Unfortunately, all vacations must come to an end, and the group flew home to Nisia on different schedules.

Back in Nisia, a swarm of reporters camped in the airport, waiting for Maxen's arrival. Cameras flashed, and from afar it looked as though there was a lightning show in the arrival zone of the airport.

Strutting out of the floor to ceiling glass doors was a face that could be seen in every household item. 

Her doll-like eyes and s.e.xy plump lips, white as snow skin, long slender legs were the envy of many.

With every sway of her hip as she owned her every step, the bells on her bracelet jiggle and ring.

"Fiona!"

"How was your vacation in London?"

"Fiona!"

"Are you the girl in the photo with Prince Maxen?"

Fiona Chung halted in her tracks. Photo? With Maxen? She did a quick calculation in her head. Her gut told her it should be Olivia in the photo. 

Oh well. There was nothing wrong in getting a little welcome back buzz to her name, right?

She thought she need not say a word. All she had to do was be mysterious enough to pique everyone's interest.

So she peeled her eyeglasses off her eyes and rested it on top of her head, winking at the reporters and sending them a flying kiss.

Hours later, Maxen's jet arrived first, and to his shock, a buzzing swarm of news crews welcomed him in the airport.

"Your Highness!"

"Prince Maxen!"

Cameras flashed, and a sea of microphones swayed in the air. Every reporter vied for Maxen's attention, in the hopes of getting the latest scope of the day.

"Is it true, Your Highness? Is the lucky lady in the photo in your recent trip to London Fiona Chung?"

Maxen scratched the skin above his eyebrow. Fiona Chung? He wondered why out of all the names they could associate him with, they pick Fiona Chung as the mystery lady in the photo.

Should he deny it? Should he ignore the question? What if Olivia sees the broadsheet? He knew the mere mention of the bell or Fiona struck a chord in Olivia.

Maxen squared his shoulders, smiling at the journalist. "No, I am not dating her," Maxen denied. That answer should do it for now. 

As much as he wanted to tell the world about Olivia, he made a promise that their relationship would be under wraps until she tied all her loose ends at work.

After all, her line of work isn't just a simple business but revolves around the management of powerful companies. 

The thought of a royal marrying someone who held a leash on Fortune 500 companies wouldn't sit well, not just with the parliament, but with some private individuals as well. 

Who would want for a sovereign to hold so much leverage in their hands? Nobody. 

Maxen was about to board the waiting car when the same reporter dangled a photo. It was Maxen and Fiona walking side by side towards Rockaway Tower's lobby with their backs facing the camera.

Maxen couldn't deny the validity of the photo. His golden mane alone gave away that it was him. He wanted to scream a curse at the top of his lungs, but couldn't. This was obviously taken months before he met Olivia.

He felt a hand wrap around his neck as a ghost of his past suffocated him. However, his face didn't show any of his discomfort.

"How about this, Prince Maxen? This photo screams 'out on a date' to me," the same journalist probed, taunting Maxen to fish a juicy reply. 

After Fiona's vague reply earlier, she dug up old photos of Fiona, and lucky for her, she found it in her file.

Other reporters agreed with their colleague, nodding their heads but never uttering any words to wait and listen to what Maxen has to say.

Maxen scratched the skin above his eyebrows. He could say he owned a unit in that building, but Fiona used to live in that building too. Saying so would only fan the flames, and who knows how the media would exaggerate the story?

Who knows what photos they could dig up later? He had to divert their attention somewhere somehow, so his team could do damage control later and beat the reporters up from unearthing dirt that would soil the royal family's name.

Not that there were alot of those incrementing photos lying around anyway. He was sure as heck that his communications secretary had taken cared of his every indiscretion in the past.

Looking at the reporters, Maxen's blue as a clear sky momentarily darkened like the Cerulean Sea. His stare was enough to pierce the hyenas one by one in front of him into silence.

"Don't forget to show your support for the Hope Gala this week!" With that, Maxen gave the swarm of reporters a salute before boarding the car.

Dialing Oliver's number, the call connected right away.

"Missed me, Brother?" Oliver mocked.

A corner of Maxen's lips twitched at the arrogance of Oliver. He wanted to counterattack and say a few words but he knew he had to dive into the purpose of his call.

"I'll send in a few people for your arrival. The airport is packed with reporters. I'm sure they're waiting for your arrival too," Maxen said in a calm tone.

But that's the thing. The calmer Maxen was, the scarier he was, and Oliver knew it. 

"Is it about the photo?" Oliver asked.

Maxen could hear the scuffle in the background. He thought Oliver must be going somewhere private where their call won't be heard by the ladies.

"Yes." Maxen gulped. He didn't want to divulge further details, knowing how Oliver would react to it.

"And what about it?" Oliver probed.

"They're linking it back to Fiona."

"Oh, how f.u.c.k.e.d you are right now, Brother. What if Fiona would take advantage of that photo? Say you had a fling with her?"

"That's all in the past, Oliver."

"It was in the past, and it should be left in the past, but it clearly is not," Oliver huffed, blowing out all of his steam. When his head cooled and cleared, he finally felt sympathetic to Maxen. Nobody wanted to see their skeletons in the closet. "Okay. I will huddle the group and give them a heads-up, but you know what to do on your end."

Maxen's jaw ticked. He was out of words to say because his mind was busy thinking of solutions for the hurdle he was facing. He quickly bid goodbye to Oliver and closed his eyes for a second. 

They were supposed to announce his engagement with Olivia that week, but now, an old photo of him and Fiona surfaced.

Although that photo didn't matter to him, and he already denied having a relationship with Fiona, a single photo was enough to stir trouble and put his relationship with Olivia in a bad light.