Emerald St. Clair's POV

"Have you packed your thing already?"

I sat at the foot of the bed of my twin sister carefully. I watched her pack her things for the weekend trip to our grandparents' estate in the Hamptons. It's a mandatory rule for the grandchildren to be there every weekend. "I am not coming this weekend, Ru."

"You are not...what—?" My twin sister, Ruby, stopped packing her things and stared at me with incredulity on her face.

I sighed deeply, looking away from her shocked face. "I said, I am not coming to Hamptons this weekend."

"Why?"

"Because I have other plans."

Ruby remained silent for a moment looking at me as if I had grown another head in my neck, and then her green eyes that matched mine narrowed in my direction. "What plans?"

"Does it matter?" I looked away from her scrutiny.

"Hell yeah, it does," she answered nonchalantly. "It's not like you to miss the Hamptons because you have 'other plans.'" Her knowing eyes narrowed like slits in my heart. "Don't tell me it's a guy. You have a date, don't you?"

My gaze shot back at her. "What?! No..."

"Don't bullshit me, Em," Ruby said with a perceptive smile on her face. "I know you like the back of my hand. You are my twin. We shared mom's womb for nine months, remember?"

I bit my bottom lip. She knew me too damn well, not that I can blame her since I happened to know her as well. She's my twin, after all. "Well, you see..." I started, unable to look her straight in the eyes. "...I have a confession to make. I have committed a crime against you."

A frown marked my sister's eyebrow. "What are you talking about, Em? You are not making any sense to me."

I exhaled loudly, deciding to admit the thing I did on her behalf the other day regarding the handsome prince who mistook me for Ruby. "You see, remember the prince that you were telling me about last week? The one that you met?"

"Yeah?"

I took a deep breath, staring straight into her curious eyes, which stopped me from putting her things in her hand-carry luggage. She directed all her attention to me. "While still absent because of your flu, he went to school to pick you up for your coffee date, and he mistook me to be you."

"Wait," Ruby raised her hand slightly upward, stopping me from my tale. "Are you talking about Prince Khalil Al-Farsi, the crown prince?"

So that's his name. Khalil Al-Farsi. God, even his full name sounds as sexy as him. I thought silently.

"So, what happened after that?" My twin asked with an unusual gleam in her green eyes. She jumped in her bed, giving me her full attention, which made my eyes narrow in her direction.

"I know I should have informed him immediately about his mistake, but I didn't," I muttered under my breath. I felt guilty about the whole thing now for the whole week. "Instead, I let him think that I was you, thinking that I should investigate his intention towards you."

Ruby grinned as if she was not mad at me for lying to the prince. "So, you went ahead and had a coffee date with him?"

"Yes."

"And..." She prodded eagerly. "...oh, come on, Em. Tell me everything. Why didn't you tell me this sooner?"

I stared at her skeptically. "You're not mad?"

"No way!" she chuckled cheerfully, her eyes dancing with mischief again. My eyes narrowed at my rebellious twin sister. "What happened after the coffee date? Was it a success?"

I bit my bottom lip again as I felt the heat that spread through my cheeks again. "He asked me on a real date tomorrow."

"Really?!"

"Yes," I answered gloomily, feeling sad at the thought.

"You're not happy?"

I looked at her dryly. "Why should I feel happy when we both know that it's you that he's asking you for that date and not me? Maybe he just doesn't know that you have an identical twin sister."

"Do you like him?"

I scowled in her direction darkly. "Why are you asking me that?"

"You like him?" she repeated.

"No."

Ruby threw back her head and laughed out loud, making me cringe. "That's rich. Let me tell you something, sissy," she said after her laughter subdued. "It's you that he likes, Emerald St. Clair. When we first met, he mistook me for you. He claimed that you and he met at the debutante ball for Penelope Young weeks ago."

My eyebrows furrowed together. I knew I attended that soiree for the heiress of the Young Enterprise, but I don't remember meeting him at that event. "I don't remember talking to him that night."

"Of course not," my twin mocked. "Because you didn't talk to him. In fact, according to him, when you were introduced to him, you snubbed him right away. Not a shock to me since that's your forte."

"I don't do such a thing," I protested almost immediately.

Ruby raised an eyebrow in my direction and said nothing. The look on her face was enough to re-evaluate when it came to meeting other people. I was known for not being sociable.

"Okay," I conceded after a moment. "I might ice him out like any other guys I usually met at parties, but I don't remember."

"That's okay," Ruby snickered again. "Anyways, as I said, when we met, he thought I was you. When I introduced myself, we chatted a little, and he asked me if I could somehow introduce him to you again. You know, I think he likes you."

My eyes widened in disbelief at her revelation. "The coffee date—"

Her green eyes lit with deviltry. "It's you that he's asking for that coffee date. I just forgot to tell you because of my flu. Sorry, my bad."

I could feel my heart start hammering in my chest. "I don't believe you... I have a feeling that it's you that he likes."

"Oh, Em..." Ruby reassured me. There was an evil smile playing on her lips. "If you want to know his intention to you. Then, by all means, meet him tomorrow as planned and continue to pretend to be me if you want. I will cover for you to our parents, Granddad, and Grandma."

I eyed her with distrust. "Moments ago, you were reminding me how we must visit Granddad and Grandma this weekend. Now you are willing to lie for me?"

She just merely shrugged. "What can I say? You already caught the eye of that handsome prince even before the debutante ball for the society?"

I exhaled a heavy breath. "I am not sure about this."

"Oh, come on. Where's your sense of adventure, sis?" She raised an eyebrow in my direction. "Don't you want to see him again?"

I didn't bother to answer and just lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling of her room. I just hope I don't regret anything in the future.

The following morning, Ruby persuaded our parents to go ahead to the Hamptons with our two older sisters, Amethyst and Sapphire. We will follow soon after, later that day. I have a feeling that this has something to do with me not coming to the Hamptons because I am to meet Prince Khalil Al-Farsi. I still don't think that he's worth the effort for lying to my parents.

"You can thank me later." Ruby winked at me as she was sitting on the passenger's seat in the back of the car with the window rolled down. She's about to depart to the Hamptons with our driver Mr. Woodlow. "Have fun later."

"I'll try," I answered grimly.

"Just don't let him pop your cherry yet."

I could feel the blush spread through my cheeks. "Ruby St. Clair!"

My devious twin just chuckled and rolled the windows up before the car drove away. I went back inside the mansion to prepare for my meeting with Khalil Al-Farsi.

One hour later, the maid informed me that he had finally arrived. I carefully took a deep breath took my purse, and went out of my room. And then, there he was, looking so sinfully handsome in his jeans and long sleeves rolled up to his arms.

"Hey," he said, standing from the sofa when he saw me carefully descending the staircase.

"Hi, sorry to keep you waiting," I said, fully aware of the pounding of my heart.

He smiled at me. "That's okay. Let's go?"

I only managed to nod and guide him outside the house. He helped me slide inside his car before he went to the driver's side. "Where to?"

"Coney Island," he said simply before driving away.

My eyes widened in his direction. "We're going to the amusement park?"

"Yes," he grinned at me, making my heart beat erratically once more. "Unless Miss Debutante is not up for such a date."

I immediately shook my head. "No. It's fine. I just think I've never been to a theme park before."

"I know you will like it there."

I smiled at him while silently studying him. I couldn't help but remember my conversation with Ruby last night. Was it true? Am I the one he likes, not Ruby? Should I ask him about it? Or just continue to pretend to be Ruby, since I don't remember meeting him at Penelope's official debut in society.

I sighed deeply and continued with my charade. I was afraid to ask, anyway. I looked away and stared sightlessly at my window. It would take at least an hour before arriving at Coney Island in Brooklyn.

When we arrived sometime later than expected, it was a fully crowded day because it was the weekend. He immediately took my hand in his and started walking towards Luna Park. I looked down at our locked hands together, making a weird feeling in my stomach. I don't know what it was and I don't want to know.

"What do you want to do first?" He asked me, looking at me with such mesmerizing dark blue eyes.

I shrugged nonchalantly. "I have no idea."

"Let's take rides first."

I looked at those adrenaline rush rides and I gave a shaky laugh. I don't know if I was scared or not about riding these things. "S-Sure..."

"Let's try the Cyclone Roller Coaster," he said eagerly, pulling me towards the monstrous evil-looking rides.

Before I knew what was happening, I was already strapped into the train beside him. "I don't think this is a good idea."

"Scared?" he chuckled.

"You have no idea," I mumbled under my breath.

Once this thing was full of passengers, it started to move forward, slowly at first, as if making you more nervous before it went for the kill. As we went to the first downhill of the roller coaster, I shrieked a little, which earned a laugh from him.

I threw a dark look in his direction, but he paid me no mind since he was busy looking ahead, and that's the last thing I remember when my vision turned upside down because of this monstrous thing. I was shouting at the top of my lungs throughout the ride.

Good lord, if I survive this thing, I will never ride this demon again. I promised myself silently.

After what felt like an eternity, the roller coaster finally stopped and started unloading passengers. I was aware of how badly my legs were shaking when Khalil helped me stand up from my seat.

"Are you all right? You look so pale."

I glared at him darkly while trying to calm my nerves. "I will never ride that thing again, I swear!"

He laughed before taking my hand again. "Come. Let's get you a drink."

We walked hand in hand towards the Boardwalk where the food stalls were located. He ordered hot dogs and fries for us with sodas.

"Thanks," I said after giving me the food.

We sat at the vacant table and started eating. "What do you want to ride next?"

I looked at him flatly, halfway from taking a bite of my fries. "Thanks, but I don't wish to repeat my experience with the roller coaster. I think I am all right. You can ride whatever you like, but I will just wait for you."

"Like hell, I would do that," he said with annoyance. "I will not let other guys come near you. I would kill them if that happened."

"You're kidding, right?"

"Nope," he answered with a serious tone while taking a bite of his hot dog sandwich. "I am dead serious."

I don't know what to feel about his sudden announcement. Looking at him now, there was still irritation on his face. And then I remembered my conversation with my twin. "Can I ask you something?"

His dark blue eyes smiled at me. "Sure. What is it?"

"Why did you ask me on a date?"

He looked at me for a moment. I still don't get used to how intensely he stared at me. "Because I like you."

"You do know that I have a twin sister, right?" I inquired, still unsure how to open up this subject to him. What if he thought that I was Ruby?

"Yes."

I bit my bottom lip and stared at him worriedly. "What can you say about her?"

He stared at me with a frown on his eyebrows. "Why are you asking me that all of a sudden? Are you leading to something?"

I shrugged casually. "Nothing. I just want to know. But if you don't want to answer, that's okay. I will not ask you again."

He took a loud breath. "She's fine, but she's a wayward lady."

Does he mean Ruby or me? Damn, I am starting to have headaches with these mind games inside my head. I cleared my throat and decided to end my confusion once and for all. "C-Can...you distinguish me from her if we stood side by side right now?"

A scowl formed on his forehead. "Of course, you are way different from your twin."

"Does that mean you know who I am now?"

"Of course." Looking straight into my eyes.

"Then who am I?"

He grimaced in my direction as if deciphering what was going on inside my head. "Why are you asking me—oh, don't tell me..."

"Yes," I answered.

He gave me a short laugh while shaking his head. "Oh, God. This is awkward. I can't believe this."

"Do you know which twin is sitting in front of you now?" I prodded when our conversation felt like going in circles.

"You are Emerald St. Clair," he announced loud and clear while his hypnotic dark blue eyes bored into me. I was aware of the hard pounding of my chest at his words. So, he knew all along that I was Emerald and not my twin. Suddenly, I felt ridiculously happy about it.

"I thought you were under the impression that I was Ruby when you went to my school and reminded me of the coffee date."

"What?!" his eyes were wide in disbelief. "All along you thought I was asking Ruby? Man, that was epic."

I shrugged, feeling guilty about it. "I played all along so I could investigate your intention towards my twin sister. Sorry about that."

He cursed while shaking his head. "Wow. I am speechless."

"Sorry..." I bit my bottom lip while looking down at my untouched food.

I heard him sigh deeply. "Now that it's already clear who I asked to date and the air between us is already clear, can we continue our date now, Emerald?"

After a slight hesitation, I smiled at him. "Yes."

"Great," he smiled back at me. The glow in his gorgeous eyes was back.

And that's what happened throughout the day walking around Coney Island, hand in hand, and never again attempting to try rides again. It was already twilight when he brought me home.

"Thanks for today. I enjoyed it," I said once he pulled his car onto the pavement. I unclasped my seat belt and prepared to slide out of his car.

"Can I see you again tomorrow? I am staying at Waldorf Astoria," he said with a smile on his handsome face. "Can we have another date again? This time no more rides."

"Sure," I said enthusiastically.

"Great. I will pick you up tomorrow."

"Okay." Before I had the chance to climb out of his car, he stopped me and kissed my cheek without permission.

"See you tomorrow," he said with a wink before letting me out of his car.

I waved him goodbye for the last time and watched his car speed away in front of our mansion before going inside. I still had a smile on my face as I went inside. Tomorrow I'll meet him again. I am going to tell Ruby everything when she comes back from the Hamptons.

I will surprise him tomorrow at his hotel, I thought with a grin.

The following morning, I woke up early to surprise him in his hotel room. My driver, who parked across the street from Waldorf Astoria, had opened the passenger's door for me as I slid out of the car. I was about to cross the street with takeout coffee and unsweetened cheesecake from the coffee shop we went to last time when I saw the familiar figure of Khalil Al-Farsi coming out of the hotel early in the morning.

My eyes instantly narrowed when I saw a woman snake her arms in his forearm. Khalil turned around to look at her. My heart shattered when the woman kissed him on the lips. He didn't even struggle to be free from the woman's touch.

I laughed cynically. How could I be naïve to think that he liked me? He was just playing me, for God's sake! The naïve sixteen-year-old girl was a novelty for him. He doesn't like me, as he claimed.

"Mr. Woodlow," I heard myself saying to my chauffeur. Well, good thing I saw his color sooner before I fell for him hard.

"Miss Emerald?"

I presented the coffee and box of cheesecake in his direction. "Can you please throw this away in the garbage bin?"

"Pardon, Miss?" his eyes went wide in my direction.

"Throw this away, and let's go home," I said once the driver took the items from my hand. I climbed back into the car. I would not shed tears because of him. I would not. "Let's go. Drive me to the Hamptons now. I want to be with my family."

As I settled inside the car, I removed every happy memory I had with that loathsome, lying bastard of a prince. From that day forward, he was nothing but a hateful person that I had the misfortune to meet...

This is what happens when you're disobedient. You will learn your lesson the hard way.

Damn you to hell, Al-Farsi. Thanks for the lesson.