The grand hall of the royal palace in Country S was bathed in cold light, the air thick with an undercurrent of tension. The Queen Consort, Gwendolyn Mason, seated on an ornate throne carved from dark mahogany, exuded an aura of calculated malice. Her sharp features were etched with a frown as her spy relayed the latest information.“Princess Esmeralda is alive,” the man said, his voice trembling slightly under her piercing gaze. “She’s in Country F… with Julio and her daughter, Elona.”The Queen Consort’s fingers tightened around the golden armrest, her nails scraping against the polished surface. “So, the rumors were true. That stubborn woman escaped the accident I so carefully orchestrated.” Her voice was icy, yet a flicker of doubt crept into her tone.“She has allies now,” the spy continued. “Julio, Leonardo, and even Master Fu are protecting her. Her daughter appears to have inherited her brilliance and is growing increasingly influential.”The Queen Consort’s eyes darkened. “Ma
Nineteen years had passed since Gwendolyn Mason’s fateful deception during her honeymoon with Hesperus Mendez. Now Queen Consort of Country S, Gwen believed her secret was long buried, but fate had other plans.The University of Althea in Country S was hosting a grand event to celebrate an international student exchange program, with the Queen Consort herself delivering the keynote speech. Dressed in a regal blue gown that accentuated her commanding presence, Gwen exuded grace and poise as she addressed the audience. Among the sea of students, one face caught her attention, and the words froze on her lips.He was tall and striking, his posture regal despite the casual student attire. His dark hair framed a face that bore an uncanny resemblance to her husband, King Hesperus. But what truly shook Gwen were his eyes. He had vivid, piercing blue eyes, identical to those of the young girl she had paid off nineteen years ago.For a moment, Gwen’s polished composure cracked. She struggled t
The afternoon sun painted the vineyards with a golden glow as Esme led Elona, Julio, and the triplets toward the sprawling Valtieri estate. Despite her fractured memory, the pull she felt toward Elona and Julio was undeniable. Every glance at Elona stirred an ache in her heart, while Julio’s quiet reverence evoked emotions she couldn’t name.Leonardo stood on the porch, his posture relaxed yet vigilant. As they approached, his gaze lingered on Julio and Elona. The resemblance between Esme and her daughter was unmistakable, and he couldn’t help but feel a pang of bittersweet pride. His own secret, that he was Esme’s father, remained unspoken, but seeing her slowly reconnect with her past brought him both comfort and longing.Esme's eyes sparkled with a mix of emotions as she stood in the grand foyer of the Valtieri estate, surrounded by the people who had somehow become her lifeline. She took a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly as she began the introductions."Leonardo, I'd lik
Esme's eyes sparkled with excitement as she turned to Leonardo in the grand foyer. "Leonardo, I have a favor to ask," she said, her voice filled with a newfound sense of purpose. Leonardo raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What is it, Esme?" "I want to host a banquet," Esme announced, her words tumbling out in a rush. "I want to introduce my family to the people here, to show them that I'm not just the icy queen they think I am." Leonardo's face broke into a warm smile. "I think that's a wonderful idea, Esme. When would you like to host the banquet?" Esme's eyes shone with determination. "As soon as possible. I want to show my family that I'm committed to rebuilding our relationships and creating new memories together." Leonardo nodded, his mind already racing with the logistics of planning a banquet on short notice. "I'll make it happen, Esme. Let's get started right away." The grand hall of Leonardo's sprawling estate shimmered with the warm glow of crystal chandeliers, casting a g
Meanwhile, in Country S, the Queen Consort sat in her private chambers, the flickering candlelight casting ominous shadows on the walls. A glass of crimson wine trembled in her hand as her informant knelt before her, head bowed low, trembling as he delivered the news."The poison... it was intercepted, Your Majesty," he stammered, voice barely above a whisper. "The banquet proceeded without incident. Your plan... it failed."The wineglass shattered in her grip, the shards slicing into her palm. She barely noticed the pain, her piercing blue eyes narrowing into slits. "Failed?" she hissed, her voice dangerously calm. "How is that possible? Every detail was meticulously planned. Who thwarted me?"The informant flinched, his head lowering further. "It appears Leonardo and his allies were prepared. They discovered the spy before...""Enough!" Gwen's voice sliced through the air like a dagger, silencing him instantly. She rose from her chair, her gown swirling around her like a storm cloud
Maribel stood at the airport terminal, a boarding pass for Country F in her hand. She stared at the glowing departure board, her mind racing. The Royale Group’s influence stretched across continents, but its heart lay firmly in Country M. Alaric Royale might be on vacation in Country F, but she knew where his loyalty and attention truly belonged.Her lips curved into a sly smile as she ripped the boarding pass in half, turning on her heel. "Country M it is," she murmured. If Alaric wouldn’t come to her, she would create a reason for him to return.The next morning in Country M, Maribel sat in her rented office, surrounded by financial reports and market analysis of the Royale Group. She’d spent weeks studying their operations, identifying vulnerabilities, and crafting her plan. The Royale Group’s stocks were solid, but even the strongest empires had cracks.She made several discreet calls, leveraging her contacts in the black market and business world. Rumors began to swirl in financi
The villa in Country F was unusually quiet after Alaric’s abrupt departure. Elona paced the length of the living room, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. She replayed their last conversation in her mind, irritation simmering beneath her composure. He always puts work first. Always.But even as the thought crossed her mind, doubt crept in. Had she been too harsh? The triplets missed their father terribly, and despite her frustration, she couldn’t deny the worry gnawing at her. Alaric’s voice had held an edge she hadn’t heard in years, a mixture of desperation and determination.Later that evening, as the triplets slept and the house settled into stillness, Elona decided to indulge her curiosity. She opened her laptop and navigated to the financial news sites. Her intention was simple: to confirm that Alaric had exaggerated the severity of the situation. Instead, what she found made her gasp.Headline after headline detailed the plummeting stocks of Royale Group, speculations abou
Elona sat in the quiet living room of the villa Alaric had assigned to her, staring out at the sprawling cityscape of Emerald Hill also known as the city of kings. The tension from their earlier conversation lingered, heavy and suffocating. Alaric’s insistence that everything was under control grated on her nerves. If only he knew who I really am, she thought bitterly.As the second-in-command of the Guild of Shadows, Elona had seen and dismantled schemes far more intricate than the one currently targeting Royale Group. But Alaric’s refusal to trust her instincts and his blind faith in Maribel, stung deeply.Alaric had handed her the keys to the villa before she left the Royale Group headquarters, his expression unreadable. “Stay here, Elona. It’s safe, and I’ll come back every night to see you. You don’t need to worry, Maribel has the situation under control.”His words were meant to comfort, but they only deepened the ache in her chest. She wanted to scream at him, to shake him unti
Alaric sat quietly in the corner of the apothecary, the faint scent of herbs and incense filling the air. The soft rustling of Elona’s movements in the adjacent room was the only sound, a quiet reminder of her presence. For the first time in years, Alaric felt an unfamiliar peace in his heart. It wasn’t the kind that came from success or wealth, but a calm born from simply being near the woman he had wronged so deeply.He leaned his head back against the wall, closing his eyes, but the memories of his failures refused to let him rest. His chest tightened as he thought of Elona, who had faced the world alone because of his poor judgmentWhy did I let myself believe those women? he thought bitterly. Maribel, Harley... all their lies, all their schemes. And I fell for them like a fool. Each time, I pushed Elona further away.He remembered the last time he had seen her before their reunion. She had been standing in the rain, holding their triplets, her shoulders squared despite the whisp
Arlyle leaned back in his chair, his sharp eyes scanning the files on their mother’s encrypted server. "We’re not done yet," he said firmly, his voice filled with determination. Allie frowned, a hint of worry on her face. “Arlyle, this is serious. If Mommy finds out, she’ll be really mad this time.”Artie, the youngest of the trio, crossed his arms. “Mommy always says the truth is the strongest weapon. We’re just using it to protect her and Daddy.” Arlyle nodded. “Exactly. If we don’t do it, who will? Those witches will just keep hurting Mommy and lying about Daddy.”Using their hacking skills, the triplets had uncovered the first of many shocking truths about Maribel. Though the world saw her as the Queen Consort’s loyal personal aide, the triplets discovered her deeper ties to the royal family of Country S. A dig through confidential adoption records revealed that Maribel had been picked up from an orphanage and raised as the Queen Consort’s goddaughter, her entire life carefully e
In Emerald Hill, Harley paced her luxurious bedroom, her face twisted in frustration. She had received news that Elona and her children were back in Alaric’s life. How dare she? Harley thought. After all these years, she still thinks she has a claim on him?Her anger boiled over as she scrolled through social media, where Maribel’s calculated posts flaunting her connection to Alaric had gained traction. Harley knew she couldn’t remain silent. She had waited too long for this moment to let another woman steal what she believed was hers.Determined, she called in favors and paid an influential media outlet to release the photos and videos she had kept in reserve. The images showed her and Alaric in a jewelry store, him slipping an engagement ring on her finger, and his public announcement of their engagement. The media platform spun the narrative to her advantage: “Alaric Royale’s True Fiancee Revealed: Harley Carter Takes a Stand!”The internet exploded. Harley painted herself as the s
The family reunion was heartwarming but Elona was not as happy as she should have been. Alaric was poisoned and she was scared. Master Fu did not want to get rid of the toxins in Alaric's body at once. He would rather take a roundabout way to treat him.Elona sighed and mentally chided herself for being too indecisive when it came to Alaric. She could only comfort herself by saying that she was only concerned because he was her children's father. Even she felt silly at her post excuse for her care. "Actually, I didn't know that I was adopted until recently." Elona was snapped out of her reverie when she heard Edward's statement. She perked up her ears and momentarily set aside her worries about Alaric. Master Fu was tending to him and she knew that he would not die. That was comforting enough for her."My cousins were the ones who started bringing out how much I didn't resemble either of my parents or anyone in the Callahan family when my father was critically ill. They wanted to ous
Esmeralda sank into the armchair, her hands trembling as she recalled the harrowing days of her youth. The truth of what might have happened was dawning on her, and it left her breathless.“When I gave birth to Elona,” she began softly, her voice barely steady, “I was just a scared girl, exiled from my home, hiding from the Queen Consort’s spies. I didn’t have the luxury of a reputable hospital. The doctor who delivered Elona… he was someone I found in desperation.”Julio clenched his fists, his expression darkening with fury. “And you think that man.....”Esmeralda nodded, her eyes misty. “If I was carrying twins and didn’t know... it would have been easy for him to take one of the babies. I never suspected. I thought Elona was my only child.”Edward listened in stunned silence, his mind racing. Could it really be true? Could this woman, this elegant and regal figure, truly be his mother? And Elona, the woman he’d worked alongside for a while, his sister?Leonardo broke the silence,
Elona sent a message to Edward Callahan telling her that something had come up and she would entrust Arlyle, Artie, and Allie to him. She would only return the next day. Edward Callahan immediately called her. The moment she answered Edward was a little too excited. He rambled on about meeting the famous artist from country S Julio and how they resembled each other like looking in the mirror. Julio had just come for the triplets' birthday as their grandfather. Elona was surprised and suddenly thought back to how people in the capital kept saying that Elona and Edward looked more like brother and sister than a couple. Could it be Julio had Edward with another woman, and they were half-siblings?Elona frowned as Edward’s voice bubbled with excitement through the receiver. "Elona, you won’t believe it," Edward gushed. "I just met the Julio! The artist from Country S. He came for the triplets’ birthday, can you believe it? And here’s the crazy part, we look like we’re cut from the same
Elona’s fingers paused mid-motion as she arranged the herbs for Alaric’s next dose. Her sharp gaze cut through the flickering candlelight to where Master Fu sat, sipping tea with deliberate calm. The room’s silence was thick, broken only by the occasional groan from Alaric in the adjoining chamber.“You could cure him, couldn’t you?” Elona asked, her voice low but accusing. Fu set his teacup down, meeting her eyes with the unyielding calm of a seasoned mentor. “I could.”Her hands clenched into fists. “Then why drag this out? Why make me mix temporary antidotes when you have the skill to end this suffering now?”Fu leaned back, his expression unreadable. “Because suffering sharpens resolve. Alaric needs to endure this pain. It will awaken the fire he has long suppressed.”Elona’s anger simmered. “You’re withholding his treatment... to provoke him? He’s already half-dead! If you’re trying to teach him a lesson, this isn’t the way!”“Enough.” Fu’s voice carried the weight of years, sile
Elona felt her anger flare, but she quickly tamped it down. Losing control wouldn’t help her find what she needed. "Do you have any stock left? Even scraps?" she asked the shopkeeper.The man hesitated, then leaned in closer. "I have a few dried remnants, but they won’t be enough for what you’re concocting. If you’re willing to pay..."Elona didn't wait for him to finish. She handed him a pouch of gold, her jaw tight. "I’ll take it. And if you hear of any other suppliers who can help, send word to this address." She scribbled her clinic's location on a scrap of parchment.The shopkeeper nodded, pocketing the gold. “Be careful, lady. If they’re buying these herbs in bulk, they’re up to no good. You might be stepping into something dangerous.”“I already have,” Elona muttered under her breath as she walked away, her cloak billowing behind her. Although she paid much more than she would on a normal day, Elona felt no loss. That's the rule of these underground markets. The only currency t
The sudden motion caused Elona to stumble, but Alaric caught her before she fell. For a brief moment, their eyes met, and the world seemed to stand still.“Alaric?” Elona’s voice was barely a whisper, her fingers clutching his wrist instinctively. As a doctor, she felt his pulse. It was erratic and weak, a telltale sign of a raging toxin.Her heart skipped a beat, her professional instincts kicking in. “You’re sick,” she murmured, her eyes searching his face. “It’s nothing,” he said gruffly, pulling away.But Elona wasn’t convinced. Her gaze lingered on him, a mixture of concern and heartache.“We need to talk,” she said firmly.As they stood there, the noise of the party fading into the background, Elona's eyes searched Alaric's face. "What's going on, Alaric? You're not well."Alaric's expression turned guarded, but Elona could see the faintest glimmer of desperation in his eyes. "I told you, it's nothing." Elona's grip on his wrist tightened. "Don't lie to me, Alaric. I can see it