LIX

LIX

Someone was playing the piano when I woke up. The sun was already set and darkness covered not only the sky, but also the entire penthouse. I could see the living room from the bedroom because the door was open. There was a minimal light on the location of the piano.

I sat up and covered my face when I remembered all we had done all day. This was the effect of not seeing him for three years. He changed from prince to Hulk. He almost destroyed the bed on his every move. He did not stop until he drained me fully. I had no doubt he was still burning with stamina.

I looked for my dress, only to find his shirt on the carpeted floor of the room. I wore it immediately and went out to see him. We had a long discussion coming.

He was playing a familiar tune in the piano when our eyes met. A smile crept on his face as he moved a little down his head, gesturing me to come to him.

My eyes wandered over his bared body once I was already beside him. I bit my lower lip to stop myself from drooling. His fingers moved like a professional pianist and blush invaded my cheeks when I thought how those experienced fingers touched my skin.

He stared at me intently while he sang the song he was playing on the piano. It seemed like a dream to listen again to His Highness' version of 'I Won't Give Up'. He sang this song for me when he proposed in Bel Canto three years ago.

A lot of things happened after that night. I discovered every piece of his dark past as I realized how deep I fell in love with him every day. I tried not to give up. I tried to stay beside him no matter what. I tried to be his sky in his dark world.

However, I was the first one who gave up on him. On us. If only I had spoken to him that night, maybe, we were living happily right now with our twins. Probably, we had more children.

I sobbed and hugged his side tightly. He stopped singing and hitting the keys on the instrument. He put his hand on my back while the other on my arm to support me. He literally let me cried on his shoulder. He might be confused, but I kept these tears for years. I tortured myself in deciding to live away from him and acted too strong for my children. But, I ended up falling in his arms again.

"Why?" I wept and broke the embrace to look at him directly, "Why did you kiss... Princess Emily that day?"

My interrogation caught him off guard and he looked down. He swallowed and moved his hand on his chin. Prince Alexander met my gazes again and answered huskily, "I was tempted."

That surprised me. It was my unexpected response from him. "Tempted?"

He nodded and sighed, "I'm really sorry."

"Why did you not think about me when she was tempting you?" I asked while brushing the tears on my cheeks. Anger crawled on my nerves as my blood went to my head. "Is that what I am you? A spare tire if ever she returns to her husband."

"Shirley," his voice was too low and calming, "When she kissed me, I realized that I don't need anyone besides you. I regret what I'd done and I hope you forgive me."

I bowed my head and played my hands on my lap. I did not retort because I wanted to weigh all the facts. In my heart, Prince Alexander was always right. But, the questions roamed in my mind were the otherwise.

What if this was only his alibi. What if there was a trap behind his words. What if he no longer loved me. What if he did it again. What if I was the only believing we were still meant to be.

"It's been three years, Shirley, since you left me alone in that cold palace," the sadness on his voice wanting me to hug him again, but I sat still, "I did not go in public for months because all I want is to stay in your room and wishing you would come back. But you only left a letter that was like a death of me."

He held my hands to get my full attention, but I did not return his gaze. I could feel that I would break down for the second time this evening anytime if I faced him again.

"I ordered a private investigator to search for you only to find out about your father's accident," his breathing became heavy, "Until now, I could not explain how messed up I was. My family, who I thought my only ally, was the reason I lost you. First, my father. Then, Victoria and Emily. And, I could not believe, my mother would do that terrible thing."

I flinched when I heard my former princess friend's name. After I settled this relationship with her brother, I must talk to her. I missed her like a sister. Even though we would not be friends as we used to be, I would be beyond willing to go back to the start line and fix all the damages.

I slowly turned my head to him and saw his gloomy expression. Tears started to fall down from his eyes and the back of his palm removed it immediately

"I thought for three years that I would be a bachelor for the rest of my life as a consequence of what happened to you," he held my face and moved closer to me, "It changed when Isaac called me that he already found you."

We stayed on that position for a few minutes as if reading each other's soul. This prince, who I loved more than anything, was the important piece of my life I was searching in my entire existence. He was the oxygen of the living things. He was the rose in the middle of the thorns. He was...my Prince Alexander.

He breathed my scent and softened my hair. He stated, "I love you, Shirley. I love you that I could give up everything, my power, my name, everything, just to have you once more."

I put down my head and smiled secretly. I was in the middle of absorbing everything when he began to unbutton the shirt I was wearing. I patted his hand away and glared at him.

"What are you doing?" I secured the shirt and scooted away even though we were still so near because the bench in the grand piano was short for two persons.

He smirked like a psycho who came out from asylum an hour ago, "That's the only way I could make you speak again."

I smacked his biceps, "You pervert old man!"

"Yeah, yeah, that's my Shirley," he wrapped his arm around my shoulder, "No need to be shy to the man who had already seen you naked for uncountable times."

"You know, I don't care," I freed myself from him by standing up and putting a safe distance between us, "I can still punch you for all you have done to me."

He swung his bared legs over the chair to give me the full view of him while he was still sitting. This man was the real meaning of temptation, hotness and sexy. I should not think about those words right now because I needed to clear all the things between us.

"Are you...are you ready to forgive me and restart our relationship?" He asked all of a sudden that made me want to melt on the ground.

How could I answer instantly if he changed of being playful to serious in just a blink of an eye? I was not a kind of girl who could easily adapt.

Was I ready? Yes? No? The answer was not difficult if the question given to me years ago. It was still an average one, but the end-result would be my fault alone. The path I would choose was not only mine, but also for our twins and him. This time, I would let my heart gambled for me.

"I'm too stupid because I'm forgiving you and will date you like before," I said and rolled my eyes, "I should give you punishment like swimming across the Pacific ocean or climbing the Mount Everest without a gear."

He pulled me down on his lap and kissed my cheek. "You won't regret having me this time." The happiness on his face was indescribable. I held his cheek, rubbing where his tear shed earlier.

I grimaced when I recalled something, "Are you going to leave those whores permanently?"

He chuckled and held my hips, "If you're talking about those news, for your info, I have never slept with any woman ever since I promised Shirley Woodman that she is the only one I will accompany on bed. Those scandals were only made up by my parents to cover my miserableness in real life."

I acted as if doubting what he had said. "Okay, I'm considering that."

He pouted in the cutest way. I laughed, thinking about Jared who resembled even how his father frowned. The prince would be surely happy if he would meet our twins. Speaking of them, I must tell him how beautiful his children were.

Before I could say his name, he became serious and spoke, "Shirley, about your child, I can accept her as my own. I can adopt her and give her a life same with our future children."

"What..." he quieted me by putting his long finger on my lips.

"I saw you earlier with your ex, I assumed you were no longer together because you and I are officially dating now," he put his hand on my jaw, "But that was not the issue, the issue here is if he will allow your child to live in UK with us."

Not more than five minutes ago, I wanted to kiss him torridly until he lost his memories. Right now, all I wanted was to slap him to bring back his senses. How dare he to think I had that activity with another guy?

Well, if he innocently believed I had a child with another man, I would play this game without him knowing the rules to serve him right.

"Yes, we already broke up long time ago," that was the truth, "I have twins."

He was stunned, and his eyes showed how jealous and envious he was. He put his hand on my lap and caressed my thighs. "Really?" He said in a displeased tone.

"Yes," I touched his chest to tease him even more, "I think it's better if they meet their soon-to-be father before we officially date." I put my mouth on his ear, "I'm concerned of what my twins will feel if I date another man."

He froze and I could feel under my palm the tension inside him. I laughed mentally and I would laugh more once I got out of his sight. He started this game so I was going to win it. I was sorry to my twins for playing their father's emotions.

"Are they identical twins?" The question was like an air coming out from his mouth.

I shook my head, "They are fraternal twins. One girl, one boy."

I already knew what was running on his brain although he did not voice it out. Firstborn was important, not only for a prince like him, but also for being man. A first son was a perfect music on his ears, and mistakenly learned that I had Jared with another man was like a funeral speech.

He removed his gazes and touch from me. He was too annoyed for my likeness, "That's...great."

"Uh huh," I stood and continued to irritate him, "I should go home now. My twins won't sleep without me on their sides."

He towered over me and held my wrist, "Let's shower first," the sound was the delicious temptation in the history, "And teach me how to make twins before you go home."

"What?" This was the only thing I could say before he lifted me in a bridal way.

Should I confess to him now that he was the father of my twins before I drained my energy again?

(A/N: What can you say? Comment it now! If you have QUESTIONS to me (e.g. what is my inspiration to write this character?) message me or comment it now! And I will post the answers after this story. I hope you have questions!

BTW, I think there is two more chapters left and an epilogue, so sad :( I'll surely miss Prince Alexander, Shirley and the gang. But, wait for my announcement after the epilogue... okay? Okay?

And, the reason I update with more than a week interval is my review class already started. I hope you understand. One more year, I'm going to be a CPA like Shirley, I wish I also meet a prince. HAHAHA. Thank you people for reading! Stay tune! Love lots. GOD bless!)