Alex pushed the door open and made his way into the flower shop. He motioned towards the counter to get some help. He smiled at the girl. "Excuse me, can you help me to choose some flowers? I need something welcoming," he asked for help. The girl nodded. "Sure," she smiled before walking away from there to choose something for him. Alex waited in front of the counter before he felt his shoulder is tapped. 

           "Alex?" A girl smiled and was standing behind him. "Its me, Jessica. Remember?" Alex nodded and smiled. "Yeah. You're Seth's friend," he said, sounded a little peachy as he remembered that she did cause Rose to cry. "What are you doing here?" He asked kindly, pretending like he knew nothing about her.

        Jessica chuckled. "Just getting some flowers for my teacher. She's moving away," she explained and showed him a bouquet of roses. "How about you?" She asked back. Alex nodded. "Oh, I'm getting something for my mother. She's coming back today," he answered. "I asked the girl for some help as I know nothing about flowers," he pointed at the girl who was busy picking some flowers for him. 

        "Boys," Jessica shook her head and Alex let out a small laugh. The girl finally came back with a bouquet of white lilies. She wrapped it using a transparent glittery plastic. "Hey, if you don't mind, can you put a purple ribbon on top of it?" He said. The girl nodded and stuck a purple ribbon on the bouquet. 

         "You look like you're close to your mother. She's lucky," Jessica said, praising him. "Yeah. Maybe because I'm her only boy," Alex joked. The bouquet was ready and Alex paid for it. He took it into his hand. "I'm leaving now. Nice to meet you," he farewell. Jessica grinned. "Likewise," she said. Alex made his way out from the shop and headed off to the airport. He couldn’t wait to see his mother.

            Alex parked his car and walked excitedly into the airport with a bouquet of lilies in his hand. She would love these. He waited for her arrival with hope. A few minutes later, an elegant woman with long blond hair, fair skin and wearing a deep blue coat and black shades made her way out from the terminal. Princess Christina was walking gracefully when Alex waved excitedly at her. "Mom!" He called.

          She put off her shades and saw her son, happy as always, and so, she waved back. She hurried towards him and gave him a big hug. "I've missed you!" She chirped, hugging him tightly. Alex smiled and hugged her back. "Me too, mom," he said. They then let go of each other. Christina cupped his face. "How's life?" She asked smiling.

          "Fruitful," Alex joked. If only he could tell his mother that he had been so happy these few days. Thanks to Rose, the one that brought joy into his life. But he knew that his mother wouldn't like it. He passed the bouquet to her. Christina took it and smelt it. "Aww, you're so sweet, honey. Thank you. I love it!" She said in awe. Alex wrapped his arm around her. "Lets find something to eat. I'll show you around," he said, gesturing her to the exit door.

       Alex brought his mother lunch in a hotel. He ordered a steak with salad dressing for himself while his mother got herself a chicken noodle. "Anddora has changed a lot, don't you think?" Christina started. "Cleaner and more beautiful," she sipped her orange juice. Alex nodded. "Yeah. Pretty impressive," he said.

          Christina drew a long breath. "We've been gone for too long. 14 years," she said, full of disappointment and sadness. Alex didn't look at her and focussed on eating. He hated it when his mother started to remind them of their past. She took his hand and squeezed it. "We're back now. That's the most important thing. I'm going to take everything that was ours, Alex."

         "Mom, we talked about this..." Alex put down his fork. He squeezed her hand. "Forget about it. We're doing fine without all that." Christina smirked. "Fine?" She said sarcastically. "We've suffered for too long. I promise you, Alex, that I would do everything that I could, to get back what was yours. You're the real Crown Prince."

~~

           Rose stabbed her fork onto her desserts. Her eyes were looking sharply at Seth, who was sitting at another end of the table. They hadn’t talked yet since last night’s incident. She wanted him to apologise first, before she talked to him. Mr Jameson was standing beside him with his notebook on his hand, scribbling something. He always did that whenever we had our meals. 

         "Er-can I know what you're doing, Mr Jameson?" She asked out of curiosity. "You've been doing that every time we eat." Seth shrugged and looked at her. "Mother instructed him to record our daily meals. She's a little choosy, so she wanted to make sure that we got the best," he answered on Mr Jameson behalf.

         "Seriously?" Rose mouth fell open. She never thought someone would actually do that. "Wow. Nuts." Mr Jameson smiled at her. "Is there anything else you need, your Highness?" He asked them. Seth shook his head. "No, you may leave," he dismissed him. Jameson bowed before walking away from there. Suddenly, Seth's phone rang and he stared at the screen for a moment. 

             Rose looked at him, sharp eyes. Seth glanced at her before answering the phone call. "Hello," he muttered. Rose listened to his conversation and he didn't look comfortable. "I'm home. I'm not sure yet," he continued talking with Rose staring at him. "I'll call you later," he ended it and off his phone.

        "Was it Jessica?" Rose asked, slightly annoyed. "You don't have to hide it from me. Just talk, I don't mind," she said, lowering her voice. Seth frowned. "I'm not hiding it from you. Why should I? I can talk with whomever I want," he smirked. Rose stabbed her fork, hard onto her cheesecake. "Yes, you can. So, why don't you call her now? I'm invisible," she said sarcastically.

           "Then you can call Alex now. I'm invisible too," he smirked. Rose gasped. "Why are you bringing Alex into this?" She said, her heart burning. Seth let out a fake laugh. "Because he's your boyfriend. You don't have to lie to me, I know you like him, don't you?" He sneered. "What are you talking about? He's my friend. At least, he's better than you! At least, he doesn’t treat me like I'm an object!" She said, raising her voice.

       "Really? If I'm that useless then what are you?" He asked, sneering. "Marrying for money," he said in disgust. Rose lost her words. Tears started to fill in her eyes. She hated to admit it, but what he said was true. "You think I don't know that you married me for money? You begged Mr Jameson to help your family; in return you'd marry me. Now, who's the jerk? You or me?" Seth continued.

         Rose stood up to her feet. "What you said is true! I did marry you for money! I'm the whore, I'm the jerk and I'm the type of girl who manipulates men to get money!" She said, tears trailing down her cheeks. "Just stop hurting me! I know that I don't deserve all this, but I have a heart. Do you know how hard it is for me? Do you know, Seth Larston?" She asked, crying.

        Seth was silent. He never thought that Rose would cry. This was the worst feeling ever. He tried to avoid making any eye contact with her, as he hated to see people cry. Rose sobbed and walked her way out of the room. She stopped beside Seth. "You can't judge people like you're the most perfect guy in the world. You don't know anything, because all you do is be a jerk. Have you watched Braveheart? Even Cameron has a heart," she ended her words and flew away from there. 

           Seth stunned. Braveheart? What is that? Mr Jameson rushed into the room after he heard loud voices coming out from it. "Is everything alright, Sire?" He asked. Seth rubbed his nose. "Have you ever heard of Braveheart?" He asked, staring at Rose's empty chair. Mr Jameson raised an eyebrow. "It’s a movie screened about two years ago, Sire. Why'd you ask?" He replied, feeling slightly weird with his question.

         "Find that movie. I want to watch it," Seth instructed and got out from his chair, heading towards his bedroom. Mr Jameson bowed down. "Yes, Sire," he accepted his order but was feeling weird with his request. 

~~

            Rose stormed into the garden. She wiped her tears, and couldn't believe that she had just cried in front of him. He didn't deserve it. She fell onto the bench and sighed. Seth was a useless jerk and heartless. Why was she so unfortunate to marry such a jerk? If only she could turn back time, she wouldn’t agree on this. Maybe her life would have be better, even though she would have had to sleep in the shop. Suddenly, she missed her family. Both her parents, and annoying brothers. It had been 3 weeks without any call or meet.

          She pulled out her phone from her pocket and dialled their house number. A minute later, someone picked up the phone. "Hello," her father answered. "Dad, its me, Rose," she chirped happily as she finally heard his voice. "ROSE!!" Tom squealed and then she heard voices through the phone. "Rose!!! Buy me a camera!" Jace was shouting. "No, Rose! I want a present too!" Ethan interfered. 

        Rose laughed and a tear dropped from her eyes. She missed home. "Hey guys, I miss you," she murmured. She was so happy to hear their voices. "Miss us? Don't make me puke, Rose," Jace sneered. Rose frowned. So, nothing changed, huh? "I miss you too, so buy me a present!" Ethan shouted. She shook her head. "Give the phone to mom and dad," she demanded. "Fine," Jace shrugged and handed the phone to his father.

         "Princess!!! How are you? You're doing good? Did you eat well? Of course, you did. How's Prince Seth? Both of you doing fine?" Tom said swiftly. Rose chuckled. "I'm fine, daddy. I'm just missing home. How are you?" She cried. "We're doing fine! All the debts were paid and we'll have our house forever!" He informed. "How's your husband?"

         Rose was silent for a second. She couldn't tell him that they just had a big fight. "He's fine. Like always," she lied. There was nothing fine since she moved into the castle. "Good. Take care of yourself and be good. Remember to behave and make us proud!" He advised. "We love you!" He screamed. "I love you too, dad," Rose said. "I gotta go now. Bye, dad, and say hi to mom."

          "Okay. I love you too," he said and tried to hide his disappointment, as he couldn't talk to her for longer. Rose turned off her phone and looked down. She wanted to go home so badly. She was homesick. It was so unfair that Seth got to meet his family everyday while she couldn't. She would do anything to go home. 

          After she was calmer, Rose walked back to her building, with hope that Seth would be in his room. The last thing she wanted to see was his hideous face. But, Seth was already waiting for her, lying on the sofa. She sighed and frowned as she saw him on the couch. She ignored him and crawled into her bedroom. "Hey, Liana," Seth called. Rose turned herself towards him. 

           "Liana? The girl who married for money in Braveheart?" Seth explained. So, he watched the movie. Rose never thought that he would actually do that. Seth got up to his feet and motioned towards her. "You're right. Cameron does have a heart," he said, referring to a character in the movie. Rose gazed into his eyes. "Why'd you watch that movie?" She asked curiously.

        "Well, that movie did teach me something," he said truthfully. Rose frowned. "Like what? You have to be extra careful with me because I might have stolen something from you? And the fact that I'm selfish and heartless and I'm a money grubber?" She said, sarcasm hitting every word.

      "Stop," Seth stopped her and lifted his hand. He drew a deep breath. "I know I was wrong and I'm sorry," he said honestly. This was the first time that he had ever asked someone for forgiveness. All this time, everyone treated him like he never did anything wrong. Rose looked down. "You're mean," she let out. 

       "I know," Seth muttered, almost inaudible. Hot tears rolled down Rose's cheeks. She started to hit his chest repeatedly. She wanted to hate him but she just couldn't. Seth stopped her and held her hands to his chest. "I'll do anything to make it up to you," he said, gazing into her brown eyes. Rose pulled her hands out of his. "I want to see my parents," she requested.

        Seth sighed. "Fine. I'll think of something," he agreed. Rose smiled and was happy that he had agreed to it. Seth couldn't help but smile. "But, you have to finish your studies first or Madam Hartford won't agree. You have to help yourself," he told her. Rose nodded and grinned. 

~~

P.S This is a simple chapter. But please go up there, yes, the vote button, click it :) Will you? Then, scroll down and see that cute comment box? Yes, write how do you feel about the story and click the post button. 

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