14 Who Hurt You?

"How did you know Prince Felix?" Curiosity took the best of Mrs. Vanessa Arista when she asked her daughter the question. Just a minute ago, her daughter acted so close to the Prince of another country, which she finds really surprising.

After some argument, Yelena finally decided to trust the Prince and talk to her mother; but still, she was not at ease.

"I met him on my journey and protecting him is my current mission," Yelena replied. "Why did you want to meet? Is it about Maurice again?" She hinted with a nonchalant face.

"You already see me through. Just like the soldiers said, my daughter is really smart." Mrs. Arista said in a calm voice.

Yelena was really shocked to hear her mother talking about the soldiers to her. She knew how much her mother hated to see her in a uniform and how she hangs out with the other soldiers!

"You knew but you still came? I didn't mention it on the phone because I was afraid that you would refuse to come if you know it beforehand." Mrs. Arista paused for a while. "You said that you would marry him. Are you still willing to do that?" She carefully asked Yelena.

For the first time, Yelena finds it hard to answer the question. Though all her feelings for her fiance were long gone, she was never hesitant to marry him because she didn't plan to entangle herself in love again. At that moment, she was reminded that life never went as she planned.

The face of Maurice Serano, her first love and her fiance was in her imagination for a split second. Soon it was replaced by Prince Felix, a man who was a complete surprise for her!

A few seconds had passed yet Yelena did not utter a single word. Her mind completely went blank.

"I think my instincts are right. You have a change of heart. Before this, you were never hesitant to answer me."

"What about you?" Yelena asked right away. "Why did you ask me such a question? You never care about my opinion when you choose him to be my fiance. You just told me that he will be my future husband!" She snapped.

She glanced at her mother, hoping to give her some answers. Her expression changed the very moment she saw her mother's face! Was her mother feeling guilty?

Yelena looked twice as she was unable to believe her own eyes. But she was sure that it's the face you make when you're feeling guilty.

"I'm sorry." Mrs. Arista muttered with downcast eyes.

Never once had Yelena thought that there would come a day when her arrogant and proud mother would apologize to her! Did she hear her wrong? But she was sure that she heard her clearly.

"I will marry him as long as I can keep my job. Don't worry, Mother. I will not humiliate your name." Yelena replied, giving in to her mother once again.

"Maurice has returned. He wants to meet you."

"Fine. I will be very busy for the time being. I will tell you when I have the time." Yelena glanced at her wristwatch and realized that it was quite late now. "Can I go now? As you know, the Prince is waiting for me."

"Okay. Will it be fine if I give your number to Maurice?"

"Do as you please. I'm leaving."

Yelena rose from her seat and stepped out of the office only to find out that the Prince was standing just beside the door. "Didn't you say that you will be waiting for me in the waiting room?"

Prince Felix smiled brightly the moment he saw Yelena. He approached her and stood right before her. He leaned his head towards her and whispered in her ear. "I feel so excited to meet you; so I can't sit still." His voice was low and husky.

Yelena pushed him away the very next second. "There's a line you must not cross." She warned him.

Prince Felix let out a laughter out of amusement. He didn't care about what she just said.

"You didn't wear your uniform today. I love seeing you in that uniform." He calmly stated with a hint of disappointment.

"Why?" Yelena asked curiously. As far as she knows, almost everyone hated to see her in a uniform. But this man who was standing before her told her that he loved seeing her in the same uniform!

"Your uniform consists of your name tape. I can be at ease knowing that this time, I didn't get the wrong name or profession." The Prince explained as he hinted how the wrong information had haunted him during the past days. He was even unable to sleep at night!

Yelena lowered her eyes. Did the wrong information affect him that much? She didn't know how to answer him.

"So you're the granddaughter of the General of Silveren Army, Logan Arista. The daughter of Maj. Gen. Ethan Arista and Chairwoman Vanessa Arista of TR Group." Prince Felix pointed out the facts.

"How did you know all that?" Yelena asked her in bewilderment.

"I'm a business partner of your mother for a while now. So, I know that much." He looked at Yelena and smiled.

"Woah! This is amazing. The gentle woman I met in Belden turned out to be the most elite Captain of the Silveren Special Forces who was assigned to be my protector. Then now, I realized that the same woman is in fact the only daughter of the richest family in Silveren!" Prince Felix exclaimed.

"You never stop surprising me. If this continues, I think I will die very soon due to a heart attack." He teased Yelena with a playful smile.

"You're the only idiot here. Back then, I already knew that you are not just an ordinary businessman." Yelena blurted out.

"What do you mean?" The Prince asked with a confused face.

"The day we spent time together, I knew that there were some men following us. I didn't react because I had no idea why they would follow us. Then I found out that they were there to protect you from a distance." Yelena explained to the confused Prince. "I simply thought that you might be some important businessman; so I didn't say anything. I had no idea that you would be a royal."

"I should teach my men a lesson. They are so bad at their job. How could they let a woman notice them?!" Prince Felix said with a grumpy face.

But when he saw Yelena who was giving her a disappointed look, he smiled awkwardly. "Oh! I forgot that you are in the Special Forces."

Yelena finds his reaction so childish that she can't resist the urge to laugh. "Your men are not bad at their job. It's just that I'm so capable." She boasted with a mocking smile, followed by a light laughter.

The Prince finds himself lost in her beautiful smile! This woman is really amazing. She was able to make him forget all the wounds on his heart with just a single smile!

"You are so different than yesterday." He pointed out how she had become more comfortable to talk with.

Yelena's smile slowly left her face. "I'm not here as a soldier. Once I'm on a mission, I will put aside everything else again and only focus on my duty." She explained. "That's the same reason why I'm still holding back myself from talking about how you sneak out alone without protection."

She carefully examined the Prince's reaction. Much to her surprise, he remained very calm. She thought that his mood would dampen and put her in a dilemma again. But none of these happened. She was not aware of how the Prince already made up his mind to be patient with her.

"I understand," Felix replied with a smile. Even if it's just during her off duty, he was happy that they could talk together casually again. At that moment, he saw the 'Macy' that he knew in her.

"Did the way you feel about me change even a bit when you realized that I'm a soldier?" Yelena asked Felix.

"Of course not. Why would it change when you're still the same person?" He answered right away, proving how confident he was in his feelings.

But when he glanced at Yelena, he witnessed that she was feeling nervous. He was taken aback as it was the first time he saw her like that. "What's wrong?" He asked in a gentle voice.

"Nothing. Let's return now." Yelena turned her back on Felix but the latter grabbed her on the hand.

He stood before her and placed both of his hands on her shoulders as he carefully examined her. He then recalled the question that Yelena asked her just before. His friendly face darkened at the realization. "You had been hurt before. Who is it? Tell me. Who made you nervous like this? Who hurt you?"