The forbidden prince

Surprise

Chapter 2

Andrew

Surprise

I would have loved to see Hailey again, but my schedule at the hospital was crazy. Despite my mother's whining about Monaco, I never wanted to go back. I knew only too well what was waiting for me. Countless boring parties and suitors who were beautiful on the outside and empty on the inside. This was the reality of my principality. There was a line of women waiting to marry a prince, but there was no prince willing to marry them.

I lived the reality of the hospital, hoping that one day I would meet the woman of my life. Of course, men have the same desire, after all, what's life without a princess? I would also need a princess in the future, when my father would be incredibly old or sick and I would have to take on that role, unwillingly.

I would come home bored, not because of the work, but because of the excessive care. People at the hospital had already noticed that I always left in a black car that looked armored, and speculation was rife. The owner of the hospital was the only one who knew about my title and that I was worth billions of dollars. She was paid very well to know this and to keep it a secret for as long as necessary.

Sure! Here’s the continuation:

But no secret stays hidden forever. I could feel the whispers growing louder, even if no one dared to confront me directly. It wasn’t the job or the late nights that drained me—it was the constant balancing act between two completely opposite worlds. By day, I was Dr. Andrew, a trauma surgeon working long shifts under the harsh fluorescent lights of the hospital. By night, I was His Highness Prince André Clermont de Monaco, the reluctant heir to a throne I wanted nothing to do with.

I would have loved to have been just Andrew forever, but I knew that wasn’t an option. My father was already pushing me to return, using every excuse he could muster. “It’s for the stability of the principality,” he’d say over long, drawn-out phone calls. Or, “Your mother misses you.” Translation: We need you back to play the role of the perfect prince—and find a wife while you’re at it.

As much as I resisted, there were nights I couldn’t help but think about it. Could I keep running from my duty forever? It felt selfish. Irresponsible, even. I had a title, a legacy, and an entire country watching me—whether they knew it yet or not.

And then, there was Hailey.

I didn’t want to admit it, but she was a big part of the reason I couldn’t stop thinking about Monaco. She’d stirred something in me during her brief visit to me at the wedding . She was so vibrant, so full of life. It wasn’t just her beauty, though that certainly hadn’t gone unnoticed. It was the way she carried herself, like the world couldn’t touch her. But beneath that confidence, I saw something else—a vulnerability.

I wasn’t sure if she knew who I really was. Maybe she did, and she just didn’t care. Or maybe she hadn’t pieced it together yet. Either way, I couldn’t stop thinking about her smile, the sound of her laugh, the way she’d made me feel like, just for a moment, I could be Andrew and not Prince André.

A knock on the door of my office pulled me out of my thoughts. It was Isabelle, one of the hospital administrators. She was always polite, but there was a stiffness to her that made me think she knew more than she let on.

“Dr. Andrew,” she said, stepping inside. “There’s someone here to see you.”

I frowned. My appointments for the day were over, and I wasn’t expecting anyone. “Who is it?”

“She didn’t give her name,” Isabelle said, her lips pressing into a thin line. “But she said it was urgent.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “Alright, send her in.”

Moments later, the door opened, and there she was—Hailey. She looked different from the last time I’d seen her. Gone was the polished, put-together woman who had breezed through the hospital like she owned the place. Today, she looked... unsure. Nervous, even. Her dark blond hair was pulled back into a loose braid, and there was a shadow under her eyes that hadn’t been there before.

“Hailey?” I said, standing up from my desk. “What are you doing here?”

She hesitated for a moment, then stepped inside, closing the door behind her. “I didn’t know where else to go,” she said softly.

The vulnerability in her voice sent a pang through my chest. I motioned for her to sit down, but she shook her head.

“Are you okay?” I asked, my concern growing.

“I don’t know,” she admitted, crossing her arms over her chest. “But I didn´t knew you would be my chief.”

Her words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Whatever this was, it wasn’t just a coincidence. Hailey wasn’t here by accident.

And suddenly, I realized—this was the surprise I hadn’t seen coming.