Japan, Twenty-Seven Years AgoHaruka Tanaka had always wanted to know what it felt like to do as she pleased. She wanted to know what it felt like to contravene rules and orders, to simply relax and not be on guard, to shield herself from the hurt of criticisms and expectations. She wanted to know what it felt like to not have to tolerate and accept those suffocations as something normal, as something a part of her life, as she worked hard to meet those goals that had already been set for her even before she had been born. She wanted to know what it was like to live on the other side of the line, where one could simply be oneself, where one could simply enjoy one’s life. Most of all, she wanted to be free.At least for a little while before she was put into a cage again—a beautiful birdcage filled with luxury and fine things. A birdcage with high decorum and expectations that were suffocating her and tearing at her heart.As of last week, Haruka had just turned nineteen, and she thoug
Every time Sakura saw Sebastian, she felt a sort of radiance within her being, glowing with an intense burst of flame.Indeed, the man was handsome today, wearing a loose shirt and jeans that fit his masculine physique perfectly. As per usual, his pale-blond hair glittered like white gold under the setting sun. And that smile on his face, it tugged something wonderful deep within her heart.Sebastian made his way toward them and came to a stop before Sakura. “Dinner is served,” he said.Haruka nodded and then stood up. “In saying that, Sakura-chan, one must choose the one who is always there for her.”Sakura got the meaning behind her mother’s words and blushed, noting Sebastian was gazing at her with a questioning look in his eyes. She knew he wondered what her mother meant. Of course, she wasn’t going to enlighten him. It was too embarrassing. After all, the subject involved him and his brother Darcy.Haruka smiled at Sebastian and then walked back into the house where the loud nois
It was much later after dinner when Sakura managed to escape the Princeton brothers. Alone in her own room, she picked up her cell phone and dialed Ned’s number. As the phone rang, she heard Akira chatting to the Japanese maid next door. She could catch a few words here and there, mainly about which clothes to take and whether they’d be suitable for the very hot temperature in Hawaii. The maid must have been helping Akira pack, she thought with a smile. She had heard from Sosuke that Akira couldn’t pack to save her own life, and had always had the maid help out.She was giggling to herself in reaction to Akira’s muttering when the line was picked up and a familiar voice came through.“About time. I thought you’d never call.”Sakura chuckled. “Sorry about that, Ned dear. I was a little busy, you know.”A sigh and then, “I know. Beth told me.”Sakura tuned out the light conversation going on next door and collapsed onto her bed. The softness below made her sigh with pleasure, and she re
Los AngelesEdward Faber, known simply as Ned to most, withdrew the cell phone from his ear and set it down beside him on the leather sofa. He leaned back against the seat as he stared long and hard at the painting before him.The masterpiece was one of his earlier works. He had started it when he had still been an art student, twenty-seven years ago.Ned smiled sadly, trying damned hard to prevent those stupid tears from brewing in his eyes. Nonetheless, the things still managed to appear, blurring his vision of the beauty within the painting that had captured his interest all those years ago.She was wearing a pale pink and white kimono of swirls and flowers. Her black hair was formed loosely into a chignon on top of her head, with a pretty floral headpiece on the side. Her skin was petal white and her lips ruby red. Posing there like some Japanese goddess, she was enchanting.Indeed, she had enchanted him, for she was Ned’s first and only love. She was his everything. Yet, she had
At five thirty in the morning, Sakura nearly fell off her Jimmy Choo pumps the moment she stepped out of the limo and sighted the plane before them. She had known they’d be traveling to Hawaii on a private jet. But this? This was beyond her expectations. The plane was the size of an Airbus that could hold several hundred people. From what Conrad had told her the night before, she had thought the aircraft would be a small one that would hold about fifteen to twenty people at most. Not to mention the fact that there was an array of staff involved. There were at least six air hostesses alone, all dressed in an immaculate uniform of a light blue formal shirt, a darker shade of blue pencil skirt, and black heels.Though the plane was unexpectedly on the larger side, which meant less claustrophobia for her, Sakura still felt more than a little unsettled. She had never liked flying, and instantly the thought brought forward a feeling of nausea. She was still staring at the plane and the beau
Sakura had never liked flying. The very thought itself caused her to break into a cold sweat. If she had the choice, she’d rather not travel by plane. But of course, her hands were tied, as the saying went, in this case, since she had no choice in the matter. Either travel to Hawaii and do the photo shoot, or pay the price for Mr. Tachibana’s one-of-a-kind gown. To be honest, her condition wasn’t that bad. It had been just the anxiety of being high up in the air and the possibilities of certain things that might go wrong that really affected her. Not many people knew about her phobia, except for Daddy James, Mom Brenda, and Mary.Sakura glanced over to the other side and noted Daddy James watching her. He signaled to her with a nod of his head to join him. Sakura sighed with relief.“Sorry, Conrad, I need to speak with Daddy James,” she said.The words Daddy James drew Marissa’s attention. She stopped talking to Logan and glanced at Sakura.“Huh? Now? Can’t it wait?” Conrad queried, o
Even at six in the evening, it was still extremely hot and humid in Hawaii. Sakura, in her flimsy, floral maxi dress, even with the cool breeze brushing nicely against her skin as the convertible sped along, felt stuffy and out of sorts. Of course, it was made worse by being squeezed in the back between Akira and Conrad, her two very strict bodyguards.She sighed, wondering how much longer until they’d get to Princeton Hotel and Resort here in Honolulu. After all, she was exhausted, as was everyone else, from the eleven-hour flight from New York.Beside her, Akira groaned as the woman continued to flutter a magazine about her, generating some sort of manmade fan to further help relieve herself of the intense heat.“It’s so hot,” she groaned tiredly. “I don’t know how much longer I can take this.” She flopped her head back and closed her eyes, the wind fluttering her short hair about her face.Jane, who was sitting in the front seat beside Sosuke, the driver, agreed with a nod of her h
After she had finished putting her things away into the drawers, Sakura wandered out onto the veranda to have a look at the view. She smiled as she gazed at the spectacular scenery before her, of an exquisite white sandy beach and deep blue sea that stretched beyond the horizon.“It’s beautiful,” she said softly, her heart glowing with delight at the sight she beheld. She decided she’d have a wonderful time here, relaxing and simply enjoying herself. It was her holiday, after all. Well, except, of course, for the photo shoot that was going to take place the day after tomorrow, which was never far from her mind.She dreaded it because she had never done anything like this before. Furthermore, she wasn’t even a model, and she didn’t even know how to do it right—the posing, the expressions, and everything else that made a photo turn out good. She was so afraid of ruining it for Mr. Tachibana and everyone else, wasting their time and effort. Besides the fact that she’d embarrass herself,
Six Months LaterWhen Sakura woke up, it was to the sound of birds chirping and morning light shining in through the windows. She blinked a couple times to get used to the brightness as she lay there feeling exhausted, as if she had just finished running a race. Once she’d gotten used to the light, she searched about her surroundings, wondering where she was. Because this certainly wasn’t her room.Her eyes lingered on the beautiful chandelier dangling in the center, the crystals exuding an array of rainbow colors about the space. A moment later, her gaze shifted to the king-size bed that she was currently in.She sat up, her mind still reeling over what had happened last night. When she moved, she realized she was naked under the sheet. She frowned for a moment, and then everything came flooding back.Instantly, she blushed and clutched the sheet against her.“Oh God,” she whispered softly. “I’ve done it again, haven’t I? With Sebastian and Darcy?”She licked her lips as she pulled t
The moment her hands were removed, the two men stared, marveling at the sight. Sure, they had seen many women’s breasts before, and in fact, to them, they were just part of the female anatomy. Nothing more. But with Sakura, her pair of exquisite beauties, the perfect-size mounds of pale, smooth flesh topped with cute pink nipples perking at just the right angle—they were something marvelous.Sebastian tittered with excitement, which drew Sakura’s attention to him. She gazed at him, wondering why he had such a passionate look in his eyes as he stared at her breasts. When he flicked his gaze to hers and their eyes met, Sakura swallowed hard at the raw passion she noted radiating from him.“Wow,” Darcy said, his voice deep and hoarse, which sent a delicious shiver down her spine. “Just wow.”Sebastian nodded. He couldn’t find words to describe how happy he was.Suddenly, Darcy cupped her breasts, one in each hand. Sakura gasped at the intimate contact as her body squirmed in his embrace.
Sakura grabbed Sebastian’s hands that were about to cup her breasts, stopping him. She looked from one man to the other, her mind reeling at what was going on. She licked her lips nervously and then finally managed to ask, “What are you two doing? Aren’t you going to order room service?”Sebastian’s eyes glinted with that mischievousness that Sakura found both vexing and endearing at the same time.He said, with a hint of a laughter in his deep timbre, “Oh, but you are our room service.”Sakura wasn’t accepting it. She knew they both were toying around with her. She demanded, “The dessert?”Darcy said, his voice sensual and deep, “You are our dessert. That’s why it’s the best kind, one we’ll remember for the longest time.”It was only then that she understood what they meant. She. Was. Their. Dessert. As in they were going to make love to her?That pushed her into a panic attack, and she struggled in Sebastian’s arms, desperately wanting to break free. The damn handsome man, however,
Darcy said, “Sakura, remember the night you confessed to us?”Slowly, Sakura nodded.“You told us you’d either have both of us or none at all,” Sebastian said.Sakura jumped at the sound of his voice. She didn’t realize he was standing behind her, so close to her in fact that she could feel the heat of his body warming her against the coolness of the night.She nodded again. “Yes, I did say that, and I meant it. I can’t…” She sighed, her heart now racing furiously. “I can’t live with the knowledge that I picked one of you and not the other. That I’d be living with one and not the other. That I’d be showering my love on one and not the other when I love you both. It just isn’t fair.” Her body and hands were shaking now, even her voice, quivering softly under the two men’s scrutiny.“I won’t be able to handle the guilt, the pain of not having both of you in my life. I know I’m greedy. I know… It’s weird to love two men and want both in my life…living like a family like it’s nothing.” Sh
Sakura relaxed back in her seat and then put on the safety belt. A moment later, Sebastian started the engine and then they were off.It was dark, and the city lights glittered beautifully against the backdrop of the night sky, competing with the stars. It was indeed breathtakingly beautiful, and Sakura was mesmerized.“It’s beautiful here, isn’t it?” Sebastian said.Sakura nodded. “After what happened…” she said, her throat feeling a little dry. “After what happened, I appreciate what’s around me more.”Sebastian reached out his free hand and cupped her face. “Nothing like that is ever going to happen to you again. I’m here with you, and Darcy, too.” He chuckled. “In fact, all of us Princetons. We’re family.”She smiled, appreciating his comforting words. “Thanks.”It was a few more minutes when Sakura realized they were heading toward the hotel. Of course, she was a little confused as to why they were going there and was about to ask Sebastian as he parked the car when he intercepte
Darcy was discharged from the hospital five days later, and, in Princeton style, a big Welcome Home party was launched at the holiday house.The moment Darcy stepped foot out of the car, he was treated and pampered like a king by everyone, especially his brothers Tristan and Logan, who acted as his butlers. Of course, being the down-to-earth person he was, Darcy didn’t want that kind of attention and found it rather tiring. Deep down, all he wanted was for Sakura to be by his side.Damn, but he wanted to kiss her and, most of all, confess his love for her properly, along with Sebastian of course. But that was not to be as the house was almost always full of people coming and going, and not one moment had he had the chance to be with her. At least not until a day later when he and Sebastian had a good talk and made arrangements for things to start moving forward to make it official.Now sitting on the couch, drinking coffee, both Sebastian and Darcy watched Sakura as she animatedly cha
Sakura and Sebastian stayed with Darcy throughout the morning, with Sakura entertaining Darcy by telling him about her family reunion and that Ned was actually her biological father and Beth her aunt. Of course, Darcy wasn’t surprised with this outcome, as he had known how much Ned loved Sakura. The same went for Beth.It was some time later when Darcy asked the question he had wanted answered since he’d seen the news on the television early that morning. It was about Mrs. Clark, Tara, and Ray Woods, who had been taken into custody.Sebastian said, “Tara might get a lighter sentencing than Mrs. Clark and Ray Woods. She’s only an accomplice.”“And Mrs. Clark?” Sakura asked, her body tense.“Probably life in prison for first-degree murder or something along those lines,” Sebastian said.“For murdering Mrs. Taylor?” Sakura asked.At this, both Sebastian and Darcy turned to look at her, surprised. Sebastian asked, “How did you know she was one of the victims?”Sakura cast her eyes downwar
Sakura woke with a start, gasping and whimpering and her skin soaking with sweat. With her heart beating loudly in her chest, she stared up at the ceiling, her mind racing as tears welled in her eyes.Dream. It was only a dream. It wasn’t real. She hadn’t lost Darcy. She hadn’t lost Sebastian. Both men were still here with her.“Sebastian. Darcy,” she whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks.Just moments ago, she had dreamed of them—she and the Princeton brothers—once again on that yacht in the middle of the ocean, the storm raging above them. Mrs. Clark, Tara, and Ray Woods had been there, too, torturing her.Sakura shut her eyes as she remembered the nightmare vividly.Mrs. Clark had shot her, only to hit Darcy instead. As Darcy lay there in her arms, dying from the gunshot wounds, Tara slayed Sebastian with her knife and then pushed him off the boat into the rampant sea.The thought of losing her beloved men made her feel sick to her stomach, and she whimpered softly. She shook he
Across the distance of the sitting room, Sakura silently watched her biological mother being embraced in Ned’s arms as the woman recited her story to her first love. And Sakura had no doubt that she, too, must have played a part of that tale when she had been a baby.Once again, she still couldn’t believe the fact that she, Sakura, had been by her biological father’s side all along, since she had been seven years old in fact. Could this explain why she had always felt connected to the man deep down? Was that why she’d always felt safe and comforted when he was around? And the fact that he had always been there for her and helping her when she had needed someone like a parent the most reminded her again of how important Ned was in her life.When Haruka finally finished telling Ned her tale some fifteen minutes later, Sakura saw Ned comforting her, telling her that he didn’t blame her for what had happened and what she’d done. He told her that he understood what she’d gone through and c