Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Oh! My! G!

Could this be happening?

Her eyes widened as she stared at her new apartment. At least her new home, in the meantime, probably until the Prince had enough of her and got tired of acting like her knight in shining armor.

How could she say no to this?

It was everything she had dreamt of and possibly more. It was as if she had won the lottery or found a genie in a bottle who granted her wish.

But how could she also say yes to this?

She was not naive to believe that her Prince Charming would sweep her off her feet. She knew this was not a fairy tale where she would have a happy ending.

He might be the Prince, but she was no Cinderella.

However, she did not accept his proposal for her benefit. On the contrary, she only agreed with him for her friend and her child's safety. She knew Prince Elijah was right. They were not safe in their old apartment.

Of course, she lied about being mugged by that man who attacked her.

She could not tell the Prince the truth about Eddie. He was only collecting her debt. But that was her problem, not the Prince. She just needed time to figure things out.

"Charlie, are you sure about this?" Her friend asked, acting the same way she was, in awe, excited, and terrified, all at once.

"Yeah! I think this is the right choice." She confidently answered her friend, showing her no sign of hesitation.

It was the least she could do for her friend after dragging her into her troubles. Her friend had been comfortably living with her family when she convinced her to follow her dreams.

Now, Giana was stuck with her in this shithole life, chasing an elusive dream and doing mediocre jobs, far from achieving the promises she had made to her.

"The Prince just gave this apartment to us." Her friend looked at her as if she still could not believe it. But she did not either. "Just like that."

Last night, after the Prince accompanied her to the apartment, he refused to leave unless they would go with him.

Eventually, she gave in, thinking of the pros of agreeing with him. Besides, his presence in her apartment was already causing unnecessary attention.

"Yep, seems like it." She shrugged in response. Like her friend, she still could not understand the Prince's hidden motives.

He checked her and her friend into a hotel for the night. Then, he brought them into this new apartment, saying it was hers the following morning.

No strings attached.

She did not need to sign a contract with him. He gave the house without asking for anything in return. However, she only considered living in this house temporarily until she could pay her debts.

Damn! How fucking rich was this Prince?

How could he buy an apartment with a snap of his fingers while she could barely afford a month's rent?

"Well, he did ask if we could have dinner at his place tonight." That was the only request he had asked of her. Therefore, how could she say no?

Besides, she saw nothing wrong with having dinner with him. It was the least she could do for his generosity. Although she had every intention of paying him back every good thing he had done for her.

"Are you going?" Her friend asked, looking slightly wary. "What about his other offer? Are you going to take it? What about your baby? Are you going to tell him?"

Her friend rattled on several more questions that she still had no answer. But how could she decide when a lot was at stake? Her entire future and her child relied on every decision she made.

"I don't know, but I think I better talk to him before I decide on anything." She turned to the kitchen, wondering what she would make for their lunch.

"Why don't I cook while you unpack?" She suggested, feeling her stomach grumbling.

Besides, they only had a few things to unpack. It was not as if they had brought many things to their new apartment.

Nonetheless, she could not stop thinking about what her friend said. She knew she had to make a decision sooner or later.

"Wow, Charlie! This pasta tastes great!" Giana complimented. "Mmm-hmm!" Moaning as she savored every bite of the easy pasta alfredo recipe she tossed on their plates.

"It is easy to cook if you have all the ingredients available within your reach." She explained, pointing to the fully stocked kitchen pantry and refrigerator.

"What about we pair it with wine?" Her friend suggested as she ran to the fridge to take out a bottle chilling inside. "It could be our welcome home celebration."

"Ahem!" She grunted, reminding her friend that she could not consume any alcoholic drink. "Are you forgetting something?" She placed her hand on her flat belly. "But you can have yours if you like."

She did not mind if her friend celebrated. She could always have water or juice. As she said, the fridge had everything they needed for the week or even more.

"I'm sorry. I just got carried away. But I think I will have a glass." Giana said as her friend poured herself one. "Now that I have seen your Prince in person. Damn, girl, he was hot!"

Of course, that would be her friend's natural reaction to the Prince. She doubted if many girls would respond differently.

"Yeah! You said it." She could not deny that. "Damnit, Giana, he is."

She could not help it. Just thinking of the Prince gave her goosebumps all over her skin and butterflies in her stomach.

"Yeah, I admit the Prince is to die for. But do you think someone like him would take you seriously?" Her friend suddenly questioned the Prince's intention.

"I'm just afraid that if you get involved with him, he will only break your heart," Giana added, concern written all over her face.

She understood her friend's apprehension since it was what she also felt. She believed she had strong feelings for the Prince.

Is it love?