"Surprise!" A little voice calls out. I instantly stands from my seat rushing to my little one covering her protectly before Zara sees her. But surely, Zara might have already seen her face.

"What are you doing here? I have told you that you can't enter my room like that when I am in a meeting." I snaps at the little girl. Her face suddenly becomes gloomy.

"I wanted to surprise you." She says in a sad voice.

"Who is this beautiful girl?" A voice which I didn't want to hear right now calls out. Hope tilts her head so she can see the person who called her beautiful. She confusely smiles at Zara.

In a low voice Hope asks me. "Mama... Who is she?"

'Your Aunt' - I wanted to say but I couldn't. I would have happily said that if Asher didn't break my heart or Zara didn't want my baby dead. Zara doesn't deserve to know about Hope and it would be best if Hope don't know her as well.

The door opens before I can reply to my innocent child's question. Will walks in surprised to see Zara in the room. I gesture him with my eyes to take Hope far away from here. Will, who understands the situation handles the problem.

"Hey kiddo. Why are you here early? Come on, let's go have some chocolate I brought for you."

"Wait, I want to show Mama this. Look mama I drew a picture of us and got an A+ ." She takes out a potrait from her bag pack and showed me. It was a picture of a little girl with her family in front of a house. Hope was a great artist even for her age and she got her father's gene on that talent. I know Zara is seeing everything. I know I am caught in my lie but there is no turning back now. I could still lie saying Hope is not my real daughter or that she is Will's but I won't destroy my daughter's happiness by playing in front of Zara. I will handle that later but my first preference is always my little one.

"Look at that. I am so proud of you. My girl is really talented. Come on tell me what do you want for your achievement?"

"Hmm... I need more paint and today we will eat dinner outside."

"Anything you want. It's your day."

"Come on Kiddo. Let's play in my office. I have a new set of puzzles for you."

"Really Papi? What are you waiting for then? Let's go." Hope walks away with Will. Relief wash over me as my daughter is no more in the same room with the person who tried to kill her. Now, I need to face the reality. I need to make my explanation. I slowly turns to face Zara. She sits in her place white as ghost. She is sweating and tears were forming in her eyes.

"So it's truth."

"What's true?"

"She's alive."

"I don't know what you are talking about."

"Please Hazel... I had to bury my own soul for the last eight years over and over for nothing. She is alive. I am not a murderer." Her whole face looked pale and shocked as truth started sinking in.

"Is that why you look like that because you couldn't manage to kill my baby."

"Why? Why? Why did you hide this from me? Why didn't you say anything for the last eight years?"

"Say what?"

"That she is alive. Asher has a daughter, Hazel. He isn't even aware of that."

"Who said she is his?"

"Don't consider me a fool. She looks just like her father. She is Asher's blood and I... I am her aunt."

"A aunt who wanted to kill her before she was even born?"

"I didn't want that Hazel. I was angry and my words came out as an impulse. I was scared for both of your future because I thought Asher will hurt you even more. You were only eighteen, Hazel. I only thought good for you but I was wrong."

"Does it matter anymore?"

"It matters to me a lot, Hazel. I lost eight years with her because of my mistakes. And Asher... Asher is still struggling by losing you. When he knew about the baby, he broke the last attachment he had with me. He struggles alone, Hazel."

"What about me, Zara? I brought her up alone. I made a future for her alone. I made my wealth, my fortune... The entire Amstrong corporation for her. I even gave a name for her so that no one will say that she don't belong anywhere."

"You did Hazel... You are wonderful mother for sure but Asher deserves to know atleast about her."

"Don't you dare say anything to him."

"I could have said to him when I knew about it. But I came to you, Hazel. I won't tell him the truth. But you can."

"You knew about her before." I ask surprised. She nods. "Who told you?"

"Does it matter anymore."

"I will never tell your brother about her."

"How long can you hide her? Do you think that Asher will never find about her?"

"As long as it can. I can't destroy my daugter's happiness for Asher. She doesn't know about him. When time comes, I will tell her everything but Asher don't deserve her."

"Only time will tell."

I scowl at her. Time gave me everything I have today but Asher won't have it from me again.

"Can I see her?" She asks.

"No."

"Please Hazel, I beg you. I just want to know her. I may not deserve it but can I atleast see her from far."

"You can't say anything about you to her. You are just an old friend visiting me. You are not her aunt. You can't ask her much too, understood?"

"Does this mean you are forgiving me?"

"No, This is only because you didn't tell Asher anything. Consider this my charity for you." My words hurt her at the right place. She follows me shortly to Will's Office.

I knock twice.

"Come in." Will calls us in.

Hope is sitting on the visitor sofa at the end of the office. Will look puzzled seeing Zara with me in his office.

"Hazel, Do you need anything?" Will asks. Hope look up to see me and Zara walking into the office.

"Mama, Do you know how to solve this last puzzle?" Hope asks me.

I sit next to her holding her in front of me and fixed the last puzzle. Hope smiles happily and kisses me. She then focus her attention to Zara looking at her emotionally.

"Hi beautiful aunty. Are you Mama's friend?" Zara nods and come closer to us. I pulled Hope more into my arms trying to protect her.

"What is your name?"

"My name is Hope Amstrong."

"That's a beautiful name for a beautiful girl."

"Thank you. What is your name?"

"I am Zara Amira."

"You have a beautiful name and is beautiful like a princess jasmine. Are you from agrabah like her?"

"I am not from agrabah but I am from united arab emarites. We are arab like princess jasmine. Do you like Alauddin?"

"I don't like Alauddin when he is stealing but I loved him because he let his last wish to free the ginnie. I love princess jasmine very much."

"Wow. You are very smart. How come you knew what my nationality is?"

"You have a funny accent and you have big eyes like princess jasmine. Your name is also very unique. You are also wearing a scarf around your neck that means you might be a muslim. What does Amira means?"

"Wow, you are a little smart girl, aren't you? Amira means princess. My mother named it after her mother."

"Wow. So you are really a princess?"

"Yes, my mother's great grandfather's brother's son is the king of UAE. That will make me a princess too."

"Wow. I knew you might be a princess when I first saw you. Do you have tiger and camel pets?"

"I don't but some in my country do."

"Where do you live in Arabia?"

"It's a city called Dubai with the tallest building in the world. Have you heard about it?"

"No, but I will read about it now." Hope runs to Will's desk and starts to type in his Mac.

"She is a really good girl, Hazel. You are a great mother." Zara say in low voice.

"I don't need your certificate to know that." I say rudely. Her face whither at my words.

"Found it. Wow, this looks amazing. Look Papi." She excitedly show Will what she found out at net.

"Does she know about her real father?" Zara ask me in low voice. My eyes shot in her direction to shut her up.

"Her father is Will and it will be like that for a long time."

"But..."

"No, she is very smart and maybe she will find out that Will is not really her father one day. But now she loves him very much and he loves her too. Until she finds out herself, I won't let anything break his or her heart. Do you understand?" I warn her in whisper.

"What are you both shushing about?" Hope ask.

"Nothing baby, we were talking about your birthday." I blurted.

"Oh really, Aunt Zara... Will you come to my birthday party?" Hope asks Zara. I suddenly understood my foolish response. Now I need to see Zara again.

"Oh, Zara can't come baby."

"Why not?" Hope say in sad tone. "I wanted to show my friends that I know a real life princess."

"No, I can come. When is the birthday again?"

"June 21st. Will you be there?"

"Of course princess. I would love to be there."

"Awesome. I will tell my friends that I have an aunt from Arabia just like princess jasmine from Aladdin but you look like ariel with your blue eyes just like mine."

"You like disney princesses?"

"Yes, I love them but I love little mermaid more. She can swim in ocean. She looks so beautiful."

"I think you look beautiful than her."

Hope blushes like tomoto with a shy smile.

"How do you know mama?" She asks.

"She is my old friend from school."

"Oh, Are you also from Grace Central?"

"You know about Grace Central?"

"Yes. Yes. Mama tells me gracean stories. I know all about Grace and her friends." She thought for a moment and turn to ask me. "Mama, Is she the princess from Arabia you use to tell me about?"

Zara look at me puzzled. I stay silent because I didn't have words.

"Yesss... I have a new friend. She is a princess from Arabia. I have a princess friend." Hope started dancing and singing glory about her newly made friend. "I wish I was a princess too."

"You are our Princess." Will encourages Hope.

"But I am not really a princess, Willy Papi." Hope says thinking.

'No you are a princess too, Hope. In the end you have Amiri's blood.' I should have said but I will not. Hope might have Asher's blood running through her but she is not his daughter. I don't want her to grow up like a cold blooded spoilt like him.

"Since you are the princess then do you know the prince of dark?" Hope asked Zara.

"Prince of dark?" Zara looked amused.

"Hope, that's enough of stories for now. Zara need to go find an apartment."

"But Mama... I like her. I want to know her more. Can't she stay with us?"

"She has lot of work to do besides she is a princess. She won't be comfortable living with us."

"No... It's fine. I could live with you both pretty fine but I don't want to disturb you both."

"Yes, you are right. I will get you a comfortable place." I say with my fist twisting.

"But Aunty, will you come to dinner tonight with us both?" Hope asked Zara and Zara looked at me. Hope notices this and turns to me. "Mama, Please let her come to dinner with us tonight. It's my day and I want the princess in my table too."

"Hope, What have I taught you about being obstinate?"

"I am not being stubborn. I just want princess of Arabia come to dinner with us. She is your friend right? And friends dine and do sleep over."

"Hope..."

"Please. Please. Please... Mama. "

"Okay. Alright. Zara can come too."

"Thank you my queen. You are the best." Hope throw her hands around me with happiness.

"You are gonna have lot of fun with us." Hope says to Zara.

"I can't wait to spend time with you Hope." Zara smiled.

I was trapped in my own little dilemma. If I didn't want Zara to be around Hope, I could make that possible but I decided I would give a little space for her to get to know Hope. I somehow wanted Zara to see what a amazing child Hope is and I didn't make a mistake by choosing Hope over all. Even though everything is complicated, I somehow wanted an happy ending for Hope. A family with many members who loves her deeply.