"Veronica?" Charlotte whispered.Ryan rubbed his face and nodded. Charlotte bit her lip at the revelation."How did she find you?"Ryan shrugged. He turned on his laptop."You're not thinking of... Of letting her in, are you?" Charlotte asked slowly."I don't know."Charlotte knew he meant it. That broke her heart."I don't think you're in the right place for that. She might just end up using you again." Charlotte said the last part in a low voice, afraid to hurt his feelings."I know. But don't worry, I've moved on." Charlotte shook her head."Still. Just stay away."Ryan passed his hand through his hair and smiled a little."I'm fine really. I don't have any feelings for her. I've found someone else." Charlotte's eyes lit up at the new revelation."Oh really? And you didn't tell me?" She asked, shocked but happy for him. Ryan's smile was now shy and innocent."Well I was going to tell you yesterday but your secret crashed the place." He said, referring to Prince Lucas.There was som

Charlotte took a moment to fully understand what he had just said. Her lips made an 'o' sound. Prince Lucas looked at her and laughed. She turned her face away, hiding her embarrassment. She licked her lips before looking back at him. He had an amused grin on his face."You can laugh if you want, you know." She said, trying to dispell the embarrassment she still felt.He sucked in air a bit sharply, making a very brief hissing sound."Nah. That'd be rude. Let's go in. Your aunt wouldn't be happy if I brought you back frozen cold." He joked.Charlotte appreciated it but couldn't bring herself to genuinely smile. She chuckled but it was dry. And he noticed."Did I say anything wrong?" He asked slowly. Charlotte shook her head and looked at him with a smile."No. You didn't. Now can we go in? Asecond more out here and I think I'll truly freeze." She tried to joke.It wasn't a good attempt but Prince Lucas laughed for the effort. She had her arm crossed in his as they walked into theres

Prince Lucas held her face in his hands. His hands trembled with relief that he has found her. And she was alive."Are you okay?" He asked, his eyes searching for any injuries. Charlotte was sure he would find some and he did."I'm okay." She said anyway.Prince Lucas pulled her into another hug, squeezing her as tight as he could. He could only wonder what she had been through."I'm so sorry." He whispered."It's fine." She said.Charlotte noticed Michael standing awkwardly at a distance."You brought Michael." She stated. Prince Lucas turned back."Yeah..yeah I guess I did." He said with a chuckle.It was more of a relieved chuckle than it was a humorous one. He turned his attention to the couple who had answered her call.The young lady had her hair tied up in a high afro bun with what he assumed to be an African printed cloth over a pair of jeans. Her skin looked silky and smooth and she had adorned her ears with hooped earrings. She had a piercing on her nose. It wasn't something

Ryan's silence was the only answer Charlotte git because he ended the call without saying a word.She groaned, dropping the phone on the bed. She didn't have to be a fortune teller to know that his involvement with Veronica would end badly.Somehow, she wanted to call back but she didn't have the strength she thought she'd need for the conversation.Instead she pulled herself to her feet. She felt a bit better so she decided to get something to eat before dizziness kicked in again.She got out of her room. All the lights were out in the other rooms, including Aunt Joan's room. She decided to be as quiet as possible, so as to not wake her up even though she dragged her feet as she walked.She turned on the lights in the kitchen. It was as she had seen it earlier. And the delivered food was still on the counter as she had left it.Untouched.Charlotte ignored the fact that her aunt hadn't taken a serving. Maybe she wasn't hungry.Charlotte took a minced beef wrap and a pack of noodles.

"We'd?" Prince Charlotte repeated, raising a brow.His eyes sparkled with interest and amusement. Charlotte looked like she was thinking about her answer carefully.That was something he had noticed about her. She was careful with her words. Strategic even."Forget it." She said finally. He licked his lips."Nothing will happen." He said before tearing his eyes away from hers.From the corner of his eye, he could see her cheeks turn a shade of pink. He loved to see her flustered.She looked hotter.Well she was in bandages but that did little to affect her beauty."So we're going to your office?" She asked after a while.He chucked. He turned to her."If you want." He said smoothly.She smiled gratefully."Thank you. Now I can finally see what you actually do." She said with a laugh.That took Prince Lucas off guard. He burst out laughing before he could stop himself."Is that why you want to go there so bad?" He said, his eyes thinking with amazement.She shrugged."Well I don't know