Chapter 34

Alitha's POV

While looking at myself in the mirror, I can't help but remember what happened yesterday. I went to Cedrick and almost begged him to accompany me at Nikolai's house.

I postponed my session with Alec because I was looking for him. We went to four houses I didn't know he had including the private resort he owned but we couldn't find him there.

Glaiza, Cedrick and I spent almost the whole day looking for Niko but we couldn't find him. I wanted to be angry with him but I was still just worried. I want to see him soon.

"Ali, dear? Let's go." Aunt Caroline's voice brought me back to reality. I almost forgot that we are going to the palace right now.

"Yeah, I'm coming."

While we were on the trip he was still on my mind. There wasn't a moment that I didn't think of him.

Until we arrived at the place once I called home, he was still the one who occupied in my mind. Mommy hugged me tightly. Eden did the same and tap my shoulder.

"How's my beautiful sister? Why are you so gloomy right now?"

"Just tired. How are you?"

"As usual. Let's go, Dad's waiting." We walked side by side while Mommy and Aunt Caroline were behind us. Uncle Dan was not with us right now because he's taking care of some matters in his business.

When we reached the long table, Daddy's already there and Alec were already standing next to him. I approached Daddy.

"Hi, Dad." I kissed his cheek but he didn't even move. I was wondering but I didn't let him notice me. Mommy and Aunt Caroline sat quietly even Eden who sat next to me. But could not escape the sight of her staring at Alec who was just bent over and seemed to not care about her.

I secretly took a deep breath. Looks like I'm not the only one brokenhearted here. We started eating. All that could be heard was Mommy and Aunt Caroline talking about business.

Daddy, Eden and Alec were just quiet just like me. I don't know what's with them but me on the other side of the table could not forget Niko's face. His memories kept haunting me that I have no idea how to forget him even a single minute.

We were having our dessert when Dad spoke. We all looked at him when he said something. "We will have a secret gathering next month. First day of the month."

"That's two weeks from now." Aunt Caroline said.

"What's the agenda of that gathering, honey?" Mom who stopped eating and just stared at her husband.

"You will know soon. For now, I want to ask all of you to stay out of the light." He meant that we will not do things that could get the attention of the reporters. We were speechless. I don't have to do that because the reporters don't know me.

"Especially you, Mabel Alitha." Daddy said authoritatively that made me look at him with disbelief.

"Dad?"

"You thought I wouldn't know how often you go out and don't come home at night?" Daddy's voice was low but his tone was scary.

"Darling?" Mom looked at me and back to my father. Mommy was confused.

"What's going on, Emerson?" Aunt Caroline's voice was also confused. I knew that the day would come when Daddy would know about me and Nikolai. But I didn't know it was so early. I was not prepared to say anything to him. But it was here and they have the right to know the truth.

"Nikolai Johnson is my boyfriend, Dad, Mom." I told them with courage. They weren't surprised, meaning they already knew. I didn't see that Mom's confused especially that she just looked at me for a moment. He looked at Daddy again and held his hand.

"What's wrong, darling? She's in the right age for that, isn't she?" I had hope in what Mommy said. She was on my side then.

"That's not it, Cathrine. It's okay for me for her to have a boyfriend but not with that boy!"

"Is it okay for you that I already have a boyfriend?" I am now confused. I thought they would get angry when they found out I had a boyfriend but why is this? I am wondering.

"Do you know Nikolai?" I asked Daddy but he didn't answer me.

"What's with this Nikolai Johnson?" Dad faced my Mom.

"Is Johnson does not ring a bell, Cathrine?" Mommy's forehead furrowed even more. Especially that she sees how dark Daddy's face was.

"Oh my God!" Aunt Caroline covered her mouth and looked at me and Daddy in disbelief. "Tell me he's not the one I think, Emerson."

"He's the one, Carol." What are they saying?

"Is he.. is he.."

"Yes, Cath. There's no one else but him."

"Jesus." Mommy's eyes widened and she also couldn't believe looking at me and Dad. "How did you found out?"

"What the hell is going on here?" I was suddenly nervous and dug into my mind what they were saying. Do they know Nikolai? What are these I was hearing from them? They're overreacting and I don't like the way they're acting. Mommy looked at me but I could no longer read her reaction.

"You need to stay away from that man!" I was surprised by what she said.

"Mom?"

"Your Mommy is right, Ali. You need to stay away from that Nikolai." Aunt Caroline agreed.

I stiffened but I was shaken inside. "I do not understand. Can you please elaborate?" Stay away from Nikolai? I can't do that.. yet.

"You don't know him that much, Ali. Where he came from, his origin and you don't even know his parents!" Dad's voice was roaring in each corner of the dining room.

"We're still in the stage of identification, Dad. We're new and he hasn't introduced me to his Daddy yet. Even I am the same to him. We decided to take it easy. What's wrong with you people?"

"Don't be stubborn, Alitha! While it's still early get away from her. For the good of all."

"Give me one valid reason why should I stay away from him." I stood and looked all of them.

"We can't say the real reason right now, Ali. For the meantime, stay away from that boy! Understand?"

I was just looking at my Dad. I think that when I get out of this palace, his bodyguards will start restricting me. Based on what I heard from them earlier, it's okay for me to have a boyfriend but what's not okay, is that Nikolai is my boyfriend.

"When will I know the reason you're saying, Dad? When I'm old? When I will not be able to walk anymore? Are we still alive then?"

Dad slapped the top of the table with his hands. WmHe stood up and looked at me with angry eyes.

"That's what I mean! You're getting rude because of you being with that man! You know who is the boss, Ali. So don't bother fighting me anymore!"

"You're ridiculous, Dad! I don't even know the reason yet you're pursuing me to stay away from him. We haven't even talk for a week now."

I felt weak. I know in my current situation, I don't have a say and I consider myself a loser compared to Daddy's word. I am depressed but I will never let them know that I am feeling that way.

"Maybe you'll even thank me when you find out the truth about that man!"

"I will follow you. But just make sure that your reason for what you are doing to me now is valid. Because otherwise, you will never see me again!" I turned around and exited the dining area. I went straight to the room I was occupying here in the palace.

I opened the door and went inside. I sat down on my bed and took a deep breath. My head was aching but my heart was worst. My heart tightened and I had a hard time breathing. Just the thought of him leaving me or not to see him anymore made my heart squeezed and die itself.

I haven't even see him yet. Was he not worried I could forget him? Was he confident enough that I will never find someone better than him? Or was he not afraid that I might leave him? Was he?

I looked around and find my things in exact places where I left them and choose to live in my Aunt. This place reminds me of how dangerous my father's current state. I felt my phone rang in my pocket.

I hurriedly picked it up hoping it's Niko who was calling. But I felt sad when Glaiza's name appeared in my phone screen.

"Hello." I answered.

"Ali?"

"Yes, it's me." There's a long pause after I said that. I even checked my phone if Glaiza was still on the other line. "Glaiza?" I said when she didn't talk after a while.

"Ahm, Ali."

"Is something wrong?" My heart started beating fast. I was thinking that Niko had returned and looking for me.

"It's about Nikolai." Hearing that made my heart jump up to the highest level. I was right then.

"Where's he?"

"He went to Cedrick.. last night. And, he told Cedrick about.. about you."

My excitement was slowly fading. I have this feeling that I will be hearing a bad news. "What is it about me?"

"He knows that you're the second daughter of the President, Ali. He found out lately."

I was speechless after seconds had passed. Why do things not going according to my plans? "How did he found out?"

"Cedrick said that someone sent an email. An email indicating your childhood days with your parents and Eden."

"What?" I was shocked. How did it happened? No one knows except the people close to me about who I really am. Unless..

Shit!

He really wanted us to fall apart. He's that desperate, huh? I can't believe Dad was doing this kind of shit. Oh, no wonder. He had done this before to Eden and Alec. And now, to Niko and me.

"And you know what's worse?" I heard Glaiza's worried voice.

"What?" Shall I pick my heart that will turn into pieces after I hear you, Glaiza? Shall I?

"Nikolai doesn't want to see you.. anymore."

Yeah, maybe picking up isn't tiring somehow.

"He said he doesn't want to be with someone like you. A liar, a fake and a bitch like you. That's exactly what he said."

Damn! It really hurts.

Glaiza's words echoed in my ears but it was changed to Niko's voice. I was hearing his bitterness and anger.

"Ali? Are you okay?"

I'm not. "Yeah, I'm okay." I ended the call. This is fucking shit! No one warned me that falling in love was like that, magical and intoxicating. And most of all, no one warned me that getting hurt while falling in love is a bloody hell!

Is it okay to cry, isn't it? I cupped my chest where my heart located. I couldn't contain the pain anymore. It's breaking me into tiny pieces. No one told me that its pain will bury you alive.

"Ali?" I turned to looked at the door and found Eden leaning there.

It's too late to wipe my tears. She saw it and I bet she already knew. By the look on her face, I know that she knew. She walked closer toward me and sat next to me.

"I'm sorry. I haven't told you soon." I didn't give a damn to speak. I'm sure that if ever that I will, my voice will crack and it will turn to sob.

"I heard Dad and Alec talked. I was going to tell you but Alec didn't let me. He said it's for your own good. That you should leave Nikolai as soon as possible." I shook my head. I didn't even have a chance to do that. Because he left me already, he left me without talking to me. His usual attitude.

"I feel you, you know. I have been there. I have felt the pain you are feeling right now and trust me when I say it's burning inside of you. In fact, I am still feeling that too."

"We're different, Eden. Alec loves you."

"Who says that we're different? That boy loves you too."