CHAPTER 12 : Unbridled...Elva knew this was gonna happen. And it wasn't even up to two hours yet! She knew trouble when she saw one and currently, one stood by their table spotting a fake red hair!"Hi." Bianca smirked.Elva forced a nod, Natalia's polite smile followed while Nicky simply glared! The Queen Bee undauntedly continued."Since y'all newbies, I'll make this nice and quick...""There's no need stating the obvious." Nicky interrupted her with a silent sneer. Elva turned at her, impressed.This should be fun."Oh shut it, four eyes! Did you finally get tired of two?" Bianca viciously mocked and her girls laughed.Natalia unconsciously cringed because their giggles sounded evil! Nicky wanted to retaliate but Elva gave her a look. It was best for them to say whatever they had to and leave!"As I was saying, welcome to Beverly Hills Academy. And as the queen, it was necessary to welcome you myself.... as distasteful as it is. However, there's a particular rule these losers over
CHAPTER 13 : Brushing lips...The whole class stared in disbelief at the newbie, Natalia Kendall, who openly challenged the queen!Unlike Bianca and the rest of the class, Mrs Sharon's shock bordered largely on impression. "It's okay to disagree, Miss Kendall..." She tried to restore order when the whispers started again. "But could you enlighten us further to prove your point?"Natalia could feel Nicky's questioning gaze and Elva's pleading look, as well as a number of pair of eyes on her.But the timid princess didn't care! The honor and dignity of her ancestry was on the line!"True enough, the duo built Astheria from scratch and made her rear her head as proudly as a white stallion....but falsely enough, Don Pablo Santiana didn't deny or feed off on the toils of his partner, Don Grantino. Instead, it was the other way around!""Lord Grantino Rodriguez, seeing how powerful Astheria was growing by the day became a power hungry tyrant!" She snarled.Gasps went round the class
CHAPTER 14 : Like Her Smile.( Empire Astheria, Somewhere In Australia.)A knock sounded on the door and her personal aide, Lady Rosa, came in with her medication and noon tea."Oh, Rosa. I don't know why you bother yourself all round the clock with these things. They aren't even doing much!" The Queen smiled tiredly. Lady Rosa, her longest, most loyal head maid, chuckled lightly and gave a light curtsey."Your Majesty, the orders are directly from the royal physicians. And besides, it is my duty to serve you. And I do so with all pleasure.""However, don't you have your family to bother about too?" A touch of genuine concern etched her old eyes. "Lately, I've been thinking of relieving you of your duties so you could focus on your family too."Lady Rosa poured out the Queen's tea with stable hands and subserviently passed the saucer which held the pills."Your Majesty, I've been with you for over two decades. The royal family and the palace is my home. And aside my dearest old cat, M
CHAPTER 15 : Her Unwilling, New Neighbour.It was Thursday and their second day in school. This time, Natalia made sure they went to the academy early! The girls employed a housekeeper so things would be easier. Now they had a driver, housekeeper, gardener, security.... They were slowly becoming a big family! The princess still missed her grandmother a lot though. Their nightly, check-up video calls was still absolutely mandatory.As they drove into B.H.A, Natalia and Elva spotted Nicky Winterfield waiting for them at a garden. She cheerfully waved to them after raising her head from the book she was glancing through and they waved back. Then the trio held hands and continued their journey into the hallway. Thankfully, the stares had reduced. Well, a little. Nicky turned to them when they got to their lockers."What class are you girls having?""Uh...math. Right?" Natalia asked and Elva nodded."Great! We're in the same class so let's go?" Nicky chirped and breezed them over. The
CHAPTER 16 : Peculiar, but Attractive...Natalia was having a panic attack!What in heaven's wrong with me?! She mentally screamed and face palmed herself. The princess wasn't sure what made her heart beat a million times faster.The fact that her lips was out of control for the second time in two days?! OR the fact that she was sitting so dangerously close to the first person who easily knocked her out of her royal senses!The witch definitely deserved an award! Reality made her shriek. There was no denying the demi god looks!Natalia couldn't breathe well. She was a nervous wreck! Her face blushed furiously from embarrassment double over.Thankfully, the math teacher stepped in at the right moment. The bubbly class became silent, holding in their grumbles. Natalia swallowed dry air and sat properly, avoiding eye contact with the guy next door.She could feel his burning gaze spitting fire at her and the wicked, muffled chuckles coming from behind. It only reddened her flushed face
CHAPTER 17 : Where's Natalia??Such effrontery! Bianca raged and raised her hand to hit her!"Before you do..." The princess Alexis, who was unused to being pushed around, coldly cut her short. "Remember you're an ambassador of the school and there are surveillance watching you." She stated.Bianca froze completely. The revelation seemed to have cooled her flaming temper, and reminded her of her covert but infallible ways of getting back at certain bitches! She dropped her hand and took a few dangerous steps away slowly, putting some distance between them and looking like a snake preparing to strike! But she didn't."Just a quick reminder..." She venomously growled, keeping her voice above a whisper audaciously."This isn't over." The fire blazing in her eyes was proof enough. If Natalia was scared, she no longer showed it. Instead, she dryly rolled her eyes and made a bored face, undaunted.Bianca raised a corner of her lips in a smirk, which looked like a nasty bee sting. She sh
CHAPTER 18 : Are You Mad At Me?"You were saying?" She asked, casually crossing her arms. Bianca seethed angrily."You're really becoming a pest crawling under my skin."Natalia's poker face suddenly became lit as she burst out laughing! Everyone else remained dead silent, watching the drama unfold with mixed emotions."Sorry! Ex...Excuse me??" She stared at her in amazement. "Honey, I could've sworn it was the other way around." She paused and appeared thoughtful."On my first day here, I was expecting mutual socialisation and civilisation but that didn't happen. Rather, you and your band of....that thing going on over there...." She gesticulated towards the B.R.A.T.S with utter disgust. "....decided to ruin my day by spitting empty threats and silly rules at us! And oh, not to also forget spoiling my drink with your over polished nails... As if that wasn't enough, ''your highness'' took her precious time coming to me and my friends barely two hours ago, threatening what again??..
CHAPTER 19 : Gone Rogue...Nicky looked at him with bulged eyes but Jeffrey's twinkling blue ones made her nervous and look away."And...And why would you think so?" She stuttered, evading giving an answer. He shrugged thoughtfully."I dunno, but it kinda feels like it. You don't talk to me except you're forced to. You avoid me everytime we meet up at Rick's. You don't hang with me like you used to. And if we cross paths, you avoid contact and put some kind of....odd distance between us." He paused."Nick, you look away anytime you're with me....like you're doing right now." He noticed and playfully raised her chin with a curved finger.Nicky could feel it slipping. Gazing up at his pleasant features, she could feel her resolve slipping away.... And his finger on her wasn't helping at all.She slowly drew away."Fine. Maybe you're right. But it's best for me, you and Ricky if I just continue this way. Please, don't take it the wrong way." She murmured and made to leave but he gently
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.