Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Her phone buzzed against her palm, and she almost dropped it in her shock. It was her Facebook messenger, a message notification flashing on the screen. She told herself it would be better to make the professor wait—-
But no, her fingers had already moved on its own accord, tapping the screen so she could see the rest of the professor’s message.
What are you doing right now?
Chapter Five
Alessandro paused in his work when he heard his phone buzz. Putting his pen down, he clicked on the screen. It was Kassia.
Lunch with Ellie.
His lips curved at the somewhat stiff reply, which was unusual for Kassia. But then, hadn’t he expected this? He had hurt Kassia, and it was clear he had a long way to go before he could woo his little chick into letting him back into her good graces.
Alessandro: You don’t want to ask me anything?
Kassia: I DO!
He almost smiled, able to picture Kassia’s excitement, which he knew she was probably regretting right now.
Alessandro: Ask away.
While waiting for her message, his phone rang, and he answered it when he saw it was his sister. “Esme?”
“Can you come to my school? I’m in trouble.”
Alessandro arrived at Esmeralda’s private school in twenty minutes, mostly thanks to him going over the city’s speed limits. He was obviously expected, a school official waiting for him by the building’s front doors.
“Greetings, Your Highness.” The woman bowed. “I am Teresa, and I’ll be escorting you to the dean’s office.”
After returning her greeting, he asked immediately, “Is my sister alright?”
“No harm has befallen her, Your Highness,” Teresa assured him politely.
That was enough for him, and Alessandro refrained from asking any other question as he followed Teresa. The world recognized the school as being extremely picky with its students, not knowing that its criterion was based on nothing else but the student’s race. The school only accepted pure Lyccans and no one else.
Inside, he found his sister seated on one of the high-backed chairs across the dean’s desk, her back straight, hands hidden under the folds of her skirt. She leapt to her feet as soon as he entered, a mixture of relief and worry in her eyes.
Glancing at her, Alessandro only nodded briefly, knowing that Esmeralda would understand it as his promise to support her, whatever this was about. Striding forward, he bowed to the dean. “Dean Alberto.” She was a woman in her late forties and who, if he wasn’t mistaken, came from one of the oldest families of their race.
The dean inclined her head to the side in silent acknowledgment of his greeting. “Your Highness. Thank you for your prompt attendance.”
Alessandro waited until the dean was seated before lowering himself into the chair opposite his sister.
The dean’s eyes rested on Esmeralda, whose face became expressionless. “As I feel you’re the type to appreciate brevity, I shall get straight to the point. Your sister, Princess Esmeralda, has committed a rather serious offense today. Our inquiry has proven that your sister is guilty of initiating a physical altercation with another student.”
Alessandro’s brows lifted in bemusement. In his entire life, he had never heard of any of his sisters being involved in a fight and hadn’t even thought them capable of any kind of violence. He glanced at his sister. “Is this true?”
Esmeralda slowly nodded.
“We have asked her to issue an apology, but in light of her refusal, we are left with no choice but to subject her to a week’s suspension.”
When Esmeralda didn’t even flinch at the announcement, Alessandro knew not to bother asking his sister to apologize. She was dead set against it, and once a Moretti made up his – or in this case her – mind, there was no swaying it.
Ten minutes later, Alessandro and his sister were alone in the limousine. “Care to tell me what the fight was about?”
Esmeralda swallowed. “It was over Domenico.” When Alessandro stiffened, she knew the anger wasn’t directed at her, and she quickly added, “Don’t blame him!”
Unfortunately, her words only seemed to make Alessandro more furious, with the way his lips tightened.
“I mean it,” she said fiercely. “It’s not his fault.”
Alessandro still didn’t speak, but his gaze on her was completely unimpressed.
“I know you and Alejandro don’t see it, but Domenico’s not being weak. It’s his penance, can’t you see? For all the time he chose power over Misty—-”
He shook his head. “You’re young, Esme. You know nothing—-”
Esme flared up. “Just because I’m young doesn’t mean I’m stupid!” She stopped speaking when she realized she had raised her voice at Alessandro. She had never done that before, hadn’t ever shouted at any of her siblings, older or younger. Shame engulfed her, and she shrank back against the seat. “I’m sorry, Alessandro.” She bit her lip as the urge to cry suddenly struck her. “I didn’t mean to shout at you,” she whispered.