CHAPTER 122 : Caught Red-handed Cheating. ( Beverly Hills, California.) The funeral of Ashley Dan's dad went smoothly. Everyone in the neighborhood knew him as a kind philanthropist so it was more sorrowful. Despite his busy schedule, Sir Campbell attended the funeral not because they knew each other, but because of the fact that the philosopher cared for his son when he failed as a father. Though, he left after an hour. Ashley didn't have any other relatives. Her divorcée mother didn't even show up. Nicky's soft heart went out to the broken girl with red, puffy eyes staring lifelessly at the whole procedure. A few hours later, the last sympathiser left leaving Nicky and the employees of the house alone. Jeffrey was trying to make Ashley fall asleep while Nicky sat alone at the kitchen counter with her first meal of the day... a glass of orange juice. The evening sky was getting darker and the maids were making some nice soup for the mistr
CHAPTER 123 : Manipulating Her Senses... ( C-mega Mall, California.) Natalia warmly gave Tommy a hug but her eyes were stuck on his older brother, Arian De' Argent. He was the only person she could see. Arian's beautiful eyes were glued to hers also, boring holes into them. But she forcefully tore her eyes away and stared at Tommy who was bubbling with excitement. "Natalia, you came back! I missed you so much." He pouted and hugged her again. "I've missed you too, Tom." She whispered and held him closer. "Why didn't you call?" He demanded. She simply smiled, stalling for an excuse but thankfully, Arian came to her rescue. "It's enough, Tom. Let's go home." Gosh! That voice. Natalia thought, feeling his enchanting accent pulling at her heartstrings all over again. Tommy stubbornly wrapped his arms around her neck, refusing to let go. "Esmond, meet Arian. Arian, Esmond." Was the only thing she could mutter to end the awk
CHAPTER 124 : The Dark Shadows. ( Beverly Hills, California. ) Natalia's heart raced within her chest. She pulled away when Arian leaned in again. "We should stop. We're getting carried away." She whispered and tried to steady her breath. "Why?" He whispered back. His face was so close and his fingers were still working their magic on her lips, leaving hot delicious feelings behind. "For starters, you're getting married." She bravely looked up. Sudden remembrance flashed across Arian and he pulled his hair frustratedly. "Plus we're not together anymore. Now, please excuse me." She returned to her formal self and made to pass by. But he held her back. "Why do you keep making it sound like I chose to get married?" He questioned with the same attitude. "Because last time I checked, you're STILL getting married!" She returned. "And why are you being accusatory? Why do you still care?!" "Because I have every r
CHAPTER 125 : Chasing You Halfway Around The World... ( Beverly Hills, California.) "If you think she's right to screw up her best friend, then you're the biggest ass ever!" Bianca mouthed and threw a handful of popcorn into her mouth. "Why would you think that?" "Because you never agree with me on anything! Like when I said her boyfriend was gonna die." She reminded. Damon scoffed. "That was just a lucky guess." "Whatever! Dude's still dead." "Nope. He's alive somewhere in the world, counting his millions and leaving silly girls like you crying over nothing." He snorted. Bianca glared and hurled her soda can at him. Damon effortlessly caught it, smiled and looked away. Who'ld have thought he, the international Casanova, was gonna spend Christmas morning watching movies with a girl?? It was a first for him, but actually fun! Through her side eye, Bianca caught him staring at her and pushed his face back to the TV rough
CHAPTER 126 : The Nightmare At The Cemetery... ( Astheria, Australia.) "Stop! I'm sorry." Esmond gushed and shifted closer to Natalia in fright. "Just say my name alone and let's go. Please?" "Don't you want it dramatic again?" She teasingly narrowed her eyes. "No! Don't you know spirits move around during sunset? It still creeps me out till now." He whispered, his eyes fearfully darting around. A cold feeling swept through Natalia as she looked around as well. That part of the palace was near the rich woods which was already dark. The darkness was slowly creeping to where they were which creeped her out! "Stop joking. How did you know? Who told you that?" She whispered back, scooting closer to him until their frightened bodies pressed. "My sister. I never believed her until she died. I used to stay at her grave until I started seeing strange stuff after sunset..." Natalia immediately stood up with her phone. "Let'
CHAPTER 127 : Naughty Tendencies. ( Beverly Hills, California.) Thankfully, the young master felt better by the time they drove home. His agitated nerves had relaxed and his stress reduced. Tommy was already asleep so he carried him in. But the Madame of the manor appeared at the grand semi-circular staircase, looking like the furious mother. "Mom, he's sleeping." Arian quickly whispered to avoid her scoldings. "Really?" Mom Rose was shocked. "Yeah." "Aww. You're such a sweetheart, pumpkin!" She pecked him sweetly. "But don't EVER try this late night stunt again!" Arian meekly smiled. "I'll take him to bed. Your dad and the rest are waiting for you at the third living room. Go meet them." She said and walked up the stairs. As she turned around, Tommy De' Argent opened an eyelid and winked at his big brother mischievously before faking sleep again.Arian gagged!That... "My love!" Selena appeared out of thi
CHAPTER 128 : Without Looking Back... "Honey..." Mom Rose cried hurtfully. "I only got your superficial love when you needed me for something. When you declared the contracted marriage and I lost the most precious person in my life, I still tried to forgive you because I loved you.'' His voice shook. "I've sacrificed my life to pleasing you. Yet, it was nothing! You not only destroyed my happiness...but now you're also trying to send me away?'' He was in agony. "How could you, dad?!" Sir Argent looked away to keep his emotions neutral. "Do you know what? I don't care anymore. I'm done taking out your trash! It was all about the money, right?" Sir Argent sharply looked back at Arian but he remained quiet. "Well to hell with you, your money and your damn contract! Your control over me ends today." Arian threw his car key, phones and credit cards that was on him on some random table. "You don't need to threaten to disown me
CHAPTER 129 : The Beginning Of The New Year... ( Beverly Hills, California.) "Selena, have you ever thought that maybe... just maybe, Damon could stop being a player?" Minji pursed her lips and stared at her. "And where did that come from?'' Selena twitched her neck her way. "So is it possible?" She ignored her. The French mademoiselle crashed on the bed next to her, thoughtfully. ''It's possible..." She breathed and Minji raised her head. But; "When he's grown old and died!" She snickered and stood back up. "How are you so darn sure?'' The Asian persisted. Selena scoffed and continued pacing. "Damon has been a nasty Casanova for as long as I've known him. And just a reminder, that's my entire life! Girls bore him out easily. It's tragic for one to put their hope on him because they'll be the one to get heartbroken in the end!.... Which isn't usually far away." "I don't want to believe it." Minji muttered and lowered he
CHAPTER 185 : Final Epilogue. ( Beverly Hills, California. ) "What are you doing?!" She bulged her eyes and moved away. "What?" Arian sheepishly groaned. "Don't 'what' me! You know what I mean!" She stated, playing their usual nightly 'what' game.....which usually followed the same pattern. Arian seductively wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. "We have the rest of the night to ourselves." He deliciously bit his lips and swept down to capture hers.But Natalia stepped away. "I need to check if the twins have yanked their heads off already." She tried to escape but Arian blocked her. "You're just coming from the nursery." He sexily pouted and Natalia almost gave in. She shook her head to reject the temptation. "I think it's time for Adrian's milk." She tried again but Arian easily caught her. "Adrian's asleep and his milk isn't until midnight. So..." He kissed her and slowly
CHAPTER 184 : Epilogue (2). ( Beverly Hills, California. ) "By the way, where is Jake?" Elva curiously asked. "He had some work to do and promised to be here this evening." Naomi answered. Natalia had set up a special committee of her most trusted ministers to hold the Empire for a few days. Jake was among the members so he had a little delay. "I really admire you." Naomi continued, taking the attention away from herself. "Being an Empress, a wife, a mother, a philanthropist and also a role model, all in one package!" She dramatised. "It's no wonder you haven't changed much with three kids! On the contrary, it made you hotter. I'm just expecting my second child but I feel like a granny!" Nicky joked and fondly rubbed her huge baby bump. "No! You're not a granny. You're my mommy." Louisa raised her head and pouted.The girls giggled when Nicky blushed. "It's no wonder you don't miss Jeffrey whenever he goes away on b
CHAPTER 183 : Epilogue. ( Beverly Hills, California. ) "How was your night?" Arian kissed Natalia as Adrian rubbed baby drool all over his face. Natalia stretched lazily and closed her eyes. "Stressful." She pouted. "I know, right? This champ is quite a handful at night.'' He tickled Adrian who hung on his neck like King kong. "Da-da! Da-da!!" He squealed happily which echoed arouund the room. "As if you weren't a handful yourself." She scoffed and turned away, pulling the duvet closer around her. It made Natalia a little jealous that Adrian hadn't yet learnt to call her mama. In fact, Dada was the only word he knew! Arian noticed it and chuckled, pulling her back to face him. As usual, he was shirtless wearing only sweatpants. Some habits were just so hard to break! Not that Natalia was complaining though. It made her husband look uncontrollably sexy! Adrian grinned down at his mama in his diapers. Fa
CHAPTER 182 : The Seal Of Their Love. ( Astheria, Australia. ) Still sitting on the floor, Naomi slowly arranged her things inside a cardboard box. She shivered a bit because she was still wearing her clothes. But Naomi didn't care. There was more important things to be done than caring if she had gotten a cold by wearing her wet clothes for so long that it'd dried still on her. A knock sounded on the door. "Please go away. I'm a little busy." Her hoarse voice sounded. Naomi knew the visitor wasn't on an official business. If the Empress or the royal assistant needed her, they'ld have easily sent an email. And so far, they hadn't. Naomi couldn't blame them though. She felt embarrassed and hated her family's history. And after everything they had done to the Santianas, she couldn't bare to look at anyone anymore. After a while, the knock sounded again and this time, the person walked in without consent. Naomi didn't bother to l
CHAPTER 181 : Where's Naomi? ( Astheria, Somewhere in continent Australia. ) ( Hours Later. ) "She's not in danger but I still recommend a lot of rest. You can see her. Just make it as quick as possible." The aged doctor whispered and walked away. Elva Thompson and Jake Buniz nodded before walking into the Royal study. They found Natalia leaning on her desk, gently running her fingers over her grandmother's diary. Louis had kept it safe like he'd promised. "You should be resting. Doctor's orders." Elva let out a small frown in displeasure. "I'm fine." Natalia curtly said and stood up. The thick sweats she was wearing matched with her pale skin. She returned the diary to one of the drawers and faced them back. "Tell me. The casualty report?" She ordered. "We lost a good number of our men while the rest are being taken care of." Jake reported. "And Max?" Jake lowered his cold eyes in hes
CHAPTER 180 : The Battleground (3). ( In The Carribean Ocean.) The Mob boss snickered which sounded like something made in hell and back hugged Natalia, erotically pulling her closer. Arian fought the impulse to take a step and lunge at him! He was purposely riling him up to draw him into the sensors! "Tsk! Don't make her feel bad!" He clicked his tongue. "You were smart, my love. But sentimentality was all I needed to sneak into your lives.... And you gave it to me." He nuzzled her hair and possessively trailed kisses down her neck. Arian's insides cringed feeling his control slowly snap while Natalia's self hate increased each passing second. "Let her go!" Arian snarled, running out of patience and clenched his fists. "And you expect me to ask 'Or what?'." Leonardo cocked a cocky brow. "Look around you, fool! We ain't in some shitty movie. This is my turf! I run this freaking game!" He viciously barked. "What do you want?" A
CHAPTER 179 : The Battleground (2). ( In The Carribean Ocean.) Meanwhile, the automatic doors trapping Arian De' Argent in the hallway reopened after the lights had suddenly turned off and returned after five seconds. Arian turned to continue the search for his love but stopped when Naomi froze....and then fainted. He hastily caught her before she could crash land. "Hey, hey!" He called seeing her drowsy eyes. "What..." The French heir froze on his interrogation when he saw four darts pierced into her pretty brochette and a fifth one stuck on the skin of her neck. Naomi had thrown herself in front of Arian when she noticed the danger he was in without thinking. Arian pulled them out and tapped her lightly. "Hey, stay with me, okay?" The timid spy tried to nod but the snake venom was working tremendously fast, already at the second stage of the symptoms which was total paralysis. "Hey!" Arian yelled. "What?!" Max yelle
CHAPTER 178 : The battleground (1). ( In The Carribean Ocean.) "Who do you want to go first?" He casually, but deviously asked. The gunshots continued more fiercely and through the cameras, Natalia and the few in the room could see the gory battle going on. As observers seeing the whole battle ground, anyone could bet that Astheria had an upper hand! "The only game we'll be playing is the one you'll be losing." She seethed in confidence. Leonardo coldly smirked which gave her goosebumps for some reason before placing his hand on a screen which scanned his fingerprints. "Good evening, Master. How may I be of service?" The voice of an artificial intelligence echoed from thin air. "Ava, place the fortress on lockdown." He ordered. "As you wish, Master." A moment later, metal doors sprung up trapped everyone in. Those who were fighting outside couldn't get in and those who were in couldn't get out. Natalia's heart skipped a be
CHAPTER 177 : Let's Play A Game, Shall We?... ( In The Carribean.) "Something is wrong." Jake Buniz stated, pacing restlessly around the communication tent. The geniuses among the little battle squad was in the same tent, doing what they did best with the gadgets and devices in there. They were all dressed the same with silent and serious features. "She should've made contact by now." The Captain of the army continued. "Let's think more positively. It could be that Naomi hasn't yet located the Empress.... Even though it's not really a positive thought. However, you above everyone else knows how shady these Kelions are. There's still a few hours till midnight. We should give her a little more time." Max offered, more relaxed than his superior as as he typed away on a computer. "I trust my instincts. And right now, something doesn't feel right." Jake stopped behind him and leaned over with a hand on his chair and the other on the table.