CHAPTER 90 : Stay With Me... Arian's thoughts repeatedly drifted to Natalia. Although Ricky was saying something, the clingy side of him kept missing her cozy touch. He needed her by his side. Call it crazy but he becomes restless when she isn't with him. He couldn't imagine a life without her!In their moment of pleasure, he still couldn't believe he asked her to run away with him. After the idea popped into his head, he was so desperate to even give it a second thought before blurting it out...Yeah, it was that bad! Selena had been persistently hanging around his neck lately, irritating his senses of her love for him. She was the main reason Arian avoided sleeping home every night because whenever he did, he wakes up the next morning to find her half nude on his bed, cuddling into him. There was one night he had a little drink on an empty stomach and got real tipsy. He tossed away a project blueprint he was supposed to submit to his father the next day and fell asle
CHAPTER 91 : Her Fiancé! Arian furrowed his brows in confusion but laughed her cuteness off when she made space for him without waiting for his reply. He kicked off his shoes and took off his belt before she pulled him to lay beside her. Natalia moved into him and he secured his arms around her warmly. They were cuddling. "Sugar, are you asleep?" Arian whispered after a while. She muttered a no. "I...I have to tell you some..." Natalia placed a finger on his lips. "Don't tell me anything. Whatever it is, I believe you." She mumbled sleepily. Elva might be good at reading people but Natalia's instincts were good. Of course, she had noticed that he'd been tensed lately. "But I really..." "Arian if you keep pushing it, then I'll get mad. I just wanna go to bed. I told you... I believe you." She pouted without opening her eyes. Arian fondly kissed her fingers which made her blush. "You're something." "I know." She grinned proudly. He chuckled
CHAPTER 92 : Broken Hearts (She's Gone). "What do you want?" She seethed, not in the mood for her stunts. "Cool it, will you? I came in peace." She smirked and invited herself in. "Nice pl..." "What do you want?!" Natalia snapped. Selena turned with a sly look. "If you're so excited, okay. I came to invite you to my engagement party. And since you're VIP, I'm giving you the first IV." She shoved an elegant invitation card in her hand.Natalia looked it over and saw Arian's name matched with hers."What's the meaning of this joke?" She chuckled despite her annoyance. "I'm not in the mood to play games, so please leave.""I'm not surprised Arian didn't tell you. Why do you think I've been living at the Argent's mansion for months now? Arian and I have been betrothed since childhood and our wedding is just around the corner." She triumphantly smirked.And the invitation card fell off Natalia's hand."Y..you're l...lying. You're lying! You're ju...just making things up to separate
CHAPTER 93 : Broken Hearts (The End Of It All...) ( Astheria, Somewhere In Australia. ) The princess ungraciously jumped out of the limo before the royal guards could get to it and rushed into the palace. Nothing of her etiquette spoke of royalty. Ignoring the countless bowing maids and the army of guards, she dashed into the elevator. Security instantly made way as she flew out. Every inch of the Queen's wing was crawling with them. She barged into the ruling Queen's room and looked over at the number of doctors crowded around the sick old woman. "Grandma!" Natalia choked out uncontrollable tears and ran to her side. She looked extremely pale and lifeless lying on her death bed. Drips and an oxygen mask was connected to her. In total, the entire room looked like a hospital ward. The doors subserviently closed signifying the doctors' departure. "My precious pearl, is that you?" Queen Fiona was barely audible as her weak eyes slightly opened and squinted
CHAPTER 94 : An Endless Darkness. ( Astheria, Somewhere In Australia.) The official Royal assistant watched as the Empress finished her morning jog with her trainer and walked over. At a rate which scared Elva, Natalia bounced back faster than she expected after her grandmother's death. The person she knew died the moment those autopsy reports came out. Everything changed. Everything about her changed. The months after her coronation were the toughest for everyone working at the palace, including Elva. The Empress started self defense classes and paid total awareness to everything she ate, down to the things she touched! She shut everyone out, even her best friend. It scared Elva to see the opposite side of someone she loved and worried for. She couldn't dare to mention anything that had to do with Arian De' Argent, else it'ld have been her and not the unlucky maid getting scolded for serving cold water instead of lukewarm water.She sighed. Elva passed
CHAPTER 95: Catching The Mastermind. ( Astheria, Australia. ) The Empress walked into the ancestral office used by each ruling King or Queen. She sat on the soft leather swiveling chair and faced Elva while the guards stood outside the door. She could faintly smell her Grandmother's scent and it intensified her desire to fulfil her promise! Elva sat on one of the two sofas before her with her legendary tablet. Wearing a Navy blue straight cut gown and black heels, she dressed the look. "If you're ready, a royal secretary has been appointed to you by the late Queen." She informed. Natalia raised her eyes and nodded. "Send her in." A moment later, a pretty female walked in. She couldn't have been more than twenty one. She had a pure face but her confident aura shone through her well tailored suit. Her hair was in a ponytail. "Good morning, Empress Alexis. I'm Naomi Grindle. Reporting to be your official secretary from now on." She bowed a little.
CHAPTER 96 : Broken Into Comatose. ( BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA.) Ricky Winterfield sat across Arian De' Argent who was lying on a hospital bed in a private ward. He had a good view of the broken hearted French in coma. His condition was critical. Stable one minute and unstable the next. After hearing the terrible crash from inside the room, a professional locksmith was hired and security literally had to bulldoze the door to get to him. Mom Rose went crazy seeing her son lying cold and lifeless in a pool of his own blood. No one knew how Arian was still alive. The best doctors were paid to save him but they couldn't do much. He went into coma and they weren't sure when he'ld wake up. Jeffrey, Damon, Nicky and Selena were also in the room. Mom Rose stuck to Arian's bedside like glue. She looked miserable. Her eyes were red and puffed from so much crying. And her hands couldn't rest a minute, arranging random stuffs on his bedsheets. "Doctor Stephen, how lon
CHAPTER 97 : The Vicious Empress. ( BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA.) Mom Rose stared unblinking at the doctor, refusing to believe her son was dead. As if jolted by a tremendous surge of energy, she screamed and pushed away the nurse who tried to cover him up with his bedsheet! The doctors jerked into action but she was already with Arian, shoving him with all her might. They tried to tear her off his body but she pushed them away instead and they tumbled, wondering where her adrenaline came from! "Arian, wake up! I'm not joking with you. Wake up!" She screamed and slapped him for the first time ever. "Get your annoying, ugly self out of this bed and outside this hospital! I'm talking to you!" She choked out and hit him again. "Have you forgotten?!" She grabbed his hospital uniform. "Have you forgotten about her? Have you forgotten your promises? Are you just going to give up?! You're a coward, Arian! You're such a big coward!" She yelled and shook him again. Mo
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.