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NINE

Author: lunaestbelle
last update Last Updated: 2021-09-01 23:50:49

Hade

It's starting to feel like forever.

Hade hovered his gaze from Alexei to his father, Jacob Vandenberg, who was sitting quietly from across the table. Alexei's mother, Jasmin, sits on the other far end while Alexei is on the seat facing him.

His wife, Yula, died yesterday. Today, he feels completely nothing.

"...they started a feud. It's a pretty solid ground to challenge Hade's hold to become the next family head," Jacob said.

"But he's not head yet. You still are," Alexei said.

"I'm nearing retirement. Whoever becomes the next head of the Vandenbergs takes my place as a seat holder. To be in the Council means power. Other Vandenberg families are fighting tooth and nail to take down Hade," Jacob explained.

Hade remained silent. He's still trying to process what happened yesterday. How Yula endured the pain trying to deliver the child. How she died just seconds before the baby took its first and last

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Latest chapter

  • Sand Castle   THIRTY EIGHT

    EliMy body lay very still as I felt Hade's arms envelope my body. He wouldn't let go of me even though he was already fast asleep. Meanwhile, I was too preoccupied in my own thoughts that I couldn't even close my eyes.Yula had an affair.I still couldn't wrap my head around it. I couldn't believe it. It just doesn't sound like my sister would do. No matter what I think of, it just doesn't seem like her to do that.I sighed. My head ached.I probably should go visit my home tomorrow. Hade said there's something he needs to do back at the Capital, so he'll be gone the whole day. But he promised he'll have dinner with me.I closed my eyes and tried to sleep. Even though it took me a long time to sleep, I still felt myself falling into slumber. After a while, I felt someone caressing my cheeks."Hey."It was Hade's voice. I opened my eyes and saw the sun starting to enter the window."

  • Sand Castle   THIRTY SEVEN

    Eli My body lay very still as I felt Hade's arms envelope my body. He wouldn't let go of me even though he was already fast asleep. Meanwhile, I was too preoccupied in my own thoughts that I couldn't even close my eyes. Yula had an affair. I still couldn't wrap my head around it. I couldn't believe it. It just doesn't sound like my sister would do. No matter what I think of, it just doesn't seem like her to do that. I sighed. My head ached. I probably should go visit my home tomorrow. Hade said there's something he needs to do back at the Capital, so he'll be gone the whole day. But he promised he'll have dinner with me. I closed my eyes and tried to sleep. Even though it took me a long time to sleep, I still felt myself falling into slumber. After a while, I felt someone caressing my cheeks. "Hey." It was Hade's voice. I opened my eyes and saw the sun starting to enter the window.

  • Sand Castle   THIRTY SIX

    Eli My body lay very still as I felt Hade's arms envelope my body. He wouldn't let go of me even though he was already fast asleep. Meanwhile, I was too preoccupied in my own thoughts that I couldn't even close my eyes. Yula had an affair. I still couldn't wrap my head around it. I couldn't believe it. It just doesn't sound like something that my sister would do. No matter what I think of, it just doesn't seem like her to do that. I sighed. My head ached. I probably should go visit my home tomorrow. Hade said there's something he needs to do back at the Capital, so he'll be gone the whole day. But he promised he'll have dinner with me. I closed my eyes and tried to sleep. Even though it took me a long time to sleep, I still felt myself falling into slumber. After a while, I felt someone caressing my cheeks. "Hey." It was Hade's voice. I opened my eyes and saw the sun starting to en

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    Hade Yula looked like she lost weight. It's been six months since the wedding, and she always looked like she was a deathbed patient. Sometimes, he could even hear her struggling to breathe. She looked like she's always exhausted and sleep deprived. Hade thought it was just her being homesick, so he would tell her to visit her family as often as she likes. She'd go home three times a week, but even that didn't seem to help. There was nothing romantically going on between them. Hade is very much aware of how his feelings are just reserved for her sister and no one else. He is not sure who Yula is in love with, or if there is even a person she likes, but he knows that Yula also does not see him romantically. She's not even trying to be wife-like to him. But they're very good friends. So he can't help but get worried. He tried everything he could to comfort her and though she might n

  • Sand Castle   THIRTY FOUR

    Eli I heard Hade screaming my name in pure terror as I was walking up the stairs to our bedroom. Adrenaline rushed up to my brain and I immediately ran upstairs. I was about to grab the door's handle when it opened and revealed a terrified Hade. "What happened—" I wasn't able to finish my question as I felt my body crash unto Hade's. His embrace was so tight I could feel his fear vibrating from his skin. His heart was beating abnormally fast as well. I let him hug me as long as he needed. When he finally calmed down, I untangled our bodies and faced him. "What happened?" Hade put his hand on his forehead as if the fear he felt just now made him dizzy. "I thought I saw you ju—" Hade immediately stopped his sentence and his face was replaced with an unexplainable expression, like he just thought of something. "Stay here, Eli. Don't go inside the room." My face contorted with confusion as I stared at him rushing do

  • Sand Castle   THIRTY THREE

    Hade The midnight moon shone brightly as it touched his wife's face. She looked so serene as she slept beside him. As if she did not just cry her heart out to him before she fell asleep. It was too much for her. That's why he ponded on telling her knowing it will hurt her so much. He just didn't expect she would know this soon. But what shook him the most is how she reacted. He totally thought she'd throw a fit, or probably not talk to him for a long time. But he'd do everything to win her feelings again, anyway. But Eli didn't do any of those. Instead, she cried in his arms as hard as she could. He didn't dare let go of her, not even for a second. He held unto her like she was his only lifeline. He whispered comfort and loving words unto his wife's ear all night. He wanted to take her pain away, but he couldn't do anything but promise her he'll do everything to make it a little bit better. It took a while befor

  • Sand Castle   THIRTY TWO

    Eli The sunlight hitting my face awoke me from my slumber. My eyelids felt so heavy I was tempted to go back to sleep. Memories of last night flooded my brain and I was instantly horny. Damn. Hade did not stop until we were both breathing hard from exhaustion and only let go of my body after dawn break. He was a monster, no doubt. I yawned while my hand automatically reached out to feel Hade's body. But only the pillows were there to catch my longing arms. My eyes instantly shot open and saw the empty side of the bed where Hade laid last night. My mood instantly soured. I sighed. What's new, right? I lazily got up and scooped the blanket to cover my body. I did not bother calling for anyone anymore, I think I can take a bath on my own just fine. After I was done, I went out of the bathroom and found the bed neatly made. There's a sage green dress on top of it as well. It has long sleeve

  • Sand Castle   THIRTY ONE

    Eli I kept my head down the entire time Hade was talking. My head was still spinning over the fact that he and Noah are brothers. "Eli..." Hade's voice trailed. I was lost in my own thoughts that I didn't realize Hade has finished talking. I raised my head and met his scared eyes. "What was the deal?" I asked. "What?" Hade asked back. "You made a deal with Noah over me. What was it?" I saw Hade close his eyes before he opened his mouth to speak. "He told me he'll watch over you if I agree to stay away from you forever. And I told him he's not allowed to fall in love with you." I tilted my head. I can't believe I'm hearing this right now. "I feel so pathetic right now." "Eli—" Hade tried to reach for my arms, but I yanked his hand away and got up. "Do you have— any idea," I paused, giving

  • Sand Castle   THIRTY

    Hade "What do you want, f*cker?" Hade could feel the distaste in his mouth as soon as he heard his brother cuss at him. He wanted to curse back at him, but he's here for a favor, so he does not want to start on the wrong foot. They were inside a coffee shop at the train station. Knowing his brother, he'd be spending his time waiting for the train to arrive in this exact spot of the coffee shop, just by the window, where he could easily see passengers scurrying off trying to bid their loved ones or chasing their train ride. Without any hesitations, Hade immediately sat down the vacant seat in front of his brother. He didn't even take his eyes off the window, it was like he had memorized Hade's presence by instinct because he hate him so much that now he does not need to look anymore to know that it's him. But Hade's not here to pick a fight. "I'm here to ask a favo

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