XLIX

(A/N: I dedicate this chapter to @MarieIdelfonso2002 who had a very nice comment on the previous chapter, which made me inspired to post an update. Thank you very much girl! Don't worry friends, there are still two more chapters that I will give to those who share their opinions in comment box. And, who knows that I will continue to give a dedication in every next chapter to those who have good comments. Enjoy reading! GOD bless you!)

XLIX

I remembered that day when I went home with three stars on my homework from kindergarten. Dad was so happy for that little achievement and he bought an ice cream for me.

The day I told him that I wanted to be an accountant someday. He just nodded and gave me an encouraging smile. That infamous smile of Dad was still clear in my mind.

His face, when I married Alexander a couple of weeks ago, was priceless. He did not say it by words, but I knew he was proud of me. He was glad for me.

However, he was there in a hospital at Chicago. He was still strong the last time I saw him, but now, he was comatose.

I woke up with a headache and heavy eyelids. I forgot what happened until I evoked the call I received from mom. My dad was in hospital and I did not know what to do. Should I go back to Chicago?

I sat up and noticed that I was already in my room. As far as I could recall, I was in Alexander's room when the bad news reached me. Tears started forming and I found myself crying again.

The newly rise sun shone through my window. I imagined my family seeing how beautiful it was when the day started in Chicago. How I wished my dad was fine and he was smiling like a proud father to his children.

I wished I were in Chicago to see my family and hug them in time like this. I was worried. I was scared. I felt as if someone would call anytime and tell me that my father was already... I did not want to think about it.

There was a soft knock on my door. I was not able to speak because the person behind the door opened it. Not a person. Two persons. Princess Victoria, who wore a simple blue dress, and a stranger girl, who wore a cloth like the one I saw on a maid.

"Your Royal Highness," I greeted and preparing to stand up when the princess stopped me.

"Shirley," she walked to my bed, "No need to be formal. I'm here to check if you're already okay." She sat on my bed and winked.

The maid, whose name was Daisy, checked my temperature and brought me a tray of breakfast and some pills. She told me to have it thrice a day.

Victoria was quiet while the maid helped me changed my clothes. I refused at first, but they both insisted I needed Daisy's help. I hated how Her Highness' sympathy drew in her eyes. She looked at me as if I was fragile and anytime I would break into pieces.

Daisy left after the princess dismissed her. No one talked and I did not have any strength to think about a good topic.

Princess Victoria stared at me and held my hand. Her hand was so soft like cotton. "Shirley, do you want to go to Chicago?"

I was freeze in a minute before I fully absorbed what she had asked. "O..of c-course," I stuttered, "I want to go there. I want to see my family if they are alright."

She sighed and closed her eyes. When she opened it, I saw the determination raged in her orbs. I had no idea of why there was a determination.

"Shirley, call your family and check them. I have a favor to ask you," she tightly held my hand and I could see tears forming in her eyes.

"Favor? What favor?" I was confused and not sure of what this princess was talking about.

"If you want to go to Chicago, please don't leave right now. Alex...Alex needs you," she breathed the last words as if it was a matter of life and death, though it was almost.

-----

The news was like a virus spread in the entire palace. It was all about Alexander and how the King declared that his son needed to go in Africa, where the main headquarter of AMFA was located. He was the one assigned to have a negotiation with those people about the peace in various of places and to free the hostages.

Even though, there were facts surely kept in secret, I was indisputable that the king already knew Alexander's relation to the rebels. And, I did not know what the king's intention for commanding my husband to go to the rebels' territory was. But, I was sure that this was his punishment.

The last thing I wanted to hear was Alexander's safety. Now that he turned his back to AMFA, they were not looking at him as an associate, but an enemy. An enemy to be killed.

Chills drew on my spine when that thought crossed my head. I swallowed a lump in my throat when I entered the office the next day.

Everyone was talking to each other and when they saw me, it seemed like there was a ghost and all of them looked scared. They returned to their respective chairs immediately.

I became more bothered because of their accusing stares as if I stole something from them. I went to my desk and met Katherine's eyes from the cubicle next to mine. She was not looking at me like how the others were, but it was more sympathetic.

I did not mind it and started my work with so much things running on my mind. Firstly, my father and family. Then, Alexander. I hoped there would be no next.

Lunchtime arrived quickly, but I had no appetite to eat. In the corner of my eye, I saw Katherine stood. In ordinary days, she would cheerfully ask me to eat with her. Nevertheless, this time was not ordinary. She went away without saying a word.

What was wrong with her?

I took a deep breath and pursued myself that she was too busy to invite me for a lunch or possibly, she had a lunch date.

After a few moments, my mobile phone vibrated for a new text message. The screen showed the person who texted me: Katherine Lee.

'Shirley, I'm sorry.'

With confusion, I replied, 'Why?'

She did not answer. I waited for several minutes but no response from her. I tried to call her, but her mobile phone was just keep on ringing.

I stood from my swivel chair to seek for her when I met a pair of green eyes.

Princess Victoria.

She was standing on the door. Her face was full of worried before she saw me. She looked relieve when she confirmed that I was in my place.

She run to me, and questions flooded in her features. I stood to greet her, but she interrupted me instantly.

"Tell me that it isn't true," she pleaded and gave me the newspaper she was holding.

I wrinkled my forehead because I was really lost. "What do you mean, Your Highness?" I asked in bewilderedness.

"See that article," she pointed the headline of the tabloid.

My eyes got bigger when I read the letters printed in black, bold and bigger than the other title. It said, 'Financial Statement of a Prince, under Investigation'.

I went to the page of the news. I could not inhale-exhale properly when an unknown accountant was mention to the article. It was not named but I had no doubt that I was the one they were talking about.

It was cleared to me at this moment the reason that my co-workers where gaping at me like that. They thought I really did it. I did not let the account to be misstated because I wanted to have the money from the prince's funds.

I did it because I had no other choice. I wanted to save Prince Alexander from being dethrone when the public learned about the AMFA.

"It's not me," I sobbed then tears started to trickle down from my eyes.

"Shirley," Princess Victoria hugged me and I cried on her shoulder.

I was not crying because of this scandal, but I was crying because the news or the people behind it involved the situation of my father.

They said that I made the false financial statements of the prince to provide money for the hospitalization of my father, which was not real. Whoever said it had no heart at all. They did not know the story, why involve the innocent?

"Victoria, do you believe them?" I asked the princess, not breaking our hug. I needed a good friend right now.

She shook her head, "No, Shirley. I don't know anything about your job or these financial statements. However, I believe that this news is false." I felt her hands on my shoulders and pushed me a little so she could see my face, "I know that you could not do it. I know your father is in hospital, but you're not that kind of person. Alexander will help you."

I just looked at her and did not speak. I did not know what else my mouth would say so I decided to nod and hug her again. She was like a real sister. Elena and Hana were my little sisters but I had no chance to talk with them about my problems because they were too young to hear the reality. But, I was so happy that I had now a sister who was almost my age.

"Thank you, Victoria," I murmured.

I was grateful to the comfort the princess gave, but another thing added to my list of worries. The person who was interviewed by the writer of the news. That person was the one who testified about me.

Moreover, what made me so angry and sad at the same time, that person used to be my friend. A friend I had when my best friend, Lola, was not here with me. A friend who I knew was my friend before this article came to my knowledge.

Katherine. One of the accountants of Queen Beatrice.

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