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 you that

me to stop. I hesitate but let my voice fade

quietly, glancing at my dad as if in confirmation. I look

say, a little frustrated, looking at everyone now, not just my mate. "Those

evenly. "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 make things easy for you, Ariel, I've perhaps raised you to be less experienced with money than you

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

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

always known that we as a family were rich but...me myself? On my own?

growing up, trouble," mom says, giving me a happy smile.

of it. The absolute... freedom of it, but also the responsibility that comes