chapter 23
1374 Words
On the other side of town, Gerald got up early, already dressed and preparing to leave for work.
Cillian watched him from the doorway, her brows furrowed. “Gerald, you shouldn’t go today,” she said softly. “You need to rest.”
He paused, then turned to her. “Cillian, I’m fine. If I don’t go to work, who will keep the company running?”
She walked closer, placing a hand on his arm. “Even if you take one day off, the company will be just fine. You’re not a machine.”
Gerald gently removed her hand. “That’s not how it works,” he said firmly. “There are things that need my attention.”
Without waiting for another argument, he picked up his things and walked out, leaving Cillian standing there, worry etched across her face.
Luke arrived at school not long after. As he walked through the gates, he spotted June waiting for him near the walkway.
“Morning,” she said with a smile.
“Morning,” he replied.
They fell into step together, walking side by side toward the building, talking quietly as the school slowly filled with noise and movement.
A little later, Sofia and her friends arrived.
The moment she stepped onto the school grounds, heads turned. Whispers followed. Sighs escaped from more than a few mouths.
The beauty queen was here.
Students straightened up instinctively, some stepping aside as if making room for royalty, others watching carefully—as if one wrong move could land them in trouble. Sofia walked past them all with calm confidence, her expression unreadable, her friends flanking her as they made their way inside.
_____
Sofia’s friends split off the moment they entered the building, eager to check on their boyfriends before the first bell rang. Sofia, however, didn’t slow down. She walked straight to her classroom.
As she stepped inside, her eyes immediately found Luke.
He was already seated, leaning slightly toward June as they chatted quietly. Sofia stopped right in front of their desk. June’s voice died down instantly, and Luke looked up.
For a brief second, their eyes met.
The memory of that night rushed through Luke’s mind—the dark road, her voice, the fear in it—but he said nothing. Seeing her standing there, alive and unharmed, was enough to make his chest ease.
Sofia smirked.
“So,” she began, her tone light but sharp, “you scored more marks than me in that assignment, huh?”
Luke stayed silent.
“Well,” she continued, crossing her arms, “if I hadn’t made that tiny mistake, we’d have the same score. So don’t get ahead of yourself.”
Luke exhaled slowly. He hadn’t planned to respond, but the words slipped out anyway.
“I’m not in competition with anyone,” he said calmly. “And I’m not interested.”
Sofia laughed, amused. “Oh? You can talk back now?”
Luke met her gaze for a moment, then looked away, choosing silence this time.
She leaned back slightly and said, “Watch out.”
Before Luke could respond, the bell rang loudly, echoing through the classroom. Sofia turned on her heel and walked to her seat just as other learners began to pour in. The room filled with chatter, chairs scraping against the floor.
Moments later, the teacher walked in, and the lesson began.
At Gerald Group, Gerald sat behind his large desk, focused on documents spread out in front of him.
There was a knock, and his PA walked in. “Sir,” he said carefully, “Dyran hasn’t come to work today.”
Gerald didn’t look up. “Hmm,” he murmured, flipping a page. “Noted.”
The PA hesitated for a second, then left.
Later that morning, Gerald’s phone buzzed. He answered without much thought.
On the other end, Dyran’s voice sounded strained. “I’m not feeling well today,” he said. “I won’t be able to come in.”
Gerald paused, then replied coolly, “Fine. Take the day.”
The call ended just as quickly as it began, and Gerald returned his attention to his work, his expression unreadable.
Milan’s side…
She woke up to silence.
The room was enormous—too big to feel comforting. Heavy curtains framed tall windows, letting in soft morning light that spilled across the massive bed she lay on. For a moment, she simply stared at the ceiling, letting the reality sink in once more.
She was alone.
Married.
And trapped.
A few days had passed since the wedding—if it could even be called that. A ceremony she hadn’t wanted. A husband she didn’t know. A crown placed on her head like chains around her neck.
They called her the princess now.
Slowly, she pushed herself out of bed and went to freshen up. The bathroom looked like something out of a dream—marble floors, gold-edged mirrors, a bathtub large enough to swim in. None of it impressed her anymore.
When she returned to the bedroom, she opened the wardrobe.
Rows and rows of dresses stared back at her—silks, satins, fabrics so delicate they probably cost more than her entire old life. Clothes made for royalty. Clothes that were never hers.
She sighed, chose a simple dress, and slipped it on.
Stepping out of the room, she found guards stationed on either side of the door. The moment they saw her, they bowed.
“Good morning, Princess.”
She walked past them without stopping, muttering under her breath, “Now I have to get used to this nonsense.”
The hallway led her outside to the garden.
It was beautiful—almost painfully so. Flowers bloomed in every color imaginable, their scent filling the air. For a moment, something in her chest loosened. She had always loved flowers.
She picked up a watering can and began tending to them, focusing on the simple act, pretending—just for a while—that this was a normal morning.
Footsteps approached behind her.
“Your Highness,” a maid said softly. “Would you like something to drink?”
Milan shook her head. “No.”
What she wanted wasn’t water or tea.
She turned, her voice quieter now. “I need a phone.”
The maid stiffened immediately. “I… I’m not allowed to—”
“I just want to call my mother,” Milan interrupted, her gaze steady. “To tell her I’m okay.”
The maid hesitated, fear flashing across her face. “If anyone finds out—”
Milan straightened, her tone changing. “I am the princess here, am I not?”
The maid swallowed.
“…Just quickly,” she whispered, pulling her phone from her pocket and handing it over. “Please.”
Milan nodded and stepped aside.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she dialed the number she knew by heart.
The call connected.
“Milan?” her mother’s voice came through, shaky with relief. “Milan, where are you? We’ve been so worried—”
“I’m okay, Mom,” Milan said quickly, forcing strength into her voice. “Please don’t worry. I just… went away to start a new life.”
“A new life? Where?” her mother asked urgently. “Why didn’t you tell me? Milan, are you safe?”
Milan looked around the garden, the guards, the high walls she still hadn’t seen beyond.
Where could she even say she was?
“I’m safe,” she repeated. “That’s all that matters. Take care of Luke. Please. And don’t look for me.”
Her mother tried to ask more questions, but Milan couldn’t bear it. She ended the call before her voice could break.
Without hesitating, she blocked the contact.
Then she handed the phone back to the maid.
“Thank you,” Milan said softly.
The maid nodded, eyes full of concern, but she said nothing.
As the maid walked away, Milan remained in the garden, staring at the flowers—beautiful, rooted, and unable to leave.
For some reason, she felt the maid was someone she could trust.
And in a place like this, that small feeling mattered more than anything else.
- Writer
