CHAPTER 20NEOLALyle is so good with kids. He is so kind and generous. The kids love him every time he visits the hospital because he dresses up. "Be a pirate!" Simon ask him. I watch as Lyle took his tie and put it over his eye. He menacingly looks at the kids and laugh. The kids laugh with him. "Être un prince (be a prince)." Rose says as she lean on her wheel chair. "Non! Pas un prince. He better be a pirate," Simon defended, his voice raising. Lyle stares at the kids, confusion apparent on his face. "Mais c'est le prince! (But he is the prince!)" "je te dis, il n'est pas. (I tell you, he is not)" Simon stomped his feet, trying to win the argument. "Yes, he is not the prince," Kendra supported him, holding Simon's hand. Lyle watch them, disappointment in his face seeing as they are not paying attention to him anymore. I know what they are talking about and he stood there clueless even though he can perfectly understand French. "Simon, Rose," I stood between the both of them a

CHAPTER 22 NEOLA "Yeah!" I look at the weird guy as he cheered. The guy next to him join him and together they clapped. I glared at the both of them before clapping with the crowd. "Whooo!" Lyle was silent. He did not utter a single word after I told him that I am already engaged. The words taste bitter and sweet in my tongue. It felt like a fresh wound that is currently being pampered at. The dull ache lingers but I can bear. Why does it seem so wrong to make that excuse? I look at Lyle as he sat beside me, his face like a stone carved out. So perfectly sculptured but still a stone. No emotion. He looks almost murderous. Like he can do anything to make everyone believes what he believes. And that scares me. We wait for the show to finish. My thoughts are in a jumble. Now that I told Lyle about my engagement, maybe that will make him draw the line between us. I bit my lip. But what if Luke decides that I am not good enough for him? What if he breaks off the engagement? The

CHAPTER 24 (Days before Neola returns to France) LUKE I took a deep breath, my head hurts because of the jet lag. I took the hot tea prepared by Gigi and carefully sip. “Agh,” I sigh, relaxing on my chair. “So, you are back?” Grandpa’s wheel chair whirred as he entered the dining room. He looks at me, eyes gleaming. He seems to be in a cheerful mood. I stared at him and wait as he settle on the head of the table. Grandma is right behind him. She sat across me beside the king. Her expression solemn as she looks at me. “How did it go?” Grandpa’s tone is light but his eyes has a tint of seriousness in them. He took some bread and spread it with butter. I cleared my throat, “The prince of Canada is very welcoming. They expect to see progress with our project. He would love to visit here soon.” The king laugh, his chest heaving as he let out a loud snort. He took his napkin and wipe the sides of his face. Gigi gave him a cup of tea and he sip on it. Grandma sat on his other side, n

CHAPTER 26 LUKE My hands are trembling. I look at the apartment owner before going back inside her room. “ Are you sure that she did not tell you where she went?” Mrs. Bell shook her head and sigh. “I swear, I didn’t. I was talking to the police on the phone and she was just there.” Mrs. Bell put her hand on her forehead and sigh once again. I pat her back before I sat by the window. Maple is surprise to see so many people in here so I took her in my arms. “Mrs. Bell, can you keep Maple for a few days while we search for her?” Mrs. Bell nodded, taking the cat from my arms, “Alright, I will. This little cat has always been under my care when she has to work at the hospital, right Maple?” “Meow,” Maple licks Mrs. Bell’s cheeks and she smiled down at the cat. I nodded at her before I head out and speak with the police and the royal guards. “Your majesty,” Edam bowed. I dismiss them with my hand, before focusing at the chief of the police department. “Sir, it seems that she was tak

CHAPTER 28 NEOLA "Okay, I couldn't. What I really wanted to say to the king, I couldn't say any of it." A tear falls down on his cheek as Luke continue, "How hard it is for me to live as an orphan and sell my sister. I hated the king so much. I blame him for what had happened in the past. Because I thought they are going to look for me, I stubbornly refuse to be adopted, hoping that he will find me soon for I haven't change my name. In the end, he never found me and I felt so lonely." "Then , I got adopted. I struggled to be the best but in the end, there is this void I couldn't fill." He looks at me, his eyes glassy, " I miss them so much, I miss my parents..." I pulled him in my arms and gently tap his back. After a while, we pulled back. He cleared his throat while I tuck my hair on my ear. "Are you finally okay, now?" I ask him lightly and he nodded. "Yes. A little bit. Earlier that-" "Hmm?" I smiled back at him and he bowed, sighing. "That-" "What? About you crying?" his fa