2019, March 20th Natalie continued the story. Cassie loved Henry very much, but, having met Duke Byron, she agreed to the divorce immediately. Henry sought Cassie and James out in secret every few years. They knew the risks, but Henry was incredibly fond of James and still very much in love with Cassie, despite marrying again. Three years after the secret meetings had begun, Henry brought with him a blue eyed, sandy brown haired, two-year-old little boy named Aaron. It was difficult for Cassie to accept Henry's new life and child but, in the end, her motherly affection for her own son won out. Seeing James' affection for Aaron made her unwilling to separate them. Maybe they should have known better, but Cassie and Henry decided that for the sake of the boys, she and James would move back to Caines and live under the name Beaumont. In another seven years, Cassie and James met Caroline. Cassie and Henry had gotten comfortable with this arrangement of letting the children see each oth
2019, February 12th Lady Emily Maine was born the first child of Duke Johnathan Maine. Being the heiress to half of Maine Industries, one of the most influential empires in the world, and the daughter of Terres Somnia's wealthiest man meant that people threw themselves at her feet all the time. Make no mistake, Emily didn't have friends, she had minions. This fact didn't bother her though, as she considered most women beneath her in some form or another, be it beauty or riches or rank. Emily Maine was a goddess in her own right, who could make or break your social, financial and academic life with one phone call. That she was not a princess was a mere formality. Anyone worth knowing either wanted to be with her or be with her. No exceptions. Even the Condor brothers were not immune to this special charm. Aaron and James had gone the entire year that James spent studying abroad, not talking because of her. To this day, Emily had never heard the word no come out of a man's mouth. I
2019, February 12th When they arrived at the mansion, they were informed that the master of the house was out, but that they might wait inside as by now the staff were aware of Emily’s relationship with their master. Emily headed straight for James’ office. “Jimmy agreed to let JJ do this?” Aaron asked sceptically, as he looked around. “Yeah, they actually get on really well. This was the first room. There’s about five other-” Emily stopped talking as she heard the door close. “No!” she screamed, running to the door as it closed. She let her hand form a fist and hit the door miserably. “What?” Aaron asked, seeing her reaction to the door closing. “JJ went all out with this stupid game of his. The door won’t open until you find the clue, solve the riddle, and then enter the code.” “Okay, so what was the code?” “I don’t know.” “Okay, what was the riddle?” “Don’t know.” “Then where’s the clue?” he asked, starting to get agitated. He was starting to get a bad feeling
2019, March 21st (Location: Unknown) The scent of deception and betrayal blew in with the wind as the traitors took their seats at a long table in a rickety, old, unkempt cabin. Among the party were the Maine siblings and their father, Duke Maine, Duke Arden and his son Bart and CC. The boiling heat of the day seemed to visit particularly on the little cabin in the middle of nowhere, lending to the air in the place an ominous quality as they began their treasonous meeting. "Is there news of my cousin's whereabouts?" Duke Arden asked. "None," CC answered simply. "What news from your side Johnathan?" Duke Arden asked, continuing to lead the meeting. "Nothing good. The King's Guard has already concluded recruiting half of Caines' armies. The regent is moving fast. At this rate, his army will be assembled in a week, maybe less. No noble will turn away or go against a regent that is also the future king, especially with the current king's whereabouts unknown," Duke Johnathan answered.
2019, March 22ndAs James sent Zoey off for what would only be two days, he was in two minds. On the one hand, he was glad that she would not be here when Bart and CC arrived. He could only imagine the state they must be in, always somehow ending up in the middle of things. On the other hand, his heart could not help but yearn for her, yearn to touch her and dance with her again.Not long after James had sent Zoey away, Bart's black SUV showed up at the gates of the Beaumont mansion. CC got out of the car hurriedly when she saw James come into view. She jogged up to him and flung herself into his arms."You're okay, right?" she asked, more to reassure herself than anything."No assassination attempts yet, if that's what you mean," James laughed.She elbowed him in the ribs."It's not funny! I'm so worried about him, Jimmy. Dad's missing and Aaron-""I know Carr, it's okay. We'll get them both back for you, I promise," James said, stroking her hair reassuringly."I wouldn't be so quick
So comforted was he by her smile after the news he had received in their time apart, that he wanted to take her hand and run, like he did on their first morning together. He wanted to take her somewhere where it would be just the two of them. Somewhere where he could dance with her forever. More than that, though, James really wanted to kiss her. He wanted to pull out all the pins that held up her golden hair, tangle his fingers up in her curls and kiss her. He must have been wearing his heart on his sleeve, because Zoey was getting uncomfortable. They were still at the foot of the staircase, his arms around her waist. "Ladies and gentlemen, Duke and Duchess Beaumont will now dance The Lovers' Dance!" said Cassandra. The crowd cheered and applauded again, but still James didn't budge. Zoey licked her lips nervously. "Jamie, I think that's us," she said softly. Damn those eyes! Damn them to hell! She thought as she felt herself getting light-headed the longer he looked at her with
2019, February 12thJames and Aaron were sitting in chairs across from CC, who was sitting behind the desk, waiting impatiently for someone to say something."Let's start with you!" CC snapped. "What are you even doing here?""Emily said she lost her ring and-" Aaron began."So you thought you'd stick your tongue down her throat to find it?!" James roared."Nothing happened, okay? And you know, so what if it had? Come off your high horse, man! I know why you’re really here."James' gaze followed Aaron's back to the photos on the table."You be very careful with your next words, Ron.""Why do you have these?"The two men were glaring bullets at each other now."You mean photos of my family? My childhood? Our childhood?"Aaron grabbed the set of photos and pulled out the one he wanted."So you weren't going to use this and whatever else you have to try and hijack my coronation?! The Secret First Son of King Henry! It’s gold!""How can you even ask me that?! I gave up the woman I love fo
2019, February 14th(The Arden Mansion)“Happy Valentine’s Day,” Zoey sighed, rejecting another call from Aaron.The duke and the duchess had taken CC and Bart with them to some or other party or something. Zoey couldn’t quite remember the details. She hadn’t been listening. They had asked her to come too, but she didn’t want to be the fifth wheel. Besides, she was just going to jump into bed and eat chocolate all night. Sounded about right to her.She was just settling in when she heard the knock. At first, she was sure she was hearing things, but as Zoey unwrapped a piece of Belgium chocolate, the knocking got louder. She looked to the terrace.“Zoey! Open up!” said Aaron’s voice.Zoey practically jumped out of her skin. She ran to the terrace and opened the doors.“What the hell are you doing here?!”“Shush!” he said, putting his hand over her mouth while he pressed a finger to his lips.Aaron pushed her into the room and closed the doors.“Sorry about that. There’s an entire army