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Chapter 32
Last Updated:
2025-02-13 23:16:30
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Claiming The Archduchess Chapter 33
Chapter 33RAYANA POVBetrayal was thick and cloying as Alejandro swerved expertly between lanes on the highway, taking me further and far away from the Queen’s castle. He did say anything the entire time, just let me ride the emotions and be alone with my thoughts that were tormented by the images of my fucking best friend and my fiancee together. I was hurt. Anybody would fucking feel sad. I trusted those two with my life and the first thing they thought of doing was grasp a giant machete and stab me right in my back. Aubrey showed up to my inauguration dressed to the nines, looking as beautiful as ever. She hugged me and congratulated me, told me how proud she was of me and how she couldn’t wait for all of the adventure that came with having all the money in the world. Those were her exact words. And to think all of that time he was converting Lucas??“I feel like an idiot,” I called out after heaving out a loud, heavy sigh. I peeled my eyes open to find out we were parked on a
Last Updated : 2025-02-14Claiming The Archduchess Chapter 34
Chapter 34ALEJANDRO POVThe sun was starting to set behind the tall buildings as I sat in a Chinese Restaurant. It was on a Friday, and the whole building was bustling with people. I remained glued at the farthest end of the restaurant, facing the wall and away from the people. I checked my clock for the umpteenth time, my patience slowly wearing thin. It was too day after Rayana’s official inauguration, and the news of her being the new Archduchess was still a fresh topic in people’s mouths. Everywhere I went, posters of her were plastered everywhere, and my chest swelled with pride every single time. I was more than proud because she had proven on more accounts than one she was more than worthy to be the archduchess, and that she bit his own brother to a pulp when it came to general governing. “Mr. Rodriguez.” A feminine voice called out before it slid into the seat opposite me. My thoughts were shifted from one person who was slowly spinning my whole world around, filling it wi
Last Updated : 2025-02-15Claiming The Archduchess Chapter 35
Chapter 36RAYANA POVMy heart tripped over itself as I marched down the stone stairs and from the third floor of the Windsor Castle- my castle. I was dressed in a small fleece onesie, with my feet clad in pink dinosaur slippers. My mind was racing with all sorts of colorful words I was going to rain on whoever destroyed my peace and quiet. I came to a rocking halt in the lobby to find Lucas trying to claw his way past Henry and some guards who were fighting tooth and nail to deny him entry. “Please. I need to see her. I need to talk to her.” Lucas pleaded with desperateness dripping out his tone, and anger bubbled inside of me. I climbed down the remaining stairs before marching to the door. “I got this Henry.” I roared bee-lining passed the men and stopping at the front door of our house. “Rayana…” He was haggard. The boastful, proud man who used to walk like half of the world’s population owed him was nowhere to be seen, replaced by a homeless, ragdoll with blood and bones. Th
Last Updated : 2025-02-16Claiming The Archduchess Chapter 36
Chapter 36RAYANA POVI struggled to balance the latte, my phone, my iPad bag, and the door of my office. After a few tries and yapping on the phone with one of the charity organizers, I finally pushed the door open and waltzed in. The office was warm, and the thermostat lit to prevent the biting chill of the winter. I couldn’t wait for summer. I dropped everything in my hand on the desk and then plopped into my chair. “Please send me the last year’s budget as well,” I responded, already wanting to be done with this conversation. We finished up with the pleasantries and promises of keeping in touch before the line went dead.It has been a few days after Lucas’s shitshow, and Aubrey somehow disappeared into thin air in just a night. After the whole ordeal, I decided to pay her a visit at her downtown penthouse, only to be met by a balding family man who was more than thrilled to have landed such a good place at a low price. What was even funny is that she deleted all of her social
Last Updated : 2025-02-17Claiming The Archduchess Chapter 37
Chapter 37RAYANA POVThe soft piano music pouring out of the car speakers of Alejandro’s G-wagon might as well have been an apocalyptic cry. We had just arrived home after a long day of battling emotions and bawling my eyes out after the revelation that my own brother murdered his own father. I was exhausted, mentally, physically, and emotionally. Alejandro made sure I rode the roller-coaster of emotions until I was ‘safe’ to be around James. Since he believed that the first thing I would do when I saw him would be to kill him right where he stood. In all reality, he was absolutely right. As I sat in the passenger seat, I could feel my entire body vibrating with suppressed anger, but Alejandro warned me against doing anything rushed. He reminded me that I had just entered the office and that all eyes were on me. Anything I did was up there on the front pages of newspaper articles. Right now, I wish I was just a nobody. That way I would smother my brother nice and well without get
Last Updated : 2025-02-18Claiming The Archduchess Chapter 38
Chapter 38ALEJANDRO POVDays bled into weeks with James having disappeared into thin air, or so he thought. I knew all he had been up to since he lost everything he had to his name, even though he thought he was invincible and untraceable. I was more than proud of the way Rayana handled his case, and although she may have opened a fucking box of worms, she stood up like the queen I knew she was and handled that excuse of a man the right way. I slid the black glasses on my face before exiting the car into the pouring rain.. I added some force to my feet as I walk-ran to the office entrance of Buckingham Palace Gate, then nodded to the few guards who were standing there. They nodded back and let me through without much of a question.The last time I was here the other one almost had a heart attack when he looked me in the eye hence the glasses. I rode the elevator to the third floor where Rayana’s office was, then tapped the door softly before opening it. Her eyes landed on me, and
Last Updated : 2025-02-19Claiming The Archduchess Chapter 39
Chapter 39JAMES POVIt has been a few days since Rayana kicked me out and wiped my name off the royal family tree. A few days since I lost everything; all the money, my entire family… A few days since I became this new creature.I couldn’t even recognize myself when I looked in the mirror. That powerful man who used to have everything under the soles of his feet was gone; replaced by a haggard, beaten-down drunk who spent twenty-four hours a day with a beer in hand. The streets, my new home, were cold, the bite of the winter unforgiving,My breath steamed against the chill weather, and my whole body ached from the cold.I spotted a bench not far from where I was, then walk-ran towards it before perching myself down and watched the street before me. Everyone went about their ways. It was approximately nine in the evening, and a few days ago I would be in my own home, warm, with my stomach full of all sorts of food. And now, the memory was such a luxury. I recalled back to the tim
Last Updated : 2025-02-20Claiming The Archduchess Chapter 40
Chapter 40RAYANA POV‘When I fuck you, Rayana, it will be in a bed filled with roses and fucking candles. Not on your office lounger.’ The words echoed in my mind for the umpteenth time since the moment Alejandro had uttered them to me. The memory slammed into me with so much intensity I had to stop what I was doing to fan myself. The level of lust I had for that man was abnormal, and from the looks of it, since that day, something had changed. He looked like he was helplessly clinging onto the control that was slowly slipping through his fingers. As for why he couldn’t just let for of the man-ego and give in to the chemistry; that was a bloody mystery. Another sigh, I shook my head to clear the thoughts of Alejandro and the feel of his giant cock in my mouth, then stared at the shopping list for the upcoming charity. Out of all invitations I had received, I decided to respond to only one; which was charity gala to raise funds for orphanages all around the UK.That seemed like a
Last Updated : 2025-02-21
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Claiming The Archduchess Chapter 54
Chapter 54ALEJANDRO POVI won’t lie and say I did not see it coming. I did! You do not raid the Russians THAT hard and sit back to enjoy the rest of your days with a bloody tea cup in your hand. That has never happened in all the history of the underworld. And my little angel may have known it, but she just invited us right to our doorstep, and this was it knocking. This was just the first of many!But fuck! The same day I acquiesced to her nagging about me always parading around her wherever she went; this kind of shit happened. “I am still trying to find out who could have planted the bomb,” Kaito announced from where he was seated, strapped in the passenger seat while typing furiously on his computer. I did not just promote him to being head of security because he was good as moving like a ninja and made no sound; the man was a fucking tech nerd and he knew all there was to know in the tech world. “Anything new?” “No! It’s like they froze all the cameras in the vicinity bef
Claiming The Archduchess Chapter 53
Chapter 53RAYANA POVIt has been a whole week since the UNDP conference wrapped up and came to an end. But the memory of all the happenstances that went down in Russia was running rampant and fresh in my mind like it was all yesterday. There was nothing I did or held without that little voice in my mind screaming at me when I remembered what had transpired.Every time I thought of all that, a shin of cold sweat ran down my spine; because there is no way in a thousand years I would have ever dreamed of doing what I did. But I just remember standing there after that phone call and thinking Alejandro was dead. That was the worst feeling in my entire life. And the way I reacted… Heck! Who knew I was capable of that? Negotiating with The President of Russia about dispatching the Mossad to aid me in the criminal aid? But then again, any woman would move mountains for the man she loved. That was just it. “Rayana.” My aunt- the queen- called out as soon as I stepped into her lounge room
Claiming The Archduchess Chapter 52
Chapter 52RAYANA POVThe twenty-minute drive to Odintsovo seemed to be taking an eternity. The President and Melanie had tried convincing me to stay behind while the Mossad took care of the criminals, but I kicked the idea straight to hell. I was not going to stay tucked safely in the white house while Alejandro fought for his life. Like he did with me, I was going to stand in front of bullets and carry them with my back instead. The tension was thick and cloying in the truck as we neared the base. I barked directions to the driver, and he patiently listened to my ramblings while swerving the car expertly until we arrived at the gate. Somehow we managed not to get lost and made it to the base. My prayer knew no end as I asked god to keep him alive until backup arrived. Alejandro needed to live.My heart leaped into my throat when I realized the giant gate was torched to the ground. I covered my mouth to stifle the cry that followed. There was no hope. There really was no hope.
Claiming The Archduchess Chapter 51
Chapter 51RAYANA POVThe conference was utterly unlike anything I have ever been to before. The topics were long dragged, the arguments never ended, people called out each other with horrible names and the shit hit the fan way sooner than one would expect. But at the end of the day, everything was brushed off in such a formal manner I failed to understand how these people functioned. It was during this conference I realized that my life had really pivoted. And I am talking real ass change. From drafting the budgets for the archduchy to representing the whole of the UK and the crown was something I never dared to even fathom in my entire life. And it looked like it was just the beginning. Just as Alejandro had said.I knew there were many more conferences like this one I would attend, and I wish my aunt, the queen was here for a quick hug. This was such an eye-opener. I smiled from where I sat, alone and assessing everything before my eyes. Ambassadors smiled and chatted about ho
Claiming The Archduchess Chapter 50
Chapter 50 ALEJANDRO POVThe throb on my side was slowly making me lose my mind. The drive back to Odintsovo seemed to be longer than usual, and somewhere along the ride, I felt my vision giving out. I ground my teeth, hating how weak I suddenly felt. Fuck. The knife must have been poisoned. That’s how shady the Russians were. “Hang in there.” Kaito rattled as he shifted gears and literally threw the car into sport mode. The roar of the engine and the exhaust pipe filled the streets, tires screeched, and all the side-to-side swaying made me even more dizzy. “Fuck. I told you we should get out of here.” He banged the steering wheel. “I am fine. This is nothing a medical patch won’t fix.” I said through clenched teeth, my skin growing hotter and hotter with each passing second. I could feel bids of sweat dripping down my spine, and I knew that if this continued, I might not make it. And fuck. My Rayana!“The Russians are going to come knocking at our door. Hard.” He took a sharp
Claiming The Archduchess Chapter 49
Chapter 49ALEJANDRO POV“Call me as soon as the conference ends, you hear me?” I growled out the window at Rayana who stood there looking feverish and so excited about this whole new thing. She looked like a kid on her first time trip to Disney Land. And the mere look at her calmed the storm inside of me. “Yes sir. Even when I want to let out a stinky fart, I will surely reach out to you.” She teased with a wink, then laughed at her own joke before peeking through the window and stealing a kiss on my lips, then rushed into the gates of the big guarded gates. Kaito chuckled at her joke as well. I realized I had one hell of a dry humor when that little joke didn’t faze me. “She is such a character.” Kaito commented with a shake of his head, and I couldn’t agree more. We waited until she was further inside before we pulled back to the road and drove away. I hated this place. Every nook of it reminded me of all the horrible things that are in this world. Yet slithering down the stre
Claiming The Archduchess Chapter 48
Chapter 48RAYANA POVAs It Was by Harry Styles poured out of the speakers of the Lexus SUV they picked us up with from the airport, and my hummings accompanied the tune while I continued bopping my head back and forth. Alejandro was clearly unfazed by my choice of music, and a snort of laughter bubbled out of me. He just shook his head and continued scrolling on his phone, not saying a word to me. The men who came to pick us up were more of the stuck-up Suitsthan Alejandro ever and nothing like Kaito, and I figured that it was a Russian thing. We drove for less than half an hour before we came to a heavily guarded black gate. The driver rolled down his window before leaning into the eye-detect security system. The green light flashed across his eye before a soft ping went by, and the gates whooshed open. I sat there, mouth hanging open while taking everything in. Not even the queen’s palace was THAT guarded. Heck, and the palace was known to be the most guarded place in the world
Claiming The Archduchess Chapter 47
Chapter 47RAYANA POV“Please tell me we are wrapping this HAL thing. My mind can’t handle working in circles.” Charlotte burst into my office before walking straight to my desk and dumped a large folder containing undoubtedly, a bazillion files I was supposed to look into. “The money was deposited into their bank account, the ribbon cutting was a success, and the construction has already started, so I tell you, we are wrapping the HAL thing,” I responded with a smile as I watched her plop on the chair in front of me, leaning back. “How are you, baby sis,” I asked, taking her fully in with her movements. There was no denying it, something had changed inside of her that night, something that killed the innocence in her heart and opened her eyes to the ugly world we lived in. A pang of guilt stabbed my inside at how I failed to protect them. She and Charles did not deserve any of that. My fight was with James and they didn’t need to get involved. “Winter is almost over, I can’t wait
Claiming The Archduchess Chapter 46
Chapter 46RAYANA POVThe rain poured out the dark clouds that hung from the skies, as though the universe itself was mourning the loss of my brother. But I knew it in me that it wasn’t that. To me, it felt like I was mourning my humanity, my humility. The innocence I had clutched onto my whole entire life believing this world was a solid black and white. Everything that had happened in the past three months taught me that it wasn’t it. There was so much that we didn’t see with our naked eyes, and I can’t believe just how naive I had been this entire time. I had been there when my brother’s life was taken from him, and even as I sat in Alejandro’s fancy penthouse- curled on the lounger- I still couldn’t feel even a small tinge of remorse inside of me.James had signed his death contract the minute he killed our father. Me casting him out of the family tree was just a simple way of teaching him accountability for his actions; making sure he knew there were consequences to every littl
