CHAPTER SEVENTY - SEVEN“We gather here today to honor and remember a remarkable man, Mason Knightley. As his loving daughter, I am forever grateful for the privilege of being his child, and for the profound impact he had on my life and the lives of many others. My father's love and support were unwavering. He embraced his role as a father with unwavering dedication, and despite his work line which made him absent from time to time, he was always there to guide, support, and encourage me in everything I pursued.” Chloe paused and sniffed hard, fighting off the tears as she remembered the only time her Dad didn't support her decision and how terribly things ended for her. "He wasn't always there but his love was a constant presence, providing comfort and strength in both the good times and the challenging ones." She went on giving her dedication at the crematorium ceremony hall where the funeral was being held. "Beyond his role as a father, my dad was a truly honorable man who touche
“My lord, the defendant here is accused of forcefully claiming late Mr. Mason Knightley’s shares of the Knightley.& Gallery for herself.” Laila stated her case as she walked towards the clerk and handed her a file as she went on, “As you can see in this file, Chloe Knightley is the major shareholder of Knightley.& with about 52% shares in total.” “According to the chart, she only became the legal owner of the 40.7% shares belonging to Mason Knighley after his death and as a result, my client feels there has been a misdeed in her acquiring the shares.” She explained. “So, are we going to work with your client’s feelings here?” Judge Pedro, who was overseeing the case, asked. “No, my lord. We are here specifically to prove that Mr. Knightley was forced to sign over those wills to her.” Laila replied. “I would like to bring to your notice that the defendant already confessed she was Mr. Knightley died in her arms– meaning she is the last person that was in contact with him.” She add
Laila’s silence forced the judge to rephrase his question again, “Plaintiff defendant, what more do you have to say against the defendant in this case?” “I am afraid, we have nothing for now.” Laila replied after due hesitation. “The verdict will be pronounced on the 13th, until then, the court is adjourned!” Judge Pedro said, banging his gavel on the table before leaving the courtroom. Everyone slowly dispersed leaving Chloe and her opponent all alone once again. Pissed Vivian ignored her lawyer and walked towards Chloe, “Don’t you want justice for your father? Why didn’t you mention his kidnap? Who knows he might have survived if he started treatment earlier.” She said, leading Chloe on. Honestly speaking, Chloe wanted to talk about the kidnap. She wanted to drag the Marlowes into the whole mess and turn the Contest of Will case into a kidnap case but after telling Victoria the truth about the kidnap in the waiting room, Victoria was smart enough to guess their next move by ask
"You are already losing such a small case, how do you expect me to trust you with the divorce case?" Dawson lashed at Laila, walking around his living room pissed while Laila just listened while sitting on the Sofa with the rest of the family. "I thought you came here with a firm determination to win? Why the f*ck are you letting that woman shut you up in front of everyone? Do you think you're going to make it in this profession if you lose this case? When are you going to tighten up your belt and start doing things that won't make me regret hiring you instead of those highly qualified professionals?" He asked again, still very pissed. "When you actually stop keeping things from me and let me be in full charge of this instead of trying to run it and make me look like a puppet. For f*cks sake, you didn't give me the full details of this case. You and that woman only gave me what you thought was a f*cking dialogue of how you expected the trial to go." Laila lashed back, standing up to
"W-what kind of absurd question is that?" Chloe asked, getting worked up. Blake's call came in again and she hurriedly ended the call without looking at the screen. "The kiss. I saw it. I saw him kiss you and I saw how you didn't resist him. Blake left my sister to date you, isn't that enough for you?" Sebastian asked, pissed. Chloe was startled by his response as she thought no one had seen them.She grazed her hand nervously on her head before she started to explain, "It's not what you– I swear! Yes, his lips were on mine and he hesitated for a few seconds before pushing him but that was all…" "And you decided not to file a complaint after that. That must mean you liked it, right?" Sebastian asked, interrupting her. "I definitely don't like it. George is the last person I could ever forgive in that family. I am in love with Blake and that is all that matters." She explained. "But what I saw there…you must be confused about your feelings. Why don't you sort out your feelings an
“I called Ruby last night and she said she was at the palace. Did you see her when you went there?” Chloe asked as she placed her head on Blake’s shoulder while they were seated in her living room the next day. Blake noticed the nervousness in her voice as she spoke and he could already guess what her worries were. “Yeah, we had dinner together. Dad wanted us to pick a date for our wedding.” Blake replied like it was nothing. Chloe panicked as she sat up straight, “And what did you say?” She asked curiously. “Dad already had a date in mind…”“What? So you’re getting married on that day?” She asked, interrupting him. She sounded pissed and frustrated and Blake decided to stop teasing her further. “Come on, you told them the truth. We’ve made our break up official.” Blake said, giggling while Chloe immediately let out a sigh of relief. “That’s what you should have told me earlier.” She complained, slapping Blake’s shoulder lightly for teasing her.“Here, check this out.” He said a
“The painting of course! You’re not going to go back on your words now that you know my identity, are you?” Ruby asked curiously. “If you are not going to pay, I will take back my painting.” She added.Chloe laughed heartily seeing the shock on Blake’s face. “Ruby, how am I just realizing how greedy you are now?” He asked, still startled. Ruby smiled slyly as she attempted to drag the painting out of his hand, “It’s business, Blake. You’re very rich so there shouldn’t be any problem.” She said. Blake shoved her hand off the painting and took a closer look at it again. “200 million CTD. I will speak to Zane to arrange the money. Send your account to him and expect it in two days.” He said. “Wait! I don’t understand the kind of arrangement you both are making. Do you realize 50% of this transaction is for the company?” Chloe asked curiously. Ruby's face quickly turned pale, “But I am not exclusively signed to your company. Why is that?” She asked. “Because I connected you to the
A FEW HOURS LATER…As soon as Ruby arrived at the living room of the Marlowes' mansion, she was welcomed with a hot slap to her cheek which sent her staggering backward. "Dad!" George yelled in horror, shocked by his father's action. He ran towards her and tried to support her but Ruby pushed him away. "You talked about being imprisoned, now tell me what this feels like." She suggested, faking a grin. George felt extremely guilty and responsible for his father's actions but there was nothing he could do now. "Dad, please! You said you wanted to talk. Resist from hitting her any further. Sebastian, who was just joining the family downstairs, frowned upon hearing George's statement. "Ruby, why haven't you been answering my calls? I was going to tell you not to come back here at any cost." He scolded her angrily. A lone tear trickled down her face while she was still trying to keep up the pretense. "I thought you would also be mad about the break-up." She replied. "Why would I b
It was a day of festivity in the Kensington Palace as it marks exactly one month since Chloe returned to the palace with her twins, as well as the date the family had set for their official white wedding. On Chloe’s part, it was easier to forgive Blake’s parents as they weren’t exactly hostile to her. All she ever wanted was to become Blake’s accepted wife, and now she finally got the opportunity. At first, she was worried they had accepted her because of the baby, but after finding out how long Braxton had been trying to abolish the law, she realized they did love her for her. Chloe was a sight to behold. Dressed in a stunning white gown adorned with intricate lace and sequins, no one could tell she just gave to the two genders of life. “Woah! You look magnificent!” Victoria complimented as she walked into the dressing room where Chloe was. “I know, right? The dress fits so perfectly that no one would guess she just put to bed.” Ruby chimed in as she adjusted her ethere
Hot tears trickled down Blake’s eyes as he stared at his parents. “Blake, we’re sorry…” Diana apologized, also tearing up. “You know, I wasn’t the one you offended.” Blake pointed out. “We will apologize to her when she’s back.” She said, “Just please bring back my daughter-in-law.” She begged.Bryce scoffed in disbelief, “She is your daughter-in-law now?” Blake faked a smile as Bryce had asked the question he meant to ask. “Abolishing a law is not as easy as you think. It requires a lot of debate within the parliament, votes, and mutual understanding. It took me five months to finally achieve this. You won’t understand until you are in my position.” Braxton said. “Do you want me to be grateful?” Blake wondered, not sure why he was telling him this. “No.” Braxton replied, “I just need you to know that Chloe can be your queen and your equal now. I wonder why they even made that law and why I had to fight so hard to support it.” He added before turning away and walking towards hi
As Blake had promised, he sent Zane to Wexissia as soon as he resumed office as the crown prince just a few days after his return. But Zane’s journey was fruitless. He searched around the house and realized she wasn’t home. At first, he thought she had stepped out since all her belongings were still intact, but after days of waiting and asking around, he realized she never returned home after seeing Blake off. Back at home, Isabella tried to get an audience with Blake, which became unnecessarily hard since his return. Fortunately, Blake also had a reason to meet Isabella since Chloe sent him to her. After settling things with his family, he found time to go to her school and meet with her. Isabella became anxious after finding out that Blake returned a few days earlier without Chloe, and so as she stepped into his car, he began to inquire about her. “Where is my sister? How could you leave her alone there?” Isabella asked curiously. Blake explained how she’d threaten to kill he
Blake chuckled, not willing to believe her, “Chloe, you must be exhausted. Go to bed now.” He suggested and attempted to lay back down, but Chloe had to show him how serious she was. She quickly grabbed a scissors which she’d placed on the drawer beside her and started to cut herself. Blake was triggered, quickly pulling the scissors from her grasp. “Chloe, are you crazy? What has gotten into you?” He asked angrily as he covered her injured hand with his palm and reached out for the first aid kit, which was in the drawer beside the bed. “Maybe if I am dead, you won’t hesitate to go back home.” She said, “Chloe, you can’t be serious about that…why all of a sudden?” He asked, applying first aid while still quite stunned by her decision. “It isn’t all of a sudden, Blake, I have made my decision, and if you don’t leave by tomorrow, I will kill myself.” She threatened, and without waiting to know if Blake was done with his first aid, she pulled her hand away and covered hersel
Holding a small pregnancy stick, Chloe stared at herself in the mirror, the sun reflecting through their three bedroom apartment window. Even though she was already five months gone, her stomach was still as flat as ever. She remembered the first time she found out she had a cryptic pregnancy when she first passed out at the hospital after Blake recovered from his gunshot wound. At first she wanted to inform the family during the big feast but after hearing their decision, she decided to keep it a secret even from Blake because she didn’t want to seem like she was forcing herself on him. Even though she knew Blake wouldn't think that way, she was worried his family could misinterpret it and even end up forcefully accepting her because of the baby. Two months after living as a married couple in Wexissia, she still couldn’t bring herself to tell him the truth until today, which she’d chosen to tell him. Blake wasn’t home at that time because instead of just retiring, he decided t
It took another week for the matter to die down, and the royal family decided to invite everyone that are now considered as family to a huge feast that they had organized. Shortly after the desert, the king and his wife summoned Chloe and Blake to his office along with Victoria and Zane, leaving the kids and Laila out. “I am sure you understand the royal family has been in turmoil for a while now, and adding a contradictory marriage to it will only make the people question the power of the royal family.” Braxton explained, and Blake already started to frown. “What he is trying to say is that we will support your marriage, but only on one condition…” Diana said. Chloe felt a glimmer of hope, seeing that his family were finally going to support them, but Blake knew his parents well and didn’t have any hope whatsoever. “What condition?” He quickly asked, “That you will take her only as a concubine. She can’t be your equal, and you will have to take a wife first before yo
“How could you let her do that? You should have forced her or something!” Blake complained upon hearing the tales of her action since he lost consciousness. He gently caressed her hand as she rested on his bed while he sat on the chair where she was seated earlier. “My brother did everything he could as a king, but she refused to listen and exercised every right she had as a citizen. Don’t even go there.” Victoria explained. “We were all scared to death when she kept throwing up and feeling sick without even eating anything. I don’t think there is anything we haven’t done to make her listen, but it was just as if we were talking to a rock.” She explained further.They were still discussing when Zane and the King who had just heard the news of Blake regaining his consciousness arrived, but to their dismay, the patient was now taking care of the guest. “This girl? She just always has to be so annoying.” Zane complained.Blake gave him a bombastic side-eye, asking, “Did you even apolo
The palace was in a haze, and the violence Blake tried so hard to prevent eventually happened. Blake suffered three blank shots to his chest while Dawson suffered over seven gunshots. They were both rushed to the hospital. After hours of being in the theaters, the doctors operating on Dawson eventually stepped out. Unfortunately, none of his family were by the door waiting for him. Only the prosecutors were.The doctors didn’t hesitate to respond since they understood what circumstances he was brought there. “He is currently braindead, and his organs are failing rapidly. With life support, it would be a miracle he makes it past two days, but that miracle won’t happen the following day.” Despite his critical condition, once he was moved to the wards, he was handcuffed to his bed because of the magnitude of his crime. Meanwhile, Blake’s surgery took a few more hours. His surgery was quite critical because he was shot very close to the heart, and the best surgeons around the globe f
Blake's smile slowly turned into a psychotic laughter that scared the crap out of Dawson for a while. He looked at the plotters and asked, “Don’t you also find this funny?” He said, pointing at the guards who had dragged his family to the dining room.“Once they fall into a deep sleep, those weapons become useless…” His voice trailed off as three guards slowly dropped to the floor one after the other, their weapons crashing beneath them. Real fear surfaced in the plotters face, and Vivian almost peed her pants. “Mr. Aspiring King, why don’t you go back to your seat? We have a whole lot to talk about today.” Blake suggested.Dawson was hesitant as he wasn’t sure whether or not his plans were going accordingly but one thing he knew was Blake had the upper hand for now and he needs to obey him until he thinks of another move. He sluggishly went back and sat among his people, beads of precipitation forming on his forehead. The ministers let out a sudden gasp, confusing Dawson, who was