Chapter 8. Arrival

His movements were loud, taking everyone’s attention as all of us looked at him.

“Am I interrupting something?” River asked, his voice low and teasing. “Can I join?”

“Sure.” My mom’s voice broke as she cleared her throat. “Sure. Please, take a seat.”

River sat across from me, then he took my hand and kissed the back of my palm.

“Hello, Princess.”

I only showed a weak smile in response, but at the same time, I felt so delighted. It was like my heart was singing hallelujah.

For the first time, someone acknowledged my presence without asking anything in return.

“Stop doing that, River,” my mom reprimanded, her voice low with authority. “Other people might get the wrong idea.”

“But you’re not other people, Mrs. Miller.” River’s lips curved into a smirk. “I’m sure that you understand that this is a tradition I couldn’t remove, not even when I’m in the States.”

Mom sighed.

She wanted to speak, but one warning glance from Dad and