A Modern Day Fairy Tale

Chapter Thirty-Three

Disclaimer: All characters are not mine. No copyright infringement was intended. Thank you to Stephenie Meyer for creating Edward and Bella for our enjoyment. I just like playing with them, making them my own ... even for just a little while.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Masen

Charlie and Linda were preparing to head back to the states. He had a doctor's appointment at the end of the week with his neurologist. My parents made arrangements for their departure. Alice was being detained in the cells beneath the palace. She was on day three of her interrogation. She adamantly refused to answer questions, only saying that she didn't do a damn thing wrong.

The bug in the bathroom on New Year's Eve said another thing. As did her accomplice, who was being deported and exiled from Gevalia. Alice was going down.

She would not terrorize my girlfriend anymore.

Bella was over her sister's bullshit and was getting angry that Alice was denying any wrongdoing. So, I was going to take my girl on a short trip in Europe before returning to the United States. We were going to Paris for a couple of days before spending time in Spain. Bella always wanted to go to Paris and see the Eiffel Tower, Mona Lisa and Notre Dame. I'd been to Spain on holiday and loved its romantic feel.

I wanted to woo my girl; sweep her off her feet and by giving her the world, I'd do just that.

With my mother's blessing, I made the arrangements for three days in Paris and three more days in Barcelona before flying back to New York City. I had a few more official actions to complete as a diplomat before my return to Gevalia for the Gevalian Independence Day celebrations at the end of February. I was hopeful that when I returned, I'd have a new fiancée and Bella would become my queen, my wife, my partner.

I'd finished designing her engagement ring and it was nearly complete, using the diamonds from my grandmother's engagement ring. It was an eclectic blend of an old-world style, with a modern, contemporary twist.

"Masen, I'm going to the airport with my dad and Linda," Bella said. She was adorably dressed in a white puffy winter coat. Her brown curls were hidden underneath a blue hat, with a coordinating scarf and gloves. "I just want to see them off. I haven't been away from my dad since his diagnosis. I'm ... worried."

"Bella, Linda loves your dad," I said, pulling her into my arms. "She'll take care of him, cherie."

"It's not that," she shrugged, her hands resting on my chest. "It's my dad and his stress over my sister and her bullshit. It's the renovations of the bakery. It's ... I feel like I'm letting him down, Masen. I've been at every single one of his doctor's appointments, save for the one where he was told that he had Parkinson's. Once I found out about his diagnosis, I came back home and you know the rest. I just want to ... I want to see him off."

"You're not letting him down, Bella," I murmured, brushing my lips over her forehead. "It was Charlie who suggested we extend our stay in Europe. He knows that you've been working nonstop since coming back from Connecticut after his diagnosis. I made the arrangements for our vacation." I cupped her cheek, staring into her chocolate-colored eyes. "Now, go say goodbye to your dad. I love you, Bella."

"I love you, too, Masen," she smiled, kissing me tenderly. She met up with Felix, who had parked the Range Rover outside of Masen Manor. My bodyguard and valet gave me nod as he got into the driver's seat, pulling away on the gravel driveway.

When she was gone, I walked to the palace through the gardens and made my way down to the cells where Alice was being held for questioning. I made my way through the twisting maze of hallways to the interrogation room. My mother was leaning against the wall, glowering at Alice as she was snoozing on the small cot inside. "She's sleeping?" I asked, leaning down to kiss my mother's cheek.