L

(A/N: Wow! 50th chapter is here! Thank you so much for still supporting this story despite of long hiatus last year. We're near for 100K reads! I'm so excited! I dedicate this chapter to the reader who always gives to comment to almost all the chapters since the first time I post this story here in wattpad @etevysz . I'm so grateful to have readers like you guys even though this story does not deserve a very supportive readers. I hope to see you in next update. GOD bless! Enjoy!)

L

I finished my work after three days with a call from my mom. I did not expect to have a call from Chicago at this moment because mom and I had talked at my lunch break.

She was always updating me about the progress of dad for the past days, which I was grateful. Despite he was still in Intensive Care Unit, he was now responding by moaning when someone talked to him. He could also opened his eyes, and some wires, as what Hana called them but it helped dad to survive, were also removed from him.

When I received my salary a couple of days ago, I sent it to them immediately including my savings and the money I received from the King when I gave that folder from Alexander. Compensation as what he had named it. I did not want to use that money because it felt wrong but I had no other choice.

Gladly, dad underwent to surgery yesterday and all my exhaustion in working was gone when I heard mom talked about the news. At least she sounded less miserable than the first she gave me the situation of dad.

Now, I wondered why she suddenly called. Nervousness and excitement stirred my emotion. I was only thinking of good news because enough for bad news. I had so much bad news the last seventy-two hours compare to my life before.

I got my bag and went out of the office when I answered her call. I put it on my ear then said hello.

Mom did not talk in a few seconds but I could her heavy breathing and I knew that she cried so much. My heart thumped faster and I panicked.

"Mom, what's wrong?" I could not hide the fear in my voice. There were many of what ifs swirling in my mind.

I reached the main stair of palace when mom started to talk from the other line. "Shirley, I don't know what to do anymore," she wept.

"Mom, mom, calm down," I used the stair on the first floor but I was in the mid-way when I said, "Mom, please tell me what's happening."

"Shirley, you're not the accountant in the tabloid, right?" My feet automatically stopped when I heard her. They already heard the news.

It was still an unnamed accountant of a prince since it went out to public, but it was too obvious to discern who really it was. Prince Alexander knew to be a scandal prince ever since so there would be no second thought that he was the prince involved. The people also connected this issue to the King's command of bringing Alexander to the headquarters of AMFA.

Even though it was somewhat related in different angles, I still could not believe that I was accuse to do it because I desperately needed the money. I could not believe Katherine who told the reporter about my father's situation. I had no freaking idea how that woman learned about it, but whoever behind this, I still felt the outraged growing every time I saw her. She betrayed me like a fool believing her that she was my friend.

I sobbed when our memories together made its way to my mind. The damage had been made. Too much. I did not know if I could forgive her someday after I conquer this issue.

"Mom," nothing entered my brain for a response to my mother. She was also too tired of bad news so I did not know if I could tell her all the facts behind that scandal.

"Shirley, the hospital wants us to leave as soon as possible," I could imagine mom closing her eyes and thinking all the available solutions.

"Why? I don't get it, you have the money for the surgery and hospital bill. Why are they like that?" I screamed the last question in frustration. I worked for that money to help my dad survive, then they kicking out my family. Were they crazy?

"I told the nurse last night about you working in palace. It's my fault, Shirley," mom cried, "They put together the pieces of puzzle and concluded that you were the accountant in the tabloid. Shirley, you are not that accountant, are you?"

All I could do was to sit on the last step of the grand staircase. The phone was still on my ear when I put my face on my palm. I sighed deeply and wished that what happening were only a dream.

This made me exploded and wanted to punch everyone who falsely released this news. They had no right to include my family, especially now that they were finally leaving poverty and started to live life normally. I hated that I could not do something. I hated that I hurt them. I hated that I had no option in my life.

"Mom, transfer to another hospital," I diverted the topic and it seemed effective, but it hurt me more.

"I tried to call other hospitals in Chicago before I called you. I ask them if they can accept your father, but they all refuse, Shirley, when they heard our surname," she told me like a nightmare that she could not get over.

"Mom, I'm sorry," that was the only thing I could think after all, "Lola, I think, she can help you. Mom, I'm going to send you money as soon as I receive my wage."

I heard my mom's infuriated voice, which made the hair on my neck stood, "No need Shirley," she was not crying anymore, "If you're only to give us money you stole from the monarchy, we're not accepting it. You disappointed us." She was so cold that I forgot who she was.

"Mom, it is not what you think," tears streamed down on my face, "Let me explain."

"You better go back here in Chicago, Shirley," she angrily stated, "I thought you married the prince because you love him, but you have other intention. Money. We don't teach you to be a theft."

"Mom," I cried, did not care if someone could hear me.

"Go back. We don't need money that come from wrong doings. We're fine even before you went there. I'm pleading, Shirley," those were the last words and she ended the call.

Not knowing what to do, I redialed but she turned off her phone. I hoped that she hear my reason first before listening to others. She was my mom. The only person I knew who would still be behind my back although the world would be against me.

However, I also lost her during my hardest situation in my life. I only wanted to have a flight going back to Chicago and explain to them what my real intentions were when I did the financial statements.

I texted Lola before going back to my room, I told her, 'Please help mom to find a hospital for dad. Tell them that I'm so sorry and I'm going back there after I talk to Alexander. Thank you, Lola.'

I switched off my mobile phone after sending the message. Knowing my best friend, she would ask me questions after question until I tell her all. The last thing I needed was to open myself. I was deadly tired and all I want was to rest.

Before I could unlock my door, I heard someone called me and saw Princess Victoria running toward me. Her eyes sparkled telling me that she had no problem. I envied her.

"Shirley," she smiled and held my shoulders, "I have good news." Somewhat, I felt crying again, not because I was upset, but because after the all-out bad news these days I would finally heard a good news for the very first time.

"What..." not sure of what should I say, I just kept quiet and waited for her to reveal it.

"Alex would go back here tonight," she grinned and hugged me tightly, "Everything will be alright, Shirley, my brother will make sure that you're fine and I'm only here to help him."

She gave me a hopeful smile when she broke our hug after a while. That was the only time I noticed that we were not alone. A tall man with beautiful tan skin and bright dark eyes stood a meter away behind the princess. Ben, Princess Victoria's only one.

When he met my stares, he walked to us and greeted. The gentleman as ever. Her Highness hooked her arm around his. I was always witnessing how they were in head over heels with each other like there was no one in the room with them.

"By the way, Shirley, we have a dinner in the pad tonight. It's Ben's birthday," she said and the man whispered something that made the former giggled.

"You should join us while you wait for Tory's brother," Ben said in a very friendly way, "It's my treat anyway."

I shook my head, "No, I don't want to be a third-wheel," I joked and they both chuckled. "It's your night, you should enjoy without a crying lady around," I smiled telling them that I was fine, "Happy Birthday, Ben."

We said goodbyes and the princess insisted for the very last second that I should join them. Still, I refused.

"If you change your mind, you know the pad my brothers and I bought, right?" I nodded to her and she added, "Go there and let's party, but," she whispered her next words, "If you're with Alex, I hope you won't tell him that we were in the pad. You know my brother for being an over-protective old man. Okay?"

"Okay," I answered assuring. They departed hand to hand and I watched them until they were not visible anymore.

-----

I kept myself busy on the documents of Prince Alexander's charities to forget the problems I had. At least if I saw numbers or transactions, I temporarily escaped the reality.

My heart leaped when someone knocked on my door. I stared at the door for a moment and made myself believed that the person behind it was Alexander, my husband. However, I feared that it was someone who would investigate me, or reporters who would interrogate me. Worst of worst, a royal family member went here to tell me that I had already lost my job.

Half brave, half coward, I slowly walked to the door and turned the knob. The door was only half opened when I saw him standing there. Relief washed me when the pair of green eyes I really loved most caged mine.

He had dark circles around his eyes, wounds on his cheeks, corner of his mouth and nose, but it was almost healed. My eyes watered again, seeing him alive was the best view I had in my entire life. I did not want to ask him what happened, I just wanted to feel his heat.

He held my face and electricity shot through me like the old days. He was still my Alexander no matter what. I knew I still had the same effect to him because I saw how his feelings danced on his eyes.

"We should go somewhere, we need to talk," he said and dragged me with him. I stopped him to get my bag and locked my door.

Gladly, I had my coat on because it was freezing outside the palace. We rode in a black car with Alexander as a driver and me as his passenger. The road was still clear despite of the snow. He drove silently.

I wanted to ask him where we would go, but I enjoyed the quietness during our ride. I looked at him and could not help a smile on my face. Regardless of my situation, I was still thinking to have children with him.

Sons and daughters who all looked like him. Green eyes. Dark blonde hair. Running around the palace. Crying on his arms. Playing with him. My children with him that I would precious a lot.

He caught me looking at him when the car stopped because of the red light. A grin formed on his face, which he could not stop.

"What are you thinking?" He curiously said, not removing his stares to me.

It was not the time to lie just to prevent embarrassment. Having children with him was not a shame, though.

"I'm thinking if how many children do you want?" I cheerfully asked. I slapped my face when I realized how crazy my question was.

His laughed echoed in the car, "As long as you won't stop me from doing it with you, we will have children. I hope you get my answer."

I hit his arm, I was pretty sure my face was as red as tomatoes. He continued to drive and I beamed all the way, wherever we would go. Being around him, I did not mind the life I left in the palace.

"We're here," he announced once we stopped in a familiar place. I glanced outside to see the expensive-only-rich-could-afford-building where extravagant pads located including the royal siblings owned.

All of a sudden, I recalled what Victoria told me earlier. Without a further ado, I reached Alexander's arm before he could get out from the car.

He confusedly gazed to me. I told him, "I think we should go to other place."

He furrowed his eyebrow and questioned me, "Why will we go to other place if we have our privacy here?"

"Because," I shrugged, "Just because..."

He removed my hand on his arm and followed him through my eyes when he went around the car and opened my door. He did not let me say a word. He pulled me outside and I managed to protest in spite of warmness of his body so close to mine.

"Please, Alexander, let's go somewhere," I tried to persuade him, but it seemed like he was determined to go to his pad.

I was still pleading when we entered the luxurious building and went straight to the elevator. There were a few people in the lobby because it was almost midnight. Thank goodness.

After he swiped the card on the side of the buttons, I was wishing that Victoria and Ben were not in the pad anymore, they finished partying and sleeping quietly in Victoria's room, or they decided to go somewhere earlier.

I stopped breathing when we were two floors away. I felt dizzy when one more floor and Alex would discover his sister and its boyfriend in their pad. I jumped when I heard the 'ding' sound signified we were in the penthouse.

Once the two doors separated, I heard Alexander cursed loudly as the opulent apartment came into the show including two people kissing in the living room. The redhead girl had her dress fell halfway to her body, exposing more skin than usual. I could only see the back of the big guy.

They did not hear Alexander's offensive words, so as soon as we stepped inside the pad, he shouted, "What the heck are you doing here?"

Everything went fast. I heard punches. Screams. Until I saw a bleeding body lying on the ground. I was sure he was still breathing.

"Ben!" Victoria cried and went to the body on the ground.