Vincent led Risa down the hall to the other side where Rosenberg's private box was located. It seemed to take forever to weave between the gathering of people in their clusters. They had to go to the other side of the opera house to reach the box. They had at least an hour until the next showing of the opera. He had respect for the actors and actresses that spend hours doing the same show over and over again.

He was glad Risa had been wearing gloves or else she would be feeling his sweaty hands. With every step he grew more nervous, the knot in his stomach grew tighter and he kept swallowing to not throw up. He didn't know why but he knew he had a bad feeling about this. He normally didn't have bad feelings but this, something bad would happen, he just knew it.

Risa followed, tilting her head at his briskly as he was walking. He was walking too fast and she was having trouble keeping up, especially since this was her first time in heels. "Vincent, slow down and you are squeezing my hand a little too tight." She stopped in her tracks and her hand slipped from his due to how sweaty his palm was. "Gross." She wiped it on his jacket.

Vincent blinked a few times, stopping and turning towards her. "Oh, sorry. I wasn't paying much attention. I will walk slowly and since my palms are sweaty, just walk beside me?" He wiped his own hands on his pants. He pivoted and began to walk a hair slower than he had, making sure Risa could keep up with him. He had been so focused on the knot that he had forgotten his fast pace.

Risa hadn't taken notice of his sweaty hands due to her silk gloves. But now they do seem to be a little wet. She pulled them off, finger my finger then the whole glove, and tucked them into her small purse. "Alright." She said as she began to follow him to where the door was. Something was up with him, she knew it because he had never acted this way before.

Vincent stopped in front of the door and turned to Risa. He needed to feel out the room first before he beckoned her to come in. "Stay here and wait for me to call you in, alright? You can listen to everything if you wish but don't come in unless I say so." He said, knocking on the door and hearing a come-in from Stella. 

He pushed open the door after taking a very long deep breath and walked in, letting it close on its own. However, without help, it stayed open a few inches and that made it easy for Risa to listen and watch. His heart was beating rapidly in his chest, he was so sure that it could be heard. He had never been this nervous before, it was a new feeling that made him uneasy.

He bowed to them knowing that was what he needed to do since they still were royals. This was the first time he was before royalty. He had never been in the presence of royalty before. Well, if Risa turns out to be Clarissa, then that wasn't necessarily true. "Your royal highnesses." He didn't know if that was a thing or not. He couldn't recall what he needed to call them so that would have to be done for now.

Stella smiled as she brushed past Vincent, leaning close to his ear. "Remember what I said." She whispered to him before looking at her sister and brother-in-law. "I will see you tomorrow. Rolando is waiting for me." She said and left the room, smiling at Risa before going to find the love of her life. She hoped things would go well and she was sad she had to leave, but she couldn't let Rolando just wait around for her.

Nathan eyed the boy up and down. So this was Vincent, the con-artist and troublemaker. The boy Stella had spoken wished to come by and say or give something to them. "Oh, hello you must be Vincent, Stella has said you were coming. What may I do for you?" He asked, sitting up in a chair up against the wall in the open space behind the chairs overlooking the room.

Vincent tugged at his collar, why was this harder than before? He had been so confident the whole way here! Of course, it was saying Risa was their daughter just for the money but he didn't want to know. "I, I come bearing something you had lost a very long time ago." His voice cracked, which never happened, not even during puberty. He was truly nervous.

Nathan raised an eyebrow at what he had said. He had something for them? He wondered what it could be. Could it be another person trying to pass off a random girl as their daughter? "Oh? What makes you think you have our daughter?" He unbuttoned one button on his tuxedo jacket as he assumed that was why the boy was here. To show them another girl that could be their daughter.

Vincent was taken back a bit. Oh dear, that was not what he wished him to say. He glanced at the door out of the corner of his eye and shook his head. "No, no, it isn't about that. It's about Persia's locket, the heart one? That you wore in that painting in the palace when you were younger." He fumbled trying to get the gold piece of jewelry from his pocket.

Persia rose from her chair. She was at a loss for words with what he had said. She placed her hand on her neck right where the locket would have rested. "You found my locket? I thought I had lost it all these years. How . . . how did you find it?" She asked, puzzled at how he found it and not someone else. 

Vincent pulled it from his pocket and held it out to Persia. "I found it just not too far from the canal, where you guys had escaped from. I must admit I wasn't there for good reasons, only to steal a car. Which I didn't because Rolando stopped me before I could. Stella told us what happened, your secret is safe with me." He quickly added not wanting to make things worse.

He quickly continued not leaving any room for them to speak. "I will admit, I only kept it to pawn it for money later. It wasn't until later that I knew that was wrong, Rolando helped me see that. I needed to return it to its rightful owner. It is some of many things you had lost that day." He said gently, feeling a bead of sweat roll down his back.

Persia took the locket from his hand and held it in her palm. She gave a soft smile and opened it up with no trouble. "Oh," Her voice was sad and her eyes seemed to mirror her voice. "I, I forgot this picture was here." She murmured seeing the small black and white picture of a young Clarissa and Cyrene sitting together and the other side was her and Nathan when they were younger.

She looked up at him as she placed the locket around her neck like the old times. "Thank you. It means a lot you found something from so long ago. I never paid much mind to have lost the locket since it was minuscule to losing our daughter." She frowned. Losing her daughter was the worst thing that could ever happen to her. Losing the locket or the palace, that didn't matter to her. They could be replaced.

Vincent rubbed the back of his neck as he watched Perisa. She was so kind. Her voice was so soft. She was everything Rolando had said she was. "I do apologize if I have brought up many emotions. It was never my intention." He made a clear feeling like their eyes looking at him were burning holes through his body.

Persia gave a small laugh, shaking her head and sitting back down. "Please do not apologize. It is a happy memory. Even if it wasn't your intention, I am just happy one thing was returned to us. It just reminds me that all things are possible, what was lost can be found again." She smiled, placing her hand over the locket resting on her chest.

Vincent then heard a noise from Risa which made him jump a little bit. "Oh, right. I have someone who would like to meet you, she has been waiting for the whole opera for this moment." He motioned for Risa to come into the room and stood beside him. He could tell she was all bright and starry-eyed.

Nathan cut him off and that made Risa stop dead in her tracks. "I know what this is." He figured he, like the many others who brought gifts, was trying to butter them up so he could say they found their daughter. It was the same thing over and over. Always about the money. He disagreed with his parents for offering an award.

Vincent looked nervous and scared, this was what Stella had warned him about. He had no intentions of doing any such thing now. "You, you do?" He paused his brain going all scrambled like eggs in a pan at what Nathan had just said to him. "I, I am sure you are mistaken -" He knew what he was getting at. Stella had warned him this could happen, but he didn't think it would happen this early.

Nathan pursed his lips, swirling around the iced water in his glass.  "You are the boy Rolando raised, so you think you have found our long-lost daughter? That this locket being returned was just a way for us to go soft on you?" He was accusing him without any proof but he was at the end of his rope with meeting girls.

Persia gave her husband a shocked look then it turned into a 'seriously' glare with narrow eyes. She didn't even have to speak a word and it seemed he didn't care. How could he just accuse this boy of such a thing, when that wasn't the case. "Nathan -" She was cut off by her husband who was going off on one of his tangents.

Nathan continued without letting Vincent say a word and ignoring his wife's glare. "Don't think you can say you've found our daughter because you know Rolando who knows us. That is why you came, isn't it?" He asked, setting the glass down on the silver tray, resting his ankle on his knee.

Vincent had to do a double-take. Was he implying he was introducing Risa so he could claim she was his daughter? He just couldn't believe this was happening. "No, no that is not -'' He was cut off yet again by Nathan. It seemed like he couldn't answer him even if he asked him questions. It wasn't getting a word in edgewise.

Nathan scoffed looking up at the ceiling for a few moments then looking back at Vincent. Of course, trying to play it off is not that. How typical. "You can't fool us like many other people have tried to do. The heartache of getting our hopes up only to have them crash down around us." He jabbed his index finger at the boy in the air.

He shook his head with a deep frown on his lips. "For months we have been at this and my family, nor can I take it anymore. There are no honest or trustworthy people in this world, just con artists who feed on money." He spoke coldly, his eyes narrowing at the boy before him. He was hurt by all he had to endure. That was for sure.

He then gripped the armrest on his chair as he rose to his feet. "You are only doing it for the reward money, right? This is why I told my parents not to put a reward out. It would attract all sorts of people wanting the money and not caring about how we feel about them not being our daughter." He glanced at his father who said nothing and opened back up the opera brochure.

Vincent let a small gasp come from his lips, well, it was more of a wheeze than anything. He couldn't believe he was going off on this. Did he have to go down this road and make assumptions? "No, I am not - well at first it crossed my mind and was the whole reason I allowed her to come along -" He was trying to get honest, yet he didn't get a chance to finish his sentence.

Nathan nodded his head, his eyebrows and eyes widening as he rolled his eyes  "Oh, so you do admit that is why you came here tonight to meet us? To introduce whatever girl you found to pretend is our daughter for money." He had a cold tone in his voice, he talked down to him as if he was nothing.

Vincent shivered, his voice was so cold, so angry, not what he had anticipated happening. "No, no, that is not why - if you will just let me explain - I came to return the locket and for Risa, the girl behind the door, to meet and gush about you." He tried to explain to them by looking between all those in the room. "I decided I couldn't do that to you. It wasn't right. No matter how much I wanted the money, I could do that to you. Please believe me." He begged, truly being honest

Nathan put his hand up to stop Cyrene from saying a word so he could be the one to only speak about what was going on. He knew his daughter would insist on hearing him out but he wouldn't have it. "I don't believe you, Vincent. For all, we know she is with you on your little scheme to con us and get yourself the money." He took a sip from his drink and eyed Vincent. "You told her what to gush about so it will make us soft and let us open our hearts. We are not that stupid, and most of what is said is basic common knowledge." He said, setting down the glass.

Vincent shook his head, this was not what was happening. She wasn't in on it and he was not behind the scheme since there was no scheme! "No, she isn't. I could care less about the money. Can you just meet her so she can say what she wishes? I promise she isn't going along with me - I never had the intention tonight to con you. She didn't even know my plans, I was sick the whole show and knew I couldn't do it to you."

Nathan put his hand up to stop the boy from speaking to any father. "I do not want to hear any more from you. Leave now before I have my guards throw you out." He demanded pointing towards the door with narrow eyes. If his glare could kill, Vincent would have died a thousand times over.

Vincent didn't even say another word. He knew he was never going to explain his side. If Stella was there things would have gone a little differently. He couldn't believe that it had happened how it did. Why did this night have to turn out like this? Now he needed to explain to Risa about what she had heard.

He rushed out of the door and grabbed Risa's arm pulling her a few inches. He knew that she had heard everything and he needed to explain things. "I have some bad news -"  He began to explain when he realized she had heard the whole thing. Her face showed how hurt she was by what she heard.

Risa was hurt. It was like a knife in her heart that was ripped down making a nasty bloody gash. Hearing him try to worm his way out after having admitted he wanted the money. "You lied! You lied to me! You just did it so you could have the money! All I was worth to you was money. You didn't truly want me to come to gush about them, you wanted money!" She yelled at him furious.

Vincent shook his hands at what she was saying. Oh dear, not Risa too. She was blowing everything out of proportion as well. "No, Risa, that is not why -" He tried to explain to her that this wasn't his plan. He decided against doing it for the money because it wasn't fair to either of them. 

Risa placed her hands on her hips, giving him an 'unbelievable' look. Did he believe she would believe that? As if. She didn't believe a word he said. "Oh really? I heard everything you said and all Nathan had said. What he said made a whole lot of sense! You lied to me about why you were letting me meet them!" 

Vincent blinked, he was stunned by what he said made sense. It was far from the truth to a certain extent, yes. "Wait, I didn't lie. I truly wanted you to gush about them and meet them. The whole opera I had been in a battle with my feelings on what to do. I chose not to go with my original plan, it wasn't fair to either of you." He explained to her making various hand gestures.

Risa threw her hands up in the air, getting odd looks from everyone around them. "Oh wow, just tonight you decided not to use me to get money and con the Rosenberg's to give you money so what? You can be rich. So, I was just your ticket to get rich. Wow. Just unbelievable." She asked, her voice laced with hurt and sarcasm.

She didn't even take a breath as she kept on getting upset at him. "All I wanted to do was find my family, that was the whole reason I came to Paris with you guys. I didn't ask to be a part of your con. You are just like your father! Rolando told me when I asked why you were so touchy about 'family' being brought up." Some things were hereditary. 

Vincent sighed and gave her a rather broken-hearted look. "I was just like my father. It hasn't been but a few years since I found out about my birth parents and his nature has always been a part of me. But it isn't who I want to be -" She wasn't going to listen to him, why was he even bothering trying.

Risa truly didn't believe him. "Oh save it for someone who cares because I surely don't. I can't believe anything you said now. It's all lies. Every word will always be a lie. You are nothing but a liar and will never change." She regretted even agreeing to meet them and believing he could change.

Vincent was taken back, his face was painted with a shocked expression. Did she believe that? "That is not true. Back during the intermission, I was being honest about my feelings. That wasn't a lie and not everything I said was lies either." He was trying to turn over a new leaf.

Risa backed away from him and shook her head, putting her hands up in front of her. "No! I don't want to listen! I've listened enough to you to last me a lifetime! Just leave me alone, please, just leave me alone." She closed her eyes and pivoted running down the hall.

Vincent was stunned this happened. She was running away. She was upset with him for his words that were taken way out of proportion. "Risa! Risa, wait!" He called as he pushed his way through the crowds of people, who were stunned at what was going on. "Please, Risa, don't go, I, I still want to explain! I wasn't done, will you wait for me!"

Risa began to let tears fall from her eyes at his voice. She just couldn't physically deal with him anymore. She felt betrayed. She had never had someone treat her like he did. Then pass it off as he had a change of heart? People didn't change that quickly. "Leave me alone, Vincent. Just leave me alone. I can't do this anymore and I don't ever want to see you." She sobbed pushing past people as she headed for the door.

She needed to get out and get some fresh air. It seemed the walls were closing in on her. It felt as if someone had cut the oxygen seeing as she was struggling to breathe while she sobbed as she ran. She picked up the front of her dress to make it easier to run. She needed to get out of this place. There were many people around. She needed to be alone. 

Vincent got caught in a crowd of people as he followed her and when he made it out Risa was gone. He was breathing heavily as he turned in all directions, trying to see if he could find her. "Risa!"  He called out with wide eyes wondering where she could have gone.

He knew he messed up big time. How was he going to make it up to her? How would he tell Rolando and Stella? How would they take it? And many more questions that raced through his mind and that made him dizzy. He placed his hand on his forehead and closed his eyes.

Then he thought back and he realized that he was just like his father. Lying and misleading people. Yes, he had only recently found out that his father was a con and was in jail in Paris. It never hit him; he was ending up like him, of course, many things never hit him.

He gently sighed and hung his head down, knowing what he had to do next, find Rolando and Stella and tell them what had happened. He would need their help and guidance on what to do next. After all, they knew what to do and how to help the situation. He hoped they didn't react like Risa or Nathan.

Meanwhile, Risa pulled her coat over her arms as she ran down the foot-printed snowy street. She had a steady stream of tears running down her face, which felt freezing against the wind. She knew where the hotel was located and she had to get there and be alone.
    
She ran up the steps to the hotel, throwing open the door. She was so close to falling apart in the comfort of her room. She ran up the steps and around the corners, paying no mind to how many she had to climb. She ran down the hall to her room, she unlocked the door and pushed it open. She slammed the door behind her and leaned against it sniffling.

Loyal woke up from Risa slamming the door. She sat up and looked at the girl, she seemed to have been crying. "What is wrong with Risa?" She whined pawing at the bed. She knew something had happened to her, she just didn't know what.

Risa looked at her dear little puppy and broke down  "Oh, Loyal -" She started as she walked over to the bed laid down on her side.  "Vincent lied to me. His motives were all lies. Everything was a lie. I was so foolish to believe him. He only wanted me for the money. He was going to con a heartbroken family for money." She expressed getting it all out.

She pulled Loyal up close to her chest, pressing a kiss into her head, who Loyal in return licked her face. "The opera was great, but everything that was after was awful. I never want to see Vincent's face ever again. How could he think using me to con them into getting the reward money was okay?"

She laid there for a bit, just resting in the silence and holding Loyal close to her. She sat up and set her dog on the pillow yawning. "I better get ready for bed in case I end up falling asleep." She mused getting off the bed. She knew she was exhausted from all the crying and the business of the day. If she were to lay there any longer she would drift off to sleep.

She walked over to the drawers, opening the top one up, she pulled a pair of purple silk pajama top and bottom. She slipped them on and took her hair down after she washed her face taking off her makeup. Her eyes were still puffy and red, her nose was also just as red, a mix from the cold and her crying. "I look like a mess. This is why I should have never trusted him and gone with Rolando and Stella, I shouldn't have gone." She sighed.

She turned around and went into the little bathroom off to the side. She began to brush her teeth, closing her eyes and trying to get the thoughts to stop. 'You knew this could happen.' 'You shouldn't have trusted Vincent. He has always wanted money and nothing more.' 'He was only trying to save his skin by what he said.' And many more things were going through her head.

She walked back into the bedroom and got under her covers. She said with her back against the headboard. "I'll still stay in Paris. I'll talk things over with Stella and Rolando. I just don't know how I am going to pass the next few days until we see the clockmaker." She sighed.

Loyal stretched out and laid down on the soft and fluffy silk pillow. "It's okay. I wish I could have told you to save you from this hurt." She whimpered, nuzzling her hand with a small soft bark to make her feel better. She wanted to help make her feel better and she knew that cuddling up to her would help.

Risa smiled at her dog. She always made her feel better. "This is why animals are ten times better than people. They care about you, never hurt you, and are naturally good. They love you unconditionally." She bent down and kissed her head. She was blessed to have her dog with her. She knew she couldn't have endured all this without Loyal beside her.

She was so torn up she wanted to forget what happened for the rest of the night and maybe a little bit of sleep would do it. She laid down and closed her eyes, after turning off the lights. "Sleep well, Loyal." She whispered drifting off into sleep. With all that had happened, she just wanted to forget it all.

❅~❅~❅~❅~❅~❅~❅~❅~❅~❅~❅

A/N:
Finally done with another chapter the day after I finished the previous chapter! I am on a roll and I couldn't be more proud of myself. November is the month to get as much as I can write up for this book and I plan on accomplishment!

Chapter talk:
Whoop, so I had to change a lot of what was said. I had it going in a whole nother way and I thought it would be better if Nathan was taking things out if portion than Vincent himself digging his own grave since he had a change of heart.

Poor Vincent, sometimes even when we have a change of heart or own up to our mistakes people don't take kindly do it. I it can attest to that, it isn't a fun feeling and in the end no matter how much you apologize, even if you did nothing, there is nothing that can be done.

Stella was right Nathan did take everything out of contest and that got Risa hurt even if that wasn't Vincent's intentions.

And lastly, anything else I forgot to ask away my pals. I am happy to answer anything!

In closing, all rude, impolite and mean comments will be replied to in a diplomatic way, reported or deleted if I feel like it is attacking me personally.

Thanks for reading!