Hey! You've stuck with me this far. You're amazing, yes, you. : )

So here's the chapter by GOD'S Grace.

————————-

He shall be like a tree,

A tree that's planted by the stream,

So guide my steps, O LORD

Aquilina had to stop typing the message on her phone when a phone call interrupted.

She dropped the strawberry she held in her other hand as she slid across the screen to pick it up.

"Ni hao!(Hello)" She said cheerily, feeling light.

Her mood had improved drastically since the day she had finally surrendered it all over to God.

She heard the light chuckle over the phone before the deep voice answered.

"Ni hao ma?(How are you?)"

"I'm good and you?"

"It's been better." Lu Xia sighed.

"Aww... does your arm still hurt?"

He had injured his arm previously.

"That's actually why I'm calling you, Xiao Jaye(Little Jaye)."

She groaned.

"Please don't call me that."

"Whatever—Xiao Jaye."

"I have a favour to ask of you." His tone got more serious.

"People with favours to ask don't irritate the other party first."

"Just listen, okay?"

"Fine," she sighed and lifted the aforementioned strawberry to her lips, taking a bite as she listened.

"You want me to do—what?" She almost choked on the fruit.

"Take my place in the upcoming tournament."

"Lu Xia!"

"Please."

She sighed and massaged her temples as she considered his offer.

He was supposed to lead Velvet Regent's Senior CTF team in a competition against their rival school, Oro.

(A/N: To not look too geeky, I will just explain  it as a sort of computer security competition in this case. :) )

It was also attended by Royals and the very rich, just as theirs was.

"But I'm not even in your grade."

"You're a surgeon for crying out loud. And besides, you could win the tournament singlehandedly if you wanted."

"Please, Xiao Jaye?" His voice sounded so soft now.

"Okay, fine. But you'll have to feed me dumplings throughout my stay there."

"Will you be joining us? Our flight will take off by tomorrow."

The Royals were all going in their own private jets.

"Nah, I'll be there later. Your game isn't till later anyway."

"Xiao Jaye?"

"Shénme?(What?)"

"Xie xie(Thank you)".

~

"No, you are not going."

Aqui had agreed to go, but it was another thing to get Mike to agree.

"I'm going to be fine!"

"I'm your elder brother, and I said, no!" Mike pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes, exasperated.

"You're not that older than me, really. You've just had a few more meals in this life than I have."

That made him crack a smile.

"Besides, the risk levels are no lesser when I am here. When God says it's my time, then it's my time."

She folded her arms across her chest. She could tell he was softening, so she pressed on.

"And if He says it's not yet my time, nothing can harm me. And from the looks of it, He's not willing to take me now if even I beg Him."

Mike finally sighed. Maybe it was because she was his baby sister, but for some reason, he could never fully say no to her. Despite his prowess in court, she always won every argument with him.

"Fine, you win."

He stood up from his desk and moved in front of it to face her.

"I sometimes thank God you're not my opponent in court, I don't know how I'll ever win a case against you."

She pretended to think hard for a moment.

"Then, I'll continue to study hard to become a lawyer one day, so that I'll give you a good debate in court."

"In your dreams, kiddo." He threw an arm over her shoulder, as they walked out together.

"You can go, but I will be joining you there soon."

Yes, she thought. She could live with his arrangements.

"And Aquilina?"

"Yes?"

"Don't forget, you're finally eighteen."

"Of course, I remember..." She had celebrated her birthday the previous week.

"And I hope you're thinking of everything Ima (Mom) spoke to you about?"

She was thinking about it, a lot. In fact, it was the reason why she had made the decision she had made.

And that was another reason why she wanted to leave for France.

~

Some days prior

"Aquilina, ma chérie(my dear), how are you?" Moriah, Aqui's mother, asked over the phone.

"I'm fine, Ima(Mom), how are you too?" Aqui pulled out of the Hospital's driveway in her DBX.

"By God's Grace, I'm good, my love. Your Dad and I have missed you so much."

"I've missed you too." Her voice was soft, she had really missed them.

"Darling, I wanted to talk to you about something."

"Sure, go ahead," Aqui felt a bit uneasy, not knowing where the conversation was heading.

"You know, you're finally of age now, and soon you'll have to join the military as your Grandma insists."

"Sure, Ima(Mom)."

Her grandmother was a Jew. And for that reason, she had asked that all of her grandkids spend a short period of time in the IDF (Israeli Defence Forces).

The shift wasn't much of a change from the WACO to them.

"I want you to try to head home to Jerusalem as soon as possible. We also have to discuss your betrothal."

"Betrothal, Ima?" She felt nauseous at once.

"Aquilina, chérie, I know you always say no, but it's time, daughter. We'll discuss it when you get home."

Her mother's tone told her she was done discussing the matter. But Aqui was not done...

She pulled the car over and pondered over the matter.

How am I ever going to get out of this?

She was okay with the military service. She even looked forward to it. But to be betrothed to a Prince... she had vowed she would never allow that. Because of what had happened in the past.

She knew it was a Prince because that had always been the plan.

Surely recently, she had thought she could allow that possibility... but it had been over a month, and she hadn't heard from that person.

So, as her Friendar app beeped with a new notification, she felt she had finally found her solution.

~

Back to Present

"I'll see you soon," Mike said to her as their driver—whom he had insisted on taking her—pulled away from the mansion.

She waved with a slight smile. The drive to their family's airstrip was a short one.

As she boarded, she thought back to Mike. She knew that he would hate the decision she had made, the step she had taken.

She took out the final document she had received.

His name was sweet, Angelo Valerius García. Though the surname reminded her of Javier, somehow she felt comfortable. Her spirit felt at peace with the decision she had made.

I'm married now. And I'm glad he's not a Prince. She smiled a bit at the thought.

She placed the document back. She knew it was only a matter of hours till the news reached Mike and the rest of her family.

But by the time the news would reach his office, hopefully, she would be out of the country.

Bordeaux, France, here I come.

————————

Hi, fam! I don't know how I feel about these. I had this in mind, maybe not this way completely, but yeah... But I don't feel very confident... Please let me know what you think. I hope it's not too confusing.

And, this is dedicated to Liszka_rose

Merci beaucoup. It's finally here. I hope you get my meaning. *Winks*

And fam, kindly try out her book, Tennis Girl. It's really awesome. Till next time, GOD willing.

Au Revoir,

Phela ❤️