Chapter Forty Five & Forty Six

'Madison Gerald', Caro read the name on the tombstone with tears in her eyes.

"I'm …I'm so sorry", Caro cried hard and sniffed her nose.

"Maybe I should have kept my advice like my brother had said", Caro said and continued to sniff.

"Here. I brought these for you. You had always said you loved lilies", Caro laughed and cleaned her tears.

"Oh my God. What am I doing?", Caro laughed and stopped crying.

"Seems like soemone evil queen wants to destroy your beautiful resting place. It's so dirty. When was the last time anyone visited you?", She muttered to herself and began to take time to clean her graveyard.

***

Mike's Hospital

Evelyn took Tom back into her arms from the doctor and inspected him carefully. Well, he has been Tim's doctor ever since he was under Eve's wings so the doctor and Eve became friends

"What was wrong with him, doc?", She asked and listened attentively.

"Nothing much. Lately, he was developing fever but as long as he uses his medicine. He's good to go. I learned that your baby is a playful boy", The doctor laughed.

"Oh well. You could say that", Evelyn said with a laugh.

"It's says he's almost three here but I can tell that he's a smart kid. He didn't cry when I injected him though", The doctor said.

"Really?", Eve didn't know Tim would be so brave. He used to cry a lot when he sees syringe.

"That should be so because he saw another baby who didn't cry. She was a brave baby", The doctor smiled and Eve chuckled.

"So, he has to use this morning and night. Half of each tablet", Eve confirmed and the doctor nodded.

"Ehm, here, it says his next medical checkup would be in the next three weeks", Eve read Tim's report and the doctor nodded.

"Yeah. You would be around for that right. I heard that you now work at a prestigious school", The doctor said and Eve nodded with a blush.

"Great", The doctor replied.

"I wanted to congratulate you on your wedding but I kept on forgetting. Finally married an Indian, huh?", Eve laughed and the doctor joined her in laughing.

"Yeah. I just can't help it", He replied.

"Well, Tim and I better be on our way to beat traffic", Evelyn said and stood up from her seat.

"Here's a sweet for Tim for displaying such bravery today", The doctor gave Tim a sweet which he rejected.

"Maybe next time", Evelyn chuckled and walked out of the hospital.

🌸

Eve stared at the mansion for a long time before she walked in. She bowed slightly at the maids that bowed to her. It has been a while since she stepped her foot in the palace of Bhalds. It was still as grand as she could remember.

'Show off', She rolled her eyes when she began to notice the slight changes the family had made to their palace decorations.

"Please wait, Princess Evelyn. I would go in quick to inform the king and the queen of your presence", A butler said as soon as he saw her.

"Okay", Evelyn said. "Thanks", She added with a smile.

"Thank you for coming, Princess", King Richard's voice boomed behind Evelyn. His voice made her to turn quickly and bowed to greet him and his wife.

"You brought Timothy!", Queen Rose smiled and took Tim into her arms. Tim's arms were already spread out before Queen Rose even finished her sentence. It was obvious that he likes her dearly.

"It's been so long we had our children together to eat with us. This place has been so lonely without kids. Just the boring elders in a huge mansion seems lifeless to me", King Richard said sadly and Evelyn nodded in understanding.

"What are you saying? Are you saying that all these time I've been doing nothing but boring you?", Queen Rose frowned at King Richard.

"What?", King Richard asked in shock.

"I'll also leave the mansion for you since you're in a house that seems lifeless with me", Queen Rose pouted.

Evelyn watched the two and smiled a little. That was what she wants with any man she had a relation with. She wants the seriousness and the playfulness. She wants the togetherness even when they were old.

She wants to joke with her partner everywhere, anywhere and every time.

"Well, I'm joking. I have my friends to keep me company. Unlike you and your friend that go on business trips when bored", It was obvious Queen Rose was referring to Eve's father.

"Ah, Rose. We must not delay further. We wanted to have lunch with both of them so why delay?", King Richard frowned and walked forward.

'Both?', Eve thought in her mind.

She moved closer to Queen Rose and asked, "Who's here too?"

"Oh! Not a stranger dear", Queen Rose casually said and led her to the dining room.

Evelyn froze when she saw Lex sitting at the dining. He was eating so elegantly with his fork and knife. Such a classy guy! His hair was so smooth and his skin was so fine.

His jaw was so sharpened and his nose bridge was perfect. His hands and long fingers grasped the fork and spoon delicately like a fragile material.

Yeah, he was in a sweatpant and hoodie but he looked hot like fuck. Suddenly, he stopped eating and turned his head towards the place Eve stood.

Eve gulped her spit and cursed herself for drooling at his mere sight. Why the hell was her heart beating so fast? Moreover, did it just skip a beat?

"What?", Evelyn blinked and looked at the king. When did he sit?

When did Queen Rose sit with Tim?

Why was she the only one standing? Aargh! She looked like a funny fool now.

"Won't you sit?", Lex asked with a smile on his face.

"Yeah, sit Evelyn. You're no stranger here", King Richard laughed.

Evelyn nervously sat down and began to eat her food.

"Couldn't wait till me come together, Alexius?", Queen Rose frowned at her son.

"Sorry mom. I was famished. You said you had a visitor. If you had told me it was our lovely Evelyn, I would have waited till she came", Lex said with a smirk.

Evelyn choked on the water she was drinking after he said that.

Lex quickly stood up from his seat to pat her back.

"Are you okay, baby?", He whispered into her ears.

Eve turned red as soon as she said that. She pushed him away and continued to eat her food.

"Are you okay, baby?", She heard it again but this time, it was from Queen Rose.

"Yeah, I'm sorry for the commotion", Eve apologized and Queen Rose waved her hand.

"I heard Lex invested some money in your school. How do you find his actions?", King Richard asked Evelyn.

'Your son is a ruthless business man that doesn't even pity the average people for his greed and imbalance. How can he invest hundred million dollars to receive more than a billion dollars after two years with gruesome terms and conditions? He's a selfish bastard…that I like', Eve wanted to say but she didn't.

"My school ended up accepting his investment so I can say that we both loved the terms and conditions", Evelyn said.

"That's nice", Queen Rose said and King Richard nodded.

They are in silence and Queen Rose went to see another visitor with Tim. King Richard left to attend to the affairs of the kingdom leaving Evelyn and Lex alone.

"I didn't know you were coming", Lex said.

"Neither did I. I didn't know you would be here", Evelyn said.

"So, I caught you staring at me", Lex smiled and she rolled her eyes.

"No, I wasn't. I was just checking the brand of your hoodie", She lied.

"Really? I didn't know you were interested in clothes", He smirked.

"Oh! You don't know many things about me, Lex", Evelyn said.

"Really? Come, I have something to show you", Lex said and took her hand.

'He's so tall', Eve thought and smiled inwardly.

Eve looked at her long-forgotten rabbit in awe. She ran to it and carried it into her arms.

"Omg!", She exclaimed and looked at Lex. "I thought you had killed Grumplex or tossed him-"

"Gr-Grumplex?", Lex scoffed and stared at Evelyn.

"Yeah. That's his name. Don't you like it? I named it after you", Evelyn said and covered her mouth immediately.

What the fuck is wrong with her?

"Did you? Am I…grumpy?", Lex asked and she shook her head.

"Well, I should leave", Eve figured out that she had spent too much time with her. It's only a matter of time before she continues to spit out nonsense and may end up telling him what she isn't supposed to.

"Don't forget. I'm picking you up by seven this evening", Lex reminded her as she dropped the rabbit.

"Whatever. I don't have a dress", Eve gave her excuse because she really doesn't. She doesn't want to end up disgracing him by wearing something shabby or weird.

"I've taken care of that", He spoke and she looked at him.

"What do you mean?", She asked him.

"I sent you a dress already. An emerald dress for the diner. I had always dreamt of seeing you in such color but my wish may come true tonight. I'll have you in my arms and in a dress I had always pictured you in. You're perfect, Evelyn", He said and held her hand.

"Lex, I-"

"This is not about Tim, is it?", Lex asked and she shook her head.

"I may be a princess but you're-"

"Look, I love you Eve. I don't care about what anyone else says", He said and placed his lips on hers. He was damn happy when she began to kiss him back with his arms around her waist.

"Well, I don't hate you either", Eve said.

********

"What are you still doing here, Yoona? I said everyone would be on the first floor for the impromptu meeting now!", Yoona's boss yelled.

Yoona sighed and looked at her boss that was impatient for no reason.

'What's up with this old woman again?', Yoona thought.

"Hold on. I just want to save-"

"Now, don't keep me waiting. We'll be right behind you", Her boss said.

"Fine, Mrs Karen", Yoona frowned and walked out of her office.

As she was walking, she heard a pop sound and looked at the place it came from. Another noise began to sound as three waiters began to push a cart of flowers and champagne.

"What's Mrs Karen doing now?", Yoona frowned.

Yoona saw her colleagues holding balloons each with a word on each balloon. They stood together and her eyes went to the words to put them together.

'Will you marry me?', The words said as she read them.

She placed her palms over her face as soon as she saw Alexis come from behind with a box in his hand. No one needs to tell her that it was a ring in it.

As soon as he got on his knees, Mrs Karen came out with a camera in her hand. Yoona's colleagues began to clap and scream as Alexis asked the big question.

He had said a long sweet speech to Yoona before asking her.

"Would you marry me, Yoona?", He asked her.

Yoona's face beamed with a wide smile as she ran to hug him. She kissed him and said 'yes' to his proposal.

"Congratulations bestie", Yoona's close colleague said and hugged her.

As Yoona was flashing her engagement ring, her close colleague whispered, "He beat you to the proposal"

"I know you told him I wanted to propose to him this evening. Or you may go ahead by telling me how this coincidence is this great", Yoona told her.

She can't believe that her close friend has such a big mouth.

"I would love to see you propose to me though", Alexis said and held Yoona's hand.

"Really?", Yoona said and told him the plans she had before he proposed to her.

"Take the day off, Yoona. Spend some time with your fiancé and don't forget to invite me to the wedding because I make you work overtime", Mrs Karen joked and everyone laughed.

🌺🌺🌺

"Yeah, come in", Jamal said after hearing a knock on his door.

He watched Christiana come into his study with a tray of snacks.

"Here are the desserts you requested my king", She said and began to arrange the contents of the tray.

"My king", Jamal said and she looked at him.

"Aren't we friends, Christy?", Jamal asked and she stared at him.

"C'mon, you can tell me not to call you that if you don't like it. You know it's rude to stare at a human that way else I've managed to interest you", Jamal said and she laughed.

"I apologize, my king", Christina said.

"My name is Jamal Centrion. You can call me Jamal when we're together. You seem to be my age so it's weird to have you call me 'my king' isn't it?", Jamal laughed and she shook her head.

"You refuse a king request?", Jamal frowned.

"No, my king. I mean…Jamal", Christiana said and he smiled.

"Okay. Let's have your treat", He began to fold his sleeves. Christiana's eyes betrayed her and went on to look at his veins and muscles as he folded up the sleeves.

She watched his Adam's apple bobble up and down and loosen his tie.

"O-okay. I made the chocolate cake to be more fluffy than the last time and to have the chocolatey syrup you wanted around each layers. It's so sweet and thick. Not too thick though. It's perfect for your your taste buds too", Christiana said.

Jamal chuckled as she explained to him. "Let me have the vanilla cake first"

Christiana nodded and cut a slice of the cake for him.

"This is yummy. Thanks", He said and drank some of the orange juice that was in a glass cup.

"Here. Have some", Jamal took the knife from her and cut some cake for her.

"Well, I'm a fan of chocolate. It's either chocolate or nothing", Christiana said and he smiled.

"Just like my sister. You must have met her before", Jamal said and she nodded.

"She loved my cake too", She said and he smiled.

"Friends?", He stretched out his hand.

"Friends", Christiana said and took his hand.

"Let me ask you something, Christy. Do you have something you're interested in? What's that thing you've give you undivided attention to if you were not here but somewhere else to pursue your dreams?", Jamal asked seriously.

"I would be of to be a fashion designer", Christiana said and he smiled warmly.