Princess

"Are you immortal?" Lina shot back. Fine. If he was going to ask the difficult questions, she was going to send them right back.

Kaden didn't even blink. Nothing fazed him anymore. 

"You answer my questions first," Kaden said.

"No, you."

Kaden scoffed. "I have all day, Princess."

"And so do I."

Kaden pressed himself closer to her, a warning. Lina responded by defiantly glaring up at him. She was cute when she was angry. Like a little puppy learning to bite. 

The corner of his lips twitched.

"Do you now?" Kaden lazily drawled, tilting his head.

Lina tried to ignore the way the light shined behind him, creating shadows on his sharp features. Kaden was dripping with good looks and used it to his full advantage. Her stomach fluttered when he bent his head to look her eye-to-eye.

"You're just going to leave your little date standing?" Kaden mused. 

The distance between them was nonexistent. Just a slight movement and he could kiss her. She must've realized that. 

Lina leaned back a bit, creating distance between them. She ignored his cool breath, of mint and tinge of ashes. Did he smoke? She hoped not.

"Don't you have a company to run?" Lina demanded.

"Ah, another question. You answer mine first."

Something shifted in the corner of her eyes. Her head snapped to the side and her heart dropped to her stomach. 

Everett was standing at the end of the hallway. He was too far for her to decipher his expression. But she knew it wasn't a good one.

"Kaden, I'm tired of this game, just—" 

"Wasn't it Kade?" Kaden taunted, a ghost of a smile on his face.

Lina was tired of his teasing. "Let me go."

"And if I say no?"

Lina glared at him. Kaden simply laughed. 

Kaden pushed off the wall, releasing her. Astonishment was written all over her face. 

"Why force you to stay when I can have you begging for me to stay?" Kaden calmly said, staring intently at her.

Lina made it a point to stay away from him. His questions treaded a dangerous territory of hers. The first time she spoke of her first life was the last, for she had ended up with the trauma of storms and flashing lights.

"You must think you're hilarious," Lina scoffed.

Given the chance to leave, Lina quickly took the opportunity. She took a few steps forward.

Without warning, Kaden gripped her wrist, forcing her to look back. She glanced at his large hand that only touched the blazer and not her skin. 

"What?" Lina demanded.

"Why did you forget me?" Kaden suddenly asked, his expression solemn. 

Lina's heart ached at the question. She gazed into his eyes and slowly shook her head. 

"I've never forgotten you," Lina whispered. "Ever."

Kaden let out a harsh chuckle. His eyes remained cold. "Lies."

"I really didn't—"

"You don't remember me," Kaden demanded.

"I do!" Lina shot back.

"You don't."

"We've met before," Lina argued. "I remember every face that crosses my path."

"Just like how you remember your little date?" Kaden snarled. Was she going to lie to his face? Or did she truly not know?

Lina blinked. "What?"

"Do you remember him the way you've remembered Kade?" Kaden inquired.

His words jumbled her thoughts. What did he mean by that? Lina was confused.

"I remember Kade well," Lina mumbled, her heart racing a bit. 

Each time Lina mentioned him, she was forced to remember her past life. Forced to relive the joy, recall the pain, and live through the nightmares. 

"Only Kade?" Kaden asked. 

Lina stared at him. "You're immortal, aren't you?"

Kaden tilted his head at her question. "Exactly how much do you remember?"

"From my first life…" Lina confessed, even though the first time she admitted this had ended horribly. 

"Just the first life?" Kaden demanded.

Lina blinked. Once. Twice. Thrice. Why did he make it sound like they had spent more than one lifetime together…?

Suddenly, her head pounded and her ears rang. She winced in pain, a loud ringing noise in her ears. Her brain was a mess. There was a heavy, painful fog over her, and she was unable to think straight. 

"I see." Kaden released her wrist. He hadn't touched her today. Only her clothes. Not even once. He didn't need her to faint again. 

"Go." Kaden lightly pushed her towards Everett, and into the hands of the enemy. 

Lina stumbled. Her vision finally returned to normal, no longer blurry. She was beginning to hear more clearly now. What was that?

"Remember me well," Kaden commanded, "You can have as many boy toys as you please, but remember this—you'll always belong to me."

Kaden stalked off before she could respond. 

Even though Everett was standing behind her, Lina was still focused on Kaden. How could she not be? 

Kaden's long legs carried him down the hallway. He rested a hand in his pocket, revealing the white shirt that clung to his broad shoulders, outlining his powerful muscles. 

Not once did he look back. Not once did he have to.

"Are you alright?" Everett gently asked her.

Everett examined her face carefully, realizing she was paler than normal. 

"Did he do something to you?" Everett seethed. 

'He comforted me and discovered I remembered my first life,' Lina dryly thought to herself.

"No," Lina lied, keeping her face calm and collected. 

"No?" Everett echoed, not believing her for the slightest second.

"No, he didn't." Lina tightened her brother's blazer around her body. 

Now that Kaden was gone, Lina realized how cold the museum was. 

"It's getting late," Lina said. "I'm going back to the Second Mansion."

Everett's shoulders slumped in disappointment. He had everything planned out. Now, it was ruined. Were these Kaden's intentions all along? To find some random excuse to come to the museum and then crash another date?

Everett despised the DeHaven Young Master.

"Let me take you out for a meal first, so you have something warm in your stomach." Everett offered her a hand.

Lina didn't even glance at it. She brushed past him and walked down the hallway. She didn't need anyone's permission to return to the house. Once she got home, she was going to burn this horrid dress and forget about today's events.

"Alright, alright," Everett said. 

Everett admitted her cold shoulders were attractive. It made him yearn for her attention. The more she didn't want him, the more he was intrigued.

"Let me take you home." Everett jogged up to her, smiling politely. 

Lina didn't respond. Her heels clicked against the ground, a cold, desolate sound.

Everett looked at her. She must've been shaken up by whatever Kaden had said and did. Everett scowled to himself, wishing he had arrived sooner. 

With all of the horrible rumors surrounding the Dehaven heir, Everett wouldn't be surprised if something unpleasant happened to Lina. 

"This way," Everett directed her, placing a guiding hand upon her upper back. 

Immediately, Lina halted. She shook off his arm. 

"I can walk on my own," Lina coldly said.

"I know that, but I am just reminding you of my interest in you," Everett slowly said.

Lina let out a small, irritated sigh. "Who arranged this blind date?" 

Everett lowered his gaze. "My mother." 

Lina glowered at him. "The first rule of lying is to not look away."

Lina shook her head in disappointment, but wondered how an intellectual heir could be so bad at lying. Unless, it was intentional…? His father owned one of the biggest law firms in the nation. There was no way Everett should be bad at lying, right?

"If you wanted another date, you could've just contacted me and not my mother," Lina spat out. "Though, you've already ruined your chances."

"You didn't give me your contact. I had no other choice," Everett explained.

Lina's brows tugged together. "I don't have a business card or business phone number."

Everett nervously laughed. "No, I mean your personal—"

"Look," Lina deadpanned. "You're a great guy Everett, but not the one for me. Any socialite would die to date you. And a few handfuls who behave like me."

"Lina—"

"Find someone else. Anyone but me." Lina didn't allow him to talk. 

Lina continued walking out and didn't even glance back. But some time later, she heard footsteps behind her and knew he was following her.

Lina said nothing, for she gave him the benefit of the doubt. He was likely walking in the same direction as the museum exit. She'll need to hail down a cab and he'll need to get his car.

That is, until Lina made it to the entrance. 

Blinding lights flashed in front of her eyes. Soon enough, Everett stood directly behind her. And together, they were captured by the paparazzi for everyone to see. 

Soon, the entire nation would know Lina Yang and Everett Leclare were on a date.