Chapter 7

Princess's POV

Huh! At long last we're done with this introduction in front of the company staff. Prince led me outside and we drove back home. When we got there, I sat on the couch in the living room. He walked past me and went upstairs to his room.

As I was sitting on the couch and watching television, he came out dressed in a long-sleeved shirt.

“ Go upstairs and get dressed, your parents must know about us”

“ Prince, I can't. My parents— they can't know about this” I said with my arms crossed.

Prince leaned against the stairs, arms folded. His cold gaze locked onto hers. “ They need to believe it. End of discussion”

I clenched my jaw, frustration boiling over. But in the end, I sighed knowing that Prince won't take no for an answer. I stood up, went to dress, and went outside.

I turned my gaze to the window, biting my lip. I was lost in thoughts. The silence in the car pressed down on me, thick and heavy. I stole a glance at Prince— unbothered, his focus steady on the road.

I haven't seen my parents in a while and worry curled inside me.

“ Turn right,” I said as I was showing him the way to my parent's house. As I glanced at him one hand on the wheel, I could see that he was not affected or worried at all.

We got to the house, and the familiar scent of home—fresh flowers and old books wrapped around me like a long-lost embrace, stirring memories of laughter and warmth as I stepped inside with Prince.

My father was sitting on his favorite couch, looking stronger than before. Relief flooded my chest. “ Dad!” I called, rushing to hug him.

He chuckled, his arms firm around me. “ My little girl, you look beautiful”

Tears filled my eyes. I had been so scared of losing, and now, with the help of an unknown person, he's strong. “ You look good too, Dad”

My mother joined us, smiling warmly. “ Welcome home, sweetheart. And you too, young man”

Prince nodded politely, “ it's good to see you both”

As we sat in the living room, my mother served us some coffee. My dad then asked me the reason for my sudden visit.

Prince did not allow me to answer, “ Mr. Hudgens, we're here to announce to you that we're in a relationship now and will soon get engaged”

I looked at Prince in a way of telling him to allow me to talk to my parents. “ Yes Dad, this is Prince Blackson, the CEO of Blackson Enterprise”

“ And I'm his fiancee,” he continued.

My mom looked at him in a way I couldn't explain. “CEO of Blackson Enterprise?”

My mom hurried off without another word, leaving the room tense with confusion. My dad and I exchanged glances but when I turned to Prince, he looked…..unbothered.

Like he expected this.

“ You're welcome, Prince,” my dad said, shaking his hand.

My mom came after a few minutes and gave out a sheet to my dad to read. “ This is the message attached to the money from the anonymous person when you were sick,” my mom said as she was about to sit down.

My father read it and gasped in disbelief. “That's him. You saved my life the other day.”

I gripped the paper, my fingers trembling. My breath hitched, my mind racing. No—-this couldn't be right. Prince …? My eyes went up to him, searching for some explanation but all I found was his unreadable expression. My heart pounded against my ribs. What does he gain from this?

I opened my mouth wide and stared at Prince who sat there smiling like this was nothing.

“ God bless you, my son. If not for you, my husband would have been dead by now”

“ Don't worry, it's in the past now. This is for you” he handed an envelope to my dad.

I kept staring at him with my mouth wide open. The cold-hearted man I know had turned into a kind-hearted person all of a sudden.

“ Princess, won't you thank your fiancee for us?” My mom brought me back to realization.

“ Thank you, dear. We're truly grateful,” I said, as my gaze turned to my dad, who was holding the sheet he had removed from the envelope.

His eyes widened as he scanned the words, “ This…this is my company's debt clearance.” His voice trembled. “ The financial crisis…it's gone?”

My breath caught.” What?”

Prince gave a small nod, “ It's settled, your company is stable now”

My father looked up at him, disbelief and gratitude mixing in his eyes. “ You—how? Why?”

I stared at Prince, my heart pounding. He hadn't told me about this either. Does he have a reason for doing this?

I felt my chest tightened. There was something in his words— something that made my heart feel strangely warm. But I quickly pushed that feeling away.

My mom, who was crying, wiped her eyes, “ This is…a miracle. Thank you, Prince. Truly”

I glanced at him again, but he was already looking away. He needs to answer all my questions but that will be when we go back home.

“ So we came here for your blessing,” Prince said, his voice steady, breaking the silence. “ We're preparing for our engagement”

“ You've done so much for us Prince, but …marriage is a lifelong decision. Are you sure about this?” My dad asked with concern.

“ Yes, we're very sure and ever ready,” he answered, smiling.

I was quiet and I could feel my mother staring at me as if she knew something wasn't quite right.

“ Princess… are you truly happy with this?” My mom's voice was soft, searching my face for answers I wasn't ready to give.

Prince tapped my thigh, signaling me to say something. “ Yes, please. Don't worry Dad, we're ever ready for this”

After hearing what I said, my mom finally spoke. “ okay if you say so we have no problem with that”

“ Thank you so much, Mr and Mrs Hudgens. I'll take care of her with love” he said with a smile which I knew was fake.

“ You're welcome son”

“ We'd like to ask for permission to leave. We'll come over some other time” Prince said, holding my hand, signaling me to stand up.

“ Okay, but I wanted you guys to stay for a day.” My mother said,

“ We've many things to attend to. We'll do that some other time” Prince replied.

My parents bid goodbye, though I could still feel my mom's gaze on me. Before I could say another word, Prince clasped my hand and led me out of the door, his grip firm, unyielding.

We got into the car and I stared at him as he was adjusting his seat belt.

“ Why the stare?” He asked as he was about to start the car.

“ You planned this, didn't you?” I asked curiously.

“ You know the answer to this question already. I couldn't have my fiancée looking desperate People talk ” he said coldly as he drove the car.

“ Thank you for the help”

“ I don't do favors for free, Princess. You'll have to return it in kind,” he said coldly.

I knew he was expecting me to do something in return because that was not the cold-hearted Prince back in my parent's house.