Unforgettable Prince For Christmas

Lily It is Christmas eve and supposedly the joyous time of the year. Well, I don’t know the meaning of that word. I aimlessly walk around the prestigious, most exclusive cruise ship in the world. Taking in the fresh air, I bask at the temporary peaceful sound of the majestic waves. Many would regard me as lucky for being here, but it’s quite the contrary. The very reason I am out here is because I am dreading the family breakfast. Unlike at home where I eat in my own basement room, I have to join the family here. It will make my father, and his family look bad if the bastard child is seen dining alone. It is the same reason I get to tag along with them every year. I get reminded just how grateful I should be to be on this cruise around the festives. Lord, I can’t wait to have enough savings to escape this glorified prison. “I am going to be a grandmother! Congratulations, you two. You are just perfect!” I hear my stepmother beam way before I open the door to the dining hall. I wonder why she is so happy. She is such a witch. I am taken aback when my eyes land on Paul and his whole family. He said nothing to me about them coming on a cruise. Why on earth is he holding Phoebe’s hand? I greet everyone before taking the empty chair between Pheobe and my father. “Nice of you to finally join us, Lily. I was starting to worry about you,” Daisy exclaims, while dad gives me his unimpressed look. He hates me more than the rest of the family. I am the evidence and constant reminder of his infidelity, his regret. I flash Daisy a feigned smile and try to make eye contact with the man holding and brushing my stepsister’s hand. You would swear that it’s the most treasured antique. “Phoebe and Paul are expecting and getting married. The Smiths have blessed us with their presence. They will be with us for the whole duration of the tour. Isn’t wonderful! We are all going to be one big happy family!” I don’t hear anything else Daisy says. My mind is stuck on Phoebe and Paul expecting and getting married. I can feel my head spinning. How is that possible? “You look flushed, Darling. Are you sure you are okay? Sea sickness is a real medical condition, we can get a physician to check on you.” I don’t respond to my pretentious stepmother but face my supposedly boyfriend. “Paul?” His head jerks backward while he narrows his eyes at me as if confused by me addressing him. “What is going on?” I ask as my chest tightens. I don’t understand why he is looking at me like I am a stranger. Like we were not discussing our future just twenty-four hours ago. “Behave yourself, Lilian. How can you address your sister’s fiancé like that?” Dad asks while knocking hard on my side with his elbow, making me flinch. “I am not being disrespectful, I just need him to explain what is going on,” I respond, and Paul looks at me like I have grown horns. “What do you want Paul to explain, Dear?” Daisy asks with that tone that makes me look unstable. Now everyone’s eyes are on me. “Paul and I have been dating for two years. I don’t understand how he is all of sudden engaged to Phoebe and pretending not to know me,” I explain myself as calmly as I can. Our guests gasp, their jaws drop, while others clasp their hands in disbelief. Paul now has this flabbergasted expression on his face. “I,” he points at himself, “I was dating you?” he asks before turning to Phoebe. “You told me that she was unstable, this is beyond that. This is psychotic!” I feel like I have been punched hard on my stomach. This can’t be happening! “Paul?” I question, his words piercing through my heart. We decided to keep our relationship private to keep our controlling families out of it and now I am psychotic. He shakes his head and gives me the empathetic look. “I am afraid I have no idea what you are talking about.” “Wow,” I can only mutter, my heart crashing into tiny pieces. “Honey, this is Paul. He is your sister’s fiancé, not your boyfriend,” Daisy says with that tone that makes me sound neurotic. I don’t quite understand what is happening here, but she, her daughter and Paul are up to something. “Don’t honey me! I know who Paul is. We have been dating for two years!” I snap while Phoebe looks worriedly at me. “How come you never even mentioned him?” she asks as if she and I ever really talk. “That’s because we decide to keep our relationship private.” I can tell that no one believes a word I say. They have all concluded that I am crazy. “I know that you have always liked my stuff, but Paul is not the toys I always gave you,” Phoebe says, adopting her mother’s tone. I would have been beaten into a pulp if I played with any of her toys. It is appalling that she can utter this with a straight face. “Why are you all pretending? I know Paul. He is 26-years old, first-born son of the Smith family and a CEO of Smith enterprises. His favorite meal is beef lasagna and white wine. He loves classic music and nature. Ask me anything about him, and I will tell you.” Paul jumps on his feet and backs away as if I have become a threat to him. “Oh my God! Have you been stalking me?” Phoebe hurries to him and gazes into his eyes. “Calm down, Honey. Lily can be imaginative. She has imaginary friends and boyfriends; it all passes eventually. She is harmless.” “Wow!” Paul exclaims as if I am the craziest person he has ever seen. I can’t believe this! I turn to my dad. He hates me, but he can’t possibly make people think that I am neurotic. “I am not crazy! Dad, please tell…” I don’t complete my sentence. Dad slaps me hard across the face, making my whole face burn and tears sting in my eyes. “Shut up, Lily! My family has been very kind and welcoming to you. It is enough! Apologies to your sister and Paul,” he demands. I guess he is in on whatever this is. I can’t say that I am surprised. He will always choose his family over me. I storm out, my tears already rolling down my cheeks. My so-called family have never loved me. I learned years ago to shut them out, its Paul I fail to understand. Why would he lie about loving me and turn around to do this? He could have just dated Pheobe from the beginning if he liked her. What is the end game? My head is spinning and vision blurred by tears when I bump into someone on the ship’s balcony. “Sorry,” I manage to murmur without lifting my head to check who it is. “Hey, are you okay?” a concerned deep husky voice asks. I shake my head and hurry to my cabin. I expect to break down at any moment as I kick the door shut and curl up on the bed, but my tears have suddenly dried up. Only a dull aching pain settles on my chest as I play what happened. I still can’t comprehend how all of this is supposed to play out. I am already the despised, lowly bastard child of the Reed family. I don’t see how making me look psychotic is going to be of any value to them. My heart breaks once again, darkness and hopelessness engulf me as I think of Paul. He was clearly cheating on me if he and Phoebe are expecting. Keeping our relationship a secret was my idea, not his. None of this makes any sense and my head is pounding. It is after six in the afternoon when I finally make the decision I have been postponing for the past nine hours. This kitchen knife through my heart will end all my suffering. Not a soul will miss me. God will have to forgive me. Born a sin and a disgrace, I tried being positive all my life. Abused, battered, scoffed upon, I kept going. Not anymore. I have reached my breaking point. I am exhausted. Closing my eyes and taking deep breath, I hope this is quick. I have just lifted the knife when someone knocks. I am about to tell the person to go to hell when that voice calls out. “My Lady?”