Love and Chaos Series
His Forbidden Mate Chapter 21

Scarlett placed her cutleries on the now empty plate and picked up the serviettes to wipe at her mouth before speaking, "So Oliver, as I've said, has told us a lot about you, but I'd like to hear you tell us a little about yourself."

Rue placed her hands on her lap and cleared her throat, an act she only did when she felt scared. "My name is Rue Zaine. I was born eighteen summers ago. I love to read and draw and I work at the North rich library for the last two years now." "You do like your job at the library?"

She giggled and nodded. "I'm the treasurer and book collector there. Since I'm good with numbers and love to read, Ani believed that would be the best place for me. I follow whatever she tells me."

"And what do you do, Kailani? I hear you're quite successful and have made a substantial living condition for yourself," Edward asked, turning his gaze to me. I wasn't in the discussion, but since the prince was as evil as they came, I knew he'd find his way to drag me in.

I had my lines perfected before leaving the house and I did so to avoid getting surprised or left wanting.

"I'm a service provider..."

"Sounds interesting. Can you elaborate?" the eyes of everyone at the table came to rest on me once again and coldness washed over me.

"Clients bring their needs and I do my best to provide services that meet those needs, my prince." it was the closest I could get to my line of work while keeping out the awkward details.

I wouldn't say I felt ashamed of what I once did at the parlour. I did it all to survive, but no one at this table would understand that, and it was best to leave it be.

"Sound like an amazing work." the oblivious Scarlett sounded intrigued.

"It is," I said with a smile, my eyes remaining on her and ignoring Edward's heated gaze.

"Who is she to you again, your sister?" Edward asked Rue, the 'she,' being me.

She shook her head. "No, my prince. She is my guardian."

He scoffed in disbelief, "Your parents left you in her care?" his voice took a judgemental tone as he said those words.

His words cut deep and it hurt.

He probably believed someone like me wasn't fit to take care of or raise anyone. Well, he didn't know the first thing about me.

"I lost my parents when I was thirteen, my prince. Ani found me on the streets and took me in. In the last five years, she's been the caregiver and provider. She's not my parent, but she is the closest thing I have to one. I only hope to repay the love and kindness she showed to me even when she didn't have to." She finished, and the table became quiet.

I couldn't raise my head. My eyes were glassy, and I was certain those on the table would see it, too. I didn't want to ruin Rue's chances; I didn't want to be the guardian that couldn't control her emotions, but hearing Rue jump into my defence felt good and it overwhelmed me.

I felt choked and needed air. I needed to go away to a place I'd be on my own even for a minute and the longer I stayed at the table, the harder it becomes to breathe. I picked up the cup of wine and clumsily splattered it on my dress before gasping out. "Oh, I just spilt the wine. How clumsy of me."

Scarlett gasped, "Oh my, I'm sorry."

I shook my head, dismissing her apology. "I'm the clumsy one who needs to offer an apology. Sorry. Can I use your washroom?" I asked, already rising to my feet. I noticed Rue's narrowed gaze on me, but I couldn't look at her. "Sure, it's down the hall." She pointed and the maid standing by came to lead me there.

I thanked the maid before stepping into the bathroom. I dragged a few deep breaths to calm myself, and once calm, my tears dropped. I pulled out the handkerchief from my small purse and wiped the tears off my face.

Then I moved to clean the little wine stain on my dress before leaving the bathroom. I made my way through the stall to exit when my eyes caught the sight of the prince. All the anger and frustration I couldn't express at the dining table surged to the surface immediately. "What are you doing here?"

He ignored my question. "Rue is your protégé..." he said instead.

The way he said her name told me today wasn't the first time he was hearing it. Perhaps Oliver had confided in him in a few things about the way he felt for Rue. I couldn't tell if he liked the fact that she was my protégé or if he didn't, but it didn't matter. Rue's chances would get slimmer every minute I stay at that table with the prince and his mischievousness.

As always, I couldn't fight him, he had the upper hand, but maybe I could reach some sort of understanding because this is more than just me. The future and happiness of the girl I love was on the line and it might mean so little to him, but it meant everything to

me.

"Yes, and you might hate me and seek to destroy everything I stand for, but that girl at the table did nothing to deserve that much cruelty. She's good and has been perfect in every way since I took her in. She's kind and good and she loves Oliver, and she deserves a chance at being happy with him. So I am begging you to not involve her in our misunderstanding."

I had to fight to make sure Rue gets what she deserve even if it meant bending backward for the son of hades himself.