Alastair pulled a blue box from his pocket, my mind was panicking, I really hope it wasn't what I think it is.
"I have a reason for coming here and it's not for just studying abroad, you see Cassie, I am Prince Alastair Romero Van Doren III of Genova. I have come to America to find a bride and well, I found you," Alastair proceeded to open the box to reveal an engagement ring.
This was no ordinary engagement ring, the gem was an aquamarine gemstone cut like a teardrop. The aquamarine is my birthstone, my birthday is March 17. I was amazed at the ring yet, so scared at the same time. It was beautiful yet, so dangerous, saying the wrong thing usually doesn't end well for anyone.
"Cassie, ever since we met I fell in love with you, I want to spend every moment with you. It's like I can't live without you, I was so afraid of you finding out my secret and you only sticking around for my crown that I wanted to keep it to myself until I knew you were the one. I can't imagine the rest of my life without you, I want to be with you," all I could do was just stare into his green eyes.
"Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? My princess? My queen? Say yes and I shall treat you like the queen you are," Alastair looked into my eyes, they were filled with love. I couldn't believe what I was hearing, it was too overwhelming in the end.
"Cassie?" Alastair's voice was the last thing I heard before my eyes rolled into the back of my head and everything went black.
As Claire aims to leave her oppressive stepfamily behind, she befriends Zion. Will he be her ticket to freedom or a distraction in achieving her dreams?
*****
Claire Olsen has had a crush on Zion Petrakis since the first time she laid eyes on him, but he never noticed, instead only having eyes on the school's it girl, Maddie Jennings. Knowing she couldn't compete with Maddie, Claire hid her feelings for Zion, satisfied with admiring him from afar. However, when a series of events led Claire closer to Zion, her feelings for him grew from infatuation to love. And despite fighting hard to keep her feelings contained by distancing herself from Zion, he was determined to show her that he's earned a spot in her life.
[[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]]