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Chapter 24
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Once Upon A Princess Chapter 25
Lisa's POV "I heard there's a really good ice cream shop around here," Leigh is saying from behind the steering wheel of Selena's Mustang, while I'm sitting in the passanger's seat with Willow in my laps, wondering why in the world Leigh chose to drag me along with her. "What a way to combat all this sun, am I right?" I couldn't agree more. Even my hair is beginning to frizz up from the humidity. But the pool should have been much more better. "So why did it have to be me?" I moan out loud. Willow yips in agreement. I should have been lazily lounging around in the pool with others. Or having a nap. Not moving around on a hot day like this in search of an ice cream shop. "Everyone else is… busy?" Leigh turns left, manoeuvring the steering wheel with one hand while slipping strands of her brown hair behind one ear with the other hand. "Consider this a thank you outing for Willow, for letting me borrow one of her storybooks. You're just tagging along." "Who says my dau
Once Upon A Princess Prologue
Lisa's POV I stood outside the morgue on that May evening, unable to believe my senses. It was like every normal day, nothing changed. The sun was already ducking behind fluffy clouds that reminded me of the dough I abandoned back home, on the kitchen island next to Emilie's elbow. The sky was stained with the reds and pinks of an approaching dusk. The spring breeze ruffled my chestnut shoulder length hair, and like the previous day, I could smell rain in the air. Except that Keith, my husband, who was supposed to be at home, is in there. Lying cold, dead, in a freezer. "Have you heard anything from Damien all these while?" Emilie had asked two hours ago, when we both were in my kitchen, and I was lining up my ingredients for my chocolate chip cookies. Flour, sugar, butter, eggs. Right then, baking had become more than just one of my hobbies. Since my baby bump got bigger, and Emilie, Keith even, had encouraged me to take a break from managing my restaurant, Duke's Table, baking ha
Once Upon A Princess Chapter 1
Damien's POV The first time I met Lisa Armstrong, it was at a movie theater, where we had both gone to see The Little Mermaid. Her auburn hair was styled in a bun, atop a head that stood out on the female dominated queue seeking to buy popcorn, with a white cashmere dress that hugged her willowy waist and flared to the top of her knees and black heeled boots. Even from behind, with a guy on a baseball cap situated between us, the outfit was cute as hell. But her sling purse was slightly open, and a wallet was peeking out. And the guy in front of me who maybe thought I wasn't paying attention had already swiped the wallet, and made it disappear through his front pocket. I bent over till my mouth was almost against the shorter man's ear. "I would give it back if I were you." "Whatever you mean, dude." "I mean you have the option of giving the lady back her wallet without causing a scene. Either that or I'll have to break every thieving finger of yours to retrieve it." "You're
Once Upon A Princess Chapter 2
Lisa's POV I should have known Damien would show up today. When Carla called and said the lunch would be between "family", the word must have encompassed Damien too. Ugh, what do I mean? I sound so selfish. He's like their only son now. Just because I wished to avoid him doesn't mean Carla should be deprived of the opportunity to see her son. Yet I shouldn't have my heart leap and flutter at the sight of the man I want to keep at an arm's length. I dump the last plate atop the stack of other soiled platters and lift them up for the fifth trip to the kitchen, where Carla is rinsing off more cutlery sets to put in the dishwasher. "Set them over there, Lisa. Thank you." I put down the pile of dirty dishes on the counter near the sink. "Don't mention it, Carla. I'm happy to help." Even as I once swore to cut off anything that would remind me of my late husband, and start over someplace outside of Oakenville. I would move Duke's Table to the new location too. But I felt really ter
Once Upon A Princess Chapter 3
Lisa's POV When Selena sent me an invite to her wedding, I jumped at the opportunity to leave Oakenville, even if it's for a few days, away from the pity and scrutiny of townspeople. I can use the break too, after an aggressive devotion to the affairs of my business, to burying myself in work and leaving no room for intrusive thoughts. Willow yawns, and from the crook of my arm she observes the environs where we stand in front of the airport, like a king surveying his land from the top of his castle. Her blond short twin tails bob along with her head, and I dig my teeth down my lower lip at this momento of her father. I did not know what to feel when I gazed down at his unrecognizable body that day in the morgue, an hour after he had been fished out from the wreck that used to be his Porsche. Yet after his funeral, I was an automaton whose very first sensation was relief. I shake my head in an attempt to banish the thoughts before I fish through my handbag for my phone. Part of
Once Upon A Princess Chapter 4
Lisa's POV The holiday villa is just a ten-minute drive away from the resort, maybe fourteen if you decide to stroll your way there. Selena eases her car into the garage and kills the engine of her Mustang. "We're here. Finally." I alight from the car with Willow nestled in the crook of one arm and hoist my suitcase out of the trunk with my other hand. I stand before the enormous glass and white-walled mansion and breathe a sigh, marveled. "This must have cost a fortune." "Yep. I thought the same thing the first time I came here," Yvette concurs. "You both tell that to Wade." Selena smiles proudly. "Gimme that." She collects my bag from me and rolls it along beside her as we cross a covered swimming pool, and the wide front patio with two luxurious L-shaped couches surrounding a lilac table to get to the door. For some reason, Selena is trailing behind us, lugging my bag as though it's filled with three mountains. "Is the suitcase heavy?" I ask, glancing back. "Nev
Once Upon A Princess Chapter 5
Lisa's POV Damien turns around, and away from the wide window to glance at the door and whoever must have entered, clutching a half filled bottle of water with one hand, the other hand at his hip, and his eyes grow twice their size as his gaze alights on me. The tawny skin of his bare torso is bathed in sunlight, lighting up his concave abs, his big biceps. I saw Glenn shirtless a while ago downstairs, but he didn't inspire any lurch in my chest like Damien just did. His blond hair is wet and slicked back from his face, probably damp from shower. I have no idea for how long we've been standing this way, staring at each other. But when I open my mouth, an impulsive scream erupts from the pit of my stomach. "Aaaah…!" "What is that?" I hear Selena ask from the stairs. "Did you see a bogeyman?" That must be Glenn. Already thuds are sounding on the stairs. Someone is coming here. Damien notices, and quickly flies across the room to me and clamps his palm over my mouth, dropp
Once Upon A Princess Chapter 6
Lisa's POV "Hey, Cupcake!" Selena waves at me. "Get over here. I was beginning to think you'd hole up in your room all night." I see her fiery hair in the midst of the flower-and-grass-skirt-wearing dancing crowd, and make my way towards her. She is flanked by three brunettes, one of whom I recognize as Yvette. The others are sizing me up, sweeping glances from the top of my wavy ponytail to my polished passion pink toes. Selena grins, and adjusts the halo of flowers on top of her head. She is wearing an ivory dress with a spaghetti strap that hugged her body like a second skin, a plunging neckline, and three heart shaped cutouts all the way down the front of the dress that barely covered her bum, from her bust to her waist. She looks like a femme fatale on a mission to steal all hearts before sunrise. And with this phenomenal dress, she definitely will. "I came over as soon as I took Willow to the sitters. Great dress, Selena. You look amazing." "Thanks," Selena smiles. "You
Latest chapter
Once Upon A Princess Chapter 25
Lisa's POV "I heard there's a really good ice cream shop around here," Leigh is saying from behind the steering wheel of Selena's Mustang, while I'm sitting in the passanger's seat with Willow in my laps, wondering why in the world Leigh chose to drag me along with her. "What a way to combat all this sun, am I right?" I couldn't agree more. Even my hair is beginning to frizz up from the humidity. But the pool should have been much more better. "So why did it have to be me?" I moan out loud. Willow yips in agreement. I should have been lazily lounging around in the pool with others. Or having a nap. Not moving around on a hot day like this in search of an ice cream shop. "Everyone else is… busy?" Leigh turns left, manoeuvring the steering wheel with one hand while slipping strands of her brown hair behind one ear with the other hand. "Consider this a thank you outing for Willow, for letting me borrow one of her storybooks. You're just tagging along." "Who says my dau
Once Upon A Princess Chapter 24
Glenn's POV I watch Yvette attack the tub of ice cream it seemed like she forgot it existed. She reminds me of Skylar in many ways. The obvious love for food. The round cheeks. The big eyes. The cuteness. Yvette and Skylar both have these in common. I used to like watching Skylar eat. She made the simple act of filling her mouth with tuna sandwich the sexiest and most fun thing to watch. Wait a minute, what? Why am I thinking of something like this now? Even before we all came together in this holiday villa for Wade and Selena's pre-wedding vacation, I've known Yvette Jones. I've met her multiple times in the gaming software company where Wade works as a director. And in those times, we always end up exchanging banters. Why did she not remind me of Skylar then? Why now? There's a smear of ice cream beside her lips. I should pretend I didn't see it. "You have a bit of ice cream beside your mouth," I'm already saying in spite of myself. "Let me get it for you." I lean
Once Upon A Princess Chapter 23
Yvette's POVWhat the hell is wrong with me?! I stomp to the kitchen and collapse into the stool next to the granite island. Jeremy isn't my boyfriend. I'm at fault for having a crush on him in the first place. I'm at fault for mistaking him for a prince charming, for allowing him to sweep me off my feet the night of that luau party. It should not be any business of mine if he decides to date someone else instead. If he decides that all he wants to do is make out with her in front of everyone. But it does hurt. My heart is cracked open, and it hurts like a knife wound to my chest. Hot tears sting the back of my eyes, but I squeeze them back by pinching my nose between my thumb and forefinger and counting to ten on a deep exhalation through my mouth. Don't cry, I tell myself. Don't cry. Jeremy doesn't care if you do. Right now he's only interested in his new lover. I hear approaching footsteps and lurch to my feet, checking my eyes on the reflective screen of my phone
Once Upon A Princess Chapter 22
Glenn's POV Damien was once my most favorite person. He used to be my best friend. We met when we were eight years old, during a housewarming party both of our fathers attended, and automatically drifted towards each other in the crowd filled with boring old people, busy with champagne and boring old people's talk. We played hide and seek that day within the new mansion our fathers' mutual friend just built, and accidentally, I pushed down a huge Ming dynasty vase. While everyone else made a huge fuss about the decorative item that they said cost more than a first-class ticket to the Maldives, Damien stood by me, and we bore the punishment together. We were both grounded throughout the holidays. And when I met him again in grade school, I knew instantly we would be great friends. Friends that will always have each other's backs. We both had wealthy fathers, so he was equally familiar with the perks and demerits that came with it. If only I can meet that eight year old me and give him
Once Upon A Princess Chapter 21
Yvette's POV I can't stop thinking about yesterday. "Everything all right, Yvette?" Leigh tips herself towards me to peer in my face. We've just had breakfast, and I'm lounging outside beside the pool with Leigh. Her hair is set in multicolored rollers, and with her Versace sunglasses perched at the bridge of her pert nose, and her mouth painted a dark red, Leigh looks every inch a formidable queen, half as formidable as Queen Charlotte looks in the Bridgerton series, her long legs folded carefully under her like a gazelle. She is wearing a crisp white shirt over her blue swimsuit. "Yeah, of course." I look over at the swimming pool. There were gasps and moans coming from here last night, and when I peeked to see who the sources of the noise were, it turned out to be Damien and Lisa. It was so passionate, though I couldn't bear to look any further while imagining it was Jeremy and I. No wonder the mood today during breakfast was significantly better than it was last night. Almos
Once Upon A Princess Chapter 20
Ally Rose's POV While in the shower, I scrub my hair in utter frustration. Truthfully, I arrived at my uncle's villa without the knowledge it's being rented out for the summer. Because I have the keys to the front door, and because my benevolent, wealthy uncle, Maurice Singer, granted me access to his luxurious beach house at anytime I desire to crash at the place, I took advantage of my annual leave at my uncle's firm and hopped into the next available flight to Miami right after ending my relationship of three weeks with a really cute doctor, hoping to have the entire house to myself. It was Selena I met first the minute I set foot in the house. She was at the kitchen island, nursing a cup of coffee meditatively and staring out the window at the approaching sunrise when I rolled in my suitcase. After she learned of my identity, the kind lady had no qualms with letting me stay for some time, bless her heart. I believe it's the universe that let me come over to Palm Paradise. If I di
Once Upon A Princess Chapter 19
Lisa's POV Fireworks explode in my chest when his soft mouth meets my lips, tentative and gentle at first, though it inspires the opposite reaction in my heart. I can almost feel the beating against my ribcage. It isn't our first kiss, though it's different. It is the first kiss that's ours, and i savor it for long moments. Damien pulls back and catches his breath, as if the kiss took him by surprise, then presses against me again. The second assault is shockingly sensual too. It slams into me, defeats all my senses. It's almost appalling how much I want this. How much I want to feel his hands all over me. I wrap my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck. He stands against the wall of the pool, with my body tight against him. His hand slides low, down to my ass, and he squeezes roughly. I gasp into his mouth, and he plunges his tongue deeper into my mouth. Our tongue war and collide, the tips circling one another. "How about this for criminal evidence?" He whisp
Once Upon A Princess Chapter 18
Damien's POV "Lisa." She turns sharply, and exhales when she sees it's me. She attempts a small smile that still brightened her face in an instant. I suck in a breath at how beautiful she is. "Damien. Hi." "Hello." I settle down beside her and deep my own feet into the pool. The water is a little bit on the icy cold side, but I think that's just what I want. "What are you doing out here alone?" "I don't know. Stargazing?" I glance up at the starless sky. "Yeah right. The stars are exceptionally pretty today. Look at that big one over there." I grab the base of her ponytail and shake her head from side to side. "You moron," she laughs, smacking my bicep. It's a far cry from the fake laughter I just listened to moments ago. Lisa doesn't laugh as daintily as you might think she does because of her ethereal looks. It's a boisterous kind of laugh that sometimes sounds weird, but it's like music to my ears nonetheless. I can listen to her laugh all day. And stare at her forev
Once Upon A Princess Chapter 17
Damien's POV Willow is asleep. I'd just taken her to Lisa's room and barricaded her with several pillows so she won't roll off the bed, a trick I picked up from some random TikTok video. Now I open the door and step out to find Ally Rose in front of me. She smiles at me. The kind of dollish smile that curves her lips in an almost 'U' and pushes up her cheekbones. She looks so different from the last time I saw her. Thinner, and prettier. Fortunately, her wonderful makeover has absolutely no effect on me. "Hey, Damien," Ally Rose simpers. "It's really been long." Back at Tennessee, when I'd been dispatched with my team to provide security at a charity event, she offered this same smile at the bar where I and my colleagues came to cool off. I found it charming then. Now I find it distasteful. I close Lisa's door behind me. "Has it?" "Yes, duh." Ally Rose disregards my attempt at a rebuff with a flick of her delicate wrist. "I've been meaning to talk to you."
