BLOODHOUNDS #1: THE ABDICATED PRINCE

Chapter 25 - FAMILY

Clyde Nielsen

Today, I'm taking Luna to a beautiful garden where she can spend her day sketching and drawing, like when we were kids. I rented the whole place so we could have some privacy and that she could feel more secure.

When we walked into the garden, Luna squealed as she found all the flowers that she loved and not to mention that butterflies were flying around.

Luna smiled widely, and she started to walk around to look at all the flowers there before sitting right in front of a yellow lily. She took her sketchbook out and started to do her thing.

My phone vibrates, and it's Anastasia.

I walked away from Luna and answered the call while still gluing my eyes on her.

"I got the information that you need, Nielsen." She went straight to the point as soon as I answered.

"Tell me."

"But I want something in return." She immediately said, and I chuckled. "Didn't you say you want me to help you get married to Calland?"

"Yes, but I changed my mind." She said in a nervous tone.

"I'll decide after you give me the information I need." I'm not the type who likes to play around regarding this matter.

"Luna was indeed their child, but the couple was obsessed with conquering the world. They became a workaholic and barely took care of Luna. But something did happen when Luna was fifteen."

"What happened?"

"Nesta Morris filed for divorce. Liam was cheating on her, and it was pretty known within their circle that Liam cheated on his wife with Maria Ecclesias, or should I say, Maria Jones? They were lovers back when they were in college. After Nesta filed for divorce that year, Liam was able to rekindle his relationship with his wife by moving to Brighton." Anastasia sighed before continuing, "Then Maria filed for divorce against Fred Ecclesias, but Maria got abused by her husband for cheating. Then an invitation came to the Morris for Luna to attend Ecclesias."

It's pretty easy to put the puzzle pieces together. Mara Ecclesias pre-meditated everything. She was the one who sent Luna the invitation to attend Ecclesias Private School for revenge when Luna had zero knowledge about the affair, let alone be around her parents. Mara did this out of anger. She thought it would make her parents care, but they never cared. When Luna got into the hospital after the constant assault and abuse, her parents came twice a month.

After Mara got caught, she never thought Luna's parents would not react to anything she did. She was so mad at her mother that she threatened to kill her. Her mother has a restraining order for her.

"That's all, and I think that'd everything."

"What do you want in return, Creed?" I asked, knowing that she deserved it.

"A restraining order against Asher."

"Your wish is my command, Creed." This is going to be so great.

Luna Morris

I was so drowned in sketching that I cramped my legs. I straightened them out and turned my attention to Clyde. My eyes widen when he sets up a picnic in the middle of the garden.

I got up after my legs felt so much better and walked towards him. He looked up at me as I admired his prepared picnic basket.

"Where did you buy this?" I sat down, put down my sketchbook, and clapped my hands.

"That's an insult, Butterfly. I made this." My eyes widen. "Are you for real?"

"Yeah." He nodded as he gave me a PB and J sandwich. I took a bite and turned to Clyde, who was currently enjoying his sandwich.

"Did you rent the whole thing again?" I asked, and he nodded as he took another bite. I put my sandwich down and leaned back to enjoy the beautiful sunny day. The weather is a little windy, and I love it.

"Can I ask you something?" I turned to Clyde, and he nodded.

"I always wondered how you ended up in America, and you told me that they banned you from entering Europe. How did you end up picking America?" When I heard the news of his abdication, I was shocked. I knew he never had a good relationship with his family, but abdicating his title is on another level.

"It was between America and Australia. I was going to Australia to feel more secure since I knew a friend there, but I decided to go to America a day before my flight to Sydney." Clyde is the type of person who follows his gut feeling. He's logical and always thinks about everything for the long term.

"And Seattle is your first choice?"

"No, it was New York. Seattle was another last-minute change. Something about this city that made me want to stay. I'm glad I chose Seattle, or it wouldn't turn out this way." I grabbed my sandwich again and looked at him, wanting to ask one more question.

"Ask away, Butterfly." I choked on my bread, and he gave me a water bottle. "How did you know I want to ask you one more question?"

"I know everything about you, so ask away since I'm ready to answer some of your questions."

"Why did you abdicate your title at such an early age?" He surrendered his title when he was 15 years old. I didn't even know if it was possible to make such a big decision that early.

"People saw me as a threat and a blessing. After my grandfather gave up his throne to my father, he observed his grandkids closely. He's looking at our behavior and attitude. How we solve things, how we react to things, how we conquer things, and how we get through tough times." He laid down beside me.

"Christopher, my older brother, always solved things with anger. He got anger issues at an early age and not to mention that he took everything personally. I was more mature than him when he was five years older than me. I was calm in handling problems, and I was wise enough to make decisions within the problem, and that fascinated my grandfather so that he suggested he should consider me as the next King."

"But my father wasn't a fan of that idea. He loves Christopher so much that he keeps telling everyone he's the perfect child. Slowly but surely that my family started to drift apart. My father thought my grandfather's idea was full of crap but people around him started to say the same thing and Christopher will eventually make my parents hate me."

"I was forced to abdicate when I turn 18 but I decided to do it 3 years early which caused my whole family to celebrate their victory against their own family." I guess we both have issues with family.

"So they never contact you again?" I asked and Clyde chuckled. "They did."