The Alpha’s Rejected Bride
Chapter 21

Lucy Pov

As Olivia escorts us to a table. I'm watching her intently. She has nice feminine features.

She is walking like a model. The woman looks too confident.

Enol pulls out a chair for me and we sit. Olivia calls the waiters to bring out the food and in a few minutes, they do. She is chatting with Enol about how her recent trip to Morocco went.

"Why did you go there?" Rhodes asks. She doesn't look too happy or friendly with her.

"I went there because the prince needed me to," She smiles and shrugs her shoulder.

It was just a few days ago when Rhodes mentioned that the prince is out of town.

"Do you work for the royal family too, Olivia?" I ask. She laughs a bit.

"Everyone does," she inhales.

"My family has a chain of hotels and restaurants in the city and so does the royal family so yeah, we are

associates you might say," she informs me with a proud face. She gives me a once-over.

"Oh," I mutter and continue eating my food. I love spaghetti and meatballs. The food is great, and Olivia has

told me it's one of the best restaurants in the city and the most prepared Asian cuisine.

"Who are your parents?"

She is asking me. Her eyes are searching

"Um, they are late," I say quietly. He clutches her chest dramatically

"You poor thing. How are you related to the royal family? I've never heard of you,"

She continues to ask.

"The king is my godfather and after I lost my father he thought it best that I come here a while," I lie. It

was so smooth, I'm surprised because, unlike Naomi who can come up with a lie without flinching, I'm the opposite. I shudder and fidget with my fingers, therefore, end up caught.

"Well, the king is a good man," she says.

I continue to take bites of my food, avoiding her interrogation where necessary. Enol and Rhodes are trying to get her attention from me but she doesn't seem to get it.

She gets up and checks her time

"Well, my break is over!" She announces.

"I'll see you later Enol,"

"You're coming to the castle again?"

Olivia is glaring at Rhodes.

"Yes, Rayan and I are to do something,"

I clutch my fist and grit. "What business do you have with the first prince,"

She smiles and blushes. My blood is boiling right now.

Anger is coursing through my veins.

"We know each other on a personal level," she is still smiling and never in my life have I felt the need to

hit someone this much. It's obvious that they f**k.

I laugh bitterly.

"Are you f**k friends," the words are out before I realize it. It's obvious they share something.

Everyone is looking at me wide-eyed.

"

So, what if we are? We are both single and mingling," she crosses her arms against her chest. "Oh, I see," I say bitterly.

"You look upset, are you unhappy about my comment, Lucy?"

"Why would I?" I fake a smile. I know I sound bitter and jealous but I can't control it. He sleeps with her. "I want to know,"

I've had enough of this woman, I'm gripping my fork so tightly and I might just stab her with it. Rhodes places a hand over mine and smiles reassuringly.

"Should we continue the tour? We can visit the amusement park, it's gigantic!" She beams.

"Should we continue the tour? We can visit the amusement park, it's gigantic!" She beams.

"No, I want to go home," I say and stand up.

We are silent on our way home. The air is tense, I can feel the anger radiating off me.

I'm heaving and... Growling? I get out of the car once we are at the castle. Rhodes is following me

"Lucy, wait!" I stop and turn to Enol. His expression is soft.

"Don't mind what Olivia said, she just talks too much,"

"Is she and Rayan together?" I ask sharply, he looks taken aback.

"No! Absolutely not. That vixen?" It's Rhodes who replies.

"Are they sleeping together?" I ask, looking into her eyes.

She visibly swallows.

"I can't talk about that," she faces the floor and I turn to the young prince. Waiting for his response.

He averts my gaze and I hurriedly walk away from them.

"Don't follow me!" I shout without stopping or looking back.

After a shower, I'm lying in bed. Crying, it's stupid. I feel like an i***t crying for a man I didn't even date.

My heart is hurting.

I hear a soft knock on the door.

"Go away, Rhodes," I wipe the tears from my face. The door opens.

"Go away," I almost cry out.

"Why are you crying," I jerk up, and I skip a heartbeat.

I wipe my tears quickly.

"prince Rayan, what are you doing here?" I ask. He comes to me, looking worried.

He sits on my bed and his hand automatically reaches up to my cheek.

Tingles erupt and I feel the warmth through my body.

"You're crying," he whispers. He wipes my tears away with his thumb.

"No," I say under my breath. He sighs.

He gets to his feet and stretches his hand to me. I take it hesitantly.

He nods encouragingly and I follow him to the balcony. He seems familiar with the suite.

We sit on a soft couch there.

"Why are you crying?" He asks

"Nothing, I was just missing my parents," I say, a half-truth.

"I'm sorry about what happened, Lucy. It must hurt,"

"There's no getting used to it. I wake up most times and forget that they are not with me anymore," I confess, there are times I'd wake up and forget that he's gone. That I'm alone.

"It hurts more when realization dawns on me, it's mourning period over again," I explain." It's as if someone just pours a bucket of iced water,"

I'm crying for good now. No matter how much I try to hold it in I can't stop the tears from flowing.

I cover my face with my hands but he removes them and shakes his head.

"Don't hide from me," his voice is soft. He is looking at me with kindness and I smile through my tears. "Lucy, you can cry, scream, shout, laugh or yell when you're with me. I won't invalidate your feelings, because they matter.. to me,"

I don't talk much about how the loss of my parents Is affecting me. Back home, the members told me not to cry, and move on. I should keep busy and it will go away.

When Dad was around, I'd talk to him about losing mom and he understood me because we both lost

her, now, I feel like I'm being listened to. That my pain matters. Rayan doesn't stop me from crying, he wants me to free myself from pain.

"I don't understand your pain nor can I relate because I'm not the one going through it,"

"I don't understand your pain nor can I relate because I'm not the one going through it," I inhale.

"Why are you being good to me?" I ask.

"What?"

" No, sorry. Sorry, I mean why did you come here?" I ask. He doesn't come here.

"I owed you a visit remember?" He reminds me. I nod.

We are comfortably silent enjoying the night breeze, sitting side by side.

"How was your day today? Did you have fun," I smile and nod enthusiastically.

"Yes! We saw so much. Royal city is amazing," I tell him all we saw and what I loved.

"I don't remember the last time I went to the zoo," he muses. "I think I was seven!"

"It was nice. But I'm afraid I'll dream of those big snakes tonight," I scowl, I hate them. Just thinking

about it gives me goosebumps.

"I think they are nice," he shrugs.

"Aaah, no. I'm literally getting goosebumps just thinking about it," I hit his shoulder playfully. He is

laughing, and I freeze. It is short but musical. It melts my heart.

"We also went to an Asian restaurant, " I feel his body go rigid. I'm eyeing his every reaction.

"Did you like the food? It's one of the best," he sounds a bit nervous.

"Yes, the food was good. I met Olivia,"

He clears his throat uncomfortably.

"Oh,"

"Interesting girl, she was telling us about your last trip,"

"Don't listen to everything she says. She tends to exaggerate sometimes,"

"Do you always travel with her?" I ask sternly.

"Sometimes,"

"Why!"

"We are business associates and she likes to travel," he defends

"

So you take her everywhere you go?"

I get to my feet, pacing about the small space. He stands up and smiles.

"What funny?" I squint my eyebrows.

"Are you perhaps jealous of Olivia?" Prince Rayan is looking into my eyes.

I shake my head " jealous, me?" I scoff.

"Why would I, you are nothing to me,"

He looks hurt. He is silent and I immediately regret my words.

"I didn't mean-"

"It's fine. I know that I don't mean anything to you right now but I hope you can start considering me a friend," Prince Rayan is holding my fingers and we are standing so close to each other. His neck is tilted since he's very tall. His forehead is almost touching mine.

Our air is mingling and I close my eyes. Enjoying this.

After a long pause, I break the silence.

"Thank you for coming to visit me Rayan, I didn't know how much I needed to talk to someone," I say truthfully. I've felt better talking to him. Like a heavy burden has been lifted off my chest

"You are welcome. Lucy, don't hesitate to call me when you feel like talking to someone,"

I don't talk much about my pain with others but with prince Rayan. I can say what is troubling me

without the guilt of burdening him with my feelings.

We leave the balcony and go to my room.

"All right, good night, Lucy," he bows curtly. He's such a gentleman.

"Goodnight... Prince Rayan," I bow a little too.

I shut the door behind him and slide down myself, fanning myself.

'Rayan,' I breathe.