“Certainly not. That is what you encounter as a royal. Many false friends with selfish interests.”
“I can attest to that. I had a handful of them.”
“So, what are your next plans?”
“I intend to settle down in Ridgewood after the Exhibition and lead a life free from royalty. I need a break.”
“Wow! That's good, but why Ridgewood?”
“I have a special likeness for the place, and I have a few business associates there. By the way, why did you ask?”
“I'm from Ridgewood.”
“Oh! What a coincidence.”
“If I may ask, what business do you do?”
“I have a lot of them. Prominent among them are the Perfumery Business and Sweet Production.”
Carson was thrilled to hear that, and he spoke, “Your decision is good. If I get you right, you are the heir apparent?”
Alfred gave him a questioning look, and asked, “Yes. Do you have any problem with that?”
“Not really, I just wish to find out. Are you giving that up too?”
“I have to. Many eyes are on the seat, and my siblings can go to any length to get it.”
“I got it. We will talk more about it, but for now, let's return to the Exhibition Arena if you are through with your meal.”
“You are right,” Alfred confirmed, and rounded up his meal, and they walked back to the arena. While they walked back, Carson got a call again, and he picked, and greeted, “Hello, Mike. What's up?”
“I'm okay. I wish to let you know that, your Pearl is disturbed, and it is not good for her.”
“But I spoke with her a few minutes ago.”
“Yes, but she was only pretending to be strong. Can you visit this weekend?”
“Oh! My God. This weekend is a very crucial one on the schedule of the Exhibition. What if I suggest that you bring her over. I mean all of you.”
“Okay. I will inform Annabel and find out her itinerary and get back to you.”
“It is okay.”
Alfred had a good time with the group when Mike and the team visited. Although, he just escaped from a toxic relationship, he admired the couples, and hoped to be in a relationship someday with a girl who truly loved him, and not because he is an heir.
Back to the Hotel Room
Alfred heaved with relief when he remembered that he was free from the war in his family, and the annoying Hazel.
“I wonder how grandpa will take my absence,” he mumbled when the thought of his grandfather crossed his mind.
At Nassau
That night, the Military Squad awaited Alfred's return after speaking with the management, but it was as though they would wait in vain or wait forever.
“What could be keeping the boss at the manager's office?” Steve inquired after one hour of waiting. Max was worried too, and when Steve brought the matter up, he aired his opinion too, “It is quite unlike him to go about without an escort.”
“You have a point, Max. Usually, he would invite the manager to his suite for any discussion. I wondered why he decided to visit him alone.”
“You can wait here, while I walk to the Manager's office,” Max proposed, and Steve nodded. He got to the manager's door, and met it open. Then, he walked in, and met the manager, who was in a meeting with three members of his staff.
“Good evening, Manager,” Max greeted after he scanned the office for his boss.
“Good evening, officer. Does the boss wish to see me?” The manager, a thirty-eight-year man, Mr. Hilary Donald, responded, and inquired. Now, Max was troubled because he could not respond to such a question. Besides, it was embarrassing that he was unable to explain his boss' whereabouts.
“No, Manager. On the contrary, I came to check on him. He left a few hours ago to see you.” The Manager looked at his staff members, who had been with him for over two hours, before he pouted his lips, looked at Max, and explained, “I have been in this meeting for over two hours, and the boss did not come here.” Now, to buttress the Manager's claim, one of the staff members, Collins emphasized, “Officer, it is absurd, for the Young Prince to visit the Manager. He usually sends for him If he wished to see him.”
The staff member's explanation made sense to everyone, including Max. Then, he pointed out, “I apologize for disturbing your meeting.”
“Never mind. I will suggest that you look out for him at the VoIP Lounge. He could be on a long call,” the Manager advised.
“I got it, manager,” Max appreciated and took his leave while the Manager continued with his meeting. Subsequently, Max walked to the VVIP Lounge where they sat in the afternoon, to his bewilderment, Alfred was not there.
“He must have returned to his suite,” he thought, and walked back to the suite. Steve jolted when he saw him walking back alone. Nevertheless, he demanded, “Is he still with the Manager?”
“Not at all. I thought he had returned to the suite,” Max explained.
“He is not here. What do we do?”
“Is that woman out of his suite?”
“Do you mean his wife?” Steve asked. Now, Max, who was not comfortable with the appearance of Hazel in Alfred's life, grumbled, “Do you mean that complicated woman? He can't be the boss's wife.”
They waited endlessly for Alfred until the next morning, and could not explain his whereabouts.
In the Suite
To Hazel, that was the beginning of a long story of hopelessness. She woke up in the morning very exhausted and starving. She steadied herself on the couch and processed her environment. Furthermore, she was amazed to see from the glass window that the day was bright.
“Alfred,” she called out, and walked into the bedroom. To her perturbation, the bed was unused, and she stared at it.
“Where could he be?” She thought, and opened the toilet's door. She shut it back at once, and rested her head on the door in dejection. Then she thought for a while, and mumbled, “Could the spell have been nullified? Why is he on and off?”
She walked back to the parlor, and picked her only luggage – her old purse, and declared, “I must see Old Pa Walter at once, and inform him of the marriage. If I get his blessing, he would talk some senses into Alfred.”
Her idea seemed good to her, and she set out to leave. To her disturbance, she opened the door and saw the unfriendly looking security guards, who were not happy with her presence at the lounge the previous day. As the boss' wife, she expected some respect from them, but she got none. She was unaware of how to behave in a situation like that, but she braved up, and inquired, “Guards, where is my husband?”
Before Steve could speak, Max growled, “Husband indeed. The boss had not introduced you to us as his wife? You were the last person with him, so, where is he?”
Hazel's wish at that moment was to leave the hotel with her life. She remembered her experience in the hands of those men at the Standpoint hotel, and was not prepared for another ordeal. Then, she declared, “I'm on my way to see his grandfather, he may have an explanation for his whereabouts.”
Her explanation made sense to the rugged guards, and Steve warned, “You can leave, but we have noted that you were the last person we saw with him.”
She walked out of the corridor quickly without looking back. At that point, she was starving, but the problem on her plate, was overwhelming, and the food would wait.
At Old Pa Walter's Chamber
“If my fake beauty can't get him, why can't the spell keep him?” She murmured. Soon, she was at Old Pa Walter's house. His house was at the Walter's Native Home. He was surrounded by guards, janitors, and caregivers. His son, Alfred's father, Sir Jackson Walter, ensured that he was comfortable. Nevertheless, Alfred's step siblings lived there too, and waiting patiently for him to disown Alfred, whom he loved so much.
Kenny, Hazel's informant, and accomplice was surprised to see her that morning, and concluded that her marriage with Alfred had been consummated, and she had come to appeal the divorce.
“I wish to see Old PA Walter,” she announced hastily. Kenny had no choice but to walk her to his grandfather's chamber.
“Grandpa, the third Princess of the Martin's family wishes to see you,” he declared and observed his expression.
“Let her in,” he said without hesitation. Kenny ushered her in, and waited outside. Soon, his two siblings, Braden and Clifford, joined him, at the door, and they began to eavesdrop.
“Good morning, Old Pa Walter. I am, Hazel …”
“Don't bother with the introduction,” he interrupted, and pulled out his drawer. Then, he brought out the marriage annulment certificate, and stretched it over to her. Apart from that, he said, “Take, the marriage between you and my grandson is null and void because he was not in his right frame of mind when it was contracted.”.