XERCEL’S POV:We are now in a restaurant since we wanted to eat first before going home, and we are currently waiting for our orders to arrive so that we can eat them.I was seated between Arthur, who was still clinging to me while typing on his phone, and Jensen, who was just silent beside me. Taylor was staring at her phone while Ysabelle was reading a book, which I don’t have any idea of what it is all about.I couldn’t help but look at Jensen, who was still minding his own business while looking down at the table in front of him as if it was more interesting than anyone else.I looked at him, perplexed, because he had been quiet since these three arrived. In the first place, he wasn’t like this earlier when we were still with them. Is he uncomfortable around these three people? I wonder if it is appropriate for me to ask. Should I?I sighed helplessly and held his hand under the table, which made him look at me questioningly. He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, but I didn’t say
XERCEL’S POV:The look of horror on their faces as they looked at the man in front of us intensified when the man started to yell again, "Shut the fuck up or I will slit your throats!"This became effective, though, since the room fell into silence after hearing that yell from him. Actually, I am starting to feel nervous as well about what might await me at the hand of this person.After a few minutes, four people entered the room as well, which became the reason why I started to sweat in fear as well. The man, who was wearing an ugly mask, looked at them.He told the four men in front of him, "Get two children that we can sell at the auction tonight. The cuter, the better." He even laughed evilly after that, sending shivers down my spine in fear.My eyes widened at this as I immediately crawled towards the edge of my cage and sat there while hugging my knees and burying my face in them."Yes, master." I heard one of them answer before I heard some footsteps walking near my cage.I wa
XERCEL’S POV:I just met Jaycel and the others when the Empress sent them abroad to go to school with us because their pasts weren’t that good either.As for my adoptive parents, I haunted them down when I turned 18 years old as my first mission since what they did to me, they also did to other children from orphanages as they moved from one place to another.They were the first people who I killed without any conscience. I know that I shouldn’t do that, but if I let them live in this world like this, many children will suffer and experience the fate that I experienced before, which I will not allow no matter what.However, I was so shocked to learn from his grandfather that she would go back here with us, and at the same time, I was also glad, but I didn't expect that she would change somehow, and I can’t point out where.She also forgot about us, which somehow gave me a reason to be suspicious, but it didn’t stop me from being friends with her again, as I brushed off my suspicion si
KIANA’S POV:Am I hearing this right? He was just fucking bored. Is he freaking serious right now? I am not joking around here for Pete’s sake.I am a person who has been sleeping deprived for how many nights now, and aside from that, I don’t have fucking time for myself because of the things that were happening towards the Empress, and he was just going to tell me that he finds me as someone who is good company for him? Bullshit!I rolled my eyes at him and frowned as I mumbled, "You are so fucking annoying, Calvin."I saw him leaning his back on his seat and replied, "I just want to have someone to go with since I hate being alone, Kiana." He looked at the table in front of us as he added, "Being with you feels good, you know, since we may not be that close, but at least we are civil when we are at school, especially since people there want to be with us because of what we have, like money, power, or even our faces, but..." He trailed off before looking at me sincerely, "You and you
CALVIN’S POV:"What are you doing?" I asked confusingly and was about to stop her, but she just glared at me.She answered firmly, "I will help you because I believe that two is better than one, so the work will be easy and we can leave this place as soon as possible if you will stop nagging there and just let me do this."I sighed and looked at her helplessly, "Are you sure that you can still do it despite being tired?"She rolled her eyes as she smirked at me and answered, "Of course, because I am not that weak like what you are thinking." After she successfully managed to grab some of the things from my hand, she immediately added, "Besides, I am just like this because I lack sleep, but if I had the chance to sleep, I think I would be more energetic than you."I pouted hearing this, but I still muttered under my breath a simple, "Fine."We entered the grocery store after leaving all those paper bags in the baggage area to make sure that our hands were free to find the things that I
CALVIN’S POV: I was glad when I saw the manager of this condominium do it. I immediately lower the window and look at the people behind him and realize that he had brought about five people, to be exact, just to carry all the things I had bought earlier, which was somehow a good choice since the groceries were also plenty. When he saw my face, he immediately smiled at me, but it turned into confusion when his eyes landed on the person beside me. However, he didn’t ask anything about it, which made me somehow secretly breathe a sigh of relief since I don’t want to explain anything about this situation because I am also clueless about why I am acting this way ever since I witnessed her situation earlier. "Just get those things that were inside the trunk and the backseat, Damian." I told him seriously as I looked at the woman beside me who was now snoring softly before adding, "Make sure to do it silently and slowly since I don’t want this woman beside me to wake up." "Yes, young mas
XERCEL’S POV:After we ate at the restaurant while reminiscing about my past, we immediately decided to leave the restaurant. Jensen still insisted on driving, and I was about to enter the passenger seat when Arthur suddenly dragged me to the backseat.My eyebrows furrowed as I asked with confusion, "What are you doing?"He smiled sweetly at me as he let me settle on the seat beside him before answering, "I want to sit beside you, love." He somehow glanced in front, which lasted for a couple of seconds before turning his attention back at me as he added with a pout, "After all, it’s been so long since the last time we were with each other due to you staying here with the Empress."I sighed at this helplessly while looking at him with a fond expression. He was right, though. We rarely bonded or even had communication due to our work.Sometimes I can even forget to call or even text him just to ask about his condition, especially right now when we are facing so many problems that even o
CALVIN’S POV:After I wore my sleepers, I went back near her and bent down to place the pair of clean sleepers on the floor beside her shoes so that she could wear them later once she woke up. I also hold the edge of the blanket on her body so that I can cover her with it properly.However, I was suddenly startled when her eyes suddenly opened as she looked at me in confusion.She narrowed her eyes as she frowned before she asked hoarsely, "What am I doing here?"I was like a deer that was caught in the headlights, but I still stood straight when I realized what I had just done, but I still maintained looking down at her.I cleared my throat and smiled hesitantly as I answered, "I didn’t have the heart to wake you up earlier since I knew that you were so tired due to lack of sleep, like what you complained of earlier, so I just carried you and made you sleep here temporarily."She sat up with a frown and rubbed her eyes gently before leaning her back on the backrest of the couch while
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.