CHAPTER 98 : Hallucinations. ( Beverly Hills, California. ) "Arian, open up." Selena said and held the spoon to his mouth. Arian ignored her and kept staring into space. He'd been doing it since forever and it was starting to get on her darn nerves! "Why won't you eat? You won't get well at this rate." She tried again but he blinked silently. The rest were in school. Mom Rose left earlier to do something after leaving Tommy with her. The little fox laid beside Arian and naughtily mimicked whatever his big brother did which made Selena more mad! She looked at the chicken nuggets she'd cooked and concluded it was a waste. Since Arian woke up, he hadn't spoken a word. Not even to his own mother. The doctors said it was a side effect which would heal eventually. The psychologists among them spoke all the jargons they could come up with but it didn't stop everyone from thinking he was crazy! All he did was to sleep when he's sedated, eat when he's forced to
CHAPTER 99: Just The Both Of Them. ( In the middle of nowhere. ) A door opened into a silent room and a man walked in and bowed. He was the most trusted accomplice of The Master, who every underground criminal organization feared and respected. "Master, I just got word that Mr Givanchy is in the Empress's dungeons." He reported. Though it was a luxurious bedroom, the room was dark and had an ominous aura. The type that gave a chilly, killing intent. The only source of light came from the dark night clouds penetrating through the glass walls where The Master stood. He slowly took off his legendary mask and coat without a care in the world and poured himself a glass of whiskey. Of course, his subordinate was the only person that had ever seen his face. "And?" His voice was icy cold. "She put him and his family in a secret jail underground the palace. Should we send our leaks to finish him off?'' He remained bowing. The Master twirled
CHAPTER 100 : Get The Entourage Ready! ( Astheria, Australia. ) Natalia pushed open her office door and dashed to her desk drawer with Jake hot on her trail. The guards inspecting the break in made way for her immediately. She pushed the swivel chair away and made to punch in the password when Jake grabbed her wrist and spun her around. "Don't! It might be a trap." He squatted and ran his fingers gently around the sides, checking for any abnormality. When he was done scrutinizing, Natalia hastily pulled it open. "Where's it?!" She panicked, desperately searching the empty drawer for the diary. "It was right here! No one knew the pass code. W...." "Chief, we checked the CCTV cameras for the past thirty minutes and found this." A guard played a video on the flat screen TV in the office. Jake took control of it and moved it forward to the past ten minutes. In the video, a figure walked into the study using a master key to open t
CHAPTER 101 : A Permanent Union. ( Astheria, Australia. ) "What present will you...or more precisely...will Astheria be giving the La crofts for their anniversary?" Elva asked. The Empress was getting ready for bed while Elva was helping with her wardrobe. "The La Crofts have been Astheria's longest ally. So some form of partnership will further strengthen our friendship." She sat delicately on her dressing stool and picked up her hairbrush. Elva took it from her. "Let me." "I'm no longer a child." She bluntly pointed. "Whatever. I've missed brushing your hair." She confessed and gently ran the bristles through her long hair. "Mhn." Natalia offered perfunctorily. Elva aggrievedly sighed in a dramatic way. "It's not much of an apology! But your apology is accepted on the condition I get a leave for a week?" "Get ready to lose your job as well." She was blunt. Elva laughed out and pulled her hair but Natalia didn't smil
CHAPTER 102 : Caught On Camera. ( Beverly Hills, California. ) "It's official. I've reached my limit!" Ricky groaned and fell on his back. Arian fell on his side after placing his empty beer can on the pyramid they were building with empty cans. "Gosh! Who's gonna get us home?? I can't drive with blurry sights." He squinted painfully, going through his phone. Ricky couldn't see clearly so he let it slip off his fingers and slide away. "I guess we'ld have to wait for someone to call." He stretched himself like a butterfly and closed his eyes. The light from above the ceiling was becoming too sharp for them. "I remember the last time I got this drunk.'' He continued and chuckled at the memory. "I woke up in a dumpster the next morning! It was the time I stupidly broke up with the perfect girl for me. It was my fault, you know. If I hadn't been that naive weakling, I'ld have damned the entire world and stuck to her even if she cheated! "
CHAPTER 103 : The Exquisite Madame Stephanie... ( Beverly Hills, California.) "Tommy, don't bounce on the couch! You're gonna fall and get hurt!" Mom Rose scolded. But the little fox grinned mischievously and jumped on another couch in his Superman pajamas, and resumed his trampoline practice. "Keep that up and you won't get any cookie." She threatened but he ignored her and started kicking the couch pillows everywhere with his 'Super strength' as he bounced. She groaned and put the last touch to Arian's bed. They were in his room, keeping him company after dinner. A couch pillow flew and accidentally knocked over a flower vase. Tommy froze and nervously giggled as his mother returned her glare. "It's time for you to go to bed! Nanny?!" She called out. "Mommy, don't bother. She won't hear you until you run all the way downstairs." He evilly taunted. Just then, Arian came out of the closet after having a shower, pulling on a
CHAPTER 104 : Familiar Voice. ( Beverly Hills, California.) "Daddy, why can't I??" Tommy whined, hanging onto Sir Argent's neck. The aristocratic French laughed as he carried the whining cat downstairs. "Because it'll be boring for kids like you." "I'm not a kid! I'm a big boy." He helplessly argued. "Of course. But it'ld be filled with grownups and there'ld be no kids around for you to play with. And do you know why?" "Why?" He pouted and leaned his head on his dad's shirt collar. "Because they're all gonna be home with their nannies, working on their color books, being obedient good boys and staying out of trouble! So that when mommy and daddy come home, they'll have lots of treats for them." Tommy aggrievedly nodded as they walked into the breakfast patio where Mom Rose was already waiting. "When he makes that cunning face, I know he wants something." She suspiciously zeroed her mint green eyes at them. Richard kissed
CHAPTER 105: The La Croft's Ball! ( Beverly Hills, California. ) Arian froze the second he stepped out of the elevator. The familiar voice echoing down the hallway caught his and his heart skipped a beat! He whipped his head fast enough to break his neck to prove his senses weren't playing a trick on him. Among the busy hallway filled with patients, nurses, doctors and visitors, his hopeful eyes caught a delicate figure running ahead. The sweats confirmed it was a female. But what pumped Arian's curiosity was the brownish blonde hair peeking out of the hoodie she wore over her head. His eyes widened and his heartbeat accelerated out of control as he turned to run after her, but a restraining hand pulled him back. "Arian! Where are you going? We have to sign out, remember? Let's do it quickly. Tommy wants to murder me with his hamburger cravings." Selena breathed, tugging him the opposite direction. Tommy, being the manipulative little fox, faked
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.