Sebastian and his brothers didn’t miss the tears that seemed to swell quite quickly within Haruka’s eyes. She couldn’t help herself and dabbed her eyes with the back of her sleeves.“I’m sorry. Something is in my eyes,” she said quickly as she got up. “Please excuse me.”She left the room in a hurry as the brothers watched her go.Akira said, “Excuse me,” and then followed her aunt out of the room.Sosuke said, “Please enjoy the meal. Oba-chan isn’t feeling very well lately.”The brothers nodded and continued with their meals. It was half an hour later when the brothers thanked Haruka for lunch and left.“She was crying,” Conrad said as they walked up the stairs back to the fourth-floor apartment.“Sosuke said she isn’t well lately,” Logan supplied. “She’s probably just tired.”Sebastian, however, wasn’t convinced. He’d seen the look on her face when they mentioned Sakura’s name. Then there had been last night in the conference room, when she’d asked about Sakura and how she was relat
Sakura had never felt so nervous in her life. Since she’d found out about the missing diamond last night when she did another inspection to make sure she hadn’t damaged it like the gown, she’d felt dreadful and wanted to cry. To replace that particular jewel would cost at least a couple hundred thousand, and Sakura just didn’t have that kind of money.Again, she glanced at the exquisite jewelry sitting in a velvet box beside her bed, ready to be delivered today back to its owner, Lady Suzuki. With an active, imaginative artistic mind like hers, she started wondering about the possibilities of Lady Suzuki’s reactions. Suddenly, she panicked and became light-headed. Oh God! She hoped the woman wouldn’t throw her into jail or take her to court over the ordeal. She hoped they’d come up with an agreement. Though, to be honest, she really doubted that. A life in jail was what she imagined.Her hands were shaking when she carefully shut the box and put it in her bag. A tentative knock came a
Once again, they took the elevator down and found themselves facing another elegant foyer before coming to the number three apartment. Sakura rang the bell, and moments later, they were greeted by Sosuke, who stood tall and imposing in the doorway.Sakura licked her lips and said nervously, “I’m here to see Lady Suzuki?”Sosuke gave Sakura a handsome smile that made Jane blink in wonder and her head spin just a little.“You’re Sakura,” he stated, still grinning from ear to ear. “I’m so glad we’ve finally found you.”Sakura blinked. “I’m sorry?”Sosuke realized his slip and said quickly, “Come on in.” He glanced at Jane briefly and gave her one raised brow. “Jane, isn’t it?”Jane blushed because he was suddenly paying attention to her and nodded her head. “Yes, Jane Hamilton.”Sosuke opened the door wider and stood to one side, allowing the girls to enter. It was a few minutes later that Sakura and Jane found themselves in a very cozy, Japanese-style living room. The girls were all sit
Luke felt like the most foolish person on the planet. “I’m sorry, Sebastian, but I really didn’t have a clue Miss Tanaka is related to you. I mean, I didn’t know she’s your adoptive sister.”“Miss Tanaka?” Conrad said in outrage, his eyes round with disbelief. “She changed her last name?” His tone was that of accusation, as if it were Luke’s fault Sakura had changed her name.Logan nodded, a deep frown creasing his handsome face. “That won’t do. She’ll need to change it back to Princeton. It suits her better.”“She’s a Princeton and will always be a Princeton,” Tristan said with a dark scowl, which made him look even more handsome than his usual charming smile. “And you.” He turned to Sebastian. “How the hell did you miss the fact that you’ve bought so many of Sakura’s photos and paintings without knowing it? She’s bloody surrounding us, for God’s sake!” He pointed to the painting that was the main feature in the living area. “There! That one.” He strode and read the initials. “See? I
The brothers waited patiently while Nicolas listened to the phone ringing. After a few rounds, Mr. Tachibana’s voice came over and said, “Konnichiwa, this is Tachibana. I am unavailable right now. Please leave a message and I will reply as soon as I can. Sayonara, and have a nice day.” A long, merry laugh followed.“Shit!” Nicolas snapped. “He’s not picking up.” He tried again and waited. It was the same. Mr. Tachibana didn’t pick up.“Oh shit!” Hayden said. “He can’t be that busy.”“Try again later,” Logan suggested.It was then that Conrad perked his ears. “I think I hear a dog barking.”“Are you hearing things?” Logan teased.“Shut up,” Conrad snapped. He got up from his seat as his brothers watched him curiously. He disappeared out the door, and a few moments later, he said loudly, “Holy shit! It’s Toby!”Sebastian and Darcy came rushing out the door to see Conrad cradling the Westie in his arms. The dog was licking Conrad’s face whilst Conrad was laughing like he’d never laughed
“Do you realize, darling, you’ve completely ruined my masterpiece, yes?” Mr. Tachibana said, eyeing Sakura with a dark look.Sakura nodded. “I really, sincerely apologize, Mr. Tachibana. I’ll pay for the repairs.”The designer just gave her a look and then laughed loudly, almost insanely. “Darling, are you kidding me? Not just anybody can fix this! Only I can fix this because it is my masterpiece and I don’t want anyone to ruin it, again!”Sakura jumped a little in her seat at the exclamation. Jane, who was sitting on the sofa beside Sosuke, jumped as well.Sosuke said in Japanese to Mr. Tachibana, “Tachibana-sensei, you’re frightening her. If you must know, she’s Mr. Princeton’s adoptive daughter.”Mr. Tachibana widened his eyes at Sosuke with a questioning look. “What?” he replied in Japanese.“Yes, or haven’t you seen how the Princeton brothers were chasing after her backstage on Saturday night after the show?”“Really? Yes, but I thought they were chasing her because she was steal
It was to the brothers’ surprise that Mr. Tachibana appeared at their doorstep, along, of course, with Ms. Ruka. Beth ushered them in. As he requested, the brothers all made their appearances.Mr. Tachibana couldn’t help himself and counted them.“One, two, three, four,” he said, now looking at Conrad. Then, “Five, six, and seven.” He ended with Darcy, standing farther away from them with a dark scowl on his face.“What’s this about?” Darcy asked the designer, coming down the few steps that separated the dining from the living area.Mr. Tachibana shuffled himself in his seat to make himself comfortable, of course. Then he cleared his throat and began. “Did you call me earlier today, Nicolas-kun?”At Nicolas’s nod, Mr. Tachibana asked, “What did you want me for?” “I was going to ask you if a certain young woman was there to see you about the gown.”At this, Mr. Tachibana laughed. “Of course she did. And might I say what a lovely young lady she is.”“Mr. Tachibana,” Sebastian said susp
“Ohayo, Sakura-chan,” Sosuke greeted with a warm smile the moment he came in. “I hope I’m not too early.”Sakura waved his apology aside. “No. I’m usually an early riser. Everything is sorted. Are we leaving now?”“Traffic is only going to get worse,” he said.“Yes, that is true.” Sakura rushed over to pick up Toby. “This is Toby, my dog. Are you sure it’s okay for me to take him with me?”Sosuke laughed. “Oba-chan loves dogs. I’m okay with it. This one isn’t very active, is he?”At this comment, Sakura glanced at Toby. Sure enough, the dog didn’t look very excited about anything, which was unusual for him. A worried frown appeared on Sakura’s face, and she told herself she’d have to take the dog to see the vet once everything was sorted.She gave the dog an affectionate pet, then turned to Sosuke. “Shall we?”At Sosuke’s nod, they left the gallery, Sosuke carrying the heavier baggage.They arrived at the apartment within thirty minutes, thanks to Sosuke’s expert driving skills and th
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