The Pretender and The Prince novel Chapter 52

Seth had no idea that his parents were planning to set him up on a blind date when he returned to Riverdale; Zaria had kept Jolie’s plans to herself. With the Thorne Group’s headquarters in Riverdale, he couldn’t stay in Boreal indefinitely. A mountain of work awaited him.

Ondine looked down as Seth finished his call and walked toward them.

As he passed her, he said simply, “We’re leaving.”

Ondine kept her eyes lowered, not daring to meet his gaze. “Okay,” she whispered. “Have a safe flight.”

Zaria had already turned to get in the security line.

Seeing his sister was a few steps ahead, Seth pulled a small velvet box from his coat pocket and handed it to Ondine. “The wedding ring.”

Ondine’s breath hitched, her heart thudding against her ribs.

“I saw how worried you were about our mother’s health,” he said, his tone even. “I didn’t want to bring it up before.”

Our mother?

It took Ondine a second to realize he was talking about Yvaine. Even though they’d been married for over a month, she still hadn’t fully stepped into the role of Mrs. Thorne. Hearing him refer to her mother so casually stunned her.

She remembered on their wedding day, he had asked about taking photos, and she had told him she wasn’t in the mood. They had never picked out rings. She had completely forgotten about it.

Just then, Zaria glanced back at them.

In a panic, Ondine shoved the ring box into her pocket.

“It’s… it’s fine,” she stammered.

A rare, faint smile touched Seth’s lips. He reached out and gently ruffled her hair. The gesture was so unconscious that it seemed to surprise him as much as it did her. After a moment, he let his hand drop, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes.

Ondine held her breath, her heart about to beat out of her chest.

“I don’t agree,” Shania said, her face set in a hard line. “The Henson family is in ruins. Making Ellis marry Chantal is like pushing our son into a pit of fire!”

Garland’s expression was grim. “Yarden did me a great service. I couldn’t help the Henson family when it mattered, but now that he’s gone, the least I can do is provide a good home for his granddaughter. It’s a way of repaying my debt. You used to like Chantal, didn’t you? What changed?”

“What changed?” Shania’s voice was sharp with anger. “The circumstances have changed! Yes, I was fond of Chantal before. The Henson family was a good match for ours. But now Vincent is going to prison. You still want our son to marry her?”

Garland’s anger flared. “Why are you being so materialistic? Yarden’s kindness to me was immense. I can’t abandon his only granddaughter!”

“I’m materialistic?” Shania laughed, a bitter sound. “Fine! You’re so noble, Garland, always so generous with other people’s lives. Yarden helped you, not me. I didn’t even know you when that happened. If you want to repay your debt, you do it yourself. Don’t use my son’s future to do it for you.”

Garland’s face darkened. He had no answer for that. She was right.

“I will never agree to this marriage,” Shania stated coldly.

Outside the door, Chantal stood listening, her eyes cold and her fists clenched at her sides.