Prince smiled wickedly. He said, "Of course, Dad. I know what my capabilities were. I even know how to hold a gun while you're away repenting in this… prison."
He used to be alone, but then, his father hired someone else to take care of him while his mother was already on the death grave. She died while giving birth to him. Prince had been too alone since then. He grew up strong, independent, and let himself come to school. He even took care of their company, and his father was glad he's able to hand it over to his generous son.
"You're a prosecutor and a businessman, Prince. You should know even know how to handle a machine gun."
Prince shushed his father the moment the door opened. They're not ready for another accusation. It's enough for his father to suffer with the mistake he didn't have, and Prince should live in the outside world for him to enjoy his youth.
Ian bit his bottom lip, raising his eyebrows.
"I don't know if I should say this to you, but thank you, son, for…"
"I played the fruitful son, and even though I was alone in this world, you guided me, father. Through the glass window, you guided me and I grew well." Prince was uncertain of that praise. His father doesn't know the real situation outside, and he couldn't afford to have his plan backfired. Seeking revenge was hard… and it isn't because of a shallow reason…
It isn't about the loss in an election. It's not about the loss meaningful and become a lesson to everyone.
"Right after the 2000 elections, I thought the days are over for me, Prince. But then, your mother gave birth to you, and you were the most beautiful thing I saw. I named you Prince, because I felt like I'm the King of the world when you came out." It brought tears in Prince's eyes. How long has his father been here to suffer like this? Prince isn't even allowed to hug his Father. His case was unnatural, and something to be scared about.
The Vasterian police inflicted it to the people that criminals aren't people, but monsters.
Prince doesn't want to believe his father was a monster. He isn't…
"Your mother died after giving birth to you, and I lost half of my life within me, like I never wanted to regain the meaning of life. I lost her, like I lost the whole world in that election."
It's not just a loss with the Vasterian people, but with his best friends whom he thought would spend their lives relying on each other. Prince learned not to trust anyone with his father's story. People are ruckus, and they caused chaos once and a while. Prince would rather calm himself down and not join the screams.
"Dad, you didn't lose in that election. You are within me. We are family, and both of us will stay on each other's side, alright?" Prince held out a hand, touched the window pane, and smiled with all of his teeth. His father wasn't that surprised with his cheerful attitude. Prince must have gotten it from his father.
"You and Mom will always be inside my heart, Dad. No matter what happens, I'll live inside your heart forever. Just make sure you'll be alive well, and I'll not skip a visit. I'll be here when you call me," Prince assured.
Ian held out, and touched the glass, across his son's hand.
"What did I deserve to have you as my son?" Ian asked. His tears trickled down his cheeks.
…
Prince went to the mansion in a short while and retrieved the car. He's going to find Bryce. He's not going to settle in one side and thought that everything would be okay when Aria was in the hospital, confined for her bleeding, and she might lose his son for a while.
Prince called him for the nth time while zooming in the highway.
"Damn it! Bryce isn't answering!" He slammed on the steering wheel. Prince stared at the red light, looking at the intersection, and felt like he should break off the law. He just kept forgetting he was a prosecutor, and that he should abide to it.
"I murdered someone. I shouldn't be afraid of being a convict now." But what Prince wanted was peace on the outside world while he sought for revenge out of the Cortez family who put his father in misery. Bryce had the same motive, too. It's no big deal for him anymore.
When the green light showed up, he stepped on the accelerator, reaching the speed limit.
The call was still going, and a minute later, Bryce answered. Prince pulled over in the side street, and hitched the phone, putting it on speaker.
"Prince…" Bryce breathed.
"What are you doing all night?! What are you doing that Aria have escaped and she isn't killed?!" he yelled.
Bryce got silent for a few moments. Prince gritted his teeth, waiting for his answer.
"Did you tell your father we failed?"
"WHAT?! Bryce…" Prince leaned back his head on the seat, brushing his fingers through his hair. This isn't fair at all. Prince had tied the other end of the rope, but on Bryce's side, he let it loose. He killed someone, but Bryce didn't even kill Aria on his own.
"You wanted to pass over the task to me? This is years' work, Bryce, haven't you woken up from falling in love with Aria and even impregnated her?!" Prince shrieked. Bryce stayed silent, committing a mistake that no forgiveness would dissipate. Prince threw his cell phone on the console, and traced his lips.
He's shaking hard, wondering what he should do with Aria.
Prince lied about her to his father, and when they found out, he'd be killed, too.
"Prince…"
"We're going to get killed by ruining the plan, Bryce! What are you going to plot as an excuse, huh?!"
This isn't what the result he expected to. He stayed silent.
"Are you just going to be quiet now?! Answer me, Bryce! Did you plan to let Aria live and ruin our plan?!"
Prince doesn't understand it. Why did he have to slack off and let her loose?
"Prince, you know her situation…"
"Why did you have to impregnate her, Bryce? Why did you have to do that when we're in the middle of the plan?" Prince huff an air, and slammed the steering wheel. This is not going to get good. Probably, the conscience was hitting hard on Bryce. If he killed Aria, then he's killing his child in her womb, too.
"I-I'm sorry, Prince,"
Prince breathed furiously. "Sorry for falling in love with her? That's ridiculous, Bryce."
Bryce didn't say anything, and it made Prince more irritated.
"You're out of the plan. I'll get rid of Aria myself. Stay away from her," Prince ordered.
"P-prince! Prince!"
He hung up the phone right away, throwing it at the passenger seat. Another problem rose, and his victory by killing Avery didn't even last a day. Right now, he had to take care of Aria. How can he…
"Aria, why are you still alive?" Prince closed his eyes.