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."

told

begging me to stop. I hesitate

glancing at my dad as if in confirmation. I look between them, realizing that that

the gym," I say, a little frustrated, looking at everyone

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 make things easy for you, Ariel, I've perhaps

at the...insane number at the top of it. "Is this..." I breathe, looking up at

Mom works hard to fight her smile, though she's clearly very pleased to be able to give me the life and resources she never had. "There's more in other accounts for you - 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

I mean, I've always known that we as a family were rich but...me myself?

smile. "It's time for you to start making your own

the weight of it. The absolute... freedom of it, but also the responsibility that comes with it. "Why now?" I ask,