I can feel my pulse in my throat. The walls seemed to close in, the flicker of torchlight casting long, dancing shadows that stretched towards me like eager hands. The air was thick with tension, confusion swirling in the room like a storm, and yet, the only sound that truly echoed in my ears was the steady beat of my own heart. This wasn’t how I imagined coming back to Rome—dragged back alongside a woman I barely knew, who claimed to be Leonard’s mother. Yet here I was, standing in the middle of the grand palace, surrounded by people I couldn’t completely trust, many of whom I hadn’t seen in days. My friends and enemies, all in one place. Michael, Kane—both recently uncuffed, their wrists still red from the metal—but what the hell had happened while I was gone? The questions came at me from all sides, too fast for me to process. And then, just when I thought things couldn’t get stranger, Emaine is standing here too.. out of prison. I ignore it and slap back to thinking of the mai
I’m so confused right now. I don’t even understand what’s going on. The woman who is apparently Leonard’s mother walks up to him and smiles and then pats his cheek. His face became neutral once he saw her. His poker face was such a contrast compared to Isabel who was so shocked she left to do something. He doesn’t move when she does that. “Aren’t you happy to see me?” She says. “Elena how the hell did you find her?” Leonard asks. “She came to me wanting to see you so she simply followed me back here.” Elena says. “How did she find you?” Kane asks. “You know I’m right here right?” Leonard’s mom says. Everyone ignores her. “Am I the only one who's confused here?” Michael says. “You're confused? I’m confused!” Emaine says and finds a sit to sit down on. Luca enters the door. “Let’s all go to dinner, Isabel wants us to have a talk.” He says. “What’s your name?” Aurelia asks the woman. Of all things to be thinking about right now? What the hell is wrong with her? “I guess
I sit at the dining table, my mind spinning, detached from the clatter of cutlery and muted conversation around me. I can't shake the thought of Michael. His face looms large in my head, a constant reminder of the disappointment I’ve brought upon myself. Why did I tell him and the others to leave? Why did I push them away when I needed them here, with me? I know the reason. I’ve known it all along, even though I’ve tried to ignore it. It’s because I started imagining what would happen if Michael found out. If he knew what’s been happening between Leonard and me. I picture him standing there, arms crossed, his expression hard, filled with disappointment. Not anger, not frustration—just that look, like I’ve let him down in a way that can’t be undone. Michael, who has always stood by me, who has done nothing but try to protect me. What would he think if he learned the truth? If he knew that, despite everything, I had let myself fall into something… something I can’t even name? A mess.
The weather today is a lot colder than usual, my heart feels the same way. I have a rage in me, I’d love to simply leave and go back to London but I’m still thinking of ways to get my revenge back on Leonard. There’s no way everyone is going to ignore what he did to my son. And that stupid Aurelia, always claiming she’s in love with him but once I threw away her memories she was a good for nothing whore. For once I wish she had her memories maybe she’d be different with how lenient she’s being with Leonard. I wonder what they have been doing together since the time she was locked away with him. Isabel’s mom randomly showing up is definitely for a particular cause… she didn’t seem to know Shannon so I guess Shannon did exceed in keeping her identity low key. I will never understand why Leonard didn’t tell his mom that his dad cheated on her. It’s literally not that hard but I guess he felt like she was too stuck up in her new husband's ass. I’m presently at my son's house. I’m su
I lean forward, catching her attention. “Aurelia,” I say, lowering my voice slightly, “do you mind if I use the toilet? I don’t know my way around the palace.” She looks at me for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then she nods and rises gracefully from her seat, her gown sweeping the floor. “I’ll show you.” I follow her through the corridors of the palace, the air cool and thick with silence. Aurelia moves like a shadow, barely making a sound as we pass towering windows and tapestries that seem to watch our every step. I keep my face calm, but inside, I’m calculating. I need to find a way to speak to her, to make this trip to the toilet seem less… pointed. But before I can think of anything, we arrive at the door of the bathroom. “There,” she gestures, her tone curt but not unkind. “I’ll wait for you outside.” As soon as I’m inside, I close the door, exhaling slowly. I have a few minutes, maybe less, to think of a plan. Something clever to say when I come out so Aur
It's odd how Emaine randomly appeared to talk to me and suddenly left because she was ‘ill’ . That was an obvious lie but I didn’t say anything because she would have found some other lie. She probably got whatever she came here for. I'm about to lay in my bed to sleep but I hear a knock on my door so I open it, to my surprise it’s Mary, Leonard’s mom. “Hello. May I?” She asks with a bright smile. I blink twice because why the hell is she here. I honestly want to be nice but I have a bad feeling about her, regardless I step aside and let her in because I don’t have a reason to dislike her. At Least not yet. She sits on my bed and analyzes the room. “Pretty place you have here.” She smiles softly. I nod and stand against the wall not knowing what to say. “So… Emaine told me you and my son have a thing-” “Excuse me… you spoke to Emaine?” I ask— it’s finally making sense, Emaine's agenda was to speak with Mary, that's why she left once she got the chance to. But when? “You
I stand in the opulent palace, its gilded halls contrasting sharply with the tension that fills the air. Mary, Leonard's mother, faces me, her eyes burning with fury. “How could you let your mom sleep with my husband and betray me?” she spits, her voice sharp as glass. “Shannon was nothing but a fleeting desire, and now I have to bear the weight of your brother’s existence!” My heart races, anger and sorrow surging through me. “He loved her, Mary! He chose her over you!” The words hang heavy, a painful truth echoing against the ornate walls. Just as Mary steps forward, her face twisted in rage, a loud bang shatters the moment. A gunshot rings out, echoing in my ears like thunder. Time slows, and my world explodes into chaos. Suddenly, I jolt awake, heart pounding, breath quickening. It was just a dream. A cry escapes my lips, sharp and broken, cutting through the silence of the night. The door to my room swings open, and Leonard rushes in, worry etched on his handsome face.
The dining hall is quiet, too quiet, except for the occasional clink of my fork against the plate. The food doesn’t taste like much today, but I keep eating, pretending that I’m not thinking about it. But I *am* thinking about it. I can’t help it. The image is burned into my mind—Leonard and Aurelia, together, on the same bed. I had opened the door and... there they were. I hadn’t stayed long enough to get answers, just backed out as quickly as I had stumbled in. But now, sitting here in this suffocating silence, I can't shake the question that’s been gnawing at me ever since. What really happened between them while Aurelia was locked up? I push my plate away, appetite long gone. It doesn't make sense. Leonard’s always been protective of her, sure, but... this? He wouldn’t cross that line, would he? And Aurelia, with everything that’s been done to her, after having her memory wiped—how much of it was even her choice? My head starts spinning with possibilities, each one worse than t
My eyes have been shut this whole time that when I open them I realize none of this makes sense but I don’t even care. I get off him and kiss him so hard I’m sure I left a bruise somewhere. I finally allow us to breathe. “I’m so sorry baby.” I whisper whilst hugging him. “Shh..” he says and rubs my back. I step away and he wipes my tears. “I know you have many questions.” He says whilst holding my waist. I nod with snot probably coming out of my nose. “Ask.” He says. He’s trying to distract me. “How are you here.. the letter! Your silence on the phone? London?” I speak without thinking . “Michale called yesterday. He told me he didn’t want to tell me about your wedding but I told him we already met and you told me about it. He then told me it’s happening today but I still didn’t want to bother. I had concluded that I’d kill myslef the day you get married. So I was prepared until he told me the kind of danger you might be in and I immediately got on the plane. The only
“I’m so sorry Leo.” I say but he ignores me and I can see his heart shattering. I know how much he loved his sister even though he loved to pretend otherwise. I then look at Luca who seems to be staring at Isabel like he’s in a trance. He’s not even crying. There’s not even tears. He’s just staring at her. I sit flat on the floor between the two dead bodies whilst the war outside is still happening so it’s not like I can go anywhere. Elena suddenly calls my name but I’m too shocked to look at her. She shows up in front of me and hands me the same envelope that mom gave her. I take it from her and open it. I look down first because I want to see who it’s from, this is not the time. I see the name Kane there and I immediately start to get the most painful headache ever. I close my eyes and I could swear I’m in a trance where all I’m seeing are memories. They're all coming back. Rune was my stepbrother. Leonard killed him. I loved Kane alot and I also loved Rune a lot. Emaine
I sigh when I realize Michael and I have walked past half of the aisle and look up. I finally have eye contact with Leonard and the way he looks at me makes me want to drop my gaze back down. He looks amazing in his black suit. His hair is slicked back as well and he’s carved his beard. He’s staring at me like I’m the best thing he’s ever seen and that makes me smile. We finally reach the small stairs and Michael untangles his hand from mine. I see him glare at Leonard before he lets me go and I walk up the stairs. I stand right in front of Leonard. He's on the right side whilst I’m on the left. The priest is in the middle. My girls are behind me and vice versa with Leonard’s men. I so badly want to ask Shannon where Emaine is but I don’t think it’s appropriate. I hear some whispers whilst I’m up here but I can’t hear what their saying. Everyone sits down and I finally hear someone say that it’s not right for my mom to be here but the king's mother isn't. I snort and Leonard rai
One week later I’ve been thinking about Kane and I’s conversation all day and my heart feels like it's exploding every time. I don’t know whether it’s the memories of my past that have been coming back lately but they are affecting the way I feel about this entire situation. Leonard decided to rush our wedding because he felt like something bad would happen in between. Apparently the rebels are angry at me for betraying them. they’ve started to riot again. I didn’t betray them but it sure as hell looks like I am now that I’m getting married to one of the revolution's enemies. They must be feeling the same way Michael feels. I would definitely try to find who is commanding them now that me, Michael and Luca are no longer there just so that I could talk to them and try to find a reasonable understanding or come to an agreement between one another to stop the violence and just let the wicked leaders lead. The people will handle it during the elections when they are choosing their own l
I lean back in the seat, tracing the edge of the invitation card in my lap. It’s still strange, seeing my name next to Leonard’s in elegant, golden script. I went to see them today, to invite Michael, Elena, Shannon, and the others to the wedding. A part of me hoped they’d all be there, that maybe they’d want to share this with me. But every single one of them declined. Their rejections feel like tiny, sharp pinpricks, pressing deeper the more I think about it. As we slow at a red light, I glance out the window, watching people hurry across the street, faces blending into each other. Then I freeze. In the car beside me, a familiar face leans against the window, lost in thought—Kane. My heart skips. Without thinking, I lean forward and tap the driver’s shoulder. “Please, pull over. Right here.” He raises his eyebrows at me through the rearview mirror but nods, steering us to the curb. I roll down my window, sticking my hand out to catch Kane’s attention. “Kane!” I call softly, hop
Everyone keeps congratulating me but for some reason I don’t even feel like this is real. Leonard told me he doesn’t want to waste much time on our wedding and I agreed so we’re getting married in a week. I decided to go to kanes place to tell Michael and the others. For some reason I can’t get Kane out of my mind….ever since he helped me that day by getting me away from that weird ass man in the library stuck with me and I haven't been able to thank him. I didn’t even thank him for trying to get to me the time that Leonard had kidnapped me. Leonard invited his hateful relatives for our engagement. Apparently the tradition is that they have to all come and dine with me, I refused to do so.. they came regardless but I wasn’t there to see them. Leonard had understood that I needed to leave so he let me go to kanes place which is where I’m heading now. He insisted that I take some of his guards so I did. I don’t know how Shannon, Michael, Elena, Luca and even Kane will take this news…
Hearing that Aurelia was in love with Leonard was one thing but seeing it in her eyes did something to me. The moment we got home I didn’t speak to anyone no matter how much they tried to get me to speak. There’s no use for me to stay in Rome if the reason I’m here is clearly gone… I don’t want to give up but as long as she doesn’t have her memory back I have to leave. I decided to write her a letter, I hope that when she gets to read this her memory will be back. I’m presently packing. I'm going back to London. I don’t plan on getting talked out of this so I’m planning on going when everyone’s asleep besides Shannon, I'm going to give her the letter personally because I know she’ll deliver my message. I step out of my room silently and knock on her door a few times. She opens it whilst brushing her eyes with her hands. She looks like she hasn’t been sleeping… but she does look very tired. “Kane?” she asks, voice hushed. "What are you doing here? And...with a suitcase?" I st
I sit in my room, the dim light casting shadows on the walls. My heart still races from the commotion downstairs. I expected my mother, Shannon, to leave with the rest of them, but she didn’t. She’s here. I hear her soft footsteps approaching before there’s a light knock on the door. “Aurelia, may I come in?” she asks, her voice gentle but firm, like always. “Yeah,” I whisper, unsure of what to expect. My fingers fidget in my lap as she steps in and closes the door behind her. She sits beside me on the bed, the mattress dipping slightly under her weight. There’s a brief silence as she studies me, her eyes soft but observant, the way a mother’s should be. I look away, my throat tight, already feeling the emotions bubbling up. I know what this is about. “I didn’t leave with the others because I needed to talk to you,” Shannon says, her voice soft but serious. She reaches out, taking my hand. Her touch is warm, familiar, and it instantly begins to break down the walls I’ve tried to
I sit on the edge of the couch, my eyes scanning the room. Kane leans against the wall, arms crossed, his face unreadable. Shannon and Luca sit across from each other, both looking deep in thought. Elena is quiet, but I can feel her eyes on me, waiting. Emaine sits off to the side, her posture stiff, clearly uncomfortable. I clear my throat, trying to break the silence. "The revolution has been regrouping. We don’t know who their new leader is, but I have reason to believe they’re planning to take action soon." Kane uncrosses his arms, his lips curling into a grim smirk. “Let them. If their first plan is to kill Leonard, I’d be more than happy to let them.” Before I can respond, Shannon jumps in. "That’s not a good idea, Kane. Especially if Aurelia isn’t leading them anymore. They see her as a traitor. If they try to kill Leonard, they’ll go after her too." Her words hang in the air, and I can feel the tension rising. Luca’s phone suddenly rings, cutting through the weight of the