CHAPTER NINETYETHAN’S POVHe really didn’t follow.I stand on the balcony for several minutes in case he shows up, but there’s no trace of him.None at all. No call. No text.I stare at the letter he left me that I tucked in my bag. Is that the last I’ll see of him? Really?I ought to kick his ass for everything he made me go through. I gave him all the reasons to come back and at least talk to me. I went to him. I didn’t remove the wedding ring. I didn’t tell him he was an idiot for thinking that leaving is the solution.I did it all, but he didn’t even follow.Fvck him.I’m about to go take a shower when commotion comes from outside my room.My heartbeat skyrockets and I nearly trip over my feet as I swing the door open.It’s not Ethan ’s face that greets me. Instead, it’s Zeth and Eya arguing with Lia, telling her she can’t go inside.“What’s going on?” I try to hide the disappointment in my tone.“You said not to disturb you, miss,” Zeth says, “but Mrs. Volkov insists on seeing y
PROLOGUE "Red is always symbolizing love. But for Rose it had never been love. It was blood. Even her name has red on it. Blood that she hates. If she has the time to turn things back on, she will never ever tie herself to the man that she once loved. "A King… Her king that rules the kingdom. The blood that she doesn’t need is the one that can keep her alive. She doesn’t know that love is going to make its way to getting in the way of the love she throws at her. She doesn’t know that once in her life…Red will always be love and Rose will always be red. ROSE AMARA AMBER In the world I am living. Women don’t reign. I’m the exception to that rule. I didn’t choose this life, it chose me. I have a legacy to protect, a power to snatch, and no one will stop me. If an arranged marriage is what it’ll take to lead, then so be it. I am even marrying the man I am supposed to be loving. But that throne changed us all.Even me and him. He was once my guard, my protector. Now, he’s after my kin
CHAPTER ONE: THE YOUNG LADY RUINED THE MEETINGROSE AMARA'S POVKingdom, throne, blood, gold, and power. You have nothing if you don't have any of these. It involves more than just being at the top. No one can touch you or others nearby if you are high enough. Nobody looks at you because they are afraid of being blinded by the non-negotiability you reflect back at them when they do.That’s why I don’t and will never stop.They respect me more as I rise through the ranks, and one day they will all submit to Grandpa's family name.The Amber of the West“We’re Amber, especially you… You’re The Rose Amara…We don’t bend knees. Everyone else does.”With my mother's words engraved deep in my heart, I took the stairs.To be anticipated from the East Fortress, the mansion is enormous. The great hallway features light marble flooring and is reached by sweeping marble staircases. The central Chesterfield sofa, the pillars, and even the carpet are all rimmed in gold. There is a picture depicting
CHAPTER 2: THE MARRIAGE I NEVER EXPECTEDROSE AMARA’S POVAfter the passing of my mom seven years ago. My parents have made a commitment. I have to be married down south. My mother and father met there. However, I have nothing to offer him, because I had had a romantic relationship with Ethan, the West Chamber's heir.Working covertly and setting up meetings with the security group, the support group, and the four clans, the operational wing of the East fortress—I endured the worst of times. Even hiring the prominent leaders whom they trusted more than their own families was something I did.My grandpa passed to me the black book, which details the contacts the royals have with powerful individuals. Whoever holds that book, he claimed, is destined to reign. It goes without saying that no one in the brotherhood would have tolerated a woman ruling over them without first killing me.Although I didn't want to, my father has now given me the family name. To preserve the honor of my family
CHAPTER 3: MEET THE KINGS AND HEIRS ROSE AMARA’S POVAs my father had instructed, I pushed open the dining room door and entered with my head held high.The leaders of an elite group may easily intimidate someone. Uncle is one of the majority of those who have been to jail. While it is shameful to the outside world, it is a badge of honor for any clan member.King of the West Nathan is seated at the head of the table. In his fifties, he is elderly. His once-blonde hair has totally turned white over time and is now recognizable. Because of his denial of rejecting treatment, the cancer did not result in the loss of his hair, which has made him appear older.I try not to glare at him now that I know he’s trying to ship Bella off to one of those ruthless men who will eat her alive.In his role as the sovereign, Hades moves from my side to his right. Ryen, the general, is seated to his left. Hades is on a par with him in terms of power, but Ryen plays a more important function that invol
CHAPTER FOUR: HE'S BACK ETHAN’S POV I'm here in front of the people I used to be a part of, who welcomed me into their homes at age 26 because River, my previous boss Leonard, liked me a lot. It's different now. The strain feels like a whip waiting to rip open my back. I used to be popular with most of these men because I was the City's strongest hitman. I was the only one of their soldiers who could match my abilities. I carried out all of their dirty work and killed those they needed to be killed. They used to like me, but now that I've been gone for so long, they are unhappy. The fraternity forbids anyone from leaving, at least not alive. A person can only quit by dying. My attention drifts from Raven, River's younger brother, seated at the head of the table, to his elite circle. Everyone is looking at me oddly except Nathan, my loving daddy, who knows the situation. And she, too. To see my little mafia princess better, I cock my head to the side. In actuality, she is seate
CHAPTER FIVE: TO BE WED ROSE AMARA 'S POV I nod as guards go before me after promising to make the car ready. I remind myself to say hello to the workers again whenever I pass them so I don't come out as a bitch. I'm marching down the hall, feeling like my heart will burst into consuming flame. I don't mind behaving that way with the brothers in the brotherhood, but with the staff, it's a different thing. I learned from my father and Mother to respect those who are beneath me and to hate those who are against me. To catch my anxious breath, I pause at the corner. It nearly feels like I'm finishing a run because of how quickly my chest rises and lowers. The scene I saw inside, though, was worse than escaping. It was a long-lasting, terrifying race. No matter how hard I try, my legs can't help but tremble. They have finished supporting me for the day. As the pillar with the gold rim blurs, I hastily remove the signs of annoyance from my eyes. That's it. It is done. Being a membe
CHAPTER SIX: PLAN OF HIMETHAN POVUnderneath the ice-cold exterior, she burned and crushed the feminine side of her before it could emerge. I gaze at Rose's back as she leaves the house. I have no doubt that she is not conscious of the slight sway in her hips because of how she walks, with assurance and broad steps.But it's not entirely gone.The idea of breaking into her life and exploiting those hidden, secret features of hers makes my lips tremble. My gaze follows her to the entrance even though Eya, one of her most faithful warriors, meets and follows her outside.Yes, only Rose would choose a woman as one of her closest guards. She always did things differently and flipped the world on its finger.She thinks she can fight beside me but doesn't know that the fight has been going on for a long time. She can only complete the task she was given because she cannot change the hand dealt to her.Watching her tear up would be painful, but winning without sacrificing anything is useles