The Rejected Principessa Returns novel Chapter 26

Chapter 6

Vincent took his time walking over to Derek. Without a word, he yanked him up by the hair and landed two

sharp slaps across his face.

“You little piece of trash,” he growled. “You not only tried to sideswipe my son’s car, you raised your hand

against him. I’ll make sure you regret breathing.”

He flicked his hand toward his men.

The black-clad guards instantly understood, hauling Tessa, Derek, and the others toward the SUVs.

They thrashed and screamed, but there was no escape. Their fate was sealed before the doors even closed.

When it was done, Vincent turned back to me, his tone suddenly calm, almost courteous.

“Thank you, sweetheart,” he said. “If you hadn’t stepped in when you did, my son would’ve taken a lot more

damage.”

Facing a man like him made my stomach twist, but I forced a steady smile and shook his hand.

“Please, Mr. Crowe, you don’t owe me anything. I only did what anyone should. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect

your son better.”

Before Vincent could reply, Julian slipped in eagerly. “Don’t say that, miss. You helped me.”

He looped his arm through mine, then pointed to my wrecked Porsche. “Don’t worry about your car. I’ll make Dad replace it for you.”

“My dad’s got a whole fleet-he can give you ten if you want.”

Vincent gave him a light smack on the back of the head. “You little brat…”

Then he looked at me and smiled. “How about this-you come with us. Pick any car you like from my garage. They’re all collecting dust anyway.”

I started to decline, but Julian tugged at my hand. “Please, come home with us. Let Dad make it right-and

you can see the estate. It’s huge and full of fun stuff.”

He tugged harder, and I hesitated. But his face was so open, so utterly innocent, I couldn’t bring myself to pull away.

Vincent’s voice came from behind, amused. “It’s rare he invites anyone home. You shouldn’t turn him down.”

With both of them waiting, I couldn’t refuse any longer. I got into the car beside Julian.

All the way back, he chatted nonstop, telling me about his horses, the koi pond, the racing simulators in his room-as if we’d known each other for years.

It made sense. With a father like Vincent Crowe, he rarely met anyone his own age; I was probably the first

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person outside his guards to talk to him like he was normal.

And I had stepped in when he was at his most helpless, so naturally he saw me as someone kind and safe.

Talking with him, I could feel it clearly-he was gentle, warm, and still full of childlike wonder.

If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I never would’ve believed that the son of a man like Vincent Crowe could be so pure-hearted.

When he was in the middle of describing how he’d once trained a foal himself, the car rolled to a smooth

stop.

Julian brightened, squeezing my hand. “We’re here!” he said, pointing ahead. “Mira, look-that’s my home.”

In the distance rose a mansion gleaming white under the afternoon sun, its gardens sprawling like a private park.

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It rose twelve st

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private version of the White House-grand, regal, and untouchable.

The gardens stretched for what must’ve been a hundred acres of manicured perfection-towering oaks, a private lake, winding paths, and an open gazebo overlooking the water. It looked less like a house and more like a private estate hidden from the world.

If I hadn’t seen it myself, I wouldn’t have believed that such a place could belong to a single family.

Julian jumped out of the car and tugged me along, running straight to a tall silver fir near the main path.

“Mira, look!” he said, grinning. “I planted this tree when I was nine. Almost ten years ago now. Look how tall

it’s gotten.”

I tilted my head back, impressed. “You’ve got quite the green thumb. It’s grown tall and strong.”

He laughed proudly. “Of course! I’m the tree-planting king around here. My mom gave me that title before she

passed.”

The light in his eyes dimmed for a moment, sadness flickering across his face.

I opened my mouth to comfort him, but he lifted his gaze again, earnest and bright. “Mira, can I plant another

one next to it? For you. So it won’t be lonely anymore.”

Something tugged in my chest.

From our talk in the car, I’d learned how Vincent’s paranoia had built this fortress around his son.

He had enemies everywhere, so Julian had grown up sealed inside this estate, tutored at home, watched by

guards, escorted by convoys.

Even now, as we walked through the gardens, at least a dozen bodyguards followed from a polite distance.

He’d lived his whole life in safety-and isolation. It was no wonder he’d run away; no wonder he’d wanted to

breathe.

But the moment he stepped out, he ran straight into people like Tessa and her gang.

I nodded. “Sure. Let’s plant one together. I’m a pretty good gardener myself.”

His face lit up like the sun, and he jumped for joy.

After showing me his tree, he took me to the pond where he fed his fish, then to the stables where he kept his

horses.

He told me how his father never let him get close to anyone, so animals had always been his only friends.