The Pretender and The Prince novel Chapter 25

After hanging up, Seth called his assistant, Zeke. “Find out what happened with Ondine today. Her mood on the phone just now was… off.”

“Right away, Mr. Thorne.”

“And be at Riverdale University tomorrow at ten a.m. to pick her up. Take your car.”

Zeke was momentarily puzzled. Why did his boss specifically want him to use his own car? It wasn’t his place to ask, though. He was paid to follow orders.

“Of course, sir. I’ll be there on time.”

Seth ended the call and stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, a dazed look on his face. He seemed not to have fully processed the conversation. Ondine had called and agreed to marry him.

Although he had been the one to propose it, he had never let himself imagine what it would be like if she actually said yes. He hadn't dared to.

And now she had.

Was this a dream?

He slid open the balcony door, and a biting northwest wind, carrying flurries of snow, rushed in, shocking him back to reality. It wasn’t a dream.

…

The next morning, Ondine was awakened by her phone buzzing. She was a light sleeper, and the vibration was enough to rouse her. Without checking the caller ID, she answered, her voice still thick with sleep.

“Hello? Who is this?”

Ellis was bewildered. He had prepared himself for a lecture and had already rehearsed his apologies. But Ondine didn’t seem angry at all. The last time he’d lied about being at a friend’s birthday party, she’d been furious with him. What was different now? He had stood her up when her mother was sick, and she was this calm?

“Babe, are you sure you’re not mad?” he asked, a hint of fear in his voice. He was worried she was bottling it up. “Babe, can I go to the hospital to see your mom today? I promise nothing will get in the way this time. I’ll head over right now.”

“There’s no need,” Ondine said, her voice flat and emotionless. “I’m really not angry. I’m going to get ready. I have to go.”

She wasn’t angry. She was just… done. She no longer had the energy to fight with him.

After washing up and getting dressed, Ondine hesitated for a moment before applying some light makeup. She was getting her marriage license, after all. Putting in a little effort seemed like a basic sign of respect for Seth. She wasn’t very skilled with makeup and rarely wore it. The final result was subtle—her skin looked a little brighter, her lips a little redder, but it wasn’t a dramatic change.

Ondine was naturally beautiful, with clear, almond-shaped eyes framed by long, distinct lashes, and flawless, porcelain skin. She had reached her full height of five-foot-seven in her first year of college, boasting long, slender legs and a tiny waist. During freshman orientation week, someone had snapped a candid photo of her in her uniform and posted it to a campus confessions page, making her an overnight sensation at Riverdale University. Her pictures and videos later went viral on social media, racking up over two million likes in less than a week. Her classmates had even nicknamed her the “department beauty.”