The Pretender and The Prince novel Chapter 17

Just then, the doorbell rang.

“That must be the clothes,” Ondine said, letting out a long breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. It was a relief, a chance to escape the suffocating pressure of his proposal. The intensity of the moment had left her hands trembling.

Seth gave a slight nod.

Ondine practically fled to the door. Outside, a hotel employee smiled politely and handed her a bag. “Good morning, ma’am. Here are the clothes you requested.”

“Thank you.” Ondine took the bag and closed the door.

As she walked back through the living room, she saw that the sofa was empty. Her eyes darted around and found Seth standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the city lights below. The soft interior lighting traced the outline of his silhouette.

Outside, the city’s vibrant energy was wrapped in the gentle embrace of the night. The glittering lights reflected on the glass, framing his figure and lending him an air of mystery and depth.

Ondine stood behind him, watching for a moment, an indescribable emotion welling up inside her. Her heartbeat faltered, and the secret feelings she had buried so long ago began to stir, threatening to break free. She quickly suppressed them and hurried into the bathroom.

Inside the main bag were two smaller ones. She opened them to find a new set of underwear and a white silk slip nightdress. The clothes smelled faintly of fresh laundry and were still warm, as if they had just been taken out of the dryer. The heat in the suite was more than enough to keep her warm in the delicate slip.

After her shower, Ondine felt thirsty. There was no water in the bedroom, but she remembered seeing some bottled water on the table in the living room. She opened her bedroom door and had only taken a few steps when the door to the room across the hall opened.

Seth stood there, clearly surprised to see her. His gaze froze on her for a second, a dark flicker in his eyes. “Sorry,” he said. “I thought you were asleep.”

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