“What?” Chloe gasped in disbelief as Victoria finally revealed the truth about Blake to her. “Why didn’t you tell me the truth all along?” She asked curiously. “Because I know you will react like this and spoil the fun. It’s already bad that Blake couldn’t celebrate today with us. Having you ruin it would only make such a beautiful night even more boring.” Victoria explained, slumping onto the big couch in the living room of the Royal Villa where she was staying. By that time, Isabella already slept off in one of the bedrooms in the house. “Is this all because of me? Does the King already know about us?” Chloe asked worriedly, fearing she might be the cause of Blake’s predicament.Victoria’s prolonged silence quickly confirmed Chloe’s fear. “Does he disapprove of us? Can you help me meet up with him? I could really convince him to gain his approval. I really love him and I don’t want to leave him for any reason.” She begged. “Chloe, things are more complicated than that. Aside fro
CHAPTER NINETY - FOUR Blake stopped midway out of the room and walked back to his dad as he remembered an important question he wanted to ask. “Dad, I was just curious about something…it’s kinda related to the history of Castile.” Blake said, beating about the bush. “Tsk…” Braxton shuddered. “When have you ever cared? If you’re so curious why don’t you take a few history lessons.” He suggested jokingly. “Dad, I’m serious.” Dad complained. “I heard something about a map secretly carved in an Ouroboros tattoo. Is there something like that in real life?” He asked, trying to act as clueless as possible. Braxton’s eyes widened in shock upon hearing the question and he was quickly brought up to his feet. “Where did you hear that from?” He asked curiously. Blake didn’t think it through before asking his question but he definitely wasn’t going to give Chloe’s identity out just like that.“F!ck! Grace must have told you.” Braxton guessed, saving Blake from his misery. “More reason I need
At first, Chloe was flustered but then she knew the name well so she thought Blake might have suffered another horrible nightmare and had probably run to her for comfort. She pulled him closer, hugging him tightly whilst also patting the nape of his neck but Blake didn’t stop talking and apologizing. “I’m so sorry Aurora. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you. I’m sorry for not recognizing you all these years. I’m sorry for being so clueless about the pain you had to go through for my family…”Blake’s apologetic and tear-filled voice eventually made Chloe realize this was way more serious than a nightmare as she gently released his hold around him and pulled away. To her surprise, Blake’s face was covered in his own sweat and tears and his eyes were blood red. “Blake, what’s going on? Did something come up?” She asked, confused and curious. Blake let out a sigh of relief, wiping his face with the hand of his suit. He grabbed Chloe’s hand and pulled her to sit beside him on the couch.
Chloe was flustered for a while and in that moment, Blake walked away, hurt and exhausted. As soon as the door closed Chloe slumped to the floor, breathing heavily. Her chest heaved as she sucked in desperate breaths, feeling like she was gasping for air. Panic gripped her as she stumbled toward the old landline phone on the other side of the room, her vision blurring around the edges. With every step, the lack of oxygen made her head spin, and she swayed unsteadily.“F@ck…” She gasped for air but none was in the room. The sharp sound of her labored breathing echoed in her ears, drowning out everything else. Each second felt like an eternity as she fought against the overwhelming sense of suffocation.Colors danced before her eyes, and she could feel her strength ebbing away. A wave of dizziness swept over her, and with a final, desperate attempt to reach the phone, Chloe's body gave out, and she collapsed to the floor, unconscious.****Blake wore his hoodie as soon as he stepped ou
Blake’s face lightened up upon hearing his mom’s question. Without much hesitation, he walked back and sat beside her. “Mom, I want to know everything. Everything concerning the raid. Why did it happen and why did it have to be kept a secret?” He asked, eager to hear the answers to his question. Diana shook her head and looked into his eyes. “You already know everything. The plot against the royalty started when the new Gold mine was discovered. What you don’t know is how far back this battle started.” She said, leaving Blake confused. “Father already told me it started shortly before the raid. Isn’t that right?” He asked. “Well, it is not wrong but definitely not right either.” She replied, confusing him even more. “The Gold mine was first discovered during King Lawrence Kensington’s regime.” She added. “Grandpa’s?” Blake asked, questioning his hearing. “I thought this was dated about 25 years back. Grandpa died while Dad was still in his 20s so how is that possible?” He wondere
When Chloe stepped out of the restroom of the hospital, dressed in her casual jeans and top, she wasn’t so surprised to see Victoria sitting with legs crossed on the sofa beside her bed. “I know I am your client but I still don’t get why you’d go through the stress of coming down here again.” Chloe said as she adjusted her lip gloss on the wall mirror in her room. Victoria smiled as she replied, “Did Juan also tell you I stayed with you all through the night?” "Yeah, I find that creepy too. We went to a party together but we definitely aren’t that close. At least not yet.” Chloe replied, arranging her things in her tote bag. Victoria chuckled loudly, freaking Chloe out a bit. “Hey, that’s creepy. Did I do something wrong?” She asked. “I heard you had a fight with Blake. Zane’s very pissed, he might have just strangled you in your sleep last night if I didn’t stop him from coming to the clinic.” Victoria said, frightening Chloe a bit. “He already told the two of you? Is there ev
Victoria stared blankly at Chloe for a while, all in an attempt to intimidate her. “Please. I don’t want him to get the wrong idea about it…” “Don’t worry, I am not a snitch. And as long as this plan works in our favor, you will get your divorce by next week so there won’t be a need to continue any form of communication with him, right?” Victoria asked after showing her approval.“Next week! I can’t wait!” Chloe screeched excitedly.“Now that we have settled this, let’s talk about the adoption process. Have you spoken to her yet?” Victoria asked curiously. “Not yet. I will when the time is right. That is– as soon as I get my divorce.” Chloe replied. “By the way, can I ask you a personal question?” She asked curiously. “Well, I think we are done with the professional part of our work, so hit me.” She agreed. “Umm…Blake has told me you’re good at masking your feelings so I’m curious about Laila. Do you really hate her?” She asked curiously. Victoria heaved a sigh and leaned back b
While still on the phone, Blake heard Isabella walk into Chloe’s whining in the background, “I wonder what you want to discuss with me that you have to postpone it to next week. I hate suspense.” Blake immediately knew what it was about as Chloe already discussed it with him. “Are you going to tell her after you get the divorce?” “Yeah.” Chloe replied with a nod.“Blake, can you find another time to talk with me? An idea came to me. It’s about the mine.” She suggested. “I real“The mine? Shortly after the call ended, Blake felt a sense of relief and decided it was time to stop sulking in the room and get out more. The fact that he was famished motivated him to step outside at that moment since it was dinner time. Upon arriving at the dining table, he found the table still very empty even though food was already placed around. “Where is everyone?” He asked, his voice a little raised that Bryce who was still meters away heard him and hurried over. “Blake, you’re joining us today?
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