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."

"But I told you that -"

He puts up a hand, begging me to stop. I hesitate but let my voice fade away.

"Ariel, it's your money 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 than like Luca.

"I still want it to go to the gym," I say, a little frustrated, looking at everyone now, not just my mate. "Those were my wishes!"

"And we'll help you do it," my dad says, nodding to me 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 should be, especially as you are a very wealthy young woman." He raises an eyebrow and nods at the page.

I look again at the...insane number at the top of it. "Is this..." I breathe, looking up at my dad again. "Is this seriously all mine?"

"That's just the money that's in your charitable account, Ariel," dad says, nodding to me. 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 a house, when and if you want one. Purchase...I don't know, whatever it is that you'd like to have. But this money," he says, tapping the page, "we hope that you will direct to help others."

My lips part slightly as I stare at my parents. Because, I mean, I've always known that we as a family were rich but...me myself? On my own? With millions, apparently?

"You're growing up, trouble," mom says, giving me a happy smile. "It's time for you to start making your own decisions."

I exhale slowly, suddenly feeling the weight of it. The absolute... freedom of it, but also the responsibility that comes with it. "Why now?" I ask, still a little stunned.

"Because," dad says, moving his eyes to Luca. "I imagine that Grant gym could use the infusion of the money. And if you'd still like it to go there, you should make some decisions about its allocation quite soon."

"Well, yes," I say, sitting up straighter, looking between Luca and dad. "Send it over. Send it now."

Luca purses his lips a little, turning his head to the side. "Ariel, if you allocate this money to the gym it makes you a major investor. You would have...significant say in the future of the organization."