GRAY’S POV:He answered weakly, "Of course I do." He paused and continued, "If only I had a choice, Gray. I would not be able to stay here without them.” I sighed and mumbled helplessly, "But you have so many choices aside from doing this all alone."He replied, "This is the best way I can think of, even though I have been waiting for the right time that all of us would be together again, but because of these situations, I can't."I frowned and asked softly, "Then why can’t you take a risk and come here?"He asked in a half-yelled tone, "Do you think I like this situation?" He sighed and asked again, "Do you think I want you to be there in the position where I should be?""But you chose to stay there!" I yelled at him as if I had just released all my frustrations because of that.He shouted back at me from the other line. "Bullshit! I choose this because this is the only thing I can do to protect them. As much as I wanted to take a risk, I can’t because if I don't do this, I might lo
KIANA’S POV:His arms were also full of bruises and wounds. My eyes became colder as I recalled all the scenes earlier. I was so fucking worried because I thought, I can’t protect Ice again for the third time, and I don’t fucking want that.Somehow, part of me was blaming myself again. Maybe if I did all my best to protect her, things like this would not happen anymore.I looked at the man beside me as I saw how he shook his head while looking at the man in front of us."He was still not saying anything, and he chose to keep his mouth shut." He replied in an annoyed tone.I clenched my fist and glared at this guy who was still lowering his head and pretending to be dead while leaning his back on the chair while treating me like air.I ordered them in an annoyed tone, "Undress him, then."Their eyes widened as they both looked at me as if they were hearing something absurd right now. Is it just me, or do I appear to be joking here?This time, the guy also raised his head and smirked at
KIANA’S POV:It turned out that the owner was Calvin. That's why now here he is, trying to annoy the hell out of me. I mean, I am not planning to ignore what I did in the first place. I just ignored that earlier since I was so determined to catch that bastard, so I prioritized chasing that guy instead of facing what I did.I am willing to pay my debt anyway. So, yeah. I am in this situation because of that stupidity. I massaged my temples as I closed my eyes. Goodness, another problem again."Can't I just pay with my money?" I asked him again and pretended to be annoyed.I heard him snort as he asked back, "Do I look like I'm short of money?" I rolled my eyes. How long should I do this? Gosh, I am too lazy for these useless things. He also added mockingly, "Besides, you know that my car is expensive, so you should just follow what I want."I sighed. As much as I wanted to tell him that I could pay him any amount and that I could even buy him a new one, I don’t have time for this.I a
ICE’S POV:"You know what?" she asked, which made me raise my eyebrows at her as she said, "I really wanted to scold you right now, but every time I remember the things that happened to you, I can’t bear to do that anymore."I smiled faintly and told her, "I know and I don’t care if you scold me, but right now wasn’t the time for that since my head cannot take all those scoldings."She shook her head helplessly as her expression suddenly turned serious, which I assumed meant that she had just remembered something important. I raised my eyebrows again because of this as I looked at her questionably."We already know who attacked you." She uttered, which made my expression turn serious as well.I asked coldly, "Who are they?"She sighed, and instead of answering my question, she dragged the chair that was placed on the side.The backrest of it was facing me as she sat on it and placed both of her arms above the backrest to look at me."I know that you are already aware that the groups t
XERCEL’S POV:I nodded my head and smiled faintly, "It’s up to you. If you want to, then go ahead and do it. Thank you. " I answered.He glanced at me again and smiled, "No worries." He mumbled and walked towards the place where the rice cooker is located.I followed him with my eyes as he took the inner pot of the rice cooker and faced the rice dispenser to get some rice from it and put it inside the pot. He was about to put water on it when he suddenly glanced in my direction.He looked at me confusedly when he saw that I was just looking at him. He stopped what he was doing and put his hands on his waist as he looked at me while raising his eyebrows."You will not start cooking yet?" He asked with a confused expression.I blink because of that and realize that I was stupidly standing here in front of the refrigerator. I laughed awkwardly as I realized how embarrassing my situation is right now. I just stare at this guy without even blinking. The worst thing is that he just caught m
XERCEL’S POV:I went out of my room and closed the door behind me before we walked together downstairs."Who’s car are we going to use?" he suddenly asked when we were already in the living room.I bit my lip and thought that it was better to be mine, so I glanced at him to answer, "I think mine was the better option."I looked straight ahead as he opened the door and motioned for me to go out. I went out first as he did the same and closed the door.After doing so, he immediately faced me, which somehow startled me a little because the distance between us is so close.Here goes my heart again. I gripped the hem of my clothes tightly as I tried to calm my beating heart. I was just hoping that I wasn’t blushing right now.I slowly backed away a little while avoiding his gaze."Are you okay, Cel?" I heard him ask with a hint of worry.I heaved a sigh to calm my heart and looked at him. I saw how his eyes showed worry and gentleness, but I tried not to fall for that look again as I smile
KIANA’S POV:After I came back to the house earlier with Jensen and Xercel, I took a bath and changed my clothes into a white v-neck shirt, a black denim jacket, and pants, which I paired with white shoes.After doing so, I immediately packed some necessary things, like clothes for Jaycel and the children, before I left the place. I still didn’t have the time to sleep because I needed to go somewhere later, so I needed to make up for the time that I could still take care of the Empress.My arrival at the hospital got delayed because I still went to the mall to buy shampoos, soaps, and other necessities for bathing so that Jaycel and the kids can already clean themselves.After all, the kids didn’t want to go home because they were still afraid that something might happen to their mom. That’s why they didn’t have the chance to take a bath every day.I really feel pity for those kids who experienced this in their childhood days. For how many years did they almost lose their mother in th
KIANA’S POV:I smiled and told him gently. "Let’s eat baby."He glanced at his sleeping brother before looking back at me and replying, "But History is still sleeping, Auntie."I sighed helplessly and pouted as I mumbled, "Then, you should wash up first, then let’s wait for History to wake up so that you can eat together." I saw how he was thinking about it, so I pinched his cheek and asked, "Is that okay, baby?"He nodded his head cutely, even though his face was still expressionless. "Okay, but what about my mom?" he asked while furrowing his eyebrows.I offered my hand to him and answered, "She’s also sleeping on her bed, so come out now and wash up."He nodded his head again and held my hand before we went out of there together. When we were about to pass the Empress’ bed, Chronicles suddenly stopped and looked at me."Can I ask you a favor, Auntie Kiana?" he asked coldly.I raised my eyebrows hearing this from him, but I still nodded my head in response."What is it?" I asked him
ICE’S POV:"Mommy!" I heard History's excited voice echoing through the house, and I couldn't help but smile. I knew he, along with his dad, Iciest, and his brother, Chronicles, were eagerly waiting for me and our little angel, Legend. With a fond shake of my head, I anticipated History's imminent arrival in the room that Iciest and I shared.I glanced at my 2-year-old daughter, her vibrant violet and green eyes meeting mine. She had inherited those striking eyes from me. Gently, I dressed her in a beautiful blue dress, carefully placing a delicate white flower tiara on her head before braiding her hair. It was a marvel to think about the journey that had led to this point—after everything that had transpired, the unexpected gift of another baby had caught Iciest and me by surprise. Recollecting a past conversation with my two older children about their desire for a third sibling once their parents reunited (which, unbeknownst to me at the time, referred to me and Iciest), I had decid
ICE’S POV:As my arms encircled him, I could feel his body tremble beneath my touch. It was clear that his façade was cracking and that the tough exterior he tried to project was giving way to the pain he held within. I gently turned him to face me, his tear-streaked face a testament to the battle raging inside him."It's going to be alright, brother," I murmured, my voice a steady anchor amidst the storm of his emotions. I held his gaze, willing him to believe my words. "Your sister will not leave you again." His eyes, usually so guarded, seemed to soften with a glimmer of hope as our connection deepened.Yet, as we stood there locked in our embrace, something shifted in Grayson. His defenses crumbled, and the floodgates he had erected against his feelings began to open. The sound of his sobs, raw and heartbreaking, reached my ears, and I felt a pang in my chest. This was his pain, his vulnerability laid bare, and I was honored that he chose to share it with me.Tears welled up in my
ICE’S POV:Guns were drawn, tension hung thick in the air, and it seemed like a standoff was about to erupt, but amidst the pointed weapons, only Zia and I stood without weapons, locked in a chilling gaze. With a wry smile, Zia's voice slithered forth, her words carrying a mocking tone: "Well, isn't this a cozy gathering? Traitors' offspring all grown up. What a delight."My response wasn't as amusing as hers. I fixed her with a cold stare, my voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "Why drag me, my brother, and those who matter to me into this? What's the point of involving us in the tangled mess our parents made that wasn’t our problems in the first place?"Zia's laughter rippled, a bitter melody in the midst of the charged atmosphere. She fired back, her tone dripping with sarcasm, "Oh, come on. Did you really expect me to roll out the red carpet for you just because your parents are the culprits and it doesn’t include you?"I didn't grace her question with an immediate ans
THIRD PERSON’S POV:On the other side, "Calvin, Travor, and Kiana reached the main entrance, spotting guards converging on the control room."Calvin whispered, "We're not too late. Let's go."They engaged the guards in a swift and calculated skirmish, taking them down one by one with a combination of martial prowess and precision.Travor took down a guard as he whispered, "Marcus and Jerry must be in trouble. We have to hurry."Kiana knocked out a guard as she mumbled, "Agreed. Let's clear the way."On the other side, Alfer, John, and Daryl pressed forward, their movements fluid as they navigated the dimly lit corridor.Alfer checked the corners as he mumbled, "Keep pushing. We're almost there."Suddenly, a group of guards rounded the corner, spotting the infiltrators.John smirked as he mumbled, "Looks like we've got a welcoming committee."Daryl cracked his knuckles as he muttered, "Let's give them a taste of our skills."A fierce battle ensued as the infiltrators clashed with the g
THIRD PERSON’S POV:The group wasted no time, moving with calculated precision. Zee sat hunched over a bank of monitors, fingers dancing across the keyboard as lines of code scrolled across screens along with Taylor.Arthur leaned against the wall, his gaze fixed on the surveillance feed showing the imposing structure of Zia's base across the street. Luke tinkered with a small device on the table, his earbuds plugged in as he kept an ear on the team's communication while Jaycel was just on the side watching them.Zee muttered to herself, "Alright, I've patched into their security network. I can see the guards patrolling the perimeter."Arthur replied, "Keep an eye on the guards' patterns. We don't want any surprises."Luke nodded his head with a sighed as he mumbled, "I've got the signal jammers set up. Their comms won't be working."Meanwhile, outside the hotel, Zian smiled as he happily said it into his earpiece as he lured the guards. "Hey, have you guys heard about that new virtua
ICE’S POV:Inside, an ensemble of guards stationed throughout offered their respectful greetings. It was a familiar routine, and their commitment to our children's protection never wavered.Venturing deeper, we were met with a heartwarming sight. On the couch, our two children were engrossed in their tablets, undoubtedly lost in the world of their game company—an endeavor they had taken upon themselves.My throat gave a subtle cough as we entered their line of sight. In response, their heads snapped up in a mixture of surprise and sheer delight.The room was alive with a sort of controlled chaos. I watched as History hopped off the sofa with a reckless enthusiasm that sent a pang of worry through me. His father's voice, laced with pure concern, rumbled like a soothing undertone, "Be careful, baby!"Chronicles, his older brother, didn't hold back either. His words came out in a stern, almost icy tone, but beneath that frostiness, concern flickered like a hidden flame: "Slow down, Histo
CALVIN’S POV:Meanwhile, Grayson sat alongside Zee, the enigmatic figure responsible for the intricate hacking that fortified Ice's group. Learning that Zee led the faction known as Antares stunned everyone, even Arthur and Luke, cyber experts themselves, who had worked under her leadership for so long. I made a mental note to uncover the backstory behind Grayson and Zee's connection when the timing was right.Other than Ysabelle, Taylor, and Arthur, who were already acquainted, the rest of the newcomers had just arrived this morning. The dynamics in the room were captivating—a mix of camaraderie and curiosity, like a puzzle waiting to be solved.Amidst the hum of conversations, what puzzled me was the trio from Jaycel's team; their gaze was locked onto Travor. He remained unfazed by their judgmental stares, a mischievous grin playing on his lips. He seemed impervious to their scrutiny as he goaded the mother of his child, her simmering anger evident yet contained.Within this intrica
ICIEST’S POV:Her response carried a scoff, her voice tinged with humor despite the situation: "I'm keeping it in check. You know me, I've got this. We're nearly at your location, so sit tight."A frown creased my brow, her words stirring a different kind of unease. Swiftly, I retorted, "Don't play it down too much. I'll be waiting right here, wife. Just get back safely."The tension in the air was thick as I clenched my fist, waiting for her response. The seconds felt like an eternity until her voice finally broke through the silence."I will," she replied, her words hanging in the air like a promise. The call ended, leaving me with a mixture of relief and uncertainty.As the call ended, I turned my gaze to Grayson, who seemed to release a breath he had been holding. There was a tension in the air that still lingered, but some of it seemed to ease with his reaction.Calmly, I advised, "Let's give them a few minutes. They should be arriving soon."My prediction wasn't off, as mere mom
GRAYSON’S POV:I nodded, my exhale carrying the weight of my anxiety. Just when it seemed like the call would go unanswered once more, I glanced at my sister, her expression unwaveringly frosty.My hope was fading, and desperation clawed at me, but then, miraculously, someone picked up the call. It took every ounce of restraint not to burst into a jubilant shout—a reaction completely out of character for me.I had never been one to wear my emotions on my sleeve, nor did I usually indulge in sentimentality. My demeanor was typically as chilly as a winter breeze, and my interactions with others were marked by detached professionalism.But in the face of recent events, my perspective has shifted. I had come to realize that I was no longer an island, no longer alone. Their well-being had become paramount to me, and I would do anything to keep them safe from harm.As soon as Calvin answered the call, I hit the loudspeaker button, ensuring Ice and Iciest could listen in on our conversation.