Arina huffed in frustration as she struggled to open the anklet, her fingers fumbling with the delicate clasp. The diamond-studded ornament shimmered against her creamy skin, its beauty a stark contrast to the sense of confinement it imposed on her small ankle. Reyan had commissioned the royal ornaments designer to create the anklet, requesting a design that resembled a cuff rather than a traditional anklet. Being the esteemed royal designer, he had spared no expense in crafting the piece, aiming to earn the king's appreciation and a hefty sum of money in return. But to Arina, the anklet felt more like a chain than an ornament, suffocating her with its weight and symbolism. It was a constant reminder of her lack of freedom, making her feel like a prisoner with her foot shackled. Lost in her thoughts, she was jolted back to reality by the vibration of her mobile, signaling an incoming message. With a sense of trepidation, she unlocked her phone and saw a message from an unknown n
"Are we really going to New York?" Rosella's voice held a mix of excitement and uncertainty as she glanced at Barton, who was immersed in his phone, nodding absentmindedly. "Yes, we are," Barton replied, finally tearing his gaze away from the screen to meet her eyes. "I've been invited to a conference there." Rosella's face lit up with a smile, her thoughts already racing with visions of exploring the bustling streets of the Big Apple. "That sounds amazing! I can't wait." As Rosella hurried off to their room to pack, Barton's mind was elsewhere, his fingers flying across the keyboard as he exchanged messages with John about the latest developments in the mining industry. But beneath his facade of composure, a knot of tension gnawed at his stomach. The news from his source about the supervisor's investigation into suspicious activities sent a chill down Barton's spine. He knew all too well the potential consequences if his involvement were to be discovered, and the thought weig
"Where's Arina?" Sage's voice trembled with anticipation as he scanned the bustling college courtyard, his heart pounding with the hope of catching a glimpse of her radiant presence. He had been waiting for this moment, eager to steal a few precious moments with her and perhaps, if luck was on his side, to carve out a space for himself in her life. "She's in a lecture right now, but she'll be here in the afternoon. Are you missing her?" Lisa's teasing tone held a knowing glint in her eye, betraying her awareness of Sage's longstanding crush on Arina. She had watched their dance of glances and subtle gestures unfold over time, and she couldn't help but smile at the prospect of their potential romance. "No, it's just her notes…" Sage's voice trailed off, his fingers absently creasing the nap of his shirt as he tried to quell the nervous fluttering in his stomach. He couldn't afford to let his feelings for Arina distract him from his goal of winning her affection, but the mere though
“Adison, please take your medicine,” Richard urged his wife, his tone filled with concern and a touch of frustration as he held out the pill bottle. It was a routine they had gone through countless times, her reluctance to take her medication always testing his patience.“Where is Ryan?” Adison's question sent a shiver down Richard's spine, his expression paling at the mention of their son's name. It was a topic he had hoped to avoid, knowing the weight of the secrets he carried.“He's probably at his mansion, having breakfast,” Richard replied awkwardly, his attempt at casualness falling flat in the face of Adison's piercing gaze."Call him and ask him to meet me today. I miss him,” Adison insisted, finally relenting and taking her medicine as Richard made the call, his heart heavy with the burden of his secrets."Sure, just rest. I'll be back,” Richard reassured her, tucking her in and leaving her in their room before stepping out to make the call to Reyan.“Your meeting's over?” Ri
“Everything is settled as you requested, My King,” Charlie affirmed after their meeting, his tone deferential yet tinged with relief. Ryan nodded, observing the sea of students attending the seminar for guidance from him. “I would like to invite the King of Kenner to address a few words to our students about their journey after college,” the Principal announced, stepping back from the stage. Ryan's aura already commanded everyone's attention, with the younger generation looking at him with admiration. “Hello everyone. Every journey has its value, and your hard work and dedication make your journey worthwhile. I am here to offer you a few words, but they will only be valuable if you have goals to achieve. Set your goals before you embark on your journey,” Ryan said confidently, his regal demeanor adding charm to his words. “What is your goal, King?” a young man in his twenties asked Ryan. “To submit to my queen,” Ryan smirked, eliciting laughter from the audience who knew he was th
“What are you doing?” Arina hissed, glaring at Aaron with frustration. He stood in his room, holding an expensive statue as if ready to throw it to the floor. The room was a mess, with items scattered everywhere. “She's picking fights for no reason,” Aaron muttered angrily, crushing things in his bedroom. He couldn't understand why Lisa insisted he wear formal clothes just to meet her mother. “Can you tell me what's happened between you two?” Arina asked, rolling her eyes. She was used to their frequent arguments and subsequent reconciliations. It always saddened her to see them fight over trivial matters. “Why don't you girls understand that we can't guess what you want? Just tell us!” he huffed, his frustration evident. Aaron was exasperated with Lisa's expectations. “Wait, 'you girls'?” Arina retorted, glaring back at him. Aaron's behavior was also making things difficult for her as a woman. “Yes, you girls,” Aaron replied angrily, pointing a finger at Arina in his frustratio
“I am going to take your mom to Australia,” Richard informed Ryan before taking sight. Ryan felt his father's emotions as he sat beside his sleeping mother. Addison's face was pale, and she breathed slowly. Both father and son were concerned about Addison's medical condition and had hired top doctors to examine her. However, some diseases are incurable; only human will has the power to cure medicine. Ryan immediately flew to Kenner after learning of her mother's condition, and he has not stopped looking at his mother's sleeping frame since then.“Why…” He asked, looking into his father's eyes. The dark circles and wrinkles on his face were obvious signs of age. The royal family had their charm to help them age, but the constant stress and Addison's medical condition harmed Richard's health.Richard sighed and explained, “Doctor Charles says there is some hope in Australia that her disease can be cured.” Richard had spent money like water on Addison's medical treatment, but the disease
"Baby girl, I know you miss your lover boy." He murmured on my lips, lifting and thumping my chin with his forefinger. The false accusation prompted me to give him a sharp glare, but he ignored it. He already knew everything since the day I left Kenner; his eagle eyes were always on me, and his cunning mind spun a web around me that would keep me stuck in it forever. "Listen carefully this time." His eyes darken and a frown appears on his forehead, tightening his grip on my chin, causing my eyes to well. He spoke quietly, "I am your master." Then He tsk leaving my chin like a bipolar he mentioned with an evil smile on his face "Your husband baby girl," He said with a sharp gaze and tone, keeping his face straight. "I do not like it when you think about other men." I cannot forget those gray steel eyes when he killed Sage. "He will hurt me." My conscience warned me, and the memory of him hurting Sage lingered in my thoughts. The cruelty with which Sage was killed was something I had
“I am going to take your mom to Australia,” Richard informed Ryan before taking sight. Ryan felt his father's emotions as he sat beside his sleeping mother. Addison's face was pale, and she breathed slowly. Both father and son were concerned about Addison's medical condition and had hired top doctors to examine her. However, some diseases are incurable; only human will has the power to cure medicine. Ryan immediately flew to Kenner after learning of her mother's condition, and he has not stopped looking at his mother's sleeping frame since then.“Why…” He asked, looking into his father's eyes. The dark circles and wrinkles on his face were obvious signs of age. The royal family had their charm to help them age, but the constant stress and Addison's medical condition harmed Richard's health.Richard sighed and explained, “Doctor Charles says there is some hope in Australia that her disease can be cured.” Richard had spent money like water on Addison's medical treatment, but the disease
“What are you doing?” Arina hissed, glaring at Aaron with frustration. He stood in his room, holding an expensive statue as if ready to throw it to the floor. The room was a mess, with items scattered everywhere. “She's picking fights for no reason,” Aaron muttered angrily, crushing things in his bedroom. He couldn't understand why Lisa insisted he wear formal clothes just to meet her mother. “Can you tell me what's happened between you two?” Arina asked, rolling her eyes. She was used to their frequent arguments and subsequent reconciliations. It always saddened her to see them fight over trivial matters. “Why don't you girls understand that we can't guess what you want? Just tell us!” he huffed, his frustration evident. Aaron was exasperated with Lisa's expectations. “Wait, 'you girls'?” Arina retorted, glaring back at him. Aaron's behavior was also making things difficult for her as a woman. “Yes, you girls,” Aaron replied angrily, pointing a finger at Arina in his frustratio
“Everything is settled as you requested, My King,” Charlie affirmed after their meeting, his tone deferential yet tinged with relief. Ryan nodded, observing the sea of students attending the seminar for guidance from him. “I would like to invite the King of Kenner to address a few words to our students about their journey after college,” the Principal announced, stepping back from the stage. Ryan's aura already commanded everyone's attention, with the younger generation looking at him with admiration. “Hello everyone. Every journey has its value, and your hard work and dedication make your journey worthwhile. I am here to offer you a few words, but they will only be valuable if you have goals to achieve. Set your goals before you embark on your journey,” Ryan said confidently, his regal demeanor adding charm to his words. “What is your goal, King?” a young man in his twenties asked Ryan. “To submit to my queen,” Ryan smirked, eliciting laughter from the audience who knew he was th
“Adison, please take your medicine,” Richard urged his wife, his tone filled with concern and a touch of frustration as he held out the pill bottle. It was a routine they had gone through countless times, her reluctance to take her medication always testing his patience.“Where is Ryan?” Adison's question sent a shiver down Richard's spine, his expression paling at the mention of their son's name. It was a topic he had hoped to avoid, knowing the weight of the secrets he carried.“He's probably at his mansion, having breakfast,” Richard replied awkwardly, his attempt at casualness falling flat in the face of Adison's piercing gaze."Call him and ask him to meet me today. I miss him,” Adison insisted, finally relenting and taking her medicine as Richard made the call, his heart heavy with the burden of his secrets."Sure, just rest. I'll be back,” Richard reassured her, tucking her in and leaving her in their room before stepping out to make the call to Reyan.“Your meeting's over?” Ri
"Where's Arina?" Sage's voice trembled with anticipation as he scanned the bustling college courtyard, his heart pounding with the hope of catching a glimpse of her radiant presence. He had been waiting for this moment, eager to steal a few precious moments with her and perhaps, if luck was on his side, to carve out a space for himself in her life. "She's in a lecture right now, but she'll be here in the afternoon. Are you missing her?" Lisa's teasing tone held a knowing glint in her eye, betraying her awareness of Sage's longstanding crush on Arina. She had watched their dance of glances and subtle gestures unfold over time, and she couldn't help but smile at the prospect of their potential romance. "No, it's just her notes…" Sage's voice trailed off, his fingers absently creasing the nap of his shirt as he tried to quell the nervous fluttering in his stomach. He couldn't afford to let his feelings for Arina distract him from his goal of winning her affection, but the mere though
"Are we really going to New York?" Rosella's voice held a mix of excitement and uncertainty as she glanced at Barton, who was immersed in his phone, nodding absentmindedly. "Yes, we are," Barton replied, finally tearing his gaze away from the screen to meet her eyes. "I've been invited to a conference there." Rosella's face lit up with a smile, her thoughts already racing with visions of exploring the bustling streets of the Big Apple. "That sounds amazing! I can't wait." As Rosella hurried off to their room to pack, Barton's mind was elsewhere, his fingers flying across the keyboard as he exchanged messages with John about the latest developments in the mining industry. But beneath his facade of composure, a knot of tension gnawed at his stomach. The news from his source about the supervisor's investigation into suspicious activities sent a chill down Barton's spine. He knew all too well the potential consequences if his involvement were to be discovered, and the thought weig
Arina huffed in frustration as she struggled to open the anklet, her fingers fumbling with the delicate clasp. The diamond-studded ornament shimmered against her creamy skin, its beauty a stark contrast to the sense of confinement it imposed on her small ankle. Reyan had commissioned the royal ornaments designer to create the anklet, requesting a design that resembled a cuff rather than a traditional anklet. Being the esteemed royal designer, he had spared no expense in crafting the piece, aiming to earn the king's appreciation and a hefty sum of money in return. But to Arina, the anklet felt more like a chain than an ornament, suffocating her with its weight and symbolism. It was a constant reminder of her lack of freedom, making her feel like a prisoner with her foot shackled. Lost in her thoughts, she was jolted back to reality by the vibration of her mobile, signaling an incoming message. With a sense of trepidation, she unlocked her phone and saw a message from an unknown n
Arina's heart pounded against her chest, each beat echoing the turmoil within her like a thunderstorm raging in her chest. "Please forgive me for what I did that night," she pleaded, her voice trembling with desperation, tears threatening to spill from her eyes like raindrops in a tempest. But Ryan's touch, though comforting, felt suffocating as he caressed her red hair with a tenderness that belied the tension in the air. "My Queen, you are too late to ask," he said, his voice low and commanding, carrying the weight of a king's decree. "What do you want?" Arina asked, her voice quivering as she fought to control her emotions, to suppress the fear that threatened to overwhelm her like a tsunami crashing against fragile shores. "You. It's so simple," Ryan replied, his tone sending shivers down her spine, his words a declaration of possession that chilled her to the bone. Arina's breath caught in her throat, her chest tightening with a sense of foreboding. "You can't," she whispered
Arina's heart raced as she grappled with the intensity of the encounter, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions as she struggled to maintain her composure in the face of such a formidable adversary. With each splash of water, Arina felt a sense of calm wash over her, the cool liquid soothing her frazzled nerves. She took a deep breath, allowing herself a moment of respite before steeling herself to return to the table. Surely, she thought, Ryan wouldn't dare to follow her here. But as Ryan entered the restroom, Arina's heart seemed to leap into her throat, her voice faltering as she attempted to speak. "Ma... star," she stammered, her words barely audible above the hum of the room's ventilation system. Ryan's presence filled the room, his aura commanding attention as he moved closer to her. "Glad you remembered me," he remarked, his voice smooth yet laced with an undercurrent of intensity. Arina's eyes flickered nervously, darting between Ryan's penetrating gaze and the exit