The Cop and the Princess - Chapter four :- chaos, confusion,clarity

12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5WbjIzTWn

Morning Confusion

Morning sunlight slowly crept through the farmhouse windows.

Unlike the previous morning...

The house was unusually quiet.

No smell of pancakes.

No Casey arguing with Rachel.

No Rose shouting at Hope for stealing breakfast.

Everyone was still asleep.

Sara opened her eyes and smiled.

For some reason...

She had slept better than she had in years.

After getting dressed, she quietly stepped into the hallway.

As she walked past Hope's bedroom...

She heard something.

A voice.

Soft.

Comfortable.

"...♪"

Sara stopped walking.

"...She's singing?"

She smiled to herself.

Carefully peeking through the slightly open bedroom door, she realized the room was empty.

The sound was coming from the bathroom.

Hope was showering...

Completely unaware that anyone could hear her.

She wasn't a particularly good singer.

She missed half the notes.

Yet...

Sara couldn't stop smiling.

"...She's terrible."

She laughed quietly.

"...Why is this so adorable?"

Without realizing it...

She softly hummed along with the same melody.

For a few peaceful moments...

Nothing else existed.

Then—

Bzzz...

Hope's phone vibrated on the bedside table.

Sara looked toward it.

The screen lit up.

Incoming Call

Jennie ❤️

Her smile slowly faded.

"...Jennie?"

A strange feeling settled inside her chest.

"Jennie..."

"Could she be..."

"One of the seventeen?"

The phone kept vibrating.

Sara glanced toward the bathroom.

Hope was still singing.

"...She can't hear it."

She hesitated.

Then...

Almost without thinking...

She answered.

"...Hello?"

The excited voice immediately came through.

"Babe!"

"Finally!"

"Why have you been ignoring all my calls?"

"I missed you so much!"

Sara froze.

Jennie continued without giving anyone a chance to speak.

"I'm arranging dinner for both of us tonight."

"I'll send you the location."

"Hello?"

"Hope?"

Sara finally opened her mouth.

"I..."

Before she could say another word...

The screen suddenly went black.

Battery dead.

"...Seriously?"

At that exact moment...

The bathroom door opened.

Hope stepped out, casually drying her damp hair with a towel around her neck.

The first thing she noticed...

Was Sara.

Standing beside her bed.

Holding her phone.

Hope raised an eyebrow.

"...Morning."

Sara didn't answer.

She was simply...

Looking at Hope.

Straight into her eyes.

Hope smiled slightly.

"...Morning?"

Still nothing.

"...Sara?"

Silence.

Hope watched her for another second.

Then walked over and gently tapped her shoulder.

"Earth to Princess."

Sara blinked rapidly.

Her thoughts shattered.

"H-Huh?"

Hope chuckled.

"I've been saying good morning for almost a minute."

Sara immediately looked away.

"...Sorry."

Hope glanced toward the phone still in Sara's hand.

"My phone?"

Sara nodded.

"It rang."

Hope held out her hand.

"Who was it?"

"...Jennie."

Hope casually nodded.

"Oh."

Sara looked at her carefully.

"...She sounded..."

"...close."

Hope took the phone.

"What did she say?"

Sara shrugged.

"Nothing much."

Then folded her arms.

"...Was she one of your seventeen?"

Hope froze.

"...My what?"

"Your seventeen exes."

Hope nearly choked.

"...Who told you that?"

Sara smiled innocently.

"That's not important."

"I asked first."

Hope rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly.

"...Seventeen really isn't my lucky number."

Sara smirked.

"So..."

"That's not a no."

Hope immediately pointed toward the dead phone.

"I should probably charge this."

Sara laughed.

"You're changing the subject."

"I absolutely am."

Hope plugged the phone into the charger before casually walking toward her wardrobe.

She slipped into her faded blue jeans.

Then reached for the familiar black leather jacket hanging beside the wardrobe.

She put it on with practiced ease before running one hand through her still-damp hair.

Sara watched quietly.

She couldn't help it.

There wasn't anything extraordinary happening.

Hope was simply getting dressed.

Yet somehow...

Even that looked effortless.

The sunlight caught the tiny drops of water still resting in Hope's hair.

She looked...

Beautiful.

Confident.

Comfortable in her own skin.

Sara smiled without realizing it.

A quiet whisper escaped her lips.

"...No wonder."

Hope looked over.

"Hm?"

Sara didn't hear her.

Her eyes remained fixed on Hope.

"Anyone who looked into those eyes..."

"...would probably fall for her."

The thought made another one follow.

"...No wonder there were seventeen..."

Silence.

Then...

Her own words finally caught up with her.

She blinked.

"...Wait."

Her eyes widened.

"Did I..."

"Did I just justify her seventeen exes?"

She covered her face for a second.

"What is wrong with me?"

"I'm actually defending her exes now?"

"I'm going crazy..."

Hope walked closer, now genuinely curious.

"...Princess?"

Sara immediately looked up.

"H-Hm?"

Hope tilted her head.

"You've been staring at me for a while."

"You came into my room this early."

"Are you okay?"

"Did you need something?"

Sara desperately searched for an excuse.

"I..."

"I heard someone singing."

Hope blinked.

"...That was me?"

Sara nodded.

Hope placed a dramatic hand over her chest.

"I knew it."

"My world tour has finally begun."

Sara burst into laughter.

"You call that singing?"

Hope looked offended.

"Excuse me."

"That was an exclusive live performance."

Sara folded her arms.

"I think the audience deserves a refund."

Hope gasped dramatically.

"The audience got in for free."

Sara couldn't stop smiling.

"Still overpriced."

Hope laughed.

"You're mean."

Sara shrugged.

"You started it."

Hope opened the bedroom door.

"Come on."

"Let's go downstairs."

"If Rose wakes up before us..."

"...I'm definitely getting assigned chores."

Sara nodded and followed beside her.

Still smiling.

Still wondering...

How she had somehow gone from questioning Hope's seventeen exes...

...to defending them.

And no matter how hard she tried to deny it...

She wasn't winning the argument inside her own heart anymore.

Hope poured the coffee into three mugs.

The rich aroma quickly filled the quiet kitchen.

She placed one mug in front of Sara before taking her own.

“Careful.”

“It’s hot.”

Sara nodded absentmindedly.

She wasn’t looking at the coffee.

She was still watching Hope.

Hope opened another cabinet.

“Princess.”

No answer.

Hope looked over her shoulder.

“Can you pass me that mug?”

Still nothing.

Only after a few seconds did Sara blink.

“Huh?”

Hope couldn’t help laughing.

“The mug.”

Sara immediately grabbed it.

“Oh…”

“Sorry.”

Hope accepted it with a smile.

“That’s twice this morning.”

“Should I start worrying?”

Sara rubbed the back of her neck.

“…I’m fine.”

Hope clearly didn’t believe her.

Before she could say anything else…

Footsteps echoed from upstairs.

Rose entered the kitchen, still half asleep.

She looked at Hope.

Then at Sara.

Then back at Hope.

“…Interesting.”

Hope frowned.

“What?”

Rose simply smiled.

“Nothing.”

She accepted the coffee Hope handed her.

At that exact moment…

Hope’s phone vibrated on the counter.

The screen lit up.

Jennie

Dinner tonight.

Don’t ignore me again, babe. ❤️

Hope looked at the notification.

“…Persistent as ever.”

She locked the screen without replying and slid the phone back into her pocket.

Sara noticed everything.

Hope didn’t smile.

She didn’t blush.

She didn’t even reply.

Yet…

For some reason…

Sara still felt strangely disappointed.

“She still calls her…”

“Maybe…”

“Maybe she still wants her back.”

The thought quietly settled inside her chest.

She suddenly wasn’t very hungry anymore.

Rose took one look at Sara’s face.

“…Aha.”

She didn’t say anything.

Not yet.

She simply hid a smile behind her coffee.

She forced a small smile.

“…I’ll get some fresh air.”

Hope looked up.

“So early?”

Sara nodded.

“I just… feel like walking.”

Hope didn’t think much of it.

“Don’t wander too far.”

Sara smiled politely.

“I won’t.”

She quietly walked out through the back door.

The garden was peaceful.

Morning dew still clung to the flowers.

She slowly sat on the wooden swing beneath the old oak tree.

The gentle breeze played with her hair.

She stared at the ground.

“Why do I even care?”

“She can date whoever she wants.”

“We’ve only known each other for… what?”

“Two days?”

She sighed.

“Then why am I feeling like this?”

Hope took another sip of her coffee before quietly asking,

“…Rose.”

“Mhm?”

“…Did you tell Sara about my exes?”

Rose answered without looking up.

“Yep.”

Hope slowly lowered her mug.

“…Why?”

Rose shrugged.

“She asked.”

“So… you just told her?”

“I thought that’s how questions work.”

Hope sighed.

“…Fantastic.”

“Now she probably thinks I’m some kind of dating serial killer.”

Rose burst into laughter.

“A dating serial killer?”

Hope nodded seriously.

“Yeah.”

“I show up…”

“Steal someone’s heart…”

“Disappear…”

“Repeat.”

Rose laughed so hard she almost spilled her coffee.

“You’ve actually thought about this?”

Hope deadpanned.

“I’ve had exactly thirty seconds to imagine the damage you’ve done.”

Rose wiped a tear from laughing.

“Oh, don’t worry.”

“I also told her you break up with people nicely.”

Hope blinked.

“…That was your recovery plan?”

Rose nodded proudly.

“It sounded smart.”

Hope stared at her for a second.

“…You know what?”

“What?”

“Why are you suddenly so worried about what Sara thinks?”Hope pointed toward the back door where Sara had just gone.

“Jennie called this morning.”

Rose nodded.

“…Okay?”

Hope continued.

“Sara answered it.”

Rose’s eyebrows shot up.

“…She answered it?”

Hope nodded.

“She was in my room.”

Rose slowly put her coffee down.

A mischievous grin spread across her face.

“…She was in your room?”

Hope immediately sighed.

“Don’t.”

Rose’s grin grew even wider.

“I’m just making sure I heard correctly.”

“Morning.”

“Your bedroom.”

“Interesting.”

Hope pointed a finger at her.

“Rose.”

“I’m serious.”

Rose raised both hands.

“Fine, fine.”

“What happened next?”

Hope shook her head.

“After the call…”

“She looked at me…”

“…and asked if Jennie was one of my seventeen.”

Rose stared at her for exactly two seconds.

Then exploded into laughter.

“Oh my God!”

She leaned against the counter.

“She picked up Jennie’s call?”

Hope nodded helplessly.

Rose laughed even harder.

“And Jennie called you ‘babe,’ didn’t she?”

Hope buried her face in one hand.

“…Yes.”

Rose almost dropped her mug.

“Oh, this is priceless!”

“I would’ve paid money to see Sara’s face.”

Hope sighed dramatically.

“I nearly choked.”

Rose couldn’t stop laughing.

“So…”

“What did you tell her?”

Hope shrugged.

“What was I supposed to say?”

Rose waited.

Hope deadpanned,

“She’s my annoying ex…”

“…who refuses to accept she’s an ex.”

Rose laughed so hard tears formed in her eye

Hope nodded.

“She still acts like we’re together.”

Rose smirked.

“And Sara knows that?”

Hope blinked.

“…No.”

Rose immediately laughed again.

“So from Sara’s perspective…”

“Some beautiful woman calls you ‘babe’ first thing in the morning…”

“…asks you to dinner…”

“…and you refuse to explain anything.”

Hope froze.

“…”

Rose pointed toward the garden.

“…No wonder she walked outside.”

Hope slowly looked toward the garden through the window.

“…Wait.”

Rose smiled.

“I think…”

“Our Princess…”

“…might’ve been jealous.”

Hope turned back so fast she almost spilled her coffee.

“What?”

Rose nodded innocently.

“Mhm.”

Hope stared at her.

“…No.”

Rose smiled wider.

“Oh, yes.”

Hope immediately shook her head.

“You’re making things up.”

Rose shrugged.

“Maybe.”

“But if I’m right…”

She pointed toward the garden again.

“…You’ve got a very confused princess sitting out there.”

Hope looked through the window once more.

Sara was quietly sitting alone on the swing.

Hope frowned.

“…She really is acting strange.”

Rose smiled into her coffee.

“You have absolutely no idea, do you?”

Hope looked back.

“No idea about what?”

Rose simply took another sip.

“…Exactly.”

Hope closed her eyes for a second.

“…One day…”

Rose smiled.

“I know.”

“You’ll arrest me.”

Hope opened one eye.

“…No.”

“I’ll let someone else deal with you.”

Rose laughed even harder.

The Garden

Sara sat quietly on the wooden swing beneath the old oak tree.

The morning breeze gently pushed it back and forth.

She stared at the flowers in front of her, but her thoughts were somewhere else.

A few moments later...

The back door creaked open.

Rose stepped outside carrying two mugs.

"I figured coffee tastes better with company."

Sara looked up and smiled.

"...Thanks."

Rose handed her a mug before sitting on the swing beside her.

For a minute...

Neither of them spoke.

Rose finally broke the silence.

"So..."

Sara sighed.

"So..."

Rose laughed.

"Who is she?"

Sara looked confused.

"Who?"

"The girl who's been living inside your head for the last ten minutes."

Sara immediately knew who Rose meant.

"...Jennie."

Rose nodded.

"So..."

"...who is Jennie?"

Rose smiled softly.

"Hope's ex."

Sara quietly looked into her coffee.

Rose continued.

"They dated a long time ago."

"It didn't last."

"They realized they were better apart than together."

Sara looked up.

"Then why was she calling Hope 'babe'?"

Rose laughed.

"Because Jennie never accepted the breakup."

Sara blinked.

"What?"

Rose nodded.

"Hope moved on."

"Jennie never really did."

"She still calls."

"Still invites Hope to dinner."

"Still pretends they're somehow getting back together."

Sara couldn't help smiling.

"...Does Hope ever go?"

Rose laughed.

"Not once."

Sara looked relieved without realizing it.

Rose noticed immediately.

"...Interesting."

Sara quickly looked away.

"I was just asking."

Rose smiled.

"I know."

"The famous 'just asking.'"

Both laughed.

The silence returned for another moment.

This time...

Rose asked gently,

"So..."

"What about your family?"

Sara's smile faded a little.

She looked toward the garden.

"My father..."

"...was the Royal Mayor."

Rose listened quietly.

"He was assassinated when I was fourteen."

The smile disappeared from Sara's face.

"Everything changed after that."

"My mother..."

"...couldn't stay."

"She moved abroad."

Rose nodded slowly.

"So..."

"You were alone?"

Sara shook her head.

"No."

"My cousin Leon."

A small smile returned.

"He's more like my older brother."

"He practically raised me."

Rose smiled.

"He sounds like a good man."

"He is."

"But..."

Sara sighed.

"He's studying business in Germany now."

"So..."

"I've been attending family meetings alone."

Rose nodded with understanding.

"That must be exhausting."

Sara laughed quietly.

"You have no idea."

"They argue for hours..."

"...about things nobody even remembers arguing about."

Rose laughed.

"So basically..."

"A normal family."

Sara laughed too.

"...Pretty much."

She looked toward Rose.

"What about you?"

"Hope mentioned your husband yesterday."

"Din?"

Rose smiled immediately.

"My favorite human."

Sara chuckled.

"What does he do?"

"He's an accountant."

"And businessman."

"He spends most of his time in Los Angeles."

"He comes home every month."

"No matter how busy he gets."

Sara smiled.

"That sounds sweet."

Rose nodded.

"It is."

Then she added,

"Funny enough..."

"Din and Hope are actually cousins."

Sara looked surprised.

"Really?"

"Mhm."

"And Rachel and Casey?"

Rose smiled.

"They're Hope's cousins too."

"We all practically grew up together."

Sara laughed.

"So this whole family..."

"...is basically one giant chaotic mess."

Rose proudly nodded.

"The word you're looking for..."

"...is professional chaos."

Both laughed.

Sara looked toward the farmhouse.

"...I like it here."

Rose smiled warmly.

"We're glad you're here."

At that exact moment...

From upstairs...

Hope's voice echoed through the house.

"Rose!"

Rose looked up.

"What now?!"

Hope shouted back,

"Did you steal my case files?!"

Rose smirked.

"I was protecting them from your handwriting!"

Hope's voice came back immediately.

"My handwriting is beautiful!"

Rose looked at Sara with a completely straight face.

"...See?"

"Professional chaos."

Sara burst into laughter.

For the first time that morning...

The strange heaviness inside her chest...

Felt a little lighter.

Scene — Two Minds

Upstairs…

Hope quietly closed her bedroom door.

The cheerful atmosphere downstairs…

Disappeared instantly.

Officer Hope Parker had returned.

She spread every photograph collected from the abandoned warehouse across the desk.

The broken crates.

The blood stains.

The footprints.

The spent cartridge.

She picked up the small evidence bag.

Inside…

A single brass casing rested quietly.

Hope narrowed her eyes.

“…Interesting.”

She took out a reference guide.

Then compared the markings.

“…7.62×39 mm.”

Not uncommon.

But…

The manufacturer engraving was.

Only a handful of licensed dealers in the entire region legally imported this specific ammunition.

Hope leaned back.

“…This isn’t street ammunition.”

“Someone paid good money for this.”

She grabbed a marker.

On the city map hanging beside her desk…

She circled three licensed ammunition suppliers.

Then another two.

She quickly picked up the phone.

“Dispatch.”

“I need purchase records.”

“Every licensed dealer selling 7.62×39 imported ammunition during the last six months.”

The officer on the other end paused.

“…That’s a lot.”

“I know.”

“I’m dividing the locations.”

“I’ll personally visit these three.”

“The rest go to Alpha and Bravo units.”

“Call me immediately if anyone purchased unusually large quantities.”

“Yes, Captain.”

Hope hung up.

She looked back toward the evidence.

“…Let’s see who you really are.”

Far away…

Inside a dimly lit room…

A man slowly rotated a silver ring around his finger.

His face remained hidden in the darkness.

One of his men stepped forward nervously.

“Boss…”

“…Hope Parker reached the warehouse.”

Silence.

The man chuckled softly.

“So…”

“…she found it.”

He stood up.

Walking toward a wall covered in photographs.

Each one…

A police officer.

Witnesses.

Politicians.

Businessmen.

One picture…

Hope Parker.

He calmly picked up a red marker.

Then drew a large X across her photograph.

Not because she was dead.

Because…

She had entered the game.

He smiled.

“After all these years…”

“I’ve finally found someone worth playing against.”

He turned toward his men.

“No more mistakes.”

“This one…”

“…is different.”

His smile slowly widened.

“…Interesting.”

Back at the Farmhouse

Night slowly settled over the valley.

Hope buttoned the last button of her shirt.

Pulled on her leather jacket.

Checked her sidearm.

Picked up her keys.

As she reached the front door…

Sara appeared.

“So…”

Hope smiled.

“So?”

Sara folded her arms.

“…Going to dinner with Jennie?”

Hope stared.

Then laughed.

“…You really need to spend less time with Rose.”

From the living room…

Rose shouted without looking up from her book.

“I heard that!”

Hope smiled.

“See?”

“She’s corrupting you.”

Rose immediately replied,

“I prefer the word educating.”

Sara couldn’t hide a smile.

“So…”

“No dinner?”

Hope shook her head.

“No.”

She held up the evidence bag.

“I’m chasing clues.”

Rose laughed.

“I’m writing that one down.”

Hope opened the door.

Sara immediately stepped forward.

“I’m coming.”

Hope didn’t even think.

“No.”

Sara frowned.

“I can help.”

Hope smiled gently.

“I know.”

“But not tonight.”

“This isn’t another warehouse.”

“I’m questioning people.”

“It could get dangerous without warning.”

Sara looked disappointed.

Hope noticed.

She softened her voice.

“…Princess.”

“I promised I’d bring you home safely.”

“I’m trying very hard to keep that promise.”

Sara looked at her for a moment.

Then nodded.

“…Fine.”

Hope smiled.

“That’s my Princess.”

She started walking toward her car.

Then looked back.

“And stay away from Rose.”

Rose yelled from inside,

“Too late!”

Hope laughed.

“and walked toward her car

To be continue.....12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASWlfxLmKM

ns216.73.217.14da2

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