a S

ned to her, with worry lines all over my face

face, "I'm sorry, mummy is just nervous" I mumbled and wipe

uldn't help but think of everything that could wrong. They could hate me because of what happened 6 years ago, "Oh God" I

ide me and I smiled at her before I turned back to Zale, who was walking towards us. I saw him pause momentarily when he cast his eyes on me but brushed it off quickly, and continued walki

, but seeing the reaction it had on him, I felt better. "Hello,

d to be formal. We should be friends" he said and placed a kiss on my hand,

bad yourself" he shook his head at my compliment and squatted so he coul

" he cooed with a small smile on his

ace, "Thank you, Zale, mummy said I look like a prince

ured her and to our surprise, she wr

urst into laughter at her words, but she didn't mind that we were

our prince" he offered as he pulled away from her and stood up. She eagerly nodded her h

they walked to the car. My chest constricted painfully and I clenched my fists at the sight, "I'm sorry" I m

red at me with a blank look on his face.

. Zale opened the car for me, and I mumbled "

one ready?" He asked and readjusted the center mirror, the moment we all

ride if not for the radio that played different songs throughout the car ride and Zoe who occasionally tried to sing along.

my nerves down for the lunch. The silent ride gave me time to collect my thoughts and

" Zale said for the first time since we entered the ca

the corrections

odded. The car slowly came to a halt after that and I looked out the

ace felt like home, but right now it felt anything but homely to me and thoughts of how I'll stand out and probably be despised by the people that o

hakiness in my voice, but to my relief, he chose to ignore it, "let's go, Zoe" I mu

"I open the doors for you and Zoe especially in public and

his every step with eyes twinkling in admiration, he only had to showcase the most basic act of gallantry and I was a

n love, in front of my parents. And I know that wouldn't be a problem for you, you did quite well back in our colle

and forced a smile on my face, "you can count on me. I pl

for Zoe, but she was already out of the car and wa

ame excitement in her house, "You live in a mansion?" She whisper-yel

hape as her eyes kept flickering from the house to Zale's face, "

e with you in this big mansion. I could play princess al

ere are some people you need to meet first, are you ready?" She nodded her

d presented his arm to me. I gazed at it for a while before I slowly wrapped my hand around it and smiled a

walk to hell, but it was barely a minute before we stood in front of the door, Zale rang the doorbell as

n me and her mouth dropped open in shock, she was about to say something to