LOGIN“Are you okay now?” he asked, his voice calm, but I could hear the worry in it. “You fainted. We had to get you somewhere safe.”“Where… Where are we?” I asked, my voice low.“On the plane. We’re going back to France. Our agenda is done here,” River answered. I nodded. I tried to sit, but River pushed my forehead so I would lie on the bed again.“If you need something, just tell me, and I’ll get it for you,” he said, reaching for my hand and squeezing it gently. “You’ve been through so much. Rest first.”I didn’t answer. Instead, a smile curved on my lips.“You act like my bodyguard and doctor at the same time,” I muttered, shaking my head in amazement.“That’s my duty as your boyfriend,” he answered nonchalantly, causing my eyes to widen. He noticed it. “Why? Aren’t I?”“Y-You are…” My cheeks reddened as I looked away. “But… It’s not something you can just say casually…”“Hmm? Why?” he asked, then he moved toward me. I could feel his body heat already. “Are you regretting that you d
Upon hearing those words, I felt something inside me finally collapse. It felt like the last string of thread tying me to them finally snapped.I straightened.“No…” I said quietly, looking them in the eye. “She won’t be proud. She’ll be disgusted. And she’ll hate you even in the afterlife.”Eleanor’s jaw clenched at my words. “You bitch—”“You imprisoned a child, poisoned her mind, and even used her for your advantage. You stole someone’s life and ruined it. Do you think anyone would be proud of that?!”“Shut the fuck up!” Eleanor’s voice echoed in the area. “You lived comfortably because of you. We fed you, raised you, and even sent you to school. You’re protected, and we taught you to be elegant!”Chuckling and shaking my head, I corrected, “No. You taught me how to be controllable.”I’m doing my best to look composed, yet I could feel my body trembling. I don’t know if I can still take this.Suddenly, I felt River’s presence at my back, grounding me even without saying anything.T
A few days later, River and I returned to America, specifically going to the place that had been my cage before: The Miller Mansion.It still looked the same—Polished on the outside, as if nothing horrible had happened in that elegant mansion, but rotten on the inside.I remained standing in front of the gate. My heart was thumping rapidly, and my mind seemed like it was telling me to back out. That this isn’t a good idea.But my heart tells me to go. It wanted closure, now I’m on my way to take it.River, on the other hand, remained silent as he stayed half a step behind me, yet his hand was on my waist, gently supporting me.He knew that this part was mine, and he’s giving me all the time that I need.“Just let me know when you’re okay, then we’ll go forward,” River told me, his voice low and gentle. “No pressure. Just take all the time you need.”I nodded and took a deep breath.“I’m fine…” I muttered, trying to sound convincing but miserably failing.But it doesn’t mean I’ll back
“If I’m a jerk, then I’m the only jerk who managed to endure your whims, Eleanor!” Ricardo shouted, his voice echoing in the room. “Did you think I’ll be your puppet forever, following your commands? No. I’m done being your servant!”The silence filled the conversation as Eleanor didn’t answer immediately. She was taken aback because of what he had said. Ricardo changed a lot, and he’s not someone Eleanor could control anymore.This time, Ricardo was releasing all the emotions he had suppressed, too.“You know more than anyone that this marriage only happened because of you. Because you wanted me in exchange for your family helping ours not to reach bankruptcy,” he added, his voice laced with bitterness. “I didn’t love you, Eleanor. I never will.”Hearing those words, it felt like a sharp knife stabbed Eleanor in the heart.But it’s not because she loved Ricardo back. At least, not that much.Her pride was crushed by someone she didn’t expect to fight back.Eleanor forced a laugh, h
River frowned. “What do you mean?”“I mean, I don’t know how the princess will end up in the States,” Lucian answered honestly. “I even thought that you might be hallucinating or forcing it, since you also wanted to find the princess, just like us.”I saw how River’s jaw tightened as Lucian said those words.I wonder why, but Lucian talked to me, halting my thoughts.“But now that you’re in front of me, I can tell at a glance. You’re the missing princess.”To my shock, Lucian kneeled in front of me, his one knee pressed on the floor.“Welcome back to France, your highness.”At first, my jaw fell because I wasn’t used to this, but it didn’t take a while.Someone inside me whispered that this isn’t just my life now.This is what my life really looked like before the Millers took me away.“Stand now, Lucian,” I commanded with a smile, my voice sweet yet authoritative. “And thank you for welcoming me.”*****A few hours after we finished the verification with Lucian’s help, I was recogniz
“We need a plan,” River told me. “We can’t just walk back unprepared since it could work to their advantage more than us.”“You should step in as Seraphina Montgomery first, the real you, then we’ll return.”Slowly, I nodded. He’s right. I can’t let the anger control me, and once I step into royalty, I’ll have bigger responsibilities, although it still sounds like an ambiguous dream for me right now.For the first time in years, I felt the tiniest flicker of hope. It was small, yes, but it was real.And it was mine.“Are you okay?” River asked, noticing that I became silent. “We could do this one step at a time. Baby steps. And no matter what happens, I’ll be by your side.”He added, caressing my cheeks, “You’re not alone anymore, Seraphina.”I smiled.I let the words sink in. Then, I clenched my trembling hands.“Alright…” I nodded. “Let’s take it all back. Together.”I’m aware that there are so many challenges along the way, but I’ve never felt more ready than now.Sooner or later,
The sound echoed across the rooftop. I froze. My heart thumped more rapidly than before as I realized what I had done. My fingers trembled, stinging from the impact.I didn’t know where those intense emotions came from. I managed to control my emotions for a long time, thanks to my parents, who ke
“And as you can see, I really don’t like that guy,” Mom added as she crossed her arms, now looking at the window. “He keeps on meddling. If only your father wasn’t backing him up, I might have kicked him out of the mansion.”She sighed in frustration. “Who cares if he owns Palmer Industries? He’s
I shook my head. If my parents knew that he was here, he might be exiled from the mansion, given that they already don’t like him from the start.It’s not like River couldn’t find any place to stay while he’s here in the States. I’m certain that he could afford a luxurious suite, or even another m
“Mommy… Daddy…” I called.Where are they? Why am I alone with a stranger? I thought they’d always be on my side, loving me and protecting me.But why the hell am I alone?“Please… Please… I’ll do everything you want,” I begged as I tasted the tears in my mouth. “Just let me go—”Before I could fini







