Once Upon A Princess

Chapter 13 - Let's Go!

We had such a quiet trip on our way back after we have bought all of the things that we needed. Henry went back on his own, but not literally on his own. He was fetched by his bodyguards outside the mall which is why we immediately parted ways before we got to arrive at the exit.

We don't want to gather the attention of all the people that kept on looking at those men in black waiting outside. So, here we are now riding in Caroline's car. She must have noticed something happened between us two a while ago because I kept on seeing her stealing glances at her rearview mirror ever since we left the mall. She kept on doing it long until we arrived at our house but she stopped as soon as she stepped on the breaks of the car. We were finally in front of the gate but I think that she noticed something inside that is why she decided to stop there.

"Your brother is waiting. I won't come in anymore." She said looking at me and I get what she meant by that. She doesn't want to deal with him.

"Thank you. Take care." I said to her and finally stepped out of the car. Ethan did too and after that, Caroline drove away while I waved at her.

"Let me carry that," Ethan said referring to the paper bags in my hand.

"No. I can carry it." I said and turn away from him before he began to insist on it.

We headed inside through the gates and saw my brother waiting outside our house just as Caroline have said. I badly don't want to be scolded right now but I think I won't be able to avoid it. I saw Nicolas quickly head towards us the moment he saw us walking.

"Why didn't you tell me where you were going?" Nicolas asked angrily.

"I'm sorry. I was in a hurry that I forgot to tell you." I answered and saw his hand wipe his face entirely out of frustration.

"No. It was my fault. I should have informed you at least." Ethan butted in but I already know that he won't be able to contact my brother because he doesn't own a phone.

"No. It is mine. It is entirely my fault." I said in return but I simply hear my brother curse which surprised me.

"Head straight to the other door." He said all of a sudden and began to push us away but I don't know why is he acting like this.

Yet, I was able to determine at last why when someone went out of the house hurriedly and was looking angry.

Just before I know it, she was already in front of me and slapped me right then which made me stunned.

Does she really have to do this in front of them?

"What are you doing?" I heard Nicolas ask Mom angrily but mom didn't pay any attention to him and just began to pull me inside the house.

"Mam, please stop this. Natalie is already hurting." Ethan said worriedly while holding onto both of my shoulders but I heard mom scoff after that.

"You have the audacity to tell me that when you were the one who did something wrong. Should you be apologizing first before you open that mouth of yours?" Mom asked which made me shove her hand away from me.

"MOM! Stop it already." I said furiously because this is already getting out of hand.

"What? Am I wrong? He must have invited you to go outside to waste your money on him. You can't really expect anything from a person who came from the lowest and lowest of the class of the society." She answered and that is when I lost it.

"Celine!" I said coldly, glaring at her.

"Ha! How dare you!?" She asked in disbelief.

"If you still don't shut that mouth of yours. I don't know what will happen next if this news reached out not just to my father's ears but to my relatives too." I warned and that is when she finally shut her mouth.

"Be careful. I don't want to ruin this family of ours just because of you... mom." I said and passed right to her without glancing at any one of them.

I am angry... furious to be exact.

Celine... she isn't our real mom.

Our mom had died giving birth to me and I kept on blaming myself for it ever since I found out about the reason why she died. She didn't even get the chance to marry our father because her body became frail after she found out that she got pregnant and was bedridden ever since.

Celine came into our life when we were still little and she was so nice towards us that is why we accepted her into our life so easily but after she had married my father, that is when her true colors showed up.

I began to hate her because of that but what made me even hate her more was when she told me about how I was the reason why my mother died. I was young and didn't know anything that is why it's as if my world stopped after realizing it was my fault. She was the first one to tell me about the truth and the fact that she made when she said that has still been haunting me.

Ever since then, I rarely talk to her when she is around. I just have a conversation with her when my father is around or when I am doing some modeling or something related to the company because she always manages my schedule all the time.

I know she is our mother now but I just can't help to hate her to death and can't imagine if I will be able to not do so.

We are portrayed as a happy family in public but in private, rather, in reality, we are not. We don't get along well, especially with our mom who those people thought was our real mom but little did they know she isn't. Even so, dad let it stay that way and that is why I hated her even more.

My mom... it's as if dad has forgotten about her already.

I stopped in front of my door and hold onto the doorknob, slowly turning it to open the door but I stopped.

I hate her...

It has been like that ever since and it will never change until the day I die.

I eventually opened the door and came inside, throwing my body onto the bed while glancing at the picture on the table near my bed. I reached for it and looked at it thoroughly.

"Mom... I miss you so much." I said as tears began to fall from my eyes.

However, I got startled when someone opened the door so I immediately sat up from the bed and wiped my tears.

"Leave..."

I was unable to finish what I was saying anymore because I saw Ethan in the doorway holding onto a cold compress.

"Should I?" He asked but I can't seem to open my mouth. I don't want him to leave but I don't also want him to see me like this.

"I shouldn't probably." He said to my surprise and closed the door behind him.

Afterward, he went toward me and gave me the cold compress. I slowly get it from him and put it onto my cheeks.

"I should have blocked it if I was a bit more closely and fast to react." He began to say but I simply smiled at him bitterly.

"You shouldn't do anything or you will only get more involved. You must have been surprised." I replied as I continued to stare at him.

"I'm sorry. I already know something in your family but I was unaware that she could actually do this." He said as he sat down right beside me which made my eyes widen.

He already knew?

Does this mean my brother told him?

Nicolas must have trusted him so much to the point of telling him this.

"It's alright," I said and hold onto his hand without second-guessing. I don't know what has gotten into me but I wanted to touch him because of the anger and sadness that I am feeling right now. It's as if he was removing all the negative things surrounding me just by touching him and I can't help but feel happy.

"Thank you for being here," I said patting his hand but I froze when he embraced me right that moment.

"From my experience, it's alright if you let it all out and not suppress it. It will only make you feel way more worse." He said caressing my back right then, tears started to flow from my eyes as he continued to caress my back.

"It's alright." He said and continue to say long until I have calmed down and just before I know it, I fell asleep without me knowing it.

I woke up noticing that I was embracing such a hard and masculine...body?

A realization suddenly hit me when I began to remember what happened last night.

Then, this only means that this is Ethan!

Is he perhaps still asleep?

Or is he not just bothered by this?

Maybe he is thinking that I am still sleeping so I will enjoy myself here before it ends. I tightened my embrace and even put my leg on his body but I froze when he began to talk.

"Aren't you having too much fun?" He asked whispering towards me which made me take a glimpse at the man and was horrified to see that it was Nicolas.

"DAMN..." I was cut off when he quickly put his hand on my mouth to stop me from shouting at him.

"He is still sleeping." He said which made me confused and my eyes widen when I glanced behind me to see him silently sleeping on my bed.

"Satisfied?" My brother asked whispering again and I can't help but feel happy right now.

"Nicolas..." I called as I continued to stare at the man sleeping.

"Let's go to a beach this weekend," I said shifting my gaze towards him and his face lit up right that instant after hearing me say the word beach. Maybe he hasn't got the chance to visit one when he was abroad.

"Count us in." He answered and that is when it is finally decided that we will be going this coming weekend and I can't wait for the day to arrive.