Todos os capítulos de PRETEND PRINCESS: Capítulo 141 - Capítulo 150

Yuki's POVI walked into the office, my whole body shaking with lack of sleep. My brain was a soda can that someone had shaken up really hard. I hadn't even taken the time to put on my normal charm. No humming. No skipping. Just a step in front of the other. My body was moving like it was on autopilot, but my soul was sleeping on a warm hotel bed somewhere in a distant country.I headed straight to my desk, ignoring my usual routine of bringing the queen herself coffee. Ms. Sheng Li could wait. Or better yet, she could fetch her own damn cup today.Still, I couldn’t stop thinking about her.A flashback flashed through my mind like an unwanted pop-up ad. That night. That confession. How she appeared when she said that she cared about me. I ran through it like a malfunctioning film strip. The words. The ensuing silence. My shock. My panic. My very loud, very overt rejection.Yeah. Heck no. That did happen.I shook myself out of it and booted up my computer. My screen glared back at me a

LILY'S POVI sprinted to the nursing home, flowers in hand. The flowers were for Grandpa Roman. Yuki called yesterday and demanded I bring Grandpa flowers on my next visit. Said it in that over-the-top tone only Yuki could pull off, something about flowers making Roman smile even when he doesn't remember who Yuki is.It had almost been three days since I went in. I was guilty. Grandpa didn't even mention a word regarding Yuki last time I visited. The quiet bothered me. I feared the widening gap between Grandpa and Yuki one day would erase Yuki from his memory permanently. But Yuki said he'd visit him soon. "Soon" was a relative concept, though, and in such a situation, time wasn't on our side in the first place.However, I had to hurry. I got to the very important meeting with the nursing staff of the hospital within some two hours. There was a visiting supervisor from Bangladesh, and I was supposed to be on my best behavior. There was a rumor that there would be a promotion. I couldn

Yuki's POVI don't even remember hanging up on Lily. One moment, I was screaming at her, the next—dial tone. Nothing but that empty, hollow beep.She left him.She left him.I paced back and forth on the floor of my apartment, fingertips digging into my scalp. My chest ached from breathing too fast. I couldn't understand it. I didn't want to. Logic? Damn logic. Don't talk to me of duty. Don't talk to me of work.She was supposed to be there. For him. For me. He's all I have. I'm all he has. And now she's abandoned him.I grabbed my coat and took off. I didn't even check if I had my wallet. I needed to go. I needed to be there. I needed to hold Grandpa Roman's hand and tell him that it was alright. That he wasn't alone. Because I know what being alone is like.I ran down the street, eyes burning, throat constricting. Every step made the panic worse. My mind would not shut up. Images of Grandpa Roman wheezing through his mouth. The blood. The doctor's voice. A tumor the size of a tennis

Yuki's POVRain pattered gently against the windshield as Hannah drove us through the winding roads of her quiet neighborhood. I was pressed against the door, face to the cool window, eyes red and swollen. I hadn't cried in years—at least not like this. But tonight, something had broken within me. And Hannah had picked up the pieces.Her hand brushed my shoulder briefly as she pulled into her driveway."Come in, sweetie. You need warmth. You need food."Her voice was a balm to my broken heart.The house was plain but cozy. A rim of marigolds and jasmines trimmed the porch. The lights were dimmed to a cozy glow, and the scent of fresh bread baking wafted out as soon as she opened the door.Her husband, Luke, walked out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on a towel. He was tall with salt-and-pepper hair and the kindest eyes I had ever seen."This must be Yuki," Luke said, walking over with a welcoming smile. "I've heard so much about you. Hannah won't shut up about her best friend's son."

MYuki's POVThey'd been talking for a while now—Luke, Hana, and me. Luke and Hana, mostly. I was just sitting here like a wet marshmallow, nodding my head and pretending I was listening when my mind was running in circles."Yuki," I received a soft nudge from Hana's elbow. "Are you even here with us?"I blinked. "Huh? What? Oh, yeah. Sorry. I was thinking about Lily."Luke leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Look, man. I get it. But maybe you fired a bit too soon. Lily's been there for you through a lot, hasn't she? If she wasn't answering before, I'm sure she had a reason."Hana nodded. "Yeah, I mean, I'd be devastated too if I were you. Grandpa Roman is, not doing very well. But Lily wouldn't just leave you hanging without a reason. Maybe try calling her again?"Their words were gentle, soft as silk, and they struck hard. Guilt started to brew under my skin like a pot ready to boil. They were right. I had no right to strike out. Not at her. Not when she was probably j