âLook at that!âMette exclaimed excitedly, making Martha pause while arranging Metteâs hair. Mette leapt from her chair and approached Gia, who had just entered the room.Gia entered, already dressed in the party attire Sophie had prepared for her. Sophie had instructed her to style her hair and makeup to perfection. The makeup was soft and subtle, enhancing Giaâs beauty without being overwhelming.Gia wore the red dress Sophie had selected the day before. It was slightly longer than knee-length and had open sleeves. Detailed floral embroidery and sequins adorned the V-shaped bodice extending to her waist.The dress gave Gia an intimidating aura and amplified her presence. Her petite frame seemed taller by a few centimetres, making her appear more striking than usual.Perhaps that added height was due to the high heels she wore. Though not as extreme as the killer heels from a few days ago, they were still tall enough. More importantly, Gia felt comfortable in these moderately high he
"Ranallo? Your brother is Ranallo?â Lonan asked, still unable to accept it."Yes. And because of that, Raven is still alive. Unlike your wish to kill him.ââI DIDNâT KNOW THEY WERE TRYING TO KILL RAVEN!â Lonan shouted, his voice loud but still drowned out by the music. Only Gia and Matteo heard his desperate outcry.âI donât care what your intentions were. The fact remains: you cruelly led your own brother to his doom!â Gia snapped with scorn.From the start, Gia had hated Lonan for his lies. However, betraying Ravenâs location was the most unforgivable act in her eyes. It had shattered Ravenâs heart. Even now, Raven barely touched on the subject, unwilling to reopen old wounds.Gia knew this well, even though Raven never explicitly said so. He avoided mentioning Lonan because he didnât want Gia to curse him further. After everything, Raven still wanted to protect Lonanâs reputation in her eyes.âHe was the one who convincedââLonan stopped himself mid-sentence, realizing he had almos
Queen Silvia pulled Gia closer without paying attention to the confusion on her husbandâs face. âThereâs someone who wants to speak with you.âGia was genuinely curious. Was Queen Silviaâs sweet tone the one she usually used when speaking to King Gustaf daily?However, seeing her husbandâs surprise made it clear the tone was deliberate. Queen Silvia intentionally used it to heighten the surprise when she introduced them.âAnd who is this? Iâve never seen her before,â King Gustaf asked.Gia suddenly felt nervous as his piercing green eyes studied her intently. Only then did she realize the man addressing her was the ruler of one of Europeâs most powerful nations?âSheâs my guest.â The words slipped from Queen Silviaâs lips almost instantlyâa lie crafted without hesitation.Like Gia, she had decided not to involve Mette.Queen Silvia chose to take full responsibility herself, which was a smart move. Even if King Gustaf became angry later, it would remain a private marital argument rathe
"Helsinki?" King Gustaf exclaimed, startled. âThis law does not extend beyond Sweden. She cannot be arrested in Helsinki!â He added something everyone already knew, something he had said at least once.A malicious laugh erupted from behind Gia. Sitting on the sofa, Queen Silvia raised her hand to her mouth, but the gesture did nothing to muffle the loud laughter escaping her lips.âYou should ask your precious daughter about this. Iâm sure she has an answer.âKing Gustafâs eyes flared with anger, and he was displeased with his wifeâs accusation of Willow. âDonât say things carelessly!â he barked.Queen Silvia ignored his outburst, shrugging casually as she delivered another shocking revelation. âIf you want clarity, just ask Ronald. Heâs in the front, isnât he?â"Ronald?" Following his wifeâs reasonable suggestion, King Gustaf picked up the phone on his desk and pressed a button.âCould you call Ronald and have him come to my office?â Gustaf asked irritatedly, put the phone down, and g
CRASH!As Queen Silvia finished her sentence, an ashtray flew through the air and slammed into the wall behind Ronald. King Gustaf had thrown it. He snatched the ashtray from the table and hurled it with all his strength in Ronaldâs direction.His fury had reached its boiling point. Anyone could understand the implication behind Queen Silviaâs words about âspreading legs.â Imagining Willow doing such a thing with Ronald was enough to make Queen Silviaâs disgust apparent.Especially for King Gustaf. Though he found it hard to believe his wifeâs words, Ronaldâs increasingly bowed head confirmed the truth.Gia covered her mouth, trying to stifle her gasp. She hadnât expected Willow to stoop so low to achieve her plans. Matteo, however, seemed utterly unbothered, the only one in the room unimpressed by the unfolding drama. Heâd witnessed far more shocking events in the past.âI knew that girl was disgusting! But you are even more repulsive for accepting her. Sheâs the same age as your dau
Matteo uttered the keyword âmaterialisticâ and sparked an idea in Giaâs mind.King Gustaf greatly valued money if it served the nationâs interests. Taxes were the answerâessential to the countryâs finances, with the funds allocated for the peopleâs welfare. He would never willingly lose that much money in an instant.Lindgren Corp likely contributed at least ten to fifteen per cent of the nationâs tax revenue. This is a small percentage, but in monetary terms, it was immense. The sum was roughly equivalent to the nationâs needs for two months. Losing it would disrupt the economy.Gia regretted not realizing this sooner, but it seemed Matteo had prepared it as a final negotiation card if all else failed. Still, she felt proud of herself for quickly deciphering Matteoâs brief hint.Once again, laughter erupted behind Gia. âI like your style, Gia. I really doâĶâ Queen Silvia clapped in delight. She enjoyed the drama Gia brought and seemed thoroughly satisfied. âSomeday, Iâll invite you
Gia stared at the building in wonder, then turned to Matteo, who was frowning as he tried to park the car neatly.The remaining parking space was narrow, requiring full concentration to fit their car in without grazing the vehicles on either side.âAre you sure weâre in the right place? Weâre supposed to pick Raven up from prison. Why did you bring me here?" Gia protested as Matteo turned off the engine.âThat building is Tabellen 4 Sollentuna, the highest-security prison in Stockholm,â Matteo explained.âAre you sure you didnât mix up the address?â Gia asked, still doubtful."No, Gia. You can read the nameplate over there.âGia wanted to argue again, but when she read the nameplate, she froze.She realized the tall building was indeed a prison. However, since the exterior was entirely covered in glass, it didnât look like a typical prison but resembled a modern office building. From this angle, the sunlight reflecting off its surface made Gia squint slightly, even though it wasnât ho
Yesterday, the political world of Sweden was shaken when Prime Minister Ronald Errikson suddenly resigned from his position. He cited health reasons, but three people in the car knew the reason.Gia was sure Caius knew since she had shared everything in that room with Jasper.âI hope Queen Silvia lets him go,â Gia muttered, shivering as she recalled Caiusâs motherâs threats.âDonât worry. My mother loves making threats, but considering her calculated moves so far, I think sheâll forgive him,â Caius replied confidently.Gia felt a bit sorry for Robert, who had also been manipulated by Willow. Yet, remembering what the two of them had done made Gia feel nauseous.âI met your brother. You two look alike,â Gia said, steering the conversation to a lighter topic.âIâm better looking, of course,â Caius smirked, refusing to back down.âYeahâĶ sure,â Gia conceded half-heartedly as Matteo snorted in disgust.That was all they said about Daniel. Gia fell silent, unable to comment further. She did
King Gustaf held Ravenâs hand tightly for a moment. He was aware that their happiness depended on each other.He kept his eyes on Raven as their hands separated.âWell then, Iâll take my leave.â King Gustaf saw no reason for further pleasantries, so he turned around immediately. But before taking a step, he glanced back.His gaze focused on Lonan, who had remained silent and lowered his head after declaring he would be a witness.âI truly wished you had married Willow, but I couldnât force her. Iâm sorry. And please forgive Willow for her mistake this time.â His eyes flickered toward Raven as well, not just Lonan. Then, finally, he stepped out.Two deep sighs of relief filled the room as the door closedâone from Lonan, one from Raven. Raven picked up his phone, checking something. Maybe he was telling Jasper to cancel a plan.âKing Gustaf will keep his promise because he will never let Willowâs name be tarnished in the eyes of society. He always avoids scandals so that Willow can live
Gia didn't know who Tilda was, but Raven's intense reaction made her suspect something. Raven clearly cared about whoever Tilda was."Why can't I mention her name? She's Willow's mother!"Gia's suspicion proved correct. King Gustaf disgustingly uttered a name that would surely shake Raven. He mentioned someone Raven loved as dearly as her own family. It was a deceitful move.Raven's face burned with anger, yet the furrow in her brow showed she was thinking. That name had driven her to get engaged and save Willow's life. The inner battle flared up againâthis time, it was Raven's turn."For Tilda's sake, I beg you: don't press those charges. And please hand over that recording. You surely don't want to ruin Willow's life, right?""He ruined himself without my interference. You only sped up his plunge into ruin by continually excusing all his misdeeds." Raven stopped using the formal "you" when addressing King Gustaf. Merely mentioning Tilda's name ignited deep emotions within her."You
King Gustaf stared at Al and Frey. "Are they your children?" Gia wanted to answer with a scathing remark with the word idiot, just like she'd used earlier to respond to Lonan's question. It was blatantly obvious who Al and Frey's parents were. "Yes," Gia replied politely. The time when she could curse at the king had long passed. "Then you must understand my feelings. The feelings of a father who must do everything to protect his child." King Gustaf quickly turned to Raven. Unfortunately, his emotionally charged statement was met with a mocking laugh from Raven. "No. I can't understand your feelings. Because I'll make sure these two don't grow up to be manipulators who casually stab others in the back," Raven retorted sharply. King Gustaf's jaw tightened in anger. "What's going on?" Gia demanded. Seeing Raven provoke the king's anger, she felt some satisfaction, but she still didn't grasp the full context. "I'm filing charges against Willow. This time, I'll ensure she
"Oh... My... God...," Lonan muttered as he saw Raven enter carrying Freya. Gia followed behind, with Al playfully twirling around her neck.They had to wrestle a bit while heading to the hospital. Al began teething and fussed whenever things didn't go his way.Freya, who always imitated her older sibling, considered crying together a fun activity. As a result, Gia and Raven had to fight through a torrent of tears before they could leave the house."TheyâĶ"Lonan shot a disbelieving glance. He rarely saw Raven accompanied by a cute baby; in his opinion, it didn't seem right. In fact, Gia used to feel the sameâbut that was then. Gia feels something is missing without Freya clinging to Raven's chest.It wasn't Gia's idea to bring them to the hospital; Raven requested it. He wanted to introduce Al and Freya to their uncle. It was a common wish, and Gia simply couldn't refuse."Are they twins?" Lonan asked."You don't eat enough apples. How can you ask such a stupid question? The answer is
Gia peeled the apple on the table and cut it into smaller pieces. That wasn't how she ate applesâshe preferred whole ones, eating them with the skin on.The apple wasn't for her. After placing it in a bowl, Gia carried it to the patient's bed and set it on the table. The person sleeping in that bed jumped awake at the sound of movement and footsteps.Gia glanced sideways, and their eyes met. Too late to look away, she could only huff in irritation.Lonan looked toward the bowl of apple. "I thought you'd never do something kind for me again."Gia snorted. "Exactly! I didn't do this for you. I did it for Raven. He'll be upset if he finds out I still despise you."Lonan gave a bitter smile. He had set his hopes too high. Gia always tried her best to be kind to him because she knew that if she kept showing her dislike, Raven would end up sad. Gia understood that feeling wellâit reminded her of the time she watched Matteo and Raven argue.Of course, that argument couldn't compare to the ha
Raven felt a little calmer after Gia invited him to sit. Although he still felt anxious, his breathing steadied. He leaned back in his seat while gripping Gia's hand.Doctors had been operating on Lonan for about four hours, and they still hadn't given any news about his progress. Based on her experience, Gia could only guess that the knife must have injured one of his organsâshe couldn't tell how severe the damage was.The wait felt like hell to Raven. He no longer displayed any emotion, as if his tears had drained every ounce of feeling. The overwhelming memory of his parents leaving haunted him, and he clung to the hope that Lonan would pull through.All his anger melted away and gave way to hope. He no longer cared about Lonan's mistakesâthey now seemed insignificant.Whenever a lousy memory threatened to overwhelm him, Raven squeezed Gia's hand, and Gia stroked Raven's arm gently. Gia reminded him of other parts of his life that still awaited him, assuring him that his world woul
From the beginning, Willow never planned to jump in or be fooled by Raven's blatantly apparent lies. Willow orchestrated this drama to get close enough to Raven so that they could hurt him.Now, Willow screamed in anger as their plan failed once again. Willow didn't care at all that Lonan collapsed and bled because of what they had done."Lonan!"Raven finally realized what was happening and roared Lonan's name. He tried to catch the falling body but couldn't manage it well."No!" Raven roared again when he saw the red stain spreading across Lonan's stomach.Gia pushed aside the nearby guards and ran toward them."Help him, HazeâĶ I beg you," Raven whimpered. He clutched Lonan's head as Lonan began losing consciousness.Gia studied the wound that kept bleeding. The knife is still stuck there.Gia pressed her hand against the wound to stop more blood from flowing out and to prevent Lonan from going into shock from excessive blood loss."Call for help!" Gia shouted. Many ambulances waite
Yesterday's mini forest that once looked peaceful and comfortable had transformed into a warzone. Gia now understood why all the police were downstairs. The royal guards had taken over their dutiesânot just the ones earlier on the stairs, but a much larger force now spread across the roof. Their primary purpose here wasn't Willow but because their master was also on the rooftop. King Gustaf stood roughly five meters behind Willow, trying to coax her down. Willow had already stepped outside the safety railing, facing the open air, her hands still gripping the rooftop's edge barrier. "Don't jump! Willow!" Gia could faintly hear his desperate pleas. "I should've made that barrier taller," Raven muttered. The railing would have been sufficient to prevent someone Gia's height from climbing over. But Willow, tall as a giraffe, stood only a few centimeters shorter than Raven. Her perfectly proportioned bodyâespecially those long legsâmade it easy for her to vault the barrier.
âWhat's going on?!" Gia demanded, staring at Raven. Her face was pale, and her hand covered her mouth, holding back a torrent of curses.âHow did she get in?!â Raven shouted, still directing her question to Jasper at the other end.After hearing Jasperâs response, Raven lowered the phone from her ear. Her eyes shifted to Lonan, who now looked as if he were having a heart attack."You gave her your pass card?" Raven asked quietly.Lonan shook his head. âShe came to apologize yesterday... I didn't know... she must've taken it then.âHe straightened up and rushed toward Raven.âWe have to go there...,â Lonan said, shaking Ravenâs arm."Why?"âCan someone explain what's happening?â Gia hated being left in the dark.âWillow is trying to kill herself. She's on the roof of the Lindgren Tower, ready to jump,â Raven explained.âShe...â Gia couldnât find the right wordsâWillow was beyond crazy.Raven didnât look at Gia as he spoke. His eyes were fixed on Lonan, who kept shaking his arm.âWe hav