CHAPTER 135 : Happy Birthday, My Love... ( Beverly Hills, California.) "Thank you." Natalia whispered and lowered the beverage mug. "I should be the thankful one." He countered. She looked away when the emotion in his eyes made her fingers tremble slightly. Arian smiled at the effect he still had on her and took the mug away. "After breakfast, you'll take a shower and then we'll have a dip in the pool." He layed out. Natalia was confused because she didn't remember seeing a pool outside. And besides, the weather was too cold for any sane person to take a swim. Arian noticed her confusion. He picked up a fork and knife and elegantly placed a piece of bacon in her mouth. "Do not worry. I have a pool house downstairs and can heat up the water to suit you. So?...'' He smiled and held her chin. "Will you go on a date with me?" Natalia nodded with a glow in her big brown eyes, realising that the boy she fell in love with was slowly
CHAPTER 136 : Battle Strategy. ( Beverly Hills, California.) "Arian, I don't think I can take in another surprise or I'll burst!" Natalia squealed as he led her back to the bedroom with a blindfold. "Forget about the blindfold. It's not really a surprise." He smiled and she rolled her eyes. Oops! She can't. She giggled as he opened the door. "You can remove it now." He announced. Natalia who was dying to see the not-really-a-surprise surprise, inelegantly tore the blindfold from her eyes! A few seconds later... "Arian, this is too much." She whispered. Arian hugged her from behind and placed a kiss on her neck. "I know you're already a Queen, but you're my personal royalty. Nothing is too much for you. Happy birthday again, my love." He breathed with a smile. At the centre of the room, was the setting of a camp dinner with her favourite foods and fruit wine, this time. Exquisite rugs, duvets and throw pillows sat in succession under
CHAPTER 137 : A Part Of My Soul... ( Beverly Hills, California.) "You're not gonna let that slide, are you?" Arian asked and she guiltily nodded. Natalia recognized the middle aged man she met with Arian when she woke up on new year's morning.He was one of the most capable and influential lawyers in the country. Most of his cases were a huge success with only a few lost ones in his outstanding record. He was really famous and Natalia had seen him in the news a couple of times before. "I wanted to figure out a way to end my engagement." He disclosed. She looked at him. "You...you did?" "Yeah. But he needs time to review the whole legal procedures taken and documents signed before coming up with a solution." "I thought you wanted to change your surname and move away." She murmured. Arian shot her a wry smile. "Why would I think of doing that? The fact that Sir Argent messed up doesn't mean I'll change my identity....especially because
CHAPTER 138 : His Body On Hers... ( Beverly Hills, California. ) Natalia wiped her tears and nodded before taking a step back. Then a light bulb went off! "I'll go. But before I do, please tell me what the time is?" She innocently fluttered her lashes. Arian raised his head to say something like....isn't that a phone in your hand?....but stopped and rolled his eyes instead. "A couple of minutes past ten." He mumbled. Natalia deliciously bit her lips. "Well since you lost the bet, you'll have to do anything I want!." She announced triumphantly. Arian's eyes dramatically crawled up to meet hers. "And how would I know if you didn't sleep off in the last twenty minutes?" He accused. She shrugged nonchalantly but in a wicked way that hinted 'well that's your problem, dude!'. "Since cameras aren't installed in the bedrooms, you'll just have to trust me." She breezed. Why didn't he install them?! Arian muttered some not-too-saintly stuff unde
CHAPTER 139 : Sea of Desires. ( Beverly Hills, California. ) Natalia intimately wrapped her arms around Arian, arching her back to grant him more access to her. Her skin was smooth and hot. She was willing and submissive in his arms, and he could do whatever he wanted with her. But when his hands unstrapped her bikini, a muffled tinge of his consciousness shrilled out despite the sea of desires he was drowning in. Arian painfully pulled away and zipped up her sweatshirt. Natalia confusedly looked up at him with eyes shrouded with passion and temptatively resumed the kiss. Arian easily got lost again but he used the last shred of his control to break away. "We should stop." He whispered and lowered his hot gaze, his face inches from hers. "N..no. I don't..." Her fingers pulled him back down again but he gently restrained her. "Natalia, we should stop." "Why?" She cutely fluttered her long lashes. Arian hastily got off her and pu
CHAPTERCHAPTER 140 : ( In the middle of nowhere. ) Jackson walked into the room and bowed before the Mafia Don. "Tell me." "Everything's ready as you instructed." He reported. The Mafia Don relaxed into his chair and puffed out smoke from the cigarette in his slender fingers, one which ladies oh-so-frequently swooned at. "Your pawns are in position and are ready to strike. But I don't get one thing, Don.'' Jackson pointed out with a bit of hesitation. The Mob boss finished up his glass of whiskey and picked up his favourite gun. "Why don't you just finish her off like the rest? Our lowest ranked dogs can easily infiltrate the house and make it seem like an incident. She's staying alone with the boy and the housekeeper so it shouldn't be much of a problem." He cautiously asked as his superior slowly took out the bullets and fixed them back. "Do you know how long I've waited for this day, Jackson?" He icily stared at a silver bullet
CHAPTER 141 : The Empress In Danger... ( Beverly Hills, California. ) "You dammed bitch!" A furious voice yelled out of the blues and slapped her. Natalia pushed her hair away, shock bringing her tears to a stand still. She looked up to see Selena glaring at her! "You're nothing but a cheap slut!" The raging mademoiselle tried hitting her again but the hospital's security ran into the scene in time. They held her back from lunging forward again. "You think I didn't know you were with him the whole time?? You ruined my wedding, tramp! You're a shameless whore, Alexis!" She kept screaming as they tried to restrain her. A little crowd had gathered. "This is a hospital, miss! The noise you're making will upset the patients..." "I don't give a damn!" She yelled again. "Please, escort her out." The head of the hospital's security team ordered and his men did. Selena kept on screaming inconceivable cusses as they pulled her out. "E
CHAPTER 142 : The Demon In Me. ( Beverly Hills, California. ) Arian De' Argent walked out of the hospital still trying to reach Natalia. But the usual reply which he'd watched her record with delight nights ago came through... ~~ Hey, it's me! Sorry I'm not available right now. If it's important, call again. But if it isn't?... Don't bother! ~~ The gorgeous French left the same message he'd been sending repeatedly and shut his phone. My love, where are you?? He groaned in frustration and bumped into a panicky Elva who was with a couple others. "Arian!" "Elva!" They gushed simultaneously and breathed out, almost hugging each other in relief. "Have you seen Natalia??" They uniformed again. "You both should calm down." Naomi stated authoritatively. Elva tried to calm her rising fear and Arian did the same. "Now..." The current chief investigator took charge, staring at Arian flatly. "Did the Empress Alexis come int
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.