The wailing of motors echoed through the neighborhood, breaking the heavy silence that had settled over the house. Bright red and blue lights flashed against the walls as multiple officers walked inside, their boots marching against the tiled floor.Two officers immediately approached Gabriel and Daniela, while the others turned to Richard, who was still buried on the ground, his face bruised from Gabrielโs punch."Who is the suspect?" one of the officers asked.Gabriel pointed at Richard without hesitation. "Him."Two officers moved forward, their expressions grim as they dragged Richard up from the floor. He groaned in pain but didnโt resist. He was too weak, too defeated."Richard Dane, you are under arrest for murder, child endangerment, and multiple crimes yet to be determined," one officer said, pulling out a pair of handcuffs. "You should remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law."Richard let out a weak, bitter laughter. "It d
Alexander sat in his dimly lit office, his fingers pressed against his temples. His entire life felt like it was going out of control. First, he lost his businesses, then his properties, and nowโnow he had just discovered the most horrifying truth of all.Richard, his own brother, was responsible for the murder of his child. The same child that had once been the only connection keeping him and Daniela tied together.His body felt confused as he leaned back in his chair, staring blankly at the ceiling. The weight of the revelation pressed on his chest like an arrow. How could Richardโhis own blood,be capable of something so disastrous?A deep sigh escaped his lips as he reached for his phone. His fingers scrolled through Danielaโs contact, but he hesitated. He had chased her away, treated her with cold indifference when she needed him the most. Would she even want to hear from him now?Frustrated, he rolled his phone on the desk and grabbed his keys. He needed answers. He needed to lo
Alexander sat in his dimly lit study, a thick cloud of cigar smoke twisting around him. The leather chair beneath him creaked as he leaned forward, his elbows resting on the desk. His fingers traced the edge of the contract lying before him, the bolded words burning into his mind.This wasnโt just another business deal. It was a desperate attempt to bring down what little remained of his empire.He breathed deeply, the bitter scent of whiskey mixing with the smoke. His company,once a powerhouse in the financial world was now crumbling. Bad investments, betrayal, and scandal had left him with few options. Banks had turned their backs on him, old allies had disappeared, and now, only one man was willing to offer him a way out.Victor Mikhailov.The name alone sent a chill down Alexanderโs spine. The Russian tycoon was infamous for his ruthless business tactics. He wasnโt the kind of man who forgave debts. If Alexander signed this deal, he wouldnโt just be entering a business arrangemen
The prison walls were thick, damp, and lifeless, swallowing the crazy screams of those who had walked the path Richard Dane was about to take. The air inside the dimly lit execution chamber was heavy with the scent of sweat, iron, and the cold indifference of justice. The chains around Richardโs wrists sounded as he was dragged forward by two guards, his once-confident posture now reduced to the trembling form of a man facing his own mortality.His breath came in short, uneven gasps. His heart pounded violently in his chest as the reality of the situation dawned at his mind. Just a few weeks ago, he had been a man who commanded power, manipulating those around him with ease. But now, stripped of influence, abandoned by allies, and reviled by society, he was nothing more than a condemned soul awaiting judgment.โNoโฆ no, you canโt do this!โ Richard thrashed against the firm grip of the guards, his voice was filled from days of shouting, pleading, and cursing the world that had turn
The news spread like wildfire.Richard Dane was dead. Hanged for his crimes.The world moved on, but for Alexander, time stood still.Inside the cold, gray walls of his prison cell, he sat on his hard bunk, his hands clasped together, staring blankly at the floor. The air was thick with dampness, the scent of iron bars and unwashed fabric suffocating him. His thoughts was filled in a chaotic mess, dragging him deeper into the hollow emptiness that had settled in his chest.He had known this moment would come. He had accepted it as justice.So why did it feel like a piece of him had just been forgotten away?Richard had been many thingsโa manipulator, a liar, a man capable of unthinkable cruelty. But before all that, he had been his brother.They had once been inseparable. They had grown up under the same roof, played under the same sun, shared childhood secrets, and once fought the world together.And now, just like that, it was over.Gone.Erased in a single moment when the rope t
The prison walls seemed to close in around Alexander as he sat across from the mysterious man who had come to see him. The air in the visiting room was thick with tension, the kind that hinted at secrets long buried. The man, was wearing a tailored black suit with golden chain on the cuffs, exuded an aura of authority. His eyes held a mix of warning and expectation.Alexander recognized him immediatelyโElder Daramola, the high priest of the royal council from his homeland.It had been years since he last saw the man, and even longer since he had thought about the place he once called home. The village he had abandoned. The throne he had turned his back on.Daramolaโs voice was deep and commanding. โYour Highness, you have been gone for too long.โAlexander denied the title. โI am not a king,โ he said firmly, his jaw tightening.Daramolaโs eyes darkened. โThat is where you are wrong. You were born into this destiny, and you cannot escape it. Your time is running out.โAlexander let
The air outside was cold, carrying the distant hum of the city as Gabriel led Daniela toward an elegant restaurant pushed into a quiet corner of the bustling district. The golden glow of streetlights reflected on the pavement, and the rhythmic sounds of passing cars created a soothing backdrop to the turmoil raging in her mind.Danielaโs hands trembled slightly as she held onto the small purse by her side. Her thoughts were still tangled with the overwhelming discoveries she had made about Alexander. Her heart pounded with questions she had no answers to.Gabriel, sensing her fear, spoke softly. โI thought you could use a break, Daniela. Youโve been carrying too much on your shoulders.โShe forced a weak smile. โI appreciate it, but I doubt a dinner can change what Iโm feeling right now.โโMaybe not,โ Gabriel admitted. โBut at least it might help you breathe for a moment.โShe hesitated before nodding, realizing that fighting him on this wouldnโt do her any good. Her world had just b
Alexander woke up to a headache and the weight of regret pressing against his chest. He had barely slept since signing the contract, his mind tormented by the consequences of his decision. The ink had dried, and now, the real game had begun.He sat at the edge of his bed, staring at the early morning skyline through his penthouse window. The city was alive, oblivious to the chaos inside h. He had gambled everythingโhis company, his reputation, and now, his last house.A sharp knock at the door snapped him from his thoughts."Come in," he called out.His personal assistant, Jordan, stepped in, carrying a tablet. His expression was concerned."Sir, you need to see this."Alexander took the tablet and scrolled through the financial reports. His hands left him as he saw the latest updates. The numbers werenโt improvingโthey were getting worse."Mikhailov has already started making moves," Jordan continued. "He increased his stake to 45% overnight. The board is uneasy."Alexander cursed un
The palace was quietโtoo quiet. Even the birds that usually fluttered outside the grand windows of the kingโs chamber were absent, as if nature itself mourned the weariness of the man within.Alexander sat on the edge of his bed, the heavy robe of royalty pooling around him like a shroud. The golden crown, once proudly perched upon his head, now lay abandoned on the floor, its polished surface reflecting nothing but a broken legacy.He had sent the servants away hours ago, requesting solitude. But truth be told, he had been alone for far longer than thatโever since Daniela left, ever since the boy vanished. Ever since he traded his humanity for power.The voices from the past echoed relentlessly in his mind."You want her to be queen? There is a wayโฆ""Put this powder in her drink. It will cloud her mind and draw her to you.""Rub this oil on your palms before you touch herโshe will not resist.""You must act fast. The elders are watching. You need an heir."At the time, it all seemed
The palace was quieter these daysโtoo quiet for a man who once ruled with noise, power, and pride. Alexander sat by his window, fingers toying with a half-filled goblet of wine. Outside, the moonlight brushed the edges of the thatched palace roof, casting ghostly shadows on the walls. Chisom had long drifted to sleep, her breathing soft, steady. But Alexander was wide awakeโagain.It had been six moons since she was brought to him, her skin soft as silk, her smile gentle, her body yielding. Each night, she came to his bed, and each night, he held hope in his loins and in his heart. But morning always came with the same bitter emptiness. No signs. No whispers of cravings. No swelling belly. No child.He had tried everythingโspiced roots, fertility herbs from the palace medicine woman, and even late-night rituals performed by the native priest. Stillโฆ nothing.Alexander rose from the bed, pacing the cold marble floor with heavy feet. A fire burned in the hearth, but it did little to tha
The morning sun filtered through the bright white curtains of their new apartment, casting golden rays across the hardwood floor. Lydia stirred beneath the duvet, her hand instinctively reaching out to the other side of the bed.Empty.She blinked, sat up, and glanced around. The soft scent of brewed coffee and toasted bread teased her nose. A smile curled on her lips.Heโs in the kitchen again.Throwing on a light robe, she padded down the hallway and into the warm, open space where Gabriel stood shirtless, wearing joggers and flipping pancakes with an exaggerated chefโs flair.โYouโre going to burn them,โ Lydia teased, leaning against the doorframe.Gabriel turned, spatula in hand, and grinned. โAnd good morning to my beautiful wife.โShe walked up to him, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind. โGood morning, chef husband.โHe kissed the top of her head, then plated a stack of fluffy pancakes. โI thought we could eat on the balcony today. The sunโs not too harsh yet.โThey
The early morning sun filtered through the intricate lattice windows of the palace, casting golden shapes across the polished floors. Drums beat faintly in the distance, signaling the dawn of a new dayโand a new queen.Chisom sat quietly on the edge of a carved mahogany bed, her feet barely touching the polished ground. Around her, the royal maids fluttered like bees, tying her hair into delicate loops, rubbing her arms with perfumed oil, and whispering instructions she barely absorbed.โYour new robe, my queen,โ one of the maids said, presenting a cloth woven with silver threads and royal blue patterns. โYou must wear it before you greet the king.โChisom nodded faintly, still unsure how to wear the title of "queen" in her heart. The palace air was thickโnot just with incense, but with the weight of expectation. She could feel it in the walls, in the eyes of the elders who measured her with unspoken judgment, and in the stiff bow of the guards who had served another before her.As sh
The palace air brimmed with anticipation, thick like a brewing storm. Inside the grand hall, the scent of burning incense drifted from gold-plated bowls, curling in the air like whispers from the ancestors. Soft drums echoed in the background, played by two palace boys, steady and ceremonial. The marble floors had been scrubbed to glass-like shine, reflecting the rows of candles burning along the corridor.Alexander sat on the throne, robed in deep crimson, his royal crown resting heavy on his head. His face was unreadableโa mask of calm, yet behind his eyes, something stirred. Pain. Memory. Resignation. This was not how he envisioned choosing a queen.Beside him, a guard stood silently, holding a scroll with the names of the maidens. The chamberlain motioned, and the doors opened.One by one, the virgins began to enter.The first maiden, Awele, stepped forward with her head lowered, her feet bare, anklets chiming with each timid step. She was beautifulโsmooth dark skin, full lips, an
The sky above the palace bled into a melancholic gray, the sun hiding behind thick clouds as though mourning with the king. The royal garden, once Danielaโs favorite place, stood untended. Wildflowers grew in stubborn defiance through cracks in the once manicured paths. The scent of blooming hibiscus clashed with the scent of timeโthat old, dusty silence that lingered in places where laughter had died.King Alexander stood still on the palace balcony, arms crossed behind his back, cloaked in heavy velvet. He wasn't the same man he was two years ago. The weight of loss had carved lines into his once-youthful face. His shoulders drooped beneath invisible burdens. Power still clothed him, yes, but it no longer fitted him like prideโit clung to him like grief.His eyes scanned the horizonโthe same trail Daniela had once fled down with the child. The same trail the guards had failed to watch. His jaw clenched at the memory.Every now and then, he imagined seeing her figure walking back, ch
The evening of the engagement party felt like a dream to Lydia. The grand ballroom was bathed in warm, golden light. Crystal chandeliers hung high above, their glimmering reflections dancing across the polished marble floor. The walls were adorned with intricate tapestries, depicting stories of love, fortune, and legacy. Every corner of the room was carefully designed to evoke luxury, but it was the people who made it truly come alive.Guests murmured and laughed in soft clusters, champagne glasses clinking as they raised their toasts to Gabriel and Lydia. They had all come from different walks of lifeโwealthy socialites, business moguls, close friends of the family. But tonight, there was one thing that united them all: the promise of the future, the joining of two lives. Gabriel stood at the center of it all, a striking figure in a tailored suit, his posture confident but warm as he greeted guests. He was the picture of a man who had everything under control. But as his eyes scanned
The soft light of the morning sun was seen through the blinds, spilling its warmth over the living room of Gabrielโs apartment. Lydia sat on the sofa, her bare feet tucked under her as she scrolled through a wedding magazine, lost in thought. The room was filled with the rich scent of freshly brewed coffee, and the faint hum of the city outside only added to the quiet peace of the moment.Gabriel had just stepped out of the shower, a towel draped low on his hips, his hair still damp. He smiled as he saw her lost in the magazine, the occasional flutter of the page drawing her attention. It was one of those simple, perfect moments that made him feel like everything heโd ever wanted was right here.โYou look like youโre plotting world domination,โ Gabriel teased, stepping into the kitchen, his voice a warm caress.Lydia glanced up from the pages, offering him a playful scowl. โIโm plotting the perfect wedding, thank you very much. Thereโs a difference.โโAh, my mistake,โ he grinned, lean
Dark clouds thickened above the palace like a warning, casting long shadows that crept along the courtyard stones. A heavy silence hung in the air, broken only by the occasional rustle of dry wind against the banana trees that lined the palace fence.Alexander stood stiffly near the throne room window, eyes fixed on the sky. When the priest finally arrived, the guards ushered him in with reverence. The old manโs steps were slow, but his presence demanded respect. His hair, thick and snowy white, spilled down to his shoulders like ancestral feathers. His robe, dyed deep maroon with sacred herbs, carried the scent of ancient incense.He bowed slightly, then looked up. His eyesโmilky but sharpโsettled on Alexanderโs face. โYou sent for me, Your Highness?โAlexander gestured toward a mat. โSit. There is trouble in the land.โThe priest slowly lowered himself, folding his legs under him. โI know,โ he said softly, voice like wind brushing through dried leaves. โThe spirits whispered last ni