The halls were decorated with expensive embellishments. The tribe and the court had done their job of exaggerating on their part. They learned that His Majesty would be visiting the people to let them know of Ayah's well-beingAnd His Majesty has quite a surprise made for His Queen. "What do you mean, mom?" Neko's voice resonated in the hallway. He was talking to his mother on the phone who was quite worried about his absence for the past few weeks. "Gosh, yes, I pee before sleeping." He said as the maids behind him tried to stifle their laugh while they wiped the furniture. He rolled his eyes. "Mom, yes. I will be back soon. And no, I am not changing my underwear in the morning." He huffed. Though the maids did their part in controlling themselves, they ultimately failed when Mia busted out laughing. She held her tummy and almost fell on the stairs hearing his words. Neko was sitting on the stairs as he looked back. Giving his mom a few goodbye words, he stood up. "Stop eavesdro
The HighHalls were not kept simple. These embroideries were carefully embedded on the curtains and the walls hung frames of expensive artwork. The spiralled stares led to the Halls and beside that followed a long corridor which again led to a door so majestic. Elio's boots' sounds resonated in the halls as he walked towards it. Ayah quietly followed behind. The bitter feelings inside her were not leaving her. She kept looking at his back. She knew how to keep her heart locked and catching feelings was never a part of the contract. Elio will use her as long as he likes then he can throw her away. At least, that's what she wanted although she had no idea what to do when this contract ends. Mrs. Rose was out on her mission to kill Elio. Her friends were here as well. She would have to start a new life once she got out of his clutches. But will he even let her go?If he does not let her go then what can she do? Report to the authorities? He is the president of those authorities. She w
"It is you." Ayah's hands were shaking slightly. She held his collar and brought him closer. "You were the one who killed them that night." His lips were a thin line. "Yes, you remembered. It was me." She tightly shut her eyes. She knew something was brewing in his mind. Something was going on. She did not know that that something would lead to something so… vital. She did not know how to put her words in place. Ayah's hands were still on his chest. "Why did you not tell me earlier?" "Because I realized a few days ago." Elio's voice was soft. What kind of an incident is this? Is this a joke? How could destiny play her like that? She distanced herself a little from him. She did not know whether to dance with happiness like she always wanted or scream and cry. Her mind started buzzing. Her hands were shaking. She remembered that boy as a protector. A savior. Not as a murderer. The people around her had killed her in many ways. They deserved it. But now she thinks about it. All
"You. Are. Joking." Mia's mouth was left agape as she emphasized Ayah's words. Neko's mouth was wide open and he was shocked. "He," Mia pointed outside at the garden where Elio was talking with some court members. "That man decided to let you go?" Ayah nodded. Mia was standing so she fell on the couch for support. After talking to Elio and finalizing her life which seemed a little messy and very frustrating, she let out all she wanted to say. But it was still harder for Ayah to digest every word he had thrown at her. This was the biggest incident of her life. She has to think and work smoothly. She always had the handle of her life in her hands. She let other people take control of it and now she is left in such a state. This time she will hold on to the reins and make sure to gain peace on her own. Mia did not know much about Ayah's past. She did not even try to know about it because something about the word 'past' always had Ayah stressed which was visible on her face. Of cou
The ride back from the Ayah Islands was quite different from the ride to the Ayah Islands. The stress of the moment was taken in relaxation as for the first time, Ayah and Elio laughed together. Every single moment together was filled with either grief, forbidden pleasure, or forced proximity. But this time, none of them were forced to feel what they were feeling. The warmth felt not in each other's arms but in the presence of the other. Even in the clouds, they felt like they could go up and beyond. However, the moments did not last for too long because Elio, in his private jet, was terrorized by a bald man and his wife's friend who wanted to be with her the whole ride. He huffed and let it go. Yet the warm feeling in his heart was dug deeper when he saw how happy and bright she looked. She was smiling ear-to-ear as she talked to her friends. It was as if he had conquered the world being able to make her smile. He took in the presence of her happiness and sighed in relief. As h
"May I come in, Your Majesty?" He stood on my doorstep with his hands in his pocket. His eyes filled with mischief.I stood stunned while looking at him. His suit was well-pressed and the dark circles under his eyes were long gone. One thing that surprised me was that he was never jet-lagged. Never. It was as if he was used to his jet and flying to the island now and then. He probably was. Probably. I put my hand on my waist. "And what do you want?" He shrugged. "Not quite sure. I came to see how comfortable my wife was at her place." He said and smiled. "Well, I am quite fine," I said. "If that's all you wanted to know." I proceeded to shut the door on his face. I could say, I tried because the next second he had blocked the door with ease and pushed his way in. I stumbled back. My surprised face gave him what he needed. He locked the door behind him and came close to me. His feet were predatory. My eyes were cautioned and my feet kept going back until my back hit the table be
Savior? A savior who had killed? Or a savior who could not save? The red blood streams on the gate of the school the night Elio had killed his father did not make him feel like a savior. He felt a certain distaste for his tongue and his heart felt cold. It was as if cold water was running through his veins. The numbness of his feelings started just from there. The night his grandfather finally decided to name the wealth of the Fords and the company under Elio, Elio's father could not take the shame of being dismissed by his father. Though he knew that he had proved himself to be incompetent, he still could not stand his son inheriting the wealth he had been after for years. He knew his son and the extreme physical and mental pain he had caused him. And he knew that Elio would never have mercy on him. He just did not expect that to happen so soon. After a sudden argument that night, Elio's father killed Elio's grandfather, Hunter Ford. And when Elio entered the library witnessing
Elio was fond of knowing that someone he knew had died. The news of the death of his relatives was amusing to him. It made him wonder how much of his blood was still alive and how many he had to kill. Elio used to kill his relatives for fun. It was because he wanted to be the last one standing in the dynasty of the Fords. The day his grandfather was killed was the same day he realised he had a thirst for blood. He was greedy for the scent of blood. But it was quiet before he married Ayah. The greed he had started the day he met her and ended the day he was reunited with her again. But the day he smelled her beautiful fragrance he lost quite all of him. Her presence quite gave his life the missing piece he needed. He was awestruck by her magic. He felt things he never thought he would feel. “It seems like she is the only thing you feel. As if she is the only emotion for you.” Carlo said, grabbing Elio’s attention whose mind was filled with her thoughts. “What?” Elio picked his hea
Chapter Seventy-Eight She wanted to run away. Anyhow. Ayah wanted to leave this world just the way she came here. Ever since she set foot onto the earth all she felt was pain, hopelessness, oppression, and numbness. At first, it was her family, then her classmates, and now her husband. She felt suffocated. Ayah’s dream was to be able to go and lay in a garden without a worry of the world but her sufferings chased her to this point. True happiness was foreign to her. Ayah sighed and removed the duvet off of her. Elio left after feeding her a plate of brown rice and chicken. She hated the fact that she was afraid of him so much now. She was always afraid of him but the change in his demeanour made her shiver. It was almost like black clouds were shadowing over him. She was helpless against him. Ayah took a deep breath. She wanted to live. He did not break her so much so that she would wish death. No. Instead, after years she did the right thing. She needed spiritual healing. So she
Chapter Seventy-Seven“Would you like something to eat?” Mrs. Rose asked Ayah, who was looking outside of the window with no expression on her face. Her face was getting paler day by day. This could not be ignored by Alice who was feeling heartbroken looking at that girl. Alice sat beside Ayah and stroked her dark hair with her hands gently. She did not know how to comfort the girl who heard the loss of her mother after years or a girl who was raped by her husband. Ayah’s painful screams were heard by every soul in the mansion churning their hearts. Elio’s ruthlessness could not be controlled by anyone. “Did she eat something?” Alice asked Mrs. Rose was standing at the door of the bedroom with a stoned expression on her face. Her lips were turning blue and her old wrinkles were more visible on her face now. Mrs. Rose shook her head. She felt an unbearable pain in her chest. Her plans failed. The plans that she created to separate Ayah from Elio failed miserably. This was something
Chapter Seventy-SixThe soldiers of Japan were a different breed. They were trained in the most inhumane way possible. So the people dreaded for their families to be a part of the military. But Grey’s father was a different breed. He was the general of the military and he knew the ways that could bend someone to perfection. He was trained so he trained. His disappointment of having a daughter was so immense that he mixed that feeling with his aggressiveness of the training of his daughter. Though his generations were known to be the protectors of the fords for centuries, he was different. Elio’s grandfather did not wish him to be a protector; rather he was sent to the military. So he felt like the first failure of the generation. He mixed those emotions to create Grey. The Girl from the Ashes. She had the blood of her father inside her. The consequence of being in a relationship with her was death. Her training started at the age of four. Inhumane and ruthless. So Grey grew a way
Chapter Seventy-FiveThe sun was hiding behind the clouds as the misty wind blew around the gardens. The water droplets on the flowers fell on the ground but no sound was heard. Nobody heard anything now because the storm last night was too loud. Everybody heard but no one said anything against it. It was a chaotic silence. Ayah was looking at the ceiling of the bedroom. Her breathing was even and calm, unlike last night. Her tears on the side of her face dried up. She felt like her whole body was numb. She looked beside her. Her husband who was sleeping peacefully on his back did not budge when she tried to get up. Ayah wiped her tears and tried to get up from the bed. She felt a tug on her waist. Before she could look back, Elio pulled her on the bed. She gasped. He hovered on top of her and buried his face inside her neck. She felt disgusted. But she did not have any strength inside her to push him off or resist him. He left small peppery kisses on her nape and neck then smiled.
Chapter Seventy-FourElio and Ayah both of them were looking at each other with the same level of resentment as the other. Both of their eyes reflected danger. Ever since they crossed paths with each other this was the first time that both of them were in the same level of emotion, resentment, and hatred. Their potential to be dangerous was just equal. The love between them faded away as soon as it happened. Those peaceful moments filled with sweetness and serenity that put out the fire inside his heart were crushed like pieces of glass. It was as if the bottle of poison woke the monsters inside him. Ayah was standing still and steel. Her eyes could not believe that once again she had been hit by a man who had been lying to her and abusing her existence. The first one was her father now it is her husband who stood there with equal vengeance in his eyes. Both of them wanted answers for each other but none of them started first. Mrs. Rose took in the tension between them. She gulped.
Two souls amidst the chaotic lies around them not being able to grasp the reality. They not being able to differentiate between foes or friends. Her heart was tangled in his clasp of redeemer vision whilst his mind could not digest the fact that she could ever hold venom in her chest. The darkness was wiping out but the radiation of light disappeared into eternity. Ayah and Elio can never go back now. The truth has been unveiled but none of them realized that it was not them but the ones who wanted to sever the bond between them. Their worldly life confused them to such an extent that nothing could match the pieces. Elio gripped the poison in his hand tightly, so tight as if his life depended on it. Mia and Neko watched him storm out of the apartment. Elio’s eyes were bright red and swollen but there were no signs of tears. Inei watched him go from behind and her nasty smirk sparked suspicions in Mia’s mind. Mia walked towards her and gripped her arm. “What the heck are you trying
Chapter Seventy-Two“Take a deep breath,” Mrs. Rose instructed Ayah, who was on the verge of hyperventilating. She closed her eyes to relax and calm herself down but was unable due to the sudden brush of betrayal in front of her eyes. What did she just witness? Her husband, Elio was being touched by another woman while he was closing his eyes enjoying the pleasure. What kind of a scene was it? She felt her heart ripped apart. Was it justifying? Did she not intend to kill her husband a few days ago? Did she not think of it? Then why is her heart ripping into pieces? She gripped her chest as tears streamed down her eyes. She could not breathe properly. Is this who he was all along? A cheater? All he said was a lie all along? Was he playing her all this time? "Calm down, darling." Mrs. Rose patted her back. Right when Elio was out of the door of his bedroom, Ayah came down the stairs and the only person who dragged her into the maid's quarters was Mrs. Rose. She locked the door and
Chapter Seventy-One“What in the world are you doing here?” Elio snaps at Inei who stands in front of his car with a smile that does not offer anything good. She puts her hair behind her shoulders. "Well, I am just celebrating my return as you won't." She said and opened the car door. She placed herself on the seat beside him which fueled Elio's anger to doom. "I don't want to deal with you now. Get out!" He growled but her unbothered expression told him enough. She is not an easy girl so he does what is best with her. Her stubborn attitude was put up by her father but he doubted it was the case for him. He closed his eyes tightly out of frustration. "I said, get out. NOW." His voice boomed in the garage. But she did not move a muscle and instead tilted her head and smiled at him again. "Take me where you are going." She said in a sing-song voice. Elio was surprised by her audacity. No one had the guts to mess with him, especially in such a situation where he was going to Ayah in
Chapter SeventyCarlo stood in front of Elio for further instructions as he looked at his Young Master in a bad state of mind. Elio was sweating profusely even though the weather was chilly due to the rain shower. He looked like a mess though a charming one. Elio was effortlessly beautiful. He didn't even try to look half as gorgeous as he was. God had forged him especially perhaps because his face was unmatchable. Elio did not look like anyone else; it was as if he inherited half of the beauty of mankind. Even in a state managed to look breathtaking. Carlo gazed at Elio with his mouth half-open. Men could not help but admire him. He had the magnificence, the money, the brain, and quite everything any man could dream of. “Should I prepare some cold bath for you?” Carlo asked. Elio gulped, his head was thrown back on the chair and his eyes were closed. The black shirt he wore was stuck to his body like a second skin and his visible forearms looked hotter as his veins popped out. St