<h4>Chapter 756: A life of your own</h4>
"Mom," Karmen said, pulling his mother into a warm embrace before turning to his father. "Dad."
While the servants moved his luggage upstairs, Norma immediately signaled the maids to bring refreshments. Her eyes were bright, searching her son’s face for the confirmation she had been waiting for.
"Is it true, dear?" she asked, a radiant smile spreading across her face.
"Let the man breathe first, Norma," Ramsey chuckled, though his own expression was full of anticipation.
Karmen picked up a ss of water from the silver tray and took a long sip before setting it back down. Once they were all settled on the living room couches, he finally looked at them and nodded. "Yes. I’m dating Aisha."
Norma and Ramsey traded a look of pure tion, as if they had just received the greatest news of their lives.
"Valentina was actually crying when she called me," Norma said, her own eyes brimming with tears of relief. "To think our children finally chose one another... I’m so happy, Karmen. It feels as though all my worries have vanished in a single moment."
"You were worried for nothing, Mom," Karmen said, leaning back. "I’ve spent years doing perfectly fine without a mate."
"Perhaps, but once you grow older and we are no longer by your side, that solitude starts to feel like a burden. You won’t truly understand that until muchter," Ramsey countered gently.
"I do understand, Dad. It’s just that my perspective on life might be a bit different from yours," Karmen affirmed.
"You and your endless philosophies," Gabriel’s voice rang out as he entered the room.
The shift in the room was instantaneous. Ramsey and Norma stood immediately, bowing their heads. "Your Highness!" they greeted him in unison.
"Please, Prince Gabriel, take a seat," Norma urged, gesturing toward the plush couch.
Gabriel sat, and the others followed his lead, though Norma remained on her feet to personally serve the refreshments.
Gabriel thanked Norma for the tea, taking a small, appreciative sip before resting the delicate cup back onto its saucer. He signaled to the pce valet, who stepped forward to hand him a heavy, gold-embossed envelope.
Rising to his feet with regal poise, Gabriel addressed Karmen’s parents. "The Alpha King and the Luna Queen have requested your presence at the pce to grace Katelyn’s wedding and offer her your blessings."
Ramsey stood immediately, epting the invitation with a humble, respectful nod. "It would be our honor. Please convey our deepest thanks to His and Her Majesty for thinking of us."
"I certainly will," Gabriel replied, his gaze falling on a tray of artisanal choctes Norma had set out. He picked one up, taking a bite as he prepared to depart. "I’ll be taking my leave now. I still have a few more invitations to deliver personally before the sun goes down."
He paused, ncing down at the half-eaten chocte in his hand with a faint, genuine smile. "This really is excellent," he murmured, before nodding to the family and heading toward the door.
Karmen followed him out to the driveway, intent on apanying the Prince as he always did.
"Go back inside and rest," Gabriel said, pausing with his hand on the car door. "Why would youe with me? You have a life of your own, Karmen, one that exists outside of being my Beta."
Karmen lowered his eyes as Gabriel ced a steady, grounding hand on his shoulder. It was a gesture of personal affection from the Alpha Prince, acknowledging the transition Karmen was making into a new Chapter of his life.
"This isn’t your work to do today," Gabriel added firmly. "I’m leaving now."
With a final nod, Gabriel settled into the back of the sleek ck car. Karmen watched from the pce steps as the vehicle pulled away, disappearing down the long, winding drive and leaving him alone with his thoughts of the uing dinner at Aisha’s ce.
~~~~
Dominick checked the address on his phone onest time, his gaze shifting to the window. Jeniva’s home was tucked away in the rugged, rolling hills that bordered the capital. This was entirely unfamiliar territory for him.
Adjusting his shades, he stepped out of the car. He carried arge, designer paper bag in one hand and a vibrant bouquet in the other. The climb was grueling; over three hundred stone steps wound upward before he finally reached a small, quiet park that served as the threshold to Jeniva’s property.
The afternoon was peaceful, with the neighborhood seemingly asleep under the warm sun. Dominick eventually came to a halt in front of a modest iron gate. He took a steadying breath, shifted the gifts to one arm, and pressed the doorbell.
The gate creaked open after a tense minute, but instead of Jeniva, an elderly woman peered out with a sharp, inquisitive squint.
"Who are you?" she asked, her gaze raking over his expensive suit and the oversized bouquet.
Dominick felt a flicker of confusion. "I’m here to see Miss Jeniva Moore," he replied, keeping his tone polite.
"She lives on the second floor," the woman grunted, stepping back to swing the gate wide.
"Thank you." Dominick gave her a respectful nod and followed the path toward the stairs she indicated. He climbed the final flight, adjusting the heavy paper bag in his grip. Just as he reached for the doorbell, the door swung inward with a sudden jerk.
Jeniva stood there, bracing two bulging trash bags against her hips. Her hair was pulled back in a messy knot, a few stray strands sticking to her forehead from the exertion of cleaning.
"Your Highness!" she gasped, her eyes widening in genuine shock. She looked down at her disheveled state and then back at the Prince, who was standing on her doorstep.
"Please,e in," she said hurriedly, dragging the trash bags to the side of the hallway to clear a path. "I’ll just throw these out and be right back. Then we can talk. You can make yourselffortable on the sofa!"
She didn’t wait for an answer, scurrying past him into the hall with the bags. Dominick stepped into the small, sunlit apartment, standing awkwardly in the center of the room with an expression of bewilderment.