They were startled by a knock on the door. Caden had a dark expression when he turned around to look at who it was, only to be surprised to see who distracted the.
"Mom!" He called.
Her eyes widened and suddenly felt embarrassed when she saw Caden's mother standing by the door. She was looking at the. with a serious face and she was still as beautiful as ever.
"Am I disturbing you?" Peggy asked.
She was asking both of us them she was only staring at Alira. Honestly, she was closer to Caden's father than his mom. Maybe because her husband has been there since Lucas and her were born.
Growing up, Jayden Richards always played with her and Lucas. Her father said her Uncle Jayden missed his fiance and son so he would always spend time with them. When Peggy came back, she already had Caden.
She never had a chance to get closer to her. A lot had happened when she returned. They went back to Flousia just weeks after their arrival at their home.
She only got a chance to play with her when she lost the baby in her womb. But after her engagement with Caden, Alira felt like Peggy distanced herself to her.
"I-I'm sorry, Aunt Peggy. I-I was just-"
"Don't apologize!" Caden exclaimed.
Peggy didn't say a word and started walking towards Caden. She thought she was going to get mad because Caden yelled. But Alira was surprised when Peggy suddenly hugged him.
"I missed you, son." She heard her whisper.
Then Caden wrapped his arms around her mother's waist.
"I missed you, too, mom. How's dad?" Caden asked also in a whisper.
"He's outside. Go. I'll take care of Alira."
She suddenly felt nervous when her soon to be mother in law said those words. She wanted to stop Caden when he went out of the walk-in closet.
She couldn't look at Peggy so she bowed her head. Then she was surprised when she hugged she while taking deep breaths.
"I'm sorry, Alira. Everything was my fault. Please know that Caden never abandoned you." She whispered.
She tilted her head, and smiled at her.
"Don't ever look down. You are the crown princess of Flousia and you are a Wilson, be proud." She said.
She bit her lips to stop herself from crying, but still she couldn't stop the tears from falling.
"Oh, sweetie! I'm sorry. I was too harsh on you and Caden."
"Why couldn't anyone tell me what really happened? For years, I thought Caden abandoned me. I was lonely." She cried while she hugged her tightly.
Peggy sighed.
"Caden was kidnapped two years ago. Someone found out that he was the heir to the throne. He was rescued after three months, but he was already in a bad shape. He was tortured and beaten, and almost lost his legs. I thought we're going to lose him. I asked everyone to keep it a secret from you, and Caden didn't want you to see him like that. He was bedridden, he couldn't walk. He felt useless. Did you know how he was able to stand up again? It was because of you. Lucas sent us a photo of you and gave it to Caden. That's when he decided to have therapy and I was really happy that everything went well."
She was shocked. No one told her what happened. But she remembered that two years ago, Lucas started acting strange. He would always come in her bedroom and would hug her, then leave. Her mom and dad would ask her out almost everyday and would buy everything she wanted.
"Alira, listen to me. After this, your life will change. You will be in danger. Caden knew that announcing this in public was too risky. You knew we never found my foster father, right? He's still out there, waiting for a chance. He might go after you. Are you willing to risk your life? If not, I am giving you a chance to back out."
That was even more shocking, she knew his mother was worried of her. Her foster father was a dangerous man. Even with the Wilson's power combined with the royal family of Flousia, Benjamin Miller still escaped from their clutches.
"Can we talk about this outside? I want to know Caden's opinion." She answered.
She nodded. Then they went outside the walk-in closet.
"Uncle Jayden!" She rushed into him, hugging him tight.
He really looked like Caden. If you see them together, they just look like siblings.
"Alira. You're so pretty!" He said, smiling at her.
Then she turned to Caden who was sitting on the couch. She couldn't imagine what he went through from the hands of his abductors.
She pouted and started crying again. Next thing she knew she was already sitting on his lap, her arms wrapped around his neck.
"Hey what is it?" He asked.
"I told her already and asked her if she wanted to back out." Aunt Peggy answered.
"What the hell mom?" Caden yelled.
"Language, Caden!" She yelled back.
Caden didn't say a word but she felt that he was angry. She hugged him tighter and tried her best to stop crying.
"I-I won't back out!" She answered in a firm tone.
She stood up then faced Caden's mother. She knew she was worried and was testing her.
"Are you sure about this?" She asked, staring directly into her eyes.
She didn't blink and stared back at her.
"You asked me when we were six if I wanted to be his fiance, and my answer was yes. Now that I am eighteen, do you think I would back down? I waited for a long time to be with him because you promised me that once we turned eighteen, we can be together. I knew all the risks and I am not an ordinary girl, you said so yourself. I am the crown princess of Flousia and I am the daughter of Luke Wilson and Alora Smith, I would never let anyone take that position away from me."