The Pretender and The Prince novel Chapter 41

As dusk settled, the hospital corridor glowed under bright, sterile lights.

A deep, inky blackness colored Seth’s eyes. His voice was cool and low. “That won’t be necessary.”

Zaria pouted, muttering under her breath, “I knew you’d say that. Ethel’s great and all, but you two broke up years ago. It’s time to move on.”

Just as Ondine pushed open her mother’s door to head to the restroom, she froze, catching Zaria’s words completely by surprise.

Seth’s gaze shifted to her the moment she appeared.

Zaria turned as well. “Ondine, you’re done already? Don’t you want to chat with your mom a bit longer?”

Ondine avoided Seth’s eyes, feeling a pang of guilt, like she’d been caught eavesdropping, even though it was an accident.

“I’m just going to the restroom.”

“Oh, okay, go ahead,” Zaria said.

Ondine walked past Seth without a single glance in his direction. He watched her slender form disappear down the hallway, his expression unreadable.

…

After spending a little more time with her mother, it was past nine o’clock when Ondine finally left the hospital.

Boreal’s winters were harsher than Riverdale’s, with the temperature hovering around ten degrees below zero. A bitter wind, carrying fine particles of snow, whipped past her. Ondine shivered, pulling the collar of her down jacket tighter around her neck.

A Rolls-Royce Cullinan pulled up to the curb, and the driver got out to open the rear door.

“Ondine, you get in first,” Zaria said. “My brother will take you to your place. I have something urgent to take care of.”

“Alright.”

Ondine slid into the back, and Seth followed, settling into the seat beside her.

The Cullinan moved silently through the night, the neon lights of the city streaking past the windows. The back of the car featured two separate captain’s chairs, and Seth leaned back, closing his eyes to rest.

She chanced a glance at him. His expression was placid, as if he were merely an observer in his own life. But hadn’t he admitted that he hadn’t dated anyone for years because of his first love? So why deny it was Ethel now?

Could it be that his first love was someone else entirely?

Her thoughts tangled, Ondine didn’t know how to respond and simply murmured a soft, “Oh.”

Seth said nothing more.

About fifteen minutes later, the car stopped in front of a restaurant with a charming, old-world facade. For her first dinner in Boreal, Seth had brought her to a place famous for its regional specialties.

They were seated in an elegant private dining room adorned with original artwork. Outside the intricately carved windows, the branches of an old oak tree swayed gently in the wind. This was the first time she and Seth had ever eaten a meal alone together, sitting face to face.

Seth pushed the menu toward her and recommended a few of the restaurant’s signature dishes. Ondine chose two, and he ordered the rest.

The food was exceptional. The meat was tender and flavorful without being greasy, and the vegetables were crisp and fresh. Both possessed impeccable table manners, and they ate in comfortable silence.

After the meal, Seth asked, “Did you have enough?”