Page 19 of Maid for the Alien Prince

The idea of being forced to do anything against my will was just about the worst outcome I could imagine. Being manhandled and taken advantage of by that brute was a close second.

I wiped the tears of rage from my eyes and returned to stuffing my bags. I needed to be stronger than this, tougher, or I would be a broken wreck when I emerged on the other side.

Or the bastard was going to destroy me.

“Are you going somewhere?”

I yelped and hopped on the spot, snapping my head around. It took me a moment to recognize the small, shrunken form of my father standing in the doorway.

I let out a sigh of relief and turned back to packing my bags. “Only to the palace. I spoke with the new Prince and he agreed to let me… work off the debt.”

My father shook his head. “No, no. I can’t allow it. It should be me who works off the debt. Speak with him again, baby, convince him to let me be the one to pay.”

I’m not sure you’re his type…

Then again, I wasn’t entirely convinced I was his type either. The reason he’d chosen me was through desperation, not attraction. If he had seen me with my limp, he never would have looked at me twice. I was as good as any other female that he could use and abuse.

Better yet—I came with desperation on my lips and that would no doubt make it even more exciting when he took advantage of me.

I shook my head forlornly. “He’s made his decision. I’ll work at the palace until all debts are paid.”

“But maybe he’ll let me return to work for him,” Dad said.

He was desperate to return to his old place of work, I realized. To be with his coworkers and friends again. After twenty years in the palace, he had become a high ranking, respected person of note. Now, having been fired, there was no chance of him returning to his previous esteemed place of work.

“He won’t hire you back, Dad,” I said.

My father nodded sadly. “Yes,” he said. “Yes, I suppose you’re right.”

The reason hung between us like a thick blanket, the same one he’d mentioned the day before:

Once you break someone’s trust, it’s impossible to get it back.

He slumped onto the corner of my bed and hung his head. “I’m sorry you have to do this, Camila. I swear, as soon as I find another position at another house, I’ll send money so you can pay the debt off faster.”

I fell onto the bed beside him. He was an old man due for retirement, and it was beyond time for him to relax. I wrapped my arms around him and leaned my head against his shoulder.

“You’ve worked your entire life for me. You even gave me back my legs.” And to show him, I extended my injured leg and wiggled my toes. “See? You gave me life, raised me, and healed me. What else could you do for me? You are everything a father should be. And I’m proud of you.”

I took his face in my hands and kissed him gently on the forehead. “I always have been.”

He gripped my arm, holding on tight. “Thank you for saying that.”

I shrugged. “It’s true.”

“For how long? How long will it take for you to earn the money to pay him back? I doubt it will be for the same price I got for them for.”

No, I thought. It was an altogether different price.

I moved back to packing my bags when an idea came to me:

“Why don’t you go on a trip? After all these years of hard work, you deserve it.”

If someone saw Prince Rayaw and me together, there would be no way for me to prevent rumors from circulating. I would do everything I could to prevent that from happening but at the very least, I could ensure my father never had to hear it.

“A trip? Where?”

“How about Ghizzok’s Fishing Hole? You always wanted to go. And you’re always complaining about not having enough time. Well, now you do.”

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