The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0456

"We're here," dad says, pulling a chic pair of reading glasses out of his pocket and slipping them onto his nose, "to talk about Ariel's finances."

Mom and I both smirk and send each other a glance, because dad looks so cute in his reading glasses. Not that we'd ever say that to him - he's far too proud of the fact that he is otherwise a gigantic and terrifying Alpha King. But still, between us, we can admit that he's sometimes also adorable. Dad sends mom a rather withering glance, probably feeling some of her emotions down their mating bond, but otherwise says nothing.

"Are you aware, Ariel?" dad says, turning his attention on me. "Of the recent...influx of cash in your account? That came from the Grant organization?"

"What?" I whisper, glancing at Luca and then reaching for the paper. My eyes go wide when I see the...seriously insane number at the top of the page. "What...what the hell is all of this!?"

"The entire amount is not from the Grant estate," dad says, leaning forward and tugging on the page so that I lay it flat on the table. "Just this amount, here." He taps at a line at the top of the grid below the summarizing information - a ridiculous line that suggests that Luca has given me... "One...one and a half million dollars?" I whisper, turning to Luca with shock. "Luca, what the hell!?"

"It's from the magazine," Luca says, looking at me evenly. "Your dad...helped me see that it belongs rightly to you. It should never have happened, Ariel, and I'm sorry that it did."

I told

begging me to stop. I hesitate but let my voice

to do with as you wish," he says quietly, glancing at my dad as if in confirmation. I look between them, realizing that that does...well, it sounds more like my dad

go to the gym," I say, a little frustrated, looking

"But if you want the money to go there, you should direct and send it yourself - not ask Luca to do it for you. It's your money - you should know how it operates. I realize that...in attempting to

look again at the...insane number at the top of it. "Is this..." I

an account where your salary from the Academy is accruing. Accounts we've set up to secure your future - investments, cash reserves, etcetera. Money so that you can buy a house, when and if you want one. Purchase...I don't know, whatever it is that you'd like to

at my parents. Because, I mean, I've always known that we as

me a happy smile. "It's time for you to start making

it, but also the responsibility that