ADVENTURES OF THE RUNAWAY PRINCESS : CHAPTER 131 – 140
By Mide L.
(~•THE ATTACK•~)
NEXT DAY AT MRS GRAY’S HOUSE*
Mrs Gray and Emily came back from the hospital a few minutes ago and Emily is currently in her room,sulking.
She got up from the bed and headed to where the mirror is , seeing her pale face, tears welled up in her eyes again.
She doesn’t want this life,why does this have to happen to her? She’s too young for this.
Emily thought.
She subconsciously reached up to touch her hair, a habitual gesture she’d made countless times before. But this time, her fingers barely grazed her scalp before a clump of hair came loose in her hand. She stared at it in shock, her mind struggling to comprehend what was happening.
“Why is my hair…?” she was still asking herself when the door swung open and Mrs Gray walked in, carrying a tray containing breakfast.
“Sweetie! I brought your favorite pancakes…” She was saying but Emily immediately cut her off.
“Mum, why is my hair pulling off?” she asked in panic, holding up the clump of hair as evidence.
Mrs Gray sighed and she quickly set the tray down on the bedside table.
“Oh, Emily, sweetie, it’s just…the chemotherapy, darling. It’s a common side effect, I’m so sorry” She rushed to Emily’s side, embracing her in a comforting hug.
But Emily pulled back, her eyes wide with fear.
“No, Mum, no! I don’t want to lose my hair! I don’t want to be sick! Why does this have to happen to me?” Emily’s voice cracked as she spoke, her small body shaking with sobs.
“I know, baby, I know. It’s not fair. But we’ll get through this together, okay? We’ll find a way to make it work”
Emily’s sobs intensified, and Mrs. Gray pulled her into a tight hug, holding her close as she cried.
“We’ll get through this, Emily. I promise. We’ll find a way to make you feel better, to make your hair grow back stronger and healthier than ever”
After a few moments, Emily’s sobs began to subside, and she pulled back from her mother’s embrace. Her eyes were red and puffy already.
“I don’t want to be sick anymore, Mum” she said, her voice still shaking.
“I want to be me again”
“We’ll get there, baby. I promise”she said and Emily nodded.
“Let’s make a deal, okay? We’ll get through this chemotherapy together, and when it’s all done, we’ll celebrate with a big party. And I’ll take you to get the most beautiful wig, or we’ll shave our heads together, just like those strong women we saw in the hospital. We’ll do it together, okay?”
“Okay mommy”
“What can I do to make you feel better right now, sweetie?” she asked.
“I want to know my dad” she said.
The room fell silent. Mrs Gray’s face froze, her eyes moving away from Emily’s. She seemed to be searching for words, but none came. This will be the second time Emily is asking this and there’s no answer to that question for now.
Emily’s heart sank, feeling disappointed again. Why couldn’t her mother just tell her the truth? Who was her father, and why was he a secret?
“He’s not dead right?”
“No he’s not” Mrs Gray quickly said.
“Then what’s stopping you from allowing me to know him,I want to have a dad like the rest of the kids at school”
“You are right” she said and Emily’s eyes lit up.
“Does that means I’m meeting him soon?”
“Anything to make you happy sweetheart” she said and Emily hugged her happily.
ADVENTURES OF THE RUNAWAY PRINCESS : CHAPTER 131 – 140
BLACKWOOD WINE COMPANY*
Marcus sat at his desk, sipping his coffee and reviewing the latest sales reports of the company. The door opened, and Jemima walked into the office in her designer dress,her heels making noise as she catwalked towards him.
“Marcus, darling! It’s so lovely to finally meet you in person. Your wines have been making waves in our circles,and I’m excited to know how we can work together”
Marcus stood up, smiling, and extended his hand.
“Jemima, welcome to Blackwood Wine Company. It’s a pleasure to meet you too. Please, have a seat”
Jemima settled down across from him, her designer handbag placed delicately on the floor beside her.
“I must say, your office is quite impressive. The view of the vineyards is stunning”
Marcus nodded, taking his seat again.
“Yes, we’re very proud of what we’ve built here”
“I’ve been thinking a lot about my next project, and I believe our interests align perfectly. I’d love to collaborate with you on a new wine label, something that combines our shared passion for fine wine and philanthropy”
“That sounds intriguing. I’d love to hear more about your ideas, Jemima”
Jemima leaned forward.
“I was thinking we could create a limited-edition wine series, with a portion of the proceeds going to support local charities. I’ve already spoken to a few winemakers, but I believe Blackwood Wine Company would be the perfect partner for this project”
Marcus nodded thoughtfully.
“I like the sound of that. We’ve been looking to expand our philanthropic efforts, and this could be a great opportunity. What kind of wine series did you have in mind?”
Jemima smiled, pulling out a folder from her handbag.
“I’ve put together a proposal, including some ideas for the wine blend, label design, and marketing strategy. I think you’ll find it quite comprehensive”
Jemima handed Marcus the folder and he flipped through the pages of the proposal.
“Impressive” he said, his eyes scanning the detailed plans and projections.
“You’ve clearly put a lot of thought into this. I like the idea of a limited-edition wine series, and the charitable component aligns perfectly with our company values”
“I’m glad you like it, Marcus. I think we could create something truly special together”
“I’m so jealous of your women, wished it was me you proposed to yesterday” Jemima said out of the blue and Marcus looked at her, raising an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by what she just said.
“Excuse me?”
“I’m sure you’re unaware that Sophia and I were close friends. She would often share with me the depth of your love and care for her, and I must admit, I couldn’t help but feel jealous each time. As she spoke about you, my admiration for you grew, though she never knew. After her passing, I was out of the country and unable to attend her funeral due to unforeseen circumstances. Recently, I returned to New York, hoping to finally express my feelings to you, as I had heard you were still single. However, yesterday’s wine launch proposal took me by surprise. It seems I’ve arrived too late, and for that, I’m truly sorry. I confess, I’ve developed strong feelings for you, and I would be overjoyed if you would consider giving us a chance”
Marcus’s eyes widened in shock, trying to process Jemima’s unexpected confession. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Jemima, a friend of Sophia’s, had been in love with him for years?
“Jemima, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve never even heard of you being friends with Sophia. And even if you were, that doesn’t give you the right to confess your feelings to me out of the blue”
Jemima’s face fell, her eyes welling up with tears.
“You really don’t remember me, do you? I met you a few times with Sophia, but I guess I didn’t make an impression”
Marcus shook his head, feeling uncomfortable.
“Jemima, I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say. I’m flattered, I suppose, but I’m recently engaged to Katharina. And even if I wasn’t, I don’t think I’d be interested in pursuing anything with you. We barely know each other”
Jemima nodded, tears streaming down her face.
“I know. I’m sorry. I just… I had to try”
Marcus cleared his throat to clear the awkward moment.
“So, Jemima, tell me more about this collaboration. I’m intrigued by the idea of a limited-edition wine series”
Jemima’s eyes moved down to his lips, she didn’t seem to be listening to him, her mind elsewhere.
“Jemima?” Marcus called trying to get her attention back on the topic at hand.
But Jemima just kept staring, her eyes solely on his lips. Marcus started to feel uncomfortable, shifting in his seat.
“Jemima, is everything okay?” he asked, trying to snap her out of her trance-like state.
Jemima blinked slowly, her eyes finally focusing on Marcus’s face. But instead of responding to his question, she said, “You have beautiful lips, Marcus”
Marcus’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Uh, thank you?” he replied, unsure how to react.
Jemima’s eyes dropped back to his lips, staring at it dreamily .
“I can just imagine what it would be like to kiss you” she whispered.
“Jemima, I think we should focus on the collaboration” he said, trying to steer the conversation back on track.
But Jemima just kept staring, her eyes fixed on his lips. Marcus realized that she was no longer interested in discussing business.
“Jemima, I think we’re done here. I appreciate your interest in collaborating with Blackwood Wine Company, but I don’t think it’s going to work out”
Jemima’s gaze finally lifted from his lips.
“What? Why?”
“Because I don’t think we can work together effectively, Jemima. You’re clearly distracted, and I need someone who can focus on the project at hand”
“I’m so sorry, Marcus. I don’t know what came over me. Please, let’s just forget I said that and focus on the collaboration”
Marcus nodded, accepting her apology.
“Let’s move forward, then. Tell me more about your ideas for the limited-edition wine series”
Jemima took a deep breath and composed herself.
“Yes, of course. As I was saying, I believe we could create a unique blend that showcases the best of our winemaking skills. And with the charitable component, we can make a real difference in the community.”
“I like the sound of that. What kind of charity were you thinking of partnering with?”
Jemima smiled, relieved that they were back on track.
“I was thinking of a local children’s hospital. We could donate a portion of the proceeds to support their programs and services”
“That’s a great idea. I think we could make a real impact with this project”
“Yes. It was nice meeting you , Marcus” Jemima said getting up and grabbing her handbag.
“Same here” he said and she smiled before walking out of the door and Marcus exhaled.
ADVENTURES OF THE RUNAWAY PRINCESS : CHAPTER 131 – 140
MARCUS’ MANSION*
Katharina walked out of the kitchen, carrying a tray of freshly cut fruits.
As she turned to head towards her room upstairs, she thought about her plans for the afternoon. She would pick up Hazel from school later, and they will both visit Mrs Gray and Emily.
Katharina suddenly heard movements behind her. She spun around immediately, expecting to see one of the workers, but instead, she saw the cook, Mrs Dora, walking past her with a brief nod.
“Oh, Mrs Dora! I didn’t see you there” she said, trying to sound calm.
“Sorry, milady. Just getting some ingredients from the pantry. Beautiful arrangement you have there, by the way” Mrs Dora said, smiling.
Katharina smiled back, feeling a bit silly for being startled.
“Thank you, Mrs Dora. I thought it would be nice to have a light snack today”
Mrs Dora nodded and continued on her way, leaving Katharina to wonder why she had been so jumpy but she shrugged it off.
Katharina made her way back to her room, as she approached her bedroom door, she reached out to grab the handle. But just as her hand made contact with the cool metal, she felt a sudden jolt. Someone grabbed her from behind, wrapping a strong arm around her waist and pulling her back.
Katharina tried to scream, but a hand clamped over her mouth, muffling her cry for help. She struggled to break free, but her attacker held her firm.
“Shh, don’t make a sound” a low voice whispered in her ear.
Katharina’s heart raced as she tried to wriggle out of the person’s hold. Who was this? And what did they want? She tried to speak, but the hand over her mouth made it impossible.
The attacker pulled out a handkerchief and pressed it over her nose and mouth. Katharina tried to push it away, but it was too late. A sweet, chemical smell filled her senses, and she felt herself getting dizzy.
Her vision began to blur, and her legs gave out from under her. The last thing she remembered was the feeling of being dragged away, her body limp and helpless.
Then, everything went black.
ADVENTURES OF THE RUNAWAY PRINCESS : CHAPTER 131 – 140
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