost as thrilled as my parents.

“I’m sure she realizes now that she was nothing more than a placeholder,” Grace said, examining a dress. “And trust me, she won’t take that lightly. She’s probably already plotting something.”

“I know,” I replied. “The hatred in her eyes was impossible to miss.”

We continued browsing through racks of clothing, selecting outfits to try on. Grace didn’t come from a family as wealthy as mine, but her parents had always ensured she lacked nothing. As the only daughter among five brothers, she was adored and thoroughly spoiled. Yet despite that, she had grown into one of the kindest, most genuine people I knew.

She never judged people by their social standing and never felt the need to force herself into places where she didn’t belong. Unlike me, Grace was effortlessly cheerful and could make friends anywhere. Having someone like her in my life was a blessing—someone who stayed through both my brightest moments and my darkest.

“By the way,” she called from the dressing room next to mine, “you still haven’t told me why you dragged me out for this sudden shopping trip.”

“Well,” I said casually, adjusting the sleeve of a blazer, “I need an assistant.”

“You want me to help you find one?”

“No. I want you to be my assistant.”

“What?” she shrieked, yanking open the curtain of her dressing room. She hurried into mine, half-dressed and utterly horrified.

I laughed. “At least finish getting dressed first.”

“No chance. I am not becoming your assistant, Jade.”

“Why not?” I asked, helping her zip up her dress. “And for the record, this looks amazing on you.”

“Thank you,” she said, glancing at herself in the mirror before turning back to me. “But my dad just gave me a position in his company. I’m not giving that up to become your personal assistant.”

I stepped beside her, studying my reflection in the mirror. “Black really suits you,” she said, admiring the tailored suit I was trying on. I turned slowly, inspecting the fit. I needed a new wardrobe for the office.

“I didn’t know you were starting work already.”

“I’m not. I begin next week.”

She nodded thoughtfully. “What about your assistant? I don’t trust anyone Amelia recommends. They could easily be spies.”

“That’s exactly why I need someone reliable.”

Grace’s eyes lit up. “Actually, I know someone. A friend of mine is looking for a job.”

“A wolf?”

“Yes—an Alpha. His family lost everything after his father died. His older brother paid for his education, but he hasn’t found work yet.”

“Why hasn’t your father hired him?”

“We’re not short on employees, and honestly, no position in our company would suit his qualifications.”

“Then why recommend him for me?”

“Because you’re the president. And with his doctorate in Business and Finance, he’d be the perfect assistant.”

I turned to her, stunned. “A doctorate?”

She nodded.

“In Business and Finance?”

“Yes.”

“Then why hasn’t anyone hired him yet?”

She shrugged. “I’m not sure. So, are you interested?”

I smiled. “An assistant with the same academic qualifications as his boss? That sounds perfect. Tell him to start tomorrow.”

Her eyes widened. “No interview?”

“No need. Just send me his contact information tonight—after you’ve spoken to him.”

“Done.”

She looked so excited you’d think she had been offered the job herself. Whoever this friend was, he clearly meant a lot to her.

Since Grace had somewhere else to be, she left before I did. I stayed behind to complete my purchases.

“Where to, Madam?” my driver asked once I got into the car.

“Home.”

“Yes, Madam.”

My father had assigned a driver to take me to and from work. I usually preferred driving myself, but after such a long day, I was grateful for the convenience.

To reach our territory, we had to pass through a dense forest. As we entered, the car suddenly jolted to a stop.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, lowering the window.

“The tire’s gone flat,” the driver replied. “I’ll change it. Please stay inside, Madam.”

“Alright.”

I returned to scrolling through my phone. Darkness was beginning to settle over the forest. Then, without warning, the wind died. The usual sounds of the woods vanished, leaving behind an unnatural silence. Not a rustle. Not a chirp. Nothing.

My wolf stirred uneasily.

The air grew colder, heavy with something I couldn’t name. A sense of dread crept over me, tightening around my chest.

Thirty minutes passed.

Still no sign of the driver.

I called his phone, but there was no answer.

My heartbeat quickened. My hands trembled. Inside me, my wolf paced restlessly, desperate to emerge.

Gathering what little courage I had, I stepped out of the car and walked toward where he had gone to change the tire.

Then it hit me.

The sharp, metallic scent of blood.

My knees buckled beneath me, and I collapsed onto the ground.

I may have been an Alpha, but I hadn’t shifted in a long time. Without training, without practice, I wasn’t nearly as strong as I should have been.

A rustling sound came from the bushes nearby.

“W-who’s there?” I called, my voice trembling.

Forcing myself to look toward the front of the car, I finally saw him.

My driver.

Lying motionless on the ground.