CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT
Alyssa took a deep breath as she stood before the grand entrance of the palace. This was it-her first day as Prince Vale’s governess. She had heard tales of the luxuriousness of the royal palace, but nothing prepared her for the sheer opulence that greeted her eyes. The golden chandeliers glittered, casting ethereal light throughout the hallway lined with polished marble floors.
Just as Alyssa was about to take her first step into the palace, a familiar figure caught her eye. It was him-Liam, the man she thought she would never see again. Her heart raced, and she fought against the temptation to run, to hide from the past that haunted her.
Liam, however, seemed oblivious to her presence. He walked with a confident stride, his eyes focused ahead. Alyssa couldn’t believe that he didn’t recognize her, even after all these years. Perhaps he was just playing a game, pretending to be a stranger. She decided to play along, concealing her agitation beneath a mask of calmness. She smiled politely as Liam approached.
“Good morning,” she greeted, her voice steady despite the turmoil within her.
Liam nodded curtly, his eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to recall something. “Do I know you?” he asked, his voice low and smooth.
Alyssa’s heart skipped a beat, but she maintained her composure. “I’m afraid you must be mistaken,” she replied, her voice light and dismissive. “I am here as Prince Vale’s governess.”
Liam’s eyes lingered on her for just a moment longer than necessary, but then he turned away without saying another word. Alyssa let out a breath she didn’t realize she had been holding, relieved that she had managed to keep her secret hidden-for now.
Excusing herself with a hasty bow, Alyssa hurried through the palace corridors, feeling Liam’s gaze bore into her back. She knew she couldn’t let her guard down, not with him so close. She needed to focus on the task at hand-the children.
Reaching the nursery wing, Alyssa found the two small children happily playing with blocks on the floor. Prince Vale, a precocious five-year-old with sandy blond hair, looked up at her with wide blue eyes, excitement evident on his face.
“Alyssa, you’re here!” he exclaimed, a smile spreading across his face.
She returned the smile, bending down to his level. “Indeed, Your Highness,” she replied with a playful lilt to her voice. “Shall we have a grand adventure today? Shall we build the tallest tower of blocks this kingdom has ever seen?”
Prince Vale’s face brightened even more, and he nodded vigorously. “I would like that very much!”
For the rest of the morning, Alyssa threw herself into her role as the governess, encouraging the children’s play, teaching them letters and numbers, and nurturing their imaginations. She reveled in their innocence, their boundless energy, and temporarily forgot the weight of secrets she carried.
As the afternoon slipped away, the time to leave drew closer. Alyssa’s heart sank, knowing that her time with the children was coming to an end. Prince Vale and his younger sister, Princess Isabella, reluctantly gathered their toys, dropping hints that they wanted the adventure to continue.
Just as Alyssa was about to remind the children of their impending departure, a panicked voice interrupted her. “M-mom! Wait for me!”
Her heart stopped. That voice-that word-it couldn’t be. She turned around, and there he was-Timothy, her beloved son. How had he found her? A mix of emotions washed over her-joy at seeing Timothy again, fear of the consequences that his presence could bring.
Liam approached, a hint of confusion and curiosity in his eyes. “Mom?” he repeated, looking between Alyssa and Timothy.
Alyssa’s mind raced as she scrambled for an explanation. She couldn’t let the truth come out, not now. “Ah, it seems Timothy has mistaken me for his mother,” she replied, her voice faltering ever so slightly. “I assure you, he must have confused me with someone else, Your Highness.”
Liam’s gaze lingered on her, his eyes searching for answers. “Very well,” he finally said, his voice tinged with suspicion. “But you will need to leave now. Timothy, come.”
Timothy, unaware of the turmoil between the two adults, hurriedly approached Alyssa. “I’m sorry, Mom,” he whispered, clutching onto her hand.
Alyssa bit her lip, her heart aching at the thought of leaving Timothy behind once more. But she had no choice. She squeezed his hand tightly and forced a smile, masking her pain. “It’s alright, my love,” she whispered back. “I’ll see you soon.”
…..
Alyssa took a deep breath as she stood before the grand entrance of the palace. This was it-her first day as Prince Vale’s governess. She had heard tales of the luxuriousness of the royal palace, but nothing prepared her for the sheer opulence that greeted her eyes. The golden chandeliers glittered, casting ethereal light throughout the hallway lined with polished marble floors.
Just as Alyssa was about to take her first step into the palace, a familiar figure caught her eye. It was him-Liam, the man she thought she would never see again. Her heart raced, and she fought against the temptation to run, to hide from the past that haunted her.
Liam, however, seemed oblivious to her presence. He walked with a confident stride, his eyes focused ahead. Alyssa couldn’t believe that he didn’t recognize her, even after all these years. Perhaps he was just playing a game, pretending to be a stranger. She decided to play along, concealing her agitation beneath a mask of calmness. She smiled politely as Liam approached.
“Good morning,” she greeted, her voice steady despite the turmoil within her.
Liam nodded curtly, his eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to recall something. “Do I know you?” he asked, his voice low and smooth.
Alyssa’s heart skipped a beat, but she maintained her composure. “I’m afraid you must be mistaken,” she replied, her voice light and dismissive. “I am here as Prince Vale’s governess.”
Liam’s eyes lingered on her for just a moment longer than necessary, but then he turned away without saying another word. Alyssa let out a breath she didn’t realize she had been holding, relieved that she had managed to keep her secret hidden-for now.
Excusing herself with a hasty bow, Alyssa hurried through the palace corridors, feeling Liam’s gaze bore into her back. She knew she couldn’t let her guard down, not with him so close. She needed to focus on the task at hand-the children.
Reaching the nursery wing, Alyssa found the two small children happily playing with blocks on the floor. Prince Vale, a precocious five-year-old with sandy blond hair, looked up at her with wide blue eyes, excitement evident on his face.
“Alyssa, you’re here!” he exclaimed, a smile spreading across his face.
She returned the smile, bending down to his level. “Indeed, Your Highness,” she replied with a playful lilt to her voice. “Shall we have a grand adventure today? Shall we build the tallest tower of blocks this kingdom has ever seen?”
Prince Vale’s face brightened even more, and he nodded vigorously. “I would like that very much!”
For the rest of the morning, Alyssa threw herself into her role as the governess, encouraging the children’s play, teaching them letters and numbers, and nurturing their imaginations. She reveled in their innocence, their boundless energy, and temporarily forgot the weight of secrets she carried.
As the afternoon slipped away, the time to leave drew closer. Alyssa’s heart sank, knowing that her time with the children was coming to an end. Prince Vale and his younger sister, Princess Isabella, reluctantly gathered their toys, dropping hints that they wanted the adventure to continue.
Just as Alyssa was about to remind the children of their impending departure, a panicked voice interrupted her. “M-mom! Wait for me!”
Her heart stopped. That voice-that word-it couldn’t be. She turned around, and there he was-Timothy, her beloved son. How had he found her? A mix of emotions washed over her-joy at seeing Timothy again, fear of the consequences that his presence could bring.
Liam approached, a hint of confusion and curiosity in his eyes. “Mom?” he repeated, looking between Alyssa and Timothy.
Alyssa’s mind raced as she scrambled for an explanation. She couldn’t let the truth come out, not now. “Ah, it seems Timothy has mistaken me for his mother,” she replied, her voice faltering ever so slightly. “I assure you, he must have confused me with someone else, Your Highness.”
Liam’s gaze lingered on her, his eyes searching for answers. “Very well,” he finally said, his voice tinged with suspicion. “But you will need to leave now. Timothy, come.”NôvelDrama.Org holds this content.
Timothy, unaware of the turmoil between the two adults, hurriedly approached Alyssa. “I’m sorry, Mom,” he whispered, clutching onto her hand.
Alyssa bit her lip, her heart aching at the thought of leaving Timothy behind once more. But she had no choice. She squeezed his hand tightly and forced a smile, masking her pain. “It’s alright, my love,” she whispered back. “I’ll see you soon.”