《Sold To An Alpha》


 Chapter 1 - Anger

    Leia furiously shook her head at the doctor standing in front of her, "Yo-you''re lying," Little bubbles of tears welled up in her eyes, and her body trembled in agitation. "Tell me you''re lying to me," Her watery eyes stared at him, clearly unwilling to believe that her mother was dead.


    "I am sorry, miss Leia. We did try our-"


    "No, you didn''t!!" Leia yelled, with her finger pointing at the doctor. "The only thing you did was to let her die!" Her body quivered uncontrollably, and she shoved the vase on the receptionist''s counter to the floor, shattering it to pieces.


    "Miss Leia, we need you to-"


    "I want to see my mother," She turned to the doctor, and her hand balled into a fist. Her breathing became heavy and her eyes became a few shades of red.


    "Miss Leia, You''re not in a good state of mind to see-"


    "I said I want to see my mother!" She screamed and grabbed the doctor by the collar. Her red eyes dangerously stared at him and her hot breath fanned his face. "Take me to my mother!"


    The doctor pinched between his brows and proceeded to free himself from her grip. However, he was furiously thrown to the floor by her.


    Leia glanced at him and walked past him with her hand tightly clenched into a fist. She wandered past different rooms, stomping every step she took in annoyance, and her eyes darted from side to side. She finally halted in front of a door with "A10" written on top of it, and her eyes narrowed into a thin line.


    She took a deep breath and pushed the door open. Her slender body slipped inside and her eyes peeked at the table that had someone covered in white clothing lying on it.


    Her fist clenched tightly, and she slowly made her way towards the table. The closer she got to the table, the more her body trembled nervously. She stood beside the slab and stared at the body covered in white clothing. Leia reached out her twitching hand and slowly pulled the clothing down to view the face of the corpse.


    Her eyes blinked in agitation and bubbles of tears filled her large eyes. "Mu-mum," Her knees became vulnerable and she fell to the floor. Her trembling hand caressed her mother''s face, and she felt deep rage burn within her. "Mother," she whispered once again.


    Leia clutched her heart tightly and hatefully stared at her dead mother. "You promised... you wouldn''t leave." She grasped her mother, and her face grimaced in rage. "You lied to me! You fucking lied to me!" She released her grip and slipped to the floor. Her knees curled up to her chest and her head shook in disbelief. "You left me alone in this world."


    A pessimistic chuckle escaped her mouth, and her gaze became distant and lost. The lines of tears on her face gradually dried from the gentle breeze that brushed against her face.


    He let her die! He let her die! Her head bobbed in annoyance and her hand balled into a tight fist. Leia stood up and glanced at her mother''s dead body one last time. She let out a soft sigh with closed eyes and left the room. With an indifferent face, she walked past the doctors and nurses who were staring at her with pitiful eyes and grabbed a bat stick lying beside the exit door, then made her way out of the hospital.


    She wandered to a shop that sold alcoholic beers and bought one. Her lips curled into a grin and her grip on the bat stick in her hand tightened as deep rage burned strongly within her. Her next destination is home.


    The gate to a beautiful mansion opened, revealing a young girl standing in the heavy rain with a bat stick in her right hand and a bottle of beer in her left hand.


    From inside the mansion, the maids dilated their eyes when they saw the young girl and hurriedly ambled outside. Their intent gaze sized her up, and one of them couldn''t help but ask, "Is she okay?"...


    "She doesn''t look okay to me," some muttered, feeling a bit at a loss.


    With folded arms, two beautiful young girls, who seemed to be sisters, walked out of the mansion and seized the young girl with their intent stare. One of the two of them raised her brow with a leisurely expression.


    "Jenny, what is wrong with her? " The one that looked more slender asked her sister with a bizarre expression on her face.


    "Amy-" She turned around to stare at her sister, "-How am I supposed to know?" Jenny glared in annoyance and returned her stare to the young girl in the rain.


    The young girl, who was Leia, chuckled softly when she saw the two sisters who were her beloved stepsisters. She raised the bear to her mouth and gulped down a mouthful of alcohol, then turned around and threw the bottle away. Her eyes narrowed dangerously, and she began to saunter into the compound, dragging the bat in her hand along with her.


    She staggered from one side to another as insane laughter escaped her mouth and she shook her head furiously, causing her short hair to flutter. She let out a sigh with a pessimistic look on her face, and her fingers caressed the bat.


    She raised her eyes and glanced at the mansion with hatred. "Mr. Adolpho!" Leia yelled, crazily laughing afterward. She swung the bat in her hand and her eyes glanced at the cars packed inside the compound. The bat in her hand swirled as a wicked smile formed on her lips. She halted her pitch-black eyes on a white Rolls Royce, which was Mr. Adolpho, her father''s treasured car.


    She stood still and tapped her fingers on her thigh. Her eyes narrowed into a thin line as she monitored everyone. A soft chuckle escaped her mouth, and she shook her head when she saw that they were also monitoring her.


    Leia''s eyes abruptly widened, and in the next moment, before they could think or react, an ear-piercing scream escaped her mouth, and with the bat in her hand, she rushed towards the Rolls Royce and furiously smashed the front window, creating lines of crack on the glass.


    "Ssss..." Dilating their eyes, the maids covered their mouths, and their bodies trembled fearfully. What has this girl done? Their faces grimaced in fear and pity, and they couldn''t help but swallow hard. Just the imagination of what Mr. Adolpho''s reaction would be when he arrives back home already left them peeing in their pants.


    "You let her die, didn''t you?" Leia, whose body was trembling in rage, continuously smashed the front window and finally shattered it to pieces. She nodded her head in satisfaction and moved to the side windows. Crazily yelling, she raised the bat and also smashed them to pieces.


    Jenny and Army glanced at each other, and they could see the fear in each other''s eyes. "Stop her," Jenny turned to the maids and yelled, with apprehension visible in her eyes.


    Nodding their heads anxiously, they rushed to Leia and besieged her. They proceeded to hold her down, but she swung the bat in a rage and hit the maid closest to her on the head. The maid clutched her head and slumped to the ground, unconscious.


    "Stay the hell away from me, you bastards!" She pointed the bat stick at them and insane laughter escaped her mouth. With her head slowly tilting to one side, she glanced at her stepsisters, whose faces were ghastly white, and she smashed the window with her eyes still fixated on them. She wiggled her eyebrows at them, indirectly asking them, ''I have smashed it. What are you going to do now?''


    "She''s gone insane, Jenny," Amy said nervously as she turned to face her sister.


    "What do you want me to do?" Jenny glared at her sister as cold sweat dripped from her forehead. "Father is not home yet and the men are with him. We just have to wait for them to come back," She turned her head to stare at the crazy girl who was laughing insanely and swinging her bat at the maids.


    The gate to the compound opened once again and two cars smoothly rode into the mansion. A middle-aged man who looked 50 stepped down from the car with his hands shoved into his pocket, and his face instantly turned a few shades darker when he saw the commotion taking place in his compound.


    He raised his hand, signaling to his men, who were about to rush in and hold Leia down, to stop. They glanced at him and obediently stepped back.


    Mr. Adolpho closed his eyes and let out a soft sigh, clearly annoyed by the commotion unfolding in his mansion. Opening his eyes, he glanced at Leia and began to walk towards her.


    Leia, who was swinging the bat stick at the maids, halted and slowly turned to see her father walking towards her with a darkened face. Her face instantly turned ashen and her grip on the bat became stronger.


    A wicked smile formed on her lips, and her eyes narrowed into a thin line. She positioned the bat near the window of the Lamborghini packed on her right side and her smile switched to a warm one.. "Dear father, I''ve been waiting for you."

 Chapter 2 - Psychiatricc Hospital

    Mr. Adolpho''s eyes narrowed into a thin line, and he intently watched Leia. "What is your problem?" A deep frown emerged on his face.


    "You want to know my problem?" Leia blinked her eyes, pretending to be surprised. "Well, you see, I just want to ask you why you killed my mother." Her lips curled into a smile, and she intently watched Mr. Adolpho, just like he watched her.


    "I told you, your mother died of-"


    "Liar!!!" Leia''s eyes dilated, and her chest rose and fell in anger. This was what he always said. She died from this! She died from that! "You killed her!" She raised the bat, ready to smash it into the car window.


    "You don''t dare!" His cold and husky voice resounded, sending shivers through everyone''s bodies. His steady breathing became heavy, clearly showing he was angry.


    "Haha... You think I don''t dare," Leia halted the bat and turned her head to look at her father with an amused face. She clicked her tongue and shook her head as though someone was looking at a stupid person. "I am not afraid of you." She pouted with a puppy face.


    "Let me see you try it then," Mr. Adolpho said, narrowing his eyes and forming a dangerous smile on his lips.


    Leia chuckled softly and revealed her jade-white teeth. "Father, you''re looking down on me."


    Mr. Adolpho ignored her and placed his hands behind his back. "You''re just as foolish as your mother," he said, his eyes dwindling and a half-smile creeping across his lips. He threw a disdained look at her.


    Leia''s amused face vanished, and it turned completely dark the moment she heard those words. One thing she will never condone is someone insulting her mother, and right now, Mr. Adolpho just did. She raised her eyes and dangerously stared at Mr. Adolpho.


    A wicked smile crept up her lips, and in the next moment, she furiously smashed the front window of the car while crazily laughing. "Didn''t you say I don''t dare? Well, here you go!" She threw a vicious look at her father and proceeded to do more than just shatter the glasses.


    Mr. Adolpho''s eyes narrowed malevolently and his face turned ashen. He walked over to Leia and harshly grabbed her by the arm, tossing away the bat she held in her hand.


    He violently punched her, causing her to fall to the ground with a little blood on her nose. He walked to her and sent kicks after kicks to her stomach, kicking her till she began to spurt blood. He grabbed her by the collar and angrily slapped her across the face, causing Leia''s nose to bleed. "Useless child! Do you think it''s easy to earn money? " He raised his hand and sent another hit to her face, and a slight groan escaped her mouth.


    Leia coughed and spurted out the blood in her mouth. She turned her head to stare at her father, and with a smirk on her face, she gave him her middle finger. "Fuck you, old man." She crazily chuckled and threw her head back.


    Mr. Adolpho''s hand tightened on the neckband of her clothes, and he fiercely banged her head on the concrete ground, releasing his grip on her collar afterward. He stood up and kicked her on the stomach, causing her to fly back and hit her back on the car tire. Leia groaned in pain and spurted a mouthful of blood. She lifted her head and smiled at Mr. Adolpho, revealing her bloody teeth to him.


    This was a painful experience for her, but it was worth it. She had always wanted to infuriate this man, to confront him and do something crazy. She had always wanted to stand up for herself and tell him to his face, ''Fuck you old man,'' and she finally did it, and she is proud of herself.


    Leia felt her vision become blurry and a half-smile formed on her face before she lost consciousness in the next moment.


    "Take this trash out of my house," Mr. Adolpho glanced at his unconscious daughter and clapped his hands together. He took a deep breath and adjusted his suit, then walked away. He ambled past the maids who had their mouths covered with their hands and halted in front of his two daughters, "You two, get inside." His eyes glanced at the maids and viciously stared at them, indirectly telling them that if a word about this gets out, they know the consequences that will follow.


    The maids blinked nervously and swallowed hard. Jenny and Amy glanced at Leia with a little concern in their eyes and followed their father into the mansion.


    Men dressed in a black suit carried Leia up from the ground and walked towards the car. They laid her on the back seat and drove out of the mansion.


    They rode for nearly an hour and finally slowed down in front of a building that everyone who saw it knew was a building for insane people.


    A few nurses hurried out with a wheelchair, and the black-dressed man sat Leia on it. They took her to the psychiatric hospital, and after exchanging words with the doctor, they left.


    A young nurse pushed Leia, who was unconscious in the wheelchair, into a private room and laid her on an iron bunk with a small bed on it. She injected something into her body and stepped outside after she was done, then locked the door and left.


    _______________


    The light bulb hanging on the ceiling of the empty room glitched continuously.


    Leia''s fingers twitched, and her whole body did the same afterward. Her mouth erupted into a painful howl, and she clutched her aching stomach. She opened her blurry eyes and tried to perceive her surroundings.


    She brought her legs down from the small bed and raised her eyes to glance around the room. Her face instantly turned a few shades darker and her hand balled into a tight fist. "Where in the fucking world am I?" She glanced at the ceiling and the diminutive window in the room, and she couldn''t help but feel disturbed.


    She stood up from the bed and proceeded to walk to the door. However, something held her back, preventing her from moving any further. She glanced at her hands only to realize that her wrists were chained. Her eyes narrowed viciously when it trailed from the chain and stopped on the iron bunk bed. This chain was attached to the iron bunk, preventing her from moving.


    "You bastards!" Her eyes widened, and she screamed in outrage. She pulled the chain, but it didn''t break; rather, it hurt her wrist, turning it a few shades of red. "Ahh!!!" Leia roared in annoyance and fury. Her body trembled in rage, and she pulled the chain furiously.


    She took a deep breath to calm herself down, and she sat back on the bed. She stared at the chains on her wrist and a deep hostility flashed in her eyes.


    The door to the room opened, causing her to raise her head and see a young nurse walking towards her with a steel tray in her hands. The young nurse placed the tray with a syringe and a bottle of drugs on the table and beamed at Leia.


    Leia sat still with her hand balled into a fist and watched the nurse fill up the syringe with drugs. "What is that?" She asked the nurse who was already preparing to inject her.


    "Oh, this is just to help you relax." The nurse smiled at her and reached out for her arm. "Don''t worry, it won''t hurt," She positioned the syringe on Leia''s arm and injected the drug into her body.


    Leia narrowed her eyes and a dangerous glint flashed in her eyes. She knew this nurse was lying. This was not a relaxing drug, but something else. Her eyes peeked at the bottle and creased when she saw it had no name or label on it.


    She suddenly felt lightheaded and clutched her head in her hands. What in the world did this woman inject into her body? She raised her eyes and viciously glared at the nurse, "What did you inject into my body?"


    The nurse smiled and patted her on the shoulder, "Don''t worry, it''s just a sleeping drug. You will be fine once you take a nice nap." Leia stared at the nurse and rubbed her eyes, which were becoming blurry. Her head went into turmoil and she knocked the steel tray down before losing consciousness.


    The young nurse stared at her with pity in her eyes and shook her head.. She took the tray without bothering to pick up the syringe that had fallen off and exited the room, closing the door behind her.

 Chapter 3 - Stop Me Now

    Leia woke up from her unconscious state after a maximum of thirty minutes. She sat up and shook her throbbing head with a grimaced face. Her eyes glanced around, and a deep breath escaped her mouth.


    She bent down and peeked under the bunk, and a wide smile formed on her lips when she saw the syringe she knocked from the tray. She picked it up and stared at it. This pin is her only way to escape.


    She pulled out the pin from the syringe and carefully examined it. Her eyes glanced at the door and around the room to make sure there was nothing like a CCTV camera around. A smile formed on her lips when she saw there wasn''t any.


    She inserted the pin into the lock and began to twist it in different ways. She placed the lock close to her ear and attentively listened to the sound the pin produced inside of it. She did this for almost an hour before she tiredly brought her aching hand down. That was harder than she thought.


    The sun gradually set and another day began. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she peeked through the diminutive window in the room. Her mother''s funeral will be taking place tomorrow, and her father gave a strict order to the hospital to prevent her from showing up at the funeral.


    A soft chuckle left her mouth, and with a click of her tongue, she shook her head. What makes them think that they can prevent her from attending her mother''s funeral? Nothing and no one will stop her from attending that funeral tomorrow. Her hand balled into a tight fist and she averted her gaze from the window.


    She raised her hand and stared at the chain on her wrist for a while, then at the pin beside her on the bonk. Today she has to unlock these chains and escape, or she might never get to see her mother.


    She picked up the pin and inserted it into the lock. Just like before, she placed it near her ear and began to twist it.


    The pin wriggled inside the lock, showing signs of being unlocked but not yet. Leia twisted the pin inside the lock for minutes, and a cold sweat began to drip down her back. This has to work, she kept telling herself as her fingers controlled the pin inside the lock.


    An hour passed, and still, nothing happened. She dropped her hand, which was already sore and aching, and a deep breath left her mouth. Her face grimaced as her eyes stared at her wrist, which had turned a shade of red as a result of the chain latching on it.


    She took a little rest and then proceeded to try again. She did this for four hours, resting when needed and continuing afterward.


    At the last minute of the fifth hour, a cracking sound suddenly reverberated from within the lock, and Leia''s eyes dilated. Did she successfully unlock it?


    She hurriedly dropped the pin and proceeded to remove the chain from her wrist. A victory smile formed on her brims when the chain fell off, setting her wrist free. She rubbed her sore wrist and her eyes viciously gazed at the door. Tonight she will escape.


    She latched the chain back on her wrist and quietly laid down on the bed, patiently waiting for the nurse who injects her every day to arrive.


    The clock ticked and minutes were enacted. The sun went down and the sky turned shades of dark. Leia''s eyes gazed at the door from which the nurse would come in through any minute from now.


    "10-9-8-7-6-5-" Her hand balled into a fist and her heart thumped nervously." --3-2-1," The doorknob turned and the door slowly opened.


    A nurse with a friendly smile plastered on her face walked in and ambled towards Leia with a tray that had a syringe and a bottle of drugs in it. The nurse dropped it on the small table and squatted down with her back facing Leia.


    She picked up the syringe and prepared to fill it up.


    Leia''s eyes narrowed dangerously, and she slowly removed the chains from her wrist. She stood up without making any noise and silently walked to the nurse.


    The nurse felt someone behind her and she turned her head around. However, a furious kick landed on her face and sent her crashing heavily to the floor.


    "You!..." A groan escaped her mouth, and she hatefully glared at Leia. She tried to get up, but another kick from Leia landed on her face, causing her to fall and lay flat on the floor. Leia walked up to her and grabbed her by the collar. She began to send punches after punches to the nurse''s face, and when her hand became bloody from all the punching, she banged the nurse''s head on the floor and released her grip.


    Her eyes stared at the nurse, and she blinked nervously. Her heart thumped anxiously, and she took a deep breath to calm herself down. She had never done so before, so it was normal for her to react this way.


    She grabbed the nurse by the leg and dragged her to the bunk. She pulled out the phone from inside the nurse''s clothing and undressed her.


    Leia outfitted herself in the nurse''s uniform and readjusted her hair just like the nurse did. She glanced at the nurse one last time and picked up the tray. She left the room and locked the door.


    Her eyes darted around the hallway, and she proceeded to walk forward. She bent her head and walked a little hurriedly to avoid suspicion.


    Her eyes lit up when she saw the exit door out of the hospital, and without delay, she proceeded to walk towards it. She had just gotten halfway to the door when she suddenly bumped into someone, who glared at her, "Hey! Watch where you''re going! "


    "Sorry," Leia hurriedly stood up and scurried out of the hospital, not even looking at the man she had run into. The moment she made it out, she unhesitantly took to her heels and made sure to run very far from the hospital.


    She stopped running when she got to a bridge, and her eyes gazed down at the water under it. She stared at the reflection of the stars in the water and chuckled at herself. A 19-year-old likes her suffering as if she were a big adult.


    Her agemates are having fun and making boyfriends and all, but here she is living a bitter life. She turned around to gaze at the cars passing on the road, and the breeze brushed past her, causing her hair to flutter.


    She pulled out the scissors she stole from the tray and grabbed a handful of her hair. She proceeded to cut her hair so short it didn''t even reach the neck length it was before.


    Strands of her hair fell into the water, and a soft laugh escaped her mouth. She spread her hands and allowed the breeze to gracefully brush past her". Mr.. Adolpho!!!!-" She screamed, crazily laughing afterward. "-Let''s see how you stop me now!"

 Chapter 4 - Suicide.

    The scorching sun didn''t beautify the sky today; rather, dark clouds covered it and heavy rain was currently falling.


    At a cemetery, people outfitted in black clothing stood with umbrellas over their heads, shielding them from the heavy rain pouring down. Some had tears raining down their faces, while some kept a sad face and watched the priest who was praying for a corpse inside a coffin.


    "May her gentle soul rest in peace," The priest blessed the corpse and stepped back. A middle-aged man with two beautiful girls beside him stepped towards the coffin and gazed at it for a moment before throwing the flowers in their hands into the coffin.


    The middle-aged man, who was naturally Mr. Adolpho, motioned for his two daughters to follow him out of the cemetery. "Our business is done here." He said this to his two daughters and walked out of the cemetery. The two girls glanced at the coffin that had been rolled into the six-foot hole and went after their father.


    At a distance from the burial ground, stood a young girl dressed in a long-back hoodie, under the rain. Her eyes flickered as she gazed at the coffin gradually dropping into the six-foot hole.


    "Rest in peace, mother," the young girl, who is Leia, whispered, with her hand balled into a fist. Drops of tears unceasingly fell from her eyes, and her lips trembled as she whimpered silently. Thunder rumbled as though it could hear her heartbreaking cry, and dark clouds shrouded the sky.


    Everyone but Leia dispersed from the cemetery when the funeral was over, and it once again returned to its emptiness. She ambled towards her mother''s grave with a wet flower in her hand and stood in front of a stone tablet.


    Her eyes gazed at the stone tablet that had her mother''s name on it, and a pessimistic chuckle left her mouth. She squatted down and dropped the flower.


    Her hand reached out and caressed the name carved on the stone tablet. She slumped to the ground as another tear fell from her eyes. Leia lay on one side of the lawn, and her eyes continued to stare at the stone tablet.


    The rain that was showing signs of stopping began to rain heavily once again and unceasingly poured down on the young girl lying helplessly and dispirited on the ground.


    The sun went down and the sky turned a shade darker, but the heavy rain didn''t stop. Leia stood up from the ground and took a deep breath. She gazed at the stone tablet and gave a deep bow, "Goodbye mother...Rest in peace." She turned around and left the cemetery grounds.


    With her hands yanked into her pockets, she walked down the road, which had fewer cars passing on it, and ambled to an outdoor seating area next to the liquor store. She pulled out a chair and sat down under the heavy rain. "Three bottles!" She glanced around and patiently waited for someone to come to attend to her.


    A young man arrived with an umbrella over his head and a basket in his left hand. He dropped three bottles of alcohol on her table and left a key for her to use to uncock the bottle. Leia pulled out the last bit of cash she had on her and gave it to the young man.


    "Miss...You can come inside. You shouldn''t stay out in the rain or you might catch a cold." The young man said to her, with concern written all over his face.


    Leia raised her eyes to gaze at the young man who looked to be the age of 22. "What is your name?" She chuckled softly.


    The young man drew his head back in surprise and smiled awkwardly, "Davis."


    Davis. She repeated, with a nod of her head and a smile formed on her face, "Well, Davis, don''t worry, I am fine. I enjoy the rain."


    Davis blinked his eyes in confusion and nodded at her. He turned around and walked back into the store.


    Leia uncocked the bottle and positioned it on her lips. A mouthful of alcohol streamed down her throat into her stomach as she unceasingly gulped down the alcohol. She brought the bottle down from her lips and shook her head. A soft laugh escaped her mouth, and she continued to gulp down more.


    She laid her head down on the table and stared at the bottle standing in front of her face. Her finger traced the label, and she cackled once more. With dilated eyes, she burped and stood up from the chair. She took the last bottle of wine that she had yet to drink and left the liquor store.


    She walked to the side of the road and proceeded to go back to the bridge she was at yesterday.


    _________


    On a high golden throne, Adrik sat with a leisurely expression on his scarred face. His long raven black hair fell over his shoulders, reaching his waist. He raised his emerald green eyes to stare at a young man standing with his head lowered and his blonde hair fallen over his face.


    "Alex, what have I told you about reporting late to me?" His cold, deep voice resounded in the huge hall, startling the young man named Alex.


    "I plead for leniency, Supreme Alpha." Alex''s lips trembled nervously. "This won''t happen again." His hands shivered anxiously, and he continuously swallowed hard.


    Adrik glanced at him with a raised brow and shook his head. He stood up from his golden throne and walked down the stairs.


    He waved his hand at Alex to follow him and walked out of the hall. Alex took a relieved breath and followed behind him.


    They ambled outside of the huge mansion, and Adrik pulled the backdoor of the car open and took his seat at the back. "Drive to the Westfall bridge, I can sense her."


    "Who?" Alex blinked his eyes in confusion and sat in the driver''s seat. He turned around to glance at Adrik and blinked his eyes when he saw his green eyes viciously glaring at him.


    He drew back a little and chuckled awkwardly, "Oh, you mean her... Haha." He started the car engine and drove out of the huge packhouse that looked like a palace.


    ________


    Leia stood at the bridge with a bottle of beer in her hand, and her eyes gazed up at the dark sky with stars on it. Two lines of tears streamed down her face, and she sniffed tiredly.


    "I am sorry to disappoint you, mother," She placed the bottle on her lips and gulped down a mouthful of alcohol. "I can''t be alone in this world; it''s too cruel." She gulped down another mouthful and threw the bottle far into the water.


    She placed her hand on the small metal fence built beside the bridge to prevent pedestrians from falling off and climbed up. Her eyes gazed down at the water rumbling beneath the bridge, and her heart pounded nervously.


    A deep sigh escaped her brims and a sad smile formed on her lips. She closed her eyes and reflected on all the wonderful times she had spent with her family, particularly with her mother when she was a young girl. Tears fell from her eyes and she stared at the moon in the sky. She will die today and free herself from all suffering.


    From a far distance away, a car rode at a fast speed towards Leia.


    "Alex, faster!!" Adrik yelled at Alex, who had cold sweat dripping from his forehead.


    Nervousness flashed in Adrik''s green eyes as he stared at the young girl a distance away, who was about to commit suicide. If he doesn''t stop her, he will lose his mate.


    He glanced at the door of the car and forcefully kicked it off with his leg. He jumped out of the car and landed with his hand on the hard ground.


    Alex, who was driving, dilated his eyes and immediately stopped the car. He glanced at the back only to see that the door of the car was no more. "Poor door." He shook his head with a grimaced face.


    Adrik stood up straight and gazed at the young girl. His hands balled into fists, and he hurriedly took off and ran towards the young girl.


    Leia, who was about to jump off the bridge, felt someone running towards her, and she turned her head to see who it was. Her eyes nervously broadened and she trembled. How did they find me so quickly? She thought, and her eyes glanced at the water beneath the bridge once more. She would rather die than go back to torture.


    Leia closed her eyes and, with her hand clutched to her chest, she jumped off the bridge.

 Chapter 5 - Back Again

    With her eyes tightly shut, Leia waited to fall and drown in the water beneath the bridge. However, that never happened; rather, she felt herself floating in midair.


    She slowly opened her eyes and looked down, only to see that she was still far from falling into the water. She raised her head to look up and see what was precluding her from falling.


    Her blurry eyes flickered in confusion when she saw that it was a man''s hand that was tightly holding onto her wrist. She fluttered her eyes to try and see his face, but he was blurry.


    Adrik, who is currently holding onto her wrist, gritted his teeth and, with all his strength, he gripped Leia''s wrist tightly and flipped her up into the air. He hurriedly drew back and gestured with his hands, letting her fall into his embrace.


    He squatted down with Leia in his arms and caressed her wet hair. Why resort to suicide? Adrik couldn''t help but ask himself as his eyes stared at the young girl in his arms. Why would a youthful girl like her resort to suicide? He caressed her cheek and tucked her wet hair behind her ear.


    Leia blinked her eyes and tried to see Adrik''s face, but her eyes were blurry, making it hard for her to glimpse his face. She reached out her hand to his face and gently touched him on the cheek. A smile formed on her lips, and she laughed softly. Her eyes became heavy and her long wet lashes blinked before she fell unconscious.


    What amount of alcohol could she have drunk? Adrik gazed at the poor girl in his arms, and he shook his head. He turned his head around to see Alex standing beside him with an awkward look on his face.


    A deep sigh escaped his lips as he stared at Leia. "Supreme Alpha... She''s human."


    Adrik nodded his head, and a soft sigh escaped his lips. Why is he given a human mate? He can''t be the first Supreme Alpha with a human mate! He drew his head back in annoyance and took a long, deep breath.


    "Supreme Alpha..." Alex proceeded to say something but swallowed the rest of his words when he saw Adrik''s cold gaze on him.


    "People are coming, let''s go," Adrik''s brow creased, and he gently laid Leia on the wet ground. He stood up and motioned for Alex to step back with him. They walked back to the car and gazed in the direction where Leia was lying down.


    A few seconds later, a bus with a medical symbol on it packed a little distance away from the position where Leia lay unconscious. Six men swathed in doctor''s clothing stepped down from the bus. They walked towards Leia and stared down at her.


    One of the doctors who squatted down beside Leia turned his head to look at his co-worker. "She drank too much alcohol."


    "Okay, let''s take her back," With pity in his eyes, one of the doctors with short black raven hair looked at Leia.


    They carried Leia up from the wet ground and took her to the bus. They started the bus engine and drove off.


    From a far distance, Adrik gazed at the bus, which was slowly turning into a black dot, and his hand balled into a fist. He didn''t want to leave her there, but he had to, and his reason for doing so is an important one. He took a deep breath and turned to Alex. "Find out everything about her and report it to me within a day." He glanced in the direction where the bus left minutes ago, and a soft sigh left his lips.


    "A day!" Alex''s eyes dilated and he couldn''t help but feel bitter within him. He is beginning to think his Supreme Alpha hates him.


    Adrik ignored him and walked to the side to enter the car. However, his eyes broadened a little. He just realized that he had kicked off the car door. He shook his head, and with a shrug, he entered the car. He wasn''t going to walk back home.


    Alex started the car''s engine, and they drove off to their destination.


    _______________


    The bus arrived at the Adolpho mansion, and the doctors stepped off the bus. They carried Leia down and into the mansion.


    Dressed in a fine robe, Mr. Adolpho walked out of his luxurious room and his eyes hatefully gazed at his unconscious daughter. "Stupid girl," he mumbled with a disdained look on his face and shook his head in annoyance. He motioned for his men to carry Leia up from the floor and follow him.


    "Sir, please, she needs a good sleep. Her breathing is a little heavy, which means she''s not in a good state," the doctor with black raven hair stated with concern in his eyes. From the way he stared at her, he knew that this man would do something bad to the poor girl. It''s not that he''s trying to chirp into a family matter, but he''s just worried about the young girl.


    Mr. Adolpho halted on his steps when he heard the doctor and turned around with his hands behind his back. "Excuse me," he said, his eyes narrowing dangerously.


    "Uhm... I..." The doctor blinked nervously and lowered his head.


    Mr. Adolpho intently gazed at the doctor for a while, and a slight grin crept onto his lips. He turned around and continued on his steps. His men followed behind him and walked up the stairs. They halted when he stopped in front of a wooden door.


    He pushed the door open and waved his hand at his men, signaling for them to carry her into the room. His men nodded and hauled Leia into the room that resembled an attic. They laid her on the clean, but a little dusty, floor and walked out.


    A wicked smile crept up Mr. Adolpho''s lips as he stared at his daughter, who was lying on the cold floor. "I will show you who''s boss," He shut the door and locked it. Then he turned around and left, with his men following behind.


    He walked downstairs and ordered all the maids and his daughters to report to him immediately.


    When they arrived, his eyes dangerously stared at them, causing them to tremble nervously. Their master never calls them unless something bad happens, and the way he''s staring at them now tells them that something bad has happened.


    Mr. Adolpho cleared his throat and folded his hands. "None of you is to give her food without my permission, understood?"He crossed his legs and his fingers caressed the armrest of the chair he was seated on.


    They nodded at him with their heads lowered.


    "If any of you dare go against my orders..." A dangerous smile formed on his lips, and he raised his eyes to glance at them. He stood up from the chair he was seated on and, with a turn, he left the living room, not bothering to elaborate any further.


    The maids took a relieved breath when he left, and they couldn''t help but glance at each other. They swallowed hard when they saw the fear in each other''s eyes.


    Standing behind her sister, Amy''s hand balled into a fist and her face puckered. She turned around without saying a word and walked up to her room in anger.


    Jenny raised her brow in bewilderment as she watched her younger sister amble away with balled hands.. What is wrong with her? She thought with a grimaced face.

 Chapter 6 - Amy

    Amy paced back and forth in her room while stroking her jaw with a serious face. If no one feeds her, she might starve to death. Amy thought with a pessimistic face.


    When did father become so ruthless? Amy took a soft sigh and sat on her bed. She is not sure if it''s a good idea to help Leia. If her father ever catches her, she will be in deep shit.


    She took a deep breath and rubbed her temples with her fingers, then stood up from the bed and walked to the door. Her eyes glanced around the hallway that has rooms on each side, and she nodded her head. If she is going to help Leia, she needs to make sure that everyone is asleep. She bit her lip and tiptoed out of her room to the kitchen.


    ________


    Leia clutched her throbbing head and her eyes gradually opened. She coughed hard from the dust that she breathed in from the cold floor and pressed her numb hands on the floor to aid herself in sitting up.


    Her eyes glanced around the room, and her face paled when she realized that the room was an attic. That explains why this place is so dusty.


    Leia took a deep breath and scanned her brain to try and recall what happened and how she ended up here. She recalls that she had made a decision to commit suicide and she did jump off the bridge, but she can''t remember why she''s here and not in heaven or hell.


    She furiously shook her head, and a deep frown emerged on her face. Leia glanced at the door, and she stood up from the cold floor. She ambled to the door and turned its knob, but it didn''t open. What is going on?


    She yanked it furiously, but it still wouldn''t open. She punched the door and screamed in outrage. She kicked and banged on the door, but it didn''t budge. She knows that her being here means suffering. Leia placed her back on the door and slipped to the floor with a defeated look on her face. She thought her bitter life would end yesterday, but God still brought her back to continue suffering. Why?!


    ________


    Amy walked to the counter and glanced from side to side to make sure that no one was watching her. She grabbed a prepared sandwich and a cup of juice from the fridge and placed them on a ceramic plate, then turned around and prepared to leave.


    However, she had just spun to leave when her eyes abruptly dilated and she almost dropped the plate in her hand. Her heart thumped nervously within her and she trembled.


    Standing in front of her is her older sister, Jenny, with crossed arms.


    Her lips curled into an awkward smile. How the hell did she not hear her sister come? She was sure that her sister was asleep when she came to the kitchen.


    Jenny stared at her with a raised brow and a puckered face. "What are you doing in the kitchen at this time of night?" She asked with a creased brow.


    "No-nothing. I just came to make something for myself," Amy said, her back cold with sweat. "I was hungry." She nervously watched her sister and trembled under the plate.


    "You were hungry?" Jenny raised her eyebrows in a questioning manner. "Alright, eat then." She gestured with an amused face.


    "Uhm... I like to eat in my room, not here."


    "Your room?" Jenny nodded her head. "Okay, let''s go to your room then." She motioned for Army to follow.


    "What?" Amy blinked her eyes in confusion.


    "Oh don''t worry, I just want to look after my little sister." Jenny smiled widely. "Or are you shutting me out now?"


    "No! You know, I will never do that, " Amy shook her head furiously. "I can take care of myself."


    Jenny crossed her arms and intently stared at the army. She walked to her and stood so close to her that if she moved any further, their faces would touch. "Let me tell you something, Amy... When you get yourself into deep shit, trust me, I, Jenny won''t come out to save you, " She drew back and stared at her for one last time, then turned around and left the kitchen with balled hand, clearly aggravated.


    Amy''s face turned a little pale, and she placed the plate back on the counter. She sighed softly and fiddled her fingers. She wants to help Leia, but she''s scared at the same time. She can''t take this risk! She just can''t! She furiously shook her head and ran off to her room.


    Jenny stepped out from behind the door with crossed arms after Army ran out of the kitchen and a wicked smile crept on her lips.


    ...


    The early morning sun rose in the sky, painting it with luminous color. Every living being went about their activities and duties, but it was different in the Adolpho mansion.


    Inside a huge living room, Mr. Adolpho, clad in an expensive suit, sat with crossed legs and a serious face. He playfully tapped his finger on the chair armrest, and he glanced at all the maids, then at his daughters, who stood with no expression on their faces.


    He turned to his men and waved his hand. "Bring her here."


    The men bowed and turned around. They rushed off to the attic where Leia was locked inside and unlocked the door. They turned the knob and shoved it open.


    Leia, who was seated with her knees clutched to her chest, raised her head to see two of her father''s men walking towards her. They smiled wickedly at her and grabbed her by the arm, then yanked her up and dragged her out of the attic.


    Leia struggled not and obediently followed them to wherever they were taking her. They dragged her to stand in front of Mr. Adolpho when they arrived at the living room, and Leia raised her head to look at her father. A lovely smile crept on her lips and she revealed her jade white teeth. "Good morning, father. I hope your night was great. "


    Mr. Adolpho''s smiling face turned ashen, and he glared at her with his dangerous eyes. This girl knows how to provoke him. He isn''t so dumb as not to know the meaning behind those words. A grin crept up his lips, and he folded his hands with crossed legs. "Kneel." He commanded with his cold, deep voice.


    Leia raised her eyebrows and a surprised expression formed on her face. Did she hear correctly or was something wrong with her ear? This despicable man had the nerve and the temerity to ask her to kneel. Leia didn''t know whether to laugh or cry.


    Her lips slowly began to curl up into a smile, and she abruptly broke out into crazy laughter, startling the maids and her sisters. She laughed so hard she covered her mouth and pointed at Mr. Adolpho with her left hand.


    She clutched her belly while shaking her head and wiped away the tears in her eyes with her finger. She took a soft sigh and raised her head to stare at her father, whose face was a few shades darker. "So you want me to kneel to you?" She sealed her lips to resist the urge to break into another laugh.. "Father, you never cease to amaze me."

 Chapter 7 - Such Disgrace

    Mr. Adolpho took a deep breath and ignored her. He glanced at one of his men and waved his fingers at them. His men gave a slight bow and walked towards him with something that anyone who sees will know it''s a whip.


    Leia''s eyes creased when she saw the whip, and a deep frown emerged on her face. Was he going to whip her or what?


    Mr. Adolpho received the whip, and a smirk crept onto his lips. He motioned for two of his men to stand behind Leia. They bowed and ambled to Leia''s side. One of the two of them abruptly kicked Leia on the back knee, causing her to fall on her knees.


    Leia''s hand balled into a fist and she coldly glared at her father.


    Mr. Adolpho ignored her glare and waved his hand, signaling them to hold her down. He stood up from his seat and placed his hand behind his back, then he began to walk around her. "Such an unfilial daughter. I reckon you need to be taught a little lesson." He abruptly stopped and glanced at her with a half-smile on his face.


    "Take the hoodie off," he said to his men who were holding Leia down. They nodded and pulled the hoodie off her body, leaving her with only the white top that she was wearing under it.


    Mr. Adolpho nodded his head in satisfaction and walked to stand behind her. With a satisfied smile on his brim, he raised the whip and furiously whipped her on the back.


    Leia gritted her teeth and her hand balled into a tight fist. She shut her eyes and her fingers unknowingly pierced into her palm. If her mother was alive, none of this would be happening, but anyway, she can do nothing about it.


    "Are you all seeing it?" Mr. Adolpho walked around Leia and glanced at the maids and his daughters. "I am not a bad father, but this is what happens when you have such a disgrace as a daughter." He raised the whip and bashed it on her back, creating wounds on the poor girl''s body.


    Leia''s gritted teeth clashed so tightly that the sound could be heard. Her balled fist tightened and lines of veins popped up on her neck, displaying the amount of pain she was going through. She has never experienced such inhumane torture in her life, and she never thought she would. She knew that her father wanted to see her in pain. He wanted her to crawl and beg him, but one thing he didn''t know was that she, Leia, would never give him that satisfaction, not in this life nor her next!


    Leia took a deep breath and her eyes opened. She raised her head and smiled widely at her father. "Such a disgrace?" She shook her head in disappointment and averted her gaze to the floor.


    Mr. Adolpho''s face darkened, and he walked over in anger to stand in front of her. He squatted down to her level and harshly lifted her chin with his fingers. "You made me become the bad father I am to you now." He said this in anger and unknowingly spit on her face.


    Really?" Leia chuckled softly and rubbed her face on her shoulder to wipe away the spittle on her face.


    "Yes, if you were as obedient as your sister-"


    "Fuck your old ass," Leia cut him off before he could finish his words and sent him a middle finger. This is what angers her the most! This man is just too thick-skinned that he just can''t stop!


    Mr. Adolpho glanced around and chuckled lightly, clearly annoyed. He stood up and let out an enraged breath. His eyes, which were staring at her, burned with rage and his grip on the whip tightened. His steady breathing became shaky and he furiously bashed the whip on her body, each stronger than the other. He walked over to her and grabbed her by the throat, forcing her to look him in the face. "Just because you''re my daughter doesn''t mean I can''t kill you right here and right now if I want to!" He tightened his grip on her throat, making it a little harder for Leia to breathe. "So you better be careful with your words!"


    "What are you waiting for, old man? Do it! If you have the guts," Leia struggled to breathe and spit on his face with a disdained look on her face.


    Mr. Adolpho nodded his head in annoyance and fiercely released her throat, leaving Leia to cough so hard. He glanced at the ceiling and took a deep breath, clearly enraged. This girl is getting on his nerves. No, she has gotten on his nerves! He raised the whip and furiously bashed it against her body once again, inflicting more wounds on her back.


    Leia gritted her teeth as she could feel blood splattering out of the wound on her back. She balled her first and groaned quietly within herself. She will never give him the satisfaction of seeing her in pain. She never will! Leia clenched her teeth tightly and restrained herself from screaming out in pain.


    The maids and her sisters, who were watching such an inhumane scenario, grimaced and covered their mouths as they watched the blood splattering from her wounds whenever the whip landed on her back. They lowered their heads when the clothing on her body became torn and bloody. This is the most brutal scene they have ever witnessed in their lives.


    Mr. Adolpho nodded his head in pleasure as he also stared at Leia''s bloody body. He took a deep breath and walked over to stand in front of her once again. "I don''t hate you, my dear daughter, but you provoked me too much." He squatted down with a smile hung on his brim and caressed her sweaty face with his fingers. "If you apologize, this father of yours might reconsider punishing you." He gazed at her in expectation. He liked to hear her decision.


    Leia raised her pale face, and a crazy chuckle escaped her mouth. She shook her head in disdain and fiercely glared at him with her bloody teeth tightly clenched together, "In your next life!" She spits on his face and a broad smile spreads on her lips.


    Mr. Adolpho wiped away the spittle on his face and abruptly stood up while nodding and flapping his finger at her. He rapidly tapped his foot on the floor in irritation and abruptly sent brutal kicks to her stomach with a darkened face.


    Leia tucked in her stomach and spurted out a mouthful of blood. She coughed hard and raised her head to stare at her father with viciousness in her eyes.


    Mr. Adolpho paced back and forth for a moment and abruptly stopped. He glared at Leia, and a wicked smile crept onto his lips. He walked over to stand behind her and reached out his hand to grab a few strands of her hair. He slowly twisted it with his finger and fiercely pulled it, causing Leia to scream internally. A little blood dripped from her head down to her face, and her pitch-black eyes turned bloodshot.


    "Is it painful, dear daughter?" Mr. Adolpho smiled and nodded his head in pleasure. He wants her to scream and cry. He wanted her to beg him for mercy, to willingly kneel before him, and he knew he was about to force her to do so.


    He proceeded to grab another strand of Leia''s hair, but his youngest daughter rushed up to him and fell on her knees. "Dad, please don''t hurt her anymore. Please have mercy on her. " Amy cupped her hands and pleaded with bubbles of tears in her eyes.


    Leia raised her head and gazed at Amy with hostility. A dangerous glint flashed in her bloodshot eyes, and she lowered her head.


    Mr. Adolpho glared at his daughter and motioned for his men to take her away, but Amy adamantly shook her head and grabbed her father by the leg. "Dad, please don''t do this anymore... You might kill her! " Tears streamed down her face.


    Mr. Adolpho stared at his daughter, whom he loved the most, and the displeasure on his face gradually faded. He took a deep breath and pulled her up. "Go to your room, alright."


    Army shook her head in disapproval, but Jenny suddenly grabbed her hand and dragged her to their room.


    Mr. Adolpho stared at Leia with a satisfied expression on his face and a vicious half-smile formed on his lips. He threw the whip to his men and wiped his hands with a handkerchief provided by his men.


    Leia raised her head and smiled widely at him, clearly telling him that she would never surrender to him even if he killed her.


    Mr. Adolpho waved his hand in fury and strolled out of the living room.


    His men harshly grabbed Leia and dragged her away from the living room. Leia, whose body was in pain, surrendered and let them drag her to the attic.


    They threw her inside, causing her to fall with a loud thud on the cold floor, then they slammed the door shut and locked it.


    Leia gazed at the door, and tears steamed up in her eyes. She can now cry in pain. She crawled to the wall and leaned her back on it, but a loud groan instantly left her mouth and she flinched away. She raised her eyes to stare at the wall that was now tainted with her blood.


    "Fuck!!" She pulled the bloody top with a grimaced face and slipped out of it. Now she is only left in a small crop singlet, which reveals most of her upper body.


    She pulled her knee to her chest and rested her head on it.. The breeze gently blew on her injuries and gradually dried the blood.

 Chapter 8 - Pompane Hotel

    The sun went down and darkness covered the sky. Leia peeped from the small glass window to the sky that had a bright half-moon and thousands of stars on it. A deep sigh left her lips and a half-smile crept on her brims. They always said that when a person dies, they would become a star and shine down on their loved ones, and right now she''s hoping that it''s true.


    The door to the attic creaked open and Leia turned her head to the door. A deep frown emerged on her face when she saw who it was and her hand tightly balled into a fist. "What are you doing here?" She glared at her sister who was walking towards her with a first aid kit in her hand.


    Amy ignored her and placed the first aid kit on the floor when she got close to her. She glanced at Leia and took a deep breath. "Just let me help you. Those wounds need treatment." She stared at her with an entreating look on her face.


    "Get! out!" Leia''s eyes narrowed and she coldly emphasized her words. These people are so bothersome. Why can''t they just leave her alone!


    Amy squatted down beside her and opened the first aid kit. "I will only get out after I make sure those wounds are treated." She picked out cotton wool and poured a little spirit on it. She attached it to the scissors on her right hand and reached out her hand to clean the face of the wounds on Leia''s back, however, her hand was abruptly caught by Leia. "Are you deaf? I said get out of here!" Her cold eyes viciously glared at Amy and her grip on her wrist tightened.


    "Leia please don''t do this! Don''t hurt yourself." Amy snatched her hand away and proceeded to treat her wound. She will treat her even if she abuses or pushes her away.


    Leia''s eyes narrowed and her hand clenched and unclenched in resentment. She hatefully grabbed Amy''s hand which was about to touch her and furiously pushed her away, causing her to fall heavily on the cold floor. She walked towards her and grabbed her by the collar of her shirt, bringing her face close to hers. "Stay! The fuck! away from me!" She stared deep into Amy''s eyes as she accentuated her every word. She let go of her collar and pushed her to the floor.


    With one last vicious glare at Amy, she turned around and walked back to the window. Her pitch-black pupils gazed up to the sky and her face hardened more.


    Amy stared at her and what seemed like tears gradually welled up in her eyes. "Do-do you remember when we were 13?" She nervously fiddled with her fingers and her lips slightly trembled. "We were best friends then and we-we did a lot together."


    Leia''s eyes flickered and she slowly turned her head to stare at Amy. Her balled fist gradually released and an unknown glint flared in her eyes."


    We would always steal cookies from the kitchen and get reprimanded by grandma later in the night." Amy raised her teary eyes to stare at Leia. "Do-do you remember that you would always protect me then and took blames for my wrongdoings?" Her body shivered and she flickered her wet lashes.


    Leia''s eyes became less cold and it darted around the room. She shut her eyes and took a deep breath, clearly showing she remembers. She opened them and stared at Amy with a little tenderness in her eyes. "Just lea-"


    "What happened to that friendship?" Amy cut her off before she could finish her sentence. "Why aren''t we best friends anymore? Did I wrong you? I have no idea if I did or not! But if I did, am sorry! Leia I am sorry!" She glanced up to the ceiling and wiped away the tears on her face.


    She stood up from the floor and walked towards the motionless Leia who was staring at her with complicated eyes. She stood in front of her and gently grabbed her hand. Leia averted her gaze to the sky refusing to spare a glance at her.


    "Just let me treat you." Amy tenderly grabbed her face and made her look at her. She pleaded with a pessimistic expression on her face.


    Leia stared at her and took a deep breath. She snatched her hand from Amy and walked away from the window to sit on the floor. She raised her brow and glanced at Amy who stood motionless by the window. "Are you going to treat me or not?"


    "Oh..," Amy nodded and walked towards her. She opened the first aid kit and proceeded to treat her wound.


    _________


    Flipping through papers with a pair of glasses on his eyes, Adrik scanned through the documents in his hands. He stacked it up when he was done and packed it into the drawer of his desk, he then took a deep breath and adjusted his white suit.


    The door creaked open, causing him to glance at the door and see Alex strolling towards him.


    "Supreme Alpha, a message came from Mr. Adolpho." Alex took a slight bow and straightened up with a serious expression on his face. "He invites you to Pompane hotel for a word."


    Adrik leaned back on his chair and crossed his leg with a smile on his scarred face. "Pompane hotel," He repeated with a nod of his head. "He''s such an expensive man, don''t you think?"


    "Uhm... " Alex''s eyes darted around and he rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. His Alpha likes to put him in a tight spot. What is he expecting him to answer? He glanced at Adrik and chuckled lightly.


    Adrik''s face darkened a little bit and he sat up straight on his seat. "Time?"


    "Six o''clock pm today," Alex lifted his face and answered sharply.


    Adrik nodded his head and tapped the pen in his hand on the table. He raised his eyes and stared at Alex. "We are going to his house, I don''t do hotel shits."


    "What!" Alex blinked his eyes in confusion. A hotel or a cafe is always the best place for two people to see, especially if it''s for business. He doesn''t understand why his Alpha would suggest Mr. Adolpho''s house? He raised his eyes and glanced at Adrik who was still tapping the pen on the table and his eyes couldn''t help but flicker in confusion once again.


    Adrik also glanced at him and abruptly dropped the pen on the table. "Get the car ready, we are leaving right away."


    "Okay..." Alex turned around and proceeded to leave but suddenly stopped when he heard Adrik''s deep voice. "Did you find out anything about her?"


    "Yes, supreme Alpha." Alex swerved around and placed his hands behind his back. "From my inquiry, I found out that she is the daughter Mr. Adolpho had from his second wife."


    "Mr. Adolpho..." Adrik nodded his head and his eyes narrowed into a thin line. "Anything else?" His green eyes glanced at Alex who had his hands behind his back.


    "Uhm... No-no," Alex''s body trembled nervously and he swallowed hard. How was his Alpha expecting him to have any information within a day, he''s not a God!"


    "You mean that''s the only information you got?" Adrik gazed at him in a questioning manner.


    "Ye-yes." Alex cleared his throat and nervously swallowed hard.


    "Sometimes you''re very useless." Adrik''s cold eyes glared at him and he stood up from his seat. He pulled out a gray mask that is the size of his face and put it on. "Let''s go." He waved his hand at Alex and proceeded to walk out of his office. "I also didn''t mean what I just said." He halted on his step before he reached the door and glanced at Alex who had a downcast expression on his face.


    Alex''s face lit up and a wide smile spread on his brims.. He hurriedly ran after his Alpha.

 Chapter 9 - The Deal

    Leia knelt on the floor with two of her father''s men tightly holding onto her arms. Diminutive drops of blood fell from her wounded body to the floor, and her bloody teeth tightly clenched together. Fragile drops of tears, which she couldn''t hold back anymore, fell from her eyes onto her bloody clothing. She balled her hands, and lines of veins popped up on her neck as bashes of whip landed on her back. That was becoming unbearable! It hurts and pains her to the bones!


    Leia gritted her bloody teeth and silently whimpered within her as she endured the torture and pain. Is this what she will go through every day of her life? Her eyes closed and a deep breath escaped her nose.


    With the bloody whip in his hand, Mr. Adolpho took a long, deep breath and glanced at Leia. This girl is just too stubborn. He wouldn''t be doing any of this to her if she would just keep quiet and be a good girl. He let out an annoyed sigh and threw the whip at his men.


    He pinched between his brows and turned around to leave. However, one of his men hurriedly ran into the living room and took a deep bow. "Master, Mr. Avalanzo is here."


    Mr. Adolpho halted on his steps and his eyes narrowed in anger. He slowly turned around and glared viciously at his man. "What did you say?"


    His man trembled anxiously and lowered his head to avoid his master''s gaze.


    "How is he here?!" He yelled at his man with his hands balled into a tight fist. "Didn''t you send my invite? He turned around and glanced at his men with fury burning in his eyes.


    "Ma-master, we did it. We sent your invite." One of his men clarified with his head lowered down.


    "Then why is he here?" Mr. Adolpho gazed at them in a questioning manner, and his hand clenched and unclenched in anger. He took a deep breath to calm himself down and glanced at Leia, who was still kneeling on the floor. He waved his hands at his men and gazed at the door. "Take her away."


    They pulled Leia up from the floor and dragged her away from the living room. Mr. Adolpho turned towards the entrance door with his hands yanked into his pockets when he heard footsteps. His eyes fell on a broad young man with a gray mask covering his whole face and his long raven black hair dangling on his back.


    Adrik walked with his hands jerked inside his pocket, Alex close behind. He stopped in front of Mr. Adolpho and his leisurely green eyes stared at him. "Good to see you, Mr. Adolpho." He reached out his hand to exchange a handshake with him.


    "Good to see you too, Mr. Avalanzo." Mr. Adolpho shook hands with him and a friendly smile formed on his lips. "I wasn''t expecting you to arrive at my home today." He gestured Adrik to a huge sofa that had a glass table in front of it.


    "Oh...I''m sorry, but I''m not a hotel type," Adrik clarified before walking to the sofa, but his nose twitched and he came to a halt. He slowly turned around and glanced at the floor. His eyes instantly narrowed dangerously, and his emerald green eyes turned deep red when he saw the drops of blood on the floor. His hands balled into rigid fists and a chilled aura emitted from his body, enshrouding everyone near him.


    Dilating his eyes, Alex glanced at Mr. Adolpho, who was taking a step away from Adrik, and his face couldn''t help but grimace. His eyes fluttered nervously, and he turned his gaze to Adrik. What the hell is wrong with his Alpha? He had never lost his cool before?


    He anxiously walked to Adrik and grabbed him by the hand. "Alpha, what are you doing?" He whispered, so only he and Adrik could hear him.


    Adrik snapped back to reality when Alex''s question echoed in his head. His eyes flickered in confusion, and he released his clenched fist. He turned to Mr. Adolpho, who was a little distance away from him, and his eyes furrowed. He walked past Alex and went to the sofa, where he sat down with his legs crossed. "Shall we begin?"


    "Ye-yes, of course." Mr. Adolpho nodded furiously and walked to have a seat on the sofa opposite Adrik. His eyes stared at him, and he cleared his throat. "Uhm... Mr. Avalanzo, I believe you already know why we are here."


    "I don''t. Get to the point, I don''t have time to waste here, "Adrik playfully tapped his finger on his thighs and his leisure eyes stared at Mr. Adolpho, who shivered from his stare.


    Mr. Adolpho cleared his throat once again and folded his hands. "I want our companies to work together and create more establishments," He raised his eyebrows and monitored Adrik''s expression.


    Adrik halted, tapping his fingers on his thighs. "More establishments..." A smile formed on his lips, and he nodded his head. "How will the profit be shared?" He sat up straight on the sofa and intently gazed at Mr. Adolpho.


    Mr. Adolpho shifted on the sofa and tried to avoid Adrik''s intent gaze, but it didn''t help at all. His eyes blinked nervously, and cold sweat dripped down his back. "The profit will be a 50/50 share," He surveyed Adrik''s face to make sure not to miss any expression.


    "50/50..." Adrik repeated with a smile on his brim. "Are you sure that that is what you want, Mr. Adolpho?" He leaned back on the sofa and folded his hands.


    "Uhm...?" Mr. Adolpho shifted from one side to another, and cold sweat dripped from his forehead. He is a dangerous man himself, but before this man, seated in front of him, he is nothing but an ant that he can step on. A smile formed on his lips, and he blinked his eyes nervously. "I am good with 40/60."


    Adrik nodded his head and glanced at Alex seated beside him, then at Mr. Adolpho. "That''s good. I like it.. However, to seal this deal, something has to be offered."

 Chapter 10 - Offer

    Mr. Adolpho''s eyes dilated and fluttered in confusion. "Offer... something?" His eyes narrowed and a slight frown emerged on his face.


    "Yes." Adrik grinned and leaned back on the sofa.


    "Okay, what do I have to offer? Mr. Adolpho nodded his head, and he fixed his gaze on Adrik.


    Adrik stared at him and a half-smile formed on his lips. He crossed his legs and folded his hands. "Offering one of your daughters to me is a good way to seal up our deal." He grinned and intently watched Mr. Adolpho. "So... what do you think?"


    Mr. Adolpho''s eyes flickered in confusion and he couldn''t help but clear his throat, which suddenly became dry. "My... daughter..." He rubbed the back of his head, and a grimace emerged on his face. There is no way he is going to offer his daughter to this man. He might be a greedy man like some people say, but he has a conscience.


    He raised his eyes and gazed at Adrik with an awkward smile on his face. "Uhm... Is there no other request that can seal up our deal?" He stared at him with anticipation in his eyes, hoping that he would request something else.


    Adrik''s face turned a few shades darker and his folded hands unfolded. "If it''s not that, no other request will work." His deep, cold voice resounded, startling Mr. Adolpho, who was staring at him.


    Mr. Adolpho clenched his fist and his gritted teeth crashed in annoyance. What type of human being is this?!? He is certain that if they switched roles, he would not give any of his daughters to him.


    He pinched between his brows in annoyance, clearly indicating he had no idea what to do. He can''t give his precious daughters to this man! He raised his eyes and glanced at Adrik. His tongue clicked in annoyance, and he shook his head. He can''t do this! His daughters are not pieces of jewelry that he can offer and sell-off. He won''t mind canceling the deal, even though it will be a huge loss for him.


    A deep breath left his mouth and he raised his head, ready to cancel the contract. However, a lightbulb suddenly popped up in his head and a wide grin made its way to his lips. He stared at Adrik and jovially rubbed his hands. "I have thought about your request, and it''s my pleasure to tell you that the deal is on. I will happily bestow one of my daughters on you as a wife."


    Adrik drew his head back, a little surprised. He wasn''t expecting that. He expected him to take quite a while to think about it, but contrary to his expectations, he agreed so quickly. He nodded and smiled at Mr. Adolpho with narrowed eyes. He cleared his throat and stood up from the sofa. "It was nice speaking with you. Adrik adjusted his white suit and yanked his hands into his pocket. "See you in five days," he said as he walked away from the sofa.


    He had just taken two steps forward, but suddenly halted and turned around to stare at Mr. Adolpho. "One last thing... It will be a court marriage." He walked out of the mansion in large strides, without bothering to hear what Mr. Adolpho had to say.


    Mr. Adolpho gazed at the door, which Adrik left open, and a deep scowl appeared on his face. Just because he is the richest man in the world doesn''t mean he should be rude to everyone. He was like an elder to him, yet he was being so rude. He shook his head and walked towards the elevator.


    ________


    Adrik sat inside his car with a leisurely expression on his face. His emerald green eyes gazed out of the window, and he let out a soft sigh. "Why aren''t you asking me anything?" He averted his gaze from the sky to Alex, who was driving the car.


    Alex took a deep breath and glanced at him through the small mirror hanging inside the car. "I will never question you or your decisions as I believe that each one of them has a reason-" His grip on the steering wheel tightened and a pessimistic expression emerged on his face. "-However, I am worried."


    Adrik interlocked his fingers and resumed gazing out through the window. His eyes fluttered, and he took a deep, pessimistic breath.


    "I understand the reason why you are doing this," Alex continued, "but Supreme Alpha, what about the consequences? It is not something we can handle." He shook his head, and an apprehensive expression became visible on his face.


    Adrik pinched between his brows, and he glanced at Alex. "Don''t worry, I will never walk into the fire, and if I ever do, I will not drag you in with me. A half-smile formed on his lips, and he slightly shook his head.


    "Please don''t ever say again. I will always be loyal to you." Alex took a slight breath and glanced at Arik, whose gaze was fixated outside. "Uhm... Supreme Alpha, may I ask what happened back there?" His brow was raised in a questioning manner.


    "I have no idea..." Adrik''s gaze became distant. "I felt her... Kai did too. He couldn''t control himself."


    "What? How is that possible? " Alex''s eyes dilate in bewilderment "Supreme Alpha, your wolf has never lost control of himself before." He glanced at Adrik in disbelief.


    "I am also perplexed. I have never failed to control him before, but back there... it was just... that blood. It''s caused so much rage to burn within Kai." Adrik let out a deep sigh and his hands balled into fists. He doesn''t understand what happened to him back there.


    "Okay, have you talked to him?


    "He is not responding to me." Adrik shook his head, and a frown emerged on his face. His wolf has never given him the silent treatment before. Well, maybe sometimes when they argue, but that silent treatment is different compared to this. He clicked his tongue in frustration and tapped his fingers on his thigh.


    Alex, who was driving, bit his lips and shook his head, unwilling to believe what his Alpha just said.. He fell silent and smoothly drove them back home.

 Chapter 11 - Guess What

    Leia sat on the cold floor of the attic, caressing a bat stick in her hand with her gaze focused on the outside world. Were things going to continue this way? locked in the attic, brought out every day to receive bashes of whipping. A deep sigh escaped her lips, and she glanced at the bat in her hand.


    The door to the attic slammed open, startling her out of her unfocused state. She turned her head and saw her father walking towards her with a broad smile on his face. Her eyes narrowed viciously, and she vigilantly stared at him.


    Mr. Adolpho heartily chuckled when he got close to her. He squatted down to her level and reached out his hand to gently caress her hair with a warm smile on his lips. "Guess what, honey?" He continued caressing her hair while waiting for her reply.


    Leia''s eyes flickered and a grin formed on her lips. "Father, you know that I am not good at guessing." She raised her eyebrows and slightly shook her head. "Please satisfy my curiosity." She smiled widely, with her eyes hatefully staring at him.


    Mr. Adolpho nodded his head with his brow slightly raised and a subtle breath escaped from his nose. "Alright, I won''t keep you guessing then." He cleared his throat and rubbed his two hands together. "I am marrying you off to the richest man in the world." He gazed intently at Leia, and a grin formed on his lips. He doesn''t want to miss any expression on her face.


    Leia drew her head back in surprise and her eyes fluttered. "Oh?" A smile formed on her lips, and her eyes narrowed into a thin line. "I believe this rich man you speak of is Mr. Avanlanzo." She smirked viciously, and her hands secretly balled into fists.


    "Indeed, my dear daughter, You''re such a smart girl, " He reached out his hand and patted her on the head. "I told you, I don''t hate you, but you don''t want to believe me." A pessimistic expression formed on his face, and he let out a soft sigh as though sad.


    If I hated you, I would never have chosen you to be his bride. I mean, he''s the richest man in the whole world and he can give you anything you desire. " He brought Leia''s forehead to his lips and left a kiss. "The marriage will be held in five days, and as your beloved father, I will order the most expensive wedding dress for you."


    Leia stared at him for a while, and a wide smile formed on her lips. "Thank you, father. I am so grateful." Her eyes narrowed, and she slightly bowed her head to him.


    Mr. Adolpho smiled and waved his hand at her. "No need, you''re my lovely daughter after all," He patted her on the shoulder and stood up on his feet. He stared down at her and a wide grin made its way to his lips. "Take care of yourself till that day." He chuckled softly and left in large strides.


    Leia''s hands clenched and unclenched in fury. She dangerously stared at his disappearing silhouette, and a deep rage rippled within her. She stood up when the door slammed shut and shoved the things on the table to the ground. Her chest rose and fell in anger, and an outraged scream escaped her mouth. She punched and kicked the wall till the blood from her knuckles began to taint it.


    Her face turned shades of red and her hands tightly balled into fists. She shut her eyes and took a deep breath to calm herself down. She won''t give him the satisfaction! She will not! "Ahhh!!" She punched the wall once again, and tiny drops of tears fell from her eyes. A soft chuckle escaped her mouth and her ashen face returned to normal. She walked to her bat stick and picked it up from the floor. Her hands gently caressed it, and she sat down on the cold floor, resuming staring out the window.


    _____________


    Amy sauntered into the kitchen with a cheerful smile on her face. She happily ambled to one of the maids and ordered for a meal to be prepared. She was going to take it to Leia and force her to eat something. Such a stubborn girl. Amy chuckled as she thought.


    She proceeded to walk to the other side of the kitchen to patiently wait for the meal. However, she had just stepped in when her jovial face instantly turned ashen. She stomped towards the maids that were murmuring in a group and harshly grabbed one of them by the arm. "What did you just say?" Her breathing became unsteady and she viciously glared at the maids.


    "Yo-young miss, please forgive us," They all bowed, and their bodies trembled nervously. Amy took a deep breath and dangerously gazed at them. "What I heard from you, is it true?" She stared at them in a questioning manner.


    "Ye-yes, young miss," they answered without lifting their lowered heads.


    Amy''s body rapidly trembled when she heard their response. She took deep breaths to calm herself down and furiously roared, "Father!!!" She turned around and left the kitchen with her hands balled into a tight fist.


    She walked upstairs, not bothering to use the elevator, and made her way to her father''s office. She shoved the door open without even caring to knock, and her chest rose and fell in rage as she stared at her father, who was seated with his eyes focused on a document in his hands.


    "Since when did you learn to barge into my office without knocking?" Mr. Adolpho asked, without sparing a glance at his furious daughter.


    "Is it true?" Amy asked, ignoring his question.


    Mr. Adolpho halted reading the documents and raised his eyes to stare at his daughter. He placed the documents on the table and interlocked his fingers.. "Yes, it is true," He leaned back on his chair and stared at Army with a half-smile on his lips.

 Chapter 12 - Help Me Escape

    A deep frown emerged on Amy''s face, and her hand clenched tightly. "How could you?" She ambled closer to her father. "How could you give your daughter to a cold, despicable man like that? "


    Mr. Adolpho''s smile widened, and he sat up straight in his seat. "Would you have it if I gave you away?" He gazed at her with a slightly raised brow.


    Amy unclenched her hand just as her face became complicated. She flickered her eyes and a grimace emerged on her face. She raised her eyes to glance at her father, who was staring at her in a questioning manner.


    "No... I would not have preferred it." Her clenched fist tightened "-And just like I don''t, she doesn''t either." She took a slight breath, and her eyes blinked in letdown. She glanced at her father, and what seemed like pity flashed in her eyes. "I know that she can be disobedient at times, but she''s your daughter."


    "You hit her every day, torture her every day. Isn''t that enough? Why do you have to sell her off to such a despicable and cruel man? " Amy shook her head in disappointment.


    Mr. Adolpho''s face darkened when he heard those words, and he stood up from his seat. He walked over to his daughter and leaned very close to her.


    "Listen here: just because you''re my favourite daughter doesn''t mean you have the privilege to question my decisions and actions." He drew back and walked back to his seat. "Get out of my office and close the door behind you. I may not be as magnanimous as I am today." He waved his hand at her and resumed reading the documents.


    Amy shook her head and gave him a disdained look. "I am so disappointed in you. I find it hard to believe you are my father." With her hand balled into a tight fist, she turned around and left the office, furiously slamming the door behind her.


    She sauntered through the hallway and stopped in front of the attic door, where Leia was locked inside. Deep breaths escaped her nose as she slowly shoved the door open. She slipped her slender body inside and her eyes fell on Leia, who was seated by the window, caressing a bat stick in her hands.


    Leia turned her head, Immediately, she noticed someone walking towards her. Her cold eyes stared at Amy, who was ambling towards her. Her brows creased, and she gazed at Amy in a questioning manner.


    Amy walked over to her and sat down beside her. "I heard about it." She curled her knees to her chest and gazed out the window.


    "And what about it?" Leia asked with a cold tone, clearly annoyed.


    "Leia, I know you''re hurt, but please, don''t hate Dad." Amy turned her head and gently grabbed her left hand.


    Leia''s face puckered in irritation, and she yanked her hand back. "If that is what you came here to tell me, please do me a favor and leave." She raised her eyes and coldly glared at Amy.


    Amy took a deep breath and fluttered her eyes with a cynical expression on her face. "Is there any way I can help you? If there is, then I am willing to help." She stared at Leia with full sincerity in her eyes.


    Leia halted caressing the bat stick and fixated her gaze on Amy. She stared at her for a while, and a half-smile crept up her lips. "There is indeed something you can help me with."


    Amy''s eyes lit up, and she furiously nodded her head, "Just tell me what it is and I will help you with it." A wide smile formed on her lips, and she gazed at Leia with anticipation in her eyes.


    Leia smirked when she saw her reaction, and her eyes flickered. "Help me escape." Testing this sister of hers won''t be so bad. She might not be as hostile towards her as she is towards her father, but that doesn''t mean that she trusts her one bit!


    Amy, whose face was plastered with a wide smile, suddenly turned complicated. She felt as though a bucket of cold water had been splashed on her when she heard Leia''s request. Hesitancy glinted in her eyes, and she slowly let go of her hand. What Leia just asked of her is something she can''t do. Not to mention her father''s wrath, he would make her wish she was dead.


    She raised her eyes and gazed at Leia with a pessimistic expression on her face. "Leia, look... It''s not that I-"


    "You can''t do it, can you?" Leia cut her off before she could finish her sentence. She lifted her eyes and smirked at her, while her fingers still caressed the bat stick. "Don''t worry, I expected that." She glanced at the scorching sun, which was about to set, and a soft chuckle escaped her lips.


    Amy lowered her head and her hand balled into a fist. She does want to help Leia, but she is scared. She is afraid of what the consequences will be if she gets caught by their father.


    "Leia, you don''t have to escape; I will go talk to father and plead with him." She gently grabbed Leia''s chin and made her look at her. "You don''t have to take such risks."


    Leia yanked her hand and jerked it away. "If you can''t help me, please leave and don''t bother me." Her face turned ashen, and she glared at Amy. How embarrassing it would be to have Amy go plead on her behalf. She had sworn to never give that man the satisfaction and she wouldn''t, not in this life nor the next!


    Amy''s hand clenched tightly and she stood up from the cold floor. She glanced at Leia and turned around to leave. She grabbed the doorknob to open it, but as though having a second thought, she stopped. She felt guilty. Her conscience was pricking her, telling her that she would be the most ungrateful sister in the whole world if she walked out of the room without helping Leia.


    Her grip on the doorknob tightened and a deep breath escaped her nose. If she walks out of this door without helping Leia, she doubts she will ever sleep peacefully. Amy bit her lip and hesitantly turned around. She glanced at Leia, and a soft sigh left her mouth. "Fine.... I will help you."

 Chapter 13 - Tattoo Parlour

    Leia drew her head back in surprise, and a half-smile formed on her lips. "Thank you." She stood up with the bat stick in her right hand and scrutinized Amy from head to toe.


    "Don''t look at me like that." Amy glared at her with folded arms. "I will only help you escape, and if Dad finds you afterward, you''re responsible." She stated with a puckered face.


    Leia''s face grimaced, and she subconsciously tilted her head to one side to gaze at Amy. "What the fuck are you blabbering?" She crossed her arms and her brow creased in irritation. "I am not running away; I just need to leave for an hour or so and be back by 7."


    "Wait, what?" Amy blinked her eyes in confusion. "I thought you meant to escape to a faraway place." Her brow creased, and she gazed at Leia in a questioning manner.


    Leia''s face grimaced in annoyance, and she shook her head. "Jeez, if I were to escape, how many hours do you think it would take him to find me?" She walked towards a box filled with white sheets and yanked them down to the floor. "I am not running away. There is something I need to do, and that''s why I want to leave for a few hours."


    Amy fluttered her eyes and nodded in understanding. "Okay, what do I have to do?"


    "Simple, you only need to distract the maids so I can leave through the window without being seen. Also, keep everyone away from here until I am back by seven." She glanced at Amy and smiled at her with a raised brow. "Do you think you can do it?"


    Amy rolled her eyes and folded her arms in annoyance. "That sounds slightly like an insult." She opened the door and spared one last glance at Leia. "Be back by seven, or else both of us will be dead meat." She walked out and shut the door behind her.


    Leia shook her head and continued to take out the sheets from inside the box. She dropped them on the floor and began to tie their edges to one another. She did this for a few minutes before finally transforming it into a long rope. Her eyes glanced at the window, and her face grimaced. The window was too small to fit her unless she unfixed the glasses.


    She glanced at her hands and then at the window, and a soft sigh escaped her lips. Her mouth twisted, and she stood motionless for a while. She was wondering if Amy had distracted the maids or not. She shrugged and walked towards the window. She gently placed her hands on two of the glasses and gradually unfixed them from the window. Leia stood still and listened for any commotion that would take place, but none happened.


    She nodded her head in satisfaction and walked to the other side of the basement with the sheet rope in her hand. She tied it on a small iron rod attached to the wall of the attic made sure to leave a tight knot. She walked back to the window and threw the rest of the sheet rope out the window.


    Her eyes glanced at the clock, which showed the time of 5 p.m., and she took a deep breath. She climbed through the window and slowly slipped down with her hands holding onto the sheet rope. Her hands let go when her feet touched the concrete ground.


    Leia''s eyes darted around and stopped on the tall fence. Her face grimaced, and she clenched her fist. How is she going to scale this tall fence? She pinched her brow and glanced at the fence once more. As though a light bulb popped in her head, a half-smile formed on her lips, and she smirked.


    She drew back and created a little distance between herself and the fence. Then, with a low sigh, she ran towards the fence and stomped her feet on the wall, which helped her climb up. A deep breath escaped her nose, and she smiled happily as she sat on top of the fence.


    Her eyes glanced at the ground, and she carefully jumped down from the fence. She hurriedly ran far away from the mansion and only stopped when she was sure that she had created a great distance between herself and the fence. She steadied her steps and casually walked down the road.


    Her eyes darted around, and a wide grin formed on her lips when she saw what she was looking for. She walked towards a parlor and slowly shoved the door open. The instant she walked in, a young man of 26 years old with tattoos all over his body, walked towards her and gestured for her to have a seat.


    He gazed at her, and a jovial smile made its way to his lips. "Missy, May I know what type of tattoo you want? We have many designs that will wow and suit you." He smiled widely at her, and Leia couldn''t help but raise her brow.


    "All right," Leia folded her arms and took a deep breath. "Well, I just want a nice and cool tattoo."


    "Mhmm..." The tattooist nodded his head and grinned at Leia. "Well, we do full-body tattoos, upper body tattoos, arms, and so on." He looked at her with a friendly smile on his face. Which do you want?


    "Upper body." Her lips formed a half-smile that didn''t reach her eyes.


    "Great." The tattooist clapped his hands together. "Please follow me." He gestured her into a private room and shut the door behind them. Leia''s eyes scrutinized the area, and she took a seat on a backless seat in front of a huge mirror.


    The tattooist picked up his necessary equipment and cleared his throat. "Please take your shirt off."


    Leia turned her head to glance at him, and her face became complicated. She hesitated for a bit and slowly pulled her shirt off, leaving herself in only a short white singlet.


    The tattooist''s eyes dilated when they fell on Leia''s body, and his face became complicated.. What were his eyes witnessing? He glanced at her, and confusion flickered in his eyes.

 Chapter 14 - Cover Her Scars

    Leia raised her eyes to glance at him, and a deep sigh left her lips. "Just... cover it with nice tattoos, so it won''t be noticeable." She lowered her head and fiddled with her fingers.


    The tattooist nodded, with a slightly pessimistic expression on his face. He walked over to stand behind her, and deep confusion couldn''t help but reflect in his eyes. Who could have done such a horrid thing to a young girl like this? He had never witnessed such a thing before. Well, he has, but it wasn''t as inhumane as this was. He shook his head, and his eyes fluttered in pity. The scars were just so deep and horrid.


    He glanced at Leia, who had her head lowered, through the mirror and switched on the tattoo machine. "Don''t worry... those scars will be beautiful when I am done." He patted her on the shoulder with a smile on his face and bent down to begin the drawing.


    Leia shut her eyes the instant the tattoo machine drew on her body and her fist clenched tightly. She gritted her teeth and endured the pain inflicted by the tattoo machine, trailing ink on her scars. She let a deep breath out of her mouth and swallowed hard in endurance. It was better to tattoo the scars than leave them bare and horrid. It wasn''t good in her eyes at all. At least she could still make it look unique and beautiful. Her lips curled into a smile, and a soft sigh left her lips.


    ________________


    Amy paced back and forth in front of the attic door and nervously bit her fingernails. She glanced at the watch on her wrist, and her face couldn''t help but grimace. What was still keeping Leia? It was almost seven and there was no sign of her yet. She would be lying if she said she wasn''t scared. She let out a deep breath and opened her closed eyes, only to find herself flinching backward.


    In front of her stood her sister, Jenny, with crossed arms and a puckered face. "Je-Jenny," Amy swallowed hard and nervously stared at her.


    "What are you doing here?" Jenny asked with a raised brow and a crinkled face. She was suspecting Amy, as she could sense that something was fishy.


    Amy blinked her eyes and a frown gradually emerged on her face. "Must you have an idea of every action I take?" Her hand balled into a fist and her scowl deepened. "You''re my older sister, but that doesn''t mean you can poke your nose into my business all the time!" Her brow creased, and she stared intently at Jenny.


    Jenny''s jaw dropped, and her dilated eyes fluttered in shock. Was this Amy talking to her? She had never spoken to her in such a manner and tone before, and it caught her off-guard to witness it now. She shook her head, and a smirk formed on her lips.


    "Is that so?" Her face turned a few shades darker, and she nodded her head in annoyance. She glanced at the door of the attic, and her brow suspiciously creased. She walked to the door and proceeded to open it. However, Amy''s hand grabbed her and yanked her away from the door.


    The frown on her face deepened and she stared at Amy, who was now standing in front of the door with her hands spread out, totally blocking her from opening the door. "Get out of my way!" She glared at Amy, and her eyes narrowed into a thin line.


    "I am sorry, but you can''t go in there." Amy stared deep into her eyes with no expression on her face. She has to stop anyone from entering the attic, no matter what.


    Jenny''s brow lifted, and her hand balled into a tight fist. She took a deep breath and her vicious eyes glared at Amy. "Don''t try me, Amy." Her face puckered and she dangerously stared at Amy. Now she is sure that something is off.


    Amy shook her head and refused to move away from the attic door. Jenny''s face turned red in anger and she grabbed Amy by the arm to shove her out of the way. However, familiar footsteps sounded, making the both of them halt and look over to the hallway.


    With his hands shoved into his pocket, Mr. Adolpho majestically walked towards them with no utterance on his face. His brow creased and he halted when he saw the both of them standing in a weird position.


    "What is going on here?" He questions them with a raised brow.


    Amy and Jenny fluttered their eyes and glanced at each other. Amy slightly shook her head, signaling Jenny not to say anything.


    Jenny wrinkled her brow and turned to look at their father with an awkward smile on her face. "Uhm... Dad, nothing is going on."


    Mr. Adolpho narrowed his eyes and gazed intently at them. His eyes trailed to the attic door, and a slight frown emerged on his face. He walked to the door and proceeded to open it, but Amy slipped herself in between him and the door, blocking him from opening it. An awkward smile formed on her face, and she grabbed him by the hand. "Uhm... dad... there is something I would like to talk to you about."


    Mr. Adolpho gazed at her and a deep growl emerged on his face. He took a deep breath, and his brow furrowed in displeasure. "Can we talk later? I need to speak with your sister." He proceeded to open the door, but Amy blocked him yet again, and a pleading expression made its way to her face. "Dad, please, it''s important."


    "I said later!" Mr. Adolpho pushed her out of the way with a darkened face and turned the doorknob. He shoved the door open and walked inside. His darkened face became darker, and his eyes narrowed dangerously.


    Amy''s heart rose to her throat and her eyes fluttered nervously. She slowly walked close to her father and glanced at the position where Leia normally sat.. Her eyes dilated and it flickered in confusion.

 Chapter 15 - Minutes

    Mr. Adolpho''s eyes suspiciously darted around and fell on a young girl seated by the window with a bat stick in her hand. He gazed intently at her, and a complicated glint flashed in his eyes. He was sure that something was fishy, considering how suspicious his daughters were acting. His brow crinkled and his face grimaced in annoyance. Something is still off.


    "Father, is something wrong?" Leia asked, with a warm smile on her lips. She stared at her father, who was gazing at her with narrowed eyes, and she couldn''t help but smirk internally. She would be so foolish as to let herself get caught. She had already planned everything and made sure to make it back in time to tidy everything up. Although, if Amy hadn''t stalled him for a little bit, she might have been caught.


    Mr. Adolpho gazed at her for a while and subconsciously shook his head. "Nothing is wrong... I just want to check up on you." He smiled warmly, with his eyes still viciously staring at her. "As I promised you, your expensive and gorgeous dress has arrived."


    "Really?" Leia raised her brow, pretending to be surprised, and a wide smile formed on her lips. "I am excited to see it." She cupped her hands together, and a dangerous glint flashed in her eyes.


    "You should be excited. Your big day is next tomorrow." He chuckled cheerfully and gazed at her for a moment. "My men will bring you down tomorrow to see your dress. For now, you need to rest." He gave her a warm smile and glanced at his daughters who stood by the door. He ambled past them and walked out of the attic.


    Leia took a relieved breath when he left and glanced at Amy, who was staring at her with dilated eyes. "What?" She raised her eyebrows in a questioning manner.


    Amy fluttered her eyes and scurried towards her. "When did you arrive back? I almost had a heart attack." She pouted with a grimaced face.


    "Minutes ago." Leia shrugged with no expression on her face.


    Amy clutched her chest and took a deep, relieved breath. "So glad you made it back on time. We would have been dead meat if you hadn''t." A half-smile formed on her lips as she gazed at Leia, who had her eyes fixed on the bat stick in her hand. She drew in closer and sat down beside her.


    "Ehem..." Jenny, who stood by the door, cleared her throat to remind them that she was still around. Leia averted her gaze from the bat stick in her hand and glanced at her. A deep hostility flashed in her eyes, and she scowled within.


    Amy glanced at Jenny, and she couldn''t help but click her tongue in annoyance. She shook her head and gazed at her with a grimaced face.


    Leia resumed gazing at the sky, totally ignoring Jenny, whose face was turning shades darker. A vicious glint flashed in Jenny''s eye, and she glared at both of them. She stomped her feet on the floor in annoyance, and with a turn, she left the attic.


    Amy shook her head in bewilderment and turned her head to stare at Leia.


    "What?" Leia glanced at her with a slight frown on her face.


    "What did you leave to do?" Amy nudged her on the elbow and wiggled her brow funnily.


    "Why do you want to know?" Leia shoved her away and raised her creased brow at her.


    "Well, I helped you escape for a while. Don''t you think I deserve to know?" Amy''s face puckered a little, and she gazed intently at Leia.


    Leia rolled her eyes and dropped the bat stick in her hand to the floor. She pulled her shirt and slipped out of it, revealing her whole body filled with different unique and beautiful flowery tattoos.


    Amy''s jaw fell and her eyes dilated. What was she seeing? This was a work of art! A masterpiece. She reached out her hand and traced the beautiful artwork on Leia''s body. She smiled with wide eyes and shook her head in disbelief. "Wow... just wow... It looks so beautiful." She caressed it and couldn''t help but let out a soft chuckle. A pessimistic expression made its way to her face, and she lowered her head. "I am sorry."


    Leia wore back her shirt and turned to stare at Amy with a bewildered expression on her face. "Sorry for what? She asked with furrowed brows.


    "For everything you have gone through from that year till this day, I am sorry." Little tears welled up in her eyes, and she kept her head low, refusing to look at Leia.


    Leia''s creased brow deepened, and a complicated expression emerged on her face. She reached out her hand to touch Amy on the back, but changed her mind and retracted her hand. She let out a deep sigh and gazed at the sky. "Don''t be sorry." She said this without looking at Amy.


    Amy sniffed and lifted her lowered head. She glanced at Leia, and a half-smile formed on her lips. "You will always be my best friend, no matter what." She moved closer to Leia and tightly embraced her.


    Leia''s eyes broadened and a slight frown emerged on her face. She gently shoved Amy away and glared at her, "Don''t try that next time."


    Amy rolled her eyes and laughed softly. She shook her head, and her lips twisted funnily. "Gosh, you''re so cold. It''s not good for a girl. " She blinked her eyes and stole a peek at Leia, whose face was turning a few shades darker.


    Her jaw fell, and she fluttered her eyes in bewilderment. This simple statement of hers had Leia''s face turn ashen. She shook her head in disbelief and smiled at her.


    "Jeez." She mumbled with a grimaced face and lowered her head. Leia, who heard her mumble, averted her stare from her and gazed at the sky.. A slight smile formed on her lips when she heard Amy still murmuring with a lowered head.

 Chapter 16 - Memories

    The bright morning sun rose, blessing every living being with its light.


    The Adolpho mansion bustled with maids running up and down, making decorations and preparing food that waters one''s mouth just from the smell.


    Today is the special day on which their second young lady will be getting married to the richest man in the world, the man whom everyone speaks of his scarred face behind a gray mask. A cruel and despicable man who sees his fellow humans as nothing. Annoy him, and you''re dead. Well, it''s a court marriage per his request, but that doesn''t stop it from being a big celebration.


    Standing in front of the window in the attic, Leia fluttered her eyes as she gazed at the sun in the sky. A half-smile formed on her lips, and tiny drops of tears fell from her eyes. Why was she even crying? Her life, though, has never been pleasant, so this is not new to her. She wiped away the tears and turned her head to stare at Amy, who stood beside her.


    Amy sighed and bit her lower lip, a glum expression on her face. She understood how Leia was feeling. A wedding is supposed to be the happiest day of one''s life, not the saddest. The worst thing about Leia''s case was that she was being sold for material gain. It felt as though she was an object that could be traded for anything.


    Amy took a deep breath and placed her hand on Leia''s shoulder. "You know... Maybe he is not as cruel or despicable as people say... Besides, no one has seen his real face." She patted Leia and smiled at her. "Don''t cry, please."


    Leia removed her hand from her shoulder and walked to the entrance with an expressionless face. She opened the door and glanced at Amy with an arched brow.


    Amy blinked her eyes and walked after her. They walked through the hallway, passing different rooms on their way downstairs. However, Leia suddenly stopped on her track and gazed at a pink-colored door.


    Her eyes flickered, and her face became cynical. She turned her head and glanced at Amy, who stood beside her. "I want to be alone." Amy nodded at her with a half-smile on her face and walked away.


    A deep breath escaped Leia''s mouth, and she pushed the door open. She slowly slipped her slender body into the room and shut the door behind her. Her eyes glanced around the room, and a half-pessimistic smile made its way to her lips.


    This was her mother''s room, which she had asked her father to attach to hers with only a door separating them in the center, so she could run to her mum whenever she had bad dreams at night or felt scared.


    Leia let out a sigh and walked over to the bed. She sat down and glanced at a white mini-table beside the bed, which had photographs placed on it.


    She picked up one of the photographs of her and her mother when she was 12. She blew on the glass and wiped off the dust on it to make the photo clearer. A soft, sad chuckle escaped her mouth as she stared at her exposed fallen teeth that made her look so silly in the photo.


    Leia glanced at the bed and caressed it with her hand. This was where her mother would always play with her, tickling her till her tummy felt like it would burst from too much laughter. This bed was also where she would always lie and have her mum read her a bedtime story about the princess and the knight.


    She chuckled and stood up from the bed. She walked into her room and switched on the light. Her eyes glanced around, and a warm smile formed on her lips. White and black had always been her favorite colors, so she had asked for her room to be painted white and for a few things in it to be black. She will pretty much miss this room.


    Leia walked out and shut the door. She proceeded to leave her mother''s room, but her eyes fell on the door that reminded her of a memory she hated to remember.


    She slowly walked towards the door as her lashes gradually became wet from tears welling up in her eyes. She placed her hand on the doorknob and pushed the latch. Her eyes fell on the sink, where she always brushed her teeth very early in the morning with her mum.


    When she was 18, this sink was also the same sink in which her mother vomited a lot of blood when her sickness started becoming worse. She had cried then and patted her mother on the back, hoping it would help release the pain.


    But due to the high amount of blood that her mum vomited, she suddenly fell to the floor and fainted. Scared, Leia ran to her father and pleaded with him to take her mother to the hospital, but he disagreed and ignored both her and her mother.


    Seeing that her father didn''t care, she ran back to the bathroom and took her mother to the hospital by herself. The doctors told her that her mum was fine after some treatments were carried out on her. However, after some months, things suddenly went from good to bad and her father, who never cared one bit, suddenly cared... requesting different doctors to operate on her.


    She had felt uncomfortable and suspicious then and wanted to find out why her father suddenly cared, but...


    Leia snapped back to reality and stared at her hands, which were bloody as a result of her fingers that pierced into her palm. Tiny drops of tears fell from her eyes and onto her palm. She sniffed and wiped them from her eyes.


    She let out a soft sigh and walked to the closet. She grabbed her school bag and began to pack the things important to her into it, especially the photograph.. Her eyes glanced around the room one last time when she was done, and walked out, locking the door behind her.

 Chapter 17 - Torn

    She walked down the stairs and into the room where she was to dress for her wedding. She glanced at Amy, who sat on a chair with her head rested on her palm, and her brow creased a bit.


    Leia''s eyes darted around and abruptly stopped on a manikin dressed up in a long white dress, which was her wedding dress. Her eyes broadened a little as she scrutinized the gown. This outfit looked so breathtaking that it could make any woman who laid eyes on it fall head over heels. It is a type of sleeveless dress that hugs one body and displays its curves. It had diamond stones embedded as a belt around the waist. Its body was designed with tiny fragments of diamonds, which made it sparkle and shine amongst the best.


    Leia''s eyes narrowed, and her hand balled into a tight fist. Her father outdid himself this time. A soft chuckle escaped her mouth, and she shook her head.


    She glanced at Amy, who was now staring at her and walked to the table in the room. She picked up a scissor that was placed inside a makeup kit and walked back to the dress with an expressionless face. A wicked wide grin formed on her lips, and she placed the edge of the dress in-between the sharp steel of the scissors, ready to cut it.


    Amy''s eyes blinked in confusion, and they dilated in the next moment when she saw what Leia was about to do. She immediately stood up and rushed towards her and grabbed her hand, stopping her from cutting the dress. "Leia, what is wrong with you?" She struggled to take the scissors from her, but Leia harshly pushed her away, causing her to fall heavily on the floor. Amy stared at her and her eyes flickered in bewilderment. What is wrong with Leia? The dress was so expensive that she was still surprised her father ordered it for Leia, considering how he was treating her.


    Leia''s grip on the scissor tightened, and she viciously glared at Amy with her black eyes and pointed the scissor at her. "Do not stop me!" She turned to the dress, and the grin on her lips widened more. She furiously began to cut the dress into pieces and tear off the diamonds and bead fragments on it, then threw them on the floor.


    The once breathtaking wedding dress tore off like a rag from the body of the manikin and fell to the floor. Leia breathed heavily as she stared at the torn dress with red eyes. Her hands violently trembled and the scissor fell to the ground.


    She nervously backed away from the dress with her body shivering and glanced at Amy, who was still on the floor, staring at her with dilated eyes and a fallen jaw. Her eyes fluttered, and she slumped to the floor with her hands covering her face. Yes, she was acting tough, as though it pained her not, that she was being sold away like an object, but she was still a human being with feelings. She suffers pain, hatred, disappointment, she feels all this shit!!


    A soft cry left her mouth, and tears streamed down her cheeks. These tears were the tears she had been holding in for days, and she finally let them out today.


    Amy, who heard her low whimper, hurriedly rushed to her and pulled her into a warm hug. "Hey, it''s okay." She caressed Leia''s hair and embraced her tightly, with a cynical expression on her face.


    Leia''s eyes fluttered in anger, and she shoved Amy away. "This is so embarrassing." She turned her back on Amy and furiously began to punch the floor, tainting it with the blood splattering from her knuckles. She wasn''t used to crying in front of people, except her mother, so she felt embarrassed that Amy saw her this way.


    Amy placed her hand on her shoulder and revealed a warm smile. "Leia, it''s okay... You don''t have to feel that way." She moved closer to her and embraced her. Her fingers caressed her back and gently patted her to help her calm down.


    "Young miss, the groom has arrived." A young maid ran into the room and reported it with her head lowered down. Her eyes unknowingly peeked at the torn dress, and a low gasp couldn''t help but escape her mouth. What was she seeing?


    "Alright, you can go now." Amy waved at the maid and turned her head to gaze at Leia. "What do we do about your dress now?"


    Leia raised her head and glanced at Amy. She stood up from the floor and walked towards the bag she came down with. She unzipped it and rummaged through the things inside it for a moment before she pulled out a short white dress that was at knee length.


    "Is that... " Amy blinked her eyes while her jaw fell.


    "Yes, I will wear my mother''s wedding dress today." Leia''s teary eyes scrutinized the gown, and a half-smile formed on her lips. "She always wished for this." When she was younger, her mother always said she would like her to wear it on her wedding day, saying that it would be like a replica of her. However, who knew she would become extinct before she could ever see herself wearing it? But it was better this way. It isn''t like her wedding is a joyful one.


    Amy, who still had her jaw fallen, took a deep breath and a warm smile made its way to her lips. "Alright, we don''t have much of a choice now." She walked to Leia and gently dragged her to sit down on the chair at the table, in front of a wide mirror. "Let''s turn you into a beauty so that he will fall for you the minute he lays eyes on you hehe..." She picked up the make-up kit and brushes, then proceeded to do her thing.

 Chapter 18 - Sealed

    Swathed in a pristine white suit, Adrik sat on the sofa in the living room with a gray mask covering half of his face, as usual, leaving his emerald green eyes visible. His raven black hair, which was combed neatly and perfectly fell over his shoulder to his waist. He stared at Mr. Adolpho, who sat opposite him, with his pitch-black eyes, also staring at him. "Where is your daughter?" Adrik''s face darkened a little.


    "She will be down in a minute." Mr. Adolpho smiled awkwardly and glanced at the middle-aged man with a black suitcase on his lap, seated beside Adrik.


    As the clock ticked and the time enacted, cold sweat dripped down Mr. Adolpho''s back, and his hand secretly balled into a fist. ''I will kill this girl,'' he thought, with a slight grimace on his face.


    Just when he was about to send someone else to fetch Leia, Adrik''s nose suddenly twitched, and he sat up straight on the sofa. His eyes gazed intently at the long, wide stairs, and his wolf''s breathing became unsteady.


    [She''s here] Kai stated with an excited tone, and Adrik''s eyes changed to red and then back to green almost at the same time.


    He slowly nodded his head without averting his gaze from the stairs. Alex, who sat beside him on the sofa, also peered at the stairs with great intent in his eyes.


    From up the long stairs, a young girl dressed in a short, pristine white sleeveless dress with a white veil covering her face gracefully walked down the stairs. Behind her stood another young girl with a slender body dressed in a red body-hug dress, displaying her curves.


    With her expressionless face hidden under the veil, Leia carefully ambled down the stairs with a flower in her hand. She finally stopped when her leg moved from the last step to the floor. She raised her head and glanced at her father, and a half-smile formed on her lips.


    Mr. Adolpho clenched his fist in a rage, and his face frowned deeply. What was this girl wearing? Where was the expensive dress that he ordered for her? He took a deep breath and glanced at Amy, who stood beside Leia, but Amy looked up to the ceiling, avoiding his stare. Mr. Adolpho nodded his head furiously, clearly annoyed.


    Leia precluded her vicious stare from her father the moment she felt an intent gaze on her, which sent some sort of feelings to her body.


    Her brows furrowed, and she glanced to the other side with a darkened face. The instant she glanced in the direction the gaze was coming from, her eyes fell on a young man dressed in a pristine white suit and white shoes, with his hands yanked into her pocket. Her eyes fluttered in awe at how godlike he looked, outfitted in complete white.


    She trailed her eyes to the gray mask covering half of his face and stopped on his eyes, his emerald green eyes.


    Her brows arched, and she stood still with her stares fixed on him. She had never seen a human being with green eyes before; this was her first time.


    While Leia was scrutinizing him, Adrik was also assessing her. He had seen her before, but something looked completely different about her, right now he''s looking at her. His eyes trailed from her covered face to her body and stopped on the flowery tattoos all over her upper arm and shoulder. His brow creased, and he gazed back at her pitch-black eyes.


    When he had requested one of Mr. Adolpho''s daughters, he already knew that she was the one that would be given to him, which is why he was not surprised in the slightest.


    "Ehem!!" The middle-aged man, who is naturally the lawyer, coughed and motioned for the both of them to have a seat on the long sofa.


    Leia walked over and sat down. Adrik also sat down beside her. However, Leia abruptly shifted, creating a little distance between her and him. Adrik''s face turned a few shades darker, and he glanced at her with a furrowed brow.


    Leia kept a straight face, as though she was not aware that someone was looking at her. Mr. Adolpho blinked his eyes and an awkward smile formed on his face as he watched the two. His only concern here is for Adrik not to get angry over his daughter''s behavior and cancel the contract.


    Jenny, who sat beside their father, nudged Amy, sitting beside her, on the arm with a smirk on her face. Amy''s face darkened, and she angrily glared at Jenny. She understood the meaning behind Jenny''s action.


    "Shall we begin?" The lawyer gazed at Leia and Adrik through the glass that was placed low on his nose.


    Adrik nodded and secretly peeked at Leia, seated a little distance from him. Leia also turned her head at the same time, and her cold eyes met with his. They glanced at each other and stood up from the couch. They made their way over to the lawyer and sat in two chairs in front of his table.


    The lawyer placed a document in front of them and handed a pen to Adrik. He motioned for him to fill in the blanks on the paper.


    Adrik leaned down and proceeded to fill the blanks in the sheet. Leia secretly peeked at the sheet, and her eyes couldn''t help but broaden a little under the veil when she saw the number written on the age blank.


    ''He''s thirty.'' She thought with a grimaced face. He looked younger than that to her. Her eyes peaked at Adrik, who was still busy filling the paper, and her brow furrowed a little. Is he lying about his age? He looks 24 to 25 to her, not thirty, although he''s quite tall and she doesn''t doubt her head won''t even make it to his jaw.


    The lawyer passed the pen to Leia when Adrik was done, and she leaned down to fill her blank. Adrik didn''t bother to peek as he already knew her age from Alex''s report.


    When Leia was through with filling in the blanks, the lawyer asked them to exchange rings, and they did. Adrik pulled the veil up from her face, and his eyes stilled. Was this still the girl he saw that day? She looked different now. Compared to the way she looked that day, she looked badass and more beautiful now.. Her hair was so short with tattoos that started from her neck and stopped at God knows where.

 Chapter 19 - New Home

    Everyone in the room, including the lawyer, stared at the motionless couple, patiently waiting for what was meant to happen next to happen. However, nothing transpired. The couples just stood still, staring at each other, one staring with cold eyes while the other stared with bewildered eyes.


    "Ehem!" The lawyer coughed, breaking the awkward silence and snapping the two back to reality. His eyes darted around, and a sheepish smile formed on his lips. "I certify you both husband and wife." He blinked with a grimaced face and adjusted his glasses. This had to be the most awkward marriage he had ever held in his entire life. Anyway, he wouldn''t blame the innocent girl.


    Leia and Adrik averted their gazes from each other and glanced at everyone in the room, including the maids and the bodyguards, who were still staring at them with uncomfortable eyes. Adrik glanced at Alex, who had a slight grimace on his face, and a dangerous glint flashed in his eyes.


    To break the heavy tension, Mr. Adolpho gestured the newlyweds to the dining table for a joyful family meal. After all, Adrik is his son-in-law now.


    _____________________


    They stayed at the Adolph mansion till sunset, and darkness shrouded the whole sky. Mr. Adolphon saw them out and went back into his house when they left in Adrik''s white Rolls-Royce.


    Currently, the car had just been packed into Adrik''s luxurious, huge mansion. Leia stepped down with her school bag in her left hand, not bothering to wait for the guards to open the door for her. She gazed at the mansion standing in front of her, which looked way better in everything compared to her father''s mansion.


    Her eyes abruptly narrowed into a thin line and her hand balled into a tight fist when she recalled her father''s words to her. [Do not misbehave, or else... Anyways, enjoy your marriage] A wicked grin crept up her lips, and her dangerous eyes glanced at Adrik, who stood on the other side of the car.


    Adrik also stared at her, and she glared at him with cold eyes. Leia took the veil off her head and walked towards the entrance door of the mansion. She ambled inside and abruptly halted. Her eyes dilated and her jaw fell. She thought the outside was beautiful, but my God, the inside was heaven.


    The living room was so crowded with splashes of citrus. On the wall stood large, tall windows covered with elegant white curtains that had golden patterns on them. An expensive-looking chandelier decorated with diamonds hung on the ceiling and emitted a bright, luminous light.


    In the far distance stood long, wide stairs that would exhaust one before he or she was done climbing them, and on each side of the wall beside the stairs was a glass elevator that showcases whoever is within it.


    What awed her the most was the fact that this mansion was completely white, and the furniture and equipment within it were almost white. Leia fluttered her eyes and took a deep breath. She glanced to her side and saw Adrik standing with his hands shoved into his pocket. Her eyes gazed at the gray mask covering his face, and she suddenly had the urge to take it off.


    She shook her head and proceeded to walk towards the elevator. However, Adrik''s deep voice echoed in her head, stopping her in her track. "I am pretty sure you have no idea where you are going."


    Leia turned her head and her harsh eyes glared at him. "Oh... Why don''t you show me the way then?" Her lips curled into a vicious grin, and her eyes narrowed.


    Adrik slightly arched his brow and shook his head a little. He walked towards her with his hands yanked into his pocket and stood in front of her. He lowered his head and gazed into her eyes. He was quite taller than she was. A grin formed on his lips behind the mask, and he abruptly grabbed her hand.


    Leia''s brows puckered and she proceeded to snatch her hand back, but Adrik''s grip on her wrist was so strong that she would only be hurting herself if she continued to struggle to free her hand.


    Adrik yanked her along with him, and they boarded the glass elevator, which took them to the 2nd floor. The door opened and he gently pulled her out.


    They walked through the hallway, which had rooms on its left side and a glass wall on its right side. He halted in front of a white door that had a wolf symbol carved in gold on it.


    He turned its knob and pushed it open. Leia''s brow creased when he pulled her into the room and shut the door behind them. She arched her brow and stared at him with a displeased expression on her face.


    Adrik furrowed his brow in bewilderment and also gazed at her with a little confusion in his eyes. "What?" He stared at her with a slight frown on his face.


    Leia drew her head back and a grimace emerged on her face. "Bro, don''t tell me you thought I would sleep in the same room as you!" She pointed at him as she said.


    Adrik blinked his eyes, clearly dumbstruck by what he had just heard. She called him "Bro!" As in, brother! She fucking called him "bro"!! He took a deep breath to calm himself down and raised his head and gazed deeply into her eyes.


    Leia''s face turned into a deep frown, and she also stared into his eyes. "Don''t tell me, you were expecting me to call your husband." She shook her head in awe. "Wow... such a big dream you have there." She ignored him and picked up her bag, ready to leave the room, but Adrik grabbed her wrists and pushed her against the wall, tossing her bag to the floor.


    With both of his hands pinning her to the wall, Adrik breathed heavily. "You are my wife, and I am your husband!" He emphasized with gritted teeth and stared down at her with a darkened face.

 Chapter 20 - Tough Little Wife

    Leia''s face obscured the moment she heard those words. She stared into his eyes and glared at him. "Your wife?-" She crazily chuckled and threw her head back. "-I believe it will be more fitting to call me a slave because that is what I have been since being sold to you." She scoffed as she threw him a disdained look.


    Adrik looked at her and gazed into her pitch-black eyes. An unknown glint flashed in his eyes and it narrowed. He was hurt! Fuck!, a human girl dared to hurt him. So what if he bought her? That still doesn''t mean she can hurt him! This is one of the reasons werewolves reject their mate if they turn out to be human. Humans never feel the mate bond. If she wasn''t human, she probably understood that he didn''t buy her but just wanted to keep her by his side.


    He took a deep breath, and his emerald green eyes turned a little shade of gold. He shut his eyes immediately and swallowed hard. Why can''t he or Kai control themselves around this girl? Is it because she''s their mate?


    Leia, who still had her wrist tightly gripped by Adrik, arched her brow and proceeded to snatch her hands, but his hold on them was very tight. "Let go of my wrist!" She wriggled her hand, trying to set it free.


    Adrik opened his eyes, which had returned to their green color, and stared at her. He leaned down so their faces were close enough that if he moved any further, their noses would touch each other. "You are my wife, and we are going to be sharing the same room whether you like it or not!" He elucidated with clenched teeth.


    Leia smirked, and her eyes dangerously glared at him. Really?" She nodded her head with a wicked grin on her face, and in the next moment, she lifted her knee and fiercely struck Adrik on his manhood, hoping to inflict an injury.


    Adrik, who was kicked, instantly stilled, and lines of veins popped up on his neck. His face grimaced in pain, and his grip on her wrist loosened. He glared at her and shut his eyes. The pain was touching his bones. He let go of her wrist and clenched his fist, resisting the urge to groan.


    Leia snatched her hand and rubbed her wrists. She raised her eyes and scowled at him. "Next time, I won''t just kick it, but I will also make sure to break your balls!" She hissed at him and grabbed the bag on the floor, then rushed out of the room.


    [Fuck... Adrik, how could you have let her do that to you?] Kai sealed his lips to resist the urge to laugh out loud. "


    "You better shut up!" Adrik clenched his fist in anger as his breathing became unsteady.


    [Haha... Don''t tell me you''re going to let our beautiful mate run away from us] Kai let out a light laugh and grinned.


    Adrick''s balled fist became tighter and he opened his eyes, which were now pure golden. He turned to gaze at the door from which Leia left, and his golden eyes became darker, as though they could burn whoever stared into them.


    He creased his brow and walked out of the room. As he walked towards the compartment that Leia ran into, each step he took was heavy, a sign of just how angry he was. He stopped in front of the door and turned its knob, but it didn''t budge, indicating that it was locked. His frown deepened and he furiously pulled the knob, separating it from the door.


    The door slowly opened, revealing Leia, who was now swathed in jeans shorts and a bra covering her little mountains. Her grip on the shirt which she was about to wear tightened as her eyes gazed at Adrik standing by the door.


    She swallowed hard, and her brow crinkled. The way Adrik stood by the door with his hands tightly balled into fists looked a bit scary to her. What was he going to do to her? Her heart jumped in her throat when she saw him suddenly start walking towards her. She immediately proceeded to run to the lantern on a mini table in the hope of using it to defend herself. But before she could even get close, an arm wrapped tightly around her stomach, preventing her from moving any further.


    Adrik''s face darkened more, and he placed his hands on her back knee, then scooped her up into his shoulder. Leia''s eyes dilated, and she struggled to free herself. "Put me down! " She punched his back with gritted teeth and furiously kicked her legs.


    Adrik ignored her, and with her on his right shoulder, he turned around and left the room, not bothering to close the door.


    He carried her back to their room and laid her on the bed. "You want to be a tough little wife, don''t you?" He smirked at her behind the mask on his face and began to unbutton his white shirt.


    Leia trembled, and her eyes fluttered nervously. Was he going to do that to her? Her heart skipped a bit, and she swallowed anxiously. She began to back away when he started walking towards her with his upper body bare, showing off the wolf tattoos drawn on his shoulder down to his abdomen. "Stay away from me!" Leia pointed at him, and her eyes darted around, searching for anything like a weapon.


    Adrik grinned and his brow arched. "Not so tough anymore, huh little wife?" He smiled behind the mask on his face.


    "Fuck you!" Leia gave him the middle finger and hatefully glared at him.


    Adrik''s amused face dimmed instantly and his golden eyes, which had returned to their normal green color, glared at her. He slowly climbed onto the bed and moved closer to her.


    Leia nervously flinched back, almost falling off the king-sized bed. However, Adriks'' hand wrapped around her waist, catching her on time and pulling her into his embrace. He hugged her tightly, not letting go of his struggling little wife.


    He laid her on the bed, and with him lying beside her, he tightly curled his arms around her waist, not giving her any chance of breaking free.

 Chapter 21 - Mask Off

    Leia''s face turned ashen, and she yelled angrily. "Take your filthy hands off me!" She placed her hands on his bare chest and tried to forcefully push him away. However, Adrik''s hold on her waist tightened more, and he tried to use his other hand to hold her in one place, but it unknowingly touched one of her little mountains.


    Leia''s eyes widened immediately, and her face turned a dark shade of red, showing how outraged she was. She glared at him with rage in her eyes and slapped him across the face, causing the mask on his face to fall off.


    Both of them stilled for a moment, and Leia''s eyes blinked in disbelief as they stared at Adrik''s revealed face.


    Adrik fluttered his long lashes and chuckled as his hand touched her cheek. "I am sorry, little wife, but if you had stopped struggling, my hands wouldn''t have accidentally touched there, nor would you have seen my hideous face." He caressed her cheek and a smile formed on his lips.


    Leia blinked nervously as she couldn''t take her eyes off his face. She had always heard of the scars on his face, but she never thought it would be this awful. The scars looked as though a centipede had laid from his cheek to his jaw, and the ones that went from his left cheek to his nose were worse. From his eyes up, he was devoid of any scars, but from his nose down, he had ugly scars. ''So this is why he wears a half-mask,'' Leia fluttered her lashes as she thought.


    "Are you hearing me, little wife?" She napped out of her twisted thoughts when his deep voice echoed in her head. Leia raised her eyes and gazed into his green eyes. Her darkened face lessened a bit, and she proceeded to free herself from his hold, but Adrik held onto her tightly, unwilling to let her go. "I am sorry, little wife, but you will sleep with me today and the day afterward." He nuzzled closer to her and breathed out, fanning her forehead.


    Leia''s brow creased, and a deep breath left her nose. She tried to raise her head to look at his face, but his chin, which was lying on top of her head, gave her no chance. "Can you at least let me wear my shirt?" She asked, feeling a little bit annoyed, but Adrik began to snore as though he was in a deep sleep.


    "You!" Leia''s face grimaced in anger, and she furiously punched his stomach, which has six-packs. ''Such a thick-skinned human being!!'' She knew he was just pretending to be asleep from his sudden snoring, and besides, he doesn''t even look like the type that snores. She unclenched her clenched fist and gradually relaxed in his arms. The clock ticked and her eyes slowly closed. A yawn escaped her mouth, and she fell into a deep sleep.


    Adrik opened his eyes and drew his head back a little to view her face. ''She''s a tough one, isn''t she?'' He smiled as he stared at her face.


    [She is. She will make an excellent Luna] Kai nodded its head as it also stared at Leia.


    ''If only she wasn''t human, she would have been perfect.'' Adrik sighed in frustration.


    [Who cares if she''s human? Bro, she''s our mate and we are keeping her] Kai stated with a displeased tone. [Don''t tell me you''re afraid-]


    ''Don''t worry, I am not scared of that old man. I AM THE SUPREME ALPHA.'' Adrik''s eyes dangerously narrowed into a thin line as he communicated with his wolf.


    [Urgh... when am I going to be able to smell and nuzzle her?] Kai rolled its eyes in frustration. [I''m gonna die here from waiting].


    ''Then die.'' Adrik smirked with a slight shake of his head. ''You will have to wait for who knows when before you can even get the chance to smell or even lick her.''


    [How unfair... you get to hold her and hug her while I just stand here watching!] Kai''s face grimaced as it complained. [She''s asleep; just let me out to nuzzle her a little].


    Adrik''s face instantly darkened at how Kai was acting like a child, and he arched his brow. ''When the time comes, you will get to do whatever you want with her, alright.''


    [Fine!] Kai rolled its eyes and went silent. Adrik shook his head and drew his little wife closer to him, then he shut his eyes and went to sleep.


    _____________________


    The sun rose into the sky, showering its rays through the glass window on a young girl lying on a king-sized bed.


    Leia yawned as she sat up on the bed with her eyes closed. She stretched her body and blinked her eyes open. She glanced beside her on the bed, and her brow creased a bit when she saw the space beside her empty. She stared at her bare upper body and her face frowned in annoyance when she recalled what happened last night.


    She took a deep breath and climbed down from the bed. Her eyes darted around the room, which was so bright from the sun shining in through the wide, tall glass window. Does he want to build this house entirely out of glass? Her face puckered in irritation, and she proceeded to walk to a door that she anticipated was the door to the bathroom. However, before she could take a step forward, her eyes abruptly fell on something placed on a mini table with two sofas on either side of it.


    She turned around and walked towards the table, and her brow arched when she saw that it was ceramic bowls and a flat plate placed on a plastic tray with spoons and a small towel stationed on it. Her eyes narrowed as it fell on a small note kept beside the flat plate, and she picked it up. She twisted her mouth funnily and opened it. Her brow raised and her eyes fluttered in surprise when she began to read what was written inside of it.

 Chapter 22 - Selena

    [Dear little wife, I am sorry about my behavior last night, but it was your fault and mine too. Anyway, what I am trying to say is... as compensation for what happened, I prepared a nice breakfast for you]


    ''As if he''s the one that made it,'' Leia scoffed as she thought. However, her eyes broadened a little when she saw the next paragraph.


    [I know that right now, you must be thinking that I wasn''t the one who prepared it. But little wife, let me tell you that breakfast was made with my blood and sweat, so you must eat it. Please let me know what you think of it when I return home.


    Adrik, your dashing husband]


    "Humph!" Leia sneered and dropped the note into the pocket of her jeans shorts. She glanced at the plates and clicked her tongue as though contemplating whether to eat the food or not. She shrugged and walked over to sit on the sofa.


    She opened the plate and her eyes fell on a mouth-watering, well-garnished breakfast. "Whoa.." She picked up the spoon and her eyes glanced at the ceramic bowl that had chicken soup and at another that had baked salmon on it, and she took a deep breath. Which should she dig into first? She dipped her spoon into the bowl that had the chicken spoon and scooped up a spoon full of soup.


    Her eyes blinked when it touched her taste buds and streamed down her throat. "Too salty." She shook her head and proceeded to taste the baked salmon with potatoes and onion. Her eyebrows raised in surprise, and she nodded her head in approval. "This one tastes nice," she said, picking up a sandwich and beginning to gobble it down. ''He was not bad at it, but he still needs to go to a cooking school to perfect his cooking.'' She shut her eyes as she chewed on the sandwich. When she was full, she leaned back on the sofa and patted what now looks like a small baby bump. She was gluttonous.


    ______________


    Scanning through papers passed to him by Alex, who stood with an awkward face, Adrik took an annoyed breath and slapped the papers on the table.


    "What the hell is this?" His face turned into a scowl and his menacing green eyes glared at Alex, who was now sweating profusely with his eyes blinking nervously.


    "It wasn''t our fault, Supreme Alpha...An investigation has been held and it turned out it was a mistake made by one of the workers that resulted in the building burning down." Alex immediately explained, with concern written all over his face.


    Adrik leaned back on his chair and pinched between his brows. "How many models are injured and how many are dead?" He glanced at him with a questioning expression on his face.


    "50 are injured and... 20 are dead," Alex raised his eyes and peered at his Alpha, whose face was beginning to turn shades of dark. He swallowed and subconsciously took a few steps back, creating a little distance from Adrik. He has witnessed Adrik''s anger, and he won''t be surprised if he snaps his head off his neck.


    Adrik abruptly stood up from his chair with a puckered face and appeared in front of Alex within seconds. His emerald green eyes began to turn a shade of golden, showing signs of turning fully golden. "20?" He breathed heavily, and his hands twisted in anger. He abruptly lifted his hands and proceeded to grab Alex. However, someone shoved Alex away and stood in front of him, causing him to grab the person instead of Alex.


    His brow creased and he stared down at the person, only to see a beautiful young woman with red hair and long lashes staring at him with a flirtatious smirk on her lips. "Sweetheart, did you miss me this much? You couldn''t even wait to pull me into your arms the minute I stepped into your office." She seductively blinked her lashes at him.


    Adrik''s face grew dark, and he harshly pushed her away. "What are you doing here?" He asked with a cold and irritated tone as he made his way back to his seat.


    The young woman''s face turned a bit into a scowl, and she rolled her gray eyes while her lips arched up. "I came here to see you... I missed you." She pouted and walked towards Adrik. She sat on his table and reached out her hand to touch his hair. "Your hair is growing longer." She smiled and bit her lip.


    Adrik frowned, his face in annoyance, and slapped her hand away. "Answer my question!" He folded his arms and glared at her with cold eyes.


    "Urgh... He didn''t send me here. I came to see you of my own free will because I needed to talk to you," The young woman rolled her eyes in irritation and fixed her gaze on him. "Or am I not allowed to see my future husband anymore?" She creased her brow and asked in a displeased tone.


    Adrik narrowed his eyes and fiercely shoved her off the table. "Listen very carefully, Selena. You and I will never, ever be together." He emphasized every word with a chilly tone. "So go back to that old ass and tell him I said, Fuck him." He sneered and adjusted his suit.


    Selena, who was pushed to the floor, breathed heavily in anger, and her hand balled into a tight fist. "Because of that stupid bitch, huh?" Her teeth clenched and crashed together in a rage.


    The moment the sentence left Selena''s mouth, everything fell silent and Adrik stilled instantly on the chair where he sat. His folded arms slowly unfolded and a dangerous glint flashed in his eyes.


    Alex, who stood by the door, dilated his eyes with his jaw fallen. "Shit just got real." He secretly darted his eyes and placed his hands behind his back. Then he began to back away, creating a distance between the two. He would be so stupid not to know what to expect next.

 Chapter 23 - A Little Lesson

    Adrik''s hand, which was about to pick up the document on the table, halted, and he slowly turned his eyes to gaze at Selena. His green orifices instantly changed to a deep red and his fangs became visible. Before Selena could analyze what would happen next, she found herself gripped around the neck and hoisted up by Adrik with one hand.


    Adrik shut his blood-shot eyes and glared at her as soon as he opened them. His fingers gradually began to pierce into her skin, cursing lines of blood to drip down his fingers.


    [Let me out, Adrik!! Am freaking out!! I want to tear this woman into pieces] Kai''s red eyes glared at Selena, and it howled in rage at Adrik.


    Adrik gritted his teeth and held Kai from breaking free. He knows that once Kai bursts free, Selena will turn into meat on a chopping board. In werewolves, the wolf side is hot-blooded compared to the human side.


    Selena, who was still being hoisted up by Adrik, struggled to free herself from his grip, but it was to no avail. The more she tries to break free, the more Adrik''s grip on her neck tightens, making it hard for her to breathe.


    Alex, who stood a bit far from them, clenched his fist nervously and blinked his eyes. He has to stop his alpha, or else if anything happens to Selena, the consequences aren''t something they can handle.


    He swallowed hard and took a long, deep breath. He raised his eyes to gaze at his Alpha, and his black eyes changed from their pitch-black color to that of blue. His fangs elongated and his nails stretched out a bit more. He roared and balled his fist, then hurriedly rushed up to Adrik.


    He grabbed him by the arm and pulled hard to stop him from strangling Selena. However, it was harder than he thought, and he couldn''t even move him. Adrick''s red eyes dimmed when he felt someone pulling his arm, and he averted his gaze to look at the person.


    His eyes fell on Alex, and his face darkened more. He bared his fangs and viciously glared at him.


    Alex swallowed hard and gritted his teeth. He pulled fiercely on Adrik''s arms and tried to make him expel his grip on Selena''s throat. "Supreme Alpha, you need to stop!" He yanked strongly and added more of his strength. However, Alex fiercely threw Selena to the floor and turned around with his red eyes burning in a rage. He raised his balled fist and punched Alex in fury, sending him crashing into a glass receptacle standing near the wall.


    A deep groan escaped Alex''s mouth, and he clutched his head in pain. His face grimaced as his hand touched the injury on his face, caused by Adrik''s claw.


    Selena, who was flung to the floor, instantly began to back away when she saw Adrik''s glare fixed on her. Her body nervously trembled as she continued to back away from him.


    Adrik clenched his hand into a tight fist and shut his eyes. He took continuous, long, deep breaths and finally opened his eyes when he felt himself and his wolf calm down. He glanced to the side and nervousness flashed in his green eyes when he saw Alex sitting near the shattered shelf with his hand clutching his head. He hurriedly rushed to him and helped him up from the floor. "Are you okay?" He asked with a concerned yet stern face.


    "I believe," Alex nodded, with his face turning shades of red in anger. What the fuck? He''s obviously in pain, yet his alpha is asking him if he''s okay. His eyes fluttered, and he didn''t know whether to cry or laugh.


    Adrik patted him on the shoulder and gave him a half-smile. He turned around with his face, which had returned to its deep frown, and walked back to his desk without sparing a glance at Selena.


    He sat down and picked up a white towel from his table to wipe off the blood on his hand. "This is just a small lesson. Next time you insult my wife-" He raised his menacing eyes to stare at Selena, and a wicked grin formed on his lips "-You might not be able to go back alive. He dropped the towel on his desk and picked up the document he had read before. His leisurely eyes scanned through them, and he yawned a little. "If there is nothing else, please see yourself out."


    Selena stood up from the floor and adjusted her tight dress, which displayed her gracious curves. She dangerously glared at Adrik and stomped her feet on the floor in outrage. "See you next time." Her eyes narrowed into a thin line, and a smirk made its way to her lips. She turned around and left the office, shutting the door behind her in a rage.


    Adrik raised his head and gazed at the door. His green eyes menacingly narrowed, and he slowly grinned.


    _____________________


    Outfitted in jean shorts and a black singlet, which revealed the tattoos all over her neck and arms, Leia walked downstairs and opened the door that led to the backyard. Her brow arched the moment she stepped into the backyard, and her eyes couldn''t help but glow.


    In front of her was a garden, a beautiful one at that which she had hardly seen before. Her eyes scrutinized the place, and she unknowingly nodded her head in awe. The garden was lovely, as it had a gorgeous range of flowers such as roses, lilies, daisies, sunflowers, and much more to beautify it. In the middle stood a huge fountain with a wolf sculpture spraying out water from its mouth.


    ''What''s with him and the Wolves?'' Leia''s face couldn''t help but frown as she stared at the Wolf sculpture. She shook her head and inhaled deeply, smelling the freshness of the garden. Her eyes darted around, and a warm smile made its way to her lips when her eyes fell on a white swing meant for two people. It stood where you could sit and watch the sun, rise, and set.


    She walked over and gently sat down on it. The swing began to move, gradually rocking her back and forth. A deep sigh left her lips as though she had just thought of something, and she pulled her phone out of her pocket. She browsed through her contact list and stopped on one with the name "Victor." Leia bit her lower lip and dialed the number.. The contact picked up instantly and she placed the phone near her ear.

 Chapter 24 - I Will Be Back

    [Hey Leia]


    ''Hey, Victor, how are you?''


    [Cool, what about you?]


    ''Doing well... How was it? Did you get anything?''


    [No... I don''t have anything yet. My dad will be leaving next week, so I guess that''s when I will have a chance to check those files]


    ''I see... Okay''


    [Leia, What if it turns out that-]


    ''Then sh*t will get real.'' Leia''s eyes narrowed dangerously as she answered sharply, and her brow creased.


    [Damn, you sound really scary. Anyway, I will give you a call once I do]


    ''Thank you,'' Leia said, pressing the red button to end the call. She looked up at the sky, and a deep sigh escaped her lips. She stuffed her phone into her pocket and leaned back on the swing-like chair to relax.


    _____________


    Placing the neatly arranged papers into the drawer, Adrik stood up from his chair and adjusted his suit. He shoved his hands into his pocket and shot a glance at Alex, who sat on his desk near the wall. He waved at him and motioned for him to follow. "Let''s go." They walked to the car, and Adrik took his seat at the back.


    Alex started the car''s engine and sped off down the road. They rode for an hour at the shortest and arrived at the mansion. Adrik stepped down from the car and took a deep breath. A smile formed on his lips, and his solemn mood was elevated. He was going to see his little wife now.


    He shoved his hands into his pocket and walked into his mansion in large strides. Adrik rode to the second floor using the elevator and stepped out when the door opened. He ambled straight to their room and pushed the door open.


    His eyes darted around, and he glanced at the bed, searching for his little wife. However, no one was there. The bed was still neatly kept and empty.


    His brow creased, and he walked towards the bathroom. He pushed the bathroom door open but saw no one inside. His eyes narrowed, and he ambled out of the room with a puckered face.


    Adrik walked through the hallway and stopped a maid who was strolling past him. "Where is my wife?" He asked with a cold, deep voice.


    "Supreme Alpha, she is in the garden." The young maid deeply bowed in response. Adrik nodded and waved at her to continue where she was going. He jerked his hands into his pocket and made his way downstairs.


    He pushed the door that leads to the backyard open and walked out to the garden. His eyes darted around and fell on Leia, who sat on the swing with a distant look on her face. A warm smile made its way to his lips, and he ambled towards her.


    He took off his jacket and placed it on her body, then proceeded to sit down beside her on the swing. "Why are you wearing only a vest? It''s such light clothing that you might catch a cold." He adjusted the jacket on her to make sure it covered her properly.


    Leia, who was staring at the sky with the moon and stars on it, snapped back to reality and turned her head to look at him. Her brows creased a bit, and she slightly glared at him.


    "What?" Adrik smiled lightly and his brow arched in a questioning manner. "I don''t want my little wife to catch a cold, else you might have to visit the hospital."


    Leia''s face turned into a frown, and she viciously glared at him the moment she heard the words "hospital." She took a deep breath and averted her gaze when she saw Adrik blinking his eyes in confusion. Did he say something wrong? Adrik thought with bewilderment on his face.


    A deep sigh escaped Leia''s lips, and she pinched her brow. A disturbed expression made its way to her face, and she gazed up at the sky.


    "Is everything alright?" Adrik asked, with concern written all over his face when he saw her downcast mood. Leia averted her gaze from the sky and stared at him. "Did I say something wrong? Adrik asked again with anticipation in his eyes.


    Leia opened her mouth slightly, as though she wanted to say something, but shook her head at him and turned her face away.


    Adrik let out a soft sigh and stood up from the swing. He gazed down at her and gestured with his hand. "Let''s go inside; it''s late." Leia raised her eyes and stared at his outstretched hand. Her brow furrowed a bit, and she abruptly stood up from the chair. She glanced at his face and left, ignoring his gestured hand.


    Adrik arched his brow and retracted his hand. He shoved it into his pocket and darted his eyes around. He gazed up at the moon, and his green eyes changed to a golden color and back to green. He took a deep breath and walked into the house.


    He took his suit off the moment he got into the room and went straight to the bathroom. Leia, who was seated on the sofa, threw her head back and let out an annoyed breath.


    In the next three days, she will finally find out the truth behind her mother''s death. She will ultimately unravel every single mystery behind what happened that day, till the day her mother stopped breathing in that hospital. If her father had any hand in it, as she is suspecting, God, even she is afraid of what she''s going to do. Huge shit will happen. She won''t give a damn if he''s her father, but shit will happen.


    The door slammed shut, jolting Leia back to reality. She raised her eyes and saw Adrik, who was clad in a white robe that had a fluffy neckline. His dark raven hair cascaded down his back to his waist, dripping drops of water onto the floor.


    ''Why the fuck is he growing such long hair?'' Leia''s face wrinkled as she thought. Her gaze trailed to his face and stopped on his green eyes, which looked much brighter than they normally did.


    Adrik yawned a bit and walked past her to the chair at the table in front of a huge mirror. He gazed at the scars on his face through the reflector, and a wicked grin suddenly formed on his lips. Something that seemed like deep pain and hatred flashed in his eyes, and his teeth gritted tightly.. ''I will be back!'' His eyes narrowed as he viciously thought.

 Chapter 25 - Salty

    He raised the towel and began to dry his wet hair. He grabbed the hairdryer on the table and switched it on. The hot hair blew on his hair and it furiously fluttered. After a minute of enactment, he switched it off and dropped it when his hair was completely dried.


    Adrik proceeded to pick up a comb to comb his messy hair. His brow creased deeply as his finger moved from one comb to another, contemplating which to pick. He had never done his hair by himself before, so he had no idea how it was done. His maids were the ones who always cared for his hair, and he never paid attention. Was he even supposed to?


    He doesn''t even know what to do first: to comb and brush after, or to brush and comb after. His face puckered and a low groan escaped his lips. Was he going to call for his maid at this time?


    Leia, who had been staring at him the entire time, grimaced in annoyance. Who doesn''t know how to comb their hair?! She pinched her brow and raised her eyes to gaze at him once again.


    Adrik let out a deep breath and abruptly got up from the chair. His eyes unexpectedly dilated and he nearly flinched back.


    Standing in front of him was his little wife, with crossed arms and an irritated expression on her face. "Anything?" Adrik squinted his eyes and asked with a calm tone.


    "No. It''s just that I find it very funny how you can''t comb your hair." Leia leisurely blinked her lashes at him and her brow slightly arched.


    Adrik darted his eyes around in embarrassment and abruptly cleared his throat. "To keep my mind off minor things like this, I think of a lot of things. Besides, I believe it shouldn''t be too surprising that I can''t comb my hair." He smiled awkwardly and fluttered his long lashes at her.


    Leia shook her head and pointed at the chair he was sitting on before. "Sit." Adrik fluttered his eyes in confusion, and they dilated when he understood what she meant by telling him to sit down. She was going to do his hair. A warm smile made its way to his lips, and he turned around to sit back down in the chair.


    Leia walked to the table and picked up a comb and a bottle of oil that had the name "Coconut oil" labeled on it. She sprayed and rubbed it on his hair, then began to slowly comb his hair.


    Adrik watched her through the mirror, and a tender glint flashed in his eyes. He cleared his throat and smiled at her. "Little wife, do you mind telling me how the breakfast tasted?" He wriggled his brow funnily, and a confident smile made its way to his lips. Not to brag, but he is one of the best cooks anyone knows.


    Leia halted combing his hair when she heard his question and raised her eyes to stare at him. "Are you sure you want to know?" She arched her brow and resumed combing his hair.


    "Yep, I do." Adrik shrugged, with a confident smile still visible on his face.


    "Okay... First, let''s talk about your chicken soup." She sprayed more oil on his hair and picked up a brush from the table. "Maybe it would have turned out okay if you hadn''t added too much salt." She glanced at him and continued to brush his hair.


    "Huh? Salt?.." Adrik''s brow furrowed, and he stared at her with confusion in his eyes. He had tasted the soup when he was done cooking it and was sure it wasn''t salty.


    "Yes, salt! The soup tasted so salty that I couldn''t bear to have another spoon." She shook her head as though disappointed, with a pessimistic expression on her face.


    "O... okay. What about the salmon? " He asked, with anticipation in his eyes. He''s very much confident in this one because Alex tasted it and confirmed that it was excellent.


    "The salmon?¡ª" Leia stopped brushing his hair, and her face turned irritated. "-Don''t even talk about the salmon. It was the worst! Gosh, it tasted like a dead fowl! A dead fowl! I got the urge to puke out everything in my tummy just from one bite." Her face grimaced and she pulled on his hair, causing Adrik to hiss a little in pain. He raised his eyes and gazed at her through the mirror in a questioning manner. Why the hell did she pull his hair?


    He took a deep breath, and the confident smile was no longer visible on his face. "What about the"


    "Don''t even talk about the sandwich." She cut him off before he could finish his sentence. "-It tasted so bland, my taste buds rejected it. You can''t even make a simple sandwich! Such a disgrace." She shook her head and resumed brushing his hair. "If you want to be a good cook, you need to learn from a master chef." She nodded her head and picked up a band to wrap his hair into a bun.


    "So... You mean the foods you ate today were bad?" Adrik asked with a dead expression on his face. He was not expecting any of that. He expected a nice compliment. I mean, it wasn''t easy for him to make those breakfasts for her.


    Leia took a deep breath and gazed at him through the mirror. "Very, very bad." She tied up the whole hair and gave it a nice finishing touch with her hand to make it perfect. "If you want your food to impress me, you''ve got to do better than that." She dropped the brush on the table and walked over to the bed to lie down.


    She snuggled under the sheet and closed her eyes. Minutes later, she finally dozed off to sleep. Adrik stared at her and took a deep breath. He wasn''t dumb to not know she was just being mean to him. He knew what he was capable of in the field of cooking, so his little wife could not lie to him.


    He turned to gaze at his hair through the mirror, and his eyes widened a little in awe. He nodded, and a small smile appeared on his lips. She was good at this. He stood up from the chair and walked to the bed. Adrik slipped in beside her and wrapped his arms around her waist, then pulled her closer to him.

 Chapter 26 - Who Knows

    Adrik woke up early the next morning and swathed himself in a black suit and shoes. His maids neatly combed his hair, letting it fall over his shoulders to his waist. He stood up from the chair when they were done and waved at them to leave.


    He walked over to the bed and tightly hugged Leia, who was lying on the bed in a weird position. "Wake up, little wife." He nuzzled her neck and kissed her on the forehead.


    Leia''s nose twitched as his scent filled her nostrils and she wriggled in his arms. ''He smells good,'' She thought and slowly opened her eyes. She gazed at his face, and her brow creased in displeasure. "Can you let go of me? You''re squeezing the life out of me!" Her leisurely eyes slightly glared at him.


    Adrik loosened his hold on her and drew back to stare at her face. "You''re going to the company with me today, so go and shower."


    "Why?" Leia folded her arms and gazed at him with a questioning expression on her face. Adrik chuckled softly and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "I want you to familiarise yourself with a few things... who knows, it might come in handy in the future." He patted her on the cheek and left the bed. He ambled to the sofa and sat down on it, then placed his laptop on his lap. "I will be waiting for you. Don''t take too much time with the bathing, or we might arrive late to the company." He raised his eyes and smiled at her.


    Leia glared at him and climbed down from the bed. She walked to the bathroom and shut the door behind her. Adrik worked on his laptop while she had her shower. It took, at the shortest, eight minutes before the shower stopped running.


    Wrapped in a white towel, Leia stepped out of the bathroom and shut the door. She wrapped up a towel in her hair and proceeded to walk to the closet, which was a room that was meant for clothes.


    Adrik, who had his eyes on his laptop, lifted them when he heard her step out of the bathroom. He glanced at her and his eyes fell on the flowery tattoos all over her neck, shoulders, and arms. His eyes trailed from her body and up to her hair, which was wet and dripping drops of water. He looked at her face, and his eyes fluttered.


    Leia glanced at him when she felt his gaze on her and her face darkened instantly. "What are you looking at?" Her eyes narrowed and her brows creased deeply.


    Adrik shrugged and chuckled softly. "You look beautiful." He winked at her and returned his focus to the laptop on his lap. Leia''s face grimaced in irritation, and she shook her head. She opened the door to the room and shut it behind her.


    Her eyes darted around, and it couldn''t help but widen in awe at how neatly arranged everything was. On the left-hand side, they had Adriks'' clothing and shoes, which were either black or white. On the right side were her clothes, which were mostly jeans, tops, and shirts. ''looks like they gave this place a makeover.'' She thought as her eyes scrutinized everywhere. The last time she came here, which was yesterday, this place looked different.


    Leia stopped after walking a little further and grabbed a pair of jeans and a pristine white t-shirt. She slid into them and covered her feet with a white canvas. She examined herself in the wide mirror in the room and walked out with satisfaction written all over her face.


    She shut the door of the room and turned to Adrik, who still had his eyes on the laptop, and lightly cleared her throat. "I am done." She folded her arms and creased her brow a bit.


    Adrik raised his eyes to look at her, and a smile formed on his lips. "You look perfect, except for your hair." He dropped the laptop on the table and stood up from the sofa. He walked up to her and grabbed her arm, dragging her to sit down on the chair at the table in front of the huge mirror.


    "What are you doing?" Leia''s face puckered, and she turned her head to stare at him with a displeased look.


    "Nothing special, just wanting to give your hair a little extra polish." He smiled and proceeded to pick up the oil on the table. Leia''s brow arched, and she eyed him. "I thought you didn''t know how to do your hair." She gazed at him with a questioning expression on her face.


    "I learned." Adrik shrugged and applied some oil to her hair. "I like your short hair; it looks good on you." He slowly began to comb her hair and took a brush from the table to give it the finishing touch.


    Leia darted her eyes around and peeked at him through the mirror. "Thanks." She stood up from the chair when he was done and slightly nodded her head, with a half-smile on her lips.


    "Give me a minute." Adrik turned around and walked to the bathroom. A minute enacted and he came out while drying his hands with a small white towel. He picked up a black suitcase beside the sofa and gestured Leia out of the room. They went downstairs, using the glass elevator, and walked out of the mansion.


    "Good morning, Master." Alex took a bow in front of Adrik and turned to Leia, who stood beside Adrik with no expression on her face. "Good morning, Mistress." He smiled and gently bowed to her. Leia glanced at him and lazily blinked her lashes.


    Adrik nodded at Alex and handed the black suitcase to him. He grabbed Leia by the hand and walked towards the car. They took their seats at the back, and Alex started the car''s engine. He sped out of the compound and onto the road.

 Chapter 27 - Your New Driver

    The car arrived in front of the facility, which is Adrik''s huge company, and Alex drove it inside. He parked the car in the parking lot inside the building compound and choked the engine.


    Adrik glanced at Leia, whose gaze was outside, and a smile formed on his lips. He pushed the door open and stepped down from the car. He gazed at the building standing in front of him and turned his head to look at Leia, who was already standing on the other side of the car. He walked forward and halted to allow her to join him by his side.


    He glanced at Alex and motioned for him to bring the suitcase along with him. Alex nodded and pulled the suitcase out of the car. He stuffed the car key into his pocket and followed behind them. The door to the building automatically opened itself, and Adrik abruptly wrapped his arm around Leia''s waist. He looked down at her and a grin made its way to his lips. Leia blinked her eyes in confusion and raised her head to glare at him. However, he simply smiled at her and proceeded to walk into the building.


    The moment they stepped in through the glass door, all the workers and business partners who had arrived at the building that morning halted, and their eyes fell on the couples who were elegantly walking past them to the escalator.


    Adrik kept a leisurely face and walked towards the escalator with his left arm wrapped around Leia''s waist and his right hand yanked into his pocket. Leia, who was held by the midriff, composed herself and formed a cold smile on her lips, reminiscent of a boss lady.


    They arrived at the escalator and stepped on the first flight of stairs. It slowly carried them to the second floor, and Adrik pulled Leia to the elevator. It took them to the third floor, and they ambled straight to Adrik''s office.


    Leia slipped her slender body from his arm and walked to the couch inside the office to sit down. Adrik ignored her puckered face and ambled to his desk to get his seat. He motioned for Alex to drop the suitcase on his table. Alex stood up from his chair and walked to Adrik''s table. He dropped it on the table and walked back to his desk.


    "From now on, Alex will be your driver, and he will take you wherever you want to go. I won''t come home or be around that much anymore." Adrik raised his eyes and stared at Leia. "I will be very busy from now on, so you''re under his care." He averted his stare and returned his eyes to the suitcase on the table.


    Leia''s brow creased, and a deep scowl emerged on her face. "Why him?" She asked and turned to glance at Alex, whose eyes were confusingly darting around. He probably wasn''t expecting this either.


    "Because he''s the only one I trust, and the only one I believe can handle you," Adrik responded without looking at her. He opened the case and hauled out the documents inside it.


    "Handle me!" Leia scoffed, and her face grimaced with irritation. She nodded her head and grinned at Alex. "No problem then." She leaned back on the couch and shut her eyes.


    Alex, who was still confused by how the conversation went, turned to look at Adrik with a questioning expression on his face. "Why me? I do not like that smile she gave me. Also, I don''t want to babysit her." He whispered, so Adrik could only read his lips. How can he babysit a nineteen-year-old? Why can''t someone else do it? Honestly, he only likes to work for his alpha, no one else.


    Adrik ignored him and opened the laptop on his table. He piled up the papers and neatly placed them near the laptop.


    Alex let out a soft sigh and also opened the laptop on his desk. He pulled the drawer open and grabbed some files. He crossed-checked through them and placed them beside the laptop.


    Minutes later, their breakfast arrived. Leia hungrily filled her tummy, and as usual, a small baby bump emerged on her tummy. Adrik glanced at it, and he couldn''t help but chuckle softly. Who knew his wife was gluttonous? He shook his head and resumed his work.


    An hour passed, and a woman dressed nicely in a black skirt and a white blouse, with black heels on her feet, walked into the office with a half-smile on her face. She walked to Adrik''s table and placed neatly arranged files on the desk. "Boss, I have printed all the files. It is now a complete copy." She placed her hand behind her back and stared at Adrik with a half-smile on her lips still visible on her face.


    Adrik raised his eyes from the laptop and glanced at the papers. He nodded and extended his hand to the young woman. "Good."


    The young lady smiled and proceeded to leave. However, her eyes fell on Leia, who was on the couch with crossed legs. Her brow creased in confusion, and she turned to glance at Adrik. She shook her head and walked back to Adrik''s desk. "Um, boss. I forgot to tell you that Mrs. Chatryn is here to see you. "


    "Tell her to wait for me in the meeting room." He motioned for her to leave while continuing to type on his laptop. The young lady bowed and left the office, sparing one more glance at Leia. Leia blinked her eyes open and looked at the young lady. She shook her head and shut her eyes once again.


    Three minutes had passed since Adrik shut his laptop. He stood up from his seat and glanced at Alex and then at Leia. He took a deep breath and adjusted his suit. "I have a meeting to attend." He smiled at her and walked out of the office with his hands stuffed in his pockets.


    Leia''s brow creased as she gazed at Alex, who was also staring at her. "Um... nice to meet you, mistress." Alex cleared his throat and awkwardly smiled at her.

 Chapter 28 - An Invite

    "Don''t call me that." Leia''s face puckered, and she viciously glanced at him. She adjusted herself on the couch and leaned back comfortably.


    "I am sorry. What should I dress you as then?" Alex closed the laptop on his desk and fixed his gaze on her.


    "Leia." Leia opened one of her eyes and peeked at him. Her face grimaced in irritation and she leaned her head back on the couch.


    "Okay, Miss Leia." Alex smiled at her and darted his eyes around. ''Gosh, this is so awkward. Babysitting a nineteen-year-old,'' he shook his head and raised his eyes to glance at her, only to see her staring at him with a menacing grin on her lips "Anything," Alex asked as his eyes blinked in confusion. This girl was creepy. Why was she staring at him like that?


    "Nothing." Leia shrugged, and a half-smile formed on her lips. "Are you married?" She crossed her arms and asked with an arched brow.


    Alex''s eyes fluttered in bewilderment, and he slightly shook his head. "Um... No, I am not."


    "I see..." Leia nodded her head, with a contemplative expression on her face. "Do you perhaps want to be a bachelor?" She sat up straight on the couch and smirked at him.


    "No... I am still a fine young man who has lots of time to get married." Alex''s brow creased a little bit, and his brow raised in displeasure. What does she mean by "bachelor"? He''s still very young, so he has so many years.


    Leia gazed at him for a moment and nodded her head while caressing her jaw with her fingers, as though contemplating something. She raised her eyes and glanced at him, then narrowed them. She abruptly stood up from the couch and grabbed a chair to sit in front of his table. She folded her arms and intently gazed into his pitch-black eyes.


    "Um...." Alex''s brow raised, and he also stared at her. His eyes darted around as he felt uncomfortable from her gaze. "Is there anything I can do for you?" He asked and looked at her in a questioning manner.


    "So you''re going to be my driver from now on?" Leia lazily blinked her eyes at him and arched her brow.


    "Yes." Alex''s brow raised, and he nodded at her.


    "I see... Well, as my driver, let me tell you my rules-" Leia adjusted closer and her face became expressionless. "-You will take me wherever I ask you to take me without asking any questions. If you ever report anything I do to him, you will lose one of your eyes, and trust me, I mean every single word I just said." A half-grin formed on her lips, and she gazed at him with threatening eyes.


    Alex''s eyes blinked in confusion, and his brain couldn''t help but fall dead. He is being threatened by a nineteen-year-old, a mere nineteen-year-old. She might be the future Luna, but she only gets to threaten him when she becomes one, not now. His face grimaced and his eyes scrutinized her.


    Leia smiled at him with a smug look on her face and stood up from the chair. She proceeded to leave, but abruptly turned around and slammed her hand on the desk. "I will take that as a yes." She beamed at him and walked back to the couch, then sat down with crossed legs and leaned back her head.


    ______________


    Seated on a chair inside the meeting room, with his green eyes staring at a beautiful middle-aged lady who was outfitted in sophisticated clothing, Adrik smiled behind the mask covering his face and interlocked his fingers. "Lady Cathryn, it''s good to see you."


    The beautiful woman by the name of Cathryn gleamed, revealing a bit of her jade white teeth. "It''s good to see you too, Mr. Avalanzo." She crossed her legs and lazily blinked her long lashes. "You must be wondering why I visited you today, no? She stared at him and her lips arched up.


    Adrik slightly nodded his head with a lazy expression on his face. "Indeed, I do wonder why." He placed his fingers on the chair armrest and playfully tapped on it.


    "Well, I won''t keep you wondering then. I have a business party that is being held at my house for us the top five richest, so I am here to invite you." Lady Cathryn smiled with a slight grin on her lips. "I wouldn''t call it an invitation anyway, since you will have to attend it even if I didn''t invite you."


    Adrik halted tapping his fingers on the chair armrest and chuckled at her. "Well, Lady Cathryn, I am grateful for the invite, but I already knew about it, so there was no need for the invitation." He stood up from his chair and adjusted his suit. "If there is nothing else, I would like to excuse myself." He then proceeded to leave the meeting room. However, Lady Cathryn stopped him on his track and handed him a golden card. "You will need this to be able to enter."


    "Do I?" Adrik glanced at him with a smug smile on his lips. Lady Cathryn''s face turned into a scowl and she scoffed at him in displeasure. "Oh, I forgot, you never needed these things to attend any party you wanted." She forced out a smile at him and placed the card back into her bag.


    Adrik nodded at her and yanked his hands into his pocket, then turned around and left the room.


    Lady Cathryn''s face darkened, and she angrily stood up from the chair. "Humph!" She grabbed her bag and walked out of the room in displeasure.


    __________


    Adrik walked into his office with an expressionless face and walked straight to his desk. A deep sigh left his lips, and he sat down in his chair.


    His lazy eyes glanced to the side and fell on Leia, who was asleep with folded hands, crossed legs, and her head leaned back on the couch. A half-smile that didn''t reach his eyes formed on his lips, and he glanced to the other side. The half-smile on his face instantly disappeared, replaced by a deep frown. At Alex''s desk, was nobody but a vacancy

 Chapter 29 - New Destination

    Adrik''s face puckered, and he made a call to the attendant on the last floor. "Where is Alex?" His husky, cold voice resounded through the phone, startling the attendant.


    The attendant''s eyes fluttered, and she brought the telephone away from her ear. She stared at it for a moment and placed it back on her ear. "I am sorry, boss, but Mr. Alex left the building a few minutes ago." She flickered her lashes and replied with a slightly shaky voice.


    "I see..." Adrik took a deep breath and proceeded to speak once again. "Make a call to him and tell him I request his presence here in ten minutes." He dropped the telephone and let out a low breath once again. He slightly lowered his head and pinched between his brows. He''s been having this feeling of unrest within him since early this morning. It was as if something huge would happen sooner or later. His feelings always told him when shit was about to happen.


    "Is... everything okay?" Leia abruptly asked, causing him to look over and see her with a raised brow and crossed arms. He stared at her for a moment and slightly shook his head. "Everything is fine..." He let out a slight sigh and half-smiled at her. "Alex will be here in a few minutes to take you home. I believe this place is boring you out." He stood up from his seat and walked over to her.


    Leia''s face turned a bit into a frown, and she gazed up at him. "Aren''t you coming home with us?" Her brow creased, and she asked with a little displeasure in her tone.


    Adrik smiled and pulled her up from the couch. He jerked her into his arms and tightly hugged her. "No, I told you I won''t be home that often anymore, so I won''t be going with you guys." He hugged her more tightly and kissed her on the head.


    Leia''s breathing became unsteady as she felt stuffed by his tight hug. She placed her hand on his chest and pushed him away. "You''re squeezing the life out of me!" She yelled with a puckered face and glared at him.


    Adrik chuckled softly and shook his head as he found her reaction quite amusing. He patted her on the head and kissed her on the forehead. He turned around and walked back to his chair, then opened his laptop and resumed working.


    ____________


    The sun fell and dark, rainy clouds covered the sky, showing signs of rain that might fall in the middle of the night.


    Per Adrik''s order, Alex returns to the office and takes Leia home. Leia was currently sitting in her bedroom, holding her phone. She opened her email when a message from Victor suddenly popped up. She hurriedly browsed through her chats and clicked on her chats with Victor.


    [Bad news, Leia]


    Leia''s face turned into a deep frown when she saw the message, and she hurriedly typed a reply. ''What do you mean by "bad news"? Did something go wrong?''


    [Yep, something went wrong and our plan is ruined]


    What!?'' Leia''s brow creased as she typed, and her eyes fluttered in confusion. ''What do you mean, our plan is ruined?'' she hurriedly typed again.


    [Chill, when I said our plan was ruined, I didn''t mean it in that way] Victor sent and added a laughing emoji beside it.


    ''Then what do you mean?'' Leia''s face puckered in displeasure. What is wrong with Victor?


    [My dad''s flight got canceled, and he will be traveling again in the next two weeks.]


    ''What!?'' Leia threw her phone on the bed, and her face grimaced in anger. Does this mean that excavating the truth behind her mother''s death will take another two weeks? She took a deep breath and grabbed the phone from the bed.


    ''Alright, give me a call in the next two weeks.''


    [I will]


    Leia dropped the phone on the bed and laid down. She placed both her hands on her tummy and gazed up at the ceiling. She doesn''t care how long it will take to unravel the truth...But she will uncover it. She half-smiled and slowly shut her eyes.


    ________________


    Seated inside the car with a gloomy face, Adrik gazed out the window at the night sky with a half-moon and thousands of stars on it. A deep breath escaped his nose as Alex, who was driving, peeked at him through the small window.


    "Supreme Alpha, you seem to be disturbed throughout today... Is everything alright?" Alex asked, with concern written all over his face.


    "Yes, everything is fine." Adrik averted his gaze from the sky and glanced at him. "Can you drive faster? I am losing my patience." His eyes lazily blinked, and he interlocked his hands.


    "We will be there in 10 minutes. Do I need to"


    "Just drive fast." His eyes glared at Alex, and he leaned back on the seat. Alex swallowed hard, and with a slight shook of his head, he raised the speed of the car.


    They soon arrived at their destination and slowly rode into a huge three-story building that looked like a castle. In the middle of its compound was a three-headed monster sculpture, spraying out water from its mouth. The house had the style of a castle, but it looked more modernized.


    On the very top of the house were blackbirds hovering over it in a circle, and above were dark clouds swirling in a circle form, as though a whirlpool.


    The car went around the monster sculpture and parked in a space. Adrik stepped down from the car and glanced at the mist and blackbirds hovering above the house. He rolled his eyes and motioned for Alex to follow him.


    They ascended the four stone stairs and stood in front of a tall, red wooden door.. As though it noticed someone standing in front of it, the door slowly opened and Adrik sauntered into the house together with Alex.

 Chapter 30 - Vlad The Impaler

    A wide living room with a long diamond chandelier hanging on the ceiling that emitted a luminous light came into view the moment they stepped into the house. In the middle were two long sofas facing each other with a glass table in-between. In the end, there stood long, wide stairs that led upstairs.


    Adrik''s eyes glanced around, and with his hands yanked into his pocket, he walked towards the stairs. He had just gotten close and was about to place his right foot on the first step when a butler scurried towards him and stood in front of him, preventing him from moving forward.


    "I am sorry, sir, but you cannot move any further." The butler said and lower noded his back. "Please allow me to make your presence known to my master first."


    Adrik lazily decreased his eyes and glanced at the butler. His face darkened, and he said with displeasure in his tone. "Get out of my way!" His voice startled the butler, but the butler adamantly stood on his spot, not showing any sign of moving.


    Adrik''s frown deepened, and he glanced at Alex beside him. Alex nodded and proceeded to react. However, a young man''s voice resounded, halting him on his track.


    "Don''t you dare lay your filthy hands on him!" Both Adrik and Alex looked up only to see a young man, twenty-six years old, walling down the stairs while stroking a black cat in his arm. His neat, short, dark hair complimented his pale, flawless skin, and his sky blue eyes intently gazed at Adrik.


    Adrik''s green eyes leisurely stared at him, and he questioned him with an indifferent tone. "Where is your father?" The young man ignored him and strolled to stand in front of him. The butler took a bow and hurriedly exited the area.


    The young man gazed at Adrik and scoffed, with a smirk on his lips. "Whatever you want to proclaim to my father, declare it to me first." He raised his eyebrows, and a smug expression emerged on his face.


    Adrik''s eyes glanced at Alex, and in response, Alex moved without hesitation. He grabbed the young man by the neck with one hand and hoisted him up into midair. "You dare speak to my Supreme Alpha in that manner!" Alex''s cold tone echoed, sending shivers down the young man''s body. The young man''s eyes fluttered, and a deep fear flickered in his blue iris.


    "Snap his neck," Adrik said to Alex with an indifferent tone and fixed his gaze on the stairs. The young man struggled within Alex''s grip and tried to free himself, but it was to no avail. His sky blue eyes changed to a dark red and his fangs elongated. His pale skin turned paler and he struggled more to free himself.


    Alex grinned wickedly at him and proceeded to snap his neck. However, the surroundings suddenly changed, and a silhouette quickly appeared, snatching the young man from Alex''s grip. He threw the young man on the floor and sent a painful, strong punch to Alex''s chest, causing Alex to take a flight back and crash into the stone wall.


    The young man fell to the floor and raised his head. His eyes fell on the silhouette, and deep fear reflected within them. "Fa-father." He stood up immediately and hurriedly took a deep bow.


    "Adrik." The silhouette ignored his son on the ground and gazed intently at Adrik, who wasn''t in the least surprised at his sudden appearance.


    "Vlad." Adrik''s lips arched up and he gazed at the silhouette that was known as the one and only Vlad the Impaler, the strongest and ruler of all vampires. His entire body was draped in a black cloak, and his dark raven short hair matched his pitch-black eyes, which complemented his pale skin and gave him the appearance of a young man.


    "What brings you here?" Vlad asked with no expression on his face. Adrik glanced at the stairs and back to him, and a grin made its way to his lips.


    Vlad lazily blinked his eyes and turned to his son. His deep, cold voice sounded, clearly showing he was annoyed. "Demirkhan, let this be the first and last time you will ever interfere in my elderly matters, understand!?" His vicious pitch-black eyes glared at his son.


    "Yes, father." Demirkhan''s body shivered, and he took a bow. He glanced at his father one more time before disappearing out of sight.


    Vlad turned to Adrik and gestured to him to go up the stairs. Adrik nodded and turned to glance at Alex, whose suit was dusty from crashing into the wall. He signaled to him to remain down here until he returned.


    Adrik and Vlad slowly ambled upstairs, and they walked into a dark room that gave off a spooky vibe. Vlad switched on the light and gestured to Adrik to have a seat on the couch. He offered him a glass of red wine and walked over to another couch to sit down.


    "What have you come here for?" Vlad crossed his legs and stared at Adrik, who was also seated with crossed legs and arms placed on the chair armrest.


    "You, know what I''m here for." Adrik''s face became expressionless, and his eyes menacingly stared at Vlad.


    "I do not have any idea of what you are talking about." Vlad retorted with a lazy expression on his face. He spread his arms and also placed them on the chair armrest.


    Adrik sipped from his glass of red wine, and a half-smile made its way to his lips. "Who is responsible for the burning down of my third company building?" His green pupils narrowed into a thin line, and he locked his eyes on Vlad.


    Vlad fluttered his eyes and slightly nodded his head. "You think I am responsible?" A mysterious smile emerged on his blood-red lips, and he gazed intently at Adrik.


    "You''re a suspect. We are enemies after all, so it won''t be a surprise to me. " Adrik interlocked his fingers and tilted his head to one side.

 Chapter 31 - Make The Breakfast Yourself

    "I don''t know what you are talking about." Vlad leaned back in his seat and his brow creased in displeasure.


    "I see..." Adrik pressed his two hands together at his lips and narrowed his eyes at Vlad. "If this is about the crystal eyes, your descendants will go extinct, and trust me, they will. This is a warning." He grinned and stared at him with threatening eyes.


    Vlad''s face darkened, and his pitch-black eyes turned a shade of red. He shut his eyes and took a long, deep breath, then opened them, and a smile that didn''t reach his eyes emerged on his lips. "I do want my heritage back, but burning down your company is quite an act of childishness for the kind of person I am, and I believe you should know that, considering how you have known me for hundreds of years."


    He smiled at Adrik, and his eyes narrowed viciously. "I will get my heritage back, but in a different way." A low breath escaped his nose and he sipped from his glass of red wine.


    Adrik''s eyes decreased into a thin line and his face puckered a bit. He locked his eyes on Vlad''s pitch-black eyes and intently gazed into them. He stared for a moment and retracted his eyes with a smile on his face. "Alright then, I shall take my leave." He stood up from the chair and adjusted his suit. "Keep your young boy in view." He yanked his hands into his pocket and strolled out of the room.


    Vlad''s brow creased as he gazed intently at Adrik''s disappearing back. A sly grin formed on his lips and he walked out to his chamber.


    .....


    Adrik ambled out of the building with Alex and boarded the car. They sped out of the compound and onto the road.


    "Supreme Alpha, are we going back to the mansion or your private estate?" Alex asked with respect in his tone while his eyes focused on the road ahead of them.


    "My private estate." Adrik gazed out of the window, and his brow creased deeply, in unrest, with every moment that enacted. If it wasn''t Vlad, then who was it? He had stared intently into Vlad''s eyes and could tell that he wasn''t lying when he said that he wasn''t responsible for the burning down of his third company building. He had known Vlad for a hundred years now and knew quite well that he would never act so recklessly. But since it wasn''t Vlad, who could it have been? Whoever the culprit is, it definitely isn''t someone simple.


    His face turned into a deep frown, and he pinched between his brows. He will uncover who it was.


    ________


    The early morning sun rose and shone down on Leia, who was lying on the bed with her legs wide apart. A low yawn escaped her mouth, and she sat up on the bed. She stretched her body and climbed down from the king-sized bed.


    She ambled straight to the bathroom and took a shower. She outfitted herself in jean shorts and a brown-colored cropped hoodie, then wore white sneakers and neatly combed her brown short hair.


    She grabbed her phone from the bed and walked out of the room. She strolled downstairs and straight to the kitchen. A hungry yawn left her mouth as she stood beside the door of the kitchen and watched the busy maids who were all preparing different foods.


    "Excuse me." Leia lazily called for their attention and stepped into the kitchen.


    "Good morning, Mistress." The maids, respectively, bowed when they noticed her presence. However, one of them, who she anticipated was the head maid, refused to bow and stared at her with a smug expression on her face.


    Leia''s brow arched, and she scrutinized the maid from head to toe. She shrugged and ignored the maid, who looked at her age of 24, with long black hair and brown eyes.


    Leia''s eyes blinked, and she turned to the other maids. "I am hungry. Make something nice for me." She unlocked her phone and began to browse through it. She wasn''t quite affected because she never cared about the etiquette shit.


    The head maid''s face puckered in displeasure at how Leia didn''t show any reaction to the behavior she showcased. Her brow creased, and a grin crept onto her lips. "Nobody should prepare any breakfast for her." She announced to the maids, resulting in them stopping what they were doing and turning their heads to glance at her.


    Leia''s fingers, which were tapping on the screen of her phone, halted and her eyes raised to glance at the head maid. She stuffed her phone into her pocket and turned to the head maid with crossed arms. "Did you say something?" She leisurely asked the head maid.


    "I said, no one is going to prepare any breakfast for you. If you''re so hungry, make one for yourself." The head maid scoffed and blinked her lashes. A smug smile made its way to her lips, and she stared at Leia, who was also staring at her. This was the reaction she wanted earlier.


    "I see..." Leia nodded her head, her lips arched up, and she shifted her gaze to a young maid whose fingers were fiddling nervously. "You, what is her name?" She pointed at the young maid and glanced at the head maid. The young maid became startled and raised her eyes to peek at Leia. She instantly lowered her head when she saw Leia''s menacing eyes on her. "Mi-mistress, h-her name is Rita." The young maid answered and shifted to hide behind the maid who stood in front of her.


    "Rita..." Leia repeated with a slight nod of her head and returned her stare to the head maid, who was named Rita. "Quite a nice name you have." She nodded and smiled at the head maid. She darted her eyes around and walked a little bit closer, closing a bit of the distance between her and the head maid.

 Chapter 32 - Oh, What A Morning!

    "Humph!" Rita rolled her eyes and a deep scowl emerged on her face.


    Leia smiled widely and walked closer to her. "I want you to repeat what you said before." She grinned at Rita with her eyes narrowed into a thin line and placed her hands behind her back.


    Rita fluttered her eyes in bewilderment and scrutinized her from head to toe. She slightly shook her head, and a smirk made its way to her lips. "What? You think I am-" She had just parted her mouth to speak, but a hand suddenly grabbed her fiercely by the hair, and before she could anticipate what would happen next, her forehead was furiously banged on the steel counter, followed by crazy laughter.


    The maids stared at Leia, who was still slamming Rita''s head on the counter, with dilated eyes. Their jaws fell, and they gazed at her face, which held a wide, wicked grin. What in the world are they witnessing? This girl is crazy! She is insane!


    Rita''s head, which was continuously slammed on the counter, became bloody, and lines of blood streamed down her face to her jaw and dropped on the white apron she wore. Leia crazily chuckled and banged her head on the counter once more before letting go of her head. Rita fell to the floor as dizziness overwhelmed her. She pressed her palm against the floor and struggled to keep herself up.


    Leia moved closer to her and squatted down to her level. She placed her finger on Rita''s cheek and made her look at her. Her eyes glanced at Rita''s bleeding forehead, and a soft chuckle escaped her mouth. "Darling, Next time, think before you speak." She pressed her lips together, and pessimistically shook her head. "All I wanted was my breakfast, but you woke the demon in me this early morning." She clicked her tongue in annoyance and shook her head once again. She patted Rita on the shoulder and revealed a smile. "You will be fine."


    She stood up and glanced at the maids, who still had their jaws falling and their eyes dilated. "I want my food in ten minutes!" Her eyes menacingly glared at them, and she strolled out of the kitchen. "Oh, what a morning!" She yelled as her back disappeared from view.


    The maids fluttered their eyes and ran up to Rita when they heard her painful groan. They grabbed her by the arm and helped her up from the floor.


    One of the maids with blond hair handed her white clothing, and her face grimaced a bit. "Miss, why did you let her do that to you?" She asked curiously, with confusion written all over her face. "We are wolves and she''s a mere human."


    Rita halted cleaning the blood streaming down her face and turned to the maid. Her face darkened, and she sent a painful slap across the maid''s face. "You''re very stupid! Were you blind not to see it was unexpected? Also, were you expecting me to hit her or what? Did you forget our Supreme Alpha''s order? Do you think she''d still be breathing if it hadn''t been for his orders?" Her face grimaced in irritation and she resumed wiping the blood from her face.


    The maid clutched her cheek and her eyes darted around in embarrassment. "I apologize, Miss. please forgive me." She took a step back as Rita''s eyes glared at her.


    "Fool!" Rita took an annoyed breath and took off the white apron she was wearing, which now had bloodstains on it. She proceeded to walk out of the kitchen to get treatment, but someone, however, stepped in, preventing her from moving further.


    Rita looked up and her eyes dilated as she was stunned by the person standing in front of her. Her lashes fluttered, and she immediately bowed her head in respect. "My lady."


    "Why is your forehead bleeding?" The silhouette who walked into the kitchen asked as she stared at the bloody clothing in Rita''s hand and her forehead, which was still bleeding a little.


    Rita raised her eyes to look at the gorgeous woman who was naturally Selena, and her eyes darted around anxiously. What was she to say? That the human brat hit her or what? Wouldn''t that be the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to her?


    "M-my lady, it''s nothing. I accidentally slipped and fell due to my carelessness." Her lips curled into an awkward smile, and she blinked her eyes in annoyance.


    Selena''s brows arched in a bit of surprise, and she slightly nodded her head. She glanced at Rita, and her face grimaced in irritation. "Do I look like a kid to you?" Her face darkened, and she unhappily folded her hands.


    Rita panicked immediately when she heard the question, and she bowed anxiously. "I am sorry, my lady. Please forgive me." She pleaded and nervously fiddled her fingers. If she gets on Selena''s bad side, she doubts she might still be breathing in two minutes.


    Selena rolled her eyes and waved her fingers at her. "What happened?" Her brow arched, and she impatiently tapped the edge of her heel on the floor.


    Rita swallowed and took a low breath. Her face puckered in embarrassment, and she raised her eyes to stare at Selena. "Um... earlier, the human brat came to the kitchen for food, and I-" She slowly narrated every single detail of what happened earlier, and her face reddened in stigma as she watched Selena''s face, which had an amusing expression slowly forming on it.


    "Sorry." Selena chuckled a bit and shook her head in amusement. She glanced at the maids, and her face returned to its seriousness. "Take her food to her!" The maids nodded their heads vigorously and rushed out of the kitchen into the dining room with trays of food in their hands.


    Selena nodded her head in satisfaction and turned to Rita. A smile formed on her lips, and she slightly arched her brow. "Go get yourself treated." She patted her on the shoulder and left the kitchen.


    _______________


    Leia sat on a chair at the dining table and hungrily gobbled down her breakfast. She burped and her large eyes closed a bit in enjoyment. Her nose suddenly twitched when she smelled an unfamiliar scent, and she raised her eyes. She turned her head to the side, only to see a beautiful young woman with fiery red hair and gray eyes. Her curvy body was draped in a body-hugging sleeveless dress, revealing her flawless skin.


    "Nice to meet you." The young woman, who was naturally Selena, smiled at her and blinked her long lashes.

 Chapter 33 - Are You Stupid?

    Leia picked up a cup of water from the table and drank it to digest the spoon of food she had just chewed. She dropped the cup back on the table when she was done and turned to look at Selena, who had a sweet smile on her pink lips. She scrutinized her from head to toe, and her brow arched. She gazed at Selena for a while, and her brow creased. She shrugged and turned her head to continue eating her breakfast.


    Selena''s face turned ashen at how Leia ignored her completely after assessing her from head to toe, and her eyes fluttered in bewilderment. What does this human brat take her for? Or is she mute or something? Her face grimaced, and she folded her hands and then cleared her throat to grab Leia''s attention. However, Leia burped again and continued to gobble down her food as though she had no idea that someone was standing beside her.


    Selena''s blood boiled in anger, and her face turned a few shades of red. She balled her fist in a rage and coughed loudly to make sure she had it this time around. Still, Leia ignored her and continued to eat her food.


    Selena''s patience had reached its limit, and she yelled with displeasure visible in her tone. "Hey! Are you mu-" She hadn''t even finished her sentence when Leia abruptly dropped the spoon she was eating with and turned to stare at her with anger apparent in her pitch-black pupils. "Are you stupid?" Her face grimaced in irritation and she stared at Selena as though staring at a fool.


    Selena''s jaw instantly fell from being dumbfounded, and her unblinking eyes gazed at Leia in disbelief. The human brat dared talk to her in such a manner! she even asked her if she was stupid! If she had any idea of who she was, would she dare ask her such a question? Selena''s eyes fluttered, and a breath of doubt escaped her mouth.


    She started to talk, but Leia cut her off once again and continued to speak. "Do you think that you can just barge in here, stand in front of me, say "nice to meet you," and expect that I will respond?" Leia''s eyes examined her, and she shook her head in disbelief. "Your brain needs fixing."


    "As you can see, I am enjoying my meal and I don''t need any disturbance. Please find your way out and don''t disrupt my peace." She turned away, with irritation in her eyes, and picked up her spoon to continue with her meal. Whoever this lady is, she is giving her a bad vibe and she will not speak with or associate with her.


    Selena, who was already angry, went from being angry to being outraged at hearing those words that came out of Leia''s mouth. What the fuck?Who had ever dared to talk to her in such a manner? Her hands balled into a tight fist and her fingers, which had unknowingly elongated, pierced into her skin, and tiny drops of blood dripped down her palm.


    She dangerously stared at Leia with her eyes, which were no longer gray but green, and her fingers elongated more. She breathed heavily when she saw that Leia still didn''t give a damn and was still busy enjoying her breakfast.


    [Selena, calm down! Don''t let the human brat ruin your plans] Selena''s wolf, who was named Ama, spoke, and Selena, who was red from rage, fluttered her eyes and calmed down a little.


    ''I want to tear her into pieces!'' Selena groaned in displeasure and released her balled fist.


    [Me too... But we have to be careful, or else our plan will be ruined and I''m sure we won''t be able to face the consequences] Ama stared at Leia, and her eyes narrowed dangerously.


    Selena nodded at her wolf and looked at Leia with viciousness in her eyes as she communicated with her wolf. A smile made its way to her lips, and she proceeded to say something. However, her nose suddenly twitched, and her eyes dilated as she smelled a scent that she would recognize even in her sleep. Her eyes glanced at the entrance, then at Leia, and she smiled and chuckled softly. "We shall meet again. Let''s hope for it to be pleasant then." She turned around and fled at a fast speed.


    Leia, who didn''t even spare her a glance before and after she fled, leisurely blinked her eyes and munched the waffles inside her mouth. She took another cup of water from the table and gulped it down, then stood up from the chair and proceeded to leave. However, from the entrance where Selena glanced before she fled, Adrik emerged with his hands yanked into his pockets as usual and his black raven hair falling over his shoulder to his waist.


    Leia stared at him, and her brow couldn''t help but crease. Something is not right about the Adrik she''s looking at now. He always looked quite lively and cold, but the Adrik she was staring at right now looked so pale and dispirited. It''s as though he didn''t have good sleep or peace of mind. Her eyes gazed intently at him as she watched him walk up to her with Alex following behind.


    Adrik ambled over to her and pulled her into a warm hug. He tightly wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled her neck. Leia''s face grimaced in annoyance, and she proceeded to push him away. "You''re squeezing me!" Ahhh! Again, he was crushing her! Doesn''t he have any idea how to hug someone or what? Does he think she''s a squishy doll or what?


    Adrik chuckled at her reaction and loosened his hold on her. "How was your sleep?" He asked and breathed out, fanning his hot breath on her neck.


    "It was fine." Leia''s eyes rolled in displeasure, and she waited patiently for him to let go of her. "Stop smelling me!" She groaned in irritation. It might sound weird, but she doesn''t like hugs.

 Chapter 34 - Go! By! Yourself!

    Adrik drew back, smiling warmly at her. He leaned down a bit and kissed her on the forehead. His eyes stared at her and suddenly narrowed into a thin line when his nose twitched violently. "Little wife, was someone here?" He gazed at her with a creased brow.


    Leia shrugged and lazily blinked her eyes at him. "A lady was here a few minutes ago." She stared at him with an arched brow, and an unknown glint flashed in her eyes.


    Adriks'' brow furrowed deeper, and he sniffed once again. He darted his eyes around and turned to Leia. "Can you describe her looks to me?" A half-smile that didn''t reach his eyes made its way to his lips and he looked at her with anticipation in his eyes.


    Leia shrugged once again and turned away from him with an expressionless face. "Red hair, a body to die for, and gray eyes." She said this leisurely and began to walk towards the elevator.


    Adrik''s face darkened, and his hands unknowingly balled into a tight fist. He shut his eyes and yelled within himself in anger. "Selena!!!" He took a deep breath and smiled at Leia, who was gazing at him with her brow raised.


    He walked up to her at the elevator, and they boarded it. It took them to the 2nd floor, and Adrik grabbed her wrist when the door of the elevator opened. He led them to their room and shut the door behind them. Leia rolled her eyes in annoyance and snatched her hand from his grip.


    She made her way to the bed and sat down on it, then folded her arms and leisurely watched him take off his suit jacket and unbutton his shirt, showing off his abs and the tattoos all over his body. She slightly nodded her head at how good it made him look.


    Adrik messily tied up his hair and walked to the sofa to sit down. He plopped down on it and cast his arms to the side, then threw his head backward. A deep breath escaped his lips and he slowly shut his eyes.


    Leia''s brow arched as she gazed at him, and she couldn''t help but curiously ask. "Are you okay?" Her brows furrowed in displeasure. He''s been acting different and tired since he came back. It was as though something was bothering him.


    Adrik opened one of his eyes and peeked at her. A smile emerged on his red lips and he nodded at her. "I am fine." He picked up his mask from the table and latched it onto his face, then stood up from the sofa and walked out of the room, leaving Leia, who had her brow arched in confusion.


    He ambled downstairs and stood in the living room with an expressionless face. He called for Alex, and he reported immediately without hesitation. Alex bowed to Adrik when he arrived in front of him. "Did you smell her scent?" Adrik asked, his eyes narrowed into a thin line.


    "Yes, Supreme Alpha, I did," Alex replied with respect in his tone and straightened up.


    "Good, from today onwards, if I ever smell her filthy scent inside this house or ever see her near my wife... don''t imagine what I will do to you." Adrik''s eyes menacingly glared at him. "You know the real side of me and am sure you do not want to see it." He grinned at him, and with a turn, he walked away.


    Alex swallowed hard as he glanced at the disappearing silhouette of his Alpha. An anxious breath escaped his nose and his hands clenched in displeasure. That woman will surely kill him! Jeez, his Alpha knows that that woman is very cunning, and keeping her from this mansion is almost impossible. Oh well, he might just have to start searching for his mate in case his Alpha snaps his neck tomorrow. At least he knows he found his mate. He shook his head and walked out of the mansion to talk to the bodyguards.


    .........


    Leia and Adrik had their lunch, and the sun slowly set, leaving the sky enshrouded in dark clouds. Leia sat on the sofa with her phone in her hand while Adrik sat on the other sofa with his laptop placed on his lap. He peeked at Leia and abruptly placed the laptop on the table, then stood up and walked over to her.


    He grabbed her with both hands and pulled her up from the sofa. He smiled and revealed his jade-white teeth. "Little wife" He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and caressed her cheek. "What is it?" Leia, whose face was turning into a grimace, asked with impatience apparent in her tone.


    "Well..." Adrik kept smiling at her and tenderly caressed her hair. "There is this party, a business one, being held for the top five richest, and as the top one, I must be there, so-"


    "You want me to go there with you?" Leia cut him off before he could find his sentence, and her face darkened deeply. She slapped his hands, which were caressing her head, away and glared at him with irritation written all over her face. "Listen carefully. Let me tell you this: if you think I will follow you to that damned party, then you''re mistaken because I won''t!"


    This stupid party was the same one that her father would always attend, and, of course, there is no doubt that he won''t attend this one. She doesn''t want to see the stinking filthy face of that old man, so there is no fucking way she is attending that party. She raised her eyes and glared at Adrik with annoyance and irritation visible in her eyes. "Go! by! yourself!" She emphasized her every word and proceeded to leave. However, Adrik abruptly grabbed her by the wrist and furiously slammed her against the wall, causing her to hit the back of her head on it.

 Chapter 35 - Why Do You Hate Me?

    His face darkened and his green eyes, which were slowly changing to a different color, stared down at her with different emotions, especially anger, visible in them. "I don''t care, you are going to that party wi-"


    "I won''t!" Leia spat out and viciously glared at him. "Take your filthy hands off-!" She hadn''t finished her sentence when Adrik''s balled fist abruptly slammed into the wall, near her head, and lines of crack appeared on the wall.


    "I said you are going to that party with me!" His eyes, which had turned completely golden, glared down at her as though they would burn her, and he punched the wall once again. "Damn you!!" His grip on her wrist tightened, causing Leia to wince in pain. "You''re hurting my wrist." She looked up at him with little tears in her eyes.


    "Why do you hate me!? What in the world am I doing wrong to you!? Have I ever mistreated you!? Have I ever disrespected you as my wife!? What the fuck is It!? What the fucking hell is it!? His breathing became unsteady and he yelled at her with a tone that clearly showed how much he was hurting within him. His golden eyes darkened more as he threw every question at her.


    Leia shivered uncontrollably, and her eyes gazed into his. She trembled within his grip as her body felt as though it was burning under his fierce gaze. What was going on? What was happening to her? She stared deeply into his eyes, and her heart shuddered within as she saw the hurtful emotion within them. Her body became startled and trembled violently when Adrik yelled in a rage and punched his balled fist on the wall a few more times.


    Adrik took a deep breath and let go of her wrists. He shut his eyes and let out a low sigh. He raised his eyes, which had returned to their emerald green colors, and stared at her. "I am sorry. I will not force you to go with me if you don''t want to." With that being said, he walked out of the room and slammed the door shut, leaving Leia, who was still pressed against the wall, motionless.


    Leia breathed heavily, and her eyes fluttered a few times in fear. Her face darkened, and she angrily walked to the table with the glasses and vase on it and shoved everything off to the floor. The glasses and vases fell to the floor and shattered into pieces. She breathed unsteadily in fury and yelled loudly. "Ahhhhh!!!" She clutched her head and furiously pulled on her hair. She slapped the remaining vase on the table, and it fell to the floor, instantly shattering into pieces.


    She staggered to the wall and pressed her back against it, then slowly slid down to the floor. She pulled her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. Tiny bubbles of tears welled up in her eyes and fell as she lowered her head to her knee. More tears dropped from her large eyes, and she sniffed. Why was she even crying? Was it because she felt a little guilty or what? She just couldn''t understand. All she knew was that her heart was hurting badly, and it was making it hard for her to hold back the tears. She had no idea why it was welling up in her eyes.


    _________


    Adrik angrily walked through the hallway and accidentally bumped into Alex, who was coming to find him. A gloomy expression made its way to Alex''s face as he raised his eyes to glance at his Alpha. He had heard everything, and he understood what his Alpha must be going through now. "Supreme Al-" He proceeded to say something, but Adrik ignored him and stumbled away.


    Alex took a deep, sad breath and slightly shook his head. If having a mate was this way, then he would not want one. This was just so unfair. Leia was the first girl he had ever seen his Alpha care and treatment in such a way. He had never even treated Selena in such a way when they were together. He glanced at the part where his Alpha left off, and he walked away with a downcast expression on his face.


    _________


    In an empty room, on a large couch, sat a young man with a dispirited look on his face. He sat with his head thrown back and his hands spread to the sides. His eyes stared up at the ceiling, and he continuously let out a pessimistic, deep sigh.


    Why? What has he not done for her? There was nothing she asked that he wouldn''t do for her... so why? Has he mistreated her? He was certain that whenever he did, he always made an appropriate apology to her.


    So why does she hate him this much? Why was his case different? All mates were always meant to love each other deeply even if one in them Is human... so why does his mate hate him? Why did the moon goddess bestow on him, a mate who detests him? Could it be that the prophecy told about him years ago, was true? His brow creased deeply as he thought.


    _________


    The darkness shrouding the sky disappeared as the next day came. However, there was no beautiful sun in the sky; rather, shady crowds enveloped the sky, and light rain was falling, leaving everyone moody.


    With a cup of coffee in her hand, Leia gazed out the huge glass window at the rain falling on the concrete ground. A deep breath escaped her nose and she placed her hand on the window. She stayed that way for a while before she turned around and walked away.


    She placed the cup of coffee on the table and walked into the bathroom. After a hot shower, she outfitted herself in jeans and a white sweater, then gave her hair a little fixing before walking out of the room.


    She glanced at every room in the hope of finding Adrik, but he was nowhere to be seen. ''Did he leave last night?'' Her face puckered in displeasure as she thought. She scurried downstairs and met Alex seated on the sofa in the living room.. She slowly walked up to him and stood in front of him. "Do you know where he is?"

 Chapter 36 - Amaya

    Alex instantly stood up from the chair and gave a slight bow to her. "He''s at work." He straightened up and revealed a smile that held no emotion at all.


    "Oh..." Leia slightly nodded her head and her eyes darted around. She took a deep breath and glanced at Alex with a half-smile that didn''t reach her eyes. "Can you take me somewhere?" She asked with no utterance on her face nor in her tone.


    Alex smiled and nodded at her. "Anywhere you want to go." He gestured her towards the entrance and picked up the car key from the table.


    Leia half-smiled at him and walked out of the mansion with him following behind. Alex pulled the door open for her and she took her seat at the back. He started the car''s engine, and they rode out of the compound before speeding off down the road.


    The car rode for thirty minutes before Alex halted it in front of a flower store per Leia''s request.


    She stepped down from the car and took a long deep breath with a downcast smile on her face. She glanced at the store and proceeded to walk towards it, but Alex hurriedly stopped her and placed an umbrella over her head to shield her from the rain pouring down. "If you catch a cold, he will kill me," Alex smiled sheepishly at her.


    Leia shook her head and shifted away from the umbrella. "I don''t need it. You should shield yourself from the rain." She gave him a thumbs-up and began to walk towards the store. Alex shook his head and a low sigh escaped his lips as he stared at her.


    Leia pushed the glass door open and stepped inside. She glanced around and slowly nodded her head in satisfaction. This place was filled with different varieties of flowers like daisies, lilies, sunflowers, roses, and many more. The store also had this fresh, flowery smell that would draw a customer in. A smile spread across her face, and she let out a soft satisfactory sigh.


    From the counter in the store that had flowers placed on it, a young, beautiful lady walked over to Leia with a friendly smile plastered all over her face. "They are very beautiful, aren''t they?" The young lady also turned her head and gazed at the flowers that Leia was staring at. "I grew them for my wedding when I was about to get married, but unfortunately the marriage didn''t proceed, so I brought these beauties here to sell them off." A cynical smile spread across the young lady''s face, and an unknown glint flashed in her eyes.


    Leia stared at her and blinked her large eyes. "I am sorry about that." She gave the young lady a friendly smile and nodded.


    The young lady turned to her and chuckled softly. "It''s OK." She turned to the flowers and gestured her to them. "What types of flowers do you want?"


    Leia glanced at the shelf that had different blossoms and walked over to it. She took two lily bouquets and returned with them to the young lady. "I will take these." She pulled out some dollars from her pocket and handed them to the young woman.


    The young lady smiled and gazed intently at her. "What is your name?"


    Leia''s eyes blinked in confusion at her question, and she replied with a raised eyebrow. "Leia." She fixed her gaze on the young lady, expecting a reaction or something.


    However, the young lady simply smiled and chuckled softly. "My name is Amaya. Those flowers are my favorites. White is a very pretty color." She chuckled and waved her hand at Leia when she saw her mouth twisting funnily. "I am sorry. Hold on a sec, let me get your change." She turned around and walked back to the counter.


    Leia smiled and gazed at the young woman. She slightly shook her head, and with a turn, she left the store.


    Amaya returned with the change in her hand, but she saw no one at the spot. She peeked out the window and saw Leia, already stepping into the car. She proceeded to leave the store and give the change to her, but the car engine started and sped off into the road. Amaya let out a soft sigh and shook her head with a smile on her face. She turned around and walked back into the store to continue what she was doing.


    .....


    Leia sat inside the car with her eyes fixed on the Lilies. A deep breath escaped her nose and her lips arched up on one side. She averted her stare and gazed out of the car window.


    "Miss Leia..." Alex took a deep breath and peered at her through the small mirror hanging inside the car.


    Leia dissuaded her gaze from the shady sky and glanced at him. "Anything?" She asked in a solemn tone that held no emotion.


    "It''s nothing... It''s just that I have something I want to speak to you about. " Alex''s grip on the steering wheel tightened a bit and then loosened.


    "O...kay." Leia stared at him and caressed the flowers in her hand.


    Alex nodded and let out a soft breath. "I know it''s not my place... but, can you give him a chance?" He peeked through the mirror and stared at Leia''s face, which was expressionless. "I, um, understand you feel bad and everything, but... what about him?" His face grimaced, and he gazed intently at her. "I have been with him for years, and you are the first lady he has ever treated in such a nice and special way. Everyone knows him to be cold and heartless, and he indeed is, but to you, he is not. He is a different man around you. He is... his real self."


    "I don''t know... but he cares for you. I am not asking you to love him or anything, but at the very least, return his kindness too. He deserves it. " Alex let out a soft sigh and fluttered his eyes. He gazed through the small mirror and saw her head resting on the window with no mood on her face. He slightly shook his head and focused his eyes on the road ahead of them.. He wasn''t expecting anything out of this, but he was glad he expressed his thought to her.

 Chapter 37 - Pure As A White Lily

    They rode for thirty minutes more and slowed down in front of a familiar place that wasn''t new to Leia. She took a deep breath and stepped down from the car with the bouquet in her hand.


    Her eyes darted around, and a half-smile formed on her lips. She proceeded to walk into the cemetery before her, but Alex abruptly rushed up to her and stood in front of her, preventing her from moving any further. "Miss Leia, please just use the umbrella... He will kill me if you catch a cold." Alex smiled, with an anxious expression on his face.


    Leia''s brow creased, and an annoying mood emerged on her face. "I told you I don''t need it!" She shoved Alex out of the way and walked into the cemetery. A deep breath escaped Alex''s nose as he stared at her and his face grimaced in annoyance. He clicked his tongue and placed the umbrella over his head.


    Leia ambled to her mother''s grave and stood in front of it. Her eyes gazed down at the stone tablet that had her mum''s name carved on it, and she squatted down to place the flowers on it. She stared at the tablet for a while, and the scenes of that day her mother got buried flashed in her mind.


    Her hands tightly balled into a fist, and she chuckled softly. Leia took a deep breath and knelt on the soggy ground. She bowed her head a few times and paid her respects to her mother. Since she was sold off, she hadn''t gotten the chance to visit her mother''s grave, and she was glad she did today.


    Not only that, but she was also able to come up with the beautiful lilies, which were her and her mum''s favorite flowers. When she was young, her mum always said that her parents named her Lily because they believed she was as pure as a white Lily and, indeed, her mother was a white Lily.


    A sad smile made its way to Leia''s lips as she thought, and a soft sigh escaped her brims. She stood up from the wet ground after muttering a few words to her mother in her heart. She glanced up at the shady sky, and the rain dropped on her face, while some fell into her large eyes.


    She wrapped her arms around her body and walked out of the cemetery. She ambled to a bench on the roadside and sat down, as her eyes watched the people passing nearby. Alex, who was beside the car, hurriedly rushed up to her and placed the umbrella above her head. "Please, Miss Leia, we need to leave now. The rain is getting heavier." He stared at her with a helpless expression on his face.


    Leia raised her eye, which had a depressing emotion apparent in it, and glanced at him. A half-sad smile formed on her lips, and she slightly shook her head. "Just go... I will call you when I need you to come to pick me up."


    "But Miss Leia, it''s raining." A deep frown emerged on Alex''s face as he adamantly shook his head. Why was she putting him in a difficult spot? He can''t let her stay here in the rain. His Alpha will kill him if he does.


    "You can give me the umbrella to keep the rain from falling on me." Leia smiled and took the umbrella from him. "Please... I need to be alone." She gazed at him with a pleading expression on her face.


    Alex took a deep breath, and his face grimaced a little in helplessness. He gazed down at her and nodded, with a vulnerable mood on his face. "All right then, but please don''t take too long to give me a call, unless you want to get me killed." He awkwardly smiled at her and, with a last nod of his head, he walked back to the car.


    Leia watched the car drive off into the road, and she slowly dropped the umbrella onto the space beside her. She pulled out her AirPods from her pocket and plugged them into her ear, then connected them to her phone and immersed herself in sad music as the rain poured down on her.


    _____________


    Inside his office, Adrik gazed out the glass window with his hands yanked into his pocket as usual. His hair, which was usually left falling over his shoulder, was, however, wrapped up into a nice neat bun, with only a few strands falling over his face, which was covered in a mask.


    A low sigh left his lips, and with one last glance out of the window, he ambled back to his desk and sat down in his chair. He picked up his phone from the table and made a call to Alex. "Go and finish up the job right now, and report with all the files."


    [Yes, supreme Alpha]


    Adrik dropped the phone on the desk and opened his laptop. He arranged the documents besides the laptop and placed them in the drawer.


    ....


    The day went by extremely fast, and the sun fell, leaving dark clouds to envelope the sky. as the rain never showed a sign of stopping.


    Adrik arrived at the mansion in his car and stepped down with an expressionless face. Once he stepped inside, he would make an apology to his little wife. Yes, she indeed did anger him, but he did go a little far with the way he behaved with her at that time. Ah... this temperament side of him is something he needs to start working on.


    He took a deep breath and sauntered into the mansion with his hands yanked into his pocket. He went to the door of their room and slowly opened it. A soft sigh left his lips and he stepped inside the room.


    He glanced around the area, then at the bed, but there was no sign of Leia anywhere. "Hmm." His brow creased, and he scurried down to the garden, but there was no sign of her there either.


    A deep frown emerged on his face, and he instantly called for one of his maids, who reported immediately to him. He glanced down at the maid with a cold face and asked her about Leia''s whereabouts, but she gave him a response that made his face darken.. She simply told him that Leia left early in the morning and hadn''t returned since then.

 Chapter 38 - Guilt

    Adrik''s frown deepened more, and his hands balled into a tight fist. He pulled out his phone from his pocket and made a call to Alex. "Where is she?"


    Alex panicked over the phone the moment he heard those questions and stuttered as he replied, [S-she is at the cemetery... Supreme Alpha, I can expla-] He proceeded to explain, but before he could even finish his sentence, Adrik hung up the phone and hurriedly left the mansion with a darkened face.


    He started the car''s engine and sped off down the road at full speed. His grip on the stirring wheel tightened and his eyes changed from green to golden and back to green. Who knows what might be happening to her now? What if she fainted from a cold, or if it was worse than he imagined?


    It took him 15 minutes to arrive at the cemetery, and he packed the car on one side of the road. He pushed the car door open and hurriedly stepped down. His eyes darted around, and he stilled when they fell on a girl seated on a bench with her head lowered tiredly.


    His heart thumped widely within him as he stood staring at her with a lost expression on his face. "Little wife," he whispered and immediately rushed up to her. He squatted down to her level and placed his palm on her cheek. "Little wife," he shook her body, but she didn''t respond, instead she fell into his arms.


    Adrik tenderly grabbed her cheek and raised her face so he could view her face. His face darkened when he realized how pale she looked. "Why?" He asked with a pessimistic emotion in his tone, but Leia didn''t answer. Rather, she slightly opened her tired eyes and stared at him.


    Adrik hugged her tightly and kissed her forehead. He took off his jacket and placed it on her body, then he gently scooped her up into his arms and walked back to the car. He sat her in the front seat and took the driver''s seat, then started the car engine and sped off down the road.


    The moment they arrived at the mansion, he took her inside and ordered the maids to prepare a hot soup for her. He hurriedly took her to their room and slammed the door behind them.


    Adrik sat her on the sofa and helped her out of her drenched clothing, then dressed her up in white pyjamas that would help warm her up a bit.


    He scooped her up from the sofa and laid her on the bed, then covered her with a fluffy blanket. He hurriedly left the bed for the door when he heard a knock on the door. He opened the door and grabbed the bowl of soup from the maid, then shut the door and walked back to the bed.


    Adrik pulled Leia into his arms and proceeded to feed her the soup. "Okay, little wife, you have to drink it and get better." He tenderly kissed her on the forehead and a warm smile spread on his lips. "Tomorrow, I will call a doctor to have a check-up on you." He raised the spoon to her lips, but Leia creased her brow in displeasure, even though she didn''t say anything.


    "Little wife, you have to drink it." Adrik pushed the spoon towards her mouth, waiting for her to part her lips. Leia rolled her eyes and parted her lips for him to feed her the soup. He continued to feed her until she couldn''t take anymore.


    He gave her warm water and laid her down on the bed beside him. He cuddled her gently to lend her some warmth, which would aid in her recovery. Leia let out a soft sigh and relaxed in his comfortable embrace. The time went by, and she slowly closed her eyes and went into a deep sleep.


    _____


    Early the next morning, Adrik made a call to the doctor and requested for him to arrive at the mansion immediately. The doctor responded and made it to the mansion in thirty minutes.


    "Good morning, Mr. Avalanzo." The doctor smiled when he met with Adrik, who was swathed in a white robe with his gray mask covering half of his face as usual.


    "Good morning, Mr. Robert." Adrik smiled behind the mask and turned to Leia, who was lying peacefully on the bed.


    Mr. Robert took his seat on a small stool beside the bed and smiled warmly at Leia. "Good morning, Mrs. Avalanzo." He dropped his suitcase on the bed and opened it.


    Leia glanced at him and nodded, with no expression on her face. It was really silly, but she had this dislike for anyone who was a doctor. Maybe it''s for the obvious reason.


    Mr. Robert carefully examined her body temperature and state, then gave her a few medicines. "It''s not too serious. Take it this morning and later at night, and you will be fine by tomorrow. " He smiled at her and stood up from the stool. He turned to Adrik and chuckled heartily. "Mr. Avalanzo, you need not worry; your wife will be as healthy as before, tomorrow."


    Adrik took a deep breath and nodded at him. "Thank you." He returned a half-smile to him and glanced at Leia. Mr. Robert smiled and slightly shook his head. Of course, he wasn''t oblivious to the rumors, and that''s why he was dazzled to see how much Adrik was caring for his wife. Were those rumors about him a farce? He shook his head once again and excused himself.


    Adrik shut the door and walked to the bed. He sat beside Leia on the bed and pulled her into a warm hug. "You will be fine by tomorrow." He kissed her on the forehead and caressed her hair.


    Leia drew back from his embrace and stared into his green eyes. Something that seemed like guilt flashed in her eyes, and she averted her gaze from him. She pulled her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. "I am sorry..." A deep breath escaped her nose and she placed her chin on her knees "I will accompany you to the party tomorrow." She said this without looking at him.


    "Little wife." Adrik placed his palm on her cheek and brushed it with his thumb. "You don''t have to if you don''t want to." He pulled her into a hug and stroked her back. "Know that I will never force you to do anything you don''t want to... and... I am sorry about my behavior." He kissed her on the forehead and tightly embraced her.

 Chapter 39 - Unknown Culprit

    Alex arrived at the mansion that day, and his body trembled nervously as he stepped down from the car. ''He won''t kill you; she''s still alive.'' He comforted himself and made his way into the mansion.


    He took a deep breath and used the elevator to proceed to Adrik''s office in the mansion.


    He slowly knocked on the door when he arrived in front of the office, and Adrik''s voice sounded from inside, permitting him to enter.


    He opened the door and peered inside first before stepping in. "Supreme Alpha, you called for me." He swallowed hard as he gazed at Adrik, who was signing stacks of documents on his desk.


    "Have a seat." Adrik raised his eyes to glance at him and gestured him to the seat on the chair opposite him at the table. Alex''s eyes fluttered in confusion, and he slowly ambled to the chair and sat down. An awkward smile emerged on his face, and he stared at Adrik.


    Adrik signed off on the remains of the documents and neatly arranged them. He pulled the drawer open and placed it inside. He shut his laptop and closed it, then raised his eyes to intently gaze at Alex.


    Alex swallowed all the spit in his mouth and sheepishly smiled at his Alpha. "Supreme Alpha, I know it''s my fau-"


    "How did it go?" Adrik cut him off before he could finish his sentence and gazed at him with a raised brow and folded arms.


    "Oh..." Alex blinked his eyes and slowly nodded his head. A simple smile replaced the awkward smile on his face, and he straightened up in his seat. "After my research, it indeed wasn''t Vlad, but I still wasn''t able to find out who the real culprit was-" He placed a file on the desk "-However, per the investigations we held, we got footage that you might want to watch." He pulled out a USB from his pocket and handed it to Adrik.


    Adrik received it with his eyes narrowed into a thin line, and he slightly nodded his head. He opened his laptop and switched it on, then he plugged in the USB and processed the files. It didn''t take much time, and all the files were processed.


    Adrik clicked on the video and played it. Alex''s eyes blinked in confusion when he saw his Alpha''s face slowly turn into a deep scowl. His brow creased, and he hurriedly stood up to walk over and view the video.


    His eyes dilated in shock, and his hands nervously trembled. In the video, a tall silhouette whose long hair was fluttering in the wind was seen. Even though he was like a shadow as a result of everything being dark in the footage, Alex and Adrik didn''t fail to recognize the person. It was someone they would recognize even in their sleep.


    "It''s... him..." Alex fluttered his eyes in disbelief, and he walked back to sit on the chair. He raised his eyes to stare at his Alpha, whose face was motionless and expressionless.


    "I can''t believe I missed that!" Adrik furiously slammed his hand on the table and let out a low, annoyed groan. His teeth clenched in rage, and his eyes slowly changed to a dark golden.


    "Supreme Alpha." Alex hurriedly stood up when he saw Adrik''s eyes, and his face grimaced in helplessness. What''s with his alpha losing his temper these days? This is just too strange for him. His Alpha was one of those people who could keep their cool in any situation, but these days have been different.


    Adrik raised his dark golden eyes and glanced at him. He took a deep breath and released his balled fist. His eyes returned to their normal color and a wicked grin spread across his lips. "I believe he''s ready." He stared at Alex and interlocked his fingers.


    "Huh?" Alex blinked his eyes in confusion and couldn''t resist asking. "What do you mean?" He gazed intently at his Alpha with his eyes full of anticipation. However, Adrik''s face darkened when he saw the confusion written all over his face and he abruptly slapped him on the head. "If you can''t figure it out, don''t ask." He stood up from his seat and proceeded to leave.


    But then he came to a halt and turned to face Alex. "Make sure the dress arrives before 5 pm tomorrow." He threw a card at him and, with a turn, he walked out of the office.


    A low sigh escaped his lips as he stared at the card. These last few days have been stressful for him. So much was going on.


    _________


    Having completed his task, Alex decided to make a run in the woods tonight. It had been a while since he last let his wolf out and let the damn paw feast on the ground.


    He slowly walked into the woods and a smile spread across his face as he watched the trees whose leaves were dancing from one side to another as a result of the refreshing wind blowing on them.


    His eyes glanced at a huge tree which had its branches spread out and he strolled towards it. He took his suit and shirt off and placed them on the tree branch. Then he proceeded to take his pants off. However, a female''s voice, which annoys him to the core, resounded, causing his face to grimace in annoyance.


    "Alex," the melodious voice echoed yet again in his head, but much closer this time.


    Alex turned around and his eyes fell on the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his entire life. Under the moonlight, her blue long wavy hair fell over her shoulder and to her front, covering her breasts, which had nothing draping them. Her blue eyes complimented her flawless skin, which was only covered with small pieces of clothing from the waist to the knees. Her face was so captivating with its perfect shape and her plump red lips and blue eyes that gave her the title of a goddess.

 Chapter 40 - Alesea

    Alex stood motionless and stared at her with eyes that held so many different emotions. He swallowed hard and shut his eyes to resist the urge to stare anymore. ''Such a temptation.'' He instantly shook his head the moment he had the thought and opened his eyes. He cleared his throat and raised his gray eyes to gaze at her face. "Why aren''t you wearing proper clothes again? And why is your upper body bare? " He asked, with annoyance apparent in his tone.


    The lady, who was named Alesea, fluttered her eyes in confusion and glanced at her body. She creased her brow and raised her blue eyes to stare at him. "Well, we don''t have clothes under the sea, so..."


    "Nevermind." Alex let out a deep breath and gazed at her. "What do you want?"


    Alesea frowned her face when she heard that question, and she folded her hands in displeasure. "Alex, aren''t you even happy to see me?" She raised her blue eyes to gaze at him. "We haven''t seen each other in a year now." She blinked her long lashes and walked closer to him.


    Alex''s face grew dark, and he stepped back away from her. He pinched between his brows, and a deep breath escaped his nose. "Please, I am not happy to see you. Nor will I care, even if I don''t see you in a hundred years." He shook his head and gazed at her with no emotion on his face.


    "Why Alex?" Alesea''s hand tightened as her heart ached within her. Tiny bubbles of tears welled up in her eyes, and she stepped closer to him. "What have I done wrong to you?"


    She walked around him and tightly hugged him from the back, pressing her bare upper body against his. "Why are you rejecting me? Am I not pretty?" She asked with a cracked voice, showing she was about to tear up.


    Alex''s face darkened, and he pushed her away from him. He grabbed her by the wrist and made her look at him. "Please know that I am not rejecting you for any of those reasons. So know this and know it now: you are the most beautiful woman I have ever met in my life, so stop thinking like a kid." He let go of her wrist and turned his back on her. "I have rejected you as my mate, and that means that I don''t want to have anything to do with you, so please leave my life alone."


    "But I love you, Alex. I lov-"


    "Stop it!!!" Alex yelled, causing her to flinch back in shock. "Don''t you get it? I will never be with you because it will never work between us."


    "Why won''t it work between us? The moon goddess brought us together as mates. Why won''t you accept it?" Alesea gazed into his eyes, and tiny drops of tears fell from her eyes.


    "Because I have a grudge against you sea people." Alex stared into her eyes, and he let out an annoyed groan. He turned around to grab his clothing from the tree, but Alesea abruptly appeared in front of him, and before he could anticipate what she was about to do, she covered her lips with his, leaving Alex in a dumbfounded state.


    What was happening? Alex gazed into her eyes with dilated eyes, and he immediately proceeded to break the kiss, but Alesea, however, wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss.


    Alex''s mind instantly went into chaos and his lashes fluttered uncontrollably. He had kissed women before, but what he felt with them was different from what he was feeling right now. He felt like everything within him was bubbling and that he could melt within her kiss. He was losing his mind. He couldn''t think straight anymore.


    His wolf, which was calm all along, erupted in desire, and Alex grabbed her by the waist and pressed her against the tree. He fiercely grabbed her hair and deepened the kiss, taking control of the situation.


    Alesea moaned as she fell deeply into him and tangled her hands in his hair. She parted her lips when she felt him asking for entrance, and their tongues danced in rhythm with each other.


    Alex''s grip on her hair tightened, and he kissed her deeply. What was he doing? He wasn''t supposed to be kissing her; he was supposed to push her away, not kiss her! His eyes abruptly dilated as he realized what he was doing, and he broke the kiss, then hurriedly stepped away from her. He turned around with his back facing her and his grip on his shirt tightened. "You got what you wanted." Without sparing one last glance at her, Alex fled, disappearing into the dark woods.


    Alesea stared in the direction he left, and drops of hurtful tears fell from her eyes as his name left her lips. "Alex." It came out more like a painful whisper.


    _____________


    Alex arrived back at the mansion, and the minute he stepped inside, his eyes fell on Adrik, who sat on the couch with his legs crossed over one another and a cup of coffee in his hand. His hair was, as usual, neatly wrapped up in a bun with only a few strands falling over his face.


    Alex stood motionless and stared at him for a while. He blinked his eyes, and his face grimaced in confusion.


    Adrik raised his green eyes and glanced at him immediately, noticing him. His brow arched and he stared at him with a questioning look on his face. "What happened to you?"


    Alex gave him a respectful bow and took his seat on the sofa opposite him. He folded his hands and his face puckered in irritation. "I saw someone I wish I could have avoided."


    "Hmm." Adrik chuckled softly and sipped his tea. "You met your lovely mate, no?" He raised his brow and gazed at him.


    "Mate my foot! I have rejected her and made it clear to her that I don''t want to be with her, but still, she won''t leave me alone. " Alex clenched his fist and let out an annoyed groan. "She won''t stop until the day I strangle her to death in anger."


    Adrik slightly shook his head and sipped on his coffee. "Let me ask you, why do you always look like a ghost whenever you see her?"


    "Because she makes me sick!" Alex pinched between his brows and took a deep breath.


    Adrik laughed softly and stood up from the couch. He dropped the cup of coffee on the mini table and glanced at Alex with a smirk on his lips. "She''s a very alluring woman." He cleared his throat and walked away, leaving Alex with his jaw dropped in bewilderment.


    A smile couldn''t help but spread across Alex''s lips as he gazed at his Alpha''s disappearing back. His Alpha had always been like a big brother to him since he was a young boy. Even though his Alpha acts cold and scares him sometimes, there was a time like this, when the status is thrown behind and brotherhood takes over.


    Then, Alex took a deep breath and stood up from the couch. He walked to the elevator and rode up to his room on the 2nd floor.

 Chapter 41 - Heel Problems

    The early morning sun rose to the blue sky as another day arrived.


    They had their morning breakfast, and Adrik left for work with Alex, while Leia went into the bathroom for a nice shower. She walked out when she was done and swathed herself in white joggers and a small tank top.


    She took her seat on the couch and picked up her phone from the mini table. Her eyes scanned through her messages, and her brow creased when a message from Victor popped up on the screen.


    [Leia, how could you?!] An angry emoji was placed right after the message.


    ''What do you mean?'' Leia''s furrowed brow deepened as she typed her reply.


    [You didn''t tell me you got married!] Just like before, an angry emoji was placed beside the message.


    Leia''s face darkened a bit when she saw his reply, and a deep breath escaped her lips.


    ''It''s complicated.''


    [Complicated?... I thought we were friends! If your sister hadn''t told me, I probably wouldn''t have had any idea by now.]


    ''My sister?... where did you meet my sister?'' Leia hurriedly typed, and her brow arched in bewilderment. Victor didn''t know any of her sisters, so how could any of them have told him?


    [Well, I went to your house to see you, and I met your sister, the one with blonde hair, and she told me you aren''t living with them anymore, but that you''re now married.]


    ''I see... Sorry, I didn''t tell you. As I said, it''s complicated.''


    [It''s okay. But seriously, you got married?]


    ''Yes.''


    [Great... Congratulations] A smiling emoji was placed behind it.


    Leia''s brow slightly arched as she read the message, and she threw the phone beside her on the sofa. She threw her head back and tightly shut her eyes as though trying not to recall something


    ...


    The clock ticked and ticked and the sun slowly set whilst the moon took over the dark sky, sparring its light upon all living and non-living creatures.


    Adrik arrived home and made his way to their room. He stepped in and slid off his suit, then he took a bit of rest before going in for a shower. Tonight they were going to the party.


    He outfitted himself in a silver-colored suit and covered his face with his extraordinary gray mask. He had his black raven hair combed and banded up into a ponytail with only a few strands falling over his face.


    Leia walked out of the bathroom with a white towel tightly wrapped around her body and tiny drops of water falling off her wet hair.


    Her eyes fell on Adrik, and she became motionless. She blinked her eyes as a surprised expression became apparent on her face and her jaw fell.


    The Adrik standing in front of her now looked so stunning. Yes, he had scars, but putting that aside, he looked breathtaking to her. Maybe not to somebody else, but he did it to her. The silver suit he wore adored his manly body so perfectly, and his black raven long hair that was tied up in a ponytail fell over his shoulder and complimented both his look and demeanor so perfectly. And his eyes... Adrik''s eyes were one of his features that she adored so much.


    "Ehem..." Adrik cleared his throat and snapped her out of her thoughts. Leia''s eyes fluttered and her cheeks turned shades of red in embarrassment. She also cleared her throat and turned away from him.


    "The dress is on the bed... I will be waiting for you downstairs." Adrik smiled at her and strolled to the door. Then he glanced at her once more before he walked out, shutting the door behind him.


    Leia turned to the bed, and her eyes fell on a silver-colored dress that glistened under the luminous light of the chandelier hanging on the ceiling of their room. The dress was sleeveless and stopped at knee length. It was the type that perfectly hugs the body and displays one''s curves. Leia stared at it for a while, and a smile unknowingly crept onto her lips. ''Matching outfits.'' She shook her head as she thought and released the towel that was draping her body.


    She slipped into the dress and closed the zipper on the side. Come to think of it, it fit her perfectly. She picked up the silver necklace that had a heart pendant and wore it around her neck. This was also bought by Adrik.


    Leia took a deep breath and walked to the mirror. She examined herself and nodded her head in satisfaction. She had her hair fixed up and gave a little touch to her face. She wasn''t a makeup lover and neither did she know how to use one, so she had only applied a bit of powder on her face and a pink lipgloss on her lips.


    She ambled back to the bed and stared at the heels, staring at her on the floor. An awkward smile emerged on her face, and she pinched between her brows. It''s embarrassing to say, but she doesn''t know how to walk in heels. She was a sneaker and boot type of person, so she had never worn heels before, not even to the prom party held at her school then. The first time she tried to, she felt as though she was on top of a huge mountain and that she would fall if she moved.


    Her face grimaced, and she clicked her tongue. She picked up her phone from the bed and dialed Adrik''s number. An awkward smile spread on her lips the moment he picked up.


    [Little wife, is everything okay? I am still waiting for you.]


    Leia cleared her throat and chuckled awkwardly. "Ca-can you... come up for a bit?"


    [Mhmm... sure]


    She hung up the phone and glanced at the heels once again. She patiently waited for Adrik, and it didn''t take long before the door was pushed open and he walked in.


    Adrik''s brow raised in surprise when he saw his little wife and he stood motionless. Damn!! She looked hot and sensational! There was not too much makeup on her face, and her short brown hair was neatly combed into a fine style. The silver dress perfectly hugged her body, showing off her curves, and what he admired most were the visible, beautiful tattoos all over her neck, shoulders, and arms, as a result of her sleeveless dress.


    He raised his eyes to stare at her face, and a wide grin spread across his lips. "You look so hot!" He walked close to her and kissed her on the forehead.


    Leia smiled awkwardly and cleared her throat. "Thank you." She tapped her fingers on her thigh and peeked at the heels. "There is... a problem."


    Adrik drew back in bewilderment and gazed at her face. "A problem?"


    "Yes..." Leia chuckled awkwardly and pointed at her feet, then at the heels. "I can''t wear heels." Her face grimaced in embarrassment and she lowered her head to avoid his surprised gaze that was on her. Gosh, she had never felt this embarrassed before, not even when she wore a flat shoe to prom.


    Adrik laughed softly and pinched her on the cheek. "That is indeed a big problem." He nodded his head and glanced at the heels, then at Leia. An idea pooped up in his head, and he smiled at her. "Wear it first."


    Leia looked up at him in bewilderment and her brow arched in confusion.


    "Just wear it," Adrik chuckled as he pressed her to the bed. He squatted down to her level and placed the heels on her feet. Then he grabbed her hands and pulled her up from the bed. "I will carry you down the stairs and trust me, you will be able to walk in heels once we get to that party." Without waiting for her to say something, he placed his left arm on her shoulder and his right arm on her back knee and scooped her up into a bridal style.


    "Why don''t we-" Leia proceeded to say something, but he smiled, causing her to swallow the rest of her words. He didn''t even know what she wanted to say. I mean, there''s an elevator and they could just take one. Why was he bothering to carry her downstairs? Anyway, Leia shrugged and allowed him to haul her away.


    With her in his arms, he walked down the stairs and past the maids, whose eyes were as wide as saucers, then out of the mansion and to the car.


    One of his men pulled the backdoor open and he sat Leia in the backseat. He stepped in and took a seat beside her, and the men shut the door.


    Alex started the car engine and sped out of the compound and onto the road, followed by the bodyguards in their car


    .....


    The car arrived and slowly rode into a huge compound that was decorated with flowers and had a water fountain standing in the middle. A large white mansion that screamed "rich" came into view, and the first thing that one would adore was the beautiful white lilies standing on each side of the entrance.


    Leia''s eyes gazed at the variety of expensive cars packed everywhere, and she couldn''t help but nod slightly. This party was a huge one, as she expected.


    She snapped out of their thoughts when one of the bodyguards pulled the door open for her and she stepped down. Her eyes glanced at the huge white building, and a deep breath escaped her nose. She does not doubt that her father is here, so she''s a bit displeased to be here.


    Leia raised her eyes and glanced at Adrik, who was staring at her with a warm smile visible in his eyes. He walked over to her and wrapped his arm around her waist. "Can you handle it?" He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and planted a soft kiss on her head.


    Leia nodded her head and let out a soft sigh. She glanced at her feet, and her lips twisted funnily. It''s either her or these heels. The answer is obvious; it''s the heels that are going down because she can''t afford to disgrace herself in front of those awful rich people. She looked up at Adrik and half-smiled at him. "I am ready."


    Adrik glanced at Alex and, with his arm wrapped around Leia''s waist, they began to stroll towards the entrance majestically.


    ....


    Within the mansion, guests dressed in different styles of expensive clothing were either drinking or chatting with their partners.


    At the bar in the mansion, a slender teen with blonde hair, draped in a long red v-neck dress, stood beside a black-haired girl who looked slightly older than her and was outfitted in a short, pink, body-hugging dress that was single-handed. Anyone who walked in and saw them would know that they were sisters.


    "Do you think she will come?" Jenny asked with a sarcastic expression on her face.


    "I don''t know." Amy sipped on her wine and dropped the glass on the counter. She narrowed her eyes and glanced at the entrance, then at her father, who was speaking with an unknown man. She shook her head and proceeded to walk to him, but everywhere instantly went quiet as the gazes of the surrounding guests fell on the entrance, and their bodies went still in awe.


    Amy turned her gaze to the entrance to see what had caught everyone''s interest for them to stop what they were doing and her eyes slowly broadened as a saucer as she stared at the door.


    From the huge door that was opened by two bodyguards, a couple who held each other by the waist and were swathed in matching outfits walked in, and their eyes fell on the guests who had their ogling eyes fixed on them.


    Adrik''s arms, which were around Leia''s waist, tightened, and he pulled her closer to him. He glanced at her and nuzzled her neck, then, with a wink of his left eye, they majestically began to walk to the center of the huge room.


    Everyone''s jaw fell as they stared at them, and their eyes fluttered in disbelief. Wasn''t this the one and only Mr. Avalanzo, rejected by all women? Who was the girl beside her? Where did he find her, and such a beautiful one at that?


    Mr. Adolpho, who was speaking with someone, halted when he felt the changes in the atmosphere, and he slowly turned around. The minute he turned, his eyes fell on the two couples, and his brain went blank while his eyes unknowingly dilated in shock.


    *******************


    I am locking from the next chapter, besties. However, due to a mistake of mine, a VIP chapter of mine got duplicated, and am not able to fix it. However no worries. I wrote two chapters in this chapter which is up to 2123 words. I did this cuz I want to compensate for the duplicated chapter. Once y''all get to the duplicated one, just skip it alright ^-^ love you guys, continue supporting me.. I so much appreciate it.

 Chapter 42 - Put A Smile On Your Face

    His lips trembled as he stared at Leia, who was also staring at him from a distance, and his eyes twitched when he saw the vicious grin on her lips. She looked so different,... She looked very lovely and much more endowed compared to when she was living with him. The Leia he was looking at right now looked different from the Leia he hated and tortured before. She was giving off this dangerous vibe that was making him uncomfortable.


    The story altered; it wasn''t going the way he wanted it to go anymore. I mean, she looks happy. That wasn''t how it was supposed to be, right? She was supposed to look skinny and unhealthy, and most of all, she was supposed to be miserable. This was not what he planned when he sold her away. Everything was going wrong here!


    Mr. Adolpho proceeded to take a deep breath, but his eyes abruptly blinked vigorously when he suddenly heard her voice. "It''s been a long time, father." Leia smiled warmly and spread her arms to hug him.


    She wrapped her arms around him and when her head got near his, she whispered into his ear. "You should put a smile on that shocked face of yours because you look like a fool at this moment." She chuckled in a low tone and drew back from the embrace.


    Mr. Adolpho fluttered his eyes, and an unknown glint flashed in his pitch-black eyes. His eyes narrowed into a thin line, and he gazed intently at her.


    Leia smiled and ignored him. She turned to Amy and Jenny, who stood beside their father with a dumbstruck utterance on their faces, and a soft chuckle escaped her lips. "Dear sisters, did you guys miss me this much? Aww, I missed you guys too." She stepped forward and pulled the both of them into a hug, but before she drew back from the embrace, she whispered into their ears. "You two should put some smiles on your pretty faces." Jenny and Amy trembled and pulled away from the hug immediately.


    Adrik, who noticed the heavy atmosphere, cleared his throat and pulled Leia to his side. He encircled his arm around her waist and tightened it to prevent her from leaving his arm. Leia raised her eyes and secretly glared at him.


    "Mr. Avalanzo." Mr. Adolpho hurriedly extended his hand out with an awkward smile on his face. Adrik nodded at him and exchanged a handshake with him.


    Mr. Adolpho parted his lips to say something, but a lady''s voice resounded, causing all five of them to turn their heads over and see Lady Cathryn, who was draped in a long white sleeveless dress that sparkled under the luminous light of the chandelier, walking towards them.


    "Mr. Avalamzo, it''s so good to see you." She extended her pale hand and exchanged a handshake with Adrik. Her eyes shifted to Leia, and she raised her brow in surprise. Who was this girl? She was sure that she never heard of Adrik getting married or having a girlfriend. She shifted her gaze back to Adrik and a mischievous smile spread across her lips. "Your girlfriend?"


    Adrik turned his head and glanced at her with an expressionless face. "My wife." He turned to Leia and tucked the strand of hair that fell over her face into the back of her ear.


    Lady Cathryn, Mr. Adolpho, and his daughters blinked their eyes in disbelief, and Lady Cathryn couldn''t help but glance at Leia once again. His wife? How come? Why was there no news of the marriage?


    She scrutinized Leia from head to toe, and she slowly revealed a smile. "Which family are you from, dear?" She gazed at Leia with uncertainty apparent in her gray eyes, but Leia simply glanced at her and her face puckered in displeasure. She ignored Lady Cathryn and wrapped her arms around Adrik.


    Lady Cathryn''s eyes fluttered as her face darkened and she revealed a fake smile. She parted her lips and proceeded to say something, but Mr. Adolpho immediately cut her off, causing her to swallow her words. "She''s my daughter." He smiled awkwardly and cleared his throat. None of these fellow rich people knew about Leia, nor that he had a third daughter because he never took Leia anywhere with him. He always brought Amy and Jenny along with him when attending these kinds of parties.


    Lady Cathryn''s eyes squinted in dumbstruck, and she glanced at Leia, then at Mr. Adolpho. "And we had no idea about her! You hid such a lovely daughter of yours from us." She clicked her tongue and shook her head. "I could have introduced her to my handsome nephew. They would probably be a perfect match."


    Adrik''s eyes narrowed dangerously and he glared at Lady Cathryn, which she didn''t notice as her attention was fixed on Leia and Mr. Adolpho.


    Lady Cathryn chuckled softly and turned around to the dance floor when the music began. "Oh, the music has begun." She turned to them and a smile formed on her lips. "Shall we all dance?" She walked up to Mr. Adolpho and interlocked her arm with his, then led him to the dance floor.


    Adrik turned to Leia and smiled at her. "Wanna dance?" He coughed slightly and gazed at her with expectation in his eyes. Leia nodded her head with a half-smile on her lips, and he led her away to the dance floor.


    They faced each other, and Adrik placed his left arm on her waist, then interlocked his right hand with Leia''s hand. With Leia''s right hand placed on his shoulder and the left interlocked with his, they slowly began to move in rhythm with the music that was playing.


    They moved with each other, just like the other guests were, but Adrik''s face suddenly grimaced, and he hurriedly stared down to his feet, only to see Leia''s feet on top of his. His lashes flickered in confusion, and he raised his eyes to gaze at her. "Little wife..." He stared at her with a bewildered expression on his face, patiently waiting for an explanation.


    A smug expression emerged on Leia''s face and she said, with a straight countenance, "If you don''t want to disgrace the both of us, ignore it."


    "Standing on my feet is not the problem, but you''re heavy! You should lose some weight." Adrik''s brow crinkled in displeasure, and he continued to dance with her on top of his feet.


    Leia''s lips parted in dumbstruck and her face darkened. "I think you''re the one that needs to lose weight between the both of us!." She glared at him and wickedly matched his feet, causing Adrik''s face to grimace a little in pain.. "Hey!" He glared at her and clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction.

 Chapter 43 - Teach You Some Manners

    Leia smirked and ignored his glaring green eyes. They continued to dance with each other and didn''t even notice when everyone stopped dancing and fixed their gazes on them.


    Leia smiled and drew back from Adrik. He caught her by the waist and pulled her back into his embrace, then they moved back and forth in rhythm. They placed their palms together and moved from side to side, with their gazes fixed on each other. Leia swayed her hips in cadence to the music, and Adrik smirked slyly. With her back facing him, he placed his left hand on her belly and interlocked his right hand with hers, then they slowly swayed their bodies in inflection with each other.


    The pacing of the music changed suddenly, and he grabbed her by the hand and twirled her around, then caught her by the waist and bent her down.


    Leia blinked her eyes in confusion at the sudden move and stared at Adrik with a questioning gaze. What was he doing? He knows she can''t walk on heels, and he''s making her dance in such style. Before she could even say anything to him, Adrik pulled her up and twirled her away, then abruptly pulled her back by the wrist and slid her in between his legs.


    "Ahh!!" Leia exhaled and inhaled sharply, but before she could breathe properly. He pulled her back up and threw her a little bit up, then caught her by the waist and vigorously twirled her around. Leia shook her head as she was feeling dizzy and swallowed hard. He turned her around so she had her back facing him and nuzzled her neck. The pacing of the music became slow once again, and they returned to moving in slow motion. Leia breathed in and out, and her eyes viciously glared at him.


    Amy, who stood by the counter with a glass of wine in her hand, narrowed her eyes as her heel tapped continuously on the floor. She viciously stared at them, and an unknown glint flashed in her eyes. She let out a low groan and abruptly dropped the glass of wine on the counter, then stomped away with clenched hands. She walked to Jenny, who also had her eyes fixed on Leia and Adrik, and her eyes rolled in annoyance.


    The music stopped and Adrik led Leia out of the dance floor by the hand. "What if something had happened?" Leia abruptly whispered, so only he and she could hear her, and her brow creased in displeasure. Adrik glanced at her and chuckled softly with an amused face.


    They proceeded to walk to the counter, but a familiar female voice resounded, causing them to let out a low, annoyed groan and turn to face Lady Cathryn, who had a face full of a friendly smile. "Mr. Avalanzo." Lady Cathryn smiled sheepishly and glanced at a young blonde-haired girl with gray eyes, draped in a short purple dress, standing beside her.


    "Anything?" Adrik asked with an expressionless face.


    "I want to introduce you to my lovely daughter. She recently came back from school, so I thought it would be nice to introduce her to you." Lady Cathryn turned to her daughter, who was smiling widely with her eyes fixed on Adrik. "Her name is Amanda, but she''s mostly called Ama." She gestured at her daughter, then to Adrik. "He is Mr. Avalanzo." Amanda smiled and slightly waved her hand at Adrik. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Avalanzo."


    Adrik nodded at her and proceeded to say something to Lady Cathryn. However, his face suddenly grimaced when he felt a wicked pinch on his hand, and he hurriedly turned to Leia only to see her gazing at Lady Cathryn with a vicious eye and a devilish smirk on her lips. His eyes couldn''t help but blink in confusion. What was going on with his little wife?


    "So Mr. Avalanzo-" Adrik averted her gaze from Leia to stare at Lady Cathryn, who stood with crossed arms. "-When was your marriage held?" She raised her eyebrows and asked, with a smirk on her lips.


    Adrik''s brow arched at her question, and his face puckered in displeasure.


    "Oh, don''t get me wrong. It''s for the obvious reason that we are all surprised." Lady Cathryn snickered and smiled at the surrounding guests, whose eyes were now fixed on them, with a sharp expression on her face.


    "I agree." Amanda curled her lips and glanced at Leia. "She probably married him for his money and not for love-" She peeked at the surrounding guests and sarcastically blurted out. "-No doubt it''s an arranged marriage." Amanda chuckled mockingly along with her mother and turned to stare at Adrik. However, an unexpected hot slap that gave her a huge headache landed on her pretty face, and she fell to the floor with her hand clutching onto her now red cheek.


    Both the surrounding guests, Lady Cathryn, Mr. Adolpho, and his two daughters gasped and lowered their eyes to stare at Amanda, then at Leia, who stood with a darkened face and clenched hands. Their eyes blinked furiously in disbelief, and they covered their mouths.


    "How dare you!!" Lady Cathryn exclaimed, and in a rage, she pointed her finger at Leia and stepped forward to slap her. Adrik proceeded to react, but Leia abruptly stepped forward and grabbed Lady Cathryn by the neck of her dress, and stared deep into her eyes with threat apparent in her pitch-black pupils. "If you don''t learn to mind your business and sew up those artificial lips of yours, I might be the one to help you and sew them up." She released her dress and stepped a bit back, giving only an inch of distance between the two of them. "And one more piece of advice: teach your obnoxious daughter some manners, or she''ll be in a lot of trouble in the future." She grinned dangerously and glanced at Amanda, who was still clutching her red cheek with an ashen face.


    Leia narrowed her eyes and squatted down to her level. She grabbed her by the chin, and a mysterious smirk emerged on her lips. "Do you, by any chance, know what I hate?" She pouted with a smile on her face. "It''s girls like you who throw themselves away and stoop too low for insignificant gains." She clicked her tongue and shook her head in a disappointed manner. "You know, since your mother can''t seem to teach you some manners, you can teach her, or if both of you can''t teach each other, I will be happy to help. It''s not that hard." Leia chuckled crazily and threw her head back with one hand, clutching onto her belly.


    Amanda''s face darkened, and she proceeded to say something. However, her body suddenly reacted and flinched back in fear when Leia abruptly raised her head and glared at her with menacing eyes. "Awww... Don''t worry, I''m not going to slap you again." She laughed softly and shook her head in mockery.. She clicked her tongue and slowly stood up from the floor, then glanced at Lady Cathryn, who stood motionless with disbelief written all over her face.

 Chapter 44 - Teach You Some Manners

    Leia smirked and ignored his glaring green eyes. They continued to dance with each other and didn''t even notice when everyone stopped dancing and fixed their gazes on them.


    Leia smiled and drew back from Adrik. He caught her by the waist and pulled her back into his embrace, then they moved back and forth in rhythm. They placed their palms together and moved from side to side, with their gazes fixed on each other. Leia swayed her hips in cadence to the music, and Adrik smirked slyly. With her back facing him, he placed his left hand on her belly and interlocked his right hand with hers, then they slowly swayed their bodies in inflection with each other.


    The pacing of the music changed suddenly, and he grabbed her by the hand and twirled her around, then caught her by the waist and bent her down.


    Leia blinked her eyes in confusion at the sudden move and stared at Adrik with a questioning gaze. What was he doing? He knows she can''t walk on heels, and he''s making her dance in such style. Before she could even say anything to him, Adrik pulled her up and twirled her away, then abruptly pulled her back by the wrist and slid her in between his legs.


    "Ahh!!" Leia exhaled and inhaled sharply, but before she could breathe properly. He pulled her back up and threw her a little bit up, then caught her by the waist and vigorously twirled her around. Leia shook her head as she was feeling dizzy and swallowed hard. He turned her around so she had her back facing him and nuzzled her neck. The pacing of the music became slow once again, and they returned to moving in slow motion. Leia breathed in and out, and her eyes viciously glared at him.


    Amy, who stood by the counter with a glass of wine in her hand, narrowed her eyes as her heel tapped continuously on the floor. She viciously stared at them, and an unknown glint flashed in her eyes. She let out a low groan and abruptly dropped the glass of wine on the counter, then stomped away with clenched hands. She walked to Jenny, who also had her eyes fixed on Leia and Adrik, and her eyes rolled in annoyance.


    The music stopped and Adrik led Leia out of the dance floor by the hand. "What if something had happened?" Leia abruptly whispered, so only he and she could hear her, and her brow creased in displeasure. Adrik glanced at her and chuckled softly with an amused face.


    They proceeded to walk to the counter, but a familiar female voice resounded, causing them to let out a low, annoyed groan and turn to face Lady Cathryn, who had a face full of a friendly smile. "Mr. Avalanzo." Lady Cathryn smiled sheepishly and glanced at a young blonde-haired girl with gray eyes, draped in a short purple dress, standing beside her.


    "Anything?" Adrik asked with an expressionless face.


    "I want to introduce you to my lovely daughter. She recently came back from school, so I thought it would be nice to introduce her to you." Lady Cathryn turned to her daughter, who was smiling widely with her eyes fixed on Adrik. "Her name is Amanda, but she''s mostly called Ama." She gestured at her daughter, then to Adrik. "He is Mr. Avalanzo." Amanda smiled and slightly waved her hand at Adrik. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Avalanzo."


    Adrik nodded at her and proceeded to say something to Lady Cathryn. However, his face suddenly grimaced when he felt a wicked pinch on his hand, and he hurriedly turned to Leia only to see her gazing at Lady Cathryn with a vicious eye and a devilish smirk on her lips. His eyes couldn''t help but blink in confusion. What was going on with his little wife?


    "So Mr. Avalanzo-" Adrik averted her gaze from Leia to stare at Lady Cathryn, who stood with crossed arms. "-When was your marriage held?" She raised her eyebrows and asked, with a smirk on her lips.


    Adrik''s brow arched at her question, and his face puckered in displeasure.


    "Oh, don''t get me wrong. It''s for the obvious reason that we are all surprised." Lady Cathryn snickered and smiled at the surrounding guests, whose eyes were now fixed on them, with a sharp expression on her face.


    "I agree." Amanda curled her lips and glanced at Leia. "She probably married him for his money and not for love-" She peeked at the surrounding guests and sarcastically blurted out. "-No doubt it''s an arranged marriage." Amanda chuckled mockingly along with her mother and turned to stare at Adrik. However, an unexpected hot slap that gave her a huge headache landed on her pretty face, and she fell to the floor with her hand clutching onto her now red cheek.


    Both the surrounding guests, Lady Cathryn, Mr. Adolpho, and his two daughters gasped and lowered their eyes to stare at Amanda, then at Leia, who stood with a darkened face and clenched hands. Their eyes blinked furiously in disbelief, and they covered their mouths.


    "How dare you!!" Lady Cathryn exclaimed, and in a rage, she pointed her finger at Leia and stepped forward to slap her. Adrik proceeded to react, but Leia abruptly stepped forward and grabbed Lady Cathryn by the neck of her dress, and stared deep into her eyes with threat apparent in her pitch-black pupils. "If you don''t learn to mind your business and sew up those artificial lips of yours, I might be the one to help you and sew them up." She released her dress and stepped a bit back, giving only an inch of distance between the two of them. "And one more piece of advice: teach your obnoxious daughter some manners, or she''ll be in a lot of trouble in the future." She grinned dangerously and glanced at Amanda, who was still clutching her red cheek with an ashen face.


    Leia narrowed her eyes and squatted down to her level. She grabbed her by the chin, and a mysterious smirk emerged on her lips. "Do you, by any chance, know what I hate?" She pouted with a smile on her face. "It''s girls like you who throw themselves away and stoop too low for insignificant gains." She clicked her tongue and shook her head in a disappointed manner. "You know, since your mother can''t seem to teach you some manners, you can teach her, or if both of you can''t teach each other, I will be happy to help. It''s not that hard." Leia chuckled crazily and threw her head back with one hand, clutching onto her belly.


    Amanda''s face darkened, and she proceeded to say something. However, her body suddenly reacted and flinched back in fear when Leia abruptly raised her head and glared at her with menacing eyes. "Awww... Don''t worry, I''m not going to slap you again." She laughed softly and shook her head in mockery.. She clicked her tongue and slowly stood up from the floor, then glanced at Lady Cathryn, who stood motionless with disbelief written all over her face.

 Chapter 45 - Am Sorry

    Leia glanced at Mr. Adolpho, her sisters, and the surrounding guests, and an unknown glint flashed in her eyes. She turned around and her gaze fell on Adrik, who was staring at her with a darkened face.


    Her brow creased in displeasure, and she clenched her fist in annoyance. She took a deep breath and an emotion that Adrik knew too well became apparent in her eyes: "Pain." She slightly nodded her head and, with her hand balled into a tight fist, she walked forward and proceeded to amble past Adrik. However, he reached out his hand to grab her arm and stop her, but Leia furiously slapped his hand away and walked past him.


    She bent down and took her heels off as they were making it hard for her to walk, and she ambled out of the hall.


    Adrik yanked his hands into his pocket and shut his eyes as a deep breath escaped his nose. He never expected any of the scenarios that have unfolded just now. He never even knew this side of Leia. Yes, he knew she was a stubborn girl, but Leia today was something else... She was something he had never witnessed in any woman before. She probably thinks he is displeased with her actions, but he isn''t. Honestly, he loved every single thing that Leia did. That''s what standing up for oneself is. Let your haters know that you''re not a pushover and put some fear into them.


    Adrik smirked behind the mask covering half of his face and glanced at Lady Cathryn, who was still standing motionless, with amusement in his eyes. He slightly shook his head and turned to glance at Alex, who stood by the counter with a dumbfounded expression on his face.


    He turned around and motioned for Alex to follow as he began to stroll out of the hall, not bothering to apologize on behalf of Leia or say anything at the very least. They walked outside, ignoring the reporters standing at the entrance, and boarded the car, then rode out of the luxurious compound.


    The reporters who didn''t get to hear anything from Adrik gazed towards the entrance door with anticipation in their eyes. They must get some gossip.


    Lady Cathryn''s face turned pale in rage, and she helped her daughter up from the floor. She turned red in fury as she looked at the mockery in the eyes of those around her. Her eyes narrowed into a thin line, and a wicked grin made its way to her lips.


    Mr. Adolpho, who saw the grin on her lips, creased his brow and an unknown glint flashed in his pitch-black pupil. He turned to his daughters and motioned for them to follow him.


    ________


    The moment she arrived at the mansion, Leia walked straight to the kitchen, ignoring the maids who were looking at her with bewilderment on their faces, and pulled the fridge open. She grabbed a can of beer and shut the fridge door, then strolled out of the kitchen.


    She threw her heels away in the living room and ambled out to the garden.


    The thunder rumbled in the sky and tiny drops of rain began to fall on the beings of the earth. Leia raised her eyes to stare at the dark clouds blocking the stars and the moon, and a soft chuckle escaped her mouth.


    She glanced at the white swing and walked over to sit on it. Her eyes gazed out to the outskirts, and she opened the can of beer, ignoring the rain that was pouring down on her.


    She drank a mouthful, and her mind drifted off into thought. Well, she expected worse than what happened today, so she''s not quite surprised, but what has her confused is why she went crazy at that moment. I mean, she was being insulted then, but that was nothing new. It was expected. However, what made her angry was the fact that the woman had to indirectly insult Adrik about his scars. What the hell?! She was obviously trying to say that Adrik wouldn''t be able to have any woman in his life because of his scars.


    Ahhh!! Even the thought of it still makes her mad, and she doesn''t understand why. Why was this affecting her? Her heart specifically. She felt broken within her at that moment when the dumb woman said that shit. Her heart ached and she didn''t understand why. Does she... care for him?


    She shut her eyes to take a deep breath, but a cold familiar voice that she would recognize in her sleep resounded beside her, and she turned her head to see Adrik standing beside her with his body all drenched and his face unmasked, revealing his horrible scars. He glanced down at her with an emotionless face and walked over to sit down beside her on the swing.


    They peeked at each other, and the swing slowly rocked them back and forth. An unknown glint flashed in their eyes, and they both took a deep breath at the same time.


    "I am sorry."


    "I am sorry."


    They immediately glanced at each other''s shocked faces and chuckled softly. Adrik smiled at her and gazed up at the cloudy sky. He let out a soft sigh and tucked a strand of his hair that fell over his face behind his ear. "I am... sorry about today." He turned to her and pessimistically smiled at her.


    Leia glanced at him and shook her head in disapproval. "I should be the one apologizing." A soft smile escaped her lips, and she apologetically smiled back at him. "I ruined the party and probably disgraced you in front of everyone." She clicked her tongue and gazed up at the sky.


    Adrik stared at her and a simple smile emerged on his scarred face. "Honestly, I was proud of you. You surprised me...I never expected any of that. " He chuckled softly and caressed her wet hair. "Such a tough little wife."


    Leia raised her head to look at him, and her eyes fluttered as she felt different emotions.. She took a deep, sad breath and lowered her head as guilt flashed in her pitch-black eyes.

 Chapter 46 - Best Friends

    She shifted away from him without sparing him a glance and pulled her legs to her chest, then wrapped her arms around them.


    Adrik''s brow creased in confusion, and he couldn''t resist asking, as he moved closer to her, to touch her. "little wife, is something¡ª"


    "Are you stupid or what?" Leia slapped his hands, that was about to touch her, away and raised her eyes, which had so many questions swirling within them, to stare at him.


    Adrik drew his head back in surprise and gazed at her with deep confusion written all over his face.


    Leia breathed heavily and glared at him as her face turned red in anger. "Why the fuck are you being nice to me?! You should be awful and hateful towards me, not nice to me!!" She yelled at him and punched her hand on the swing. "I have always been mean to you, and I don''t understand why you''re making me feel so guilty with your stupid nice treatment of me!!!" She shut her eyes and screamed to release the knots of guilt that were stuffed within her heart.


    Adrik stood still for a moment, his gaze fixed on her. He let out a low sigh and stared up at the sky. His green eyes darkened and became dark green, and he turned to gaze at her, "Because of a lot of things." He blinked his long lashes and averted his gaze from her. "There is so much we want to say sometimes, but we realize that we can''t or some things could be ruined." He chuckled softly and took a deep breath.


    "Ahhh!!!" Leia yelled, and tiny drops of tears fell from her eyes. What was wrong with her? His father never loved her but tortured her and her sisters... they were just a bunch of hypocrites. But Adrik, from day one, never mistreated her, and when he unknowingly does, he sees to it that he apologizes. He was the only one that respected and made her feel like she was worth something sometimes.


    "Am sorry..." Leia raised her hand and wiped away the tears from her eyes. She fluttered her lashes and turned to gaze at Adrik, who was staring at her with a genuine smile on his lips. "Why are you staring at me like that?" She sniffed and asked, behind sobs.


    Adrik reached out his hand and wrapped his arm around her, drawing her closer to him. He caressed her hair and placed a soft kiss on her head. "You''re very beautiful." Leia raised her eyes to look at him with confusion written all over her face.


    Adrik glanced at her and pinched her on the cheek. "You''re adorable too, but it''s scary when the demon in you escapes." He chuckled and patted her on the head.


    Leia leaned down and placed her head on his chest as so many emotions flashed within her eyes. "Damn you!!" She punched his chest and more tears flowed down her cheeks.


    Adrik ignored it and gently stroked her back to help her calm down. Leia whimpered and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly. Adrik smiled with his eyes fixed on the sky and hugged her back.


    "You know what, I want us to be best friends!" Leia raised her eyes to stare at him, and persistence could be seen written all over her wet face. Adrik gazed at her with surprise apparent on his face, and he slowly nodded at her and kissed her on the forehead. He wants more from her than just a best friend, but... I mean, she''s his mate and he wants to be with her, not as a friend or as a best friend, but more than that. Nevertheless, it''s okay like this. At the very least, he would have more time to be clear about his feelings towards her, because, at this moment, he really can''t tell if he does love her or not. He just knows that he adores and cares for her. Who knows, she might also develop some feelings for him. Perhaps...


    He chuckled softly inside him and planted yet another soft kiss on her forehead.


    They stayed this way and allowed the rain to pour down on them. Adriks'' wet strands of hair latched onto his face, and he glanced at Leia''s hair, which was also latching onto her face, and removed it.


    Leia raised her eyes to stare at his face, and her hand subconsciously touched his jaw, which had straight scars on it. Her fingers slowly traced across the ones on his perfectly sculpted nose, and she stared deep into his green eyes.


    Adrik fluttered his eyes in bewilderment and silently gazed back at her.


    "What inflicted these scars on your face?" Leia asked, and her finger trailed on the one across his nose that looked like that of a centipede.


    Adrik stayed quiet for a while as he stared intently at her and a low breath escaped his nose. "There are some decisions that we make and actions that we take, which at the end have quite a huge consequences we might not be able to fight instantly but may take us years or more." He let out a soft sigh and patted her on the head. "And what about you, what gave you such scars, that you had to go tattoo them?"


    "Well¡­ Same here, but fighting the consequences of mine, will not take me years, nor more." Leia smirked and wiped away the drops of rain that were streaming down her face. Adrik slightly nodded with a contemplative smile on his face.


    Leia gazed at him and a half-smile emerged on her lips, "You know¡­ you would look really beautiful and breathtaking without those scars."


    "Hmm...what makes you say that?"


    "Well¡­ honestly you look quite handsome and catchy even with these scars¡­ I don''t know about others but you do to me...so I am judging based on that." Leia smiled as her eyes darted around and she took a deep breath.


    Adrik stroked her back and abruptly stood up from the swing with her in his arms. "We need to go inside, or you might catch a cold and stay in bed for days."


    "We, not you! Don''t act like you don''t get sick." Leia clicked her tongue and gazed at him with an expression that said "Can you put down?"


    Adrik shook his head and began to walk towards the mansion with her in his arms, ignoring her glaring face. "Little wife, if you don''t want to fall, you better hold me tightly, because I won''t let you go until we get to our room." He chuckled and walked into the mansion then to the elevator.


    It took them to the 2nd floor and Adrik carried her to their room. He shut the door and carried her straight into the bathroom, and sat her down near the bathtub.


    "Wh-what are you doing?" Leia''s eyes blinked furiously and she gazed at him with a creased brow.


    "I want to bathe you." Adrik shrugged and proceeded to fill the bathtub.


    "What?!... You can''t do that!!" Leia clutched her body and backed away a little bit.


    Adrik laughed softly and threw some perfume into the bathtub. "Relax, it''s not like I have not seen you naked before. Am just gonna bath you, nothing else.." He glanced at her and sent her a warm smile.

 Chapter 47 - Reactions

    "Still," Leia''s eyes glared at him, and she wrapped her arm tightly around her body.


    Adrik gazed at her, and his face became amused at her reaction. "Little wife, we are married, and I also promised you that I wouldn''t do anything to you without your consent, so relax. I just want to bathe you myself. " He closed the tap and got up to walk to her.


    Leia gazed at him, and he pulled her up from the block by the wrist. He stared at her and waited for her to give her consent.


    Leia creased her brow and uncertainty flashed in her eyes. She lifted her head to glance at him, and a deep breath escaped her lips. "Fine, but... turn around." She stared at him with an arched brow.


    Adrik shook his head in an amused manner and turned around to have his back facing her.


    Leia unzipped the dress and slid out of it. She took her underwear off and slowly slipped her slender body into the warm, bubbling water that smelled so refreshing and nice. "You can turn around now." She said, and slowly rested her head on the edge of the tub.


    Adrik turned around and glanced at her. He took his suit jacket and shirt off, leaving his upper body bare, and walked to her. He took his seat on the edge of the bathtub and smiled at her.


    Leia rolled her eyes and slowly shut them as she relaxed her body. "Do your thing, but don''t even think of going far, or else... " She grinned wickedly with her eyes shut and took a nice deep breath.


    Adrik shook his head, clearly amused by her action, and took the soft sponge from the plastic white container. He bubbled it up and placed it on her shoulder, then he scooped up a handful of water and slowly poured it on her body. He did the same on her hair and combed it back with his fingers.


    Leia relaxed more comfortably and let out a soft sigh.


    Adrik removed the sponge from her body and gently brushed it against her shoulder, then her collar bone. His other hand trailed on the tattoos on her neck, and Leia''s body abruptly shivered. He retracted his hand and continued brushing the sponge on her body.


    He slid down further with his hand and brushed it on her belly and almost her abdomen, then came back up to her little mountains and tenderly brushed the sponge on them. Leia''s body stiffened the moment he brushed her breasts with the sponge, and she became motionless. What was going on with her? He didn''t even touch her, and her body is reacting in this way.


    Adrik continued to scrub her body and he scooped a handful of water and spread it on her body. Then he resumed scrubbing her body. However, this time he went down further to her legs and slowly scrubbed her thighs while making sure not to do something that would warrant him a hard punch on the face.


    He got back up and brushed her back as his eyes stared at the beautiful floral tattoos on her back. "They are beautiful." He trailed his fingers on them, and Leia''s mind went into chaos. She threw her head back and relaxed into his touch. Wait, was he even touching her?


    Adrik came back to the front and decided to give her body one last scrub before he washed her up. He slid down to her breasts and brushed on them. The instant his finger accidentally touched her nipples, it reacted and erected, causing Leia to throw her head back in slight pleasure and inhale deeply. Why is she reacting this way? This feeling is unfamiliar to her.


    Adrik halted scrubbing on her skin and he gazed at Leia''s face, which was flushed. His brow creased in confusion, and he stared down at her. What is going on with his little wife? Why was she reacting as though she was having some pleasure?


    And why the hell is her face so flushed? He didn''t even see her body as she was inside the bubbled water, nor did he even touch her, except that he was scrubbing her skin with the sponge... Wait a minute, was she...Adrik''s eyes fluttered in disbelief and he hurriedly stopped scrubbing her skin as his wolf, which was calm all along, suddenly erupted within him and his eyes changed from that of green to red and back to green.


    He stood up immediately from the edge of the bathtub and cleared his throat, causing Leia to open her eyes and stare at him. She hastily lowered her head as she could feel that her face was shades of red and fiddled with her fingers.


    Adrik smiled at her and lowered his body a little to pat her on the head. "I will be having my shower on the other side, so... finish up on your own, okay."


    Leia slightly nodded at him with her head still lowered and hugged her knees to her chest. Adrik turned around and walked out of the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.


    He walked into the other bathroom and slid off his pants, then he turned the shower on and the warm water poured down on his pale, flawless skin. A deep breath escaped his nose as he combed back his wet hair with his fingers.


    ''What is wrong with you?'' He asked his wolf with a displeased expression on his face.


    [What? She''s our mate, and I fucking desire her! I want her. I want to nuzzle her] Kai''s face puckered in displeasure.


    ''I told you, you can''t do anything with her yet until she knows us and accepts us.'' Adrik took a deep breath and rubbed his eye.


    [Fine..] Kai rolled its eyes in annoyance and fell silent.


    "Good." Adrik ignored him and finished up showering. He swatted himself in a white robe, which was kept on a glass shelf in the bathroom, and walked out, shutting the door behind him.


    He began to dry his hair with the white towel in his hand and glanced at the bed to see Leia, already dressed in blue pyjamas and lying down peacefully with her eyes shut.


    He finished up with his hair and walked to the bed, then slipped himself beside her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He pulled her closer to him and shut his eyes. As the time ticked away, he slowly drifted off to sleep.

 Chapter 48 - Treat

    Adrik''s eyes twitched, and he opened them. He glanced beside him and didn''t find Leia. His brow crinkled a bit, and he climbed down from the bed.


    He walked to the bathroom, brushed his teeth, then took a nice bath. He outfitted himself in a white suit and did the necessary paperwork he needed to do before leaving for his company.


    He picked up his suitcase and proceeded to go down and find his little wife. However, he had just taken a step forward when the door slammed open, revealing his little wife, who was all dressed up with her face full of smiles. She was swathed in blue shorts and a white half-cut hoodie, while her feet were covered in white sneakers and her hair neatly fixed.


    Leia walked into the room and picked up her phone from the table. "I want to treat you to breakfast, but somewhere different, not at home here." She raised her eyes and glanced at him. "You will have to suspend your work for today." She smiled sheepishly at him.


    Adrik raised his brow and gazed at her with a questioning expression on his face. "Little wife, why are you treating me to breakfast?"


    "Well, let''s say it''s my way of saying sorry." Leia took a deep breath and stared at him as she bit her lower lip. "So... Can you suspend your work?" She asked, with anticipation apparent in her eyes.


    Adrik gazed at her for a moment and slowly nodded his head. "Alright then." He dropped the suitcase on the mini table and adjusted his suit, then outstretched his hand to Leia.


    Leia smiled warmly and took his hand, and together they headed downstairs.


    They walked out of the mansion and met Alex, who bowed to them in respect and opened the door of the black Rolls Royce for them.


    They took their seats at the back, and Alex sped out of the estate and into the road.


    While the car sped smoothly down the road, Leia gazed at the bright sky, and the smile on her face widened. She feels so different today. She feels free and happy like she has never felt before. Was it because she finally didn''t want to see this marriage as her life wrecker? Maybe...


    The car finally slowed down after an hour''s ride and rode into a compound that had a tall building with the name "Pompane Hotel" on it. This hotel was recently opened a year ago, and it was said to have the best restaurant and chefs. It was also very expensive!


    Adrik glanced at the building from inside the car and his brow raised in bewilderment. He turned to Leia and stared at her with a questioning gaze.


    "No matter what, I wouldn''t treat you to a cheap hotel." Leia chuckled and gazed back at him with a smirk on her lips.


    The car was parked in the parking lot of the compound, and they stepped down. They gazed at the hotel, and Leia grabbed Adrik by the hand and motioned for Alex to follow them.


    A counter that had a lovely young lady came into view, and Leia walked over to the young lady. "Hi... Can I have the key? " She outstretched her hand and the young lady nodded with a smile on her face as she placed a key with the number "305" in her hand.


    Leia slightly nodded in satisfaction and turned around to walk back to Adrik, whose eyes were on her.


    The receptionist glanced at Adrik, and her eyes fluttered in confusion. Was this girl his girlfriend or what? Or maybe she''s his younger sister. She nodded her head and nudged her skull in realization.


    Leia grabbed Adrik by the hand and pulled him to the elevator, with Alex following behind. The elevator took them to the 3rd floor, and they stepped out when its door opened.


    Her eyes glanced at every door that came into view, and she halted in front of one with the same number on the key in her hand. She unlocked the door and gestured for Adrik and Alex to enter the room. Adrik slightly nodded and walked into the room, followed by Alex.


    A sunny living room that had plenty of splashes of citrus and a modern chandelier hanging from the ceiling came into view. Its glass window was huge and gazing out of it, you could view the beautiful horizon and the early morning sun.


    Adrik smiled unknowingly and nodded his head in approval. He turned around only to see Leia smiling at him with expectations in her eyes, and he gave her a thumbs up. Honestly, this place was normal compared to the big, rich hotels he had been in sometimes, but for the fact that his little wife chose this place to treat him to breakfast, then it''s the best.


    He glanced at the white, beautifully designed table with three chairs around it and walked to it. He pulled one of the chairs out and sat down. Leia glanced at Alex and strolled to take her seat.


    Alex fluttered his eyes and ambled over to stand beside them as his Alpha''s assistant. Leia dropped her phone on the table and raised her eyes to stare at Adrik. "It will be here in a few minutes." Adrik nodded at her and interlocked his hands.


    It didn''t take more than two minutes before two females and a male clad in a white uniform walked into the room with trays filled with delicacies and foods in their hands.


    They ambled to the table where Leia and Adrik were seated and nicely set the food on it. They dropped two bottles of wine and two glass cups on the table and gave a respectful bow to Adrik and Leia. Leia smiled at them and waved them to leave.


    Adrik''s eyes fluttered in confusion as he stared at the food on the table. He raised his eyes to glance at Leia, and his brow arched in a questioning manner. Was there a possibility that she was inviting someone else to join them because what he was seeing on the table was too much for just two people?


    Leia chuckled at him and reached out her hand over the table to take the mask off his face. "I told you it was my treat, and I''m not going to be stingy with it." She revealed a warm smile and placed the mask on the table.

 Chapter 49 - Victor

    Then she picked a white plate from the sets of ceramic plates placed near the food. She scooped up a full spoon of rice and placed it on the plate, then gently dropped it in front of Adrik. She added a delicious-looking fried chicken on top of the rice and stood up from her seat.


    She walked over to Adrik and picked up the white napkin from the table, then perfectly attached it to his neck. Adrik''s eyes blinked, and he just silently watched her.


    Leia handed a fork and knife to him, then walked back to her seat. She glanced at Alex, who stood by the side, and motioned for him to take a seat on the third chair.


    Alex blinked his eyes and slightly shook his head in disapproval with an awkward smile on his lips. "Thank you, Mrs. Leia..." He immediately swallowed the rest of his sentence when he saw Leia''s face darkening. She glared at him with menacing eyes and slowly grinned.


    Alex chuckled awkwardly and made his way to take a seat beside them on the round table. He scratched the back of his head and sneaked a peek at Adrik, only to see his face expressionless. He swallowed hard and glanced at Leia.


    Leia smiled and placed spoons of food on his plate, then did the same on her plate. They began eating, and Leia slowly began to smile while her eyes were fixed on Adrik.


    Adrik, who felt her gaze on him, raised his eyes to glance at her and his brow arched in bewilderment.


    Leia averted her gaze and munched a little bit fast on her food. She grabbed the glass of water on the table and gulped down a mouthful.


    Everywhere went silent, and Adrik gazed at her for a while before he resumed eating. Leia pulled out her phone from her pocket and typed a few words on it.


    Adrik''s phone suddenly beeped, and he lazily pulled it out of his pocket. He unlocked it and glanced at the screen, only to see a message from his little wife. [Are you having a good time?]


    Adrik smiled warmly and typed his reply to her. [Well... it was more than what I expected... it''s really nice]


    Leia raised her eyes to glance at him, and a half-smile made its way to her lips. This was a good feeling. Caring for someone good to you is indeed a very nice feeling. She chuckled within her heart and raised her spoon that was filled with soup to her mouth to drink it, but a message suddenly popped up on her phone, prompting her to pick it up from the table and check it out.


    The spoon came to a halt at her lips the moment her gaze fell on the sender''s name, and she hurriedly dropped the spoon into the soup bowl. She opened the chat and her heart skipped a bit.


    [Leia, can you guess what?]


    ''What?'' Leia typed back with anticipation apparent in her eyes. Adrik, who was eating, raised his brow when he saw the expression on her face.


    [You know what, just come to my apartment right now.]


    ''You still live there?''


    [Yes. Hurry up, alright?]


    ''Alright, I will be there in a few minutes.'' Leia stuffed her phone into her pocket and abruptly stood up from the chair, causing Adrik to crease his brow as he stared at her. But, Leia didn''t notice as she didn''t spare him a glance; rather, she grabbed the car key lying on the table near Alex and turned around to leave the room.


    She glanced at Adrik and hurriedly proceeded to leave. Adrik, however, stood up from his seat to stop her, but Leia glanced at him apologetically and scurried out of the room.


    She took the elevator and went down to the last floor. She hurried out of the building and stepped into the driver''s seat, then started the car''s engine and sped off down the road at almost full speed. During high school then, she would always sneak out of the house without Mr. Adolpho''s notice to go drifting with her friends, including Victor, and when Mr. Adolpho caught her sometimes, he would ground her for at least two to three weeks.


    Leia shook her head and increased the speed of the car. It was supposed to take her at least 50 minutes to get to Victor''s apartment, but she made it in 30 minutes.


    She packed the Rolls Royce and stepped down. Her eyes scrutinized the surroundings, which looked quite different compared to the last time she was here, and she walked into the tall building.


    She walked up the stairs and passed different doors before stopping in front of the one that she was very familiar with.


    Leia took a deep breath and raised her hand to slowly knock on the door. Her eyes fluttered, and she cleared her throat.


    From inside the room, a person''s eyes peered from the small hole on the door and unlocked the door.


    Leia raised her eyes and her brows arched when it fell on her closest friend, whom she had known since the first day of high school.


    A smile unknowingly crept on her lips as she stared at Victor, who looked completely different. Victor then was very slim compared to the Victor she was looking at now, who was masculine everywhere. She looked at his brown and blonde hair, then at the silver earring on his left ear, and finally at his sky blue eyes, which used to make girls fall head over heels for him, except for her.


    "Leia..." She raised her eyes to gaze at his face when she heard him whisper her name, and her face immediately puckered in displeasure when he stepped forward and drew her into a tight hug.


    "Victor!" Leia placed her hand on his chest and pushed him away. "You know how much I hate hugs." She glared at him and smacked him on the head.


    "Seriously, Even after not seeing each other for so long. " Victor let out a deep sigh and slightly shook his head, then raised his eyes to scrutinize her from head to toe. "You look so different." He smiled widely and shook his head in awe.. "You look really hot."

 Chapter 50 - Unknown Illness

    Leia raised her brow at him and strolled past him into the room.


    "When did you get those cool tattoos and why is your hair short?" Victor asked as he shut the door and locked it, then turned to her.


    "I cut it." Leia rolled her eyes and sat down on the white couch in the living room and crossed her legs. She folded her arms and lazily stared at him. "Let''s get to business."


    "Your attitude certainly has changed, not even a bit." Victor shook his head and walked over to the table near the window, and opened its drawer. He pulled out a small bag that was suitable for carrying papers and ambled to the couch to sit down. Leia straightened up immediately and gazed intently at the bag.


    Victor unzipped the bag and pulled out a stack of files that were tied with a slim white rope. He placed them on the mini table in front of them and dropped the bag beside him on the couch. "I didn''t check it, so as of now I have no idea of what''s written in there." He turned to Leia and handed all the documents to her.


    Leia received it and stared at the files for a while. Will she unravel the truth behind her mother''s death? Will her thirst for the truth be quenched at this moment? She took a low, deep breath and glanced at Victor, who nodded at her to open the files.


    She slowly untied the rope binding the document, and yet another low breath escaped her nose. She opened the first file and her eyes scanned through it in anticipation.


    As though she didn''t find anything interesting in the first file, she dropped it and picked up the second one. She dropped it again as nothing was interesting there, but her brow began to crinkle deeply when her eyes scanned the third file.


    She slowly raised her eyes to stare at Victor and handed the document to him. With a bewildered expression on his face, he received the document from her.


    "Unknown illness," Leia said, behind a creepy chuckle, and stood up from the couch. "It says it''s an unknown illness." She laughed softly and pinched her brow.


    "Leia-"


    "I was told she had heart failure and needed surgery-" Leia gazed at Victor as her breathing began to become unsteady. "-So why the hell is it written that it''s an unknown illness in that report?" Her face turned into a deep scowl, and she breathed heavily.


    "I have no idea-" Victor admitted as he rose from the couch, "-but you need to calm down okay?" He walked up to her to touch her, but Leia pushed him away and glared at him. "Don''t tell me to calm down!" She walked around him to the mini table and picked up the last file.


    She scanned through it with narrowed eyes, and her face darkened. "Wh-why is my father''s name written here?" She turned to Victor, with disbelief apparent in her eyes.


    "What do you mean?" Victor ambled to her and took the document from her. He scanned through it, and his brow crinkled. "I... Maybe his name is written as a result of him being the one responsible for all the treatment she underwent earlier before she di-"


    "Are you dumb or something?" Leia glared at him and took the file from him. "Take a look at the date written," She pointed at the paragraph where Mr. Adolpho''s name was written. "It says September 5th of last year, and what was that time?"


    "Um... wasn''t that the day that I drove you to admit your mother into the hospital?" Victor''s brow furrowed, and he glanced at the document again.


    "Exactly! I was responsible for her surgery and the treatment she underwent that day and the rest." Leia tapped her fingers on her thigh, and her creased brow deepened more. "My father only took over her treatment around May 26th of this year, so why is his name written with that date instead of mine?" She glanced at Victor, and he also stared at her.


    "Unless..." Leia proceeded to talk, but Victor cut her off. "Unless your father secretly took responsibility for her treatment at that time and you had no idea about it." He gazed at Leia, and his eyes fluttered in realization.


    "Why wasn''t I told?... Why would he take responsibility for her treatment in secrecy? " Leia asked with a deepened face, and her eyes darted around in confusion. "That day, he told me he didn''t care and that he wouldn''t take responsibility for her treatment... so why? I don''t understand." She shook her head and stared at Victor as though asking for answers from him.


    "No idea... there is more to this that we don''t know." Victor brushed his hair back with his fingers and took a deep breath.


    "Is this all the files that you were able to get?" Leia asked and glanced at the files on the mini table.


    "Yes... I didn''t have much time to scan through all the files and know which to take." Victor shook his head and plopped down on the couch.


    "Then there must be more..." Leia smiled mysteriously and slightly nodded her head. "We need to find a way to break into that office... I need to check those files and the computers... I want to find out what happened to my mother!"


    "Leia, there are CCTV cameras everywhere... We can''t just break into there. " Victor raised his eyes to glance at her and his brow arched. "You know, my father''s hospital is one of the biggest hospitals, and security is very tight."


    "I know but..."


    "Leia, I understand-" Victor stood up from the couch and grabbed her by the shoulder. "-But before we do anything, we need to plan it out and check the consequences, Okay... we can''t just go ahead."


    "You''re right." Leia took a deep breath and walked away from him to take a seat on the couch.


    "How about we go out for lunch?" Victor suggested with a smile on his face. However, Leia''s eyes suddenly dilated and she hurriedly stood up from the couch.. "The breakfast."

 Chapter 51 - It Doesnt Matter

    She hurriedly left the apartment, leaving Victor, whose face was full of confusion with dilated eyes. She rushed down the stairs and ran out of the building.


    She boarded the car and sped off down the road at full speed. Arriving at the hotel in 20 minutes, she stepped down from the car and scurried into the facility. However, the receptionist told her that Adrik and Alex left a few minutes ago.


    Her eyes fluttered with guilt, and she pulled her phone out of her pocket. She dialed Adrik''s number but he didn''t pick up and she tried two more times but he still didn''t pick up. Was he angry with her? Leia''s face became awkward as she thought. She decided to dial Alex''s number, and he picked up almost immediately.


    [Mrs. Leia]


    ''Where are you guys?'' Leia bit her lower lip with the back of her teeth as she asked.


    [We are at the company]


    ''How?''


    [Oh don''t worry, I called one of the men to bring another car for us since you took the one we came with]


    ''Oh, I see... I will be there in-''


    [No Mrs. Leia, don''t! He''s in a very bad mood and he''s very aggressive towards everyone.] Alex cut her off with his voice a little lower


    ''Oh...'' Leia brought down the phone from her ear and her eyes, which were filled with remorse, gazed out of the large glass window in the room. A soft sigh escaped her lips, and she stuffed her phone into her pocket, then went downstairs.


    She walked out of the edifice and drove out of the compound. She arrived at Adrik''s company and stepped down from the car. Her eyes stared at the enormous building standing in front of her, and a deep breath exited her lips. She locked the car and ambled into the company.


    Leia walked straight to the elevator, ignoring the stares from every worker and purchaser inside the structure.


    The elevator took her to the 3rd floor, and she stepped out when the door opened. She walked straight to Adrik''s office and slowly pushed the door open with an awkward expression on her face.


    Her eyes fell on Adrik, who, in the notice of her, lifted his eyes to glance at her, and she smiled at him. However, he ignored her and resumed assessing the files in his hands.


    The smile on Leia''s face slowly disappeared, replaced by a downcast expression. She walked to his table and cleared her throat to attract his attention. "I''m sorry about what happened earlier." She apologized, with genuine remorse apparent in her large eyes.


    Adrik came to a halt in his scanning of the paper works in his hand and raised his head to look at her. He took a deep breath and dropped the documents on the table. "Does it matter?" He asked and half smiled at her.


    "Wh-what do you mean?" Leia''s eyes blinked in confusion, and she couldn''t resist asking.


    Adrik chuckled pessimistically and shook his head. "Never mind." He let out a soft sigh and pulled open his laptop, ignoring Leia, who stood with confusion written all over her face.


    She rubbed her hands anxiously and walked over to him. She parted her lips to say something, but Adrik abruptly grabbed her wrist and pinned her down on the table. "Wh-what are you-" She proceeded to ask, but he cut her off with an annoyed groan that escaped his mouth. "Do you even care about me?" He stared down at her with a questioning expression on his face.


    Leia''s eyes fluttered, and she went silent. Adrik chuckled and shook his head. "Was expected" He let go of her wrists and left his chair to the window. His eyes gazed out to the sky as pain could be seen to be visible in them.


    Leia sat up from the table and slowly walked to stand beside him. She stared at his expressionless face, and a low sigh escaped her lips. "I''m sorry, it''s not what you think, honestly. Something came up and I-"


    "I said it doesn''t matter!!" Adrik turned to her and his green eyes glared viciously at her, causing her to flinch back a little. "Don''t explain any shit to me." He angrily emphasized his words, and with a turn, he ambled back to his chair. He sat down and pulled his phone out of his pocket. "Alex will come to pick you up in a minute." He said it without sparing her a glance.


    Leia''s hands clenched in dissatisfaction, and she stomped to the couch in the office and plopped down on it. She folded her arms and sneaked a peek at him. However, when she saw that he couldn''t care less, the displeasure on her face deepened more.


    Adrik raised his head to glance at her, and when he saw how she was seated with folded hands and an ashen face, he shook his head and averted his stare.


    A minute passed, and Alex walked in through the door into the office. He bowed to them both and turned to stare at Adrik.


    "Take her home." Adrik casually waved his hand without raising his eyes from the laptop on his desk. Alex nodded and turned to Leia. He parted his lips to say something, but Leia''s pitch-black pupils dangerously glared at him. "I''m not going anywhere." She adamantly stated and crossed her legs.


    Alex''s face grimaced and he turned to glance at Adrik, but he repeated his last sentence. "Take her home." Alex''s face became awkward in helplessness, and he turned to Leia, but she glared at him again. "Try me, if you have the balls!" She grinned wickedly, causing Alex to dart his eyes around and step back a bit. "Master..." He glanced at Adrik with powerlessness written all over his face.


    Adrik lifted his head to stare at Leia, and his eyes lazily blinked. "Go home with him."


    "I said I wouldn''t." Leia turned her head to look at him. "We are all going home together." She smiled at him and relaxed on the couch.


    Adrik''s brow raised as he gazed at her for a while and he waved his hand at Alex, then returned his attention to the laptop. Alex took a deep breath of relief and walked to his desk to sit down.


    The atmosphere went silent and Adrik and Leia ignored each other, making Alex, who was seated in their midst, uncomfortable.. His face became awkward as he noticed they were sneaking a glare at each other, and he slightly shook his head.

 Chapter 52 - Unknown Man

    The sun showed signs of setting, and Adrik retracted his gaze from the sky. He stood up from his chair and adjusted his suit as well as put on his gray mask, then he glanced at Leia. "Let''s go." He yanked his hands into his pocket and began to walk out of the office with Leia and Alex following behind him.


    ______


    From a tall building near the company, a man clad in a black hoodie and black sweatpants, with a mask covering half of his face, stood beside an MTS 116m suppressed sniper rifle, which is considered one of the deadliest weapons.


    He pulled out his vibrating phone from his pocket and picked up an incoming call.


    [How is it going?] A lady''s voice reverberated from the other side of the phone.


    "Ma''am, she''s not yet out, but I think-" His husky voice sounded as he gave his reply, but before he could finish his sentence, his gray eyes spotted three people, two males and a female, walking out of the company building, and he immediately stuffed the phone into his pocket.


    He positioned the sniper rifle and eyed the female walking between the two males through the sight of the gun. He perfectly aimed for her, and a dangerous grin crept up his lips as his finger was placed on the trigger.


    ********


    Adrik, who was heading towards the car with Leia following behind him with crossed arms and a displeased look on her face, halted and his eyes narrowed into a thin line. He slowly turned his head and gazed at the tall building near his company, and his brow creased a bit. Is it just his feelings?


    The unknown man immediately hid behind the pillar of the window he was standing near at, causing Adrik to avert his gaze because he couldn''t see anything. His heart pounded within him, and he took a deep breath. ''Did he see me?'' He couldn''t help but ask himself and sneaked a peek at the three, only to see Adrik about to open the door of the car.


    He positioned the sniper rifle once again and aimed for Leia, who was now saying something to Adrik. His eyes narrowed into a thin line, and his finger that was placed on the trigger, slowly pulled on it, and with great force, the bullet flew out of the gun, penetrating through the air with great pressure and rushing towards its target.


    Adrik''s hand, which was about to grab the car handle, halted as he felt immense danger, and with a swift turn, he grabbed Leia and hugged her, accidentally leaving his side to face the incoming bullet. The bullet pierced his side stomach with great speed, leaving blood oozing out of it.


    Lines of veins popped up on his neck and he raised his eyes to gaze at the building.


    "Master!" Alex cried out when he saw the blood flowing out of Adrik"s side belly and he proceeded to rush up to him. However, another bullet flew towards Adrik and penetrated another part of his tummy. Adrik''s face twitched in pain, and he couldn''t help but spurt out a mouthful of blood, and Leia''s face turned ghastly pale as she became motionless.


    Adrik immediately let go of her and grabbed the gun in Alex''s suit pocket. His eyes narrowed into a thin line as he glanced at the building, and he pointed the gun at it. Without delay, he pulled the trigger, and with great speed and force, the bullet escaped from the gun and surged towards the unknown man, who retracted his eyes from the sight of his gun in an act to avert the bullet. However, before he could avoid it, the bullet infiltrated without mercy through his forehead, leaving a wide hole as it came out from the back.


    Nevertheless, before the unknown man became lifeless and plopped down to the floor, his finger that was still on the trigger pulled, and the bullet exited from the gun, whisked forward, and forcefully penetrated Adrik''s stomach.


    Adrik clutched his belly and the gun fell out of his hand. He spurted yet another mouthful of blood and his knee gave out, but before he could fall, Leia rushed up to him and allowed him to fall into her arm, causing her to plop down on her knee as a result Adrik''s weight.


    "A-adrik..." She glanced at his stomach, which was oozing out a lot of blood, and she hurriedly placed her hand on it in the hope of stopping the bleeding. "Adrik..." Lots of tears welled up in her eyes, and they fell the moment they came.


    As Alex scurried towards them, Leia turned her head to glance at him. His eyes gazed at the three wounds on his alpha''s belly, and great anger became apparent in his eyes.


    "We need to call the ambulance." Leia stared at him with teary eyes and said behind sobs.


    "No Mrs. Leia, we can''t. We need to take him home right now." Alex stood up to walk to the car, but Leia stopped him with confusion visible in her large eyes.


    "Are you crazy or something? We need to take him to the hospital or he might die." More tears streamed down her face and she yelled at Alex. However, Alex still adamantly told her that nothing would happen to Adrik and that he needed to be taken home.


    Leia glanced at Adrik and caressed his cheek as her tears fell on his face. Adrik gazed at her and touched her hand. He shut his eyes in pain and breathed heavily. Leia immediately tore off her hoodie and used it to wrap up his wounds in the hope of stopping the uncontrollable bleeding.


    After opening the door of the car, Alex scurried back to them and helped Leia carry up Adrik, whose body was as though it had been paralyzed. They carried him into the car, and Leia stroked his hair. "Yo-you''re going to be fine." Her hands trembled and she proceeded to step into the car, but Alex stopped her. "Mrs. Leia, you have to drive him home. There is something important that I need to do." He took her hand and placed the car key on it. Leia shook her head at him. "Ale-"


    "Mrs. Leia, please." He let go of her hand and hurried out of the company compound. Leia stared down at the key and glanced at Adrik, whose breathing was becoming unstable. Her heart ached within her as she could see how much he was fighting to live.


    She wiped the tears from her eyes and walked over to the driver''s seat, then sat down.

 Chapter 53 - Care

    She started the car''s engine and raised the speed of the car as she sped out of the compound and onto the road. Her hands trembled on the steering wheel and she sniffed as uncontrollable tears fell from her eyes, which had become red as a result of crying hard.


    Her body shuddered, and she turned her head to glance at Adrik when she heard a low, painful groan from him. Her heart squeezed within her as she saw the amount of pain he was going through. This was all to protect and save her! She cursed herself in her heart and reached out her hand to grab his while controlling the steering wheel with her left. "Please do-don''t leave me." She whispered and returned her eyes to the road ahead of them.


    *****


    The gate to the mansion pulled open, and she hurriedly drove in and parked the car. She stepped down and yelled for the bodyguards to give her a helping hand, and they rushed to her. They assisted her haul Adrik out of the car, and with both his hands placed on their shoulders, they helped him walk into the mansion.


    They entered the elevator, and Adrik sweated more profusely as the pain started to become unbearable. The elevator took them up to the second floor, and Leia hurriedly took him to their room with the help of the bodyguards.


    They gently laid him on the bed and walked out, leaving only Leia and Adrik inside the room. Leia glanced at Adrik and hurriedly stood up to get some water and a towel, but he grabbed her by the hand and stopped her on her track.


    She turned around to stare at him and more tears fell from her eyes when she glanced at his stomach, which was still bleeding non-stop despite having a cloth wrapped around the wound. She reached out her hand and took off the mask on his face, then gently caressed his cheek. "I need to call the doctor for you." She smiled at him and wiped off the tears in her eyes, then snatched her hand and rushed out of the room.


    Per her order, the maids made a call to the doctor who had visited her before, and she scurried back to the room with a bowl of water and a towel in her hand.


    Leia climbed into the bed and sat down beside him, then soaked the white towel in the water and began to clean the sweats on his face.


    Adrik''s eyes, which looked almost as though they had lost their usual brightness, stared at her, and he raised his hand to touch her wet face. Leia broke into tears yet again and gently grabbed his hand that was touching her cheek. She placed it on her lips and planted lots of tender kisses on it. She positioned it back on her cheek and gazed at his pale face. "Please do-don''t leave me. I am sorry... " She shut her eyes and tears flowed down her face. "Stay with me..." She nuzzled his hand and caressed his cheek with her left hand.


    A knock came at the door, and she picked up Adrik''s mask and latched it on his face, then hastily stepped down from the bed. She rushed to the door and pulled it open.


    Mr. Robert walked in, and his eyes fluttered in shock when he saw the amount of blood that was oozing out of Adrik''s stomach and how pale his face looked.


    He scurried to the bed and dropped his suitcase, then untied the piece of clothing around Adrik''s belly and took a deep breath. He turned to Leia, who was sobbing and smiled at her. "Don''t worry, he will be fine."


    Mr. Robert opened his suitcase and grabbed a roll of bandage and other crafting materials, then wrapped up his hands in a glove.


    He wiped off the blood that flowed out of Adrik''s stomach and injected him with a drug that would help reduce the pain. Then, with the use of the pituitary rongeur and slotted cannel, he removed all the bullet fragments.


    He then proceeded with the direct pressure and covered the wounds with clothing, preventing any more blood from flowing out. He did the occlusive dressing and finally bandaged the wound.


    Mr. Robert removed his hand gloves and checked Adrik''s heart rate. His eyes blinked in complication, and he tried once again, and his brow creased in utter confusion.


    Leia, who saw the expression on his face, couldn''t help but ask. "I-is there something wrong?"


    "No, he is perfectly fine... I just can''t comprehend why his heartbeat is faster than normal." Mr. Robert glanced at her with a complicated expression on his face.


    "What do you mean? Does that mean that he''s not okay? " Leia''s heart skipped a bit as she asked and moved closer to them.


    "No. As I said, he is fine. He is no longer in danger." Mr. Robert stood up from the stool after cleaning his hands. He packed his tools back into his suitcase and turned to Leia. He smiled at her with assurance apparent in his eyes. "Change the bandage every morning and night and make sure he doesn''t do anything that could result in the wound bleeding again or him feeling discomfort. Also, make sure he eats a lot of fruits and vegetables. He lost quite a lot of blood, and he needs it to recover."


    Leia sniffed as she nodded and smiled at him. "Thank you very much."


    "Take good care of him." Mr. Roberts nodded at her and ambled out of the room. Leia saw him out and shut the door, then slowly walk to the bed and climb into it to sit beside Adrik. Her eyes stared at his face, and she took the mask off. She gazed at his sleeping face, and her hand caressed his cheek. She slowly lowered her body and planted a soft, tender kiss on his forehead, then brushed his hair, back with her hand.


    Leia took a deep breath and glanced at his body. She can''t let him sleep in these, right? She flickered her eyes and took his shoes off, then unbuckled the belt around his waist and gradually dragged down his white pants. Now he was left only in white boxers.


    She thought of dressing him up in a robe, but that might suffocate him, so she dismissed the idea and just covered him in a sheet.. She gently laid down beside him and her eyes stared at his pale face.

 Chapter 54 - Cold

    Throughout the night, Leia didn''t sleep, and all she did was watch over Adrik and caress his hair that was scattered all over the bed, to calm him down when he started to sweat profusely as a result of the pain he was going through.


    She only got the chance to sleep at around 3 am when Adrik stopped sweating.


    The early morning sun rose in the sky, showering its rays through the huge glass window and into the room.


    When Leia saw Adrik seated up with his hand clutching onto his stomach, which had the bandage wrapped around it, she immediately sat up from the bed.


    Her eyes blinked in shock as she stared at the bloody bandage, and she straightened up on her knees. She placed her trembling hands on his cheek and made him look at her. "Okay, you shouldn''t sit up. Lie back down, let me help you-" She hadn''t even finished her sentence when Adrik abruptly brought his feet down to the floor, ignoring her.


    She gazed at him, and her eyes blinked in confusion. Adrik stood up and walked straight to the bathroom without bothering to spare her a glance. Her heart skipped a bit, and she climbed down from the bed. She strode to the bathroom to help him out, but he shut the door in her face, causing Leia to flinch back.


    She stared at the door and her eyes flickered as what seemed like tears welled up in them. Why was she even crying? This was all her fault, to begin with! She wiped the tears from her eyes and walked out of the room, slamming the door shut behind her.


    She went straight to the kitchen that was on the second floor and dismissed all the maids that were working there. She will make breakfast by herself, as she has already sworn to take care of him in any way she can until he recovers completely.


    Leia pulled out a bag of flour and many other ingredients and dropped them on the white-colored counter in the kitchen. She poured oil into the pan and clicked the gas on. Then she placed the wok frying pan on it and decided to make some crunch and pancakes, and also cook a salad. As the doctor said, he needs to eat vegetables. Ahh... yes... fruits too.


    When she was done with the cooking, she walked out of the kitchen with a wide tray filled with the delicacies she had made. A smile formed on her lips as she ambled back to their compartment.


    Leia pushed the door open and walked into the room, only to see Adrik, who was already dressed up in black sweat pants and a white shirt, slowly unwrapping the bloody bandage around his belly. She quickly dropped the plates on the white mini table and hurried to him. She grabbed his wrist to stop him from doing so, and a frown emerged on her face. "You are hurting yourself by doing it on your own!" She shook her head and took a light breath. "I will be the one to change it every day, okay." She smiled at him and strolled to the table that had a first aid kit kept on top of it.


    She opened it and grabbed the things she would use in dressing his wound. Adrik uttered not a single word and just silently watched her every action. Leia strode back to him and stood in front of him, then carefully undressed the bandage and threw it into the waste bin. She neatly cleaned up and dressed up his wound with a neat bandage. "Come let me help you with your hair." She pulled out the chair for him, and Adrik sat down.


    She picked up the coconut oil on the table and rubbed it on his hair, then slowly began to comb his hair. "Your hair is getting longer." Leia''s eyes fluttered in confusion, and she glanced at him through the mirror. Why is his hair growing continuously? It was already too long when they first met, but now it has already passed waist length. Does he want to be Rapunzel or something? She giggled as she thought and blinked her eyes awkwardly when she saw his expressionless eyes staring at her through the mirror.


    "Should I tie it up in a bun? Or will it be comfortable for you if I let it fall?" She asked with a raised eyebrow, waiting for an answer from him. However, he didn''t say anything but just glanced at her with lazy eyes, as if telling her, whatever she thought was okay.


    Leia shrugged and used the brush to perfect his hair before tying it up in a bun. She smiled at him and took a breath. "Done." She winked at him and gave him a thumbs-up, but he just glanced at her with a leisurely face.


    She shook her head and helped him walk to the sofa to sit down. She dropped a stool in front of him and sat down on it, then grabbed the plate of salad and used a fork to pick some and brought it to her lips. "Common, you need it." She said when she saw how he was looking at her instead of giving entrance to the fork of salad.


    Adrik''s face turned a few shades darker, and he grabbed her wrist and took the fork from her. He dropped it on the plate and stood up from the sofa. He latched his mask onto his face and without a glance at her, he walked out of the room and went downstairs to the living room with the use of the elevator.


    Leia''s eyes fluttered in bewilderment, and she shut them. A deep breath escaped her nose, and she lowered the plate to the mini table, then stood up from the stool. She walked to the window and gazed out to the horizon.


    A low sigh escaped her lips, and she stepped into the bathroom for a shower.. She outfitted herself in tight jeans and a black hoodie, then gave her hair a fix and strolled downstairs.

 Chapter 55 - Delmar

    Leia walked straight to the dining room and met Adrik, seated on the head chair at the dining table with food placed in front of him. Her eyes fluttered as pain could be seen, suddenly appearing in them. Why? She had put her all into making that breakfast for him, but he rejected it.


    She raised her eyes and glanced at the maids standing beside Adrik, including Rita, and her pitch-black pupils viciously glared at them, indirectly telling them to get the fuck out.


    They nodded actively and hurriedly rushed out of the dining room. Leia strolled to the table and pulled out a chair, then sat down on it.


    She interlocked her hands and stared at Adrik while he ate his food. "Ehem!" She cleared her throat to grab his attention, but he ignored her. He grabbed a cup of water to drink. However, her solemn voice sounded, halting him. "I am sorry."


    He raised his eyes to glance at her, and they blinked lazily when they saw the downcast expression on her face. He placed the glass cup on his lips and gulped down a mouthful of water, then continued to eat his food.


    Leia''s hands, which were interlocked together, clenched tightly, and she abruptly stood up from the chair. She gazed at him for a while and ambled away, leaving Adrik, whose face was expressionless as he watched her go.


    ____________


    Dressed in black sweat pants that had white stripes and a black jacket, Alex stuffed an android phone into his pocket and walked out of an uncompleted abandoned building near a big forest that had tall trees, whose leaves were blowing from one side to another as a result of the wind.


    His eyes glanced up to the sky, which had the bright sun that was becoming a bit dim, as though it was about to disappear, and he took a deep breath.


    He yanked his hands into the pocket of his jacket and proceeded to walk away from the woodland, but the air around him changed, and he halted on his track as his eyes narrowed into a thin line.


    His gray pupils changed from their gray color to yellow and his fangs elongated. A grin formed on his lips and he closed his eyes. The wind blew vigorously around him, and with tremendous speed, something unknown whisked dangerously towards him. But before it could strike its target, Alex''s nails stretched, and with a swift turn, he clashed with the unknown creature.


    An explosive wave blew them away, and they both took two steps back. Alex raised his yellowish eyes to glance at the creature in front of him, and his face darkened. In front of him stood a white-haired young man, whose blue eyes shone as bright as the blue sky. His flawless skin was bare, with only his waist down draped in white pants. In his hand was a long saber that had tiny drops of water dripping from it.


    "Delmar!" Alex''s cold voice sounded as he said the name of the young man in a low, chilled tone, and his hand balled into a fist.


    "Alex!" Delmar grinned slyly and twirled the saber in his hand, then pointed it at Alex.


    "What do you want?" Alex asked with displeasure in his accent and stared coldly at the young man.


    "Stay away from my sister!" Delmar''s face became ashen, and his eyes glared menacingly at Alex.


    Alex raised his brow and chuckled softly in amusement. "I think your sister should be the one to stay away from me." He shook his head and turned around to leave, ignoring Delmar, whose blue eyes were darkening. "I don''t have the time to play with you." Alex threw a glance at him and smirked.


    Delmar''s tolerance reached its limit, and he struck the saber into the ground. "You hurt my sister, and she has refused to leave her room for the past week!!! I will make you suffer for It!!" Without any delay, he turned the saber that was struck into the ground, and mines of cracks appeared on the floor, spreading towards Alex, who suddenly halted on his track.


    He turned around and instantly jumped, avoiding falling into the open ground. However, before he could hold his footing, Delmar rushed towards him, and with a stomp of his feet, he jumped into midair and directed the sharp saber towards his face. Alex immediately raised his eyes as he felt immense danger and, without any hesitation, his bones cracked and broke as he transformed into a half-human, a half-wolf whose fur was black. As though time had become fast once again, they clash heavily into each other and a high wave of force gushes everywhere, causing the leaves to flutter vigorously around them.


    They glared at each other with killing intent apparent in their eyes, and Alex gritted his teeth as his hand that held the sharp mouth of the saber began to drip blood. Delmar grinned wickedly, and the saber began to tremble violently. Tiny driblets of water unexpectedly began to drip out of the saber and became bigger and bigger as more drops dripped from it.


    Feeling the pressure from the saber, Alex''s face turned pale and his gritted teeth clenched tightly. He stared into Delmar''s eyes, and as though noticing the danger ahead, a scream like that of a beast escaped his mouth, and he let go of the saber and slapped Delmar across the face, inflicting a very deep claw injury on his neck and face. However, while his claw imposed a deep wound on Delmar''s face, Delmar''s saber also cut sharply on his side, causing a deep injury.


    They both took three steps back and Delmar clutched his face, which was seeping blood, with his hand. Alex glanced at his belly, and his face darkened when he saw the blood that was oozing out. He slowly raised his eyes to gaze at Delmar, and his eyes narrowed dangerously.


    His breathing became unsteady as a result of his deep rage and with extraordinary speed, he sprinted and jumped into mid-air towards Delmar to pounce on him. Delmar''s eyes dilated a bit and he furiously swirled his saber, creating a spiral of water that was gushing out energetically from his saber. It expanded more and more and immediately the two came into contact, a big explosive force sent both of them flying backward, and they mercilessly crashed heavily into the tall trees.


    Alex instantly got up on his feet and a low, painful groan escaped his lips as he glanced at Delmar. Without any reluctance, he whisked through the air that blew heavily on his face to finish him off.. However, a shadow that came at a fast speed arrived in-between them and Alex, who was already about to pounce on Delmar, clashed with the shadow instead and he furiously flew backward, taking five steps back.

 Chapter 56 - Nirmolak

    The shadow took two steps back as a result of the impact and coughed slightly. He patted off the dust on his body and adjusted his clothing.


    Alex raised his eyes, and his face darkened the moment they fell on the silhouette. His hands balled into tight fists and trembled. "Nirmolak!" His cold, chilly voice blended in with the wind howling around them as he gazed at a fine young man whose short hair was neatly combed back and brown flawless skin draped in white clothing.


    The shadow, who was naturally Nirmolak, shrugged and grinned with a leisurely look on his face. "Alex, it''s been so long." He smirked as his pitch-black pupils stared at Alex, who was panting heavily as he slowly returned to his human form. "How have you been?"


    To calm himself down, Alex took a deep breath and brushed his hair back with his fingers, ignoring Nirmolak. He glanced at Delmar, who slowly stood up with the help of his saber, and a vicious grin crept across his lips.


    Delmar''s face turned ashen as rage bubbled within him, and he furiously nodded his head. He gazed at Alex for a while and smirked. "It''s not over; I will be back!" With that being said, he fled at an extraordinary speed towards the ocean and dived in, disappearing.


    Alex shook his head and picked up his torn jacket from the floor. He looked down at his body, his face grimacing as he noticed the torn pant around his waist. A soft sign escaped his lips, and he pulled out the phone he stuffed inside of it. He proceeded to switch it on. However, laughter from Nirmolak made him halt and look up with a darkened face.


    "I see you managed to get the phone before I could destroy it-" Nirmolak grinned as his eyes scrutinized Alex "-Always as quick as I remember." He chuckled softly and leaned back against the tree behind him.


    Alex contemplatively nodded his head at him and slowly laughed dangerously. "You all better be ready." His cold voice resounded and his grip on the phone tightened. He ignored Nirmolak and proceeded to leave. However, the next word that exited Nirmolak''s mouth made him halt in his tracks. "You do have so much confidence in his highness." Nirmolak chuckled mysteriously and turned his head to glance at Alex, but a vigorous wind blew on his face and the next thing he knew, he was pinned to the tree with a hand gripping onto his neck. "His highness?" As a result of the sudden rage, Alex''s face became a shade darker, and his yellowish eyes obscured


    Nirmolak smirked and lazily blinked his blue eyes, which had viciousness apparent in them."Yes, his highness! He doesn''t deserve the title of Supreme Alpha because he stole it!" He gently pushed Alex away and adjusted the long jacket he was wearing. "In the end, we shall see who the real Supreme Alpha is."


    "The Supreme Alpha is already known across the pack. There is nothing to know, my friend." Alex laughed softly and lazily patted the dust off his body.


    Nirmolak nodded slowly and flapped his finger at him. "As I said, we shall know in the end. Then you will understand the big mistake you made when you abandoned our master for him." With that being said, he sprinted off, disappearing out of sight.


    Alex''s eyes narrowed into a thin line, and he let out a soft breath. He glanced at the phone in his hand, then at his body, and his face became awkward in annoyance. Now he has to find another piece of clothing to change into.


    ________


    Swathed in casual black sweatpants and a white shirt, Adrik sat on the couch in the living room downstairs with documents in his hands. He scanned through them and threw them on the table with annoyance written all over his face.


    He proceeded to stand up from the couch, but deep pain spread through his stomach and he plopped back down on the divan. His eyes glanced at his stomach, and his face grimaced when he saw the clean bandage wrapped around his waist becoming bloody.


    He gritted his teeth and decided to try and stand up again, but the pain that came this time was so much heavier than the first that he immediately sat back down and threw his head back. "Great." He groaned in irritation and abruptly raised his head when he heard Alex''s voice as he walked into the living room. "Supreme Alpha."


    Alex ambled over to him and took a seat on the sofa opposite him. "How are you feeling?" He asked with deep concern in his tone.


    Adrian bobbed at him and took a deep breath. "Did you find out anything?" He went straight to the point and asked with no expression on his pale face.


    "Yes, Supreme Alpha." Alex nodded and pulled out the phone from the pocket of his new jacket. He stood up and gave it to Adrik. "Turned out it was his highness again."


    Adrik received the phone, and his brow began to crease deeply as he went through the messages on the phone. His face darkened, and with great anger evident on his face, he threw the phone away, smashing it on the wall.


    Alex flinched a bit in surprise and his eyes fluttered in confusion as a low, deep breath escaped his nose.


    "I want her in my base before dawn tomorrow!" Adrik unfolded his balled hands and raised his eyes to gaze at Alex. "As for Ileus..." A devilish smile emerged on his scarred face, and his eyes narrowed dangerously.


    Alex nodded and immediately stood up from the couch.. He gave a deep, respectful bow to Adrik and hurriedly left the living room, and sauntered out of the mansion.

 Chapter 57 - Hold Me

    Adrik inhaled and exhaled, then glanced down at his belly. It was indeed healing at a fast pace. Well, that''s what you get for having the blood of an Alpha running through your veins. You would heal faster no matter what wound it was. He would have healed pretty much faster if it weren''t for the fact that this was a very deep wound and at three different parts.


    He stood up from the couch and strolled to the elevator, which took him to the 2nd floor. He walked out when the door opened and ambled to his room.


    The moment he pushed the door open, his body stilled as his eyes fell on Leia, who was gazing out to the horizon, draining of colors as though the darkness could take over the world.


    She unfolded her arms and took a deep breath, which he could feel was quite pessimistic. His eyes fluttered at how deeply she was thinking, to the extent of not even noticing him open the door. What is she thinking about?


    He slowly walked in, shutting the door behind him, and Leia turned around, startled. Her pitch-black pupils gazed at him, and they unknowingly fell on the bloody bandage on his belly. She immediately panicked within herself and rushed up to him. "What happened to you?" Her hands trembled as they touched the bloody bandage and her lashes shivered as tears began to well up in her eyes. Again, why is she crying? Is it because he''s hurt?


    She lifted her eyes to glance at his face, and her heart ached when she saw the stern look on his face. "Are you okay?" She asked and stared into his green eyes, which she adored a lot. It was the one thing about him that captivated her so much.


    Without saying anything to her, Adrik shifted her out of the way with one hand and ambled to the cabinet in the bathroom to grab the first aid box. He picked the bandage inside of it and dressed his wound by himself.


    Leia''s hands clenched as she stood and watched him. What else does he want her to do? She had said sorry many times, but he didn''t even reply! Her heart ached within her and the tears in her eyes threatened to fall. Yes, this was her fault! She made a mistake back then for ditching him in the middle of breakfast as though he didn''t mean anything to her, but it wasn''t like that. She didn''t mean it that way. She just wished he would at least hear her out...at least accept her apology, because she won''t try to justify her actions or give any excuses.


    A deep breath escaped Leia''s nose and she raised her visions to stare at Adrik''s bareback which was covered in tattoos and looked very masculine. She glanced at his hair, which was tied up messily, and she suddenly found him seductive. What in the world is she thinking?! She immediately shook her head and turned around to hide her face, which was all flushed pink. What the fuck is going on with her these days? Why is she getting all these weird feelings she has never felt before? Crying was something she hardly did, but these past few days, she couldn''t count how many times tears had left her eyes.


    Her body suddenly shuddered when she felt him behind her and she turned around to see him dressed up in a white shirt and white boxers instead of a robe. Her eyes trailed to his bare chest, which had tattoos on it, then down to his stomach, which had sexy abs on it, and something fluttered in her stomach.


    "Ehem." A low clearing of the throat from Adrik caused her to avert her gaze, and she suddenly felt like slapping her stupid cheek, which was glowing a light shade of pink. She chuckled awkwardly and raised her eyes to gaze at his expressionless face. "Um..."


    Adrik lifted his hand and pointed his finger at his hair, which was messily banded. She nodded as realization hit her, and smiled at him.


    He strolled to the chair and sat down, then silently watched her apply some oil to his hair. "I am sorry." Leia began and combed his hair with her fingers. "Please forgive me and stop treating me so coldly." She rose her eyes to glance at him, and they blinked when she saw no expression on his face.


    "Pl-" She parted her lips to continue, but he abruptly stood up from the chair and walked to the bed. He got in and covered himself with the sheet.


    Leia''s face became complicated, and a deep breath escaped her lips. She dropped the brushes on the table and ambled to the bed, then got in and covered herself with the blanket.


    Different questions began to whirl in her mind, and a low groan escaped her mouth. She turned to lie on her back and glanced at Adrik, who was lying with his back facing her, and she suddenly felt empty within her.


    He disapproves of holding her to sleep anymore as he used to, and she can''t help but admit that she misses it so much. His''s body was always warm and would help her relax and sleep comfortably.


    Leia''s mouth twisted up in contemplation, and she suddenly reached out her hand to touch him. However, as though changing her mind, she retracted her hand.


    A deep breath fled her nose and she turned on her side to sleep, but again she felt really empty and it was making it hard for her to sleep.


    She bit her lower lip and turned to stare at Adrik''s manly back as nervousness took over her. But as though making up her mind, she reached out her hand and gently wrapped it around him.


    Adrik''s eyes opened and he proceeded to turn around, but her next action made him halt. Not only did she wrap her arms around him, but she moved closer and hugged him more tightly. His brow creased, and he turned around to face her. His eyes fell on her face, which had a downcast expression on it and they fluttered. He parted his lip as though about to say something, but Leia shook her head at him and moved closer to him.


    "Adrik, please hold me.." Adrik''s eyes dilated a little at her word, and he gazed intently at her face.

 Chapter 58 - So Hot

    "I want you to hold me like you used to, please." She curdled in closer to him and sniffed, making Adrik realize that she was crying.


    His eyes flickered in confusion and he glanced at her. "Please, just hold me! I want to sleep in your arms, please." Leia poured out everything she wanted to say without even knowing it. At this moment, she wasn''t even listening to herself, but the only thing she was clear of was that she wanted him to hold her. She needed his comfort. She felt completely alone and empty.


    She sniffed and sobbed silently. Her eyes flickered when she felt no reaction from Adrik, and she proceeded to move closer to him, but her hand accidentally nudged on Adrik''s injury and his face grimaced a bit. She drew back immediately and glanced up at him. "I am so sorry. I didn''t mean to." She apologized and immediately turned around to avoid his expressionless gaze.


    Her low whimpers flew into Adrik''s ear, and his stern face instantly became tender. He let out a soft sigh and reached out his hand to touch her. He slowly wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him, and Leia''s eyes dilated as she didn''t expect that.


    Adrik rolled her around to face him, and he intently stared at her. He used his thumb to wipe off the tears on her face and brushed her hair that fell over her face with his hand. A smile crept on Leia''s lips and she sniffed as her eyes, which held no downcast emotion anymore, gazed at him.


    He pulled her closer and encircled his arms around her. He placed his chin on her head and took a deep breath.


    Leia relaxed in his warm embrace and placed her head on his chest. She tightly wrapped her arms around his bare upper body and threw her legs over him. Adrik''s long lashes flickered, and a half-smile slowly formed on his lips.


    Seeing her like this hurts him so much, but he just wants to make her understand how big of a mistake she made that day. He wanted to let her know how much she hurt him, and most of all, he wanted her to realize that she cared for him very much.


    He doesn''t mind being cold to her even though it pains him a lot to behave that way towards her, but it''s at least working on her.


    Adrik smiled and scented her hair. He kissed her head and shut his eyes as sleep overwhelmed him.


    ________


    The next day arrived in the blink of an eye, and Leia woke up with a throbbing headache. She sat up and stretched her stiff body.


    Her eyes glanced beside her for Adrik, and her brow creased when she didn''t see him. She proceeded to climb down from the bed, but the sound of running water that came from the bathroom made her turn her head.


    A sudden lewd image appeared in her head and butterflies fluttered in her stomach. She furiously shook her head the instant she viewed such an image and immediately grabbed the glass of water on the mini table near their bed. She gulped a mouthful and dropped the cup. What the fuck is going on with her? Why has she suddenly been having such thoughts about Adrik these days? A deep breath escaped her lips, and she abruptly turned her head when she heard the door of the bathroom open.


    Adrik, who was draped in a towel from his waist down, had another small white towel over his head as he was using it to dry his wet hair.


    Leia''s body stilled and she gazed at his upper bare body, which had droplets of water falling off. She swallowed hard and her eyes trailed up from his abs to his chest, where they stopped on the wolf tattoos that made him look so sexy. Forget the scars, he''s sexy as hell!! No man had ever attracted her this way, but Adrik, who has hideous scars on his face, attracted her this much.


    "You''re so hot." The minute the word unknowingly left her mouth, she quickly raised her hand and covered her lips. Her eyes awkwardly darted around, and she glanced at Adrik only to see him staring at her with a stunned look on his face.


    She chuckled awkwardly and began to fan herself with her hand. "Have I talked about how hot it is today?" She sneaked a peek at him and half smiled at him.


    Adrik raised his brow at her and walked into the room that had all their clothes with a bewildered expression on his face.


    A deep breath of relief escaped Leia''s mouth the moment he shut the door and she slapped her lips. Her cheeks reddened in embarrassment and she couldn''t help but cover her face with her two hands. What is wrong with her? She was not this type of girl, so she can''t understand why she''s acting this strange around Adrik. Why is she suddenly feeling so attracted to him?


    She shook her head and climbed down from the bed. She walked into the bathroom and filled the bathtub, which was so wide it could fit three people. Then she slipped out of her clothing and slid into the warm water that smelled of rain in a flowery garden.


    She relaxed her head on the edge of the tub and shut her eyes.


    Adrik, who was inside the room dressed up, walked out, shutting the door behind him. Today, he was dressed in a fine, pristine white suit with a white tie and white shoes. His eyes, which looked as though they had mascara drawn on them, narrowed as he examined himself in the side mirror. His slim, bloody red lips curled up and he placed the white mask onto his face.


    A deep breath exited his lips as he glanced at his long hair. Hopefully, he will be able to cut it one day.. He adjusted his suit and took his seat on the sofa, patiently waiting for Leia to come out of the bathroom.

 Chapter 59 - Fearless One

    A few minutes passed, and Leia walked out with her body draped in a short white towel and her hair wrapped up with a towel as well.


    Her eyes fell on Adrik, who sat on the sofa with crossed legs and his phone in his hand. She glanced at his hair, which was scattered on the couch, and she guessed he was waiting for her.


    She strode to him and signaled him to the chair with a small tilt of her head. Adrik nodded and stood up from the divan, then strolled to the seat in front of the wide mirror at the table and sat down.


    He peeked at Leia through the mirror and watched her take care of his hair. She gave it a comb and brushed it, then let it fall. "Do you want it in a ponytail? I can''t band it up into a bun because it has become too long now, and even if I do, it will look quite messy." Leia gazed at him through the mirror with a questioning expression on his face.


    "Alright." That was all he said to her and crossed his legs as his eyes watched her.


    Leia nodded and pulled his hair up into a neat ponytail, using a gel product to perfect the edge of his hair when she was done.


    "Done." She smiled at him, and Adrik glanced at himself through the mirror. He nodded in satisfaction and stood up from the seat.


    He picked his phone up from the table and proceeded to leave. However, Leia grabbed him by the arm and stopped him. "Do you have to go to work today? I mean, it could wait till you have recovered."


    Adrik turned to her and gazed at her with no expression on his face. He snatched his arm from her and turned around to leave. "I will be fine." With that being said, he ambled out of the room, shutting the door behind him.


    Leia let out a sigh and scratched her head. ''I thought he forgave me last night. Why is he still cold to me?'' Her face grimaced in confusion as she thought, and she turned around to saunter into the dressing room.


    ________


    Adrik worked in his office throughout the day, and when it seemed like it was breaking dawn soon, he left his office and drove to his estate. He rode into the compound and stepped down from the car.


    He glanced at the mansion, which was quite tall and well decorated. Its body wasn''t built of almost glass, like his other mansions... but rather it was walled but beautiful. In the middle was a fountain that was sculpted in the shape of an Alpha wolf, quite bigger than the one at the mansion where he lives with Leia.


    He yanked his hands into his pocket and elegantly walked into the manor. His men that were taking care of the manor bowed deeply at him. "Supreme Alpha." He nodded at them and continued to walk further into the house.


    He stopped at a certain wall and placed his hands on it. Reading his palmprint, the wall turned, revealing a secret room that no one knew about.


    Adrik stepped in and the wall closed back. He stepped down wooden stairs and finally arrived at a dark chamber, except for the light from the white bulb, which didn''t spread its light across the room. Without glancing around, he strolled straight to a silver wide chair that looked like a royal seat and gently sat down. He crossed his legs, spread his arms to each side, and playfully tapped on the chair armrest.


    "Bring her out." He said it in a calm, yet chilling voice and his lips curled into a dangerous smile.


    From the dark, Alex walked out with two men dressed in black suits following behind while dragging a young lady whose head was hung low as though exhausted.


    They threw her to the floor a little distance in front of Adrik and she immediately raised her eyes to glance at Adrik, who looked so elegant with the white mask on the lower part of his face. "Adrik!" She said it in a tone that held deep fear and hurriedly lowered her head to avoid his gaze.


    Adrik chuckled softly at her behavior and stood up from the chair. He walked to her and placed his hand on her sweaty cheek, then lifted her head to have her look at him.


    "Cathryn," Adrik said her name, and she wasn''t so oblivious to the deadly icy tone in his accent. She shivered uncontrollably when she heard the soft, deadly laugh that exited his mouth, and she instantly lowered her head and began to sob. "Adrik, please forgive me. Please let me go. I swear I will make up for my wrongdoing." She grabbed Adrik''s hand, but a merciless slap from Adrik landed on her cheek, causing her to fall heavily on the floor and her cheek shortly swelled up.


    "Filthy hands!" Adrik tsked as he stood up and walked back to his chair, then sat down and crossed his legs again.


    His eyes lazily gazed at Lady Cathryn, who had her hand clutching her cheek, and his face became completely stern and cold.


    Lady Cathryn''s body shook violently, and she once again cupped her hands at Adrik''s with tears raining down her face. "Adrik, please spare me. For the sake of my poor daughter, who has no one but me, please spare my life." Her voice quivered as she wailed nonstop. She would be a fool not to know that whatever was coming ahead might spell her death.


    Adrik''s brow raised, and as though amused, he laughed softly in a chilly tone that would send shudders down anyone''s body. "Your poor daughter..." He nodded his head as though pondering something and stared at Lady Cathryn with merciless eyes.


    "You were quite a fearless woman... I want you to be that way right now because what''s ahead, you might not be able to endure. " He smiled behind the mask latched onto his face and raised his lethal eyes to glance at Alex.


    Alex nodded and glared at the two men standing behind Lady Cathryn. They hurriedly grabbed Lady Cathryn and pulled her up from the cold floor.


    Then they began to haul her towards an iron chair that had chains, and she couldn''t help but kick her legs around and struggle to free herself. "Let me go!!! Let go of me!!! Help!!! Somebody help!!! "


    The grin on Adrik''s face widened, and he relaxed back in his silver seat.. "Begin" He commanded in a calm yet dangerous voice and interlocked his hands.

 Chapter 60 - Go To Hell

    The men nodded and clasped a long chain around her wrists, then fastened them to either side of the tall rod affixed to the floor, her hands spread to each side.


    They pulled out a full bucket of cold water and poured it on her, causing Lady Cathryn to raise her head with her eyes dilated and inhale sharply as though she was at a loss of breath.


    "You wanted to spell the death of my woman, my beloved wife, the only thing that I cherish in life..." Adrik tskd and relaxed comfortably on his silver seat. He interlocked his hands and glanced at Alex with his destructive sword-shaped eyes.


    Alex slightly bowed and turned to the two men. He waved at them, then took a deep breath as he stepped back.


    With a long whip-like chain that had tiny steel spikes on its body, the two men swallowed hard and raised it with slight concern in their eyes. The chain bashed Lady Cathryn''s skin without mercy, and a scream of pain escaped her lips and unbearable tears welled up in her eyes.


    Another round of whips attacked her body, and their spikes inflicted deep cuts on her skin, leaving her to cry out in pain. Her body swelled up and blood began to stream down from her nose, dropping into her mouth that was open as a result of her crying out.


    Her breathing became unsteady as more bashes of whipping landed on her bruised skin and she began to pant heavily. Her hands clenched in pain and her gritted teeth began to drip blood. Her gaze was drawn to Adrik, and a deep hatred developed within her eyes.


    Adrik stared at her battered skin, which had blood seeping out of it, and then at her glaring eyes, and a smile of satisfaction emerged on his lips, behind the white mask on his face.


    He raised his hands, ordering the men to stop whipping her, and they immediately did and took steps back away from the lady, Cathryn.


    He placed his hands on his crossed legs and stared at Lady Cathryn for a while. "Mhmm, I think the torture is enough. You didn''t do much, so I won''t be such a bad person-" Lady Cathryn''s face brightened up at his words, but his next sentence had her body trembling uncontrollably. "-However, I will send you to hell or heaven, whichever, so that you can recuperate from your wrongdoings." Adrik laughed softly and pulled out a gun from his suit pocket.


    He twirled it in his fingers and abruptly aimed it at Lady Cathryn''s head with an expressionless face, which screamed "No mercy" to her.


    Lady Cathryn''s eyes widened in fear and she immediately parted her lips to plead for mercy, but the next word that fled Adrik''s mouth turned her motionless. "Go to hell!" With that being said, with a cold, lethal tone, he pulled the trigger and the bullet violently left the gun, whisked through the air towards her, and without a single tinge of mercy, it penetrated her skull, leaving a round, bloody hole as it came out from the back.


    With her dilated eyes still staring at Adrik, Lady Cathryn plopped down, almost plunging to the floor, if not for the chains clasped around her wrist, holding her back. Her heartbeat stopped and no air escaped her nose anymore, showing that she was devoid of any life.


    Adrik once again twirled the gun and casually threw it to Alex, who caught it with two hands. He stood up from his seat and patted his suit, then adjusted it. With one last glance at the corpse and at Alex, he majestically strolled out of the chamber.


    Alex let out a deep breath and gazed at Lady Cathryn''s corpse with a little sadness in his eyes. What was this woman even thinking? His Alpha was a heartless person who showed no mercy no matter who you were. He doesn''t differentiate between a man and a woman either when punishing, and that''s why he didn''t even blink a bit or have a change of heart when she was screaming for help. Even he is afraid of his alpha and a mere human actually... He shook his head. Anyways, it''s not like those humans know of their existence, and even if they do, they probably don''t even believe it.


    He glanced at the two men, and they nodded at him in understanding. They hauled Lady Cathryn''s lifeless body up from the cold floor and took her away.


    _______


    Standing on the balcony of his mansion, a deep breath escaped his nose as his eyes gazed up at the dark sky, which had thousands of stars and a half-moon on it.


    He took his mask off his face and let his fingers trail along with the scars on his skin. He chuckled softly in a pessimistic manner, and an unknown glint flashed in his eyes. "Scars, curses, love." He shook his head and placed his hands behind his back.


    His brow suddenly creased, and he grabbed a handful of his black raven hair. He stared at its height and clicked his tongue. "Just don''t overgrow before then." He let go of his hair and, with a turn, he strolled away from the arcade and into his king-like bedroom in the mansion.


    ______


    Seated in the living room downstairs, Leia continuously glanced at the entrance in the hope of seeing Adrik. She has been waiting since 5 pm for him, but he hasn''t shown up.


    She had also dialed his number a myriad of times, but he didn''t pick it up. It kept saying "unreachable" or "line busy." She would even glance at her phone now and then for the time, and right now it had already clocked 8:30 pm.


    Jeez, he could at least tell her he wasn''t coming home or something, so she wouldn''t be as worried as she was now.


    A deep breath eluded her nose, and she stood up from the couch, finally giving up on waiting for him. She walked away and up to the second floor, then ambled to their room.


    She shut the door and the window then climbed into the bed. She proceeded to lie down, but a message arrived on her phone, and she grabbed it to check it out.


    [Leia, can we meet up tomorrow?]


    ''Um... I don''t know.''


    [Common, it''s been so long since we saw each other after that day, and I really want to talk to you]


    A deep breath escaped Leia''s nose as she suddenly recalled a memory of the day Victor was speaking of, and believe it or not, it''s a recollection she didn''t want to remember. ''Okay, tomorrow then.'' She typed her reply and turned off her phone.


    She then laid down and covered herself with the sheet, slowly drifting off to sleep.

 Chapter 61 - Do You Still Love Shawn

    Adrik arrived home a little late the next day and ambled into the mansion with a lackadaisical expression on his face. He indifferently nodded at the greetings of the maids and went up to the second floor, then strolled to their room.


    He opened the door in expectation of seeing his little wife, but what he saw was an empty room with only her scent lingering in the air, indicating that it hadn''t been long since she left the room.


    He left the compartment and headed downstairs to seek the maids. However, he still got no information from them, as they were completely unaware of her whereabouts.


    He waved his hand at them to take their leave, and he walked to the sofa in the living room to sit down. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and took a moment before deciding to dial her number. It dialed for a while, but there was no answer. Rather, it kept repeating, switched off. His brow creased as he suddenly felt worried, and he made a call to Alex, who also reported not knowing of her whereabouts.


    Adrik''s face puckered in displeasure, and he threw his head back. Where the hell was his little wife? Why didn''t she say a thing to him, no note, no message, just nothing at all?


    He took a deep deep breath and stood up from the couch, then walked back up to their room.


    ______


    At a seat out cafe, Leia, clad in jean shorts and a white tank top, sat opposite Victor, who was swathed in casual white pants and a white top, at a round table with a wide umbrella over their heads. She inhaled the aroma of the coffee in her hand, and a half-smile emerged on her lips.


    Her eyes darted around, and she nodded her head in satisfaction. "This is quite relaxing." She sipped on her coffee and took deep breaths.


    "Mhmm." Victor smiled and locked his eyes on her. He gazed at her face for a while and suddenly dropped the cup of coffee in his hand. "Leia, can you tell me why we never got to see each other after that day?" He inquired with curiosity and concern visible in his blue eyes.


    Leia''s face abruptly faltered when she heard those words, and she lowered her head. That day was a day that she never liked to recall. It was just a casual day like any other day when a family meeting was suddenly declared, but her mother wasn''t included. As someone who was never treated as family or ever felt like she was a part of that family, she decided to not attend and just go out to play basketball with Victor and his friends.


    But who knew that her father would care quite much to come looking for her with his bodyguards following him as normal? Haha... He, as usual, created a scene, not just a small one, but a big one that left her seated, locked up, in her room for months.


    He had slapped her twice across the face, and when she tried to speak, he hit her mercilessly, causing her to have a nosebleed. Victor, who was very much concerned about her, ran to help her up from the floor, but his men punched Victor with a threat in their eyes, and forcefully dragged her away by the hair towards the car. Disgracing her in front of her friends, they pushed her into the car and drove home. Then, what''s next, they locked her up and when her mother protested that they should let her out, her father threatened her with what she still has no idea about today.


    She never spoke or made a call to Victor as she couldn''t muster up the courage to do so, until a month back, before all the shit happened. Honestly, her miserable life had automatically begun that day and lasted till the very day she left that house.


    A low sigh escaped Leia''s mouth as she sipped from her cup of coffee. "Actually, things were awful for me from that day on, and as they say, experience makes one stronger." She slightly nodded her head and chuckled softly.


    Victor smiled and reached out his hand to pat her on the head, but a hot slap from Leia attacked his hand, and he immediately retracted it only to see his skin all red. "Seriously?!!! When will you stop being so grumpy? You''re a woman, for god''s sake." He rubbed his hand and turned to face her.


    "Maybe when you stop doing the things I despise." Leia rolled her eyes and shrugged.


    "You know, I am still wondering what Shawn saw in you to propose a marriage when he returns." Victor shook his head and glared at her.


    "Shawn..." Leia''s face instantly became dull as she repeated that name, and her eyes became complicated.


    "D-don''t tell me you forgot about Shawn." Victor''s face altered when he saw the faded expression on her face, and he blinked his eyes in disbelief.


    "No, it''s not that. It''s just that... we haven''t talked with each other for so many months after I lost his phone number." Leia replied with a complicated expression on her face.


    "I see..." Victor nodded his head in understanding and interlocked his hands. "Leia, what do you think is going to happen when he returns? You know how mad he was about you, and he even promised to marry you when he returns."


    "That was just a promise. He probably has someone else in his life now, considering we haven''t spoken for so long, and besides, what makes you think he will still have feelings for me when he returns? " A soft laugh left Leia''s mouth, and she shook her head at Victor.


    "I don''t know..." Victor shook his head and locked his serious eyes on her. "But may I ask you a question?"


    Leis raised her eyes to glance at him and nodded. "Mhmm, go ahead."


    Victor''s brow raised, and he gazed intently at her. "Do you still love Shawn?"

 Chapter 62 - Answers

    As though time had suddenly stopped for a moment, Leia''s breathing became unsteady and her gaze became lost. "I-i."


    "Leia, tell me the truth. Don''t lie to me." Victor''s face became serious, and he stared at her.


    A complicated expression emerged on her face, and she tried to ask herself if she still loved Shawn or not, but the first thing that appeared in her mind was an image of Adrik. His hugs, his smile, his laughter, and his voice echoed in her mind, and she couldn''t help but clutch her head in her hands. Why is she feeling this way? Why is her heart saying nothing? Why is she not able to picture Shawn but instead pictures Adrik, whom she hadn''t even thought about just now? Why was his deep voice and laughter reverberating in her mind? Just why?!!!


    Does she really have no feelings for Shawn anymore? Does her heart belong to someone whom she doesn''t want to admit that she was falling for?


    Her hands trembled, and she grabbed the coffee on the table and gulped it all down. She wiped her lips and raised her complicated eyes to stare at Victor, who was staring at her with a raised brow.


    "I-i... i." She parted her lips to say something, but not a single word escaped her mouth. Feeling very uncomfortable and unsure of herself, she hurriedly stood up from the chair and awkwardly half-smiled at Victor. "I have to go now. See you later." She didn''t wait for his reply and sauntered away towards the Rolls Royce she parked beside the road.


    She stepped into the driver''s seat and sped off down the road.


    Victor gazed at the disappearing back of the car, and a low sigh exited from his mouth. "Poor Shawn. How would he react if he came back only to find out that the girl he loved more than anything was now married, and to the richest man at that?" He shook his head and made payments to the bartender before leaving.


    ______


    Zooming down the road at high speed, many questions whirled in Leia''s mind, and her hands tightened on the steering wheel. Why was she reluctant? Is Shawn not in her heart anymore? Is she... really in love with Adrik? Has she unknowingly fallen for him and can''t control her heart anymore?


    Has that in any way been the reason why she feels strange and reacts weirdly around Adrik? But that was impossible!


    She admits that she indeed does feel very attracted to Adrik and sometimes wishes to do shit with him. But does attraction equal love, or does she actually love and feel attracted to him at the same time?


    She pinched her brow and took deep breaths when she saw the mansion come into view. She slowed the car down and rode into the compound. She packed the car and stepped down with a stressed look on her face.


    Leia went straight to their room the moment she walked into the manor and opened the door, only to find no one in the room. ''Did he not come back?'' Her face puckered as she thought, and her nose suddenly twitched. When she smelled his lingering scent, she sniffed and nodded to herself. ''He''s at home.'' Her heart unexpectedly fluttered in bliss, and she hurriedly walked to the other room where he sometimes goes, but still didn''t find him there.


    A low, annoyed groan exited her mouth and her ears abruptly shuddered as the sound of classical music sounded and she couldn''t help but follow the noise.


    Her legs began to take her closer to the sound, and the louder it became. The pleasant sound guided her to a compartment that she had never seen or gone to since she came to the mansion, and her eyes fell on Adrik, who was dressed in black pants and a white shirt, seated behind a piano with a violin placed on his shoulder. His eyes were shut and a strange expression that she couldn''t seem to comprehend lingered on his face. He looked so beautiful.


    She stood at the door and watched him play the violin with a smile unknowingly creeping up to her lips. Her eyes fluttered, and she subconsciously began to walk to him.


    Leia stood beside him for a moment, but it seemed like he was too immersed in the music he was playing that he didn''t notice her presence.


    She stepped over to the piano and climbed on top of it to sit down. Well, the only stool in the room was occupied by Adrik.


    She pulled her legs to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, then she silently watched him play the violin. Her brow creased a bit when she suddenly realized that she hadn''t gotten to explore his face quite well.


    She tilted her head to one side and began to study his face with narrowed eyes.


    He had an oval face with a sharp jawline, and his bloody red lips were not slim but a little plumpy. It looked so sensual and kissable that she suddenly couldn''t help but think what it would be like to kiss him.


    His eyes, which looked as though they had mascara drawn on them, were sword-shaped and his lashes were so long that she would never even think of comparing hers with his. He had a pointed nose and eyebrows that were slim and looked as though they were carved even though they weren''t.


    Her eyes traveled up to his hair that was almost touching the floor when he sat down, and she found it very unique. This was the first time in her life she had seen a man with such long hair. The few strands that fell over his face were not quite as long as the rest but stopped only at his shoulder length.


    A low sigh eluded her lips when she glanced at the hideous scars on the lower part of his face, and she couldn''t help but anticipate just how god-like he would look without these scars, considering how he was this beautiful even with the scars.


    Just how strikingly beautiful was he before he got these blemishes, and what exactly inflicted them on his face? These questions she wanted an answer to.

 Chapter 63 - Need

    Her hand suddenly itched as the urge to touch his face erupted in her. She slowly reached out her hand and her fingers tenderly grazed the scars on his face. "You look beautiful." She unknowingly whispered with a lost smile on her face.


    As though struck by something, Adrik abruptly stopped playing and opened his eyes, only to see his little wife seated on the piano with her fingers trailing on his lower face.


    His face puckered in displeasure, and he dropped the violin. He stood up from the stool and placed both his hands under her armpit, then gently lifted her from the piano and wrapped his arms around her to prevent her from falling. "You don''t sit on the piano, understand?" He had her wrap her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist, then, as though carrying a little child, he walked out of the music room and to their bedroom.


    He shut the door behind them and strolled to the bed with her in his arms. He lowered his body to lay her down on the bed, but Leia, however, held tightly onto his neck and waist, refusing to let go.


    Adrik''s brow creased, and he tried to release Leia''s hand on his neck, but she grabbed him tightly and adjusted to relax on his body. However, due to that act of hers, Adrik unexpectedly lost his balance, and they both fell into the soft bed.


    He pressed both his hands on the bed to avoid falling on her, and Leia held tightly onto his neck with her back against the bed. A quick breath left her lips, and her eyes fluttered. She didn''t mean to do that. She just wanted him to hold her.


    She raised her eyes to look at him, and her heart abruptly pounded rapidly within her. What seemed like excitement spread down her spine and settled between her branches.


    Between her legs firmly was Adrik''s torso, and his long hair fell from one side of his shoulder, scattering beside her head on the bed.


    Something strange began to erupt within her body, and she stared intently at his face, only to see his green eyes gazing down on her in what seemed like a rage. Her eyes fluttered in confusion, and she suddenly noticed red sparks floating around in his eyes. She had never glimpsed this before.


    She parted her lips to utter a word but swallowed it when she saw Adrik''s furious-filled eyes trail down her body.


    Her hormones instantly reacted, and her nipples, under the white tank top she wore, hardened and probed against the thin fabric of her top.


    Outfitted in small shorts, her thighs were completely exposed, just like her tummy, which was also on full display. His torso was lying in-between her legs, and her heart was racing within her.


    As his eyes ravaged every part of her body, Leia could feel something incredible happening in between her legs. It came as warmth at first but rapidly began to burn out of control under his hot gaze.


    Her heart skipped a bit when he abruptly lifted one of his hands off of the bed and traced his fingers down her neck, sending shivers down her body, which was currently on fire and flaming hot.


    His fingers traced down to her shoulder, and her body shuddered and became motionless when they ran over her hardened nipples. She gasped when he took her entire breast in his hand, and her mind went blank at that very moment. All that whirled in her mind was that she wanted him, that she craved him! Her body needed him! She fucking needs his touch.


    His red eyes were locked on hers, and Leia basked in the new sensation that suddenly spread through her body under his touch. She shut her eyes and her hand balled into a fist.


    Not being able to hold back anymore, a soft moan left her plump lips, and she unknowingly pressed her breast harder against his hand that was wrecking it. Her body wriggled beneath him and her back arched in pleasure. She needed more! She wants his touch!


    Her face ignited flames as it turned completely red in pleasure, and the scent of her arousal suddenly filled the room. She wasn''t sure if he could smell it or not, but she really doubted that he couldn''t. She abruptly opened her shut eyes and her face altered when he stopped what he was doing and closed his eyes as a low growl that held frustration escaped from his throat.


    He opened his eyes and she realized that the red morsels she had seen before were gone. Her brow creased, and she fluttered her eyes in confusion. Was she seeing things incorrectly or what?


    Taking a deep breath, Adrik climbed off her and walked towards the bathroom without uttering a single word.


    Leia''s face reddened, and she covered it with her palms. She groaned and took deep breaths. Right now, she is confused and clueless. The way she wanted him! The way her body craved his touch and how far she was willing to go emerged in her mind, and she quickly grabbed the glass of water on the mini table near their bed. She gulped down a mouthful to calm herself down, and a low sigh escaped her lips.


    She proceeded to climb down from the bed, but she suddenly felt very wet in between her legs, and she looked down only to see her shorts soaked. What the fuck?!! She hurriedly got off of the bed and ran into the bathroom, shutting the door and locking it.


    She leaned against the door and continuously swallowed hard. Was this what the girls in high school then always talked about? She had never experienced this type of thing before and it felt really good, just like they said, even though she was just touched. Was she craving Adrik to the extent of getting this wet just from his touch? Fuck!!


    ************************************


    Besties, I will like to inform y''all that I will lock my chapters as of tomorrow. please I hope you guys will stay and continue reading and supporting me. I will really appreciate it so much. thank you all so much for following me this far, my heart is melting. Really, thank you guys sooooooooooo very much.. I love you all soon much. I hope y''all keep supporting me ^-^

 Chapter 64 - Out Of Reach

    Leia slid off her shorts and walked to the bathtub while still wearing her tank top. She slid into it and pulled the water pipe, then sprayed water all over her body. She left it in the bathtub and gently rested her head on the tub''s edge.


    She closed her eyes as a deep breath escaped her nose and she spread her hands on either side.


    ...


    "Hello!" Leia''s voice echoed within the vast, dark room that had only a small amount of light seeping through a tiny window in the compartment. Her eyes darted around and her brow creased as she couldn''t recognize her surroundings. "Is anybody here?" She asked, and a cold wind suddenly swept past her, as though someone had run fast past her.


    She hurriedly turned around, and the temperature of the room suddenly began to change from that of cold to hot. Drops of sweat began to rain down her face, and she initiated to glance around furiously. "Whose there?" Leia turned to each side with vigilance in her eyes. She was sure that someone had run past her. She felt it.


    A shadow with the shape of a human stood in a dark corner, staring at her with no expression on its face. Darkness enshrouded the silhouette, being the reason why Leia couldn''t see who it was or even how it looked, but from the structure, she could tell it was a man.


    "Who are you?" Leia''s face went expressionless as she asked, and she straightened and gazed intently at the shadow. The shadow did not answer and simply grinned, which Leia felt and her brow crinkled.


    Her eyes narrowed, and she proceeded to walk forward and glimpse whoever the man was, but she suddenly halted when she saw the shadow reach out his hand and dark mists flew out, encircling her.


    She incited to step back, but a low, sinister chuckle from the man caused her to raise her head, and that''s when she suddenly realized she was in another room, completely more eerie than the one she was in before.


    The windows in the room were clanking as a result of the cold wind blowing on them, and the curtains hanging around were vigorously blowing as a gust of wind that flew in through the window blew on them.


    Leia''s heart suddenly began to race rapidly within her, and she clenched her hand tightly. She glimpsed around and abruptly flinched back in fear when her eyes fell on a pile of black skeletons that were alive and crawling towards her with a wide horror grin on their faces.


    Her heart began to pound so loudly that it echoed in her ears and the urge to scream emerged within her. However, something inside of her held her back, preventing her from screaming. It kept telling her, do not! Do not! And it came as a surprise to her to realize that she was listening to that voice.


    She shut her eyes and a scream of fear erupted within her even though no sound came out of her mouth. She looked down immediately when she felt something scratching her feet only to see the black skeletons gripping onto her ankle with their black bony hands.


    Her face instantly altered in disgust and rage, and she furiously started to kick them and punch their heads off. "Get the fuck away from me!!" She hurriedly drew back, creating a little distance away from the skeletons whose heads crawled back to their bodies and continued to slowly creep towards her.


    Leia immediately glanced around her for any weapon she could use, but her eyes fell on dark liquids that were oozing out from where she was standing. Her eyes fluttered as her body trembled and she slowly lowered her eyes to look down, and the minute she did, as though her spirit flew out of her body, she became motionless.


    Her body undertook to shiver uncontrollably, and she touched her thighs and brought her hands to her face. A low cry of fear left her lips as she stared at her bloody palms. Her hands, the white tank top she wore, and her shorts were all soaked in dark blood. Her whole body was seeping out blood, including her face.


    Leia slowly raised her hand to touch her face, and her head shook violently in fear. Tiny drops of tears began to fall from her eye, and she unknowingly started to draw back. "No... no." This kept exiting her lips as they trembled in panic and disbelief.


    Unknown voices of mocking laughter abruptly started to echo non-stop in her head, and she raised her eyes to see numerous dark shadows surrounding her and pointing their fingers at her.


    She immediately felt lightheaded, and she clutched her head in pain. The voices became louder in her head, and as though frustrated and angry, Leia abruptly moved, and with rage apparent in her pitch-black pupils, she swung her hand, trying to punch the shadows, and an angry growl escaped her mouth. "Fuck you!!!" Her hands swung at the silhouettes and went through them, leaving the shadows laughing more than before.


    She clutched her bloody body and commenced to draw back, her body shivering uncontrollably. Her eyes dilated and a scream left her mouth when she felt herself being tugged into a void. She glanced down immediately, and her physique shuddered when her eyes fell on the black skeletons that were grabbing onto her leg and hauling her into a deep black hole.


    She furiously began to punch them, but that didn''t stop them, and they continued to drag her down. "No!!! Let me go! " She fought to release herself, but everything was in vain. Tears fell from her eyes, and they continued to pull her into the hole.


    Just when they had dragged her halfway in, two voices she knew very well called out to her, and she raised her head to see Adrik, clad in a white suit with a mask on his face, reaching out his hand to her. Beside him was another woman, the one woman she had known through her life, her mother. She stood there with a pessimistic smile on her face, her hand also reaching out for her.


    "Mother... Adrik." A relieved smile emerged on her face, and she reached out both her hands to grab onto hers, but as though time went fast, the skeletons grabbed onto her hands and pulled her into the hole. "No!!!!, Mum!!!" exclaimed Leia. She yelled loudly, and her mother and Adrik disappeared within her reach.


    ....


    "No!!!!!!!!" Leia immediately woke up and sat up in the bathtub. Beads of sweat rained down her face, and she continuously panted heavily to catch her breath. "It was just a dream. It was just a dream." She continuously told herself to calm down, but when she stared down at the bathtub she was in, a scream erupted from her throat and she immediately jumped out of the tub with her face turned ghastly pale.


    *********


    Besties, sorry for 1 chapter release, but I have my reasons ^-^ its gonna be a surprise!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Chapter 65 - Not Real

    Inside the bathtub was bloody water, and she had absolutely no idea where it came from. She would have thought it was colored perfume if she poured any into it, but she didn''t and this was real blood!!


    Her body shivered, and she pressed her hand on the sink as she stared at the bloodstained water inside the bathtub. Could it be that... that dream was real? Wait!!!... She froze immediately, and her body began to shudder as something she didn''t want to think of emerged in her mind.


    She slowly lowered her head with a breath of fear escaping from her nose and glanced at her body. The instant her eyes fell on her bare skin, a scream of disbelief and terror erupted from her throat, and she rushed towards the shower with her body trembling in panic.


    On her thighs were deep wounds that were oozing out blood and tainting the floor. She turned the shower on and began furiously scraping her body. "No, it''s not real!! It''s not real!" She vigorously shook her head as she told herself. ''It''s not real...'' She slipped to the floor and pulled her legs to her chest. A low whimper sounded from her and she lowered her head to her knees. What was going on?


    ________


    Driving down the road with an expressionless face, Adrik supported his head, which was tilted to one side, with his left hand and controlled the steering wheel with his right hand. The breeze basked on his bare face, and the strands of hair falling over his face blew back as the wind blew vigorously on them.


    A low breath exited his nose, and the red specks lingering in his green eyes slowly disappeared. He increased the speed of the car and rode faster down the road.


    He finally slowed down when he arrived in front of a tall building that looked like one of those famous restaurants and parked the car in the parking lot. He glanced beside him and picked up his mask, then latched it onto his face.


    He stepped down, and with the adjustment of his clothing, which was jeans and a long brown jacket worn on top of the blacktop he was wearing beneath it, a cold expression emerged on his face.


    He took a low breath as he stared at the building, then at the sky, which was already turning dark, and with his hands shoved into his pocket, he strolled towards the entrance.


    The security guards standing on either side of the entrance bowed deeply with a smile on their faces the moment they noticed him and pushed the glass door open for him.


    Adrik nodded at them in response to their greetings, and his eyes fell on different kinds of people, each seated at their table, the moment he stepped in through the door.


    On noticing his presence, they all turned and fixed their gazes on him. Some had their eyes dilated, whilst some fluttered their eyes in surprise and disbelief.


    "Isn''t that Mr. Avalanzo?" One of them who couldn''t hold her curiosity asked her blonde-haired friend sitting beside her.


    "Of course that''s him." The blonde-haired girl rolled her eyes and sarcastically blurted out,


    "Wow, this is my first time seeing him in real life." The young girl turned her head to stare at him again. "Hmm... he looks good just like on TV and in the papers, compared to what people say." Her brow creased, and she turned to her blonde-haired friend.


    "Pfft... wait till he takes that mask off." The blonde-haired girl chuckled mockingly and shook her head at her friend''s ignorance.


    The young girl glanced at Adrik once more and turned to face her blonde-haired friend. "What would a person like him be doing in such a low place like this anyway?"


    "No idea." The blonde-haired girl shrugged and raised her eyes to gaze at Adrik.


    Adrik, who was glancing around, had his face become expressionless as he could hear every word of theirs. As an alpha wolf, his hearing was very sharp, which gave him the advantage of being able to hear the words of people quite a distance away from him.


    He lazily blinked his eyes and strolled towards the bar in the restaurant, ignoring the stupid gazes from the crowd.


    He pulled out a chair at the counter and sat down beside a young lady who had a depressed look on her face and was continuously gulping down a mouthful of cocktails.


    He looked at the bartender and ordered a few drinks, then gradually began to gulp each bottle down as though wanting to take his mind off something. He took deep breaths and pinched between his brows.


    [Fuck you!!] Adrik raised his head in surprise, having been startled by Kai''s sudden speech.


    ''Don''t start now!'' He said, with no emotion apparent in his tone.


    [You messed up! We had an opportunity to finally make her ours. To mark her and let the world and the wolf pack as a whole know that she belongs to us and no one else. But no, your insecurities seeped into your head and made you ruin everything!] Kai''s face altered in displeasure, and he shook his head in annoyance.


    ''I told you to keep quiet!!!!" Adrik''s face puckered in anger and a deep growl erupted from his throat, causing the young lady beside him to turn to look at him with a bewildered expression on her face.


    He ignored her and shut his eyes. His wolf scoffed and went dead silent. Maybe Kai was right. His insecurities were indeed what was holding him back. He wished he could muster up the courage to tell her his secrets, who he was. But, what if she leaves? What if she disdains him and sees him as a monster or as the beast that he is? He really can''t handle it if she leaves him all alone. He needs her. He will... no longer deceive himself. He, Adrik, loves his little wife.

 Chapter 66 - Kiesha

    A half-smile formed on his lips behind the mask, and a low sigh escaped from his mouth. He grabbed another bottle of alcohol to drink, but his eyes were suddenly drawn to two people seated at a table a distance away from him. He subconsciously dropped the bottle on the counter and turned his head to stare at the young man, smiling widely at a pretty young lady seated opposite him on the round table.


    "Will you go out on a date with me?" The young man asked the young lady, and instead of a reply, the young lady''s eyes darted around and she lowered her head as though shy.


    Beads of sweat began to drip from the young man''s head as the wide smile on his face turned into a nervous one. He stared at the young woman with anticipation in his blue eyes. From his facial expression, one could tell that he had a hard time mustering enough courage to propose a date to the young lady.


    The young woman fiddled with her fingers as though thinking and an unexpected smile spread across her lips. "Mhmm." She nodded her head at the young man and raised her face, which was full of happy smiles, to gaze at him.


    The young man instantly cheered up as a breath of relief escaped his mouth, and he gently grabbed the young lady''s hand and stared deep into her eyes.


    Adrik, who was still watching them, fluttered his lashes and averted his gaze. ''A date.'' He turned to the bottle of beer in front of him and stared deeply at it. He unknowingly let out an exhale and inhale until someone tapped him on the shoulder.


    He slowly raised his head and turned, only to see the young lady sitting beside him, her brow furrowed, staring at him. She had brown skin, very short hair, and tattoos all over her arms. A little ring was clasped on her nose, making her look unique and pretty. She looked a little older than his little wife.


    He arched his brow at her with an expressionless face, and the young girl rolled her eyes. "What the hell is going on with you? You''re making me uncomfortable with your weird behavior." Her face puckered and she folded her arms.


    Adrik''s eyes blinked in disbelief, and he glanced beside him to make sure that it was him the lady was talking to. ''She''s talking to me.'' He almost chuckled in doubt as he thought and turned his face to gaze at the girl. "Do you know who I am?" He asked, as he still found it unbelievable that this young lady was speaking to him. I mean this was the first time that someone, especially a lady casually spoke to him.


    "Ahh, who doesn''t know you?" She scoffed and sarcastically rolled her eyes. "You''re Mr. Avalanzo, the world''s richest man, no?" She chuckled and grabbed the cocktail glass.


    Adrik smiled at her behavior and slightly shook his head. "And you''re not..."


    "Afraid? Pfft." The young lady laughed softly and gulped down the cocktail. "People may fear you, but I don''t. The only thing I fear is hell. " She curled her lips and ordered another cocktail.


    Adrik slightly nodded at her and interlocked his hands. "May I ask you a question?"


    "Sure, whatever." The young girl shrugged and received another cocktail from the bartender.


    "Is taking your girlfriend or your wife on a date romantic?" Adrik gazed intently at her, awaiting her response.


    The minute the young girl heard his question, she immediately spits out all the cocktails in her mouth. She slowly raised her head to gaze at him, with an expression of disbelief on her face. "You are not serious." She began to laugh mockingly and shook her head at him in doubt. "Which planet are you from?"


    "What do you mean?" Adrik''s brow crinkled as he asked with a deep, husky voice.


    "Let me guess, you have never taken a woman on a date before." The young girl stared at him with one of her brows arched.


    Hearing her question, Adrik slightly coughed and gulped down his drink.


    "Haha. I guessed it right." The young girl shook her head in amusement and ordered another cocktail. "Well, taking your girl on a date is a very romantic thing to do, so yes it is." She smiled and nodded at him.


    "I see." Adrik bobbed contemplatively and sipped from his bottle. "What is your name?" He glanced at her as he asked.


    "Kiesha." The young girl answered and turned her head to gaze at him.


    "It was nice talking to you, Kiesha." Adrik smiled at her behind his mask and stood up from the stool.


    "It was enjoyable talking to the richest man in the world." Keisha chuckled softly and nodded at him. "Bye, Mr. Avalanzo."


    Adrik shook his head in amusement, and with his hands yanked into his pocket, he walked out of the restaurant, under the gazes of the surrounding people.


    The moment he stepped out of the entrance, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed Alex''s number.


    [Supreme Alpha]


    "Alex, I have a task for you. Come to the mansion immediately."


    [Yes, Supreme Alpha]


    Adrik hung up the call and stuffed the phone into his pocket. He walked towards his car and took his place in the driver''s seat. Then, with a reverse of the car, he drove out of the restaurant and onto the road.


    He arrived at his mansion in an hour and stepped down after carefully parking the car. A deep breath left his nose, and he began to walk into the building with a smile on his face.


    The maids greeted him with a deep bow, and he nodded at them. He made his way to the elevator, which took him to the 2nd floor, and he strolled to their room.


    Adrik slowly pushed the door and slipped inside. He glanced at the bed to see his little wife dressed in white pyjamas and sleeping soundly.


    He walked to the bed and took his mask off, then leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her head.. He straightened up to leave, but a yawn from Leia stopped him. "Adrik, is that you?"

 Chapter 67 - Eat Your Hug!!!

    Adrik turned around to see her sitting up on the bed with her hand rubbing her blurry eyes.


    "Yes, little wife." He answered her and walked back to sit near her. "I am sorry for leaving without telling you." He pulled her in and kissed her forehead.


    Leia''s eyes fluttered in confusion, and she gazed intently at him, as he drew her back. Was this Adrik or a clone? I mean, earlier, he was cold to her and now he''s like a different person. He was acting like he used to before, towards her.


    Adrik''s brow creased a bit when he saw the blank expression on her face, and a low sigh escaped his lips. "I really am sorry. I actually went to the bathroom, only to see you sleeping peacefully in the tub, so I didn''t wake you up because I didn''t want to disturb your nap."


    Hearing his words, Leia hurriedly pulled the blanket up and dragged her pyjamas down. Then she stared at her thighs and her face began to alter in terror. What the fuck? What the hell is going on? The wounds she had were gone. Not a scar, not a cut... just nothing was visible on her thighs anymore. It was as though she had never even gotten wounded in the first place. What in the world is happening to her? She is certain that it was neither a dream nor a hallucination.


    Adrik, who saw the look of fear in her eyes, crinkled his brow and placed his hands on her cheeks. "Little wife, is... everything all right?" He asked her, with deep concern apparent in his gazes.


    Leia fluttered her eyes and stared at him. "Um... ye-yes, everything is fine." She smiled nervously at him and moved to climb down from the bed. "I have to use the toilet." Without even waiting for his response, she hurriedly went into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her and locking it.


    Adrik''s face puckered deeply in displeasure, and his eyes narrowed as he gazed intently at the door. Why was his little wife behaving strangely? Is it because he said he saw her in the bathroom or what? He took a deep breath and got up from the bed.


    He unwrapped the bandage around his belly and walked to the mirror. He stared at his side, only to see that his injuries were all healed and a half-smile emerged on his face. He still has to wrap a new bandage around it, or else if his little wife sees that it''s healed, she might freak out, and then...


    A low sigh escaped his lips, and he walked away from the mirror. He changed into a new set of home wear and ambled out of the room, then made his way downstairs.


    ...


    Seated on the bathroom floor while wearing only a panty and the top of her pyjamas, Leia kept exhaling and inhaling, as her eyes quivered in disbelief.


    It was impossible. The wounds were right there and she washed herself up and cleaned the injuries by herself. Just how could it be gone? No sign of an injury, just nothing at all.


    ''Mother, if you were here, I wouldn''t be this scared. We could at least try to find a solution.'' She threw her head back as she thought, and placed her hands on her knees. She would have told Adrik, but would he even believe her? Wouldn''t he think she''s crazy? A deep breath escaped her nose and she shut her eyes.


    ______


    With his legs crossed and his phone in hand, Adrik waited patiently for Alex. He actually has no idea how to plan a date, but no worries, that''s what Googles are for.


    He can simply use Google to find a variety of interesting ideas. He chuckled to himself and typed on his phone.


    Different opinions and ideas popped up on Google and a smile spread across his lips.


    ''Nice.'' he thought and shook his head as he stared at one suggestion that really caught his attention.


    A few minutes later, and with his blonde hair tossed messily, Alex walked into the mansion and made his way to sit on the couch opposite Adrik. "Supreme Alpha." He gave a respectful bow and sat down on the sofa.


    Adrik raised his head to glance at him, and his brow creased at how messed up Alex looked. His shirt had its three-button open and his tie was loose as though he had just fought. "Why do you look so messed up?" He dropped his phone and interlocked his hands.


    "Oh, it was just a little trouble I had coming back, but I am all good." Alex smiled as he answered and sat up on the couch.


    Adrik nodded at him and abruptly threw his phone at him. "I want everything there to be ready tomorrow."


    Alex blinked his eyes and turned the phone off. He stared at the screen, and his face altered in confusion. "Supreme Alpha, you want me to..."


    "Yes, get it done before 6 pm tomorrow." Adrik glanced at him and stood up from the sofa. "It mustn''t be later than that." With that being said, he walked away towards the elevator.


    Alex glanced at the phone, then at Adrik, and an abrupt smile emerged on his face. ''Haha... he''s taking her on a date.'' He shook his head and stood up from the couch before walking away to his room. Tomorrow is going to be stressful for him.


    ....


    Adrik made his way to their room and stepped in, then shut the doors behind him. He closed the windows as it felt chilly, and strolled to the bed to lie down beside Leia.


    Leia, who noticed him when he came in, opened her eyes and turned around on the bed. "Adrik..." She whispered his name, and Adrik turned to face her. He smiled at her and caressed her cheek. "Is there anything wrong, little wife?"


    "You don''t hold me to sleep anymore unless I ask you to. Why?" Leia asked, and bit her lower lip in a bit of embarrassment.


    Adrik gazed at her for a while and chuckled softly. "I thought you didn''t like it." He raised his brow and stared at her.


    "Urgh." Leia annoyedly punched his chest that was covered by a robe and clicked her tongue in a bit of anger. "Who said I didn''t? If I don''t like it, do you think I will let you do that?" She scoffed and turned around, leaving her back to face him. "Eat your hug!"


    Adrik''s eyes fluttered and his lips began to curl up as he resisted himself from laughing out loud at her behavior.


    "Don''t stop yourself from laughing, or your face may blow up," Leia muttered, still refusing to turn and face him.


    Adrik''s face turned blank immediately, and he slowly smiled. He wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her closer to him. Then he placed his head on her neck and smelled her. "I will always hug you to sleep.." Leia smiled at his words and peacefully closed her eyes as she enjoyed the comfort and warmth of his body.

 Chapter 68 - What Did You Try To Do Earlier

    The early morning sun shone brightly the next day and showered its rays through the window on the couple who lay hugging each other.


    Leia blinked her eyes open and a yawn escaped her slim lips. She rubbed her eyes and her gaze fell on Adrik, who was still sleeping peacefully with a smile on his face, as though he was having a nice dream.


    ''This is the first time he has stayed beside me till I woke up.'' Leia smiled to herself, as she thought, with her cheek a bit red, and raised her hand to caress his face.


    She stroked his cheek and gently removed the strands of hair that fell over his face and tucked them behind his ear.


    She glanced at his long hair that was scattered on the bed and suddenly found it unique and lovely.


    She stared at his lengthy lashes, which looked so beautiful when he closed his eyes, and she felt quite envious. ''I will cut them one day.'' Her lips curled into a grin as she thought, and she traced her fingers over his scars. A pessimistic expression emerged on her face but was immediately replaced by a smile.


    "You look very beautiful, no matter what." She cupped his cheek and leaned in to kiss his forehead, but suddenly stopped as her eyes fell on his red lips.


    Leia drew back a bit and nipped her lip. She moved her hand to his brims and used her thumb to trace his lower lip, ''damn.'' She clicked her tongue and cursed inwardly as the urge to kiss him arose within her. She swallowed and stared at his lips for a while. Just what will it be like to kiss him? She thought and licked her lips with narrowed eyes.


    Then, as though having mustered enough courage, she slowly began to lean in and gradually shut her eyes. However, the moment their lips were about to touch, Adrik''s eyes sprang open, "Little wife." His voice sounded, causing Leia to open her eyes and immediately flinch away from his arm. She sat up on the bed and coughed as though a fishbone was stuck in her throat.


    "Good morning." She said this without even glancing at him.


    Adrik''s lips curled into a smile, and he also sat up on the bed. "Little wife, what were you trying to do earlier?" He asked and turned her head so she could look at him.


    "I don''t know what you''re talking about." She snatched her face from his hand and proceeded to climb down from the bed. However, Adrik grabbed her by the waist and pinned her down on the bed. "I asked a question, little wife." He grinned slyly as he stared at her.


    "I will burst your ass if you don''t get your hands off me!" Leia''s eyes narrowed, and she kicked his leg.


    "Oh, I don''t want to get my ass bursted." Adrik chuckled softly and got off her. He stepped down from the bed and walked over to the sofa to sit down.


    Leia puckered her face and climbed down from the bed. She folded her hands and proceeded to walk to the bathroom.


    She came out wrapped up in a white towel after she was done showering. Her brow creased when she saw Adrik still seated on the couch with his phone in hand, and she clicked her tongue.


    She walked up to him and snatched the phone away. "Little wife." Adrik raised his eyes only to see her standing with her arms akimbo and his lashes fluttered in confusion.


    "Go and have your shower; we need to go down and eat. I''m hungry." She glared at him.


    "Okay, but let me finish something up." Adrik proceeded to take the phone back from her, but Leia flinched back and her eyes dwindled. "What exactly are you doing?" She raised the phone and tried to turn it on. "Let me take a look."


    Adrik''s eyes dilated when he heard her words, and he immediately stood up and snatched the phone from her, causing Leia to blink her eyes in confusion. She narrowed her eyes in suspicion and gazed intently at him. What is he hiding?


    "Little wife, you can either wait for me to take a shower or go before me." He smiled at her and stuffed the phone into the pocket of his robe. He proceeded to walk to the bathroom, but suddenly turned around and planted a soft kiss on her forehead.


    Leia''s eyes blinked, and she smiled sheepishly as her cheek turned a shade of red. She took a low breath and strolled to the closet, then opened the door and walked in.


    They finished up in a few minutes and, dressed up in nice clothing, then they both made their way downstairs.


    Walking beside Adrik at the same pace, Leia abruptly asked. "Why put in those stairs when no one actually uses them?"


    "Little wife, which house comes with no stairs?" Adrik glanced at her and they took their seats at the dining table.


    Leia stared at him for a while with a raised brow and shook her head. "Anyway, if only it wasn''t too long, I would have used it." She shrugged and smelled the aroma of the food that the maids were currently setting on the table.


    "You''re quite gluttonous, little wife, that I wonder why you aren''t chubby." Adrik inquired, his arms folded, and a smirk emerged on his face with amusement apparent on it.


    Leia raised her eyes to gaze at him and clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Who knows? ha, ha, ha." She fake laughed and returned her gaze to the delicious food in front of her.


    Adrik relaxed back in the chair with his hands still folded and stared at her while she gobbled down her food.


    "Aren''t you going to eat?" She stopped eating when she felt his intent gaze on her and raised her eyes to glance at him.


    Adrik smiled at her and picked up a spoon, then he filled his plate up and stared at Leia with a look that said, "Happy now?"


    Lei nodded her head at him and continued to eat her food.

 Chapter 69 - I Will Cut Your Shit Off

    He watched her for a while, and suddenly cleared his throat to get her attention. "Um... little wife."


    "Yes." Leia raised her head to gaze at him with an expectant look on her face.


    Adrik coughed yet again and darted his eyes around. "How do I go about this?" He muttered to himself, as though contemplating how to say whatever he wanted to say.


    Leia''s brow furrowed at his behavior, and she arched her brow in suspicion. "You... have something to tell me?" She asked and stared at him in a questioning manner.


    Adrik raised his eyes to gaze at her, and he slightly nodded his head. "I do have something to tell you."


    "Then go ahead." She shook her head at him and scooped up a full spoon of rice to eat. However, the next words that exited Adrik''s lips had her halt the spoon at her lips. "I want to take you on a date." Her body stilled and she raised her head to gape at him with disbelief, evident in her pitch-black pupils.


    Adrik parted his lips and began to glance around, with nervousness visible on his face. Damn, so that''s how that guy he saw at that restaurant felt. His heart is beating widely inside of him. His little wife is completely different from other women, so he''s not even sure if she will say yes.


    He smiled nervously and gazed at her in anticipation.


    Leia''s eyes blinked continuously for a while before she dropped the spoon back into the plate and stood up from the chair.


    She slowly walked over to him and stared down at him. Bewildered, Adrik also gazed at her with an uneasy smile on his lips. "Um, little wife..."


    "So you want to take me on a date?" Without letting him finish his sentence, Leia threw a question at him with an unexpected smirk on her lips.


    "Ahh... yes," Adrik answered and fluttered his eyes in confusion. What is his little wife trying to get at?


    "I see..." Leia grinned widely and leaned down so her face was close to his and cupped his cheek with her left hand. "I will go on a date with you." She shrugged, and a smile began to emerge on Adrik''s face, but Leia abruptly grabbed the knife on the table for cutting apples and aimed it at his throat.


    "Little wife!" Adrik''s eyes dilated a bit, and he glanced at her, then at the knife, and back at her. "What are you-"


    "If it turns out that you''re just joking with me, I will cut your shit." She glanced at his little brother, and a smile crept onto her face.


    "Why would I joke about something like that?!" Adrik''s brow creased, and he slowly took the knife from her. "You should keep away from knives too."


    Leia shrugged and straightened up, then proceeded to leave. However, she suddenly halted and swiftly turned around to wink at him. "I will be in the garden." She smiled widely and strolled away to the backyard.


    Adrik blinked his eyes, and a soft chuckle couldn''t help but escape his mouth. "Little wife." He slightly shook his head and stood up from the chair to make a call to Alex.


    ....


    Seated at the white swing in the garden and gazing out to the horizon, a long smile couldn''t stop emerging on Leia''s lips. The swing rocked her back and forth, and she bit her lip as extreme happiness bubbled up in her heart.


    ''He''s taking me on a date.'' She plucked off the hems of the lily flower in her hand and kept smiling sheepishly at herself. ''I have never gone on a date before. I wonder how it feels.'' She raised her eyes to stare at the bluebird resting on the hand of the swing.


    "Little fella." She adjusted to caressing the bird, but in her notice, the little blue bird flew away. Leia''s face altered in annoyance, and she cursed at the bird. "Stupid bird." She shook her head, and the smile on her face returned once again. "I won''t let anything ruin my day today." She let out a low sigh and continued to rock back and forth on the swing.


    ________


    Gazing at the workers decorating a beautiful canopy that had a romantic look, Alex''s face puckered in dissatisfaction.


    "No! No! No." He stomped towards the workers and took a long, deep breath of irritation. "I can''t tell you how many times I''ve told you that this has to be here, and this has to be here!! For goodness''s sake, this has to be perfect!-" A low sigh escaped his lips and he whispered to himself, "-or I might not live to see the next day."


    The workers nodded at him with nervousness evident on their faces, and he shook his head at them, then went back to surveying what they were doing.


    _______


    Adrik stepped into an expensive mall with his men following behind him. His eyes darted around and fell on a young lady standing beside a shelf holding onto different expensive-looking beautiful clothes.


    He walked over to the young lady, his hands stuffed inside the pocket of his long black jacket.


    The moment the young woman saw him walking towards her, her eyes dilated in shock, and she immediately rushed to him. "Mr. Avalanzo." She bowed continuously with a huge smile on her face. This was the first time that Adrik had ever come to their company, and it was such a huge honor.


    I mean, it''s not every day that you get to see the richest man in the world in your company. This would even help them rise to fame.


    Adrik glanced at her and his face puckered at how stupidly she was smiling. He ignored it and turned around to face her. "I need a dress for my wife."


    "Your wife...?" The young lady asked with dilated eyes. Since when was Mr. Avalanzo married?


    Adrik''s face turned expressionless immediately, and his green eyes glared viciously at her.


    "Please forgive me... I will get onto it right away." The young lady immediately apologized when she saw his expressionless eyes and scurried to get his order, but she abruptly halted as though remembering something and hurried back to him.


    "My apologies, Mr. Avalanzo, but may I know what type of color your wife likes and what type of dress will be suitable for her?"

 Chapter 70 - First Time

    The young lady smiled nervously as she asked, and beads of sweat began to drip from her forehead. Why is she sweating? Well, if she makes any stupid mistake and offends Adrik, the manager of the company might not be so happy with her... she might... even get fired.


    Adrik glanced at her and blinked his eyes in contemplation. "Something sexy and beautiful." He said this while staring at the young lady.


    "Okay..." The young lady smiled, revealing her pearly white teeth. "What about color?" She stares at Adrik with anticipation in her eyes.


    Adrik fluttered his eyes and took a low breath. His little wife was not a fan of pink, as he had never seen her wear pink, and white, as wearing that to date won''t be so nice, Maybe red can work. I mean, red dresses are beautiful. He agreed within him and glanced at the young lady, "Red."


    "Okay, please follow me." The young lady gestured Adrik towards the second floor and they walked into the section that sold the most expensive dresses, in which he was sure that it wasn''t just any rich person that could come here.


    The young lady pulled out a comfortable seat for him, and he gently sat down, then crossed his legs and interlocked his hands.


    His hair, which was tied up into a ponytail, fell over the chair, keeping just a little distance between it and the floor.


    The young lady smiled and began to rifle through the shelf, looking for a suitable dress that would be able to meet Adrik''s expectations.


    She pulled out a red long-sleeve dress that had a V-neckline and presented it to Adrik.


    Adrik gazed at it for a while and shook his head. It wasn''t as sexy nor as beautiful as he wanted.


    The young lady smiled yet again and pulled out another one with a slim hand, stopping just at the knee length. But just like before, Adrik shook his head at her.


    The young lady continued to present more dresses, but none of them was to his liking, so he had no other choice but to stand up and choose by himself.


    He walked to the shelf and slowly began to trace his fingers on them as he passed each piece of clothing. A boring expression emerged on his face, and just when he was about to give up and leave, a red dress that sparkled under the luminous light in the building caught his eyes, and he immediately halted and stepped back to it.


    He grabbed it and examined it from head to toe, nodding in satisfaction. The dress was sleeveless with an opening at its side waist that would reveal the wearer''s side stomach. It was a body-hug type of gown and stopped at knee length.


    "I will take this." He handed the dress to the young lady and his gaze wandered to the shoe section. He immediately found a perfect heel that would fit the dress and a smile formed on his lips behind the mask on his face.


    Don''t worry, he totally hasn''t forgotten that Leia can''t wear heels, and that''s why he chose this heel. It''s not too tall and will be easy for her to walk in.


    The young lady took it and the other things he bought, like a necklace and earrings, and packaged them up, then handed the bag to his men.


    He paid the bills, and with that being done, he exited the building with his men following behind, and they sped out of the company facility.


    When he arrived home, the sun was already showing signs of setting, so he handed the bag to one of his men and ordered him to deliver it to Leia. "Tell her that I will be back soon." With that being said, he left the mansion with his car and went to an unknown location.


    ...


    Leia, who was staring at one of Adrik''s men handing a bag to her, fluttered her eyes and slowly received the bag. She peeked inside it and saw boxes that were beautifully packaged, and a smile crept onto her face.


    "The master asked me to give it to you." With that being said, the bodyguard gave a respectful bow to her and walked away.


    Leia''s eyes blinked in curiosity, and she hurriedly went upstairs, then rushed to their room and shut the door behind her.


    She ambled to the bed and jumped into it, then tossed the bag open. She pulled the boxes out and found that there were a total of four boxes.


    Two were big, whilst the other two were small. A huge smile appeared on her face, and she decided to open the big ones first.


    Leia ripped them open and what came into her view was a sparkling red dress that looked so beautiful. Her jaw fell, and she stared at it for a while. "Wow..." was all that left in her mouth.


    She proceeded to open the next one, and red heels that were not too high appeared in front of her. "Ooo..." She chuckled softly and kept it beside her on the bed.


    Then she commenced to open the two remaining small boxes, and what she saw inside had her jaws falling yet again. "Is this pure gold?" She blinked her eyes as she stared at two earrings and a beautiful necklace with a heart pendant. A deep breath escaped her nose, and she shook her head in disbelief.


    These were totally pure gold, but did Adrik have to go this far? Whoa... he actually bought pure gold for her. I mean, her father never bought any for her, except for her sisters, so yes, this was the first time someone bought one for her, and it brought a new feeling within her.


    Her face suddenly altered at the thought of her father, and her hands balled into a tight fist. Just you wait! She smirked evilly and resumed admiring the jewelry.


    She adored it for a while, and a low sigh left her mouth. They were all so beautiful.

 Chapter 71 - Shall We

    The day went by faster, and just like Adrik promised, he returned around 6 pm.


    A deep breath escaped his nose as he stared at the entrance of his mansion. He shoved his hands into his pocket and, with a wide smile on his lips, he walked through the door and entered the building.


    He took the elevator and went straight to their room, then opened the door and shut it behind him. "Little wife." He called when he saw no one inside the bedroom.


    "I''m inside here." Leia''s voice sounded from the bathroom. "Where did you go? been waiting for you." She opened the door and stuck her head out to peep at him with a little frown on her face.


    "I had some business to deal with," Adrik replied with a smile and strode to the sofa to take a seat.


    "I see..." Leia nodded at him in understanding and retracted her head. "I will be done in a while." She smiled and closed the door.


    Adrik took a deep breath and stood up from the sofa to take his jacket off, then strolled to the second bathroom in the compartment to take his shower.


    They both spent a few minutes before Leia walked out with a white towel wrapped around her body.


    She glanced at Adrik, who also had a towel wrapped around his waist, leaving his upper body bare, and her cheek suddenly turned a light shade of pink.


    She hurriedly covered her face with her palms and rushed into the closet. Adrik''s eyes darted around in confusion at his little wife''s behavior, and he slightly shook his head.


    He unrolled his hair, which was tied up messily, and it fell down his shoulder, past his waist, and almost touched his back knee. A low sigh left his lips as he stared at the length of his hair, and he shrugged, then walked to dry his hair.


    It took them a while before they were done, and Adrik stood gazing at himself in the mirror. Instead of wearing his complete suit today, he went for a different style.


    He wore a white shirt and suit pants, then a long black elegant jacket that had a golden pin on its side. He left the jacket open, showing off the white shirt he wore inside, and his feet were covered in pristine black shoes that looked very expensive.


    His black raven hair, which was carefully done by him, was tied up in a ponytail, leaving a few strands to fall over his face as usual. Well, his face needed no touching as it was already as perfect as it could be for him.


    He smiled to himself and turned around to stare at the closet in which Leia had been in for a while now. His brows creased a bit at how long she had been in there, and he couldn''t help but ask, "Little wife, is everything alright with you in there?"


    "Um... Yes, I will be out in a while." Leia replied from within the closet, and he nodded his head, then strolled to the couch to take a seat and wait for her to be done.


    He let out a low breath as he sat down and gazed at the wall. Today is going to be a different day in his life, and deep down, he is wishing for everything to go according to his plan. He smiled to himself and slightly nodded, expressing he believed everything would be fine.


    A maximum of four minutes passed, and the door of the closet creaked open. Adrik, who was seated on the sofa, turned his head and the instant his eyes fell on Leia, who had just walked out of the dresser, he immediately sat up from the couch without letting his eyes leave her.


    Standing with her head hung low, the sexy red dress that draped her slender body sparkled under the luminous light of the chandelier in their room. The dress hugged her body perfectly, showing off her curves and matching the red lipstick on her lips.


    Her short hair was neatly combed and seemed like it had grown a bit longer; it was about to reach neck length. Her neck and ears were beautified with the gold necklace and earrings, complimenting her collar bone, which was exposed as a result of the dress being sleeveless.


    Adrik''s lips unknowingly curled into a wide smile, and he walked to her. Leia raised her head to look at him, and he cupped her cheek. "Do I look okay?" She asked with a nervous smile on her brim.


    "You don''t look okay-" Adrik stared deep into her eyes, "-But you look beautiful. So beautiful!! " He brought her forehead to his lips and planted a soft, tender kiss on it. "You are so lovely."


    Leia''s cheeks turned a few shades of pink, and she abruptly pulled him into a tight hug. "Thank you!" She raised her eyes to gaze at him and smiled happily.


    Adrik caressed her hair and pulled away from the embrace. He grabbed his mask from the mini table and turned to Leia with a smirk on his lips.


    "Shall we? My beautiful little wife." He gestured out his arm like a gentleman and funnily wiggled his brow at her with his lip arched in a smile.


    Leia giggled with a shake of her head and turned to him. "We shall, my handsome." She interlocked her arm with his, and they both chuckled softly.


    They took the elevator, which took them to the last floor, and elegantly, they ambled outside through the entrance and strolled towards the white Lamborghini packed just near the gate, with his men standing on each side of the car and Alex standing near the driver''s side.


    The men, including Alex, bowed to the two of them and opened the back seat for them.


    Adrik helped Leia in and took his seat behind her. Alex motioned for the bodyguards to use the Rolls Royce to follow them, and they nodded their heads at him before leaving.


    He took his seat in the driver''s seat and started the car''s engine.. With a careful reverse of the car, he drove out of the compound and sped off down the road.

 Chapter 72 - Pinch Me

    They arrived at their destination in the shortest time of an hour, and Alex slowly drove the car into a dark area that was only visible with the support of the bright light of the car. He packed the car, and the men following behind them in the SUV also parked and hurriedly climbed down to open the door for them.


    Adrik stepped down and gestured with his hand to Leia to help her out of the car.


    Leia''s brow furrowed a bit as she stepped down from the car and looked around their area that was filled with darkness. "Adrik..." She turned her head to question him, but when she saw his gestured hand, she held back the question.


    A deep breath escaped her nose, and she interlocked her arms with his, then slowly, Adrik began to lead her somewhere that she couldn''t see properly as a result of everything being enshrouded by darkness.


    Adrik had just led her up a staircase, she had no idea was there when, unexpectedly, hundreds of small bulbs that emitted luminous light came on, leaving her motionless and dumbfounded.


    A wooden bridge that led to a place she couldn''t see properly yet, as she was still a distance away, came into view, and she raised her eyes to glance at Adrik, only to see him without a mask on his face and smiling at her.


    "Adrik-"


    "Come with me." He took her hand and, together, they stepped onto the bridge. They walked down, and another staircase came into view.


    As they walked down the last step, another, almost hundred bulbs that emitted both red, yellow, and green lights came on, revealing a vast garden that looked more beautiful than anything she had ever seen in her entire life.


    The greatest thing about it was that there were different flowers around, especially her favorite, which were lily flowers, and a tall fountain with the sculpture of a mermaid spraying water. In the middle was a white, lovely canopy that was decorated with flowers and light bulbs. Under it was a white round table that had white chairs on either side of it.


    Where was this? She had never seen or heard of this place before. Her jaw fell, and she slowly turned her head to look at Adrik with dilated eyes. "This..."


    "Don''t say anything, but just come with me." Adrik smiled at her and led her towards the canopy. He pulled out the chair and Leia sat down, her face still blank in shock. Yes, he told her he was taking her on a date, but she honestly wasn''t expecting this at all. It was all just so lovely and romantic.


    Adrik walked over and took his seat, then, men from nowhere emerged with food and bottles of wine in a shelf trolley and professionally set them on the table.


    "Bon app¨¦tit, monsieur et madame Avalanzo." The chefs took a deep bow after they set everything up poured wine into their glasses and took their leave.


    Leia fluttered her eyes in shock and glanced down at the delicacies on the table. A breath of amazement left her mouth and her lashes blinked vigorously.


    "Enjoy yourself, little wife." Adrik smiled at her and proceeded to fill her plate. He handed it over to her.


    Leia received it with a dumbfounded expression still visible on her face, and Adrik couldn''t help but chuckle at her behavior. Has she never experienced this before? I mean, surely she must have dated back in high school.


    Leia slowly enjoyed her food together with Adrik, and her heart couldn''t stop bubbling with happiness. She raised her eyes to stare at Adrik, only to see him gazing at her with folded arms and a smile on his face.


    Her eyes darted around and she smiled awkwardly.


    "When is your birthday?" Adrik abruptly asked, causing her to draw her head back in surprise. "My birthday?"


    "Yes, your birthday." He nodded at her with a smile still apparent on his face.


    "Well... It''s..on November 25." Leia smiled as she said, but when she glanced at Adrik''s face, she found it to be blank, devoid of any emotion.


    Her eyes blinked in confusion, and she couldn''t help but call his name. "Adrik..."


    Adrik raised his eyes to glance at her and parted his lips to say something, but not a single word came out.


    Leia became more worried and reached out her hand to place it on his. "Adrik, did I say something wrong?" She asked in a low tone that he had never heard her use before, and as though snapping out of a twisted thought, he gazed at her with a less expressionless face. "No, no... you didn''t say anything wrong." He grabbed her hand and rubbed it softly. "It''s just that I was lost for a bit because I just realized that we have the same birthdate and birth month." He smiled sweetly and caressed her hair.


    "Th-the same birthdate and birth month?" Leia stared at him in a questioning manner, and when he nodded at her, she chuckled in disbelief. "That''s... impossible."


    Adrik raised his brow at her and laughed softly. "Would I lie to you about something like that?" He smirked.


    "Well... no." She shook her head and flickered her eyes in surprise. "So that means... we celebrate our birthdays on the same day and month?


    "Yes." Adrik tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and caressed her cheek.


    Leia parted her lips to speak, but an abrupt, slow classical music resounded, and she hurriedly turned her head, only to have her eyes widen in shock.


    Near the fountains, under the beautiful lights, were composers clad in matching outfits, playing their instruments, which were producing romantic classical music.


    Leia''s jaw fell and her head shook in doubt. Is all this real or is she dreaming? She hoped it wasn''t a dream, but if it was, then she didn''t want to wake up.


    She slowly turned her head to stare at Adrik, and her head shook in amazement and disbelief. "Pinch me." She said to Adrik, and he fluttered his eyes in astonishment. Why is his little wife asking him to pinch her? Does she think she is in a dream? He chuckled inwardly and cleared his throat to say something, but Leia told him yet again to pinch her.


    He darted his eyes around, and having no choice, he pinched her and an "ouch" left Leia''s mouth.


    "It isn''t a dream.." An expression of happiness emerged on her face, and she turned to Adrik to see him standing up with his hand gesturing to her. "''May I have this dance, little wife?

 Chapter 73 - Tears

    Leia''s eyes fluttered in utmost happiness, and she smiled as she nodded her head in approval. She placed her hand on his, and Adrik helped her up.


    He walked her out of the canopy and, under the full moon and thousands of stars in the sky, Adrik wrapped both her hands around his neck and then placed his hands on her waist. With that being done, they both began to move in rhythm with the classical music.


    Leia gazed into his green eyes just like he was also gazing into hers, and Adrik placed his forehead on hers.


    She shut her eyes and inhaled deeply before exhaling. She laid her head on his chest and hugged him. Adrik smiled at her action and wrapped his arms around her.


    They danced this way till Adrik pulled away and kissed her on the forehead. He interlocked his hand with hers and stared up at the dark sky. "I want to take you somewhere."


    "Huh?" Leia blinked her eyes in confusion and gazed at him.


    "Come with me." He kissed her on the forehead and placed his mask on his face, then proceeded to walk her out of the garden.


    "Adrik your jacket." Leia glanced back at the canopy and reminded him.


    "Don''t worry about it." He opened the front door of the car for her and she stepped in, then he walked over to the driver''s seat and took his seat. "It''s going to be just you and me."


    He started the car engine, reversed it, and sped off down the road.


    The shortest it took them, was thirty minutes to arrive at their destination, and when Leia''s eyes fell on where they were, she couldn''t help but flutter her eyes in confusion.


    In front of her was a tall, huge fountain that had beautiful sculptures on it, spraying water, and around that fountain was something like pipes attached to the ground, also squirting water.


    Not just that, there were lights within a little gap between those pipes and the fountain, making the water look beautiful. The lights were purple and sometimes changed to white and then to blue.


    "Oh my God!" Leia slowly shook her head in disbelief and turned to look at Adrik.


    Adrik stepped down from the car and opened the door for her. He smiled at her and wrapped his arm around her waist. Then, together, they walked towards the water fountain.


    He helped her walk through, so they could have themselves standing in the gap, keeping the fountain and the pipes attached to the ground a bit away from each other.


    Leia stared up at the water spraying over her head to clash with the ones squirting out of the pipes, and her eyes couldn''t help but twinkle in amazement.


    She cupped her hands together and adored the beauty she was witnessing.


    While they were watching the water, the people who were also near them, admiring the fountain, noticed them, and they couldn''t help but cover their mouths with their hands while pointing at them.


    "Isn''t that Mr. Avalanzo?" One of them asked, and those near her nodded their heads.


    "Who is the girl beside him?" They all fluttered their eyes as they were at a bit of loss and fixed their gazes on them.


    While the surrounding crowd was staring at them, Leia, who was unaware, kept watching the fountain and admiring its beauty and had no idea when Adrik stepped back to stand behind her.


    He pulled out a small black box from the pocket of his pants and stared at Leia''s back for a while, then, with a deep breath escaping his nose, Adrik slowly got down on one knee and opened the box, revealing a diamond ring that sparkled under the bright moon and stars in the sky.


    He took his mask off, disclosing his whole face, and gestured the ring to Leia, then patiently waited for her to turn around.


    The crowd dilated their eyes in shock, and they gaped at Adrik with their jaws fallen. Right now, his revealed face was not even the main thing that had them dumbstruck.


    But, he was proposing to someone in front of so many people!!! Who was Mr. Avalanzo? The richest man in the world, who is hardly seen by just anyone, is here today, in front of them, proposing to a girl they have no idea of or ever heard of.


    Are they dreaming or hallucinating? Some of them pinched themselves and hurriedly pulled out their phones from their pockets.


    This must be recorded! It has to go on the internet!! The world has to see this!!! They can''t be the only ones witnessing this!!


    They put their phone on recording and began to tape Adrik and Leia, who still had no idea of what was going on.


    "Guys, the reporters are here!!" One of them screamed, causing everyone to turn their heads and see reporters walking towards them with their cameras in hand.


    Leia''s eyes fluttered when she heard the scream and murmurs from the surrounding people, and her face puckered deeply. Could it be that they were being like this because of Adrik? ''Stupid people!'' She thought and turned her head to glance at Adrik, but didn''t see him beside her.


    "Where is he?" She turned around and the minute her eyes fell on Adrik, who was kneeling on one knee while gesturing a diamond ring at her, her brain exploded and she became motionless. Her eyes dilated like saucers and she just stared down at him unmoving.


    What is going on? What in the fucking world is happening? Is she dreaming or what? Is this an apparition or what?


    Her heartbeat became unsteady and it raced faster within her. Many questions whirled in her mind, and she suddenly felt faint-headed.


    Is all this real? Is he actually proposing to her?


    Bubbles of tears welled up in her eyes, and the moment she blinked, they streamed down, falling to the floor. More tears trailed down her cheeks, and she shuddered slightly.


    She began to laugh crazily behind tears, and uncontrollably, they fell from her eyes.

 Chapter 74 - If You Will Marry Me Again

    "Leia-" A deep breath escaped Adrik''s mouth and he fixed his gaze on her "-On that day, I found you about to commit suicide. I felt very pained and hurt that I couldn''t hold it anymore, but had to run up to you and catch you before you jumped off."


    Leia''s mind went blank the moment she heard that, and the scenes of that day replayed in her mind. That hand that held onto her, that was... Adrik. The person that stopped her from killing herself was Adrik. She could vividly recall that person''s face. She could now vividly recall Adrik''s face from that day.


    "I requested your hand in marriage even though you were sold to me, but I want to tell you right now that I do not regret having you sold to me because if it were not for it, I would not have you standing in front of me right now."


    "Every day, my heart raced every second for you, but my brain couldn''t agree with me that I was in love with you. I tried to convince myself that I didn''t love you and that I only cared for you, but my heart didn''t agree with me. Both my heart And my brain were at war."


    "I will not deceive myself anymore, because I realized that I didn''t fall in love with you recently, Leia; I fell in love with you the first time I laid eyes on you, and I knew I''d never stop loving you because you''ll be the only woman that will ever exist in my life and my heart."


    "And that''s why, in front of all these people, in front of the whole world, in front of any possible human that could see, I want to let them know that you are my woman, my beloved wife, everything that I could ever ask for. This I want the whole world to know."


    "I am not putting on a mask today to cover myself, because I want to use my real self, all of me, to ask you, Leia, if you will marry me again."


    He stared at her with anticipation in his green eyes and patiently waited for her response.


    Leia''s body trembled, her wet lashes fluttered uncontrollably as tears fell from her eyes, and she abruptly fell on her knees in front of Adrik.


    She reached out her shaking hands and cupped his cheek. Her fingers trailed on his face, and more and more tears fell from her eyes. "I... love you so much and yes, I will marry you. Again, thousands of times. You''re the only man I will ever love. And only you will own my heart." She chuckled softly behind tears and reached out her hand for him, and Adrik placed the diamond ring on her slender finger.


    He raised his eyes to Flare at her, but Leia''s lips unexpectedly slammed into his, causing him to become motionless.


    She kissed him tenderly and affectionately, and the rain of tears that kept falling from her eyes mixed with their kiss, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.


    Adrik smiled against her lips and caressed her cheek with his thumb. "I love you so much, Leia." He shut his eyes, and tiny drops of tears he had no idea of welled up in his eyes, fell, and mixed with Leia''s.


    She broke the kiss and gazed at his face. A smile formed on her lips when she saw the tears in his eyes, and she wiped them off and kissed him tenderly on the forehead. "I love you so mu-."


    A sound from a helicopter reverberated, and both Leia and Adrik looked up, and what they saw was Alex on it.


    Before, they could anticipate what would happen. They noticed something like a net open at its bottom and the next thing they saw was hundreds of white objects they couldn''t yet glimpse, pouring out of the net and beginning to fall on the entire place.


    Leia stared up at the sky and the minute it fell before her, she glanced at the one that fell on her hand only to realize that it was all white lilies.


    Everyone stared at the raining lilies, and their eyes couldn''t help but dilate in shock.


    Leia''s eyes fluttered, and she slowly turned around to face Adrik with tears about to fall off her gazes. "How di-"


    "I observed you like lilies a lot, and I wanted to make one rain on you, so I did." He smiled at her and before he could utter another word, Leia jumped into his arms and hugged him tightly, showering kisses all over his face. "I love you so much."


    "I love you too." He embraced her tightly and planted a kiss on her red lips.


    From within the crowd that was staring, a petite young woman began to clap her hands with a wide smile on her lips. "This is... This is the best scene I have witnessed in my entire life. This is real love." She began to clap her hands vigorously with a wide smile on her lips, and the other crowds who agreed with her also began to clap their hands, including the reporters.


    Right now, Adrik was a different man in their eyes. This was the real him, who only knew his wife. They no longer even cared about his face, but what they had just witnessed.


    _____


    At the Adolpho mansion, Amy, who was watching it live on TV with Jenny and Mr. Adolpho, inhaled and exhaled in a rage. "Ahhhh!!!" She yelled loudly and threw away the remote of the TV onto the floor, breaking it into pieces. "This was supposed to be my place. I was supposed to be the one he was proposing to, not her! She''s just trash, fucking trash!" She fumed in anger, and her hands balled into a tight fist.


    "Are you okay?" Jeny''s face puckered in irritation, and she couldn''t resist asking her sister who was acting like an insane person. "You clearly would have never accepted the marriage then, so why are you enraged?" She shook her head and glanced at their father, then at Amy.


    Amy''s face turned darker, and she turned to face her father. "This was all your fucking fault!!!" With that being said, she stormed out of the living room.


    Mr. Adolpho, who was seated beside Jenny, uttered not a single word, but silently watched the TV.


    _____


    Leia kissed Adrik one more time and smiled as she turned to face the crowd who were videotaping and applauding them.


    They all kept cheering "Congratulations!" to them, and Leia wrapped her arms around Adrik. "This is the best day of my life." She cupped his cheek with her palm and placed a tender, soft, affectionate kiss on his lips.


    "And so is mine.." Adrik smiled and kissed her back with closed eyes.

 Chapter 75 - You Dont Understand!

    Escaping the reporters and crowds that were seeking answers, Adrik and Leia returned home, and they couldn''t help but chuckle as they stared at each other.


    Leia slowly wrapped her arms around his neck and jumped onto his body. Adrik encircled his arms around her back to keep her from falling and nuzzled her neck.


    He walked towards the bed with her in his arms and bent down, letting her back land on the soft king-sized bed. He pressed his hands down on the bed, on either side of her head, and gazed down at her.


    "Leia-" His deep voice said her name for the first time, and her heart fluttered in bliss. "I can''t-"


    "No Adrik." She shook her head, cupping his cheek with her hands and staring into his green eyes with desire burning in hers. "Please. I want you...all of you. I need you..." She sensually brushed her lips against his.


    Adrik''s eyes fluttered, and red sparks slowly began to emerge in his eyes. He gazed down at her and one of his hands touched her cheek.


    He caressed it with his thumb and leaned down, pressing his soft, plump lips on hers. He kissed her slowly and tenderly, and his lips sought out her neck, nipping at every inch of skin. Deep breaths escaped from his nose as he inhaled her sweet scent.


    A gasp of pleasure left Leia''s lips as he sucked gently on her sweet spot, and she couldn''t help but shut her eyes in utmost euphoria.


    Her skin felt like it was on fire, burning in flames, and only Adrik would be able to soothe it.


    The way he savored every inch of her neck and shoulder was so incredibly slow that she suddenly felt very annoyed within her. She wants him!


    Her arms abruptly wrapped around him and she pulled him down so their bodies would touch, and the minute his body crashed with hers, as though realizing something, Adrik instantly stopped and got off her.


    Leia''s heart arched, and frustration built up within her as she felt very angry. Her face darkened, and the moment she saw Adrik about to stand up from the bed, she grabbed him by the wrist and stood up from bed.


    She walked to stand in front of him, and her chest rose and fell in fury. "What the hell was that?! Why are you doing this to me?!" She questioned him, her hand balling into a tight fist.


    "Leia, listen, I-"


    "You what?!!! You what, Adrik?" Her face darkened more and breaths of rage kept escaping from her nose. "Am I not enough or am I not beautiful enough for your taste? Tell me, instead of doing this to me!"


    "You just fucking told me you love me, but you rejected me right here, just like you did that day. Why?!!!"


    "Calm down, Leia."


    "Don''t fucking tell me to calm down!!! Do you even know how much this hurts me? How many insecurities have built up within me?!"


    You make me feel like I''m not good enough, or that I''m not up to those women... just why?!! If you don''t want me, why the hell did you say you love me? If I was not enough for you, why give me this ring?" She raised her hand, pointing at the ring, her face altered in pain.


    "You know, you could have just told me you don''t want me, instead of hurting me this-" She hadn''t finished her sentence when Adrik''s hands abruptly grabbed her shoulder and pinned her to the wall.


    He punched his balled fist near her head on the wall, and his breathing became heavy and rapid as he gazed at her face. "How could you say that?" His face darkened and he harshly cupped her cheek.


    "I will never love any other woman apart from you, and yes, you are good enough for me and the most beautiful woman I have ever met."


    "Then why ar-"


    "You don''t understand!" He punched his fist on the wall yet again, and he shut his eyes as his breathing became unsteady. "Leia..." He opened his eyes, which were completely golden, to stare at her, and Leia''s eyes fluttered in disbelief.


    "Your eyes..."


    "You don''t know who I am and-"


    "Then tell me, I want to know!" Leia cut him off, and her eyes blinked in curiosity. She reached out her hand and cupped his cheek. "Adrik, if this really is not you, then tell me who you really are. Let me know." She said it gently to him and stroked his cheek.


    Adrik gazed deep into her eyes for a while and slowly shook his head. "I can''t. It''s not something I can just say to you. I am afraid to lose you and I don''t want to, not now, not after all that I went through just to have you love me. I can''t lose you." He lowered his head in utmost defeat and helplessness and stepped away from her.


    "And do you think that by keeping it from me, you will have me stay with you?" Adrik halted on his steps the moment he heard those words and turned around to stare at her.


    "Do you believe that? Adrik." She raised her brow at him in a questioning manner, and when she got no answer from him, she shook her head. u "Just... what exactly are you hiding from me, that is restraining you from touching me even when you know very well that you want to!" She began to walk towards him as she said and gazed deeply into his eyes. "Tell me the truth, or trust me, you may never see-"


    "You want to know the truth!" He stepped forward to leave only an inch of distance between the two of them, and his hand clenched and unclenched in deep frustration.


    "Yes, I want to know the truth!! You can''t claim you love me and keep me in the-"


    "I am a beast, Leia!!" He yelled at her face, grabbing her shoulder harshly and gazing down at her with eyes filled with guilt.


    Leia''s eyes fluttered in confusion, and she stared at him unmoving. She watched him lower his head in helplessness, and she reached out to touch him. "Adrik, if you are talking about your scars, I have-" She hadn''t finished her sentence when Adrik abruptly raised his head, and the minute she saw his face, her heart leaped to her throat and she immediately flinched back, losing her balance and falling on her butt.


    "You.." She parted her lips to say something, but nothing came out, and her trembling finger pointed at him.


    Adrik, who was breathing heavily, stared at her and glanced down at his hands, only to see his nails stretched out.


    He used his tongue to trace his teeth, only to realize that his fangs had elongated. His eyes fluttered and he lowered his gaze down at Leis, who was still staring at him with a look of horror on her face. Fuck!!! He didn''t want to show her this way, but right then, he was fighting with his wolf, trying to keep him from breaking out, but he still did in the end.


    What was he going to say to her now? He stepped forward to her, but Leia instantly flinched back, creating a bit of distance between them.. Her lips trembled, and she slightly shook her head in disbelief. This is not real, right?

 Chapter 76 - Desire

    Her body shivered, and she raised her eyes to gaze at his face. "Yo-you''re a vampire." Her heart clenched inside of her and she drew back more.


    "No, I am not," Adrik answered in a low tone that held so much pain within it. "I am a werewolf." He glanced at her and pinched between his brows, a deep sigh leaving his lips.


    He turned around and walked into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.


    Leia''s heart pounded rapidly within her, and she stared at the bathroom door. All this time, she had been living with a beast, a non-human. But... why isn''t she feeling angry or as scared as she should be? Why is her heart hurting at the sight of the pain in his eyes instead of flying into a rage?


    Her eyes fluttered, and different memories began to play in her mind. Adrik held her to sleep. That day, under the heavy rain, he came to bring her home by himself. He cooked breakfast for her. He took bullets for her. And he confessed his love to her in a way that she never imagined any man would ever do, in her entire life.


    He did things for her that no one ever did for her. He loved her more than anyone did, and he was always there for her, ready to protect her and do anything for her.


    He took all her bullshit and never once mistreated her. He truly loved her.


    Were beasts better than humans? If a beast loved her this way, why be afraid? Why think of consequences? He had proven his love to her in many ways, and she too had fallen for him.


    Her heart was not easily shaken, but he unlocked it and had her fall head over heels for him.


    She loves him and wants to be with him, and for that reason, she would not reject him. She will accept him and be with him because she has fallen for him, and that states the fact that she will be with him and no one else, no matter what. Even if he is a beast.


    A deep breath escaped Leia''s nose, and she slowly stood up from the floor. She began to walk towards the bathroom door, and she shut her eyes as another deep breath left her lips.


    She grabbed the knob and slowly turned it, opening the door wide. Her eyes lifted and fell on Adrik, who was staring at himself in the mirror in the bathroom.


    At her notice, he turned around and his eyes blinked in confusion when he saw her walking towards him.


    Leia stood in front of him and gazed up into his green eyes. She reached out her hand and stroked his scarred cheek. "I love you, Adrik."


    "Leia-"


    "Shhh." She hushed him up by placing her finger on his lip and tucking a strand of his hair behind his ear. She rose to her tiptoes and kissed his lips gently but passionately.


    Adrik''s mind went into chaos at her actions and words, and he couldn''t help but think he was hallucinating.


    Why is she acting this way? Wasn''t she supposed to freak out, call him a monster, and at worst, run away from him? Why is she telling him she loves him and that he''s hers? Is this real?


    He gazed at her face and Leia wrapped her arms around his neck, letting him know how much she wanted him, and that''s she''s willing.


    His lips slammed against hers, and his large hand cupped her cheek.


    A low growl reverberated from his throat, throbbing against her lips, and she couldn''t help but pull him closer, deepening the kiss.


    His hands traveled down and rested on her hips, then he grabbed her thigh and carried her up from the floor.


    Leia wrapped her legs around his waist, still not breaking away from the passionate kiss, and he gently laid her down on the bed.


    "Tell me to stop whenever you want to." She responded with a nod of her head, and he moved his hand to the side of her dress and unzipped it.


    He kissed her neck down to her shoulder and nipped at her collarbone. Leia''s mind felt clouded as she loved every peck and kiss. This was the first time she was going to experience it, and nothing gave her more joy than knowing she was going to experience it with Adrik, the only man her heart opened up to.


    Adrik slowly pulled her dress down, removing everything she wore completely without hesitation. He drew back a bit so he could see all of her, and his eyes burned into her skin, setting her on fire.


    Leia"s cheek turned a shade of pink from his burning gaze, and she reached out her hand to cover herself, but Adrik was quick to grab her hands and pin them on the bed.


    "Don''t cover yourself, little wife. I want my eyes to savor every inch of your body. I want my mind to take a picture of your perfection." He brushed his lips against hers and smiled ever so gently at her.


    "You''re so beautiful, little wife." His burning eyes roamed every ounce of her body and his hands grazed from her shoulder down to her breast. He grabbed one of them in his hand and rolled her nipples between his fingers.


    Leia''s body wriggled beneath him, and her back arched as she felt immense pleasure. "A-adrik..." A soft moan escaped her pretty lips when he took one of her breasts in his mouth and bit, licked, and sucked hungrily on it. His other hand grabbed her left breast and pinched her erected nipple.


    "Ah... Oh my." She couldn''t stop moaning as his wild touch sent flames down her body and rested in between her legs.


    He traveled back up and kissed her lips, biting softly on her lower lip.. A soft moan escaped her throat, and she pressed herself up against him, telling him how much she needed him, how badly she craved him.

 Chapter 77 - Passion

    Adrik''s hands parted her legs and trailed down from her belly to her entrance. "Ah." Her stomach tightened, and she clasped her legs together, sealing his hand in one spot at her sensitive area.


    He chuckled softly at her response to his touch and parted her legs yet again while delivering tender kisses on her lips.


    He pulled away from the kiss, and Leia''s body froze and shivered as his face moved closer to her flower.


    Her eyes dilated and she grabbed the sheet. Her back arched as his mouth met her pussy, and his tongue snaked around her clit and her entrance. "Adr-adrik, pe-please wa..." Her head hit the pillow in overwhelming pleasure, and her grip on the blanket tightened.


    Adrik pulled his face away and lightly began to massage her as he leaned down to kiss her, allowing a blissful sensation to dominate her.


    He bit on her lip and slowly slipped a finger into her. Leia''s body shuddered and her legs trembled as she threw her head back. "Adrik... no... wait..." A loud moan sounded out of her throat as he began thrusting his finger in and out of her at a slow pace.


    Her body throbbed each time he poked his finger in, and her legs shivered uncontrollably when he suddenly added a second finger. "Oh my... Adrik." Her hips moved in all sorts of directions, and her mind felt hazed as she couldn''t think properly anymore.


    "Adrik... please..." She sweetly moaned his name, and the only thing that clouded her mind was how badly her body craved his wild touch.


    Her hand reached for his hair and tugged hard on it to the point where she unknowingly unbanded his hair, leaving his long hair to fall over his neck onto her body.


    His finger pumped in and out of her at great speed, and her body trembled in extreme pleasure. A loud moan seethed out of her and her eyes rolled up and down as though she was about to lose her mind.


    Just as she neared her edge, Adrik pulled his fingers out of her and leaned down to kiss her swollen lips. "You taste so good, little wife." He bit her lips and kissed her down to her neck, then pulled away to stare at her sweaty face.


    "Do you still-"


    "Yes please, yes!" She nodded vigorously and gazed at him with eyes burning with need. "I want you right now." She yanked at his shirt as she breathed heavily from her ecstasy.


    Adrik growled, his eyes shut, and immediately tore his shirt off, revealing his tattooed body and his abs. He slid off his pants, and Leia''s face flushed deep red as she took sight of him.


    She reluctantly looked away, a feeling of worry taking over her as she couldn''t comprehend how his manhood would fit inside of her. She felt a bit scared as she wasn''t oblivious to the fact that it was quite painful. She even heard from girls when she was in high school.


    "Leia..." He called her name, and she shook her head to stop him from saying whatever he was about to say. She grabbed his neck and kissed him deeply. Yes, she is scared of the pain that will come, but she wants this! She wants all of Adrik, and that is all that matters to her right now.


    Throughout her life, she has never been truly loved except by her mother. Those she called family were the ones who treated her like an animal. However, all that changed the moment Adrik stepped into her life and took her away.


    She found herself able to smile and laugh. She was very happy with him and she knew she was fortunate to be sold to him. She would never let him go, whether he was a human or not. He is her happiness and life, and she has truly accepted him and will be with him forever.


    And if this decision she made today turns out to be wrong in the future, she will not regret it one bit, because her heart beats for him.


    "I love you so much." She said in a low tone as soon as the kiss broke, and Adrik gazed deeply into her eyes. "I love you more, little wife." He whispered in her ear and positioned himself at her entrance.


    Her eyes fluttered in fear and he kissed her lips, then down to her neck, sucking greedily on her sweet spot.


    "It will only hurt for a moment." He whispered against her skin and smiled at her. "Relax for me, little wife." He told her, and she nodded reluctantly.


    He caressed her hair in assurance and slowly pushed himself into her.


    A painful feeling overwhelmed Leia''s body as she felt herself being torn apart, and Adrik pulled out. He pushed in and out of her at a slow pace, patiently waiting for her to adjust to his size.


    While he did this, he never stopped, delivering tender kisses on her lips, neck, and shoulders to keep her mind away from the pain.


    The moment he felt her adjust, Adrik pushed in a bit farther, then continued going in. Leia almost screamed as she felt him stretching her to her limits. Her fingers dug deep into his back and little drops of tears fell from her eyes.


    "It''s okay, little wife." He leaned in and nuzzled her neck as he sucked on her skin, leaving purple marks.


    He pushed in deeper and deeper, and finally, when he pushed all the way in, he covered her lips with his and kissed her so tenderly yet passionately.


    He pulled out slightly before thrusting in again at a slow pace, and as he moved in and out of her, he never stopped kissing her red lips.


    His hands gripped her hips and he jabbed in and out of her. With each thrust, Leia began to feel a sense of immeasurable pleasure within her, and she threw her head back while her hands tangled in his hair.. "Ad-adrik."

 Chapter 78 - Kai

    Adrik''s eyes shut as a loud moan erupted from his throat and his lips parted in immeasurable pleasure. He pushed in and out of her at a rapid speed as he felt himself near the edge, and Leia''s nails dug deeper into his back, as she felt herself unable to control the need to release. She had also neared the edge.


    "Adrik..." Leia moaned behind the cry of immense pleasure, and a gasp escaped her mouth as she felt herself unload all over him.


    He clung to her so tightly that he became engulfed in her and came deep inside of her.


    He leaned down and kissed her swollen lips. He delivered lots of kisses on her neck, and his eyes turned completely red. His canine elongated and he nuzzled her neck, before pulling back to gaze at a spot on her neck.


    Leia''s eyes fluttered when she saw where he was staring, and a low breath left her mouth. She reached out her hands and cupped his cheek, planting a soft kiss on his lips. "Go on."


    Adrik growled deeply at her approval, and his canine brushed against the spot on her neck. Leia wriggled beneath him as she found it pleasurable, and she shut her eyes.


    Slowly, Adrik''s canine sank into her neck and sharp pain spread down her entire body. A painful gasp escaped her lips, and she tightly gripped onto his back. His canine sank deeper into her skin, and soon the pain in her neck faded.


    Adrik licked the blood from her neck and covered her lips with his.


    "I love you, little wife." His deep voice drummed in her ears, and Leia wrapped her arms around him. He pulled out of her and rolled over, placing his back on the bed beside her.


    They both breathed heavily, and Adrik turned his head to stare at Leia, who had her gaze fixed on the ceiling.


    "Little wife." He whispered her name, and she turned her head to look at him. "I want you to meet my wolf."


    "Your wolf?" Leia asked in a low-exhausted tone.


    "Yes, he really wants you to see him." He stared at her with anticipation in his eyes. Hopefully, she will agree. He is already getting tired of Kai''s nagging, and since he has marked her, it''s okay for Kai to let loose.


    Leia stayed quiet for a while before she raised her eyes to stare at Adrik and nodded her head. "Okay, I do want to see your wolf too."


    A deep breath escaped Adrik''s nose, and he smiled at her. His canines began to elongate and his fingers stretched out. His bones began to crack, and white fur gradually emerged on his body.


    Leia''s eyes dilated as she watched Adrik transform into his wolf, and she couldn''t help but start drawing back, creating a bit of distance.


    A loud growl erupted from Adrik''s throat, causing Leia to shut her eyes and lower her head in fear. Her body trembled a little, and she slowly raised her head when she stopped hearing anything.


    She opened her eyes, and the minute her gazes fell on what was seated in front of her, she flinched back, jumping off the bed.


    Her heart raced rapidly within her as she stared at a huge pristine white wolf that was the height of a jeep, and her body trembled uncontrollably.


    She hid behind the bed and Intently watched the white wolf, who was also staring at her with harmlessness apparent in its eyes.


    Her lashes fluttered and she gazed into the wolf''s eyes, which were green just like Adriks. The fear within her lessened when the wolf whined, letting her know he was harmless.


    Leia slowly stood up and climbed back into the bed while holding the sheet she used to cover herself.


    She moved closer to it, and for a moment, all she saw in its eyes were tenderness, fondness, and affection. The wolf spread some sort of feeling down her body, letting her know she was protected.


    She reached out her hand to touch its face, but when it got close, she halted her hands and stared at the wolf for a moment. A low breath escaped her lips, and with her eyes shut tightly, she slowly placed her hand on its face, touching its nose.


    When Leia opened her eyes, she saw the wolf staring down at her and fanning its hot breath on her palm, which was resting on its nose.


    She gazed deeply into its eyes and moved her hands to caress its ears, and when the wolf nuzzled itself on her palm, Leia''s lips couldn''t help but curl up into a smile.


    She scratched its ears and the wolf shuddered, causing her to chuckle softly. She moved closer to it, as she felt completely unafraid, and began to trace her hands over its soft fur.


    "You''re so soft." She raised her eyes to glance at the wolf and smiled warmly at it.


    Bundle of happiness swirled within Kai, and he stuck out its tongue to lick her face. Leia cackled loudly and scratched its fur. "That is gross." She laughed softly, and before she could say anything else, the wolf pushed her down on the bed, leaving its huge figure to loom over her.


    Leia gazed intently at it, and before she could anticipate what would happen next, it began to lick her all over, smelling and nuzzling her. Leia couldn''t stop laughing as she felt ticklish all over, and she abruptly wrapped her arms around its neck, pulling it into a big hug.


    The wolf''s body stilled at her action, and a low growl escaped from its mouth. It relaxed and nuzzled her neck.


    Leia shut her eyes and a wide smile spread across her lips as she tightened the hug. Minutes passed and she slowly opened her eyes when she felt her bare skin touching another bare skin.


    "Adrik." Her eyes fluttered when she saw that Adrik has returned to his human form and she stared at him unmoving.


    "His name is Kai." Adrik smiled warmly at her and slowly laid her down on the bed. He wrapped his arms tightly around her and kissed her on the forehead. "He loves you just like I do."


    Leia melted in his embrace and shut her eyes, hugging him tightly.


    ___________


    Leia woke up the next morning beside Adrik, who was still holding onto her tightly. A warm smile crept on her lips, and she tucked his hair behind his ear.


    She kissed his forehead and then moved down to place a soft kiss on his lips. Adrik''s eyes opened the moment she did that, and he bit her lower lip, causing Leia to pinch his skin. "That hurt." She glared at him and kissed him again.


    "How do you feel?" Adrik asked, concern written all over his face.


    "I don''t... know." She turned her head to look at him, and a low breath escaped her nose.


    Adrik smiled warmly at her and kissed her forehead. He sat up on the bed and brought his legs down to stand up.


    Leia also stood up, with the sheet covering her, to walk to the bathroom to give herself a nice bath, but her legs instantly felt like jelly, causing her to almost fall if not for Adrik catching her.


    He stared worriedly at her and carried her up, then slowly sat her down on the bed. "Don''t move. I will be back in a few minutes." He told her and walked away into the bathroom.


    A painful breath escaped Leia''s mouth, and her hand balled into a fist. Gosh, that was so painful. Her legs felt like they were broken the moment she tried to walk, and right now, her thighs were aching, especially in between them.


    She bit her lower lips and glanced at her shoulders to see the purple marks from Adrik''s kisses, still visible on her neck. The scenes of last night flashed in her mind, and her cheeks turned a few shades of pink.


    She snapped out of her thoughts when she noticed Adrik step out of the bathroom, and she gazed at him, walking towards her.


    He leaned down and carried her naked body up from the bed without uttering a single word.


    He walked into the bathroom and shut the door behind them. Leia''s eyes fluttered when she saw the bathtub filled with water and rose petals, scenting the whole place with a refreshing aroma.


    Adrik slowly sat her down in the bathtub and caressed her hair. "Do you want me to just bathe you or bathe with you?" He asked, with a questioning expression on his face.


    Leia lowered her head as she could feel her cheek burning. She fiddled with her fingers and raised her eyes to glance at him, only to see him still staring at her with a questioning expression on his face. "Um..." She bit her lower lip and awkwardly averted her gaze.


    "Little wife, are you shy?" Adrik smiled at her with his hand still caressing her hair.


    "A little." She answered honestly, without glancing at him.


    "I see..." Adrik nodded in understanding and kissed her forehead. "I will just bathe you then.." He stood up to grab the sponge, but Leia grabbed his wrist, stopping him.

 Chapter 79 - Sparks

    He glanced at her with a bewildered look on his face, and Leia bit her lower lip. "I want you to... bathe with me." She blinked her eyes and gazed at him.


    Adrik chuckled softly and patted her on the head. "Okay." He slid out of his underwear and slipped into the bathtub to sit behind her. He wrapped his arms around her belly and pulled her closer to sit with her back facing him.


    "Relax." He said to her, and Leia nodded as she laid her back on his bare chest, leaving her head to rest on his shoulder.


    Adrik placed his chin on her head and caressed her arms.


    Leia pressed herself against him, and a low breath escaped her nose. She raised her hand and grabbed his hair as he laid soft kisses on her neck. "Do you feel better?"


    "Mhmm." Leia nodded, still enjoying the pleasure his kisses on her skin were giving her.


    His hands went down to her breast, and he gently fondled it. "I can''t get enough of you." Both his hands grabbed her breasts and rolled her nipples in-between his fingers.


    "Adrik..." Leia moaned and bit her lip as she found herself tangling her hands in his hair. "Adrik." A deep breath escaped her nose when he suddenly stopped fondling her breast and kissed her on the neck.


    "Let''s get you, cleaned up." He scooped up a cup of water to wash her body and grabbed the sponge. He gently scrubbed her skin while pouring water on her hair.


    "Adrik." She called, and he answered in a low tone. "Last night, when you bit me, was it just a bite?" She raised her eyes to look at him. "I don''t know, that spot has been itching really badly and stinging on the inside."


    Adrik rubbed the sponge on her body, and a low sigh left his lips. "Little wife-" He turned her head to have her look at him. "-Do you, by any chance, know about the word "mate" for non-humans?"


    "Huh?" Leia blinked her eyes in confusion and slowly shook her head. "No."


    "Well... let me explain to you then." He gently turned her around to have her facing him and placed her head on his chest. "A mate for non-humans is like a soulmate, but stronger than that."


    "Every werewolf, vampire, demon, have their mate."


    "Demons, vampires?" Leia''s eyes dilated, and she stared at Adrik in a questioning manner.


    "Yes, they exist, even amongst humans, just like me." He nodded at her.


    "Oh... kay... So, how do you guys identify your mate? "


    "Mate Bond." He scooped up a full cup of water and poured it on her body, then resumed scrubbing her skin.


    "What''s... a mate bond?" Leia inquired curiously, with an arched brow.


    "Touch my chest." He smiled at her, and Leia nodded reluctantly.


    At that moment, she touched his chest. Something like a spark coursed through her hand, to her entire body like electricity and she instantly retracted her hand, then gazed up at Adrik, with a bizarre expression on her face."What the hell was that?"


    "Sparks." Adrik nodded at her and relaxed back in the tub after he was done bathing her. "Once mates find each other and touch, this occurs. It is one of the ways we can find our mates."


    "Whoa." Leia slowly nodded her head, and her brow suddenly crinkled. "Wait a minute... does that mean you have a mate?" Her heart raced rapidly within her as she asked. She really wants to hear a no, because just the thought of sharing Adrik with another woman is already causing her heart to squeeze inside of her.


    Adrik, who was stunned by her question, blinked his eyes and suddenly began to laugh in a way that Leia had never seen before.


    Her eyes fluttered in astonishment as she watched him laughing with his head thrown back. She just realized that this was the first time she had seen him laughing so hard and happily at that. Other times, he either smiles or smirks, nothing more than that. How much she wished she could video him.


    Adrik, who was laughing uncontrollably, pinched between his brows as he shook his head in disbelief. "Little wife." He squeezed her cheeks and kissed her softly on the lips. "If I had a mate, do you think you would be by my side today?" He asked her with a questioning expression on his face.


    "Huh?" Leia''s brow furrowed in confusion. "If you don''t have a mate, the-"


    "Little wife." He cut her off and looked into her eyes with his hands cupping her cheek. "You are by my side today because you''re my mate."


    "Your mate?" Leia shook her head in doubt. "How is that possible? I mean, I am a human."


    "Silly, some of us are mated to humans, but it''s not much, just a few." He smiled at her and caressed her hair.


    "I see." She nodded her head in understanding and suddenly raised her eyes to gaze at Adrik. "Adrik, if I wasn''t your mate, would you still fall in love with me?"


    The moment Adrik heard her question, he sat still and gazed blankly. Leia''s brow creased and her face puckered. "It''s a no, right? Haha...I was already aware of th-"


    "Little wife, let me tell you this-" He leaned down so his face was close to hers"- If you weren''t my mate, I wouldn''t fall in love with you. Why? Because you will never love, accept, or even look at me and-"


    "Adrik!!!" She yelled his name and cut him off before he could finish his sentence. "How could you say that? How do you even know that?!" She glared at him as her hand clenched in displeasure. "I told you, I love you, whether with scars or not. Your looks don''t matter to me, but you... matter to me, and that''s it, so don''t you ever- "


    Adrik''s lips unexpectedly slammed on hers before she could finish her sentence, and he traced his hand down her neck to her shoulder. "I''m crazy for you, little wife." He said it against her lips and bit her lower lip before pulling back.


    "Back to what I was trying to point out. What I did to you last night is called "marking." It''s something we, non-humans, do to let others know that this person is claimed and owned."


    "So right now, you are marked, and any werewolf or other creature who sees you will know you are claimed and only mine."

 Chapter 80 - Its A Curse

    "I see." Leia nodded, and as though she remembered something, she glanced at Adrik with a questioning gaze. "Apart from you, are the others in this house, werewolves or humans?"


    "They are all werewolves, including Alex." He nodded at her.


    Leia, who got an answer, suddenly recalled back to the time she had hit the hell out of Rita and her body couldn''t help but shudder.


    She took deep breaths and stared at the water they were inside of. "How did you get so many werewolves to work for you?" She asked without glancing at him.


    "I am their Supreme Alpha," Adrik answered straight without hesitation.


    "Supreme Alpha?" Leia raised her head to gaze at him, with confusion written all over her face.


    "Yes, I am an Alpha wolf that rules an entire pack..." He explained but fluttered his eyes when he saw Leia still gazing at him with a questioning expression on her face. "It''s like a king ruling a kingdom. So I am an Alpha/king, ruling an entire pack, which is like a kingdom."


    "Wow." Leia''s jaw fell as she couldn''t bring herself to believe that. "So if you rule an entire pack, what are you doing here in the human world?"


    "Well, the human world is quite a fun place to be." He chuckled softly as though amused. " Besides, I have people like Alex who handle the little matters in the pack and report to me when there are big issues they can''t handle.


    "Mhmm, I see." Leia nodded in understanding and a deep breath escaped her lips. That was a lot of information, which will take her a while to analyze.


    She would never have believed that such creatures existed if she wasn''t in love with and married to one. This world is indeed full of wonders.


    She slightly shook her head, and her brow abruptly creased as she thought that something was being left out. She pinched between her brows and, as though remembering, she slowly turned her head and stared at Adrik, specifically at his scars.


    Adrik''s face altered in confusion at her uncomfortable stare, and he chuckled awkwardly. "Little wife, why are you looking at me like that?" He raised his eyebrows in a questioning manner.


    "I want to know how and what inflicted those scars on your face" Leia folded her arms and fixed her intent gaze on him.


    Adrik''s face puckered immediately, and a deep breath escaped from his nose. He darted his eyes around to avoid Leia''s gaze and threw his head back as a low sigh left his mouth.


    "Adrik," Leia whispered his name and sat up to make him look at her. "Why don''t you want to tell me?" She asked in a tone that held pain. Does it mean that Adrik can''t trust or tell her anything bothering him?


    Adrik raised his head to look at her and caressed her hair. "Little wife, it''s not what you think. I would never hide anything from yo-"


    "Then tell me." She gazed at him with expectations in her eyes.


    Adrik took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment before opening them to look at her. "It''s... a curse."


    "A curse?" Leia drew her head back in confusion and blinked her eyes. "What do you mean by a curse?"


    "These scars are a curse put upon me." Adrik chuckled softly and pushed her to sit back down. "Relax, let me tell you a story from hundreds of years ago."


    "Wait what?!?" Leia''s face altered in confusion yet again, and she shook her head at a bit of loss. "What did you mean a hundred years ago?"


    Adrik smirked and wiggled his brow amusingly at her.


    "How old are you?" She asked with a strange look on her face, and Adrik chuckled softly at how cute her face was. "I am 330 years old."


    "What!!! The fuck!!!" She fluttered her eyes in disbelief and gazed intently at Adrik to see if he was just joking, but when she saw no amusement in his face, she slowly closed her mouth. "Wow, you''re an old man. How old would you be if you were a human?"


    "30 years." He shrugged and smiled at her.


    "Ahh... that''s why you wrote 30 on the certificate that day. You look 24 to 25 though." She nodded her head and gently brought her legs to her chest. "So... tell me the story."


    "Okay..., but first, I would like to let you know that I am a twin. I have a twin brother who is no different from me."


    "A twin." Leia lowered her head and couldn''t help but chuckle crazily at herself. Wow, she''s finding out a lot. She shook her head and raised her eyes to stare at Adrik. "Okay, go on with the story."


    "Alright then." Adrik took a deep breath, with his eyes shut, and meditated for a while before opening them. He looked at Leia and smiled at her. "You ready to hear my story?"


    "Yes."


    Adrik nodded at her and pulled her closer to him.


    .....


    Hundreds of years ago in the kingdom of Dendivil, which belonged to the werewolves, called "The Blue Moon Pack."


    A mighty Supreme Alpha, named Lekhma, ruled the entire Blue Moon pack. He fought many battles, and never once did he return defeated. He fought against the rogues many times until the rogues suddenly disappeared, never to be seen or heard of.


    The King had two wives. One was his first wife, whose name was Natasha, and the other was his concubine, named Mirabel. Well, a ravishingly beautiful orphan woman whom he fell in love with. He saw her at a feast and swore that he must have her, and in the end, he did.


    He got her pregnant and was indeed joyous to hear such news, as she was his mate. Well, the first wife was married to him because of a deal between him and another wolf pack. So yes, the concubine is his mate.


    So, the first wife obviously was not happy about it, as she was afraid the second wife would give birth to a boy, and then the Supreme Alpha would stop giving a damn about her and her little daughter, who was just a month old then.

 Chapter 81 - Mother Mary

    She used every means, every way, to cause her to lose the pregnancy, but it didn''t work as the Supreme Alpha had asked their royal witch to put a protection spell on her. Werewolves do indeed have a very strong dislike for witches, but that one was an old friend of their Alpha, so she was trusted.


    The spell continued to protect his second wife, whose name was Mirabel, and, thanks to the moon goddess, she delivered her baby successfully.


    When Alpha Lekhma heard of his wife''s safe delivery, he joyfully walked into the delivery room, expecting to see his baby boy. However, he instead saw two identical babies who were no different from each other.


    The only difference between them was their hair and eyes. One had completely white hair and gray eyes, while the other had black raven hair and emerald green eyes. They were both more beautiful than any child they had ever seen, and of course, that could be expected from the Alpha''s children.


    Alpha Lekhma''s face darkened at the sight of the two babies instead of one, and his hands clenched in dissatisfaction. One may think it''s absurd, but in Dendivil, twins are never accepted. When such a phenomenon occurs, it''s either that one dies and the other lives or both will be killed.


    It is seen as a bad sign, and, of course, we all know how kingdoms then are. They will immediately eliminate such threats. So yes, Alpha Lekhma was troubled. What was he to do, murder both of his children?


    A deep breath escaped Lekhma''s nose, and he glanced at his sleeping wife, who looked very tired. An annoyed groan erupted from his throat, and he suddenly turned his head to look at the babies, only to see the white-haired one smiling at him, whilst the black-haired one simply stared at him.


    His heart suddenly warmed up, and he walked over to the white-haired one, lifting him from the cradle. He looked into the baby''s eyes and a gush of happiness washed through him.


    He kissed the baby on the forehead and whispered in his ear. "I name you Ileus." The baby smiled as though he understood his words, and Alpha Lekhma planted another kiss on his forehead.


    Lekhma dropped the baby back in the cradle after a while and gazed deeply at the one with black raven hair. He scoffed in utter dislike and shook his head as he clicked his tongue. His heart had accepted the white-haired one from the moment he smiled at him, so the black-haired one might be the one to face a terrible fate.


    "I will not name you, but your mother will." He placed his hands behind his back and, with a turn, he walked out of the room that was bright as a result of the lit candles.


    He motions to his right-hand man, who was by the name of Rohan, to let him know once his wife awakens from her sleep.


    Rohan nodded in agreement and watched him leave. A low sigh left his mouth, and he slightly shook his head.


    Mirabel, who was tired after childbirth, awoke from her sleep and carefully sat up on the bed. She rubbed her eyes and glanced at the cradle to see her two babies. The white-haired one was sound asleep, while the black-haired one was wide awake, with his little eyes darting around.


    A smile formed on Mirabel''s lips, and she brought her legs down from the bed. She stood up and walked towards the twins. Her eyes stared at the white-haired one, who was the one that came out first, and she tenderly caressed his hair.


    She glanced at the black-haired one, whose green eyes were staring at her, and a soft chuckle escaped her lips. The black-haired one had green eyes just like her, whilst the white-haired one had gray eyes just like their father.


    Mirabel walked to the second cradle and, gently, she lifted the black-haired one from his bed. She embraced him and planted a soft kiss on his head.


    The baby fluttered its eyes and reached out his tiny hands to touch his mother''s face. Mirabel''s eyes watered, and she placed his little hands on her cheek.


    The baby smiled at her and she began to chuckle softly. She played with him for a few moments before slowly putting him back into the cradle and looking at the twins."My babies." She leaned down and delivered a kiss on each of their foreheads.


    She glanced at them once more and proceeded to walk back to her bed, but her attention was suddenly drawn by a middle-aged maid who walked into the room.


    Mirabel turned to the middle-aged lady and strolled towards her with a smile on her face.


    "Mother Mary." Mirabel bent her head a little as a sign of respect to her and straightened up.


    "Mirabel." The middle-aged lady half smiled and gently hugged her. She drew back from the embrace and her eyes fell on the twins, lying peacefully inside the cradle.


    "Such beautiful boys." She walked to the cradle, tenderly touching the cheek of the black-haired one. She turned her head to look at the white-haired one, and an unknown glint flashed in her eyes as her brow creased a bit.


    "Mirabel-" She turned towards Mirabel, who was staring at her and raised her brow. "You do know what will happen next, right?"


    "I do not know what you''re talking about, mother Mary." Mirabel tilted her chin up and rested her hands on the white gown she was wearing.


    "Mirabel, I do understand how you feel, but you do know that there is no way we can-"


    "Nobody will touch or harm my babies." Mirabel scoffed and walked to the bed to sit down.


    Mother Mary stared at her and shook her head in disagreement. "Mirabel, please do not fight back, or there might be consequences which you might not suffer from, but someone else may." She bowed to Mirabel and turned around to leave, but Mirabel stopped her. She stood up from the bed.


    "Did you see a new vision?"

 Chapter 82 - Ileus/Adrik

    Mother Mary stood still for a moment and then slowly turned around to face Mirabel. "It''s all up to you." She smiled at her and glanced at the twins. "Bless you, children." With that being said, she turned around and walked out of the room.


    Mirabel took deep breaths and her hands balled into fists. ''I will not let anyone touch you, my babies.'' She thought with narrowed eyes and turned her head to stare at her babies.


    ______


    Seated on his high throne within a huge hall, Alpha Lekhma stared down at Rohan, who stood with his head lowered. "What do you mean that the people request to see the babies?"


    "Supreme Alpha, they are yet to know it''s a twin. Right now, they are at the gate requesting to have a glimpse of the princes, or for a ceremony in honor of the princes to be held." Rohan reported, with his head still lowered.


    Alpha Lekhma slammed his balled fist on the chair armrest and abruptly stood up from his throne. "Has my wife woken up?"


    "Yes, Supreme Alpha," Rohan answered, and Alpha Lekhman immediately walked down from the stairs that led up to his throne. He placed his hands behind his back and ordered Rohan to make sure that none of his escorts followed him, as he needed to speak to his wife alone.


    He ambled out of the hall and made his way to his wife''s room. "Supreme Alpha." The maids standing in front of the room where his wife was, took a long deep bow in respect and opened the door for him.


    He walked in, and they shut the door. Alpha Lekhma''s eyes fell on his wife, who sat on the bed with the two babies in hand, rocking them from side to side.


    A deep breath left his lips and he strolled to sit on the bed near his wife. "Mirabel." He called her name, and she raised her eyes to look at him. She quickly but gently laid the babies on the bed.


    "Supreme Alpha." She climbed down from the bed and proceeded to take a deep bow in respect, but Lekhma grabbed her by the shoulder and sat her down on the bed beside him.


    "We need to talk." He gazed at her with reluctance in his eyes.


    "Okay." Mirabel nodded at him, and he took deep breaths before turning to face her again. "It''s about the babies."


    "The babies?" Mirabel put a surprised look on her face as she asked.


    "Yes, the babies." He nodded at her and glanced at the twins lying on the bed, with their little eyes darting around. "Our people request to see the baby."


    "Baby?" Mirabel''s eyes fluttered in disbelief, and she stared at him with a deep frown emerging on her face. "Our babies are two, not one."


    "Mirabel, please don''t make things hard for me. You know that only one of them can have the opportunity to live." Alpha Lekhman stared at her with pleading eyes and reached out his hand to touch her, but Mirabel slapped his hand away.


    "I can''t believe that you''re the one saying this. They are our flesh and blood, and you want to kill one and keep one alive." Mirabel trembled uncontrollably in anger and shook her head in disbelief as she stood up from the bed. "Assuming that you later have one of them killed, what will the one that lives think of you when he grows up and finds out that you had his twin brother killed? What will he think of us, of the pack?!"


    "Then do you prefer it if I have both of them killed?" Alpha Lekhma stood up from the bed and walked to stand in front of his wife. "Is that what you want?"


    "I want none of it! I just want them to stay away from my poor babies." Mirabel gazed into his eyes as she said, and began to step back when he abruptly began to walk close to her with an expressionless face.


    "Wh-what are you doing?" Mirabel asked as she continued to step back, but he didn''t answer, and her back eventually touched the wall when she had no more space and raised her eyes to stare at him. "Wh-what-?"


    He suddenly placed his hands on either side of her head before she could finish her sentence, and gazed intently at her.


    His right hand caressed her face and traveled down to her lips, then rested on her chin. He tilted her chin up and covered her lips with his, kissing her so passionately.


    Mirabel, who was stunned by his sudden action, stood motionless and didn''t kiss him back. His face puckered as he didn''t get any reaction from her and he broke the kiss.


    He gazed into her green eyes with an expressionless face, and abruptly stepped back, away from her. "You will have to agree to it no matter what. Do not disappoint or disgrace me." With that being said, he proceeded to walk out of the room, but Mirabel hurriedly ran up to him and hugged him from behind.


    "Can we at least give them names? I believe they deserve that." She said behind tears, and Alpha Lekhma''s heart ached within him to see her tearing up. He turned around and cupped her cheek. "Please, don''t cry. I have told you many times that I don''t want you to cry at all, nor cry in front of me."


    He wiped off the tears in her eyes and walked her to the bed. They gazed at the two babies, and Lekhma lifted the white-haired one into his arms. "I have named him Ileus." He raised his eyes and smiled at Mirabel.


    Mirabel lifted the black-haired one from the bed and glanced at Lekhma. "And what about him?" She asked and smiled at him.


    Alpha Lekhma''s face puckered a bit, and he slightly shook his head. "Well, you can name him. I have named this one, so you can go on and name him. " He smiled at Mirabel, who nodded at him in understanding.


    Mirabel stared at the baby''s face for a while, and her lips unexpectedly curled into a smile. "I will name him Adrik." He caressed the baby''s cheek and lifted her head to stare at Lekhma. "It''s such a perfect name for him.." She chuckled softly, but Lekhma only half-smiled at her.

 Chapter 83 - Little Alpha

    Lekhma returned to his chamber after spending time with his wife and requested Rohan''s presence.


    Rohan reported almost immediately and took a deep bow before straightening up. "Supreme Alpha, you called for me."


    "Mhmm..." Lekhma slightly nodded and turned around to stare at Rohan. "The ceremony will be held in the next five days. I put it into your hands to prepare, as you''re my most trusted man, so get everyone to work. " He averted his gaze from Rohan and picked up a book from his table to read.


    "Yes, Supreme Alpha." Rohan turned around and exited the room.


    A deep breath left Lakhma''s nose as he stared blankly. This decision was not easy for him to make as he knew how much his wife would be hurt. But what can he do? He slightly shook his head and returned his attention to the book in his hand.


    _______


    Natasha sat inside a wooden bathtub as her head maid bathed her. She closed her eyes and took low, soft breaths.


    "What did you find out?" She lazily questioned her head maid with her eyes still shut.


    "Luna, Supreme Alpha, has decided to hold a ceremony for the welcoming of the princes."


    "The princes, or do you mean the prince?" Natasha chuckled mockingly and opened her eyes to glance at the head maid.


    "My apologies, Luna. I meant the prince." The head maid hurriedly apologized with an awkward expression on her face.


    Natasha casually waved her hand at her and rolled her eyes. She stood up from the bathtub and requested "the head maid" to dress her up.


    "We shall see how the ceremony goes. So many emotions shall be shown that day." She chuckled crazily and walked to take her seat at the table in front of a long mirror in her chamber.


    ________


    Mirabel, who had heard of the news, stood motionless, staring at his sons, who were lying on the bed with their eyes wide open. Little Ileus was busy with a baby chew toy in his mouth, whilst Adrik lay staring at her. It was as though he could feel the danger ahead.


    Mirabel wiped off the tears in her eyes and paced back and forth in the chamber for a while before stopping.


    She glanced at her sons and gently carried them up from the bed. She left the chamber and made her way to the head maid''s quarters.


    There she found Mother Mary, and she welcomed her into her chamber. "Mirabel, what are you doing here?"


    "Mother Mary, please, you have to help me. I don''t want to lose my babies." She pleaded as tears began to stream down her eyes and kissed the twins on their foreheads. "If I lose any of them, I doubt I will be able to live through the next day."


    "Calm down, child. Here, have some water. " Mother Mary handed her a cup of water, and Mirabel gulped it down and laid the babies on the bed, then sat down on a chair that was next to her. She died off the tears and raised her eyes to gaze at Mother Mary, who had a disturbed look on her face.


    "Mirabel, this is too risky." Mother Mary shook her head after contemplating something for a while.


    "What do you mean? What are you talking about?" Mirabel abruptly stood up from the chair and stared at Mother Mary with a questioning look on her face. "You did have a vision, didn''t you?"


    "Mirabel-"


    "I knew it." Mirabel''s eyes began to tear up, and she suddenly felt light-headed. "I don''t understand why you are hiding something from me! My sons'' lives are in danger and I need your help. "


    She turned to mother Mary and cupped her hands together. "Please, just tell me the vision and help me save my sons. I beg of you." Mirabel moved towards her and grabbed both her hands with tears streaming down her face.


    Mother Mary glanced at the twins lying on the bed in her chamber, then at Mirabel, and a long, deep breath exited her nose. "Okay, there is a chance that both your sons will be saved, but will you be able to handle the consequences and the later aftereffects?"


    "Consequences? Later, after effect? What do you mean?" Mirabel gazed intently at her with confusion written all over her face.


    "I do not know what the later after-effects will be, but the consequences..." Mother Mary halted her sentence and gazed at Mirabel with pity in her eyes.


    "What are the consequences?" Mirabel mustered the courage and asked. No matter what the consequences are, she will do anything for her sons.


    "The princes will be alive if we go according to my second vision, but..."


    "But..." Mirabel cupped her hands together as she stared at Mother Mary with anticipation in her eyes.


    "You will die." Mother Mary finally blurted out after a short pause.


    The moment Mirabel heard her sentence, her cupped hands fell to her side, and she chuckled in disbelief.


    "You''re not serious, right?"


    "I am sorry, Mirabel, but for your sons to be alive, your life will be sacrificed." Mother Mary cupped her cheeks and placed a kiss on her forehead. "The decision is left to you. Think wisely, don''t leave your mind clouded."


    Mother Mary walked out of the chamber after patting her on the head.


    Mirabel''s eyes fluttered in pain, and she slumped down on the chair. All her life, she has always been unfortunate. Her parents died when she was fifteen. She worked like a slave until Lakhma found her. She had thought that her unfortunate life had ended that day, but... It seemed she was wrong.


    Maybe the moon goddess finally wants her to leave the earth since she has always been unfortunate since childhood.


    If she sacrifices her life, her sons will grow up without a mother. But... If she doesn''t sacrifice herself for them, they will die, and as she said before, she will not be able to live, so it''s the same. She will still die in both cases, so the right choice is already clear to her.


    If her babies end up living, it will be the greatest thing she has ever done, and she will be very happy.


    She smiled pessimistically at herself and turned to glance at her babies lying down on the bed.


    She stood up from the chair and walked to the bed. She sat down beside them and caressed both of them. "My babies."


    Teardrops fell from her eyes onto the little Adrik''s face and she scooped him into her arms and caressed his little plump cheek.


    She isn''t oblivious to the fact that Lekhma doesn''t have that much fondness for little Adrik, and if she ever agrees to have one of them killed, he will definitely suggest little Adrik.


    That is why she has decided to sacrifice herself so that both her sons will live. They are the miracles brought into her life, and she will never watch them die. She would rather give everything up than that.


    A deep sigh left Mirabel''s lips, and she began to rock little Adrik from side to side, humming a melody to try and get him to sleep.


    Since she''s going to die soon, it will be great to spend as much time as she can with her babies. Even though they won''t remember or know her when they grow up, at least the little feeling of knowing your mother was once there for you will be apparent in them.


    She leaned closer and kissed little Adrik on the forehead before carefully laying him down on the bed. She also placed a soft kiss on little Ileus''s forehead and climbed onto the bed to lie down next to them.


    Standing at the door of the chamber, Mother Mary gazed at the young woman lying beside her babies. A pessimistic sigh left her mouth, and she shook her head.


    ''I will find a way, Mirabel, you don''t deserve any of this.'' She nodded as she thought and walked into the chamber. She strolled towards them and leaned down, only to see little Adrik wide awake with his little eyes staring intently at her.


    "Little Alpha." Mother Mary chuckled softly and lifted him from the bed. She rocked him back and forth, and a smile formed on little Adrik''s face as he reached out his tiny hands to touch her face.


    "If only." Mother Mary sighed and placed a soft kiss on his forehead. "Life will not be easy for you in so many ways, but you will be safe my dear little one." She caressed his baby hair as she said. "That I promise, sweet child." She half-smiled at little Adrik and turned to look at Mirabel, who was lying tiredly on the bed.


    ''I will try my best to find a way to save both you and your children. I hope a way will be revealed to me.'' She gazed up at the moon through the window, as she thought.


    Deep breaths escaped her nose and she gently laid little Adrik, who was now sound asleep, on the bed.


    Her hands balled into tight fists and she walked to the bookshelf in her library.. She traced her fingers across the book as she stepped forward and finally stopped when she found what she was looking for.

 Chapter 84 - Blue Miracle

    She grabbed it and walked to her studying table to take a seat. She opened the book and grabbed a feather pen, dabbing it inside a cup that had bloody ink inside of it.


    Mother Mary grabbed a white piece of paper and began to write unknown words on it as she read from the huge book.


    As it turned out, Mother Mary was born with the power to see visions. She is a wolf with the gift of vision. However, was her gift a miracle or a curse?


    Since she was a child, she had always abstained from people as she always felt she didn''t fit in.


    She sees things before they happen, but then before she can do anything about it, it unfolds, leaving her helpless. She sometimes has no idea what to do with the visions she sees, so she believes that anyone born with the gift of vision is cursed, just like her.


    Before her parents died, she had seen a vision about it, how they died, and what caused it. But at the same time, she was helpless as she had no solution and just stood there and watched them die in front of her.


    And yet again, the same case was about to happen with Mirabel. But this time, she won''t just sit and watch. From the moment Mirabel stepped into the pack, she became a daughter she never had, and as one who loves her very much, she will never sit and watch her die.


    She will try her hardest, as hard as she has never tried before, to ensure the survival of both sons and mother.


    Mother Mary continued to write down the words she was writing. While she was doing this, up in the sky, hazy clouds were blocking the stars and moon, and the trees and winds were moving and blowing vigorously as though someone was about to go against the will of nature.


    After she was done, she took a candle and lit it up, then she grabbed the paper and slowly burned it to ashes. She allowed the ashes to fall into a bowl and took it outside.


    She blew on the ashes, allowing them to merge with the wind as they blew away.


    Thunder rumbled in the sky the moment she did that, and she raised her eyes to stare up at the dark sky. She took deep breaths with her hands balled into fists and her eyes glared at the sky.


    She turned around and sauntered into the chamber, slamming the door shut behind her. "I will not stand and watch."


    _______


    Throughout the fourth night, both Mother Mary and Mirabel did not sleep; rather, they waited for the guards to lessen before they decided to carry out their plan.


    "Remember, we must not be seen." Mother Mary said to Mirabel, who was following behind her.


    She nodded her head and swallowed before continuing to follow behind mother Mary.


    They avoided a few guards and finally arrived in front of a round stone door. They stared at it, and Mother Mary nodded at her.


    They joined hands and pushed the stone door, creating an entrance. They stepped in, and the moment they turned around, a long stone stairs came into view.


    Mother Mary grabbed Mirabel''s hand and began to lead her up the stairs.


    It took them minutes before they arrived at the last staircase. A tall, brownish wooden door stood in front of them, and Mother Mary pulled out a long key from her pocket.


    She inserted it into the door and unlocked it. She pushed the door open and yanked Mirabel inside with her, shutting the door behind them.


    "Where are we?" Mirabel couldn''t help but ask as she found herself in a completely dark room.


    "Shhhh." Mother Mary hushed her and pulled out a piece of white paper that had blue sand on it.


    She poured it into her hands and glanced at Mirabel before blowing on it.


    It spread everywhere, and the room instantly lit up, as the stone sand became a little bigger, emitting blue light.


    "What..."


    "It''s the Laki sand. This one doesn''t have a lot of light, so it will only last for a few minutes." Mother Mary explained to Mirabel, who was staring at the Laki sand.


    She walked to a round stone table in the middle of the room and pressed her hand into the interior of the table, causing the inner part of the table to go in and shortly reveal a round orb that was emitting a dense blue light.


    "What is that?" Mirabel asked as she walked forward to stand beside Mother Mary at the table.


    "It''s the Blue Miracle." Mother Mary smiled as she spoke and stared at the blue orb.


    "The Blue Miracle." Mirabel nodded as she repeated, completely clueless as to what the Blue Miracle was.


    "It was bestowed upon the Blue Moon pack by the moon goddess a thousand years ago." Mother Mary glanced at her and began to explain. "Then there was a problem choosing a proper Alpha to lead the pack, and at a certain time, it got worse as brothers fought with their brothers just for the Alpha title."


    "The moon goddess decided to settle everything and bestowed the orb on the Blue Moon pack, calling it the Blue Miracle."


    "Whenever an Alpha of each generation has their child, or more than one, they bring the Blue Miracle out on the day of the child''s welcoming ceremony and present it before the child."


    "If the light shines bright, then the child is the next Alpha, but if the light goes off, then the child is not an Alpha and has no Alpha blood within his veins."


    "Whoa..." Mirabel fluttered her eyes and turned to stare at the orb. "So why are we?-"


    "In my vision, the orb emitted no light when it was placed before little Ileus, but when it was placed before little Adrik, it shone so brightly that I lost my vision for a while." Mother Mary turned her head to look at Mirabel. "Such a thing has never happened to me before."


    "I don''t know if I interpreted my vision correctly, but I think we need to try this because this is the only way."


    "But... What about Ileus? " Mirabel asked in a cracked voice.


    "Don''t worry, both of them will be fine." Mother Mary smiled at her. "I brought you here because I needed you to see this. When the ceremony begins, you must request for the Blue Miracle to be brought out and used on both of them before any decision to slay one of them is made. "


    "Okay..." Mirabel took deep breaths and nodded her head in agreement.. Hopefully, this will work.

 Chapter 85 - Blue Miracle-2

    Many hours were enacted and the sun finally set. The twins were beautifully dressed up and looked after by the maids.


    Mirabel stood in front of the mirror staring at herself with a pessimistic expression on her face. Her black raven hair was neatly adorned with golden jewelry, and her face was painted a bit. Her emerald green eyes stared through the mirror with pain apparent in them.


    If she has no luck, today might be the last day she will glimpse this earth and the people she loves.


    A low sigh left her lips, and she sadly smiled at herself. She fluttered her lashes when teardrops threatened to fall from her eyes, and she used a small piece of white clothing to dab them off.


    "My lady, the guests are all present in the hall, and the Supreme Alpha requests your presence." A blonde-haired maid reported with her head lowered.


    Mirabel took a deep breath and lifted her dress a bit with her hands, then made her way to the maid.


    She nodded at her escorts, who stood by the door of her chamber, and she walked past them, letting them walk behind her while holding the hem of her dress up.


    They arrived in front of the tall brown door that leads into the hall, and she halted.


    Her hands trembled and she took deep breaths, allowing a smile to form on her face, hiding the invisible pain she was going through. This is for her babies.


    The maids that were holding the twins also arrived at the door and stood beside her. She turned her head and glanced at her babies, and tears welled up in her eyes. ''Mother loves you both very much.'' She smiled as she said it in her heart and turned to the tall door standing in front of them.


    The announcers announced their arrival, and with their heads tilted up, Mirabel, together with the maids holding onto her babies, stepped into the hall as the door was opened for them, and their eyes fell on a vast room filled with so many people, both men, and women.


    From the way everyone was dressed, she could tell that they were from rich families. The poor ones weren''t allowed to enter the palace but wait at the gate to see the prince when the Supreme Alpha walk up to the high tower and raise the child to show to the moon goddess.


    Mirabel swallowed and plastered a smile on her face. Ignoring the stares from everyone, she began to walk towards the throne with the maids carrying her babies walking beside her.


    They reached the stairs that led up to the throne, and Mirabel, together with the maids, bowed deeply to Alpha Lekhma, who nodded his head in response.


    She turned to Natasha, who sat near Lekhma on the high throne with a smirk on her face and respectfully bowed.


    She straightened up and gracefully walked up the stairs to sit on a lower throne beside the Supreme Alpha.


    Lekhma glanced at Mirabel with a smile on his face, but when he saw her expressionless face, he took a deep breath and turned to stare down at the maids carrying the babies.


    The people around him, who were also staring intently at the twins, murmured to each other and only faced Lekhma when he cleared his throat.


    "I know what everyone is thinking, but no worries, things will be done as they were done years ago. No exception. " Lekhma smiled at his subjects and stood up from the throne.


    "Unfortunately, I ended up having twins instead of one child, but... that won''t change anything. I will still act accordingly." Lekhma''s eyes fluttered, and a smile hiding the bitterness he was feeling emerged on his face. "Only one of the babies will live."


    Mirabel''s heart skipped a bit when she heard that, and she darted her eyes around to see Mother Mary seated on the right side, where the important people in the place sat.


    Mother Mary blinked her eyes, telling her to stay calm, and she nodded.


    She turned her head to gaze at Lekhma, who was still talking to the guests.


    "I have finally made a decision and one of the two of them will be slain here, in front of everyone." The crowds nodded at his decision, as though it was wise.


    Mirabel''s heart tightened inside of her, and she suddenly saw Mother Mary urging her to say something. Her eyes fluttered, and she stood up from her throne when Lekhman asked if anyone had any objections. "May I speak, Supreme Alpha?"


    "Yes." Lekhma nodded at her, and she took a long, deep breath before parting her lips to say something.


    "I request the Blue Miracle to be used on both of them before a decision is made on which one to be killed."


    The crowds blinked their eyes when they heard her words, and they all turned their heads to glance at each other.


    They exchanged murmurs for a moment before slowly nodding their heads in agreement.


    "Supreme Alpha, her suggestion is quite considerate. It will benefit us to not make a mistake and hurt the real future Alpha while leaving the non-alpha alive." One of the guests who were of high status stood up and said, and the others nodded, showing they agreed with his words.


    Alpha Lekhma, who was already frowning at Mirabel''s words, creased his brow at the words of the guest and a deep breath escaped his lips.


    He smiled at the guest and turned to Rohan, ordering him to have his men bring out the Blue Miracle.


    Rohan nodded and left with three men to fetch the Blue Miracle.


    Everyone, including Mirabel and Mother Mary, waited in anticipation for Rohan to arrive with the Blue Miracle.


    Minutes passed, and the tall door opened, revealing Rohan and the three men standing with a stone that had the shape of a box in their hands.. On the body of the stones were letters written in an ancient language that they still couldn''t understand.

 Chapter 86 - Blue Miracle-3

    Everyone stared at them as they carried the stone to drop it before the supreme Alpha.


    Mirabel''s heart pounded rapidly as she watched the men lower the stone on a table before Lekhma.


    Standing up from his throne, Lekhma walked down the stairs that led up to his throne. He stared at the stone and a low breath escaped his nose.


    He reached out his hand and placed it on a round pattern in the middle of the stone. The middle was pushed inside and a colorless orb slowly emerged, floating in mid-air.


    Everyone stared intently at it, as this was the first time some of them had seen it.


    Lekhma turned to the maids that were holding the baby and ordered them to transfer the twin to the two men standing behind Rohan.


    They nodded and gave the babies to the two men.


    "I have given the two princes'' names, and they answer Ileus and Adrik." Lekhma turned to his subjects and announced. He then fixed his gaze on the little ileus. "Since he came out first, he shall go first." The subjects nodded, and Rohan took little Ileus from the man standing behind him, then walked to the table.


    He went down on his knees and raised the baby to the level of the orb.


    The orb began to swirl around, and everyone focused their gaze on the baby and the orb. Seconds passed, and a dense blue light began to emit from the orb.


    Everyone nodded their heads as they believed that Ileus did indeed have an Alpha''s blood running within him.


    Everyone clapped, and they brought little Ileus down, handing him over to the maid that was holding him before.


    Lekhma smiled as he felt joyful within him and glanced at Little Adrik, whose eyes were wide open and darting around the hall.


    "Bring him." He ordered Rohan, and he took little Adrik from the second man standing behind him, then walked to the table.


    He got down on his knees and raised little Adrik to the level of the orb floating in mid-air.


    Mirabel, who stood at her throne, stared at the orb and her baby with nervousness evident on her face.


    Everyone gazed intently as seconds passed, but nothing happened.


    Mirabel became scared and beads of sweaters began to fall from her back and forehead. Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to fall.


    A minute had passed, but nothing had happened yet.


    Mother Mary, who sat on the right side, frowned deeply as she couldn''t understand why the orb wasn''t working on little Adrik. I mean, in her vision, it was clearly shown that the orb chose little Adrik too, and he even shone brighter. So what exactly is going on?


    The subjects began murmuring as they could already predict the despair that would befall the little child.


    Lekhma''s eyes blinked, and he took deep breaths. Well, it isn''t his fault. He shook his head and ordered Rohan to bring the baby down.


    Mirabel''s body became motionless and she slumped down on the chair. "No! no!." She shook her head, refusing to believe that one of her sons would die.


    Rohan, who had little Adrik in hand, nodded at the order of the Supreme Alpha and proceeded to bring the baby down. However, when he tried to, he suddenly realized that he couldn''t move. His whole body felt like it was freezing and he couldn''t shift nor do anything.


    Everyone gazed at Rohan, who was still where he was despite hearing the command of the Supreme Alpha, and they couldn''t help but glance at each other in bewilderment.


    Mother Mary, who was sitting on the chair, instantly stood up and gazed intently at Rohan and the baby. She had already figured out that something was wrong.


    She turned her head to glance at Mirabel and nodded as she smiled at her.


    Lekhma''s brow creased at the sight of this, and he ordered Rohan to bring the baby down once again. But Rohan parted his lips and stated that he couldn''t move and that his body was being held still by something.


    Everyone fluttered their eyes in disbelief, including Lekhma, whose brow furrowed deeply in confusion.


    Thinking that maybe the orb must be the problem, he decided to shut it down. So he placed his hands on the circle pattern to push it open, but the stone began to shake, and before any of them could contemplate what would happen, a great force from the stone swept everywhere, sending both Lekhma and Rohan flying.


    Lekhma held his ground, resulting in him not hitting anything, both Rohan flew back, crashing onto the stone wall.


    Everyone gasped and slowly turned their heads to see little Adrik floating in mid-air above the orb.


    Lekhma''s eyes dilated, including the others'' when they saw the orb beneath the baby emitting a bright light that outshone the dense light during little Ileus time.


    Mirabel slowly stood up from the chair and began to walk down the stairs with her eyes fixed on little Adrik. She stood beside Lekhma as she gazed intently at little Adrik.


    ''What is going on?'' Natasha thought and sat up on her throne when she saw the light emitting from the orb becoming brighter and brighter.


    Everyone''s eyes bulged as they saw the blue miracle becoming bigger and bigger, shining brighter and brighter, and they couldn''t help but begin to take steps back, including Lekhma, who grabbed Mirabel by the wrist, dragging her back with her.


    However, before they could take four steps back, the power within the orb burst forth, sweeping around the entire hall, causing them all to fall to the ground with their eyes tightly shut to avoid going blind.


    Mother Mary was the only one standing with a wide smile on her lips. She knelt and bowed down before the Little Adrik, who was floating in mid-air.


    Through the window, one could see the full moon that had turned from white light to a completely bright blue color.


    The light swept across the entire pack, and the people who believed that a new alpha had been born went down on their knees and bowed deeply.


    The strange phenomenon lasted for a minute before the bright lights died down, showing little Adrik, whose short baby hair had grown longer, stopping at shoulder length and floating around.


    They all opened their eyes and rose from the floor to see little Adrik, and their jaws couldn''t help but fall in disbelief.. Never in history has such a thing ever happened, and they are completely confused and clueless about what they would call such a manifestation.

 Chapter 87 - Blood Moon

    The orb died down and unexpectedly shattered into pieces, causing all of them to gasp loudly. The Blue Miracle is gone.


    They all stared in disbelief, and Lekhma, who was already furious, blamed little Adrik for the loss of the Blue Miracle. "This child is a curse!!"


    He glared at Mirabel before turning around to return to his throne. "Finish him off."


    The instant he gave his order, Rohan, who stood with dust all over his body, whirled the saber in his hand and aimed it at little Adrik, who was slowly floating down to lie on the floor.


    He threw the saber with great force, and it penetrated through the air, rushing towards little Adrik. However, before it could infiltrate through the little child, someone ran in and grabbed little Adrik, protecting him from getting struck by the saber flying towards him.


    Everywhere went quite instantly, and Lekhma, who was walking up the stairs to sit at his throne, halted and his heart thumped hard within him, as though he had just lost a part of him.


    His body trembled when he heard gasps from the surrounding people, and he slowly turned around only to have his eyes flutter violently as his gazes fell on his wife, who was holding little Adrik with her body standing motionless.


    "No! no!!" Lekhma shook his head and hurriedly rushed to Mirabel. However, he had just gotten close to her when Mirabel spurted out a mouthful of blood and slowly fell on her knees while still holding tightly onto little Adrik.


    Lekhma''s body shivered violently as he stared at the saber stabbed into her back, and he raised his rage-filled eyes to gaze at Rohan, who stood motionless with dilated eyes.


    "Supreme Alpha, it wasn''t-" Before Rohan could finish his sentence, Lekhma had already appeared in front of him and hoisted him up by the neck.


    Lekhma''s eyes turned completely violet and his canine elongated. His fingers stretched out, penetrating through the neck of Rohan, who was struggling to free himself.


    Lekhma''s raged violet eyes glared at Rohan, and he snapped his neck into two, letting Rohan''s head roll to the floor. Blood pumped out of Rohan''s neck, and Lekhma threw his body away. He immediately rushed back to Mirabel, who was still spurting blood, and pulled out the saber from her back.


    He covered the wound with his hand to stop the bleeding, but the blood kept oozing out. Tears welled up in his eyes and they fell the moment they came. "Please, you can''t leave me! You can''t! " He violently shook his head and tenderly grabbed Mirabel by the chin to make her look at him. "Mirabel, you can''t leave me!"


    Mirabel turned her head to stare at him and smiled, revealing her bloody teeth. "Ta-take c-care of our ba-babies..." She coughed and her eyes slowly shook as she collapsed to the floor, devoid of any life.


    Lekhma stared at his dead mate and tears began to stream down his face.


    Mother Mary, who was on the other side, lowered her head as she whimpered silently in pain. Her heart ached within her and tears couldn''t help but fall from her eyes. Even after trying so much, getting the heavens to send another vision to her, Mirabel still died in the end.


    She wants to scream and ask heaven why she was given such a gift. Why was she, of all people, cursed in such a horrible way? Just what exactly did she do wrong?


    A loud cry from little Adrik''s mouth drew everyone''s attention, including Lekhma, and he slowly turned his head to stare at the crying baby. Fury bubbled up with him at the sight of little Adrik, and he grabbed him from Mirabel''s hand and harshly dropped him on the floor. He picked up the saber that killed Mirabel and raised it, ready to stab little Adrik to death and send him to hell.


    But the minute the saber closed in, almost touching little Adrik''s skin, he halted it and breathed heavily as his hands on the hilt of the saber shivered. His lashes trembled and tears fell from his eyes onto little Adrik''s face.


    The saber fell out of his hand as he couldn''t bring himself to do it. He screamed and angrily punched the floor till his knuckles became bloody.


    "Everyone!! Get out!!" He emphasized each of his words with a deadly tone, and his breathing became unsteady as he felt himself about to run mad.


    His subjects flinched at the tone he was using and stood gazing at him.


    When Lekhma saw that none of them were listening to him, he grabbed the saber and abruptly stood up, sending it towards one of his subjects, through whose throat it penetrated, killing him instantly.


    Everyone gasped and began to tremble in fear as they stared at his deadly eyes. "Get out!"He yelled at them, and without hesitation, they began to flee the hall, leaving Lekhma, who was breathing heavily.


    Within the hall was only Mother Mary, who didn''t leave. Rather, she stood there watching Lekhma, whose chest rose and fell in rage.


    She parted her lips to say something but changed her mind as she felt it would be useless to say anything.


    She slowly walked towards the dead body of Mirabel and placed her hand on her forehead. "Rest in peace." She whispered to herself and turned to little Adrik, who was still crying.


    "Get that child out of my sight or else..." Lekhma''s hand balled into a tight fist as he said, and Mother Mary hurriedly lifted little Adrik from the cold floor and carried him out of the hall.


    Lekhma turned to his wife and fell on his knees beside her. He carried her up, placing her head on his chest, and began caressing her hair. "Why did you leave me?! Why?!!!"


    He whimpered and roared like a wild beast. His heart tightened within him as he suddenly recalled the first time he met her. Then she was serving food and drinks at a feast that he attended.


    He also recalled the day he made her his concubine and how shy she was. And also the day she found out she was pregnant, how much she talked about the type of mother she would be. All that played in his mind.


    Tears continued to fall from his eyes, and he shut his eyes, inhaling deeply and exhaling.


    He wiped off the tears in his eyes and carefully carried her up from the floor and had her put in a frozen coffin to sustain her body till the day he would bury her.


    The villagers waited to see the prince, but Lekhma decided against walking up to the tower and letting the moon goddess see the miracle she had given them.


    Mother Mary warned him and told him that he must do it or else the moon goddess would be angered, but Lekhma still didn''t listen.


    The only thing clouding his mind at the moment was the death of his mate. The first woman he had ever loved in his life left him today.


    Lekhma slumped down on the chair in the hall and used his palm to support his tilted head.


    ...


    Mother Mary stood outside and gazed intently at the Blue Moon. She knows something will happen. When the moon goddess is angered, there is a chance that all of them will be wiped out, never to be heard of again.


    She took a deep breath after staring intently at the moon for a few minutes and turned around, proceeding to walk back into her chamber. However, she had just taken a step forward when a gust of wind suddenly swept past her and everyone else, causing them to fall to the floor.


    The earth beneath their feet began to tremble, and they glanced down only to see cracks appearing on the ground.


    Mother Mary, who already knew what was happening, immediately ran into the palace and took Little Adrik from the bed where he was lying.


    She hurriedly rushed to the hall and pushed the tall door open, only for her eyes to fall on Lekhma, who was still seated in the position he was sitting in before, completely unaware of the phenomenon unfolding outside.


    "Supreme Alpha, please, you have to do the ritual. The pack is in danger. " She said, but Lekhma replied not, and just lazily glanced at her.


    She parted her lips to say something, but the hall suddenly began to shake as though an earthquake was happening, and lines of cracks rapidly began to emerge on the wall.


    Mother Mary panicked and walked up to Lekhma. "Supreme Alpha, do you want to have the entire pack killed?" She yelled at him and dragged him from the throne. "If you don''t do something, thousands of innocent people will die because of your ignorance!!."


    She forcefully handed little Adrik to him and rushed outside when she felt immense danger.. She gazed up at the sky only to see the once blue moon turn completely red.

 Chapter 88 - Voice

    "No! No! No-not the blood moon. " She shook her head vigorously and proceeded to rush inside, but something liquid dripped on her body, and she glanced at her arm only to see red fluid on her arm. She screamed and wiped it off her body. "The rain of blood." She clutched her body and shut her eyes.


    But just then, cries from people began to echo in her ears, and she turned around only to see the cracks on the ground becoming bigger, causing some of the people to fall into the space it created.


    Her body began to tremble and she quickly ran back to the hall. She opened the door and forcefully dragged Lekhma out of the palace. "Look at your people dying because of your ignorance. Are you still the great Supreme Alpha they look up to? The Alpha they believed in? " She shook her head at him and glanced at little Adrik.


    "Take this child, and do the right thing. Save our people!!!" She stepped back away from him and stood to watch him.


    Alpha Lekhma glanced up at the sky and the blood moon. He glimpsed around his surroundings, and the cries of his people dying echoed in his ears. The blood rain poured down as though it were the blood of the innocent dead.


    His heart squeezed within him and he shut his eyes. He took a deep breath and glanced at Little Adrik, who was in his arms.


    The image of Mirabel appeared in front of him, and a pessimistic smile emerged on his lips.


    He took yet another deep breath and moved his legs to walk towards the tower, avoiding the cracks that were appearing on the ground on his way.


    He hurriedly walked faster and pushed the door of the tower open. He began to amble up the stone stairs and finally made it to the top. However, while he was climbing the stairs, a maximum of twenty people had lost their lives, and the more people died, the heavier was the blood rain.


    He pushed the door open and stepped out to stand on the very edge of the tower, allowing the heavy wind to blow on him, causing his clothes to flutter.


    He gazed up intently at the moon and slowly bowed his head while gesturing little Adrik to the blood moon. "Your Majesty, here I am before you as your humble servant to let you see the miracle, the wonder, and beauty you have created and bestowed upon my humble Blue moon pack."


    "We beg of you to accept him into your heart and set him on his way, a brighter future." With that being said, Lekhma got down on his knee and patiently waited.


    A minute had not passed since he said that, and the whole sky turned completely white, sweeping across the entire world, but specifically within the Blue Moon pack.


    The blood rain stopped and the cracks in the ground disappeared. The moon returned to its white color, and white mists began to whirl around it.


    "He is accepted into my heart and accepted by the world." A voice suddenly echoed from the sky, cursing every living creature to go down on their knees and bow, refusing to look up at the sky, as they may go blind.


    "For your act of disobedience and stupidity, the title of the Supreme Alpha will be taken away from you on his 100th birthday, and you shall abdicate the throne and give it to him."


    "However, I have placed a curse on him as an outcome of your deed, which resulted in so many deaths and the occurrence of a forbidden phenomenon today."


    "Scars will appear on his face on that day, and it will remind you all of today. This curse will never be broken except by true acceptance... His hair is never to be shortened until the curse is broken, else..." With that being said, the voice faded, and the bright white mist enshrouding the moon ceased. Everything returned to normal and everywhere went silent.


    Mother Mary slumped to the ground and sobbed silently. "Scars." She shook her head in disbelief and her hands balled into tight fists.


    "Why is little Adrik cursed? He is just an innocent child who knows nothing." Her brows creased as she couldn''t wrap her head around it.


    Alpha Lekhma, who still stood on the tower, shut his eyes as rage bubbled within him. This child is a curse brought into his life. So much has happened today because of this child, and now he has also lost his mate and the throne because of this child.


    His eyes changed from gray to violet and he stared down at little Adrik with hatred apparent in his gazes.


    The urge to throw him out of the tower emerged within him, and he tightly shut his eyes. If he had known, he would have gotten rid of him that day he first went to see them.


    A wicked smile formed on his lips, and with that, he pushed the door open and proceeded to walk downstairs and out of the tower.


    When he stepped out and saw Mother Mary, who was kneeling on the floor, he stormed towards her and handed little Adrik to her. "From now on, he''s under your care. I do not want him anywhere near me." With that being said, he walked past Mother Mary and ambled into the palace.


    Mother Mary stared at the baby in her arms, and she tucked his hair behind his ear. She gazed at the length of his hair and chuckled softly. "Little Alpha."


    She stood up from the ground and walked into the palace. She had the maids give little Adrik a nice bath and dress him up in new clean clothes.


    After feeding him, she decided to take him and visit Mirabel in the cold room, where her body was kept inside the ice coffin.


    A deep breath escaped her lips as she arrived at the door, and she glanced down at little Adrik to see his beautiful green eyes staring at her.


    She smiled at him and slowly opened the door and stepped in, then shut it behind them.


    The first thing that came into view was the ice coffin in the middle of the room.


    She slowly walked towards it and knelt, then gazed at Mirabel, who lay lifeless inside the coffin.


    ''You are the best mother I have ever met in my life. I will make sure that your sons know that their mother was their greatest hero and they will never forget you.'' Mother Mary smiled pessimistically and bowed her head in respect to Mirabel''s corpse. "Rest in peace."


    After spending a while near Mirabel''s coffin, Mother Mary finally stood up, and with one last bow, she left the cold room with little Adrik, who was sleeping peacefully in her arms.

 Chapter 89 - Celeana

    Years passed, and Ileus and Adrik finally grew up, and in a few hours, the ceremony for their 100th birthday will be held.


    During the past few years, things have not been great. It was expected that the twins would be very close to each other, but as it turned out, they were like mortal enemies.


    They despised each other, and the mere sight of each other irritated them. One could say the hatred between them was built up by Ileus himself.


    At first, when they were still kids, they loved each other and spent most of their time together, either training or doing deeds that required punishment.


    However, as they began to grow into teenagers, Ileus''s attitude towards Adrik began to change drastically, as though Adrik had done something unforgivable to him.


    When Adrik went to him to ask what he had done wrong to change his attitude toward him, he insulted and accused Adrik of being a selfish person who took what rightfully belonged to him.


    He had told Adrik to never cross his chamber again, or else...


    Lekhma, who was aware of the fight between the twins, restricted them from ever seeing each other, instead of clearing up the misunderstanding between them.


    From when the twins were kids, Lekhma had only favored Ileus and harbored hatred towards Adrik. Whenever Adrik came to him as his son, he would yell at him and dismiss him, telling him to never appear in his sight ever again.


    Adrik, perplexed, would always ask Mother Mary why his father despised him, and she would always tell him one or two things.


    However, once she finally got tired of Adrik''s questioning, she sat him down and told him the story of everything that happened from the moment they were born.


    Adrik''s eyes fluttered as he couldn''t believe it. So all along, his father was the one generating the hatred between him and his brother. He wanted them to hate each other.


    As though realizing how he was being used and played with, he threw his head back and chuckled crazily. An unknown glint flashed in his eyes and his hands balled into fists. "If that''s what they want, then so be it." With that being said, he stood up and left Mother Mary''s chamber.


    From that day onwards, he never gave a damn about his brother or his father; he just lived carefreely and never showed unhappiness. It left both his brother and father stunned, and their hatred for him deepened more.


    Finally, today was their 100th birthday, and all the maids were running around making preparations.


    Adrik lay on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. The only thing on his mind was his mother. He really wished that he could have the chance to glimpse her and even hug her, but it was never going to happen.


    He took deep breaths and turned his head when a young maid walked into his chamber and took a deep bow. "Your highness, the ceremony is about to begin. You need to prepare." She said and hurriedly readied his bath. Adrik shook his head at her and leisurely took his bath.


    He dressed himself up, and the maid neatly combed his hair, which was past shoulder length. She tied it up in a bun, and Adrik stood up from the chair.


    He made his way out of his chamber and began to walk towards the hall with his male escorts following behind him.


    He finally arrived in front of the tall door, only to realize that Ileus had also arrived at the same time he did.


    They both glanced at each other, and Ileus threw him a glare that had him chuckling softly. He ignored Ileus and kept his face straight as the announcer was about to announce their presence.


    The high door opened and a vast room filled with so many people dressed in rich clothing came into view.


    A low breath left Adrik''s nose, the twins began to march forward to stand before their father, who was seated on the high throne. Beside him was Natasha, and beside her sat a young girl who looked like the twin''s age.


    A simple smile was plastered on her face as she fixed her gaze on Adrik.


    Adrik and Ileus bowed to their father and then to Natasha.


    Adrik raised his eyes to glance at the young girl seated next to Natasha, who was by the name of Celeana. She was the daughter of Natasha and not her daughter at the same time.


    It was revealed a few years back that Celeana wasn''t Natasha''s daughter, as she turned out to be infertile and couldn''t give birth.


    She had pretended to be pregnant all along, and on the day she feigned she was giving birth, she brought in Celaena, simulating that she had given birth to her.


    Even though Lekhma found out, it was useless for him to do anything, as it would be a disgrace to him.


    The young girl, Celaena, who knew that she wasn''t related to the twins in any way, began to fall for Adrik, but Adrik didn''t like her at all and only saw her like the sister she was to him. But still, it didn''t stop her from liking him.


    Taking a deep breath and glancing at her one more time, he averted his gaze.


    A man dressed in pristine white clothing stepped forward and motioned for Ileus to take a seat beside his father on the high throne.


    He then turned to Adrik and smiled at him. "Close your eyes, your highness." Adrik nodded and shut his eyes. The man then dipped his finger inside a small cup that had red ashes on it and drew a symbol on Adrik''s forehead with it.


    "Today, on your hundredth birthday, per the prophecy, your father will abdicate the throne and give it to you. You shall be given the title of the Supreme Alpha, and our people hope for you to lead us to greater things. "


    With that being said, everyone in the hall fell to their knees and bowed before the Supreme Alpha.


    However, a second didn''t pass when a white blinding light shone and washed over Adrik, making him invisible before the eyes of everyone.


    Within the blinding light that enshrouded him, his body trembled as scars began to appear on his face, and his heart squeezed within him. His eyes fluttered in pain and he tightly shut them. It will be broken one day, that he believed. Besides he was ready for this as Mother Mary had already told him what would happen.


    The scars were engraved on his face, starting from the nose to his jaw. His nose, up to his eyes, was completely devoid of any scars.


    Adrik pulled out a mask from his pocket that was given to him by Mother Mary to wear once the scar appeared on his face.. He glanced down at the gray mask and latched it onto his face, then waited for the white mists to die down and reveal him to his people.

 Chapter 90 - We Could Be Together

    Everyone slowly raised their heads and stared at the white mist enshrouding Adrik, dissipating.


    Mother Mary, who sat on the left side of the hall with the other important people in the pack, gazed intently as the mist slowly creased, revealing Adrik, who stood with his eyes shut.


    Everyone''s eyes fell on his face, but instead of seeing a scar, they saw a gray mask with golden patterns latched onto his face.


    Adrik turned around and a smile crept onto his face behind the mask. He already knew they were expecting to see the scars on his face, but that look of disappointment on their faces was very satisfying.


    He glanced at Mother Mary and slightly nodded his head at her. Mother Mary smiled and also nodded at him.


    Without uttering a single word, Adrik turned around to stare at his father, who was still seated on the high throne despite having abdicated.


    A grin spread across his lips behind the mask as he gazed at his father, who was also staring at him, and he raised his brow. He placed his hands behind his back and began to walk up the stairs.


    Lekhma''s eyes dwindled as he watched Adrik stroll up the stairs and stand in front of him. His brows creased deeply, and he gazed intently at him.


    Adrik, who stood in front of him, tilted his head to one side and raised his brows. "May I have a seat, dear father?" He smirked so widely, to the point that Lekhma noticed it.


    Lekhma glanced at the crowd and Adrik, then back to the crowd, only to see the man that gave the title of Supreme Alpha to Adrik staring at him with an awkward expression on his face.


    His eyes fluttered as rage burned deep within him and a low breath left his nose. He slowly stood up from the throne and walked to the other throne that was already presented to him as the father of the new Supreme Alpha.


    A fake smile formed on his lips, and he elegantly sat down and turned to glance at Adrik.


    Adrik smirked behind his mask and turned around, then, with an adjustment of his clothing, he gently sat down on the throne.


    "I am now your Supreme Alpha and will see to it that this pack is led to greater heights." Adrik chuckled softly as he said and relaxed on the throne.


    Everyone got on their knees and bowed before their new Supreme Alpha. But one didn''t.


    Adrik''s lips curled up as his eyes fell on his brother, who sat with a stern look on his face. He tilted his head to one side and gazed at Ileus with a leisurely expression on his face. "Aren''t you going to... bow before your Supreme Alpha?" He chuckled mockingly as he asked.


    Ileus'' face puckered deeply, and he scoffed in disdain. He slowly stood up from his chair and placed his hands behind his back. Then he walked forward to stand before Adrik, who was seated on the high throne.


    "Brother, let me tell you one thing you should let your brain know... I, Ileus, will never bow to you because you... will never be my Supreme Alpha. Rather, you shall be the one to bow before me." His eyes gazed at Adrik in ridicule, and a smile crept onto his lips. "What you took from me will be given back to me sooner or later." With that being said, he turned around and began to storm out of the hall.


    Adrik watched his disappearing back and raised his hands to the guard who was ready to hold Ileus down, to let him be. Two people can''t be crazy at the same time. Sometimes you just have to sit and observe.


    The ceremony continued without Ileus that day and finally ended. Adrik strolled to his new room, which was as noble as that of his father''s room, the former Alpha, and found out that everywhere had already been adorned to his taste.


    The inside was bright from the luminous light of the big candle inside a glass globe covering it. The curtains hanging on the window were golden with red parts on them. And his bed was king-sized.


    No more sleeping in that lowly chamber, which was not much different from mother Mary''s room. Well, not that the chamber is bad, but his brother''s chamber was much more rich and noble compared to his. That will explain just how much fondness his father has for Ileus and how much hatred he has for him.


    But who cares anyway? He''s the Supreme Alpha now, and one day, just one day, he will make his father swallow his words and apologize for every single thing he has ever done to him.


    Adrik let out a low breath and walked towards the mirror kept on the table against the wall.


    He gazed at his face and the mask covering half of it. A low sigh left his lips, and he slowly grabbed the mask to remove it.


    He stared at his face through the mirror and his eyes fluttered as his gaze went down to half of his face, which was covered in horrible scars.


    His hands that were on the table tightened and he shut his eyes as he took a long, deep breath. "It''s okay." He said to himself to calm his boiling heart down.


    He suddenly had an image of his father emerge in his mind, and he angrily punched the wall, causing little lines of crack to appear.


    This was all his fault. He caused him to become like this, to bear these hideous scars on his face. The worst fact about it was that he doesn''t even give a damn nor does he feel guilty!


    Adrik breathed heavily and used the mask to cover half of his face. He took a deep breath, and with a turn, he proceeded to walk out of his chamber. He will find a way to break this curse.


    He waved his hand at his escorts, who were about to follow him, to stay back, and strolled away from the chamber.


    He ambled out to the palace compound under the bright moon in the sky and continued to make his way to Mother Mary''s room. However, somebody unexpectedly jumped out of nowhere and hugged him from behind, causing him to be startled and push the person.


    He turned around with a deep frown on his face, only to see a young girl dressed richly with an adorable look on her face.


    "Celaena." Adrik walked up to the young girl and helped her up from the ground. "Why did you do that?" His brows creased deeply as he questioned her.


    "I just wanted to hug you. And congratulate you." Celaena rolled her eyes and crossed her arms with a displeased look on her face.


    "Well, thank you," Adrik said and turned around to leave, but abruptly halted as though remembering something. He turned to her and stared at her with a stern look on his face. "Next time, please don''t try such a thing again." With that being, Adrik turned around and began to amble away, but Celaena, who wouldn''t agree, ran after him and stood in front of him, blocking his way.


    Adrik''s face darkened, and he raised his brow at her.


    "Why is it so disgusting to you that I like you?" She asked with eyes that were watering up.


    "Celaena, I will not tell you this again. You are my sister, and I will never develop any feelings for you." He said it to her and proceeded to walk past her, but Celaena yelled, causing him to halt on his step. "I am not your sister!!!"


    Adrik''s face turned ashen, and he slowly turned around to stare at her. He gazed at her face, which was red with anger, and her chest, which was rising and falling, and he suddenly felt like buying some sense and giving to her cause she lacked one.


    He shook his head and parted his lips to say something to her, but she abruptly moved towards him to stand in front of him.


    "Adrik, we are not siblings, okay. We don''t share the same blood." She stared into his green eyes and grabbed his hand. "We can be together, okay."


    Adrik gazed at her face, and feeling extremely disgusted, he snatched his hand and stared at her with disdain in his eyes. "Don''t you ever try any of this shit again, or else... " Without bothering to elaborate further, he turned around and walked away.


    Celaena stood with tears welling up in her eyes and angrily stomped her feet on the ground. "You will be mine someday." With that being said, she also turned around and stormed back to her chamber.


    ....


    Adrik arrived at Mother Mary''s chamber and bowed in respect to her. "Mother"


    "Dear child, come and have a seat." Mother Mary, who was busy with a book in her hand, waved at him to come and have a seat beside her on the table.


    Since she was the one that took care of Adrik till he grew up, Adrik found himself addressing him as a mother because she was indeed a mother to him.


    Adrik walked over to the table and sat down beside her. He glanced at the book she was reading and curiously asked her what it was about.


    "It''s nothing. Am just trying to free me from boredom." She smiled and patted him on the head. "So what brings you here? You don''t look quite happy."


    "It''s nothing, just that I was thinking, maybe you might have an idea of who we could go to and see if we could break this curse.." Adrik''s face altered in dissatisfaction as he said the last word.

 Chapter 91 - Fate Accepted

    Mother Mary took a deep breath and slowly took the mask off her son''s face. Her eyes fluttered as she gazed at its ugliness and pulled Adrik into a hug. "Everything will be fine." A scene from that faithful day flashed through her mind, and she let out a low growl. The scars do indeed remind one of that cursed day.


    She placed the mask back on his face and tucked a strand of his hair behind his ear. "I do have a place I can take you to. Come with me." She stood up and began to walk out of her chamber, with Adrik following behind her.


    Mother Mary grabbed his hand the moment they strolled out of the chamber, and her eyes darted from left to right. "I don''t want us to be followed." She said to him, and Adrik nodded in response.


    They secretly made it to the palace gate and sneaked out. Then they mounted their horses and hurriedly rode away from the palace.


    They rode for at least thirty minutes before arriving at a huge forest that gave off a dark and eerie feeling. The horses neighed as though scared, and Adrik patted his horse''s back to calm it down. He gazed into the distance, and a deep breath escaped from his nose.


    He climbed down from the horse and walked up to stand beside Mother Mary. "You must not say anything when we get there, understand?" Mother Mary turned her head to glance at him and said.


    "Yes." Adrik nodded, and Mother Mary grabbed his hand. She began to walk into the forest, their legs crushing tiny sticks of wood and dried leaves. Adrik''s eyes darted around and he saw something that looked like fireflies swirling in a circle.


    His eyes narrowed as he tried to get a closer look, but Mother Mary abruptly dragged him harshly and pulled him into a cave covered with leaves that came out of nowhere. A stone staircase that led to an unknown underground came into view, and without any hesitation, Mother Mary began to step down whilst still holding onto Adrik''s hand.


    They stepped down from the last staircase, and three passageways came into view. Mother Mary took a soft breath and walked through the left passageway with Adrik vigilantly following behind her.


    When they reached the end of the passageway, a brownish old door came into view, and Mother Mary knocked on it, then patiently waited for the person inside to open the door for them.


    Sounds of footsteps reverberated from within, and Adrik gazed at the door.


    From a small hole in the wooden door, a gray eye peered at them, and next, the doorknob turned and the door was opened, revealing a young woman with curly white hair and the most beautiful face he had ever seen in his entire life. Her eyes were gray and a little bit larger, her nose perfectly pointed, and her plump lips were very red as if painted with blood.


    A low sigh left Adrik''s lips as he couldn''t bring himself to take his eyes off her face.


    "Calise." Mother Mary smiled at the young lady and bent to bow her head in respect.


    "Mother Mary, please..." The woman by the name of Calise grabbed Mary by the shoulder to stop her from bowing to her. "You always make me feel guilty when you do this."


    Mother Mary chuckled softly and glanced at Adrik. "This is Adrik. He''s like a son to me." She smiled and patted his shoulder.


    "Ahh... nice to meet you." Calise turned to Adrik, who was staring at her with a lost look on his face and smiled at him.


    Adrik blinked his eyes and nodded with a broad smile on his lips. "Nice to meet you too." He composed himself and proceeded to walk into the house with Mother Mary, as Calise gestured them in.


    A huge compartment that was a little bit bright from a big candle, came into view. Tall wooden shelves filled with old books were in every corner of this underground room. Three shelves that were not as tall as the ones that had books on them were filled with bottles of potions of different colors.


    On the stone ceiling were fireflies, or so it seemed to him, whirling in a circle. They were just like the ones he saw while they were coming to this cave.


    Seeing all this, the first thing that came to his mind was that she was a witch. Without being told, just all this was enough to let him know.


    Adrik walked beside Mother Mary, and they took a seat at a round table opposite Calise.


    "Anything I can help you with?" Calise asked with a simple smile on her lips.


    "Yes, there is." Mother Mary replied, and turned her head to glance at Adrik, seated beside her. "Take it off." She said to him, and Adrik nodded.


    He took a deep breath and slowly removed the mask from his face, revealing his scars.


    Calise''s eyes fluttered, and she slowly reached out her hand to touch Adrik''s face. Adrik''s eyes blinked in bewilderment as her fingers traced his scars.


    "A curse." Calise tilted her head to one side and retracted her hand. "A big one." She said this and turned to look at Mother Mary.


    "Is there anything we can do about it? Any possible way to break it?" Mother Mary fiddled with her sweaty hands as she asked.


    "May I know who cursed him?" Calise asked with no expression on her face.


    Mother Mary took a deep breath and fluttered her eyes. "The moon goddess... It''s kind of a long-"


    "I will not be able to do anything about it," Calise answered straight and gazed at Mother Mary, whose lips were parted from being cut off before finishing her sentence.


    "Why can''t you do anything about it?" Mother Mary asked, with a bit of displeasure on her face.


    "The moon goddess is immortal. Why would I challenge her?" Calise answered in a low, yet cold tone.


    "What do you mean by "challenge her"? We just need to know if-"


    "Mother Mary, I believe that you are aware of this. We are supernatural beings, not immortals. We dare not go against them, nor dare we challenge them, else the world might cease to exist." Calise''s brow creased in displeasure, and she abruptly stood up from the chair. "The immortals have no mercy, and neither are they wicked."


    "Just like she said, the curse can only be broken by true acceptance, nothing else."


    "I don''t understand what she means by true acceptance." Mother Mary stood up from the chair and gazed at Calise with a pleading look on her face. "Just help us, please."


    "I am sorry to disappoint you, Mother Mary, but I do not know, nor can I do anything about it." Calise turned around to stare at Mother Mary with a pessimistic smile on her face.


    "Can''t you do any of your potion stuff and-"


    "Mother, let''s go." Mother Mary slowly turned her head when she heard Adrik''s words, and her eyes fluttered in confusion.


    "Adrik-"


    "She''s right." Adrik stood up from the chair and took a deep breath. "It was useless for us to come here. We supernaturals can''t go against the immortals. No need to worry; I have accepted my fate." Adrik smiled and turned to Calise. "Thank you for your time." He took a deep bow, and with a turn, he left the compartment and walked through the passageway, then out of the cave.


    His face changed in pain, and he took off and began to run extraordinarily fast. His canine elongated, his fingers stretched out, and white furs began to emerge on his body as he tore off his clothes.


    His bones cracked as he transformed into his wolf, and his four legs stormed the ground as he ran at a fast speed.


    He jumped over fallen timbers and finally arrived at the edge of a mountain. He gazed out into the horizon that was already taken over by the darkness and raised his eyes to stare at the moon. A long, loud howl left his mouth, and he sat on his butt, then calmly gazed out into the distance. ''I have accepted my fate.'' He said it in his heart and his gaze was raised to the moon.


    ...


    Leia, who was listening to Adrik all along with a fallen jaw, fluttered her eyes and a deep breath escaped her nose. "True acceptance."


    She repeated and raised her gazes to Adrik. "I am confused about something."


    "What is it?" Adrik asked with a bit of sadness in his tone.


    "If the curse could be broken by true acceptance, then why isn''t it broken?"


    "I mean, you accepted yourself that way, and I did too, so... Why isn''t it broken yet? " Leia gazed at him as though he might know why.


    "I have no idea." Adrik shrugged and wrapped his arms around her waist, then dragged her to lie on him. He took a deep breath and smiled at her. "Let''s forget about it. It doesn''t matter to us, okay." He leaned in and kissed her on the lips.


    Leia smiled against his lips and lightly bit him. He drew back and frowned his face in a bit of displeasure.


    "We need to have breakfast. I am hungry." She pinched his cheek and stood up from the bathtub.


    "Gluttonous little wife," Adrik said, and when she turned her head to glare at him, he raised his eyes and glanced at the ceiling, avoiding her deathly glare.

 Chapter 92 - Bitch

    Leia and Adrik had their breakfast and were currently seated on the sofa in the living room.


    Adrik was busy with the laptop while Leia browsed through her phone. The day was going perfectly well for them with no disturbances until loud noises were suddenly heard from the outside.


    Adrik and Leia raised their heads at the same time and glanced at each other. They gazed at the entrance when a woman''s voice suddenly reverberated, and Adrik''s brow creased deeply.


    He gently kept the laptop on the mini table and abruptly wrapped his arms around Leia''s waist and pulled her closer to sit on his lap.


    "Adrik, what are you do-" Leia, who was stunned by Adrik''s sudden action, fluttered her eyes in confusion and swallowed the rest of her words when someone stepped in through the entrance.


    She turned her head to see who it was and her eyes fell on a gorgeous lady with fiery red hair. Her face darkened as she remembered who the young woman was. She was the same woman that unexpectedly came to the house that very day, she hit Rita, and disrupted her breakfast.


    "Adrik!" Selena''s eyes narrowed dangerously as she stared at Leia, who was seated on Adrik''s lap. Her hand balled into a tight fist and she walked closer to them.


    "What brings you here, Selena?" Adrik leisurely asked her and tenderly caressed Leia''s hair.


    Selena gritted her teeth and they crashed together, making a little bit of noise. She stared at Adrik, who had a lazy look on his face, and chuckled softly. "I see."


    She slightly nodded her head and turned to gaze at Leia. "Bitch, get your ass off him." She raised her brow at Leia and menacingly stared at her.


    Leia darted her eyes around and glanced on either side of her. Her face puckered and she turned to Selena. "Are you talking to me?" She questioned Selena while pointing to herself, as though oblivious to the fact that she was the one she was talking to.


    Selena''s eyes fluttered, and her balled hands tightened. "Bitch, I am talking to you!" She gazed into Leia''s eyes, expecting her to be afraid. But what she didn''t expect was that Leia would start laughing crazily.


    "Oh my gosh." Leia placed her hands on her belly and wiped away the tears in her eyes with her fingers. She took a deep breath after laughing and raised her eyes to stare at Selena. Her lips twitched violently as she suddenly had the urge to laugh again. "So, I am actually the one you called a bitch." She pinched her brow as she shook her head, and the next she raised her head, her face had altered and looked vicious.


    "I will show you what a bitch does." Leia grinned widely and turned to Adrik. She unlatched his mask and tucked his hair behind his ear.


    She leaned down and slowly bit on his lower lip. Adrik''s eyes fluttered as he couldn''t understand why she was doing this but went along with it, as he was enjoying it.


    Leia wrapped her arms around his neck and covered her lips with his, then passionately kissed him, completely ignoring Selena, who was steaming in anger.


    "This is what a bitch does, and I am his only bitch." Leia said, against his lips and turned her head to stare at Selena. "Do you get it?" She chuckled softly and relaxed in Adrik''s arms.


    Selena''s chest rose and fell in rage. "Nobody takes what belongs to me!!" She yelled and walked forward to grab Leia and pull her off Adrik''s lap, but Leia stood up immediately and stepped forward as her eyes gazed viciously at her. "Don''t you dare! or else!" She emphasized every word with dangerousness in her tone.


    "If even your skin touches mine, not even your hand, I will bust your ass. Bitch, you won''t even know how you exit this earth." Leia menacingly glared at her and chuckled with disdain in her eyes. "Whore." She turned around and proceeded to take her seat.


    However, Selena, who had lost every bit of sanity within her, had her canine and nails elongate, then stepped forward to finish Leia off, but Adrik, who was seated on the sofa, abruptly stood up and appeared in front of Selena in the blink of an eye and harshly grabbed her hand. He used the back of his left hand to slap her across the face, causing Selena to fall to the floor with her hand clutching onto her red cheek.


    Leia turned around to see Selena on the floor and Adrik standing with a darkened face and hands in his pockets. Her eyes couldn''t help but blink in a bit of surprise and she folded her arms.


    Adrik''s expressionless eyes gazed down at Selena, and he took a deep breath. "Get out!" He said it with a cold tone that sent chills down Selena''s body.


    Bubbles of tears welled up in Selena''s eyes, and she slowly moved forward to grab Adrik on the leg. "Adrik, you can''t do this to me. You can''t." She said, behind tears, and turned to stare at Leia with teary eyes. "You are meant to be with me, not with this bitch. Adrik I have loved you for hundreds of years, and never once did I stop. Why can''t you love me back and be with me?"


    Adrik''s face altered in irritation, and he snatched his leg from her grip, then stepped back to stand beside Leia. "Learn to be more responsible." He said to Selena and motioned for his men to take her out.


    "Don''t you dare lay your filthy hands on me!" She glared dangerously at them and turned to Leia, who stood beside Adrik with folded arms. "You think you know who you''re living with-" She chuckled crazily and dusted her clothing "-I am sorry to disappoint you, but you''re living with a beast. Your sweet husband is a beast." She sneered and waited for Leia''s reaction, with a sassy look on her face.


    Leia fluttered her lashes and her face modified in irritation. Her disdain-filled eyes roamed Selena from head to toe, and she couldn''t help but shake her head. "I am sorry to disappoint you too, but that doesn''t matter one bit to me." She smirked and wrapped her arm around Adrik''s waist, then placed a soft kiss on his red lips.


    Adrik kissed her back and sat back on the sofa, then pulled Leia to sit on his lap.


    Selena''s eyes twitched uncontrollably in anger, and she tightly balled her fists to the point where her knuckles turned white. She nodded vigorously at them, and with a turn, she stormed out of the mansion.


    The minute she stepped out through the door, Leia, who was seated on Adrik''s laps, punched his chest and glared dangerously at him. "Who the fuck is she?" She breathed as she stared at Adrik with a face that told him if he said one wrong word, she would devour him.


    Adrik gazed at her face, which was red with fury, and he couldn''t restrain himself from chuckling softly. "Little wife." He grabbed her and moved close to kiss her lips, but Leia''s eyes, which narrowed viciously, made him change his mind and he coughed.


    "Who the hell is she?" Leia asked yet again, but this time, her voice sounded completely raged compared to before.


    Adrik slightly shook his head and pinched between his brows. He parted his lips to say something, but Leia abruptly got off of him and began to walk away, stomping with every step she took.


    His eyes fluttered in bewilderment, and he immediately stood up from the sofa to run after her when he saw her about to walk into the elevator. "Little wife." He appeared at the elevator in the blink of an eye and went in before the doors could close.


    Leia kept her face straight and uttered not a single word. She stuffed her hands into the pockets of her hoodie and twisted her mouth, clearly showing she was angry.


    Adrik took a deep breath and stood in front of her to have her look at him.


    "Get out of my sight." She said this in a chilly tone and raised her rage-filled eyes to stare at him.


    "Little wife." Adrik proceeded to talk, but she parted her lips to say something, and not having it again, he abruptly pushed her, leaving her back to press against the wall. "Will you just listen to me?"


    "Remember the Celaena I told you about, that sister of mine from when I was young? That''s her."


    "Things changed drastically after so many years, and she found her real parents, then changed her name too." He took a deep breath and pinched between his brows. "I told you, you are the only woman I will ever love in my entire life and the woman I will love to be with again in my next life. So there is no way I will ever have another woman in my life, okay."


    Leia lowered her head after hearing him and she bit her lower lip. She raised her gaze and took a low breath. "Carry me."


    "Huh?" Adrik fluttered his eyes and stared down at her. "You want me to carry you?"


    "Mhmm." Leia nodded her head, and in the next moment, Adrik lifted her from the floor, and she wrapped her legs around his waist and her hands around his neck.


    The door to the elevator opened, and he walked out with her in his arms, then began to amble to their room.. Leia held onto him tightly and rested her head on his shoulder.

 Chapter 93 - Reunited

    They had a peaceful sleep throughout the night and finally woke up when the sun showered its rays on them through the large glass window.


    Leia yawned and sat up on the bed. She rubbed her eyes and glanced around, only to see Adrik dressed up and ready to go out.


    Her eyes blinked in confusion, and she climbed down from the bed, then rushed to stand in front of him. "Isn''t it too early to leave for work?" Her face altered as she asked, and she folded her arms.


    Adrik chuckled and planted a soft kiss on her forehead. "Little wife, I have somewhere important to go. I will be back before six, okay." He leaned down and kissed her on the lips. "I have to go now." He pinched her cheeks and walked to the door, then opened it and shut it behind him.


    Leia took a deep breath and slumped down on the bed. She''s going to have to find something to do today.


    Without thinking much, she stood up and ambled into the bathroom. She brushed her teeth and took a nice shower, then wrapped herself in a towel and stepped out.


    She grabbed a white t-shirt and blue shorts from the hangers in the dressing room and slid into them. She covered her feet with white sneakers and walked out of the dressing room.


    She ambled to the table against the wall and took a seat. She picked up the comb to give her hair a nice combing, but her eyes glanced at the length through the mirror, and she couldn''t help but remember that day on the bridge where she had it cut short.


    Her face became expressionless and she grabbed the scissors from the table. She measured her hair and slowly began to cut it, so it would be the same length as it was that day.


    She fixed it up and perfected it with a little adjustment, using her hands.


    Leia stood up from the chair to dig into her food that was already placed on the mini table by the maids while she was showering, But her attention was suddenly drawn when her phone, which was on the bed, began to vibrate.


    She creased her brow and walked towards the bed to pick it up. Her eyes glanced at the screen, and she hurriedly unlocked it when she saw it was a call from Victor.


    She placed the phone at her ear and her heart raced within her. "Hey, Victor."


    [Leia, you are something else. You never even called me once after abruptly leaving that day] Victor said in a displeased tone.


    "I am sorry." Leia rolled her eyes as she said it and grabbed a donut from the tray to eat.


    [Mhmm. I called because I need you to come to the cafe again. I have good news.]


    "What''s the good news?" Leia asked, with pieces of donuts filling her mouth.


    [Are you eating?]


    "Can''t you tell?" She took another bite and drank some water to digest it.


    [Just come to the cafe, alright] With that being said, Victor hung up the call, and Leia dropped her phone beside her and smiled as her eyes gazed down at the snacks before her.


    She filled her belly and finally went downstairs to leave to meet Victor. She stepped out of the mansion through the entrance and her eyes fell on the Lamborghini instead of the Rolls Royce.


    ''Did he leave with it?'' Leia twisted her mouth and went back inside to get the key to the Lamborghini.


    She came down after a few minutes and unlocked the car door. She stepped into the driver''s seat and started the engine.


    With a careful reverse, she sped off the compound and onto the road. She rode at a fast pace and arrived at the cafe in thirty minutes.


    She packed the car alongside the road and stepped down. The moment she glanced at the cafe, her eyes spotted Victor, who was seated with his phone in his hand.


    She stuffed the car key into her pocket and ambled towards the cafe.


    She pulled out a chair the moment she got there and sat down.


    Victor raised his eyes and a smile formed on his lips as he stared at her face. "You cut your hair again." He chuckled at her and slightly shook his head.


    "So... What''s the good news? " Leia asked, with a lazy look on her face.


    Victor rolled his eyes at her sarcastic behavior and took a deep breath. "Well, I figured out a way in which we could successfully break into my father''s office and extract all the files from his computer."


    Leia''s eyes narrowed immediately, and she leaned in closer. "Please tell me."


    "Well, it''s not going to be easy, though, and we need help."


    "Help?" Leia fluttered her eyes in confusion and folded her arms. "What help?"


    "Well, turn around." Victor chuckled awkwardly, and Leia''s eyes narrowed in suspicion.


    She slowly turned her head, and the moment her eyes fell on someone, her face instantly darkened. "Kiesha."


    "Girl!" The young girl, who looked a bit older than her, walked up to her and patted her on the shoulder. She pulled out a chair from the table and sat down.


    Another person arrived, but this time it was a guy. He pulled out a chair and sat down.


    "James." Leia''s eyes fluttered and she gazed at her best friend, whom she hadn''t seen since God knows when. He was a nerd then, but now he looked completely different. His hair was long and tied up in a bun. He no longer wore glasses, and he looked really handsome.


    Well, they were four best friends, and right now they are all together, seated at the same table.


    "Did you miss me?" James asked and chuckled softly.


    Leia smiled and shook her head. "Well, I did miss you. I''m glad you''re back."


    "Um... don''t I get a welcome?" Kiesha asked, and Leia''s face puckered as she turned her head to glance at her. "Well, as you can see, you ain''t getting one."


    "Hey, both of you, stop it!" Victor''s face darkened, and he leisurely stared at the two girls. "Leia, whatever happened back then is already in the past, and besides, it was just a joke." He gazed intently at Leia. "You both have to put your differences aside. We are all best friends."


    "Humph." Leia scoffed and threw her face away.


    "Leia, just forget it. You know, she didn''t hesitate when I told her that you needed her help, and she willingly said she would help. " Victor raised his eyebrows and stared at Leia.


    Leia''s eyes fluttered, and she took a deep breath, then turned to face Kiesha. "I forgive you."


    "Well, that took you so long to say, but I am glad you aren''t mad at me anymore.." Kiesha patted her on the shoulder and chuckled softly.

 Chapter 94 - Who Doesnt Know

    "OK, everything is settled," Victor said as he clasped his hands together and drew closer. "Let''s get down to business."


    "Wait, wait, hold on." Keisha''s brows raised, and she stared at them as though staring at fools.


    "What is it?" Victor''s brow creased, and he turned his head to look at her.


    "Don''t tell me, y''all want us to discuss our plan here?" She blinked her lashes in disbelief. "Common, the walls have ears."


    Everyone fluttered their eyes in realization and slightly nodded their heads."She does have a point." James shrugged and turned to glance at Victor. "We should find a much more private place to talk."


    "Mhmm." Victor nodded his head and stood up from his chair. "Let''s head to my apartment."


    "I hope it''s clean." Kiesha blurted out and proceeded to stand up, but a knock from Victor abruptly landed on her head, and she raised her eyes to hatefully glare at him. "Victor! Why the fuck did you do that?"


    "I''m a grown man! What the hell do you mean by "I hope it''s clean"?" Victor''s displeased-filled eyes gazed at her, and he clicked his tongue.


    Kiesha''s lashes fluttered, and she parted her lips to say something, but not a single word came out.


    Leia and James, who stood on one side, sealed their lips as the urge to laugh overwhelmed them. ''Remember, best friends don''t laugh at each other.'' They nodded as they recalled their code and they friendly patted Kiesha on her shoulder.


    "Let''s go." James grabbed her by the hand and dragged her along with him.


    They walked towards the Lamborghini that Leia came in, and Kiesha''s eyes flickered in confusion as she saw Leia unlock the door. Her jaw fell, and she glanced at Victor, then at James, and back to Leia.


    "When did you buy a car and a cool one at that?"


    "Get in." Leia shook her head and stepped into the driver''s seat.


    "Wait, I need to-" Keisha tried to inquire for answers as she was confused, but was pushed into the car by James.


    "Just get in." James'' brows creased, and he also got in and shut the door.


    Leia started the car engine and slowly drove off down the road. She increased the speed of the car and sped off.


    It took them twenty minutes to arrive at a tall building, and Leia slowly drove into the compound and carefully parked the car.


    They all stepped down, shut the car door, and proceeded to enter the building.


    "It''s been quite a while since I came here," James said as his eyes darted around.


    "Me too," Kiesha said, nodding. She smiled and they all walked towards the elevator.


    It took them to the 2nd floor, and they stepped out when the door opened. Victor walked towards his apartment with them following behind.


    He stopped in front of the door of his apartment and swiped his card to unlock the door. "Come in." He waved his hand at them and stepped into the living room.


    Leia, who had already been there before, walked in and ambled to the sofa. She plopped down into it and crossed her legs.


    James and Kiesha slowly walked inside, and their eyes darted around, scrutinizing the living room. Keisha glanced at Victor as she proceeded to sit down and half smiled at him. Obviously, the apartment was to her taste.


    Victor shook his head at her and cleared his throat. He interlocked his hands and crossed his legs. "Alright, let me break down the plan for you all."


    "We need to be extremely careful as this is not going to be easy at all." They all nodded at him and relaxed on the sofa to listen to what he was about to say next.


    "First of all, we are going to knock out two nurses from the hospital. One is black, while the other is white. They are always at the hospital backyard during lunchtime to talk about girls'' things, so I think this one might be a bit easier."


    "Do you stalk them?" Kiesha blinked her eyes as she asked, and James abruptly slapped her on the back of her head. She angrily turned her head to glare at James. "What is your problem?"


    "Seal your mouth and let us hear the plan. Does it matter if he stalks them or not? " James clicked his tongue and folded his arms.


    Kiesha''s eyes glared at him, and she slightly nodded at him. "Just you wait. I will properly deal with you later." She smirked and turned her head to face Victor, who was staring directly at her with a lazy look on his face.


    "What? Why are you looking at me like that? " She asked and puckered her face in displeasure. It was just a question.


    Victor took a deep breath and proceeded to continue talking. "So, as I was saying, After we knocked both nurses out, Kiesha''s younger sister, who is a monster at makeovers, will give you and her a nice touch on the face to look a bit like the two nurses. " He glanced at Leia, then at Kiesha.


    "Then, since you are both pretty good at picking locks, you will head in first and get the doors open for us."


    "James, you will head in right after them, and disable all the CCTV cameras. Then rush to my father''s office and help them extract the files from my father''s computer. "


    "Roger that." James nodded his head with a smile on his lips.


    "What is your job then?" Leia, who was quiet all along, suddenly asked, and Victor''s eyes fluttered.


    "Well, I am in charge of distracting my father while you all proceed with the plan. Once anything is about to go wrong, I will let you guys know through this. " He handed small ultrasonic speakers to them and they examined them.


    "We will be connected through this, so no worries. Once there is any mishap, I will let you guys know." He smiled and clapped his hands together. "That''s all."


    Leia and the others nodded, satisfied with the plan, and stuffed their ultrasonic speakers into their pockets.


    "We are carrying out the plan next tomorrow, which is a Tuesday, so meet back here at 7 in the morning." They all nodded at Victor, and James abruptly stood up from the sofa.


    "Since we all lost contact, should we, um, exchange phone numbers?" He asked and glanced at each one of them.


    "He''s right, we should." Victor smiled and pulled out his phone from his pocket. They all exchanged contacts, and Leia stood up from the couch. "Well, I have to go now." She proceeded to leave, but Kiesha stopped her.


    "Hold on, you still haven''t told me when you bought that cool car of yours." Kiesha''s lips twisted, and she folded her arms.


    "My husband did." Leia took a low breath and turned around to face her.


    Kiesha''s face went blank upon hearing her words, and she couldn''t help but turn her head to glance at Victor and James. "She''s joking, right?"


    "Nope, she is married." Victor shrugged and chuckled softly.


    "What!" Kiesha blinked her eyes in disbelief and turned to stare at Leia. "Girl, when the hell did you get married? How come I don''t know?"


    "Two months ago." Leia smiled at her as she shrugged.


    "Damn! So who are you married to?" Kiesha sat back down on the sofa and raised her eyes to gaze at her.


    "Mr. Avalanzo," Victor answered before Leia could, and Kiesha''s brain instantly exploded. "Impossible." She stood up from the couch and stood in front of Leia. "Which Mr. Avalanzo?"


    "Is there any other Mr. Avalanzo?" Leia stared at her and asked with a raised brow.


    The moment Kiesha realized that she wasn''t joking, her body became motionless. A smile crept on her lips as she immediately remembered that day at the restaurant, where she met Mr. Avalanzo, who had never taken a woman on a date before. Haha...so Leia was the woman he wanted to take on a date.


    Kiesha couldn''t help but chuckle softly and turned to stare at Leia, who was gazing at her with a bewildered expression on her face.


    "I didn''t know that you were the one he was going to take on a date." Kiesha shook her head in disbelief and patted Leia on the shoulder. "Your husband is something else."


    Leia''s brow creased, and she narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean? Have you met him before?"


    "Yes." Keisha nodded and plopped down on the sofa. "It was one night, and I was drinking at a bar in that newly opened restaurant. It hadn''t even been up to twenty minutes when he abruptly walked in and took a seat beside me at the counter."


    "At first, I thought it wasn''t him, but when I looked again, I realized it was him. I said nothing and just sipped on my drink. However, I suddenly noticed him drinking bottles after bottles of alcohol and I kind of felt weird."


    "Not just that, he was murmuring to himself and saying things I don''t even understand. I felt uncomfortable by his weird behavior and I asked him why he was acting like a creep. He laughed at me, as though he was finding it hard to believe I was talking to him."


    "I asked him yet again, and instead of answering, he abruptly asked me if women find dates romantic. "


    Hearing this last part, Victor and James couldn''t help but burst into laughter.. "Who doesn''t know that it''s romantic?" James, who couldn''t contain his laughter, bent down while clutching his belly.

 Chapter 95 - Ileus

    "That''s exactly what I said." Kiesha chuckled and cleared her throat. "But then I realized that he was dead serious. I swear I was stunned for a whole two minutes, just staring at him."


    "Well, guessing he had never taken a woman on a date before, I told him it was very romantic and that any woman would love it. He asked me my name, and after I told him, we said goodbye to each other and he left. "


    "I didn''t know that it was our best friend that he was taking on a date." Keisha chuckled and turned her head to stare at Leia. "Was the date nice?"


    "Nice?" Victor''s jaw fell at Kiesha''s question, and he shook his head in disbelief. "Do you even watch TV or use the internet?"


    "Well, not recently." Kiesha shook her head as she shrugged.


    "I see." Victor nodded and pulled his phone out of his pocket. He unlocked it and browsed through the internet, then handed the phone to Kiesha. "Look."


    Kiesha received the phone and started staring at the screen to watch the video that Victor searched out.


    "This was how the date went." Victor wiggled his brow funnily and patted Kiesha on the back when he saw her jaw falling with her eyes dilated like a saucer.


    "Oh my God." Kiesha shook her head and smiled happily. She raised her head to look at Leia and abruptly stood up from the sofa to tightly hug her.


    Leia, who was stunned by the sudden hug, fluttered her eyes as her body stood motionless. "I am so glad you are no longer living with those horrible people who call themselves family." Kiesha chuckled and stroked her on the back.


    Feeling warm in her heart, Leia embraced her back and took a low breath.


    "Awww." James and Victor both said at the same time, and they exchanged glances. James patted Victor on the shoulder and gazed at Leia and Kiesha. "Men, I am glad we are all back together."


    "Yep." Victor nodded in agreement and took a low breath.


    Keisha drew back from the hug, and a deep sigh left her lips. "I can''t wait for my dream man to come to me too." She cupped her hands together and walked back to the sofa to sit down.


    James, who stood beside Victor, creased his brow at her words and abruptly cleared his throat.


    "Now that I remember, what about Shawn? What''s going to happen when he comes back?" Kiesha turned her head to gaze at Leia as she asked.


    Leia''s eyes fluttered, and she shrugged. "If he already has someone else in his life, that will be awesome, but if he doesn''t, he will have to move on when he comes back. I love my man and will never leave him for anyone, no matter who it is."


    Everyone took a low breath and slightly nodded their heads. "We will always be here for you, alright," James said with a smile on his lips, and Leia smiled back at him, then glanced at each of them. "I have to go now. Meet you guys on Tuesday." She said and waved goodbye at them before walking out of the apartment.


    She boarded her car, drove out of the compound, then sped off down the road.


    She arrived home in one hour and hurriedly went up to their room. When she got inside, she realized that Adrik was yet to come home, as there were still hours left before six.


    Leia took deep breaths and plopped into the bed, gazing up at the ceiling with a distant look on her face.


    _________


    Seated on the sofa in his estate, a deep frown emerged on Adrik''s face, and he threw away the phone tablet in his hand, smashing it against the wall.


    Alex, who stood beside him, was startled and swallowed hard.


    "Get the car ready. Let us pay him a nice visit. It''s been a while." A smirk formed on Adrik''s face behind the mask, and he stood up from the sofa.


    He shoved his hands into the pockets of his long black jacket and proceeded to walk towards the entrance.


    He walked out of the mansion and towards the Rolls Royce parked in the compound''s parking lot.


    Alex opened the back door for him, and he stepped in with an expressionless face.


    Taking his seat in the driver''s seat, Alex started the car''s engine and rode out of the compound and onto the road. He raised the speed of the car, per Adrik''s order, and sped off.


    They rode for three hours before arriving in front of a tall mansion that was painted a gray color. On each side of the black gate were beautiful flowers neatly cut into a nice and unique shape.


    A butler walked out of the mansion as though expecting them, and ordered some men dressed in black suits to open the gate.


    Alex carefully drove into the compound and parked the car in the parking lot. He stepped down and walked over to open the door for Adrik.


    Adrik smiled dangerously behind his mask and elegantly stepped down from the car.


    He shoved his hands into his pocket and raised his eyes to glance at the butler and the mansion. He motioned for Alex to follow behind him, and they began to stroll into the building.


    The tall red door at the staircase opened and they stepped into the mansion.


    The first thing that came into view was an elegant living room that resembled that of a palace. Its color was white, while the pillars were gold-colored. The sofas were also white, and the curtains hanging from the tall glass window were golden in color.


    Above the ceiling was a tall diamond chandelier emitting a radiant yellow light, bestowing more beauty on the already beautiful compartment.


    Adrik brushed back his hair that fell over his face with his fingers and walked to the sofa to sit down.


    Alex took a seat beside him on the couch, and Adrik relaxed, waiting for whoever he was waiting for.


    It didn''t take four minutes when a young man with completely white hair that stopped at shoulder length began to walk down the stairs with another man that Alex knew too well following behind. ''Nirmolak!'' Alex''s hands clenched tightly as he said that name in his heart.


    The white-haired young man walked over and took a seat on the sofa opposite Adrik, who sat with no expression on his face. His plump red lips curled up into a grin, and his sword-shaped eyes narrowed a bit. His gray pupils gazed at Adrik, and Adrik smirked behind the mask on his face.


    "Dear brother, it''s been so long. Hmmm, I wonder why you visited me today. Do you perhaps miss me?" He chuckled softly, and Adrik lazily stared at him.


    "Still haven''t broken the curse." He laughed and tsked while shaking his head. "Pitiful."


    Adrik smiled behind his mask and chuckled softly. "Ileus, you do know why I''m here, no?"


    Ileus'' face, which was bright with a smile, instantly darkened, and he maliciously gazed at Adrik. "Of course, I do. What can you do about it?"


    Adrik chuckled yet again at his question and took a deep breath. "Nothing, absolutely nothing. However, do keep in mind that only the brave play with fire."


    "Hahaha!!!" Ileus chuckled crazily and shook his head at Adrik. He abruptly stood up from the sofa and walked to Adrik. He bent down so his face was close to Adriks''s and stared deeply into his green eyes. "Brother, remember what I told you a hundred years ago. One day, what you took from me, I will take back, and I will make you bow before me. "


    He moved his hand to take the mask off Adrik''s face, but Adrik immediately caught his wrist and gazed at him with a threat apparent in his green eyes. "And yet, you have fulfilled none." He chuckled and pushed Ileus aside, then stood up from the couch and turned to stare at him.


    "You don''t know what you''re engaging in. I do hope you''re ready to finish what you''re starting." He said it leisurely and tucked a strand of his hair behind his ear.


    Ileus'' breathing became heavy, and he abruptly grabbed Adrik by the arm and stared deep into his eyes.


    Adrik''s leisurely eyes gazed at him, and he snatched his arm from his grip. "Take care of yourself, brother. You need it." He said and, with a turn, he proceeded to leave, but a sentence from Ileus made him stop on his track.


    "Your mate is truly quite a beautiful, tough girl."


    Adrik turned around only to see him smirking with his arms folded. His eyes narrowed and he balled his fist that was within the pocket of his jacket. "Indeed, she is." He grinned behind the mask on his face and chuckled softly.


    "Let''s go." He motioned for Alex to follow behind him, and they exited the building, leaving Ileus and Nirmolak staring at the entrance with an expressionless face.


    Ileus smirked and said to Nirmolak, who stood beside him, "Start the job tomorrow." He took a deep breath, and his eyes narrowed into a thin line. ''Brother, I will let you know how it feels to have what truly belongs to you taken away. '' He thought within his heart and turned around and began to walk back up the stairs.


    ********


    Besties, support with golden tickets too, pweaseeeeee

 Chapter 96 - Best Friends

    The moment Adrik stepped out of the mansion, he halted and took a deep breath. "Tighten the security around Leia. If anything happens to her... " He turned his head to stare at Alex, and a deadly glint flashed in his eyes. Without bothering to elaborate further, he proceeded to walk towards the car.


    Alex swallowed hard, and a deep breath escaped his nose. He hurried to the car and opened the door for him.


    Adrik stepped in and relaxed in the chair. He shut his eyes and exhaled deeply. An image of a girl appeared in his mind, and a smile crept onto his lips behind the mask. "Little wife." He whispered to himself, a sigh of relief leaving his mouth.


    Alex, who had taken his seat in the driver''s chair, started the car''s engine and drove them out of the compound and onto the road.


    It took them a maximum of 4 hours to arrive back at the mansion. From his estate, it only takes three hours, but from the mansion, it takes up to four or five hours.


    Parking the car in the parking lot, Alex got down from the car and opened the door for Adrik.


    Adrik stepped down and a deep breath exited his nose. He stuffed his hands into the pockets of his pants and began to stroll into the mansion.


    He walked to the elevator, which took him up to the second floor, and he stepped out when the door opened. He strolled to their room and pushed the door open.


    His body instantly stilled as the first thing his eyes fell on was Leia, who was draped in blue pyjamas and had Airpods plugged into her ears. She was moving from left to right, twisting her body in different ways in the form of dancing with her eyes tightly shut.


    His eyes fluttered in surprise, and he stood there staring at her with a smile creeping up his lips behind the mask latched onto his face.


    Leia''s head bobbed in rhythm to the music she was listening to and she swirled around. However, as though catching a glimpse of someone standing by the door, she hurriedly stopped and turned to stare at Adrik, who was watching her. It would be a lie if she said she didn''t notice he was smiling.


    Her eyes blinked as her face turned awkward. She coughed, and her lips slowly curled up in an awkward half-smile. "Ahh. You''re back. I thought you were going to come back by six." She said and immediately unplugged the Airpods from her ears.


    Adrik slightly shook his head and walked to her. He cupped her cheeks with his hands and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "Little wife." He drew back to stare at her face, and his brow creased a bit when his eyes trailed to her hair.


    "Did you cut your hair again?" He asked and gazed intently at her.


    Leia''s lashes blinked vigorously, and she folded her arms. "You don''t like it?" Her face puckered and she clicked her tongue in a bit of displeasure. "But you said, It was beautiful before and that you liked it."


    She turned around and strolled to the bed to sit down.


    Adrik chuckled softly and ambled to sit down beside her on the bed. He patted her on the head and turned her face so he could place a soft kiss on her lips. "Little wife, I do love it this way. I was just surprised that you cut it again. I mean, I thought you would leave it after it grew longer. "


    Leia took a deep breath and unfolded her arms. "I do like it long, but I prefer it short." A smile formed on her lips, and she laid down, leaving her back to press against the bed.


    "Well, let me take a shower." Adrik smiled at her and stood up from the bed. He walked to the bathroom and stepped in, then shut the door behind him.


    Leia sat up on the bed and her gaze became distant. Should she let Adrik know about Shawn? I mean, she''d be lying if she said she didn''t wish Shawn would never return and stay wherever he is, marry, and start his own family.


    She could have taken his number from Victor, but she was skeptical about it. What would she tell him? How would they even converse? It''s been so long, and it''s no longer the same as before. Things have changed.


    Hopefully, if ever he returns, he''ll return with a wife and kids, so there won''t be any problems. A deep sigh left her mouth, and she was startled when she heard Adrik''s voice echo in her head.


    "Little wife, what are you thinking about?" She turned around to see Adrik dressed up in a white robe, with his hair messily tied up in a bun.


    She shook her head at him and took a low breath. "It''s nothing, just a bit lost." She smiled at him and dragged him down to lie on the bed.


    She laid down too, and wrapped her leg around his waist, then kept her hand on his chest.


    "Adrik, can I ask you something?" She asked, and he nodded his head at her.


    "Do you, by any chance, know a brown-skinned girl by the name of Kiesha?" She raised her head, supporting it with her other hand, and stared at his face.


    Adrik''s brow creased a bit in thought, and he slowly nodded his head. "Yes, I did meet one by that name last week, before I took you on a date." He raised his brow and turned his head to look at Leia. "Why do you ask?"


    "Well, she''s my best friend... and my classmate in high school." Leia shrugged, and a half-smile formed on her lips.


    Adrik stared at her for a moment, and his eyes fluttered in disbelief. "Your best friend?"


    "Yes, my best friend.." Leia nodded at him and laid back on the bed, leaving her back to rest on the bed.

 Chapter 97 - Buried

    "She told me about your encounter with her in the restaurant. She was surprised to find out I was the one, you were taking a date." Leia chuckled softly and took a low breath.


    Adrik slowly nodded his head and fluttered his eyes in realization. "No wonder you both have almost the same attitude and character."


    "What do you mean?" Leia''s face puckered a bit, and she turned her head to stare at him.


    "You are both very sarcastic." Adrik shrugged and glanced at her, only to see her face alter in disagreement.


    "I am not sarcastic."


    "Yes, you are."


    "Well... I don''t care. " She rolled her eyes at him and laid back on the bed. Her mouth twisted and she scoffed.


    Adrik chuckled at her and caressed her cheek. "That''s another thing I like about you, little wife; you''re sarcastic when it''s needed, not unnecessarily sarcastic." He kissed her on the forehead and laid back on the bed.


    Leia''s face, which was a bit frowned, changed, and a smile formed on her lips. She turned around and raised her head, supporting it with her other hand. "Tell me something. Am I really the first woman you have ever taken on a date? " She stared at him with anticipation in her large eyes.


    Adrik abruptly cleared his throat at hearing her question and darted his eyes around.


    Leia''s brow crinkled a bit at his behavior, and she grabbed his chin, then turned his head to make him look at her. "Why are you avoiding the question? Just tell me okay." She smiled at him and brushed his hair back with her palm.


    Adrik clicked his tongue and chuckled softly. "Well... you''re indeed the first woman I''ve ever taken on a date." He said, and before he could anticipate what would happen next, Leia unexpectedly sat up and sat on his belly, staring at him with glowing eyes. "Really?"


    "Um... yes." Adrik gazed intently at her as he couldn''t understand why her eyes were gleaming as though they were one of a little girl that candy was given to.


    "You..." She flicked her finger on his forehead and laid her head on his chest. "I feel special to know that I am the first woman you took on a date." She smiled and drew circles on his chest with her finger.


    "Mhmm, I see... well, that''s a surprise." Adrik chuckled and stroked her back.


    "Adrik..." She whispered his name.


    "Mhmm," Adrik answered her, and she raised her head to stare at his face. "Can I... use the SUV on Tuesday?" She asked, and Adrik halted, stroking her on the back.


    "Are you going somewhere, little wife?" He curiously asked as he sat on the bed, leaving her to sit on his lap.


    "Mhmm." Leia nodded and gazed at him with pleading eyes.


    "Um... sure, but you know you didn''t need to ask me if you wanted to use it. Whatever mine is yours. " He said, and Leia immediately jumped on him and wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. "Thank you, thank you." She tightened the hug, and Adrik chuckled, then drew her back.


    He gazed at her face and reached out his hand to scratch her hair. "You look adorable at this moment." He said, and Leia''s cheek turned red.


    Adrik reached his hand down to her lips and stroked her lower lips with his thumb. Leia''s heart instantly raced within her, and she gazed into his eyes.


    Adrik cupped her cheek and leaned in to brush his lips against her. Leia''s body shuddered as she watched his plump red lips, ready to claim hers.


    Her eyes slowly shut as his lips covered her, claiming as the owner. He kissed her passionately, and Leia parted her lips as she felt him ask for entrance.


    Their tongues danced together, and his hand traveled down to her body, slipping under her top and grabbing her exposed breast.


    Leia moaned against his lips as he rolled her nipples, which became erect between his fingers. He pinched on it and pressed hard on her breast.


    Leia tangled her fingers in his hair, and he slowly took the top of her pyjamas off, exposing her upper body.


    His eyes roamed over her body, and he greedily claimed her breast, pressing the other with his right hand.


    Leia threw her head back as pleasure overwhelmed her and her grip on his hair tightened, unbinding his banded hair.


    "Adrik..." She moaned his name, and Adrik slowly laid her down on the bed, leaving himself on top of her.


    He leaned down and kissed every part of her body and took her back to the world of pleasure.


    _________


    The next day arrived, and heavy rain poured uncontrollably, leaving everyone in a boring mood.


    In the backyard of a white-colored mansion, people dressed in black clothing with umbrellas over their heads surrounded a young girl whose eyes were swollen from too much crying.


    She was also clad in black with an umbrella over her head. Her teary eyes watched the priest who prayed over a woman''s corpse lying inside a well-decorated coffin. The woman was draped in white long clothing and flowers were laid on top of her.


    This woman was the one and only Lady Cathryn, who was known as one of the top five richest people in the world. Today she is finally being buried.


    Amanda''s heart squeezed within her as she couldn''t help but remember the day she woke up only to see the corpse of her mother lying in their living room. What broke her heart the most was that she was wrapped up in a bag like a worthless, homeless human being.


    Who was her mother? The only woman who managed to fight against men and bit through life to make it to become one of the richest people in the world.


    Her hand balled into a fist and her eyes narrowed dangerously.


    She didn''t need to do any investigation as she already knew who was behind the death of her mother.


    She could remember that fateful day after the incident that happened at the party. She had been crying and refusing to come out of her room as she was too embarrassed. Yes, the video was restricted from being uploaded to the internet by anyone, but does that mean that some maniacally stupid reporters wouldn''t go against the order?


    They had uploaded the images, and some lucky ones got a glimpse before the post was deleted and the reporters were handled by the police. Those who got a peek of it had it uploaded again, and what they wrote as the headline broke her more.


    Her mother, who knew it was useless to chase everyone around, trying to stop them from uploading the video and images, gave up and came to her room to talk to her.


    ...


    "Amanda, you can''t continue to lock yourself in the room every day. It''s just a video and gossip that people will forget in a few days." Lady Cathryn kissed her daughter on the forehead and caressed her cheek.


    "But mum, she embarrassed me! She slapped me in front of everyone and no one reacted, not even you. " Amanda slapped her mother''s hand away and stood up from the bed to gaze out the window.


    Lady Cathryn took a deep breath and also stood up from the bed to stand beside her. "Ama... I am your mother, and I promise you that I will never let whoever hurts you live to see the daylight. " She caressed Amanda''s hair, and Amanda turned to look at her. "What do you mean?"


    "I mean, I''d do anything you want me to do to her as long as it makes you happy and brings you back to normal." Lady Cathryn smiled and stared intently at her daughter, awaiting her response.


    Amanda bit her lower lip and the scenes of what happened that day at the party flashed in her mind. Her face puckered and a malicious glint flickered in her eyes. "I want her dead." She grinned viciously and turned her head to stare at her mother. "Only then will I be happy and back to normal."


    Lady Catherine''s eyes fluttered, and she took a deep breath. "Anything for you?" She brushed her arms and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "Now relax. Mother will get the job done." She smiled and brushed Amanda''s hair.


    Amanda nodded and embraced her tightly. "I love you, Mum. You''re the best mother in the whole world. "


    Lady Cathryn nodded at her and hugged her back. "I love you too."


    ..


    After that day, her mother had begun to plan out how to kill Leia and finally got the chance.


    She had felt really unwell that day and asked her mother to stay back, but her mother insisted that that was the only chance they had to get revenge. And as someone who really wanted to see the bitch dead, let her mother go.


    However, what she didn''t expect was that she would wake up the next few days only to see her mother''s corpse lying on the floor in their living room.

 Chapter 98 - Park

    Thinking that was all, she came to realize that her body was full of scars as if whipped severely. The wounds were so deep that even though she knew that her mother was whipped, she still found it hard to believe that it was just a whipping.


    A deep breath escaped her nose, and her hands balled into a tight fist. She gazed directly at her mother''s coffin, and a dangerous glint flashed in her eyes. Even if it costs her her life, she will make the damned bitch pay.


    Her lips curled into a grin, and she turned around, pushing the close relatives surrounding her away. She stomped on every step she took and walked into the mansion.


    _____


    Walking down the stairs, Leia had her arms interlocked with Adrik''s arm. They were both dressed casually today. Adrik was clad in a white, skin-textured jacket and a white top, and blue sweatpants. His hair was neatly packed up into a ponytail while leaving a few strands falling over his face.


    Leia, as usual, wore her normal blue jean shorts and white shirt, then covered her feet with white sneakers. Her short hair was combed neatly.


    A low breath left her nose as they arrived at the entrance, and a smile emerged on her lips. She glanced at Adrik and just as they were about to step down the staircase.


    Leia''s body instantly stilled and her eyes dilated as she darted her gazes around. At that moment, when they were about to step down the staircase, something like a man''s shadow had whisked with extraordinary speed in front of her to the point she couldn''t even glimpse who it was, nor how he looked.


    Adrik, who saw how motionless she stood and her dilated eyes, nudged her on the shoulder with concern written all over his face. "Little wife, is everything alright?" He asked and turned her head so she could look at him.


    "Did you notice that?" Leia asked, with anticipation in her eyes. Sure, she can''t be the only one that saw this. Definitely, Adrik must have noticed and seen something.


    "Notice what?" Adrik''s brow creased in bewilderment, and he gazed at her with confusion written all over his face.


    "You''re not serious, are you?" Leia''s face became awkward, and she turned her head to glance in front of her. "Adrik, someone ran past us a moment ago. How can you tell me you didn''t notice?" Her face altered in disbelief, and she stared intently at Adrik.


    Adrik''s face turned awkward and he parted his lips to say something, but not a word came out. What is his little wife talking about? Why is she suddenly acting strange?


    He pinched between his brows when he saw her eyes fluttering as though she was getting a bit mad, and he took a deep breath.


    He pulled her closer to him and embraced her. He caressed her hair and kissed her softly. "Okay, little wife, take your mind off it. We can''t let anything ruin today." He scratched her hair, but she slapped his hand away. "You''re messing up my hair." She scoffed and ambled to the car, leaving Adrik, who had an awkward expression on his face.


    Adrik chuckled softly behind the mask he wore and shrugged as he walked to the car.


    Leia sat beside him in the front seat and he started the car engine, then drove out of the compound and onto the road.


    Her head rested on the car window, and she gazed out to the sky as though thinking of something.


    Adrik glanced at her and his face couldn''t help but change in worry. He reached out his hand and grabbed hers, placing it on his lap. "Little wife..."


    "Adrik, I know what I saw." She raised her head and turned to gaze at him. "I don''t understand why you didn''t see it, but I saw it. It was a man''s shadow, although I couldn''t glimpse his looks or anything." She breathed heavily, as though disappointed that Adrik wasn''t believing her.


    "You know what, never mind." She shook her head and proceeded to snatch her hand from his grip, but Adrik held tightly onto her hand and kept his face straight as he drove.


    Leia''s brow creased and she tried to yank her hand, but Adrik held onto it, not letting go. "Let me-"


    "I won''t. Just sit there and let me hold your hand. I love you." He said it without sparing her a glance. Leia''s eyes blinked, and she bit her lower lip. She took a low breath and relaxed back in the chair, letting him hold onto her hand.


    They rode for an hour before arriving at a park with people doing different activities in it. Couples, kids walking their dogs, and flying kites were everywhere.


    Leia immediately sat up when she saw where they were, and she turned her head to look at Adrik with glowing eyes. "A park!!." She suppressed her excitement and immediately pushed the door open.


    Adrik chuckled at her behavior, and he couldn''t help but wonder if she had a fun childhood. I mean, these kinds of things make her excited and delighted, as though she had never experienced them before. He will make sure to ask her about her childhood. He feels as though there are things he should know of.


    He pushed the door open and also stepped down. Then walked over to her and smiled as he stared at her face, which was glowing with excitement.


    "Fuck, I have always wanted to come to a park." Leia''s eyes gleamed in enthusiasm and she smiled widely.


    "Huh, you''ve never been to a park before?" Adrik''s brow furrowed in disbelief, and he couldn''t help but ask.


    "It''s not that, just that... It''s a long story. Anyways, I am so excited to be here." She cupped her hands together and darted her eyes around, admiring the beauty of the surrounding area.


    Adrik gazed at her for a while and slightly nodded. "Okay, let''s go then." He stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jacket and began to walk forward. However, he abruptly halted when he noticed that Leia wasn''t following behind him.


    He turned around only to see her standing with her arms folded and staring at him with a bit of displeasure on her face.


    Adrik''s eyes blinked in confusion, and he innocently spread his hand, asking her what was wrong.


    "Piggyback me," Leia said with no expression on her face, and Adrik dilated his eyes in surprise. "You... want me to piggyback you?" He asked, with disbelief apparent in his tone, and Leia nodded at him.


    "I see..." He nodded and shrugged as he walked back to her and turned to have his back facing her. "Hop on." He chuckled and bent down a bit.


    Leia smiled and climbed onto his back, wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck.


    Adrik held onto her legs and began to walk towards the park.


    "You have become quite heavy." He said, and the next thing that occurred to him was a painful knock on the head.


    "Who is heavy? How am I heavy? You''re just weak, period." She mumbled and tugged on his hair, causing Adrik to pinch her thigh. "If you do that again, I will pinch you." He warned as an ouch left Leia''s lips. "You''re not the only one who can do shits to people." He said and chuckled at her.


    Leia''s eyes narrowed, and she slightly nodded her head. "Alright then." She grinned viciously and laid her head on his back.


    Adrik laughed softly, and a low breath left his nose. "So, little wife, anything you want to do?" He asked her, and Leia nodded. "Mhmm, first off, I want cotton candy, then we watch the fish in the pond. Also, we will sit on that bench and just watch the fine sky. " She said and pointed at a bench in a certain direction.


    "Haha... Okay." He nodded at her and proceeded to stroll towards a man selling cotton candy.


    He arrived there and asked Leia to come down, but she shook her head in disapproval. "Just buy the cotton candies." She clicked her tongue and rested her head on his back.


    Adrik slightly shook his head and turned to the salesman, "A cotton candy please." The seller nodded at him and proceeded to make one.


    Leia''s face puckered, and she tugged harshly on his hair. "Why one cotton candy?"


    "I don''t like sweet things that much." He answered and pinched her thigh. "Didn''t I tell you not to tug at my hair?" He pinched her yet again on her thigh, and as though the pain touched her bones, She abruptly slapped his head. "That is painful!" A deep breath escaped her nose and her eyes fluttered in pain.


    Adrik chuckled and caressed the back of his head. "What a painful hit." He took a deep breath and received the cotton candy that the salesman was giving him. He paid the salesman and they moved towards the pond, where many others were standing watching the fish that were swimming about.


    Leia got down from his bank with the cotton candy in her hand and interlocked her fingers with his.


    They walked closer to the pond, and the minute the people standing there noticed and glimpsed them, they turned around with their eyes dilated in surprise.


    Adrik and Leia paid no attention to them and just watched the pond.. People really are weird. Why are they so surprised to see them at a park? I mean, aren''t they individuals who came to the park just like them?

 Chapter 99 - Strange

    They glanced at each other and chuckled, as they felt amused by it. Leia bit into the cotton candy in her hand, and a low breath escaped her nose.


    This was so delightful for her. For once in her life, she is having a peaceful day outside, with no worries that something bad might occur. Just the fresh breeze blowing on her and fluttering her hair.


    She turned her head to look at Adrik and wrapped her arm around his waist. Then she gazed into the pond, watching the fish swimming about.


    From a distance away, a woman stood with her hands balled into fists. The wind blew vigorously on her fiery red hair, causing it to flutter about.


    Her red lips trembled as though she was resisting herself from breaking into tears. Her eyes fluttered as her lashes became wet, and she immediately turned around, averting her gaze from the couple watching the pond.


    Could she really never get the chance to be with Adrik? Will he never love her, just like she does? Is he really going to choose that bitch over her? Her heart tightened within her and she was startled when she felt someone''s presence behind her.


    She immediately turned around only to see a young man who had white hair that stopped at shoulder length staring at her with a smirk on his lips. Her face darkened and she rolled her eyes at him. "What do you want, Ileus?"


    "Selena..." Ileus chuckled and tsked as he shook his head. "Do you love him so much that you''re allowing those precious tears to fall from your pretty eyes?" He said this as he moved around her, using his pinky to wipe off the drop of tears on the edge of her eyes.


    "Leave me alone!" She slapped his hand away and proceeded to walk away, but Ileus grabbed her by the arm and turned her around, so she could gaze at the couple from a distance away. "Look at them! See the happiness in their eyes and smiles! Do you think you have a chance? " He whispered into her ears, and Selena''s body trembled.


    Her balled fist tightened and her lashes quivered violently as she stared at the couple. Her eyes slowly changed from their gray color to violet, and her nails unexpectedly elongated, piercing into her palm and causing drops of blood to drip from her palm.


    Her breathing became heavy, and knowing that her wolf was about to let loose, she immediately turned around and proceeded to run, pushing Ileus, who was beside her, away.


    She fled at a fast speed, exciting the area and running away to somewhere unknown.


    Ileus'' lips curled into a vicious grin as he stood staring at her disappearing back. "Well, that was too easy." He chuckled, and a dangerous glint flickered in his eyes.


    He turned around and glanced at the couple, but his body instantly shuddered when his eyes were unexpectedly met with an emerald one.


    He darted his gaze around and awkwardly turned around, fleeing from the park in the blink of an eye.


    Adrik, who had his arm wrapped around Leia''s waist, gazed intently at the spot where Ileus stood, and he turned his head to glance at Leia. "Little wife, wait here for a moment. I will be back in a minute." Without waiting for Leia''s response, he immediately sprinted off, disappearing.


    Leia''s eyes blinked in confusion, and she gazed in the direction in which he went.


    Her brow creased in bewilderment, and she shrugged, returning her stare to the pond.


    She bent down and peered at the fish that were swimming about. She gazed at them for a while, and when she proceeded to stand up, she suddenly noticed the water changing to a different color.


    She shook her head and rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn''t imagining things.


    Her eyes narrowed into a thin line, and she intently peered into the water, trying to understand what she was seeing.


    The water began to move in a circle, turning into a vortex. Leia''s eyes twitched in pain, and she felt lightheaded. Images of creatures that she couldn''t quite understand began to emerge within the whirlpool, and her body abruptly shuddered.


    As if hypnotized, she embarked to move forward, stretching out her hand to place it in the water. Without knowing it, her pitch-black eyes unexpectedly began to change from the black color to that of blue.


    The minute her hand touched the water, she felt something grab her wrist harshly and proceed to pull her into the vortex. A loud yell escaped her mouth as she suddenly snapped back to herself and realized she was about to fall into the water.


    A pair of hands immediately grabbed her by the waist and forcefully pulled her back, causing her to fall to the floor.


    She hurriedly sat up on the ground and hastily began to crawl back, creating a distance from the pond.


    She breathed heavily and raised her eyes to glimpse the person that yanked her back, and her stares fell on Adrik, who stood motionless with his eyes gazing into the unknown.


    "A-adrik." She called his name, but he didn''t answer. Rather, his hands, which were on either side of his body, clenched into fists.


    "Adrik." Leia precipitously stood up from the ground and rushed to him. She stood in front of him and cupped his cheeks with her hands. "Adrik, is something wrong?" She asked with worry apparent in her tone, and Adrik''s eyes fluttered as though snapping back to reality.


    He gazed down at her and immediately began to examine her. "Are you okay? What happened to you there? " He asked, and Leia parted her lips to say something, but her body trembled violently and she started to look around.


    The people at the park and those beside them were just going about their business. It was as though they didn''t notice whatever happened to her. Her yell, Adrik pulling her back and she crawling backward in fear, None of them noticed that.


    She slightly shook her head and turned to stare at Adrik. "It''s impossible. There is no way they didn''t see any of that." Her eyes flickered and she gazed at Adrik with disbelief evident on her face.


    Adrik parted his lips to say something but shut his mouth as though having a change of mind. He abruptly grabbed her wrist, then turned around and commenced walking back to the car while dragging her along with him.


    "Adrik, what is going on?" She asked as she found Adrik''s behavior strange, but just like before, he answered not and continued to haul her along with him.


    He pulled the car door open and had her step in, shutting the door afterward, then he walked over and took his seat in the driver''s chair.


    Leia watched as he started the car engine and sped off into the road at a high speed.


    He reached out his hand and grabbed her hand, holding onto it, and making her more confused. He increased the speed of the car as he drove, resulting in them arriving at the mansion in thirty minutes instead of an hour.


    Leia stepped down from the car at the same time he did, and he grabbed her wrist, dragging her along with him as he sauntered into the mansion.


    The elevator took them to the second floor, and he stepped out, with her behind him, when the door opened.


    They made their way to their room, and Adrik shut the door the minute they stepped in.

 Chapter 100 - Dreams

    Leia turned to face him and stared at him with a questioning expression on her face. "Adrik, what is going on?" Her eyes fluttered, and she proceeded to walk to him, but Adrik pushed her back and made her sit down on the edge of the bed.


    He then squatted down to her level and gazed into her eyes. "Little wife, can you explain to me exactly what you saw in that pond? What got you so hypnotized? " An expectant expression became apparent on his face, and he patiently waited for her to say something.


    Leia''s eyes flickered and her gaze darted around as if she was trying to recall something. She clutched her hair and lowered her head, her eyes tightly shut.


    Adrik''s brow creased deeply, and he grabbed her hand, then lifted her chin to have her look at him. "Little wife-"


    "Adrik... I-I can''t remember anything." She said this with a blank look on her face, and her eyes blinked in confusion. "I really don''t remember anything! I just don''t understand!" She lowered her head as the urge to scream overwhelmed her.


    Adrik took a deep breath and stood up, tossing his mask away. He sat on the bed beside her and pulled her into his warm embrace. "It''s okay, nothing is wrong." He kissed her on the forehead and gently tucked her hair behind her ear.


    Leia gazed at him and unexpectedly hugged him tightly, burying her face in his chest. "I love you." She said, and Adrik patted her on the back and stroked her hair. "I love you too."


    "What do you say about a nice warm shower?" He drew back from the embrace and stared at her face. "I would love to give you a bath." He smiled and pinched her cheek.


    "Okay." Leia nodded, and he lifted her from the bed and carried her to the bathroom in bridal style.


    He filled the bathtub with water and helped her undress, then laid her in the tub. He also did the same, and they had a nice warm bath together.


    He wrapped her up in a towel and covered himself in a white robe, as usual.


    Adrik led her to the bed and had her sit down. Then he walked into the dressing room and grabbed a pair of purple pyjamas, and returned to help her dress up.


    Completely clothed, Leia took a low breath and cupped his cheek with her hands, then planted a soft kiss on his lips. "You''re the best thing that ever happened to me. Honestly, I am glad I was sold to you in the first place." She chuckled softly and flicked her finger at his forehead. "Let''s go to sleep."


    She stood up from the edge of the bed and climbed in to lie down. Adrik took a deep breath and walked over to lie down beside her.


    The time ticked slowly by, and they gradually fell asleep while holding onto each other tightly.


    _____


    Walking alongside the road, Selena staggered from left to right, showing how much alcohol she had and how drunk she was.


    Her fiery red hair was messy, and the same was for her clothing. "He chose that bitch over me." She kept repeating it as she walked wherever she was going.


    Crazy laughter, which slowly turned into a pessimistic one, escaped from her mouth, and she yelled sadly and angrily at the same time.


    She stood at the bridge, which was the same place that Leia had come to before, and gazed up at the half-moon in the sky.


    Her fingers began to point as she counted the stars in the sky, and she couldn''t help but chuckle once again.


    Selena stared into the water under the bridge she was standing on, and as though an idea popped into her brain, her eyes fluttered.


    Should she... commit suicide? I mean, she indeed found her real parents, but... they didn''t have much love for her. The feelings of the family didn''t spread within her, but she found herself always feeling uncomfortable around them.


    Maybe it''s because they were not there when she grew up from a little child to who she is now.


    Adrik was the only one who her heart accepted, the only one she felt comfortable and happy with.


    Just the sight of him makes her stomach flutter. She had found out she had a crush on him after the day he saved her from drowning. She had accidentally fallen into the ocean near their pack, and Adrik was the only one that rushed to save her.


    From that day, she found herself blushing when he talked to her. She feels butterflies in her stomach when his hand touches her. It might not be much, and yes, he has no other intention, but to her, it was something that caused a different reaction within her.


    The day she had told him she liked him, Adrik had looked at her as someone with a mental problem and straight-up rejected her. He told her that he only loved her as a sister and nothing more than that.


    The closeness they had began to falter from that day onward, and eventually, they became distant, but that didn''t stop her heart from loving him more.


    A deep breath escaped her nose and she gazed up at the sky and down at the water beneath the bridge. Since she can''t have Adrik, it''s useless for her to live in this world. She won''t be able to bear seeing him with another woman, so she would rather die.


    A pessimistic smile formed on her lips, and she slightly nodded her head as a few drops of tears fell from her eyes. She sighed deeply and used her finger to dab them off.


    She slowly climbed up onto the fence and gazed out to the horizon that was already taken over by darkness. The night breeze brushed against her face and she shut her eyes.


    ....


    Controlling the steering wheel while checking his phone now and then, Victor raised his eyes to stare at the road ahead of him, and his brow immediately furrowed in bewilderment.


    From a far distance, he could see a young woman standing on the fence of the bridge, ready to end her life. His face darkened immediately, and as though something was urging him to surge and stop the young woman from committing suicide, he raised the speed of his car and drove to stop a bit away from the young woman.


    He hurriedly stepped down from the car and rushed up to her. Victor looked up to see her eyes shut, and he couldn''t help but yell to get her attention. "Hey!!! Miss!"


    He waved his hands at her, and the young woman, who was obviously Selena, opened her eyes and turned her head to glimpse the person yelling.


    Her leisure gaze fell on Victor, and her face frowned in displeasure.


    "Miss, could you please come down from there? You don''t have to make such a rash decision, no matter what the reason is okay." Victor screamed, hoping to convince her, but she frowned deeply and gazed at him with dangerousness apparent in her gray eyes.


    "I know you don''t know me, nor do I know you, but I beg you, don''t take such irrational action. I don''t know what happened, or what might have caused you to make such an unreasonable decision, but I want to let you know that no matter what it is, it''s not over. Things happen to us, and instead of giving up like a coward, we become strong and continue to move on. "


    "So please, if you''re not a coward, come down, but if you jump, you will be a chicken even in death." Victor gazed intently at her, awaiting her reaction.


    Selena''s eyes narrowed and she stared at him, contemplating his words in her mind.


    Somehow, his words are hitting her like a hammer. Maybe he is right. Why try to kill herself for someone who won''t give a damn even after she''s gone? Life is really complicated. She took a low sigh and slowly nodded at Victor.


    Victor smiled and walked up to her to help her climb down.


    The moment their bodies touched as he helped her down, Selena''s body quivered uncontrollably, and she accidentally slipped, falling on her butt.


    Victor''s eyes blinked awkwardly, and he grabbed her wrist to help her up, but Selena''s eyes fixed on him, gazing at him as though something was on his face.


    At that moment that their bodies touched, she had felt something like sparks electrify through her body, causing her to fall. Something in her heart kept telling her that he was hers.


    Her wolf, Elise, was excited at that moment, threatening to let loose.


    Is he... her mate? Selena''s eyes fluttered; she couldn''t think of anything else that could have caused this.


    She reached out her hand to his face and tenderly caressed her cheek. As though trying to confirm it, the sparks spread through her body once again, and she hurriedly inhaled and exhaled. He is indeed her mate! She has a mate! A human mate! And a hot one at that!


    Her lashes flickered with excitement and pleasure, and her eyes could not help but glow as she stared into his blue eyes.


    "Um... Miss, are you oka- " Before Victor, who felt awkward, could finish his question, Selena''s lips slammed into his, kissing him roughly.


    Victor''s eyes widened like a saucer and he immediately grabbed her hands and pushed her away. He wiped his lips and gazed at her as though staring at a psychopath. "What the hell is wrong with you, woman?" He created a distance between her and himself and stood still, his eyes staring at her.


    Selena''s eyes fluttered shut as she felt very hurt and a low breath escaped her nose.


    Victor''s gazes blinked in a bit of regret, and he scratched the back of his hair. He let out a low sigh and slowly walked towards her.


    He squatted down to her level and his eyes darted around with remorse. "I am... sorry for pushing you like that." He said, and Selena lifted her head to stare at him.


    He immediately drew his head back a bit, to make sure she didn''t kiss him again. "Please, don''t do that again." He smiled awkwardly, and when he saw no reaction from her, he relaxed.


    His smile turned into a genuine one and he gazed intently at her. "Where is your home? I can give you a ride if you want." He offered, but Selena replied not, and he suddenly got a bit confused. Doesn''t she have a home? Hmmm, but she isn''t dressed like a homeless person.


    "You... don''t have anywhere to go?" Victor asked, and Selena slightly nodded her head at him. His brow raised in a bit of disbelief, but he nevertheless decided to believe her.


    "All right, then, how about I let you stay at my house for the night and we can figure out what to do about your situation tomorrow?" He smiled at her and Selena nodded at him.


    "Good." He carefully helped her up from the ground and gradually led her to the car. He opened the front door for her and helped her in, then walked over to sit in the driver''s seat.


    He started the car engine and slowly sped off down the road.


    ________


    Leia, who was lying beside Adrik, began to turn as though having a terrible dream.


    She was within a burning flame, which was neither harming nor burning her skin. The room was dark with only the fire she was burning in it giving off light.


    Surrounding her were human shadows, laughing and chanting words in a language she couldn''t understand.


    From afar, a man sat on a high throne, but she couldn''t glimpse his face nor his looks. He was just a dark shadow like the ones encircling her.


    Her body was bleeding just like before, and her blood was tainting the floor.


    She began to vigorously shake her head, telling herself it was just a dream. Beads of sweat started to fall from her forehead and her back, and she clutched her hair.


    She whimpered and yelled, but not a sound escaped her mouth. It was as if she had lost her voice. She instantly went into a state of panic and touched her throat. She parted her lips, trying to say a word, but not a single word left her mouth.


    ...


    Leia''s hand was wrapped tightly around Adrik''s neck as if trying to strangle him, and her face altered from time to time. Anyone looking at her would immediately know she was fighting something.


    Adrik''s eyes dilated, and he grabbed her hand, trying to free himself, but he suddenly realized that her grip was stronger. It was as though she was possessed.


    The strength that her grip held was extraordinary in that it matched Adrik''s own. Adrik''s face puckered in confusion and skepticism, and he added more strength. However, he still wasn''t able to break free.


    When did Leia become this strong? Even to the extent that he, an alpha wolf, couldn''t break free from her grip.


    He mocked himself for his improbable thoughts and tried to break free.


    Leia''s eyes abruptly sprang open, and she inhaled and exhaled heavily, then fell back as her body instantly went numb.


    Her grip on Adrik''s neck loosened, and Adrik immediately inhaled to catch his breath. He hurriedly lifted her to have her sit on the bed and caressed her hair.


    His eyes gazed at the sweats all over her body and face, and his brow creased in bewilderment. Just what exactly is going on?


    He planted a soft kiss on her forehead and gazed at her face, only to see her staring at him with tiredness apparent in her eyes. "Everything is okay." He kissed her again and slowly laid her on the bed and embraced her tightly. "I will not let you go, and will make sure the rest of your sleep is peaceful.." He said and wiped off the beads of sweat on her forehead.

 Chapter 101 - One

    Vol.2


    -Her Revenge-


    **********


    After the horrible night that Leia had, she regained her composure as a result of Adrik''s comfort and assurance.


    Currently, she is already dressed up and ready to leave the mansion. Today was the day that she was to meet with Victor and the others.


    She had talked with Adrik, letting him know she wouldn''t be home until tomorrow. He had asked her the reason, and she, of course, explained everything to him.


    He was hesitant at first as he believed it was very risky but eventually agreed after lots of pleading from her.


    "I will be fine, I promise." Leia chuckled and crossed her fingers.


    Adrik sighed softly and slightly nodded at her. "Okay, then, but don''t forget to message me all the time. I want to be sure you''re okay. " He smiled at her and caressed her cheek.


    Leia nodded at him and stood up on her tiptoes to deliver a soft kiss to his lips. "I will be back tomorrow. I love you very much." She said and grabbed the car key to leave, but Adrik grabbed her hand and covered her lips with his.


    Leia''s eyes fluttered, and she smiled against his lips.


    "I will miss you so much." He whispered into her ears as he drew her into a hug and nuzzled her neck.


    "Adrik, it''s just for a day. I will be back tomorrow." Leia patted him on the back and drew back from the embrace. "I will miss you too." She stroked his cheek and smiled at him. "I have to go now." She pecked him on the cheek and hurriedly left the room, shutting the door behind her.


    Adrik stared at the door and a deep breath escaped his nose. He turned around and walked over to sit down on the sofa. He lifted his laptop from the mini table and placed it on his lap, then turned it on, ready to work on it.


    ....


    Leia arrived downstairs and unlocked the black-colored SUV, parked beside other cars in the parking lot of the compound.


    She walked over to take her seat in the driver''s chair and started the car engine. Then carefully reversed the car and slowly drove out of the compound and onto the road.


    She raised the speed of the car and sped off down the road.


    She soon arrived at her destination, which was Victor''s apartment, and slowly drove into the compound.


    Leia Parked the car and stepped down, then shut the door. She stuffed the key into the pocket of her jeans shorts and proceeded to walk into the building.


    She took the elevator, which took her to the third floor, and she walked straight to Victor''s apartment. However, when she got to the door, she blinked her eyes in confusion when she saw Kiesha and James standing at the door with a deep scowl on their faces.


    "What... is going on?" Leia asked, and they both turned to look at her.


    "Ask him!" Kiesha said in a tone that held displeasure as her hand pointed to the door.


    Bewildered at her words, Leia walked closer and glanced at the entrance, only to see Victor blocking them from going in or even glimpsing the inside of his apartment.


    "Victor¡ª" she said, puzzled, staring at him, "-why are you preventing us from coming inside?"


    Victor''s eyes fluttered and he coughed. He cleared his throat and raised his eyes to stare at their faces. "Um... things are really not good here... and um... I can''t let you guys in."


    "O... kay. So where are we going to stay? " She raised her brow at him and folded her arms, waiting for his answer.


    "My other apartment." Victor smiled awkwardly and cleared his throat once again. "We can stay at my other apartment. It''s actually better than here."


    "You are becoming a mystery to us these days." Kiesha''s eyes narrowed, and she stared intently at him. "Well, since he said it''s better than here, I don''t mind us switching to another location." She shrugged and turned around to walk downstairs.


    James followed behind her, and Leia also turned around to leave. However, she abruptly turned around in an attempt to get a glimpse of what was inside the apartment, but Victor blocked the entrance with his body and gazed at her with raised brows. "Aren''t you going to follow them?"


    Leia''s eyes narrowed, and she slightly nodded at him. "We will be waiting for you downstairs." She gave him one last suspicious stare before turning around and making her way downstairs.


    A deep breath of relief escaped Victor''s lips, and he turned around and shut the door behind him. He walked further into the living room to see Selena seated on the couch.


    "Your friends?" Selena asked with a half-smile on her pretty red lips. She had washed up and was currently dressed up in Victor''s shirt and pants.


    "Yes." Victor nodded at her and an awkward smile formed on his lips. "Do you feel comfortable in that? He asked with a raised brow while pointing at the clothing which she was wearing. He''s not sure she''s comfortable in his outfit.


    "Um... yeah, it''s better than wearing nothing." Selena shrugged and glanced down at the black sweatpants she wore.


    "Okay." Victor nodded and proceeded to leave, but abruptly halted and turned around to gaze at her. "Ahh... I will be out throughout today and will return tomorrow, so I want to apologize because I will be locking you in here. " His eyes darted around, and he stopped to gaze at her.


    "What!" Selena immediately stood up from the sofa and folded her arms in displeasure. "What do you mean, you''re locking me up in here?" She asked in a tone that sent chills down his body.


    Victor''s eyes fluttered, and he took a deep breath. "Miss, it''s not-"


    "My name is Selena! Don''t you ever call me Miss, again?" Selena''s face altered in irritation.


    "I am sorry." Victor immediately apologized, and she glared at him before her face returned to its normal expression.


    "So, as I was saying, I am only going to be locking you in here out of security. You can also leave if you want to. I mean, I am not holding you. It''s your choice to stay or leave." He shrugged and gazed at her with a raised brow. If she wants to leave, she can. It''s not like he''s wielding her here or something.


    Selena stared at him for a while in contemplation and slightly nodded her head. She took a deep breath and plopped down on the sofa.


    Victor smiled at her and picked up the key from the mini glass table. "Please take care of my apartment and don''t wreck it. Thank you." He said, and without waiting for her response, he ambled out of the living room and shut the door, then locked it.


    Selena, who was locked inside, stared at the white door, and her eyes blinked in dumbstruck. This guy was serious.


    She averted her gaze and a deep breath escaped her nose.

 Chapter 102 - Maya

    Victor arrived downstairs, only to see them standing with folded arms and a deep frown on their faces. "What the fuck took you so long?!" Kiesha clicked her tongue in annoyance and glared at him.


    "I told you guys I had shit going on inside my apartment." He spread his hands innocently and stared at them.


    "Shit we don''t know about!" Kiesha scoffed and opened the door of the SUV to step in.


    Leia slightly shook her hand and proceeded to step into the driver''s seat. "Get in." She waved her hand at him and took her seat.


    They all slammed the doors shut, and Leia started the car''s engine. "Direct the way." She said to Victor and carefully drove out of the compound and onto the road.


    They rode for thirty minutes, and Victor directed her all the way through before finally telling her to stop in front of an enormous building that was entirely white.


    Leia slowly drove into the compound and carefully parked the car. They all stepped down, and their eyes gazed up at the building.


    "Common, let''s go." Victor motioned for them to follow him, and he led them into the building. The elevator took them to the second floor, and they stepped out when the door of the elevator opened.


    He pulled out a card from the pocket of his jeans and walked towards a door that had the number 121 on it, then swiped the card on it and the door creaked loose.


    He pushed the door open and gestured them inside. Their eyes darted around, and Kiesha''s jaw couldn''t help but drop. "You were telling the truth." She slightly nodded as she glanced around the expensive apartment, which was white and had a few things in it that were ash in color.


    Victor rolled his eyes at her and walked to the fridge to grab a can of beer. "You guys should have a seat."


    They nodded at him and plopped down on the white sofa.


    "Alright, let''s get down to business," Leia said with a stern look on her face and turned her head to stare at Victor, who was walking towards them with a can of beer in his hand.


    He took his seat on a one-man sofa opposite the one they were seated on and crossed his legs.


    "Okay, So when is your sister arriving at wherever you will pick her up? " He turned to gaze at Kiesha, with a lazy look on his face.


    "Probably in an hour." Kiesha shrugged and relaxed back on the couch.


    "Okay..." Victor pulled out his phone from his pocket and browsed through it, then stood up to walk to Leia. "Here is the photo of the two nurses. So when her sister arrives, tell her to transform you guys to look a bit like them."


    Leia received the phone from him and glanced at the photo on the screen. She slightly nodded her head and stuffed the phone into the pocket of her hoodie.


    Victor dropped the can of bear on a white mini table beside the sofa and walked over to his room to grab a black backpack.


    He returned with it and threw it at Kiesha. "The costumes are in there."


    Kiesha unzipped the backpack and examined the nurse''s clothing within it, and she nodded her head in satisfaction.


    Victor turned to James and grinned mischievously. "Time to knock some ladies out." James slightly nodded and smirked in agreement.


    "You two remember, we are breaking into the hospital, just like we used to do in high school. However, this time we need to be extremely careful. Otherwise, we will be in for a deep shit if we are caught. " Victor said and reminded them to plug their ultrasonic speakers into their ears.


    They all plugged it in, and Victor and James disguised themselves by attaching a mustache and wearing cowboy caps on their heads.


    "Nice, you guys look so manly." Keisha wiggled her eyebrows at them with a smirk on her lips.


    James turned and winked at her while biting his lower lips in a flirty manner.


    Victor''s face altered in irritation, and he slightly shook his head. "Once the cameras are deactivated, we will let you guys know." Without waiting for a response from them, he grabbed James by the arm and dragged him out of the apartment.


    Leia and Kiesha stared at the entrance and averted their gaze when Victor slammed the door shut. They glanced at each other and shrugged.


    _____


    Victor''s eyes narrowed as he monitored a huge hospital with people sauntering in and out of it.


    James, who sat beside him in the car, bit into the donut in his hand while also surveying the hospital.


    "Just a few minutes more, before their lunchtime," Victor said in a low tone as he glanced at the watch clasped around his wrist.


    James nodded at him and continued to bite on his donut.


    ________


    Kiesha pushed the door open and walked into the living room with a brown-skinned girl who looked the age of eighteen following behind her. She had unique gray eyes and huge, curly hair that was banded up with a rubber band.


    "This is Maya, my younger sister. Maya, this is Leia, my best friend." Kiesha introduced them to each other, with a cheerful smile on her lips.


    "Nice to meet you." Maya smiled charmingly and casually waved her hand at Leia.


    Leia half smiled and nodded at her.


    "Alright, shall we start?" Kiesha turned to Maya, and Maya nodded in agreement.


    She turned to Leia and asked her for the phone. Leia handed it over to her, and she received it, then turned to her sister. "Here, we need you to turn us into these two women. We need to resemble them, if not completely, at least a bit. "


    Maya nodded at her and collected the phone. She gazed intently at the photo and took a deep breath. Then she dropped her backpack on the sofa and motioned for Leia to sit down on a stool in the living room.


    Leia stood up from the couch and walked to the stool to sit down. Kiesha relaxed on the couch and patiently watched what Maya was going to do.


    Maya pulled out a big makeup box from her backpack and opened it. Then grabbed the other necessary stuff.


    Finally, I am going to completely witness your magical transformation, " Kiesha smirked and interlocked her hands together


    _______


    Victor and James stepped down from the car and glanced at each other. They nodded at each other, and with their hands shoved into their pockets, they proceeded towards the hospital.


    They walked up the stairs that led to the entrance and walked through the door.


    A vast compartment with patients and nurses lined up and down came into view, and they took a deep breath.


    A bell suddenly rang within the hospital, and the nurses and doctors began to proceed towards the cafeteria within the hospital for their lunch.


    A smile formed on Victor''s lips, and he nodded at James. Together, they began to make their way towards the entrance that led to the backyard of the hospital without being seen.


    Victor darted his eyes around, pushed the door, and slipped out, with James following behind.


    "We need somewhere to hide, then wait for them." Victor glanced around and his eyes fell on a tall flower, skillfully cut into a unique shape.


    He grabbed James by the wrist and dragged him towards the flower.


    They squatted down and patiently waited for the two nurses. Seconds passed and a minute passed, yet there was no sign of the two nurses.


    "Victor, are you sure they will show up?" James asked, with a bit of impatience apparent on his face.


    "They wi-" Victor hadn''t even finished his sentence when the door was pushed open and two ladies clad in nurse uniforms walked out with a tray of food in their hands. One was brown-skinned, whilst the other was white-skinned.


    They took their seats on the pavement and began to converse with each other.


    "So what do we do now?" James asked Victor, who was staring at the nurses with narrowed eyes.


    "Give me the taser." Victor reached out his hand and received the taser gun from James.


    He took a deep breath and aimed it at the white-skinned nurse. His eyes narrowed, and he pulled the trigger.


    The nurse''s body began to tremble uncontrollably, and she slipped to the floor while still being shocked as the electricity coursed through her body.


    The brown-skinned nurse instantly stood up to help her friend up, but she too was abruptly shot, and as the electricity also surged through her body, she joined her friend on the ground.


    Victor and James immediately jumped out and rushed up to them. They lifted them from the floor and carried them away to lock them up in a small house in the backyard, which had tools used in the hospital stored there.


    A deep breath escaped Victor''s nose and he glanced at James, who stood beside him.

 Chapter 103 - Uncle Fernando

    "Time to stress those knuckles of yours." He smirked, and an evil smile formed on James'' lips.


    "It''s been a long time since I hacked security cameras." A deep breath escaped James'' nose and they ambled back to their hiding place to pick up their bag.


    James unzipped it and pulled out his laptop, then he squatted down and laid the laptop down on the concrete ground.


    "How long will this take? It''s getting dark already. " Victor asked as his eyes glanced up at the shady sky, which was gradually being taken over by darkness.


    "It will take a while..." James replied, his eyes focused on the laptop.


    _____


    Leia and Kiesha stared at their reflections in the mirror, and their eyes couldn''t help but flutter in amazement.


    They look so different, haha... almost exactly like the two ladies. Makeup does wonders. They shook their heads in awe, and Kiesha turned to gaze at her sister.


    "Maya, you are... something else." Kiesha shook her head dramatically and spread her arms to pull her sister into a hug.


    Maya''s eyes darted around, and she smiled sheepishly in embarrassment. Well, she always feels quite embarrassed, mixed with happiness, when someone praises her.


    "Gosh, you literally just transformed us into someone else." Kiesha perked her on the cheek and drew back from the embrace.


    "Thank you." Leia turned to Maya and smiled at her.


    "You''re welcome." Maya nodded and began to pack her things into her backpack.


    "You... can go home by yourself, right?" Kiesha raised her brow and asked, with concern looming on her face.


    "Yes." Maya nodded and slipped her backpack onto her back, then with one last smile and nod at the two, she waved goodbye to them and walked out of the apartment, then made her way downstairs and ambled out of the building.


    "Time to get ready." Leia nudged Kiesha on her arm and proceeded towards the backpack strapped to the couch.


    She unzipped it and threw a set of nurse''s clothing at Kiesha, then took hers and made her way to the bathroom.


    It took a few minutes before they were completely ready, dressed up in blue nurse''s pants and top. They glanced at each other and waited for another few minutes for any instructions from the victor.


    "Guys... I just remembered something." Victor''s voice abruptly reverberated in their ears, and they glanced at each other.


    "What is it?" Leia asked, with bewilderment evident on her face.


    "Once, during the time your mum was still being hospitalized, I asked my dad how your mum''s treatment was going. He told me he was no longer in charge of your mother''s treatment-"


    "What do you mean?" Leia''s face altered in utter confusion as she immediately asked.


    "He said that the next person in command, which is my uncle Fernando, was the one in charge of your mother''s treatment."


    "That''s impossible! Nobody informed me about that! " Leia shook her head in disbelief. It was impossible! She was not notified about that! She was clearly told that Victor''s father was in charge of her mother''s treatment.


    "That''s what my dad told me. Right now, I don''t think we should invade my father''s computer; rather, we should go to my uncles. This is the only chance we have, and we can''t lose it. I know my father will never lie to me." Victor stated with absolute certainty, evident in his tone.


    A deep breath escaped Leia''s nose, and she turned to glance at Kiesha.


    Keisha nodded at her and she nodded back. "Alright, it''s a change of plan then."


    "Great... We are almost done. You guys have to be here in thirty minutes." Victor said before he went silent.


    Leia let out a low breath and turned to Keisha. "Let''s go." She said and proceeded out of the apartment with Kiesha following behind.


    ....


    The sky has become completely dark, with a half-moon and thousands of stars beautifying it.


    Leia slowed down the SUV near the hospital, and her eyes narrowed as she stared intently at the entrance.


    "Vic, we are coming in." She said, and Victor approved of their starting to make their way into the hospital.


    Leia turned to Kiesha and reached out her hand to receive a stethoscope, a long, slim book, and a black wig to wear. Well, the white nurse had long black hair, so... she needed to wear one.


    They hung the stethoscope around their neck and stepped down from the car with the book lying in their arms.


    A deep breath escaped Kiesha''s nose, and with one last glance at each other, they began to make their way towards the entrance of the hospital.


    They lowered their heads slightly, and with a push of the glass door, they stepped in.


    The vast compartment with people going up and down came into view, and Leia''s eyes couldn''t help but flutter. Her hand balled into a tight fist as a scene from the day her mother died flashed through her mind.


    She took deep breaths and, together with Kiesha, they began to walk further inside the hospital.


    "Guys, the cameras are disabled." Victor''s voice suddenly rang in their ears, and they halted on their steps.


    Their faces brightened up, and a relieved breath left Leia''s mouth. "So, what do we do now? I don''t know the way to your uncle''s office. "


    "Don''t worry, let me give you directions. If you guys have walked a bit further into the hospital, look to your right and follow through the hallway that has a red signboard hung above the entrance. "


    Leia slightly nodded her head and turned to glance at her right. A wide corridor that was devoid of people walking up and down came into view, and she turned her head to glance at Kiesha.


    Kiesha shrugged and proceeded to walk through the hallway. Leia followed behind her, and her eyes glanced at each door that they walked past.


    "Two passageways will come into view. One is on your right while the other is on your left. Follow the one on your left. A blue-colored door different from others, with the number 112 written above it, will be the first door you guys will glimpse, so yes, that''s his office."


    Leia slowly nodded and fastened her pace to catch up with Kiesha, who was ahead of her.


    The two passageways came into view, and without hesitation, they walked through the one on their left.


    The first thing their eyes glimpsed was the blue-colored door, and a relieved breath exited their mouths.


    They dropped the books in their arms to the floor and pulled out a slim long pin from their pockets. Leia raised her eyes to stare at Kiesha and half-smiled at her. "You should do this... I''ll be on the lookout for any incoming persons."


    "Why should I be the one to do it?" Keisha asked, with confusion written all over her face.


    "You know, you''re better at this than I am. I mean, you were the one that taught me this in high school, so..." She arched her brow at Kiesha, and Kiesha slightly nodded at her. "Alright then."


    Keisha walked closer to the door and squatted down, then inserted the pin into the door. "Men, I don''t understand why this man would use such a tight lock on his door." She clicked her tongue in disbelief.


    Leia glanced at her and turned around to keep an eye on the corridor and be on the lookout for any incoming people.


    "How is it going?" Victor''s voice reverberated as he suddenly asked.


    "You didn''t tell us your uncle was a very wary man." Leia scolded with displeasure in her tone.


    Um... he has never even let me into his office once, so how was I supposed to know?... How is it going with Kiesha? Any progress?"


    "Well, we are getting there." Leia turned her head to glance at Kiesha, whose ear was close to the lock.


    "I see... Well, we are still waiting outside. We don''t have much time anymore. " Victor said in a tone that held a bit of anxiousness, and a deep breath escaped Leia''s nose. This has to be successful!


    _____


    Inside an enormous building, two men who looked like brothers sat down on brown sofas opposite each other in the living room.


    One had black hair with a little mixture of white as a result of aging. His gray eyes complemented his white skin, which looked a bit wrinkled.


    The other had brown hair and gray eyes just like the other, and his skin, which wasn''t that white but a bit tanned, was also wrinkled a little.


    "Brother, I am very grateful for the help. Thank you once again." The brown-haired one said, with a half-smile on his lips.


    The black-haired one waved his hand at him and smiled cheerfully. "Haizz, Fernando, we are brothers, it''s nothing."


    "I am still grateful." The brown-haired one, who went by the name of Fernando, nodded his head and stood up from the couch. "Well... I must take my leave now. I have a new patient at the hospital whom I must attend to. "


    The black-haired one nodded at him and also stood up from the couch. He extended his hand and they exchanged handshakes. "Alright then, see you some other time."


    Fernando nodded, and without another word, he proceeded out of the building and stepped into his car to drive his way to the hospital.

 Chapter 104 - Luck

    Mr. Fernando arrived at the hospital and stepped down from his car. He shut the door and locked it, then stuffed the keys into the pocket of his long brown jacket.


    Holding onto his bag, he began to walk towards the hospital.


    Victor, who was inside his car with James seated beside him, vigorously blinked his eyes in nervousness and nudged James on the arm.


    "What is it?" James asked, with displeasure apparent on his face.


    "That''s him." Victor pointed at a man walking into the hospital building.


    "Who?" James asked in confusion.


    "My uncle." Victor annoyedly slapped him on the head and pointed at Mr. Fernando, who was about to step into the hospital building.


    "Oh no!" James turned his head to stare at Victor with uneasiness written all over his face. "We need to inform them."


    _____


    An annoyed deep growl left Kiesha''s mouth, and she punched the door. "What the fuck is this?! I thought this was going to be easy!" She raised her annoyed-filled eyes to stare at Leia, who was gazing at her with an awkward expression on her face.


    "So... you can''t do it?" Leia asked with a bit of a cracked voice that held disappointment.


    "No way! It''s either me or this door!! " She bellowed and inhaled and exhaled deeply to calm herself down. A smile formed on her face and she moved her ear closer to the door to continue what she was doing.


    Let''s let out a low sigh and turn her head to glance at the hallway.


    "Leia, my uncle, just entered the building and I am a hundred percent sure that he is coming to his office." Victor''s filled unexpectedly voice rang in her ears and her eyes fluttered violently.


    "What!" She became panic-stricken and her hands gradually began to sweat. This only happens when she''s uneasy or nervous.


    "You guys need to get out of there fast! Find somewhere to hide!"


    Leia took a deep breath to calm her beating heart and turned to Kiesha. She abruptly grabbed Kiesha by the arm, causing the pin to fall off and onto the ground.


    "Leia-"


    "We need to hide!" She dragged her towards a pillar and pushed her behind it, then joined her in hiding.


    Steady footsteps resounded, indicating that someone was coming, and Kiesha grabbed Leia''s hand, holding onto it tightly to calm herself down.


    A brown-haired man with glasses hung on the bridge of his nose came into view, and Leia''s eyes flickered as she scrutinized him. So this is the man that was in charge of her mother''s treatment all those times.


    Her eyes narrowed and she held tightly onto Kiesha''s hand, which was trembling. Kiesha is indeed a strong woman, but sometimes she loses her cool when it comes to things like this.


    The middle-aged man, who was obviously Fernando, shoved his hand into his pocket to grab his key, then leaned down to drop his bag on the floor. However, when he proceeded to straighten up, his eyes suddenly fell on something on the floor and he leaned closer to examine it. It was a very slim, shiny pin.


    Mr. Fernando''s eyes diminished, and he picked it up from the floor. "Where did this come from?" he questioned himself and darted his eyes around.


    Suspicion arose in his heart, and he stopped his gaze at the pillar that Leia and Kiesha hid behind.


    His eyes dwindled more, and he stuffed the pin into the pocket of his jacket, then slowly began to walk towards the pillar.


    Kiesha''s heart raced wildly within her and the only thing that continuously came to her mind was, "We are going to jail! I am going to jail. "


    Leia''s eyes flickered nervously and her hands sweated profusely. She swallowed and breathed deeply while tightly holding onto Kiesha''s hand, in the hope of it keeping her from making a single sound.


    Mr. Fernando walked closer to the pillar, and just when he was about to look behind it, someone tapped him on the shoulder, and he immediately jolted around.


    "Oh..." He let out a low breath when he saw that it was a nurse, and a smile emerged on his lips. "Anything I can help you with, Meredith."


    "Sir-" The young nurse who was Meredith adjusted the glasses that were about to slip off the bridge of her nose and raised her eyes to stare at Mr. Fernando. "-The patient needs immediate treatment and his parents request your presence."


    "Ahh... I see." Mr. Fernando nodded with a smile on his face and spared a glance at the pillar, then proceeded towards his bag that was on the floor.


    He picked it up and began to walk away, with the nurse following behind him.


    The moment he was out of sight, a long, deep breath escaped Kiesha''s nose, and she slumped to the floor.


    Leia took a low breath of relief and turned to stare at her, only to see drops of tears falling from her eyes.


    "Kiesha, why the fuck are you crying?" She hurriedly helped her up from the floor and used her hand to dab the tears off.


    "Men, we could have been caught, and then it''s a jail for us!"


    "Hey, don''t say that. We just need to do what we came here for and then we will leave, okay." Leua assured her and she responded with a nod, then took a deep breath before allowing a smile to form on her lips.


    "Alright..." She walked to the door to continue trying to unlock it, but realizing that Mr. Fernando had left with the pin, she pinched her brow and turned her head to stare at Leia. "Pin." She reached out her hand, and Leia stuffed her hand into her pocket to pull out her pin.


    She gave it to her, and Kiesha half smiled at her. "Alright, you will be the one dying, not me!" She glared at the door and carefully inserted the pin into the lock.


    "Are you guys alright?" Victor suddenly asked, with concern evident in his tone, and Leia took a deep breath. "Yes, we are fine." She responded, and a low breath of solace escaped Victor''s mouth.


    "I am glad you guys are okay." He said this with a voice that held less nervousness.


    Leia focused her eyes on the hallway, and Kiesha gradually worked on the lock.

 Chapter 105 - A Girl

    "Booyah!" A low victory yell came from Kiesha, and Leia instantly turned to look at her, only to see the door creaking open.


    A smile formed on Leia''s lips, and a low breath of relief left her mouth. "Finally." She walked to the door and pushed it open. Then they went in, shutting it behind them.


    "Guys, we did it." She said, and Victor and James rejoiced from the other side.


    "We will be coming in, in a few minutes."


    Leia turned her head and began to scrutinize the entire office. On the walls were photos of patients that were under him, and, of course, the photo of her mum wasn''t excluded.


    Narrowing her eyes, Leia walked towards the photo and plucked it off the wall. She stared at it, and an unknown glint flickered in her eyes. She stuffed it into the pocket of her pants and abruptly turned when the door slammed open and James, who was now clad in nurse''s clothing, barged in.


    "Jesus, you scared the hell out of me!" Kiesha bellowed at him and brought down her hand that was placed on her chest.


    James slightly shook his head and shut the door. He glanced at the desk in the office and hurriedly walked to it, then opened the ash-colored laptop placed on it.


    "This is going to take a while because I will need to hack it." James glanced at them and returned his focus to the laptop.


    Leia took a deep breath and walked to stand at the door. What she''s doing now is probably useless, but it''s at least worth it.


    ______


    Mr. Fernando smiled as he approached a couple who appeared to be the parents of the boy he was treating.


    "Thank you, doctor." The parents cupped their hands in appreciation and glanced at their child, who was on oxygen.


    "That''s my job. No need to worry; your son will be perfectly fine. Nothing is going to happen to him. " Mr. Fernando assured them and, without saying another word, he walked out of the emergency room.


    He pinched his brow and proceeded towards the hallway to make his way to his office.


    Victor spotted him from a distance away and immediately contacted all three. "Are you guys done?"


    "Nope, not at all. This will take a while," James replied, and Victor''s face changed in worry.


    He took a deep breath and, with an adjustment of his clothing, he hurried towards Mr. Fernando. "Uncle." He smiled sheepishly as he stood in front of him, blocking his way.


    Mr. Fernando jolted back in surprise and raised his eyes to stare at who was in front of him."Victor..." His eyes fluttered and he reached out his hand to touch Victor on his head.


    He abruptly grabbed Victor and pulled him into a tight hug. "It is you." He chuckled cheerfully and drew back from the embrace to examine him yet again. "I thought you were never going to visit me."


    Victor smiled awkwardly and squinted his eyes. "Of course, I will visit you." Victor smiled widely, making him appear very innocent.


    "Ahh... My boy. " Mr. Fernando patted him on the shoulder and proceeded to amble to his office, but Victor jumped in front of him, blocking him once again.


    Mr. Fernando''s brow creased, and he raised his brow at him. "Is there anything I can do for you?" He asked, with a questioning expression on his face.


    Victor cleared his throat and nodded vigorously. "Ahh... do you have time? I really want to talk with you. " He asked, and Mr. Fernando crinkled his brow a bit in contemplation and slowly nodded at him. "I do have time, but let me keep my things in my office."


    He commenced to walk to his office, but yet again, Victor blocked him with a half-smile on his lips. "It''s really, really important. It can''t wait any longer. Please, uncle." Mr. Fernados exhaled a deep breath.


    He glanced at the hallway, then at Victor, and slightly nodded his head. "Alright then." He turned around, and together they walked towards the cafeteria in the hospital to take a seat.


    "So what is the important thing you want to talk about?" He turned to Victor and asked.


    "Um... I... It''s about a girl. " Victor''s eyes fluttered, and he immediately said the first thing that came into his mind.


    "A girl?" Mr. Fernando raised his brow in surprise and gazed intently at Victor. He knew Victor quite well and knew he was not the type that talked about girls that much. I mean, he''s a playboy and just plays with girls. He had never had a serious relationship with a girl.


    "Yes... a girl." Victor nodded, and Mr. Fernando narrowed his eyes at him. "Since when did you start talking about girls... or... are you in love with one?" He asked while suspiciously stroking his beard.


    "Ahh... Yes! Yes! I am in love with one." Victor said and smiled widely to make sure he didn''t appear suspicious.


    Mr. Fernando, who obviously noticed his awkward behavior, shrugged it off as he believed that it might be because this was his first time having a conversation with a girl. "What is her name?"


    Victor''s eyes fluttered at that question, and he darted his eyes around. ''This is the worst moment of his life.'' He bit his lower lip in nervousness and an image of a young red-haired woman suddenly emerged in his mind, and he raised his eyes to stare at Mr. Fernando. "Her name is... Selena."


    "Selena." Mr. Fernando repeated as he drew his head back in surprise. "That is indeed a beautiful name. I can imagine how pretty this girl that made you fall, is." He grin slyly as he said, while his eyes scrutinized Victor.


    "She''s very very alluring and beautiful." Victor smiled warmly as he said, and he couldn''t help but picture Selena yet again. Wait, what?! What the hell is wrong with him?! He hurriedly shook his head and turned to gaze at Mr.. Fernando.

 Chapter 106 - Succesful

    "I see..." Mr. Fernando nodded his head and playfully tapped his fingers on the table. "So... what exactly is the problem?"


    Victor cleared his throat and fiddled with his hands. "Well... I um... I want to take her on a date, but I absolutely have no idea how to do that." A wide smile made its way to his lips, and he gazed awkwardly at Mr. Fernando.


    "A date..." Mr. Fernando plucked his beard in contemplation and a smile made its way to his lips. "That is very simple. I can hold one for both of you."


    "What!?" Victor felt his heart rush up to his throat and back to its position. His eyes trembled, and he couldn''t help but take a deep breath. "Um... uncle, you don''t have to... I can do it by myself. I just need your ideas, that''s all. "


    "Kid... I just want to, okay. It''s been so long since we last saw each other, and I know I was an ass then. So I want to make up for it." He placed his hand on his shoulder and tapped him on the cheek. "Besides, I want to meet your girlfriend too. It''s wonderful news to know my nephew finally has a girlfriend and is no longer a playboy."


    Victor''s eyes blinked with nervousness, and he smiled widely. "Okay, whatever you say, ha ha ha." He laughed awkwardly as he slightly nodded his head. ''What have I done?'' The urge to slap himself couldn''t help but overwhelm him, and his hands balled into a tight fist.


    Mr. Fernando patted him on the shoulder and took a deep breath. "Anything else?"


    ________


    "James, are you not done yet?" Leia, who was already becoming very anxious, couldn''t help but ask.


    "Almost done, just a few seconds," James replied without sparing her a glance. He stared at the laptop screen, and as soon as the files were completely extracted, he pulled the USB out. "Done." He said, and a deep breath of relief exited everyone''s mouth.


    He organized everything on the laptop back to the way it was before and shut the laptop. Then, together, they walked out of the office, shutting the door.


    "Victor, we are out." Leia notified him, and he smiled sheepishly at Mr. Fernando, who sat opposite him at the table in the cafeteria.


    As though he had suddenly choked on something, he began to cough uncontrollably. He lowered his head in the guise of needing to calm himself down and quickly whispered to the three. "Started coming out. I can''t stall him much longer."


    "Are you okay, kid?" Mr. Fernando asked with concern written all over his face, and Victor raised his head to look at him. "Yes, I''m fine." He nodded, and a smile made its way to his lips. "I don''t know what''s wrong. I''ve been having a very bad cough since yesterday, but as I said, I''m fine."


    "I see... but still, I would like to prescribe a few doses for you." Mr. Fernando suggested, but Victor furiously shook his head in disapproval. "Don''t worry, uncle; my father has already prescribed one for me."


    "Ahh... I see." Mr. Fernando nodded and plucked his beard.


    Victor parted his lips to say something, but his eyes suddenly spotted the three who were already about to exit the hospital, and his face brightened up. He turned to Mr. Feenando and smiled widely as he stood up from his seat. "I would like to take my leave now. As you can see, I am a bit tired. Thank you very much for your offer. " He took a slight bow and hurried out of the hospital, without hesitation.


    Mr. Fernando, who was staring at his disappearing back, nodded his head and stood up from his chair.


    He grabbed his bag and proceeded towards the hallways.


    He arrived at the door of his office and pulled his key out of his pocket. As though something told him to, he turned the handle of his door and the door pushed open.


    His eyes dilated in confusion, and he immediately stepped into his office.


    How? It was impossible! His door was always locked and he was the only one that held the key to it.


    He is certain that he didn''t open this door, and since he didn''t, it meant that someone else was here.


    His heart pounded within him, and he immediately rushed to his laptop. He opened it and turned it on. Everything seemed normal. He unlocked it and went through every file, realizing that everything was in order just like he left it to be.


    "Hmmm..." He glanced around the office, and his eyes couldn''t help but narrow. He is a hundred percent sure that someone came in here as he could smell someone''s perfume inside his office. However, what he''s confused over is that nothing was missing. Everything was in order. Just what exactly, was the person looking for?


    His brow creased deeply, and he began to snap his fingers. His eyes narrowed and he began to carefully scrutinize his entire office.


    His gaze halted on the wall where he pinned the photos of his patient, and as though noticing that something was missing, he walked closer.


    He stared instantly at the wall, and his face darkened when he noticed that one particular important photo was gone.


    The photo of Mrs. Irene Adolpho


    "No! no!." His eyes quivered nervously, and he walked back to his laptop. "Who could have come here?"


    ________


    Seated inside the car as Leia drove down the road, a low breath escaped their noses. They were all in the SUV except Victor, who was following behind them in his car.


    "I am glad this is over." Kiesha relaxed on the chair and placed her head on James'' shoulder. "I''m so sleepy." She mumbled, closed her eyes, and slowly drifted to sleep.


    Leia glanced at her and half-smiled at James. She drove silently, and the rest of the ride was a quiet one.


    They arrived at Victor''s apartment in less than an hour, and Leia stepped down from the car.


    James gently laid Kiesha on the seat and stepped down. Then he carried her out of the car and proceeded to walk into the building with her in his arms.


    Leia stood beside the SUV and patiently waited for Victor, who didn''t take long to drive into the compound.


    Victor parked his car and stepped down, then shut the door and locked it.


    He glanced at Leia and smiled at her, then together they ambled into the building.


    They walked into the apartment and found Kiesha sound asleep on the couch, and James, seated on the one-man sofa with his head resting on the chair.


    "Guys, you don''t have to sleep there. You can spend the night in the guest room." Victor notified them and walked towards the fridge to grab a bottle of water.


    "Oh, thank goodness." James stood up from the sofa and walked to the couch on which Kiesha was lying to haul her up from it. He carried her in a bridal style and took her into the room, then gently laid her down on the white, soft bed. He covered her with a fluffy blanket and strolled out of the room.


    He stared at Victor, who was drinking water, with a raised brow, and Victor could help but stop drinking and ask. "Why are you looking at me like that?"


    "Um... were you actually expecting me to sleep in there?" James''s eyes fluttered in disbelief as he asked.


    "Well, no..." Victor shrugged and proceeded to finish his water.


    "I see... well... I am off to sleep." James also shrugged and made his way into Victor''s room, shutting the door behind him.


    "Bro, don''t break my door, else..."


    "Shitty door." James'' voice reverberated from the room and Victor''s expression couldn''t help but shift in annoyance.


    He dropped the bottle of water on the dining table and proceeded to his room.


    A deep breath escaped Leia''s mouth, and she couldn''t help but chuckle softly. She pulled out the USB from her pocket and glanced at it. She nodded at herself and stuffed it back into her pocket.


    She walked to her bag that was still on Victor''s table and unzipped it. She pulled out her phone and turned it on.


    Glancing at the screen, her jaw couldn''t help but fall. ''Twenty-six messages.'' Her eyes fluttered vigorously as she thought, and she immediately typed a reply to him. ''Hahaha... so many messages. I told you I would be fine.''


    As though he was waiting for her response. He replied to her message immediately. [I know, but I still couldn''t help it. I was dead worried]


    Leia chuckled and proceeded to video call him. He picked her up immediately and a wide smile formed on his lips when he saw her face. "Are you okay, little wife?" He asked her, a concerned expression appearing on his face.


    "Yes, I just miss you, that''s all." She replied, and the smile on Adrik''s lips widened. "I miss you more than you can imagine. I will squeeze you with a hug tomorrow when you arrive home." He said, and Leia couldn''t help but laugh happily. "Till tomorrow." She took a low breath and gazed at him through the phone.


    "Is everything all right?" Adrik asked, with worry evident in his tone.


    Leia stared at him for a while, and a charming smile made its way to her lips. "I love you so much." She blew a kiss at him, and Adrik caught it. "I love you too."


    "Alright, I have to go now. I am so sleepy. " She chuckled softly and waved at him. "Bye-bye."


    "See you tomorrow, little wife." He bade goodbye to her and they ended the call. Leia glanced up at the sky and proceeded towards the guest room. She got into the bed beside Kiesha, who was sound asleep and shut her eyes.. The clock ticked and she gradually fell asleep.

 Chapter 107 - Lethal Injection

    Everyone awoke the next day, and after they took a shower and slipped back into their clothing, they ambled to the living room and sat on the round white sofa, facing each other.


    A deep breath escaped Leia''s nose as she stared at Victor''s laptop, situated on the white mini table in front of her.


    Kiesha, who was sitting beside her, placed her hand on her shoulder, and when Leia turned to look at her, she smiled at her.


    Leia smiled back and pulled the USB out of her pocket. She plugged it into the laptop and the media within the USB popped up on her screen.


    James stood up from his chair and took a seat in the space beside her. Leia opened the media and began to browse through the files.


    Many profiles of different patients popped up, and patiently, she began to scroll down, her eyes darting from one profile to another.


    Finally, when she was about to scroll to the end, her mother''s profile came into view, and she hurriedly halted. She took a low breath and clicked on it.


    Files of information appeared on the screen, and slowly, she began to go through them.


    Just like before, every single piece of information she saw in the files she checked out with Victor was also present here. However, those were not what she was looking for. Right now, what she wants to find out is exactly what drugs were injected into her mother''s body when she was still in the hospital.


    Surely they all must be stored within her mother''s profile.


    A low breath left her nose, and she continued to scroll down. Her eyes began to narrow when it seemed like she was about to find what she was looking for.


    DRUG INJECTION:


    -Lethal Injection-


    (Empty)


    Leia''s eyes fell on this, and it couldn''t help but flutter vigorously. "Lethal injection? Empty? " She mumbled, and Victor, who was using his phone, immediately raised his eyes to look at her.


    "Lethal injection." He repeated and stood up from the one-man sofa to walk over and stand beside her.


    He leaned down and gazed intently at the laptop. "Hold on a minute... lethal injection...." His eyes blinked furiously in disbelief as his voice trailed off, and he glanced at the screen once again.


    "Is that a drug or something?" Leia''s brow creased in confusion, and she stared intently at him.


    Victor''s jaw fell as he straightened up and turned to gaze at Leia. He parted his lips to say something, but not a single word came out.


    "Victor! Say something." Leia''s face puckered and she pleaded in a nervous tone.


    Kiesha and James also turned to stare at Victor with anticipation in their eyes. Victor was the only one who would know, as his father is the hospital''s owner.


    A deep, anxious breath escaped Victor''s nose, and he awkwardly lowered his eyes to stare at Leia. "Leia-" He bit his lower lip and pushed James out of the sofa, then took a seat beside Leia. "-Please do not freak out or lose your temper once you hear what I am about to tell you."


    "Um... okay." Leia''s eyes flickered, and she gazed at him in anticipation. Just what exactly is Victor about to tell her? Why is he hesitating? How bad could it be? These questions whirled in her mind, and she bit her lower lip while anxiously waiting for him to speak.


    Victor inhaled and exhaled deeply, then took her hand and stroked it gently. "Leia... lethal injection is not a drug, but... it''s um... a method of injecting one or more drugs into a person to cause rapid death, and its..." His voice trailed off when he saw Leia slowly standing up from the sofa with no emotion apparent on her face.


    "Leia!" The three said it at the same time and turned to glance at each other. They could see the anxiousness within each other''s eyes as they had witnessed how Leia was when she went into her raged mode, and it was absolutely not a good sight.


    Leia''s eyes began to twitch and her hands began to tremble. "Lethal injection." She repeated it behind a deadly chuckle, and an image of a man emerged in her mind.


    "She is my wife, and I will take responsibility for every treatment she receives!!"


    "Why do you suddenly care about her?!"


    "Kid, she is my wife, and I''m sure you''re not too dumb not to know that if my wife dies, people will talk, and I do not want that."


    "You didn''t care when she got sick in the first place! You allowed it to develop further, and now that it has worsened, you want to care for her! You want to care about your stupid reputation! What kind of human being are you?! "


    "I will let you off today because you''re sober. However, next time you speak to me like that...."


    A wicked chuckle echoed in Leia''s mind, and with her body trembling uncontrollably, she grabbed Victor''s laptop that was on the mini table and threw it to the floor, smashing it into pieces. "Ahhh!!!! I hate you!!!! " She yelled and furiously began to stomp the laptop. "You despicable man!!! I hate you!!!! "


    Victor hurriedly rushed up to her and grabbed her by the belly, trying to stop her from doing what she was doing. "Leia, stop it!!"


    "Take your fucking hands off me!" She slapped him across the face and pushed him off her. "If any of you come close to me, I will-" She hadn''t finished saying her threatening words when Kiesha and James rushed up to her and pulled her into a warm hug. They tightly wrapped their arms around her and gently stroked her back. "It''s okay... we are here for you."


    Leia''s throbbing body became motionless and her eyes fluttered slowly. Drops of tears began to fall from her eyes, and she drew away from the embrace, creating a distance between her and them.


    She glanced at the smashed laptop on the floor and Victor, and an unknown glint flashed in her eyes.


    Without uttering a single word, she turned around and ran out of the apartment, not even bothering to slam it shut.


    Her mind being completely crowded, she forgot to take the elevator, but instead ran down the stairs and sauntered out of the building.


    She unlocked her car and pulled the door open. When she proceeded to step in, the voices of her best friend yelling her name to stop her sounded, but she ignored them and slammed the door shut.


    She started the car''s engine and drove out of the compound. She punched the steering wheel of the car in a rage and increased the speed of the car.. Her destination was home.

 Chapter 108 - Open Wounds

    The SUV hastily drove into the compound, and Leia stepped down with a deadly look on her face and a death aura that even she didn''t notice lingering around her.


    The tears falling from her eyes never stopped as she sauntered into the mansion with her hands balled into fists.


    She walked straight to the kitchen and saw Rita standing near the counter doing her work.


    Rita''s eyes fluttered as the death aura enshrouded her and sent chills down her body. She hurriedly turned around and jolted back in fear when she saw Leia standing at the door with a deadly and horror-looking look on her face.


    "Alcohol! " A single word left Leia''s mouth, and Rita''s eyes darted around in confusion. She began to step back, trying to create a distance from her, when she saw her teary eyes twitching in what seemed like fury.


    Deep fear arose within Rita''s heart, and she abruptly moved forward to escape from the kitchen, but Leia''s hand unexpectedly grabbed her by the arm and threw her back into the kitchen, causing her to fall on her bum.


    "Alcohol!" She stated this yet again in a tone that not only sent shivers down Rita''s body but also made her hurriedly begin to back away. Her body began to tremble in deep fear, and she had no idea when drops of tears began to fall from her small, pretty eyes. "Please, I am sorry. Don''t hurt me. " She begged with her hands cupped at her chest.


    Leia''s eyes shook more violently, and she stepped into the kitchen. Thinking she was coming for her, Rita immediately crawled away, hiding behind the door.


    Leia''s bloodshot eyes glanced at her and then at the fridge. She walked towards it and opened it, grabbing three bottles of alcohol.


    Feeling she had got a chance, Rita immediately ran out of the kitchen, making her way out of the mansion.


    Leia glimpsed the direction she ran from, and without bothering to shut the fridge, she stormed out of the kitchen, proceeding upstairs.


    She walked through the corridor that led to their room and stopped. She turned towards the door that led into the room, which she had run to the first time she came to this house and pushed it open.


    Her body slipped in and she shut the door, locking it from the inside. She turned the lights on and slowly ambled towards the bathroom, with the bottles of alcohol in her hand.


    Leia pushed the door open and switched the lights on. Then she walked towards the bathtub and dropped the bottles on the floor.


    She took her hoody off, leaving herself with only a short white tube that covered her breasts.


    She sat on the floor and uncocked a bottle of alcohol, then brought it to her lips and began to gulp down liquid after liquid.


    Her wet lashes flickered, and more tears couldn''t help but flow down from her eyes. She once again gulped down a mouthful of alcohol and shut her eyes.


    "Mother..." She whispered, and the image of her mother emerged in her mind.


    "Leia dear... Don''t run too far, or you will get lost."


    "Mummy, I won''t! Hihihi."


    "Leia! Listen to me! Don''t go too far!"


    "Fine, humph!" Her little legs carried her up and down as she hopped back to her mother, who sat down on a white wooden chair in their garden.


    "Mummy, you never let me out of the house. Why?"


    "My little darling.-" She took the little girl into her arms and caressed her hair. "-Because I want to keep you safe."


    "Safe from what?" The little child asked, with confusion apparent in her large eyes.


    "You won''t understand now. When you grow up into a big, beautiful girl, I will tell you." The mother kissed the little girl on her forehead, and the little child wrapped her arms around her, hugging her tightly.


    Then a scene flashed by.


    "Mother, what is going on? Why are you vomiting blood?"


    "Leia-" The woman lying helplessly on the hospital bed began to cough painfully and drops of blood fell from her mouth.


    "Mum!" The young girl rushed to her and supported her with her arms. She grabbed a cup of water from the table near the bed and helped her swallow some. "Mum, please, don''t do this to me! Please stay with me! "


    "Leia...n-no matter what happens, You know, I love you v-very muc..." The woman coughed painfully yet again, but this time she fell back on the hospital bed and her hands tiredly fell to her sides.


    "Mum!!" The young girl panicked and immediately rushed out of the room. "Doctor!!! Doctor!!! Please, my mother is dying. You need to do something!!" She grabbed the male nurse she saw and begged, tears flowing down her eyes like a river.


    The nurse followed her in and immediately began to check up on the woman. Doctors arrived and the young girl was asked to stay outside.


    Minutes hadn''t even passed when the beeping sound from the electrocardiogram was heard, and the young girl''s heart skipped a bit.


    Her body trembled, and slowly, she walked towards the door and peered inside, through the glass. Her heart instantly rushed up to her throat the moment her eyes fell on the electrocardiogram, whose beat had slowed down and was showing flatlines. That means her mother was dead!


    Before she could even think straight, the nurses inside the emergency room pushed the door open and dragged her away from the emergency ward.


    They brought her away, and she angrily snatched her arms. Her head shook in disbelief, and she proceeded to move to the emergency ward, but the nurses held her back. "Miss, please, wait a bit; the doctor will come to see you by himself." They told her and the young girl shut her eyes to calm herself down.


    Leia''s eyes sprang open, and she inhaled deeply to catch her breath, then exhaled. Her lashes fluttered and tears flowed down her eyes.


    She grabbed the last bottle of alcohol and slammed it on the floor, breaking it into pieces. The liquid flowed through the floor to where she sat and wet the jean shorts she wore.


    Leia''s hand trembled as she picked up a sharp piece of the bottle and stared intently at it.


    She reached for her back and, with her teeth gritted tightly, she began to reopen her wounds! The scars he gave her!! She reopened them.


    Blood flowed down her body and onto the floor, tainting it.


    "Ahhhhhhh!!!" A painful scream escaped her mouth, and she threw the piece of the bottle away and began to punch the floor. "This is all your fault!! This is all your fucking fault!! " She punched much faster until her knuckles became bloody and bleeding, tarnishing the white floor.


    "Ahh-h!"A cry mixed with a chuckle left her mouth, and she laid down on the floor, ignoring her bleeding back.


    _______


    Adrik carefully parked the Rolls Royce and stepped down. He looked up at the mansion and, as though something had struck his heart, he immediately clutched his chest and his face grimaced in pain. ''What''s going on?'' His brow couldn''t help but wrinkle as he thought.


    He took a deep breath and adjusted his clothing, then slowly proceeded to walk into the mansion. However, he was suddenly stopped by Rita, who jumped out of nowhere, with her body still trembling in fear.


    "Supreme Alpha!" She bowed deeply, and Adrik''s face puckered as he nodded in response to her.


    "Why are you trembling?" He asked, and she swallowed hard. "Supreme Alpha... something is wrong with Luna."


    "What do you mean?" Adrik''s eyes narrowed in confusion as he asked and, without hesitation, Rita began to narrate what happened to her. However, before she could finish, Adrik pushed her out of the way and rushed into the mansion.


    He arrived on the second floor in seconds and the scent of blood instantly hit his nose. His green eyes immediately changed to those of gold and he rushed to the door of the room in which Leia was.


    Adrik turned the handle, but the door didn''t open, indicating it was bolted from the inside. His face darkened, and he furiously kicked the door, causing it to break and fall to the floor with a loud bang.


    He hurried into the room and glanced around, but saw no one. His eyes fell on the door of the bathroom, and without delay, he rushed up and pushed the door open.


    The moment he glanced inside, his body stilled and, as though his brain exploded, the world around him stopped.


    Within the bathtub, Leia lay inside the water that was bloody from her blood. The water had leaked to the floor, causing the floor to be tainted by it. Pieces of glass were everywhere, and the thick scent of her blood filled the air.


    His expressionless eyes trailed to her face, only to see her eyes shut and her body motionless inside the water as though she was unconscious or dead.

 Chapter 109 - Tell Me!!

    Adrik''s body trembled uncontrollably, and his eyes fluttered in pain. He slowly walked towards the tub and squatted down to its level.


    He gazed at Leia''s face, and his heart squeezed tightly within him when he saw the drops of tears falling from her eyes. What happened?


    He reached out his hand and gently caressed her cheek.


    Leia''s eyes opened, and she stared at the ceiling. "Little wife..." Adrik whispered, and she turned her head to glance at him, only to see his eyes wet as though teardrops were about to fall from them.


    She stared at him but uttered not a word as the tears in her eyes never ceased falling.


    Adrik stood up and dug his hands into the water, wrapping them around her body. He gently lifted her from the bathtub and rain of water fell from her wet body. "Little wife..." He whispered her name once again, and Leia''s eyes blinked once as they gazed at him.


    Ever so gently, he carried her out of the bathtub and laid her down on the floor that was devoid of any pieces of the broken bottles. Then he knelt in front of her.


    He hugged her tightly, and when he tried to stroke her back, something liquid tainted his fingers, and he couldn''t help but glance at her back.


    The moment his gazes fell on her back, his eyes, which had returned to their green color, changed to golden and darkened.


    He glanced at her and then to her back, and he roughly grabbed her shoulder, staring deep into her eyes. "Why?"


    "Tell me why you''re hurting yourself this way! I was going to come home and hug you tightly, not to see this! It hurts to see you like this!! Just why? " He shook her as he threw every question, but Leia uttered not a single word, however, a low whimper came from her and her tears flowed down to her cheek, dropping onto the floor.


    Adrik''s heart ached painfully within him, and he immediately clutched his chest. This is how strong their mate bond is. They feel each other''s pain and it hurts them.


    "Leia, please stop! Just tell me what it is! Who hurt you? Who made you do this to yourself? " He questioned her, but yet again, not a word escaped Leia''s mouth. Rather, she raised her teary eyes to stare at his face.


    She slowly reached out her hand and placed it on his cheek. "He... was the one." She whispered, behind tears, and Adrik''s face changed in confusion. "Who? Little wife, I want to know who hurt you! " He grabbed her hand that was caressing his cheek and rested it on his chest. "Please tell me...." He pleaded with a face that was altered in pain.


    Leia''s wet lashes fluttered, and she unexpectedly fell into his arms, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face in his chest. "H-he was the one that killed my mother!! He was the one!! " She sobbed uncontrollably, and her body couldn''t stop trembling.


    "I feel full, h-holding my tears back. I wanted to let it all out! I wanted to hurt myself!! To remind myse- "


    "Shhh..." Adrik hushed her and tenderly caressed her hair. He drew her head back so he could look at her face, and lovingly placed a warm kiss on her lips.


    "Little wife..." He dabbed off the tears on the edge of her eyes with his thumb and leaned down to deliver a soft kiss on her forehead.


    Drops of warm liquid fell on Leia''s forehead, and her eyes couldn''t help but quiver in confusion. "A-adrik..." She parted her lips to say something, but Adrik pulled her into a loving hug. "I am sorry..."


    He said, and Leia immediately pulled away from the embrace. She gazed up at his face, only to see tears falling from his eyes. Those green eyes of his.


    "Why... are you crying?" She couldn''t help but ask in a tone that held sadness.


    "I am sorry... I couldn''t keep you from getting hurt. I am sorry for---" He didn''t finish his words when Leia unexpectedly covered his lips with hers and kissed him passionately. "I love you so very much." She whispered against his lips, and Adrik cupped her cheek.


    His tears fell on her cheek, and she gently wiped the tears from his eyes.


    She broke the kiss and wrapped her arms around him. "Forgive me." She said, and her heart ached in grief. "I know you hurt when I do." She raised her head to look at him, and Adrik tenderly caressed her short hair.


    He gently scooped her into his arms and stood up from the floor, then stared down at her with a smile on his face.


    He walked out of the bathroom and out of the room, then proceeded towards their room.


    He pushed the door open and stepped in, slamming it shut behind them.


    "Let me take care of you." He whispered to her and slowly carried her to the bathroom.


    He walked to the tub and sat her down on the white pavement near the tub. He then turned the tap on to fill up the bathtub and threw some bubbles into it.


    A beautiful scent filled the air and he walked to her.


    Adrik grabbed the hem of her tube and pulled it off, exposing her breasts.


    He unbuttoned her shorts and pulled them off her waist, then went for her panty. Now she sat completely naked in front of him.


    With his eyes fixed on hers, he lifted her from the pavement and gently laid her in the tub. Then he scooped up a good amount of water and sprinkled it on her body.


    He tenderly scrubbed her body with the sponge, and Leia relaxed her head on the edge of the tub.


    He gave her a nice bath, and when he was done, he carried her out and dried her body, then wrapped her up in a white towel.


    He walked her out of the bathroom and had her sit down on the white soft stool in their bedroom.


    Adrik walked back to the bathroom and grabbed the first aid box in the cabinet, then ambled back to her.


    He strolled to stand behind her and squatted down to her level.

 Chapter 110 - Apology

    He loosened her towel, letting it fall to her waist, then poured a few drops of spirit on the cotton wool and gently began to clean her wound.


    Leia hissed as the pain struck her and her hand balled into a tight fist.


    "I am sorry, little wife." Adrik comforted her and, as soon as he was done with cleaning it, he dressed it up.


    He stood up and walked into the dressing room, then grabbed a set of clothes and strolled back to the bedroom.


    He helped her apply some oil to her body, then aided her in sliding into her clothing, which was black leggings and a white tunic top.


    He pulled her up from the stool and gently caressed her hair. "How do you feel now?"


    "Better than ever." She smiled at him, and he laid a soft kiss on her forehead. "Wait here, let me get you something to eat." He had her sit down on the sofa, and walked out of the room.


    A low breath escaped Leia''s nose, and she fiddled with her fingers. How is she going to face her best friends? Especially Victor.


    Her face grimaced when she recalled how she slapped him and his laptop that she broke, and a soft sigh couldn''t help but exit her mouth.


    She shook her head and made up her mind to meet them the next day and apologize.


    The door slammed shut, jolting her out of her thoughts, and she turned around to see Adrik walking towards her with a tray of food in his hand.


    He placed it down on the white mini table and took a seat beside her on the sofa.


    Leia glanced at the plastic white tray to see a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs. Next to it were summer rolls with peanut sauce placed on a flat ceramic plate.


    Her eyes instantly glowed, and she covered her mouth with her hand. "My favorite..." She whispered, and Adrik, who sat beside her, chuckled softly.


    He grabbed the bowl of spaghetti and turned to face her. Leia''s eyes fluttered in confusion, and she tilted her head to one side.


    "Remember, I said I would take care of you, so... I''m going to feed you." He said, and a wide smile immediately emerged on Leia''s lips. She moved closer to him and stared at him with gleaming eyes.


    Adrik laughed softly and placed a napkin on her neck. Then he rolled a few pieces of spaghetti with the fork and brought them to her lips.


    Leia happily parted her lips and the fork slid into her mouth. She chewed on the food and shut her eyes as she savored the taste. "This is so good." She said with a full mouth, and Adrik patted her on the head.


    He continued to feed her and, contrary to his expectations, Leia finished everything. A deep breath escaped his nose and he turned to stare at her. "You''re gluttonous." A smack landed on his head the moment he finished his sentence, and his eyes fluttered in confusion. "Why did you do that?" He spread his hands innocently as he inquired.


    "Humph!" Leia scoffed and stood up from the couch. She proceeded to walk to the bed, but unexpectedly turned around and grabbed Adrik by the cheek, placing a soft loving kiss on his lips. "Thank you."


    She straightened up and walked to the bed, then climbed in and gently laid down on one side.


    A low sigh escaped her lips, and she shut her eyes as though she was about to sleep.


    Adrik stared at her and took a deep breath. He gazed up at the bright sky through the window and slightly shook his head.


    He called for the maids, and they arrived shortly to clear away the plates.


    He then proceeded to the bathroom and took his time to have his shower.


    Time rapidly passed by, and the bright sky was soon enshrouded by darkness.


    Leia, who was having her nap, woke up and sat up on the bed. She stretched her body and reached for her phone near the lantern that was on the white mini table beside their bed.


    She unlocked it and went into her chat. Different messages from her best friends popped up on her screen, and her eyes couldn''t help but flutter.


    [Leia, are you okay? Please say something]


    [Leia, is everything all right? We are worried about you]


    [Leia, I don''t give a damn about my laptop, but what I want to know is how you''re doing. How could you just leave like that?]


    A deep breath exited her nose and she pinched her brow. She turned to glance at Adrik, who was sound asleep beside her, and she quietly climbed down from the bed.


    She made her way downstairs and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, then walked to the dining table in the dining area and sat down to drink her water.


    ''I''m perfectly fine. I will meet you guys tomorrow, alright.'' She replied to their messages, and a soft sigh couldn''t help but exit her mouth.


    A scene of them hugging her to calm her down flashed in her mind, and a warm smile formed on her lips. They are indeed her best friends.


    _______


    The next day arrived, and the bright morning sun rose in the sky, spreading its rays across the land.


    Leia yawned as she sat up on the bed and proceeded to climb down, but Adrik''s arm, which was wrapped around her waist, held her back.


    She turned her head to glance at him and her eyes fell on his long black raven hair, which was scattered on the bed. She tucked a few strands that fell over his face behind his ear and proceeded to retract her hand, but Adrik grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her onto the bed. "You got up so early today." He smiled at her, and Leia flicked her finger at his forehead.


    "I had a nice nap yesterday, so...." She wiggled her brows at him, sat up on the bed, and then proceeded to climb down.


    She made her way to the bathroom and brushed her teeth, then took her bath and outfitted herself with a set of casual clothing.


    She walked to Adrik, who was seated on the sofa and leaned down to place a soft kiss on his lips. "I will be back in a few hours. I have to meet them to give a proper apology. " She smiled at him, and he nodded at her.


    "I hope to meet your best friends one day." He said it without sparing her a glance, and Leia chuckled softly. She perked him on the cheek, and ambled out of the room, shutting the door behind her.


    She moved downstairs and walked out of the mansion, then boarded the black Rolls Royce and drove out of the compound.


    Leia arrived at Victor''s apartment in less than an hour and drove into the compound, then carefully parked the car.


    She stepped down from the car and took a deep breath. She gazed up at the building standing in front of her, and with a bit of hesitation, she walked in.


    The elevator took her up to the second floor, and she stepped out when the door opened.


    Gradually, she began to walk towards Victor''s apartment, and when she arrived in front of the door, she halted.


    She inhaled and exhaled deeply before raising her hand and slowly knocking on the door.


    Seconds didn''t even pass before the door was pulled open. She raised her eyes and they fell on Kiesha, who was clad in a fine blue short and white hoody.


    "Leia..." Kiesha''s voice sounded as she called her name and Leia parted her lips to say something, but an abrupt tight hug from Kiesha had her swallow her word. "Gosh, we were so worried about you yesterday." Kiesha drew back from the embrace and scrutinized her from head to toe.


    "I''m glad you''re okay." She grabbed Leia by the wrist and pulled her into the living room. "Guys, she''s here." She announced, and James, who was seated on the sofa with his phone in his hand, stood up and stared intently at Leia.


    Leia proceeded to say something, but immediately changed her mind when she saw Victor walking into the living room with his gazes fixed on his phone.


    She lowered her head when his eyes met hers, and she couldn''t help but bite her lower lip in guilt.


    "Victor, I am really sorry... Okay, I will get a new laptop for you. I just hope... you''re not mad at me. " She apologized nervously and raised her head in confusion when she heard him chuckling softly.


    "Why... are you laughing?" She asked in utter confusion and bewilderment.


    Victor shook his head at her and stuffed his phone into his pocket as a low breath escaped his nose. He walked up to her and grabbed her by the shoulder, turning her so she could face him. "Leia, you don''t really think that I will make you pay for it, do you?" He inquired, and Leia fluttered her eyes.


    "Common, we all understand that you have no idea what you are doing when you''re in your raged mode, so I won''t fuss much about it. Besides, I can still buy another one; it''s not a big deal." He shrugged and patted her on the shoulder.


    A smile spread across Leia''s lips, and a deep breath of relief escaped her mouth. "You guys are the best." She glanced at them, and they smiled warmly at her.


    "So glad we are all back to normal and fine.." Kiesha clapped her hand in solace and walked to the couch to take a seat beside James.

 Chapter 111 - DNA Test

    Leia tiredly plopped down on the sofa and relaxed her back.


    "So... how do you feel now?" Kiesha turned her head to look at her and asked with a friendly smile on her face.


    "Well... pretty much okay, I guess." Leia shrugged and rested her head on the edge of the couch.


    "What do you...plan to do now?" Victor, who was, as usual, sitting on the one-man sofa, asked and Leia raised her head to glance at him.


    A low sigh escaped her lips, and she clicked her tongue. "I don''t know. I am thinking about it. I will see what I will do. " She replied, and Victor nodded at her.


    "Um... Leia" Keisha''s eyes abruptly dwindled a bit, and she turned to face Leia, who was gazing at her with raised brows. "I just thought of something."


    "Huh?" Leia''s brow creased in bewilderment, and she stared intently at Kiesha.


    "Um... I don''t know if it''s just me, but... have you ever had, um, a DNA test with your dad?" Kiesha''s asked with her brows raised in a questioning manner.


    "Err, no..." Leia replied with a confused look on her face and her brow creased. "Why do you ask?"


    "I am not sure, but... I have been meaning to ask you about the DNA stuff because...what if Mr. Adolpho is not your real father?" Kiesha''s eyes fluttered, and she interlocked her hands together as she spoke.


    Leia''s eyes blinked as a lost expression made its way to her face. She took a deep breath and slightly shook her head. "That''s... not possible."


    "I''m not saying it''s true but am just assuming. What if he''s not your father? I mean, I have been suspecting this since we were in high school."


    "Why would you suspect that?" Leia immediately questioned, and her face crinkled in confusion.


    "Alright... Since we were in high school, he has never treated you like his daughter, but always found a way to disgrace you, hit and abuse you. Now tell me, for once, has he ever raised his hands at Amy and Jenny? Has he? " Kiesha arched her brow as she asked.


    The frown on Leia''s face deepened and her eyes fluttered in doubt.


    "I know it might seem absurd, but it just doesn''t make sense to me. How can a father have three daughters and only love two out of them? It''s just impossible!... Okay, let''s assume it''s possible. Would he hate you to the extent of hitting you without a second thought? Disgracing you then, in front of the whole fucking school! It just doesn''t make sense!"


    "Even if he hates you, it won''t be to that extent. And if he despised all three of you, that would be acceptable, but fuck, he loathes only you and pampered Amy and Jemmy as though they were kids in kindergarten! " Kiesha shook her head and relaxed back on the sofa. "I might be wrong though, but all I am saying is that it won''t hurt to have a DNA test. At least if you do... you will know where you stand...."


    "Remember how shocked I was to find out that one of the top five richest men in the world was your father? Common, daughter of a billionaire, being treated like trash, so unbelievable. He doesn''t give a damn about his image or anything, but he does that to you. Thinking about it now, it''s getting more and more sus. " She shrugged, and a low breath left her nose.


    Leia''s eyes blinked vigorously, and deep doubts began to arise in her heart.


    "She''s right," The sound of Victor''s abrupt voice had her raise her head and turn to stare at him. "You should have a DNA test with your dad. At least find out if the person hurting you this way is your dad or not. "


    "This also doesn''t make sense to me." James, who was sitting next to Kiesha, chirped in and nodded to Leia."You really should have a DNA test with your dad, because now that we are speaking about it, it''s so suspicious."


    Leia took a deep breath and bit her lower lips. Yes, even she has her doubts. But doesn''t that mean she''s doubting her mother? I mean, her mother had told her that Mr. Adolpho was her father when she asked back then because she had doubted he was, considering the way he was treating her.


    Would her mother lie to her? There is no way Mr. Adolpho isn''t her father, right? Because if he isn''t, her mother won''t let him treat her that way and even watch him hit her sometimes.


    Leia pinched her brow as her mind felt completely blank. So much confusion and doubt. A lot of questions are swirling in her mind.


    "Leia... please do not think much about it. It''s just a suggestion from us, okay." Kiesha said with a friendly smile on her face when she saw the disturbed look on her face.


    "It''s okay..." Leia waved her hand at her as she slightly shook her head and took a low, deep breath. "I will think about what you guys said." She turned her head to glance at them, and they nodded at her with smiles on their faces.


    "Don''t let it bother you much. As Kiesha said, It''s just a suggestion, it isn''t something to stress over, okay." Victor smiled at her and she nodded in riposte.


    ....


    Leia spent a few more hours more with them and finally bade them goodbye and left the apartment.


    She sped down the road at a normal speed and finally slowed down when she arrived near the mansion. Then, carefully drove into the compound and parked the car.


    She stepped down and locked it, then made her way into the building.


    The moment she walked into the mansion, she mistakenly jammed with Rita, and the tray of food in Rita''s hand fell to the floor and the ceramic plates broke into pieces.


    Leia glanced at her and the broken plate on the floor, then at her clothing, which was stained with food, and her eyes fluttered vigorously.


    Rita''s heart instantly skipped a bit, and she took a step back with her fear-filled eyes, staring at Leia. What is going to happen now?

 Chapter 112 - Strange

    Leia''s face darkened and she moved, taking a step forward, but as though seeing a ghost, Rita winced back, her body trembling in fear.


    ''Why is she flinching away?'' Leia''s darkened face deepened as she thought, and she stared intently at Rita. She proceeded to move towards her again, but Rita hurriedly backed away, creating a distance between her and her. "Please, I am sorry. I didn''t mean to" Her back unexpectedly jammed with a strong physique, and she flinched away and turned around to see Adrik standing with his hands shoved into his pocket and a look of displeasure in his green eyes.


    "Supreme Alp-Boss." Rita''s eyes fluttered nervously, and she bowed deeply to Adrik.


    Adrik ignored her and raised his eyes to gaze at Leia, who was also staring at him. "Little wife." He spoke her name in a low tone, and a smile made its way to his lips behind the mask he wore.


    Leia''s puckered face brightened up, and she walked to him. He grabbed her hand and interlocked his fingers with hers, then they went upstairs and to their room.


    Adrik shut the door behind them and Leia proceeded to walk to the bed. However, Adrik suddenly wrapped his strong muscular arms around her waist and buried his face in her neck.


    "Adrik..." He began to spread kisses on her neck, and Leia couldn''t help but close her eyes in pleasure. "Adrik..." She tried to say something to him, but Adrik''s hand sneaked underneath her hoody and grabbed onto her breast that was hidden within the thick fabric of her bra.


    A low moan escaped her lips, and she grabbed onto his hair. As though he knew her legs felt wobbly and that she would fall at any time, he scooped her up in a bridal style and gently laid her on the bed.


    Leia stared into his eyes, and he leaned down, covering her lips with his. He tenderly bit at her lower lip, and Leia parted her lips, letting him in.


    Their tongues met each other and moved together in rhythm. Adrik broke away from the kiss and began to place kisses on her neck. He reached her sweet spot and sucked on it, earning a moan from her.


    Leia grabbed onto the pillow when he lifted her hoody and grabbed onto her breast, pressing hard on it.


    He pulled down her bra and, without hesitation, he took one in his mouth while his hand fondled with the other.


    "Ah... Adrik..." Her grip on the pillow tightened and she shut her eyes in pleasure.


    Adrik came back up and kissed her roughly, then began to undress her. He pulled everything off her, leaving her completely naked before him.


    Leia tugged on his shirt, and he grabbed her hands, pinning them over her head, then smirked at her. "Easy little wife. I won''t be rough with you. " He said and began to unbutton his shirt. He threw it away and stripped himself of the remnants that remained on him.


    Leia''s eyes trailed down his masculine body and couldn''t help but linger on the unique wolf tattoo drawn all over his upper body. "I love your... tattoos." Her face turned completely red, and Adrik grinned at her. "I know you do." He said and leaned down, slamming his lips against hers.


    He parted her legs, positioning himself at her entrance. His length pricked her sex, causing her to feel intense desire.


    "Adrik..."


    "Shhh." He hushed her and caressed her hair, then slowly pushed inside of her and out. He went at a slow pace, and when he felt her adjust, he picked up his pace and slammed into and out of her.


    Leia''s feet curled up and her grip on the bed sheet tightened. She threw her head back in overwhelming pleasure, moaning his name loudly.


    Adrik shut his eyes in pleasure and, with more and more thrust into her, he felt near the edge. "Leia!" He moaned her name, and Leia dug her fingers into his skin.


    He exploded inside of her and leaned down, giving her a soft kiss, then rolled over to lie on his back.


    Leia breathed heavily, and beads of sweat filled her body. She lifted her hand to tuck her wet hair behind her ear, but upon seeing her fingers, a look of horror emerged on her face, and she immediately sat up on the bed. "Adrik!"


    She yelled his name, and Adrik instantly sat up on the bed, turning to face her. "What''s wrong?" He asked her, and when she showed him her fingers, Adrik''s eyes fluttered in confusion.


    Her hands were all bloody and her fingers were a bit elongated, going past the normal length.


    "Oh!"Leia screamed in horror, and Adrik immediately grabbed her by the wrist, turning her so she could look at him. "It''s OK."


    "Adrik, what is going on? Why are my fingers this long? Why-"


    "Little wife" Adrik placed his hands on her cheek and stared into her eyes. "It''s okay. Calm down."


    Leia''s eyes blinked vigorously in fear, and her heart couldn''t stop beating rapidly.


    Adrik slid back into his boxers and went to the bathroom to grab a towel. He returned and wiped the blood off her hand.


    Leia immediately knelt on the bed and moved behind him. She gazed at his back, and her eyes widened in terror. "Y-your back." She cried out in fear, and Adrik proceeded to pull her to him, but she backed away. "I did that to you." She trembled as she stared at the scratches on his back.


    Ten deep wounds caused by her fingers were seeping blood and streaming down the length of his back.


    "Little wife, it''s okay." Adrik pinched his brow and turned to look at her. "I am fine. Please don''t cry. " He moved towards her when he saw tears falling from her eyes, and pulled her into a hug.


    "A-adrik, what is going on with me? What is happening to me? " She asked behind sobs, and Adrik gently stroked her hair.


    "Nothing is wrong with you. You are perfectly fine."


    "But... what about-"


    "Little wife, don''t panic. I will help you clarify things, okay. I will search and find out what is going on. Don''t be afraid; I am here with you. " He drew her back and tenderly kissed her swollen lips while placing her back on the bed.


    "I love you, little wife." He tucked her hair behind her ears and placed a soft kiss on her neck and her collar bone. "Nothing is wrong, okay, little wife."


    Leia nodded at him, and a low breath escaped her lips as she relaxed in his arms.


    ....


    The clock ticked slowly as it clocked midnight and Leia, who was lying on the bed, began to sweat profusely.


    Her head shook as though she was refusing something, and her hand gripped onto the bedsheet. ...


    ...


    "Who are you?" Leia asked in a nervous tone, and the man hiding in the shadows smirked wickedly.


    Leia''s eyes darted around, and before she could anticipate anything, everywhere lit up in the fire, burning even her. However, instead of feeling pain or seeing her body burn, nothing happened. She felt no pain, nor did a single burn emerge on her skin.


    "Who''s there?" She questioned yet again when a shadow surged past her, causing a gush of wind to blow on her.


    She immediately turned around in that direction but saw no one.


    Her heart began to pound rapidly within her, and it skipped a bit when a pair of hands grabbed onto her shoulder and her body stilled.


    The hands were so heated, as though the person had just stepped out of the fire. It was so hot that she believed it could burn her skin.


    Her eyes fluttered and she tried to turn around, but she found herself stuck in one place, unable to move.


    "Kid." A lazy, magnificent, and absorbing voice that made her feel like she could melt in its heavenliness flew through her ears, and her body shuddered as if she''d heard it before.


    She had heard it somewhere, but she couldn''t remember where or when.


    "W-who are you?" She asked yet again, but the silhouette, however, chuckled in a tone that almost came out as a whisper and let go of her body.


    As though feeling released, she immediately turned around to glimpse the person but saw no one.


    All she could see was the fire burning around her.


    Beads of sweat dripped from her forehead, and her eyes couldn''t stop darting around.


    Voices echoed in her mind, and they soon turned into laughter, drumming in her ears.


    Leia covered her ears and slumped to the floor, closing her eyes tightly. "Stay away from me!!" She screamed.


    ...


    A long gasp escaped Leia''s mouth as she abruptly sat up on the bed with her eyes dilated open.


    Her heart pounded within her and she breathed rapidly and heavily as though she was losing her breath.


    "Little wife." Adrik immediately grabbed onto her stiff body and wrapped his arms around her, embracing her warmly. "It''s okay. It''s all just a bad dream. "


    Leia did not utter a word, but her eyes were still dilated as though she was in shock.

 Chapter 113 - Afraid Of What Might Unfold

    Adrik held onto her throughout the night, making sure she had a good sleep.


    The early morning sun rose in the sky and showered its rays on the couple laying on the bed through the huge glass window.


    Adrik''s eyes blinked open and he glanced at Leia only to see her expressionless eyes fixed on the white ceiling.


    He immediately straightened up a bit, supporting his body with his arm, then gazed directly at her blank face.


    "Little wife..." He kissed her forehead and removed a strand of her hair from her face.


    Leia''s gaze shifted from the ceiling to him, and her eyes blinked leisurely. Adrik half smiled at her and a downcast sigh escaped his lips.


    He brought his leg down from the bed and stood up, proceeding to the mirror, standing on the unique white table. He gazed at himself through it, and a deep breath left his nose.


    He turned around and glanced at the bed, only to see Leia still laid down, with her blank eyes staring at him.


    "Little wife..." He walked over to her on the bed and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her up. "Please, don''t stay this way! I promise you, it''s just a dream. I will figure out what is going on and I will never let anything happen to you... I love you very much. " He tugged her closer to him and hugged her tightly, nuzzling her neck. "I don''t like seeing you this way." He whispered into her ears, and Leia''s slender arms gently wrapped around him.


    "Adrik." She called his name, and Adrik drew back from the embrace to stare at her face. "Yes, little wife. Anything you want me to do for you? " He asked as he gently stroked her cheek.


    "Can we visit my father in four days?" She gazed up at his face, and Adrik''s eyes blinked in surprise.


    "You... want to visit him?" He is filled with apprehension as he asks. Why would his little wife suddenly want to visit her father? I mean, after what she had found, it''s really doubtful that she would ever visit him.


    "Yes, I want to." Leia nodded her head, and Adrik narrowed his eyes as his intent gaze fixed on her expressionless face.


    "Why?" He raised his brow in a questioning manner as he asked, and Leia lowered her head.


    "Well... I have been having this thought of going for a DNA test with him." She fiddled with her fingers and raised her eyes to look at him when she got no reaction from him.


    "Why?" Adrik questioned yet again, and his face altered in bewilderment.


    "I want to be sure that he''s my real father. Not just me, but my friends too are having doubts about it. " A low breath escaped her nose and she fell into his embrace, placing her head on his chest. "I am not doubting my mother, nor anything but-"


    "Little wife, if you''re having qualms about it, then there is no harm in wanting to know. It''s actually a good idea, you know. At least you will be clear of all doubts. " Adrik stroked her cheek with his thumb, and Leia relaxed completely in his embrace.


    They stayed this way for a few minutes, before Adrik suddenly shifted her to one side, straightened up, and climbed down from the bed.


    He gestured his hand out to her, and Leia grabbed onto it, standing up on her feet on the bed. Her face altered in confusion as Adrik pulled her closer and wrapped her arms around his neck.


    He dragged her from the bed, and Leia immediately wrapped her legs around his waist to prevent herself from falling.


    He carried her in his arms and walked away from the bed, making his way to the bathroom.


    He shut the door the moment they stepped in and held her to the sink to help her brush her teeth. The cold breeze brushed against her bare body, and she shuddered.


    Adrik pulled her to him and hugged her as she brushed her teeth. He helped her with her bathing, and finally, after she was clothed, she plopped down on the sofa and patiently waited for her breakfast.


    While she was waiting, Adrik took the time to have his bath and swathed himself in a white hoodie and white sweat pants.


    He gave his long hair a fine combing and tied it up in a ponytail. Then he walked to the sofa and took a seat beside her.


    A minute had yet to pass when a knock came at the door, and a voice asked for permission to come in.


    Adrik gave his approval, and the door slowly creaked open and a trembling Rita walked in.


    "Good morning, Supreme Alpha." She bowed to Adrik and then turned to Leia. "G-good morning, Luna." Leia gave no reaction and just stared at her.


    Rita''s eyes fluttered, and she swallowed hard. She hurriedly dropped the tray of food on the wide round, mini table, and after she was done with serving them, she took her to leave, leaving the couple to themselves.


    Leia turned her head to glance at Adrik, and Adrik shrugged at her, indicating he had no idea why Rita was behaving in such a strange way. She can''t possibly develop such a fear just because of Leia''s action and the death aura lingering around her that day.


    Adrik grabbed a sandwich from the white ceramic plate and took a bite, whilst Leia unhurriedly nibbled on her waffles.


    Her eyes gazed out to the sky through the window, and she slowly chewed on her food. Adrik turned his head to glance at her, and a deep breath left his nose as he glimpsed the distant look on her face.


    "Little wife-" He proceeded to speak, but she cut him off with a half-smile on her lips. "I am fine Adrik, don''t worry." She took a deep breath and got up from the couch.


    She proceeded to leave, but Adrik grabbed her by the wrist, stopping her. "You are not okay, little wife." He spoke in a sad tone that almost came out as a whisper, and Leia turned around to stare at him.


    "You are gluttonous and never leave leftovers, but today, you couldn''t even finish a single waffle. How do you expect me to believe you''re okay?" He questioned her, with a downcast expression on his face.


    Leia bit her lower lip and walked to him. She sat on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him."You are right, I am not okay. I am confused! A bit scared! And... I don''t know, I''m worried about what might unfold in the future.." She poured out to him and buried her face in his shoulder.

 Chapter 114 - One Month

    Adrik stroked her back and hugged her tightly. "I love you, little wife." He drew her back and grabbed onto her chin, making her look directly into his eyes.


    Leia''s eyes fluttered and she gazed at him, unable to say a word. "You''re safe with me. I won''t ever let you get hurt...even if I have to risk my life. It''s a promise, little wife. " He leaned in and covered her lips with his, kissing her ever so gently.


    It held no lust nor passion, but just love and care.


    Leia wrapped her arms around him, and breaking away from the kiss, she hugged him tightly as though he could disappear if she didn''t.


    Adrik nuzzled her neck and a low sigh escaped his mouth. He can''t imagine his life without her. It would be worse than death.


    Leia pulled back from the hug and gazed at his face. Adrik smiled at her and caressed her hair. "Do you want to stay like this? I can hold you forever if you want." He smirked, and Leia flicked her finger at his forehead.


    She curled her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder, a few strands of his hair touching her, wrapping around her hands. A low breath escaped her nose and she kissed him on the neck. "Let''s stay this way. Hold onto me. "


    Adrik smiled heartily inside him and gently began to caress her hair while letting her relax on him.


    ________


    Standing opposite Victor with her arms folded and a dark look on her face, Selena''s eyes twitched in fury.


    "I am sorry..." Victor smiled awkwardly, and her gray eyes glared viciously at him. "You left me locked up in here for a whole two fucking days! " She yelled at him, and a low breath escaped his nose.


    "I am sorry... I got caught up in something and... I am sorry, okay." He gazed at her, and Selena scoffed within her and plopped down on the sofa.


    "You''re using my clothes and feeding on my food, though, so I guess that could be compensation for lock-" He hadn''t finished his sentence when Selena turned her head and malevolently glared at him. She dangerously eyed him and averted her gaze away from him when she saw his eyes blinking in confusion.


    She took a deep, annoyed breath and turned her head when the sofa abruptly deepened as though someone had sat on it beside her.


    Victor relaxed back on the couch and never spared her a glance, even though he knew that she was looking at him.


    A minute passed and none of them spoke. Victor took a low breath and turned to look at her. "So... what are you going to do now?"


    "Huh?" Selena''s face altered in confusion, and she turned her head to stare at him.


    "I mean, your home. You said you don''t have a place to go, so I''m asking you what you''re going to do now. " He gazed at her face, and he couldn''t help but compliment in his heart just how beautiful she was.


    "Well... I don''t know." Selena''s mouth twisted in a bit of displeasure, and she relaxed back on the couch, her gaze fixated on the ceiling.


    "Well, you can''t stay at my place forever, you know. So you have to think of what to do." He shrugged and stood up from the couch, making his way to the fridge to grab a bottle of soda.


    "Who said I can''t stay at your place?" Selena blurted out, and Victor accidentally spat out all the soda in his mouth, out of shock. He coughed hard and cleared his throat, then raised his eyes to stare at her in disbelief.


    "My apartment is not a charity home, so you can''t stay." He shook his head at her and proceeded to grab a bottle of cold water from the fridge.


    "Well, I am not going to be staying for free... I will be paying you monthly." The moment the word left her mouth, Victor immediately walked over to her and stood in front of her. "Hold on a minute... You will be paying me monthly?"


    "Um... I don''t know." Selena''s eyes fluttered, and the urge to slap herself overwhelmed her. What the hell, she almost ruined herself. This stupid tongue of hers!! She shook her head and raised her sights to stare at him, sheepishly smiling at him.


    Victor''s eyes blinked vigorously, and he became motionless. It was just a simple sheepish smile, but deep down his heart was fluttering. Why? He questioned himself and the confusion hit him.


    A clearing of the throat from Selena had him shake his head as he snapped back to reality and raised his eyes to stare at her.


    "I am asking you to let me share your apartment with you," Selena said, and looked at him, expecting a reaction or words from him, but when she didn''t get them, her face grew irritated. "Okay, how about you give me just a month and I promise, by the end, I will find an apartment of my own. How''s that?" She stared intently at him in anticipation.


    Victor blinked his eyes and took a long, deep breath. He pinched between his brows in helplessness. Even though he wants to say no to her, he is finding himself unable to. It was as though something was telling him not to. A feeling so strong he can''t control it.


    He raised his visions to stare at her and half-smiled at her. "Fine, one month... nothing more than that." He said and turned around to walk away, but abruptly stopped on his step and turned around to gaze at her. "There is something I want to ask you."


    "O...kay." Selena raised her brows at him and folded her arms, awaiting his question.


    "Why did you... kiss me that day?" His lashes blinked furiously, and he put his hands in the pockets of his jeans.


    "Do you want me to kiss you again?" She smirked slyly as she asked, and Victor unexpectedly began to cough badly.


    He cleared his throat and straightened up to gaze at her. What the fuck is going on with him? Why is she making him feel this way? I mean, kissing was nothing to him, because he had kissed many girls in his life. Ahem... he''s very attractive... so, he doesn''t understand why he''s reacting so strangely to the thought of her kissing him again. It''s as though only her kiss was real!


    He wheezed and parted his lips to say something, but Selena began to walk towards him, causing him to swallow his words. She stood in front of him and gazed into his blue eyes.


    "I kissed you because who knows? I may have a thing for you." She grinned and brushed his mixed-colored hair, blonde and brown, back with her hand.


    Victor swallowed hard and stood motionless, gazing at her. What the hell is happening to him? He took a deep breath and immediately turned around, leaving his back to face her. "Well, you can start feeling at home. I will be in my room. Have a nice day." He said, and without waiting for a response from her, he dashed to his room and slammed the door shut behind him.


    He jumped into his bed, falling on his stomach and burying his face. A low groan of annoyance erupted from his throat, and he rolled over to lie on his back.


    Fuck! This one month won''t be easy for him. He had never shared an apartment with a girl before, not even a boy, so this felt very weird. Honestly, this was the sole reason why he didn''t want to let her stay, but of course, that stupid feeling down there that he had no idea what it was didn''t let him.


    A deep breath escaped his nose, and he shut his eyes and caressed his hair back with his hand.


    ...


    Seated on the white chair in the living room, near the huge window, Selena gazed out to the horizon. A delighted smile made its way to her lips, and she brought her legs to her chest and wrapped her arms around them.


    If he knew she is a princess who lives in absolute luxury, what will he think? A sigh escaped her lips, and her cheerful face switched to that of a downcast one. Indeed, what would he think? She''s basically lying to him, and it''s not cool at all.


    Honestly, it''s not that she wanted to lie to him, but he''s her mate and she''s not willing to let go. Once, at that time, she had decided to stop loving Adrik in the hope that she would find her mate, but then hundreds of years passed and she never did.


    She gave up, and that''s when her feelings for Adrik rose again. However, who knew she would meet with her mate on the day she was the most depressed?


    She really can''t blame herself for lying to him, because... this was something she always wanted to do, to find her mate, and she finally did. So why would she let him go? She wouldn''t let him slip away, and that''s why she believes it is worth it to lie to him.


    Once she''s able to win his heart and is sure that he won''t leave her, she will come clean then and also let him know what she really is. Well, she believes her chance is high because she knows he can feel the mate bond deep within him, even though he doesn''t know what it is.


    She took a low breath and bent her head, placing her chin on her knees and gazing out to the horizon.

 Chapter 115 - Goodbye Alex

    Seated at the edge of a cliff, With his eyes gazing up at the dark sky with a full moon and thousands of stars in it, Alex took a deep breath. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, which had formed as a result of him letting his wolf out and going for a long run.


    A half-smile crept onto his lips, and he blinked his eyes. It''s been at least a month since he last saw Leia and Adrik. Well, he does communicate with his Alpha through the phone, but he has yet to visit the mansion.


    It''s nothing, just that he has an important issue he is solving for his supreme Alpha at the park, so he has yet to return to the mansion.


    His mind wandered to that wonderful day when his supreme Alpha and Luna finally became one. It was indeed a happy memory.


    Alex inhaled and exhaled deeply, then stood up to leave the hill. He walked to the tree where he hung his jacket and grabbed it, proceeding to leave. However, a silhouette emerged under the moonlight and he halted, then raised his eyes to glimpse whoever it was.


    The moment his gaze fell on the person, his face darkened. "Alesea." The silhouette that was Alesea shuddered at his cold voice and raised her blue eyes to stare at his charming face. "Alex."


    Alex''s eyes raked her from head to toe, and his heart couldn''t help but tremble. As usual, she was bare from her waist up, with only her blue long hair covering her breasts. Her waist down was wrapped up in a white piece of clothing, and, of course, she was barefooted.


    "Why aren''t you wearing anything again, and why are you barefooted?" As he questioned, his frown deepened, and Alesea fiddled with her fingers.


    "I don''t have... anything to wear." She answered in a tone that almost came out as a whisper, and Alex took an irritated breath.


    He walked over to her and helped her wear his jacket, then he zipped it up and patted her on the shoulder. "There, you can keep it." He shifted and proceeded to walk past her, but Alesea grabbed him by the wrist, stopping him on his track.


    "Why, Alex?" She asked, and her eyes fluttered as tears gradually began to well up in them.


    Alex raised his sights and stared into the distance. The cold breeze blew around them, and the trees danced from one side to another.


    "Answer me, Alex." She demanded with a bit of a cracked voice.


    Alex''s heart thumped within him in pain, and he shut his eyes as he sighed. If only she knew.


    He took three steps back and moved to stand in front of her. A deep breath escaped his nose as he gazed down at her. "Alesea, what exactly do you want? " He asked her, and she raised her head to stare at his beautiful face. She would never call it "handsome but beautiful."


    "Alex, you are what I want... I want you to be with me, to be the person I wake up to every day, and to be the only person that owns and treasures my body. " She poured out to him, and tiny drops of tears began to fall from her eyes. "I don''t understand why you hate me, why you reject me, why you even despise my presence. I just don''t understand! " She yelled, behind tears, and let go of his wrist. "I don''t know what to do to make you understand."


    Alex''s eyes trembled at her words, and as though something was about to well up in his eyes, he immediately turned his back on her.


    He inhaled and exhaled deeply and pinched between his brows. His eyes gazed up at the sky and different thoughts swirled in his mind as though he was contemplating.


    Alesea sniffed and shut her eyes, then opened them to stare at his back. "Alex, if I can stop loving you, I will. But I have found myself unable to. I honestly don''t know what to do. But since you desperately want me to let you be, I will. I won''t find you anymore, nor be a bother. That you can be assured of. " A deep breath escaped her nose and painful tears unceasingly fell from her eyes.


    "This is more painful than I thought." She chuckled softly and turned around. "Goodbye Alex, I have accepted your rejection... In the next three days, our mate bond will be broken, and then you will be free from me... We will no longer be mates." With that being said, she sprinted off, disappearing.


    Alex, who was gazing up at the sky the whole time, shut his eyes and his hands balled into a very tight fist, to the extent that his knuckles turned white.


    He turned to the tree beside him and furiously began to punch it, causing the tree to shake vigorously and have its leaves fall gently to the ground.


    He stopped when his knuckles began to bleed and tightly shut his eyes. Just why? Why the fuck is this happening to him? Ahhh!!! He yelled internally and punched the tree yet again.


    He breathed heavily as he closed his eyes and a scene of the one unforgettable night played in his mind.


    At the ocean, beneath the sky with a full moon and thousands of stars on it. He sat near the ocean, his legs touching the waves of water that came and went.


    Besides a rock in the water, a young girl with blue hair and blue eyes was peeping at him, and whenever he caught a glimpse of her, she would hide and giggle.


    A minute passed and this continued to occur, so the annoyed Alex stood up from the sand and began to walk into the water towards the rock. He stopped when the water reached his waist and hid beside it, waiting for her to poke her head out so he could grab it, and as lucky as he was, she did, and he yanked her by the hair, causing the young girl to squeal in pain.


    She grabbed Alex by the wrist and forcefully pulled him, causing him to fall into the water.


    Alex''s face altered in a bit of displeasure, and he grabbed her, yanking her into the water with him.


    They began to drown inside, and the young girl grinned wickedly at him. She can breathe underwater, but he can''t.


    "If you dar-.." Alex parted his lips to speak, but a huge amount of water flowed into his mouth, and he immediately felt himself losing breath.

 Chapter 116 - Youre Mine!!

    He glanced up, and without delay, he swam up and eventually got to the top, then stuck his head out and breathed in a lot of air.


    His heart pounded rapidly within him, and in his raged mode, he commenced swimming out of the water.


    The moment he walked out, he fell on the sand and rested on his back, his eyes gazing up to the sky.


    A deep breath escaped his nose, and his face darkened the moment he heard that giggle. He immediately sat up and gazed at the young girl walking towards him.


    Alex''s eyes fluttered, and he began to back away from her. "Wear something, for god''s sake!!" He covered his eyes as he yelled at her. Her upper body was entirely naked, with only her blue hair covering her small breasts. And from her waist down, she was wrapped up in a blue skirt that reached to the ground.


    Alex opened his eyes after a minute to see her squatting down in front of him, and his heart skipped a bit. She reached out her hand to poke his face, and the moment she did that, something like electricity surged within their bodies and they flinched away from each other, creating a bit of distance.


    Their hearts thumped heavily within them, and they stared intently at each other. The young girl knelt and crawled to him. She touched him again and the sparks rushed through their bodies, causing them to tremble.


    Alex swallowed hard and straightened up, then gazed into her blue eyes. His heart fluttered within him, and there he knew she was his mate. His father had told him about the sparks when he was still very young, and he recognized it just the way his father explained it.


    The young girl blinked her eyes in bewilderment at the way he was staring at her, and a smile couldn''t help but emerge on her face.


    Warmth built up in Alex''s heart and he couldn''t help but smile back at her as he complimented her beauty in his heart. The first things he loved about her were her large, cute blue eyes and her lovely, unique blue hair. Should he say that everything about her was unique?


    He chuckled within him and raised his gray eyes to stare at her cheerful face. However, unexpectedly, the young girl jumped on him, hugging him tightly and resting her head on his shoulder.


    Her bare upper body pressed against his clothed one, and his eyes couldn''t help but throb.


    He proceeded to pull away from the hug but halted when he heard her whisper into his ear. "We are mates." She squealed like a little child, and the urge to laugh overwhelmed him.


    He drew her back and had her sit down on the ground, then gazed into her eyes. "I know we are mates, but why are you happy?" He asked, and the young girl''s eyes blinked in contemplation, as she tapped her finger on her plump red lips.


    "Hmm. well... I have a handsome mate. So yes, I am happy." She shrugged and her lips twisted funnily as she gazed at his shocked face. "What is wrong?" She asked him, but Alex shook his head at her. "It''s nothing. What is your name? "


    "Alesea." The young girl replied sharply in the most melodic and absorbing voice he had ever heard in his life. Everything about her hooked him.


    "You have a beautiful name." He complimented her, and the young girl giggled gaily. "Thank you, and what''s your name?" She moved closer to him, so they were only two inches apart.


    "Um, my name is Alex." He answered, and the young girl poked his forehead with her finger.


    A smile emerged on his face, and he abruptly cleared his throat. "Could you, um, put on some clothing?"


    The young girl looked down at her bare upper body and shook her head at him. "I don''t really have any clothing." She gazed at him, and Adrik slightly nodded at her in understanding.


    He grabbed the hem of his top and pulled it off of him, then helped her wear it. "Mhm, better now." He nodded and gave her a thumbs-up.


    The young girl''s eyes glowed with appreciation, and she squealed in a low tone. "Thank you, "she jumped on him and hugged him once more, before pulling back and sitting down on the ground.


    They sat that way for a few hours, and when Adrik was ready to leave, he bade her goodbye. "Will you come to see me again?" She asked him in a tone that held a bit of pleading, and Alex nodded at her. "I will." He smiled and waved at her, then, in an extraordinarily rapid spread, he sprinted off, disappearing.


    ....


    Alex''s hands clenched and unclenched in pain, and he took deep breaths. His wolf howled bitterly within him, and a deep growl erupted from his throat.


    He turned around and whisked off in the direction Alesea had left from without further thought or hesitation.


    His eyes nervously darted around as he searched for her, but she was nowhere to be seen.


    He halted and glanced around him. As he felt suffocated, tired, angry, and hurt, his heart thumped heavily within him, and lines of veins appeared at his neck. So many emotions were rippling inside of him. He needed to find her! He must find her.


    His nose twitched violently as he smelled her, and he bolted in the direction he scented her from.


    He ran a few distances and finally found her walking further with her arms wrapped tightly around her body. Seeing her trembling body, he could already tell that she was crying heavily.


    His eyes flickered, and without any delay, he rushed up to her and hugged her from behind, tightly curling his arms around her. "Alesea." He whispered her name so tenderly, her body shuddered and she became motionless. This was the first time in so many years that he had spoken her name with such a voice. She had even forgotten this voice existed because...


    She shut her eyes and inhaled deeply, then broke away from his embrace and turned to stare at him with her teary eyes. "What do you want?! I have accepted your rejection, so what now? Do you want to break me, compl-" She was yet to finish her sentence when Alex abruptly grabbed her by the waist and pinned her against the tree. He stared into her blue eyes and before she could anticipate anything, he gently grabbed her by the cheek and covered her lips with his.


    Alesea''s eyes widened in shock, and her body stilled. He was... kissing her. But why? Why now, after she accepted his rejection? Is he playing with her? Her face darkened, and she proceeded to push him off, but Alex grabbed both her hands and pinned them on either side of her on the tree.


    His kiss wasn''t lustful nor passionate, but it was something else. It was as though he was pleading with her. He was begging her.


    "Alesea..." He breathed her name against her wet lips and caressed her cheek with his hand. "Alesea..." He whispered her name yet again and placed his forehead on hers.


    "Alex¡ª" She proceeded to speak, but he hushed her by placing his fingers on her lips and gazing into her eyes.


    Alesea stared at his teary eyes, and her lashes blinked in confusion. Why is he crying? Is he doing it on purpose and trying to hurt her?


    Her face darkened a bit in displeasure, and she snatched her hands from his grip, then began to punch his chest in pain and anger. "Why Alex? Why are you doing this to me? I have accepted your rejection and promised to never bother you again! Why do you still want to hurt me? " She punched him for the last time, and as she gazed up at his face, seeking answers, Alex uttered not a word, and just stared at her with teary eyes.


    Alesea became angry and pushed him away, proceeding to leave. He, however, grabbed her by the wrist and yanked her back, pinning her against the tree. "You are not! Leaving me! " He emphasized every word, and Alesea gaped at him, stunned.


    "Alex, let me go!" She wailed at him and tried to get out of his grasp, but Alex held tightly onto her.


    "I said, you''re not leaving me! You''re only mine, no one else''s! " He yelled at her, and Alesea''s body trembled. She stilled and gazed up into his eyes.


    "Am... only yours?" She chuckled at his words before her face switched to that of a raging one. "If I was only yours, then why?! Why were you rejecting me?! Why were you keeping your distance from me as though I was some kind of disease? Why were you-"


    "I love you, Alesea!" He slammed her against the tree and grabbed her chin harshly. "Alesea, I love you more than you can imagine!! I have loved you for hundreds of years!! I have loved you from the very first day I met you at the ocean, and believe me, I never stopped!! "

 Chapter 117 - I Will Wait

    He trailed his hands down to her lips and grazed them with his thumb. "You are the only woman I have ever fallen for and loved in my life, to the point I find myself unable to stop or let go." He leaned down and smelled her scent with his eyes shut.


    Alesea''s body shuddered, and she closed her eyes, inhaling his scent. "If all you said is true, then why are you pushing me away? Why say all this to me now, after I have accepted your rejection?"


    Alex''s eyes fluttered, and he raised his head to gaze deeply into her eyes. He caressed her cheek and an unknown glint she couldn''t quite catch flickered in his gray eyes. "Alesea... I love you very much, but... I am finding it hard to be with yo-"


    "Fuck you!" She yelled at him, and her eyes twitched in anger. "You''re so selfish!! All you care about is yourself! Your feelings! Only you! " She screamed as her hand poked at his chest in a rage. "You don''t care about me one bit! You don''t even love me! All you are trying to do is to hurt me for reasons I don''t know. "


    "What do you think I am? I know that I am madly in love with you, but it''s not to the point where I''ll let you hurt me whenever you want, however you want and when you please to do so!! You have been rejecting me and finally, today, when I got the courage to accept your rejection, you want to break me completely!! Ahh, I wish you were never my mate in the first place!!! Maybe I won''t be hurting this way. " She yelled, and painful tears ran down her cheek.


    "Stay away from me and leave me alone! You''re free, now let me free myself too!" She pushed him out of the way and walked past him in an attempt to return home. However, Alex''s arm abruptly grabbed her by the waist and slammed her back against the tree.


    "Why can''t you understand?" He yelled in pain and anger, and lines of veins emerged on his neck. "I am selfish!?! Did you think that if I didn''t love you and wanted you to stay, I would have succumbed to your kiss that day? Do you think that you would be standing here in front of me, hearing ''I love you,'' from me if I didn''t love you? "


    "I am trying to fight myself, to fully accept you and make up my mind, but it is hard for me!!! Your family killed my parents, and it turned out that their niece was my mate. How do you think I feel? "


    "Do you think I don''t feel guilty about being in love with a relative of my parent''s murderer? That I want to be with her so much that I find myself giving in? You don''t understand because you''re not in my shoes!! " His wet lashes fluttered and he stepped away from her.


    "I''m unable to let you go because I''m madly in love with you, just like you are with me, but at the same time, my mind is judging me, telling me how bad of a son I am to my parents. I mean, who would fall in love with the relative of their parent''s murderer? It''s only me!" He chuckled pessimistically and turned around, leaving his back to face her.


    He shoved his hands into his pocket and took a deep breath.


    "I don''t blame you either, because I am a total jerk. I don''t deserve you because you''re worth a lot. You deserve a better man, so I guess it''s okay to let go. As much as I don''t want to let you go, I surmise I have to because I will only cause you pain. I am sorry, Alesea. I do love you just like I said, and I will never stop, even after letting you go. " A deep sigh left his mouth and he took two steps, about to disappear. However, slender arms unexpectedly wrapped around him, halting him on his track. A body pushed against his back, and his heart trembled within him.


    "I want to be with you, Alex. I... love you so much that I can''t let go, even though I pretend to be able to." Alesea sniffed and cried uncontrollably, her snorts tainting his clothing.


    Alex grabbed her wrist and unwrapped her arms around his waist, then turned around to stare at her face. "I am so-" She proceeded to apologize to him, but Alex unexpectedly covered her lips with his. He cupped her cheek with his hand and kissed her so gently. "I love you, Alesea..." he whispered against her lips and gently stroked her face.


    "Please don''t leave me. Give me time, let me talk to myself. Let me figure myself out and gather my spirit together. I love you and want to be with you. That''s a fact I can''t and will never deny. So...I plead with you to give me a bit of time. Just to- "


    "Okay, I will wait for you. It won''t hurt much because I can still wait just like I waited those years to hear this word from you again. " She leaned in and placed a soft kiss on his lips before pulling back and gazing at his face. "I will wait for you, Alex." She said and proceeded to leave. However, Alex grabbed her wrist, stopping her from leaving.


    She turned her head to look at him, and a pleading gaze emerged on Alex''s face. "Come and visit me sometimes. I would love it if you did." He half-smiled at her, and Alesea nodded at him. Then, with a beautiful smile on her face, she turned around and disappeared.


    A deep sigh left Alex''s mouth, and he raised his eyes to gaze up at the dark sky.. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his pants and began to walk away as the cold wind blew on his top.

 Chapter 118 - Smart One

    Leia sat on the edge of the bed, clad in a fine sleeveless white dress that stopped at knee-length. Her hair was neatly combed and just a bit of makeup was applied to her face.


    A deep breath escaped her mouth and a vicious grin emerged on her lips. ''It''s going to be a surprise.'' She smirked within her as she thought and glanced at the dressing room where Adrik had been inside for a minute now.


    She had let Adrik know of her plan, so hopefully, she would succeed tonight.


    The door to the dressing room creaked open, and Adrik walked out outfitted in a fine white suit that complimented his demeanor. His hair was let down to reach his back knee.


    Leia''s eyes fluttered, and she stood up from the bed and walked over to him. "Adrik... your hair." She went behind him, and her eyes blinked vigorously in shock as she stared at the length. "It''s too long!" She exclaimed and turned him around to gaze at his face.


    "You need to cut it a bit short. It''s almost about to touch the floor." Her eyes stared intently at him, awaiting his response.


    Adrik pinched between his brow and shook his head at her. "Little wife, I can''t. Remember what I told you? " He caressed her cheek and walked to the table to sit down and glance at himself in the mirror.


    "So... what are you going to do about it?" Leia walked up to him and stood behind him.


    "Ponytail as usual." He smirked at her through the mirror, and Leia slapped him on the head. "You think it''s easy to tie such long hair into a ponytail." She clicked her tongue and grabbed a few oils and combs to do his hair.


    It took a few minutes, but she finally managed to pack it up into a fine ponytail. "Perfect!" She wiggled her brow at him, and Adrik gave her a thumbs-up. He stood up from the chair and turned around, then leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her lips. "My little wife is the best." He smiled and walked past her to grab his gold watch from the mini table.


    Leia ambled to the bathroom and washed her hands, then returned and picked up her purse from the mini table.


    "You ready?" Adrik asked her as he clasped his watch around his wrist.


    "Yes," She nodded at him and walked to stand beside him.


    "Alright, let''s go." He interlocked his hands with hers and led her out of the room. They took the elevator and went downstairs, then walked out of the mansion.


    On either side of the SUV parked at the gate, men dressed in black suits stood in the same posture.


    The backseat doors were both open and the bodyguards stood beside them, waiting for them to step in.


    Leia glanced up at the dark sky and a nervous breath exited her mouth. It''s been quite a long time since the day she left the house on her wedding day. Today, she''s going to visit it.


    Adrik stroked her back and walked her to the car. She stepped in, and he followed after. The bodyguards shut the door and took their seats in the front seat of the car.


    The driver started the car engine and slowly drove out of the compound. He raised the speed to normal and sped off down the road.


    ______


    Mr. Adolpho finished up with his hair and dropped the comb on the table. He never lets the maids comb his hair but does it by himself. Until today, no one knew why.


    Dressed in his casual stay-at-home wear, he slid into his slippers and proceeded to make his way downstairs, with a newspaper in his hand.


    ....


    Amy browsed through her phone while sitting inside the room with Jenny. She chewed bubble gum in her mouth, and Jenny sat on one side of the bed staring at her, with an irritated expression appearing on her face.


    "What?" She raised her eyes to glare at Jenny when she noticed her staring at her.


    "Nothing-" Jenny shrugged and stood up from the bed. "-Just that you''re acting like a bitch." She folded her arms and walked over to stand near her.


    "You just called me a bitch." Amy fluttered her eyes and bit her lower lip as she shook her head. "Call me whatever you want; I don''t really care." She smirked and resumed browsing through her phone.


    Jenny''s face altered in annoyance, and she grabbed the phone from her, dropping it on the table. "You need to get your ass out of that bed and go talk to father! You have been avoiding him for a month now."


    "And does he care?" Amy raised her brow in a questioning manner and folded her arms.


    "Even if he doesn''t, you can''t act this way. I thought you were the responsible one and I was the irresponsible one. Since when did we switch roles? I am the one that always acts like a bitch, not you, so I don''t understand what happened to you and changed you this way. " Jenny shook her head as a deep breath escaped her nose.


    "You want to know what changed me this way?" Amy grinned mysteriously and stood up from the bed to stand in front of her sister. "Do you see how happy she''s living now? She was never that ha-"


    "My ladies, your father requests your presence in the living room, downstairs." A voice resounded from the door, and both sisters turned their heads to see a middle-aged woman standing by the door.


    "What does he want?" Amy''s face darkened in annoyance, and she plopped down on the bed. "Tell him that I am not coming." She scoffed and rested her head back, shutting her eyes.


    Jenny glanced at her and turned to the maid. "We will be down in a few minutes." She smiled, and the maid bowed and took her leave, shutting the door behind her.


    Jenny turned around to gaze at Amy with an ashen face, and Amy chuckled at her. "Please don''t look at me like that."


    "Get up from there!" With her hands akimbo, she commanded, and Amy opened one of her eyes to peek at her. "I said I''m not going." She shrugged and closed her eyes.


    Jenny''s patience had reached its limit, and she grabbed her by the wrist, forcefully pulling her up from the bed. "Downstairs now!" She pushed her out of the room and shut the door behind them.


    Amy turned and hatefully glared at her. Jenny ignored it and pushed her to the stairs. They walked down side by side and arrived in the living room.


    The first person their eyes fell on was their father, who was seated on the pristine white sofa, with his legs crossed and a newspaper in his hand. "Take a seat." He said to them, without sparing them a glance.


    Jenny grabbed Amy by the wrist and dragged her along to take her seat on the sofa opposite their father.


    They plopped down on the couch, and Amy traversed her legs and folded her arms. Her blonde hair fell over her shoulders, and the white shirt and blue shorts she wore gave her a cute look.


    Jenny, who was clad in a red dress with her black hair tied up in a ponytail, turned her head to glance at her sister and shook her head in irritation.


    They raised their eyes to glance at their father, and Mr. Adolpho dropped the newspaper in his hand on the glass mini table in front of him.


    He folded his arms and gazed at them. "Have you both had your dinner?" He asked, and Jenny nodded at him.


    "What did you call us for?" Amy bluntly asked, and Mr. Adolpho averted his gaze from Jenny to her. A half-smile made its way to his lips, and he patted the space beside him on the sofa. "Come sit beside me."


    Amy''s eyes blinked in surprise, and she glanced at Jenny, who also glanced at her at the same time.


    She cleared her throat and proceeded to get up from the couch. She walked over to the divan her father was seated on and took a seat beside him.


    A deep breath escaped Mr. Adolpho''s nose, and he turned to stare at her. "Why exactly are you mad at me?" He questioned her, but Amy rudely rolled her eyes. "Why do you care? It''s not like you bothered to ask in the past month. "


    Mr. Adolpho slightly nodded his head and relaxed back on the couch. "I am sorry, but you act like a kid at times. I know why you are mad, but it is not my fault. I thought you were smart like me, but I just realized you''re not, rather Jenny is." He shook his head and clicked his tongue.


    Amy''s face puckered and she turned to glare at her father. "What do you mean I am not smart?" She asked, with her hand folded in utter displeasure.


    Mr. Adolpho turned his head to glance at her and raised his brow at her. "Why are you mad that her-" He was yet to finish his words when a young maid abruptly ran into the living room and bowed deeply at them. "Master, young Miss Leia, and her husband are here.." She informed him in a tone that held nervousness.

 Chapter 119 - Forget Me

    Mr. Adolpho''s eyes dilated in shock, and he instantly stood up from the chair, followed by Amy and Jenny. They gazed at the maid in disbelief and raised their eyes to stare at the entrance.


    The tall white door was pushed open and footsteps were heard. Two shadows first came into view before a couple dressed in white matching outfits walked in.


    They halted and glanced around before their eyes fell on the family. The young woman being held by the waist smiled gracefully and proceeded towards the family.


    "Good evening, father." The young woman, who was obviously Leia, lowered her head in respect and then glanced at her sisters. "It''s been quite a long time, sisters. I missed you both." She walked to Jenny and pulled her into a short hug, then turned to Amy. She stared at her for a second before yanking her into a warm embrace. "I missed you the most."


    She chuckled softly and stepped back to stand beside Adrik.


    Adrik wrapped his arms around her waist and outstretched his other hand to exchange a handshake with Mr. Adolpho. "It''s nice to see you again, father-in-law." He smiled behind the silver mask on his face and retracted his hand after a shocked Mr. Adolpho, responded to his greeting.


    "We apologize for coming without informing you guys first, but we wanted it to be a surprise, and... it indeed was." Leia grinned mysteriously as she apologized, and Mr. Adolpho''s eyes fluttered.


    He cleared his throat and glanced around the living room, then smiled at them, "I don''t mind. After all, it''s been quite a long time since I saw you. Come on-" He gestured them to the dining area, "-Make yourself at home."


    Adrik turned around and began to walk towards the dining area, with Leia walking beside him.


    Amy, who stood beside her sister, fluttered her eyes in shock and took a long, heavy breath. ''This isn''t real, right?'' She questioned herself in her heart as she gazed at Adrik pulling out a chair for Leia at the table.


    How did this happen? How did the story change this much in a few months? All these aren''t real, right? Her hands began to ball into a tight fist and her eyes twitched in anger.


    She was supposed to be miserable! She was supposed to call on the phone every day and complain about how much she was suffering! She wasn''t supposed to be happy!! Amy screamed internally, and her breathing became unsteady.


    That happy life was supposed to be hers! No one but she deserves it because she is the little daughter of the Adolpho mansion! The treasured child!


    She shut her eyes and took deep breaths to calm herself down, then opened them afterward, only to see Jenny staring at her with raised brows.


    "What?" She asked, and Jenny shook her head at her. She walked up to her and grabbed her by the wrist, leading her to the dining table. "Let''s go."


    They smiled when they arrived at the table, and Amy walked to sit beside Leia. However, Jenny took the seat first, and she groaned in annoyance.


    Having no choice, she ambled to take a seat in the chair near her father, who was seated at the head of the table.


    A deadly silence filled the room as they patiently waited for the maids to arrive with the food.


    Leia abruptly cleared her throat, drawing their attention, and turned her head to stare at her father. "How have you been, father? It has been so long that I just realized how much I have missed you right now. " She smiled charmingly, and Mr. Adolpho''s eyes dwindled a bit.


    He managed to crack a smile and nodded at her. "I have been very good. Thank you for asking. I must say you look really stunning and-"


    "Beautiful than when I was living with you." Leia turned her head to gaze at him, and a smile emerged on her face before she burst into a giggle at seeing Mr. Adolpho''s blank face. "Please forgive me, Father, I was joking. You took good care of me and that was why I was able to attract his attention." She turned to Adrik and tucked a strand of his hair behind his ear.


    Adrik smirked behind the mask on his face and nodded his head in agreement. "You indeed took care of her." He chuckled softly and grabbed Leia''s hand, squeezing it.


    "Ha... ha... ha..." Mr. Adolpho nodded at them as he laughed awkwardly and turned his head when the shelf trolley with different foods placed on it was pushed into the dining area by the maids.


    They arrived at the dining table and took a very deep bow, then began to carefully arrange the food on the table.


    Mr. Adolpho nodded and waved at them to leave when they were done.


    He turned to Adrik and Leia and smiled at them. "Please, help yourself."


    Leia nodded at him and picked up her cutlery, then glanced down at the food before her. A smile spread across her lips and she raised her eyes, which were glowing to stare at him. "Aww... how sweet of you to actually ask them to make my favorite food." She chuckled softly and rolled up a few strands of spaghetti with her fork. "I thought you might forget a few things about me because it has been quite a long time since we last saw each other at the party." She parted her lips and slowly chewed on the food.


    Mr. Adolpho blinked his eyes and slightly nodded at her. "True, it''s been quite a while, but... It doesn''t mean that I would forget you or the things you love. "


    Leia smiled and nodded at him in agreement. "You didn''t need to say it because I, for one, know you will never forget me. I am your daughter after all. " She wiggled her brow at him, and Mr. Adolpho smiled awkwardly.


    This is really becoming uncomfortable for him. Wasn''t she supposed to be rude and hateful towards him? Why is she all-loving and smiling at him? His eyes fluttered in confusion, and he glanced at Adrik. "Mr.. Avalanzo, aren''t you going to take a bite at least?" He asked, and Adrik turned to stare at him.

 Chapter 120 - Successful

    "Oh, thank you, but I am too full for another meal. I already had mine at home. " He smiled and averted his gaze to glance at Leia.


    "Ahem.." Amy abruptly cleared her throat, drawing their attention, and stared intently at Leia. "I missed you a lot, sis. I thought of visiting you one time, but... I kind of realized I didn''t know the way." Her tone switched to a pessimistic one as she said the last word.


    "Oh, really?" Leia fluttered her eyes and nodded her head in understanding when she replied, Yes. "Don''t worry about it. Just give me a call next time you feel like visiting me, and I will send some men to pick you up. " She smiled at her and continued to eat her meal.


    Amy''s hands, which were hidden under the table, balled into a tight fist and her gritted teeth tightened.


    "Um, Mr. Avalanzo-" She spoke his name with a cute smile on his face and Adrik shifted his gaze to her, "-I just realized that we haven''t familiarized ourselves." She fluttered her lashes, and Adrik slightly nodded his head.


    "My name is Amy, Leia''s lovely younger sister, who is just a few months younger than her." She reached out her hand and touched Adrik''s hand, which was placed on the table.


    Adrik''s eyes narrowed sharply, and he retracted his hand and smiled at her behind the mask that was latched onto his face. "It''s very nice to meet you." He said in his deep voice, and Amy flickered her eyes and charmingly smiled at him.


    Leia halted her fork at her lips and raised her gaze to stare viciously at Amy. She dilated her pupils and smiled dangerously to herself.


    Adrik secretly grabbed her hand from under the table, and she turned her head to look at him, only to see him staring at her with a smile on his face. He secretly blinked his lashes twice at her, and a half-smile appeared on her lips.


    She picked up a spoon of soup to drink, but as though a fishbone got stuck in her throat, she began to cough uncontrollably.


    Adrik''s eyes dilated immediately, and he began to pat her on the back. "Are you okay, little wife?"


    The moment he called her that, everyone''s gazes fell on him. "Little wife." The nickname struck their heads, and their eyes couldn''t help but flutter.


    Leia breathed heavily and raised her head, only for them to see tears welling up in her eyes.


    "Are you okay? You should take it easy. " Mr. Adolpho asked, with a fake concern written all over his face.


    Leia smiled at him and casually waved her hand. "I am fine. Thank you. " She took a deep breath and turned her head to gaze at him. "I need to use the bathroom." She smiled awkwardly and stood up from the chair, then left the dining area towards the stairs that led up to the second floor.


    Adrik turned to the three and nodded his head at them. "She will be fine."


    They slightly nodded back at him and resumed eating their dinner.


    While they were eating, Leia, who had walked up the stairs, arrived at the hallway that led to different rooms, and her eyes glanced around.


    She sneakily and hurriedly began to walk forward. The moment she was about to reach the end, which was where her father''s room was, a few maids appeared from nowhere, and she immediately pushed the door nearest to her open and slipped inside, gently shutting it.


    Her heart thumped rapidly within her and she rested her head on the door, taking a deep breath to calm herself down. She placed her ear close to the door and when the sound of their footsteps faded completely, she carefully opened the door and slipped out.


    She looked from left to right and proceeded towards the end of the hallway. A brownish-modern door came into view, and she let out a low breath.


    She walked towards it and turned the knob to open it. However, a scowl emerged on her face when she realized that it was locked. "Shit! I knew it. " She cursed and opened her purse, then grabbed her hairpin.


    She squatted down, inserted the pin into the lock, and began to twist it. A few seconds later, the lock creaked, stating that it had been successfully unlocked.


    She smiled proudly to herself and stood up, then pushed the door open. She slipped in and shut it behind her, locking it by the bolt from the inside.


    Her eyes darted around the room, and a memory she didn''t want to think of emerged in her mind. Her frown deepened, and she shook her head, pushing the recollections away.


    She stepped towards the table that had a mirror placed on it and glanced down at it. The first thing her eyes fell on was her father''s strands of hair that were tangled in a comb.


    "Bingo." She screamed to herself in a low tone and immediately pulled out a small transparent bag from her purse. Carefully, she transferred the strands of hair into the small bag and stored them back in her purse.


    "Ahem." She cleared her throat and adjusted her clothing, then, with no expression on her face, she opened the door and walked out, shutting it behind her.


    She made her way out of the hallway and arrived at the stairs, then slowly began to walk down.


    She proceeded towards the dining table and took her seat beside Adrik.


    "Feeling better?" Mr. Adolpho asked, and she nodded her head and smiled at him. "I feel so much better. Thank you." She shifted her eyes to her side, only to realize that Jenny was gone.


    "Um, where is Jenny?" She asked with raised brows, and Amy rolled her eyes. "She left for the bathroom a minute after you did."


    Leia''s heart instantly thumped within her, and she secretly squeezed Adrik''s hand, letting him know that they needed to leave immediately.


    "Oh, I see." She nodded her head, and Adrik suddenly coughed. He stood up from the chair and adjusted his suit, then turned to Mr. Adolpho. "We will have to take our leave now as it''s getting late. Thank you for the warm welcome. "


    Mr. Adolpho nodded at him and they exchanged handshakes. Adrik interlocked his hands with Leia''s and they proceeded to leave.


    "Till we meet again, father." She slipped her hand from Adrik and perked Mr. Adolpho on the cheek, then proceeded to leave with him.


    "Goodbye, Mr. Avalanzo." Amy waved at Adrik and secretly winked at him.


    Adrik ignored her and walked out of the mansion with Leia.


    They boarded the SUV, and the driver drove them out of the compound and onto the road.


    A deep breath escaped Leia''s nose, and she relaxed back on the chair.


    "You really impressed me back there." Adrik patted her head as he said, and Leia turned to stare at him. "Did I? " A leisurely look emerged on her face as she asked, and Adrik nodded at her.


    "I didn''t think you could code and control yourself to this level, considering how..." Adrik trailed off as he saw her brow rise in a bit of displeasure.


    "Considering what?" She narrowed her eyes and stared viciously at him.


    "Well... considering how short-tempered you are." Adrik chuckled softly, and contrary to his expectations, she just shrugged and placed her head on his shoulder. "I know. To be honest, I am surprised at myself. I thought I might get furious at just seeing his face. " She half smiled and wrapped her arms around his waist.


    Adrik tucked her in and gently caressed her arms.


    ________


    Within the Adolpho mansion,


    Jenny walked into her father''s room and her eyes fluttered in confusion. ''What exactly did she come in here to do?'' Her face altered in bewilderment, and she began to look around.


    At the dining area, when Leia said she needed to go to the bathroom, a feeling of suspicion had arisen for no reason, and she was tempted to follow her.


    So a minute after Leia left, she also made an excuse to use the bathroom and left.


    She had gotten upstairs and seen no sign of her. She had the thought that maybe Leia did go to the bathroom and decided to walk back. However, the moment she was about to turn and leave, she noticed one of the doors creaking open and her eyes narrowed.


    She immediately shifted, hiding behind the wall, and saw Leia walk out of the room. Deep suspicion arose in her heart and she intently stared at Leia, walked to their father''s door, and turned the doorknob.


    When the door didn''t open, she squatted down and inserted something she knew to be a hairpin into the lock and began to twist it.


    "She picks locks." Jenny''s jaw fell in shock, and she continued to watch Leia''s every move.


    A few seconds passed, and the door creaked open, and she watched Leia slip inside and shut the door.


    Her eyes dwindled and she hurried towards the door to open it. However, she realized that the door was locked from the inside, so she quickly hid behind the pillar near the door.


    A few minutes passed, and she heard the door creak open and close.


    She peeked from behind the pillar and saw Leia tilt her head up and begin to walk back to the dining room. And right after she was out of sight, she walked out from behind the pillar.


    Her eyes glanced around and she pushed the door to her father''s room open and walked in.

 Chapter 121 - What If?

    She looked around but found nothing amiss. Everything was in order, and that''s how she got to try to figure out exactly what Leia took.


    A deep breath escaped her nose and she twisted her lips.


    ''To tell dad or not to tell him?'' She tapped her fingers on her thighs and bit her lower lips.


    ''Okay, since I can''t find anything missing, I won''t create a fuss about it, but if ever in the future, dad complains of any missing stuff in his room, then I will let him know.'' She nodded her head in agreement with her thoughts and turned around to proceed out of the room.


    She shut the door and made her way downstairs. When she arrived at the dining area, she noticed that Leia and Adrik were gone. "Um... where are they?" She asked her father as she took her seat.


    "They have left." Amy shrugged as she replied and picked lazily at the food in front of her.


    "Oh.... i... see." Jenny nodded her head with an awkward smile on her face.


    _______


    Leia and Adrik arrived home, and they stepped down from the car.


    They walked into the mansion together and made their way to their room.


    As tired as she was, Leia strolled to the bed and plopped down on it, lying face flat.


    "Is everything okay?" Adrik asked with concern apparent in his tone, and she gave him a thumbs up.


    She rolled over on her back and fixed her gaze on the ceiling. "I am okay. Just a bit tired and..." She sat up on the bed, a low sigh escaping her mouth, and stared at Adrik, who was sitting on the sofa.


    Adrik smiled at her and stood up from the couch. He walked to the bed and sat down beside her, then tucked her in so her head was placed on his chest. "Do you want to talk about it?" He kissed her on the forehead, and Leia raised her head to gaze at his face.


    She took a deep breath and began to fiddle with her fingers. "It''s just, what if the truth ends up hurting me?"


    "What do you mean?" Adrik asked, a bit confused.


    "I mean, yeah, having the test is a very good idea... but... what if it turns out negative and I come to realize that the person I have lived with since the day I came into this world is not even my real father, and worst of all, that my mother lied to me?" She blew a strand of her hair that fell over her face and slumped down helplessly.


    "Hmm, can I ask you a question?" Adrik stroked her arms and she raised her head to look at him and nodded.


    "What if the result comes out positive? Will you be happy?" Leia fluttered her eyes at his question and turned her head to gaze into emptiness.


    She took a low breath and laid down on his body, wrapping her arms around his waist. "I honestly don''t know." She shrugged, and he nodded at her.


    "Then don''t think much about it. Just let things flow. " He smiled and caressed her back.


    Leia sighed and closed her eyes. It''s just quite confusing for her. She doesn''t understand her feelings about that question. Maybe Adrik is right. She should just let everything flow on its own.


    She wrapped her arms more tightly around his waist and relaxed her body. "Adrik"


    "Yes."


    "My best friends are coming tomorrow. You said you wanted to meet them, so I invited them." She raised her head to stare at his face, and Adrik nodded at her. "Sure, no problem." He caressed her hair, and Leia laid her head on his chest.


    ______


    "Your highness, are we still going to wait longer?" Nirmolak asked, with a bit of a frown on his face.


    Ileus, who sat so elegantly on his red sofa with his head resting back and white hair falling all over his shoulder, opened one of his eyes and peeked at Nirmolak, who was staring at him, and a soft chuckle escaped his mouth.


    He spread his hands to his side and crossed his legs, then took a deep breath. "Patience, Nirmolak! Patience." He said it in a deadly tone that sent chills down Nirmolak''s body.


    "But your highness, won''t they slip away if we keep stalling for so much time? We need to do something, or else we might never get the chance ever again." Nirmolak stated his opinion, and Ileus immediately straightened up and interlocked his fingers. He stared intently at Nirmolak and his smiling face switched to one that held no expression.


    "Do you think I am dumb?" He asked in a cold tone that had Nirmolak shaking his head instantly. "Not at all, your highness."


    "Then why are you questioning my orders and decisions?" A grin emerged on his face, and he narrowed his eyes dangerously.


    "I would never dare. Forgive me if I did, your highness." Nirmolak lowered his head and pleaded for leniency.


    A low sigh escaped Ileus'' mouth, and he relaxed back on the sofa. "After so many years of serving me, you are still as naive as ever." He clicked his tongue and slightly shook his head. "It''s so disappointing that your IQ is so low." He took deep breaths and stood up from the sofa. His gaze lowered to Nirmolak and he smiled. "One thing you should know is to never rush things because once you do, you will fail miserably."


    He adjusted his suit and majestically made his way to the stairs and began to amble up, leaving Nirmolak, who still sat with his head lowered in embarrassment.


    Nirmolak raised his head and stared at the disappearing back of his highness, and his face twitched in anger. Low IQ! Humph!


    If he really did have a low IQ, then why hasn''t he cast him out yet? Why is he still keeping him as his right-hand man? Something is definitely not right.


    He is well aware of how cunning and lethal his master was, which is one of the many reasons he would never consider betraying him. And this is also one of the reasons why he believes that there is a part of the plan that wasn''t revealed to him.


    He pinched between his brows and got up from the sofa.. He ambled outside and raised his eyes to gaze up at the dark sky.

 Chapter 122 - Introductions

    The next day arrived, and it went so fast that it didn''t take time for darkness to start clouding the sky slowly.


    Maids ran from here to there, setting up the table for the guests that would be arriving.


    Leia walked to Adrik, who sat on the sofa with his laptop on his lap, and leaned down, placing a soft kiss on his forehead.


    "I will be going now." She said to him, and Adrik nodded without sparing her a glance. His eyes were focused on the laptop, and his fingers were typing quite fast on it.


    Leia shook her head as she smiled at him and made her way out of the mansion.


    She walked to the car and unlocked it, then stepped into the driver''s seat and shut the door. She started the car engine and drove out of the compound, then onto the road.


    _________


    Seated on the white sofa, Kiesha and James had a can of beer in their hands while Victor was busy with his phone.


    A low sigh of annoyance escaped Kiesha''s mouth, and she shifted her gaze to Victor. "When is she arriving? I''m dying of boredom here."


    Victor raised his eyes from the phone to glance at her, and an irritated expression made its way to his face. "You can fly there if you want to." He smirked as he shook his head and returned his attention to his phone.


    Kiesha rolled her eyes and scoffed. She rested her head back on the sofa, and the moment she was about to shut her eyes, the door to the apartment pushed open, jolting them.


    They turned their heads to see who it was and their eyes fell on Leia, who was clad in blue tight jeans and a white cute top.


    "Sorry, I am late. Was caught up in traffic." Leia apologized immediately and glanced at all of them. A smile made its way to her lips as she saw how good they looked. Kiesha was clad in a red knee-length dress and her curly afro hair was banded up in a ponytail style.


    James was outfitted in black sweatpants and a white polo, his shoulder-length hair tied up in a bun. And Victor, he was swathed in blue jeans and a white, mixed with yellow, colored polo. His mixed-colored hair was combed to perfection. Of course, the silver earring clasped to his ear wasn''t missing.


    "You guys look really good." Leia chuckled, and they rolled their eyes at her. "Thank you." They managed to say something, and she shook her head at them.


    "Let''s go." They ambled downstairs and out of the building, then boarded the SUV. Leia drove out of the compound and raised the speed as they sped down the road.


    It only took them an hour to arrive at the mansion, and Leia slowly drove in and carefully parked the car.


    They all stepped down, and their jaws couldn''t help but fall at how big the mansion was. No, not just that, it was all painted white, so it was already a white house. At the center of the compound was a big wolf sculpture that had water spraying out of its mouth, and it was what caught their attention the most.


    "Whoa... that''s a huge sculpture," Kiesha exclaimed and slowly shook her head as she examined the wolf sculpture.


    "Common." Leia waved at them, and they followed behind her as she walked towards the entrance.


    The moment they arrived there, the tall door opened by itself and they stepped in. The second they did, a vast living room that was almost as bright as the star came into view.


    Their gazes traveled up to the diamond chandelier, and their eyes couldn''t help but dilate at how elegant and huge it was.


    ''This is definitely a White House.'' This thought emerged in their minds, and they shook their heads as they glanced at the white-colored furniture.


    "Ahem." Leia cleared her throat and their eyes moved to a long white sofa within the living room, which had someone clad in complete white casual clothing seated on it. He was outfitted in a white shirt with the hem of its sleeves rolled up a bit, and white suit-like pants. His feet were covered in black shoes that had a white design on them.


    Their eyes fluttered, and they glanced at each other.


    As though noticing them, Adrik averted his gaze from the laptop and turned his head to glance at them. His eyes flickered, and he dropped his laptop on the glass mini table, then stood up from the divan.


    He shoved his hands into his pocket and strolled over to them.


    He wrapped his arms around Leia and pulled her into a tight, warm hug.


    Leia pulled back from the embrace and smiled at him.


    "Adrik, these are my best friends, Kiesha, James, and Victor. Guys, this is my husband, Adrik. " She introduced them to each other, and Adrik nodded at them.


    He outstretched his hand to Victor and they exchanged a handshake. "Nice to meet you." Victor smiled as he nodded his head.,"Nice to meet you too, Mr. Avalanzo."


    Adrik turned to James and did the same, then turned to Kiesha. A glint flickered in his eyes, and he couldn''t help but chuckle softly as he recalled the first day he met her. "Hello, Kiesha, nice to meet you again." He outstretched his hand to her and they exchanged a handshake. "Nice to meet you too, Mr. Avalanzo." Kiesha smiled softly, and Adrik nodded at her. "There is no need for formalities. Just call me Adrik."


    Kiesha nodded and couldn''t help but notice how short she was. This man really is tall.


    "Make yourself at home." Adrik smiled at them and interlocked his hand with Leias'', then turned around to proceed towards the dining area.


    The eyes of the three couldn''t help but widen in shock as they stared at the length of his hair. It was tied up in a ponytail, but it still reached his butt. ''How long would it be if it was let down?'' This question swirled in their minds, and they glanced at each other and noticed the confusion in their eyes.


    They fluttered their lashes and silently followed behind the couple.


    Adrik pulled out a seat beside him at the table for Leia and took his seat. James, Keisha, and Victor also took their seats, and they couldn''t help but inhale deeply at the amount of food that was served on the table. ''God, how many people are going to be eating this food? It''s too much. '' Keisha smiled as she thought and raised her eyes to stare at Leia.


    "Help yourselves out." Leia smiled at them and they nodded. They picked up their cutlery and proceeded to eat.


    A few minutes of silence passed and Leia abruptly coughed sharply, then raised her eyes to look at the three. "Guys, mind introducing yourself more specifically?" She smiled widely, revealing her jade-white teeth.


    They nodded at her and Victor cleared his throat, then turned to Adrik, who had his hands interlocked together. "My name is Victor Donovan. An engineering student, about to graduate from university. " Adrik nodded at him as he smiled behind the mask latched onto his face. "That''s nice." He turned to James, and James swallowed the food in his mouth.


    "James Yang, an engineering student, about to graduate too. " Adrik nodded at him and turned to Kiesha, who unexpectedly began to cough uncontrollably.


    "Are you okay?" Leia hurriedly passed a glass of water to her and she gulped it all down in one go. She raised her head and smiled awkwardly at them. "Sorry, I got something stuck in my throat."


    "It''s okay." Adrik nodded and fixed his gaze on her.


    Her eyes began to dart around, and she cleared her throat. "Um, well... Keisha Mokeona, used to be a medical student but dropped out because my family got into some shutdown and now I work in a cafe to make some bucks and sponsor my younger sister in school. " She slightly nodded her head and twisted her lips as she said it.


    Everyone but Adrik, at the table, gazed at her with fallen jaws, and their eyes fluttered the moment she was done with introducing herself. The shocked expressions on their faces showed they had no idea of what Kiesha had revealed just now.


    They had asked her why she dropped out of University before, and she told them it was because she didn''t like the course anymore and wanted to switch to another course. Also, she wanted to apply to another university. She lied to them. Her best friends!


    They slightly shook their heads at her in disbelief, clearly showing how disappointed and bad they felt. She chuckled awkwardly and fiddled with her sweaty shaking hands. Fuck!! She really messed up. Will they hate her?


    She suddenly had the urge to cry and couldn''t help but pinch between her brows.


    Leia took a deep breath and smiled at everyone. "Let''s, um, finish up our dinner.." They all nodded in agreement and began to eat in complete silence.

 Chapter 123 - The Deamonda Forest

    The dinner was finally over, and Leia walked with her best friend outside. A deep breath escaped all their noses, and they glanced at each other.


    Leia raised her eyes to stare at Keisha and pinched between her brows. "Okay, Keisha, go home and take a rest. We will all talk tomorrow at Victor''s apartment." She smiled at all of them, and they nodded to her in agreement.


    They bade farewell to each other and went their separate ways.


    A deep breath escaped Leia''s nose as she watched their shadows finally disappear. She fluttered her eyes and turned around to walk into the mansion.


    She took the elevator and moved to the second floor, then stepped out when the door opened.


    She strolled to their room and stepped in, shutting the door behind her. She turned around and her eyes fell on Adrik, who was standing by the huge glass window, with his hands shoved into his pocket. He was intently watching the full moon in the sky.


    Leia walked up to him and hugged him from behind. He smiled and caressed her arms. "Is everything all right?" He turned around to face her and cupped her cheek with his hands.


    "Yeah, everything is fine. I''m just tired." She smiled at him, and Adrik placed a soft kiss on her forehead, then pulled her back into a hug.


    "Little wife-" She raised her eyes to look at him. " I have somewhere I want to go right now, so I will need you to stay at home and don''t come outside." He caressed her hair, and Leia''s face turned into a bit of a frown.


    "Where do you want to go at this late hour?" She asked in utter confusion, and Adrik inhaled sharply. "Little wife, I must leave, so please just listen to me." He proceeded to walk past her to the bed, but Leia grabbed him by the wrist, stopping him in his tracks.


    "Don''t you think I should know where you''re going? Adrik, it''s midnight! What would you be going out to do by this time of the night? " Her face darkened as she questioned him, and when she got no reaction or answer from him, suspicion arose in her heart. "You have not answered my question, Adrik."


    "Little wife, just-"


    "I will not listen to you, Adrik. It''s so not okay that you''re leaving me at this time of night and not bothering to tell me where you''re going. I mean, imagine me in your shoes. Won''t you be questioning me and worried just like I am right now? " She spread her arms at him, her eyes dilated a bit.


    Adrik pinched between his brows and shook his head at her. He stepped back to stand in front of her and cupped her cheek with his hands. "Alright little wife, I will tell you where I''m going." He chuckled and leaned down, placing a soft kiss on her lips. "It''s a full moon today, so I have to go for a run and let my wolf out."


    Leia fluttered her eyes and gazed at his face. "You do that on every full moon?" She asked, and Adrik shrugged. "Well... depends." He took a low breath and let go of her cheeks, then proceeded to the bed to grab a set of clothing he had brought out.


    "What are those for?" Leia raised her brow at him, and he turned to stare at her. "Well, this clothing I am swathed in right now will definitely tear into pieces when I transform into my wolf, so this set of clothing is what I will wear when I am done running." He explained, and Leia''s face grimaced.


    She walked up to him, placed the back of her hand on his forehead, and slightly shook her head. "I knew it. You have a fever."


    Adrik''s face altered in confusion, and he stared intently at her. "What do you mean? I am perfectly fine."


    "Nope, you''re not." She shook her head at him, and his face puckered in deep confusion. "What makes you think I am not fine?"


    "Well, if you are, I think you wouldn''t try to ruin your clothes and outfit yourself into a new one later on. Rather, you would just simply take this one off before turning into your wolf, and when you''re done with running, you can wear it back." She turned around to meet his gaze and smiled at him with a smug look on her face.


    Adrik''s lashes blinked vigorously, and he cleared his throat. "I did know that... I just didn''t really want to, because I have more clothes than I want, so it''s not a big deal."


    "Oh, really?" Leia chuckled softly and sat down on the bed. "Well, do whatever you want to do. Anyways, I am going with you."


    "What!" Adrik''s eyes fluttered in bewilderment, and he gazed intently at her. "Why?"


    "Because I want to." She shrugged and stared at him with a leisurely look on her face.


    "Leia, there are other wolves out-"


    "You can''t protect me or something?" She smirked as she asked, and Adrik''s face darkened instantly. "Grab your sweater and follow me." He said it in a cold, deep tone and turned around, then made his way out of the room.


    Leia laughed softly and stood up from the bed, then strolled into the dressing room. She grabbed her sweater and slid into it, then made her way downstairs.


    Adrik unlocked the Rolls Royce and stepped into the driver''s seat. He started the car engine and drove out of the compound immediately after Leia got in and shut the door.


    They sped down the road at a fast speed and finally arrived at the biggest forest any human had ever known. "The Daemonda Forest," Leia whispered, as Adrik slowly turned the car and drove into a narrow path that had leaves everywhere and very tall trees on each side. Darkness shrouded everything, and only the bright light from their car showed them the part ahead of them.


    "You know the name of this forest?" Adrik turned his head to glance at her, and she nodded her head, with her eyes darting around in awe. "When I was a kid, my mum always told me about it and even showed me pictures of it.. There was this huge book which she said held the legend, and she always read it to me at night before I went to sleep. "

 Chapter 124 - A Shadow

    "A legend..." Adrik repeated it to himself, and his face crinkled a bit in thought. "What has she told you about this forest?" He asked, and Leia turned her head to stare at him. "Well... she said that, um, I don''t know... that many creatures live in this forest and that any human that goes in never comes out alive, which is why humans have never dared to come here for ages."


    "I see..." Adrik slightly nodded and took a deep breath. "What kind of creatures did she mention?"


    "Uh, well, Faes, Elves, Demons, Vampires, Mermaids, and werewolves, just like you. You know, I found it superstitious and funny then, but thinking about it now, I kind of have a feeling she might be telling the truth. I mean, you''re a werewolf and she did mention your kind, so-"


    "We have arrived," Adrik whispered to her, and she swallowed the rest of her words.


    She stepped down from the car and shut the door, then shoved her hands into the pockets of her sweater as her eyes darted around. "This feels... I don''t know, familiar."


    Adrik turned to look at her, his brow raised in bewilderment. "Familiar?"


    "Yes, It gives me this homely feeling. Like as though, I have been here before." She took deep breaths and walked forward to stand beside him.


    Adrik interlocked her hands with his, walked away from the narrow path, and began to wander into the forest.


    They ambled for a few minutes before they stopped near a huge tree.


    Adrik glanced at her and pulled his shirt off. "I am about to strip. You want to watch me or...." He raised his brows at her, and Leia shrugged at him. "I don''t care." She folded her arms and fixed her gaze on him.


    Adrik chuckled softly and took a deep breath. "Hold on tight," he said and stripped off his clothes. The moment he was done, a deep groan erupted from his throat and his bones began to crack, breaking. On his skin, white fur began to emerge and spread to his whole body.


    Leia''s eyes dilated, and she began to step back a bit. She didn''t witness this the last time because she covered her eyes, but...this time...


    Her eyes fluttered, and the next thing she saw was Adrik leaned down and standing on his four legs, in his complete wolf form.


    "So huge!" Leia exclaimed, and she couldn''t help but inhale deeply. Yes, she had seen his wolf before, but seeing it again, she couldn''t help but be wowed by his hugeness.


    The wolf, who was Kai, turned around and gazed at her with his red eyes. Leia''s heart skipped a bit, and she swallowed hard.


    She slowly began to walk forward as Kai shook his head at her, as though trying to tell her something. She reached out her hand to him and gently caressed his fur. "You''re so beautiful." She whispered, and Kai heartily licked her face.


    "Hahaha... that is gross." She chuckled and scratched his fur.


    Kai gazed at her, and she fluttered her eyes. She has no idea why he is looking at her.


    He nudged her on her back and Leia smiled awkwardly as she still couldn''t understand what he wanted.


    As though annoyed at her, Kai vigorously shook his head, making his soft fur flutter. He bent down and laid down on the ground so he could be at her level. It poked her yet again and signaled with its head toward its back.


    "Ohhhh." As though realizing what it wanted, Leia chuckled softly. "You want me to climb on your back? Alright." She grabbed onto its fur and, with much effort, she climbed onto its back and gripped him around the neck to avoid falling.


    Leia''s pupils dilated slightly as she focused her gaze on the distance she was far from. "So huge!" She couldn''t help but exclaim yet again.


    Leia wrapped her arms tightly around Kai''s neck and before she could anticipate what would happen next, Kai scratched his paws on the sandy ground, and without any delay, it dashed off, whisking through the air that blew and fluttered its fur.


    Leia''s heart thumped widely within her, and she clutched tightly against his neck, shutting her eyes. Kai jumped over fallen trees, turning to his left to jump over a rock. Everywhere it ran, the leaves fluttered and the wind blew vigorously.


    His fur quivered furiously and wiggled as though it was dancing with the wind. He jumped over a lake and skilfully jumped over the huge fallen timbers.


    Having adjusted to his speed, Leia slowly opened her eyes and her jaw fell in amazement.


    Around her, bright fireflies were rising into mid-air as Kai stomped on the green grasses. Different beautiful flowers bloomed on each of his stomps, and the beauty of this place came to life. As though reaching his destination, Kai slowed and finally stopped at the edge of a cliff, which had water gushing out from the stones a bit distance away. It was such a beautiful waterfall that Leia gazed out at the scene in complete awe.


    "This is beautiful!" She exclaimed, and slowly slipped down from Kai''s back. She twirled around as the fireflies surrounded her and the wind blew on her hair, causing it to flutter.


    She smiled heartily and reached out her slender fingers to have one firefly perch on her middle finger. She chuckled softly and moved her finger, causing it to fly away.


    She turned to Kai, who was gazing at her and jumped onto him, hugging him by the neck. She scratched his fur, and Kai licked her face.


    A deep breath escaped Leia''s nose, and she sat down on the green grass. Kai also did the same and cuddled up to her, wrapping his huge body around her.


    Leia rested on his body and gently caressed his fur. "This is so peaceful." She smiled to herself and gazed up at the sky.


    Her eyes stared at the stars surrounding the moon, and as though noticing a constellation, she began to connect the dots.


    Kai watched her move her finger and he breathed out on her skin, stating he had no idea what she was doing.


    Leia laughed softly and turned to him. "Am connecting the stars to reveal the constellation." She said this, but Kai fluttered its fur, indicating that he still doesn''t understand.


    Leia smiled tenderly and began to explain. "All the stars that come out at night always form a constellation. You just have to try and connect the stars and it will be revealed to you. It also..." Kai gazed at her as she explained and raised his head to look up at the sky as though he understood what she was saying.


    They stayed this way for a few more minutes before finally standing up off the ground. He leaned down to her, and she climbed onto his back, then held tightly around his neck.


    With a swift turn, Kai began to run back. He ran past different trees, and as though something had touched her, Leia slowly opened her eyes and glanced to the side. Her eyes widened immediately and her heart skipped a bit when she saw a dark shadow running after them at an extremely fast speed that was, times faster than Kais''. It was as though it was holding back in order not to run past them.


    It was sprinting on their right-hand side, also passing each tree they did.


    Leia''s eyes narrowed, and she stared intently to try to identify the person, but she couldn''t. All she could observe was that the person had very long hair that fluttered as he ran, and he was clad in something that looked like a robe that ancient people would wear.


    Kai suddenly jumped over the timber on the ground, and Leia couldn''t help but look forward. When she saw that everything was fine, she returned her attention to her right side, only to realize that the shadow wasn''t running after them anymore, rather it had stopped and was now gazing at her.


    Her heart trembled and her eyes throbbed. The shadow was staring so intently at her that she could feel his eyes piercing into her soul.


    She held onto her breath and almost screamed when Kai abruptly stopped. She inhaled and exhaled continuously, and finally, when she caught her breath, she glanced in the direction, only to see that the shadow was gone.


    Her brow creased deeply, and she carefully slipped down from Kai''s back when he leaned down.


    She swallowed hard and clasped her arms around her body. As though noticing that something was not right, Kai walked near the tree where Adrik hung his cloth and allowed Adrik to take over and transform back into human form.


    Adrik immediately slid into his clothes and walked to Leia. He grabbed her by the shoulder and turned her so she could look at him. "Little wife, is everything alright?"


    Leia raised her head to stare at him and slowly nodded at him. "Yes... everything is fine. It''s just that, I saw a shadow running after us. "


    "A shadow?" Adrik''s eyes flickered, and she nodded at him. "It was extremely fast, that it was even slowing down so as not to run past us." A deep, anxious breath escaped her nose and Adrik pulled her into a hug. "It''s okay, common, let''s go." He interlocked his hand with hers and led her back to the car.. They got in, shutting the door afterward, and Adrik carefully reversed the car and drove out of the forest.

 Chapter 125 - I Am Sorry

    They arrived at the mansion, and Adrik led Leia back to their room. They took a nice shower and tucked themselves into bed after dressing up.


    Adrik wrapped his arms around her slender waist and pulled her closer to him, then placed a soft kiss on her forehead.


    A few minutes of silence were enacted before Leia abruptly sighed. Adrik gently grabbed her by the chin and tilted her head up so she could look at him. "What is it?" He slightly raised his brow as he asked, with concern apparent in his tone.


    Leia pinched between her brows and laid her head on his chest. "It''s nothing actually, just that I am kind of nervous."


    "Nervous about what?" Adrik''s brow creased a bit in bewilderment.


    "Well... I plan on going for the DNA test tomorrow and am just kind of nervous about the whole thing. " She took a deep breath, and Adrik began to caress her arms. "There is nothing to be nervous about, okay. Everything will be fine." He kissed her on the head and shut his eyes.


    Leia slightly nodded and encircled her arms around him. "Adrik... when will you take me to your kingdom?" She suddenly asked, and Adrik''s eyes blinked in surprise. "Do you want me to?"


    She nodded at him, and Adrik stroked her on the back as he slowly nodded his head. "Alright then, once the time comes, I will take you." He smiled and relaxed comfortably on the bed.


    _______


    The early morning sun rose in the sky, and birds flew around, singing melodically.


    Leia, who had just woken up, had already taken her shower right after Adrik did and slid into her clothing.


    She walked to Adrik and stood on tiptoe, then placed a soft kiss on his lips. "See you in five hours." Adrik nodded and kissed her back. He grabbed his black suitcase from the floor and made his way out of the room.


    A deep breath left Leia''s mouth, and she grabbed her phone from the bed, then walked out.


    She boarded the Lamborghini and drove out of the compound, then increased the speed of the car a bit, and sped off down the road.


    "Why am I always late?" She cursed herself as she stepped down from the car and slammed the door shut. She locked it and turned around to gaze at a familiar building. ''Victor''s lodgings.'' She shook her head to herself and strolled into the building.


    The elevator took her to the second floor, and she made her way to Victor''s apartment. A deep breath escaped her nose and she slowly pushed the door open.


    The instant she stepped in, her face darkened as her gaze fell on her best friends, who were seated apart from each other with no expression on their faces.


    Her eyes darted around, and she walked closer to them, then stared at their faces. "What is going on here?" She asked, and they raised their eyes to stare at her.


    "Nothing. We were just waiting for you to arrive." Victor shrugged as he replied, and Leia rolled her eyes at him. She took deep breaths and walked to stand in the middle of the apartment.


    She gazed at them and abruptly clicked her tongue. "Alright, we all need to talk right now."


    "There is nothing to talk about." James blurted out without glancing at anyone, and Kiesha, who sat on the couch near his sofa, bit her lower lips.


    "What do you mean?" Leia''s face turned ashen at his words, and she turned to face him with a deep scowl on her face.


    A deep breath left James'' nose, and he dropped his phone beside him on the couch, then crossed his arms and lifted his head to stare at her. "I said there was nothing to talk about."


    "And I am asking you what you mean by that!" Leia''s voice changed to a bit cold and James chuckled softly.


    "I would be lying if I said I was not pissed or angry because I really am. I am very pissed." He nodded his head as he said, and Leia fixed her gaze on him.


    "And why exactly?" She questioned him yet again, and James turned her to stare at Kiesha.


    "I am pissed because of her! You know, this makes no fucking sense! " He stood up from the couch and folded his arms. "I hate lies more than anything! It would have been okay if she wasn''t someone special to me, but fuck she is my best friend, our best friend. But in the time of her need, a time where she needed help and needed us, she shut us out! She lied to us and pretended that everything was fine!" James shut his eyes and inhaled deeply.


    He turned to Kiesha, whose face was about to tear up, and gazed at her with displeasure evident on his face. "You know, you could have let us know, your best friends! The people who will always be there for you. There is no way we wouldn''t help you out, and you know it. If you had told us, you wouldn''t be out of college by now. You''d still be there chasing your dreams, but what did you do? You fucking kept us in the dark and-"


    "That''s enough, James." Victor, who was quiet all along, abruptly patted him on the shoulder and took a soft breath. "It''s her choice and decision, so... please don''t take it that far." He pinched between his brows and walked back to his sofa to sit down.


    James'' face grimaced in annoyance and irritation, and he shoved his hands into the pockets of his hoodie, then angrily stormed out of the apartment, slamming shut the door behind him.


    Kiesha''s heart jumped to her throat, and the tears that she had been holding back fell from her eyes.


    Leia immediately rushed up to her and squatted down to her level. "Hey, hey, don''t cry." She used her hand to wipe off the tears in her eyes and pulled her into a tight hug.


    "I am sorry," Kiesha whispered behind sobs, and Leia patted her on the back.. "It''s okay."

 Chapter 126 - Mr. Robert/ Dr. Robert

    Leia stroked her back to comfort her, but she suddenly pushed Leia away and stood up from the couch.


    She ran to the door and opened it, then walked out and shut it behind her. She glanced from her left to her right and saw James walking towards the elevator. Her eyes fluttered, and she hastily ran after him, rushing past him and stopping to stand in front of him.


    She spread out her hands, blocking him from moving forward, and raised her head to stare at his face.


    James'' face altered in annoyance and he gazed down at her with a questioning look on his expression.


    Kiesha took a deep breath and allowed her arms to fall to her sides. She gazed at him and bit her lower lip. "I am... sorry. I know I messed up and that you''re very angry with me, but... hear me out. " She breathed softly and began to fiddle with her fingers. "Yes, you guys are my best friends, but... it is not as easy as you think to come to you guys and tell you my problems. I can''t keep bothering you guys with my dilemmas and all. I just... wanted to solve this by myself because I thought I could, but I realized I couldn''t. Everything was just piling up on me, and I was scared of letting my sister down. "


    Teardrops fell from her and she used the back of her hand to wipe them off. "Anyway, what I am trying to say is that... I am really, really sorry. I totally understand why you''re ang-" She was yet to finish her words when James leaned down abruptly and captured her lips with his. He cupped her cheek with his hands and kissed her tenderly.


    Kiesha''s eyes widened, and her body became motionless. What was happening? Her body trembled, and James broke the kiss. Thinking that was all, he unexpectedly pulled her into a tight hug, and Kiesha''s breath hitched.


    "I love you, Kiesha." He whispered into her ears, and Kiesha''s body stilled. She was so shocked that she couldn''t even hug him back but just stood like a tree. This was totally unexpected.


    James, who got no reaction from her, pulled back from the hug and gazed at her blank face. He caressed her cheek with his hand and took a soft breath. "I always have, Kiesha."


    A deep, sharp breath escaped Kiesha''s mouth, and she raised her eyes to stare intently at him. A smile slowly emerged on her lips, and she bit her lower lip. "You... really do?" She asked him, and he nodded his head at her. "I always did."


    Keisha immediately jumped on him, hugging him tightly and resting her head on his shoulder. "I love you too. I really do." She laughed heartily and pulled away from him. "You know, I have always had a crush on you from the first day we met till the day we became best friends. But I couldn''t tell you, because I thought you might reject me or something like that. I don''t-"


    "Kiesha," James said, stopping her from speaking and smiling at her. "You''re talking too fast. You might bite your tongue."


    Keisha chuckled awkwardly and looked past him when she heard two people clearing their throats.


    "That was unexpected, but I am so happy for you guys." Leia smiled as she walked towards them and nudged James on the shoulder. "Nice move, bro. Nice move." She complimented him and gave him a thumbs-up.


    Victor, who also arrived beside them, punched James on the shoulder and exchanged a bro hug with him. "I''m happy for you." They both laughed softly and turned to stare at Kiesha, whose eyes were darting around.


    "I am sor-"


    "Group hug." They all pulled each other into a warm embrace and chuckled afterward.


    ......


    They were currently seated inside the living room, their heads resting back on the couch.


    A low breath escaped Kiesha''s nose, and she raised her head to glance at Leia. "Girl, now that I recall it. Why the hell is your husband growing such long hair? I mean, I don''t doubt that it might be touching the floor soon. " Everyone else also turned to stare at Leia. It was really weird for a man to grow such long hair. I mean, if it was a woman, that wouldn''t be weird, but...


    Leia glanced at each of them and abruptly cleared her throat. "Ahem...Uh..you see, he can''t cut his hair for a reason. He said his grandpa made him grow his hair from childhood, and before he died, he asked him to never cut it. Yes, that''s the reason." She chuckled softly as she nodded her head.


    They fluttered their eyes in disbelief and slowly nodded their heads at her. "O...kay." They averted their gazes from her and returned their attention to their phones.


    Leia exhaled deeply and stood up from the sofa. "Um, guys, I''ve got to go now. I need to be at the hospital in time for the DNA test. "


    They nodded at her, and Kiesha turned to smile at her. "Let us know once the test is done."


    She nodded at her and bade them goodbye, then exited the building and drove out of the compound.


    She arrived back at the mansion in an hour and strolled into the building. When she stepped into the living room, she found Adrik seated with his legs crossed, and his eyes scanning the documents in his hands.


    A smile emerged on her face, and she walked up to him. She leaned down and placed a soft kiss on his forehead.


    "Welcome back, little wife." He raised his eyes to glance at her and smiled tenderly at her behind the mask that was latched onto his face.


    Leia plopped down beside him on the sofa and wrapped her arms around his waist. "What are you reading?" She asked as she glanced at the file in his hand.


    "This? Ah, it''s nothing. Just some company paperwork that I have to sign. " He stared intently at the document and dropped it on the mini table.


    "So are you ready to go, or do you want to shift it to tomorrow?" He cupped her cheek as he asked, and Leia shook her head. "No, I''d like to go today. I want to get it all done and over with. "


    "Okay then, Go grab the things you need from the room. I will be waiting for you here." Leia stood up from the sofa and made her way to the second floor using the elevator.


    She spent a few minutes in their room before returning downstairs and finding Adrik still seated on the sofa. "I''m ready." She said to him, and Adrik stood up for the divan.


    He walked to her and interlocked his hands with hers, then led her out of the mansion.


    They boarded the Lamborghini, and Adrik drove them out of the compound.


    "Which hospital are we going to?" Leia asked him as they sped down the road, and Adrik turned his head to glance at her.


    "Save Life Hospital." He replied, and Leia''s brow raised in cluelessness. "Which hospital is that? I have never heard of it."


    "It''s Mr. Robert''s hospital. Not popular but awesome at what it does better than most of those popular hospitals." Adrik shrugged, and Leia nodded her head.


    "Actually, I chose to take you to his hospital because I felt you would be more comfortable there than at any other hospital. I mean, you have come to know him quite well and are comfortable around him." He glanced at her and smiled behind the mask on his face.


    They shortly arrived at their destination, and Leia gazed at the quite big hospital that had people walking in and out of it.


    Adrik carefully parked the car, and they stepped down, shutting the door and locking it. He walked to Leia and interlocked her hand with his, then began to lead her towards the stairs that led to the door.


    They climbed up the wide stairs, pushed the glass door open, and stepped into the hospital.


    A bright, vast room that had nurses, patients, and people walking up and down came into view, and Adrik grabbed her by the hand, then took her to the receptionist''s table.


    They signed a document provided by the receptionist, and after a few minutes, they were called in by Dr. Robert.


    Adrik pushed the door open and they stepped in, then walked towards the two chairs at the table, which was obviously Dr. Roberts''s table, and sat down.


    A few seconds passed, and the door was pushed open. A middle-aged man with glasses on the bridge of his nose walked into the office. He ambled to his seat at the table and sat down.


    "Mr. Avalanzo, please forgive me. I had a patient I really needed to give treatment to, and that''s why I had to keep you waiting. Do pardon me." He explained with a pleading look on his face.


    Adrik shook his head at him. "It''s fine, I don''t mind." He said, and Dr.. Robert took a breath of relief.

 Chapter 127 - Consent

    "So what brings you both here?" He interlocked his hand as he asked, and Adrik glanced at Leia.


    "Um, we are here because I want to have a DNA test," Leia replied, and Dr. Robert slowly nodded his head.


    "Okay, who do you want to take the test with?" He adjusted his glasses that were slipping off the bridge of his nose and fixed his gaze on her.


    "My dad." Leia nodded and shoved her hand into her backpack to grab the packet of hair.


    "Your dad? Where is he? " Dr. Robert''s eyes fluttered, and he glanced at the door, expecting someone to walk in, but no one did.


    "Oh, um, I didn''t... come with my dad." Leia shook her head, and the expression on her face became awkward.


    "What? Um, Mrs. Avalanzo I am very sorry, but we need your father''s consent for this paternity test to take place. "


    "What do you mean?" Leia''s face darkened instantly, and she gazed intently at Dr. Robert.


    "Mrs. Avalanzo, it''s is a rule in every hospital, that before a DNA test is done, the consent of either the father or mother must be provided." Dr. Robert explained, with a pleading look on his face.


    "Well, I don''t have my father''s consent and I can''t get one even if I wanted to, so you have to do it without his consent." She said, with a displeased look on her face.


    "What about your mother? Your mother''s consent is still-" He was yet to finish his sentence when Leia slammed her fist on his table and glared dangerously at him. "Don''t you dare mention my mother ever again!" She emphasized every word, and Dr. Robert swallowed hard.


    Adrik, who sat beside her, sighed softly and pulled her down to sit back on the chair. He turned to Dr. Robert and slightly nodded at him. "Mr. Robert, I do understand what you mean, but for some reason, I will prefer it if you go on with the test without the consent of her father or her mother. If my consent is better than nothing, I can give mine. "


    Dr. Robert fluttered his eyes and took a deep breath, then slightly nodded. He pulled out a fresh document from his drawer and handed it to him. "Please sign here and there." He pointed to some blank space and Adrik filled it.


    Dr. Robert took the document and turned to stare at Leia. "How do you want to take the test?" He raised his brow as he asked, and Leia rolled her eyes at him, then grabbed the packet of hair from her backpack.


    She handed it over to him, and Dr. Robert examined it. "Well, this will work." He nodded and raised his head to stare at them. "I will begin the test right away. Please follow me, Mrs. Avalanzo." He stood up from his chair and gestured to Leia.


    Leia nodded and gave her backpack to Adrik, then stood up from the chair and followed behind him outside.


    Adrik''s eyes fluttered, and he held onto the backpack and stood up from the chair. He walked to the door, pushed it open, and stepped outside.


    He glanced to his left and then to his right and saw Leia following behind Dr. Robert.


    He shrugged, and without any delay, he walked up to them and caught up with Leia.


    Leia''s heart skipped a bit when she noticed him beside her, and she punched him on the shoulder. "Don''t startle me like that!" She glared at him, and Adrik pinched her arm.


    Her lashes trembled, and a painful hiss sound escaped her lips. She glanced at him and wickedly smiled at him.


    Adrik laughed softly behind the mask on his face and hung her backpack on his left shoulder.


    They finally arrived at a ward with the number "A66" written at the top and halted. Dr. Robert pushed the door open and gestured to Adrik and Leia.


    Leia walked in, to the bed and sat down, while Adrik took his seat on the sofa.


    Dr. Robert glanced around the room and grabbed a new set of syringes. He set it up and walked over to Leia, then asked her to fist her hand. Leia did just like he asked, and he grasped her arm firmly, then proceeded to insert the needle through her skin. However, a yell from Adrik caused him to halt.


    "Hold on!" Adrik hurriedly stood up from the sofa and ambled to them. He grabbed the syringe from Dr. Robert, threw it to the floor, matched it, and crushed it into pieces.


    Dr. Robert''s eyes fluttered in confusion, and he glanced down at the syringe and then at him. "Why..."


    "Please don''t use her blood. Pluck a few strands of her hair and use it." He said and walked back to the sofa, then sat down.


    Leia, who was also confused by his actions, tilted her head and gazed at him with a questioning look on her face. "Why?" She lip-synced at him, and Adrik shook his head.


    "I will explain when we get home." He took his mask off and lip-synced to her, then put it back on. Leia nodded at him and returned her attention to Dr. Robert, who stood in front of her with his eyes gazing down at the shattered syringe.


    Dr. Robert cleared his throat and strolled to the table inside the room where he picked up a scissor, then walked back to her.


    He handed the scissor to her, and Leia received it from him. She carefully cut a few strands of her hair and gave it to him. Mr. Robert collected it and stored it inside a transparent packet.


    "Alright, there is nothing more. Please come back in two days for the test result." He said, and they nodded at him.


    Leia stood up and walked to Adrik, and he interlocked his hands with hers. With one last glance at Dr.. Robert, they walked out of the ward and proceeded to make their way out of the hospital.

 Chapter 128 - Young Master Robert

    Adrik and Leia arrived home and made their way to their room. They spent a lot of time doing their thing. Adrik, handling his paperwork and working on his laptop. Leia, busy on her phone and grabbing a few snacks to fill her empty stomach.


    They took a quick shower after all that, and Leia tucked into bed beside Adrik. He encircled his arms around her and gently caressed her hair.


    A deep breath escaped Leia''s nose, and she raised her head to stare at him. "Adrik, you still haven''t told me why you are against Mr. Robert using my blood for the test." She reminded him, and Adrik gazed down at her.


    He breathed softly and cupped her cheek. "Little wife-" He said, his eyes fluttered and he smiled at her "-You do remember that we have been seeing a few things that state that you''re not normal. I mean, we are not sure what you really are, but I am a hundred percent sure that you''re not a normal human."


    "These past few days, I have been trying to figure out what you could be or-"


    "Do you think I''m a supernatural as well?" She raised her brow at him, and Adrik nodded at her.


    "Yes, Your nails grew so long that it''s enough evidence to prove you''re not just a human, but something else." He smiled as he nodded to her, and Leia pinched between her brows.


    She took a deep breath, and as though recalling something, her brow creased. She slowly sat up on the bed and turned to stare at Adrik.


    Adrik''s eyes fluttered in confusion, and he smiled at her. "Why are you looking at me like that little wife?"


    "Adrik, what other, um, signs indicate that you''re not normal and... might be supernatural?" She smiled awkwardly as she asked him, and Adrik darted his eyes around.


    "Well, your fangs might appear, sensitivity, extraordinary speed, teleportation, keen eyesight, very fast healing, a strong m-"


    "Fast healing! Fast healing!!" She abruptly yelled as she snapped her fingers, and Adrik turned his head to look at her. "What''s wrong?"


    "When I was still in high school, at age sixteen, I got hurt while fighting with a student. It wasn''t a deep cut, but just a scratch on my skin. However, when I got home and tried to change into my home clothing, I suddenly glanced at my arm only to realize that the cut was gone. No scar or anything, it was just gone, like I didn''t even get hurt in the first place." She narrated, and Adrik''s eyes narrowed.


    "I thought it might be my imagination, so I shrugged it off. However, I got hurt yet again and it was a cut from the knife I was using. I had my hand wrapped up in a bandage and unwrapped it when I woke up the next morning. However, expecting to see a fresh cut, what I saw was my delicate palm devoid of anything like a scar. It was just like... I don''t know. I was scared to hell and had to tell my mum, but she covered the whole thing up and asked me to forget about it." She took a deep breath and pinched between her brows. "I knew something was wrong, but I couldn''t do anything. I had no one to give me answers or clues."


    "You know, I was able to get these tattoos six days after getting whipped because it healed at a rapid pace. It was such a deep wound that I was even bleeding, but it healed within six days. I was curious and surprised then, but my mind was still crowded with rage and hatred for my father. I threw everything behind me and forgot about it." She let out a low sigh and relaxed into Adrik''s arms.


    Adrik slightly nodded his head and traced his hand up and down her arm. "Well, this is enough to remove every doubt from your heart. You are absolutely not normal, and I need to figure out exactly what you are. "


    "It really doesn''t make sense to me, Adrik. I mean, both my parents are humans, so how could I be different?" Her brow creased, and Adrik slightly shook his head at her.


    "Little wife, we are yet to know if they truly are your parents. Well, I believe your mum is your real mother since you do resemble her a bit. But I strongly doubt that your father is your biological father. I mean, you look nothing like him. Not even a little bit." Adrik breathed softly and placed a soft kiss on her head. "Till the test comes out, we will know the truth then."


    "Mhmm... oh, you are still yet to tell me why you didn''t allow Mr. Robert to use my blood." Leia nodded and raised her eyes to gaze at him.


    "Oh yeah, Well, as I said, you''re definitely not a human, so if he extracts your blood and does some scanning on it, he might detect something different in your blood compared to that of a human. Then start doing some stupid tests and figure something out." Adrik explained, and Leia''s lashes flickered in shock. "Do you mean that your blood right now is different from that of a human?"


    "Yes, same as my heartbeat." He cupped her cheek and placed her head near his chest.


    Leia''s ears throbbed as his quick heartbeat drummed in her ears. She pulled back and gazed at his face. "Why is your heart beating so fast?"


    "It''s not fast though." Adrik chuckled at her as he stared at her face. "It''s fast compared to humans, but for us nonhumans, it''s a steady heartbeat. It only beats at a very rapid state when we run, because we run at an extraordinary speed. " He explained, and Leia nodded at him.


    "Hmmm, since I''m not normal, why isn''t my heart beating as promptly as yours?" She asked, and Adrik stroked his jaw.


    "I''m not sure as I don''t know what exactly you are, but if we do figure it out soon, I might know why." He shrugged and she nodded at him.


    She leaned down and laid on his body, then curled her arms around him. "I do hope to get my questions answered soon. My head feels like it might explode if I don''t."


    Adrik chuckled at her and gently caressed her, drawing circles on her back. "Don''t worry, you will. Once the time comes, everything will be revealed to you. Right now, you just have to take everything step by step." He patted her on the back and tucked her hair behind her ears.


    Leia nodded and leaned in to place a soft kiss on his lips. "I love you."


    "I love you too." He replied and curdled her tightly, then they shut their eyes and drifted off to sleep.


    ________


    A plane landed in one of the airports in Europe, Greece, and a young man clad in black pants and a long black suit jacket stepped down with his luggage being carried by his men, who were already awaiting his return at the airport.


    His eyes darted around, and the breeze blew on his fine, not-so-short brown hair. He brushed it back with his fingers and breathed in the fresh air with a warm smile on his pink lips.


    "I''m back in Europe!" He yelled as he twirled around and took a deep breath.


    "Welcome back, young master Robert." His men bowed deeply at him, and he nodded cheerfully at them.


    "Take me to the hotel. I shall visit my mother tomorrow." His men nodded at him and began to lead him to a black SUV that was just parked nearby. They pulled the door open for him, and he stepped in. Then they shut the door.


    They loaded his luggage into the boot, then two of his men took their seats in the driver''s seat, while the others boarded the second SUV and followed behind them as they drove out of the airport.


    The young man''s eyes gazed outward through the window, and he admired the beauty of Europe. The streetlights were on and brightened up the road.


    He couldn''t help but take another deep breath and recline in his chair.


    A smile emerged on his face, and he shut his eyes.


    The car finally slowed down when they arrived at a huge five-star hotel whose body screamed rich and expensive. They carefully drove into the compound and parked the car in the parking lot.


    The two men seated at the front immediately stepped down and opened the door for the young man. "Young master, we have arrived." One of them announced it, and he opened his eyes. He glanced at the edifice through the glass of the car and nodded.


    He stepped down from the car and shoved his hands into his pocket, then stood still to stare at the building.


    His other men that were following behind using the other car arrived too and drove into the compound.. They parked the car and stepped down, then moved to help the other two unload their young master''s luggage.

 Chapter 129 - Suprise

    The young man took a deep breath and, without any more hesitation, walked up the stairs, pushed the glass door open, and stepped into the building. His eyes flitted around and fell on a receptionist who stood at the table near the entrance.


    He snapped his fingers and one of his men arrived. He walked up to the receptionist and received the key to his young master''s flat, then ordered the others to follow behind them.


    They used the elevator to ride up to the second floor and strode out when the door opened.


    They glanced around and immediately their eyes sighted the door with the number "205" above it, they halted. The bodyguard swiped the card on the lock and the door creaked open.


    They pushed the door open and the young man stepped in. His eyes glanced around the room, and a broad smile emerged on his brims.


    The living room was quite vast, with a wide, tall glass window and a huge chandelier that emitted a luminous light.


    The young man took a subtle breath and slowly strolled towards the window. He stood still and shoved his hands into his pocket, then lifted his eyes to gaze out to the horizon. As though a thought came to his mind, a wide loving smile made its way to his lips, and he lowered his head as he chuckled softly.


    His men busied themselves with unloading his belongings, and the moment they were done, they took their leave, giving him his privacy.


    The young man shut the door and locked it, then walked into his bedroom. He glanced around and plopped into the bed, then raised his eyes to glance at the chandelier hanging on the ceiling.


    He took a deep breath and stood up from the mattress, then made his way into the bathroom to have a nice shower. The moment he was done, he slid into his night robe and laid down on the bed.


    He reached out his hand and grabbed his phone, which was on a mini brown table near his bed. He turned it on and went into his gallery, then clicked on a photo of him and a girl at a park. A smile couldn''t help but form on his brims, showing just how much he missed the girl in the photo, and he hugged the phone to his chest. "I am finally back." He closed his eyes and, with one last soft breath, he drifted off to sleep.


    ____________


    The next day arrived in the twinkle of an eye, and Adrik blinked his eyes open. He proceeded to get up from the bed, but Leia''s arms and legs that were wrapped around him restrained him from doing so.


    He turned his head to glance at her, and a smile couldn''t help but form on his lips at how adorable and peaceful she looked while sleeping.


    He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ears and leaned down, placing a tender kiss on her forehead. He withdrew her arms and legs from his body and slowly climbed down from the bed to avoid waking her up.


    He ambled to the mirror and stared at his reflection. A pessimistic expression emerged on his face, and a deep sigh couldn''t help but exit his mouth. "Mother Mary..." He whispered to himself, and her image emerged in his mind. "Where exactly are you?" He asked, hoping to get an answer, but nothing happened.


    Adrik pinched between his brows and straightened up, then turned around to walk to the bathroom, but he jolted back on seeing Leia standing in front of him while rubbing her eyes. "Is something wrong, Adrik?" She implored, and Adrik slightly shook his head.


    "Nothing is wrong. When did you wake up?" His brow creased a bit, and he stared intently at her. Damn, he thought she was a ghost for a moment there.


    "I just woke up now. Mhm...I saw you gazing at yourself in the mirror, so I thought something was wrong." She clarified, and he slowly nodded at her. He walked to her and sat her down on the bed, then squatted down to her level. "Anywhere you want to go today, little wife?"


    Leia squinted her lashes and smiled at him. "The park. I love it there." Adrik nodded at her and stood up, then grabbed her by the hand and led her into the bathroom.


    They had a nice long shower and dressed up the moment they were done. They made their way downstairs to the dining room and had their breakfast, then strolled to the living room and plopped down on the sofa.


    Leia wrapped her arms around Adrik and rested her head on his chest.


    Adrik grabbed his laptop and placed it on his lap, then proceeded to work on it. However, the telephone on the mini table suddenly rang and he reached out his hand to grab it. He placed it near his ear and waited for the caller to speak.


    [Hello, Mr. Avalanzo. I am calling to let you know that the test results will be available today. So please, you can come to the hospital in the afternoon to take it]


    Adrik replied with an okay, and dropped the telephone back into its place on the table.


    He turned his head to look at Leia, and Leia fluttered her eyes in bewilderment. "Is... something wrong?" She inquired when she saw the worried expression on his face.


    Adrik shook his head at her and pulled her closer to him. "Little wife, Mr. Robert called and... It seems that the test result will be ready today instead of tomorrow, so we will be going there around the afternoon time to collect it." He explained, and a low breath escaped Leia''s nose. She slightly nodded at him and relaxed on his muscular body.


    Adrik stroked her arms and resumed working on his laptop.


    _________


    The young man, who was already dressed up to visit his mother, stepped out of the building and his men pulled the door of the SUV open for him.. He stepped in, and they shut the door, then moved to take their seats in the driver''s chairs.

 Chapter 130 - I Can Cook

    They launched the car''s engine and reversed it, then drove out of the compound and sped off down the road.


    Seeming as though they had arrived at their destination, they slowed down the car and carefully turned, driving into a tall mansion that was painted a royal brown. It had two long, wide stairs on either side of it, which led to a massive golden door. And in front of the mansion was an immense pool that would fit lots of people.


    They parked the car, stepped down, and rushed to open the door for their young master.


    The young man stepped down and stood still to carefully examine his home. A place he hadn''t visited for years. His house, which he had missed very much. He breathed in the fresh air and shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans, then began to make his way towards the stairs.


    As he walked up the stairs, a smile appeared on his face, and the moment he stood in front of the gold-colored wide door, his smile broadened.


    The door pushed open and he stepped in. A vast living room with a sophisticated aesthetic came into view. It was painted a classic ash color, and it was devoid of any chandelier. Rather, a tall, expensive-looking lantern stood at each of the four corners of the room. On the white-colored ceiling were round lanterns hanging on it.


    Ash-colored sofas of different shapes were situated perfectly, and an elegant-looking woman with black hair that had a few strands of white mixed in it sat on it with literature in her hand and an eyeglass hanging on the bridge of her nose.


    A broad smile emerged on the young man''s face, and he quietly tiptoed near the woman and stood behind her. A few seconds later, he leaned down and hugged her tightly.


    The woman sat up from the couch, startled by the unknown approach, and turned around to see who it was, only for her body to come to a halt.


    Her breathing became unsteady and little bubbles of tears welled up in her eyes. "S-shawn." Her voice trembled as she spoke the name of her son, whom she hadn''t seen in four years. Is she dreaming or what? Her body trembled and she slowly moved towards him, then reached out her hand to grab onto his cheek. "S-shawn." She tenderly rubbed his cheek, and the young man, who was Shawn, nodded his head at her. "Mother." His voice cracked up as he found himself about to tear up.


    "It really is you!" She pulled him into a tight hug and stroked his back. Shawn wrapped his arms around her and tightly hugged her as though she could disappear if he didn''t. "I missed you so much, mum." He said behind sobs, and his mother nodded at him. "I know you did, and I missed you more." She pulled back from the hug and began to plant kisses on his face.


    She gently wiped off the tears on his face and led him to sit down on the divan, next to her. She held onto his hands and gazed at him for a while. "Why didn''t you tell me you were coming home?" She asked with a downcast expression on her face.


    "I wanted to surprise you, and I pulled it off." A slap landed on his head the moment he said that, and an ouch fled his mouth. "Mum!!"


    "Such an unfilial son! How can you do this to your mother? I nearly had a heart attack because of you!" She cackled softly afterward and pulled him into a hug. "I love you, my dear son."


    "I love you more, mother." A deep breath escaped Shawn''s nose, and he hugged her tightly.


    Among the top five richest, his mother was in the top 5.


    First was Adrik.


    Top two, Ileus.


    Lady Cathryn came in third place.


    Top four, Mr. Adolpho.


    Top five, Mrs. Robert who is his mother.


    ________


    Standing in front of the kitchen counter, Selena clicked her tongue as she stared at the burnt food on the cooker, and a groan of frustration erupted from her throat.


    [Impressing him gone wrong] Her wolf Elise began to laugh, and her hands balled into a tight fist.


    "Shut the fuck up!" She yelled at Elise, but Elise kept on laughing.


    [Taking a cooking lesson will be very helpful] Elise sealed her lips to avoid bursting into laughter, and Selena took a long, subtle breath.


    She dropped the spoon on the counter and proceeded to take off the apron she was wearing. However, she abruptly halted when she saw Victor walk into the kitchen.


    A sheepish expression emerged on her face when she saw his eyes flutter as he stared at the mess she made. Her cheeks turned red, and she bent her head to avoid his gaze.


    "You don''t know how to cook, do you?" He asked her, and as though having thought of something, she immediately shook her head. "Of course, I do know how to cook. It''s just that something got mixed up and... this mess happened." She chuckled awkwardly, and Victor slowly nodded his head at her. Damn, if she says she doesn''t know how to cook, he will start suspecting her, because the only possibility that she doesn''t know how to cook is because she is from a very rich family. Haha, a princess at that.


    "Hmm, why am I finding it hard to believe that you know how to cook?" Victor dwindled his gazes as he said, and cold sweats began to drip from her back.


    She cleared her throat and raised her gray eyes to stare at him. "Well, I can prove that to you. Just please leave the kitchen, and let me create my masterpiece." She smiled at him, revealing her thirty-two teeth, and Victor nodded at her.


    He grabbed a can of beer from the fridge and made his way out of the kitchen.


    Selena immediately slammed the door shut and locked it, then took a long deep breath.


    She shoved her hand into the pocket of her jeans and pulled out her phone which was bought by Victor. In the past few days, Victor had bought new clothes for her so she would stop wearing his. Quite a gentleman.


    She straightened up and walked towards the counter, then leaned against it.


    It wouldn''t hurt to hop onto social media and look for some cooking tutorials, right? She shrugged and opened the YouTube app on her phone, then hurriedly typed, [How to cook creamed spinach and sausage pasta]


    It loaded up immediately and many videos came into view. "Which one to click?" Her fingers hovered above the screen of her phone, and she finally clicked on the second video.


    She positioned her phone at the window near the counter and began to bring out the ingredients she needed.


    Sausage ¡Ì, garlic onions ¡Ì, red chili flakes ¡Ì, chicken broth ¡Ì, pasta water ¡Ì, and Italian hard cheese ¡Ì.


    "Mhmm, what else? Oh... salt and black pepper. " She set all the ingredients in front of her on the counter and a deep breath exited her nose. "Okay, I can do this."


    [I seriously doubt that] Elise shook her head at her and went silent.


    Selena ignored her and grabbed a pot of water, per the instruction of the cook.


    .....


    Victor sat on the sofa in the living room with a can of beer in his hand and browsed through his phone. He moved straight to YouTube, and just as he was about to click on a video, an incoming call from Leia showed up on the screen of his phone, and he picked it up.


    "Hey, Leia."


    [Vic, I am calling because I need to tell you that I will be going to collect the test result today during the afternoon time].


    "Whoa, I thought you said tomorrow." Victor''s brow creased in bewilderment.


    [Well, the doctor called us early this morning and told us that the results would be out today, so...


    "Mhmm... I see."


    [Once I get the test result, I will call and let you guys know what it says]


    "Alright, I-"


    "Ahhhh!!!" A loud yell from Selena resounded from the kitchen, and Victor immediately turned around to glance at the door of the kitchen.


    [Is someone with you?] Leia inquired, as she too heard the yell from over the phone.


    "Ahh... no... it''s the TV. Yes, the TV. I am watching a show." He immediately came up with an answer, and after a few seconds of silence, Leia replied with an okay and hung up the call.


    A deep breath escaped Victor''s nose, and he made his way to the kitchen. He turned the door handle, but it didn''t open. "Selena, are you okay in there?" He implored, and Selena, who was inside the kitchen, nodded her head. "Yes, everything is fine. Don''t worry about me." She replied, and Victor lingered for a moment before he made his way back to the living room.


    Selena stared at the pan of oil on the cooker and her eyes narrowed. "It''s either you or me today!" Her gritted teeth tightened and she walked closer to the counter.


    The scream that came from her before was a result of the drops of bubbling oil that flew onto her arm.


    Elise shook her head and chuckled softly [This is gonna be fun]

 Chapter 131 - Embarrassed

    Leia followed behind Adrik as he strolled towards the Rolls Royce. They pulled the door of the car open and shut it right after they stepped in.


    Adrik started the car engine, reversed it, and smoothly drove out of the compound, then sped off down the road.


    Leia had her head bent down, and she couldn''t stop fiddling with her sweaty hands. A deep breath escaped her nose when Adrik patted her shoulder and she raised her eyes to stare at him.


    "Don''t be nervous, okay?" He smiled at her and she nodded, then rested her head on the window.


    They soon arrived at the hospital and stepped down from the car. Adrik interlocked her hand with his, and together, they made their way into the hospital.


    They waited for a few minutes before Dr. Robert called them in. They took their seats at the table and patiently waited for Dr. Robert to arrive.


    It didn''t take more than a minute before the door pushed open. Dr. Robert smiled on seeing them and made his way to the table to sit down.


    He intertwined his hands and smiled, friendly at them. "It''s good to see you again, Mr. Avalanzo."


    "It''s good to see you too. " Adrik nodded at him and he turned to Leia.


    "Welcome, Mrs. Avalanzo." Leia nodded and smiled at him. "Thank you."


    "Alright, here is the document. Everything is all completed. " Dr. Robert pulled his drawer open and grabbed a file that had Adrik and Leia''s names written on it. He handed it over to Adrik, and Adrik received it. "Thank you very much, Mr. Robert. We will be taking our leave now." He stood up from the chair, and Leia did the same.


    They strolled out of the office, and he interlocked his hand with hers, then led her to the car.


    They stepped in and shut the door, then Adrik launched the car engine and drove off into the road.


    They were both silents throughout the ride. Leia laid her head on the window and kept fiddling with her fingers. Adrik would turn now and then to glance at her with an apprehensive expression on his face. A low breath escaped his nose and he returned his eyes to the road.


    _______


    With her arms akimbo, Selena stood near Victor, who was seated at the dining table.


    On the table were two bowls of creamed spinach and sausage pasta.


    "Tell me what you think." A wide smile emerged on her face, and she adjusted the apron she was still wearing.


    Victor nodded at her and turned to gaze at the food. It does look quite okay. So he thinks. Well, it won''t harm to try it. It might actually taste good.


    He took a deep breath, grabbed the steel spoon placed beside the bowl, and dipped it into the food. He scooped up half a spoon and brought it to his lips.


    He swallowed hard and raised his eyes to glance at her. His heart fluttered at the cute smile on her face and her broadened eyes that were staring at him in expectation. His eyes flickered, and he averted his gaze immediately.


    He parted his brims and allowed the spoon to enter his mouth. Then, slowly, he began to chew on it, and his lashes couldn''t help but blink furiously. His lips trembled, and with much effort, he swallowed it.


    Without wasting any time, he grabbed a glass of water, gulped down a mouthful, then took a subtle breath. Victor shook his head and turned to look at Selena, who had a pessimistic expression on her face.


    Victor''s actions alone were enough to tell her that her food was terrible. But, how could it be? She had put a lot of effort into making this food. She even burnt her arm in the process.


    Jeez. She was sure she did every single thing that woman instructed, so how could it have turned out bad? Or maybe... that woman doesn''t know how to cook. I mean, since it was a video, there was no way the viewers would know if it was good or not.


    A low breath exited her mouth and she smiled awkwardly at Victor, who was staring at her with a raised brow. "I am... sorry." She nodded at him with a downcast expression on her face, turned around, and slowly made her way back to the kitchen.


    She stepped in and shut the door, then walked to the counter and angrily slammed her fist on it. "Fuck!!!" She breathed heavily and shut her eyes. What seemed like tears slipped through her lashes and streamed down her cheek; another one followed after.


    Bewildered by the sudden tears coming out of her eyes, Elsie, her wolf, blinked her eyes and lowered her head. [Why are you crying?] She implored, and Selena sniffed, then raised her head to gaze out to the sky through the window.


    ''I honestly don''t know.'' She shook her head and threw her head back. ''Maybe because I embarrassed myself, who knows? You know, I didn''t think I would be crying here, but this is the first time I have felt this embarrassed and it.. hurts so much.'' She used her pinky to wipe off the tears on the edge of her eyes.


    [Well, regardless, you still tried your best and that''s all that matters. I mean, this is your first time and I have to say you impressed me] Elise smiled at her, and she chuckled softly.


    The door to the kitchen was pushed open, and Victor stepped in. Selena immediately dabbed the drops of tears off her eyes and allowed a smile to emerge on her lips, then turned around to stare at him. "Hey..."


    "Are you crying?" Victor asked when he saw her wet lashes and immediately walked over to her. He grabbed her cheeks with his hands and examined her face. The moment he spotted the tears in her eyes, his brow creased deeply. "Why are you crying? Is it because you got no comments from me on your food?" He inquired, but Selena uttered not a single word.


    He let out a deep sigh and let go of her cheek. "You know, you didn''t allow me to say anything and left. Yeah, maybe it wasn''t so great, but you tried. I mean, I know you can''t cook and am happy you still tried to even though you can''t. It was actually quite good for a first-timer." He wiggled his brow at her, and Selena couldn''t help but chuckle at how cute that made him look.


    Victor cackled softly and slightly nodded at her. ''You shouldn''t feel embarrassed about things like that; rather, you just have to meet a master chef like me, and boom, you will be one of the best cooks in the world."


    Selena couldn''t help but laugh yet again and folded her arms. "So you can cook."


    "Yes," Victor replied with a dramatic look on his face, and Selena nodded with a smile on her lips. "How much will it cost me to get a cooking lesson from you, master?" She smiled innocently as she inquired, and Victor stroked his jaw as though thinking, then turned his head to look at her.


    "Just your time and patience, dear student." He smirked, and Selena spread her arms with a cheerful expression on her face. "What are we waiting for then?"


    ________


    Adrik parked the car and stepped down. He shut the door and walked over to Leia, then they strolled into the mansion.


    The elevator took them up to the second floor, where they walked out and made their way to their room.


    Adrik shut the door behind them and strolled to sit beside Leia on the bed. A deep nervous breath fled Leia''s lips, and she lowered her head.


    "What''s wrong, little wife?" Adrik inquired with concern apparent in his tone, and Leia abruptly wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly. "I have never felt this nervous in my life. I mean, I was always the tough girl who didn''t let emotions consume me, but now... "


    "Hush little wife, don''t say that..." Adrik silenced her and grabbed her chin, then lifted her head so she could look at his face. "Little wife, listen to me... No matter how tough we are, there are some emotions and thoughts that we still can''t handle. It just consumes us and it''s best to just let it out. So it''s okay to feel nervous. I mean, you''re going to find out something very important regarding your life." He leaned down and planted a soft kiss on her lips.


    Leia nodded and smiled at him. "Alright, I am ready." She took a deep breath, and Adrik nodded at her.


    He grabbed the file and untied the thin rope binding it, then turned his head to glance at her. Leia cupped her hands together and stared at him in anticipation.


    Adrik opened the file and flipped through the documents inside to find the important one. His eyes carefully scanned through it, and when it fell on the part where the result was written, his eyes trembled.


    His hands became stiff and he slowly turned his head to gaze at Leia with an unfortunate expression on his face.


    Leia''s brow creased in confusion, and her eyes flickered. "Um, what.... does it say?" She asked with tension in her voice, and a deep breath escaped from Adrik''s nose.

 Chapter 132 - A Lie

    "Adrik... what does it say?" This time her voice was a bit hoarse.


    Adrik let out a sigh and smiled pessimistically at her as he dropped the file beside him on the bed. "Little wife-"


    "What does it say?" She gazed intently at him as she asked, in an anxious voice.


    "Negative..." Adrik pinched between his brows and lifted his eyes when he saw Leia hurriedly grab the file from the bed and furiously flip through it. The moment her eyes fell on the part where the result was inscribed, her body stilled.


    Her hands, which were holding onto the paper, began to tremble violently, and her eyes vigorously fluttered. She stared at the paper with a lost expression on her face, and Adrik''s expression altered in apprehension. He raised his hands to touch her, but Leia slowly began to stand up from the bed.


    The documents slipped from her hand and fell to the floor, scattering.


    ''Negative! Negative!'' This word kept reverberating in her head, and something began to change within her.


    The temperature of the room started to change, and slowly she took steps back, with her head hung low, creating a distance between her and Adrik.


    Adrik''s brow furrowed deeply at her action, and he stood up from the bed, proceeding to walk towards her. However, he was yet to get close to her when Leia unexpectedly lifted her head and he immediately flinched back.


    His lashes blinked in confusion, and his eyes narrowed. He stared intently at her, only to realize that her pitch-black eyes were now completely red. "Leia..." Adrik whispered in shock and commenced to move towards her, but she raised her hand, stopping him in his tracks. "Do not approach me!" She emphasized her every word, leaving Adrik completely dumbfounded.


    "All those times, I was living with a lie..." Adrik, who was about to move towards her regardless of what she said, halted on his step when he heard her murmur and gazed intently at her.


    "I have been living in darkness! With lies! " The pitch of her voice rose a bit, and vigorous air blew around the room.


    "I asked her, Mum, is he really my father? But she told me yes! She lied to me!" Her hand balled into a tight fist and her body began to twitch. "She had me live with a stranger who was in no way related to me and kept quiet as I saw him as my father."


    Her breathing became unsteady and an unknown wind gradually began to blow in circles within the room.


    "I thought she loved me! But she didn''t! It was all a lie!!!" Adrik''s pupils dilated to the size of saucers. He immediately turned to Leia, and his body shuddered in uneasiness. "Leia sto-"


    "She watched him hit me!! She watched him humiliate me in front of the whole class in school, but she never uttered a single word but ALWAYS SHUT ME UP!!!" As though her anger arose to a whole new level, the objects that rose into the air began to whirl in a circle and the curtains fluttered vigorously.


    "Leia, sto-." Adrik moved towards her to stop her, but a strenuous violent wind suddenly erupted from nowhere and sent him flying. Almost about to hit the wall, he caught his balance and fell to the floor on his knees.


    His eyes fluttered in disbelief, and he raised his gazes, filled with skepticism, to stare at her.


    Leia''s body vibrated uncontrollably in fury, and her fingers began to elongate. Her red eyes darkened and looked so bloody.


    The wind whirling up above her, together with the objects that rose into mid-air, began to violently swirl around her, and everything within the room began to break.


    "He locked me up for 7 months and never allowed me to set my eyes on the broad daylight, but what did she do? She kept quiet!!!" Her fangs forcefully stretched out, and as though something burst forth from her, she fell to the floor and fire unexpectedly lit up within the room, surrounding her in a circle.


    "Fire!" Adrik''s eyes fluttered in both shock and disbelief, and he stood motionless, staring at the scene.


    Leia, who was within the fire, twitched violently, and deep hate and fury burned within her. The only things that clouded her mind were anger, lies, and hate.


    Her fingers malevolently scratched the floor in a rage, and before Adrik, who was staring at her, could snap back to reality, the fire spread a bit further.


    He immediately stood up from the floor and proceeded to rush towards her to stop her. However, as though noticing him, the fire rose up and violently rushed towards him, almost consuming him.


    Adrik flinched away, dodging the attack, and breathed heavily. How is this possible? ....His brow furrowed in disbelief, and his hands balled into tight fists. No one needed to tell him anymore, as he had already figured out what she was.


    His fingers stretched out and his canines elongated. His white furs emerged on his body, and he transformed into a half-wolf, half-human.


    Without any hesitation or thinking, he rushed towards the fire and jumped in, dodging the violent flames that dashed towards him.


    He rolled to the floor as he fell into the fire, and the moment he raised his eyes to stare at Leia, he nearly jolted back.


    Opposite him, Leia knelt with her bloodshot eyes gazing hatefully at him. It was as though if he didn''t disappear from her sight, she would tear him into pieces.


    "Little wife... it''s me, Adrik." He said it to her in a tender voice, and she breathed heavily. It was as though she did not know who he was at that moment. Everything she stared at was a lie to her and hate burned furiously within her.


    "Little wife, please, you have to stop. You are destroying everything. Please, I beg you." Adrik implored with a pleading expression on his face. However, expecting her to at least listen to him, Leia turned around and suddenly disappeared, as though she was never there in the first place.


    Adrik''s eyes widened in shock, and he glanced around him only to realize that the fire was no longer burning and the objects were all falling to the floor.

 Chapter 133 - Please, I Beg You

    He hurriedly stood up, rushed out of the room, and sprinted downstairs. He needs to find her.


    He dashed out of the mansion and ran out onto the road. However, he halted immediately and rushed back into the mansion. Fuck, there were cars and pedestrians everywhere. There was no way he could run out there in his wolf form. Unless he does so in his human form.


    Without much thinking, his bones cracked and he returned to his human form. However, his canines and fingers were still elongated. His eyes were golden instead of green.


    He took a deep breath and sniffed around in the hope of catching her scent, but he was unable to. ''Fuck!!'' Adrik cursed within him and whisked off, deciding to look for her anyhow.


    He ran at an extraordinary speed, passing through the cars and jumping onto them at times. The cold breeze blew vigorously on his bare body and he continued to run non-stop. He sniffed furiously, trying all he could to catch her scent, but he found himself still unable to. No way! He must find his wife! His little wife!


    His hands balled into a tight fist and he increased his speed, running as he had never done before in his human form.


    ________


    At the cemetery, violent winds blew everywhere, causing the trees nearby to tremble.


    A young girl whose hair was fluttering furiously gazed at a grave with a deep hatred apparent in her gazes. Sparks of flame burned in her eyes, and her hands balled into a tight fist.


    Her nails pierced into her palm, causing drops of blood to fall to the grassy ground, and everywhere, unexpectedly caught fire yet again.


    She walked to the grave and knelt, a death aura swirling around her. Her rage-filled eyes stared hatefully at a woman''s photo, and she reached out her hand, grabbing onto it.


    "Why?!" She asked, wanting an answer in return, but when she got none, she smashed the photo on the ground, breaking it!! She tossed it away like it meant nothing to her anymore, and her fingers dug deep into the ground. "I will never! Forgive you! " She assured in a deadly tone and stood up from the floor.


    The flames that were burning non-stop abruptly died down. Same for the wind.


    Tiny drops of tears slipped from her wet eyes and streamed down her cheek. The memories of those past few years played in her mind like a movie, and more tears couldn''t help but flow down.


    "Please let me out. I don''t want to stay here. Mum! Dad! Please, I beg of you, just let me out. I am so sorry." The 14-year-old girl, who was locked inside a basement, knocked furiously on the door as tears streamed down her cheek. "Please, I don''t wanna stay here..." She pleaded, but as though she was completely alone, nobody came, not even her mother.


    Tired of crying, the little girl slipped to the floor and fainted, her body motionless.


    ..


    A slap landed on the face of the teen, and she fell to the floor. All the students who were watching the scene gasped and covered their mouths with their hands.


    "How many times have I told you that if ever I am called to the school as a result of your misbehaving, I won''t take it lightly with you? Huh? How many times? "


    "Dad, it was not my fault. She hit me first and I had to defend-"


    "Shut up!" The middle-aged man kicked the young teenage girl and stared maliciously at her. "Why can''t you ever be like your sisters? You''re full of trouble and everything concerning you is bad luck!" He yelled at her and grabbed her by the wrist, pulling her up from the floor.


    "Let me go!! Let me go!" The young girl wildly shook her head in fear and turned to glance at her friends. What she did not expect was for another heated slap to land on her face, causing her to see stars.


    Hot tears trickled down from her eyes, and she was harshly pushed into the SUV. They locked the door and, without any hesitation, drove out of the school compound and sped off down the road.


    The cars drove into a familiar compound, and the middle-aged man stepped down. His men followed and harshly pulled the young girl out, causing her to almost fall to the concrete floor.


    They dragged her along with them as they followed behind their master to walk into the mansion.


    "Dad, please, am sorry. I will never disobey you again! I promise to never fight again, even if I''m being beaten to death. Plea-" Her head shook furiously in fear as she pleaded, and before she could finish her words, the middle-aged man turned around and angrily sent a hard slap across her face, causing the young girl to fall to the floor of the living room with a loud thud.


    She clutched her cheek and hot tears streamed down her face. She began to crawl back when he walked towards her, and her heart rushed to her throat when she saw him slip his belt off his waist and stare cruelly at her. "I haven''t taught you a lesson in a few weeks and you thought you had grown wings, huh?" He raised the whip, ready to bash it on the young girl''s frail body. However, a delicate hand grabbed onto his, stopping him from whipping the young girl.


    "Please don''t hurt her! I beg you!" A slender, beautiful woman who resembled the young girl a bit pleaded with tears streaming down her eyes, and the middle-aged man turned to stare at her with rage-filled eyes.


    "Mum!" The young girl immediately crawled to the woman, who seemed to be her mother, and gripped onto her leg.. "Mum, please save me!" She shook her head violently in dismay and raised her teary eyes to stare at the woman, hoping that something will be done.

 Chapter 134 - Illusion

    The woman lowered her head to glance at her daughter, and her heart squeezed within her. She turned to the middle-aged man, and her brow creased deeply in anger. "Why?! What has she done this time?! Why are you doing this to her?!" She questioned in a rage, and the middle-aged man smirked wickedly at her.


    "Despicable!" He glanced at the young woman with disdained-filled eyes and turned to gaze intently at her. "You, of all people, know why? So do not act dumb with me or else..? Woman, you are the misery of her and I will never break the promise I made to you that day!" He chuckled evilly and lowered his gazes to glance at the young girl who flinched back in fear at his sudden glance.


    "Now step out of the way and let me teach my dear daughter a lesson." He grinned malevolently, and the young woman lowered her head in defeat. She removed her daughter''s hand and stepped away, creating a distance between her, her daughter, and the middle-aged man.


    "Mu-mum." The young girl''s body trembled in disbelief and she reached out her hand to her mother, but a bash of whip landed on her body and she flinched away in deep pain, caressing her body as a loud cry erupted from her throat.


    "You know how much I hate being disgraced and you have the guts!!" He raised the belt again, ready to whip her, but the young girl began to back away, her head furiously shaking in terror. "Dad, please, I am sorry." She cried bitterly, but as though her plea fell on deaf ears, the belt bashed on her body and her white polo tore, revealing her pale skin.


    She immediately stood up from the floor to run, but he grabbed her hair and pulled it harshly, causing the girl to cry out loud. Drops of blood began to drip from her nose, and he violently kicked her leg. As helpless as she was, she fell heavily to the floor, and without hesitation, the middle-aged man continued to whip her without mercy.


    Her body became bloody and, at a point where she couldn''t take it anymore, she felt her vision becoming blurry. Before she succumbed to darkness, the last thing she saw was her mother''s teary eyes, which were staring at her with guilt apparent in them.


    ...


    Leia''s heart squeezed tightly within her in pain, and she helplessly fell to the ground on her knees. She punched the floor in a rage and threw her head back, letting out a long scream. "Why?!!"


    She wailed uncontrollably and lowered her head, feeling empty and alone. "Why?!!"


    The gentle wind abruptly blew around her and beautiful voices echoed in her ears. A shadow swirled around her and bent down to her level.


    Feeling the presence of the shadow, Leia raised her eyes and stared at her front. However, she saw nothing, but only emptiness. She knows someone is right there in front of her. She could feel the tremendous power raging from the person, but she couldn''t see who it was. It was as though it was a ghost.


    "Who are you?" She asked in a cold tone, but instead of answering her question, the ghost, however, began to laugh softly.


    "Why are you so sad?" The ghost inquired in a gentle tone, and Leia suddenly felt some sort of peace wash over her.


    "Hahaha... I am quite disappointed in you." It clicked on his tongue, and Leia''s brow creased deeply. "Who are you?" From the voice of the ghost, she could tell that he was a man, but what she wanted to find out now was his identity. For some reason, she felt he was familiar, like this wasn''t the first time that he had come to her.


    "Who are you?" She asked yet again, but the ghost chuckled once likewise. "The human world has ruined you this much. I don''t understand why you''re crying. You''re not supposed to!" The ghost''s gentle voice became a bit harsh as he said his last sentence, and Leia narrowed her eyes. She is baffled at herself for still being here talking to a ghost without freaking out.


    "Stop talking to me if you won''t answer my question." Her face darkened, and she glanced around.


    The soft cold breeze blew on her body yet again, and she suddenly felt the presence of the ghost become a bit distant. She stood up from the ground and slowly followed the power radiating from the ghost.


    Her eyes abruptly blurred, and she suddenly felt very lightheaded that she couldn''t help but close her eyes. When she felt herself feeling better, she opened her eyes and where she found herself next was in a place where she knew too well. "Home." Her face contorted in anger, and she began to yell in rage. "Take me away from here now!" She gazed into nothingness, and the ghost chuckled mockingly.


    "This is an illusion." The heavenly, leisurely voice of the ghost suddenly struck her and she shook her head. This voice! She has heard it somewhere before! She definitely has. She cracked her brain trying to recall, but everywhere instantly became dark and memories began to emerge. Her memories, in particular


    The day she started school,


    Her, being whipped,


    being disgraced in school,


    her, fighting with her classmates,


    her father''s men pushing her into the basement and locking her up,


    So many memories played like a movie in front of her eyes, and her screams, sobs, plea, all echoed in her ears.


    "How do you feel?" The ghost asked, and Leia''s body began to shake violently. "Take me away from here now!" She yelled angrily, and in the blink of an eye, she found herself back at the cemetery.


    The ghost clicked his tongue and moved towards her. "Do you see how cruel the world is?" He whispered in her ears, and Leia''s eyes fluttered.


    "The world isn''t a place where you expect to be loved, cherished, or treated equally."


    "Haha... humans are despicable, cunning, and selfish creatures. It is no doubt why they are despised by other creatures. "


    "They don''t care about families. They only love themselves. Yes, you may think I am speaking nothing but a lie. However, until you find yourself in a dire situation in which they have to sacrifice something to save you, they will push you off the cliff and act as if nothing happened. That is the heart of man. It is full of lies and deceit. " The ghost chuckled heartily and turned to Leia.


    "When the world turns its back on you, you turn your back on them too. No mercy, no love, no second thoughts! Do it! Do what your heart yearns for you to do." He swirled around, and Leia''s breathing became unsteady.


    Her hands balled into a tight fist and her eyes, which had returned to their pitch-black, became deep red once again.


    "If they hurt you, hurt them back, not in the same way, but in a much more painful way. If they hate you, hate them too! Revenge is sometimes the answer. " The ghost laughed softly and gazed intently at Leia.


    "Revenge." The word echoed repeatedly in her head, and her fingers penetrated deeply into her palm. A slow, deadly smile formed on her lips and she shut her eyes. "Revenge!!"


    She opened her eyes and tried to feel the presence of the ghost, but she found herself unable to. He was gone.


    A deep breath escaped Leia''s nose, and she turned her head to glance at her mother''s picture that she had broken. Revulsion filled her eyes, and without looking back, she walked out of the cemetery.


    She began to stroll down the road, making her way to somewhere unknown. She walked for at least thirty minutes before she stopped at a bridge. The bridge, which she would never forget. It was at this same bridge that she cut her hair and almost committed suicide, if not for Adrik.


    "Adrik!" She suddenly recalled and proceeded to rush back home. However, from a distance, she saw something like a black dot becoming bigger and bigger with each second that was enacted.


    She tilted her head to one side, and her brow creased deeply when she saw that the dot was aiming straight for her. Her face darkened when the dot altered into a human form, and before she could utter a word, with her eyes dilated, a great force surged and washed over her, and a strong hand hit her in the belly and pulled her along with him.


    The silhouette ran nonstop, and Leia, who lost her consciousness the moment the force washed over her, fell into the silhouette''s arm.


    The silhouette carried her in a bridal style and raised his speed, then dashed off, whisking through the air. He passed different cars, and when he mistakenly didn''t see one coming in front of him, he jumped over it, landing on the floor with his feet and continuing to run.


    It took about ten minutes, and the silhouette, who was obviously Adrik, finally stopped in front of a mansion that was very familiar to him and breathed heavily to catch his breath.


    Rains of sweat fell from his body and his banded-up hair, which was now loose, fell over his waist, reaching his back knee. A few strands latched onto his sweaty face, and he slowly walked into the mansion.


    He felt very exhausted, as he had never run like this before, and he felt his vision becoming blurry. He staggered towards the sofa in the living room and laid Leia on it. Then he turned around to walk to the kitchen and grab a bottle of water to drink. However, dizziness overwhelmed him immediately and he gritted his teeth.


    His gaze fell to the entrance when he heard someone step in, and he raised his eyes to view the person. "Supreme Alpha." A familiar voice resounded and the next thing he knew, he felt himself succumb to the darkness and he lost his consciousness. However, instead of falling to the floor, he fell right into someone''s strong arms.

 Chapter 135 - An Intruder

    Leia woke up the next day feeling light-headed. She shook her head and blinked her eyes open, then turned beside her to see Adrik lying so tiredly with his hair scattered all over the bed. She raised her gaze to peek at the clock on the mini table near their bed, and her eyes widened in shock.


    Her brow furrowed, and she leaned down to have her face close to his. Hmm, it was already eight and Adrik was still sleeping. This is not like him at all. I mean, he always wakes up before her, so why was he sleeping this much?


    Her face altered in worry and she placed a soft kiss on his lips, hoping that he would wake up. However, Adrik moved not an inch but lay motionless on the bed.


    Panic suddenly devastated her and she nudged him, but still, he didn''t move.


    "A-adrik." She tenderly tapped on his cheek, but he still didn''t move, and deep worry overwhelmed her.


    She proceeded to climb down from the bed; however, when she glanced around the room, her body couldn''t help but still.


    This room was different from theirs. It wasn''t as vast as their room, but moderate. The wall was ashen in color, and a tall lantern stood at two corners of the room.


    A deep sigh fled Leia''s nose when she recalled what she did yesterday. She lowered her eyes and stared at her pale palms. Just what kind of non-human is she?


    She shrugged and threw the thought to the back of her mind, as she already knew she wouldn''t get an answer. She got down and walked over to stand near the bed, beside Adrik. She squatted down to his level and used her hand to wipe off the sweat on his face.


    "Adrik..." She shook him with a half-playful smile on her lips. "C''mon, wake up. It''s enough already. " She patted him, but Adrik still didn''t move and lay motionless on the bed. He was still breathing, indicating that he was alive. But what she can''t comprehend is why he''s unconscious and sweating profusely.


    Her face instantly turned pale, and she stood up, then hurried out of the room to grab a bowl of cold water and a towel.


    Arriving out in the living room, she immediately halted on her steps when she saw someone she hadn''t seen in a few months. "Alex..." A slow smile formed on her lips, and her eyes blinked.


    "Mrs. Leia." Alex strolled towards her with a friendly smile on his face and bowed deeply to her. "How do you feel?" He inquired, and Leia fluttered her eyes. "Huh?" Was she not okay before? Her brow wrinkled a bit as she questioned herself.


    Alex cackled softly when he saw her furrowed brows and shook his head. "Last night, you and Supreme Alpha were not in a good state when I arrived, so I am worried." He smiled at her and Leia nodded her head in understanding. "I am good, but... I don''t think Adrik is."


    "What do you mean?" Alex''s face changed in deep concern, and he stared at Leia with eyes that held apprehension.


    "I woke up this morning and tried to wake him up, but he wasn''t moving an inch or making any sound. He''s just lying motionless and sweating profusely." She explained with a voice that was a bit cracked, and a smile emerged on Alex''s face.


    "Why are you smiling?" She questioned with a darkened face, and Alex shook his head, then hurriedly proceeded to clarify. "Pardon me, Mrs. Leia. I am smiling because you''re worried about nothing. His Supreme Alpha is totally fine and healthy. He is just in a temporary coma which will last at least a day. "


    Leia''s lashes blinked vigorously at his explanation, and she gazed intently at him. "Temporary coma? Why? " Her face altered in deep confusion.


    "I believe Supreme Alpha ran past his limit last night and overexerted himself, which now leaves him in this interim coma," Alex explained, and Leia stared at him with a blank expression on her face.


    "Ran past his limits..." She muttered to herself, and her body abruptly shuddered when she recalled last night at the bridge. The silhouette who had unexpectedly grabbed her by the belly, knocking her unconscious. ''T-that was Adrik.'' She took a deep breath and turned her attention back to Alex. "So he is fine and nothing is wrong with him?"


    "Yes, he is." Leia took a relieved breath and Alex nodded. She smiled at him, then turned around to proceed back to the room. This room was downstairs.


    She pushed the door open and stepped in, then shut it behind her. She slowly walked to the bed and climbed in, moving closer to lie down beside Adrik.


    Her pitch-black pupils stared at his sweaty face, and she reached out her hand to caress his cheek. "I love you, Adrik." She whispered to him and placed his hand on her chest, hugging it.


    ________


    In his second apartment, where he lives alone by himself, Victor sat on the sofa with his new laptop on his lap and a can of beer on the mini table near the couch.


    A knock suddenly came on the door, and he lifted his eyes from the laptop to glance at the door. Another knock came, and he dropped the laptop on the divan, then stood up to walk to the door.


    He peeped through the small hole but saw nobody. "Hmmm." His eyes narrowed into a thin line and he stepped away from the door, then turned around and proceeded to the kitchen. He grabbed a long steel spoon that he saw and ambled back to the living room.


    He then slowly walked to the door and decided to check again before taking any action. When he did, he still didn''t see anyone.


    Uncertainty arose within him, and he inhaled and exhaled deeply. His grip on the spoon tightened and, with a bit of hesitation, he pulled the door open and raised the spoon, ready to hit the hell out of the intruder. However, when he saw who it was, the spoon slipped out of his hand and fell with a loud noise onto the floor.


    Victor''s gaze fixed on the person standing in front of him, and his body could not but shudder. "S-shawn." His lips trembled and the person who was Shawn smiled at him. "Wasn''t expecting me, eyy." He chuckled softly and yanked Victor into a hug. "It''s been a while. Glad to see you. " He pulled away from the embrace and walked past Victor, into the apartment, and plopped down on the sofa.


    "You gave this place a new look." He nodded his head as his eyes glanced around. He halted his gaze on Victor, and Victor awkwardly smiled at him. "Are you this surprised to see me?" He raised his brow as he noticed Victor''s awkwardness.


    Victor cleared his throat and strolled to sit down on the sofa opposite him, then interlocked his hands. "I am really surprised. I mean, it''s been four years since I last saw you."


    "Well, that''s true." Shawn nodded his head in agreement and relaxed on the sofa. "I feel really happy to be back." He rested his head back and spread his arms to either side of him.


    "Why? Isn''t being abroad comfortable? " Victor arched his brow as he asked, and Shawn lifted his head to stare at him. A smile emerged on his face, and he slightly shook his head. "No, abroad is a very fun place to be. However, I am happy to be home because I can now fulfill a promise I made to someone four years ago. " His gaze became distant, as though he was thinking of someone.


    Victor''s eyes fluttered, and he adjusted in his seat. "I see..." He smiled awkwardly and took a deep breath, then raised his eyes to stare at Shawn''s face, which held a wide smile. Nobody needed to tell him, as he already knew who Shawn was talking about. But hold on... he could be wrong. Maybe Shawn is referring to someone else. I mean, it''s been a long time and he must have found someone else, right? He fiddled with his hand, then took a slight breath.


    "Um, Shawn..."


    Shawn, whose gaze was distant, snapped back to reality and turned to stare at him with a just raised brow.


    "May I ask who the person is?" Victor stared intently at him, and he began to chuckle softly.


    "Are you joking with me?" He asked, and Victor shook his head at him. "I don''t think I am."


    "Oh... I see." He nodded slightly, and a warm smile emerged on his face. "Well, it''s no one else but Leia. I promised her I would marry her once I returned home, which you know, and that''s what I''m going to do. " A sigh escaped his lips, and he lowered his head. "After I left, a robbery took place, and I lost my phone and her contact. Since then I haven''t been able to get her number. After a few days, I recovered my sim, but when I tried to reach out to her, I found out I was unable to. I tried many times, but I couldn''t, so I decided to leave it all till I returned home.. " He smiled and lifted his eyes to gaze at Victor.

 Chapter 136 - Finally

    Victor stared at him for a whole thirty seconds before he cleared his throat and took a deep breath. "Well, that''s good news...I guess." His tone became a bit lower as he mumbled his last sentence.


    Shawn patted him on the shoulder and stood up from the couch. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his long black jacket and smiled at him. "I will be leaving now." Victor nodded at him and he walked out, shutting the door behind him.


    A deep sigh fled from Victor''s mouth and a sad smile formed on his face. He feels really guilty that he didn''t tell Shawn that Leia was married, but... could he? I mean, it isn''t his place to tell him. Leia should be the one to tell, and they could figure out how to solve things between each other. If he does go ahead and tell Shawn, then he might create a big mess, so...


    He stood up from the couch and walked towards the window, then stood there gazing out to the horizon.


    ______


    Leia sat on the bed staring at Adrik, who was yet to wake up from his temporary coma. The only thing that has changed is the fact that he is no longer sweating profusely.


    A low sigh escaped her nose, and she tucked a few strands of his hair behind his ear. She just realized how unfortunate she would be without Adrik.


    Just today, when he was in an interim coma, she felt so alone and empty. She had no one to talk to. There was no one to give her frequent hugs and kisses. Those little bits of action, she was missing them.


    She leaned down and placed a soft kiss on his lips, then on his forehead. "I love you, Adrik... a lot." She smiled and turned around, then climbed down from the bed.


    She slipped her legs into her slippers and grabbed her phone from the mini table, then walked out of the room, gently shutting the door behind her.


    She ambled to the living room and made her way to the backyard. It was already nighttime, and the stars were twinkling in the sky.


    The lights around the house were on, so the backyard wasn''t enshrouded by darkness.


    Leia turned her phone on and browsed through her contacts. She clicked on a certain number and placed the phone to her ear.


    [Hello] A voice that had a British accent resounded from the other side of the phone.


    "Aunt Megan." Leia smiled as she heard the voice of the woman who she hadn''t seen in a few months.


    [It''s been quite a while. How are you, little pumpkin?]


    "I''m not little anymore. I''m going to be twenty next month." She clicked her tongue, and the woman on the other side of the phone chuckled softly.


    [You will always be my little pumpkin, even if you turn thirty years old tomorrow].


    "Fine." Leia rolled her eyes and took a deep breath.


    [What is it? I know you definitely didn''t call me just to hear my voice.]


    "Well... you''re kind of correct about that." She twisted her lips funnily, and the woman laughed sluggishly.


    [Alright, what is it?]


    "Is there a possibility that you could have Uncle Bob talk to me?"


    [Huh? Why do you want to talk to him?]


    "Um, it''s..."


    [Little pumpkin, you''re aware of the rules. You must tell me or it''s a no.]


    Leia''s face altered in annoyance at the woman''s word, and a deep breath fled from her nose. "Fine... you remember the problems I used to have with my dad?"


    [Did that despicable man hurt you, pumpkin?!]


    "Well..." Leia began to divulge everything to her. From how she was married to Adrik, got the USB, found out he killed her mother, did a DNA test, and found out he was not her real father.


    The woman on the other side of the phone kept quiet for a whole thirty seconds after hearing all she said, so Leia had to glance at the screen to be sure that she didn''t hang up the call.


    "Um, Aunt Megan, is everything alright?"


    [Irene is...gone.] The woman whispered with a tone that indicated she was still finding it hard to believe what Leia said.


    [That wretched man killed her!! Ahh!!... Little pumpkin, why didn''t you call or say anything to me?]


    Leia bit her lower lip and slowly walked to the white swing and sat down on it. "I wasn''t completely sure then, so I didn''t want to raise a false accusation."


    [Why didn''t you file a report against him? Why did you allow him to treat you that way? You''re not an animal that he can hit whenever he wants!]


    Leia chuckled pessimistically at the woman''s words and slightly shook her head. "Aunt Megan, have you forgotten who my father is? He is one of the richest men in the world. If I file a report, do you think that the police will do anything? Things will escalate in a bad way for me, so yeah, I dismissed that idea."


    [You''re right. I didn''t do my calculations well. Anyways, what do you plan to do now?]


    Leia took a deep breath and glanced up at the sky. "Revenge." She blurted it out in a tone that held disdain. The woman on the other side of the phone went silent and a whole twenty seconds passed before she spoke.


    [Pumpkin, are you sure about this?]


    "I absolutely don''t care if I die in the process, but I must take my revenge. Aunt Megan, you''re the only one that knows of my plan, so it stays between us, please. "


    [Alright, I won''t stop you nor ask you to go ahead with it, but all I want to say to you is that I love you very much, pumpkin, and I hope you will be safe. Don''t risk too much...] She paused for a few seconds before speaking up again. [I will talk to Bob tomorrow and get back to you.]


    Leia took a breath of relief and a smile emerged on her face. "Thank you, aunt Megan." She hung up the call, then sent an SMS to Victor. ''I will meet you guys tomorrow.''


    With that being done, she stood up from the swing and made her way back into the mansion.


    She went straight to their room and locked the door, then strolled to the bed and laid beside Adrik. She wrapped her arms and legs around him and cuddled him to sleep.


    ____________


    The next day arrived, and the early morning sun rose in the sky. Adrik, who was being held onto by Leia, blinked his eyes open and glanced around the room. He turned his head and his eyes fell on Leia''s face, which was so close to his.


    He stared at her pretty face and reached out his hand to caress her cheek. He leaned in closer and placed a soft kiss on her pink lips, then removed her hands that were wrapped around him and got up from the bed.


    Dizziness instantly overwhelmed him, and he staggered backward on his step, grabbing onto the table nearby to hold his balance.


    He clutched at his head and shut his eyes. Oh God, this feeling was so awful. He has never experienced this before, and now he feels like a fish that was brought out of the water.


    He really exhausted himself. Adrik turned around and gazed at himself through the mirror. He seemed to have lost a bit of weight.


    A cynical smile made its way to his red lips, and he averted his stare from the mirror.


    A low groan from Leia resounded, and he turned around to see her seated up on the bed stretching her body.


    Leia blinked her eyes open, and the minute her gaze fell on him, she hurriedly jumped off of the bed and rushed to him. "You awake?" She smiled cheerfully and jumped onto him, hugging him tightly.


    Adrik''s face grimaced a bit, and he half-smiled. "How are you?" He pulled back from the embrace and stared at her face.


    "I should be the one asking you that. You were unconscious throughout yesterday, and I was dead worried. " She pouted, and Adrik gently caressed her cheek. "I am fine, little wife." He took a low breath and moved to sit down on the sofa near their bed.


    Leia bit her lower lip and took a seat beside him. She fiddled with her fingers and took a deep breath when she saw Adrik turn his head to stare at her. "Is something wrong, little wife?" He inquired, and Leia shook her head. "Nothing is wrong. I-i... just want to say sorry regarding what happened the day before yesterday. I honestly didn''t know what I was doing...I was just... angry." She lowered her head and brought her legs to her chest.


    Adrik took a deep breath and a smile emerged on his face. He curled his arms around her and pulled her closer to him, then began to gently caress her arms. "You know, you have nothing to apologize about because it was a good thing that you got angry that night."


    Leia''s brow furrowed instantly at his words, and she raised her head to look at him. "What do you mean?"


    "Well..." Adrik broadened his smile and tucked a few strands of her hair behind her ear.. "I finally know exactly what you are."

 Chapter 137 - Immune

    Leia''s face instantly altered in shock, and she raised her eyes to stare at Adrik with disbelief in her eyes. "A-are you serious?" She stuttered as she asked, and Adrik nodded at her. "I am serious as hell."


    A deep breath left Leia''s nose, and she inhaled and exhaled deeply as she used her hands to fan herself. "Okay, okay...." She nodded to herself and calmed down, then grabbed Adrik by the hand and stared deep into his eyes. "I... want to know exactly what I am."


    Adrik tilted his head to one side and chuckled at the expression on her face. "Okay." He nodded at her and took a deep breath. "From everything I have noticed, there is only one thing that I am sure you are..."


    "And what is it?" She moved closer to him and gazed at him with anticipation apparent in her pitch-black pupils.


    "Well... it might sound unbelievable to you, but little wife, you''re a..." He took yet another deep breath with his eyes shut and opened them afterward to stare at her. "A Demon..."


    As though her brain exploded, she became motionless and gazed at Adrik with a blank expression on her face.


    Adrik''s eyes fluttered and he parted his lips to say something, but Leia abruptly broke out into laughter and pointed at Adrik as she cracked up. She slapped his shoulder and shook her head. "C''mon, be serious, stop joking." She cackled, and when she saw no amusement on Adrik''s face, the laughter slowly dispelled and her expression became serious. "You''re... kidding right?" She stared intently at him, hoping he would say yes to her, but Adrik simply shook his head. "No little wife. I am dead serious. "


    Leia''s eyes blinked thrice before she slumped down on the chair. "That''s impossible, Adrik. I don''t believe it." She stated this with a tone that held complete disbelief.


    "Would I ever lie to you, little wife?" Adrik asked without glancing at her, instead, staring at the lantern situated on the mini table near the bed.


    Leia shook her head at him, and a deep breath escaped her nose. "I know you will never lie to me, but... this is just impossible." Her face grimaced, and she turned so she could stare at him. "What makes you think I am a demon? I mean, it doesn''t make any sense."


    "Calm down, little wife." Adrik turned so he would face her and then exhaled. "If I said you''re a demon, then I definitely have my reasons, and believe me, they are not just one nor two." He raised his brow at her, and Leia bit her lower lip.


    She took deep breaths and slowly nodded at him. "Alright, tell me then." She stared intently at him, with anxiety evident in her gaze.


    Adrik tucked the strands of hair that fell over his face behind his ear, then grabbed both her hands, tenderly holding them in his. "First of all, no other supernatural beings can control fire except demons. Unless we talk about those that practice witchcraft, but right now I am talking about naturally having control over flames without any use of spells or those shits."


    "You were able to summon one that night without even trying. And as you saw too, it did not harm you. Why is that? It''s because demons are immune to fire. Fire can''t burn them; rather, they listen to them."


    "Listen?..." Leia''s brow creased in deep confusion.


    "Yes, Little wife. One thing you must know is that every natural thing in this world has a life as long as it''s not man-made. It all depends on whether you can hear them, feel them, and know that they are alive and breathing. They grow too, just like humans grow, but one thing is that they will always be under control." Adrik explained, and Leia took a deep breath as she took in all the information.


    "So I believe you will understand what I am saying now. Only demons can control fire because it''s in their nature to do so."


    "That night, during that moment I had tried to get to you, the fire had violently attempted to attack me, why? Because it felt that I was a threat to you. It thought that I had some bad intentions and it had this mindset to protect you, and that is what I mean by, they listen to the ones who call them naturally."


    "So... you mean fire can''t... hurt me?" Leia bit her lower lips and stared at Adrik with an expectant expression on her face.


    "Yes." Adrik smiled and nodded at her. "Do you want us to give it a try?" He inquired, and Leia''s eyes fluttered in shock. "G-give it a try?"


    "Yes, I want to prove it to you and clear your doubt."


    "But... what if I end up getting burned?" A bit of uncertainty became evident on her face, and she bit her lower lip yet again.


    "Do you think I will ask you to do anything that could hurt you?" Adrik raised his brow as he asked, and she shook her head. "It''s okay if you don''t want to. I only suggested that, so to clear your doubt. " He patted her on the shoulder and flashed her a gentle smile.


    Leia took a deep breath with her head lowered and raised her eyes to stare at him. "I want to give it a try." She smiled, and Adrik chuckled at her. "Why did you suddenly change your mind?" He inquired, and she clicked her tongue. "I am not a coward and I am always ready to risk things, so..."


    "I see. Brave little wife. " Adrik laughed and stood up from the sofa, then walked out of the room. A few seconds passed before he returned with a lighter in his hand. He took his seat beside her and pressed the lighter on, causing a fire to surge out of its mouth and go off afterward. He lifted his eyes to gaze at Leia, and she took a deep breath, then nodded at him, shutting her eyes afterward.


    Adrik grabbed her arm and slowly brought the lighter closer to her skin. With a bit of hesitation, he pressed it on, and flames instantly burst out of its mouth, furiously spewing on Leia''s skin. The hairs on her skin instantly stood up at the impact and it looked as though they would burn to ashes.


    A smile formed on Adrik''s lips, and he raised his sights to gaze at Leia''s face, which was sweating profusely from fear. He chuckled softly and told her to open her eyes.


    Leia slowly opened her left eye to peek at her skin, and when she saw the fire from the lighter burning on her skin without imprinting


    any injury, her right eye immediately sprang open, and both widened like saucers. "Holy shit?!" She snatched her arm and began to examine it. As though still finding it unbelievable, she yanked the lighter from Adrik and turned it on, letting the fire come into contact with her skin.


    Her chest rose and fell as she breathed heavily, and she raised her eyes to stare at Adrik. "This... is wholesome." She said it in a deep tone, and Adrik chuckled at her.


    "No, seriously, this is awesome! Like, I am immune to fire! This means I can walk in and out of the fire!!! " A wide smile of disbelief emerged on her brim, and she glanced at her arm again.


    "Now do you believe me?" Adrik arched his brow, and she slowly nodded at him. "Yes, I do." She lifted her head to gaze at him and shifted closer, then grabbed his hands. "Tell me more."


    "Okay." Adrik laughed softly and slightly shook his head. His little wife is indeed strange. She found this incredible, while some normal people would have freaked out. He caressed her hair and smiled at her. "Now my second reason is... the heartbeat. You once asked me why your heartbeat was normal and not as rapid as mine. Now listen..the heartbeat of Demons is the same as that of humans, however, it doesn''t mean that they are slower than other nonhumans when it comes to running. In fact, they are faster than any nonhuman ever known."


    "Hmmm... but I am not a fast runner."


    "And who told you that?" Adrik raised his brow at her, and her eyes darted from one place to another. "Um, I do run in high school during sports time." She shrugged and Adrik pinched her arm, causing her to hiss in pain.


    "I forgot to tell you that your demon doesn''t emerge immediately once you come to this world. It may take eighteen years, twenty years, or even thirty years for it to develop in you. So basically you were almost just a human back then, and that''s why. "


    "Ahh... I see. Is it the same with werewolves too?"


    "Yes. I shifted into my wolf on my seventeenth birthday, which is very rare. Mostly werewolves shift for the first time on their eighteenth birthday.. " Adrik explained with a proud look on his face, and Leia couldn''t help but shake her head at him.

 Chapter 138 - Beta Demon

    "I see..." She nodded at him with a smile on her lips, and Adrik shrugged. "Alright, unto the next one."


    Leia fluttered her eyes and adjusted her seating position.


    Adrik chuckled low and fixed his gaze on her. "Teleportation. He said, and Leia blinked her eyes in confusion. "What do you mean by teleportation?"


    "Remember, I told you that teleportation is one of the signs that one is a nonhuman."


    "Yes." Leia nodded, and he cleared his throat. "Teleportation is another specialty of demons. They can teleport from one place to another as long as they imagine where they want to be. But I must let you know something. "


    "What is that?" She asked with deep curiosity.


    "Demons are classified into two types, which are pure demons and half-demons. Excuse me for a moment. " Adrik grabbed a glass of water from the mini table and gulped down a mouthful, then dropped it back and turned to her. "As I was saying, Pure Demons are demons of pure blood whose parents are both demons. While half-demons are ones in which one of their parents is either human or any other supernatural being that isn''t a demon. "


    "These pure demons can teleport, whilst the half-demons can''t. Now there is something you should know... Among all supernaturals, demons are the strongest, followed by werewolves, vampires, and mermaids. Those like faes and elves are below. "


    "Although there are some possibilities that an Alpha wolf can match up to a pure demon in a battle, while Omega can match up to half-demons."


    "Half-demons are in no way a match for an Alpha wolf. Ahh yes, before I forget, there is another type of demon that is extremely weak. They are just as weak as beta wolves, and they are also called beta demons. They are naturally born weak, so they cower in fear when they come into contact with a vampire or a mermaid."


    "Hold on a minute." Leia shook her head and took a deep breath. "Vampires are always deemed strong; why are you classifying them as weak against werewolves?" Her brow creased in confusion and she gazed at Adrik with a questioning expression on her face.


    "Listen, little wife. Vampires are indeed strong. However, they are no match for werewolves when they are in their wolf form. Vampires might have a chance against us wolves when we are in our human form, but once we transform into our wolf form, they don''t stand a chance." He chuckled and folded his hands. "Even Vlad doesn''t have that much of a chance against me in my wolf form. He might be able to beat me in my human form, but it will take him all he''s got. "


    "Wait..." Leia reached out her hand and grabbed a glass of water from the mini table, gulped it down, then dropped it back. "So you mean to tell me, Vlad, as in Dracula, exists?" She stared intently at him with her eyes dilated.


    "Yes, he does." Adrik nodded at her and she inhaled deeply. "Wow."


    Adrik darted his eyes around and cleared his throat. "So as I was saying, only pure-blooded demons can teleport, but half-demons can''t unless through spells or those shitty sorceries." He clicked his tongue and shook his head.


    "So..."


    "What I am trying to make you understand is that you''re a pure-blooded demon, because the fact that you teleported that night is enough to let me know that you''re a pure demon."


    "Whoa, whoa, whoa! That''s impossible. " Leia shook her head in utter disagreement, and Adrik furrowed his brow at her. "There is no way that I am a pure demon. My mum is human, remember?" She spread her arms, and Adrik crinkled his brows.


    "How sure are you?" Leia drew her head back, as he questioned her. "It''s impossible." She clicked her tongue and shook her head, then turned to face him. "Alright, let''s assume that she is a demon. Why would she let that despicable man treat her however he wanted and even sit and watch him kill her?" She raised her eyebrows, and Adrik blinked his eyes.


    "Answer me. And also, if she was a demon, I strongly doubt that the lethal injection could have killed her, even though it''s a strong method of killing someone."


    "Well... your mother could be a beta demon. I mean, they are so weak that they are almost like normal humans." Adrik shrugged as he explained.


    Leia''s eyes flickered as she contemplated in her mind, and she adjusted on her seat to rest her head on the edge of the sofa. They both kept silent for a whole minute before she suddenly blurted out, "I wonder who my father is."


    Adrik turned his head to glance at her, and their eyes met, as she also turned at the same time to stare at him. A low breath left Leia''s nose, and she reached out her hand to grab onto his. "That was a lot of information." She chuckled softly.


    "Just let it all sink in gradually." Adrik smiled at her and she squeezed his hands. "I love you, Adrik."


    "I love you too, little wife." They both took a deep breath and suddenly clamored at the same time. "I just realized that we have yet to take our shower!" They glanced at each other and broke out into laughter. Adrik stood up from the couch and carried her in a bridal style, then strolled towards the bathroom.


    _________


    Two men dressed in black suits with dark glasses covering their eyes and a black facemask wrapping half of their faces walked into a familiar mansion and went straight for the elevator. It took them up to the third floor, and they stepped out when the door opened.


    They walked down a corridor at the same pace and finally stopped in front of a classic modern wooden door that had a small head of a lion embedded in it.


    The first man with blonde hair knocked on the door, and a time of five seconds passed before the voice of a young girl resounded from within the room that looked like an office. "Come in."


    The blonde-haired man pushed the door open and stepped in, followed by the second man with dark long hair that stopped at shoulder length. Both


    They bowed deeply at someone who was seated on a chair with her back facing them and straightened up with their hands placed behind their backs.


    "What news have you brought back?" The voice of the young girl resounded, and they cleared their throats. "Young mistress, we have not been able to observe much-" The face of the young girl who was gazing out of the window to the backyard of the mansion darkened and she proceeded to speak. However, the next words from the man had a grin spread across her painted lips. "-But we do have news that might be of use."


    She chuckled softly and swiftly swirled the chair to have herself facing the two men.


    The two men took yet another bow and straightened up when they heard "good" from her.


    "So what is this useful news?" A smile formed on her lips as she asked.


    The first man with blonde hair walked forward and pulled out arranged photos that were tied up by a diminutive rope from the pocket of his suit. He respectfully handed it over to the young girl, and the young girl grinned as she received it.


    "What is this?" She asked as she glanced at each of the photos, some of which had four people in them, whilst the rest had one person in each of them.


    "Young mistress, these are the people we have been seeing her associated with lately and we believe that they are her best friends. They have been hanging out quite a lot these past few weeks. " The blonde-haired man reported it.


    "Where do they hang out?" She inquired, her eyes still fixed on the pictures.


    "At an apartment which we believe belongs to the guy with the mixed-colored hair."


    The young girl nodded and stared intently at the photo of the young guy with mixed-colored hair and a smirk formed on her lips. "He''s really attractive and sexy... hahaha..." She laughed softly and flung the photo away.


    "What about the husband?"


    "He hasn''t been leaving home much these past few weeks. He mostly stays home with her and only leaves when she exits the house to hang out with her best friends. "


    "Ha... clingy." The young girl clicked her tongue and rolled her eyes. "Ugh... he''s another obstacle in my way." A deep, irritated groan escaped her throat, and she leaned back in the chair.


    A wide malicious grin that reached her eyes formed on her lips, and she nodded in satisfaction. She spread her arms on either side of her and crossed her legs, then raised her gray eyes to stare at the two men. "Good job! Continue to keep your eyes on her... hahaha... this is gonna be fun." She swirled the chair and continued to laugh maniacally.. "Hahahahaha."

 Chapter 139 - Do That Again

    Leia walked out of the kitchen with a bucket of chicken in her hand and made her way to their room. She shut the door behind her and strolled to sit down beside Adrik on the sofa.


    Adrik, who was busy with the laptop on his lap, sniffed and turned his head to glance at her. His eyes fluttered, and he cleared his throat.


    Leia turned to stare at him, and her brow arched. "What?" She took a bite of the chicken in her hand and chewed on it with her eyes fixed on Adrik. "Why are you looking at me like that?" She swallowed it and asked afterward.


    "Nothing, I am just imagining how you would look if you were chubby." Adrik shook his head and chuckled softly.


    "What, you''re not going to like me chubby, huh?" She took another bite and wiggled her brows at him.


    Adrik darted his eyes around and shifted closer to her. He placed his fingers on her chin and stared into her pitch-black pupils. "I will always love you, no matter how you look. You''re my little wife, and you will look very beautiful if you''re chubby." He nodded at her and placed a soft kiss on her lips, then pulled back to continue his work on his laptop.


    Leia slowly chewed on her food and intently gazed at him, as though admiring him. "You''re so gentle..." She unknowingly whispered, and Adrik turned to stare at her. A smile formed on his lips, and he raised his brow at her. "Am I?" He asked, and she nodded at him. "Yes, you are." She leaned closer and delivered a soft kiss on his lips. "I have something I want to tell you." She pulled away and dropped the bucket of chicken on the mini table, then turned around to completely face him.


    Adrik shut his laptop and kept it on the mini table, then crossed his legs and fixed his gaze on her, patiently waiting for her to say what she wanted to say. "So... what is it?" He inquired after a minute of silence passed without Leia uttering a single word.


    Leia took a deep breath and began to fiddle with her fingers. "About everything that has happened, I have been trying not to think about it, but I find myself unable to." She bit her lip and lowered her head to stare at her hands. "It just doesn''t feel right to me if I don''t make him pay for everything he did to me and my mother, and for that, I want to get..."


    "Revenge." Adrik raised his brow at her and a low breath escaped her nose. "Yes, I want to get my revenge. I know you won''t let me go ahead with it, but Adrik I want to do this. I don''t care how risky it is or-"


    "What makes you think that I will stop you from getting revenge on the one who hurt you and your mother?" He cut her off, and his brow creased deeply.


    Leia''s eyes trembled, and she began to fiddle with her fingers. "Um... I don''t know." I just felt that way. "


    Adrik gazed at her for a whole thirty seconds before he stood up from the sofa and shoved his hands into the pockets of his pants. Then he proceeded to leave.


    Leia''s eyes blinked in confusion, and she hurriedly stood up from the couch, then rushed to him and grabbed him by the arm, stopping him in his track. She moved to stand in front of him, then stared at him with confusion apparent in her eyes. "Adrik, what''s wrong? Why are you walking out on me? Did I say something wrong?"


    Adrik lowered his sights to gaze at her, and a low breath escaped his nose. "Little wife, you already assumed I would stop you, so what more is there to say?" His brow arched, and as though realizing her mistake, her expression changed to a sad one. "I am sorry. I didn''t mean it in that way." She bit her lower lip, and Adrik grabbed her gently by the chin and lifted her head so she could look at his face. He leaned down and planted a tender kiss on her lips. "Don''t assume so quickly next time, little wife." He smiled at her and grabbed her hand, then led her back to the sofa. He had her sit on his lap, then asked her to tell him every single part of her plan.


    Leia slowly explained her plans to him and how she intends to carry them out. Adrik nodded as he listened, and his eyes couldn''t help but flutter in awe. "You''re such a scheming little wife." He pinched her nose and laughed softly.


    "I know..." Leia wiggled her eyebrows and kissed him.


    "Little wife, your plan is clever, but are you sure you will be able to pull this off?" Adrik inquired, with concern visible on his face.


    "Yes." She nodded and smiled at him. "I know it''s risky, but I know I can do it. I am going to ruin him, bit by bit, and finally, strike when he''s at his most vulnerable stage." She grinned viciously and Adrik pinched her arm, earning an ouch from her. "What''s that for?!" She glared at him and blinked her lashes. "You look so evil when you grin like that." He rolled his eyes and smirked.


    "Omo... do that again." Leia''s eyes broadened, and golden sparks flickered in them.


    Adrik drew his head back in confusion and his eyes darted around. "What?"


    "The rolling of eyes thingy you just did. Do it again. " She grabbed the collar of his shirt and gazed deeply into his pupils.


    "This." Adrik rolled his eyes, and she nodded furiously at him. "Yes, where did you learn that from? This is the first time I have ever seen you do this. "


    "Eh... from you? I mean, you always do that when you''re annoyed or when am talking and you feel bored by it." Adrik shrugged. "I kind of just did it. I don''t even know why I did that." He shook his head in bewilderment, and Leia broke out into laughter. "You look cute when you do that." She smiled widely at him, revealing her jade white teeth.


    "Hahaha... that''s funny." Adrik chuckled softly, and his eyes squinted vigorously when Leia abruptly wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly.. He took a low breath and curled his arms around her, embracing her and stroking her back.

 Chapter 140 - Apprehension

    With the last adjustment of his tie, Shawn glanced at his reflection in the mirror, and a satisfied smile made its way to his lips. He brushed back his short brown hair with his fingers and adjusted his long black jacket.


    He picked up his watch from the table and clasped it around his wrist, then, with a swift turn, he walked out of his apartment at the hotel and took the elevator downstairs, then stepped out when the door opened.


    He stuffed his hands into his pocket and majestically walked out of the hotel building. Today is a happy day for him.


    He unlocked his SUV and stepped inside, shutting the door afterward. He inserted the car key and twisted it to the ignition point. The car engine began to run, and with a swift reverse, he drove out of the compound.


    His fingers tapped cheerfully on the steering wheel as he drove, and as though recalling something, a wide smile made its way to his lips. He pulled out his phone from his pocket and gazed at the photo of a young girl that he used as a lock screen image. ''I am coming. Just wait. '' He dropped the phone on the seat and focused his eyes on the road ahead of him, a smile still visible on his face.


    Finally, after an hour, he arrived at his destination and slowed down the car. He turned the steering wheel and drove closer to the gate of a big mansion. He stopped the car, and after a few seconds, three men clad in black suits arrived at the gate and opened it for him.


    He carefully drove into the compound and parked the car, then stepped down and shut the door. The black-dressed men walked up to him and took a slight bow, then one walked forward to speak.


    "Mr. Robert, please hold on for a moment, and allow us to make your presence known to our master."


    Shawn nodded at them and one left, leaving two to stay with him. A maximum of two minutes passed before one of the two men that left, came back and approved of his entry.


    He followed behind them and arrived at the huge white door that led into the mansion. It was pulled open and they walked in.


    A vast living room came into view, and the first person Shawn''s eyes fell on was Mr. Adolpho, whose attention was focused on the newspaper in his hands.


    A wide smile formed on his face, and he walked forward to stand in front of Mr. Adolpho. He gave a slight bow as a sign of respect, and Mr. Adolpho, who had already noticed him, nodded in response to his greeting. "Good to see you again, Shawn."


    "Thank you, uncle." Mr. Adolpho glanced at him and half-smiled. Uncle has been a way which Shawn refers to him right from the moment they knew each other. "Have a seat." He gestured to him, and Shawn nodded, then took his seat on the sofa opposite him.


    "How was your journey back from New York?" He asked, his eyes still fixed on the newspaper he was reading.


    "It was pretty good. Everything went smoothly and I arrived home safely." Shawn replied with a smile on his face, and Mr. Adolpho nodded at him.


    "That''s good to know." He wrapped up the newspaper and dropped it on the mini glass table near his sofa. He interlocked his hands and crossed his legs, then fixed his gaze on Shawn. "So what brings you her-"


    "Dad!" A familiar voice resounded, cutting him off, and he turned his head only to see Amy standing motionless with a fallen jaw and her dilated eyes gaping at Shawn.


    "Amy?" A wide smile emerged on Shawn''s face, and he stood up from the couch, then walked towards her and pulled her into a friendly hug. "It''s been a while. How have you been doing? " He drew back from the hug and gazed at her face.


    "I...have been doing fine." Her lashes flickered, and she scrutinized Shawn from head to toe, then came back up to stare at his face. "You... look so different." A cute smile formed on her lips, and she yanked him into another hug.


    Shawn''s eyes flickered in surprise, and he hugged her back. He pulled back from the hug and, with one last smile, he made his way back to the sofa to take his seat.


    Amy hurried to sit beside her father, throwing whatever she came into the living room to say behind her.


    Mr. Adolpho shook his head at her and turned to gaze at Shawn. "So... why have you come? I''m sure you''re not here just to see us."


    An awkward smile emerged on Shawn''s face, and he nodded in admittance. "Yes, you''re right about that. But before I state my main reason for coming, can I please see Leia first?" Expectation twinkled in his eyes, and when he got no reply from them, the smile on his face slowly began to fade.


    "Um, I believe you''re here because of the marriage, no?" Mr. Adolpho raised his brow at him, and Shawn slowly nodded. "Yes, that''s the reason why I am here. I promised I would marry her once I returned home and am here to fulfill my promise. I love her very much." A loving smile formed on his face, and Mr. Adolpho and Amy''s expressions became awkward.


    Mr. Adolpho cleared his throat and turned to glance at Amy, who was also staring at him with an awkward utterance on her face.


    Shawn''s brows crumpled deeply as he noticed the awkwardness in the atmosphere and he gazed intently at them. "Is... something wrong?" He asked, with uneasiness evident in his tone.


    Mr. Adolpho and Amy turned at the same time to stare at him, and a deep breath escaped Mr. Adolpho''s nose.


    "Is everything alright? Why am I not seeing Leia anywhere?" He glanced around, and the apprehension that he was feeling deepened.. "Is she alright?" He stared intently at them, seeking an answer from them.

 Chapter 141 - How Could You?

    Mr. Adolpho shook his head and pinched between his brows. A deep breath fled from his nose and he raised his eyes to gaze at Shawn. "Listen, um, about Leia. She''s fine, nothing is wrong with her."


    "Then where is she? Why can''t she be seen, and also, why are you both being awkward? I am finding it hard to believe that Leia is okay at this moment." Shawn''s face altered in complete confusion, and he glanced at each of them.


    "As I said, Leia is fine and you are unable to find her here because she doesn''t live with us anymore." Mr. Adolpho''s face became stern, and Shawn''s eyes blinked in bewilderment. "Why? Did she find an apartment or something? "


    "No."


    "Then what? Why isn''t she living with you guys anymore? Where is she no-"


    "Shawn-" Mr. Adolpho cut him off and took a deep breath " -Leia isn''t living with us anymore because she is... married."


    The moment the sentence left Mr. Adolpho''s mouth, everyone went completely silent. Shawn''s eyes fluttered in utter disbelief, and he abruptly broke out into laughter. "Are you guys joking with me or something?" He laughed as he asked, but when he saw the seriousness on their faces, which meant they weren''t joking, the laughter slowly dispelled and was replaced by a darkened expression. "This is a lie... right?" He implored, hoping they would say yes and tell him that they were just joking. However, none of that happened.


    "Shawn, we are very sorry, but it is not our fault. She is very happy in her marriage and you can see for yourself." Amy browsed through some news on her iPad and handed it over to Shawn.


    Shawn''s hands trembled as he received the iPad, and the moment he glanced at the screen, his heart skipped a bit and stopped beating for a moment. On the screen were photos of Adrik Kneeling proposing to Leia, and many other images.


    "Th-this is a lie!" His body began to tremble and he began to furiously shake his head in disagreement and disbelief. "This is a fucking lie!!!"


    "We are sorry, Shawn. But we did our best. We tried to prevent her from doing so, but when she made her decision, there was nothing we could do to stop her. She said she loved him and that he was the one she wanted to marry. We even reminded her of you, but she threw you to the back of her mind and said you weren''t her concern. That it was never written that you guys would end up... together." Amy bit her lower lip, and a pessimistic sigh left her mouth. "You''re a good guy. I just don''t understand why she would do that. We actually thought she loved you."


    Mr. Adolpho''s eyes squinted vigorously and he slowly turned his head to gaze at his daughter. Was this still Amy? He couldn''t help but question himself.


    Amy rolled her eyes at him and allowed the downcast expression to emerge on his face once again. "We are truly sorry." She stood up from the couch and walked over to Shawn, placing her hand on his shoulder to comfort him. "We did try our best to stop her, but... we have no control over her life."


    Shawn''s body began to shiver uncontrollably, and the moment he lowered his eyes to glance at the photo again, deep fury and pain burned violently in his eyes. His mouth twitched in anger, and he furiously threw the iPad on the floor, breaking it. "This is a fucking lie!!!" He clutched onto his head and began to step out of the living room. "No, no! This is a lie! It''s not true!"


    He ran out of the mansion and hurriedly boarded his car, driving out of the compound and speeding down the road.


    Amy, whose jaw was fallen, stared at her broken iPad and her hands balled into fists. "Did he seriously have to?" She glanced at the entrance and then at her father and folded her arms. "I''m ordering a new one and you''re paying." With that being said, she turned around and started walking up the stairs to make heShawnee to her room.


    "Hold it there, young lady." Mr. Adolpho halted her, and she turned around to stare at him. "What?"


    "Why did you do that?" He raised his brow at her, and Amy darted her eyes around. "I don''t know what you''re talking about. Please be specific."


    An annoyed groan erupted from Mr. Adolpho''s throat, and he pinched between his brows. "Why did you lie to him?" He raised his gaze to stare at her, and she rolled her eyes in ignorance. "Trying to score me a fine man." She shrugged and, with one last glance at her father, she continued to walk up the stairs while humming.


    Mr. Adolpho gazed at her disappearing back, and he couldn''t help but pinch between his brows again. When did his daughter become this way? A deep breath escaped his nose and he stood up from the divan, then proceeded to walk to his room.


    Jenny, who had been hiding behind the pillar near the living room, walked out, and her jaw couldn''t help but fall in disbelief. "Wow!" Her eyes blinked in shock, and deep breaths escaped her nose. She was still finding it hard to believe what she had just heard. Why were they doing this? True, she doesn''t like Leia that much, but this was wrong. They just...


    She took another deep breath and pulled her phone out of the pocket of her purple shorts.


    ________


    Shawn parked the car and stepped down, his eyes bloodshot from crying. He had been sobbing the whole time while driving.


    His eyes gazed up at an abandoned building, and teardrops couldn''t help but fall from them. This building was the place he always came with Leia to watch fireworks during festivals or just stay and talk about their problems. They would always laugh and joke about a lot of things.


    His body trembled violently, and he walked towards the building. He pushed the dusty old wooden door open and stepped in, then began to climb up the stairs that led to the rooftop, where they always sat. No one knows who owns the building, but it has been there for years. It had no windows or doors, except the wooden one in the front. The funny thing about this is that the building is still as strong as ever. No one comes there, nor even talks about it.


    With slow and steady steps, he got to the rooftop and glanced around. It was the same as ever. He walked to the edge and leaned down, taking his seat. His eyes gazed up at the dark sky, which had a half-moon and a few stars on it and his heart squeezed tightly within him as the image he saw on the iPad appeared in his mind. "How could you? How could you do this to me, Leia?" Tears streamed down his eyes, and he brought his legs to his chest, wrapping his arms around them and burying his face in his legs.


    "I love you, Shawn."


    "I love you too, Leia. Don''t worry, once I return, I will marry you, and then we will be together forever. Okay." The young boy smiled lovingly at a young girl seated beside him and pulled her into a warm hug. "You just have to wait for me until I return, okay?"


    "Okay, But promise me. Just telling me won''t make me believe it unless you pinky promise."


    The young boy chuckled at the young girl''s words, and he poked out his pinky, then interlocked it with hers. "I promise that once I return, I will marry you, and then we will live happily ever after."


    The young girl nodded, and a smile emerged on her face. "I promise to wait for you till you return." They nodded at each other and turned their heads to gaze at the fireworks shooting up into the sky and spreading their beauty.


    ....


    "You promised..." Shawn''s voice trembled, and drops of tears fell from his eyes. "You said you would wait for me. Why did you leave me?" His heart ached painfully within him, and he raised his teary eyes to stare at the sky. "She left me for another man after her promise..." He chuckled, as though mocking himself. What was he even thinking? Women will always be women.


    She left him for that over-rich guy because of money. What does the guy have that he doesn''t have? He has a good job and will never deny that he is rich, even without his mom''s money. So why? Why did she leave him for a scarred dude who isn''t even handsome but terrifying to the eye? I mean, no woman wants to be with him.


    A deep breath escaped Shawn''s mouth, and he slightly nodded his head. He shoved his hand into his pocket and pulled out a small black box. He opened it, revealing a shiny diamond ring. "You hurt me, Leia! You hurt me way too much!" He stared intently at the ring, and the urge to throw it away overwhelmed him. He took low breaths and shut the box, then threw it back into his pocket. "You''re only mine and no one else''s." With that being said, he stood and turned around, making his way back.


    He stepped down the last stairs and walked out of the building, then ambled towards his car.


    He stepped in, started the car''s engine, and drove off from that area.

 Chapter 142 - Crossed

    Adrik outfitted himself in a black suit and neatly parked his hair up into a ponytail with Leia''s help. He grabbed the key of the Rolls-Royce and gave Leia a perk in the cheek. "I will be back, but a little bit late. I need to settle some things at the company." He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead, then smiled at her before he left the room, shutting the door behind him.


    Leia took a low breath and pulled her phone out of the pocket of her blue hoodie, then made a call to Victor.


    "Hey, Victor, have they arrived?" She asked the moment Victor picked up.


    [Yeah, we are all here]


    "I see... Alright, I will be there soon." She hung up the call and grabbed the key to the SUV from the table, then walked out of the room, shutting the door behind her and locking it.


    She made her way downstairs and boarded the car, then drove out of the compound and down the road.


    She took at least thirty minutes to arrive at the apartment, and she carefully parked the car, stepped down, then made her way into the building.


    She took the elevator upstairs and strolled towards Victor''s apartment, then gave three light knocks on the door.


    The doorknob turned open and her eyes fell on Kiesha, who was clad in blue tight jeans and a small white tank top. Her curly hair was neatly tied up in a messy bun that made her look cute.


    "Late ass," Kiesha smirked at her, and she rolled her eyes, then they walked inside, shutting the door.


    Leia strolled to the sofa and plopped down on it, resting her head on its edge.


    "Why do you look so tired?" Keisha couldn''t resist asking, seeing the lazy expression on her face.


    "I am not tired." She replied with a bit of sarcasm in her tone. "Just dealing with a lot." A low breath left her nose, and she sat up straight to stare at them.


    "So... how was the test? What was the result?" Keisha inquired, and all their attention fell on Leia.


    Leia took a deep breath and interlocked her fingers. "Well... it came out negative. He''s not my father."


    Their jaws fell, and the first one to speak up after seconds of silence was Kiesha. "I knew it! I knew my instincts would never lie." She nodded her head as she said and shifted to sit closer to Leia. She wrapped her arms around her and gently stroked her back. "Please don''t feel bad about it. It''s all okay."


    Leia turned her head to gaze at her, and she couldn''t help but half-smile. "Thanks, but I am totally good. At the very least, I won''t experience any emotions or anything of the sort." She shrugged, and they all nodded slowly at her.


    "Does he know?" Victor, whose eyes were on his phone, abruptly asked, and Leia raised her head to look at him. "Who?" Her brow creased a bit in confusion.


    "Your fath-I mean Mr. Adolpho, Does he know that you have found out that he''s not your father?"


    "No... why do you ask?" Leia arched her brow in bewilderment.


    "Nothing, just that I am pretty sure he knows that you''re not his daughter and that''s why he doesn''t feel a bit of guilt when being so animalistic towards you." Victor dropped his phone on the white mini table and turned to face her.


    Leia lowered her head and pinched between her brows. "Yeah, I am pretty sure about that too." She took low breaths and rested her head back on the sofa.


    They talked a bit more, then switched to another subject and couldn''t help but reminisce about the punishable deeds they did back in high school, at times.


    Leia took a long deep breath with a smile still hanging on her face and stood up from the chair. "It was fun talking to you guys today, but I''ve got to go. It''s already 2 pm." She glanced at her watch and shrugged at them. "See you guys later." She smiled at them, then turned around and walked out of the apartment, making her way downstairs.


    She strolled out of the building and towards her car, then stepped in and shut the door. She pulled out the key from her pocket and just as she was about to insert it to start the car, it unexpectedly slipped from her hand and an annoyed groan erupted from her throat.


    She bent down to pick it up, but at that moment, Shawn, who had walked into the compound, strolled past her car with his eyes focused on where he was heading and a stern expression on his face.


    She raised her head after she picked the key up and inserted it, then turned it to the ignition point and started the car. She carefully reversed and smoothly drove out of the compound, speeding off onto the road.


    ________


    Shawn strolled into the building and took the elevator upstairs. He stepped out when the door opened and shoved his hands into the pockets of his long brown jacket, then made his way towards Victor''s apartment.


    He knocked on the door and a few seconds passed before the door was pulled open.


    He lowered his eyes to view the person and they fell on Kiesha, who was staring at him with a fallen jaw and dilated eyes.


    "Kiesha." His deep voice resounded, and Kiesha''s eyes fluttered in disbelief. She reached out her hand to slowly touch him on the cheek, and a deep breath escaped her nose. "It really is you."


    Shawn nodded at her and she stepped back to let him enter.


    The stern look on Shawn''s face never faded, and the moment his gaze fell on Victor when he stepped into the living room, anger burned in them.


    "Shawn." James'' voice, which held a surprise, sounded and he turned his head to stare at him. "Good to see you, James.." He said it in a tone that James completely understood, was not friendly at all.

 Chapter 143 - Mr. Man, Explain

    "Um, good to see you too." James cleared his throat and averted his gaze to return his attention to his phone. Well, that was quite a welcome.


    Shawn ignored him and turned to stare at Victor, who was still busy on the laptop on his lap.


    Victor''s eyes twitched when he felt the intent gaze on him, and he couldn''t help but raise his head to glance at Shawn. "Hey, so sorry I didn''t say hi. This website is giving me a tough ti-"


    "Why?" Shawn cut him off before he could finish his sentence, and confused, he raised his head to stare at Shawn.


    "Huh? What do you mean? " He asked, deep confusion evident in his tone.


    "Why didn''t you tell me that Leia was married when I came to talk to you a few days back?" He asked with displeasure and pain, clearly visible in his voice.


    Kiesha and Jame''s eyes flickered, and they turned to glance at each other. "I thought he knew." James lip-synced at her, and she lip-synced back at him. "I thought the same too."


    Their faces became awkward and they turned their heads to gaze at both Shawn and Victor.


    A deep breath escaped Victor''s nose, and he carefully dropped his laptop on the table, then stood up from the chair to stand in front of Shawn. "Look, I am sorry that I didn''t let you know, but it was not my place nor was it my right to do so. It''s Leia who should let you know. I mean, I could have caused a big mess if I had told you." He shrugged and stepped back to sit on the one-man sofa. "I can see that you guys have settled things." He glanced at Shawn then picked up his laptop from the table.


    Shawn''s brow creased deeply, and he fixed his gaze on Victor. "What do you mean by "settle"?" He asked, with displeasure in his tone.


    Victor''s eyes blinked in skepticism, and he arched his brow at him. "Are you joking with me?"


    "Do you think I have the time to joke with you?" His face darkened and his hands, which were inside his pockets, clenched.


    "Hold on a minute." Victor dropped the laptop back on the table and stood up to face Shawn. "You''re trying to tell me that you have yet to see Leia."


    "If I had seen her, do you think I would be here?" Shawn''s eyes narrowed in fury.


    "So you are trying to tell me that you didn''t meet Leia downstairs while coming up here." Victor inquired, utter disbelief apparent in his tone.


    Shawn''s eyes fluttered in confusion, and he turned to glance at James and Kiesha, who were also gazing at him with skeptical expressions on their faces. "Wh-what are you talking about?" He asked, clearly showing he had no idea what Victor was saying.


    "Tell me you''re joking!" Victor shook his head in shock and took deep breaths. Then he cupped his hands together and turned to stare at him. "Leia was here minutes ago and she left the minute you stepped through that gate, so I am hundred percent sure that you guys must have bumped into each other."


    Shawn''s eyes flickered in dumbstruck and before Victor could utter another word, he dashed out of the apartment and rushed down using the stairs, then hurriedly ran out of the building.


    He ran towards the gate and out to the road, but when he glanced around, he couldn''t find Leia or the SUV, and that alone already told him that Leia was the one in the SUV that he had passed behind when he was making his way towards the building.


    "Fuck!!! Fuck!!!! " He yelled in anger and breathed heavily, with his eyes still fixed on the road.


    Hurried footsteps resounded, and he turned around to see Victor, James, and Kiesha halted with their gazes on him.


    Fury burned strongly within him and he walked towards Victor, grabbing him by the collar of his white shirt. "How could you?! How could you not tell me she was married and allow me to go to the Adolpho mansion?! Just how could you?!" Deep hatred simmered in his eyes, and Victor grabbed him by the wrist to release himself from his grip. "Take your hands off me!"


    "I thought we were all friends, but you..." He let go of Victor, pushing him back in the process. "You all fucked me up!! Leia fucked me up! She fucked up my feelings and threw me in the trash like I was nothing!!"


    "What do you mean? Leia never did any of that!" Victor adjusted his clothing and stuffed his hands into his pockets.


    "Really?" Mocking laughter escaped from Shawn''s mouth, and he shook his head at the travesty of himself. "What was I even thinking? That after a whole four years, she would wait for me as she promised. " He laughed bitterly and shoved his hands into his pockets.


    "I thought she was different and that she would never hurt me, but it turns out I was a fool. She turned out to be the type who would run to rich men and cling to them. She fucking threw my feelings into the trash for that over-rich dandy. She forgot about our moments, the promises we made to each other, she forgot about it all, just to be with that scarred rich dick!!" His body trembled in anger, and his breathing became unsteady.


    Keisha, James, and Victor''s eyes fluttered in confusion, and they turned to glance at each other.


    Kiesha''s face darkened, and with her arms akimbo, she walked towards Shawn and turned him around, having him look at her. "Mr.. man, what the fuck are you spewing about? Why the hell are you talking about Leia like that? And what do you mean by that she threw your feelings away?" The ashen expression on her face deepened, and she stared at Shawn, demanding an answer from him. Who the hell does he think he is?

 Chapter 144 - Do You Know?

    "I see..." Shawn nodded his head with a disdained look on his face. "You guys are fucking hypocrites. I never would have known the truth if her family hadn''t told me." He shook his head, with hostility in his eyes. "Leia really played me well, and I applaud her for that." He scoffed and proceeded to leave. However, Kiesha grabbed him by the arms, pulling him back and glaring dangerously at him. "Mr. Man, you haven''t answered my questions. Don''t think you can talk about my best friend like that and walk away without giving me some explanations." Her eyes narrowed viciously, and she tapped her snickers on the ground, waiting for him to speak.


    Shawn parted his lips to say something that would not come out nice. However, when he saw Victor and James walking to stand beside Kiesha, he swallowed his words and gazed at them.


    "Look men, you''re our friend, but Leia is our best friend. You can''t just talk about her like that and expect us not to demand an explanation. Whatever shit you just babbled here has left us in shock and we really need an explanation. " James folded his arms and fixed his gaze on him.


    "Exactly." Keisha scoffed, and her gray eyes glared at him.


    Shawn stared at them for a few seconds before he turned around and began to walk into the building, totally ignoring them.


    The three glanced at each other and then at him and hurriedly followed after him into the building.


    He pushed the door to Victor''s apartment open and walked inside, plopping down on the sofa. A low, painful breath escaped his nose and he raised his eyes to stare at the three who were gazing down at him with displeased expressions on their faces.


    "You guys should stop looking at me like that. It''s disgusting how she''s in the wrong and y''all are defending her." He scoffed and folded his arms in resentment.


    "What are you talking about? What exactly did she do wrong?" Kiesha''s face altered in deep confusion, and she glanced at James and Victor, who were also clueless.


    "Drop the act. Don''t pretend like you didn''t know how she threw me in the trash and went ahead to marry that scarred dude." He ridiculed them in contempt, and their eyes couldn''t help but blink vigorously in dumbstruck. "I know I''m not as rich as that guy, but she made me feel like a loser by jumping on him and forgetting about me just like that." A low sigh left his lips, and he lowered his head, covering his face with his palm.


    "Okay,.. let me understand what is going on here." Kiesha chuckled dryly, her hands pointing at Shawn. "You think she left you to marry Mr. Avalanzo because he is rich?" Her lashes throbbed in utter disbelief, and Shawn raised his head to gaze at her. "Yes." He shook his head and averted his gaze from her.


    "And who exactly told you that?" Victor, who had moved to sit down on his one-man sofa, asked in a displeased tone.


    "Her family." Shawn turned his head to stare at Victor and interlocked his hands. "I went to see them yesterday because I thought Leia was there, so I could propose to her just like I told you. However, they spilled it to me that she was married to that dude. Worst of all, they shattered me by telling me that they tried to stop her when she said that she would marry him, by reminding her about me, but she threw me away and said that it was never written that we would be together. "His heart squeezed tightly within him as he recalled all that and he lifted his eyes to glance at the three. But, the shock and disbelief he saw on their faces had his eyes twitching furiously. "What is wrong with you guys?" He asked, in complete confusion.


    The first to take a deep breath was Victor, and he stood up, then walked to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water. He gulped down mouthful after mouthful, and finally, when he was satisfied, he dropped the bottle, turned around, and walked back to them.


    He took his seat, then interlocked his hands and fixed his intent gaze on Shawn.


    "Why are you staring at me like that?" Shawn asked, but Victor''s face altered into one, that was enough to cause confusion to whirl in his mind.


    "Do you believe that you''re very stupid and dumb?" Victor asked, in a tone that held no friendliness at all.


    Shawn''s jaw fell, and he glanced at each of them, clearly confused as to why Victor would ask him such a rude question.


    "Stop glancing around and answer my question. Do you believe you''re very stupid and dumb?" Victor asked yet again, and this time it sounded as though he was angry and irritated.


    "Don''t ask me such insulting questions. Shawn''s face darkened in umbrage, and he unfolded his folded arms, clearly annoyed by Victor.


    "Fine! Let me answer it for you then. " Victor smiled and relaxed back on the sofa. "Shawn, you''re a very stupid and dumb human being. Do you want to know why I said so? " He asked, with a smile still visible on his face.


    Shawn''s face turned ashen, and he stared at Victor with eyes that would shoot him to death if it were a gun.


    "Alright, I will take that as a yes." Victor interlocked his hands together, and the smile vanished from his face, replaced by a cold expression. "If you weren''t stupid and dumb, as I said, I don''t think you''d be here babbling nonsense. You and Leia were once in love with each other, and you know very well about the problem between her and her father, yet here you are believing the shit they said about her."


    "Leia never threw you away nor played you, but rather she suffered and you had completely no idea about it. Mr. Adolpho tortured and humiliated her every day of her life, and finally, when he was in a tight position regarding a deal he had with Mr. Avalanzo, he sold her off to him. What did you think she could have done? Reject or what?" His eyes turned bloodshot in fury, and he stared at Shawn with resentment and contempt in his gaze.


    Shawn''s heart stopped for a moment, and he tried to process all that Victor had said. Sold? Why? Why would they sell her off to that man? They knew that he was going to propose to her when he returned, yet they sold her off! Worst of all, they even lied to him when he asked them about her.


    His head shook in disbelief and anger, and he clutched his head. How could they have done this?! Why?! His body trembled uncontrollably in outrage, and hot tears dripped from his brown eyes. "Leia..." He whispered her name and her image emerged in his mind. "I am very sorry. I didn''t know. " He breathed heavily and raised his head to stare at the three. He stood up from the couch, and without saying anything, he sauntered out of the apartment, making his way downstairs.


    Kiesha, James, and Victor stared at the door, and they couldn''t help but shake their heads in sadness. "Our Leia has really suffered." Kiesha sighed deeply and sat down on the sofa beside James.


    They all took a low breath and went completely silent.


    _____________


    Leia, who had returned home, sat inside their room, patiently waiting for Adrik. It was already 5 pm and he was yet to come back. She grabbed her phone from the bed and dialed his number. A few seconds passed before Adrik picked it up.


    [Little wife]


    "Why aren''t you back yet? It''s already 5." Her face changed with a bit of displeasure, and her tone sounded quite cold.


    [I am sorry, little wife, but I am in a meeting. I did tell you that I won''t be coming home on time, so please just wait for me okay ] He cut the call before Leia could respond, causing her eyes to blink in disbelief. ''He did not just do that.'' She sneered internally, and just as she was about to drop her phone, an incoming call popped up on her screen.


    She picked it up and placed the phone to her ear. "Aunt Megan."


    [Good news, little pumpkin. Mr. Bob has agreed to speak with you and he will meet you tomorrow. I believe I don''t have to give you directions to his warehouse]


    "Yes. I still remember the way." A cheerful smile emerged on her face, and she tightened her fist in happiness. "Thank you so much, Aunt Megan. I owe you one."


    [It''s my pleasure. I want to see that old ass pay for his crimes]


    A low breath fled Leia''s nose, and they exchanged a few more words before she hung up the phone. She threw her phone on the sofa and plopped down onto the bed, lying on her back and fixing her gaze on the ceiling. ''It will work..'' She said to herself and slowly shut her eyes and drifted off to sleep minutes later.

 Chapter 145 - Small Building

    Adrik arrived home by eight o''clock that day and silently walked into the room, then shut the door, making sure not to make a loud noise. He turned around and his gaze fell on his little wife, who was outfitted in a blue pyjama, curled up on the sofa, and peacefully sleeping.


    A smile formed on his lips and he dropped his mask and black suitcase on the table, then walked towards the sofa and leaned down, placing a soft kiss on her head.


    He stood up and walked straight into the bathroom, giving himself a nice warm shower. He swathed himself in a white robe when he was done, then strolled back to Leia and gently carried her up from the couch in a bridal style.


    He gently laid her down on the bed, then climbed in beside her and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer to him. He nuzzled her neck, and a relaxed breath escaped his nose as he shut his eyes.


    "Why are you back so late?" Leia, who was in his arms, abruptly asked with a voice that held weariness.


    Adrik''s eyes blinked open, as he was not expecting her to be awake. He flipped her over so she would face him and stared into her pitch-black pupils. "I am sorry." He smiled at her and lovingly kissed her lips.


    Leia rolled her somnolent eyes and moved closer, wrapping her arms and legs around him. "Good night." She buried her face in his chest and gradually dozed off.


    ________


    The next day arrived in the blink of an eye, and it was currently 2 pm.


    Dressed in black joggers and a white polo that left only her tattooed arms and neck revealed, Leia smiled at herself in the mirror, then finally tied her short hair up. She really has never liked girly things and mostly dresses in outfits like this. She only wears gowns during important parties.


    A low breath escaped her nose. And she slid into her trainers, then turned to Adrik, who was seated on the couch with his laptop on his lap and his green eyes focused on it.


    She walked up to him and squatted down, then grabbed his attention and smiled at him.


    Adrik scrutinized her, and a wide smile couldn''t help but form on his face. "You look beautiful." He chuckled softly, and Leia flicked her two fingers at his forehead. She cupped his cheek and delivered a soft kiss to his lips. "I will be back soon." She kissed him again before standing up and giving him one last smile, then walked out of the room and closed the door behind her.


    She strolled out of the mansion and stepped into the Lamborghini, then shut the door and drove off.


    Her eyes glanced around on the way, and she carefully noted down each place she drove past, to make sure she wasn''t going the wrong way.


    Finally, after a maximum of two hours, she slowed down the car and parked it on the roadside.


    She glimpsed at a small building that looked so lowly through the window of the car, pushed the door open, then stepped down.


    She adjusted her polo and covered her eyes with her black shades. A smirk emerged on her face, and with her left hand shoved into her pocket, she crossed the road and made her way towards the small building.


    She got to the door and left three light knocks on it, then patiently waited. it didn''t take twenty seconds when the iron door pushed open, revealing a bulky man whose chest was vibrating as though he was about to fight with someone. His short hair was all messed up and his brown eyes, which held unfriendliness, stared intently at her.


    Leis raised her brows, and a smirk emerged on her lips. "I want to see your boss." She said, with no bit of respect in her tone.


    The bulky old man glared at her and scoffed before he moved to let her in. Leia grinned at him and walked past him, making sure to narrow her eyes dangerously at him.


    The bulky man gazed intently at her for a moment before slamming the iron door shut and locking it with the big, heavy locks that will at least take up to 60 seconds to unlock, unlike normal locks.


    Leia halted on her steps and turned her head to glance at him. An unknown, vicious glint flashed in her eyes, and she sneered deeply within her heart, then continued on her steps.


    She walked further and finally stopped somewhere that one would call a living room. However, this looked nothing like a normal living room.


    Everywhere looked rough, and above the ceiling was a small bulb that was dangling slowly and emitting a dense light. In the middle was a round table that had a chair on either side and bottles of beer on top of it.


    She shrugged and walked to the chair, then sat down and crossed her legs, patiently waiting for whoever she was waiting for.


    Another man arrived inside the room after a few seconds, and Leia turned to glance at him. He was slim, unlike the bulky one. However, he was completely bald with a small eagle tattoo drawn on his neck.


    The bulky one walked up to him, and he whispered something into his ear. He nodded, then used a sign to tell the slim one to keep an eye on Leia.


    With that being done, he left the room, leaving only Leia and the slim one in the compartment.


    Leia chuckled softly within her heart and began to play with the cover of the bottle she saw on the table. Her finger flipped it over and turned it over again.


    Seconds passed and minutes passed, but the man he came there for never showed up.. Not caring to say a word to the slim man, she continued to play with the cover of the bottle, a half-grin hanging on her lips.

 Chapter 146 - You Intimidate Me

    After a freaking annoying ten minutes passed, the man whom Leia came for finally decided to reveal himself. His light steps resounded the closer he got to Leia.


    Leia, who was seated at the table, never turned her head to glance at him, rather she allowed a mysterious smile to form on her face.


    The man walked up to her and finally when he stood in front of her, she took her shades off and smirked at the looks of the man. He was not too white and quite tall. Either side of his hair was shaved leaving only the center which was tied up into a bun. His whole upper body was tattooed which she could tell from his revealed arms and neck. He was clad in a black shirt in which its hems were rolled up and black pants and pristine black shoes. In fact, he looked very catchy and attractive.


    Honestly, he wasn''t what she was expecting. For a person that handled such business, she expected him to look rough and displeasing to the eyes but she was wrong.


    The man smirked and winked at her expecting a smile in return, but what he didn''t expect was that Leia would raise her hand, showing him the marriage ring on her finger.


    The young man''s brow arched and he chuckled softly. He slightly shook his head and took a seat opposite her at the table, then crossed his legs and interlocked his hands. "Let''s get down to business." He smiled and Leia nodded at him.


    "Are you Mr. Bob?" She asked and the young man gazed at her for a while before he abruptly laughed softly.


    "Do you think that Mr. Bob will look as young and attractive as me?" He threw a question back at her and Leia smiled slyly. "Not gonna lie, you weren''t what I expected." She chuckled softly and he nodded at her with an amused look on his face.


    "I am not Mr. Bob, rather my father is." He laughed lowly and folded his arms. "My name is Blake Jones, and I own this business now. My father is currently dealing with much more tight shits...ha." He smirked and Leia slightly nodded at him.


    "I see¡­does that mean that you were the one that my aunt Megan called?" She inquired, this time no smile was visible on her face.


    "No¡­" The young man shrugged, totally not caring at all. "She called my father, but since this is my business now, I am the one present in front of you." He smiled charmingly at her and Leia raised her brow. She gazed intently at the young man for at least 30 seconds before a smile formed on her lips. "Alright, let''s get down to business then."


    The young man''s eyes fluttered at her word and he stared at her with bewilderment apparent on his face. Did he hear wrong or something? He was expecting that she would leave after telling her that he will be the one she would be doing business with instead of her father, however, what came was the opposite. She actually agreed.


    "Are you sure?" He smirked mysteriously at her and Leia smiled at him. "If I wasn''t sure, do you think I would still be here seated in front of you?" Her brow arched a bit and the young man whose name was Jones nodded at her. "Alright then." He clapped his hands together and turned so he would be facing her completely. "What exactly is it?"


    "I want you to sell me a good gun."


    "Huh? Which one? All my shits are good." Jones smiled smugly as he said.


    Leia ignored him and pulled her phone out of her pocket. She unlocked it and browsed through it, before handing it over to him. "That is exactly what I want."


    Jones'' brow raised and he lowered his head to stare at the image on the phone. His eyes instantly dilated, almost as though his eyeballs would pop out. He lifted his head to glance at Leia and then back to the phone. "An MI34 MiniGun!"


    Leia nodded at him with a smile on her face. "Yes, a handheld one." She grinned widely and the young man blinked his eyes. "I will let you know that this is not easy to get."


    "If I don''t know that, do you think I would be here?" She scoffed and the young man slightly bobbed at her.


    "400.000¡ê, you will get it in a week."


    "Fuck you." Leia gave him a middle finger with a darkened expression on her face. "100.000¡ê." She said and the young man''s face altered in displeasure.


    "300.000¡ê, that''s the last I can go for." He scoffed and crossed his arms, then relaxed back on the chair.


    Leia beamed at him and without bothering to say another word, she covered her eyes with black shades, then stood up from the chair. "Arrivederci." With that being said, she proceeded to leave, slowly counting on every step she took. "10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2 and¡­"


    "Wait!" Jones'' voice resounded and Leia grinned as she halted on her step. She turned around and gazed at him with a raised brow. "Anything?" She asked, and a low breath escaped from Jone''s nose.


    "250.000¡ê. That''s all I can go for." His face turned a bit pale and he raised his eyes to stare at her.


    Leia smiled at him and slightly shook her head. "Forgive me Mr. Blakes, but I can only agree with 200.000¡ê. Nothing more than that." She took her shades off and stuffed them into her pocket, then fixed her gaze on him. "You can of course say no If you''re not up for it. Am sure that I am not the one who will be losing." She shrugged with a defiant expression on her face.


    Jones'' eyes narrowed into a thin line as though contemplating in his mind and a low groan erupted from his throat. "Fine. 200.000¡ê." He pinched between his brows and sat down on the chair.


    "Quite a business gentleman you are." Leia chuckled heartily as she made her way back to the chair to take her seat. She crossed her legs and they commenced with their business.


    Finally, after an hour, Leia stood up from the chair and exchanged a handshake with Jones. "Come back in one month." Jones smiled at her and she nodded. "Thank you, it was great doing business with you. I will be taking my leave now." She smiled back at him and turned around, proceeding towards the iron door.


    The bulky man jeer at her and walked towards the door, then unlocked it and pulled it open for her.


    "Quite a gentleman you are." She chuckled gaily and stepped out before the bulky man could slam the door in her face.


    She grabbed her shades from her pocket and covered her eyes, then crossed the road and made her way back to her car.


    She boarded it and with a careful reverse, she drove into the road and raised the speed then sped off down the road.


    It took her an hour, thirty minutes to arrive home. She drove into the compound and parked the car, then stepped down and shut the door, locking it.


    She strolled into the mansion and just as she was making her way to the bedroom, she accidentally bumped into Rita who was carrying a tall stack of books.


    The books fell to the floor and Rita hurriedly squatted down to pick them up. "Am so sorry, I wasn''t looking where I was going." She immediately began to apologize to Leia and Leia''s below creased a bit in confusion.


    She grabbed Rita by the arm, pulling her up and having her look at her face.


    Rita''s body trembled and she swallowed hard. "I am really so-"


    "What is going on with you?" Leia questioned, a confused expression evident on her face.


    Rita''s eyes fluttered in deep unrest and she prepared to make a run for it, once Leia reacted. "I-i don''t understand what you mean, Luna." She bowed respectively and Leia''s brow crinkled deeply.


    "Why are you acting weird these days? Like, why do you always tremble whenever you see me like you''re afraid of me?" A questioning expression made its way to her face and she stared intently at Rita.


    Rita shivered and parted her lips to say something, but not a single word escaped from her mouth. This made Leia''s face darken and she dragged her along with her towards the dining room.


    She sat her down on a chair, and took her seat, crossing her legs and interlocking her hands. "I am asking you, why do you act so afraid like you saw a devil whenever you see me." Her face turned ashen and she waited for her to answer her question.


    Rita swallowed hard and drops of cold sweats began to fall from her forehead and drip down her back. She fiddled with her fingers with her head lowered and raised her eyes to gaze at Leia who was staring at her with a stern face and raised brows.


    "You intimidate me, my spirit, and my wolf."

 Chapter 147 - Rita

    "You intimidate me, my spirit, and my wolf."


    Leia''s eyes fluttered vigorously, and she drew her head back. Her pitch-black pupil gazed intently at Rita, and she cleared her throat. "What... do you mean?" She asked, completely bewildered.


    "I don''t know, just that... ever since that day you came home with the deadly aura lingering on you, my wolf always trembles whenever I come into contact with you." Rita bit her lower lip and raised her eyes to peer at her.


    "A deadly aura?" Leia''s brow arched and her orifices blinked in confusion when Rita nodded her head at her. "I didn''t know a deadly aura was lingering around me that day." She shook her head, and Rita fluttered her eyes, then parted her lips to say something. "Luna, c-can I ask you a question?"


    Leia''s brows raised, and she slowly nodded at her. "Yes you can, but... first I would like to let you know something." She crossed her legs and interlocked her arms. "Yeah, we did have some misunderstandings in the past, but let that be the past. I am not going to hurt you or mistreat you, so please stop acting as if you saw the devil whenever you see me. Jeez, it makes me feel like I look like a monster." She clicked her tongue as her face altered in irritation.


    Rita''s eyes squinted, and she slowly nodded her head. "I am sorry. Please forgive me." She bowed her head a bit, and Leia casually waved her hand at her. "Go on with your question."


    She nodded, then took a deep breath before fixing her intent gaze on Leia. "Luna, are you, by any chance, a... demon?"


    Leia''s body throbbed instantly when she heard her question and she couldn''t help but gaze at Rita with vigilance in her eyes.


    Rita slowly began to move from the chair under her intent gaze. Again, she was intimidating her wolf. "I am sorry if my question offended you." She hurriedly stood up from the chair and bowed while apologizing to her.


    A deep breath escaped Leia''s nose, and she relaxed back on the chair, then folded her arms. "Yes... I am... a demon." She slowly nodded, and Rita''s body became motionless. Her eyes attentively gazed at Leia, and Leia raised her brows at her.


    "Seriously?! I just fucking told you right now that I am never going to hurt you. You really should learn to feel free around me, because we are going to be seeing each other and interacting more often." A mysterious smile appeared on her face, and before Rita could say a word, she stood up from the chair and walked out of the living room, then made her way to the bedroom.


    She stepped in and shut the door, then turned around only to see Adrik still busy with his laptop. Her brow creased, and she strolled towards him.


    She took the laptop from him and kept it on the mini table, then gently sat on his lap and wrapped her arms around him. "Why are you still working?" She nuzzled his neck and left a light kiss on his jaw.


    Adrik''s brow arched and a grin formed on his lips. He gently drew her back and stared at her pretty face. "What are you trying to do, little wife?" He asked, with a smirk on his lips.


    Leia''s brow wrinkled in displeasure and she proceeded to stand up from his laps. However, Adrik grabbed her by the waist and sat her down, then planted a soft kiss on her lips. "How did it go?" He inquired, and a low breath fled from her nose.


    "Went pretty okay, although it wasn''t Mr. Bob that I saw, rather it was his son. But... he is very cooperative and quite easy to do business with." She shrugged, and Adrik slightly nodded at her. "I see... so how do you take your next step?"


    Leia stared at him for a moment, and the side of her lips curved up into a smile. "Rita," she stated, and Adrik''s lashes fluttered. His brow raised, and he tilted his head to one side. " Rita?"


    "Yes." She nodded and stood up from his lap, then walked towards the window to stand and gaze up at the almost dark sky.


    Adrik''s brow furrowed a bit in bewilderment, and he also stood up from the couch, then walked towards the window to stand beside her. "What do you mean by Rita?" He asked, completely curious.


    A deep breath escaped Leia''s nose, and she turned to face him. She blinked her eyes and smiled mysteriously at him. "Rita is perfect for my next plan. Wait till tomorrow." With that being said, she walked past him and made her way to the bathroom.


    Adrik''s gazes squinted, and he turned to glance at her disappearing back. A half-smile formed on his lips, and with a shake of his head, he walked back to take his seat on the sofa.


    _______


    The next day arrived, and currently, it was noon.


    Within a vast room, Leia, who was clad in a white t-shirt and blue jeans with her hair tied up, stood in front of Rita, who was seated in a chair. Beside her was seated another person, whose face held a cheerful smile.


    "Alex, we are glad to have you here." Leia smiled, and Alex slightly nodded at her. A deep breath escaped her lips, and she walked to sit on the one-man sofa that was in front of the two. She crossed her legs, then interlocked her hands. "You both are probably curious as to why I called you here."


    Rita and Alex nodded and anticipation emerged on their faces.


    "It''s nothing much, just that I have an assignment for you two, especially you Rita." Leia turned her head and fixed her gaze on her, then began to explain her grievances with Mr. Adolpho and how she intended to exact her vengeance.


    Rita''s lashes flickered as she listened, and a deep sigh couldn''t help but flee her mouth. Honestly, she regrets her actions towards Leia that day. Leia did nothing wrong to her and she just... She shook her head, and a simple smile formed on her face.


    "Do you guys understand now?" Leia inquired, and they both nodded their heads. "That''s good." She bobbed her head in satisfaction, then directed her attention on Rita.


    "Rita, my assignment for you is a very dangerous one, and at no cost must you lose focus. You have to concentrate on this mission and make sure that you finish it without any implications whatsoever. "


    Rita nodded and took a deep breath.


    "Alright then.." Leia smiled and stood up from the chair, then placed her hands behind her back.

 Chapter 148 - Davis

    "Rita, I have a question for you." She turned and faced Rita with a smile on her face. "What attracts a man to a woman the most?"


    Rita''s eyes fluttered at the question, and she cleared her throat. "A beautiful face and a hot body." She stated this with confidence apparent on her face.


    Leia''s expression altered in irritation, and she picked up the hand fan on the table near the one-man sofa and threw it at Rita''s head, earning an ouch from her. "You''re wrong!" She pointed at her with a stern expression on her face, then took a deep breath. "Vulnerability"


    "Huh?" Rita''s brow arched in utter confusion, and she stared at Leia with furrowed brows.


    "Vulnerability is what men crave the most in women. They are dominative creatures, and what do you think fits them the most? It''s a vulnerable and defenseless woman. One that he can dominate and rule." Leia gestured with her hands as she explained.


    A deep breath left Rita''s nose, and Alex, who sat beside Rita with a fallen jaw, slowly raised his hand to ask for permission to speak.


    "Keep your fucking hands down, or else this fan will land on your forehead." Leia smiled at him and returned her attention to Rita. "Like I was saying, defenselessness is what men crave the most in women. Now let me ask you a question."


    "What do you think will happen when a woman with tears in her eyes and a broken heart walks towards a man?"


    "Um..." Rita''s eyes squinted, and she adjusted in her seat. "Well... he will probably reach out to help or at least ask what''s wrong."


    "Exactly. He will reach out to help." Leia chuckled softly and moved to sit down on the one-man sofa. She crossed her legs and interlocked her hands, then allowed a smile to emerge on her face. "Men like women that are naive and powerless, and we use it against them. Now my mission for you revolves around this."


    "Mr. Adolpho is a womanizer. He likes women a lot, and a woman will be the death of him. " She laughed and slightly shook her head. "Now listen, Mr. Adolpho does like women a lot, but as a woman, you do not dare deceive him, because if you do and he finds out, I doubt you will leave to see the daylight. At that moment, he won''t care that you''re a woman, and that''s why I''m allowing you to know that this mission is not going to be easy."


    "We are going to use his womanizing fetish against him." An evil grin emerged on Leia''s lips, and her eyes narrowed maliciously. "Here''s the plan." She slowly began to explain the plan to Rita and Alex, and the moment she was done, she stood up from the sofa and smiled at both of them.


    "The mission starts tomorrow." She chuckled softly and proceeded to leave. However, she abruptly halted on her steps and turned to Rita. "You will have a great makeover tomorrow." With that being said, she strolled out of the room with her hands placed behind her back.


    Rita and Alex glanced at each other, and Alex couldn''t help but shake his head. "Damn, women are really scheming." He clicked his tongue and stood up from the chair, then walked out of the room, leaving only Rita, whose eyes were gazing into emptiness.


    _______


    Leia walked into the bedroom and grabbed the car key and a photo of her mother from the table. Currently, Adrik was out with the men, and it was just her, Alex, Rita, and the maids that were in the house.


    A deep breath escaped her nose and she gazed at her reflection in the mirror. A pessimistic smile emerged on her lips, and a low sigh left her mouth.


    How did she get this far? She couldn''t help but question herself. How she wonders when she will finally have peace. A low breath exited her nose, and she shook her head, then strolled out of the room and shut the door behind her.


    She walked out of the mansion and made her way towards the Lamborghini. She unlocked it and stepped in, then carefully reversed and drove out of the compound.


    She raised the speed as she sped down the road, and her eyes glanced from one place to another. She stopped by a flower shop at one point and bought a bouquet of white lilies, then continued to drive to the destination she was going to.


    A whole forty minutes passed before a familiar place came into view. She slowed down the car and parked it on the roadside.


    She stepped down and shut the door, then walked into the place that one would call a cemetery once seen. The white lilies in her hand made a crushing noise as she walked closer to the only grave that would ever bring her to the cemetery.


    She stood in front of it and a deep breath exited her nose. The mess she had made that day was still there. The flower''s age-scattered petals were all withered and bad-looking to the eyes.


    Without much thinking, she squatted down and began to pick up the flowers and broken pieces of her mother''s photo. She threw them away when she was done and arranged the things on her mother''s grave.


    She placed the new photo she brought along with her on the grave and decorated it with white lilies. Now the grave looked as memorable as it should look.


    A low breath fled Leia''s nose and she knelt on the ground. She gazed intently at her mother''s photo, and a half-smile formed on her face. "Mom, I may not love you as much as I used to, but one thing you should know is that you''re always in my heart. I will never hate you or forget you, because, without you, I don''t believe I could have survived all those years of torture and hardship. You''re the reason why I''m still living confidently and happily. You and Adrik are the only reasons I am optimistic about this world. "


    "Speak of Adrik. I want to bring him here one day, so he can meet you, and then you can meet him too."


    "You always told me that I would one day, marry a very nice, gentle, kind, and loving man, and let me tell you, mum, I did. He''s everything one would call perfection and more than one would expect. At times, I think I don''t deserve him. " A light-loving chuckle escaped her mouth, and she took a deep breath. "I love you, Mum." She smiled at the photo of her mum, then sat near the grave and pulled her legs to her chest. She wrapped her arms around them and buried her face in her knees.


    Thunderstorms rumbled and dark clouds began to cover the sky. Drops of rain began to fall, and Leia raised her head to glance at the atmosphere. A smile formed on her lips, and she stood up from the ground. She turned to her mother''s grave and gave a deep respectful bow to her before turning around and leaving the cemetery.


    She walked towards her car and leaned down on it, supporting her body with it. The rain began to get heavy and Leia stood gazing into emptiness as though thinking of something important.


    A low breath left her lips, and she turned around, getting into the car.


    She started its engine and slowly drove back, her leisurely eyes focused on the road ahead of her.


    She drove for at least an hour before she stopped opposite an outdoor seating liquor store that she had once come to before.


    A warm smile formed on her lips as she spotted someone, and without any hesitation, she stepped down from the car and strolled towards the store.


    She took a seat under the rain, and a low breath escaped her nose.


    From within the store, a young man with brown curly hair, gray eyes, and very white skin took a deep breath as he sighted the young girl who sat outside in the rain. What is wrong with these people? How many times will he keep repeating, "Mr./Mrs./Miss, please don''t stay in the rain, you can come inside"? Are they doing this on purpose?


    An annoyed groan erupted from his throat, and he took a deep breath to calm himself down. ''They will never be the reason why I will lose my job.'' He scoffed to himself and picked up the umbrella beside the counter he was standing at and proceeded to walk out.


    He placed the umbrella over his head and walked over to the young woman. "Miss, you shouldn''t st-" The moment his eyes fell on the face of the young girl, his body stilled and his jaw fell. "You..."


    "Hello, Davis." Leia smiled at the young man. He was the guy that had asked her to come inside that day she came to drink herself to stupor before committing suicide.


    The young man''s eyes fluttered, and a smile cracked on his face. "Oh my God! It''s nice to see you again."


    Leia chuckled softly at him and slightly shook her head at him. "It''s nice to see you too."


    "Please come inside." Davis smiled at her and she stood up from the chair and walked inside, not minding her wet clothing.


    She stepped into the bar, which was packed with people drinking and having fun at their table.


    Davis gestured to her to an empty table and she took her seat. He arrived back with a bottle of alcohol, and Leia smiled at him. "Thanks."


    He nodded at her and took a seat opposite her. "Hmm..what''s with the tattoos? The last time I saw you, you had none."


    "Well... just kind of found a liking for it and decided to give me a nice one." Leia shrugged, and he nodded at her.


    "How are you?" He asked, and a deep breath escaped Leia''s nose. "Better than ever. I just kinda passed by here and I thought I''d stop by since it''s been pretty long. " She chuckled softly, and he chuckled along with her.


    They spent a few more minutes talking to each other, and finally, after twenty minutes, Leia stood up and paid for the drink, but he rejected it and said it was on him. She cackled and bade him goodbye, then proceeded to make her way out of the bar.


    She had just pushed the glass door open and was about to step out when she bumped into a strong shoulder. An ouch left her mouth and she raised her eyes to glance at the person.. However, the moment her gaze fell on the person, the world stopped moving around her and her body stilled instantly.

 Chapter 149 - Why Isnt She Reacting?!!

    Her heart instantly skipped a bit, and her body trembled as her eyes fixed on the person in front of her. "Sh-Shawn!"


    "Leia." The person who was Shawn stared at her with eyes filled with different emotions. His lashes fluttered and before Leia, who stood in front of him, could react or say anything, he grabbed her by the hand and pulled her into a warm, loving embrace. He wrapped his arms around her and tightly hugged her.


    Leia, who was being hugged, found her body still trembling and her lips twitching as she was speechless and had no idea what to say or where to start.


    Shawn drew her back from the embrace and stared at her face. A smile made its way to his lips, and he pulled her back into his arms, then began to stroke her hair down to her back. "I missed you. I missed you so much, Leia!" He sniffed, and Leia''s eyes throbbed.


    She yanked back from the hug to stare at his face, and when she saw that he was crying, her heart skipped a bit. "W-why are you crying?" She unknowingly asked him, and Shawn slightly shook his head. "It''s nothing. I am just so happy to see you. I mean, I never expected to meet you here!" He smiled ever so charmingly, and a sharp breath left Leia''s lips.


    Her lashes flickered and without uttering another word, she shoved her hands into her pocket and hurriedly walked past Shawn, proceeding towards her car. However, Shawn grabbed her by the wrist, halting her on her track. "Leia, wait."


    Leia''s heart trembled, and she halted. Her breathing became rapid and she shut her eyes. That voice! The way he calls her name, he''s still doing it up to now. It was just so different from the way others called it. He held so much gentleness and an accent she used to love so much then.


    Shawn took a deep breath and walked forward to stand beside her. He turned her so she could face him, and a gentle smile formed on his lips. He slowly scrutinized her from head to toe, and his smile widened. "You... look so beautiful and amazing." He said, with feelings evident in his tone.


    Leia mumbled not a single word and just stood staring at him. He changed so much and looked so different, and it''s a very good difference.


    "Shawn..." She finally uttered his name again, and Shawn smiled at her as he nodded slowly. "I-i... don''t know what to say." A low breath escaped her throat and she gazed at him. She''s so speechless, she doesn''t even know what to say to him.


    "Leia, you don''t have to explain anything. I know, okay." He smiled tenderly at her and reached out his hand to touch her cheek.


    From a bit far down the road, a Rolls-Royce drove at a normal speed and swiftly took a turn at the U-turn.


    Within the car, Adrik sat with his eyes focused on his phone. His brow slowly began to crease as he felt a presence that was most familiar to him, and the closer he got, the stronger the presence. "Little wife..." His brow furrowed deeply when he heard her voice, which was stuttering, from a far distance.


    "Stop the car!" He ordered the driver, and the driver swiftly parked the car on the roadside. Adrik turned his phone off and stuffed it into the pocket of his suit. Then he pushed the door open and stepped down. He was swathed in a white suit with his gray mask on his face, and his hair was neatly tied up in a ponytail.


    He shoved his hands into his pocket and glanced directly in the direction he felt his little wife''s presence and heard her voice.


    The first person his eyes fell on was his little wife, who stood in front of a liquor store, and in front of her stood another young man he had never seen before. He could tell that Leia knew this man, and not just knew, but he was very close to her as he had his hand placed on her cheek and Leia was not reacting to it.


    A low breath left Adrik''s nose, and he leaned his butt on the car. His eyes suddenly spotted the Lamborghini parked on the roadside and his eyes flickered. He turned his attention to the two and patiently stood watching them and listening to their conversation.


    Shawn caressed Leia''s cheek and gazed at her with eyes that held love and care. "Leia, you don''t have to say anything. I know what happened and-"


    "Shawn, what are you talking about?" Leia asked, completely confused.


    A deep breath fled Shawn''s nose, and he cupped both her cheeks with his hands, then gazed into her pitch-black pupils. "Leia, I know that you''re married, but I also know that you didn''t want it. You never agreed to it. I know that it was your father who sold you over to that over-rich dandy. But I promise, just give me a little while, I will find a way to free you from that scarred man."


    Adrik''s eyes fluttered at the young man''s word, who he already knew was by the name of Shawn, from when Leia spoke his name.


    A low breath escaped from his nose, and he shifted his gaze to Leia. How is she going to react? That he wants to know.


    Leia stared at Shawn, and her lashes couldn''t help but quiver. "Shawn, listen to this: I am totally fine and am happy in my marriage, so please don''t do anything." She smiled at him as she said it, but Shawn shook his head at her. "No, you''re lying to me, Leia. There is no way that you''re happy living with that man and seeing him every day. I promised to marry you when I returned home, and I intend to keep that promise.. I will find a way to free you from that horrid guy and then we can get married, okay."

 Chapter 150 - Just A Misunderstanding

    Adrik''s heart skipped a bit, and he gazed intently at Leia. Why wasn''t she reacting? How important was this guy to her? Why wasn''t his little wife reacting to that young man insulting him over and over again? Why the hell is she keeping quiet? Is she...


    His hands balled tightly into a fist and, without any more delay, he pulled the car door open and stepped in. "Let''s go." He said to the driver, and the driver nodded before he started the car''s engine and drove off at a normal speed.


    Leia''s face slowly darkened at Shawn''s words, and she slapped his hands away. "Shawn, I am married and I am happy in my marriage, so please do not do anything stupid. It was nice seeing you!!" With that being said, she walked away from him. However, Shawn grabbed her by the wrist, stopping her. "Leia, I know you''re not serious. He''s probably sca-"


    "Shawn, stop it!!" She snatched her hand from him and walked away to her car. She unlocked it and stepped in, then shut the door, ignoring Shawn, who was gazing at her with dilated eyes. She started the car engine and drove off down the road, accelerating at a normal speed.


    "Fuck!!" She punched the steering wheel and a deep breath fled her nose. Why now of all times? Why now, when everything was going okay for her? Just why?


    How is she going to tell Adrik about Shawn when she reaches home? That is something she certainly must do because if she doesn''t, it''s definitely going to create a big problem one day. She pinched between her brows and focused her attention on the road ahead of her.


    _______


    Adrik, who had arrived home, took his shower and swathed himself in his white robe, then walked to the sofa to sit down and placed his laptop on his lap. Currently, it is 6 pm.


    Outside, the bodyguard pulled the fine unique gate open, and Leia smoothly drove in and parked the car in the parking lot. She stepped down and shut the door, then locked it before making her way into the mansion.


    She passed the living room and strolled towards their room. She pushed the door open and stepped in, shutting it behind her.


    She turned around and her gaze fell on Adrik, who was seated on the couch with his laptop on his lap and AirPods in his ears.


    A warm smile formed on her lips and she strolled towards him, then squatted down and cupped his cheeks with her hands. Adrik raised his eyes to stare at her, and she smiled lovingly at him. As though something had deeply hurt him, he half smiled at her and gently caressed her hair. "How are you?" He asked, and she nodded at him. "I am pretty good." She placed a soft kiss on his lips and then stood up to walk to the bathroom and take a nice shower.


    Adrik stared at her disappearing back and a low sigh left his nose. Maybe it''s all just a misunderstanding. He believes his little wife will never hurt him. They love each other.


    A cherishing smile made its way to his lips, and he continued to work on his laptop.


    After she was done showering, Leia stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped up in a white towel. She strolled to the dressing room and walked in, shutting the door behind her.


    She took at least five minutes before she stepped out of the dressing room, clad in purple pyjamas. She ambled towards Adrik and took a seat beside him on the divan.


    She wrapped her arms around his muscular arm and placed her head on his shoulder. "What are you doing?" She asked, and Adrik turned his head to glance at her. He smiled and pointed at something on the laptop. "Nothing much, just assessing and arranging some files. I want them to be in order, to not be confusing and scattered."


    Leia nodded her head and gave him a light kiss on the jaw, then shut her eyes.


    Finally, when Adrik was done with his work, it was already 8 pm. He glanced at Leia, whose head was placed on his shoulder, to see her sound asleep.


    He dropped his laptop on the mini table, then gently laid her back on the sofa as he stood up. He leaned down and lifted her from the couch, then carried her to the bed.


    He laid her down and climbed in to lie down beside her. He covered them with the white sheet and wrapped his arms around her belly, then pulled her closer to him and rested his head on her neck.


    _________


    The next day came in the blink of an eye, and Leia, who had stepped out of the bathroom after her shower, walked into the dressing room.


    Her face altered in great annoyance as she grabbed a pair of blue shorts and a white shirt. Today, her best friends are going to get it from her.


    She scoffed and slid into the clothes, then covered her feet in white trainers. She walked out of the dressing room and made her way to the table, then gave her hair a nice combing


    and let it fall, although it didn''t reach shoulder length. It was still quite short.


    A deep breath escaped from her nose and she grabbed the car key from the table, proceeding to leave. Adrik had woken up before her and left for work before she woke up.


    She stepped out of the room and shut the door, then made her way out of the mansion and proceeded towards the car.


    ______


    Victor sat on his one-man sofa, with crossed legs and eyes focused on his phone and the laptop on his lap.


    A light knock came on his door and an annoyed groan erupted from his throat. God! If only the person at the door knew how lazy he was to stand up and open the door for him or her.


    The light knock came again, and he dropped his laptop on the table, then stood up from the couch. He strolled to the door and peeped through the small hole to see who it was.


    He instantly flinched back when his eyes met a pair of angry eyeballs. He swallowed and slowly opened the door. His gaze fell on Leia, who stood with a darkened expression on her face.


    "What have I done this time?" He asked with an awkward smile on his face.

 Chapter 151 - Will Do Worse

    "You!!" Leia stormed into the apartment and grabbed him by the collar, glaring viciously at him. "Did you have any idea that Shawn was back? " She asked with gritted teeth, and Shawn''s eyes darted around awkwardly. "Uhh..."


    "You knew, didn''t you?" Her face altered in deep fury and she harshly pushed him, causing him to fall into the sofa. "What the fuck is wrong with you?! Why didn''t you tell me?!"


    "Leia-"


    "Keisha and James are aware too, right?" Her breathing became unsteady and she glanced around the apartment for any sign of them. However, they were nowhere to be found. "I see... good they escaped today!" She nodded her head in wrath and turned to Victor.


    "You know, you''re very crazy!! Why the hell didn''t you tell me?! What if I had been with Adrik when we met? How would I explain things?!" She gazed at Victor with rage-filled eyes.


    Victor took a deep breath and stood up from the couch. "I am sorry. I just forgot." He apologized, with guilt evident in his tone. "I have been caught up in a lot these days and I jus-"


    "Forget about it." A deep breath fled Leia''s nose, and she plopped down on the divan, then folded her arms.


    "I''m really sorry." Victor apologized again to her before taking his seat on the one-man sofa. He shut his laptop, then fixed his attention on her. "So when did you guys meet and how did it go?"


    "Not good at all." A low groan erupted from her throat, and she threw her head back on the couch. "I don''t know what is wrong with Shawn."


    "What do you mean?" Victor inquired in a tone that held curiosity.


    "Well, he was being all weird, talking about finding a way of setting me free from Adrik and getting us to marry." Leia''s face altered in irritation, and she straightened up on the sofa. "Does he think that is even possible? I still love him, but as a friend. Adrik is the man I truly love, and no matter what, I won''t leave him."


    "This is what I''m trying to explain to him, but it''s as though he isn''t even listening to me. Ahh!! " A deep annoyed groan fled from her throat and she threw her hands on either side of her.


    A subtle breath exited from Victor''s nose, and he relaxed back on the chair. "You can see he''s obsessed with you; he isn''t willing to believe any of it. We told him the same thing, but he didn''t agree with us." He shrugged and grabbed his phone from the mini table. "You know, I won''t really blame him because it''s really hurtful and heartbreaking to return home and find the woman you have loved for years with another man. Plus, he was so happy to propose to you, I found it hard to tell him you were married that day."


    "I just couldn''t bring myself to do it... Honestly, I would do worse than what he is doing if I was in his shoes." He slightly nodded, and a deep breath escaped his nose.


    Leia lowered her head and deep guilt flashed in her eyes. True, it wasn''t her fault, but... she really can''t blame Shawn. He truly loved her and still does.


    A low sigh escaped her lips, and she stood up from the couch, then walked to stand at the window. She really has to find a way to solve and settle all this, or else it might cause a big problem.


    _______


    Shawn sat in his apartment''s living room, staring at the wall. He was so lost in thought that five consecutive knocks came on his door and he didn''t hear or notice. It was on the seventh knock that he knew and turned to glance at the door.


    He stood up from the sofa and walked to the door, then pushed it open. His eyes fell on a young girl clad in black leggings and a yellow blouse. Her black hair was tied up into a bun, and her face held a bit of makeup.


    "Jenny." He spoke her name with surprise evident In his voice, and the girl who was Jenny smiled simply at him.


    "I need to talk to you about something." She said and he narrowed his eyes before he nodded slightly at her. "Come in." He stepped out of the way and allowed her to walk in.


    Jenny made her way towards the divan and took her seat. She crossed her legs and watched Shawn as he strolled over to take a seat opposite her on the couch.


    "So... what is it?" Shawn asked, with no emotion apparent in his tone. Honestly, he has developed a dislike for the Adolpho family, both father, and daughters.


    Jenny simply smiled at him and took a deep breath. "It''s about Leia."


    The moment she mentioned Leia''s name, Shawn parted his lips to say something, but she cut him off. "They lied."


    Shawn''s face altered in confusion and he stared at her in a questioning manner. "What do you mean?"


    "My family deceived you...Yes, I never liked Leia that much, but... it isn''t fair. Leia never threw you away or anything of that sort, they said. She was actually sold off by my dad, and I can''t talk about the cruel things he did to her."


    "I am here to tell you this because I felt really guilty. It''s not fair at all. She did nothing wrong, and it''s something I will never deny."


    "Listen, don''t hold any grudges against her. The same goes for my sister. She only lied because she wanted you for herself, so don''t hate her too, please. " Jenny explained, with a pleading look on her face.


    Shawn stared at her for a moment before he slowly nodded at her. "It''s alright, I won''t. Thank you for taking the time to come to find me." Yeah, he already knows, but it''s still very nice that she came to find him and let him know. That alone has raised his respect for her.


    "Ahh, speaking of that, how did you find my apartment?" He asked with an arched brow and a slight smile on his lips.


    "Erh... your mum told me. I went to see her" Jenny shrugged with a smile on her lips.


    "I see... anything you care to have?" He got up from the couch and Jenny smiled at him. "Just a bottle of Coke. I like soft drinks."


    "Okay." Shawn chuckled at her and went to the kitchen to get her a bottle of coke.


    ________


    The tall door that leads into the mansion was pushed open and Leia walked in with a young teen who was none other than Maya beside her. Her brown curly hair, which matched her brown skin, was beautifully tied up in a messy bun that made her look cute. Her body was draped in a short flair skirt and a blue short-sleeved shirt.


    They strolled to the living room, and Leia gestured to her to have a seat on the sofa. "Thank you." She smiled at Leia and took her seat.


    Leia turned around and called for Rita, who immediately ran out of her room and arrived before her in the blink of an eye. She shook her head at her and turned to introduce her to Maya.


    "Maya, this is Rita. Rita, this is Maya. "


    "Nice to meet you." With a simple smile that caused her dimples to be visible, Maya stood up from the couch to exchange a handshake with Rita.


    Rita smiled warmly and nodded at her. "Nice to meet you too."


    "She''s the makeup artist that''s going to transform you into something that no man will be able to look away from." Leia winked at her and waved her hand at them both to follow behind her.


    She led them into a vast room that had just a table and a chair, then a few white sofas positioned perfectly. The walls were painted white and a lantern hung from the white ceiling.


    "Alright, before she begins with your makeup, wear this first." Leia snapped her fingers and two maids pushed a mannequin that was dressed up in a white short dress with a v-neckline and a black fringe wig into the room.


    "Whoaa." Rita''s jaw fell as she scrutinized the dress. "This looks so expensive." A sharp breath escaped from her nose and she turned to gaze at Leia.


    "It''s yours now." Leia shrugged with a smile on her face. "Take your time and change into the dress and the wig. You will be leaving for the mission by 6 pm. "


    "Why do I have to wear a wig?" Rita asked, with a bewildered expression on her face.


    "Do you want to be recognized?" Leia threw back a question at her with her right brow raised.


    "Not at all." She shook her head with an awkward smile on her face.


    "Then get on with it."


    She nodded vigorously and took the dress and wig off the mannequin, then rushed off to her room.


    Leia plopped down on the sofa and crossed her legs, then rested her head back on the edge to patiently wait for her.

 Chapter 152 - Ready

    It took at least ten minutes before the door to the room was pushed open and Rita, who was dressed in a white short dress that didn''t reach knee length and a black fringe wig on her head, walked in.


    Leia sprang her eyes open and straightened up on the sofa to gaze at her. She scrutinized her from head to toe and couldn''t help but nod her head in satisfaction. "You look perfect." She gave her a thumbs-up, and Rita smiled sheepishly. "Alright, start with her makeover." She turned to Maya and smiled at her before proceeding out of the room.


    A deep breath escaped Rita''s nose, and she walked to sit down on the tall stool at the table. She stared at her reflection in the mirror that was placed on the table and a half-smile formed on her lips.


    Maya unzipped her backpack and pulled out her makeup kit. She dropped it on the table, then opened it, grabbing the things she needed. She then turned to Rita and had her wear a bonnet on her head to cover the wig in order not to obstruct her.


    ______


    Leia sat at the table inside her room, staring at herself in the mirror. A deep breath escaped her nose and she picked up the scissors, then grabbed a few strands of her hair and slowly began to cut it.


    She has to disguise herself to be unrecognizable. Not that she won''t be recognizable, but at least one must look closely to try and recognize her.


    Her hair had grown a bit long this past month, and she has to cut it very short to get what she wants.


    She spent at least eight minutes before she was done cutting her hair to the length she wanted. She stood up from the chair and moved towards the bathroom, then stepped in, shutting the door behind her.


    She took a long shower, and finally, when she was done, she stepped out wrapped up in a short white towel. Leia walked into the dressing room and unhurriedly began to walk past different clothes of hers in the room.


    "Hmm." Her eyes narrowed into a thin line, and she walked a bit further before spotting exactly what she wanted. She grabbed two sets of clothing from Adrik''s side and grabbed one from her side in the room, including shoes, then turned around and left.


    She dropped the clothes on the bed and strode to the table to sit down on the stool. She grabbed a body lotion and applied it to her skin, spreading it to every part of her body.


    When she was done, she stood up from the seat and walked to the bed, then slid into her underwear. She slipped into the set of clothing, and when she was done, she ambled to the mirror in the room to examine herself.


    Upwards, she was clad in a big white polo that was a bit far from knee-length, and on top of it, she wore an expensive, fine-looking long black jacket that obviously belonged to Adrik. Then, downwards, she wore black pencil-mouth ripped jeans that looked boyish in the eyes and a pristine black boot.


    A satisfactory smile emerged on her face, and she turned around to amble to the table. She grabbed the hair oil and applied it to her hair, then used the brush and comb to give it a fix.


    After she was done, she assessed it in the mirror, and a sheepish smile couldn''t help but emerge on her face at how different she looked. Damn, she won''t be surprised if someone calls her a boy.


    Her hair was now extremely short. It was at the length that guys typically leave their hair at. What can she say? It looks quite good on her. Honestly, the boy version of her will be extremely hot. A smirk formed on her lips, and she used her hand to brush its curls back to perfection.


    A deep breath left her nose, and without hesitation, she grabbed the car key, her phone, and her shades, then left the room.


    She strolled towards the other room that Rita was in, and pushed the door open. The moment she stepped in, Rita turned around to glance at her. "Who are yo-oh my goodness!" Rita covered her mouth and stared at her with dilated eyes. "What... happened to you?" She asked, with disbelief apparent on her face.


    Leia laughed softly, and without answering her, she walked up to her.


    "What happened to your hair? For a moment there, I thought you were a guy!" Rita''s lashes fluttered, and she slightly shook her head.


    "I like my new look." Leia shrugged with a smirk on her lips and began to scrutinize her. "You look awesome! If I was a guy, I would definitely hit on you." She grinned and walked over to plop down on the sofa.


    Maya, who was about to finish up with Rita''s makeup, flickered her lashes as disbelief also flashed in her eyes. Honestly, she too thought that Leia was a guy for a moment there. She slightly shook her head and returned her attention to what she was doing.


    It took another one minute before she was done with Rita''s makeover. She stepped aside to allow Rita to check herself out in the mirror.


    Rita''s eyes blinked in awe as she stared at herself in the mirror, and a smile couldn''t help but ensue on her face. "Oh my goodness. I look so different." She raised her hand to touch her face, and a sharp breath fled her mouth. She slowly turned to Maya and thankfully smiled at her. "Thank you."


    Maya nodded at her and began to pack her things back into her backpack. When she was done, Leia paid her, and she left the mansion with a cheerful smile on her lips.


    Leia turned to Rita and presented a diamond ring, a silver necklace, and earrings to her. "Wear these."


    Rita glanced at the jewelry and her face instantly altered in fear. She stepped away from Leia and vigorously shook her head.


    Leia''s face darkened, and she gazed at her with a questioning expression on her face. "What''s... wrong with you?"


    "Silver... we are allergic to silver... it''s our weakness." A subtle breath exited her nose and she made sure the silver jewelry was nowhere near her.


    "Ohh, sorry... I didn''t know." Leia shook her head and dropped the necklace and earrings back on the table. Now she understands why Adrik didn''t give the silver jewelry to her by himself that day.


    A low breath exited her nose, and she picked up the gold jewelry and handed it over to her. "If gold is not a weakness too, then wear this one." Rita nodded as she received the necklace and earrings. She walked to stand in front of the mirror, then clasped the necklace around her neck and the earrings in her ears.


    Finally, they were set to leave. Rita slipped out of the slippers she wore on her feet and slid into the white heels that were quite high.


    Leia nodded as she assessed her from head to toe, and finally, for the last touch, she handed a white, expensive purse to her, then together they strolled out of the room.

 Chapter 153 - A Sobbing Angel

    They ambled out of the mansion and the first person they met was Alex, who was dressed up in black jeans and a black hoodie. He gave a respectful bow to Leia and couldn''t help but examine Rita from head to toe. His eyes fluttered and he averted his gaze, then pulled the door of the SUV open for them.


    They stepped into the car, and Alex took his seat in the driver''s chair. He started the car engine and, with a careful reverse, he drove out of the compound. Currently, it is 5 pm, so before they reach their destination, it will at least be 6 pm.


    A low breath fled Leia''s lips, and she leaned her head against the window. Her eyes gazed up to the sky, and a slight smile emerged on her lips. Hopefully, everything will go according to her plan today.


    Alex drove for an hour, and just like Leia estimated, it was 6 pm when they arrived.


    An enormous, expensive-looking building that was painted gold came into view. The luminous lights that were turned on inside reflected outside, beautifying its body. Within the center of the compound was a tall, wide fountain that was spraying out water in a unique way, and around the building were luminous yellow lights fixed around it. In the parking lot were different types of cars, and at the gate stood security.


    Alex parked the car and they stepped down, shutting the doors and locking it. They stared at the building, and a deep breath escaped Leia''s nose.


    "Rita, take this." She stuffed her hand into her pocket and grabbed a tiny ultrasonic speaker, then handed it to her. "We will be communicating through this." She fixed hers in her ear and Rita nodded as she received hers from her.


    When they were all done plugging the speakers into their ears, Leia turned to glance at Alex and then at Rita. "We will go in first, and once we ask you to come in, you proceed in, alright." Rita nodded at her.


    "Remember the plan." With that being said, she dragged Alex with her, and together they began to walk towards the entrance of the building.


    Leia came to a halt as they approached the stairs leading up to the massive red door. She took a deep breath and covered her eyes with her black shade. Then, with a light nod at Alex, they walked up the stairs and the security pulled the door open for them, letting them in.


    Leia smiled at the security man, and together they stepped into the interior of the casino. The first thing that their eyes fell on was a large room that had people packed in it.


    Six chandeliers that were situated far from each other hung up on the ceiling, emanating luminous, lustrous lights. At each brownish-colored game table, there were up to eight chairs, which were occupied by men, with women sitting beside them.


    Different sections played a specific type of game, and not one of those sections was devoid of people.


    Leia took a low breath and glanced at the bar, which had a bartender standing there with a smile hung on his face. She grabbed Alex by the wrist and began to walk towards the bar. While she was making her way there, someone grabbed her attention, and she shifted her eyes to the person who was none other than Mr. Adolpho. He was seated in the section that played Roulette with a smirk hanging on his face. As usual, he was clad in an expensive ash suit that always fits his demeanor.


    Leia''s face darkened and her eyes narrowed behind the shades she wore. They arrived at the bar and took a seat on the stool at the counter.


    The bartender, who was brown-skinned with gray eyes, moved to them and smiled friendly at them. "What can I get you two?" He asked in a very calm and friendly tone, and Leia smiled at him before she replied in a boyish tone. "Cocktails."


    "Alright." He swiftly slid away to get their order ready.


    Leia took her specks off and wiggled her brows at Alex, signaling him to turn and glimpse Mr. Adolpho, who was now laughing crazily like someone who had just won the lottery.


    Alex glanced at him, and his brow creased a bit, and he turned to glance at Leia.


    Leia slightly shook her head, letting him know it was not yet time for Rita to step in.


    He nodded and proceeded to inform Rita not to step in yet.


    _______


    Rita stood near the car, impatiently tapping her heels on the ground. A low breath fled from her mouth and she bit her lower lips.


    She blew on her fingers, trying to find something to distract herself with while she waited for them to call her in.


    Two minutes were enacted, and finally, in the fourth minute, Leia''s voice resounded in her ears, letting her know she could commence coming in.


    Her heart instantly skipped a bit, and she took a long, deep breath, then walked towards the entrance. She walked up the stairs and stood before the tall red door.


    She bit her lower lip, and her face instantly altered into one that looked as though she was about to tear up. She began to walk into the casino, staggering on each step she took as though she had been hurt.


    Tiny drops of tears emerged in her eyes, and they slowly dripped off, falling to the floor.


    From afar, Leia and Alex watched her, and they couldn''t help but compliment how good of an actress she was.


    Noticing the beauty that stepped into the casino, almost everyone turned to stare at her, including Mr. Adolpho.


    The dress she wore hugged her body tightly, displaying her beautiful curves, and her face looked like that of an angel. However, that face was not happy at all. It was stained with tears.


    Mr. Adolpho''s eyes fluttered, and he watched her stagger to a non-game table that was currently devoid of anyone.


    His heart trembled as he suddenly felt pity for her when he saw her place her forehead on her arms and sob uncontrollably. What could have such a beautiful angel sobbing this much? This he couldn''t help but wonder about. Should he go and see what the problem is, or mind his business? He contemplated it in his mind, and his brows furrowed. Well, he can''t leave such a beautiful angel in that state. The least he could do was to find out what was wrong.


    He cleared his throat, and with a bit of hesitation, he stood up from his chair to proceed towards her.


    Leia''s eyes narrowed as she spotted his movement, and she commenced to inform Rita. "He''s approaching you."


    Rita took a deep breath and made sure to sob more as she felt his presence becoming closer and closer.


    A light coughing sound had her raise her head and glimpse a man who was obviously Mr. Adolpho. She sniffed and used her pinky to wipe off the tears at the edge of her eyes. "H-how may I help you?" She inquired in such a gentle tone that could melt a man''s heart.


    Mr. Adolpho''s eyes fluttered, and he slowly took a seat beside her on the table, then turned his head to face her. "Sorry if I am disturbing you, but I just want to ask why you''re crying."


    Rita raised her brows at him, and he innocently waved his hands at her. "Oh no, don''t get me wrong. It''s just hard to ignore such a beautiful woman like yourself crying. It touches me, and that is why I can''t help but ask." He explained it with a charming smile on his lips.


    Rita stared at him for a while and broke out, sobbing uncontrollably, as though whatever was making her cry was breaking her more.


    "Oh no, don''t cry angel." Mr. Adolpho''s eyes flickered, and he immediately grabbed the handkerchief from his suit pocket and helped her dab off the tears that were flowing down her face. "C''mon, pretty, tell me what it is."


    Rita sniffed and turned her face to stare at him. "It''s nothing... I''m perfectly fine." She blinked her lashes as she spoke in an accent that hooked him.


    A low sigh escaped Mr. Adolpho''s lips, and he reached out his hand to cup her hands. Rita, pretending as though shocked, raised her eyes and turned her head to stare at him. He smiled at her and caressed her hands. "Just tell me what is wrong, pretty. I believe you do know who I am."


    Rita nodded at him and averted her gaze.


    "Then tell me what is wrong. I believe it''s not something I can''t solve." He said it in a tone that held a plea.


    From afar at the counter, Alex''s eyes fluttered, and he turned his head to glance at Leia. "Wow!" He exclaimed in a tone that held both shock and disbelief.


    "Humph! He''s the best at his thing." Leia scoffed in disdain, and Alex slightly shook his head.


    "Miss, your cocktail." The bartender called for her attention, and she turned to him, receiving the cocktail. Alex also received his and they returned their attention to the two.


    "Do you think she will be able to pull this off?" Alex inquired out of curiosity.


    "She will. We just have to believe in her.." Leia grinned widely and sipped on her cocktail.

 Chapter 154 - Help Offered

    Mr. Adolpho stared intently at Rita, waiting for her to speak, but she uttered not a single word. She just sat there, gazing at him with tearful eyes.


    "Why do you care?" She asked and his eyes quivered as he too didn''t understand why he cared. His brow creased a bit, and he took a low breath. "Pretty, I don''t even know why I care, but for the fact that I''m sitting here in front of you, then fate just wanted us to meet." He smiled charmingly at her, and Rita''s lashes blinked furiously.


    She sniffed, and a low breath escaped her nose. She was about to turn when someone slammed his hand on the table and she and Mr. Adolpho couldn''t help but look up, only to see a young man clad in a black hoodie and black pants. His gaze was specifically fixed on Rita.


    Rita''s eyes trembled in fear at the sight of this person, who was obviously Alex, and her body began to shudder uncontrollably.


    Mr. Adolpho''s brow wrinkled deeply as he noticed Rita''s body, which was trembling violently. He glanced at her face only to dilate his eyes at the amount of fear that he glimpsed from her expression. What makes her this fearful? This he couldn''t help but wonder about.


    "Young Miss Janet, please follow me." Alex smiled viciously at her, and Rita''s body throbbed more violently. She drew back a little, falling into Mr. Adolpho''s arms, and quickly straightened up.


    Mr. Adolpho stared at her face, and his heart skipped a bit when he saw her slightly shaking her head at him with tears in her eyes, signaling him not to let the man take her away.


    He shifted his gaze to the young man, and a low breath fled from his nose. "Why do you need her to follow you?" He inquired, and Alex smiled at him, then took a deep bow before straightening up. "I''m sorry to break both of your conversations, but she needs to come with me," Alex replied with a half-smile on his lips.


    Mr. Adolpho stared intently at him and then returned his attention to Rita. He stood up from the chair and grabbed her by the wrist, then began to walk away, dragging her along with him.


    Alex''s eyes blinked in deep apprehension, and he hurriedly turned to glance at Leia, who was still seated at the counter. What was this? It wasn''t part of their plan!


    Leia shook her head at him, signaling him to maintain, and then they both turned their heads to gaze at Mr. Adolpo and Rita''s disappearing back.


    Alex stalled for a minute before he hastily turned around and moved back to Leia. "What is going on? This is not part of the plan."


    "I know. I didn''t expect this either. " Leia''s brow crinkled a bit, and as though having thought of something, a wide grin emerged on her face. "Rita, can you hear me? If you can, I just want you to know that you need not be confused. Just go on with the act. I believe this is much more of a perfect situation for us."


    Alex stared at her as she informed Rita through the ultrasonic speaker. His brow furrowed and he gazed at her with a questioning expression on his face. What exactly is his Luna strategy?


    Leia smirked and raised her eyes to stare at him. "Rita, do you have any idea which room you guys are in?" She asked, and Rita''s questioning voice resounded. Shortly after she heard Rita''s shaky voice, another voice resounded, letting her know that they were in room "169."


    Leia''s smirk widened, and she turned to Alex. "Come with me." She grabbed him by the wrist and they hurried towards the receptionist, then booked room "170", which was the next room after the one they were in.


    Leia smiled at the receptionist and dragged Alex along with her as they turned towards the wide, long passage that led them to the elevator that took them upstairs to the second floor.


    The door was pushed open once it arrived on the second floor, and they stepped out. Their eyes glanced at each door as they strolled down the bright corridor, and they halted in front of the door, which was the door of the room that they had booked.


    Leia swiped the card on the lock and the door creaked. She pushed it open and stepped inside, with Alex following behind. A deep breath left her nose and she proceeded to talk to Rita. "We are in the room next to the one you''re in."


    "Remember, just go with the plan and try not to show any flaws that will make him doubt you in any way. If he tries to do anything inappropriate to you, do what you have to, alright." With that being said, she took a low breath and moved towards the sofa to take her seat.


    ...


    Rita exhaled deeply after hearing what Leia said and swallowed. She raised her gaze to stare at Mr. Adolpho, who was walking to take a seat opposite her on the sofa.


    Her teary eyes gazed intently at him, and Mr. Adolpho took a low breath. He moved closer to her and clasped her hands in his. "Pretty, sorry for dragging you away from there. I just thought it would be safer for you."


    Pretending as though realization hit her, Rita slowly nodded at him and smiled at her. "So do you mind telling me who that man was?" He inquired with his gray eyes fixed on her.


    [Don''t falter, Rita]


    Rita''s eyes fluttered, and she lowered her head and sniffed with abrupt tears that began to fall from her eyes.


    Mr. Adolpho''s face changed into a downcast one, and he caressed her cheek to comfort her. "C''mon Angel, you can''t bottle it up in your heart. You gotta let it out." He smiled reassuringly at her, and Rita nodded at him, then took a deep breath.


    "H-he, he''s, um, my father''s right-hand man." More tears dropped from her eyes as though she was recalling something she didn''t want to remember.


    "And..." Mr. Adolpho raised his brow at her, waiting for her to continue.


    "It''s... something that I can''t help but cry when I talk about, and.. that''s why it''s hard for me to let it out at this moment." She dabbed off the tears at the edge of her eyes with her pinky, then sniffed.


    Mr. Adolpho gave her a sympathetic nod and gently stroked her shoulder. "I understand pretty well, but what happened today? You can tell me the rest later, once you feel comfortable enough to do so." He smiled at her, and Rita nodded her head as a low sigh left her mouth.


    "Well, I disagreed... to do something that my father really wanted me to do, and he tried to lock me in the house, but I managed to escape and found myself here in the casino. However, I didn''t know that his right-hand man would find me."


    "I really can''t go back to that house, or else it will be another week in hell for me." She coughed, covering her face with her hands, and began to whimper uncontrollably.


    Mrs. Adolpho''s brow wrinkled, and he grabbed her hand to take it away from her face. "I''m sorry, angel. I have to say, your father is a very bad man for being that way to you." He nodded at her and caressed her cheek. "Do you have anywhere to stay for the night?" He inquired, and she slowly raised her teary face to gaze at him. She shook her head, and he slightly nodded.


    "Well, I am not sure of what to do, but the only thing I can offer at this moment is for you to spend the night at my estate."


    Rita''s brow raised instantly at his words, and he hurriedly waved his hands at her innocently. "Don''t get me wrong, I am just offering my help. I will never do such a thing. I am not like that pretty."


    [Accept the offer. He won''t try any shit with you]


    Rita smiled pessimistically at him and reached out her hand to touch his. "I understand, sir, and I am really grateful that you''re generous enough to help me. Honestly, I expected my life to be doomed tonight, which is why I was crying uncontrollably. However, you appeared out of nowhere and things are looking up."


    "Pretty, it''s okay. It''s my pleasure to help out." He smiled at her and stood up from the sofa. "If you''re ready to go, we can leave now. I mean, I don''t have any more business here." He pulled her up from the sofa, and she nodded at him.


    He snatched the jacket of his suit from the armrest of the sofa and grabbed her by the wrist, and together they began to make their way downstairs.


    [Don''t worry. I already have men stationed at his estate. You just have to follow the plan]


    Rita took a low breath and followed behind Mr. Adolpho.


    They stepped out into the game room and made their way out of the casino. With one snap of his fingers, his men who were posted outside of the casino all came out and bowed deeply to him.


    "Get the car ready." He ordered, and they hurriedly moved to pull the door of the car open.


    Rita''s eyes blinked in hesitation, and Leia''s voice resounded in her ears.


    [Don''t fret, none of his men saw us. Just go with him and stick to the plan. As long as nothing goes wrong and we are not found out, everything will flow smoothly as per our plan."


    Rita slightly nodded her head, and a half-smile formed on her lips.


    Mr. Adolpho turned to her and gestured her into the white Rolls Royce.


    She nodded at him and stepped in, then hurriedly took the ultrasonic speakers off before he stepped in to sit beside her.. She smiled gratefully at him, while she secretly hid the speakers in her purse.

 Chapter 155 - Fuck You!

    Mr. Adolpho had the driver start the car and, slowly, they drove out of the compound and onto the road.


    Rita took a low breath and turned her head to gaze out at the dark sky, which had few to no stars in it.


    "You''re safe now, alright," Mr. Adolph said with a smile on his lips, and she nodded at him. "Thank you." She smiled charmingly at him, then returned her attention to the sky.


    _________


    A low breath left Leia''s nose, and she stuffed her hand into her pocket to grab her phone. She had set it on silent mode to avoid any mishap.


    She turned it on, and the moment her eyes fell on the screen, she almost dropped the phone. ''Thirty-five missed calls!!!!'' She couldn''t help but scream internally. Adrik called her thirty-five times! Fuck!!


    Alex, who noticed the disturbed look on her face, parted his lips to ask what was wrong, but she abruptly grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him towards the car. "We need to get home now, else... both of us will be dead meat."


    His eyes fluttered in confusion, and he proceeded to get into the car, but as though he felt the one presence, he knew very well, he halted, then glanced around. "Um, Mrs. Leia, could you go home by yourself? I have something important I need to deal with."


    Leia raised her head to gaze at him, and her brows furrowed deeply. "Something like what?" She inquired, with a questioning expression on her face.


    Alex blinked and abruptly cleared his throat. "Well... it''s a personal reason, so forgive me, but I really can''t say." He smiled apologetically at her, and she nodded at him before stepping into the car. She turned the key to the ignition point, swiftly reversed, and drove out of the compound.


    Alex stared at the disappearing back of the car, and without any more hesitation, he began to make his way off the compound and walk down the road. Deep inside, he could feel that voice calling him. Knowing that no one was watching him, he took off at an extraordinary speed, rushing towards an unknown destination.


    _______


    Leia''s hands tapped on the steering wheel as she saw the mansion come into view. She slowed down the car and swiftly drove into the compound after the bodyguards pulled the gate open for her.


    She parked it in the parking lot, then stepped down, shut the door, and locked it. She stuffed her hands into her pocket and began to make her way into the mansion.


    The moment she stepped into the living room, the first person her eyes fell on was Adrik, who was seated with his legs crossed and a displeased look on his face as he stared at the screen of his phone. He was currently clad in a white robe and his hair was let down, scattering on the couch where he was seated.


    Leia''s expression became awkward, and she slowly walked towards him with a smile on her face. The moment she was about to get near him, he abruptly raised his hands, telling her to stop right there.


    Leia halted on her step and awkwardly gazed at him.


    Adrik turned his phone off and dropped it on the mini table, then turned his head to stare at her, his green eyes wielding complete displeasure.


    "I am so-"


    "You know how angry this will make me, right?" He raised his brow at her and she lowered her head, not daring to look him in the eyes.


    "Not only did you stay out late, you even ignored my calls for thirty-five fucking times." His tone had become a little harsher, and Leia raised her head to look at him. "I didn''t igno-"


    "I''m talking to you, lady! You''re in the wrong here, so keep quiet! " His green eyes glared at her, and her lashes fluttered as she drew her head back in shock. ''Is he really angry?'' Her eye couldn''t help but twitch as she questioned herself.


    She bit her lower lips and lifted her gazes to stare at him.


    Adrik helplessly pinched between his brows and, without bothering to say anything else, he grabbed his phone from the table and turned around to proceed towards their room.


    A low sigh left Leia''s lips, and she hurried after him. She stepped into the room and shut the door, then parted her lips to say something. However, the abrupt rise of the hand from Adrik had her swallow her words.


    As though he had just recalled something, Adrik slowly turned around and scrutinized her from head to toe. "Hold on... is that my clothes?" He raised his orifices to stare at her in a questioning manner, and Leia slowly nodded her head.


    "Why... are you wearing my polo and my favorite jacket?" He asked, with a bewildered look on his face.


    Leia cleared her throat and smiled, revealing her thirty-two teeth to him. "You see, I had to look like a man for my plan to work, so..."


    Adrik slightly nodded and walked toward her, then pulled off the cap of the hoodie that was covering her head. The instant his eyes fell on her hair, his jaw couldn''t help but fall. "What have you done?"


    "Um, doesn''t it look good?" She inquired, with an expectant smile on her face.


    Adrik''s expression altered to one of amusement, and his eyes couldn''t help but examine her from head to toe again. "Firstly, you look like a chicken in my clothes. I am bigger than you. What made you think you would look good in my clothes?" He pinched his brow as a low laugh escaped his mouth, then he raised his eyes to stare at her darkened face.


    "Your hair... hmm... I used to love how short it was, but now that it''s too short, I can''t help but think you''re a man." He shrugged, and before he could anticipate what would happen next, a violent kick from Leia landed in his stomach, causing an ouch to exit his mouth. "What''s that for?!"


    "Fuck you! Fuck your dumb mouth! And fuck your damn, nonsense, big clothes." Her face boiled red in anger, and she stormed towards the closet, pushing him in the process.


    Adrik gaped at her and raised his brows when she slammed the door to the dressing room shut, creating a loud noise.


    "So she can be mean to me and I can''t.." He rolled his eyes and turned around, then walked to sit down on the sofa.

 Chapter 156 - I Need You

    The door to the dressing room was pushed open, and Leia, who was now wrapped up in a white towel, stepped out with a set of blue pyjamas in her hand.


    Adrik turned his head to glance at her, and the moment their gazes met, her pitch-black pupils glared viciously at him. She turned around and strolled into the bathroom, slamming the door shut.


    Adrik chuckled softly, and his ears instantly twitched when he began to hear her murmur from inside the bathroom, making sure to mimic his deep voice.


    [You look like a chicken inside of it. I am bigger than you. What makes you think you will look good in it? Humph!! It seems like he''s beginning to eye another woman. Just wait till I find out who it is]


    Adrik''s eyes blinked vigorously in dumbstruck, and his gazes darted around. What the fuck!! Since when did he begin spotting another woman? He questioned himself and couldn''t help but glance at the door again.


    He slowly shook his head, then silently waited for her to be through with her bath.


    It took eleven minutes before the door of the bathroom was pushed open and she stepped out, neatly clad in her pyjamas. She raised her angry-filled eyes to glance at him, and when their gazes met, she narrowed her eyes at him, then made her way to the bed.


    She proceeded to climb into the bed, but Adrik appeared before her in the blink of an eye and pulled her up and into his arms.


    He stared at her face and charmingly smiled at her. Leia glared ferociously at him and proceeded to free herself from his grip, but he wrapped his arms around her waist and back, holding her in one place. "I know you''re angry at me... but calm down." He chuckled softly and lifted his hand to caress her cheek. "I was joking about what I said earlier. You looked very beautiful in my clothes, and your hair-" He raised his orifices to glance at her hair and playfully brushed it with his hands. "-It looks very nice and I like it too."


    A slight frown containing a bit of displeasure settled itself in between her brows, and she lifted her gaze to stare into his emerald green eyes. Adrik smiled lovingly and placed a tender kiss on her lips. He drew back, but Leia wrapped her arms around his neck and slammed her lips against his.


    "I need you..." She whispered against his lips, and golden specks instantly surfaced in his eyes. He lifted her from the floor in a bridal style and gently laid her down on the bed, leaving himself atop her. He smiled at her and leaned down, placing a soft kiss on her neck, and began to explore her whole body.


    _________


    Alex arrived at his destination, and this place was none other than the edge of the cliff where he had last seen Alesea. He was hundred percent certain that she was the one calling him. He was able to feel the connection, and her call was desperate.


    He glanced around, and on not seeing any sign of her, a deep breath escaped his nose and he raised his sights to stare at the dark sky.


    A familiar intoxicating scent abruptly filled his nose and before he could turn around to glimpse the person, slender, pale, arms wrapped around his waist and a body pressed against his back. "Alex..." Her sweet tender voice resounded in his ears and he shut his eyes. He took a deep breath and grabbed her arms, unwrapping them from his waist, then turned around to gaze at her beautiful face. "Alesea..." He said her name in what came out as a whisper.


    Alesea raised her blue eyes to gaze into his, and a loving smile couldn''t help but form on her lips. She reached out her delicate hands to touch his face, and Alex grabbed it, nuzzling against it. He shut his eyes and inhaled deeply before opening them to stare at her. "How are you?" He asked in a calm tone, and she slightly nodded at him. "I am fine. Sorry for calling you out. "


    He shook his head at her and leaned down, delivering a soft kiss on her forehead. "It''s okay, I was actually out, so..."


    "I missed you, Alex." Her eyes trembled as she said it, and Alex stared at her, unsure of what to say. He lifted his hand to her face and gently caressed her cheek. He grazed her plump red lips with his thumb and Alesea shuddered.


    "I missed...you too." He gaped at her lips, and slowly, he leaned down and planted a soft kiss on it. He brushed her neck with his fingers and kissed her yet again.


    Alesea wrapped her arms around his neck and covered her lips with his, deepening the kiss. She shut her eyes and he kissed her lovingly. "Alex, please be with me... I need you." She breathed heavily against his lips and lifted her pleading-filled eyes to gaze at him.


    Alex infrequently shook his head at her and kissed her softly on the forehead. "I am sorry, Alesea. I need more time..."


    "But I need you, Alex. I want you. " She brushed his hair back with her hand and held onto his cheek. "Please."


    "No, Alesea." Alex''s eyes fluttered and he gently grabbed her chin, keeping her face in one place so he could gaze into her sky blue eyes. "I love you, and I want and need you as much as you do. But... I want to tell you right now that I will never touch or go far with you until I have finally decided to be with you."


    "You must know that once I decide to be with you, you''ll be all mine, and I will use even my last breath to protect you and make sure you''re safe. You will be my responsibility then... so give me a bit of time, okay. " He smiled apologetically at her, and she nodded at him, then wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly. Alex gently stroked her blue hair with his hand and kissed her head. "I love you." He whispered to her, and she tightened the hug.


    _________


    For the past few weeks that Victor and Selen had been living together, they have begun to find themselves fond of each other. Victor doesn''t feel awkward around her anymore and talks freely with her.


    Currently, he was seated in the living room with his eyes fixed on the TV as he was watching a TV show.


    A scent suddenly filled his nose, and he turned his head towards the kitchen. He had been teaching Selena how to cook, and she seemed to be a fast learner, as it didn''t take her much to learn almost everything.


    A smile formed on his face, and he fixed his gaze at the entrance of the kitchen, waiting for her to step out.


    Selena transferred the pancakes to the plate and added the honey on top of them. Then she fixed the other crunchies that she had made before a proud smile made its way to her lips.


    Without bothering to take her apron off, she made her way into the living room, with the tray of snacks in her hand.


    She placed it on the table and climbed onto the sofa beside Victor. She curved her knees and used her leg to support her butt, which was situated on it.


    "Does it look good?" She wiggled her brows at him as she asked, and Victor smiled, then turned his gaze to the snacks. He inhaled the scent and slowly nodded at her. "It smells so good."


    A wide smile emerged on her face, and she grabbed one of the crunches and positioned it to his lips. "Ahhh."


    Victor''s eyes fluttered, and he parted his lips, allowing her to shove the small crunch into his mouth. He slowly chewed on it, savoring its taste, and he couldn''t help but nod his head in praise. "This is really good." He gave her a thumbs up and a deep breath of relief exited her lips. "I am glad you like it." She smiled cheerfully at him and adjusted her posture to sit properly on the couch.


    She grabbed one of the crunches and threw it into her mouth, then began to chew on it. Her eyes dilated at how good it tasted, and her head began to grow in pride.


    Victor smiled at seeing how happy she looked, and that''s when he suddenly realized that he had actually never assessed her before. His gaze fell on her long lashes, which fluttered whenever she blinked her eyes. It trailed down to her small nose, which was perfectly pointed, and the urge to touch it overwhelmed him. A sudden smile crept on Selena''s face, and that''s when he noticed that she had a dimple that becomes very visible when she smiles or laughs. Wait.. Is it because he was quite uncomfortable around her before that caused him to never notice this? His brow raised a bit as he questioned himself.

 Chapter 157 - Trance

    He slightly shook his head, and his eyes trailed down to her lips, which were not plumpy, nor slim. His gaze lingered there, and his lashes unconsciously blinked as he found himself unable to take his eyes off her lips.


    Selena who felt his intent gaze on her turned her head and their eyes met. She squinted in confusion, and Victor swallowed hard. What in the world is wrong with him? He shook his head and took a deep breath.


    "Are you okay?" She asked with concern apparent in her tone, and he nodded. She smiled at him and returned her attention to the TV.


    Victor fluttered his lashes and adjusted closer to her, then took a subtle breath. "Selena..."


    She instantly turned to stare at him, and his gaze fell into her gray eyes. They both sat staring at each other, and after a while, Victor''s eyes traveled down to her lips again, halting there.


    He blinked in a daze and unconsciously began to move his face closer to hers. Selena''s lashes throbbed, and before she knew it, soft warm lips enveloped her lips, causing her to fall into a trance. She slowly closed her eyes and parted her lips when he asked for entrance.


    Victor''s hand brushed her neck, and he deepened the kiss. He slowly pushed her down, leaving her back to press against the wide sofa. Selena wrapped her arms around his neck and he kissed her further. However, at that moment, something coursed through their bodies and sparked within them, causing Victor to instantly break the kiss and flinch back. His body shuddered, and he turned his head to stare at Selena. "Wh-what was that?" He inquired as deep confusion surfaced in his expression. Selena uttered not a single word and just sat staring at him with uncertainty apparent in her gaze. Should she tell him? But what if he sees her as a monster and keeps a long distance from her? What if he... leaves her?


    If he kissed her today, it meant he was finally realizing his feelings for her and that''s what she wanted. All this might be ruined if she tells him the actual truth. A deep breath escaped her nose and she stood up from the couch. Without saying anything, nor even sparing him a glance, she turned around and began to make her way to her room.


    Victor stared at her disappearing back and his confusion deepened. Is she angry with him? His face altered into a bit of a frown, and the urge to slap himself overwhelmed him. Why the hell did he kiss her without her permission? And, oh my goodness, they almost went too far! Gosh! He rubbed his face and gazed out at the sky through the window.


    What was she doing to him? Why was she affecting him in this way? God! He was a playboy and no one, I mean no woman, had ever been able to make him take the first step nor make him feel this way. Rather, they were the ones that chased after him and even tried to forcefully have their way with him. A low breath left his mouth, and with one last glance at the door of her room, he stood up and made his way to his room, shutting the door behind him.


    He plopped down in his bed and fixed his gaze on the ceiling. He spread his hands on either side of him, then shut his eyes, inhaling deeply.


    ____________


    Leia woke up the next day and stretched her whole body. She blinked her eyes open and the moment her gazes fell on the clock, she jumped out of the bed and began to wear her pyjamas. "9:30 am!!! " She screamed internally and dragged her pants up to her waist. She had never woken up this late before.


    She hurried to the table and grabbed the ultrasonic speakers, then plugged them into her ears. "Rita, are you there? Can you hear me?" She inquired nervously, and Rita''s tired voice resounded.


    [Yeah, I am. I have been trying to reach you since 7 a.m. but I couldn''t]


    "Oh... sorry about that." She chuckled awkwardly and her ears twitched when she heard another voice, which was none other than Mr. Adolpho''s, in the background.


    [Good morning, angel]


    [Good morning] Rita replied.


    Leia''s face modified in deep hatred, and she walked to sit down on the bed. Her eyes glanced at Adrik, who was sleeping peacefully with his hair spread on the bed, and she reached out her hand to tuck a few strands of his hair that fell over his face behind his ear. She then leaned back on the bed and focused on the conversation between Rita and Mr. Adolpho.


    ______


    Mr. Adolpho handed her a cup of coffee, and Rita received it with a grateful smile on her lips. "Thank you."


    "You are welcome. Come have a seat. " He gestured to the sofa, and she smiled at him as she took her seat. He sat down opposite her, crossed his legs, and sipped on his coffee. "So... do you feel comfortable enough to tell me now?"


    [Yes, you are]


    Rita raised her eyes to stare at him, and a low breath fled her nose. She slowly nodded her head and adjusted her on her seat. "You see, we are two girls in my family, but, um, from different mothers."


    "I am the oldest, and... my sister is four years younger than me. How do I put this?... Sometimes in a family, parents tend to love their youngest child a lot, and that is exactly what is happening in my family. "


    "My father despises me for a reason I don''t know, but he loves my younger sister to the extent that I find myself jealous of her. I know it''s silly... but it hurts."


    "It''s not just that he hates me, but he hits me a lot on different occasions for no reason. I am not allowed to make mistakes, but my younger sister is. Even when I reprimand her for doing something wrong, he hits me so much that I find myself losing consciousness at times."


    "Sad life. Haha... yeah, I know. That was one of the reasons I was crying. It''s just... " She was yet to finish her sentence when she noticed Mr. Adolpho''s face switching into a deep frown. Her eyes blinked vigorously, and she slowly dropped her coffee on the white mini table. "Um... a-are you okay?" She inquired with concern apparent in her tone, and as though being snapped out of the trance he was in, he jolted a bit. Then he hurriedly shook his head and turned to stare at her. "N-nothing... continue.." He secretly took a low breath and smiled at her.

 Chapter 158 - First Sight

    "N-nothing... continue." He secretly took a low breath and smiled at her.


    "O... okay." Rita nodded and grabbed the cup of coffee from the table. She sipped from it, then took a short breath, before she shifted her gaze to him. "So... as I said before, he generally hates me. One time, during those days in high school, I came home without my sister, and what I went through that day was "hell."


    "It wasn''t even my fault. My sister didn''t want to go home with me, and in the end, I suffered for what wasn''t even my mistake." A deep sigh left her nose, and she dabbed her eyes to stop the tears that bubbled up from falling.


    Mr. Adolpho''s orifices fluttered and his gazes darted around as an unknown glint flashed in them. He lifted his eyes to Rita and smiled at her. "So what exactly happened that had you running into the casino? I didn''t quite catch your reply to this question yesterday. "


    Rita blinked her lashes and cleared her throat. A deep sigh escaped her lips, and she pinched between her brows. "Well... my father isn''t that rich, at least not like you or those top rich men. So he likes to invest a lot in others to grow himself."


    "Around earlier last month, this rich guy who owns that Blue Berry company asked for my hand in marriage and I disagreed because I had someone I loved and wanted to be with. But not taking my no for an answer, he secretly had him killed, and when I confronted him about it, he straight up told me to my face that he did it. "


    "Enraged by what he did, I told him that nothing would ever make me marry him, not even get any closer to him. However, what I didn''t know was that he would go to my father and threaten him with cutting off the deal they had if I didn''t marry him."


    "My father was furious throughout that day, and the first thing he did when he arrived home was to beat the hell out of me. He told me that if I didn''t marry him, he wouldn''t mind strangling me to death. "


    "I still disagreed and went ahead with my own decision. However, just as he said, he almost strangled me to death if not for my mother. He threw me into an empty room and locked me up, asking me to think about my life. I was given no water or food for five days, and when my body couldn''t take it anymore, I fainted. "


    "When I awoke the next day, I realized that even though he saw me in that state, he didn''t care one bit... I begged him, pleading as I had never done before. I promised a lot of things, but he kicked me away, telling me that the marriage between us would be held next week, and right now I am devastated and lost. "


    "I-i don''t know what to do. I am scared and tired. I just want to di-"


    "Shhh." He hurriedly hushed her and pulled her in for a friendly hug. "It''s all okay. Nothing''s going to happen, everything will be fine. " He stroked her back, and Rita nodded at him.


    "You can stay here for as long as you want, and I promise to help you find a solution to this problem, alright." He pulled back from the hug and smiled at her.


    Rita nodded her head and wiped the tears off her face, then raised her gazes to stare at him. "W-why are you helping me?"


    A faint breath escaped Mr. Adolpho''s nose, and he sat back on the couch. He rubbed his hands together and raised his eyes to stare at her. "I don''t really know... Maybe it''s because I...fell in love with...you at first sight." He lowered his head, not daring to look her in the eyes.


    [Oh my fucking God!] Leia exclaimed from the background.


    Rita''s body stilled in shock and her lips parted, but not a single word came out. She gazed at Mr. Adolpho with disbelief in her eyes and subconsciously stood up from the sofa. Without saying anything, she turned around and left the living room, leaving him to stare at her disappearing back.


    A deep sigh fled from Mr. Adolpho''s lips as he pinched between his brows. Well, he did expect that reaction. He has never fallen in love at first sight, not even with his first wife, nor his second.


    He slightly shook his head and stood up from the couch, then proceeded towards the balcony of the mansion.


    .....


    Rita hurriedly shut the door of the room, then locked it. Her chest rose and fell, and she inhaled and exhaled deeply to catch her breath.


    "Was that part of the plan?" She asked, with the shocked expression still evident on her face.


    [That...was not part of the plan]


    "Then what was that?" Her face altered in irritation.


    [I don''t know, but one thing that I am sure of is that he is serious about what he just said to you]


    "Why do you say so?" Her brow furrowed, and she proceeded towards the bed to sit down.


    "I know him very well. He womanizes in different ways but will never tell a woman that he loves her. It''s a very hard thing for him to say, even when he loves that woman, so... the fact that he said it to you is enough to let you know that he is serious]


    Rita''s brow raised, and she slightly nodded her head. "I see..." She squeezed her forehead and released the frown that had settled in between her brows. "Since this is not part of our plan, what are we to do now? How do we go about it? " She inquired with a deep curiosity visible In her expression.. From the moment this plan started, a few things have been changing and taking another route away from their plan, and right now she''s really curious about Luna''s new strategy.

 Chapter 159 - Take Your Hands Off

    Leia went silent for a few minutes before a malicious laugh erupted from her throat. [This is perfect. Continue with it. This is so perfect! Haha]


    Rita''s brow arched as she couldn''t understand Leia''s plan. What exactly is the real plan? Because at this moment, she''s beginning to feel like what she was told wasn''t Luna''s main plan.


    [Just trust me and carry on with the plan, okay?] Leia spoke after not hearing a word from her for some minutes.


    A deep breath escaped Rita''s nose, and she slightly nodded. "Okay."


    [Good]


    ______


    From behind her, Adrik wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her on the neck. "Let''s go out and eat today. I feel like having my breakfast at a restaurant." He nuzzled her neck, and Leia took the ultrasonic speakers off, then turned round to gaze at him. "Hmm... okay, but hold on, let me have my shower." She planted a soft kiss on his lips, then walked past him, proceeding towards the bathroom. Today will be a perfect opportunity for her to tell him about Shawn.


    Adrik, who had already had his bath and was now swathed in black suit pants, a white shirt, and a long black jacket, took his seat on the sofa, then crossed his legs. He turned his phone on and began to browse through it.


    His brow abruptly furrowed when he saw an unknown email on his phone, and without delay, he clicked on it and it opened, revealing the message. [Sooner or later] This was all he saw. His eyes narrowed and he glanced at the name to find out who the sender was. It turned out to be from an unknown email user.


    Not caring to bother much about it at the moment, he turned his phone off and stuffed it into his pocket. Nobody will spoil his morning or piss him off. He shook his head and patiently waited for Leia to be done.


    It took a few more minutes before she stepped out of the bathroom and went into the dressing room. She ransacked through the clothes and grabbed a pair of blue tight jeans and a white shirt, then slid into them before making her way out.


    She slipped her feet into white sandals, then gave her hair a neat fix before walking to Adrik. "I am done."


    Adrik smiled and stood up from the couch. He kissed her on the lips and interlocked his hand with hers, then together they made their way out of the mansion.


    They strolled towards the Rolls Royce and stepped inside, shutting the door afterward. Adrik started the car''s engine and swiftly drove out of the compound and onto the road.


    A smile formed on Leia''s lips, and she reached out her hand to tuck a strand of his hair behind his ear. "Where are we going?"


    Adrik turned to glance at her and a low laugh escaped his throat. "You will see." He returned his gaze to the road ahead of them and raised the speed of the car a bit.


    It took about forty minutes before Adrik slowed the car down, and swiftly but slowly, he turned towards a huge building and drove in. He parked the car in the parking lot, turned the engine off, and grabbed the key. He stepped down and shut the door, then locked it.


    He walked over to Leia, who was gazing at the tall building with the name "Eat Up!" boldly carved atop it.


    "I have never been here before." Leia turned her head to glimpse at him, and he patted her on the head. "I know you don''t like expensive things that much, so... I brought you here. It''s not too expensive nor too cheap, so I guess you will enjoy it. Their food is really good."


    "Really?" A smile formed on her face, and she turned to glance at the building again. "You are different from other rich men." Adrik turned his head to look at her, oblivious to what she had said. "Why... do you say so?"


    "You know, this place is not lowly at all, it''s expensive, but... for the fact that it is not among the top five best restaurants, Mr. Adolpho will never step foot here." She shook her head and turned to look at him with a smile hanging on her lips. "Do you now understand why I say you''re different?"


    Adrik raised his brow and slightly nodded, then smiled behind the mask he wore. "I am not really different. I mean, I have lived for hundreds of years. What do you think? These kinds of things don''t really bother me anymore, nor do they pique my interest. They don''t just matter to me. There are many more important things that I have to take care of than these kinds of things. Also, the food, In less expensive restaurants is always better than the ones in expensive restaurants." He chuckled softly and interlocked his hand with hers. "Let''s go."


    Leia smiled at him, and together they began to stroll into the restaurant.


    The glass door was pushed open and they stepped in. Their gazes fell on different people seated at different chairs. Some were seated alone, while some were seated with their families and friends, enjoying their food.


    At the notice of them, the people around them turned to glance at them, and their eyes instantly dilated, almost about to pop out of their sockets. Impossible! Mr. Avalanzo, at this restaurant! Their jaws fell, and they fixed their attention on him, not bothering to look away.


    Leia ignored their stares and looked around. She spotted a chair by the window, and without delay, she dragged Adrik towards it and had him sit down opposite her.


    At the notice of the couples, a waiter hurried towards them and bowed deeply in respect. Gosh! This was such a huge honor for them! The richest man in the world at their restaurant! Even when they see him right in front of their eyes, it''s still unbelievable to them.


    "Wh-what would you like to order?" The waiter adjusted his glasses that were about to fall off the bridge of his nose.


    Leia glanced at Adrik and turned to smile at the waiter. "Just give us your best dishes."


    "Okay." The waiter nodded vigorously and turned around, hastily returning to the kitchen.


    A deep breath left Leia''s nose and she relaxed back In the chair, then fixed her gaze on Adrik.


    Adrik raised his brow at her and couldn''t help but ask. "Why are you staring at me like that, little wife?" A smile spread across his lips behind the mask.


    Leia smirked and folded her arms. "How are you going to eat today with your mask on? I mean, we are not at home."


    Adrik blinked his lashes and abruptly shrugged. "I won''t mind taking it of-" The door to the restaurant was pushed open, causing the bell to ring, and Leia and Adrik turned their heads at the same time.


    The instant their eyes fell on the person, Leia became motionless and her body began to tremble. Adrik''s face altered into one of anger, and he turned to glance at Leia only to see her body shaking. "Little... wife." He slowly called her name in what unexpectedly came out as a whisper, and his face darkened when Leia didn''t spare him a glance.


    He turned his head to gaze at the person who was none other than Shawn, and his eyes narrowed.


    Shawn who just stepped in felt someone''s gaze on him, and he turned his head only to meet with Leias'' gaze. His lashes fluttered, and what seemed like happiness coursed rapidly within him. However, it all dissipated when he noticed someone else with her and it was none other than the man he hates.


    His hands balled into tight fists, and without thinking twice, he stormed over to them. He roughly grabbed Leia by the wrist and pulled her up from the chair to his side.


    A deadly glint flashed in Adrik''s eye at his action, and a deep breath left his nose. You can''t lose it! You can''t! '' With this, he told himself to calm down.


    "Take your hands off my wife!" He said, in a deep, cold tone that sent chills down Shawn''s body, but even still, he didn''t let go of Leia and held tightly onto her.


    "Shawn, let me go!" Leia glared at him and tried to free herself from his grip, but he held tightly onto her, not letting go.


    "Your wife?... haha." Shawn broke into laughter, attracting everyone''s attention. "You took someone''s wife from him, and you have the impetus to say, "Your wife." He shook his head in disdain and turned his head to look at Leia. "C''mon, let''s go." He turned around and proceeded to drag her along with him. However, a strong hand grabbed onto his, preventing him from taking a step further.


    He turned, only to see Adrik''s hand holding onto his with a darkened expression on his face. "Didn''t you hear me?" His green eyes glared viciously at him.


    "In your dreams.. She was my fiancee and you took her away from me! " Shawn sneered and proceeded to free his hand from his grip.

 Chapter 160 - Did You Miss Me?

    "In your dreams, She was my fiancee and you took her away from me!" Shawn sneered and proceeded to free his hand from his grip.


    Adrik''s eyes switched from green to golden and back to green, showing just how much he was trying to control himself from ripping this man apart. He took a deep breath and freed Leia''s hand, then pulled her to his side. "Stay away from my wife." He threatened in a deadly tone, but Shawn, however, laughed mockingly at him and pulled Leia to his side. "Why would she ever want to be with you? A scarred, cruel, despicable man like yourself is not worthy of her. She deserved better, but you ruined her life. You ruined the dream we had and shattered her. Now you dared to call her your wife."


    "Let me ask you a question. How will you feel if you return only to find that another man has taken your woman away from you with the use of money? Let me tell you this: you don''t love her or anything because she''s only a piece of jewelry that you can buy and toss away however you want. But I will let you know today that even though you may have bought her, I won''t allow you to toss her away. I will take her with me today. I will take what rightfully was mine from the beginning." He scoffed and pulled Leia along with him, ready to leave. However, Adrik, whose eyes were completely golden at that point, roughly grabbed Leia by the hand and yanked her along with him to leave.


    Shawn''s face darkened, and he proceeded to snatch Leia back, but a hot, traumatizing slap from Adrik sent him flying backward and crashing heavily into the wall. He fell onto the chairs and table and broke them before landing on the cold floor with a bleeding nose, swollen cheek, and a bleeding head.


    Everyone in the room gasped, and Leia''s heart jumped to her throat. "Adrik!!" She glared at him and snatched her hand from his, then rushed towards Shawn, who was already unconscious. She fell on her knees and pulled him into her arms. "I am so sorry Shawn! I''m so sorry." She caressed his cheek and grabbed her phone from her pocket. She immediately dialed 112, and it didn''t take long for the ambulance to arrive.


    The paramedics hurriedly proceeded to check Shawn''s condition, and their faces couldn''t help but alter into frowns. "The patient is in critical condition!" They gave him oxygen and then administered pain relief. Carefully, they hauled him to the ambulance and cautiously laid him on the bed. They began ECG monitoring on him and proceeded to get him to the hospital and transfer him there.


    Leia hurriedly stood up and rushed past Adrik to the van. She stepped in, and gently took Shawn''s hand, then began to rub it. "You''ll be fine. You will be fine." Tears welled up in her eyes and they fell the moment they came. The driver turned the engine on and, without delay, they drove off.


    Adrik, who was still at the restaurant, had his eyes flutter and his heart ached so painfully within him. His body trembled uncontrollably, and without any thought, he turned around and dashed off at an extraordinary speed, ignoring everyone.


    He ran at such great speed that when he ran past the ambulance, Leia noticed his presence. She abruptly clutched her chest when she felt so much pain, and tears couldn''t help but fall from her eyes. "Adrik..." Another tear rolled down her cheeks as she whispered his name.


    Adrik ran unstoppable and, because of the force from the air, the band that tied up his hair broke, causing his hair to fall. It danced with the wind, and on reaching his destination, which was the forest, he ran in and continued to run at a rapid pace. Arriving at a barrier that was protecting an area or a kingdom, he rushed in, smoothly passing through it. As though the people and the land itself felt his presence, they all bowed deeply and the wind blew vigorously around the entire place.


    He ignored all this and continued to run, unstoppable. He only stopped when he arrived at the edge of a cliff that was so familiar to him, and a deep groan erupted from his throat. His heart trembled within him, and he shut his eyes, then balled his fist. "Why?" He asked in a quivering voice, waiting for an answer, but none came. "I am asking you why?! What exactly did I do wrong? Why am I being hurt this way?! Why are yo-?"


    A furious wind suddenly blew around him, causing the leaves to rise into midair and a heavenly, absorbing voice resounded. "You know, she will never give you an answer. Right." Mocking laughter followed afterward, and his face darkened.


    "Lucifer!" His deep, cold voice spoke the name, and the person began to laugh softly. The wind died down and the person revealed himself. His hair was silver-colored and his sword-shaped eyes were neither pitch-black nor red but silver-colored just like his hair. His lips were pristine red and his pale, delicate skin looked as though it could burn if he stayed out much longer in the sun. He was draped in a blue robe that reached the ground, covering his bare feet. One could say that he was beyond beautiful. Even characterizing him with the word "beautiful" would be an insult to him, because it was not enough to describe just how gorgeous he was.


    "Did you miss me?" A grin crept into his slim lips, and he stared intently at Adrik, twirling a piece of leave in between his delicate, slender fingers.


    "What the fuck do you want? And why are you here? I have told you to stop crossing that barrier however you want and when you like." Adrik''s darkened face deepened, and his golden eye viciously glared at him.


    "Hahaha..." Lucifer shook his head in mockery and snapped his finger, causing a sofa to poof out of nowhere.. He majestically sat down, then allowed a grin to creep up his lips again.

 Chapter 161 - We Will See

    The ambulance stopped at the hospital, and the nurses from the hospital rushed out. They carefully transferred Shawn onto the wheeled stretcher before rushing him inside the hospital. Leia followed them while holding onto Shawn''s hand. The moment they reached the emergency ward, they had Leia stop there, and then hauled Shawn into the room, shutting the door behind them.


    Leia''s heart ached in pain, and she peered through the glass circle on the door to see them hauling him into the hospital bed and giving him new oxygen.


    Teardrops fell from her eyes, and she stepped back, then slowly began to walk away from the ward. She made her way to the center of the hospital and took her seat on the black couch that was situated there.


    She pinched between her brows and the scene of what happened couldn''t help but replay in her mind. God! Just why?! Why today, when she was going to tell Adrik everything?! Why didn''t this occur some other day? At least she would have been able to control the situation.


    She wouldn''t blame Adrik though, because Shawn had provoked him to the bones, and she wouldn''t blame Shawn either. He is hurt, so it is normal for him to behave like this all the time.


    A deep breath left her nose and she raised her lowered head to stare into emptiness.


    _______


    Adrik''s face turned ashen, and he glared at Lucifer before he walked to sit down on the edge of the cliff. "What do you want?" He asked without bothering to spare him a glance.


    Lucifer sat up on the sofa and floated closer to him, then sat down in midair with his legs crossed and his hands on his knees. "It''s so funny how you''re the only creature that has really piqued my interest so much, apart from one enemy of mine who is still in a deep slumber." He scoffed within him at the thought of that person and lowered his eyes to gaze at Adrik.


    An annoyed groan erupted from Adrik''s throat, and he shut his eyes. "Do I seem like I care about your stupid interest? I asked you a question. What the fuck do you want?"


    "Why didn''t you kill that boy?" Lucifer''s tone became a bit displeased, and he raised his brow at him.


    A dangerous glint flashed in Adrik''s eyes, and he turned his head to stare at him.


    Lucifer''s face altered into one of irritation, and his eyes raked him. "Do you know how hard it was for me to manipulate you into slapping the stars out of that boy? How much it took me and, in the end, my efforts were in vain." A low, aggravated groan escaped his throat and he glared at Adrik as though he would rip him apart if he could.


    "What!" Adrik''s eyes blinked in rage, and he scowled viciously at him.


    "Please spare me the glare. Don''t act like you don''t know." His expression switched to one of contempt and he crushed the stone that appeared in between his fingers out of nowhere.


    "You!! Why the hell did you do that? " Adrik''s hands morphed into a tight fist and he glared at Lucifer with eyes that could kill if they were able to.


    "Who am I?" He raised his eyebrows at Adrik, and Adrik drew his head back in confusion.


    He slightly shook his head in disdain and appeared before Adrik, then laughed mockingly. "I am the Devil... What do you think is the Devil''s job and calling? ... it is to manipulate and tempt humans and creatures like you into sin, and of course, I couldn''t restrain myself when I saw you in that mode. " He began to laugh evilly.


    Adrik''s breathing became unsteady and he sent a furious punch at him; however, Lucifer disappeared and appeared behind him, then tapped him lightly on the shoulder. "You seriously don''t think that you could pluck even the tiniest hair on my skin, do you?" He snickered and shook his head in mockery.


    "Why can''t you murder someone by yourself if you really want somebody dead?"


    Lucifer''s brows raised, and he halted, then turned around to stare at Adrik. He tilted his head to one side and assessed him from head to toe, then shook his head. "I don''t kill. Not with my own hands."


    "If I do so myself, then humans won''t be useful to me anymore. They are tools for me, you know. " He shrugged and snapped his hands, causing the sofa to disappear. "You have become quite hard to manipulate." His face changed a bit in displeasure.


    Adrik gazed at him for a while before he scoffed in disdain. "I feel so disgusted to talk to you. Stop coming to me, because you will never get what you want." He shoved his hands into his pockets and proceeded to leave.


    "Until you give me what I want...Adrik, I will never let you be." Lucifer chuckled maliciously, and Adrik halted on his step."In your dreams." With that being said, he began to walk away. "Don''t forget to buy some shoes and stop floating around, wherever you go. It doesn''t suit you!"


    Lucifer''s eyes fluttered, and a slow evil grin emerged on his lips. "We will see." His tone became serious, and with a swift turn, he disappeared.


    _______


    Instead of going to the mansion, Adrik went to his other estate and bothered not to let Leia know. He took his shower and slid into new clothing, then made his way to the balcony to sit and sip the coffee he had his maids make for him.


    His eyes gazed out to the horizon, and his attention was suddenly grabbed when he heard his phone ring. He snatched it and glanced at the screen. His face altered in irritation on seeing who the caller is, and he turned the phone off, ignoring the call.


    A low breath fled from his nose, and he rested his head back on the one-man sofa, then shut his eyes. "Mother Mary..." He whispered her name, and his heart throbbed within him. For 100 years, the only woman who treated him like a mother and only saw the best in him had gone missing.


    He had searched back and forth, everywhere he could, but was unable to find her. It was so strange how she disappeared all of a sudden. No letter, no clue, nothing at all. She just left him, to the point of even thinking that maybe she felt he was a curse too. A child, that will only bring sorrow to those around him.


    His lashes throbbed, and he slowly opened his eyes, then stood up from the sofa and proceeded inside to take a rest. Today has been really stressful and bad for him.


    ______


    A deep breath left Leia''s nose, and she threw her phone on the bed, then plopped down, lying on her back. She fixed her gaze on the ceiling, and a low sigh escaped her mouth. She has called Adrik multiple times, but he doesn''t pick it up and ignores it. Worst of all, she doesn''t even know where he is or how he''s doing.


    She shut her eyes and, gradually, drifted off to sleep.


    The clock ticked and ticked, and before anyone knew it, darkness took over the sky, and the only things visible above the sky were the thousands of stars and the half-moon.


    The door to the room creaked open, and Leia, who had just woken up from her nap, rubbed her eyes and glanced at the door. Her eyes fell on Adrik, whose hair was messy and was clad in a different set of clothes.


    She hurriedly got off of the bed and proceeded to walk over to him. However, Adrik dismissed her and moved towards the bathroom, leaving her completely stunned. "Adrik..." She called his name, but he slammed the door shut as though he was angry, and Leia jolted a bit. Her eyes fluttered, and a low sigh escaped her nose.


    She strolled back to the bed and sat down, then folded her arms and patiently waited for him to be done with his shower.


    It took a while before Adrik stepped out of the bathroom and went straight to the dressing room. He slid into his night robe and dried up his hair. Then, with much effort, he tied his hair in a messy ponytail and proceeded towards the bed.


    He avoided Leia, who was staring at him, and got into the bed, then covered himself with the blanket and shut his eyes, ready to go to sleep.


    A deep frown containing displeasure furrowed itself in-between Leia''s brows, and she climbed onto the bed beside him. "Adrik..." She called him, but he did not respond. "Adrik." She called him yet again, but just like before, he completely ignored her, not bothering to even turn and glance at her.


    "I am sorry... I know it''s not your fault and that I shouldn''t have reacted in that way, but... Shawn was my childhood friend and seeing him hurt to the point of almost dying got me scared and out of my mind. " She bit her lower lips and began to fiddle with her fingers. "I love you Adrik... a lot. Please don''t ignore me. It kind of hurts. " A deep sigh exited her lips when she still got no reaction from him.


    She took a subtle whiff and, without thinking twice, she climbed on top of him and situated herself in front of him, in his arms. She wrapped her legs and arms around him, then buried her face in his chest. "I love you. Goodnight. " She kissed his chest and took another low breath before shutting her eyes to wander to sleep.


    Adrik blinked his eyes open and a short puff left his lips.. Why can''t he ever be angry with her? It was the hardest thing that he had ever tried! He slightly shook his head and wrapped his arms around her, then shut his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

 Chapter 162 - Its All Just A Nightmare

    Adrik woke up early the next day, feeling a little bit lightheaded. He rubbed his forehead and proceeded to get down from the bed, however, Leia''s arm and leg that were wrapped over him held him back. He glanced at her sleeping face and gently took her arms and legs off, then climbed down from the bed.


    He walked straight to the bathroom and took his shower, then came out with a towel wrapped around his waist. He proceeded to enter the dressing room; however, Leia''s low voice that called his name had him glance at the bed to see her sitting up while stretching her body. "Are you... going somewhere?" She asked and turned her head to stare at him.


    "Yes." He nodded at her, then stepped into the dressing room and shut the door behind him. A deep breath left Leia''s nose, and she clambered down from the bed. She hurriedly rushed into the bathroom and took a quick shower that lasted only seven minutes, then stepped out wrapped up in a white towel.


    She glanced at the table, only to see Adrik grabbing the car key and getting ready to leave. She hastily strolled up to him and walked over to stand in front of him. Adrik gazed down at her and his brow couldn''t help but rise in a questioning manner. "Anything."


    Leia nodded at him and unexpectedly wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly. "Are you still angry with me?" She asked in a soft tone that had him take a deep breath and draw her back to stare at her face. "Little wife...I am not angry with you, okay. I''m just angry with myself, that''s all." He delivered a soft kiss on her forehead and smiled at her, then proceeded to leave, but Leia grabbed him by the arm, holding him back. He turned to gaze at her, and Leia took a subtle breath. "Can you come to the hospital today... when you''re back from work?" She raised her eyes to gaze at him, and Adrik pinched between his brows. "Why?" He asked, in a tone of disapproval.


    "I just want you to come. I will be there too." She stared at him with pleading eyes and squeezed his suit in expectancy.


    Adrik shut his eyes and let out a deep breath. He then opened them to look at her and half smiled at her. "Fine." He snatched his hand and, without uttering another word, he walked out of the room, gently shutting the door behind him.


    He made his way out of the mansion and met Alex, who was clad in a pristine black suit and standing by the door of the car. "Good morning, Supreme Alpha." He bowed deeply in respect and hurriedly caught the car key that Adrik threw at him.


    He unlocked the SUV and pulled the door open. Adrik stepped in, and he shut the door, then moved to take his seat in the driver''s chair.


    "You know where we are going?" Adrik inquired with a leisurely look on his face.


    "Yes, Supreme Alpha." He nodded and swiftly drove out of the compound and onto the road, then raised the speed of the car as he sped off down the road.


    ________


    Leia, who was already dressed up in blue shorts and a white tank top, strolled out to the dining room to have her breakfast. She plugged the ultrasonic speakers into her ears and, much to her surprise, it turned out that Rita was on. "How is everything going?" She inquired and glanced up at the maid who was arranging her food on the table.


    [Everything seems normal at the moment, except that am yet to see him]


    "What do you mean?" Leia''s brow furrowed in bewilderment, and she grabbed a delicious-looking sandwich from the ceramic plate.


    [Well, after what happened yesterday, he''s been locked up in his room and I haven''t seen him since then].


    Leia slightly nodded and swallowed the part of the sandwich she had chewed. "I see...Let me know once he''s out. "


    [Alright]. With that being said, Rita went silent.


    Leia grabbed a glass of water from the table and sipped a bit from it to help digest what she had eaten.


    _________


    Seated on the king-style sofa in his room with a cup of coffee in his hand, Mr. Adolpho gazed out the huge, wide glass window in his room. A low breath escaped his nose and he consumed his coffee.


    ''It was just a dream, nothing more.'' He kept telling himself but his sweating hand, however, betrayed his calm.


    It felt so real. He could feel the flames on his skin, hear her malicious laughter, and...


    "Hahaha!!!" The dominative deposition of the young girl had the middle-aged man cowering in fear. "Today, you will die. hahaha!" She threw her head back and continued to laugh crazily.


    The middle-aged man breathed heavily and proceeded to run. However, unknown energy that he couldn''t see or touch held him in one place, preventing him from moving.


    The young girl''s face darkened as she moved closer to the middle-aged man, then grabbed his chin and made him stare into her red eyes that were burning in flames. "You think you can run after all your sins. You think you can run after all the atrocities and abuse you''ve committed. Hahaha." She let go of his chin, then stepped back from him. "I will give you the most painful death and a few moments to think of all the wrongdoing you did." With that being said, the young girl waved her hand and the fire lit up and slowly began to encircle the middle-aged man. "You will burn to de-."


    "Ssss.." Mr. Adolpho clutched his head and inhaled and exhaled deeply to catch his breath. "It''s all just a normal nightmare, nothing much.." He calmly told himself and dropped the cup of coffee on the mini table beside the chair, then stood up from the one-man couch to make his way to the bathroom.

 Chapter 163 - Breach Of A Deal

    Rita, who was clad in a red single-handed dress that reached her feet, walked to the sofa and took her seat, then crossed her legs. She reached out her hand to her head and adjusted her wig, then allowed an apprehensive look to emerging on her face.


    Steady footsteps resounded, and she slowly raised her eyes, only to meet Mr. Adolphos, who was dressed in suit pants and a white shirt with the hem rolled up. "Good morning, Mr. Adolpho." A half-smile formed on her lips.


    "Good morning, pretty." Mr. Adolpho smiled ever so warmly at her as he walked over to sit down on the one-man sofa opposite the one she was seated on. "How was your night?" He crossed his legs and fixed his gaze on her.


    "It was good. At least better than the ones I have had for years now. " She chuckled sadly, and a low sigh escaped Mr. Adolpho''s nose.


    "I''m sorry about that and am glad your night went well." He smiled warmly at her, then relaxed back on the couch.


    "Thank you for the help you''re rendering to me. It really means a lot." She took a deep breath, and he nodded at her. "Um, pretty, it would be a pleasure if you addressed me by Arnoldo." He smiled charmingly, and Rita''s lashes fluttered.


    "Arnoldo? Is that... your name?" She smiled slyly and raised her eyebrows in a questioning manner.


    "Yes." Mr. Adolpho nodded his head, and as though he remembered something, a half-smile crept up his lips. "My father wanted to give me a different name, but my mother disagreed. She named me Arnoldo, and I am proud of the name."


    "Ahh... I see." Rita''s eyes blinked, and a smile formed on her lips. "Eagle ruler... That''s a very domineering name." She nodded and chuckled softly.


    "Indeed it is. So... do address me by that. Mr. Adolpho seems a bit too formal." He cleared his throat, and Rita nodded at him. "Sure, Arnoldo..." The name lasted a bit longer on her tongue, and Mr. Adolpho laughed softly.


    "So what is your name?" He inquired, with curiosity apparent in his expression.


    "Janet." Rita grabbed the cup of coffee on the table and slowly sipped on it. "Not a beautiful name, is it?" She smiled dryly as she asked.


    Mr. Adolpho''s eyes blinked, and he hurriedly shook his head. "No no, not at all! Your name is very lovely. " His face became awkward and he smiled at her, hoping that he hadn''t made any mistakes.


    "It''s okay" Rita broke out into a soft chuckle and slightly shook her head,"-I was just messing with you." She sipped her coffee with a smile still lingering on her pink lips.


    A deep breath of relief escaped Mr. Adolpho''s nose, and his tensed body relaxed. A hearty smile made its way to his lips, and as though he recalled something, his face switched to that of a downcast expression.


    Rita, who noticed the change in his mood, furrowed her brow and fixed her gaze on him. "Is everything okay?" She inquired, with concern apparent in her tone.


    Mr. Adolpho pinched between his brows and took a low breath. He raised his eyes to stare at her and then folded his hands. "Pretty... about what I said to you yesterday. Could we, um, talk about it?" He inquired with an expectant expression on his face.


    Rita gazed intently at him and slowly nodded her head.


    Mr. Adolpho took a deep breath, then moved to sit closer to her. He then turned and gazed into her gray eyes. "Regarding what I told you yesterday, I am really serious about it. I just...I just couldn''t get you out of my mind throughout the night and I kept trying to figure out a way to start a conversation with you." He pinched between his brows, and Rita''s eyes blinked in utter confusion.


    [You already know what to do]


    Rita took a low breath, then adjusted a bit to stare at Mr. Adolpho. "I... I would have considered it but... you know what is happening in my family, the deals and all." A low sigh left her mouth, and she averted her gaze from him. " It''s just that my father will never let me, not when he wants me to marry that murderer... I just want to protect myself right now, fight this war, and finally get my life back." She lowered her head and covered her face with her palm.


    Mr. Adolpho took a low breath and grabbed both of her hands, then tenderly rubbed them. Rita raised her gaze at him, and he smiled at her. "About your problem, I will solve everything for you. You just have to stay with me, that''s all. I really can''t let you go." He stared at her with pleading in his eyes.


    "Yo-you will?" Her eyes dilated a bit, as though she didn''t expect that, and he nodded at her. He reached out his hand and caressed her cheek. "I promise you pretty, I will." He pulled her into his embrace and gently caressed her back.


    Rita''s lashes fluttered, and she sat motionlessly. She gulped down a bit and slowly wrapped her arms around him, hugging him back. "T-thank you."


    Mr. Adolpho drew back from the embrace and fixed his gaze on her face. "So... do you mind letting me know who your father is?" He asked, his brow a bit arched.


    Rita''s gaze darted around, and she slowly nodded. "Ah... yes... yes, of course. He''s..."


    [Mr. Alberto Fredric]


    "Mr. Alberto... Fredric." She nodded, with a bit of an awkward smile on her face.


    "Ahh...I see..." Mr. Adolpho flickered his eyes and suddenly tilted his head to one side. "I had never heard of him before." He shook his head in bewilderment.


    "That''s not a surprise. As I said, he''s not really rich if we talk about rich people. He just invests a lot, that''s all." She smiled at him, and he nodded in understanding. "Well... I would like to meet your father."


    _______


    {3: 13 pm}


    Leia''s phone vibrated in her pocket, prompting her to pull it out. She glanced at the screen, and her brow furrowed at the number that had no name. She picked it up and brought it to her ear. "Hello."


    [Is this Mrs. Leia Avalanzo?] A woman''s serene voice resounded from the other side of the phone.


    "Yes," Leia replied, and the caller waited a few seconds before speaking again.


    [We are calling to let you know that the patient that was administered under your name is awake and he is requesting for you]


    Leia''s heart skipped a bit, and a relieved smile emerged on her lips. "Alright, I will be there in a few hours." She replied, then hung up the call and stuffed it into the pocket of her shorts.


    ______


    Adrik sat on a one-man sofa, with his fierce eyes gazing at a very familiar man. "So why have you called me here?" He inquired in a tone that held a bit of displeasure.


    The man who one would recognize as Vlad frowned deeply at Adrik''s question, then relaxed back on the couch that he was seated on. As usual, his whole body was covered with a black cloak and no smile was evident on his red-colored lips. His pitch-black eyes gazed intently at Adrik, and they switched to bloodshot, then returned to normal.


    "Don''t waste my time, Vlad. You know, I''m not a patient type of person." Adrik''s brow raised in utter displeasure.


    "Two wolves were found in my territory."


    The moment the word left Vlad''s mouth, Adrik''s eyes blinked in disbelief and dwindled in vigilance. "What do you mean?"


    "My men reported two wolves from your Blood moon park spying on my people in my territo-"


    "That is impossible!" Adrik cut him off with a bit of rage apparent in his tone. "My people would never sneak into your territory to spy. We have no reason to do so." He stated it with absolute assurance, and Vlad chuckled softly.


    "That''s none of my business, Adrik, but one thing I will not tolerate is you breaching the deal. We made a deal hundreds of years ago that none should cross each other''s territory, and I never did, nor did my people. So if you are doing this, it means you want war and you know who I am. We are not afraid of you wolves the way you all think we are. " A dangerous glint flickered in his eyes, and he interlocked his hands.


    A low breath left Adrik''s nose, and he stood up from the sofa, then shoved his hands into his pocket. "If what you just stated is true, then I shall look into it and make sure it doesn''t occur again." With that being said, he turned towards the door and proceeded to make his way out. He walked downstairs and strolled out of the building. "Let''s go." He glanced at his watch to check the time and ordered Alex, who stood beside him. It was already 5:15 pm and he had to make it to the hospital before 6 pm.. He slightly shook his head and walked to the car, then stepped in and Alex shut the door.

 Chapter 164 - Emotions

    Leia grabbed the car key from the table and strolled out of the mansion. She made her way to the Rolls Royce and unlocked it, then stepped in and shut the door afterward. She started the car''s engine and swiftly drove out of the compound.


    She increased the speed of the car, and it only took her fifty minutes to arrive at the hospital. She parked the car, stepped down, then shut the door and locked it. She hurried into the hospital and walked up to the receptionist. "Mrs. Leia Avalanzo." The receptionist nodded, and she dashed towards the ward where Victor was.


    She halted at the door and slowly pushed it open, then stepped inside.


    Victor, who was seated up on the bed, turned his head to stare at her and a guilty smile emerged on his face. "You came."


    A low breath left Leia''s nose, and she walked up to him, then sat down on the chair beside the bed. "Why wouldn''t I come?" She inquired in a bit of a disappointed tone.


    Shawn bit his lower lip then turned to stare at her. "Well, after what I did at the restaurant, I believe you must be really mad at me."


    Leia pinched between her brows and took a deep breath. "Well, I would be lying if I said I was not. What you did back there was outrageous, but I won''t blame you much anyway." She smiled at him and examined him. "How do you feel?"


    "Leia, do you not love me anymore?" He asked, and Leia''s lashes fluttered. She rubbed her forehead and lifted her gaze to look at him. "Shawn, please-"


    "Answer me, Leia." His voice cracked a bit, and a low breath left Leia''s mouth. She bit her lower lip, then began to fiddle with her finger. "Shawn, I am sorry... but I love you only as a friend now. Yes, I was sold to him, but... things changed. I fell in love with him and realized that I could never live without him. He is like a part of me that I need to keep living with. That is how much I love him. He is me and I am him... we are one. " She took a deep breath and raised her eyes to stare at him. However, she drew back on seeing the deep scowl on his face.


    "Then what about me, Leia? Are you going to leave me like this? Broken, hurt, shattered, will you do this to me? " Drops of tears slipped from his eyes, and Leia''s heart skipped a bit.


    "Shawn, you don''t understand. I couldn''t control my heart. It just fell... for him. I am sorry." She buried her face in her palms and breathed heavily.


    "I loved you with everything I had, Leia. I went out there to stand completely on my own, because... I wanted us to have a perfect family together. I loved you... fuck!!!! fuck!!! " Shawn''s face contorted, and what seemed like hatred flickered in his eyes. "You think... am a play toy, which you can use and throw away! You think-"


    "Enough!" Leia abruptly stood up from the chair, and her hands morphed into a tight fist. "You think I used you? How could you say that?! " She shook her head at him, and her eyes fluttered as tears welled up in them. "You don''t know the shit I went through! You don''t know how much I suffered! Nobody let me make my own decision. They just... You know what...I don''t give a fuck! " She glared at him and turned around, preparing to leave. However, Shawn unexpectedly grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her towards him, letting her back fall into his arms and slamming his lips against hers.


    The door to the room creaked open, and Adrik, who had a leisurely expression on his face, stepped in. "Little wi-" His gaze fell on them, and his eyes fluttered vigorously. His eyes changed from green to gold, and his hands balled into a tight fist. "Little...wi-wife."


    Leia instantly slapped Shawn across the face and pushed him off her. "Adrik, no it''s not-" She hurriedly proceeded to rush up to him, but Adrik angrily turned around and stormed out of the room. His shoulders rose and fell, showing just how outraged he was.


    "Adrik, wait!" She ran after him and grabbed his hands, but Adrik snatched his hand away, pushing her in the process and causing her to fall to the floor. He ignored her and stormed out of the hospital, proceeding towards the car.


    Leia rushed out of the hospital and caught up with him before he could step into the car. In utter confusion about what was happening, Alex, who was beside the door of the car, fluttered his eyes.


    "Let''s go!" Adrik''s cold voice resounded, sending shivers down both Leia and Alex''s bodies.


    Alex nodded vigorously and hurriedly shut the door, then stepped into the driver''s seat. He started the car''s engine and slowly began to drive out of the compound.


    "Adrik! Adrik, wait!" She knocked on the car window, hoping he would listen to her, but not even a glance, did he spare her. The car drove out of the compound and onto the road, accelerating off at a high speed.


    Leia nervously shoved her hand into the pocket of her shorts and grabbed the key to the Rolls Royce, then hurriedly unlocked the car. She stepped in and carelessly reversed the car, then drove out of the compound and onto the road, speeding off at a very high speed.


    Tears rained down from her eyes, and her hands nervously tapped on the steering wheel of the car. She could feel his hurt. She even saw a hint of hatred in his eyes at that moment. "Oh, God! Please! Don''t do this to me!" She glanced at the sky and prayed desperately in her heart. No, she can''t lose him! She will never lose Adrik! Never!!


    The SUV arrived at the compound, and Adrik stepped down without hesitation the moment the car was parked.. He squeezed his hands into his pocket and began to make his way into the mansion, his mind completely clouded in rage.

 Chapter 165 - Is It Because

    Leia arrived at the mansion a few minutes after Adrik did, and she stepped down, then shut the door and locked it. She stuffed the car key into her pocket as she rushed inside and hurriedly made her way to their room.


    She pushed the door open and stepped in. Her heart instantly skipped a bit when her eyes fell on Adrik, who stood by the window with his hands shoved into his pocket and his eyes gazing up at the dark sky.


    Her lashes fluttered nervously, and slowly she began to walk towards him. She had yet to get close to him when Adrik''s threatening, cold voice drummed in her ears. ''Don''t come close to me!"


    "Adrik... Adrik, it''s not what you think. Please just hear me out. I can explain." She pleaded and proceeded to move closer to him, but he abruptly turned around, causing her to flinch back and his golden-colored eyes glared hatefully at her. "I said, do not come near me! Leia, if you dare me, you won''t like my reaction. Get out!"


    "A-adrik..." Her head shook in disbelief, and she stared at him with eyes of utmost skepticism. "Yo-you''re joking, right? You''re not serious, are you?" She implored, hoping he would tell her, "Yes, I am joking." However, Adrik''s expression darkened deeply, and without bothering to say any more words, he walked past her to step out of the room, but Leia turned around and grabbed him by the arm, stopping him on his track. "Adrik, please don''t do this to me... just hear me out." She pleaded, with deep pain evident in her tone.


    "Hear you out!" His deep cold voice resounded as he turned to stare at her. "Why? Why Leia? Tell me why? Was it the reason... you asked me to come to the hospital? So I can see that fucking bullshit!!" Adrik''s body trembled and he shut his eyes, then took a deep breath to calm the rage boiling within him. "You think you can hurt me however you like, just because I always find myself unable to get mad at you. Is that it?"


    He lowered his head as he pinched between his brows and raised it afterward, only for Leia to wince back on seeing the tears falling from his eyes. "Leia...have I, for once, hurt you in any way? If I have, then I am really sorry. But... you really hurt me." He chuckled mockingly at himself and rubbed his eyes to wipe off the tears. "You know, you''re the first person in the whole world that I have ever cried for. I have never cried for anyone else, not even my mother. That should tell you how much... Just how much I value you." He let out a low sign and adjusted his shirt, then moved forward to leave the room. "No matter what decision you make, I will never stop you. But..." He slightly shook his head and pushed the door open, then walked out and slammed it shut behind him.


    Leia''s body shuddered, and she began to vigorously shake her head. "No! No! No!" She fell on her knees on the floor and began to angrily punch the floor. "Why?!!! What did I do wrong? God, why?! " She cried so painfully that she couldn''t help but clutch her heart. "Adrik..." She called out to him, but unlike before, when he would always come, he never appeared. "I am sorry..."


    ....


    Adrik sat on the one-man sofa near the window in another room. His green eyes gazed up at the moon in the sky, and a drop of tears fell from each of his eyes. What did he do wrong? Could anyone just tell him? Because if he did, then he really didn''t know.


    Was he never meant to be happy in his entire life? Just why? He took a deep breath, then rested his head back on the sofa and shut his eyes. A deep breath left his nose and his eyes opened the moment he recalled the scene from the hospital.


    His hands balled into a tight fist and his orifices changed to a red color. [I will tear that boy into pieces.] Kai threatened in rage, and Adrik rubbed his forehead.


    ''Would that change anything?'' He questioned his wolf, and it went silent, unsure of how to respond to his question.


    [This hurts a lot] It was said with deep despair apparent in its tone.


    Adrik chuckled softly and slowly nodded his head in agreement. "It does hurt more than anything."


    .....


    Leia, who was curled up on the cold floor near the door, had fragile drops of tears fall from the edge of her eyes as she gazed into the unknown. "Adrik..." She whispered his name and suddenly thought of how he whimpered with her on that day she had hurt herself with the piece of glass. Just how caring and loving he was


    Her heart squeezed tightly within her as she recalled the hateful eyes he used to stare at her. It was as if the more he gazed at her, the more his anger rose.


    She took a low, pessimistic sigh and crawled towards the bed, sitting down beside it and resting her head on the edge.


    She tightly clutched onto her body and shut her eyes, then allowed herself to fall into what one would call a short sleep.


    ______


    Alex stood in the living room and a long, subtle breath left his nose. What sort of thing was this? Just when his Supreme Alpha and Luna were finally happy, this had to occur.


    He let out a low sigh and slightly shook his head. This was the first time he had seen his Supreme Alpha become enraged at His Luna. How deeply it must have hurt him!


    He rubbed his forehead, shoved his hands into his pocket, and then proceeded to make his way to his room in the mansion. Hopefully, things will be back to normal soon and all these misunderstandings will be cleared up. He shut the door to his room and strolled to plop down on the wide, long bed. He shut his eyes and let out a low breath, then slowly drifted off to sleep.

 Chapter 166 - Let Me See You Wipe Your Lips Now

    The night went fast, and the early morning sun rose in the sky in the blink of an eye. Adrik stood up from the sofa, which was where he had sat throughout the night, and staggered to the bathroom. He took a very slow shower, and when he was done, he came out, then slid into his home wear and fixed his hair as much as he could.


    A deep breath left his nose and he proceeded to leave the room and go for breakfast in the dining room.


    With his hands shoved into his pocket, he stepped into the dining room only to meet Leia, who was clad in a white shirt that stopped at knee length and probably a short inside, seated with her head bent as though she was extremely tired.


    He strolled to the head seat and sat down, completely ignoring her.


    Leia, who noticed him, raised her head and turned to stare at him. Their eyes both fluttered as they noticed the bags under each other''s eyes. A low sigh left Leia''s nose, and she averted her gaze from him. "Why... didn''t you sleep?"


    Adrik glanced at her and his gaze, which held no emotion, assessed her. "Why didn''t you sleep?" He questioned her back, and Leia lifted her head to look at him.


    Their eyes met, and they stared at each other for a while longer before Adrik finally broke eye contact. He wasn''t ready for this.


    Steady footsteps resounded and they raised their gazes to see the maids walk in with the shelf trolley that was filled with different dishes.


    "Good morning, Supreme Alpha. Good morning, Luna. " The maids said it in unison as they bowed deeply in respect. Adrik nodded at them and they began to arrange the food on the table.


    The moment they were done, they took their leave, leaving the two couples to themselves.


    Adrik grabbed a piece of bread from one of the plates and effortlessly ate it. He nibbled slowly on it and his gaze became distant.


    Leia, who was uncomfortable with the awkward silence, raised her sights to stare at him and subconsciously bit her lower lip. Gosh!! This fucking feels like hell. This was the first time since she stepped into this mansion that Adrik had not spoken to her during breakfast, and it was driving her crazy. It just isn''t okay.


    A low breath left her lips and she stood up, then moved to sit on the chair closer to him. She turned to face him and began to fiddle with her fingers. "Adrik..." She parted her lips to say something, but Adrik, who cared not one bit, abruptly stood up from the sofa and proceeded out of the dining room, completely ignoring her.


    Leia''s brow creased in displeasure, and her hand morphed into a fist. She stood up from the chair and walked after him.


    When Adrik was about to shut the door of the room, she stepped in and shut the door herself. "We need to talk." She said in a tone that told him that she wouldn''t step out of the room until they talked.


    A low groan erupted from Adrik''s throat, and he squeezed his hands into the pocket of his pants.


    Leia bit her lower lip and began to move toward him. The moment she got close to him to touch him, Adrik grabbed her by the wrist and waist and slammed her against the wall. "I said you should LEAVE ME ALONE!" His green eyes glared viciously at her, and Leia did not move but stared emotionlessly at him.


    "I''m not going to take this anymore; it''s killing me. It''s either we talk about this or I die." Her hands that were held on either side of her head balled into a tight fist.


    Adrik''s brow raised at her words, and he gazed intently at her before laughing at her in contempt. "Get out!" He scowled at her and freed her hand to leave, but Leia, however, grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and covered his lips with hers.


    Adrik''s body became motionless and he just stood still, letting her kiss him roughly.


    Leia smirked against his lips and drew her head back, then stared at his stunned face. "And you think you don''t love me anymore?" She folded her arms and Adrik tilted his head to one side, then used his thumb to wipe off his lips.


    Leia''s face darkened at his action, and she unfolded her arms. "Why did you wipe your lips?" She asked in a tone that held the utmost displeasure.


    "You think I let you kiss me after that moron kissed you?" Adrik chuckled softly and shook his head. "Please do me a favor and leave. I need to work." He turned around and walked to the sofa, then sat down and grabbed his laptop from the mini table, beginning to work on it.


    Leia''s breathing became unsteady and her chest rose and fell in anger. Her hands morphed into a tight fist and, without thinking twice, she stormed over to him and grabbed the laptop from him, carelessly throwing it onto the bed. She then took a seat on his lap and tightly wrapped her arms around his neck.


    Adrik''s lashes fluttered in confusion, and he narrowed his eyes at her. "What are you tryin-" He was yet to finish his words when Leia slammed her lips against his and roughly kissed him while her hands gently caressed his neck.


    Adrik''s eyes dilated at her actions, and he proceeded to break the kiss, but she sexually bit his lips, causing Adrik''s body to become motionless.


    Leia broke away from the kiss when she felt like she had enticed him enough and smirked flirtatiously at him. "Let me see you wipe your lips now.." She seductively bit her lower lip, and before she could anticipate what would happen next, she found her back slammed on the bed with Adrik atop her.

 Chapter 167 - Because You Gave Me A Reason To

    "What is wrong with you?" He asked in a tone that told her just how much he was controlling himself from devouring her.


    "What?!" She raised her eyebrow in a questioning manner, and Adrik''s face contorted into one that held deep irritation. "Don''t try to tempt me this morning, Leia. Let me be." He drew back to get off her, but she pulled him down, not letting him go. "We need to talk!"


    Adrik narrowed his orifices at her, and she rolled her eyes at him. "Seriously, we need to. You have to hear me out before being unnecessarily angry at me." She gazed at him with pleading in her eyes, and a deep breath left Adrik''s nose.


    He got off her and made his way to the sofa, then sat down and crossed his legs. Leia stood up from the bed and strolled over to him. She took a seat beside him, then grabbed his hands and gently began to caress them.


    "Adrik, do you think that I don''t really love you?" She inquired, her gaze fixed on the glass window.


    Adrik blinked his eyes and took a low breath. "I don''t know... You may or may not."


    "And why do you think that way?"


    "Because you gave me a reason to." He shrugged as he said, and she turned to stare at him. "How exactly?"


    Adrik shut his eyes and took a subtle breath. "You never defend me. You know, it''s not only when you hug and comfort someone that you show you love the person. Some little acts which you don''t even think are worth it, may be the only thing that will let me know how much you love me." A half-pessimistic smile formed on his lips, and his eyes dwindled a bit. "You know, I saw you guys at the liquor store that day and I heard every conversation. While he insulted me, you never even tried to defend me or anything like that, you just kept quiet. It got me really pissed off, but then I shrugged it off because I believed you loved me, or so I thought."


    "Adrik, you know, I¡ª"


    "Then at the restaurant. While you knew he was in the wrong and how mad I can get when it comes to you, you still defended him, making me the bad person. Who would tolerate such nonsense? Ruining someone''s breakfast. Not only did you do that, you even tried to take his wife from him. Okay, it seems that was not enough. Your wife even turned against you, defending the moron and making you a bad person. "


    "Alright, he tolerated that too, but then his wife invited him to the hospital to come to see the moron, and what he walked in on was the moron kissing his precious wife. How does the story sound to you? " He turned his head to gaze at her and half smiled at her.


    A quick breath escaped Leia''s mouth and she stared at him with her lips apart. "I... i-"


    "Short of words, aren''t you?" Adrik sneered at her and returned his gaze to the glass window. "You don''t have to be. I am only hurt because I love you more than my life. You''re like the air that I breathe, but now I feel like it''s all gone. But don''t worry, I''ll probably get over it." He proceeded to stand up from the couch, but Leia held firmly onto his arm, telling him to stay.


    Adrik turned his head to look at her, and his eyes fluttered at seeing tears streaming down her face.


    Leia reached out her hand and gently caressed his cheek. "Adrik, do you really want to know just how much I love you?"


    Adrik gazed at her and uttered not a single word.


    She stood up from the couch and sat down on his lap, then cupped his cheeks with her hand. "I love you more than anything. More than... my own life. "


    "I would do anything for you, Adrik. Even if I ever have to sacrifice myself for you, I will do it without doubt or second thought. You''re my world and a part of me that I would not be able to live without. You''re the only person I will never bear to lose, and I never will. In fact, I don''t think that words can describe just how much I love you, Adrik." She gazed into his green eyes and leaned down closer to his ear, then whispered to him. "Please forgive me. I...am sorry." She hugged him tightly and nuzzled his neck.


    Adrik''s eyes trembled, and a deep breath left his nose. A smile slowly crept onto his lips, and he wrapped his arms around her, hugging her back. "I... I forgive you, little wife." The moment the sentence left Adrik''s lips, an abrupt scream of joy erupted from Leia''s throat. "Yes!!! He called me, "LITTLE WIFE AGAIN!" She cupped his cheeks with her hands and began to place lovely kisses all over his face.


    "Eww... you''re leaving spittle all over my face." Adrik wiped his face, and she chuckled at him. "Please don''t ever call me Leia again." She said in a serious tone, and Adrik''s face altered in confusion. "Isn''t that your name?"


    "So what if it''s my name!! From the first day we met, you began to call me, little wife, and never for once did you call me, Leia. So you calling me Leia all of a sudden either means you are angry with me or you don''t love me anymore." She explained, with seriousness evident on her face.


    Adrik''s eyes fluttered in deep confusion, and he couldn''t help but ask himself. ''Do all women feel this way too?'' He slightly shook his head and raised his eyes to stare at her.


    Leia smiled lovingly at him and leaned down, then tenderly placed her lips on his and kissed him passionately. "I love you, Adrik." She said, and Adrik smiled against her lips, then stood up from the sofa with her in his arms.


    He walked towards the bed and laid her down on her back, then assessed her from head to toe. "I wouldn''t have done this, this morning as I had work to do, but you made me like this, so...." He smirked wickedly at her, and Leia narrowed her eyes at him.

 Chapter 168 - Settlement

    Leia slid into her shirt and buttoned it up. She climbed down from the bed and proceeded towards Adrik, who was seated on the sofa with his laptop in his hand. She leaned down and kissed his lips, then made her way out of the room.


    She plugged the ultrasonic speakers into her ears as she strolled into the living room. "Rita, are you there?"


    [Yes. Is everything alright? You haven''t come in since the morning]


    "Oh... yeah, everything is okay." She nodded, with a little smile on her lips. "So how''s everything?"


    [It''s not really good. He wants to see my imaginary father today]


    "I see..." Leia''s face altered in a bit of apprehension, and as though a light bulb appeared in her head, she smirked. "Sure, bring him to the third estate. The third one!! And about your father: don''t worry, I already have a man stationed out ready to act like one."


    [Oh wow. Okay]


    "Well, if there is nothing else, I will take a few hours off. There is something I need to settle. Ahh... if anything comes up, do let me know. The speakers will always be with me." With that being said, Leia took a subtle breath and walked to the room, then strolled over to sit beside Adrik on the sofa. "Adrik..."


    "Yes, little wife," Adrik answered, his eyes still fixed on the laptop on his lap.


    "I will be out in a while. I need to settle things." She turned on one side to look at him.


    Adrik halted typing on his laptop and turned his head to glance at her. "I see..." He slightly nodded at her before shrugging. "Okay." He returned his gaze to the laptop, and Leia''s brow furrowed a bit. She stared intently at him for a while, before finally standing up from the sofa.


    She walked out of the room, and to their room, then made her way to the dressing room. She grabbed a pair of blue jeans and a fluffy dark red hoodie, then slipped into them.


    She wore her white sandals, then grabbed the car key from the table and proceed out of the room.


    She strolled out of the mansion and unlocked the car, then stepped in and shut the door. She turned the key to the ignition point and smoothly drove out of the compound.


    Her hands tapped playfully on the steering wheel as she drove to her destination.


    The moment she arrived there, a bit of anger emerged in her heart. She swiftly drove into the compound, then parked the car and stepped down. She locked the door and stuffed the key into her pocket as she walked towards the glass door.


    Leia pushed it open and smiled at the receptionist, who waved friendly at her. Honestly, though the nurses might have glimpsed a bit of the misunderstanding between her and Adrik, she really doesn''t care at this moment.


    A deep breath to calm herself down fled from her nose, and she ambled towards the ward where Shawn was.


    She slowly pushed the door open and stepped in, then shut it behind her. She made her way to the seat near the bed and sat down, then interlocked her hands.


    Shawn, who had already noticed her from the moment she stepped into the room, let out a low breath, then raised his eyes to stare at her.


    "How do you feel?" She asked with a tiny bit of concern in her tone.


    Shawn slowly bobbed at her with his head lowered. "I am fine."


    "That''s great." She nodded her head, then her face darkened a bit. "Why did you do that?"


    "Do what?" Shawn asked back, as though unaware of what she was saying.


    "Don''t play with me, Shawn. You do know how crazy I can be?" Her pitch-black pupils stared intently at him.


    "There is nothing to say. I did what I never got to do from the first time we fell in love with each other. You never allowed me to kiss you, but you allowed him to. So what do you think?" He stopped picking at his finger and turned his head to stare at her.


    "So that''s why you kissed me without my permission and almost ruined my marriage?" Leia chuckled mockingly and shook her head in utter letdown. "I am so disappointed in you. Shawn, you, of all people, were supposed to know that none of these is anyone''s fault. Things were meant to be this way. I was meant to be with Adrik, not you, and I was also meant to fall in love with him, not you. So... no one can be blamed here but fate and the heart." She shook her head at him, and Shawn''s hands secretly balled into a tight fist.


    "You know, if I hadn''t met him, I would probably be dead by now. Do you know why? Because the first day we met was when I gave up on the world and wanted to commit suicide. He didn''t let me die but married me as a way to settle a deal with Mr. Adolpho. From the moment I stepped into his home, it was like heaven on earth. I experienced love I had never experienced before. It was like a new world and I knew at that moment that this might just be the place for me."


    "So please Shawn. Stay out of my marriage and don''t try to ruin it. I love you, but only as my friend. My husband is the only man that owns my heart and the only man I will ever love. Nothing, I mean nothing in this world, will ever be able to separate us. Not you, not anyone." With that being said, she stood up from the chair and stared down at him. "Take good care of yourself. Your hospital bill and everything else have already been cleared. Once you''re discharged, you just have to go home."


    She smiled at him and turned around, then ambled out of the ward. Shawn stared at her disappearing back and the moment she shut the door, he began to punch the bed and cried hard. He buried his face in his palm, and tears slipped from his eyes. "Leia! Leia! You!!!"


    Leia halted on hearing his ranting, and a deep breath left her nose. She adjusted her clothing, then began to walk out of the hospital towards her car.. That was the best thing she could have done.

 Chapter 169 - Mr. Fynn

    Leia arrived back at the mansion and made her way inside. She pushed open the door to their room and met Adrik, who was wearing his shirt. "You''re back." He turned to stare at her with a smile hanging on his face.


    "Yeah." She walked to the bed, sat down.


    "How did it go?" Adrik clasped the last button of his shirt, leaving three open, then began to adjust the hem.


    "Well... it went pretty okay, I guess. I settled things with him. So..." She shrugged then began to assess him from head to toe. "Where are you going?" She inquired, her brow arched.


    "I have some business to attend to." He walked to her and leaned down, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. "I will be back soon." He snatched his suit jacket from the sofa, then grabbed the key and proceeded out of the room.


    A low breath left Leia''s nose, and she pulled her phone out of her pocket. She scrolled through her contacts and dialed a number. The person picked up and she brought the phone to her ear.


    [Luna]


    "Mr. Fynn, How are you? " A smile emerged on her lips.


    [I am good. How are you?]


    "Am okay. I am calling to know if you have already arrived there."


    [I have, since early in the morning. They are yet to come, by the way.]


    "I see... I believe you know what to do once they arrive. Don''t let me down. Handle the situation just like I told you."


    [Yes, Luna]


    Leia hung up the call and threw it on the bed. Then she laid on her back and shut her eyes. A deep breath fled from her mouth and a half-smile ensued on her face.


    _____


    Adrik gazed out of the window as the car drove to his company. He fixed his gaze on the bright sky, and for a moment, a subtle breath couldn''t help but escape his lips.


    As though something suddenly grabbed his attention, he averted his gaze from the sky and glanced at a building that was none other than the hospital where Shawn was administered. His brow creased a bit, and he turned to glance at Alex, who was driving.


    "Alex."


    "Yes, Supreme Alpha."


    "I''d like you to get me the CCTV camera from the ward where that moron is being administered. I expect it before I leave the company." He ordered, then pulled his phone out of his pocket.


    "Yes, Supreme Alpha." Alex nodded accordingly and focused his eyes on the road ahead of them. _____________


    Rita and Mr. Adolpho arrived at the third estate, and the driver drove into the compound. He parked the car in the parking lot, then hurriedly stepped down to pull the door open for them.


    Mr. Adolpho stepped down, followed by Rita, and his eyes couldn''t help but scrutinize the mansion. "This is your house?" He turned to Rita to stare at her with a bit of disbelief in his eyes.


    "Yes." Rita nodded and walked closer to stand beside him.


    "It''s too sophisticated and expensive compared to what I imagined." He shrugged, and Rita''s brow crinkled a bit. "What do you mean?"


    "Well... you told me your father wasn''t that rich compared to rich people, so I am really flabbergasted to know he owns this house. It''s a very expensive house, compared to mine." He smiled and turned his head to glance at her.


    Rita''s heart skipped a bit, and she swallowed hard. Her lashes blinked vigorously, and she turned to stare at him. An awkward smile emerged on her face and she cleared her throat. "Well... As I said, he invests a lot and trusts me when I tell you that my father likes to be referred to as rich, even though he isn''t, compared to you guys. " She hurriedly explained, and Mr. Adolpho nodded in understanding.


    "Shall we proceed inside?" She smiled as she gestured him forward. He smiled at her and unexpectedly grabbed her by the hand, then began to walk towards the entrance.


    The tall brownish door pushed open the moment they stood in front of it, and together they stepped inside.


    The first person their gaze fell on was a middle-aged man whose most of his hair was already white, seated on a white sofa with a newspaper in his hand. He was clad in a suit and a white shirt.


    Rita''s eyes fluttered furiously, and she couldn''t help but scream within her. ''Mr. Fynn!''


    "You finally decided to come home." The middle-aged man who was Mr. Fynn adjusted his glasses, then flipped to the next page of the newspaper.


    Rita gulped hard and turned her head to glance at Mr. Adolpho with nervousness in her eyes. "Da-dad... i-"


    "Welcome back home, dear daughter." He dropped the newspaper, then stood up from the divan. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his pants and turned around to gaze at Rita.


    He instantly dilated his orifices on seeing Mr. Adolpho, pretending to be surprised. "Mr. Adolpho." He shifted his gaze to Rita and then back to Mr. Adolpho. His eyes trembled, and without any hesitation, he walked towards him.


    "How di-what-" His expression switched to one of confusion and he stared at Mr. Adolpho in utter shock.


    Mr. Adolpho smiled friendly at him, then reached out his hand to exchange a handshake with him. "You are?..."


    "Oh... Mr. Fynn...I am Mr. Fynn." He hurriedly reached out his hand and vigorously shook hands with him. "Please come have a seat." He gestured to the sofa, and Mr. Adolpho smiled at him, then proceeded to sit down on the sofa.


    Rita and Mr. Fynn''s gazes met, and Mr. Fynn blinked his eyes at her, signaling her to maintain and act cool.


    Rita pursed her lips to keep herself from laughing and walked over to sit beside Mr. Adolpho on the sofa.


    Mr. Fynn sat opposite them and stared at Mr. Adolpho with a face full of wide smiles. "May I know what brought you to my humble home?" He inquired, and Mr. Adolpho cleared his throat.. "Well, it''s about your daughter."

 Chapter 170 - I Cant

    Mr. Adolpho''s brow raised at Mr. Fynn''s words, and he shifted his gaze to Rita. "What about my daughter?" His eyes dwindled into a thin line.


    "Well, it''s nothing much, just that I have fallen for your daughter, and I-"


    "What do you mean by "you have fallen for her?" He cut him off before he could finish his sentence and asked in a bit of a displeased tone.


    Mr. Adolpho''s brow raised in irritation, and he stared at Mr. Fynn with eyes that would kill if it could.


    Mr. Fynn cleared his throat and adjusted his seating. "I am sorry if I was disrespectful a moment ago, but... you can''t fall in love with my daughter." He stated this with complete seriousness in his tone.


    "And why is that?" Mr. Adolpho interlocked his hands, then fixed his gaze on him.


    "She is engaged." Mr. Fynn blurted out and shifted his stare to Rita. "I can already guess she didn''t tell you she is." His manner became threatening as he said the last sentence.


    Rita''s body shuddered, and she subconsciously grabbed Mr. Adolpho''s hands. Mr. Adolpho''s eyes fluttered and he lowered his head to glance at her shaking hand that was holding onto his. His lashes blinked in disbelief, and he turned to gaze at Mr. Fynn. ''Is she really afraid of him to this extent?'' He couldn''t help but ask himself. As though this situation reminded him of a particular memory, a certain image of a trembling young girl emerged in his mind, and he hurriedly shook his head.


    He took a deep breath and raised his eyes to stare at Mr. Fynn. "She did tell me, and that''s why I''m here. Could you please cancel the engagement?" He requested, but Mr. Fynn shook his head at him. "I''m sorry, Mr. Adolpho, but I can''t." It''s not like he was going to get anything from Mr. Adolpho, so why agree?


    "What do you mean by you can''t?" Mr. Adolpho''s face darkened, and he asked with a little bit of rage evident in his tone. What sort of thing was this? He was never the type to beg, and this lowly man had the guts to reject him that way.


    Mr. Fynn took a deep breath, then interlocked his hands. "Mr. Adolpho, she is already engaged to another man, and not just that, I currently have a deal with him, so breaking the engagement is a very impossible feat."


    Mr. Adolpho''s hands morphed into fists, and he stood up from the couch, then shoved his hand into his pocket. "I do hope that if I can get him to break off the engagement, you will allow me to have your beautiful daughter."


    "Yes, yes. She will be all yours." Mr. Fynn smiled mysteriously and Mr. Adolpho nodded at him before grabbing Rita by the wrist and pulling her along with him.


    "You can''t leave with he-" Mr. Fynn''s expression altered into one of displeasure, and he shook his head as he stared at their disappearing backs. "This seems like fun." He chuckled softly, then grabbed the newspaper from the mini table.


    ______


    Adrik, who was finished with his work for that day, stood up from his office seat and adjusted his suit. He tucked a few strands of his hair behind his ear, then proceeded to leave the building.


    The bodyguards that were following behind him pushed the glass door of the company open for him and he majestically walked out with his left hand shoved into his pocket and his right hand holding onto his phone.


    The moment he arrived near the SUV, Alex pulled the door open for him and he stepped inside. He crossed his legs and returned his attention to his phone.


    Alex took his seat in the driver''s chair, then inserted the key and turned it to the ignition point. He swiftly drove out of the compound and sped off down the road.


    It took a maximum of one hour and a half for him to arrive back at the mansion.


    Alex parked the car, quickly got down, and hurried to pull the door open for him. Adrik stuffed his phone into his pocket, then stepped down from the car.


    "Did you get what I asked you to get?" This was his first question, and Alex nodded. He pulled out a USB from his suit pocket and handed it over to him.


    Adrik received it with a satisfied expression on his face, then began to walk into the mansion. He made his way to their room and pushed the door open, then stepped in and shut it behind him.


    The moment he turned around, his gaze fell on Leia, who was lying on her back on the bed. He walked towards her and leaned down, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. "Little wife." He called her name, but Leia just whined and changed her position on the bed. Adrik chuckled as he gently lifted her and laid her further into the bed.


    He covered her with the bedsheet, then walked to the sofa to sit down. He grabbed his laptop and turned it on, then unlocked it. He inserted the USB and his earphones, then plugged them into his ears.


    He browsed through the laptop and clicked on the first video that popped up on the screen. A low breath left his nose, and he relaxed back to watch it.


    [A young woman who was Leia walked into a ward and strode to the seat near the hospital bed that her friend Shawn was seated on.


    "You came."


    A low breath left Leia''s nose, and she interlocked her hands, "Why wouldn''t I come?" She inquired in a bit of a disappointed tone.


    Shawn bit his lower lip then turned to stare at her. "Well, after what I did at the restaurant, I believe you must be really mad at me."


    Leia pinched between her brows and took a deep breath. "Well, I would be lying if I said I was not. What you did back there was outrageous, but I won''t blame you much anyway." She smiled at him and examined him. "How do you feel?"


    "Leia, do you not love me anymore?" He inquired, and Leia''s lashes fluttered and rubbed her forehead. "Shawn, please-."


    "Answer me, Leia." His voice cracked a bit, and a low breath left Leia''s mouth. She bit her lower lip, then began to fiddle with her finger. "Shawn, I am sorry... but I love you only as a friend now. Yes, I was sold to him, but... things changed. I fell in love with him and realized that I could never live without him. He is like a part of me that I need to keep living with. That is how much I love him. He is me and I am him... we are one. " She took a deep breath and raised her eyes to stare at him. However, she drew back on seeing the deep scowl on his face.]


    ************


    so y''all requested that you would love it if Adrik heard what she said, so am trying to make that possible. ^_^


    Also, besties, if y''all wanna join my discord server, just let me know in the comment section and I will drop the link. Heart y''all.. Happy wonderful Val. Love y''all 3000

 Chapter 171 - Why Didnt You Tell Me?

    Adrik''s eyes fluttered vigorously, and he hurriedly paused the video. He took a short, quick breath, then rubbed his face with his palm.


    He resumed the video again and continued to watch. As he did, his eyes began to dwindle, and his hands began to morph into fists. The moment the scene where Shawn pulled Leia down and kissed her forcefully, Adrik''s heart skipped a bit and his face began to boil red in rage.


    He took a long, deep breath to calm himself down and pinched between his brows. ''Fuck!'' He cursed, realizing he had misjudged Leia and was indeed unnecessarily angry at her. He took yet another subtle breath, then proceeded to play the next video.


    He clicked on the video and interlocked his hands. He really wanted to see how his little wife settled everything.


    [Leia pushed the door to the ward open and walked towards the chair to sit down, with no single emotion evident on her face.


    "How do you feel?" She asked Shawn with a bit of concern visible in her tone.


    "I am fine," Shawn replied.


    "That''s great." Leia nodded her head, then her face darkened a bit. "Why did you do that?" She threw an instant question at him.


    "Do what?" Shawn questioned back as if he didn''t understand what she was saying.


    "Don''t play with me, Shawn. You know how crazy I can be?" Her pitch-black pupils stared intently at him.


    "There is nothing to say. I did what I never got to do from the first moment we fell in love with each other. You never allowed me to kiss you, but you allowed him to. So what do you think?" He stopped picking on his finger and turned his head to stare at her]


    Adrik hurriedly paused the video and stayed silent for one minute just to understand. So his little wife had never kissed anyone before and he was her first kiss. His lashes flickered in disbelief, and he took a deep breath, then proceeded to resume the video.


    [ "So that''s why you kissed me without my permission and almost ruined my marriage?" Leia chuckled mockingly and shook her head in utter letdown. "I am so disappointed in you. Shawn, you, of all people, are supposed to know that none of these is anyone''s fault. Things were meant to be this way. I was meant to be with Adrik, not you, and I was also meant to fall in love with him, not you. So... no one can be blamed here but fate and the heart." She shook her head at him, and Shawn''s hands secretly balled into a tight fist.


    "You know, if I hadn''t met him, I would probably be dead by now. Do you know why? Because the first day we met was when I gave up on the world and wanted to commit suicide." As though reminiscing about that day, a loving smile emerged on her face.


    "He didn''t let me die but married me in the form of a way to settle a deal with Mr. Adolpho. From the moment I stepped into his home, it was like heaven on earth. I experienced love I had never experienced before. It was like a new world to me, and I knew at that moment that this might just be the place for me.


    "So please Shawn. Stay out of my marriage and don''t try to ruin it. I love you, but only as my friend. My husband is the only man that owns my heart and the only man I will ever love. Nothing, I mean nothing in this world, will ever be able to separate us. Not you, not anyone. " With that being said, she stood up from the chair and stared down at him. "Take good care of yourself. Your hospital bill and everything else has already been paid. Once you''re discharged, you just have to go home."


    She smiled at him and turned around, then ambled out of the ward. Shawn stared at her disappearing back and the moment she shut the door, he began to punch the bed and cried hard. He buried his face in his palm, and tears slipped from his eyes. "Leia!!! Leia!!! You!!! "]


    Adrik immediately shut the laptop, then dropped it on the middle table. He rubbed his forehead and took deep breaths to calm his heart, which was rapidly beating even though he wasn''t running.


    He threw his head back on the couch and unexpectedly began to laugh, with tiny drops of tears falling from his eyes. ''I totally fucked up!'' He mockingly shook his head at himself, then raised his eyes to stare at Leia, who was sleeping soundly on the bed.


    "Little wife..." He whispered her name and stood up from the couch. "Why didn''t you tell me?" His eyes shut tightly in guilt and he moved towards her on the bed. He climbed in beside her and gently caressed her face with a remorseful smile on his lips.


    "Little wife." He lifted her from the bed, into his arms, and Leia, who felt she was being moved from the position she was lying in, furiously blinked her eyes open. She rubbed her eyeballs and her lashes fluttered in deep surprise at seeing Adrik holding her firmly in his arms.


    "Adrik... is everything okay?" She adjusted herself on the bed so she could sit with her face facing him.


    Adrik cupped her cheeks with his hands and stared into her eyes without uttering a single word. Leia''s gaze darted around as she felt deeply confused, and she parted her lips to talk, but Adrik cut her off.


    "Why didn''t you tell me? Why didn''t you explain it to me even when I gave you the chance to clear things up with me?" He asked in the most tender voice that she had never heard him use before.


    ''What exactly is going on?'' Her brow furrowed deeply in confusion and she raised her eyes to stare at him. However, what she didn''t expect was for Adrik to kiss her. Her eyes fluttered as she felt something different in this kiss. It was different compared to the usual way he used to kiss her. It held so many emotions that she could feel. It wasn''t lustful nor passionate, nor was it simple, but rather it was something else. It was as though she could feel him pouring out his love, his heart, his care into that one kiss, and she felt completely overwhelmed by it.


    ********** Hey besties, help author hit 1000 priv unlock for the win-win event by becoming a privileged reader today. Pretty please...pleasee


    1 coin for 2 chaps.. Please support the author, thanks.

 Chapter 172 - Anything You Want

    Adrik broke the kiss and stared into her pitch-black eyes. Leia, who was still confused and speechless, uttered not a single word but just kept gazing at him with dilated eyes.


    Adrik wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in for a gentle, tender hug. "Little wife... I want you to listen to what I am about to say."


    "I am beyond sorry for doubting you. Forgive me for being unnecessarily angry at you and for judging you even without bothering to listen to you when you asked me to. However, little wife, I want you to know today that if I didn''t love you to the fullest before, then I do now more than you can imagine. And if I didn''t respect you to the fullest before, I do now. If I didn''t care for you to the fullest before, I do now. If I didn''t trust you to the fullest before, I do now and never, ever in my entire life will I ever doubt you again, no matter what happens. You''re the only one and the only thing in this world that I cherish and value. And believe me when I say that I will never be able to survive in this world without you. You''re my everything, little wife. And I will never put anyone else or anything above you. Not even myself. I am so sorry. I love you so much." He took a subtle breath and nuzzled her neck while he hugged her tightly. "I love you so very much."


    Leia''s eyes fluttered, and tiny, fragile drops of tears fell from her eyes. She drew back from the hug and gazed into his green eyes. "I love you too. A lot." She chuckled softly and delivered a soft kiss to his lips.


    "Little wife, is there...anything that you want? If there is, just let me know right now and I will get it for you. A car, a house, anything, just state it." Adrik stared at her in anticipation, patiently awaiting her response.


    "Um..." Leia''s lashes fluttered as she didn''t expect that, and she picked her lips, trying to think of something. She took at least forty seconds before something popped in her head. "I want to go to the amusement park, and I do need a house where I can chill with my best friends." She smiled sheepishly at him, and Adrik chuckled softly. "Done. I will take you to the park tomorrow and you will also get the house tomorrow. Mhmm... I will give you the Fourth Estate, or do you like the Fifth one? You can have both of them if you want. Wait, we are married, right? Whatever''s mine is yours, so you can have it all, except the Second Estate. That''s my private lounge where I do many deeds." He smiled warmly at her and his eyes furiously fluttered as he did not expect her to suddenly squeal loudly like a child.


    "I love you! I love you!" She fell on her knees on the bed and planted soft kisses all over his face, then pulled him in for a tight hug.


    Adrik gently stroked her back and nuzzled her neck. They stayed this way for a few minutes before he drew back and went into the bathroom. He took his shower and dressed in a white robe.


    Then, he walked back to the bedroom and got into the bed. Leia stared at him with a smile lingering on her lips, and Adrik couldn''t help but chuckle softly.


    "Come here." He laid down on his back and motioned for her to come closer. She did, and he had her lie on top of him, then wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly.


    Leia''s head, which was placed on his chest, drummed as she could hear his rapidly beating heart. "Adrik, your heart is beating faster than it should? Are you okay?"


    Adrik nodded at her and caressed her head. "Yes, I''m fine. It''s nothing." He lifted her head and placed a soft kiss on her forehead, then embraced her to sleep.


    ________


    Shawn, who had already been discharged from the hospital, walked out with his hands shoved into the pockets of his jacket and a miserable expression on his face. Tears slipped from his eyes and he grabbed his phone, which had been ringing in his pocket.


    [Sweet Mum] He glanced at the caller''s name and cut the call, then shoved it back into his pocket. His mum, who had been very worried about him, had been calling him for a while now, but he simply cut the call and refused to speak with her.


    His eyes gazed up at the dark sky, and he subconsciously began to walk in an unknown direction.


    [I was meant to be with him, not you. I was meant to fall in love with him, not you]


    These words echoed in his head and he clutched tightly onto his hair. He staggered to the roadside and sat down on the stone pavement built there. ''Was this how heartbreak feels?'' He questioned himself and buried his face in his palm.


    He feels lost, broken, ruined, and most of all, he feels completely dead. Would his normal life ever come back to him? Leia was his reason to live. His reason for striving for anything and keeping on smiling, however, that reason is gone.


    He chuckled to himself and yelled internally about how everything was unfair. He did nothing wrong and just loved someone with his whole heart, but he was paid back with heartbreak. Just how much this hurts him.


    A vigorous wind, which caused his clothing to flutter vigorously, suddenly blew around him, and he couldn''t help but lift his head from his palm. He turned his head to his right and his eyes fell on the most beautiful human he had ever met. In front of him stood a white-haired man who had a smile hung on his face. His sword-shaped eyes, which spoke of dominance, stared at him and he watched his red plump lips curl up into a grin. ''How can someone be this beautiful? And hold on, why does he resemble that scarred bastard a lot? Like a lot.'' Shawn''s brow creased deeply as he contemplated this in his heart.


    The only difference between the two was that one had scars. In fact, they are the same height, with the same body structure; everything is the same. Though their hair was of different colors and lengths. ''Could they be twins?'' Shawn''s eyes fluttered, and he shook the outrageous ideas out of his mind. That was impossible. Since Adrik was known by the world, he has never been mentioned as having a twin.


    "Hello...." The serene voice of the young man resounded, and Shawn, who was absorbed by it, became motionless and lost.

 Chapter 173 - Come With Me

    Shawn''s eyes blinked in bewilderment, and he assessed the young man who was clad in a silver-colored suit from head to toe. "Um... hi." His voice sounded so shaky that anyone who heard it would know that he was crying.


    The young man, who was obviously Ileus, walked to stand in front of him, and with a charming smile on his face, he leaned down a bit, then outstretched his hand to him.


    Shawn stared at his hand in confusion and shifted his gaze to his face. His brow was raised in a questioning manner, and Ileus simply smiled at him.


    He took a quick breath and, as though something unknown asked him to take his hand, he slowly reached out his pale feminine hand with a bit of hesitation and placed it on his.


    Ileus clasped his hand and gently pulled him up on his feet. "Come with me." His gentle, absorbing voice drummed in Shawn''s ear and he swallowed. Ileus squeezed his hand tightly and began to walk while dragging along him.


    As though he snapped out of being under a spell, he snatched his hand away and drew back from him. "Who... are you?" He asked, his brows deeply creased, and Ileus simply smiled at him. "You will know soon. But come with me first. " He walked back to him and interlocked his hands with his, then began to pull him along with him.


    Shawn, who was dumbstruck by what was just happening, uttered not a single word but just followed behind him with a bizarre expression on his face. ''Who is this man?'' Within his heart, he questioned.


    Ileus, who was pulling him along with him, abruptly stopped, and Shawn couldn''t help but peep from behind him to see what made him stop. A brand new black Limousine was parked in front of them. His brow dwindled deeply, and he assessed Ileus once again. ''Just who is this man?''


    Ileus turned to him and smiled in a way that he would call really attractive. He would say It was charming if he was asked to be honest. "Get in." He tilted his head to one side, gesturing him into the car.


    "Huh?" Shawn''s eyes blinked in utter disbelief, and he suddenly found himself chuckling funnily. "You came out of nowhere, pulled me along with you against my will, and now you want me to get into your car. Seriously? You didn''t even introduce yourself and expect me to move with you, a stranger. "


    Ileus stared at him with a leisurely expression on his face as he babbled on and on, and smiled at him the moment he stopped talking. "Are you getting in or not?" His brow raised a bit, and Shawn''s eyes fluttered as he found his gaze fixed on the young man''s face. Wait! Hold on! ''Why do I feel attracted to this guy?'' For fuckingsake, he''s not into men. Gosh! He shook his head and cleared his throat. "Fi-fine as long as you promise you don''t have a bad scheme up your sleeve."


    Ileus chuckled softly and slightly shook his head. "I don''t."


    "Okay..." Shawn nodded, then vigilantly glanced at him before moving to step into the car with a bit of hesitation. Ileus stepped in right after he did and shut the door. "Move!" He ordered and the driver, who was seated in the driver''s seat, turned the engine on and slowly drove away in an unknown direction.


    Shawn tapped on his laps, trying not to think of how uncomfortable he was feeling. What the hell was this? Why did he even agree to follow this guy? He pinched between his brows and turned his head to glance at Ileus. His eyes stared at his white hair, and he couldn''t help but grimace in bewilderment. This was the first time he had met someone with white hair. I mean, real white hair. Or could it be a wig? Or maybe he dyed his hair.


    Ileus, who felt his gaze on him, turned to look at him and raised his brow in a questioning manner. "Anything?"


    Shawn darted his eyes around and slightly shook his head. "N-nothing. I was just wondering if your hair is naturally white or dyed."


    Ileus gazed intently at him and slightly shook his head. "Natural."


    "Oh... wow... that''s really unique. It''s my first time seeing someone with naturally white hair. It''s beautiful." He smiled, and when he saw Ileus''s right brow arch, he hurriedly averted his gaze and turned his head to stare out of the car window.


    Ileus smirked and returned his gaze to the outside.


    The limousine drove for an hour more before the driver slowed down. With a careful turn, he drove into a compound and parked the car. Bodyguards appeared from nowhere and pulled the door of the car open for them.


    Ileus stepped down, and they all bowed down respectfully and only raised their heads when he nodded at them.


    Shawn, who had also stepped down from the car, furrowed his brow at what he was witnessing. Just who exactly was this guy?


    He averted his gaze from them and turned to stare at the mansion standing in front of him. His eyes dilated, and his jaw couldn''t help but drop.


    Before him, stood a huge mansion that was no different from a castle. However, instead of the usual old castle, it was modernized and sophisticated to the eyes. It was entirely painted white, and surrounding the house were luminous lights hidden among the pretty flowers. The house screamed "rich." Who the fuck is this guy?


    His face altered in deep confusion, and he turned to stare at Ileus with a questioning expression on his face. "Who the hell are yo-" He was yet to finish his words when Ileus walked over to him and grabbed his hand, then began to walk towards the door of the mansion.


    The moment they got close, the tall red door was pushed open and Ileus stepped in, followed by him.

 Chapter 174 - Why Did You Abduct Me?

    The first thing that came into his view was a wide living room that looked like a ballroom. ''What the fuck!!'' At the end was a very wide, long staircase that would take quite some energy to climb. Above the ceiling was a golden chandelier that emitted a luminous light. Long, wide sofas were situated perfectly opposite each other, complementing the beauty of the living room.


    "Can I know who you are now?" Shawn asked, clearly annoyed by the guy being all mysterious.


    "Go upstairs, down the corridor, enter the first room you see and take a nice warm shower. Inside the closets are many things to wear, which I believe will suit your taste. Dress up, then come down so we can talk. I don''t like how you''re smelling at the moment. You don''t look quite okay to me." Ileus smiled at him, and his jaw couldn''t help but fall. His hands morphed into tight fists as rage built up in him.


    "This is the longest sentence I have heard from you after the few hours, we just met, and the words you spoke were of utter rudeness." His voice was enraged, and his eyes narrowed dangerously.


    Ileus turned around to face him, and his brow raised mockingly. He chuckled and abruptly reached out his hand and gently brushed his thumb across his face. Shawn drew back and glared at him. "Do not touch me!"


    Not bothering to say a word to him, Ileus simply raised his thumb to his face, showing him the dirt on his thumb. "Do you still want to shower or not?"


    Shawn''s eyes fluttered as they stared at the dirt on his thumb, and he cleared his throat. Without giving a reply, he walked past Ileus and proceeded towards the stairs.


    "You should consider putting an elevator in your house. Climbing these stairs is agonizing and exhausting." He glanced at him and began to make his way up the stairs.


    Ileus stared at his disappearing back, and he couldn''t help but shake his head as he made his way to the sofa to sit down.


    ...


    "Who leaves only stairs in such a big house? so exhausting." Shawn pinched his brow as he climbed up the last few stairs. He moved towards the corridor and halted in front of the first door he saw, which was white-colored.


    He turned the handle, and the door pushed open. He stepped inside and shut it behind him.


    A vast, classic-looking room came into view, and he couldn''t help but draw his head back in awe. "Wow." His eyes scrutinized the room, and he slightly shook his head in amazement. The room was painted with an ash color, and above the ash-colored ceiling hung a moderate lantern that emitted a dense yellow light. A king-sized bed was situated just near the wall, and beside it was a small white mini table that had another unique lantern emitting a thick light.


    He turned around and gazed out the huge glass window at the sky, which had thousands of stars in it. "Wow." He couldn''t help but exclaim again as he made his way towards the door, which he believed led to the bathroom. He pushed it open and saw that it indeed was the bathroom.


    He stepped inside and glanced around before proceeding to strip off his clothes. He took a long, warm shower before he stepped out, wrapped up in the white towel he saw hanging in there.


    He moved towards the wide closet, which was white, and opened it. His eyes fell on different clothing and a smile couldn''t help but form on his face. It indeed was to his taste.


    He grabbed a white turtleneck long-sleeved top, then white sweatpants, and slid into them. He gave his hair a nice combing and brushed it back with his fingers to perfect it.


    With all that being done, he stuffed his hands into his pocket and proceeded out of the room. "Time to find out who this guy is."


    He carefully made his way down the long stairs, and finally, when he stepped down from the last stairs, he took a long deep breath.


    Ileus, who sat with his legs crossed and his eyes on the tablet in his hand, turned his head when he felt him approaching him. He dropped the tab on the sofa and stood up from the chair while he shoved his hands into the pockets of his suit pants. A smile made its way to his lips as he assessed Shawn from head to toe. "You look beautiful now." He smirked and sat back on the divan.


    Shawn ignored his compliment and moved to sit on the couch opposite him. He crossed his legs, then fixed his gaze on him. "Mind introducing yourself now?" He inquired, and Ileus just stared at him while smiling mysteriously.


    "I am not surprised you don''t know me." He chuckled and interlocked his hands. "You can call me Ileus Avalanzo."


    The moment the words left his mouth, Shawn began to cough uncontrollably. He clutched his chest and hurriedly received the water that was being handed to him by a middle-aged butler. He gulped down a mouthful and inhaled and exhaled deeply. "You mean, Ileus, as in, the second richest man in the world?"


    Ileus nodded at him, and he took a quick breath. "Omigod." His eyes fluttered vigorously, and he unexpectedly freaked out. "Do you kill people for money? Is that why you abducted me? My goodness! What did I do wrong to you? We have never even met each other before!"


    Ileus''s face changed to one of irritation, and he cleared his throat. "The question should be, why did you follow you?" His brow raised in utter displeasure.


    "Oh..." Shawn darted his eyes around and twisted his lips. "So are you going to kill me or something?"


    "I don''t butcher people." Ileus addressed with clenched teeth.


    "So then, why did you bring me here?" He asked in a confused tone.


    Ileus'' face switched to that of amusement, and he folded his arms. "I believe you will be happy to know."


    **********


    5 chaps mass release for two days straight if we hit 1000 privilege unlocks!!


    Support author, guys, hurry up and buy. Thank you so much besties

 Chapter 175 - Hes Not Gonna Do It, Right?

    "Huh? What do you mean? And hold on, are you by any chance related to that bastard?" Shawn raised his brows as he asked, and Ileus''s eyes dwindled. "Who?"


    "Adrik, the richest man in the world." He shrugged and abruptly drew his head back as he saw Ileus''s face darken deeply. "Um..."


    His body trembled a bit as he watched Ileus stand up from the sofa and walk towards him. "W-what are you doing?"


    Ileus leaned down a bit so his face was close to his and harshly grabbed him by the chin. He narrowed his eyes, and a deadly glint flashed in his eyes. "Next time you call my brother a bastard in front of me, you won''t live to see the daylight!" He threatened in a tone that sent chills down Shawn''s body. "Watch your mouth!" A simple smile emerged on his lips, and he let go of his chin. He stepped back and shoved his hands into his pocket as he made his way back to the sofa to sit down. He crossed his legs and interlocked his hands. "Shall we continue from where we stopped?"


    Shawn swallowed hard and slowly nodded his head.


    "Good. So you were asking why I brought you here."


    "Y-yes." Shawn nodded, and he smiled at him. "It''s very simple and will benefit both of us." He smirked, and Shawn''s eyes blinked in bewilderment.


    "W-what do you mean?" He asked with confusion evident in his tone, and Ileus chuckled softly. "I see your lover is married to my brother."


    Shawn''s eyes waned, and he slowly folded his arms. "What does that have to do with you? And how will that benefit the both of us?"


    "Well, don''t you feel that it is unfair and that you want to get back at her? I mean, if someone I love with everything breaks me that way, I won''t let them off so easily. You have to be sensible." Ileus smiled mysteriously and waved at his butler to get him a cup of tea.


    Shawn''s brow creased deeply, and he shook his head at him. "I am sorry but... as much as I am hurt, I will never get back at Leia. I still love her and will never hurt her." He stated, in a tone that told Ileus that changing his mind would be a big hassle.


    "I see..." Ileus received the cup of tea from his butler and sipped from it. "You''re quite a pathetic man." He clicked his tongue and dropped the cup on the mini table.


    "What do you mean? And how will this benefit you?" Shawn''s face darkened, and he raised his eyebrows in a questioning manner.


    "You could get your revenge on her and I could get my revenge too on my brother." He smirked, and Shawn''s eyes fluttered. "Get revenge on her."


    "Yes... you can have her, then maybe do whatever you want with her." He shrugged and grabbed the cup of tea to sip from it.


    Shawn''s eyes blinked in contemplation, and he lowered his head to stare at his laps. The scenes of what happened in the hospital replayed in his mind, and his hands unexpectedly balled into a fist.


    "I like where your thoughts are going." Ileus smirked at him, and he raised his orifices to stare at him. "May...I ask why you want to get revenge on your brother?"


    Ileus halted drinking from the cup and lifted his gray eyes to look at him. He chuckled softly and slightly shook his head. "Let''s say he took what belongs to me and I want it back."


    "I see... so you both are not on good terms."


    "You can say that." He shrugged and adjusted the gold watch clasped around his wrist.


    "Wait, if you guys aren''t on good terms, why did you get so worked up when I called him a bastard?" Shawn questioned with deep confusion evident on his face.


    Ileus'' face switched to a stern one, and he stared at Shawn as though contemplating what to say. He blinked his eyes, and a mocking smile appeared on his face. "Maybe, we aren''t on good terms and hate each other, but... it doesn''t mean I will let any random person insult him right in front of me. He''s my twin brother, and insulting him is like insulting me. Do you understand? " He raised his eyebrows, and Shawn slowly nodded his head.


    "Good. Let me know your decision tomorrow. " With that being said, he stood up from the sofa and shoved his hands into his pockets. He turned around and proceeded to walk to his room.


    "Wait! " Shawn hurriedly stood up from the couch and rushed up to him.


    "Anything?" Ileus halted and turned around to stare at him.


    "Um..." Shawn''s eyes fluttered, and he swallowed. "Am I going to spend the night here?"


    "Do you want to go home by this time of night?" Ileus questioned him back, and he blinked his eyes in realization and slowly shook his head. "Sorry." He turned around and strolled over to sit down on the sofa.


    "That room is all yours. Don''t bother sleeping on the couch." Ileus smiled at him and turned around, then made his way to his room.


    Shawn stared at his disappearing back and a deep breath left his home. He''s not going to agree to it, right?


    ________


    The early morning sun shone down, showering its rays on every living creature.


    Mr. Adolpho grabbed his suit jacket from the sofa and slid into it. He glanced down at Rita, who had a nervous look on her face, and took a low breath.


    "Pretty, just trust me. I know what I''m doing." He walked over to her and caressed her cheek. "I will be back in a few hours. Take care of yourself, alright." He smiled at her and she nodded in response.


    He turned around and made his way out of the estate. His bodyguards, who were standing outside, hurriedly rushed to the Rolls Royce and pulled the door open for him. With a rigorous look on his face, Mr. Adolpho stepped in, and they shut the door. Two of his bodyguards scurried to take their seats in front of the car, and the driver started the car''s engine.. With a slow reverse, they swiftly drove out of the compound and onto the toad.

 Chapter 176 - I Am Sure Youre Not A Foolish Man

    [Luna is everything alr-]


    "Don''t worry, everything is going according to my plan." Leia chuckled wickedly, and a dangerous glint flickered in her eyes. "Everything is set."


    [Okay... that''s a relief]


    Leia smiled maliciously at herself and took the speakers off her ears. She turned to face Adrik, who was about to leave for work and perked him on the lips. "See you at six." Adrik nodded at her and kissed her forehead before walking out of the room.


    ______


    The car pulled over to a stop in front of a tall company that had the name "Blue Berry." boldly written above it, and parked in the parking lot.


    The drivers hurried down and pulled the door open for Mr. Adolpho. He stepped down and they shut the door, then he turned to gaze at the building. He adjusted his clothing and began to walk towards the entrance with his men following behind him.


    The security guards at the door proceeded to approach him and check him out, but when they realized who he was, they immediately came to a halt and swallowed hard. His fierce eyes glared deadly at them and they stepped back, creating a distance from him.


    The glass door pushed open on detecting his presence, and he walked in, followed by his bodyguards. The moment he stepped in, both the workers and purchasers that were within the company turned to stare at him. Their eyes fluttered, and they began to whisper to each other. What could he be doing there? This was totally unexpected.


    Mr. Adolpho ignored their gazes and majestically walked towards the escalator, which took him up to the second floor. As though he knew that the owner of the company must be aware that he was there, he halted and stared out into the unknown, patiently waiting for him to come to see him.


    A few seconds later, just like he predicted, a young man of thirty, with blonde hair and white skin, elegantly strolled towards him with his men following behind him. The young man halted in front of him and a smile made its way to his pink lips. "It''s a surprise to see you in my company, Mr. Adolpho."


    Mr. Adolpho smirked at him and slightly nodded his head with an unconcerned look on his face."I can imagine."


    "Richard." The young man outstretched his hands to him for a handshake.


    "Nice to meet you, Richard." He smiled and exchanged a handshake with him.


    "Shall we?" Richard gestured towards his office and he nodded.


    They walked together to the office and entered, closing the door behind them.


    Richard took a seat at his table and motioned for him to take a seat on the chair opposite him. Mr. Adolpho smiled and took his seat, then crossed his legs.


    "So what brings you to my company? Do you want to invest or-"


    Mr. Adolpho chuckled at his words and shook his head. "No... I am here for another reason."


    "Oh..." Richard nodded his head and interlocked his hands. "What might it be?"


    "It''s concerning Janet." Mr. Adolpho smiled as he said, and Richard blinked his eyes. "Who?" He asked, as though confused.


    "Mr. Fynn''s daughter." Mr. Adolpho took a deep breath and folded his hands.


    "Oh, that hottie. What about her?" A lascivious smile made its way to Richard''s lips, and he raised his right eyebrow.


    "Can you break off the engagement between the both of you?"


    Richard''s face crumpled instantly, and he drew his head back in disbelief. He cackled softly and slightly shook his head at Mr. Adolpho. "And why exactly should I do that?" He asked in a tone that held a bit of amusement. He wasn''t the kind of man that could be intimidated by those above him. Not at all!


    A vicious grin made its way to Mr. Adoloho''s lips, and he uncrossed his legs. "I love her and she will be with me, so it will be better if we settle things peacefully and avoid the public."


    Richard unexpectedly broke into laughter on hearing his words and shook his head in utter disdain. "And you think, ''I don''t love her.''"


    Mr. Adolpho shut his eyes and took a deep breath to calm himself down. He opened his eyes and stood up from the chair, then allowed a smile to appear on his face. "I believe I don''t need to speak anymore. I''m sure you''re not a foolish man. You have a week to cancel the engagement peacefully." He laughed softly, and without bothering to elaborate more, he turned around and walked out of the office, then proceeded to make his way downstairs with his men following behind him.


    They got downstairs, and with one of his hands shoved into his pocket, he made his way out of the company, not upset about the stupid stares they were giving him.


    His bodyguards pulled the door open for him, and he stepped into the car. They got into their seats in the driver''s chair and swiftly drive out of the compound and onto the road.


    "I believe you know what to do." Mr. Adolpho said this with his eyes fixed on his phone, and the driver nodded at him. "Yes, master."


    ...


    Richard chuckled softly and shook his head. "He''s quite a dangerous man."


    [Be cautious; he is far more dangerous and malicious than you realize. I will have my men give you protection till all this is over.]


    "Thank you, Mrs. Avalanzo. I believe I made the right choice by helping you out." Richard smiled, unconcerned about Mr. Adolpho.


    [What do you think?]


    "Well, as a wise person, I tend to choose the side that will benefit me. Just getting into your favor is already a huge advantage for me." Richard twirled on his chair with a wide smile evident on his face.


    [We''ll talk again, Mr. Richard.] With that being said, the voice on the other side of the phone hung up the call.


    Richard brought his phone down and glanced at the screen.. A mischievous smile made its way to his lips, and he inhaled, then exhaled deeply.

 Chapter 177 - Its Just A Yes Or No

    Shawn sat on the sofa in the living room with a disturbed expression on his face. A low breath left his lips, and he pinched between his brows.


    Steady footsteps resounded, and he raised his head to see Ileus, who was clad in a white suit, walking over to sit on the sofa opposite him. "Did you sleep well?" Ileus asked him while taking his seat.


    "Was... okay." Shawn cleared his throat and adjusted his seating.


    "That''s good to hear. Did you have your breakfast, lunch, or whatever? It''s 12, right?" He lifted his wrist and glanced at his watch. His brow arched a bit, and he simply shrugged.


    "I did have my-"


    "Don''t bother answering that question." He glanced at Shawn with leisure eyes, and Shawn swallowed his words. ''So let''s get to the point. Have you made your decision yet or not?"


    Shawn''s eyes blinked twice, and he stared at him, unsure of what to say. "I-i... haven''t. It''s a really hard decision for me to make and-"


    "What''s hard about it? You just have to give me a yes or no. If you are angry about how she dumped you, then what else are you thinking about? But if you are not, you don''t have to speak anymore. You can find your way out." Ileus folded his arms as he said with a stern face, and a quick breath escaped Shawn''s nose.


    "Are you always this rude and sarcastic?" He questioned, with an irritated look evident on his face.


    A low breath left Ileus'' lips, and he slightly shook his head. "I believe I''m not since I basically have no one to be rude to." He shrugged, and Shawn pinched between his brows. "I haven''t made my decision yet. Right now, I need to go home and meet my mum first and probably make my decision in the process. "


    "I see..." Ileus nodded in understanding and casually waved his hand at him. "Whatever suits you." With that being said, he stood up from the sofa, walked up to him, grabbed him by the wrist, and began to drag him towards the entrance.


    "W-what are you doing?" Shawn''s face darkened, and he proceeded to snatch his hand, but Ileus''s grip on his wrist was stronger than he imagined. "What the fuck! Bro, let go of my wrist." He struggled to free his hand but flinched a bit when Ileus abruptly turned around to face him. "If I let you go by yourself, will you find the way home?" He questioned in a disgruntled tone, and Shawn''s lashes fluttered vigorously. "Um-"


    "Keep quiet." He turned around and dragged him, along with him, out of the mansion.


    The bodyguards pulled the door open for them, and he stepped in right after Shawn did. The driver started the car engine and drove out of the compound, then onto the road.


    Throughout the ride, none of them spoke to each other, and it was a very awkward ride.


    Finally, after an hour or so, the Rolls Royce pulled over into a familiar compound that Shawn knew to be his home. The car drove around the fountain to park in the parking lot and the engine turned off.


    Ileus turned his head to glance at him, only to see him staring at him with eyes that showed deep confusion.


    "What?" He asked, clearly unsure of why Shawn was looking at him like that.


    Shawn took a quick breath and blinked his eyes. "How did you know my house?" He asked in a tone that held vigilance.


    Ileus chuckled lowly and slightly shook his head. "Does it matter? I might drive out of your compound if you don''t step out of the car. Also, I believe you already know the way to my estate."


    Shawn''s orifices blinked in disbelief and, without bothering to say anything to him, he pushed the door of the car open and stepped down. He walked over and glanced at Ileus through the window. A grimace emerged on his face, and he glared hatefully at him, then began to proceed into the mansion.


    _________


    {4:50 pm}


    Leia stepped out of the shower draped in a white towel and glanced at Adrik, who was seated at the table and having a bit of a struggle packing his hair. A low breath exited her nose, and she walked up to him.


    She grabbed his hands and removed them from his hair, then proceeded to help him pack them. "You have to consider cutting this hair, or else you are going to have to go get a stylist." She laughed unamused, and Adrik glanced at her through the mirror with his right brow raised.


    "Don''t look at me like that." She smiled a bit at him, then grabbed the band from the table to band his hair up. She separated it into a few strands, then began to braid each handful of strands. It took her about ten to fifteen minutes before she was done.


    A deep breath of relief left her mouth and she stretched her knuckles, which were all red and sour. "Darling, you will have to forget about washing this hair for the next three days, because my hard work won''t be in vain." With that being said, she turned around and proceeded towards the dressing room to dress up.


    She grabbed a pair of blue shorts and a long white shirt, then slid into them. She covered her feet in white trainers, then stepped out of the dressing room and walked towards the table.


    She picked a comb and began to fix her hair. Her face couldn''t help but turn into a bit of a grimace. "Why do I feel like I cut this hair way too much?"


    "Don''t feel like it, little wife. You did cut it, way too much." Adrik chuckled mockingly and picked up his watch from the table to clasp it around his wrist.


    Leia turned around with a deep scowl on her face and glared at him.


    "I am telling the truth. Glaring at me won''t change anything." He shrugged and turned to stare at her.


    "So you lied when you said you liked it?" She raised her eyebrows and her orifices dangerously stared at him.


    "No, I meant it when I said I liked it. It looks beautiful on you." Adrik smiled charmingly and proceeded towards her. He grabbed the comb from her and had her turn around to face the mirror. "Short or long, they look beautiful on you, little wife." He brushed her hair back with the brush, then perfected it with his hands by giving it a little brush back with his fingers.


    "Thank you." She turned around and smiled at him, then interlocked her arms with his. "Shall we go now?"


    "Yes, we shall." Adrik nodded at her and, together, they walked out of the bedroom, shutting the door behind them.


    They made their way downstairs using the elevator and strolled out of the building. The bodyguards pulled the door of the SUV open for them and they stepped in.


    Alex, who was seated in the driver''s seat, started the car''s engine and carefully drove out of the compound and onto the road.

 Chapter 178 - Hell No!

    Shawn''s mother hugged him tightly and tenderly patted him on the back. "It''s okay, son. Things, indeed, are not meant to be, just like your father and I. We were never meant to be together in the first place at that time, and we made a very big mistake by being with each other, hurting ourselves in the end... Just let everything go. You will still find the right person for yourself in the future, and then you''re going to be thankful that things went this way. " She smiled lovingly at him and gently caressed his cheek.


    A subtle breath escaped Shawn''s nose, and he slowly nodded at her with a bit of a downcast expression on his face. "You''re right. Thank you, mum. You''re the best. I love you." He turned to her and pulled her into another tight hug. Right now, he has made his decision and won''t bother with getting back at Leia. It isn''t worth it.


    His mother patted him on the back and drew back from the hug, then cupped his cheeks with her hands. "Why don''t you go out and have fun? It will help you get your mind off it." She stroked his hair with tenderness visible in her eyes.


    Shawn slightly nodded at her and stood up from the couch. "I will be back by seven. I will grab some goodies for you in the process."


    Mrs. Roberts''s cackled softly and slowly nodded at him. "I will be waiting for you then."


    Shawn smiled and turned around, then proceeded out of the building to make his way towards the SUV. He stepped into the car and shut the door, then turned the key to the ignition point, and smoothly drove out of the compound and onto the road.


    His fingers tapped playfully on the steering wheel, and he reached down his hand to turn the music on. His head bobbed to the rhythm, and he suddenly found himself singing.


    This kept him entertained for a while until he arrived at his destination, "The amusement park." He smoothly pulled the car over and drove into the area then parked it in the parking lot near another SUV car. Currently, it was six PM and dark clouds were beginning to take over the sky.


    He stepped down and shoved his left hand into the pocket of his pant, then brushed back his hair with his fingers. He hasn''t been here in a long time, and he would be lying if he said he didn''t miss it. He chuckled softly and proceeded into the park.


    ______


    Leia and Adrik stood near the ice cream truck at the amusement park, and the wide smile that had been on Leia''s face since they arrived at the park never faded.


    "Little wife, are you this excited?" Adrik inquired, behind chuckle, as he gazed at the smile that reached her eyes.


    "Humph! You won''t understand." She nudged him intentionally on the shoulder, and Adrik crackled softly at her behavior.


    "Two, please." She hurriedly replied to the ice cream guy, and he took a few seconds before handing her two ice cream cones. She turned to Adrik and handed one over to him, then interlocked her arms with his.


    "Have you never been here before?" Adrik asked curiously, and she licked her ice cream before turning her head to glance at him.


    "I have, but only once. And that was on Amy''s birthday. You, know she''s daddy''s pet. During my birthday, nothing was ever done for me, not even a simple birthday wish, except my mum, who would buy a cake and share it with me while we binge some movies in her room." She laughed softly as she reminisced about those times, and a low breath left her nose. "Oh well, I grew up to not care about those things, although my love for the park will never fade."


    Adrik glanced at her and reached out his hands to scrub her hair. "I can always bring you here if you want." He wiggled his brow at her, and Leia stood on her tiptoes to peck his lips. "Come on, time for some rides." She laughed viciously and dragged him along with her.


    They arrived at the fun sections, and Leia pointed at different rides. "I know you have never been to a park before, so I will introduce each ride to you. That one is the roller coaster." She pointed at the one she was talking about, and Adrik nodded. "And that one is the chair swing ride." She pointed at another one, then at another one. "That one over there is the Pendulum ride."


    Adrik turned his head to glance at the pendulum ride, and his eyes fluttered vigorously. "You want to ride on that thing?" He asked, with disapproval evident in his tone, and Leia nodded at him.


    He began to chuckle uamused and turned her so she would face him. He then took a deep breath and smiled seriously at her. "Hell no, little wife. Sorry, but you are not getting on that thing. You can only ride on the chair swing ride and the roaster coaster, whatever you call it."


    "It''s a roller coaster." Leia crackled softly before her face unexpectedly switched to that of a stern one. "What the hell do you mean by I can''t get on the pendulum ride?" She inquired, with displeasure evident in her tone.


    "You can''t!" He seriously shook his head at her in disapproval, and a subtle breath of annoyance left her nose. "Why is that?"


    "Because it looks too dangerous to me." He grabbed her by the wrist and moved to register for the roller coaster ride.


    _______


    Shawn''s eyes fluttered, and he turned around, his gaze falling on the spot where Adrik and Leia had been standing a minute before. His brows creased, and he glanced around. He was sure that he had heard her voice. Maybe it''s just his imagination.. He shook his head, then headed off to book the roller coaster ride.

 Chapter 179 - He Was Totally Wrong!

    Leia and Adrik walked away from the fun section after having a few rounds of the ride. They strolled towards the hotdog stand and bought two, each for themselves. Currently, it was already seven pm, and the sky was completely enshrouded by darkness, with a half-moon and thousands of stars in it.


    "Did you have fun?" Adrik glanced at Leia with a smile on his lips, and she nodded vigorously at him.


    "Piggyback me." She abruptly blurted out, and Adrik turned to stare at her. "You want me-"


    "Yes." She nodded with a cheerful smile on her face and moved to stand behind him. A deep breath left Adrik''s nose, and he slightly shook his head. He bent down a bit for her, and she climbed on top of him, wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. He chuckled and began to move forward in complete silence.


    Leia took a deep breath of relief and laid her head on his back. They walked for a little while before Adrik suddenly halted and let out a low whiff. "Little wife."


    "Yes." Leia lifted her head from his back and tilted it to one side to glimpse his face.


    "Have you ever wondered about who your father is?" He asked, and Leia''s eyes fluttered in bewilderment. "Mhmm... I have, but then I decided not to think about it. Maybe, who knows, I might meet him one day." She shrugged and adjusted her arms around his neck.


    "I see..." Adrik nodded at her and he gazed out into the unknown.


    _______


    Shawn, who was done buying the things he needed, smiled at the salesgirl, then proceeded to leave the park. However, as though it was a perception, a voice that he knew very well resounded in his ears, and he abruptly halted. He took a deep breath with his eyes shut and hoped it was not who he thought it was.


    The voice reverberated yet again in his ears and, slowly but steadily, he turned around and, the instant his gazes fell on the couple, the bag of goodies he was holding onto, slipped from his hands and fell to the ground. His eyes fluttered as they stared at Leia, who was piggybacked by Adrik, and his heart drummed rapidly within him.


    As though every anger, envy, and hatred he had buried deep in his heart was revoked, hot breath began to exit his nose and his hands balled into a tight fist. He was wrong! He was completely wrong! He is not over it and he never will be! He is hurt and will never move on from it! His decision was totally wrong!


    He shut his eyes and lowered his head, taking deep breaths to calm himself down. When he felt he was relaxed enough to control himself, he lifted his head and, without giving any reaction, he turned around and walked out of the park, leaving behind the goodies he bought.


    He walked straight to his car and stepped in, then shut the door. He started the car''s engine, carelessly reversed, and drove out of the area.


    He rode at a high speed, allowing him to arrive home in less than an hour. He parked the car, stepped down, then shut the door and locked it. He strolled into the mansion with a miserable look on his face, and the moment his mother sighted him, she rushed up to him and abruptly halted when she saw the agitated look on his face.


    "Son,...is everything okay?" She inquired, with deep concern evident in her tone.


    A deep breath left Shawn''s nose and he shifted his gaze to his mother. His heart ached on seeing the apprehensive look on her face, and he couldn''t help but force a smile on his face in order not to worry her. "Nothing, mum. I am just unhappy that I wasn''t able to get you the goodies I promised."


    "Aiii...son, you don''t need to worry about that." She smiled tenderly at him and cupped his cheek, placing a soft kiss on his forehead. "Come, I prepared dinner. You need to eat something." She led him to the dining room and had him sit down at the table. Then she fed him by herself, till he was full.


    "Mum, I am not a kid anymore." Shawn pouted with an embarrassed look on his face, and his mother frowned. "No matter how far you grow, you are always a kid to me. Understand."


    "Yes." He smiled lovingly at her and pulled her into a hug. He drew back after a while and took a deep breath. "Mum, I have somewhere I need to go right now."


    "Where? It''s late already." His mother''s brow creased deeply, and he immediately grabbed her hand and stared at her with eyes that held pleading. "It''s my friend''s place. He''s really sick right now, and I need to visit him. His sickness just got worse, and if I don''t visit him today, I don''t think I will be able to sleep peacefully. "


    "I see..." His mother rubbed her forehead and slowly nodded at him. "Alright, but make sure to call me, so I can be sure that you''re okay."


    "I will." He hugged her tightly one last time before hurrying out of the mansion. He boarded the SUV and, without any more delay, he drove out of the compound and onto the road.


    He glanced around each turn he took to make sure he was going the right way. Finally, after two hours, he arrived at his destination and smoothly pulled over into the familiar compound where he had left this afternoon. He parked the car, stepped down, then shut the door and locked it.


    He shoved his hands into his pockets and proceeded to walk towards the entrance. The tall door pushed open the moment he got there and he stepped in.


    The first person his gaze fell on was Ileus, who was seated with his legs crossed and that attractive smile hanging on his face as usual.. He was clad in a black suit, instead of white, and may he compliment how good he looks in a black suit.

 Chapter 180 - Tommorrow Will Be The Start Of Something New

    Noticing someone else, he slowly shifted his gaze, which fell on another fine young man with brown, flawless skin, seated with his legs crossed and a neutral expression on his face. His curly shoulder-length hair, whose sides were neatly barbed and the center tied up in a messy bun, gave him a bad boy and a sexy look. His eyes began to examine the young man, and he couldn''t help but find himself lost in his neutrality and handsomeness.


    The young man, who was naturally Nirmolak, turned his head on feeling someone''s intent gaze on him and his eyes fell on Shawn. His brow raised on noticing how Shawn was staring at him with a lost expression on his face, and he couldn''t help but turn to gaze at Ileus. "Your highness, who is he?" He inquired, and Ileus chuckled softly, not bothering to answer.


    "Stop staring at me!" He returned his stare to Shawn and snapped his finger at him. As though jolted back to reality, Shawn''s eyes squinted vigorously, and he hesitantly averted his gaze from Nirmolak, who was staring at him with an irritated expression on his face.


    "You came back." Ileus said in a tone that held pride, and Shawn slowly nodded with his head lowered in embarrassment. "Good! Good!." He bobbed, as though a proud father who had seen his son''s report card.


    "Shawn, meet Nirmolak, and Nirmolak, meet Shawn." He introduced the both of them to each other, and Shawn slowly raised his head to glance at Nirmolak. "Nice...to meet you." He said this in a low tone, but Nirmolak averted his stare from him without bothering to respond to his greeting.


    Shawn''s lashes fluttered, and he shifted his gaze to Ileus. "So what do I do now that I have made my decision?"


    "You take a seat first." Ileus smiled and gestured for him to have a seat on the sofa beside Nirmolak.


    Shawn swallowed, and an awkward smile made its way to his face. "I think I will sit on the other sofa." He chuckled awkwardly and moved to sit on another divan, opposite both Nirmolak and Ileus.


    "If that suits you." Ileus laughed softly, then turned to stare at Nirmolak. "That''s my right-hand man. My most trusted follower. " He nodded his head proudly as he introduced him to Shawn.


    "I see..." Shawn nodded as he cleared his throat.


    "Nirmolak."


    "Yes, your highness." Nirmolak instantly straightened up respectfully, and Shawn''s eyes blinked in surprise.


    "This is Shawn. He''s going to be joining in on our little bit of adventure." Ileus introduced Shawn with a mysterious smile evident on his face.


    Nirmolak''s brow arched in confusion, and he shifted his gaze to Shawn.


    Shawn''s eyes darted around under his gaze, and his face became irritated, "Your highness, I... don''t understand what you mean."


    Ileus smiled at Nirmolak and slightly shook his head in skepticism. "Did you hear me wrong? Or have you gone deaf? I said he would be joining in on our little nasty adventure." He tsked in a bit of annoyance, and Nirmolak hastily lowered his head. "Forgive me, your highness."


    Ileus casually waved his hand at him and stood up from the couch. He adjusted his suit and squeezed his hands into his pockets, then turned to glance down at Shawn. "As I told you yesterday, that room is yours. So sleep tight." He smiled at him and turned around, then began to make his way up the stairs.


    Both stared at his disappearing back, and the moment he was out of sight, Nirmolak turned to gaze at Shawn with a vicious look on his face.


    Shawn''s brows furrowed, and he glanced down at himself to see if he had anything unpleasant on his body. What is this guy''s problem?


    Nirmolak scoffed malevolently at him and stood up from the sofa, preparing to leave. However, Shawn rushed off from where he sat and grabbed him by the arm, stopping him on his track. Nirmolak''s face darkened deeply, and he slowly turned around to stare at him. He glared spitefully at him, and Shawn drew his head back in utter confusion.


    "Have we met before or have I offended you before? What''s with the attitude?" He asked in a tone that held utter confusion and bewilderment.


    Nirmolak''s face altered in deep irritation, and he slapped his hand away. "Next time you try this again, you might not be able to secure your arm." His gray eyes narrowed dangerously, and without bothering to elaborate more, he turned around and walked away to his room in the mansion.


    A quick breath fled Shawn''s nose as he stared at his disappearing back, and his eyes couldn''t help but flutter vigorously. He shrugged and turned around, proceeding up to the room he was given. He pushed the door open and stepped in, shutting it behind him and locking it.


    He walked towards the glass window and stood there, then stared out at the aesthetic sky. His hand squeezed into the pocket of his jacket and touched something. He grabbed it and pulled it out, then lowered his head to glance at it. His orifices flickered as they gazed at the small black box in between his fingers.


    He opened it, and a fine diamond ring came into view. A sudden scene emerged in his mind, and he shut his eyes.


    "Sir, you should take this ring. It''s a very special ring and it''s said to keep any marriage everlasting." The sales lady clad in a black suit at the counter smiled friendly at him as she handed a ring over to him.


    The young man who came to buy a ring received it and stared at it with glowing eyes. A smile made its way to his lips, and an image of a young girl emerged in his mind. "Alright, I will take it."


    ...


    Shawn opened his eyes and took a long deep breath. He closed the box and shoved it back into the pocket of his pants, then took his jacket and shoes off, and proceeded towards the bed.


    He laid down and closed his eyes, and it didn''t take much time for him to drift off to sleep.. Tomorrow will be the start of something different.

 Chapter 181 - Mammon

    With his hands behind his back, Lucifer stood on a green field devoid of trees, with his eyes gazing up at the dark sky. A smirk emerged on his lips, and he laughed softly.


    The cold night wind blew vigorously around him, and his smiling face switched to a stern one. "Why are you here, Mammon?" He questioned, with displeasure visible in his tone.


    "Your Majesty." The presence that was Mammon bowed deeply and straightened up when he turned around to gaze at him. He was clad in a gray robe, and his black shoulder-length hair, which was let down, complimented his golden-colored eyes.


    "What are you doing here?" Lucifer, who was swathed in blue robes, as usual, questioned in deep irritation.


    "Forgive me, your majesty, but we were unable to find the coffin." Mammon lowered his head, not daring to look up at Lucifer, who was already fuming in anger.


    "And where is Belphegor?" Lucifer took a deep breath and asked in a tone that held a bit of rage.


    "He decided to continue with the search, while I report to you that we are unable to find the coffin after looking for years."


    Lucifer let out a frustrated breath and swerved around to have his back facing Mammon."Go back and continue the search with Belphegor. That coffin must be found, no matter what!! " His voice thundered, and Mammon hurriedly turned around and disappeared into the unknown.


    Lucifer gazed out into the distance and chuckled softly. "No matter where you have hidden all these years, I will find you. Nothing can be hidden under me." He laughed loudly, and with a swift turn, he vanished into thin air.


    ________


    The clock ticked and the minute it struck seven o''clock, Leia awoke from her sleep and stretched her whole body. She yawned and glanced at Adrik, who was lying down beside her.


    He had asked her to wake him up in case he didn''t, as he had somewhere important to go today. She reached out her hand and tapped him on the cheek. "Wake up, Adrik."


    Adrik turned on his side on the bed and yawned tiredly. He blinked his eyes open and sat up on the bed, then turned his head to glance at her. "Did you sleep well?" He asked, with a sweet smile on his face.


    "Yes, I did." Leia nodded at him and moved closer to peck him on the cheek. "You did say that you have somewhere important to go today."


    As though recalling, Adrik hurried down from the bed and rushed off into the bathroom. Leia''s brow arched a bit, and she shrugged, then proceeded to climb down from the bed.


    She slipped her legs into her slippers and moved towards the second bathroom, as Adrik had already taken the first one. She shut the door behind her and strolled towards the sink, then began to gaze at herself in the mirror.


    A few seconds passed, and her brow suddenly creased deeply when she felt her gum begin to itch badly. She hissed at how it was bothering her and brushed it with her tongue.


    Her fingernails abruptly began to itch too, and she hastily looked down at her hands, only to see the gum area red in color. Her face altered in confusion and fear, and she proceeded to call for Adrik. However, what happened next had her eyes dilate and her body still. Her fangs were slowly stretching out and brushing against her lower lip. Her face trembled, and she turned to face the mirror completely.


    She raised her lips, allowing her to see her two fangs that were bearing. Her eyes blinked vigorously, and her heart began to beat rapidly within her. As her fangs stretched to their limits, Leia lifted her hands to touch them.


    She felt its sharpness, and a quick breath left her nose. She gazed intently at it through the mirror and couldn''t help but graze it against her lower lip. "Whoa..." She exclaimed softly and unexpectedly flinched a bit when her fingers itched so badly like never before.


    She immediately glanced down at her hands and instantly swallow hard when she saw her fingernails stretching out, longer than their real length. What mesmerized her the most about this was its sharpness and edges. It was so pointed like the tip of a sword.


    It looked so sharp that with one slash to one''s throat, it would be the end of that person. She lifted her hands to her face and examined it, and a soft mocking chuckle left her nose. She turned out to be something she never believed in, even though her mother taught her all about them.


    A deep breath escaped her lips, and she turned to stare intently at herself through the mirror. A few strands of her hair slipped, falling over her face, and she couldn''t help but raise her eyes to glance at them.


    The moment her gazes fell on them, she instantly winced, knocking down the glass cup on the sink and slipping and falling on her butt to the ground.


    Adrik, who heard the noise from the bedroom where he was, rushed into the bathroom and hastily moved towards her, seeing her on the floor. He pulled her up to her feet, then gazed at her with an apprehensive look on his face. "Little wife, is everything okay?" He inquired, but instead of answering, Leia grabbed those few strands of her hair and showed them to him.


    Adrik''s gaze shifted to her hair, and his eyes fluttered vigorously. "Why is it... gray?" He inquired with a questioning look on his face, and Leia slowly shook her head. "I don''t know, I just saw it now."


    Adrik reached out his hand and grabbed the particular strands that were gray. "This... is beyond me." He said with deep confusion in his voice. "Did you dye your hair or-"


    "No, I didn''t," Leia replied with a serious tone, and Adrik slowly nodded at her. "This is strange..." He whispered to himself in a low tone and grabbed her by the shoulder, turning her so she could face him. He stared into her eyes and took a deep breath. "Little wife, can you have your fangs stretched back in?"


    Leia''s eyes fluttered, and she slowly shook her head. "Not at all..."


    "And why not? If you were able to stretch it out, why not in?"


    "Because it bore on its own. I came in here and the next thing, I felt my gum itching, then I saw my fangs and nails elongating." She explained, and Adrik lowered his head to glance at her fingers. A deep breath left his nose on seeing her stretched out fingers, and he lifted his eyes to stare at her. "Did you, by any chance, have the thought of your fangs elongating when you came in here?"


    Leia''s eyes blinked twice, and she slowly nodded at him. "It was just a random thought..."

 Chapter 182 - Blue Moon Park

    "Little wife, that''s why." Adrik chuckled softly and brushed her hair, back with his fingers. "They react according to your thoughts, even faster when you are in danger."


    Leia nodded slowly in comprehension and looked down at her hands, only to see them slowly stretching back in. She rubbed her tongue on her teeth to realize that even her fangs had retracted. She laughed softly in awe and couldn''t help but shake her head. "This is cool." She raised her eyes to stare at Adrik, and Adrik arched his brow at her. "Anything?"


    "I want to learn how to control my abilities." She gazed at him with pleading eyes, hoping that he would agree to help her out.


    Adrik''s eyes darted around and he let out a low sigh. "Remind me tomorrow. As of today, I won''t be available." He cupped her cheeks and kissed her forehead, then glanced at the gray strands of her hair mixed with the black ones. He touched and stared at it for a while, before turning around to proceed out of the bathroom, leaving Leia to stare at his disappearing back.


    Leia averted her gaze when he slammed the door shut, and walked back to stare at the strands of hair through the mirror. Her brows furrowed deeply in apprehension, and she mixed it with the black ones to hide it, then she walked towards the bathtub and turned the tap on to fill it up.


    ________


    With a serious look on his face, Adrik stepped into the Rolls Royce, and his bodyguards shut the door. They hurried to step into the SUV parked behind it.


    Alex started the car engine and drove out of the compound, followed by the bodyguards, using the SUV.


    They rode at a bit of a high speed, and it took them at least an hour before they arrived near the forest that was forever engraved in their hearts. "The Deamonda Forest."


    Alex turned the steering wheel and pulled over onto the narrow road, which had tall trees on either side of It. The humming of birds resounded everywhere, and the leaves made noises as the tires of the cars crushed them.


    They drove through the narrow road for a whole hour before pulling over onto another route, which took them ten minutes, before finally slowing down in front of something unknown.


    Where they were starting at, was invisible to the human eyes but only visible to the eyes of non-humans.


    In the eyes of humans, the only thing they can see is a dead end, that shows just the clouds in the sky. While in the eyes of the non-humans, they can view an entire kingdom protected by a barrier that only the werewolves can cross.


    Alex stopped the car, and so did the bodyguards who were behind them.


    Adrik raised his head and glanced at the barrier, then took a deep breath and shut his eyes. It''s been a few months since he last came to his pack, his kingdom, and met his people.


    He slightly shook his head and opened his eyes, which were now golden in color. "Move!" He ordered Alex, and Alex nodded respectfully before starting the car''s engine.


    As he drove forward to penetrate through the barrier, Adrik''s eyes became brighter, and his iris burned bright golden, as though from a burning fire.


    The car smoothly passed through the barrier, followed by the SUV in which the bodyguards were riding, and the moment they all drove through, the barrier closed, preventing any other creature from getting in.


    Adrik glanced around, his gaze falling on his people, both children, and adults, who stopped whatever they were doing and bowed before him, as the car drove straight to the packhouse.


    The kingdom didn''t look ancient anymore, but modernized, showing they had adapted to modern life as it came into existence. However, the only difference between their world and the human world was that, while humans used cars for transportation and guns for protection, they preferred to walk on their feet as their speed was extraordinary, and moving from one place to another was extremely easy for them. They didn''t use guns for protection because, with just their abilities, they could protect themselves more than humans could, so it was of no use to them. Another difference was the fact that a lot of trees grew near their houses compared to the human world, making them healthier than humans could ever be.


    The cars arrived in front of a huge white gate, and two royal guards dressed in matching outfits pulled it open. Alex smoothly drove in, followed by the bodyguards, and they drove around a tall statue, which was obviously of Adrik in his wolf form, before parking in the parking lot.


    The bodyguards pulled the door open for him, and he stepped down, the sun hitting down on his white clothing, which included a turtle neck, long jacket, suit pants, and a pristine white shoe.


    He stuffed his left hand into the pocket of his pants and used his right hand to tuck the strands of hair that fell over his face behind his ear.


    A low breath escaped his nose as he stared at the white, tall castle-like building that stood before him, which they refer to as a palace. It was so wide and huge that one who looks at it will know it''s an ancient building. But was, however, modernized to adapt to the new generation.


    On each side were other smaller buildings, which obviously belonged to the maids and the royal guards. The ground was made of concrete, and before the tall white door were stairs that one needed to climb before he or she could arrive at the entrance.


    Adrik waved his hand and motioned for Alex and the guards to follow behind him.. They began to saunter towards the stairs, and on the notice of him, the maids and the workers all ran out and bowed deeply, not daring to straighten up until he had entered the palace.

 Chapter 183 - Omega Wolves

    Adrik walked towards the entrance and the moment he arrived before the tall door, it pushed open and, with an adjustment of his clothing, he stepped in, followed by Alex and his men.


    A vast, high hall that was completely painted white, with a few other things painted a light gold, came into view. Two wide stars led up to where a unique golden throne was situated, making it so that two people who use different stairs would still arrive at the same place, which was where Adrik''s throne was positioned. In-between the two stairs was a slim flower fountain, which looked extremely attractive. Tall glasses that were covered by white-colored curtains were attached to the wall behind the position where the golden throne was situated.


    On either side of the hall were expensive chairs, which obviously were meant for the ministers and the prime ministers. Before the stairs that led up to Adrik''s throne were two bronze-colored chairs that were naturally meant for Ileus and his father. Above the high ceiling hung a massive diamond chandelier, which emitted luminous light, giving a dazzling beauty to the hall. On the walls were hung square-shaped lanterns that emitted dense light when turned on.


    A low breath exited Adrik''s nose, and he began to make his way towards the stairs. He placed his hands behind his back and proceeded to walk up using the left stairs. He stood in front of his throne, and with a turn, he adjusted his white jacket and elegantly sat down on the throne. A smile emerged on his face behind the gray mask he wore as he watched Alex walk up to stand beside him at the throne and the bodyguards stand guard at the end of each staircase.


    "Let them in." He said this in a deep, unfriendly tone, and the royal guards at the tall white door pushed it open, revealing the ministers, who were grouped into two factions. The first group was clad in light blue suits, while the second group was clad in red suits. "SUPREME ALPHA!"


    They all bowed deeply in respect and rose when Adrik nodded at them. They all matched in, and the first group walked to take their seats on the right-hand side, while the second group walked to take their seats on the left-hand side.


    Adrik crossed his legs and interlocked his hands, then looked down upon them with deadliness in his eyes. "Bring them in!"


    Alex nodded and waved his hand, and four of the royal guards standing vigilant near the door walked out of the hall. A few seconds passed, and the tall door was pushed open again, revealing two omega werewolves beaten into a bad state and held harshly by the four royal guards.


    The four royal guards dragged them into the hall and threw them on the floor before Adrik, who was seated on the high throne.


    Adrik lowered his emerald green eyes to stare at them and the white criminal tattered clothing they wore, and a deadly glint flashed in his eyes.


    Petrified by the sheer, dominating aura that Adrik diffused into the air around him, they began to shiver and cower back in fear. The prime ministers of each of the factions stared at the two omega wolves, and deep disdain couldn''t help but ensue in their eyes.


    The bodies of the Omega Wolves trembled violently under Adrik''s gaze, and they instantly laid flat on the floor. "Please spare us, Supreme Alpha, please spare us!" They pleaded while hitting their foreheads on the floor, hoping that Adrik would at least spare them.


    Adrik''s face darkened, and Alex waved his hand at the royal guards. At his command, they raised the spiked whip in their hands and bashed them against the body of the omega werewolves. A loud cry escaped their mouths, and Alex stomped his feet on the floor, causing them to instantly keep silent. "You don''t speak without the Supreme Alpha''s permission!!" He said in a deadly tone, and the omega wolves nodded their heads vigorously with deep fear in their eyes.


    Adrik relaxed back on the throne and gently tapped on the armrest of the throne. "Who gave you both the order to trespass in the territory of the vampires?" The moment the word left his mouth, the ministers and prime ministers, who were unaware of this, fluttered their eyes furiously and drew back their heads with dilated eyes, in disbelief. ''Tr-trespass the territory of the vampires!'' They exclaimed in their hearts and turned their heads to stare at Adrik, who had a neutral expression in his eyes.


    The Omega wolves fidgeted in deep fear and swallowed hard. They raised their heads to glance at Adrik, but another bash of whips landed on their backs, causing them to fall flat on the floor. The audacity they had to even try to glance up at the Supreme Alpha!!


    "Speak!!" Alex yelled in a dangerous tone, and the omega wolves nodded vigorously as they whimpered softly. Seconds passed, but yet not a single word exited their mouths.


    Adrik, who was never a patient man, waved his hand at Alex, and Alex nodded respectfully. He turned to the royal guards and waved his hands at them.


    The royal guards bowed deeply and moved out of the hall. After a few seconds, they returned with a wooden chair that had four silver belts fixed to it. They dropped it before the throne, and Alex nodded at them.


    They moved to the omega wolves and yanked them up from the floor. The omega wolves began to shake violently, trying to free themselves from the hold of the royal guards. "No! No! No!" They cried helplessly while turning their heads back now and then to glance at Adrik, hoping he would tell the royal guards to stop. However, Adrik stared at them with no emotion evident in his green eyes.


    The omega wolves felt their spirits flee their bodies as they approached the chair, but just as the royal guards were about to have them sit down, the tall door swung open, and both Alex, the prime minister, and the ministers turned to face the entrance.


    Adrik''s eyes narrowed dangerously, and he slowly raised them to stare at the two people standing at the door with a dominating aura exuding from their bodies.

 Chapter 184 - An Alpha Wolf Should Never Be Challenged!!

    The eyes of the prime ministers and ministers trembled, and they immediately stood up from their chairs and bowed deeply, including Alex. "Your highness!"


    The two, who were no other than Lekhman and Ileus, smirked with deep pride in their eyes and began to saunter into the hall majestically.


    Adrik gazed at them with deadlines in his eyes and a wide grin couldn''t but form on his lips behind the mask he wore. A soft chuckle escaped from him as he watched them walk to stand before his throne. "It''s been so long since we saw each other, dear father."


    Lekhman''s face darkened, and his gray eyes glared viciously at him. He turned his head to glance at the two omega wolves held by the royal guards, and an unknown glint flashed in his eyes. "Take your hands off them!" He ordered the royal guards, and the royal guards instantly turned to stare at Adrik, whose hands slammed angrily on the armrest of the throne. "Who do you think you are?!" He questioned with dominance in his tone, and Lekhman''s eyes narrowed hatefully.


    "I am your father and the first rul-"


    "What makes you think that you can walk into my palace and command my people before me?! Such audacity you have!!" Adrik''s eyes narrowed viciously and his orifices changed from green to golden.


    "This was my kingdom and I was-"


    "I am your Supreme Alpha! And you dare not speak back to me. Unless... you want your old ass kicked out of this hall." Adrik smirked behind the mask on his face and relaxed back on the throne. "If you want to be present in this hall, go and take your seat, and not just you, but you too." He shifted his gaze to Ileus, and Ileus''s body trembled in rage.


    "How dare yo-"


    "It seems like you''re deaf!" Adrik glared malevolently at him, and he swallowed the rest of his words, then moved to take a seat on the bronze seat. Lekhman''s eyes dwindled, and he slowly nodded his head with a deadly smile on his face. He turned around and walked to take his seat on the bronze chair, which was reserved for him.


    Adrik averted his gaze and glanced at the ministers who were still standing on their feet with a lost expression on their faces. He scowled spitefully at them, and they instantly sat down, their bodies shivering in fear.


    Adrik stared down at the two omega wolves and his face became stern. "Speak!" He spoke in a deadly yet calm voice, and the omega wolves shuddered violently. They slowly turned their heads to have their eyes fall on Lekhman, who sat with a neutral expression on his face.


    Lekhman''s mood darkened the instant he saw their gazes fixed on him, and he glared wickedly at them.


    Adrik''s eyes narrowed maliciously, and he trailed their line of sight only for his gaze to stop on Lekhman.


    Lekhman also turned at the same time to stare at him, and their eyes met. Adrik, who already guessed what was going on, grinned cruelly and shifted his gaze to the Omega wolves. "I give you one last chance to speak, if not..." He smiled behind the mask, not bothering to elaborate any further.


    The omega wolves nodded vigorously and swallowed hard. "Su-supreme Alpha. We w-were ordered by..." The ministers and prime ministers adjusted their seating and stared intently at them.


    Lekhman and Ileus'' expressions obscured and they glared viciously at the omega wolves, indirectly signaling to them that if they dared speak, they wouldn''t survive more than an hour. The omega wolves shuddered in fear and suddenly found themselves changing their minds about speaking the truth. They have a family that wouldn''t survive without them, so seeking death at this moment isn''t an option. However, if they keep quiet and hide the truth, wouldn''t the death they will suffer from their Supreme Alpha be worse? No matter the decision they make, they will still die, but it would be better to say the truth. At least they could plead with their Supreme Alpha to keep their family safe.


    As though they knew what each other was thinking, they glanced and nodded at each other.


    "Speak! Who ordered you?" Alex yelled in an angry tone, and they hurriedly bowed their heads, letting their foreheads touch the floor.


    "Supreme Alpha, we were ordered by... His highness!!"


    As though time had stopped, everyone became motionless and they breathed heavily. The prime minister''s eyes blinked in disbelief, and they immediately shifted their gazes to Lekhman.


    Adrik, who already knew that Lekhman was behind it, chuckled softly in a deadly tone and turned to stare at him with a pitiful glint in his eyes.


    Lekhman''s face blackened deeply, and he unexpectedly slammed his fist on the armrest of the chair in a deep rage. He abruptly stood up, and before anyone could predict what would happen next, he appeared in front of the omega wolves in the blink of an eye, grabbed the one who spoke by the neck, and hoisted him into mid-air. His orifices changed to a violet color, and his fingers elongated, piercing into the neck of the omega wolf. "How dare you?!" He yelled in the face of the omega wolf, and his body fidgeted in his hold.


    The omega wolf grabbed onto his wrist, trying to free himself from his grip, but Lekhman''s grip became stronger, causing the face of the omega wolf to turn pale.


    Adrik''s face turned ashen as he watched the scene unfolding before him and his hands balled into tight fists. "Let him go!" He yelled at his father, and Lekhman smirked, clearly unwilling to do so.


    Adrik''s teeth clenched in anger, and without thinking twice, he stood up from the throne and appeared before Lekhman in the blink of an eye. He grabbed him by the wrist and, with great force, he flung Lekhman away, sending him flying and almost crashing onto the wall. Lekhman, who flew back and managed to land on his feet, growled deeply in rage and his violet eyes deepened.


    The omega wolf, who was freed from his grip, fell heavily to the floor and hurriedly began to crawl back, creating a large distance from his Supreme Alpha.


    Adrik breathed heavily and his fingers stretched out while his fangs elongated.. His emerald green eyes switched to those of deep red, showing just how much his wolf was trying to let loose and tear Lekman into pieces. An Alpha wolf should never be challenged!!

 Chapter 185 - Is This What You Really Want?

    "Finally, you have decided to challenge me, your father!" Lekhman grinned cruelly, and before anyone could predict what would happen next, his legs moved and he appeared before Adrik in the blink of an eye, swinging his claws and aiming for his face.


    Adrik swiftly bent back, dodging his claws and sending a brutal kick to his stomach.


    Lekhman staggered back and took off the moment he did, jumping up into midair and striving for Adrik, who was yet to hold his balance.


    Adrik''s eyes narrowed viciously and he let himself fall flat on the floor on his back, then rolled to one side, avoiding Lekhman''s claw, which could have sunk into his skin. He instantly jumped up to his feet, and his face darkened deeply. "This is what you really want?" He asked, with unfriendliness in his tone.


    Lekhman stood on his feet too and turned around to face him. His violet eyes dimmed deeply, and his body trembled in a deep rage. A slow smirk formed on his lips and he turned to glance at the prime ministers, who had deep fears evident in their eyes. They all swallowed as his gaze landed on them and deep breaths escaped their noses.


    "You claim to be the Supreme Alpha, no? Today, I want you to prove if you''re really worthy or just depending on a prophecy. " Lekhman grinned maliciously, and Adrik''s eyes dwindled dangerously. He glanced around him to see the eyes of his people on him, and a low breath left his nose. "Fine, if that''s what you really want." He shrugged as he said and took a batting stance.


    Lekhman nodded in satisfaction and turned to glance at Ileus. As though Ileus knew why he glanced at him, he hurriedly nodded and grabbed two unique swords that had their big blades carved in a very different style.


    The sharp edge of the swords glistened under the luminous lights of the chandelier, and a deadly smile formed on Lekhman''s lips. "You know, I always battle with this, so I hope you don''t mind."


    Adrik''s face darkened instantly, and his breathing became unsteady.


    Without giving any warnings or anything, Lekhman surged off towards his Adrik, swinging his swords to rip him apart, however, Adrik managed to avoid it, but it still managed to cut his side belly slightly.


    His eyes fluttered, and he glanced to the side of his belly to see drops of blood sipping out and tainting his white clothing. Deep rage ensued in his eyes, and his hands trembled violently as they balled into tight fists. His eyes dimmed to a deep red and what seemed like fire burned within them.


    Lekhman smirked at him and chuckled mockingly. "Prove yourself, son!! Show me how strong you are, to deserve that tit-"


    He was yet to find his words when Adrik materialized in front of him in a second, and grabbed him by the throat, flinging him away in anger and causing him to crash heavily into the wall.


    Not letting him even stand up on his feet, he rushed off to him and brutally kicked him back into the wall, shattering the wall into smithereens and causing him to fall out onto the open ground.


    Adrik punched the wall, breaking it completely, and surged past it to arrive before his father, who was on the floor with cuts all over his face and his swords lying beside him.


    He breathed heavily, and in his mind at that moment, he wouldn''t spare his father. Without thinking twice, he whisked off, appearing before his father and grabbing him by the throat, throwing him up into the air and sending a deadly kick to his stomach before he could land on the floor. Lekhman fell heavily to the concrete ground and couldn''t resist spurting out a mouthful of blood.


    He raised his head to glance at Adrik, who was gazing at him with deadliness in his eyes, and mocking laughter exited his mouth. He grabbed his sword and stood up on his feet, with the help of it.


    He breathed heavily and glanced at the surrounding ministers who were staring at them. His face turned ashen as he felt disgraced and deep hatred arose in his heart. "It''s either you or me today!!!" With that being clamored, he surged off, aiming for Adrik''s throat with his sword pointing forward.


    Adrik''s eyes narrowed cruelly, and without a second thought, he grabbed the edge of the sword, stopping it from penetrating his throat, then gazed into the deep violet eyes of his father.


    A deep growl erupted from his throat as he felt blood dripping from his palm, and with a bit of yell, he let go of the sword and swiftly bent back, dodging the sword from penetrating through his neck. He then kicked it with his leg, causing the sword to fly out of Lekhman''s hands and fall to the floor.


    Lekhman''s eyes fluttered and he moved to grab his sword. However, Adrik trapped his feet in-between his legs and turned, causing Lekhman to fall off balance and plunge to the ground.


    Adrik hurriedly got up on his feet and moved towards him, then grabbed him by the collar of his robe and stared deeply into his eyes. "This is what you wanted, right?" Not even giving him a chance to answer, he flung Lekhman up into the air with great force and got ready to send traumatizing punches to his face before he landed on the ground. However, from out of nowhere, a silhouette emerged and stormed into mid-air with great force, grabbing Lekhman before Adrik could send those ferocious punches to him, and fell to the floor.


    Adrik''s eyes narrowed in rage, and he turned to see who it was, only for his gaze to fall on Ileus who knelt on the floor, holding their father in his arms. Lekhman coughed hard and spurted a mouthful of blood.


    Ileus'' face blackened in rage, and he dropped their father on the ground and rushed off to Adrik, grabbing him by the throat.. However, at the same time, he grabbed Adrik by the throat, Adrik also did the same, and they stood with their eyes gazing at each other and claws penetrating each other''s throats.

 Chapter 186 - You Dont Tell Me What To Do!

    The ministers and prime ministers, including Alex, swallowed hard and drew back, creating a distance between the two.


    This was twin brothers against each other.


    Ileus breathed heavily and his eyes darkened, turning completely white, showing that his wolf was about to emerge.


    Feeling completely challenged by a non-Alpha wolf, deep rage simmered within Kai and he roared within Adrik, telling him to let him out. However, Adrik held him back, not letting him out.


    A deep growl exited Ileus''s throat and, with a swift move, he sent a brutal kick towards Adrik''s belly. However, Adrik caught his feet on time and furiously spun him around, resulting in Ileus falling to the concrete ground and jumping up almost at the same time. He burst towards Adrik and jumped into midair, stretching his claws further and swiping them at Adrik''s face.


    Adrik dodged, but the gray mask on his face was knocked off and the band tying up his hair broke, causing his hair to fall back and reach his back knees. He instantly staggered back and lowered his head, letting his hair fall to his face and cover his scars.


    Ileus began to laugh mockingly, and a vicious grin emerged on his lips. "Hiding your horrible scars, I see."


    Adrik shook his eyes as he tried to calm himself down, and in a blink of an eye, he appeared before his mask and bent down to pick it up. However, the instant he picked it up, Ileus claw slashed through his back, ripping his clothes and piercing deep into his skin.


    An animalistic deep growl erupted from Adrik''s throat, and he hurriedly clasped the mask to his face and swiftly turned around, sending an unexpected, severe kick to Ileus, sending him flying backward and falling heavily to the concrete ground.


    He rushed to him and jumped up, knocking him, then began to send punches after punches to his face. When he felt satisfied, he grabbed him by the collar of his suit and threw him up into the air, then forcibly stormed his feet on the ground and jumped up, sending kicks and punches to his stomach.


    Ileus spurted out a mouthful of blood in mid-air as he plummeted to the concrete ground, hitting his forehead in the process.


    He coughed hard and spurted out mouthful after mouthful of blood, before finally falling weakly after the third time.


    Adrik''s eyes narrowed hatefully, and as though something was hurting him in his heart, he clutched onto his chest and shut his eyes in pain. Fuck!! Twin Bond!!


    He took deep breaths and threw his head back to gaze up at the sky, then lowered his head to stare at Ileus, who was glaring at him with his eyes, which had returned to their normal gray colors.


    "Lock them up in the royal house until I give an order for their release." He yelled at the royal guards, and they nodded as they scurried to haul Lehkman up from the floor and take him away to the royal house.


    The other royal guards moved to apprehend Ileus and drag him to the royal house. However, he violently kicked off, all of them, sending them flying backward and crashing onto the wall, then turned to gaze at Adrik with maliciousness in his eyes. "You don''t tell me what to do!!" With that being said, he turned around and dashed off, disappearing from the eyes of the surrounding audience.


    Adrik gazed in the direction he had left from and let out a soft breath, then turned around to glance at the ministers and prime minister. "You''re all dismissed!" He said it in a chilling tone that sent shivers down their bodies and had them running off instantly.


    His hands balled into tight fists as he felt the blood oozing out from the deep wound in his back, and he raised his eyes to glance at Alex.


    Alex hurried to him, and together they walked away and made their way towards his chamber in the palace.


    He sat down on the golden chair in his white room and began to take off his jacket and turtleneck. He banded his hair up into a ponytail, then wrapped it into a messy bun.


    Sweats dripped down his tattoed body, and the blood oozing out of his back never stopped. "Alex!" He motioned for him, and Alex arrived before him in the blink of an eye with a first aid kit in his hand.


    Alex bowed deeply and dropped the kit on the table, then opened it and grabbed a bandage, cotton wool, scissors, and spirit.


    He walked to stand behind his Alpha and proceeded to dress up his wound.


    It took a few minutes before he was done, and Adrik stood up on the chair.


    Alex grabbed the bandage and began to wrap it around his chest to his back to cover up the wound, taking his leave the moment he was done. Adrik let out a low breath, then moved towards the closet to grab a set of black casual wear.


    He slid into them and, without bothering to fix his hair, he walked out of his royal chamber to the outside to meet Alex, standing with his hands behind his back.


    He walked towards him and patted his shoulder. "Handle the things around here. I need to get home now, else she will kill me." He slightly shook his head, then moved towards the Rolls Royce.


    His men pulled the door open for him, and he stepped into the car. They shut the door, then moved to take their seats in the front seat.


    The driver turned the key to the ignition point and, as soon as the engine switched on, they swiftly drove out of the palace and onto the road.


    They drove till they arrived at the barrier, and just like before, they smoothly penetrated, arriving back into the human world.


    The car sped down the narrow road, and it took at least an hour before they pulled over and sped into the road.


    Adrik glanced up at the almost dark sky through the window, and a low breath escaped his nose.

 Chapter 187 - Leave Me Alone

    Arriving at their destination, the driver pulled over and began driving into the compound. He drove around the wolf statue before parking the car in the parking lot. The bodyguards hurried down from the car and pulled the door open.


    Adrik stepped down and shoved his hands into the pockets of his pants, then began to stroll towards the entrance. He walked into the living room and nodded at the maids, who bowed to him.


    He strolled towards the room and pushed the door open. When he stepped in, he found none of their things inside the room. It was as if they had been robbed. Everywhere was completely empty.


    His brow crinkled in confusion, and he walked out of the rook, making his way towards one of the maids. "Where is my wife?" He asked, and the maid lowered her head. "Supreme Alpha... Lu-luna is upstairs." She answered, and he turned around and made his way towards the elevator.


    He stepped inside, and the elevator took him up to the second floor, then walked out when the doors opened.


    He ambled towards their room, which they had vacated due to Leia destroying everything inside of it. What could she be doing in there?


    He pushed the door open and stepped in. The moment he turned around, his eyes fell on a brand new room that looked way more beautiful than before.


    His eyes fluttered vigorously, and he shifted his gaze to a purple bean bag in the room to see Leia seated on it with her phone in her hands.


    "Little... wife." He whispered, and Leia hurriedly turned to glance at the door when she heard his voice. As though a child, given candy, she rushed up to him and jumped on top of him, hugging him tightly.


    Adrik winced in pain the moment her hands wrapped around his back and hurriedly put her down to stand on her feet on the floor.


    Leia''s brow crumpled deeply, and she raised her orifices to stare at the grimaced expression on his face. ''Have I become too heavy?'' She questioned herself but suddenly shook her head as she found that ridiculous. No matter how heavy she got, she would never be too heavy for Adrik to carry.


    "Adrik... is everything ok-"


    She was yet to finish her words when Adrik walked past her and into the bathroom, then slammed the door shut. She flinched back a bit, and her lashes fluttered in deep confusion. ''What''s going on with him?'' She couldn''t help but question herself yet again in deep apprehension.


    The sound of running water resounded from the bathroom, and she moved to stand near the door. She leaned down on it and gently gave three light knocks. "Adrik... is everything okay?" She waited for an answer, but not a word came from Adrik. All she kept hearing was the sound of running water. A low breath left her nose and she turned around to have her back placed against the door.


    ...


    Adrik gazed at himself through the mirror on the wall and a subtle breath left his nose. He stared at his scars and that scene where Ileus knocked off his mask flashed in his mind. He hurriedly scooped up a handful of water and splashed it on his face.


    He unwrapped the bandage around his chest, dropped it, and walked to the shower to take a long, warm bath.


    A few minutes passed, and he finally turned off the shower, then grabbed the white towel to wrap around his waist. He strolled to the door and turned the handle, then pushed it open.


    The first thing his eyes fell on was Leia, who stood in front of him with a disturbed look on his face.


    Leia stared at his face and her eyes moved to his hair, which was wet and dripping drops of water. "Why didn''t dry your hair?"


    Adrik replied her not, and turned to make his way towards the dressing room with a white material in his hand, which she immediately came to know was a bandage.


    Her brow furrowed deeply, and her eyes unexpectedly fell on his back, which had a deep claw wound. "Adrik!" She clamored his name, stopping him on his track and hurrying to stand in front of him. "W-what happened to you? What is that deep wound on your back? Did you have a fi-"


    Adrik gently moved her out of the way and walked into the dressing room, slamming the door shut and locking it from the inside, so she couldn''t come in.


    He took a few minutes before he was done with dressing up his wound and cladding himself in a white robe. He dried up his hair, then proceeded to stroll out of the room.


    He turned the door handle and walked out, only to see Leia seated on the sofa with a distant look on her face. He shifted his gaze to the glass window and let out a low sigh as the rain falling heavily outside hit the window.


    He turned and ambled towards the bed, then laid down on his stomach and shut his eyes.


    Leia immediately stood up from the couch in the notice of him and moved towards him on the bed. She climbed in and gently stroked his hair. "Adrik, why don''t you want to tell me what''s wrong with you?" She inquired in the calmest voice she had ever used.


    "Leave me alone. I just want some time to myself. That''s all." He replied in a calm, yet cracked voice, and Leia''s eyes fluttered. She got down from the bed, then walked over to climb in beside him and lie down with their faces facing each other.


    She reached out her hand and caressed his cheek, and Adrik''s eyes blinked open. They gazed into her pitch-black eyes and he uttered not a single word.


    "Why don''t you want to talk to me?" She inquired yet again and tenderly kissed his forehead.


    Adrik took a deep breath and shifted his arm to wrap it around her waist. "I''m sorry, little wife." He half-smiled at her, and Leia shook her head.


    "Adrik, don''t apologize to me for no reason, and just tell me what is wrong. You have a very deep wound in your back that you didn''t have this morning, and the clothes you wore to come back weren''t the same as the ones you wore to leave this morning. Please just tell me what happened. I am really worried. I feel like I''m going to be sick." She pouted in displeasure, and Adrik couldn''t help but chuckle softly.


    "I will explain everything to you tomorrow. Let''s just have a peaceful night, okay." He leaned in closer and gave her a soft peck on the lips. "Mind telling me, who redecorated this room?" He inquired with his right brow raised.


    "Oh it''s nothing much, I just didn''t like the decoration they gave it, so I gave it my own style of redo." She giggled proudly, and Adrik nodded at her. "It''s very beautiful and creative." He smiled at her and she moved to kiss his forehead.


    *********


    5 chapters mass release in the next two days! And 7 chapters mass release after the end of win-win event for this moment!


    Please author need your support so much. A humble author here, pleading for ya''ll to support me in any way possible. I really really appreciate it. And I hope to hit 1000 priv unlocks for win-win!


    I love you guys so much!! It will really mean a lot to me. (Puppy eyes)

 Chapter 188 - Do I Look Like A Monster

    Rita sat with her legs crossed, near the huge glass window of the living room, watching the heavy rain that was falling outside.


    Sounds of steady footsteps sounded behind her, and she slowly turned around to see who it was.


    "Pretty." The person, who was obviously Mr. Adolpho, walked up to her and pulled her into a hug. "Why aren''t you asleep?" He inquired as he took a seat beside her on the chair.


    A low breath fled Rita''s nose, and she turned her head to glance at him. "No reason, I just love to watch the rain." She half-smiled as she said it, and Mr. Adolpho nodded at her. He took deep breaths and crossed his legs. "Are you thinking about the engagement thing with Richard?"


    Rita''s eyes fluttered, and she slowly turned her head to stare at him. A simple smile formed on her lips, and she shrugged. "Yeah, I am... but not as much as before. I mean, I feel quite safe here with you."


    A wide smile that reached his eyes emerged on Mr. Adolpo''s lips as he heard her reply and he stared at her for a while, then averted his gaze when she turned to glance at him with a questioning expression on her face.


    He stared at the window for a while before grabbing her hand and rubbing gently on it. "I... I will definitely break off the engagement and then we could be together, alright."


    Rita''s lashes flickered, and she nodded at him with a smile on her lips. "Thank you."


    ________


    Ileus returned to his mansion, and the moment he walked in, his eyes fell on Shawn, who was seated on the sofa with his head rested back, and eyes shut. In his ears were white Airpods, and his phone was placed on his side on the sofa.


    His brown short hair was neatly brushed back and his lashes, which were quite long, fluttered whenever he moved his eyeballs.


    Ileus shoved his hands into the pockets of his pants and proceeded to walk towards the stairs and up to his room.


    As though Shawn had noticed his presence, he sprang his eyes open and unplugged the AirPods in his ears. Then he straightened up to see Ileus halted on his step with an unpleasant look on his face.


    "You''re back... Your right-hand man came to-" He was yet to finish his words when Ileus ignored him and made his way towards the stairs, then strolled up and walked straight to his room, slamming the door shut behind him.


    Shawn''s eyes blinked vigorously in confusion, and he slightly raised his brow. ''What is going on with him?'' He questioned himself and shook his head afterward. He relaxed back on the sofa and plugged the AirPods back into his ears.


    ...


    Ileus walked towards his bathroom and pushed the door open, then stepped in and shut it behind him. He made his way towards the bathtub and filled it up, then proceeded to slip out of his clothes.


    He untied his hair, which almost reached waist length, letting it fall, then got into the bathtub and slowly laid down in it.


    The bubbled water spread all over his body, and he slowly shut his eyes as a deep breath escaped his nose.


    ''Fucking Twin Bond!!'' He screamed angrily within him and the scenes of what happened earlier were played in his mind. The twin bond between them was one big obstacle that was keeping them from hurting each other because killing each other was literally like killing themselves.


    A low sigh left his lips, and he adjusted in the bathtub. The twin bond between them might be strong, but it won''t stop him from paying Adrik back, and if possible, he will definitely find a way to break the stupid twin bond between them!


    His face grimaced in irritation as he thought of all this, and after a few minutes, when he was done bathing, he stood up and stepped out of the tub. He grabbed the towel from the hanger in the bathroom and wrapped it around his waist, then made his way out.


    He strolled to the white closet and pushed its door open, then grabbed a white robe. Perhaps it was a twin thing., but he and Adrik have always had this love for white clothes and anything that comes in white.


    He moved to sit down on the chair at the table, then grabbed a bottle of body oil and gently applied it to his skin. He used the hairdryer and dried his hair, then applied some oil to it and gave it a nice combing.


    He banded it up into a ponytail, then skillfully wrapped it up into a nice bun. He glanced at it through the mirror, and as though feeling some sort of discomfort, he loosened it, letting it fall back, then combed it again, but did not band it up this time


    With all that done, he slipped his feet into his slippers, then made his way out of his room.


    He ordered one of his maids to prepare some coffee for him, and then made his way downstairs.


    Expecting that Shawn would be gone by then, he ended up still meeting him, seated on the sofa with his feet tapping on the floor, to the rhythm of the music he was listening to.


    A deep breath exited his nose and he moved to sit down on the sofa opposite him. He crossed his legs and interlocked his hands, then fixed his gaze on Shawn, watching him intently.


    Feeling an intent gaze on him, Shawn unplugged the AirPods from his ears, then straightened up, only for him to almost flinch back on seeing Ileus. "Wh-when did you get here?" He asked in a shaky voice, and Ileus slightly shook his head at him.


    "Why did you flinch? Do I look like a monster?" He inquired in a voice that came off as neither harsh nor friendly.


    Shawn''s eyes blinked in deep confusion, and he stared into his orifices.


    "Why aren''t you speaking?" Ileus'' face altered in a bit of annoyance, and Shawn''s eyes throbbed vigorously. "Wait, you wanted me to answer that?"


    "I would never ask you a question that I don''t need an answer to." He said it in a stern voice, and Shawn swallowed hard.. A nervous look emerged on his face, and he found himself suddenly chuckling awkwardly.

 Chapter 189 - Do You Believe In Them?

    "If you look like a monster, then what do I look like?" He threw a question back at him, and Ileus drew his head back. "What do you mean?" He inquired, a bit confused.


    "Nothing, it''s just that you look beautiful, even more than a woman, and you''re asking me if you look like a monster. That is extremely ridiculous, because if you look like a monster, then I can''t imagine what I look like." He explained with his gaze fixed on the floor, and Ileus'' eyes fluttered furiously. He cleared his throat, and a half-smile formed on his face.


    He stood up from the sofa and walked up to him, then outstretched his hand to him. "Come with me." He said, and Shawn raised his head to gaze at him. He glanced at his hand and, with a bit of reluctance, he took it and Ileus pulled him up from the sofa. He interlocked his fingers with his, then began to walk towards the door that led to the backyard of the mansion.


    He pushed it open and pulled Shawn outside with him. The rain, which wasn''t falling heavily anymore, fell on them as he dragged him along with him towards a glass house that looked exactly like a greenhouse.


    He pulled the glass door open and stepped in, followed by Shawn, and with a clap of his hand, all the lights came on, revealing a beautiful, comforting greenhouse.


    "Whoa..." Shawn exclaimed as he glanced at the flower pots that were situated on each side of the door. Around the four corners of the house were very low shelves that had small flower pots that grew beautiful flowers, kept on them. Hanging down from the ceiling were other pots that grew long, unique green plants. A small fan that rotated slowly hung from the center of the ceiling, which was glass with wooden pillars supporting it.


    Shawn''s lashes fluttered and he turned to stare at the brownish-cozy sofa with couch pillows on it, situated in the center of the house. In front of it was a wooden, green-colored round mini table, and another chair that was positioned opposite the sofa.


    "This looks so beautiful," Shawn blurted, as his eyes couldn''t stop glancing around.


    "I know." Ileus chuckled softly and let go of his hand. "Have a seat." He gestured to him on the sofa, and Shawn nodded and took his seat.


    Ileus also sat on the couch and crossed his legs as usual, then interlocked his hands and turned to gaze at Shawn. "This is my favorite place to be, and I absolutely don''t allow anyone in here, not even my right-hand man."


    "Then why did you bring me here?" Shawn''s eyes flickered in confusion, and he couldn''t help but ask.


    "No idea. I absolutely don''t know why I brought you here." Ileus shrugged and a low breath left his nose. "I always loved gardens and plants, just like my brother."


    "Adrik?"


    "Yes, we basically love the same things. We have the same favorite color, which is white, and we enjoy nothing more than a garden. It''s just so comforting." He clarified with a bit of a distant look on his face.


    Shawn nodded slightly and abruptly turned on the couch to fix his gaze on him. "If you guys are like this, then why do you despise each other?" He inquired, a bit confused.


    Ileus''s eyes fluttered, and he cleared his throat. "Let''s say he took something that belonged to me and I hate him for that."


    "A woman?"


    Ileus turned his head to glare at him and raised his brow in an annoyed manner. "Why would you think that?"


    "Um, because that''s what most men fight for, I guess," Shawn replied, with a bit of an awkward expression on his face.


    Ileus stared at him for a while before he slightly shook his head. "Anyway, let me get straight to the point. Since we will be working together, I would like you to know my secret; otherwise, when you find it out by yourself, you will be terrified."


    Shawn blinked furiously in bewilderment and nodded his head as he turned around completely to adjust his gaze on him. "Did you kill someone?" He inquired in a bit of a suspicious tone, and Ileus'' face grimaced deeply in irritation.


    "Shut the fuck up and just listen!" He said it in a harsh but calm tone, and Shawn nodded slowly. "Sorry."


    Ileus waved his hand at him, then took a low breath before he turned to stare at him. "Have you ever heard of supernatural beings?"


    "Yeah..it''s seen in movies too." Shawn shrugged, and he slowly nodded his head. "Okay. Do you believe in them? Do you believe they exist?"


    "Um... I wouldn''t say I do, because they probably don''t exist." Shawn replied with a confused look on his face.


    "Hmm... you may be wrong, because what if I tell you that they exist and that one could be sitting here in front of you right now?"


    Shawn''s eyes blinked vigorously, and he drew his head back. "Wait... what! What do you mean by "one could be sitting right here in front of me?" He asked, his brows raised in utter confusion. "Who is it?"


    "You''re quite dumb." Ileus''s nose twitched in annoyance as he slightly shook his head. "Who else is sitting in front of you?" He asked, with a bit of irritation evident in his tone.


    Shawn drew his head back and suddenly began to laugh."You don''t mean what I am thinking, right?"


    "I do mean what you''re thinking." Ileus replied with a leisurely expression on his face.


    "Tell me you''re joking."


    "L m a o." Ileus replied in a robot-like voice, and his face instantly became stern. "Do I sound like I''m joking?"


    "No, you don''t." Shawn furiously shook his head.


    "Then why are you asking if I am joking?" His brow raised angrily, and Shawn swallowed hard. "I-I..."


    "I''m not a human." Ileus shook his head at him and a quick breath left his nose. He inhaled and exhaled deeply, then raised his eyes to stare at him. "I-if you''re not a human, then what are you?"


    "A werewolf.." Ileus replied with a carefree expression on his face, and as though time had stopped, Shawn became motionless with his eyes fixed on him.

 Chapter 190 - I Dont Drink Blood

    "A what?" He inquired as though he hadn''t heard what Ileus said the last time.


    Ileus smiled charmingly at him, and before he could anticipate what would happen next, white canines, slowly but steady, elongated from Ileus''s gum and became visible to the eyes. His nails stretched out, and he glanced down at them.


    Shawn''s heartbeat rapidly increased within him as he stared at the canines resting on Ileus''s lower lip, with his mouth agape, and a horrid look on his face.


    "Do you believe me no-" Ileus inquired, and what he did not expect was for Shawn to suddenly grab a pillow and throw it at him, then stand up from the sofa and begin to back away till his back was pressed against the door.


    Ileus'' face darkened in a bit of anger, and he glared viciously at him. "Why the hell did you do that?" He asked in a very harsh voice that had Shawn jolting in fear.


    Shawn parted his lips to say something but instantly swallowed his words when he saw Ileus stand up from the sofa and begin walking towards him.


    "W-what are you try-" He was yet to finish his words when Ileus''s hands rested on either side of his head on the glass door, trapping him in one place.


    He lowered his eyes and stared deeply into his gray eyes, and that''s when he suddenly realized that Shawn had gray eyes just like him.


    _______


    From inside the house, Nirmolak smiled at the maids after inquiring about Ileus'' whereabouts, then proceeded to make his way to the greenhouse.


    He had just opened the back door and stepped out when his eyes fell on Shawn, who was trapped in one place by his highness. His eyes fluttered and his body became motionless as he stood staring at them with a lost expression on his face.


    ...


    "A-are you gonna suck my blood now." Shawn inquired in a cracked voice, which showed just how terrified he was.


    Ileus gazed intently at his face and slightly shook his head. "No, I will never do that, I don''t drink blood, neither will I kill you. I could have done it without you even knowing who I am if I had wanted to. Besides, there is no reason for me to kill you, even though I don''t like humans that much. " He smirked, and Shawn swallowed hard.


    "You should ease up. It''s not like you saw me in my wolf form. You literally only saw my canines and fingers." He chuckled softly and brushed Shawn''s hair back before turning around and walking back to sit down on the sofa.


    Shawn inhaled and exhaled deeply, then reluctantly moved to sit down on the couch beside him, although he created a bit of distance in vigilance.


    Ileus raised his brow at him and abruptly grabbed him by the hand, pulling him closer to him. "You better get used to it." With that being said, he threw his head back on the sofa and closed his eyes. "Whenever you feel sleepy, just go inside. I will talk to you regarding the plan tomorrow." He inhaled and exhaled deeply, then adjusted his seating.


    Shawn blinked slowly and took a deep breath. He stared at Ileus for a while and turned around, then threw his head back and fixed his gaze on the ceiling. "Is your brother one too?"


    "Yes..." Ileus replied with his eyes still shut, and silence took over after that.


    ...


    Nirmolak, who stood out in the rain watching them, had his face darkened in anger. This greenhouse was somewhere his highness had never allowed him to come into, not even once, but he... allowed a human to! Why?! This was totally unacceptable!


    His hands balled into tight fists and, without uttering a single word, he turned around and stormed back into the house, slamming the door shut.


    ________


    Victor moved around the living room in a very apprehensive manner. Just what was this? Selena had been avoiding him since the incident that happened that day. She rarely speaks to him and spends most of her time in the room, unlike before. Even when he tries to initiate a conversation with her, she suddenly makes up an excuse and leaves. Did he really mess up to that extent?


    He took a deep breath and pinched between his brows in deep confusion. He stuffed his hands into his jeans pockets and looked at the door to Selena''s room. Maybe he can try talking to her again. This is just not cool at all. He needs to.


    He inhaled and exhaled softly, then strolled towards the door. He stalled for a few seconds before he raised his hand and gave a light knock on the door.


    A few seconds passed, but no response came from Selena. He knocked again. Still, no response came from her.


    "Selena, I know you''re in there and awake." He said it in a tone that revealed just how worried he was. "Please just speak to me. Five minutes, only five minutes." He pleaded and suddenly heard a low groan from her reverberate from within the room. "Please! I beg you!"


    He patiently waited, and after what seemed like thirty seconds, passed, the door handle turned and the door pushed open, revealing Selena, who was clad in a milk-colored nightgown and her fiery red hair tied up into a messy bun.


    "We need to talk." He said in a pleading manner, and a deep breath left Selena''s mouth.


    "Come in." She opened the door completely, and Victor stepped inside. He walked towards the divan and sat down, then nervously tapped his fingers on his lap.


    Selena shut the door, then moved to sit down on the couch beside him.


    Victor took a deep breath and turned to stare at her. "First of all, I am sorry for kissing you without your consent. I honestly had no idea why I did that. I just don''t know what made me do that. I know that''s a very silly excuse, but I swear, I have been thinking for these past weeks now and I really can''t figure out why I did that. It was just as if something was pulling me to do it. I''m really sorry."


    Selena''s eyes fluttered, and she suddenly found herself having the urge to break down in tears.

 Chapter 191 - I...Love You

    How could he be saying this? If he knew just how excited and happy she was that he kissed her, he wouldn''t be saying any of these. Her face altered into an awful one and she raised her eyes to stare at him.


    Thinking that she was irritated by him, and seeing the awful look on her face, Victor proceeded to apologize more. "Selena, please, I am really sorry. It''s not okay that you''ve been avoiding me these past few weeks; it makes me sad. We use to chill in the living room every day? Now we don''t. It just isn''t okay. Please... please forgive me. I will never ever try such a thing."


    "Vic...no! no! You''re misunderstanding me. I am not angry that you kissed me okay. In fact, I loved it very much. I''m just angry at myself." Her voice became a bit pessimistic as she said her last words.


    Victor''s eyes fluttered a bit, and he gazed at her with a lost expression on his face. "Yo-you''re not angry that I kissed... you?"


    "Yes." Selena slowly nodded as she bit her lower lips.


    "If you''re not angry at me because of that, then why have you been avoiding me as though I have the flu?" He inquired, completely confused and bewildered.


    Selena lowered her head and took a deep breath. "Victor, you won''t...understand." She shook her head at him, and a subtle breath fled from Victor''s nose.


    "Can you tell me first, before judging if I can understand or no-" Selena''s lips slammed against his before he could finish his words, and his eyes dilated in dumbstruck. What was happening?


    She wrapped her arms around his neck and gently kissed him deeply. Victor, who was overwhelmed, cupped her cheek and took control, kissing her so deeply till she had to draw back to catch her breath. She breathed heavily and smiled at him. "Victor, I... I love you. I really do." She bit her lower lips as she said, and Victor stared at her in speechlessness, with dilated eyes.


    "I...I." Victor''s eyes fluttered as he didn''t know how to reply to this, and a low, pessimistic breath left Selena''s lips. "It''s okay if you don''t. You don''t have to say anything. Anyways, I would like to sleep now, so you should probably leave." She stood up from the sofa and gestured to the door.


    Victor''s eyes blinked furiously, and he stood up from the couch, then slowly began to walk to the entrance with Selena following behind him.


    He stepped out, and she shut the door immediately, then pressed her back against it and slid down to the floor.


    Victor slowly moved towards the couch in the living room and sat down, then supported his head with his hands. What the fuck was he supposed to say? He''s never been in love, and he''s never taken any girl who told him she loved him seriously. Why? It''s because he never saw genuine love in their eyes; it was all just fake words, but with Selena, he literally saw just how genuine she was. He could see it in her eyes and that was the damn reason why he was speechless. At the very least, this was the first fucking time a girl fell for him, and not just for his looks.


    A soft breath left his nose, and he pinched between his brows. He abruptly stood up from the couch and walked to her door. Without even bothering to knock, he pushed the door open and a gasp escaped Selena''s throat.


    Victor''s eyes fluttered, and he hurriedly stepped in to see her standing up from the floor. She turned around and their gazes met. Victor glanced at her face and his lashes flickered vigorously on seeing the tears in her eyes. "Are you crying? Why the hell are you crying?" He moved closer to her and grabbed her shoulder, then stared intently at her, waiting for an explanation from her. However, Selena did not utter a single word, but just kept quiet and lowered her head to avoid his gaze.


    Victor placed his fingers on her chin and lifted her head so she could look at his face. "I am sorry if I made you cry." He smiled at her and caressed her cheek. "I don''t want you to cry ever again, cause I love you too. I wasn''t sure before, because I didn''t want to end up hurting you. But I am sure now, and I really do." He raised her chin and slowly covered her lips with his. Selena wrapped her arms around him and he deepened the kiss, kissing her till she pulled away to gasp for breath.


    A low chuckle escaped her throat, and she wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly. God!! This was a dream come true for her. She smiled cheerfully, but as though she recalled something, her face switched to a grim one. A downcast sigh escaped her nose, and she drew back from the hug.


    Victor gazed down at her and gently caressed her cheek. "Is everything okay? Are you still mad at me?" He inquired, on seeing the awful look on her face.


    "No...I am not mad at you, just that..." She nervously bit her lips, and cold sweats suddenly began to drip from her forehead.


    "Just what?" Victor inquired, a bit bewildered by the change in her behavior.


    "Would you stop loving me for any reason?" She inquired, and Victor drew his head back in confusion. "Um, no... that would be pretty hard because you''re the first woman I ever loved."


    "Then... can we go on a date somewhere private next week? I have something that I would like to tell you."


    "Uh... sure, why not?" He shrugged as he replied with a smile on his lips, and she unexpectedly wrapped her arms around him, hugging him once again.


    "Please... don''t stop loving me no matter what I will tell you that day. Because I really, really want to be with you." She pleaded in a bit of a cracked voice.


    Victor''s face altered into a bizarre expression, and he couldn''t help but draw her back from the hug. "Selena, what-"


    "Please..." She embraced him back, and he slowly nodded at her with deep confusion in his eyes. "Okay, I won''t. You don''t have to worry. Okay." He hugged her back and tenderly kissed her forehead. "I.... love you." Damn, he will have to get used to saying this!

 Chapter 192 - Followed

    The next day arrived in the blink of an eye, and currently, it was noon.


    Leia, who was clad in white joggers and white trainers, neatly combed her short hair and brushed it back with her hands.


    She grabbed the car keys from the table and walked out of the room to make her way to the elevator. The elevator took her down to the first floor, and she stepped out when the door pushed open.


    "Good morning, Luna." The maids bowed respectfully to her, and she nodded at them with a half-smile on her lips.


    She strolled out of the mansion and drew her head back in surprise on seeing Alex standing beside the car. "Hey." She walked towards him and punched him on the shoulder. "You appear and disappear. Why are you here today? I thought you left with Adrik."


    Alex chuckled softly and bowed deeply to her in respect. "I would have gone with Supreme Alpha, but he asked me to stay back and look after you."


    "Why? I can take care of myself." Leia''s brow was raised in a bit of disapproval, and Alex shrugged with a half-smile on his lips. He pulled the door of the Lamborghini open and turned to face her. "May I know where you want to go today?"


    "Victor''s apartment." She proceeded to step into the car, but suddenly halted and turned to gaze at him with an arched brow. "Where did you get the key?"


    "I have the spare keys to all the cars." Alex cackled awkwardly, and she nodded at him before stepping into the car. He shut the door and moved to take his seat in the driver''s chair. He inserted the key and turned it to the ignition point, activating the car''s engine.


    Slowly but steady, he drove out of the compound and pulled over onto the road, then sped off down the road.


    "Hmmm... lots of cars on the road today." Leia abruptly said as her eyes gazed out of the car window.


    "What do you mean?" Alex inquired, a bit confused.


    "Well, the road is usually scanty, with not many cars on the road, but today, it''s kind of different. It''s as though everyone is suddenly traveling, and for that reason, there are lots of cars on the road. Also, I don''t doubt there is going to be a traffic jam at some point." She explained, her eyes still fixed on the road.


    "Mhmm." Alex nodded in agreement and slowed down a bit after a few minutes, as he reached for the slow vehicle in front of them.


    "I knew it!" Leia exclaimed, in a bit of annoyance, and a deep breath left her nose. "I hate being in a traffic jam so much!!" She pouted, with a bit of anger evident in her eyes.


    "Sorry." Alex chuckled softly and fixed his gaze on the road ahead of them.


    Leia slightly shook her head and, as though something had caught her attention, she turned her head and her gaze fell on a man in a Ferrari car a bit far from theirs, clad in a black suit. What was more suspicious was the fact that the moment she glanced at him, he turned to stare at her and a grin crept up his lips.


    Leia''s eyes fluttered in confusion and she averted her gaze, hoping the man would stop looking at her. However, she still felt his intent gaze on her. ''What the fuck!'' She blurted within her and turned to stare at the man who looked a bit bulky with messed-up hair. Her brows creased deeply and she glared at him, hoping he would avert his gaze. However, the man smirked at her and slightly shook his head.


    "Alex, whine up the glasses." She turned to Alex, and Alex swerved his head to glance at her. "Huh? I thought you wanted it open."


    "Just whine up the glasses!" She glared at him with an irritated look on her face, and Alex nodded before turning back and whining up the glasses.


    A low breath left Leia''s nose and she turned her head only for her face to alter into a bizarre expression on seeing the man still gazing at her with a smirk on his lips, even though she had whined up the glasses.


    Out of a bit of annoyance, she gave him a middle finger with a deep scowl on her face, then averted her stare and folded her arms with a grim expression on her face.


    Slowly, Alex drove off, as the traffic cleared, and a subtle breath escaped Leia''s nose. "Creeps!" She scoffed in displeasure and had Alex whine the glasses down.


    Alex''s eyes blinked in bewilderment, and he whined the glasses down, then turned the steering wheel to pull over onto another road.


    As though noticing something, Leia''s brows crumpled deeply, and she glanced at the side mirror of the car. Her face darkened when she saw three black Ferrari cars trailing behind them at a steady speed.


    "Are they following us?" Leia inquired in a tone that held a bit of confusion.


    "Huh?" Alex turned his head to gaze at her and Leia raised her brows in bewilderment. "I think we are being followed, and not just by one car, but three."


    "What do you mean?" Alex''s brows crinkled, and he glanced at the side mirror, only for his face to turn ashen. "What the hell!" He turned to Leia and glanced at the seatbelt. "Buckle up."


    Leia nodded and pulled the seat belt across her and locked it.


    Alex''s face darkened deeply, and a deep breath fled from his nose.


    He grabbed the accelerator and pushed it down slowly, then used his right foot to press the gas pedal, which gave speed to the car, causing them to drive off at a high speed and creating quite a distance from the Ferrari''s.


    The men driving the Ferrari''s narrowed their eyes, and just like Alex did, they raised the speed of their cars and sped off, catching up to the Lamborghini.


    Leis'' eyes fluttered vigorously as Alex slowed a bit down, and she glanced at the side mirror only to see the cars catching up to them again.. "Alex, they are catching up to us."

 Chapter 193 - I Dont Know

    "They really are following us." Alex nodded slowly, with a deadly look on his face, and turned the steering wheel, pulling over onto another road and skillfully swerving the cars in their way.


    "Who the fuck are these people?!" Leia inquired in a raged tone, with an apprehensive look on her face, as she also saw them pull over into the road as they did, through the side mirror.


    Alex glanced at the side mirror and his darkened face deepened into a bit of fury. ''Time to deal with these people my own way!''


    He smirked wickedly and slowed the car down before he pushed the accelerator down and pressed the throttle, which sped them off at a much higher speed.


    Leia grabbed the seat belt and swallowed hard. "Alex, aren''t we going too fast? Please, I don''t want to crash! " She turned to him with a bit of fear in her eyes.


    Not bothering to reply to her, he pushed the accelerator again and turned the steering wheel, pulling over into an unknown lane that had ruins everywhere and was devoid of cars or pedestrians.


    Leia''s brow puckered in confusion, and she turned to Alex when she saw him slowing down the car with a dangerous grin on his face. "Alex, where are we? What is this place? " She asked, a bit confused, but Alex simply half smiled at her and glanced at the side mirror to see the Ferrari following behind them at a slow steady speed.


    When they were completely out of human sight, Alex pulled the car over and pressed the brake pedal, stopping the car.


    The Ferrari''s did the same, and a few seconds passed before the door was pushed open.


    Alex shoved the door of the car open and footed down, followed by Leia, who unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped down. They fixed their gazes on the car, waiting for whoever it was to step out.


    A low, deadly chuckle resounded, and bulky-looking men, who towered a bit over them in height, got out of the cars, and their chests vibrated in what seemed like anger.


    They glanced at Leia, and Leia''s eyes narrowed viciously. With the way they looked at her, she already knew that she was the one they came for.


    The back door of one of the Ferraris was pushed open and a big-looking man, though not as thick as the others, elegantly stepped down. His curly shoulder-length hair, which was tied up messily, had a few strands fall over his scary-looking face.


    The moment Leia''s eyes fell on him, her heart skipped a bit. He was the same man who was staring at her with a grin on his face, at the traffic.


    She swallowed hard as her eyes counted their number, which was eight and she slowly moved towards Alex. Eight bulky men, including the man who looked like their boss, made them nine!! This was not good at all!


    "Alex..." She whispered his name and Alex grabbed her hand, squeezing it tightly to help relieve her tension. Leia took a deep breath and straightened up, staring deeply into the eyes of the man.


    The man smirked and chuckled softly as he gazed at Leia, who was staring at him with no panic in her eyes.


    He dwindled his orifices and shifted his gaze to Alex. A half-deadly smile emerged on his lips, and he took a low breath. "Give the girl to us, and you can leave here alive."


    The moment the sentence escaped the middle-aged man''s mouth, Alex''s eyes narrowed and his nails began to stretch out slowly.


    Leia''s eyes also narrowed dangerously, and her fingers began to itch a little.


    "It''s either you give the girl to us or die while trying to protect her." The middle-aged man chuckled maliciously, and when he got no reaction from Alex, his eyes dwindled and he casually waved his hand at his men.


    His men stuffed their hands into the jackets of their suits and pulled out their guns, then aimed them at Alex and Leia.


    The middle-aged man smirked and began to move towards Leia. However, Alex instantly moved and stood in front of Leia, protecting her from any trick they were planning to pull.


    "Boy, I just need the girl. Don''t get yourself killed." The middle-aged man smiled and gazed at Alex with narrowed eyes.


    Alex uttered not a single word, and his nails secretly elongated. "Don''t move." Right after he said that to Leia, he proceeded, appearing in front of the middle-aged man in the blink of an eye and using his nails to cut his face, injuring him deeply in his right eye. The middle-aged man instantly screamed in agony, and his men pulled the trigger, ready to shoot Alex down. However, another shadow appeared in front of one of them and swung her hand, ripping his throat apart and killing him instantly.


    The others began to shoot chaotically to protect themselves, but one by one, nails slashed against their throats, ripping them open and killing them immediately.


    The eight bulky men fell lifelessly to the ground, and a deep breath coming from Leia resounded. Alex turned to glance at her, and his eyes dilated in shock. "How-"


    "I don''t know!" Leia slowly shook her head as her eyes stared at her bloody hands and elongated nails.


    An agonizing cry from the middle-aged man had them, turn to stare at him, and Leia''s eyes switched to bloodshot instantly. "You!!" Deep rage bubbled within her and she quickly moved in an attempt to finish him off. But, Alex proceeded instantly and yanked her back by the belly, holding her in one place to stop her. "Miss Leia, stop!"


    Her legs and arms dangled as she struggled to free herself from Alex''s grip. However, Alex held her tightly, not letting go. "Calm down! We need to leave." He forcefully hauled her to the car and pushed her in, then buckled her seatbelt and slammed the door shut.. He walked over and took his seat in the driver''s chair, then started the car engine and slowly reversed before driving off at a high speed.

 Chapter 194 - Sign A Contract

    Instead of going the way, they were earlier, Alex turned the car around and pulled over, driving the opposite way.


    "Um, Alex, why are we going back?" Leia''s eyes fluttered in deep confusion, and she couldn''t resist asking.


    "I''m sorry, Miss Leia, but I have to take you home." Alex shook his head and continued to drive home.


    "But... I still need to meet up with¡ªwhy are we even going back home?" She pinched between her brows in deep apprehension, and Alex shook his head at her. "I''m really sorry, Miss Leia, but I really need to take you home. You can see that you''re not safe and if I don''t take you home now, Supreme Alpha is going to kill me, especially when he finds out about what happened today. So, please..." He turned to stare at her with pleading eyes, and Leia slowly nodded in understanding. "Alright."


    She relaxed back in the chair and folded her arms, then turned her head towards the window to gaze outside.


    They reached back home after an hour or so, and Leia stepped down from the car with an unpleasant look on her face. Without saying anything, she strolled into the house and walked straight to the elevator, which took her up to the second floor.


    She pushed the door of their room open and stepped in, then shut it behind her. A low growl erupted from her throat, and she ambled to the bed, then plopped down into it.


    She pulled her phone out of her pocket and proceeded to call Victor.


    [Hey Leia, where are you? I am still waiting for you.]


    "I''m sorry, Victor, but something important came up and I really can''t make it today, so my coming will be next week." She took deep breaths as she said and her face grimaced a bit.


    [Oh, I see. Well, uhh... it''s fine, you can come by next week. I also have something to tell you guys.]


    "Oh...kay. I will be there on Monday. " She smiled and hung up the phone, then stood up from the bed and proceeded downstairs for her lunch.


    _________


    A black car sped off down the road and only slowed down when it arrived near a company with the name "Blue Berries."


    Mr. Adolpho''s eyes narrowed as the car pulled over and drove into the compound. His bodyguard yanked the door open for him, and he stepped down and shoved his hands into his pockets. Without any hesitation, he began to proceed towards the entrance.


    The glass door pushed open in response to his presence, and he proceeded to the escalator that took him to the second floor.


    Not bothering to wait like he did the last time he came there, he made his way straight to Richard''s office and pushed the door open.


    Richard, who was having a chat with an employee, raised his head, and his face darkened on seeing. Mr. Adolpho in his office.


    "Mr. Adolpho." He said his name with a fake smile on his lips, then turned to face his employee. "Do come back later. I have an important guest."


    The employee nodded vigorously and stood up from the chair. She gave a respectful bow to Mr. Adolpho before walking out of the door and shutting it behind her.


    Mr. Adolphp''s face became stern, and he moved to sit down on the chair. "Let''s get to the point. I believe you know why I''m here, no?"


    Richards'' brow raised a bit in bewilderment, and he relaxed back on the chair, twirling it from one side to another. "Mr. Adolpho, can I be real with you?"


    Mr. Adolpho''s eyes narrowed, and he slowly nodded at him.


    "Listen... I am not afraid of you or your threats because they are meaningless to me. Even if you have a knife to my throat or a gun to my forehead, I still won''t break the engagement."


    "You-"


    "Unless we make a good deal, which I have in mind." Richard cut him off and smiled mysteriously, with viciousness in his eyes.


    Mr. Adolpo sat up, and his eyes dwindled in deep suspicion. "And what might that be?" He asked with a deep qualm in his tone.


    "Oh, it''s nothing much, just that if you want me to cut the engagement off, you will have to sign a contract with my company, and the share will be 50/50." Richard smiled dreadfully the instant he saw Mr. Adolpho''s face crumpling in what seemed like anger.


    "What makes you think that I would sign a contract with your filthy company?" Mr. Adolpho questioned in a tone that held utter disgust.


    Richard half smiled at him and slightly shook his head. "Mr. Adolpho, there is something you''re failing to understand here. Listen, I am not forcing you to sign a contract with my filthy company but telling you. That Is, if you really want my woman. " He chuckled softly and shook his head before laying back on the chair. "Nothing is free in the world. Janet is my woman, my fiancee, and you think that I will let her go just by mere silly threats from you? " He clicked his tongue in disdain, and Mr. Adolpho shut his eyes, then inhaled and exhaled deeply to calm himself down.


    "Fine, I will sign a contract with your company and you will let Janet go." He agreed after a few minutes of deep thinking, with a grim look on his face, and Richard nodded at him. If signing a contract with this cheap company will free Janet, then he''s willing to do so.


    "Of course." A jovial smile emerged on Richard''s face, and he sat up on the chair, then clapped his hands together. "Alright then, we shall meet again next Monday to sign the contract."


    Without bothering to reply to him, Mr. Adolpho stood up from the chair and stormed out of the office, then made his way downstairs.. He stepped into the car with his hands balled into tight fists, and his men started the car''s engine, then reversed and smoothly drove out of the compound, speeding off down the road.

 Chapter 195 - Impossible

    An SUV pulled over and drove into a luxurious compound. The bodyguards, who were seated in the front seat, hurried down and rushed to open the back door.


    They helped out a middle-aged man who was no other than the man who had tried to abduct Leia and rushed him into the mansion.


    They helped him towards the living room, and he hastily sat down on the brownish couch. "Get me a fucking doctor." He yelled at the maids and the bodyguards in agony, and they all nodded anxiously.


    A young girl with blonde hair and gray eyes scurried down from the stairs and dashed towards the middle-aged man, falling on her knees. "Uncle Robyn!" She whispered his name in a cracked voice and grabbed his left hand, squeezing it tightly. "W-what happened?" She nervously asked, and the middle-aged man who was Mr. Robyn lowered his head to stare at her with his left uninjured eye. He was the brother of Amanda''s mother and was furious when he heard about the death of his sister. When he came to know who the culprit was from his niece, he swore to make Leia suffer worse than what his sister had suffered before dying. But unfortunately, his plan didn''t work, and he instead got injured.


    "I told you to let me handle it, but you wouldn''t listen to me!!" She yelled a bit at him in a distressed tone with tears in her eyes, and Mr. Robyn caressed her cheek to comfort her. "Little girl, listen. You can''t dirty your hands no matter what, okay? It is not what your mother would have wanted, so leave this to me. "


    "What the fuck! You just fucking got injured in your eye and you still want to handle it by yourself! " She stood up and paced back and forth in an apprehensive manner. "Are all the men you went with, dead?" She turned to face him and inquired with a grim look on her face.


    Mr. Robyn nodded at her while still covering his right eye with his hand, and a deep growl erupted from her throat. "Uncle!! How could you let them die?!" She stared at him with a horrified look on her face.


    Mr. Robyn drew his head back in confusion and his brow furrowed, causing him to wince as he felt a little pain in his right eye. "What do you mean?"


    "Uncle, those men are my mum''s assistants. She goes everywhere with them and doesn''t dispatch them anyhow. You told me that you would be able to finish her off, but here you are with an injured eye and all the men dead. Eight fucking men, uncle! " She clutched her head and groaned deeply in frustration.


    "You think you could have done better?" Deep annoyance arose within Mr. Robyn at her attitude and words, and he glared at her.


    "Don''t you glare at me! You just wasted eight important men and you still had the guts to glare at me!" Amanda''s voice trembled in irritation, and she averted her gaze from him in anger. "You know what, don''t bother with it anymore. I will get revenge on my mother on my own!"


    The minute the words exited her mouth, Mr. Robyn instantly stood up from the couch and pointed his finger at her face in a deep rage. "Listen here, girl, don''t you dare disrespect me because I won''t take it lightly with you. Your mother! Your mother! What about me? Is she not my sister? Do you think it doesn''t hur-" He hadn''t finished his sentence when the white door swung open and a doctor with brownish-short, curly hair walked in.


    Mr. Robyn and Amanda turned to look at him, and he smiled as he walked up to them. "Miss Catryn, good evening." The doctor greeted Amanda and then turned towards Mr. Robyn. He bowed a bit to him and showed respect, and Mr. Robyn nodded.


    "Please sit down." The doctor gestured for him to sit down on the sofa, which he did. "Could you please take your hand off your eye?" He implored in a calm tone, and Mr. Robyn nodded.


    He slowly brought down his bloody hand, and the doctor instantly flinched back, seeing the huge claw marks on his face. His lashes blinked in horror, and he breathed heavily in disbelief.


    A horrified Amanda also turned around to stare at him, and the moment her gaze fell on the right side of his face, a dreadful gasp escaped from her and she clutched tightly onto her chest.


    "Uncle, what happened to your face?" She inquired in a bit of a fearful voice.


    "What do you... mean?" Mr. Robyn, who had no clue about the claw mark, darted his eyes around in confusion.


    Amanda shook her head and rushed off, returning after a few minutes with a square-shaped mini mirror in her hand. She handed it over to him and had him look at himself in the mirror.


    Mr. Robyn slowly turned the mirror, and the moment his eyes fell on his face through the mirror, he quickly threw it away, shattering the glass into pieces. His heart thumped rapidly within him, and he slowly touched his trembling hand on the claw mark on his face. The scene from when Alex appeared before him and swung his hand across his face replayed in his mind and he turned towards the doctor. "C-can this be done by fingernails?"


    The doctor slowly shook his head and examined his face once again. "It''s something else. If it''s fingernail marks, then it won''t be as deep as this." He walked closer to Mr. Robyn and gazed intently at his face. "This looks like..."


    "Like what?" Mr. Robyn''s eyes dwindled a bit in bewilderment, and he used the white towel handed to him by Amanda to whip off the blood dripping from his face.


    "This looks like a beast mark. An animal! " The doctor grabbed Mr. Robyn''s face and looked deeply into the wound.. "From how deep the wound is, even to the extent that I can see your cheekbone, the nails that clawed you must have been quite long and sharp, and I don''t think that a normal human would have such long and sharp nails."

 Chapter 196 - Mr. David

    Mr. Robyn''s heart thumped rapidly within him and he cracked his brain, recalling that Alex had no long or sharp nails, the same was for Leia. "Doc, are you sure about what you''re saying?"


    "I am sure of what I am saying! I have never seen anything like this before!" The doctor''s eyes flickered in deep skepticism, and he turned to Amanda. "Please, can I see the other victims?"


    "Um, they''re all dead." Amanda shook her head with a bit of displeasure on her face.


    "Can I see their body?" He inquired, and Amanda slowly nodded at him with a bit of suspicion in her eyes.


    She turned around and motioned for him to follow her as she led him to a private room where all the bodies were neatly laid down by the bodyguards. "We were planning on having them buried as soon as possible." She explained as she shut the door behind them after Mr. Robyn stepped in.


    The doctor nodded and walked towards the corpse. He wore his mask and then squatted down to examine the corpse.


    Each of the corpses had their throats ripped apart, and it was exactly done by the same claws that injured Mr. Robyn''s face. No... no no, they were different. The claw marks on some of the bodyguards'' necks were thinner, letting him know that the person must have had slender nails, while the other three bodyguards'' ripped necks were quite big, letting him know that the claws of the last person weren''t thin at all and definitely was a man.


    "Impossible..." The doctor exclaimed, as he suddenly remembered the things he saw in one of the old mythology books he usually read. Could they be real? He shook his head in a bit of skepticism as he took pictures of the corpse and turned to stare at Mr. Robyn. "Please, may I know who they were? The ones that inflicted those wounds on you and killed all these men."


    Mr. Robin''s eyes blinked a bit in confusion, and he shifted his gaze to the corpses. "There were two of them. The girl is the wife of the richest man in the world, Mr. Adrik Avalanzo, and the other man with blonde hair, I presumed must be her personal guard, from the way he tried to protect her."


    "Wait...what!! Mr. Avalanzo!! You tried to... Nevermind." The doctor''s eyes fluttered in disbelief, and he stood up straight. "Please let''s head to the living room, so I can treat you."


    Me. Robyn nodded, and they strolled out of the room to the living room.


    Mr. Robyn took his seat on a modern wooden chair, and the doctor proceeded to attend to him.


    It took a while before he was done with treating Mr. Robyn and used a bandage to wrap up his wound. "Do take care of your wound, or you can visit the hospital so I can dress it up by myself." He smiled as he proceeded to pack up his tools. Mr. Robyn nodded at him with a smile on his lips, and he grabbed his kit, then bade them a farewell before proceeding to leave the mansion.


    He boarded his Camry car and adjusted his glasses that were about to slip from the bridge of his nose. He started the car''s engine, then slowly drove out of the compound and pulled over onto the road to speed off.


    ......


    "He is so weird!" Amanda scoffed and moved to plop down on the sofa.


    A deep breath escaped from Mr. Robyn''s nose and the mysterious words of the doctor couldn''t stop echoing in his mind. Honestly, he was finding some sense in what the doctor was saying because it was absolutely weird.


    At that moment, when he felt a deep pain in his eye and right side of his face, it felt completely like a fingernail piercing into his skin, and anyone who saw it would definitely know that it was an injury from fingernails or claws like the doctor said. What he has yet to understand is how it is possible. He had never seen a human with such long and sharp nails that could infiltrate this deeply into someone''s skin.


    He pinched between his brows and raised his hand to caress his right eyes that were aching from the inside.


    "Uncle!! Are you even hearing what I''m saying? " Amanda questioned, with deep irritation evident on her face. She had been speaking here for a few seconds now and her uncle never responded.


    "Uh..." Mr. Robyn''s eyes flickered, and he shook his head.


    "What are you thinking? Don''t tell me you''re taking that weirdo''s word to be meaningful. " Amanda clicked her tongue with an irritated look on her face, and without bothering to reply to her, Mr. Robyn stood up from the couch and proceeded towards the stairs to make his way up to the room he was staying in.


    Amanda stared at his disappearing back and scoffed in her heart.


    _______


    The doctor, whose name was Mr. David, arrived at his home instead of the hospital and parked his car in the garage of his house.


    His house was just a moderate white bungalow that looked accommodating and very comforting. It was just a normal, affordable, perfect family house in which he lived with his little daughter, Emily, who was just seven years old.


    He had divorced his wife as things didn''t work out between them, and worse, she left little Emily to him to take care of, then traveled overseas with another rich guy which she hooked up. So it had been his job since then to take care of little Emily till she had grown up to this stage.


    A low breath left his nose, and he grabbed his suitcase from the car, shut the door, and locked it.


    He walked to the entrance and pushed open the door, stepping into his home. The sound of the TV playing filled his ears, and then he heard tiny footsteps.


    "Daddy!" A seven-year-old girl with light brownish curly hair, just like him, ran up to him and he scooped her up into his arms, hugging her tightly.


    "I missed you..." She pouted in such a cute voice that could melt the heart, and Mr. David planted soft kisses on her forehead.


    "Hi, Mr. David.." A young lady with black curly hair and brown skin emerged with a wide smile on her face.

 Chapter 197 - Mythic Creatures

    "Oh... hey Julia." Mr. David half smiled as he saw the young woman and slowly put Emily down. "Thank you for looking after Emily while I was gone." He chuckled softly, and Julia nodded. "You are welcome. She''s such a sweet girl. I enjoyed babysitting her today." She smiled charmingly, nodded, and shifted her gaze to Emily.


    "Daddy, we baked some cookies! C''mon, let me show you!!" Emily grabbed her father by the wrist and pulled him towards the kitchen. Then she climbed up a small chair and grabbed a cookie jar on the table. "Here it is."


    Mr. David received it from her and examined the cookie. A wide smile spread across his face and he slowly nodded while turning back to glance at Julia, who stood by the kitchen door with a simple smile on her face.


    "This smells good." He chuckled softly and gently brought Emily down from the chair.


    They spent the rest of the day with Julia, per Emily''s request for her to stay, and finally, when she slept off and was tucked into bed, Mr. David decided to see Julia off.


    "It was nice spending time with you guys, and I must say again that your daughter is such a lovely, sweet girl." A wide smile spread across Julia''s face, and Mr. David nodded at her with a smile visible on his lips. "Thank you... She really likes you a lot. "


    "Yeah... I noticed that too." She chuckled softly and awkwardly bade goodbye to Mr. David before leaving.


    Mr. David stared at her disappearing back for a while before he turned around and walked into the house, shutting the door behind him.


    He strolled towards Emily''s room and sat down on the bed beside her. He leaned down a bit and kissed her forehead before switching on her unique lantern, which emits luminous blue color. He stood up from the bed and walked towards the switch and turned off the light, leaving only the unique lantern on.


    He glanced at his daughter one last time before proceeding towards his own room.


    He stepped in and shut the door, then strode towards the bathroom to have his shower. It took him a few minutes before he was done and dressed up in a blue robe, then moved towards the bed to grab his phone.


    He unlocked it and the first thing that popped up on the screen was the photos he took at the Cathryn''s mansion.


    His eyes narrowed into a thin line, and he turned around to walk towards his table in the room. He pulled open the drawer and grabbed a key under the books inside, then shoved the drawer back and proceeded out of the room.


    He ambled further down the corridor and pushed open a brownish-colored door, then stepped into the room. He shut the door behind him and slowly strolled towards the white-colored wall. He glanced at a picture of his mother hanging on the wall and slowly brought it down, revealing a curly steel handle.


    He turned it and, with a creak, an unknown door attached to the wall opened a bit. He ambled towards it and pushed it open, stepping into an unknown room.


    The door shut behind him, and he turned around to gaze at a massive library with long shelves and hundreds of books in them.


    A half-smile spread across his lips, and he began to stroll towards a particular shelf that was shorter than the rest. He skipped the books on it and finally stopped before one that had a brown, thick cover with ancient symbols on it.


    He hurriedly grabbed it and moved to take his seat on a chair at the table in the room.


    Mr. David dusted off the cover of the book, then blew on its back and dropped it on the table. He slowly opened the book and was surprised to see that the papers were still as fresh as ever, with no wrinkles on them. It had been a long time since he opened this book.


    He was a young boy then when his weird father, who doesn''t talk to people, gave him the book. He was skeptical at first about taking it but eventually did. Even if his father wasn''t someone people liked and visited, he still loved his father, even more than his mum, because he was always there for him, unlike his mother, who only complained about how hard they made her life be or how regretful she was about marrying his father.


    A low breath left Mr. David''s nose, and he sat down on the chair. His father had died when he was fourteen and he was eventually sent to stay with his aunt Magrida, who was quite nice to him, although her attitude did change towards him when her son, who was just as old as him, came back from overseas.


    His Aunt Magrida stopped sponsoring him in school and made him work for his school fees. The only thing that saved him at the time was that he was as tall and poised as an eighteen-year-old even though he was only fourteen. He had jumped classes back when he was still living with his dad as a result of his high 1Q, so one could say he graduated quite fast at the age of sixteen.


    He chuckled, recalling all this, and slightly shook his head. It was really a great thing that he works in a big hospital now and can give his daughter the kind of life she wants and not one as miserable as his.


    A low breath left his nose and he turned his phone to view the photos of the corpse. He flipped through the book and finally halted at page 556. "Mythic Creatures!"


    Dragons,


    Centaurs,


    Manticores,


    Imps,


    ...werewolves, and vampires...


    He instantly halted on that page, and his eyes narrowed into a thin line as he stared intently at the pictures of these two creatures.


    "Vampires and Werewolves"


    Vampires ¡Ì


    "Creatures of the night from folklore that subsists by feeding on the vital essence of the living and survive on human blood..."


    His eyes trailed down and he continued reading, then halted to stare at the image again. "Nails...Fangs...." He gazed at the nails for a while before turning the pages to read about the werewolves.

 Chapter 198 - Could He Had Seen It Wrong

    Werewolves ¡Ì


    "Werewolves, also known as lycanthropes, are humans with the ability to shapeshift into wolves, either intentionally or after being placed under a curse or suffering, with the transformations occurring on the night of a full moon..."


    As though completely interested in this particular creature, he began to read further, about its weaknesses, their origin, and how they came to exist.


    A deep breath exited his nose and he proceeded to examine its pictures.


    "Very long canines... and fingers, hairy body..." His brows creased a bit and he began to rub his forehead as he fell into deep thought.


    Could they be vampires? Hmmm... he really doubts that. Why?


    From his knowledge, Mr. Robyn was attacked in the daylight, and from what he read in the book, vampires are extremely vulnerable in the sun, so if we assume that they are vampires, then there was absolutely no way that they could have inflicted an injury on Mr. Robyn and killed eight men. Besides, vampires never dare come out in the daylight, as that would be simply seeking death for themselves.


    So... the vampires are totally not on the list at this moment, because if the incident had taken place in the evening, then the vampires would be his greatest suspect.


    Werewolves: They could have been werewolves, and that is what he suspects the most. Why? One, werewolves are not vulnerable to the sunlight and can walk amongst humans without being noticed. From the pictures, the werewolf claw is enough to inflict such deep injury on Mr. Robyn''s face, and that''s why he''s starting to believe that those two were werewolves.


    However, if they were, why was Mr. Robyn unable to glimpse them in their wolf form? unless they didn''t turn into wolves. But if they didn''t, how then were they able to injure Mr. Robyn so deeply and kill the eight men?


    "Hold on a minute..." Mr. David hurriedly flipped through one to two pages and carefully read down to the last part where he saw the line. "The werewolves in their human forms are quite weaker, compared to when they are in their wolf form."


    This means that they can still battle even when not in their wolf forms. So basically, they grow their canines and nails even when not in wolf shape and only transform into their wolf form when things get dangerous and intense.


    He vigorously nodded at himself, and a soft chuckle escaped his mouth. "They are... real. They do exist, just like my father said!" His eyes blinked furiously as he suddenly recalled the story his father told him once when he was a young boy.


    He told him of how he had accidentally lost himself in that one forest that no one dared go into.


    "It was just some old school days where boys were quite competitive and they were all returning from a volleyball game.


    It was twelve in the night, and they were returning home on their bikes.


    One of them, who was by the name of Jason, began to talk about the legendary Deamonda Forest, into which no human dares go, as per the order of the president and governors. Different people who had dared to go in had lost their lives, so people went into their houses and shut their doors, never going close or allowing their kids to go near the forest. They were always cautioned and scared by the stories they were told, obviously formed by their parents.


    "One step in and the next step in, they arrive before you, and not even a gasp could escape your mouth before they tear you apart and use you for their meal."


    Honestly, the story had always scared his father as a kid, but on that particular night, when the moon was full and bright in the sky, something changed within him.


    The boys had all challenged themselves to step into the forest, and although his father was skeptical at first, he didn''t want to come off like a scared chicken, so he reluctantly agreed and ventured in with the boys. They were three boys, specifically. One had black long hair, while the other had blonde hair, and then his father, who wore glasses and had brown curly hair just like him.


    So his father and the boys, with their torches in hand, ventured into the thick forest and began to search around with a bit of fear in their eyes. However, when nothing happens after a few minutes, unlike the stories they were told, their fear slowly faded away, replaced by confidence and fearlessness.


    Next, the black-haired boy grabbed his camera from his backpack and began to video the area and laugh along with it. They even mock how hilarious their parents can be. "Why bother to scare your little boys with shit that is not even real!?"


    The blonde-haired one laughed along with the joke, except his father, who was known by the name of Woodie.


    "Guys, I think we should go. I don''t feel good about this anymore." Woodie nervously rubbed his body and adjusted his glasses that were about to slip off the bridge of his nose.


    "Jesus... what is wrong with you? We have been in here for a few minutes now and nothing has happened! Stop being a chicken; we have got more to explore and prove to those parents that their stories aren''t true but bullshit." The black-haired one, who was by the name of Jason, mocked with a smirk on his lips.


    The blonde-haired one by the name of Herod nodded in agreement, and a nervous breath escaped Woodie''s nose.


    He glanced up at the sky and his eyes fluttered, seeing dark clouds forming something that looked like a whirlpool.


    Deep anxiety instantly took over him and he slipped to the ground losing his torch in the process. His friends glanced at him and he pointed up to the sky, trying to show them the strange thing happening up there. However, they looked at him weirdly and their faces altered in deep irritation. "Listen, woodie, if you''re too scared to be here, then fuck the hell out. Gosh! There is nothing up there! Chicken!" They laughed mockingly at him, and Woodie''s eyes fluttered in confusion.. He was sure of what he saw! He raised his eyes and glanced up at the sky, intently gazing at it. ''Could he have seen it wrong?''

 Chapter 199 - Temporary Coma

    A low breath left his nose and he proceeded to grab his torchlight. However, an unknown vigorous wind blew around them, furiously fluttering their clothes and hairs.


    The trees in the wood vigorously moved from one side to another, and the leaves fluttered violently. From afar, something actively flew towards them, falling heavily with a loud bang on the ground. Spirited wind once again blew, and another shadow from a distance whisked forward, landing on the first thing that fell on the ground.


    Woodie''s heart instantly skipped a bit, and he turned to glance at his friends, whose lashes were flickering violently with deep fear in their eyes and their bodies shivering uncontrollably.


    He followed the trail of their sight, and the moment his eyes fell on what they were looking at, his entire body stilled and he unexpectedly wet his shorts.


    Before their eyes were two beasts battling each other. One was in a half-human, half-beast form and the other was in a complete human form, However, its eyes were completely red and its fangs and fingers were elongated.


    The bodies of the three shuddered uncontrollably in deep fear, and they anxiously began to draw back ready to run away. But, the camera Jason was holding onto accidentally fell off his hand due to his trembling body and fell to the ground.


    This instantly grabbed the attention of the two beasts and their eyes fell on the three young boys staring at them with frightened tears falling from their eyes.


    The eyes of the other beast, who obviously was a vampire, darkened deeply, and he gawked at the three boys as though they were his meal. A smirk emerged on its lips, showing off its fangs, and completely afraid and anxious, the three boys instantly turned around and proceeded to run for their lives. However, the vampire promptly moved and arrived before Jason and Herod in the blink of an eye, grabbing them by the throat and hoisting them up into mid-air.


    The young boys fidgeted in his grip, and they struggled to free themselves as their faces began to turn pale. Regardless the vampire simply smirked, and his fingernails slowly pierced into the necks of the young boys, causing drops of blood to seep from their skin. Its eyes dimmed on seeing the blood, and without any more hesitation, he proceeded to suck on the necks of the young boys, sucking them completely dry and throwing them to the floor.


    Woodie''s body shivered uncontrollably, and his head twitched as tears streamed down his eyes. The other beast, which was obviously a werewolf, turned his head to stare at Woodie with his blue-colored eyes, watching as he trembled violently on the spot where he was rooted.


    Something flickered in his eyes, and he turned to glance at the dead boys.


    The vampire took a deep breath of satisfaction and shifted his gaze to Woodie. His eyes instantly narrowed as he realized that he had just found yet another meal, and without any reluctance, he moved, appearing before Woodie in the blink of an eye.


    However, before he could grab Woodie and do those things to him, the werewolf growled deeply and snatched him by the neck, hoisting him into the air, then furiously flinging him away, causing the vampire to fly a few distances back before crashing heavily into a tree and collapsing to the ground.


    He turned towards Woodie and scooped him up into his arms, then, with extraordinary speed, he dashed off, running away into the distance from where they were. It took him a few seconds before he arrived outside of the forest, and with his eyes darting from left to right, he looked for a house and gently laid Woodie, who was trembling in his hairy arms, on the floor. Then, with one last glance at Woodie, he turned around and whisked off, running back into the forest.


    Woodie''s body trembled as he stared in the direction that the werewolf ran into and not even a sound could escape his lips.


    On seeing the young boy who was lying twitching on the floor, different people rushed up to him and hurriedly dialed the emergency number, which arrived instantly.


    The paramedics lifted Woodie from the ground and laid him on the wheel bed, then moved him towards the ambulance before hauling him in. At this point, Woodie had already fallen unconscious and was sweating profusely.


    The ambulance drove off, and it took a few minutes before they arrived at the nearest hospital. They brought Woodie down and transferred him into the hospital''s wheel bed, then rushed him inside to perform treatments on him.


    It didn''t take a while before Woodie''s parents heard about their son''s condition, and without delay, they rushed to the hospital. However, they were stopped by the nurses from seeing Woodie yet as he was still under treatment.


    At the end of the treatment, the doctor came out to inform the parents that their son was in a temporary coma. However, the only thing that was confusing them, was that Woodie had no injuries or internal wounds, so how could he fall into a coma?


    As devastated as they were, Woodie''s parents still hurried inside to see their son. His mother fell to her knees beside the bed and gently grabbed Woodie''s hand and rubbed tenderly on it. Tiny drops of tears fell from her eyes, and she kissed the back of his hand, then caressed his forehead.


    The husband rubbed her shoulder, trying to calm her down, as he believed that their son would be fine.


    Two weeks and a half passed before Woodie awoke from his temporary coma. His parents rushed up to him and tightly hugged him, then his mother began to spread kisses on his face. However, no reaction came from him, which bewildered his mother. "Woodie.... is everything okay?" She inquired to know if he still remembered them, and from the way he turned to look at her, she could tell that he still remembered her.

 Chapter 200 - Can Seem To Forget

    "Woodie." The father called him, and he turned to look at him, but not a word escaped his lips. "Is everything okay?" He sat down beside him on the bed and inquired with a worried expression evident on his face.


    Woodie gazed at their apprehensive expressions and slightly shook his head, still not uttering a single word.


    The mother''s face altered into deep anxiety, and she raised her hand to caress his cheek lovingly. "Woodie, say something. We want to hear your voice." She pleaded, but not a word came from him.


    It all continued like this and eventually, they believed that he had lost his voice and was unable to speak. Indeed, Woodie had lost his voice, or maybe he was afraid to speak. Who knows?


    That night never stopped hunting him and he kept having nightmares about it until the day he met his wife, after high school. That was the day he spoke, and it was also the day he stopped having those nightmares.


    However, the next night after he married his wife, he came out to his doorstep to find a thick book neatly laid before his doorstep. He glanced around, and on seeing nobody, he picked up the book and went into his house, shutting the door behind him.


    He walked into the living room and sat on the couch. Then he glanced at the back of the book, and his eyes flickered on seeing the ancient symbols that he couldn''t seem to wrap his head around.


    Suspicion arose within him, and he opened the book and carelessly flipped through the pages, halting at a random page.


    The instant his eyes fell on what was on that page, his eyes dilated and a quick breath escaped his mouth as he hurriedly threw the book away.


    He clutched onto his body on the couch, and his heart thumped rapidly within him. Something like liquid began to drip from his nose, and he lifted his finger to touch his nose, only to realize that what was dripping from his nose was actually blood.


    Panic instantly struck him and he rushed off to the kitchen, turning on the tap and continuously watching his face till he was tired.


    He shut his eyes as that scene he had forgotten about replayed in his mind. It was as if this book came to remind him of that day once again. A deep breath fled from his mouth and wiped his face with a towel, then proceeded back to the living room.


    He picked up the book and walked upstairs to the library in his home and took a seat at the table. He began to read what was written in the book and couldn''t help but find himself engrossed in it. At a point where his eyes began to ache, he grabbed a pair of glasses and continued to read on, learning things he had never known about before. "


    Mr. David took a deep breath and closed the book. He stood up from the chair and walked towards the window to gaze out into the horizon that had been taken over by darkness.


    He shoved his hands into his pockets and a smile crept up his lips. ''If Mrs. Avalanzo is a werewolf and her bodyguard is also one, then that means that Mr. Avalanzo must be one too.'' He slightly nodded his head as he thought and recalled once when he had met Mr. Avalanzo at the airport where he brutally kicked an assistant for touching him.


    He had looked at Mr. Avalanzo then and was only able to see half of his face as a result of the mask he wore. And what was worse, Mr. Avalanzo had looked at him at that moment too, staring deep into his heart with those green eyes of his, and up till today, he couldn''t seem to forget those emerald green eyes.


    ________


    Nirmolak grabbed his hoodie and slid into it, covering his head with the cap. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and made his way out of the mansion.


    He had confronted Ileus about what he had seen earlier, asking why he was never let into the greenhouse but a human was let in. In response, Nirmolak chuckled and patted him on the shoulder. "It has nothing to do with you."


    His hands balled up in his pockets, and he exhaled a frustrated sigh as he began walking down the road at breakneck speed.


    .......


    [Where have you gone?]


    A voice yelled from the background and the face of a young girl who was no other than Jenny altered into one of irritation.


    "Am sorry...I said I would be home soon. I just wanted to grab something at the last store I saw that was open. I will be home soon." Jenny replied to the person, who obviously was her father, and hung up the phone, then stuffed it into the pocket of her jeans.


    She mounted her pink scooter, which she had been saving up money for since her last birthday, and finally was able to buy it last week. It was just so beautiful and she loved it. Now no more having her father''s men following her around everywhere she goes.


    She shook her head and put on her helmet, then started the engine and drove off. The breeze blew against her clothing, and a smile emerged on her lips as she glanced at the beautiful streetlights. As though she felt she was going a bit too slowly, she raised the speed, which wasn''t much, and continued to drive home.


    A few minutes passed and her phone, which was in the pocket of her jacket, began to ring. She grabbed it and glanced at the screen to see Amy''s photo and the name popped up on the screen.. She clicked her tongue in annoyance and proceeded to answer the call, but as if she sensed a great force approaching her, she hurriedly raised her gaze from her phone to look at her front, but at that moment, her scooter collided with someone and she flew off the bike, heading for the concrete ground with her forehead, but before she could reach the ground, a pair of strong arms grabbed onto her and she fell, but not on the floor, but on a muscled body.

 Chapter 201 - What Did You Say?

    "Ouch!" Jenny clutched her head as she proceeded to sit up. She shook her head as she felt very dizzy and slowly rubbed between her brows together.


    A deep annoyed groan, that resounded from a man had her turn her head and her eyes fell on a young man wearing a hoodie lying on the floor. "Oh my God, I am so sorry!!" She hurriedly got up on her knees and crawled to him, then grabbed him by the wrist to help him up from the ground.


    The young man snatched his hand from her and stood up by himself while rubbing his head. He dusted himself off in irritation and then raised his face to glance at the young girl. The moment his gaze fell on her, the first thing that entranced Jenny was his sky-blue eyes, which were filled with neutrality. Her orifices fluttered, and she lifted her gaze to stare at his curly brown shoulder-length hair that was tied up, leaving the neatly barbed sides of his head visible.


    She stared at him from head to toe and couldn''t help but notice the uniqueness of this man. He was brown-skinned but with blue eyes, instead of the brown eyes that people mostly have.


    This was her first time seeing a brown-skinned person with blue eyes, or maybe they were contact lenses. But if they are real, then she really can''t help but compliment how beautiful they were.


    A slow smile unknowingly crept on her lips and disappeared the instant the young man coughed to snap her back to reality.


    Jenny quickly shook her head and an awkward smile formed on her face. "I''m so sorry." She smiled as she apologized, then examined his body to see if she injured him in any way. "Um, I am sorry for hitting you. I can take you to the hospital if you''re injured in any way." She spoke with utter sincerity in her tone and turned to glance at her scooter, but on seeing its condition, her face altered into one of dumbstruck. "M-my scooter!" She cried out and rushed up to it, falling on her knees.


    The scooter in front of her looked no more like her new scooter; its body was a bit disfigured with the torchlights and mirrors broken. Her chest rose and fell as she tried to catch her breath and not think of how much she had to wait just to get this scooter.


    She stood up from the ground and her teeth clenched in bitterness as tiny hot tears fell from her eyes. All the pleadings and everything she did to get this scooter were all in vain. She inhaled and exhaled deeply, and as though she really couldn''t take it, dizziness took over her, and she proceeded to fall to the floor. However, the young man caught her and held her up.


    "Are you okay?" He inquired in a tone that was neither friendly nor rude.


    Jenny swallowed and suddenly felt her stomach turning upside down. She lifted her hands to cover her face and then screamed as loud as she could. She turned to the young man and the tears continued to fall from her eyes.


    "I died trying to save up money for this scooter! I had to wait ten fucking months just to get the money for it, and now it''s... destroyed. I bought this baby last week and this was my first time actually taking it out and..." Her hands balled into a tight fist and she turned around to face the young man who was obviously Nirmolak.


    Nirmolak''s eyes blinked twice, and he glanced around, unsure of what to say to her. Honestly, this was his first time interacting with a human being without being furious and having the urge to slit the person''s throat. He had always had this deep hatred for humans, and their presence alone provoked him to the core. Which is the reason why he hates Shawn.


    He coughed, causing Jenny to turn around and stare at him with a pessimistic expression and tears on her face.


    "Um, sor... sor..."


    "Are you trying to say sorry? If you are trying to, it''s simply pronounced "sorry." Jenny''s brow creased a bit as she gazed at him, and Nirmolak''s face darkened instantly. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and turned around to leave, having lost interest in talking to her.


    Jenny''s eyes blinked furiously, and she hurried up to him to stand in front of him, stopping him from moving any further.


    Nirmolak''s frown deepened and he proceeded to walk the other way. However, she jumped in front of him yet again, spreading her hands to her sides, completely blocking him from moving forward.


    "What is your problem?" He yelled at her in an aggravated tone, and Jenny''s heart skipped a bit. Slowly, she brought her hands down and moved out of the way with a cynical expression on her face. Her hands clenched into fists, and she turned around to walk back to her disfigured scooter.


    Nirmolak''s lashes thumped, and he slowly turned around to glance at her. He stared at her walk back to her scooter and begin to pull it up. However, it was to no avail as it was heavy and disfigured.


    A deep breath fled from his mouth and he unwillingly ambled back to her. He coughed as usual to attract her attention, and Jenny turned to stare at him with a displeased look on her face.


    "What?" His eyes narrowed at her expression, and she scoffed at him and turned to continue trying to pull her scooter up. "I literally regret asking if you were okay. At least if you had broken a bone, it would have compensated for my scooter. " She muttered in complete irritation, and Nirmolak''s eyes instantly narrowed dangerously as he heard every single word she said.


    He harshly grabbed her by the wrist and turned her around so she would face him.. His blue eyes glared viciously at her. "What did you say?!"

 Chapter 202 - Was He Blinded?

    Jenny''s lashes fluttered furiously in shock and her wrist fidgeted in his hold as she tried to free her hand. However, it was of no avail as his grip on her wrist was quite strong. "Hey! Let me go! " A bit of fear reflected in her eyes, and Nirmolak slowly let go of her hand before taking a deep breath.


    Jenny rubbed her wrist and her brown eyes glared at him. "Are you crazy or something? So what if I said something? I wanted you to help me, but you just went all mad for reasons I can''t tell." She scoffed at him, with annoyance evident in her tone.


    Nirmolak''s eyes blinked as he stared at the petite young woman in front of him, babbling non-stop at him. He glanced at her scooter and cleared his throat, as though realizing his mistake. His expression became less furious and he slightly dilated his eyes. "What did you want me to... help you with?" He inquired, and she rolled her eyes at him.


    "I was just going to ask you to help me pull the scooter up as I need to find a way to take it home so it can be fixed." She replied as a downcast expression made its way to her face.


    Nirmolak moved his gaze to the scooter and examined it before returning his gaze to her. "You think that could be fixed?" He asked with a bit of confusion in his blue eyes, and she nodded at him.


    "I see..." He nodded at her and walked towards the scooter, then easily pulled it up. He turned to her and pointed at a closed shop. "You can park it there for the night, then return tomorrow to take it back home." He suggested, and Jenny shifted her gaze to the store. She tapped her fingers on her thigh as though she was thinking, eventually nodding after thinking for a few seconds. "Alright then." She nodded, and he walked towards the scooter and hauled it up with ease, taking it to the store, then parking it besides it.


    Jenny''s eyes flickered vigorously at how easily he did that, and a quick breath left her nose. "You did that pretty easily." Nirmolak raised his brow at her as she complimented him with a simple smile on her face.


    "What?" She spread her hands innocently as she didn''t understand why he raised his brows at her.


    Nirmolak ignored her and glanced around everywhere before halting his gaze on her. "Where is your home?" He inquired, and she drew her head back in confusion.


    "What?! If you''re going to be able to walk home by yourself, then I don''t mind leaving you here." He said it with seriousness in his tone.


    Jenny''s lashes throbbed, and she slightly shook her head at him. "You''re weird." She turned to the road ahead of them to realize that not many people were walking on it anymore. A low breath escaped her nose and she turned back to face him. "It''s a few blocks away."


    "I see..." He nodded and unexpectedly walked to stand in front of her with his back facing her, then bent down a little, waiting for her to climb onto his back.


    Jenny''s eyes dilated as she was stunned, and she darted her eyes around. "Yo-you want to piggyback me?" She inquired, and a deep groan erupted from Nirmolak''s throat. "Are you getting on or not?" He asked in a tone that held utter disbelief.


    Jenny''s eyes fluttered, and she moved to climb onto his back. She wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck.


    He grabbed onto her leg to hold her from falling, then began to walk towards her home at a bit of an extraordinary speed that was a bit more than just walking.


    Jenny stared at him appalled, wondering if this was how he always walked. I mean, who walks like that?


    They ambled the whole way in complete silence, and on sighting her home, she quickly pointed at it, letting him know.


    Nirmolak crossed the road, and on stopping in front of their gate, he bent, letting her down.


    A friendly smile emerged on Jenny''s face, and she bowed a bit in respect to him. "Thank you very much."


    Nirmolak stared at her completely stunned as he didn''t expect that. Humans were never like this! He examined her from head to toe and slowly nodded at her, but didn''t respond.


    "May... I know your name." She implored, and he stared at her for a few seconds before replying. "Nirmolak."


    "Nirmolak..." she repeated to herself as she found the name quite extraordinary and unique, and her smile widened. "My name is Jennifer. Jenny, for short." She said, and Nirmolak slightly nodded at her.


    "I will be going in now. Thank you again for helping me." She bowed once again and turned around to walk to the gate. However, she halted, turned, and began to wave her hand at him, bidding him goodbye.


    Nirmolak slowly lifted his hand and slightly waved his hand at her. She smiled jovially and turned around, walking into the compound as the bodyguards pulled the gate open for her.


    Nirmolak stared intently at the gate before finally turning around. He pulled the cap of his hoodie over his head and stuffed his hands into his pocket.


    He began to walk away, and finally, when he was out of sight, he took off at a great speed, rushing back to the mansion.


    He arrived at the latest in twenty minutes and removed the hoodie cap. He strolled into the mansion and bumped into Shawn, who was drinking a bottle of water.


    "Sorry." Shawn apologized immediately, but he ignored him and sauntered straight towards his room.


    He stepped in and shut the door behind him, then hurriedly moved to pour a glass of water for himself. He gulped down a mouthful and walked to stand at the huge glass window. A deep breath escaped his nose and he dropped the glass of water.


    He really can''t believe that he interacted with a human and even piggybacked her home! Was he blinded when he did this or was he cast under a spell? He slightly shook his head and loosened his hair, letting it fall to his shoulders. He then turned around and walked over to sit down on the sofa.


    He pulled his top off, leaving his upper body bare, and threw his head back, then shut his eyes.

 Chapter 203 - Urges

    Leia sat up on the bed and glanced at Adrik, who was sleeping peacefully beside her. She removed his arm that was wrapped around her waist and then quietly got down from the bed.


    She slipped her feet into her slippers, then grabbed her phone from the mini table and buttoned up the top of her pyjamas. She moved towards the door and pushed it open, then walked out, shutting the door behind her.


    She took the elevator downstairs and strolled towards the back door, then opened it and ambled out to the backyard. Her eyes glanced around the garden, and she slowly strolled towards the white swing.


    She gently sat down on it, and gradually, the swing began to rock her back and forth. She focused her eyes on the sky as though she was thinking deeply about something.


    A bit far from where she sat, an unknown man clad in a blue robe stood in midair with his hands placed behind his back. His silver hair fluttered vigorously along with the wind, and his sword-shaped silver eyes stared intently at her. A few seconds passed and a grin mysteriously emerged on his red lips.


    Without a word or anything, he turned around and disappeared into thin air.


    Leia''s eyes fluttered as she felt a very strong presence, and she hurriedly turned her head in the direction that the silhouette left from. However, she saw no one but emptiness.


    Her brows creased deeply, and she stood up from the swing. Then, slowly, she began to walk towards the spot where the silhouette was before disappearing.


    Her eyes darted around the area, but she still saw no one. "Hmmm." She stared for a few more seconds before turning around to proceed back into the house. Weird, she definitely felt a strong presence, and she had been near that presence before. She could feel it.


    She shut the door as she stepped in and proceeded towards the living room. She took her seat on the couch and grabbed her phone from the pocket of her pyjamas. She scrolled through her contacts and dialed a number.


    A few seconds passed, and the person picked up the phone.


    [Luna] A female voice, which was none other than Ritas'', spoke, and a half-smile emerged on Leia''s face.


    "I need you at the mansion tomorrow afternoon. There is something we need to discuss." She spoke in a tone that held utter seriousness.


    [Oh... alright then. I will be there tomorrow.] Rita replied and Leia then said her goodbyes and hung up the phone.


    She turned her phone off and stood up from the couch, then walked to the kitchen and pulled the fridge open. She glanced at the drinks inside and her eyes dwindled a bit when she spotted a red wine in between two other alcoholic wines.


    Her body shuddered instantly, and she abruptly swallowed, her eyes still staring at the red wine. She slowly reached out her hand and grabbed the bottle of wine, then moved to pour it into a glass cup. She hurriedly gulped it down and, much to her surprise, she felt so satisfied with the drink, like she had never been before. ''Why?'' She questioned herself and intently stared at the bottle of wine. It tasted so good that she found herself drinking glasses after glasses.


    Finally, when the last drop seeped from the bottle, Leia burped and licked her lips. She then rinsed the glass cup and kept it back in its place, and then threw the bottle into the trash can.


    Feeling satisfied like never before, a half-smile formed on her lips and she began to stroll towards the elevator, which took her up to the second floor, where she stepped out after the door opened.


    She ambled to their room and pushed the door open, then stepped in and shut it behind her.


    She moved towards Adrik on the bed and gently sat down at the edge.


    She turned her head to glance at him and his hair that was scattered on the bed.


    She gazed at his face for a few seconds, and before she knew it, she suddenly found herself staring intently at his neck, at a spot specifically.


    Her heart thumped rapidly within her and an unfamiliar urge began to overwhelm her. She swallowed hard and abruptly used her tongue to scratch her gums which suddenly began to itch.


    She shook her head and took a few deep breaths, then climbed into the bed with a smile on her lips.


    She laid down beside Adrik with her face facing him, then placed her hand on his cheek. She tenderly caressed his hair and then his cheek, slowly trailing her hand down to his neck. She softly brushed her hands up and down his neck, and that urge came yet again.


    Her heart began to race within her, and she swallowed to calm herself down. What the fuck is going on with her? She shut her eyes and the next moment she opened them, red specks flickered within them.


    Her gums began to itch uncontrollably and, unable to take it anymore, her fangs unexpectedly elongated, resting on her lower lip.


    She intently stared at Adrik''s sleeping face, and an unknown glint flashed in her eyes.


    [Mark him, he''s ours] A voice abruptly whispered to her, and her eyes fluttered vigorously.


    As though completely entranced, her eyes, which had now almost turned completely red, stared intently at Adrik''s pale neck, and slowly she leaned closer to him, her eyes gazing straight at a spot.


    [Mark him...] The voice spoke once again, and the urge intensified. She leaned in and tenderly kissed his neck, which had Adrik move a bit as he felt something touch his skin.


    Leia gently grazed her fangs against his neck and, feeling the need to do more to satisfy her urge, she scratched her fangs on his skin, a bit more roughly this time, ready to sink her teeth in. However, that one impact had Adrik''s eyes spring open and flutter vigorously.


    "Little wife.." He called to her as he felt her weight on him, and as though she was snapped out of the trance, her eyes blinked vigorously and she hurriedly crawled away from Adrik.

 Chapter 204 - Dont Be Mad

    She lifted her hand to touch her fangs and then glanced at Adrik, who was sitting up on the bed.


    Adrik rubbed his neck where he felt that tingling and then turned to look at Leia, who had a nervous look on her face.


    The instant his gaze fell on her fangs, and eyes that were deep red, his lashes flickered furiously. He roughly rubbed his neck and, on feeling a bit of scratch, he slowly turned his head to stare at her. "Little... wif-" He was yet to finish his words when Leia hurriedly climbed down from the bed and rushed into the bedroom, shutting the door behind her and locking it.


    Her heart thumped rapidly within her and she slid her back down the door till her butt touched the floor. She brought her legs to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, then buried her face in her knees.


    What the hell just happened? She had almost bit Adrik.


    A quick breath escaped from her and she inhaled and exhaled deeply to calm herself down. ''It''s all okay.'' She repeatedly said to herself and abruptly raised her head when she heard a light knocking on the door.


    "Little wife," Adrik called with concern evident in his tone, but she did not answer, just swallowing hard.


    "Little wife, is everything alright? Are you feeling okay? Open the door and let me help you." He pleaded, but Leia did not respond, simply rising from the floor and walking towards the sink''s mirror.


    She stared intently at herself and, as though her eyes had caught something, she looked closely and immediately grabbed a handful of her hair, which was completely gray.


    "What the fuck?!?" Her heart began to race within her and her breathing became unsteady. Why the hell is her hair turning gray?! Are they all going to be completely gray soon?


    As soon as that question arose in her head, panic struck her, and she walked towards the cabinet, then opened it and grasped a pair of scissors.


    She walked back to the mirror and glared at her hair through the mirror. A deep scowl emerged on her face and she grabbed the handful of gray hairs ready to cut them. However, the door burst open at that moment and Adrik rushed in with anxiousness evident on his face. "Little wife." His gaze fell on her, and he hurriedly moved towards her.


    Leia''s heart skipped a bit, and she accidentally dropped the scissor, causing it to fall to the floor.


    Adrik halted instantly, and his gaze shifted to the scissor. He walked towards it and picked it up from the floor, then raised his green eyes to stare at her.


    Leia''s orifices fluttered, and she shut her eyes as she saw him begin to walk closer to her. Her body shuddered as she felt his hands trail up her neck to cup her cheeks.


    "Little wife, what is going on with you?" Adrik abruptly asked with a bit of amusement in his tone, and stunned, Leia, opened her eyes to stare at his amused face.


    "Yo-you''re not mad at me?" She inquired in a bit of a shaky tone, and Adrik''s brow arched in bewilderment. "Mad... at you for what?" He asked, with confusion evident on his face.


    "I almost..." She stuttered as she tried to say something, but she, however, found herself unable to say anything.


    "Wait...you think I would be mad because you almost marked me?" He implored, completely confused, and Leia slowly nodded her head at him.


    Adrik''s eyes flickered and a smile emerged on his lips. He lifted her and sat her down near the sink, then stared intently at her. "Little wife, why would you think that?" He asked, a bit disappointed.


    "I-I don''t-"


    "Little wife, listen, I will never be mad about that. You''re my wife and not just that, you''re also my mate, so it''s normal for you to want to mark me."


    "You know, when you had no idea that I was not a human, I always had this urge to mark you and claim you as mine, but I just controlled myself. You''re not used to your demon side, so of course, your demon will always have more control over you at times than you do over her. "


    "Demon sides don''t really restrain themselves that much, just like my wolf also does not control himself. He hasn''t gone on a rampage because I have complete control over him, so you don''t have to worry about anything. It''s normal for this to happen until you learn to put her under control. Also, you should know that your demon will never do anything to harm you, rather she will only be out of control at times since you are yet to learn to control her." He explained and grabbed her hands, then smiled lovingly at her. "Are you still feeling the urge?"


    "No..." Leia slightly shook her head, and he nodded at her. "Alright then." He carefully carried her down from the sink and tenderly brushed her hair back. His hand abruptly halted as he sighted the few strands of her hair that had turned gray.


    He shifted his gaze to her and then glanced at the scissors he picked up from the floor. "Little wife, were you trying to... cut your hair?"


    She slowly nodded at him, and Adrik''s eyes blinked furiously. "Why the fuck would you want to do that? Do you want to cut off the gray part and leave the brown ones?" He suddenly broke out into a soft laugh and slightly shook his head. "Do you want to look like an almost bald man?" He inquired, still amused by her thoughts.


    "I hate it!" Leia''s face darkened, and she pushed him out of the way, then proceeded to walk away. However, Adrik held her back and pinched between his brows. "Listen, little wife, I understand, but just let it change to that color. Cutting your hair won''t change anything because as long as your hair continues to grow, it will still turn that color. Besides, who knows why it''s changing to a gray color?"


    "Maybe I am becoming old." She scoffed, and Adrik burst out into laughter. "Remind me how old you are again." He said, with his cheeks puffed up as he sealed his lips to resist the urge to laugh.


    Leia''s face crumpled and she stared at him as though she would beat the shit out of him. "You better deal with your mouth, because if you laugh..." Her eyes narrowed viciously and she walked past him, proceeding to leave the bathroom. However, strong arms abruptly wrapped around her body, causing her to halt.


    "Don''t be mad, little wife. I am sorry." Adrik hugged her tightly and tenderly kissed her on the cheek. Leia''s eyes fluttered, a slow smile emerged on her face, and she turned around to face him. "I love you."

 Chapter 205 - Blood Rain

    Adrik scooped her up in a bridal style and carried her out of the bathroom. He got to the bed and gently laid her down, then covered her with the blanket and got in to lie down beside her. As the clock ticked off, they slowly drifted off to sleep.


    ...


    "Ahhhh!!" Leia screamed as she glanced down to realize that she was standing at the edge of a cliff and staring down into a blue ocean.


    She hurriedly stepped back as her heart skipped a bit, and she nervously glanced around her surroundings with a deeply creased brow. "Where am I?" She questioned herself and raised her eyes to glance at the bright sky.


    A quick breath escaped her nose and she swallowed to calm herself down, then turned around and began to walk away to find a way out of there. However, she suddenly realized that the area was totally unknown to her. It was like a different world that looked much like the human world, but it looked more beautiful because of its nature.


    The place was a field and was filled with different beautiful short flowers. She could call this a garden, but a very vast one. At the far end were tall trees whose leaves danced by the serene wind that blew.


    A sudden smile emerged on her face, and she found herself immersed in the beauty of this place. It was just so comforting and gave her a sense of familiarity.


    But, at that moment when she was enjoying and admiring this place, a strange phenomenon happened, which had the smile on her face slowly disappearing and anxiousness taking over her.


    A wind rumbled above the sky and the bright white clouds began to darken, changing into a completely different color. "W-what is going on?" She instantly became panic-stricken as the time changed from a sunny afternoon to twilight. She instantly began to glance around and started to take a step back, ready to run. However, what happened next had her halt and become motionless.


    A rough wind vigorously blew, fluttering her hair and the clothing she wore, and that''s when she realized that she was dressed in another clothing and not her pyjamas. Her clothing was a white dress with milk-colored flower designs on it that reached her feet.


    How did she get into this outfit, and where, in the fucking world is she? These questions whirled in her mind, and she immediately glanced up when she saw the moon brighten up, almost burning her eyeballs and turning her blind if she had not averted her gaze. "What the fuck?" She furiously rubbed her burning eyes and abruptly halted when something liquid dripped on her shoulder.


    Her eyes fluttered, and she glanced at her shoulder only to find out it was a red liquid. She rubbed it off and proceeded to leave the place. Yet another liquid dropped on her body, and she glanced at her arm to realize that it was the same red liquid. Where the hell is this coming from? Her heart rushed to her throat as she raised her head to look up at the sky, and her body began to shiver uncontrollably.


    Above the sky, the moon and the clouds were turning completely red, tainting the sky with what looked like blood.


    Leia immediately rubbed off the liquid that dripped on her body and smelled it. To her horror, it was blood.


    "B-blood!!" Her body trembled and she gulped hard, trying to calm herself down. However, a loud shrill resounded, causing her to cover her ears, which bled painfully and fall on her knees to the ground. "Ahhh!!" She screamed in pain as her ear felt like thousands of drum sticks were being used on it.


    She quickly wiped off the blood seeping from her ears, then proceeded to stand up, but then she saw dead bodies with blood all over their bodies, falling to the ground and tinting the flowers and green grass. She immediately fell on her butt in fear and began to crawl away, her chest rising and falling as she tried to catch her breath.


    Her back suddenly jammed into something and she quickly turned her head only to cry out loud at what she saw.


    Before her, stood Shawn, with a sword thrust into his stomach and blood oozing out at a rapid pace.


    She hurriedly stood up, rushed up to him and held him down before he could fall, then cupped his cheek to make him look at her. "Sh-Shawn..." She stuttered as tears dropped from her eyes and Shawn, who was in her arms, looked at her and smiled, then his body instantly burned to ashes and dissipated into thin air.


    Shocked, Leia immediately flinched away and her heart thumped rapidly within her. "W-what is... going on?" She asked with a cracked voice as her eyes nervously darted at the dead bodies falling to the ground and piling up on each other.


    Thunder rumbled in the sky and it began to rain. However, this was not just rain, it was blood rain. The red liquid poured on Leia and she glanced up at the sky with a horrid expression on her face.


    She roughly wrapped her arms around her body, brushing her hands up and down to cleanse the blood from her body. The blood rain became heavy and unstoppable.


    Leia began to breathe heavily, as though she was out of breath, and she shuddered uncontrollably.


    "Little wife..." That one voice she knew too well suddenly called out to her, and she hurriedly turned her gaze to the edge of the cliff where the voice came from. There, Adrik, who was clad in complete white clothing which was already tainted by the blood rain, stood with a pessimistic expression on his face and tears streaming down his face.


    "Adrik!" She screamed his name with joy in her tone and hastily rushed off to get to him. However, just as she was about to approach him, a silver arrow flew from nowhere and penetrated straight into his stomach. As though that was not enough, another two silver arrows flew and mercilessly infiltrated his stomach, this time forcefully pushing him off the cliff.


    "Leia!!" He screamed her name as he fell off the cliff, and Leia rushed up to the ridge to grab him. "Adrik!" She proceeded to jump off the cliff after him, but at that moment, something hit her...


    ....


    "Adrik!" Leia''s eyes sprang open, and she sat up on the bed with her chest rising and falling in fear and her body shivering uncontrollably.


    "Little wife." Adrik, who was lying beside her, instantly woke up, on hearing her scream his name and grabbed her by the shoulder.. "Little wife, I am here."

 Chapter 206 - What Wine?

    He assured her as he saw how much she was sweating and the horrid look in her eyes. His brows creased deeply, and he turned her so she could face him, then stared deeply into her orifices.


    Leia blinked twice as she breathed heavily, trying to recollect herself.


    "Little...wife." He tenderly caressed her cheek, and Leia''s eyes fluttered furiously.


    "Adrik..." She called his name, and he cupped her cheek with a smile on his lips. "I am here, little wife. It''s all just a nightmare." He softly comforted her and unexpectedly, Leia wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly. "Please don''t ever leave me." She pleaded in a cracked voice, which indicated she was crying, and Adrik drew her back to stare at her face.


    "Why are you crying, little wife? You know, I will never leave you, no matter what." He wiped off the tears in her eyes and face, and then pulled her into his arms, embracing her lovingly. "Why would you think that I would ever leave you? Have you forgotten that I love you and can''t live without you?" He inquired in a soft, soothing tone, and Leia''s arms around him tightened.


    Adrik''s lashes flickered in a bit of confusion as he couldn''t understand why Leia was acting like this. Just, what sort of nightmare did she have that got her this scared? A deep breath fled from his nose and he tenderly kissed her head, then began to caress her arms, curling her in his arms to help her fall asleep.


    Leia continued to breathe unsteadily as she couldn''t seem to calm down. Adrik, feeling too concerned about her state, drew her back and gently cupped her cheek.


    "Little wife, what is going on? Why are you afraid that I will leave you?" He implored with deep concern in his tone, but Leia, however, spoke not a single word but just stared at him with deep fear in her eyes.


    "Little wife... say something to me." He stared deep into her eyes, hoping she would say something, but Leia uttered not a single word.


    What Adrik was asking her, she had no answer to. Yes, she knows she had a nightmare, but the weird thing was that she can''t remember what happened in that dream. It was as though her memory of that dream was wiped off. The only thing she knows is that Adrik left her. She doesn''t know how or why, but she could feel it. She could feel his distance at that moment she woke up, and that''s why she screamed his name and hugged him tightly, begging him not to leave her.


    "Little wife..." A deep breath exited Adrik''s nose when he got no response from her and he climbed down from the king-sized bed.


    He pulled her towards him and carried her in his arms, then proceeded towards the bathroom. Currently, it is 2:30 pm.


    He filled up the bathtub and gently laid her inside, then began to bathe her. Hopefully, this would help release her from the state she was in at that moment.


    It took a few minutes before he was done, and he wrapped her up in a towel, then took her out of the bathroom, and had her sit down at the edge of the bed. He walked into the dressing room, grabbed his white shirt and a pair of white shorts from her side, and walked back to her in the bedroom.


    He helped her slide into them and buttoned up the shirt for her, then planted a soft kiss on her forehead and hugged her gently. "Do you feel better now? I wanted you to wear my shirt if that would make you feel better." He nuzzled her neck, and Leia nodded at him.


    "Do you want to sleep now or do you want to listen to music?" He inquired, and Leia drew back from the hug to look at him. "I don''t want to sleep now." She shook her head at him, and he smiled at her, then walked her to the sofa and sat down. He had her seat down on his lap, and cuddled her up, then gently began to stroke her hair.


    "Alexa, play soft music," Adrik commanded, and the gadget responded by playing random soothing music.


    A relaxing breath fled from Leia''s nose, and she cuddled up to him more, then shut her eyes. Adrik kissed her head and then gently caressed her face. "I love you, little wife." He said this with a half-smile on his lips and shut his eyes.


    _____________


    The next day arrived in the blink of an eye, and they woke up in that position on the couch. Leia blinked her eyes open and proceeded to get up from his body, but Adrik''s arms, which were wrapped around her waist, prevented her from doing so.


    "Adrik..."


    "How was your sleep?" Adrik blinked his eyes open and a smile emerged on his face as he inquired.


    Leia smiled at him and couldn''t help but hug him tightly. "I will die without you, Adrik." She took deep breaths and Adrik stroked her back gently, then drew her back so he could look at her face. "Come, let''s go and fill up your belly. You look a little bit skinny this morning." He said as his eyes examined her.


    "Huh? Seriously?" She hurriedly rose from his body and moved to check herself in the mirror, only to discover that Adrik was correct. She indeed had lost weight and looked quite skinny. "What the hell!" Her face puckered in deep confusion, and Adrik came up behind her in the mirror.


    "Chill, little wife, you just need to eat, that''s all." He smiled lovingly at her and Leia let out a soft sigh. They took their showers, and after dressing up in their home clothes, they made their way downstairs using the elevator and strolled to the dining room.


    The maids served the food, and Leia didn''t waste any time before digging in.


    As though recalling something, she turned her head to look at Adrik with a cute smile on her face.


    "What? What''s with the smile on your face? " Adrik dwindled his eyes in suspicion and Leia smiled sheepishly, revealing her jade-white teeth.


    "It''s nothing more than that I have a request." She playfully blinked her eyes, and Adrik raised his brow at her. "What is your request?"


    "Um, that red wine in the fridge, could you buy another one, like it? I drank it last night and it was really good, so I-"


    "Red wine?" Adrik''s brow raised in confusion, and he stared at her with a complicated look on his face.


    "Yeah.... the one in the fridge," Leia replied, a bit bewildered by Adrik''s bizarre reaction.

 Chapter 207 - Ready For What?

    "Little wife, what are you talking about?" Adrik''s brow creased a bit with an awkward look on his face. "What red wine?"


    "Are you joking with me now? I am talking about the red wine in the fridge which I drank last night." Leia''s face darkened as her expression altered in displeasure at Adrik''s response.


    "Little wife, what the hell is wrong with you? Why are you getting mad at me?" He asked in a bit of a harsh tone, clearly showing how displeased he was by Leia''s weird behavior.


    Leia dropped the spoon on the table and took a deep breath to calm herself down, then rubbed her forehead and turned to stare at him. In a very calm tone, she proceeded to explain to him. "Adrik, I went to the fridge last night to have some cold water, but then I saw this red wine there, which really attracted me, and I suddenly found myself craving it even though I had yet to taste it. So I drank it and it turned out great and satisfying, which is the reason why I am asking you to buy more of it. But you''re here telling me you don''t know what I''m talking about. How am I not supposed to get mad?" She spread her hands in front of him, and a low breath exited Adrik''s nose.


    He fluttered his eyes as though he was thinking, and after a few seconds, he stood up from the chair and grabbed her by her hand, pulling her along with him.


    They walked into the living room and to the kitchen, then stepped in and dismissed the maids inside. Adrik turned to her and gazed into her eyes. "Little wife, I seriously don''t know what red wine you''re talking about. I never bought any." He clarified in a calm tone, and Leia''s eyes fluttered in disbelief.


    Her brow creased, and her heart began to thump rapidly. "Fine, will you believe me then if I show you proof?"


    "Yes." Adrik shrugged, and she walked past him to the trash can. She opened it and looked inside for the bottle. However, to her spectacle, she realized that the bottle was missing. It was as though it had never been there in the first place.


    Her lashes flickered vigorously, and she furiously searched the trash can but still found nothing. Her heart throbbed within her and she staggered backward and turned to Adrik, who was staring at her with a concerned look on his face. "I... it was here!."


    "Little wife-"


    "It was here. I dropped it into the trash can." She walked up to explain to him with a bizarre look on her face, and Adrik pulled her into a warm hug. "Little wife, it''s okay. It''s just a hallucination-"


    "Adrik, I am not hallucinating!" She instantly snapped at his words and pushed him away, then began to breathe heavily.


    Adrik pinched between his brows and walked up to her, then gently cupped her cheeks and turned her head so she could look at him. His green eyes stared into her eyes, and he smiled lovingly at her. "Alright little wife, I believe that you''re not hallucinating. Calm down and explain to me exactly what happened last night. "


    Leia took a deep breath and raised her orifices to gaze at him. "Last night, I woke up because I was feeling a bit uneasy and went to the backyard to spend a few minutes there. I returned into the living room and after exchanging some words with Rita, I proceeded towards the fridge to grab a bottle of cold water because I felt very thirsty. However, I saw the red wine and it suddenly attracted me so badly that I grabbed and instantly drank it all. After I was done, I rinsed the glass cup I used and threw the bottle in the trash can, but now..."


    "This..." Adrik, who was speechless, darted his eyes around as he couldn''t wrap his head around it. He took deep breaths and brushed Leia''s hair back. "Listen, little wife. We non-humans that don''t live off of human blood don''t buy anything liquid that is red because the sight alone arouses that urge in us. So we avoid it. That''s why I''m telling you I didn''t buy any. The only non-humans who are free to drink those red-colored wines are those who live off of human blood." He explained with seriousness in his tone, and Leia''s eyes blinked in deep confusion. Is she really hallucinating? She was sure of what she was saying. There is absolutely no way that she was hallucinating.


    ''Hold on a minute!'' As though an idea popped up in her head, she pushed Adrik out of the way and ambled towards the counter in the kitchen where the glass cups were neatly kept and her eyes glanced around. On spotting what she was looking for, she pulled Adrik to her side. "See... this proves that I am not hallucinating." She smiled as she realized that she wasn''t hallucinating and pointed at a glass cup that was situated in a different position from the other glass cups.


    "Wha-"


    "Adrik, this was exactly the glass cup I used last night, and I was also the one who kept it in that position." She explained, and Adrik stared intently at the glass. Indeed, the glass looked like it had been recently used as he could spot a red stain on the tip, which was obviously wine. But, where did the wine come from? And why was the bottle missing? These questions whirled in his mind, and his brow puckered deeply.


    He turned to Leia and pulled her into a tight hug. "Forget about it, little wife, okay."


    He stroked her hair and she nodded, then he grabbed her hand to lead her out of the kitchen with a bit of a frown that settled in between his brows.


    They walked towards the white door that led to the backyard, and Adrik stepped out, followed by Leia. He shut the door behind them and then glanced around the vast garden, and a smile crept onto Leia''s face as her eyes fell on the white swing.


    "Are you ready?" Adrik abruptly asked, and Leia turned her head to look at him with confusion evident in her eyes. "Ready for what?"

 Chapter 208 - Come And Pick Me Up!!

    "You wanted to learn how to use your abilities, no?" He raised his brow at her, and Leia''s jaw dropped in recollection. "Oh, yes, I do." She chuckled softly, and Adrik shook his head at her, with amusement visible in his expression. "Alright, come with me then." He pulled her along with him, and they walked to stand in the center of the backyard opposite each other.


    Adrik wiggled his eyebrows at her and took his white jacket off, then disappeared, appearing before the white swing in the blink of an eye and dropping his jacket on it. In truth, he didn''t even teleport, as werewolves do not have such an ability. He only ran, at a speed that would make one think he teleported.


    "Damn." Leia chuckled as she bit her lower lips and Adrik tilted his head to one side. "Come get it."


    Leia narrowed her eyes and took a deep breath, preparing to move. However, she suddenly straightened up as a question popped up in her mind. Is she supposed to just run or...


    As though Adrik knew what she was thinking, he laughed at her and urged her to run. "Yes, you just have to run."


    Leia glared at him and took a long deep breath, then bent a bit lower in the stance one takes before running, but the sound of Adrik''s laughter had her raise her head to look at him with a bewildered expression on her face. "Why are you laughing?" She asked in a vicious tone, and Adrik sealed his lips, causing his cheeks to puff up.


    "Little wife...Why?...Just why are you in that position?" He inquired while trying so hard to restrain himself from cackling.


    Leia glared at him as she already guessed what he meant and straightened up. She dusted her clothing and rolled her eyes at him. Then she turned her gaze to the swing, and a smirk emerged on her face.


    She moved her feet and arrived at the swing in a few seconds, grabbing the jacket from the chair.


    Adrik slightly shook his head and snatched the jacket from her, then dropped it back on the swing. He then turned to her and took a quick breath. "Little wife, you took thirty seconds to run from there to here, which is quite a lot of time."


    "What do you mean?" Leia inquired with a crumpled expression on her face.


    "Well, you''re a demon, and as I told you before, demons are way faster than any other creatures, including us werewolves. So if I arrived there in less than eight seconds, and you arrived in thirty seconds, don''t you think that it''s too much?"


    Leia slowly nodded her head at him and took a low, annoyed breath before proceeding back to the center of the garden.


    "The distance from there to the swing is not much, I believe, so I am expecting you to arrive there in under three seconds." He winked at her, then moved to stand on the sidelines.


    Leia took a deep breath and shut her eyes to recollect herself. "Three seconds." She repeated it to herself before opening her eyes. She moved her right leg and, as though something unique was running through her body, she dashed off at an extraordinary speed, arriving at the swing and grabbing the white jacket.


    Adrik smiled and nodded at her. "Twenty seconds. Ten seconds burned. Try again."


    Leia dropped the jacket back and sprinted back to stand at the center of the vast garden. She vigorously shook her head and narrowed her eyes at the swing.


    "Don''t let yourself be stiff, little wife. Let it be free."


    She nodded at him and took a deep breath before she moved her right leg once again and dashed off, arriving just before the swing and grabbing the jacket.


    Adrik walked up to her and pulled her into a hug, kissing her on the forehead. "Ten seconds. There is no doubt you will make it in under three seconds if you try again."


    Leia smiled cheerfully and punched him on the chest before wiggling her brows at him. "What''s next?" She asked, and Adrik blinked his eyes as though thinking, then took a sharp breath. "Teleportation."


    He walked to her and stood in front of her. "Remember what I told you before? To teleport, you need to focus and picture where you want to be and imagine yourself there, then poof, the magic happens." He chuckled softly and began to walk away towards the mansion.


    "Where are you going?" Leia asked in confusion, and Adrik casually waved his hand at her. "I will be waiting for you inside the house, in our room. Remember, you can''t come in unless through teleportation. " He cackled softly then dashed off, arriving in their room in just a few seconds.


    Leia tsked in a bit of displeasure and took a deep breath. "I just have to imagine and I am good to go." She nodded at herself and raised her orifices to stare at the mansion.


    She shut her eyes and pictured their room, then imagined herself in there. However, when she opened her eyes after a few seconds, she still found herself outside in the garden, standing right where she was standing before. "What the heck? I am sure I imagined this properly."


    Her lashes fluttered in annoyance and she proceeded to try again. However, just like before, she still found herself stuck outside. She tried five more times, but it still didn''t work. "Arghhhh!"


    After a few moments of venting out, she made up her mind to try again, and if it doesn''t work this time, she will saunter into the house.


    She took a deep breath and shut her eyes, then pictured their room and her inside, but after a few seconds, she opened her eyes and still found herself stuck outside. "Are you kidding me?!!!" She balled her fists in deep irritation and stomped her feet on the ground in a bit of anger. She squeezed her hand into the pocket of her white shorts and pulled out her phone, then hurriedly dialed Adrik''s number.


    Adrik picked it up and she instantly said with gritted teeth. "Come and pick me up." She yelled, and Adrik laughed softly before appearing before her in under a few seconds.


    "Jeez, little wife!" He chuckled and ruffled her hair, then scooped her up in a bridal style. Leia wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his chest.


    Adrik carried her into the mansion, and they made their way upstairs to their room, where he sat her down on the sofa and handed her a glass of water.


    Leia drank it and laid down on the couch, then shut her eyes.


    Time passed at a bit of a faster pace than it normally does, and it soon became evening.


    "Where the hell is Rita?" Leia''s face puckered in annoyance as she saw no sign of Rita. They had agreed to meet this afternoon, and currently, it was already evening, she still hadn''t shown up.


    She let out a deep breath, then moved to sit down beside Adrik on the sofa.

 Chapter 209 - Its For You

    The wind blew vigorously as the dark clouds covered the sky, and a sinister laugh resounded from a young man who looked at the age of 20 to 21. He stood in front of a cream-colored mansion and his silver-colored hair which was at neck length fluttered furiously. His crimson-red eyes complimented his sinister demeanor and his fangs, which had already elongated, rested on his blood-colored lower lip, and his fingernails stretched out.


    A grin that reached his right eye emerged on his face, and he proceeded towards the mansion.


    _________


    Mr. Robyn sat inside his room, a gloomy expression on his face. He was holding a book he was reading, and his right eye, which was being treated by Mr . David, was healing well. At least it doesn''t ache as badly as it did before.


    A half-pessimistic smile emerged on his face and he proceeded to continue with his reading. However, the glass cup on the mini table near his bed suddenly fell off to the floor and broke.


    He raised his head to glance at the shattered cup, and his brow creased deeply. He glanced around and slowly stood up to walk towards the table. How could the cup have fallen off? Did he carelessly leave it at the edge of the table? "Tsk." He mockingly shook his head at himself, then proceeded to call for the maids to clean up the mess, however, at that moment, the lock of his door creaked as it clasped by itself.


    Mr. Robyn glanced at it, and his eyes narrowed in confusion and a bit of fear. Slowly, he moved towards the door and grabbed the bolt to unlock it. But, the window of his room blew open, and the curtains fluttered vigorously.


    His heart skipped a bit at this occurrence, and deep fear gripped him. What the hell was going on? First the glass cup and the bolt, now the window is opening by itself. He took deep breaths and swallowed hard, then moved to grab the book he was reading earlier. However, the lights and lanterns in the room flickered chaotically before turning off completely. The window crackled, making unpleasant noises, and the window fluttered vigorously.


    "Who-whose there?" His voice cracked as he found himself about to wet his pants out of anxiety.


    When he got no response, his fear intensified, but regardless, he still proceeded to walk to the window and close it. He had just approached the window and grabbed its handle to close it when someone unexpectedly appeared in front of him and clenched him by the neck and threw him back, slamming him against the wall.


    Mr. Robyn groaned at the painful impact and opened his eyes to glance at the person. However, the moment his eyes fell on the person and saw its features, he immediately screamed at the top of his voice.


    His body trembled at viewing the creature in front of him, who was none other than the young man from earlier.


    A wide grin emerged on the young man''s face, and his crimson red eyes darkened as his grip on Mr. Robyn''s neck tightened.


    As he was being choked tightly, Mr. Robyn''s face turned from deep red to pale and he proceeded to call for help. However, the young man''s face darkened and he violently threw Mr. Robyn into the air, causing him to crash onto the ceiling. The young man, who was obviously a demon, grinned evilly and held Mr. Robyn in midair with the use of an unknown force, preventing him from falling to the floor. Then, without mercy, he continuously began to smack Mr. Robyn against the ceiling and walls, injuring him severely. After a few more rounds of hitting him against the walls and ceiling, Mr. Robyn finally gave up, and he let his lifeless body fall to the floor.


    The blood rapidly seeping from Mr. Robyn''s broken head tainted the white floor, and the young man smiled in satisfaction.


    Steady footsteps resounded from downstairs, and he suddenly heard the voice of a young girl. "Uncle!!"


    He glanced at the door and unbolted it, then, with one last word, he fled. "It''s for you."


    The handle of the door turned and it pushed open. Amanda, who was clad in pink pyjamas, rushed in and immediately proceeded to switch on the light. But, the moment she glanced around and her eyes fell on Mr. Robyn''s gruesome, lifeless body, she instantly staggered back and fell to the floor as deep fear and panic overwhelmed her.


    "U-uncle..." She immediately crawled towards him and lifted his head into her arms, then began to nervously tap his cheek. "U-uncle, please wake up..." She shook his body and caressed his face, but to no avail. Mr. Robyn never woke up.


    Hot tears fell from Amanda''s eyes, and she tightly clutched onto her chest as she found herself unable to cry out of deep shock. Motionless, she hiccuped in tears and her body trembled.


    She slowly stood up from the floor and walked towards the mini table, then grabbed the telephone with her bloody hands and dialed the emergency number.


    They picked up the call immediately and she reported the horridness to them, to which they responded shortly and arrived at the mansion in less than thirty minutes.


    They busted in and rushed into the room, only to be met with the dreadful sight. Their eyes fluttered vigorously and they shifted their gazes to Amanda, who knelt near Mr. Robyn''s dead body with tears falling from her eyes.


    The cop woman within them approached her, assisted her in getting up from the floor, and walked her out of the room.


    She instructed the rest of her crew to take care of things and led Amanda downstairs. She sat her down on the chair, then took her seat opposite her.


    Amanda slowly raised her head to glance at her and slightly shook her head. "I... don''t know what happened."


    ________


    The young man, who now looked like a normal human with his eyes, which had changed to a silver color, walked down a narrow road with his hands behind his back and a smile hanging on his lips.


    "Azazel!" A voice called out to him, and his face darkened instantly on hearing that voice.


    "Leave me alone!" He yelled in irritation and continued to walk away. The voice spoke his name yet again, but just like before, he screamed at the voice to leave him alone.. Then, without any hesitation, he disappeared out of sight.

 Chapter 210 - Its Finally Time

    Leia instantly stood up from the sofa upon noticing Rita''s presence in the mansion and hurriedly proceeded downstairs with the use of the elevator.


    She strolled to the living room and saw Rita walking inside with a bit of a disturbed expression on her face. She walked up to her and examined her from head to toe, taking a sigh of relief on seeing that nothing was wrong with her.


    "Why is your face like that?" She inquired, and a deep sigh exited Rita''s nose as she took a deep bow in respect.


    "Luna, things have taken a bad turn." She said, and Leia''s brow creased in bewilderment. "What do you mean?" She moved to take a seat on the couch, and Rita did the same.


    "After signing the contract with Richard yesterday, he...he proposed to me and..."


    "Did you accept?" Leia''s eyes fluttered, and she inquired in a calm tone.


    Rita swallowed hard and slowly nodded her head. "Yes, I did. I tried to speak with you, but you were off and afraid to ruin your plans, I accepted it in the hope that it would help the plan or at least not ruin it." She hurriedly explained, and Leia turned to stare at her.


    A slow grin emerged on her face, and she friendly patted her on the shoulder. "You are really good at this. Don''t worry, it''s actually helping the plan. However, because it turned into this lane, it''s finally time."


    "I said I would ruin him in under a month and I have." Her grin widened, and Rita''s eyes blinked in a bit of confusion. "What do you mean?"


    "When does he want the marriage to take place?"


    "Next week, He wants it real quick," Rita replied, and she slowly nodded her head. "Perfect. This is what you have to do..." She began to explain the rest of the plan to Rita, and Rita''s eyes couldn''t help but widen in shock. "Luna... isn''t that-"


    "Leave the rest to me." With that being said, Leia stood up from the couch and proceeded to make her way to the backyard.


    Rita stared at her disappearing back and a low breath exited her lips. Could she really do this? She asked herself, and an unknown glint flashed in her eyes.


    Before Leia stepped out to the backyard, she halted and used the corner of her eyes to glance at Rita. A mysterious smile appeared on her face, and she proceeded out, shutting the door behind her.


    She strolled towards the swing and took her seat, then pulled out her phone from her pocket. She scrolled through her contacts and dialed Alex''s number.


    [Hello, Miss Leia] Alex picked up immediately.


    "Hello, Alex, there is something I need you to do for me."


    "What is that?" Alex inquired with curiosity in his tone.


    "Per our plan, I need you to purchase the three sets of bombs before next week." She replied, and a few seconds of silence took over before Alex spoke. [It''s time, no?]


    "Yes." Leia smiled as she replied, and Alex agreed to purchase the bomb. She hung up the call afterward, stuffed her phone into her shorts, then stood up from the swing. She placed her hands behind her back and gazed intently at the dark sky with not a single star on it.


    A deep breath escaped her nose, and she turned around to walk back into the mansion.


    She made her way back upstairs and walked to the room to meet Adrik, who was clad in a white robe, busy on his laptop.


    She ambled past him to the bathroom and took a long bath before coming out to dress up in her pyjamas. She strolled to the bed and climbed in, then covered herself with the sheet and shut her eyes.


    Adrik''s brow puckered at her sudden quietness, and he turned the laptop off, then carefully placed it on the mini table.


    He stood up from the divan and walked to the bed, then got in to lie beside her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and turned her so she would be facing him.


    Leia opened her eyes and stared at him without uttering a single word.


    "What''s wrong, little wife?" He inquired, a bit concerned, and a low breath exited Leia''s nose.


    "Nothing," she replied and reached out her hand to caress his cheeks. "It''s just that it''s finally time for me to get my revenge, but there is this feeling that... I don''t know..." She let out a deep sigh, and Adrik smiled at her as he brushed back her hair. "Little wife, do you really want revenge on him?" He asked, and Leia nodded her head in response. "I do! so badly. I mean, if I don''t get revenge on him, I will never be at peace. He will pay for everything he did to me and my mother." She said this with a deadly and hateful expression on her face.


    Adrik nodded at her and pulled her closer to him to cuddle her. "Well... there is no problem then." He smiled at her and gently stroked her arms.


    ____________


    Amanda, who had been transferred to her mother''s second estate, sat in the living room with a lost expression on her face and her body shivering now and then.


    After that gruesome scene, she was unable to get it out of her mind. The pool of blood, Mr. Robyn''s broken head, and the walls that were stained with blood. It all just kept appearing in her mind.


    The door to the living room was pushed open, and the female cop, who went by the name of Lian, walked in and moved to sit on the sofa opposite her.


    A low sigh left Lian''s nose as a pessimistic expression made its way to her face. "Miss Robert, we are sorry for the loss of your uncle, but for us to find out who the murderer is, we need your corporation and statement, okay."


    Amanda slowly raised her head to look at her and slowly nodded in understanding.. Lian smiled and requested for her to follow them to the station.

 Chapter 211 - Father

    "I don''t want to go to the station," Amanda said, with a stern look on her face and utter disagreement in her tone.


    "What do you mean?" Lian glanced at her in confusion, and she balled her fists. "If you want to question me, do it here."


    Bewildered, Lian turned around to stare at her and pinched between her brows. "Miss Robert, you''re not safe at this moment, because whoever murdered your Uncle is definitely out for you and watching you," Lian explained it to her to make her understand, but just like before, Amanda stood adamant about her words.


    "Alright then." Lian helplessly nodded at her and walked out of the mansion.


    .....


    The night passed and the next day came. The police arrived at the estate and two men walked into the living room. One was a white man with blonde hair, while the other was a brown-skinned middle-aged man with a neutral expression on his face.


    The blonde-haired man walked towards Amanda who was clad in a new set of clothing with her blonde hair let down, falling to her shoulders. He sat down on the couch opposite her, then proceeded to introduce himself. "I''m detective Sean, and that''s Seth. We...hope for you to give your full cooperation." Detective Sean smiled at her and she simply nodded with a blank expression on her face.


    "Alright then. Let''s begin." Detective Sean grabbed his journal and pen, then raised his eyes to stare at her. "Can you explain to me exactly what happened last night with all honesty?" He inquired, and Amanda''s eyes fluttered as she found herself about to tear up at the recollection of last night''s event.


    The scene of what she saw emerged in her mind and she proceeded to explain. "It... was around 7 a.m. when we finished our conversation and went to our respective rooms. I had my shower and tucked into my bed... then I went to sleep. If my estimation is correct, thirty minutes after I slept, I suddenly heard a loud shrill which woke me up from sleep. I glance around my room in... vigilance but...when nothing happened I decided to go back to sleep, but...I-i was yet to lay down on the bed when I heard a loud bang that sounded as though something was smashed against the wooden floor. It had me glance around in vigilance and yet again the same loud bang came, but this time it was louder. Deep fear gripped me at that moment, and when the third bang sounded, I realized that it was coming from my uncle''s room, which was upstairs, above my room..."


    "Thinking that maybe he had drunk again and probably destroyed things, I decided to go upstairs and stop him. However, when I began to walk up the stairs, the fourth bang came so heavy and loudly, it had my heart skipping a beat, and it was the last I heard. I yelled out...my uncle''s name expecting him to answer, but he didn''t. That was when I knew something was wrong. So...I, um, ran upstairs immediately and pushed his door open. I turned on the light and that''s when I saw my uncle on the floor in a pool of blood. I-I¡­" Amanda found it hard to continue as she broke into tears and buried her face in her palms.


    The detective patted her on the shoulder and handed his handkerchief to her. They waited for her to calm down before proceeding to continue with the questioning.


    _____________


    "Do we really have to do it that way?" Shawn inquired with a disapproving look on his face.


    Ileus smirked at him and tucked a few strands of his hair behind his ear. A mysterious smile emerged on his face and he patted Shawn on the shoulder. "Yes, it has to be done that way. But, we are not gonna be carrying out the plan yet. Okay, we have to wait for the right time."


    Shawn slowly nodded at him with the disapproving expression still visible on his face, and Ileus chuckled at him. He stood up and walked out of the balcony, leaving Shawn to his thoughts.


    Shawn shut his eyes and took a long deep breath. An image of a man emerged in his mind and he hurriedly opened his eyes.


    His eyes darted around and deep guilt ensued on his face.


    The image of his mother always seated outside at night with a downcast expression on her face emerged in his mind and he pinched between his brows.


    He needs to make things right.


    He took yet another long deep breath before standing up from the white chair and proceeding out of the mansion.


    He boarded his car and drove off, raising the speed as he sped down the road.


    __________


    Seated in his office, Mr. Robert read the file in his hand and a low breath excited his nose. He adjusted his glasses that were about to slip off the bridge of his nose and dropped the document back on the table.


    He stood up from his chair and walked towards the window of his office to glance out to the horizon. A long deep sigh left his nose as though he was thinking of something and he took his glasses off


    A gentle knock, which drew his attention, came at his door, and a black-haired nurse walked in after he gave his permission. "Good afternoon sir, there is someone outside looking for you."


    "Who?" Mr. Robert''s brow ceased as he wasn''t expecting anyone today.


    "It''s a young man, sir." The young nurse replied, and Mr. Robert''s brow arched in bewilderment. "A young man." He thought before nodding at the nurse and proceeding to walk out of his office to see who it was.


    The moment he stepped outside and his gaze fell on the young man, a deep frown emerged on his face and an unknown glint flashed in his eyes. Without uttering a single word, he turned around to proceed back into his office, however, the young man who was Shawn stopped him by calling him a name he hadn''t been called for years.. "Father."

 Chapter 212 - Linda

    Mr. Roberts'' orifices fluttered vigorously, and he slowly turned around to stare at Shawn with eyes that had mixed emotions in them.


    "Ca-can we speak in private? Please." Shawn asked with a guilty look on his face, and Mr. Robert stared at him for a moment before slowly nodding his head. He turned around and walked to the door of his office, then pushed it open and stepped in.


    Shawn followed after him and sat down on the chair at his table.


    Mr. Robert settled down and interlocked his hands, then fixed his gaze on him.


    Shawn took a long deep breath as he pinched between his brows and lifted his head to gaze at Mr. Robert.


    "What are you here for?" Mr. Robert inquired, with no emotion visible in his tone.


    Shawn cleared his throat and took a low breath. "Um...I just came to see how you are doing. It''s been a long time since-"


    "What are you here for?" Mr. Robert cut him off by repeating his question, and a low sigh escaped from Shawn''s mouth. "Dad, I know you''re mad at me, but-"


    "Don''t ever call, Dad. I am not your father!" Shawn instantly fell silent as Mr. Roberts''s face became stern and emotionless. They stared at each other, staring into each other''s gray eyes. Anyone who walked into that office would know that they were father and son from just glimpsing them because of their facial look. Shawn had inherited Mr. Robert''s characteristics, so much compared to his mother. He had Mr. Roberts''s gray eyes and his smile, and he had quite a small nose, which made him look much more handsome.


    "I don''t agree with that," Shawn stated with utter seriousness, and Mr. Robert''s face darkened. "Get out of my office." He pointed to the door of his office, but Shawn, however, did not move an inch and, in fact, crossed his legs, letting him know that he was not going anywhere. "Are you deaf or what? I said, get-"


    "I am not leaving this place! Whether you like it or not, you are my father!"


    "I am not your father and I will never-"


    "Yes, you are!" Shawn slammed his fist on the table and stood up to look into his father''s eyes. "So what if I made a mistake years ago? You can not blame me. I was just 17. What did you think that a seventeen-year-old like me would have done?" He yelled behind a sudden whimper and Mr. Robert''s body stilled as he found a scene from a few years back flashing before his eyes.


    ....


    "Seated in his office talking with a patient, his phone suddenly rang and he was told that his house was on fire, which was the first mansion they lived in when he was still together with Shawn''s mother.


    The first thought that came to his mind was of his daughter, Linda. His fifteen-year-old girl, who was Shawn''s younger sister,


    Earlier that day, he had grounded her for her misbehavior. Linda was the vibrant, wild type of girl, who loved to do wild and dangerous things. One thing she loved quite much was partying. She loved it so much. However, because she was still underage and knew little about the outside world, Mr. Robert was completely against it. Anything could happen to her, and that isn''t what he wants. So he had a strict rule of never letting her attend parties except ones held at her school or ones that Shawn also attended. He believed that at least Shawn would be there to protect her.


    The day before that, Linda had talked about her friend''s party, which she wanted to attend, and, of course, Mr. Robert said no right way. He was only going to let her go if Shawn was going to go with her, but Linda disagreed, saying she didn''t want her brother following her around like a bodyguard.


    Mr. Robert then decided for her to go with a few of her bodyguards, but then again, she disagreed, completely against it. She lamented how she was being caged and was never allowed to be free and be herself. Still, that didn''t faze Mr. Robert, as he stood adamant about his rule, and this got Linda quite mad.


    She turned to her mother, telling her to talk to her father, Mr. Robert. However, regardless, he still disagreed. Outraged, she stormed out of the living room and locked herself up in her room.


    Linda, who sat in her room, began to plan how she would sneak out and attend her friend''s party as the evening approached.


    Fully confident, she managed to sneak out and did attend her friend''s party.


    Around an hour after she was gone, Mrs. Robert began to feel that something was off, as she didn''t hear Linda''s voice or see her, so she decided to go upstairs and talk to her.


    She gradually walked up the stairs and got to her room, then pushed the door open. When she stepped in, she came to realize that Linda was missing. Completely panic-stricken, she rushed downstairs and informed Mr. Robert that she was missing and the first thought that came to his mind was the party.


    He hurriedly grabbed the car key and, with his escorts driving behind him, arrived at the house of Linda''s friend and pulled her along with him to the car, with a half-smile visible on his face.


    He sat her down in the backseat and took a seat beside her, then turned to the driver and motioned for him to start the car. The driver activated the car''s engine and, with a swift reverse, drove out of the area and sped off down the road, towards home. Throughout the drive, Mr. Robert spoke not a single word to her, and Linda, of course, did the same. Her face was all puffed up in anger and her arms were folded.


    They arrived home in less than thirty minutes, and Mr. Robert pulled her out of the car, then dragged her into the house. He sat her down on the couch in the living room and called for Mrs. Robert''s presence.


    "I am not gonna say this again, but the way you''re raising her and giving her too much freedom will affect her life and turn her into something you will not like. By then, do you think she will blame herself? No, she will blame you for not raising her properly." He glared at Mrs.. Robert, who was already hugging and spreading kisses on Linda''s face with tears in her eyes.

 Chapter 213 - Tragic Saturday

    Honestly, Linda was the child that he loved the most, which was the reason he didn''t want her to go in the wrong way. All this life and too much freedom were turning his sweet girl into something else, and it wasn''t going well for him. He just can''t stand it.


    A low breath exited his nose and he proceeded to talk. However, Mrs. Robert cut him off. "You cannot say that to me. She''s simply doing what girls her age do. There is nothing wrong with that!" She took a quick breath and turned to Linda. A loving smile emerged on her face, and she tenderly brushed her hair back with her hand.


    Feeling so disappointed within, Mr. Robert shook his head and turned to stare at Linda. "Young lady, you''re grounded for two weeks. You are not allowed to step out of this house for two weeks unless you are attending school. Understand. " He stated this with complete seriousness in his tone, and Linda''s face turned red in anger.


    "Mum!" She turned to Mrs. Robert in expectation of her disagreeing with her father''s word. "Say something!! I can''t be grounded for two weeks!!! What about my friends and-"


    "You are grounded for two weeks and that''s it. Don''t you dare go against me or you might not like it?" With that being said, he turned around and walked out of the living room, then proceeded to call the attention of the maids, butlers, and bodyguards in the house to let them know that, under no circumstances, should they allow Linda to step out of the house without his permission. They all nodded and returned to their duties.


    That night passed, and they all had their breakfast in the morning before Mr. Robert left home for work, and Mrs. Robert did the same. That Saturday, being an important meeting at her company, she had to sign some contracts of partnership with another company. Shawn, on the other hand, had left to attend basketball practice with his friends, so...Linda was the only one left in the house with the maids and a few of the other guards who hadn''t left with their mother or to accompany Shawn wherever he went.


    Five hours after they had been gone from home, a call suddenly came on Mr. Roberts'' phone, only for him to pick it up and get the news that his mansion was on fire.


    And that''s what brings us here.


    The first thought that came to his mind was of his daughter, and without any delay, he grabbed his car key and rushed off, driving home at a reckless speed. He arrived at the mansion and hurriedly stepped down from the car.


    He glanced at the firefighters that were everywhere, and without any hesitation, he moved to find his daughter when he spotted her nowhere.


    He proceeded to enter his mansion, which was still on fire, but he was stopped by the firefighters. "Sir, please stay back!" They told him, but Mr. Robert struggled to free himself to find his daughter. Two firefighters walked out while carrying a body that was already zipped up in a bag.


    His heart instantly rushed to his throat, and he pushed away the firefighter holding him, then scurried to confirm if it was his daughter or someone else.


    They unzipped the bag and the moment his eyes fell on the corpse, he stilled as he instantly felt his world crushed before him. The body in the bag was of his daughter, as he could tell from her height and stature, and, of course, he wouldn''t forget the gold chain he had bought for her, which had a star pendant. It was still hung around her neck, which was the last thing that proved it was his daughter.


    "Linda!!!!" A loud cry sounded beside him, and that''s when he noticed his wife, who was shaking uncontrollably as though she would lose consciousness at any moment.


    Mrs. Robert broke down into tears and knelt beside the corpse of her daughter, crying uncontrollably. Unable to believe and accept that her daughter was dead, she instantly lost consciousness and fainted.


    Mr. Robert rushed to her and held her in his arms while his eyes darted around. At that moment, his brain was still trying to understand what was happening.


    Shawn, who had returned from his basketball practice and saw the mansion on fire and all the commotion that was happening outside, glanced around and spotted his father knelt on the floor beside a corpse with his mum in his hands.


    He immediately hurried to them without delay, and the moment his gaze fell on the corpse, he became motionless, and just like his mother, he fell to the floor and fainted.


    Completely stuffed up, Mr. Robert hastily called for the ambulance on seeing the condition of his wife and son, and the ambulance responded by arriving almost immediately.


    They hauled Mrs. Robert and Shawn into the ambulance and drove away to the hospital.


    Mr. Robert, who stayed behind, stared at his daughter''s corpse and painful tears began to fall from his eyes. He was completely regretting grounding her because if he hadn''t grounded her and she was out of the house, she wouldn''t be dead by now but would be alive and kicking.


    "Fuck!!!" He angrily began to punch the ground and furiously slap his face as he felt very guilty. "If only... Linda!" The moments he had with her from the time she was a baby flashed in his eyes and he collapsed to the floor, unable to bear the loss. It was just too much for him.


    He might be harsh on Linda sometimes, but it''s because he loves her.. He just wanted her to be a great girl in the future and not ruin her life, which was why he was really trying so hard not to spoil her too much, even though he hurts him a lot sometimes when he lectures and grounds her.

 Chapter 214 - Divorce

    Together, they were all admitted to the same hospital. It took a few hours before they woke up from their unconscious state.


    The first to wake up was Mr. Robert, while Mrs. Robert and Shawn awoke afterward.


    Due to their problem not being too serious, they were discharged per their request.


    Mr. Robert stepped out of the building to see their family car parked outside the hospital. Someone''s voice resounded, and he turned his head to see his wife walking down the stairs with Shawn beside her.


    Their eyes met, and Mrs. Robert averted her gaze without bothering to say a single word. She dragged Shawn along with her and boarded the family car, then turned to stare at Mr. Robert, who was still confused by the kind of look they gave him.


    He shook his head and hurried to the car, then stepped in to sit beside them. The driver started the car and sped off down the road, towards their second estate.


    Through the drive, everyone was completely silent, with awkwardness in the atmosphere.


    The car finally slowed down in less than an hour as they arrived at the second estate, and with a careful pullover, the driver drove into the compound and swiftly parked in the parking lot.


    The two bodyguards, who were seated in the front seat, dashed down and pulled the door open for them.


    Mrs. Robert stepped down, followed by Shawn and then Mr. Robert. He proceeded to walk up to his wife, who was already dragging Shawn along with her as she walked to step into the building.


    "Claire!" He called out to her by her name, but Mrs. Robert completely ignored him and continued to walk up the stairs to enter the building.


    She pushed the door open and stepped in, then proceeded to close it, but Mr. Robert stopped her before she could.


    He pushed it open and walked in, then shut it by himself and grabbed his wife, who was already about to walk away, by the arm.


    Mrs. Robert''s face crumpled in rage, and she angrily turned to stare at him. "What do you want?" She asked in an unpleasant, unfriendly tone, causing Mr. Robert to draw his head back in shock. What just happened? His wife has never been harsh on him, not even once. She was always very soft-spoken, just...


    His eyes fluttered vigorously, and he took a quick breath. "Claire-"


    "Don''t you dare Claire me? This is all your fault! I hope you''re happy now after killing her. I hope you''re very happy!" She glared hatefully at him with tears in her eyes and turned around to leave, but suddenly halted, then turned back to gaze at him. "Before I forget, I want to let you know that I will be filing for a divorce paper which will be ready in a week. So please do sign it then." With that being said, she turned around to walk away, but Mr. Robert grabbed her by the arm yet again and stopped her on her track. He raised his eyes to stare at Shawn, who was also gazing at him with hatred in his eyes, and motioned for him to give them privacy.


    Shawn glared at him before eventually ambling out of the living room.


    Mr. Robert turned his wife around so she could gaze at him and gently cupped her cheek. A low breath exited his nose and he pinched between his brows as he was completely lost and broken at that moment. "Claire, listen, I know it''s my fault that our daughter is not here with us anymore... and I honestly wish I could go back in time to change things, or maybe even give my life in exchange for hers to bring her back to you, but..." He let out a low sigh, and tiny drops of tears began to fall from his eyes. "I loved her as much as you do, and I just wanted the best for her. I didn''t want anything to happen to her outside in this cruel world, I just-"


    "John...I will never forgive you for taking my daughter away from me, and neither will I stay with you."


    "Claire, please, it hasn''t come to this point. We have been married for forty years and... you want to leave me now? To get a divorce! Did I suddenly mean nothing to-?" Mrs. Robert snatched her hand from him before he could finish his words and sent a slap across his face. "Whether you like it or not, I am getting a divorce and freeing myself from you." She glared at him and turned around, then stormed off.


    Mr. Robert stared at her disappearing back and he fell on his knees as he felt his world crashing before him. What exactly did he do wrong? He questioned himself and buried his face in his palms.


    ...


    A week had passed since the tragic incident that occurred, and a heartening funeral had been held for Linda.


    Currently, Mr. Robert, who had a blank expression on his face, was seated in the living room with two documents in front of him at the mini table.


    One was a restriction notice, letting him know that he couldn''t get near the mother and child anymore. He was meant to completely stay away from them, especially Shawn, as he had no right over him anymore. Ha! Even his son had disowned him right in front of everyone in the court, saying that he was not his father anymore and never would be. This was something he didn''t expect or see coming. It was just so... overwhelming.


    A low sigh left his mouth as he looked at the second paper, which was the divorce paper, and another low sigh left his mouth. He raised his eyes to stare at his wife, who stood in front of him, and her face darkened as she glared at him. "Please sign the papers and quit wasting my time."


    Mr. Robert internally chuckled at his pitiful self and picked up the pen. He had it hover above the paper and hesitated before finally putting in his signature.


    Mrs. Robert snatched the paper and, without uttering a word, she turned around and proceeded to leave.. "Please leave the house before I return home with my son."

 Chapter 215 - Pride

    Mr. Robert stared at her disappearing back and slightly shook his head. He shoved his hands into his pockets and strolled out of the mansion. He boarded the SUV car that belonged to him and drove out of the compound.


    Unsure of where he was going, he kept his eyes straight and continued to drive forward. He arrived at a very familiar place, which was where his daughter''s funeral was held and parked the car.


    He stepped down and slowly walked into the cemetery. He moved towards his daughter''s grave and slowly knelt on the ground and fixed his gaze on her photo.


    He placed the little flower he had grabbed on his way there and kept it near her photo, then blew loving kisses at her photo.


    "I am sorry, my little girl, for failing you. I honestly doubt that you would ever forgive me, but I hope you do. I love you so very much. Daddy loves you more than you can imagine, and if I can go back in time, I will correct every mistake of mine and let you know just how much I love you. I-I am sorry." He slowly used his hand to wipe off the tears in his eyes, and after spending a bit more time at her grave, he bade her goodbye, then proceeded out of the cemetery.


    He pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed the number of his friend before starting to drive to an unknown location.


    He drove for at least forty minutes before finally stopping in front of an outdoor liquor store. He shut the door of his car and locked it before walking towards the store.


    He took his seat, and shortly after he did, someone appeared beside him. He raised his head and immediately smiled on seeing who it was.


    "Gerald." He shook hands with the man who looked the same age as him, and the man pulled him into a hug.


    "You okay?" He inquired, and Mr. Robert breathed heavily before slightly shaking his head. "I just lost my whole family, who were everything to me, and you think I would be fine." He mockingly shook his head, and Gerald patted him on the shoulder.


    "I am really sorry about how things turned out. Men, I never expected things to escalate to such a point."


    "Well... it''s all my fault and, just like she said, I am the one that killed her. I mean, if I hadn''t grounded her then she-"


    "Are you crazy, John? Disciplining your child and trying to get them to the right part is not your fault at all. You simply grounded her, which is something every parent does. How the hell is that your fault?" Gerald patted his shoulder and ordered a few drinks for themselves to help drown the sorrows.


    "You can live with me in my house if you have nowhere to stay at the moment."


    "No..." Mr. Robert shook his head and took a sip from the vodka bottle. "I do have a house. I had bought it to give it to Shawn on his eighteenth birthday, but....."


    .....


    Mr. Robert''s lashes fluttered, and he chuckled mockingly at Shawn. "Please get out of my office."


    "I said I am not going to. I am not leaving this office! It''s enough already! I am tired of all this! I just miss the happy family we once were." Shawn sat back on the chair as tiny drops of tears began to fall from his eyes.


    "Shawn, don''t get me pissed. Take yourself out the way you came into this hospital and never cross here again." With that being said, Mr. Robert walked over to him and grabbed him by the arm to pull him out of his office. However, hearing the next word that exited Shawn''s mouth, he instantly stopped. "Mum misses you a lot."


    His eyes fluttered furiously, and he slowly turned his head to stare at Shawn.


    "She still loves you a lot. There has never been a night that passed without her thinking of you. Months after you both had a divorce, we began to regret our decision, but we just couldn''t gather the courage to come for you and leave our pride behind us. It''s just..."


    "Shawn, go back to your mother and take care of her. We are not family anymore. The moment you disowned me in front of so many people and your mother divorced me, I stopped being a part of your lives." Mr. Robert chuckled pessimistically and slightly shook his head.


    "Tell your mother I wish her well and take good care of yourself." He smiled at Shawn and pulled him up from the chair. "Also, don''t ever cross this place again."


    "You can''t do this! You, of all people, should know how much mum loves you, and that what she did was out of anger. You can''t push us away like-"


    "Get out!!!" Mr. Robert yelled in deep rage, and without thinking twice, he dragged Shawn out of the office and shut the door in his face, then stormed towards his seat to sit down.


    He picked up the pencil from his table and angrily broke it, before taking a long deep breath to calm himself down.


    ...


    Shawn, who had walked out of the hospital, violently kicked the trash can and yelled to himself as the memory of that day in court replayed in his mind.


    "Fuck!!!" He breathed heavily and proceeded towards his car.


    He stepped in and shut the door, then activated the engine, before taking a reverse and pulling over onto the road.


    His eyes blinked every now and then as he drove. His life is a complete mess and a tragedy. All he has experienced since the day he came into the world was losing the people he loves, one way or another. His grip on the steering wheel tightened as he headed for his home to see his mother.


    On arriving there, he slowed down and drove in, parking carefully in the parking lot.

 Chapter 216 - It Will Be Crazy

    He stepped down from the car and moved towards the entrance, then stepped in and shut the door behind him. A low breath exited his nose and he glanced around. "Mum!" He called out to her as he couldn''t find her anywhere in the living room.


    "Son..." Mrs. Robert''s voice resounded as she strolled out of her room to the stairs. A wide smile emerged on her face on seeing Shawn, and without any hesitation, she hurried down to him and pulled him into a tight warm hug. "I missed you, son. Where have you been?" She examined his body and placed a soft kiss on his forehead.


    "I''m fine, mum. I just stayed this few days with a friend, that''s all." Shawn smiled at her and she nodded with motherly love in her eyes. "Mum... can I talk to you for a moment?"


    "Of course." Mrs. Robert nodded, and together they walked to sit down on the couch. A deep breath exited Shawn''s nose, and he turned his head to face her, then interlocked his hands.


    "Mum... I, um, I went to see... dad today." The moment the words fled Shawn''s mouth, Mrs. Roberts'' lashes fluttered and an unknown glint flashed in her eyes. "Why, son...?" She inquired in a very soft tone, and Shawn let out a low sigh. "I missed him. It''s been so long since we last saw him and I felt like I was forgetting him. Like something very important in my life was missing, and it was him. I just couldn''t help it."


    "What happened was in no way his fault, and we blamed and threw him out of our lives. He just did what any father would have done, and I know that if he had seen that incident coming, he would never have grounded Linda, but he isn''t God." A low breath exited his nose, and he brushed his eyes to wipe off the tears welling up in them. "We made a very big mistake, mum. What we did was definitely not what Linda would have wanted. We threw him out of our lives for eight good years without once throwing our pride to the back and visiting him or trying to work things out with him."


    "I can''t even begin to imagine the hatred he has for us now... I met him and called him Father, but...he told me to my face that he wasn''t my father anymore and that I should never call him that. I felt really broken and hurt inside." He slightly shook his head in deep regret and turned to stare at his mother.


    Mrs. Roberts'' eyes blinked furiously, and she swallowed hard. She lowered her head in remorse and began to fiddle with her fingers. "Son, I am sorry."


    "Sorry for what?" Shawn inquired in a bit of confusion, and Mrs. Robert grabbed his hands, then stared into his eyes. "I''m sorry for everything. For taking you away from your father and letting you experience all this. You were just a seventeen-year-old boy then who knew nothing, and as your mother, I took the wrong action, which resulted in all this. I am really sorry and I hope you will forgive me." She gazed at him with eyes that held hurtful tears, and he vigorously shook his head at her. "No mum, it isn''t your fault. It is no one else''s fault, not dad, not you. I know that you did what you did in a feat of rage and I would have done the same if I was in your shoes, so you don''t have to be sorry." He smiled at her and pulled her into a warm hug. "I love you, mum."


    "I am going to make everything right, son. And I will give you back the life you once had." Mrs. Robert patted him gently on the back and he nodded at her with diminutive tears falling from his eyes.


    _________


    Seated downstairs in the living room with her eyes fixed on her phone, steady footsteps resounded, causing Leia to raise her head to glance at the entrance.


    Alex, who was carrying an ash-colored suitcase, walked in and dropped it on the mini table in front of her. He bowed respectfully to her, and she nodded before standing up from the couch.


    "Is that what I think it is?" She inquired immediately, with deep expectation in her eyes, and Alex grinned as he nodded his head. "It is what you think it is."


    Leia''s eyes fluttered in excitement, and she slowly moved to open the suitcase. She unlocked it and gradually opened it, revealing three sets of bombs within. "Holy shit!!! This is beautiful." She stared at it with glowing eyes, and a wide malicious grin emerged on her face.


    "How dangerous is it?" She turned to Alex and asked, with excitement visible in her tone.


    Alex smirked but uttered not a word, and Leia began to grin so widely, it looked a bit scary. "Hell yeah! I love this. You did a good job." She gave a thumbs up to him and he bowed a bit.


    Leia rubbed her hands together in excitement as she stared at the sets of bombs with deadlines in her eyes. It will be crazy! It will be!


    She closed the suitcase and locked it, then carried it to take it upstairs.


    "I will be taking my leave now. I have an unfinished job to finish." Alex smiled as he took a deep bow before turning around and leaving.


    Leia made her way towards the elevator, which took her up to the second floor, and walked out when the door opened. She walked to her room and carefully pushed the suitcase under the bed, then clenched her hands together as she nodded her head in satisfaction.


    She glanced at the simple-looking watch clasped around her wrist and fluttered her eyes on seeing the time. 6:56 pm


    Why the hell wasn''t Adrik back yet? She immediately pulled out her phone and dialed his number, but he didn''t pick it up. She tried the second time, and he picked it up on the third try.


    [Leia, why are you calling me?]


    A gasp instantly escaped Leia''s throat, and she breathed heavily in shock. "You called me by my name. Why??? Are you mad at me? Did I do something wrong?"


    Adrik who heard her words fluttered his lashes in helplessness as he glanced at the businessmen who were staring at him with disbelief in their eyes.


    "Am not mad at you okay. Also, you did nothing wrong. But Little Wife, I am in the middle of a meeting, so please call me in two hours, okay." He gazed awkwardly at the businessmen as he said it.


    [Oh...sorry. You know you didn''t tell me you were going to have a me-"]


    Adrik immediately cut the call as the awkwardness was becoming too much and cleared his throat. "Shall we continue?" He inquired without bothering to apologize for stopping the meeting. Why would he even apologize? It''s not like he''s the one that would be losing. Plus, he only apologizes to his little wife, no one else.


    The businessmen slowly nodded their heads and he motioned for the middle-aged man who was explaining the ideas for the new product that would benefit their company, to continue.

 Chapter 217 - Asmodeus

    Leia stared at the screen of the phone, and her eyes blinked twice. ''He dared to hang up on me!'' She smirked viciously as she thought and slowly nodded her head. "Till he comes back." She scoffed and proceeded to grab her hoodie from the dressing room. She slid into it and pulled the cap over her head, then began to make her way downstairs.


    The elevator brought her down to the last floor, and she stepped out, then strolled towards the white door that led to the backyard.


    She pushed it open and stepped outside, then shut it behind her. She lifted her head to glance at the dark sky, and a low breath exited her nose. From her prediction, it looked as though it was going to rain sooner or later.


    She slightly shook her head and made her way towards the swing to take a seat, then slowly began to swing herself back and forth. A slight smile emerged on her face and a low breath escaped from her nose as she recalled her mother.


    ''I miss you so much.'' She let out a cry in her heart and shut her eyes as a pessimistic expression made its way to her face. She grabbed her phone and turned on the music as she plugged her AirPods into her ears.


    ....


    From a bit of a distance, a young boy who looked the same age as Leia stared at her. An unknown glint twinkled in his gray eyes, and he tilted his head to one side, trying to glimpse her more.


    "Your highness, please, we need to go. His Majesty will kill me if he finds out you came here to find her." A middle-aged man with completely white hair stared at the young boy with anxiousness in his eyes.


    The young boy, who was no other than Azazel, ignored the old man and continued to gaze at Leia. "He can''t do anything, Gavin." He shook his head at the old man and moved closer.


    "Your highness!" The middle-aged man by the name of Gavin fluttered his eyes in panic and also moved in an attempt to stop him. However, Azazel unexpectedly disappeared and appeared behind Leia on the swing.


    A slow smile emerged on his face as he stared at her. Slowly, he reached out his hand to touch her. However, as though a barrier was keeping him from her, unknown energy electrocuted his hand, causing him to hiss and retract his hand. He gazed at his fingers and Leia and proceeded to try and touch her again. However, this time, not only did it electrify him, but someone appeared from nowhere and grabbed him by the wrist, disappearing instantly from sight.


    As though she felt a presence behind her, Leia turned her head and glanced around, but on seeing nothing, she shrugged and returned her attention to the dark sky with a half-moon on it.


    ______


    "Take your filthy hands off me!" Azazel glared and narrowed his eyes at the man who looked to be around the age of 30 to 35. His short black hair was neatly combed, matching his brown eyes, and surprisingly, he was clad in black sweatpants and a black capless hoodie.


    "Forgive me for disrespecting your highness, but you are not allowed to go near her. I am sorry, but I cannot let you go against his majesty." The man bowed a bit in respect, and Azazel''s face altered in deep irritation. "Fuck the both of you!" He scowled angrily and disappeared, leaving Gavin with the man.


    The man who was known by the name of Asmodeus turned to the middle-aged man and deadly glared at him with narrowed eyes. "Next time you allow him to cross his boundaries, I will send you to the afterlife."


    "Please forgive me, My Lord! Have mercy!" Gavin instantly fell on his knees and began to hit his forehead on the ground as he pleaded for leniency.


    Asmodeus'' eyes narrowed cruelly, and without bothering to utter a word, he disappeared out of sight, allowing Gavin to take a deep breath of relief. He hurriedly stood up from the ground and disappeared to find Azazel.


    _________


    It was 8:30 pm and the Rolls Royce pulled over into the mansion and parked in the parking lot.


    The bodyguard, who was seated in the front seat, got out and hurried to open the door of the car.


    Adrik stepped down and adjusted his white long jacket, then glanced at the entrance of the building. He took a deep breath and pinched between his brows. How the fuck is he going to face his little wife now? The fact that he hung up on her before she could finish her sentence was enough to let him know what he would be facing when he returned home. But no worries, he knows how he can get on her good side.


    He smirked, and with his hands stuffed into his pockets, he began to walk towards the huge door.


    The bodyguards pushed it open and he stepped in. He vigilantly glanced around for any flying knives or punches, and on seeing none, he straightened up and proceeded to go upstairs to their room.


    He slowly pushed the door open and stepped in, and the first thing his eyes fell on was Leia seated at the edge of the bed, with her legs crossed and arms folded. "Welcome back, sweetheart." She said it is a very calm dangerous tone, and Adrik drew his head back in vigilance. Since when did his little wife begin to call him "sweetheart"? His eyes fluttered in a bit of suspicion, and he awkwardly cleared his throat and smiled at her. "Little wife, I can exp-"


    Before he could finish his words, Leia appeared before him and sent a punch to his stomach. "This is for not telling me you were going to be having a meeting today!"


    She sent another fierce punch to his stomach. "This is for getting me worried and causing me to call you in the middle of your meeting!" She then drew back a bit and violently and ferociously, she sent a wild kick to his stomach, which earned a deep growl from Adrik. "And this is for hanging up on me!!" She scoffed angrily and turned around to walk towards the bed, but Adrik''s arms wrapped around her body, hugging her tightly. "I am sorry, little wife. I won''t ever do that again, I promise." He took his mask off and kissed her on the cheek, and a grin emerged on Leia''s lips.


    She pulled away from the hug and turned around to gaze at him with folded arms. "You don''t have to tell me. I know you won''t try such a thing again." She shrugged at him and smirked viciously. "Unless you want more than this," She used her hands to make a punching gesture, and Adrik swallowed immediately.


    "I promise never to try such a thing again." Adrik smiled widely at her as he shook his head, and Leia nodded in satisfaction.


    "But hold on a moment, what was with that last kick? It was too violent and felt quite painful. Little wife, are you forgetting that I am your lovely husband?" He inquired with his brow raised a bit, and Leia glared at him before moving to lie down on the bed. "Next time will be worse.." She smirked and shut her eyes.

 Chapter 218 - Let It Flow

    Seated on top of a tree near a river, Azazel gazed up at the dark sky, and a low breath escaped his nose.


    "Your highness." Gavin, who eventually found him, appeared on the tree to sit down beside him. Azazel turned his head to look at him and averted his gaze as an annoyed expression emerged on his face. "I want to be alone."


    Gavin took a deep breath and lifted his eyes to the sky. "Your highness, maybe getting his majesty to agree will be better than sneaking out to find her. You know that the six princes will always have their eyes on you, and no matter what you do or how careful you are, they will still find and bring you back before you can even get close to her." He explained calmly, and Azazel unexpectedly buried his face in his palm and began to sob silently. "I just want her to see me. To look at me and realize that she-"


    "No, Your highness. We are very powerless at this point, because if we could! if we really could!... then all those years we have been trying, we would have been able to get to her." Gavin wrapped his arms around him and gently stroked his silver-colored hair. "Right now, we just have to obey his majesty and let everything flow accordingly, Okay. I am sure that one day you will both stand face-to-face and everything will unfold."


    Azazel slightly nodded and hugged him tightly whilst looking out into the horizon that was already taken over by the darkness. "I will let everything flow."


    ________


    Beads of sweat began to stream down Leia''s face and her body started to twitch violently, as though she was fighting something.


    Adrik''s eyes blinked open as her hand directly hit him, and he slowly sat up on the bed. He turned to look at her, and on seeing her sweating profusely and fidgeting uncontrollably, he immediately proceeded to wake her up. "Little wife... wake up." He tapped her cheek, but instead of waking up, her face began to alter into a deep scowl.


    His eyes flickered in deep confusion and he roughly shook her body. However, deep confusion ensued in his eyes when he saw her fingers instantly elongate and her fangs stretch out.


    "What is going on...?" He blinked vigorously in bewilderment and moved to gently carry her into his arms. However, Leia unexpectedly and unconsciously grabbed him by the neck, causing her fingers to slowly begin to pierce into his throat.


    "Little wife!!" Adrik, whose neck was seeping blood, immediately pulled apart her hands and grabbed her by the wrist, pinning her back onto the bed. He reached for the glass of water on the mini table near their bed and poured it on her face.


    The instant the water splashed on her, her eyes sprang open as her breathing became rapid and she sat up on the bed, inhaling deeply to catch her breath.


    Adrik hurriedly pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly. He gently stroked her arms, trying to calm her down. "It''s okay..." He tenderly caressed her hair and Leia, who was in his arms, gradually began to breathe steadily.


    "Adrik..." She spoke his name on snapping out of her disturbed state, and Adrik drew her back from the hug, then tenderly kissed her forehead. "I am here, little wife. It''s all okay." He proceeded to tuck her hair behind her ears, but on sighting something, he instantly stilled and gazed in disbelief at her hair.


    Leia, who saw the look of shock on his face, reached out her hand and softly brushed his cheek. "Adrik... is everything alright?" She inquired, and Adrik lowered his gaze to her face and slightly shook his head at her. "Little wife, your hair."


    Leia''s lashes flickered at his words, and she roughly ruffled her hair to remove whatever was in it. However, Adrik grabbed her by the wrist and helped her down from the bed. Then he walked her towards the table.


    "Look." He had her glance at her hair through the mirror, and that''s when she came to realize that half of her hair had turned to a silver color. Her body began to shake violently, and a scream abruptly erupted from her throat, prompting Adrik to instantly cover her mouth and hug her tightly. "Don''t scream."


    Leia''s breathing became unstable as she inhaled and exhaled to catch her breath. Her eyes blinked furiously, and she pulled away from the hug, then began to back away from Adrik, her body shivering.


    "Little wife, calm down." Adrik proceeded to walk towards her, but she raised her hand, telling him not to come close to her. She sat down on the edge of the bed and lowered her head as unexpected tears welled up in her eyes and began to fall.


    Adrik pinched between his brows and strolled up to her. He squatted down to her level, then tucked her hair behind her ears. "Little wife-" He sat on the edge of the bed beside her and cupped her cheeks with his hands, then lifted her head, so she could look at him. "-Look at me."


    Leia raised her teary eyes and fixed her gaze on him. "Adrik... I don''t want this. I was okay with it before but... all these changes, it''s not what I want."


    "And why is that?" He inquired in a soft, comforting tone, and Leia lifted her hand to wipe off the tears in her eyes.


    "I don''t know-" She shrugged and sniffed as the tears bubbled up in her eyes again, threatening to fall. "-I have my best friends who are like family to me, and if they see this change and eventually find out what I am... the-they will-"


    Adrik immediately tugged her into his embrace and tenderly began to brush her hair with his fingers. "I understand, little wife, but this is not something you can reject or run from. If you were born to be different, then there is a reason for it. And, as I always believed, the ones who love you will always stay with you no matter what you are or how different you are from them. They will accept you."


    "So if they really are your best friends, then I don''t think there will be a problem. It might be hard for them to accept it, but they definitely won''t leave you, okay." He kissed her forehead, and Leia took a low breath.. "Do you think I should tell them? I mean, we all planned to meet up in the morning, and if they see my hair, they will definitely ask questions."

 Chapter 219 - If They Really Are

    "Hmm... I see. Well, if you''re not ready to let them know, then you can just tell them you dyed your hair." Adrik suggested with an optimistic smile on his face, and Leia immediately shook her head in disapproval. "Adrik, that won''t work at all. Right from when I was a kid, I always hated dyes for no reason, and they know that. So what do you think will happen if I tell them that I dyed my hair? They obviously won''t believe me." She shook her head and brought her legs to her chest, then wrapped her arms around them.


    A low sigh left Adrik''s nose, and he rubbed his forehead. "Little wife, I will still tell you to let them know. If they are really your best friends, they will accept you for who you are and will stay, but if they don''t, then there is nothing we can do about it." He gently tugged her closer to him and cuddled her tightly. "Take a rest, and I promise, everything will be okay in the morning." He kissed her on the forehead before laying her down further in the bed. He got in beside her and wrapped his arms around her body, then yanked her closer to him and cuddled her.


    Leia buried her face in his chest and shut her eyes, then gradually drifted off to sleep.


    _____________


    {Monday, 10:54 am}


    Adrik walked out of the dressing room swathed in white pants and a white sweater, his feet covered in pristine white shoes.


    He strolled towards the table and sat down on the chair. Leia, who was dressed in tight blue jeans and a white casual shirt, helped him out with combing and packing his hair, and when she was done, he stood up from the chair with a big smile on his face.


    He turned to face her and leaned down, placing a long, soft kiss on her lips. "Take care of yourself, okay. And call me if anything goes wrong." He smiled lovingly at her, and Leia nodded before embracing him tightly. "I love you."


    "I love you too." Adrik nuzzled her neck and pulled back from the hug, then kissed her forehead one more time before finally leaving.


    Leia watched as he shut the door behind him and a low breath exited her nose.


    She walked to the table and glanced at herself through the mirror. An irritated expression emerged on her face as she glimpsed the half part of her hair that was silver-colored, and she proceeded to cover it. However, no matter how hard she tried, it seemed impossible.


    Frustrated, she angrily threw the spray bottle in her hand at the mirror, instantly shattering it into pieces. "Shit!!" Her eyes fluttered in realization at what she had done, and she hurriedly began to clean it up. However, in the process, she mistakenly cut her hand so deeply that blood began to seep out rapidly.


    "Ahh!" She took deep breaths to calm herself down, then called for the maids to clean up the mess.


    She strolled to the bathroom and took the first aid kit from the cabinet, then patiently treated herself and wrapped a bandage around her palm. She returned the kit to the cabinet and walked out of the bathroom.


    She glanced at the maids cleaning up the mess and, without uttering a single word, ambled into the dressing room and shut the door behind her, then strolled past the clothing.


    She halted when she spotted Adrik''s cream-colored hoodie, which she had been admiring for a while now. She took her shirt off and slid into a small white tube, then wore the hoodie on top of it. She adjusted it and pulled the cap over her head, covering her hair.


    A half-smile emerged on her face, and she slid into her white trainers. With all that done, she proceeded out of the dressing room.


    Her eyes darted around when she saw that the room was once again as clean as it was before, but the mirror was missing. She slightly shook her head and walked towards the mini table beside their bed.


    She pulled its drawer open and grabbed the key to the Lamborghini, then shut it.


    Leia strolled out of the room and shut the door behind her. She used the elevator to make her way downstairs, and with her hands stuffed into the pocket of the hoodie, she ambled towards the car.


    She unlocked it and stepped in, then closed the door and inserted the key. She turned it to the ignition point and activated the car''s engine.


    Slowly but steadily, she reversed the car and smoothly drove out of the compound and onto the road.


    Deep breaths kept exiting her nose as she drove and her grip on the steering wheel became strong as anxiousness took over her.


    She slowed down the car after an hour as she arrived near Victor''s second apartment. She carefully drove in and parked the car, then stepped down and shut the door, locking it afterward.


    She shoved the key into her pocket and took a long, deep breath before walking into the building.


    She sauntered towards the elevator and ambled in, then it took her to the second floor, and she stepped out when the door pushed open.


    She wandered towards Victor''s apartment and halted in front of his door. She lifted her knuckles and left three light knocks on them.


    A few seconds passed before the door creaked open and a smiling Keisha came into view. Before she could anticipate what would happen next, Kiesha yanked her into a hug and embraced her tightly. "Girl, I missed you!"


    Leia chuckled softly and hugged her back. "I missed you too." She pulled away from the hug and walked into the apartment, then Keisha shut the door and followed behind her.


    Her eyes fell on James, who sat beside Victor with their gazes fixed on the laptop.


    "Guys." They instantly turned to look at her, and James moved to yank her into a warm hug.. It''s been weeks since they last saw each other.

 Chapter 220 - Did I Hear Wrong

    James pulled away from the hug, and Victor patted her on the shoulder before hugging her. "How are you?" He asked with a smile on his face and Leia nodded at him as she walked to sit down on the couch. "Pretty good."


    A low breath exited her nose and she rested her head back on the couch.


    "How are things going with Mr. Adolpho? Have you made it known to him that you know he''s not your father?" Victor inquired as he strolled to sit on the one-man sofa.


    "No...not yet." Leia slightly shook her head and turned to stare at Keisha. "How''s your sister and school?"


    A slight smile emerged on Kiesha''s face, and she pulled her legs to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. "She''s pretty good. We will be leaving for school next week, and it''s kind of overwhelming." She glanced up at the ceiling as she spoke, and Leia''s brows creased a bit in bewilderment. "Why the overwhelm? Aren''t you happy that you''re finally going back to college with your sister?"


    Kiesha turned to look at her and slightly shook her head. "No, it''s not that. It''s just that I will be leaving a lot of things behind and am feeling really broken inside. I am more down because of you guys. It''s so hard to imagine a few years without you guys. I feel like an awesome part of me is being taken away.-" The tears that welled up in her eyes slowly fell, and she used her pinky to wipe them off.


    "You guys are like my family and make my life complete, but... I mean, I am really happy, but it''s hard to leave. It''s really hard." A deep sigh left her mouth, and Leia walked over to sit beside her. She reached out her hand and yanked her into a warm hug, slowly caressing her back. "Hey, don''t cry. Have you forgotten that we could all always do a video call and see each other? You don''t have to cry, because we will always be anywhere with you, plus you''re not going to stay there forever." She smiled tenderly at her and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "It''s okay."


    James and Victor smiled and also reassured her, helping her to calm down and return to her happy state.


    A low breath fled Leia''s nose as she suddenly recalled something, and she buried her face in her palms.


    James, Victor, and Kiesha, who saw her sudden unhappy state, furrowed their brows, and Kiesha proceeded to implore what the problem was. "Is everything okay, Leia?"


    Leia raised her head and turned to gaze at them. Seeing the worried looks on their faces, she restlessly pinched between her brows.


    She inhaled and exhaled deeply, then turned to face them. "I have a question that I would like to ask you guys."


    The three glanced at themselves in a bit of bewilderment before slowly nodding at her. "Okay..." They said it in unison, and Leia bit her lower lip.


    "If you ever find out something horrible about me that is unacceptable, would you guys cut off ties with me and leave me?" Her pitch-black pupils gazed at them in anticipation, and the three blinked their eyes in confusion.


    They turned their heads to glance at each other, and on seeing the confusion in each other''s eyes, they returned their gaze to Leia. "Baby girl, why are you asking such a question? Do you think we will ever leave you?" Kiesha asked, with a bewildered expression on her face.


    Leia took a low whiff and raised her head to gaze at her. "Just answer, please."


    Their crinkled brows deepened, and they slowly nodded at her. "Well... we have all been best friends since you were sixteen. We have gone through a lot together, so I can assure you that nothing in this world can ever make us leave you. Nothing at all." Victor said, and they nodded in agreement.


    "Really?" Leia implored with a reluctant look on her face, and they nodded at her.


    "Leia, is there anything that you want to tell us?" James asked as he could notice her anxiety and the sweat dripping from her forehead.


    Leia shifted her gaze to him before glancing at the others to see the suspicious expressions on their faces. She let out a subtle gust and slowly nodded her head. "Yeah... I have something to tell you guys."


    "Okay...go on then." They nodded at her, and she took yet another subtle breath before slowly pulling off the cap of her hoodie, exposing her two-colored hair.


    On seeing it, the eyes of the three dilated as wide as saucers, and they drew their heads back in disbelief.


    "You dyed your hair!" Kiesha clamored in utter disbelief and slowly shook her head. "I thought you despised dyes?" She asked with skepticism evident in her tone, and Leia immediately shook her head at them with a stressed look on her face.


    "No, no, no. Guys, I didn''t dye my hair." She clicked her tongue and rubbed her forehead in an apprehensive manner.


    "Huh? If you didn''t dye your hair, then why is it half gray and half black?-" Victor asked, with deep confusion in his eyes. "-Or are we seeing things wrong?"


    "That''s what I want to talk to you guys about." She turned to face them with an anxious look on her face. "Don''t freak out and hear me out first, please." She pleaded, and they nodded at her before paying attention to what she was about to tell them.


    Leia closed her eyes for a moment as she took a deep breath, and when she felt she was ready, she opened her eyes and began to talk. "I...didn''t dye my hair. I woke up every day to find it changing to... a gray color."


    James instantly arched his brow as he couldn''t seem to understand what she was saying. "Hold on for a moment. Did I hear wrong?"


    He glanced at each of them as he felt that he didn''t hear what she said correctly.

 Chapter 221 - She Expected It

    "I feel the same." Victor''s eyes blinked twice, and Kiesha slowly nodded as she too, also felt the same.


    "Baby girl, since when did you start believing in magic? Don''t tell me that you''re serious about what you''re saying." Leia lowered her head in helplessness as Kiesha''s lashes fluttered vigorously. They are acting this way when she has just told them the light part. What will happen when she gets to the main part? She questioned herself and pinched between her brows.


    "Leia... what is going on?" Victor inquired in a worried tone, and when he got no answer from her, he moved to take a seat beside her on the sofa. "Okay, fine, we believe you, but we want to understand why and how it''s possible. This is something we have never seen or heard of, so it''s kind of unbelievable to us." He explained it to her and she slowly lifted her head to stare at them.


    "I will tell you guys everything, but...you must promise not to freak out or run away from me." She said, with a pleading look in her eyes.


    The three exchanged glances and assured her with a nod of their heads. "We won''t." They smiled at her, and a half-smile emerged on her lips.


    She cleared her throat and began to fiddle with her hands. "So... as I said, I really didn''t dye my hair; it changed to this color on its own."


    "Okay..." They slowly bobbed at her, seeming to have a little belief in what she said, as they knew that Leia was not the kind that would make up something silly.


    "Not just that... but-" Leia paused and stared at them for a moment before parting her lips to continue. "-I am very different from you guys."


    The three drew their heads back the instant the word exited her mouth and their lashes fluttered vigorously. "What... do you mean?" Kiesha inquired, and the others gazed intently at Leia, as they were beginning to feel very worried about her behavior.


    Leia stared intently at them as though trying to read them, and after a few seconds, she inhaled and exhaled deeply. "Please don''t freak out." With that being said, a deep breath exited her nose and her gums began to itch, including her fingers.


    Slowly but steady, before their eyes, Leia''s teeth elongated, resting on her lower lip and her fangs stretched out to their limit.


    The three stared at her without blinking for a whole fifteen seconds, and finally, when it seemed as though their brains had processed what they saw, a piercing scream erupted from Kiesha, and she flinched away from her, creating a far distance, till her back touched the wall.


    James'' eyes fluttered in deep fear and he slowly began to draw back, also creating a huge distance from her.


    Victor, very scared, sat near her regardless and stared at her with eyes that held anxiousness and fear. His breathing became unsteady and he swallowed, bravely restraining himself from running. "You... you''re a vampire." He inquired in what almost came out as a whisper.


    Leia''s eyes flickered, and she slightly shook her head. "No..." She replied, and Victor took an instant breath, calming himself down. He had asked that question to know if she would answer. He wanted to confirm if it was really Leia that was seated in front of him.


    He would have run if she hadn''t answered because that would have let him know that the person sitting in front of him wasn''t Leia but someone else.


    "If you''re not a vampire, then what are you?" He proceeded to ask further, and Leia narrowly tilted her head to one side with a bit of disbelief in her orifices. "Aren''t you afraid of me?" She implored, and Victor blinked his eyes as he processed his words before proceeding to speak. "I am afraid... but not to the point of running away from you. I know that you''re Leia and would never hurt me because if you weren''t, you would have hurt us." He replied, and she awkwardly arched her brow. "What makes you think that?"


    "I see it a lot in movies, where if they turn, they instantly attack their friends, killing them." Victor lifted his watch and glanced at it before returning his attention to her. "It''s been a minute already and you''re still yet to react. That''s enough to tell me that you''re Leia and not someone else. Plus, I can see the hurt in your eyes when Kiesha flinched away and James gave you some distance." He clarified, and Leia gradually lowered her head.


    "What exactly are you?" Victor asked yet again, and Leia took a long deep breath before raising her head to glimpse Kiesha and James, then at Victor. Her lips trembled as she tried to speak, but not a word came out.


    Victor gently took her hands and smiled at her to make her feel at ease. "C''mon, I promise, we won''t leave you. Just tell us. "


    She slowly nodded at him and parted her lips to speak. "I am a..."


    "A what?" He stared intently at her in anticipation, and Leia swallowed hard. "A... Demon."


    Victor''s eyes blinked furiously the moment the word escaped her mouth, and he slowly let go of her hand. "You mean to say that you''re possessed by a demon?"


    Leia infrequently shook her head at him, causing, the confusion in his eyes to deepen. "Then what do you mean by you''re a demon?"


    "I am not possessed, Victor. I am an actual demon. A real one." She let out a helpless breath, and a sharp breath left Victor''s nose. "That''s impossible." He shook his head in skepticism, and his face puckered. "There is no way that you''re a demon. Demons are spirits, not... people."


    "No...they are not. Demons live amongst humans and-" Leia proceeded to explain, but he immediately drew back away from her and raised his finger to point at her. "You''re lying! You''re not Leia! You possessed her body!" He instantly stood up from the chair and hurried back to stand beside Kiesha and James in vigilance.


    "I am not lying!" Leia immediately stood up and moved to walk towards them, but they raised their hands in a fighting motion, letting her know that if she moved any closer to them, they wouldn''t take it lightly with her. "Stay away!" Kiesha glared viciously at her, and Leia''s eyes fluttered as she instantly felt very hurt down within. She expected this.


    "Guys, it''s really me, Leia. I am not possessed. Just hear me out, please.." She pleaded as she pointed at herself with tears that welled up in her eyes, threatening to fall.

 Chapter 222 - Disappointment

    "Stay away! " Victor vigilantly yelled at her, causing her to flinch back in shock and her eyes to flutter in disappointment. The tears that were threatening to fall slowly fell, and she immediately used the back of her hand to wipe them off.


    Without bothering to explain anymore as she found it useless to do so, she turned around and reluctantly began to walk towards the door. She halted when she got to the door and turned her head to glance at them. Deep pain flickered in her teary eyes, and she pulled the cap of her hoodie over her head, then walked out of the room and towards the elevator.


    It took her down to the third floor, and she walked out when the doors pushed open. She strolled out of the building with her head lowered, and headed straight for the car.


    She got in, shut the door, then recklessly drove out of the compound and onto the road.


    Tears uncontrollably welled up in her eyes, and she regulated the steering wheel with one hand while using the other to wipe off the tears. The deep fear she saw in their eyes, how they stared at her as though she was a monster broke her completely. That... was not what she had in mind! She didn''t want them to see her that way! Yes, she expected a reaction from them but not this sort of reaction. They were her best friend for god sake and had known her for years, yet they...


    Her head began to feel so clouded and light that she couldn''t help but lower it to rub on her forehead.


    When she lifted back her head to glance at the road ahead of her, she immediately realized that she was about to crash with a car, and due to her enhanced eyesight, she spotted the toddler in the backseat, so without a second thought, she rashly turned the steering wheel, pulling off the way and out of the road, heavily crashing onto the metal pole.


    Her head mercilessly banged on the steering wheel, and the glasses shattered into pieces. Her eyes squinted open and she proceeded to sit up on the chair, however, a heavy headache that felt like a hammer was being hammered on her head hit her, and she fell back, hitting her head on the steering wheel yet again.


    Her eyes tiredly flickered as blood rapidly streamed down her forehead and other places that were severely injured by the shattered glasses. She blinked one last time before slowly shutting her eyes and gradually falling unconscious.


    ________


    With some documents in his hand, Adrik stepped into the meeting room where the other businessmen were seated and proceeded to take his seat. However, at that moment, a strong, sharp pain instantly struck his heart and he clutched onto his chest as he staggered, almost falling.


    His eyes fluttered vigorously, and one thought instantly emerged in his mind. "Leia!" Without any hesitation, he immediately rushed out of the room, pushed Alex out of the way, and hurried downstairs.


    He dashed towards the car and got in, then shut the door and started the car''s engine. Without caring about any risks, he carelessly reversed the car and sped off at a very high speed.


    He certainly has no idea where he''s driving to, but he''s driving towards where his heart is leading him to.


    "Little wife." Anxiety took over him as he clearly knew that for such pain to hit him, his wife was definitely in danger.


    He drove for fifteen to twenty minutes before arriving at a scene that was surrounded by paramedics and an ambulance.


    He directly parked the car and stepped down, then scurried to the place where the paramedics and a few pedestrians were surrounded. The moment his eyes fell on the car, his heart instantly skipped a bit, and he slowly moved to glance inside of the car.


    There he found his little wife, unconscious with her bloody head resting on the steering wheel. His breathing became unsteady and he began to inhale and exhale deeply to catch his breath.


    Not caring about the paramedics that were available there, he immediately grabbed the door of the car, forcefully pulling it off completely in agitation.


    The eyes of the paramedics and the surrounding pedestrians dilated, and they couldn''t help but turn to glance at the door of the car that was thrown away by him.


    Adrik ignored them and hastily wrapped his arms around his little wife and carried her out of the car. He rushed her to the SUV and adjusted its seat, then sat her down.


    He moved to take his seat in the driver''s chair, and without any hesitation, he reversed the car and began to drive home at a fast speed.


    Now and then, he would glance at Leia, and when he saw that the bleeding wasn''t stopping, he tore off his shirt and placed it over her head, then continued to drive with one hand.


    Finally reaching the mansion, he roughly drove into the compound and bothered not to park in the parking lot. He hurried down, and ever so gently, he carried her out of the car in a bridal style, then scrambled into the building.


    The maids who were working immediately hustled to him, spotting the unconscious Leia in his arms, to help, but he, however, yelled at them, telling them to open up the sofa, which was a mattress and sofa combined.


    The maids nodded vigorously and hurriedly opened the sofa, turning it into a mattress.


    Adrik carefully laid Leia down on the mattress and ordered the maids to get him a first aid box.


    The slamming of the huge door made him turn around, only to see Alex walking in with a panicked expression on his face.


    "Call Mr. Robert now!" He shouted angrily at Alex, and Alex immediately grabbed his phone from his pocket to dial Mr. Robert''s number. However, Mr. Robert didn''t pick up the call. Anxiously, Alex dialed the number again, but Mr.. Robert still didn''t pick up.

 Chapter 223 - How Is That Possible?

    Adrik, whose eyes were already golden in rage as though it was burning, turned to Alex and his chest rose and fell in anger. At this moment, he didn''t even care that his upper body was bare and only a little piece of torn clothing was hanging on his shoulder.


    Alex swallowed hard at the deadly look his Supreme Alpha was giving him, and without wasting any time, he scurried outside, trying the number again. Fortunately, Mr. Robert picked up the phone and agreed to come immediately.


    The maids arrived downstairs with the first aid box, and Adrik snatched it from them, then proceeded to treat his little wife.


    ________


    Inside a dusty old wooden room, an old woman with red tattered curly hair sat in front of a glowing orb that showcased Leia, who was lying on the bed with Adrik beside her.


    A slow, cruel grin emerged on her lips, and she turned to glance at a middle-aged man seated beside her with pure wickedness in his eyes.


    "Finish her off!" He ordered in an emotionless tone, and the middle-aged woman slowly nodded. "She''s a very tough one, so... it will be quite hard to eliminate her." She explained, and the middle-aged man''s face instantly darkened as his eyes changed to that of a violet color. "What do you mean?"


    "Nothing... I will do just as you said." The old woman nodded nervously and turned to face the orb, then silently began to chant a spell that got louder with each passing minute.


    ______


    Mr. Robert arrived at the mansion, and Alex hurriedly walked him into the building. The moment he stepped in through the entrance, his eyes fell on Leia, who was lying on the white mattress with the blood seeping from her head soaking it.


    Adrik, who was seated beside her, had his hands shaking violently as he couldn''t even seem to treat her or at least help stop the bleeding.


    Mr. Robert hurried to them and knelt beside Leia, then requested a pillow to put under her head. The maids returned with the ones meant for the bed, and carefully placed them under her head, then he proceeded to begin with her treatment.


    "A little space." He requested, and the maids immediately drew back.


    ________


    Azazel, who was gazing up at the white ceiling of his room, abruptly stood up from his bed and his eyes switched from those of silver to a deep red.


    He glanced at the door, which was being guarded by the royal guards, and without any hesitation, he jumped off the building through the window and ran off at an extraordinary speed. He could have teleported, but there was a teleportation spell cast around his room that wouldn''t allow him to teleport out of the room.


    He ran as fast as he could and finally, when he made it out of hell by jumping out of the open cracked space and into the forest, a grin emerged on his face. He glanced at the cracked space on the ground which was about to close and quickly teleported, to appear at the mansion.


    He made himself invisible and slowly walked into the building. His eyes glimpsed the maids and the doctor, and that''s when his gaze fell on Leia, who lay unconscious on the mattress.


    His eyes instantly fluttered furiously, and he moved closer to her, glimpsing her so closely for the first time. However, his attention was instantly attracted when Adrik, who stood near Leia glanced in his direction. ''He can see me?'' He questioned himself and immediately flinched back when he saw Adrik suddenly walking towards him with a deadly look on his face.


    Adrik''s nails instantly elongated and he proceeded to grab him. However, Azazel hastily teleported out of the mansion, arriving at a different place. ''How is that possible?'' His breathing became a bit unsteady as he questioned himself.


    Adrik did indeed notice his presence but couldn''t see him. He knew that someone was there and could profoundly sense the person and each move they made. He knew that the person became anxious when he knew that he could sense him or her and that''s why he had made a move to grab the person, but unfortunately, the person disappeared, letting him know that it was definitely a demon.


    They were the only supernatural beings that could make themselves invisible and disappear, but it wasn''t just any of them. The ability to become invisible wasn''t an ability that every demon possessed. It was only possessed by demons with royal blood, and since the person could make himself or herself invisible, that means he or she is of royal blood. ''But what would the person be looking for here?'' He thought in bewilderment and his gaze shifted to Leia, who wasn''t moving at all.


    He shook the thought off and moved to sit beside her, then grabbed her hand and began to knead gently on it.


    ...


    Azazel took deep breaths and rubbed between his brows. ''How is this possible?'' He asked in his heart and tilted his head to one side in a bit of confusion.


    Werewolves are never able to sense the presence of a demon when they are invisible. Plus, he is of royal blood, so there is no way a wolf could sense him. But how was that guy able to? He rubbed his forehead and took a low breath. Is it because he''s an Alpha wolf? But that''s impossible. He has met with other Alpha''s in an invisible state and they were not able to sense him, so how?!!!


    He shook the thought off as he couldn''t seem to wrap his head around it and instantly teleported back to the mansion. But this time he stood outside, observing everything that was happening inside. And it was possible due to his enhanced eyesight.


    He placed his hands behind his back and tilted his head to one side, a bit unsure of what they were doing.


    ....


    Adrik again felt his presence and looked outside through the entrance. His eyes narrowed into a thin line and, as though feeling that the person was not a threat, he returned his attention to Leia and watched as Mr.. Robert dressed up her injuries.

 Chapter 224 - This Will Be Fun

    Mr. Robert left after the treatment, and currently, Leia was lying in their room upstairs, with Adrik seating beside her.


    A low sigh exited Adrik''s nose and a pessimistic expression emerged on his face as he stared at her unconscious state.


    He pinched between his brows and stood up from the bed, then moved towards the bathroom to take his bath. He stepped in, shut the door, and proceeded to have his shower.


    The curtains in the room fluttered, and Azazel, who had yet to leave, appeared in the room, this time making himself visible. He glanced at the bathroom where Adrik had gone in and narrowed his eyes.


    He averted his gaze from the door to Leia, who was lying on the bed, and slowly began to walk towards her. He gently sat on the edge and intently gazed at her face, an unknown glint glittering in his gray eyes. A pretty smile unexpectedly formed on his lips, and he tilted his head to one side to glimpse her more.


    A low breath escaped his nose and he slowly reached out his hands to touch her face. However, the door to the bathroom creaked open, and Adrik, who was clad in a white robe, walked out.


    Azazel immediately made himself invisible and got up from the table to teleport away, but a question from Adrik had him halt and turn to look at him.


    "Who are you?" Adrik questioned with a darkened face and his eyes that stared with vigilance.


    Azazel leaned his head to one side, assessing him from head to toe, but uttered not a single word. Who exactly is this guy? He doesn''t seem to be just an Alpha wolf, but something more. It was never possible that an Alpha wolf would be able to sense his presence profoundly and even tell the exact spot he was standing on. Worst of all, there was this unknown dominating energy that he could sense emanating from him. That energy was something he had never sensed from an Alpha wolf before.


    "Who are you?" Adrik repeated his question, but this time in a very unfriendly tone.


    Azazel drew his head back with narrowed eyes and parted his lips to say something, but as though he had changed his mind, he turned around and teleported out of the mansion, appearing in the woods. He proceeded to return to hell, but at that moment, vigorous air blew around him and a silhouette made itself known.


    "Your highness." The silhouette, who looked around the age of 30 to 35, with brown curly short hair and black eyes, bowed slightly to him, and Azazel''s face darkened instantly.


    "What do you want, Leviathan?" He asked in an unpleasant tone, and Leviathan rolled his eyes at him before moving towards him to grab him. "Don''t you dare touch me! I will return to hell on my own!!" He glared viciously at Leviathan, and Leviathan halted, then raised his brow at him.


    He chuckled softly and slightly shook his head before moving towards him to forcefully grab him by the wrist. "You never listen!" With that being said, he teleported out of the forest while holding firmly onto Azazel.


    Instead of arriving in Azazel''s room, they arrived inside a huge dark hall, where a pair of red sinful eyes stared at him from above a golden throne.


    "Your Majesty." Respectfully, Leviathan let go of Azazel''s hand and knelt on one knee on the floor.


    The person seated at the throne, who was no other than the devil himself, Lucifer, casually waved his hand at Leviathan, and Leviathan disappeared instantly. He smirked, and the hall instantly lit up as the lights came on, allowing Azazel to view him.


    Azazel''s face darkened deeply, and his breathing became unsteady. His hands balled into tight fists and he turned around to teleport out of the hall, but he found himself unable to move as a string of energy curled around him, holding him firmly in one place. "Let me go!" He yelled with gritted teeth, and Lucifer transpired before him in the blink of an eye. A deadly smirk emerged on his face and he harshly grabbed Azazel by the chin, lifting his face so he could gaze at him. They were so similar! No one would ever have a single doubt that they were father and son. They possessed the same features. Gray eyes, silver-colored hair, and a few other facial looks.


    "You''re such an unfilial son!! Is that how you talk to your father?" He smiled widely as he asked, and Azazel snatched his chin and glared at him with pure disdain in his eyes. "A heartless person like you will never be my father!" He spat in his face, and Lucifer began to chuckle mockingly. "Oh... dear son... when was I not heartless? I am the devil for goodness sake, and being heartless is one of my characteristics. If only you could be just like me, then I would be pleased, but unfortunately, you ended up being just like your mother." He shook his head in disappointment and disappeared, appearing back on his throne. He adjusted his light blue, royal-looking robe and majestically sat down on his throne, then crossed his legs and supported his head with his palm.


    "I like some time alone." He shifted his gaze to Azazel and let out a whiff of air, instantly sending him back to his room. He took a deep breath then snapped his finger, causing a gust of wind that lasted for a second to blow.


    A whirlpool that allowed him to observe everything happening in the entire world materialized in front of him, and a deadly grin emerged on his face.


    He clicked his tongue in disdain as he stared at the old woman and the middle-aged man who sat in an old wooden house, in front of the orb that showcased the unconscious Leia.


    He shifted his gaze to Leia, who had Adrik seated beside her, and tilted his head to one side, as he fixed his gaze on Adrik with a slight smile emerging on his face.. "This will be fun."

 Chapter 225 - We Will See

    Adrik leaned in to rest his back on the head of the bed and gently began to stroke Leia''s hair. A pessimistic sigh exited his nose, and he lowered his head to place a soft kiss on her lips. "I love you, little wife..." He whispered to her and at that moment, Leia''s fingers twitched violently, and so did her body afterward.


    Adrik''s eyes fluttered in bewilderment, and he proceeded to caress her hair, but just like before, her body shook so violently that he immediately sat up on his knees with deep confusion apparent in his eyes. "Little wife..." He called her in a panicked state, but Leia responded not and continued to shake uncontrollably.


    .......


    Before her, Adrik stood with a deadly look on his face. His eyes, which were deep red, glared hatefully at her and the whip that was in his strong grip shook energetically.


    "A-adrik..." Leia''s eyes fluttered vigorously and she eyed him from head to toe, clearly unsure of why Adrik was staring at her in such a way with a whip in his hand. "What is going on with you? Did I do something wrong?" She inquired in a confused tone, but contrary to her expectation, Adrik raised the whip and appeared before her, then mercilessly bashed the whip on her body, causing a scream to escape her throat.


    She immediately fell to the ground and began to crawl back away from him. What was going on? Why was Adrik hitting her? Her brows creased deeply, and she glanced at her clothing, which was torn by the whip that landed on her body, showcasing the deep red mark on her body.


    "Adrik, what are you doing?! You''re hurting me!" She yelled at him, but as though the Adrik standing before her couldn''t hear her, he moved yet again and cruelly whipped her, causing her skin to rip apart, and blood to start oozing out.


    Her eyes blinked violently, and her breathing became rapid. She immediately stood up from the ground upon seeing him ready to whip her again and began to run. However, that''s when she suddenly came to realize that they were in the backyard where the white swing she loved was.


    She glanced around and at the dark sky, then turned around to see Adrik walking towards her. Her heart skipped a bit and she began to draw back, tears welling up in her eyes. "Adrik... why? Why are you doing this?" She questioned him, but instead of replying, Adrik arrived before her and grabbed her by the throat, hoisting her up into midair and beginning to strangle her.


    ...


    Adrik''s eyes dilated as he stared at his little wife, who was floating in midair with her neck turning purple as though an injury was being inflicted on her. "Little wife." He immediately stood up from the bed and wrapped his arms around her to bring her down. However, a scream exited from Leia and before he could anticipate what would happen next, her body flew away, crashing heavily onto the wall.


    "Little wife!" He rushed off immediately and lifted her from the floor and stared at her head, which was beginning to bleed again. His eyes fluttered in confusion, and he suddenly found himself unable to breathe.


    What in the world is going on? What is happening to his little wife?! Could someone just fucking explain it to him? Hurtful tears steamed up in his eyes and they fell the instant they came. As though his tears had stopped something, Leia fell helplessly into his arms and he hugged her tightly, gently caressing her hair. "I am sorry, little wife. I am so sorry I couldn''t protect you!! It''s all my fault. I shouldn''t have let you go." He proceeded to kiss her forehead but then realized that her head was bleeding. He immediately carried her to the sofa and opened it, turning it into a mattress. Then, gently, he put her down and rushed into the bathroom to grab the first aid kit.


    ______


    "Ahhhhhhh!" The old woman yelled in annoyance and angrily pushed the books on the table to the floor.


    The middle-aged man seated beside her scoffed in rage and stood up from the stool, then turned to point at her in displeasure.


    "I thought you said you could do this, Magrida. What is going on?! Why did the spell break suddenly?" He asked in deep anger and the old woman, who was Magrida, stood up from the stool and turned to stare at him. "I have no idea either. Everything was going perfectly fine, but it just suddenly stopped as though someone broke it." Magrida''s eyes darted around in confusion, and she halted her gaze on the middle-aged man.


    The middle-aged man pinched between his brows and waved his hand at her, ordering her to try once again.


    Magrida respectfully agreed and moved to seat herself on the stool. Her hands hovered above the orb, and she began to chant the spell once again. "Apkana Magna dazia!!!" She continuously chanted this word, but before she could anticipate the danger coming ahead, a violent power instantly hit her, sending her flying back to crash into the wall. She fell to the floor, and a deep groan of pain escaped her mouth.


    The middle-aged man turned to glance at her and shook his head in dissatisfaction. "Such a waste of time!! We will continue tomorrow! Better be prepared then!" He scoffed in slur and exited the old house at an extraordinary speed.


    Magrida glanced at the door and her face turned red in anger. With the support of her hands, which were pressed to the floor, she stood up and pulled out a rough old tiny stick from her clothing, then elegantly swirled it as though trying to cast a spell.


    Slowly, the books on the floor rose into the air and began to float towards the shelves, arranging themselves into them.


    She dusted her clothing when she was done and walked towards the orb, then sat down on the stool and gazed intently at it. "Humph!! We will see."

 Chapter 226 - What...

    The next day arrived quite slowly, and Adrik, who had cleaned Leia up and changed her clothing, laid her down on the bed and proceeded to have his shower.


    He stepped out after a few minutes and dressed himself up in casual white pants and a white polo, then gave his hair a little bit of brushing, messily tying it up afterward.


    Today he had a meeting to attend as well as a company contract to sign, but he canceled all that because there was absolutely no way that he would leave his little wife to attend a meeting.


    A low breath exited his nose as he stared at the unconscious Leia on the bed, and gently, he moved to lie down beside her. Honestly, he has no appetite to eat, which is why he is not even bothering to go downstairs for his breakfast or order it here in the room.


    A half-pessimistic smile emerged on his face, and he plugged his AirPods into his ears, then turned to wrap his arms around her, cuddling her tenderly.


    ________


    {Tuesday, 6:57 p.m.}


    Alex, who stood on the balcony of the estate that he had recently bought, pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed Rita''s number.


    [Hey....] Rita picked up instantly and her voice sounded so awkward as she and Alex had not communicated quite much before.


    "Hey, how are you?" Alex asked, with a friendly smile on his face.


    [Pretty good, thank you. How about you?]


    "I am good. I called you concerning the plan. I want you to delay it as much as possible." He said, in a very downcast tone.


    [Huh? But Luna-]


    "She''s not in good condition right now, so please impede the plan as much as possible till she''s stable." He cut her off before she could finish her sentence and calmly explained it to her.


    [Not in good condition. What do you mean by that? Did something happen?] She inquired in a tone that held concern.


    Alex''s eyes fluttered, and he cleared his throat. "Well... she got into some kind of accident, so..." He clarified, and Rita stayed silent for a few seconds before finally nodding and assuring him that she would delay it as much as she could.


    "Thank you." Alex smiled and cut the call, then dropped the phone on the mini table near the white sofa on the balcony. He stuffed his hand into the pocket of his pants and used his other hand to brush back his blonde hair, then raised his eyes to glance up at the sky, which was already getting dark. A low sigh fled his nose, and he slightly shook his head.


    _________


    {7:03 pm}


    A deep breath exited Selena''s nose as she stared at herself through the mirror, and a slight smile ensued on her face. She admired the red body-hug dress she wore, which had a diamond accessory embedded on its side. She glanced at the golden necklace around her neck, which matched the sleeveless dress perfectly, and slowly nodded her head.


    Her smile widened and she gently patted her shoulder-length fiery red hair, which was tied up into a classic bun. She nodded in satisfaction after admiring herself, then finished everything up by clasping a golden bracelet around her slender wrist, then picked up her purse and walked out of the room.


    She shut the door behind her and walked into the living room to find Victor, who was clad in a white shirt and suit pants, staring out of the huge glass window. Her brow creased in bewilderment, and she walked up to him and tapped him on the shoulder. "What are you thinking? You seem a bit lost." She inquired with a smile on her lips, and Victor turned to look at her.


    He examined her from head to toe, and a slow smile emerged on his face. "You look so gorgeous... You look beautiful." He eyed her and leaned in to place a soft kiss on her lips.


    Selena smiled against his lips and pulled him into a tight hug before interlocking her arms with his, and together they walked out of the apartment.


    They moved downstairs using the elevator and stepped outside after the door was pushed open.


    Selena''s eyes fluttered in confusion as he led her towards a Ferrari parked outside. "I have never seen this here before." She turned to him with a bewildered look on her face, and Victor chuckled softly. "I got it last year from my dad, and I haven''t really used it." He bit his lower lip and used his hand to brush back his mixed-colored hair. The silver-colored earring clasped in his right ear dangled and he moved to pull the door open for her.


    "Thank you." Selena smiled at him and stepped into the car, then he moved to take his seat in the driver''s chair. He started the car engine and, smoothly, he drove out of the compound and onto the road.


    The sky got darker and darker as they drove, and finally, when it seemed like they had arrived at their destination, Victor slowed down the car and pulled over into a secluded area, then parked the car and turned off its engine.


    He stepped down and walked over to pull the door open, then reached out his hand for her.


    Selena took his hand and, unhurriedly, he led her towards a white canopy that was decorated with luminous lights and flowers.


    He pulled out the chair for her and she sat down, then he moved to sit down opposite her.


    "This place is beautiful." She smiled as she glanced around, and Victor fixed his gaze on her as he couldn''t seem to take his eyes off her. "You''re so beautiful." He complimented her yet again, and Selena found herself giggling like a child.


    A few seconds passed, and the chefs arrived with the food, professionally arranging it on the table. They took their leave when they were done, and Victor nodded at Selena, telling her to dig in.


    She placed a napkin around her neck and examined the food. Classically, she ate the food, and Victor couldn''t help but find himself staring at her.


    Noticing his intent gaze on her, she lifted her eyes to look at him. "What...."

 Chapter 227 - What Do You Mean?

    Victor blinked twice and slightly shook his head with a smile on his lips. "Oh, it''s nothing. Just that, I can''t help but notice your eating style." His eyes narrowed as he said, and her brows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"


    "Well, you''re eating like a royal or should I say some classical women. I mean, the way you''re handling the fork, knife, and all that." He shrugged as he replied and Selena instantly coughed violently as she choked on her food.


    "Hey, you okay?" Victor, who was panic-stricken, grabbed a glass of water and handed it over to her, then gently rubbed her back to help her.


    Selena gulped down the glass of water and took a deep breath after it subsided, then dropped the glass back. She used the white handkerchief to wipe away the tears that escaped her eyes, straightened up, and returned her attention to Victor.


    She took a long, deep breath and helplessly pinched between her brows. She knew it was time.


    "Victor..." She called him, and Victor raised his blue eyes to stare at her. "Is something wrong? Why the unhappy look on your face?" He inquired, a bit confused about her change in mood.


    "I am not unhappy-" She shook her head. "- I just think that now is the time for me to tell you what I said I would tell you then." She half-smiled at him, and Victor nodded his head in realization. "Oh... okay. Go on then." He smiled as he fixed his gaze on her, and Selena nodded slightly before taking a deep breath.


    "Um, have you ever... heard of supernatural beings?" She asked, and Victor spat out the wine he had taken as that question reminded him of someone. He cleaned his lips and raised his eyebrows at her in bewilderment. "What do you mean?"


    "I mean... do you know about supernatural creatures?" She asked again, a bit reluctantly as she wasn''t sure how all this would turn out.


    "Um...yes, I do." He replied, his eyes intently gazing at her. "Why are you asking me about supernatural creatures?" He asked, a bit uneasy.


    "Victor...um..." She paused reluctantly, as she wasn''t sure how he would react to what she was about to tell him.


    "Selena, are you hiding something from me?" He questioned, seeing the hesitant expression on her face.


    Selena immediately swallowed hard and stood up from the chair, then moved to him and grabbed him by the hand. She pulled him up from the chair and gently planted a soft kiss on his lips. "I am one." She said it against his lips, and Victor instantly halted, unsure of what he just heard.


    "What do you mean, "I am one?" I don''t understand." He shook his head, clearly hoping that she was not trying to tell him what he was thinking.


    Selena bit her lower lip and raised her gray eyes to stare into his blue ones. "Victor... I am not a human. I am a wolf princess."


    "Fuck!!!" The moment the word exited her mouth, Victor yelled and snatched his hand from her, creating an instant distance from her. "Fuck! Fuck." He scratched his head in disbelief, and Selena walked up to him, turning him around so he would face her. "Victor, please let me explain."


    "You lied to me!!! You fucking lied to me!" He stared at her with eyes that held deep hurt in them.


    "No, no. That was not my intention. I couldn''t tell you in the process because I was afraid you would never love m-" Before she could finish her words, Victor pushed her away from him and began to step back while ruffling through his hair in complete disbelief. "No Selena... this has to be a lie." He shook his head at her, hoping she would tell him it was a lie. However, Selena bit her lip and lowered her head.


    "Fuck!!!" He yelled, deeply pained by her, and the next moment he raised his head, Selena flinched back, seeing the tears welling up in his eyes. "Why? Why did you lie to me?! " He asked in a cracked voice, and when he got no answer from her, he moved towards her, grabbing her harshly by the shoulder. "Why did you do this to me, Selena? Why did you make me fall in love with you? Just why?!"


    "I have never fallen in love before... You were the first woman I fell in love with, and yet you lied to me! You fucking deceived me!" His grip on her shoulder tightened, and Selena hissed a bit in pain.


    "Why? Why, Selena?!" He shouted in her face, and hot tears began to stream down Selena''s cheek. "Victor, I am sorry for lying to you. I just couldn''t tell you the truth then, because I knew you were going to react this way."


    "React this way! Do you know how much I hate being lied to, especially by you?! Why did I ever fucking fall in love with you?!" He angrily pushed her away and furiously knocked the table down, scattering all the food on the ground.


    He inhaled and exhaled deeply and shut his orifices for a few moments before opening them and staring at her with hatred in his eyes. "I will never forgive you, Selena. From today onwards, I don''t ever want to see you near me or in front of me. Never!" He declared.


    Selena immediately proceeded to explain to him, but he glared at her and stormed out of the area in deep rage. "Fuck it!!" He halted and pulled out a mini, black box of necklaces that he was going to give to her. He opened it and glanced at the golden pretty necklace, but as though his anger worsened, he furiously threw it away, then got into the car and drove off, leaving her there.


    Selena''s eyes blinked uncontrollably as she found herself unable to properly breathe.. She fell on her knees and clutched tightly onto her heart, then cried silently, with painful tears falling from her eyes.

 Chapter 228 - Please Leave

    [Girl, get up. You can''t stay here sobbing forever.] Her wolf, Elise who had been quiet for a while, abruptly spoke, and Selena wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. She slowly stood up from the ground and glanced around the area. Her eyes halted at the canopy and the scattered decorations and tiny tears couldn''t resist falling from her eyes.


    She pessimistically lowered her head, turned around, and proceeded out of the area, then flagged down a taxi and rode back to the apartment.


    A deep breath exited her nose as she stared at the building, and with the bit of courage left in her, she walked in and took the elevator to go up to the second floor.


    She stepped out when the door opened and slowly began to amble towards Victor''s apartment. She stopped in front of the door of his room and gradually turned the handle, opening the door.


    She walked in and shut it behind her, then raised her eyes to see Victor standing by the window with his hands stuffed into the pocket of his pants. She slowly strolled towards him, but before she could get close to him, Victor''s harsh voice resounded, stopping her in her step. "Don''t come close to me!"


    She bit her lower lip and still stubbornly walked closer to him, then reached out her hand to touch him, but Victor unexpectedly slapped her hand away and glared viciously at her. "Didn''t I tell you not to come close to me?" He asked in a tone that portrayed just how enraged and furious he was.


    He stared at her with disdain in his eyes and, with a shake of his head in disappointment, he turned around and began to walk to his room. However, Selena immediately rushed to him and grabbed him by the arm, stopping him on his track. "Victor, please let me explain. I know you are angry with me now, but please just give me a chance to explain myself to you." She pleaded desperately, and Victor shut his eyes as he found his anger reaching its limit.


    "I am so sorry for lying to you. I really never meant to. I was just afraid of losing you, because I know if I had told you in the beginning, you would have never let me stay with you or even loved me."


    "Victor...I loved you the moment we met. I loved you the moment I saw you, and I knew that I could never let you go nor stay without you, and that is why I couldn''t help but lie to you."


    "I have searched for you for hundreds of years. I yearned for you and finally found you. Did you think I was going to let you go or risk losing you? Of course, I wouldn''t. If having and keeping you means lying to you, then I would do it one mo-" Before she could finish her sentence, Victor grabbed her by the wrist and waist and pushed her against the wall. He stared deep into her eyes as his chest rose and fell in a rage, and as though he didn''t know what to do, he unexpectedly broke out into a cry, lowering his head to avoid her gaze.


    "Vic-"


    "Fuck it!" He angrily punched the wall near her head and glared at her. "I love you, Selena, but you''re hurting me like this!" He bit his lips to stop himself from crying but found himself unable to do so. Is this how it feels? Is this how much it hurts?


    "Victor, I am sorry for lying to you, but this does not change the fact that we love each other," Selena explained, with pleading evident in her gray eyes.


    "It does, Selena. It fucking does!"


    "You''re the one that thinks it do-." Victor''s lips unexpectedly slammed against hers, and her eyes dilated as she didn''t expect it. He kissed her so lovingly, as though that was the last kiss that he was going to give her. Diminutive tears fell from his eyes onto her cheek, and she reached out her hand to hug him, but he, however, broke the kiss and gently caressed her cheek with his thumb, then took a step back from her.


    He stared at her from head to toe and abruptly chuckled. "You''re so beautiful and I truly love you-" He smiled lovingly at her and his blue eyes admired her. "-But... we can''t be together." Selena instantly shook her head when she heard his words and walked to move towards him. However, Victor stepped back and half smiled at her. "We are two worlds apart, and we can never be together. You''re a different being than I, who is just a powerless human. I have a family who expects a lot from me, and they absolutely will never accept you. We should part ways and get over each other than hurt ourselves. You don''t have to worry. You will find a guy who will treat you better and then you will get over me. That I know. " He smiled pessimistically at her and his face turned red, showing just how much he was hurting inside.


    Selena slowly shook her head and burst out crying. "You don''t understand, Victor! I can''t get over you, nor can I love another man. You''re my mate!! How will I ever stop loving you? How can you expect me to give you up after waiting for you for hundreds of years?" She questioned him, completely enraged and hurt.


    Victor''s eyes fluttered, and without saying another word, he turned around and walked towards his room. He halted and turned to face her. "Please leave." With that being said, he stepped into his room and shut the door, locking it.


    Selena ran towards the door and banged furiously on it while uncontrollable tears fell from her eyes. "Victor!!" She called out to him, but Victor stayed silent and uttered not a single word. "Don''t do this to me, Victor.. Please don''t hurt me this way!" She pleaded desperately, but not a word came from him.

 Chapter 229 - He Knew

    She grabbed furiously at her hair, unable to believe that this was real, and violently banged on the door. "You''re so selfish!! You''re fucking selfish!" She sobbed, painfully, and helplessly pressed her back against the door.


    [Let him be] Selena''s wolf, Elise, who had been silent for a while now, suddenly spoke, and Selena found herself sobbing more.


    ''How can you say that to me? Do you know how hard it was for us? We waited so long, we searched, and now you are telling me to let him be.'' Selena shook her head at her words as she couldn''t believe what her wolf was telling her.


    [I understand. You''re not the only one feeling that pain. I am feeling it too. But there is nothing we can do. If our mate doesn''t want us, if he can''t love us anymore, then we can''t force him to. Love is not something forced, okay?] She explained, and Selena''s eyes fluttered tiredly as she knew that Elise was right, but she was finding it hard to accept. It was just too painful.


    [C''mon, we have to leave for the meantime. We need to let him be for the moment and allow his anger to subside. If he wants us, he will come for us. But if he doesn''t, then there is nothing we can do] Elise smiled at her, and Selena slowly nodded in understanding, picking herself up from the floor.


    She unhurriedly walked towards the door and halted. She turned her head to give the apartment one last glance, and the memories of her time with Victor flashed before her eyes. She used the back of her hand to wipe her tears off, then exited the apartment, shutting the door behind her.


    She made her way downstairs with the use of the elevator and stepped out when the door was pushed open. She strolled out of the building and began to walk down the road, broken.


    ...


    Victor, who sat on the floor with his back pressed against the door, brought his leg towards his chest and buried his face in his knee, then began to sob silently. He knew she was gone, and for some reason, he felt like a part of him was gone.


    His wet lashes flickered, and he slowly stood up from the floor. He pulled the door open and stepped out, then silently shut it behind him. He glanced around, and on not seeing a sign of her, he began to assess the apartment.


    The first day he met her. The moment they started living together. The days he thought her how to cook. The times she cooked for him. The nights they had a movie night and finally the moment they shared their first kiss. All those moments flashed before his eyes, and he furiously walked towards the fridge and grabbed a bottle of alcohol. He drank so much till he was drunk while crying, and finally, when his eyes couldn''t hold on anymore, he slept off on the couch, sober.


    _________


    The early morning sun rose into the sky, showering its refreshing rays on every living being.


    Victor, who was lying on the couch, blinked his eyes open and rubbed his aching head as he sat up on the couch.


    He hurriedly covered his eyes, which were being burned by the morning sun, and stood up from the sofa. He glanced at the bottles of alcohol on the floor and helplessly rubbed between his brows.


    He bent down and picked them up, then disposed of them in the trash. He patiently cleaned up the whole apartment, and when he was done, he moved to take his shower.


    He dressed himself up in black sweatpants and a white polo when he was done, then moved towards the table in his room to fix his hair. He added some oil to his hair, combed it, and perfected it with a gentle brush of his hand.


    He stood up as he was finally done, and covered his feet in a white slipper, then moved to the living room to take his seat on the sofa and watch the TV.


    The instant he turned it on, the first thing that came on was the news, which he instantly anticipated was about some kind of accident.


    His face grimaced in annoyance and he proceeded to change the channel, but he instantly halted when he heard that one name he knew too well. "Leia."


    He immediately stood up from the sofa when he came to realize that she was the one that had the accident, and began to scratch his head in utter confusion.


    He gazed at the TV and saw Adrik carry her out of the car. His eyes glanced at her bloodied head and unconscious state and tears couldn''t help but well up in his eyes yet again.


    Without thinking twice, he immediately grabbed his car key from the table and hurried downstairs. He quickly got into the Ferrari and started the engine, then drove out of the compound and onto the road.


    His fingers tapped nervously on the steering wheel, and his grip on it tightened. He kept repeating her name in his mind and raised the speed of the car as he felt that he was driving too slowly.


    He arrived at the mansion in thirty minutes and hurriedly parked the car. He walked over to enter the compound but instantly halted in shock when he saw Kiesha and James also proceeding to enter the mansion with a nervous look on their faces.


    "What are you guys-"


    "You''re here too!" The two turned to him, and Kiesha rushed to him with her hands trembling in apprehension. "What have we done, Victor?" She asked, and Victor lowered his head, unable to utter a word.


    James walked up to them and grabbed them by the wrist, then pulled them along with him to enter the mansion.


    The bodyguards at the gate, who recognized them since they had been to the mansion before, pulled the gate open for them and they stepped in.


    They slowly walked towards the entrance, and the tall, huge white door was pushed open. They ambled in and the first person their eyes fell on was Adrik, who stood with his eyes fixed on them and his hands stuffed into his pants. It was as though he knew they were coming.


    ***********


    besties am so thankful for the gifts am getting from you guys. I just don''t know how to express how happy I am and how much motivation it gives me.. Am truly grateful, thank you! Thank you guys so much.

 Chapter 230 - Only Regret...

    "M-Mr. Ava-" Keisha stuttered as she tried to speak, and Adrik shifted his gaze to her with a smile on his face beneath the mask he wore. "Is there anything I can help you guys with?" He asked, and they slowly nodded their heads.


    "We''d like...to see her." Kiesha''s lips trembled as she found herself about to break into tears.


    A low breath exited Adrik''s nose, and he tilted his head to one side. "Why should I let you guys see her?" He asked, and they glanced at each other, unsure of what to say.


    They returned their gaze to him, and Victor''s eyes fluttered anxiously. "She''s our best friend and-"


    "Follow me." Adrik turned around before he could finish his words and began to walk towards the elevator.


    They glanced at each other and hurriedly followed after him as he stepped into the elevator. It took them up to the second floor, and they walked out when the door pushed open.


    They strolled past the corridor in which its left wall was built with glass and stopped in front of a white door with a golden wolf head structure fixed on it.


    Victor glanced at it with narrowed eyes and slightly shook his head as he averted his gaze.


    Adrik turned the handle and pushed the door open, then gestured them in. They half smiled at him as they stepped in, and the moment they raised their heads to glance around the room, their bodies stilled.


    Their eyes blinked uncontrollably as they stared at the unconscious Leia, who lay on the bed with a bandage wrapped around her injured head.


    "Leia..." Keisha spoke her name in what came out as nothing other than a whisper and immediately rushed to her. She stared at her and tiny drops of tears began to fall from her eyes. "I am... so sorry." Her hands trembled as she leaned in to touch her. She took Leia''s hand in hers and raised her eyes to glance at Victor and James, whose eyes were already watery.


    "Is she okay?" Victor turned to Adrik and asked, and Adrik slightly nodded at him in response. They immediately took a breath of relief and fixed their gaze on Leia, unsure of what to say or do. Deep down, they knew that it was their fault that their best friend was in that condition, and the guilt they felt was immeasurable. "We are sorry, Leia..." Jame''s lifted his hand and wiped away the tears in his eyes.


    Adrik stood beside the door with his hands shoved into his pocket and intently watched them in silence.


    They spent a few more minutes there and finally decided to leave after apologizing.


    "Please let us know when she becomes conscious." Kiesha half-smiled at Adrik with a pessimistic expression on her face, and Adrik slightly nodded at her.


    They glimpsed Leia one last time before turning around and making their way out. The elevator took them downstairs, and they made their way out towards their car, then got in and carefully drove off.


    Adrik''s brow arched, and without uttering a single word to the bodyguards that stood at the entrance, he turned around and made his way towards the couch in the living room to take his seat.


    He ordered one of the maids for a cup of coffee, and the maid arrived within a few minutes. He took his mask off and slowly lifted the cup to his lips, then sipped from it.


    His gaze abruptly became distant, and the scene of what happened to Leia that night replayed in his mind. There was only one thing that he was suspecting could be the cause, but he wasn''t sure enough.


    A low breath exited his nose, and he dialed Alex''s number.


    ______


    Looking quite disordered, the royal guards pushed the door of the castle-like building open for Selena, and she walked in. She strolled towards the stairs and began to walk up, however, someone''s voice which suddenly resounded stopped her on her track.


    "Where have you been?" She turned around to see Lekhma standing with his hands behind his back and a stern look on his face.


    "Why do you ask? Do I have to report everything I do to you?" She inquired, with displeasure and impatience evident on her face.


    Lekhma raised his eyebrows at her and abruptly chuckled. "I see your mate rejected you, no?" He adjusted his robe and proceeded to walk towards her on the stairs.


    Selena''s brow crinkled deeply, and she folded her arms in a displeased manner. "Have you been following me?" She asked, and Lekhma suddenly found himself laughing mockingly at her. "Be careful, girl. You''re falling out." He shook his head at her in amusement and walked past her to make his way to his room.


    Selena stared intently at his disappearing back and her hands balled into a tight fist. "Humph!" She dangerously narrowed her eyes with an ugly look on her face and proceeded to storm to her room.


    _______


    Thunder rumbled in the sky and the rain fell heavily on the group of people clad in black clothing, standing on the cemetery ground.


    Amanda''s wet lashes flickered in pain as she watched her uncle''s coffin being rolled six feet into the ground. Her heart tightened within her and her hands balled into a tight fist. Maybe, just maybe, she and her uncle did have a little bit of trouble with each other recently, but her love for him never shook.


    He was there throughout her childhood and gave her one of the best memories she ever had, and now... he was gone. Another important person in her life is gone, and what''s worse, the police are unable to find any leads or suspects relating to the death of her uncle.


    But it doesn''t matter because, even without evidence, she knows exactly who the culprit is, and it''s none other than the bitch Leia. It was just too coincidental. How could her uncle die, days after attempting to capture her? Just how? Her uncle just recently came back, so she would confidently say that he provoked no one nor got into a fight with anyone.


    Her balled hands tightened and diminutive tears fell from her eyes. The only thing she regrets so much was not making up with him and giving him a warm hug as he used to when she was a child.


    She shut her eyes and then, the next moment she opened them, cruelty flickered in her orifices.


    She turned around and walked past the surrounding people, making her way towards the car. "Let''s go."


    The bodyguards pulled the door of the car open for her and she stepped in, then they rushed to the front to take their seats in the driver''s seat.. They activated the engine and carefully drove off down the road, followed by the rest of the bodyguards behind them.

 Chapter 231 - And...

    Leia glanced around her surroundings, and her face puckered as she couldn''t seem to tell where she was. The place was deserted with no trees, grass, or whatsoever. The ground was not sandy, but concrete. Where in the world was this place?


    She pinched between her brows, adjusted the milk-colored colored nightgown she wore, and proceeded to find her way out of the area. However, she was yet to take a step forward when she saw someone she hadn''t seen for months now. One of the most important people in her life "Her mother."


    "Mum..." Her face crumpled deeply when she saw her mother grinning so wickedly at her, staring at her with eyes that held dark intent.


    She immediately took a step back and her brow creased as she couldn''t wrap her head around what was going on. How is her mother here? She''s dead... so how?


    "Mum... wh-what are you doing?" She inquired when she saw her mother grab a bow and arrow and aim it at her.


    A deadly look emerged on her mother''s face, and she drew the string back. Then, with her eyes narrowed, she let go of the arrow, which flew towards Leia at a great speed.


    Leia''s eyes instantly dilated as she saw the arrow rushing towards her, and without a second thought, she bent down, dodging it, and accidentally fell on her butt.


    Her heart promptly jumped to her throat when she saw her mother begin to walk towards her with an indifferent look on her face.


    Without needing to be told, she immediately stood up from the ground and began to run. However, she quickly realized that she was extremely exhausted, which resulted in her running very slowly. What was happening?


    Regardless, she continued to run, but when she turned around to glance at her mother, she realized that she had suddenly stopped pursuing her. Her eyes fluttered and immediately broadened when she saw her mother smirk so widely and raise the bow.


    She positioned them and aimed them at her, then, with a tight drawback, she let go of the arrow, which whisked through the air and mercilessly penetrated through Leia''s stomach.


    ....


    Leia abruptly began to cough hard and spurted out a mouthful of blood.


    Adrik, who sat beside her on the bed, immediately panicked as he couldn''t understand what was going on. Why was his little wife suddenly coughing blood?


    He hurriedly rushed to the bathroom and grabbed a towel, then soaked it in water and returned to her. He gently cleaned the blood off and rubbed tenderly on her back.


    Diminutive tears unexpectedly began to fall from Leia''s eyes and her right hand lifted, reaching out as though she was asking for someone''s help.


    "Whaaa.... little wife." Adrik''s heart began to pound rapidly as he just didn''t know what to do. What in the fucking world was going on? He darted his eyes around in panic but instantly became motionless when he saw the white pyjamas that Leia wore suddenly become bloody around the stomach area.


    He unbuttoned her pyjamas and looked at her stomach, only to find a hole in her tummy that was bleeding as if she was shot. "Little wife!" His hands began to tremble uncontrollably, and he jumped off of the bed and rushed to the bathroom to grab the first aid kit.


    He returned, his body shivering in fear, and climbed into the bed. He hurriedly cleaned up the blood and began to dress her wound up. Where in the world did the injury come from? He didn''t see any injury nor hurt her when he bathed her... so what exactly happened?


    A deep, long breath exited his nose when he was done dressing her wound and he returned the first aid kit to the bathroom.


    He gently carried her off the bed and into his arms, then called for the maids to take out the bloodied bed sheet and replace it with a new one.


    The maids responded immediately, and when they were done, they took their leave, carefully shutting the door behind them.


    Adrik changed Leia into new pajamas and laid her carefully on the bed. He got in and rested his back at the head of the bed, then pulled her into his arms and cuddled her lovingly. "I love you... little wife." He said it in an exhausted tone and leaned down to kiss her forehead.


    ____________


    The middle-aged man angrily knocked the shelves down and pointed at the old woman in a rage. "Magrida! If this opportunity slips out of our hands without you completing this... I swear, I will take you out of this world!!" He glared cruelly at her and furiously stormed out of the old house.


    Magrida''s face puckered deeply, and she shut her eyes to take a deep breath. What exactly was breaking her spell? She was almost this close to finishing her off, but just like before, everything got broken and ruined.


    An annoyed groan erupted from her throat and she stormed towards one of the shelves to grab an old, dusty book with a green, thick cover. "Let''s see..."


    _______


    An amused expression emerged on Lucifer''s face as he sat in front of the whirlpool, watching everything happening in the entire world. "Tsk....humans..." He slightly shook his head and instantly disappeared from the hall, turning up at an unknown mansion.


    He glanced at the top of the building to see two sisters glaring hatefully at each other.


    The one who looked older had black short hair, whilst the one who looked younger had light brown curly hair.


    A devilish smile emerged on his face, and he appeared before the two girls who were unable to see him.


    He sat on the edge of the building and blew on his finger, then turned his attention to the two girls.


    The two girls bickered at one another, and the younger one, who seemed quite stubborn, angrily pushed the older one, causing the older one to break out into a rage. Anger steamed up within her and her face boiled red in fury. Without thinking twice, she walked towards the younger one who was unknowingly standing at the edge of the building and pushed her, causing the younger one to fall off.


    However, before she could fall, she managed to hold onto the edge with one hand and raise her head, begging her sister to help her.


    As though the rage that was boiling up within her older sister instantly vanished, she immediately bent down and grabbed her by the hand, then tried to pull her up, but it seemed almost impossible as she wasn''t that strong enough.


    Lucifer''s brow raised in amusement, and he stood up from the edge of the building. "5-4-3-2...and...1."


    A loud yell resounded, followed by a loud fall, and the car began to beep violently.


    A smile emerged on his face, and without any hesitation, he disappeared from the area and returned to his hall. He sat down on his throne and relaxed his head back, then shut his eyes.. "That was a good show, no?" He chuckled to himself and grinned evilly.

 Chapter 232 - Not Yet

    Shawn, who was clad in blue jeans and a white polo, ruffled through his hair before neatly combing it back. A big smile emerged on his face, and he pushed the door open and strolled downstairs.


    He had returned to the mansion to stay with Ileus after spending a few days with his mum.


    His eyes darted around the living room, and his brow creased in a bit of bewilderment.


    "Are you looking for something?" A familiar voice resounded beside him, and he turned to see Ileus walking towards him with his eyes fixed on his phone. He assessed him from head to toe, and he suddenly found himself entranced by how godlike he looked.


    His white hair was neatly parked up in a bun with only a few strands falling over his face, and his body was dressed up in a white turtleneck, a long jacket, and white pants. In fact, he was swathed in complete white. Even his shoes were pristine white.


    Come to think of it, he and Adrik have the same taste. They have so much in common.


    "Stop staring at me." Ileus raised his eyes from the phone and glanced at him with an arched brow.


    "Oh... a-am sorry." Shawn coughed awkwardly and smiled sheepishly before abruptly glancing around. "Hmm... strange, I haven''t seen your right-hand man for a few days now." He shifted his gaze back to Ileus, and Ileus raised his eyes to glimpse him. "He left the day after you went home. He had some business to attend to."


    "I see..." He nodded his head and his eyes blinked furiously when Ileus shook his head at him and walked towards him, then grabbed him by the hand and began to walk out of the mansion. "Follow me."


    He dragged him along with him outside, towards the car, and the bodyguards pulled the door open for them.


    Shawn stepped in and he got in afterward, then the bodyguards shut the door and moved to take their seats at the front.


    The driver started the car''s engine and smoothly drove out of the compound and pulled over onto the road.


    "Where...are we going?" Shawn, who was confused, inquired with a raised eyebrow.


    "The park." Ileus replied, his eyes still fixed on his phone.


    "The park? Why? " He asked in a bit of curiosity, and a low, irritated breath exited Ileus'' nose. He raised his head and turned to stare at him.


    "I have to meet someone there. If you want to go back to the mansion, I can drop you off, and if you don''t want to, just keep quiet and don''t ask me questions." His face puckered a bit as he said, and Shawn''s eyes fluttered in confusion. What exactly did he do wrong now? It was just a simple one-word question!


    A breath of displeasure fled his nose, and he averted his gaze to stare up at the sky through the window.


    A maximum of an hour was enacted before they arrived at the park.


    The driver carefully parked the car, and together with the bodyguard, they stepped down to pull the door open for them.


    Ileus got down and outstretched his hand for Shawn.


    Confused, Shawn lifted his head to stare at him, but Ileus glanced not at him, but his phone while still leaving his hand outstretched. What exactly is he watching on his phone?


    Shawn shook his head and got out of the car without bothering to accept his kind gesture.


    Ileus'' face darkened a bit in displeasure, and he finally averted his attention from his phone, then turned his head to glare at Shawn. "Why did you do that?" He asked, and Shawn''s eyes darted around in confusion.


    "Do what?" He inquired, utterly confused.


    A subtle breath escaped Ileus'' nose and, without bothering to explain, he interlocked his hands with his and began to walk away, dragging him along with him.


    Shawn''s eyes dilated in confusion as he found himself unable to understand what exactly was wrong with this man.


    He walked beside him, and they strolled for a few minutes before Ileus abruptly halted and turned to face him. "Wait here for me and don''t go anywhere. I won''t come to find you if you get lost." He shrugged and walked away before Shawn, who was dumbfounded, could say anything. "What the fuck?" was the only thing that managed to roll out of Shawn''s mouth.


    Ileus slightly shook his head and smiled, then looked up ahead of him to spot the person he came for.


    He walked up to the person, and the person, who was none other than Nirmolak, bowed deeply in respect before taking off the cap of his hoodie. "Your highness, why did we have to meet in the park? I could have just come to the mansion." Nirmolak immediately asked as he was very confused.


    "I have my reasons." Ileus smiled at him and placed his hand behind his back. "So..."


    "Well...she''s not in good condition right now. She recently had an accident the day before yesterday and she has been unconscious since then." He reported, and Ileus'' brow arched in contemplation. "I see..." He slightly nodded and Nirmolak stared intently at him, anticipating what the next plan would be.


    "Well... just keep monitoring everything for now. We can''t strike yet. Besides, we still have our main weapon with us." Ileus smirked and turned to glance at Shawn, who had his hand stuffed into his pocket while peering at him with an impatient look on his face.


    "As I said, keep monitoring everything. I will inform you once we are ready to strike." He half-smiled at Nirmolak, and Nirmolak nodded in understanding before pulling the cap of his hoodie over his head. He took another bow and turned around, exiting the park.


    A deep, long breath escaped Ileus''s nose and he shut his eyes as though thinking of something.


    A half-smile emerged on his lips, and he turned around to walk back to Shawn, whose face was deeply crumpled.


    ******


    Besties the incoming next chapter is a duplicate of this chapter. Please skip to the last chapter.


    Forgive me, it was a mistake of mine, and am unable to delete it as it''s a VIP chapter.

 Chapter 233 - Not Yet

    Shawn, who was clad in blue jeans and a white polo, ruffled through his hair before neatly combing it back. A big smile emerged on his face, and he pushed the door open and strolled downstairs.


    He had returned to the mansion to stay with Ileus after spending a few days with his mum.


    His eyes darted around the living room, and his brow creased in a bit of bewilderment.


    "Are you looking for something?" A familiar voice resounded beside him, and he turned to see Ileus walking towards him with his eyes fixed on his phone. He assessed him from head to toe, and he suddenly found himself entranced by how godlike he looked.


    His white hair was neatly parked up in a bun with only a few strands falling over his face, and his body was dressed up in a white turtleneck, a long jacket, and white pants. In fact, he was swathed in complete white. Even his shoes were pristine white.


    Come to think of it, he and Adrik have the same taste. They have so much in common.


    "Stop staring at me." Ileus raised his eyes from the phone and glanced at him with an arched brow.


    "Oh... a-am sorry." Shawn coughed awkwardly and smiled sheepishly before abruptly glancing around. "Hmm... strange, I haven''t seen your right-hand man for a few days now." He shifted his gaze back to Ileus, and Ileus raised his eyes to glimpse him. "He left the day after you went home. He had some business to attend to."


    "I see..." He nodded his head and his eyes blinked furiously when Ileus shook his head at him and walked towards him, then grabbed him by the hand and began to walk out of the mansion. "Follow me."


    He dragged him along with him outside, towards the car, and the bodyguards pulled the door open for them.


    Shawn stepped in and he got in afterward, then the bodyguards shut the door and moved to take their seats at the front.


    The driver started the car''s engine and smoothly drove out of the compound and pulled over onto the road.


    "Where...are we going?" Shawn, who was confused, inquired with a raised eyebrow.


    "The park." Ileus replied, his eyes still fixed on his phone.


    "The park? Why? " He asked in a bit of curiosity, and a low, irritated breath exited Ileus'' nose. He raised his head and turned to stare at him.


    "I have to meet someone there. If you want to go back to the mansion, I can drop you off, and if you don''t want to, just keep quiet and don''t ask me questions." His face puckered a bit as he said, and Shawn''s eyes fluttered in confusion. What exactly did he do wrong now? It was just a simple one-word question!


    A breath of displeasure fled his nose, and he averted his gaze to stare up at the sky through the window.


    A maximum of an hour was enacted before they arrived at the park.


    The driver carefully parked the car, and together with the bodyguard, they stepped down to pull the door open for them.


    Ileus got down and outstretched his hand for Shawn.


    Confused, Shawn lifted his head to stare at him, but Ileus glanced not at him, but his phone while still leaving his hand outstretched. What exactly is he watching on his phone?


    Shawn shook his head and got out of the car without bothering to accept his kind gesture.


    Ileus'' face darkened a bit in displeasure, and he finally averted his attention from his phone, then turned his head to glare at Shawn. "Why did you do that?" He asked, and Shawn''s eyes darted around in confusion.


    "Do what?" He inquired, utterly confused.


    A subtle breath escaped Ileus'' nose and, without bothering to explain, he interlocked his hands with his and began to walk away, dragging him along with him.


    Shawn''s eyes dilated in confusion as he found himself unable to understand what exactly was wrong with this man.


    He walked beside him, and they strolled for a few minutes before Ileus abruptly halted and turned to face him. "Wait here for me and don''t go anywhere. I won''t come to find you if you get lost." He shrugged and walked away before Shawn, who was dumbfounded, could say anything. "What the fuck?" was the only thing that managed to roll out of Shawn''s mouth.


    Ileus slightly shook his head and smiled, then looked up ahead of him to spot the person he came for.


    He walked up to the person, and the person, who was none other than Nirmolak, bowed deeply in respect before taking off the cap of his hoodie. "Your highness, why did we have to meet in the park? I could have just come to the mansion." Nirmolak immediately asked as he was very confused.


    "I have my reasons." Ileus smiled at him and placed his hand behind his back. "So..."


    "Well...she''s not in good condition right now. She recently had an accident the day before yesterday and she has been unconscious since then." He reported, and Ileus'' brow arched in contemplation. "I see..." He slightly nodded and Nirmolak stared intently at him, anticipating what the next plan would be.


    "Well... just keep monitoring everything for now. We can''t strike yet. Besides, we still have our main weapon with us." Ileus smirked and turned to glance at Shawn, who had his hand stuffed into his pocket while peering at him with an impatient look on his face.


    "As I said, keep monitoring everything. I will inform you once we are ready to strike." He half-smiled at Nirmolak, and Nirmolak nodded in understanding before pulling the cap of his hoodie over his head. He took another bow and turned around, exiting the park.


    A deep, long breath escaped Ileus''s nose and he shut his eyes as though thinking of something.


    A half-smile emerged on his lips, and he turned around to walk back to Shawn, whose face was deeply crumpled.

 Chapter 234 - Long Time, No See

    "Isn''t that your right-hand man?" Shawn immediately questioned when Ileus arrived near him.


    "Yes." Ileus nodded, and his face creased a bit in bewilderment. "What were you guys talking about?" He inquired, and Ileus arched his brow at him in displeasure. "That''s none of your business. C''mon, let''s go." He grabbed him by the hand and proceeded to walk back to the car, but Shawn halted and snatched his hand away. "You can go. I will return later."


    "Why?" Ileus inquired, a bit bewildered.


    "Nothing. Just wanna spend some time here." Shawn shrugged and turned around to walk further into the park.


    Ileus stared at his disappearing back as though contemplating something, and when he was done with his contemplation, he stuffed his hands into the pocket of his jacket, then rushed to walk beside him.


    Shawn, who was surprised, turned to stare at him, totally flabbergasted. "Ehh... I thought you were going to go back?" He asked, and Ileus grabbed his AirPods from the pocket of his jacket and plugged them into his ears, not bothering to give him an answer. "You talk too much."


    "You!" Shawn''s eyes twitched violently in a bit of anger, and he hissed before walking up to stroll beside him. "Never seen a rude man like you before."


    "Well... you just met one?" Ileus shrugged and a slight smile emerged on his face.


    _________


    Adrik buttoned his shirt up and had the maids park his hair in a ponytail. He dismissed them when they were done and intently stared at himself through the mirror. A deep breath fled his nose and he turned around to stare at Leia, who was unconscious on the bed.


    He slowly walked towards her and leaned down, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. ''Don''t worry, little wife; I''ll find out what''s happening.'' He tenderly smiled at her and slipped his legs into his shoes, then adjusted his white clothing.


    He strolled to the door, and with one last glance at her, he shut the door and made his way downstairs with the use of the elevator.


    The maids and the bodyguards bowed deeply in respect to him, and he slightly nodded at them in response. "Take care of my wife till I am home and do not let anyone into the mansion, no matter who it is, understand?" The maids and the bodyguards nodded, and he turned around and ambled out of the building.


    His bodyguards proceeded to pull the door of the Rolls Royce open for him, but he raised his hands, ordering them not to bother.


    He grabbed the car key from his pocket and got into the driver''s seat, then inserted the key and turned it to the ignition point. Smoothly, he drove out of the compound and onto the road, heading towards an unknown direction.


    He arrived at the one familiar forest, which was his home, and carefully pulled over onto the narrow road. He drove at a steady pace and finally when he arrived at the location where he was meant to park the car, he stooped and stepped down from the car, then glanced around.


    A deep breath exited his nose, and without hesitation, he took off and rapidly began to run at a great pace, heading for somewhere unknown.


    His eyes narrowed and he carefully glanced around to make sure that he was going the right way.


    A smile abruptly emerged on his face as he finally reached the place, and with a low breath exiting his nose, he halted and glanced around, only for his eyes to stop on a bunch of firefly-like creatures which were flying around in a circle form. Creepy sounds resounded around the area, and the birds in the trees suddenly flew away chaotically.


    He adjusted his clothing and shoved his hands into the pockets of his pants, then began to walk further into the forest, his legs crushing tiny sticks of wood and dried leaves.


    He finally halted in front of a cave covered with leaves that came out of nowhere, and with a bit of hesitation, he strolled inside. A stone staircase that led to an unknown underground came into view, and he began to step down, his eyes looking out for any flying weapons.


    He strolled down from the last staircase, and three passageways came into view. He took a long, soft breath and walked through the left passageway.


    When he arrived at the end of the passageway, a familiar brownish old door came into view, and a memory of Mother Mary, holding him whilst standing in front of the same door flashed before his eyes.


    He took a deep, pessimistic breath and left three light knocks on the door, then patiently waited for the person inside to open the door for him.


    Sounds of footsteps resounded from within, and Adrik gazed at the door with a bit of nervousness in his green eyes.


    From the small hole in the wooden door, a familiar gray eye peered at him, and next, the doorknob turned and the door was opened, revealing a young woman with curly white hair and the most beautiful face he had always admired so much then. Her gray eyes, which were a little bit large, stared at him, and his lashes fluttered vigorously.


    "Long time no see, Adrik." The young woman, who was no other than Calise, smiled beautifully at him and he bowed to her before slightly nodding at her. "You never change." He chuckled softly, and Calise playfully shook her head at him, then gestured him in.


    He stepped in and his eyes blinked vigorously on seeing the house completely different from the last time he saw it. "You made some changes."


    "Yes! I modified it into a little bit of a modern style, as you asked me to back then. And I must say that I love it." Calise cackled softly and walked to sit down on the sofa.


    Adrik moved to sit down on the sofa opposite her and crossed his legs. "Why live here? You can go out to the outside world and see a lot of things. This place is too secluded and lonely, no?"


    "True, it''s quite lonely. But... as I said before, I want nothing to do with the outside world, especially humans." She shrugged as she replied, and Adrik slowly nodded in understanding.


    She fixed her gaze on him with a smile on her face and stared at him for a while until Adrik, who noticed her gaze, began to dart his eyes around awkwardly. "Why... are you staring at me?" He cleared his throat and inquired.


    Calise chuckled softly and crossed her legs, then tucked her hair behind her ear. "I have a question that I have been meaning to ask when I see you again. May I go on?" She implored, and Adrik slowly nodded at her with a curious expression on his face. "Sure.... go on."

 Chapter 235 - Living Nightmare Of Archana

    A low breath exited Calise''s nose, and she interlocked her hands together, then allowed a slight smile to emerge on her face whilst she fixed her gaze on him. "Why did you suddenly stop coming and didn''t visit at least once for nine months?"


    Adrik''s eyes blinked furiously in a bit of surprise, and his brow arched as though he was thinking. He took his mask off, exposing his scars, and a quick chuckle exited his throat as he raised his eyes to stare at her. "Do you really want to know?"


    "Yes." Calise nodded at him with an anticipating expression on her face.


    "Well..." He glanced around the room, and a sudden smile emerged on his face. "I stopped coming the day I met my wife." He shifted his gaze to her, and Calise''s brow creased in confusion. "Your wife? You are married?" She asked in a tone that held utter disbelief.


    "Yes, I am married to my mate." He replied with a half-smile on his face, and Calise slightly nodded before clearing her throat. "So... why did you stop coming?"


    "Because I met my wife?" He replied, and Calise raised her brow in a bewildered manner. "Just because you met your wife?" She inquired as she found his reply a bit funny.


    "Yes, Isn''t that reason enough?" Adrik asked with a smile still visible on his face, and Calise slowly shook her head with amusement apparent on her face. "It''s absurd to me. Do you love her?" Adrik raised his brow at her question and stared at her for a few seconds before chuckling softly. "Yes, I love my wife." He nodded as he responded, and a quick breath exited Calise''s nose. "So...that means... you don''t have feelings for me anymore, no?" She smiled, hiding the disappointment beneath her smile.


    Adrik rubbed in between his brows and lifted his head to look at her, a half-smile ensuing on his face. "Calise... do you know the difference between like and love?"


    Calise''s brows furrowed, and she narrowed her eyes at him. "What do you mean? They are the same thing."


    "Wrong!" He shook his head at her and uncrossed his legs, then interlocked his hands together. "Loving someone is different from liking someone. Liking someone is like crushing, but loving someone is different."


    "Do you know why people are never happy when someone they love says, "I like you," instead of "I love you?" It''s because it''s not the same. They are different feelings."


    "Like is mostly a temporary thing and isn''t really deep. But love is very deep. It is a strong feeling which is implanted within you the moment you develop it for someone."


    "Okay...so what are you trying to say?" She inquired, her brows wrinkling deeply.


    "I am trying to let you understand that my feelings for you then weren''t love. It''s like. I was only crushing on you. If ever I found you in danger, I would try my all to save you, but-"


    "You would never die for me." Calise cut him off and lowered her head as a mocking laugh escaped her throat.


    "Exactly." Adrik nodded at her and her lashes fluttered. "And what about your wife?" She implored, and Adrik''s gaze suddenly became distant as Leia''s image flashed in his mind. "I love my wife." A loving smile emerged on his face, and he returned his attention to Calise. "My wife is the only woman I love and the only woman I would die for." He replied, and an unknown glint instantly flickered in Calise''s eyes. "I see..." She slightly nodded and took a deep breath. "One last question: If she wasn''t your mate, would you still love her?"


    Adrik''s brow arched, and he slightly shook his head. "Why not?" He asked, and Calise drew her head back in a bit of loss.


    "I don''t just love my wife because she''s my mate; I actually love her because of who she is and her personality. I mean, it''s fun to have someone who makes you smile and laugh all day." He chuckled softly and relaxed back on the sofa.


    Calise stared at him for a few seconds with no amusement on her face and abruptly stood up from the sofa. She strolled towards the shelf where some old books were and began to trace her slender fingers across the books. "So... why are you here?"


    "I came to seek your help." Adrik stood up from the couch and gazed intently at her.


    "Help on what?"


    "Well, my wife has been having some trouble sleeping peacefully at night. I believe she gets nightmares, but the strange part is the fact that some injuries appear on her body or one thing or another happens." He explained with an apprehensive look on his face, and Calise grabbed a thick black book from the shelf before turning around to face him.


    She strolled back to the couch and took her seat, then crossed her legs. "May I see your wife''s photo?" She reached out her hand and Adrik nodded before grabbing his phone from the pocket of his jacket and handing it over to her.


    Calise received it and turned the phone on to see the photo of smiling Leia on his home screen. "She''s very beautiful." She complimented her before handing the phone back to him.


    "Thank you." Adrik smiled at her and she slightly nodded before opening the book and flipping through the pages. "It''s a curse." She abruptly blurted out, and Adrik''s eyes fluttered in confusion. "A curse? By who?"


    "That I cannot tell you. But what I will let you know is that no one can help your wife except herself. The curse laid on her is the Living Nightmare of Archana. "


    "Live Nightmare of Archana..." Adrik repeated slowly and immediately raised his head when Calise suddenly stood up from the sofa and began walking towards the shelves.


    "Thousands of years ago, one of the most powerful witches, Archana, 24 years old, was wrongly framed by her colleagues because they didn''t want her to evolve into the strongest, as she was the heir of the Phoenix clan, the rarest of all type of witches. The Red Phoenix clan were blessed and were the strongest of all witches. So, as Archana was their future heir, they sent her out into the world to evolve.. She became unfortunate and attracted jealousy and hate from her colleagues."

 Chapter 236 - Doppelganger

    "They framed her for a high crime, which is unacceptable among witches, and she was eventually sentenced to be executed. However, before the day of her execution, she escaped and ran quite a distance, but still, the witches'' councils found her and proceeded to execute her instantly. She knelt to the ground begging them to spare her life, but they, however, neglected her and proceeded with killing her, so... with no choice left, Archana left that curse, and that night after her death, she tormented every single one of them, using their loved ones, in which in the end, they all eventually died with injuries that came from nowhere all over their bodies. Hundred years later, another witch who figured the curse out used it on someone else, and like that, it began to spread till today."


    "Fuck...." Adrik''s eyes slowly blinked as he found all this strange. Who the fuck is after his wife?


    "So what I am trying to say is that... your wife will keep experiencing this till the moment she finally gives up, and then her spirit vanishes and she dies in real life." Calise dropped the book back onto the shelf and walked back to sit down on the sofa to stare at Adrik, who had a panicked expression on his face.


    "Isn''t there a way to break the curse?" He implored, with nervousness evident in his tone.


    "Of course, there is a way. She just has to defeat one of those illusions and she will be awake from that nightmare. When I said, "Only she can help herself" this is what I meant." Calise explained it to him, and he took a deep breath of relief. "Okay... then."


    "Don''t be too relieved. Whoever placed that curse on her definitely hates her. You just have to pray that she doesn''t encounter her doppelganger in that nightmare."


    "Doppelganger?" Adrik inquired in a bit of loss, and Calise nodded her head at him. "Yes, her doppelganger. They are a replica of oneself, but most are always dangerous and evil." She replied and stood up from the sofa, then moved towards the steel counter to make tea for herself.


    Adrik stared at her back and stood up from the couch. He turned around and proceeded to leave, but Calise''s voice suddenly resounded. "Stay with her tonight at all cost."


    He gazed at her for a moment before pushing the door open and shutting it behind him.


    A low breath exited Calise''s nose, and she walked to sit down on the couch with the cup of tea in her hand. She slowly sipped from it, and her eyes narrowed into a thin line.


    _________


    {8:59 pm}


    Shawn lay on the couch inside Ileus''s office with his head rested on the armrest of the couch and his eyes shut as he felt extremely sleepy.


    Ileus had suddenly dragged him away from the park, saying he had a contract meeting at his company and that is why they were still here.


    The door of the office was pushed open and Ileus, who had some files in his hand, walked in and his eyes fell on Shawn, who was sleeping peacefully on the couch. He stared at him for a moment before walking towards his desk to pack the files into the drawer.


    He strolled over to Shawn when he was done and gently tapped him on the forehead. "Wake up. It''s time to go."


    Shawn blinked his eyes open and gradually sat up on the couch. He stretched his body and stood up, then proceeded to walk out of the office, ignoring Ileus, who stood in front of him.


    Ileus''s brow arched as he passed him, and with a slight shook of his head, he walked out after him, shutting the door behind him and letting his assistant deal with the rest.


    They used the escalator to get downstairs and then strolled outside to the car.


    The bodyguard pulled the door open for them and they stepped in. Then the driver started the car engine and they slowly drove out of the compound.


    The driver drove at a steady pace, while Ileus, who sat at the back, began to browse through his phone as though totally immersed in it.


    Shawn, whose heavy eyes were closing and opening, rubbed them and shook his head. What exactly was going on with him today? He was a sleepy type of person, but this was too much.


    A low breath exited his nose, and he rested his back on the seat, then slowly shut his eyes. As each second flew by, he drifted off to sleep and slowly fell, resting his head on Ileus'' shoulder, who was a bit startled by the sudden heavy feeling on his shoulder.


    Ileus immediately unplugged the AirPods from his ears and turned his head to glance at Shawn, who was in a deep sleep. "Hey! Wake up, we are almost there." He said, but no reaction came from Shawn.


    ''After so much talking, he was now sleeping like he hadn''t slept in two days.'' He smirked and slightly shook his head, then plugged the AirPods back into his ears, and returned his attention to his phone.


    ___________


    {9:46 p.m.}


    Adrik turned the shower off and dried his body. He slipped into his clothing and stepped out of the bathroom, then walked towards the table to take his seat and stared at himself through the mirror.


    He turned the dryer on and dried his hair, then applied some oil to it and combed it before packing it up into a very messy bun.


    A helpless breath exited his nose as he stared at his hair, and he shook his head. He stood up from the chair and walked to get into the bed beside Leia, who was already bathed and dressed up in neat blue pyjamas.


    He reached out his hand and gently caressed her hair, which had now become a bit longer. If his anticipation is correct, it will be shoulder length now.


    He chuckled softly and leaned down, placing a soft kiss on her lips. ''You can do it, little wife. I will be here with you. You''re my tough little wife.'' He smiled pessimistically and pulled her into his arms, cuddling her tightly. "I love you." He slowly shut his eyes and took a low breath.


    A few seconds later, Leia''s body abruptly shook violently, causing him to instantly sit up on the bed.

 Chapter 237 - Doppelganger 2

    The eerie night wind blew vigorously around Leia, causing her pyjamas to flutter vigorously. This time she was no longer dressed in the weird nightgown but was, however, clad in her pyjamas.


    Her eyes vigilantly darted around, and she messily tied her hair up as though she knew something was about to occur.


    "You''re all alone, like always." A smooth, serene voice that sounded just like hers when she spoke so low resounded behind her, and she immediately turned around but saw no one. "Who''s there?" She asked and the voice mockingly chuckled before the strong wind blew again and it revealed itself.


    Leia''s eyes dilated in shock the moment she views the owner of the voice and her body stilled as she couldn''t believe what her eyes were seeing. Before her, stood a complete replica of herself. Hair, clothing, eyes, shape, everything was all the same.


    "Surprised?" The person who was no other than her doppelganger smirked as she asked, and Leia''s lashes fluttered in shock.


    "Who...are you?" Leia inquired, and her doppelganger rolled her eyes before beginning to walk towards her. "I am your Doppelganger, and you won''t be escaping from me tonight." An evil grin emerged on her face, and Leia instantly stepped back, creating a distance from her.


    Her doppelganger halted on its step and mockingly raised her brow. "Such a coward!" She scoffed in disdain, and Leia''s face immediately darkened.


    "And what makes me a coward?" She asked, with no bit of friendliness in her tone.


    "A lot of things! Haha! " Her doppelganger laughed mockingly before its face switched to that of a deadly one. "Do you know why I''m here?" She smiled at Leia, and Leia''s brow creased deeply. "What are you here for?"


    "Well... not much. I am just here to finish you off." Her doppelganger sneered, and Leia drew her head back in confusion. "What do you mean?" She inquired, a bit confused.


    Her doppelganger stared at her for a few moments before abruptly disappearing and reappearing before her, but with a bat stick in its hand this time.


    Leia glanced at the bat stick and before she could react, her doppelganger lifted the bat stick and, with great force, she hit her with it, causing her to fly back and crash to the ground with a heavy thud.


    She instantly coughed and spurted out a mouthful of blood. She raised her head to stare at her doppelganger, who was smirking at her with evilness in her eyes.


    "You bitch!" She glared at her doppelganger and angrily wiped off the blood on her lips, then stood up from the ground with the support of her hands.


    "Calling me a bitch doesn''t help your situation-" Her doppelganger blew on its nails before turning to face her with a pernicious look on her face. "-it makes your situation worse!" She immediately rushed towards Leia and vigorously swung the bat stick, hitting Leia so mercilessly that she flew a few feet back before hitting her back and head on a nearby tree and falling heavily to the ground.


    She immediately clutched her aching tummy and furiously spat out mouthful after mouthful of blood. Her breathing became heavy as she inhaled and exhaled to catch her breath.


    She hurriedly proceeded to stand up on her feet when she saw her doppelganger begin to walk towards her while swinging the bat with a smirk on her face.


    Leia''s eyes, which had painful tears in them, glanced around, and before she knew what would happen, her doppelganger appeared before her in the blink of an eye and proceeded to smash the bat stick on her head, but fortunately, Leia dodged the bat and angrily kicked her in the stomach.


    Her doppelganger staggered back and raised her head to glare at Leia, but Leia responded with another wild kick to the face, causing the doppelganger to fall to the floor. In case she doesn''t know, she attended karate classes, although she never won a black belt.


    Her doppelganger let out a quick, disdainful laugh and smirked wickedly.


    Leia, who was already fuming in anger, moved towards her doppelganger to finish her off, but her doppelganger, however, got up from the floor unexpectedly and grabbed her by the throat, hoisting her into midair.


    Leia struggled in her grip to free herself as she found the grip of her doppelganger becoming stronger and stronger.


    Her doppelganger grinned evilly and her nails elongated and began to pierce into Leia''s neck, causing drops of blood to seep out of her neck.


    ...


    Adrik, who was panic-stricken, rushed to the bathroom to soak the towel in water and clean off the blood she spurted out, but when he returned, his body became motionless as he stared at her bleeding head and the blood sipping out of holes in her neck, which he knew was definitely caused by nails.


    He immediately climbed into the bed and shifted to sit beside her. He stared at her face, which was turning pale as though she was being strangled, and gently grabbed her hand. He brought it to his cheek and nuzzled it tenderly. "Little wife, you can do it. I believe in you and I know you will never leave me." He whispered to her, and unexpected tears began to fall from his eyes.


    He shut his eyes to dry off the tears and took a low breath as he felt extremely stressed and exhausted. "Please, little wife... Don''t leave me."


    ....


    Leia, whose face had turned completely pale, struggled to free herself from the grip of her doppelganger, but her doppelganger, however, smirked viciously at her and strangled her more as its eyes turned completely deep red. "Goodbye! Ha!" She furiously threw Leia away, causing her to fly back at a great speed before hitting heavily onto the concrete wall.


    She fell to the floor and instantly became unconscious and even stopped breathing. Everywhere immediately went silent, and only the eerie sound of the night wind could be heard.


    [Little wife] That loving voice called out to her and Leia''s spirit, which had already turned its back and was about to vanish, promptly halted and its body trembled.


    [Little wife] The voice, which belonged to none other than Adrik, called her yet again and her spirit slowly turned around to see Adrik staring at her with eyes that held pure love.


    Her spirit tilted its head to one side and stared at Adrik for a while before turning to glance at the whirlpool that would pull her into the afterlife.


    [Stay with me, little wife] Adrik pleaded, and Leia''s spirit fluttered her eyes before raising her head to look at Adrik. She slowly began to walk towards Adrik, but abruptly halted when the whirlpool of the afterlife began to pull her in.. She had only 10 seconds.

 Chapter 238 - He Did Send Her To The Afterlife

    "10..."


    Leia''s spirit became panicked, and it looked up at Adrik with apprehension evident in her eyes.


    [Don''t leave me, little wife] Adrik continued to plead, and Leia''s spirit began to struggle to free herself. She began to take a step forward.


    "5"...


    She struggled forward and gradually reached out her hand for Adrik to grab her.


    "3..."


    [Little Wife!!] A yell from Adrik drummed in her eyes and before the countdown could hit 0, Adrik grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him, causing her to fall into his embrace.


    ....


    Leia instantly inhaled deeply and grabbed the bat stick that was heading for her head. "You bitch!" She yelled in a rage and kicked her doppelganger in the leg, causing her to fall to the ground. She immediately stood up and her nails stretched out to their limit while her fangs elongated. Her eyes turned deep red as fury boiled within her and, with no mercy visible in her eyes, she pulled her doppelganger up from the ground and slashed her face with her nails, causing the face of her doppelganger to begin to bleed.


    "Fuck you!" She angrily threw her up into midair and sent a kick to her stomach before she could plummet to the concrete ground.


    She instantly moved towards her and began to slash her face mercilessly, eventually slashing her throat, causing blood to pump out onto her face.


    Disregarding that, she stood up and grabbed the bat stick from the floor, then, with cruelty in her eyes, she proceeded to furiously hit her doppelganger who was struggling to get up from the floor.


    She struck her mercilessly with the bat and moved to destroy her head.


    The eyes of her doppelganger widened and she tried to get up and flee, but Leia, however, swung the bat and, with no mercy in her expression, she vigorously strike the bat stick on her head, causing the head of her doppelganger to break and blood to begin to ooze out. "Don''t mess with me next time!" She gave her doppelganger a middle finger before smashing its head one more time and throwing the bloody bat on the floor when she was sure that her doppelganger was dead.


    Leia breathed heavily and staggered from one side to another as she found herself losing consciousness. Her heavy eyes tried their best to stay open, but when her body couldn''t take it anymore, her eyes shut close and her body slumped to the ground.


    ...


    With a deep inhale of air, Leia''s eyes sprang open and she sat up on the bed, startling Adrik, who was seated beside her.


    She breathed heavily to catch her breath and slowly turned her head to stare at Adrik, who was gazing at her with nervousness in his eyes. "Little... wife," He tenderly called her, and unexpectedly, Leia jumped into his arms, hugging him tightly as though she hadn''t seen him in a few years.


    His eyes fluttered in confusion when he heard her begin to sob. He immediately drew her back and stared into her black, teary eyes. "Little wife... why are you crying?"


    Leia uttered not a single word and hugged him once again. Adrik''s lashes blinked vigorously as he found tears welling up in his eyes. He hugged her tightly and proceeded to place a soft kiss on her forehead, but he, however, halted when he saw her bleeding head and neck.


    Leia, who also noticed her bleeding head and neck, touched them and instantly realized that it was not a dream. Her face began to vibrate as a scream proceeded to erupt from her throat. Adrik, who knew better, immediately pulled her into his arm and gently stroked her back till she calmed down.


    He hurriedly got down from the bed when he felt that she was calm and moved to the bathroom to grab the first aid kit from the cabinet.


    He returned to the room and gently carried her out of the bed in the bridal style, then had her sit down on the white wooden chair.


    He squatted down to her level and carefully unwrapped the bandage wrapped around her head.


    He tenderly began to clean and dress up her injury and wrapped up her neck injury with the use of the steri strips and gauze, then leaned in to place a soft kiss on her forehead.


    "You''re all good now, little wife." He smiled lovingly at her, and Leia stared at him for a moment with no emotion on her face, before slowly reaching out her hand and touching his cheek. "I love you..." She whispered to him, and a big smile emerged on Adrik''s face as his eyes unexpectedly watered. "I love you too, little wife." He pulled her into a warm hug and drew back to stare lovingly at her.


    He called for the maids to change the bedsheets, and they left when they were done.


    Adrik helped her change into a new set of clothes before carrying her in his arms to lay her on the bed. He cuddled her tenderly, and finally, when she drifted off to sleep, he laid her back on the bed, then glanced at the clock to realize that it was already 5:59 am.


    He rubbed his forehead as he felt very exhausted and tiredly moved to sit down on the couch.


    He threw his head back and shut his eyes, then took a long, deep breath.


    ________


    The middle-aged man, who was no other than Lekhma, glared at the old woman, and before the old woman could say a word, he angrily slapped her, causing her to fly back and hit her head on the wall.


    "Your highness, please forgive me. Please." The old woman begged for leniency, but Lekhma, who was cold-hearted, moved towards her with no mercy in his eyes and grabbed her by the throat, hoisting her up into midair.


    His blood boiled in a rage and, with a deadly look on his face, his claws immediately stretched out and he slashed her throat, killing her instantly.


    He furiously threw her to the wall, and the old woman fell to the floor, devoid of any life.


    Lekhma scoffed at her corpse in scorn and walked out of the old house, shutting the door behind him in fury. Just like he promised, he did send her to the afterlife.


    **********


    Besties, am unsure about tomorrow because right now, my mum is driving me to the hospital as I am very weak and sick. So I need to take a drip first. Hopefully, I will gain enough strength by tomorrow and write chapters. I love you guys.


    I love to thank you for the castle once again, (Michelle Reece) I really can''t express how happy I am.. I appreciate it a lot. Thank you very much!!!!

 Chapter 239 - A Burden

    The early morning sun shone through the glass window, causing Leia to slowly blink her eyes open.


    She clutched her aching head and gradually sat up on the bed, before looking around the room.


    Her eyes halted on Adrik, who was fast asleep on the sofa, and she stared at him for a few moments before getting off the bed to walk towards him.


    She squatted down to his level and gently caressed his hair, which was covering his face, then leaned in to place a soft kiss on his cheek. "Adrik..." She whispered his name, and Adrik slowly turned to face her with his eyes still closed.


    "Little wife-" He blinked his eyes open and reached out his hand to gently touch her face. "-Did you have a good sleep?"


    "Mhm." Leia nodded at him with a smile on her lips, and he proceeded to sit up on the couch.


    "Why did you snooze on the sofa?" Her brow creased as she inquired in a bit of bewilderment.


    "Nothing. I just fell asleep here." A quick chuckle exited his throat and he glanced at the clock to realize that it was already nine in the morning. "Come... let''s give you a nice bath." He smiled tenderly at her and stood up from the couch to lift her into his arms in a bridal style.


    He strolled towards the bathroom and shut the door behind them. "You have lost so much weight and become so light." A pessimistic breath fled his nose, and Leia''s eyes fluttered.


    He sat her down and filled the bathtub, then helped her undress before carrying her into the tub.


    He gently bathed her and Leia, whose head was resting on the edge of the bathtub, couldn''t help but stare at him.


    Adrik''s brow raised in a bit of confusion, and he couldn''t resist asking why she was staring at him as though she was contemplating something.


    "Nothing...it''s just..." A low breath escaped her nose, and she relaxed back, then shut her eyes. "I am a burden, no?"


    Adrik''s lashes fluttered vigorously in confusion, and a slight frown emerged on his face.


    "I know you''re exhausted, and it''s also the reason you fell asleep on the couch." She half-smiled at him, and Adrik shook his head as though realizing something.


    He halted washing her body and gently traced his thumb across her cheek, causing her to open her eyes and stare at him. "You''re right and also wrong at the same time. I am exhausted, but not because you''re a burden to me."


    "I have never done this kind of thing in my life... well, not like I had anyone to do it for...so yeah... it exhausted me. But little wife, do you know what exhausted me the most? "


    "No..." Leia shook her head, and he chuckled softly before leaning forward to plant a soft kiss on her forehead. "Seeing you suffer and being unable to do anything was what exhausted me the most." He half-smiled at her, and Leia''s eyes blinked twice as a slow pessimistic smile emerged on her face.


    "I am sorry...for everything." She stroked his cheek, and Adrik smiled at her before continuing to wash her body. "I love you, little wife. That is all that matters to me. "


    "I love you too." She giggled lovingly and rested her head back with closed eyes.


    ....


    Adrik wrapped her up in a towel and carried her out of the bathroom when he was done washing her up. Then he strolled towards the bed to have her seat down on the edge of the bed.


    "What do you want to wear?" He inquired, and Leia thought for a moment before shrugging. "I will wear anything you pick out."


    "You sure?" He cackled, and she nodded at him. "Alright then." He stood up and walked towards the dressing room, then began to rummage through her clothing that was neatly arranged opposite his.


    His hands halted on one which caught his eyes, and he picked it out, then walked back to the entrance.


    He shut the door behind him and moved to sit down on the bed beside her. "Do you like this one?"


    Leia glanced at the clothing, and she suddenly found herself beginning to chuckle.


    "Why are you laughing? They are not bad, are they?" Adrik lifted the clothing and spread it out to stare intently at it. "I don''t see anything wrong with them." He shook his head, and Leia couldn''t help but flick her fingers on his forehead. "Of course, it''s perfect, just that it''s all in white. I would be shining so much, hahaha."


    "White is a great color, and little wife, I must tell you that you look perfect and very pretty in white." He smiled lovingly at her, and Leia''s brow raised in a bit of amusement. "Really?" She inquired, and he nodded at her.


    "Ahaha, okay then." She tilted her head to one side as she stared at the clothing, and Adrik proceeded to help her wear it.


    He zipped up the shorts for her and helped her slip into the sweater. Then she slid her feet into her white slippers before moving to sit down on the chair at the table. She stared at the mark on her neck and blinked her eyes, seeing that her head and neck injury had healed.


    "It healed pretty fast." Adrik smiled tenderly at her and picked up the comb and oil on the table, then proceeded to comb her hair. "Your hair has grown quite long." He smirked as his estimation turned out to be correct.


    Leia stared at it through the mirror and slightly shook her head. "I don''t want it long." She glanced at Adrik, and he tilted his head to one side. "But why?"


    "I don''t like it." She simply stated, and Adrik nodded at her in understanding. "Do you want me to help you cut it?" He asked, and she nodded at him with a pretty smile on her lips.


    "Okay..." Adrik dropped the comb as he was done combing her hair and picked up the scissors on the table. He measured where to start and carefully began to cut her hair.


    Leia stared through the mirror, and a low breath exited her nose.


    Adrik combed and brushed her hair when he was done, and Leia glimpsed at it through the mirror, then nodded in satisfaction as she saw that it stopped at neck length, just where she wanted it.


    "Little wife, wait here for me. I will be quick with my shower, okay.." He gave her a peck on the cheek and moved into the bathroom to have his shower.

 Chapter 240 - They Are Here

    Adrik stepped out of the dressing room, clad in a white turtleneck and white pants. He strolled over to the chair at the table to sit down and have his hair combed. "Little wife, you don''t have to do it okay. You''re still quite we-." He was yet to finish his words when a knock from Leia landed on his head.


    He immediately turned his head only to see her sealing her lips tightly to resist herself from laughing. "Why did you do that?" He asked, and Leia cackled softly, then turned his head to have him look at the mirror. "Relax."


    She picked up the hair oil and brush, then began to brush his hair. She combed it when she was done and glimpsed him through the mirror. "Adrik, I think it''s best to let it down since you''re not going anywhere today." She suggested it and he nodded at her.


    "Alright." He stood up from the chair and gently yanked her into a warm hug. They stayed that way for a few moments before pulling back and walking out of the room, then heading downstairs together.


    They strolled towards the dining room, and Leia''s eyes fluttered on seeing so much food on the table. She swallowed hard and slowly snatched her hand from Adrik, then moved to sit down on the chair at the table.


    Adrik shook his head in amusement and walked to take a seat beside her. Without bothering to wait, she immediately picked up a spoon and fork and began to eat to her heart''s content.


    Adrik turned his head and stared intently at her with a smile on his lips, while she ate.


    Leia, who noticed his gaze on her, halted and awkwardly turned to look at him. "Why... aren''t you eating?" She inquired, and Adrik slightly shook his head at her. "Seems your gluttony has ascended to another level." He ruffled her hair as he laughed, and Leia clicked her tongue in displeasure but continued to eat her food.


    Adrik turned to gaze at the food and gradually began to eat it.


    A few minutes passed before they were done eating, and currently, Leia was seated with a full stomach on the couch beside him in the living room.


    "I feel so full." A low sigh escaped her mouth, and Adrik couldn''t help but begin to laugh at her.


    "What''s so funny?" She immediately lifted her head from his shoulder and glared at him.


    "Nothing." He furiously shook his head at her, and she tsked before resting her head back on his shoulder. "I feel so alive now."


    A young, blonde-haired maid abruptly ran into the living room and bowed her head deeply in respect. "Supreme Alpha, they are here!"


    "Mhm." Adrik nodded at the maid and dismissed her before turning to look at Leia, who was staring at him with a curious expression on her face. "Who are here?" She inquired, and he smiled lovingly at her. "Your best friends."


    Leia''s eyes instantly dilated, and before Adrik could say another word, she stood up from the sofa and ran towards the door.


    The bodyguards pulled the door open for her and her gaze fell on her best friends, who stood with a smile on their faces.


    Their eyes all fell on her, and Leia''s lashes throbbed vigorously in disbelief. Are they really standing here in front of her, or is this all just a dream?


    "You guys-" She was yet to finish her words when Kiesha unexpectedly rushed up to her and pulled her into a tight hug. "We missed you so much." She began to sob, and Leia, who still felt like she was dreaming, reacted not, but stood like a tree. "We are sorry, Leia. We are really sorry."


    Victor and James walked in and moved to stand close to her.


    Kiesha pulled away from the hug, and Victor gently took Leia''s hand in his and caressed it. "I am sorry, Leia." Drops of tears fell from his eyes, and he suddenly pulled her into a warm hug. "I am really sorry. I was the one that hurt you the most and I hope you forgive me." He sniffed as he couldn''t find himself able to control his tears, and Leia gradually hugged him back. "I am not mad at all, and I forgive you guys. I miss you all so much." She smiled lovingly at them, and they nodded at her in relief.


    "We are so glad that you''re okay." Victor expressed deep concern, and she smiled cheerfully at them before leading them into the mansion.


    _________


    Mr. David, who had his day off, left his daughter''s room after tucking her into bed to take a nap.


    He strolled to the kitchen and prepared tea for himself, then walked out when he was done.


    He took his seat on the couch and slowly sipped from the cup of tea.


    He turned his tablet on and proceeded to watch the news regarding Leia''s accident. His attention became focused on the screen when he saw Adrik appear on the scene. He gazed intently at him as he moved towards the car and pulled off the door of the car, throwing it away.


    "Huh?" Mr. David''s lashes fluttered in disbelief, and he proceeded to rewind the video.


    "That''s..." He became speechless as he knew that it was not something a normal human being would be able to do.


    So he was indeed right. Adrik and his wife were indeed not human, but something else. Hopefully, if he was right, they definitely would be werewolves.


    He chuckled softly and sipped from the cup of tea. Firstly, he needs to collect as much evidence as possible before he can confidently claim that they aren''t humans.


    He nodded his head in agreement with himself and took a long deep breath before dropping the cup of tea on the mini-brown table.


    "Daddy!" Emily''s voice resounded from her room, and he stood up from the couch and proceeded to her room to see her seated on the bed.


    "Pumpkin, why are you awake? I thought you wanted to have an early morning sleep." He inquired in a tender tone, and Emily shook her head with her small face puckered. "No... I was not able to sleep,"


    Mr. David took a deep breath and carried her up from the bed, then slid his legs into his shoes and proceeded out of the house with her in his arms. "Let''s get you some cookies." He shut the door behind them, and they strolled to board the car packed in the garage.


    Mr. David and his daughter arrived at the store and bought some cookies. He paid for it and together they left the store. Then he proceeded to board the car, but a black Rolls Royce abruptly stopped near his car and the glass rolled down, revealing no one but Amanda, whose eyes were covered with shades.


    Mr. David turned to glance at her, and his eyes flickered in bewilderment. "Is...there anything I can help you with?" He asked, and Amanda turned her head to look at him. "Get in the car." She smiled at him, and Mr. David''s eyes narrowed in suspicion.


    He put his daughter into the car and ordered her to wait for him, before moving to step into the Rolls Royce.


    A deep breath exited Amanda''s nose, and she took her shades off, then turned her head to stare at him. "I have something to ask you."


    "Okay...go on." Mr. David gazed intently at her, waiting for her to go ahead with her question.


    "What you spoke about, during the time my uncle was injured, is it true?" She inquired, and Mr. David''s eyes blinked twice in surprise. Why would she suddenly be asking about that now? If he remembered correctly when he was talking to Mr. Robyn about it then, she had looked at him as though he was crazy, so why was she suddenly asking now? His eyes narrowed into a thin line, and he raised his brow at her. "May I know why you''re suddenly asking about that?"


    "My uncle is dead." She replied, and Mr. David drew his head back in shock. "What! When?"


    "The previous two weeks." She replied, and a quick breath fled Mr. David''s nose. "I am sorry. My condolences."


    "No need. I just want to know if what you said that day was true because the way my uncle died was extremely weird and unbelievable. It was not a way that a normal human would kill someone." She turned to him with sadness in her eyes, and Mr. David let out a low sigh as he felt pity for her.


    What was he to do now? Should he let her know? But from what he knows, Amanda is an extremely scheming girl, and for her to suddenly start to ask about what he said then, she definitely has something up her sleeve. Right now, he''s still not confident enough to say that what he said that day was true, so it''s best to avoid future troubles.


    A half-pessimistic smile emerged on his face, and he lifted his head to look at her and slowly shook his head. "I was wrong. Later that day, I did some investigation and figured out that I was wrong. They probably used some weapons on Mr. Robyn, causing such an injury to his eyes. "


    Amanda''s brow furrowed deeply, and she gazed intently at him with narrowed eyes. She stared at him for a while, and only averted her gaze when he coughed awkwardly.


    "Alright then, if you say so. You can go, this is all I came to ask." She half-smiled at him, and Mr. David nodded before stepping out of the car.


    He moved towards his car and got in, then drove off towards his home.


    Amanda stared at his disappearing car, and her eyes narrowed dangerously. "He is definitely lying." She smirked, and her personal bodyguard, who was seated in the driver''s seat, nodded his head. "What''s our next plan?" He inquired, and a low breath fled Amanda''s nose. "Drive.." She ordered and covered her eyes with the black shades.

 Chapter 241 - Ha-Yoon

    Leia, who had already seen her best friend''s out, took a deep breath and slowly walked to the door of the backyard. She pushed it open and her eyes fell on the white swing.


    She walked towards it but didn''t sit on it this time. She stood still, gazing out into the unknown.


    Steady footsteps resounded behind her, and her eyes narrowed. "You''re here."


    "Mrs. Leia." The person, who was no other than Alex, bowed deeply in respect to her, and she turned around to stare at him, then nodded in response.


    "How do you feel?" Alex inquired in concern.


    "I am fine," Leia replied with a smile and a nod of her head. "Am pretty sure you know why I called you." She said, and Alex nodded.


    "Mrs. Leia, I understand what you said, but your health. You''re still yet to re-"


    "Do not try to change my mind. I am perfectly fine. We don''t have time anymore." Her brow creased in a bit of annoyance, and she turned around to have her back facing him. "Have you forgotten this week is the last day of the month? I am going next tomorrow being Friday to acquire my weapon, so... you know what to do." A wicked grin emerged on her face, and she turned around, then, with a last glance at Alex, she walked past him into the building.


    Alex took a deep breath as he stared at her disappearing back and a low breath fled his nose. He strolled back into the mansion and boarded the car to proceed with the assignment.


    Leia took her seat on the sofa in the living room and dialed Rita''s number.


    Rita instantly picked up, and she brought the phone to her ear. "How are things with Mr. Adolpho?"


    [Luna...there has not been any strange movement and I don''t think he has any suspicion]


    "Hmmm...are you sure?" Leia asked, with narrowed eyes.


    [Yes, Luna]


    "I see...well... I do hope nothing is being hidden in the dark." Leia chuckled softly, and her eyes narrowed dangerously. "Resume the plan and prepare for the wedding. You know what to do that day."


    [Yes, Luna]


    "Alright, that''s all." Leia cut the call, and a low breath exited her nose. She stood up from the sofa and moved towards the elevator to make her way upstairs. She stepped out when the door was pushed open, and proceeded towards their room.


    She pushed the door open and shut it behind her, then turned around to see Adrik seated on the couch, typing on his laptop.


    She walked over to him and took a seat beside him, then wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder.


    ________


    Jenny, dressed in joggers and trainers, walked out of the Adolpho mansion and began to make her way to the park. These last few weeks, her sister Amy has been acting like a total maniac, behaving in a way she never did before. It was as if her sister vanished into thin air and someone totally different replaced her.


    Today, she could walk to the park and take her mind off it.


    She shoved her hands into the pockets of her pants and began to stroll towards the park. Her eyes darted around and a smile emerged on her face as she found herself really happy about actually being able to walk around like a normal person.


    Their father never allowed them to walk around. Wherever they go, they must be driven around and followed by tons of guards, which causes them to have no idea what it feels like to walk on the streets and parks. It was as if they were never free.


    She chuckled softly and began to bounce towards the park. Her eyes glanced around when she arrived there, and her lashes fluttered when she saw a little girl of six years old staring at an ice cream truck.


    She ambled towards the little girl, and the little girl, whose hair was fringed, turned to stare at her.


    "Where is your mummy?" She inquired, and the little girl uttered not a word but just stared at her.


    A low breath fled Jenny''s nose, and she turned to glance at the ice cream truck. "Do you want one?" She asked, and the little girl nodded at her.


    "Ahh... I see." She squatted down to the little girl''s level and smiled at her. "Alright, let''s buy you one." She outstretched her hand for the little girl, and reluctantly, the little girl took her hand, then together they walked towards the ice cream truck.


    "What flavor do you like?"


    "Cho-chocolate." The little girl replied in a tone that almost came out as a whisper.


    "With sprinkles." Jenny smiled at her and bought one for herself and herself, then handed it over to her.


    A wide smile emerged on the little girl''s small face, and Jenny ruffled her hair. She took her back, and they sat down on the bench. The little girl happily licked her ice cream, and Jenny couldn''t help but find herself staring at the little girl. Why was the girl alone?


    "Little girl... why are you here alone? Where are your parents? " She inquired, and the little girl raised her head to stare at her.


    "I...don''t have parents." The little girl slowly shook her head, and Jenny''s brow creased deeply.


    "Okay...are you perhaps staying with someone?" The moment she asked the question, the little girl''s eyes trembled nervously, and she flinched back.


    Jenny''s eyes blinked furiously in confusion, and she moved near the girl and gently took her hand in hers. "Is... something wrong?" She inquired in a soft tone, and the little girl unknowingly began to sob. "I don''t... like them. They... hate me."


    "Huh... who hates you?"


    "Ha-Yoon!" A woman''s annoyed voice resounded behind Jenny, and she turned around to see a slim, middle-aged Korean woman with short black hair, standing with a bit of an annoyed look on her face.


    The little girl, whose name was Ha-Yoon, immediately hid behind Jenny and began to continually pinch her hand nervously.


    "Who...are you?" Jenny asked, bewildered.


    "Her mother!" She narrowed her eyes at Jenny and looked behind her to glare at Ha-Yoon.


    "Come here." She proceeded to grab her little hand, but Jenny blocked her and glared at her. She turned to face the little girl and squatted down to her level. "Little girl.... is she your mother?"

 Chapter 242 - Why Now?

    Ha-Yoon''s body trembled nervously, and she slowly shook her head at Jenny.


    The middle-aged woman instantly went into a rage on seeing that and proceeded to grab her, but Jenny, however, slapped her hand away and stood up to stare viciously at her. "Don''t you dare touch her!"


    The middle-aged woman''s brow arched in amusement, and she chuckled softly. "And who do you think you are to stop me? I am her guardian and she''s coming with me." She scoffed and moved to grab Ha-Yoon, but Ha-Yoon unexpectedly broke into a cry, attracting the attention of the few surrounding people there.


    From a bit of a distance, Nirmolak, who also heard Ha-Yoon''s cry, turned to glance in the direction, and on seeing Jenny, his eyes blinked in curiosity.


    He shoved his hands into the pockets of his hoodie and strolled over to them.


    "I don''t wanna go with her." Ha-Yoon sobbed, and Jenny lifted her into her arms, then gently patted her on the back to calm her down.


    "She''s not going anywhere with you!" Jenny glared hatefully at her and caressed Ha-Yoon''s hair. Although she knows she''s being wrong here as the woman had the right over Ha-Yoon, she just can''t find the heart to let her take Ha-Yoon away. For such a little girl to be crying this much in fear, the woman was definitely doing something horrible to her.


    "What''s going on?" Someone''s whisper flew into her ears, and she turned to see Nirmolak standing beside her with a raised brow.


    "You-"


    "Surprised?" Nirmolak chuckled softly and turned to gaze at the middle-aged woman. His eyes dwindled cruelly, and as though she felt intimidated by it, her body began to tremble, and she unexpectedly turned around and hurried away, abandoning Ha-Yoon with Jenny.


    "Huh?" Jenny''s brow furrowed deeply in confusion, and she turned to stare at Nirmolak. "Why did she-"


    "I don''t know." Nirmolak shrugged, and she turned to glance in the direction that the woman had left from.


    "What do you plan on doing now?" He inquired, and a low breath fled Jenny''s nose. "The police. I will file a complaint and make sure that they help her out."


    Nirmolak nodded in understanding, and they began to stroll out of the park with Ha-Yoon resting in Jenny''s arms.


    "You...what are you doing in the park?" Jenny asked, and Nirmolak raised his brow at her. "Don''t think too much. It''s just a coincidence that we met here after our last encounter." He shook his head at her, and Jenny slightly nodded in understanding.


    _________


    {12 am}


    Leia''s eyes flickered in pain, and she turned around to view the memories of how much Mr. Adolpho tortured her. Diminutive drops of tears fell from her eyes, and the moment her mother took her last breath flashed before her eyes like a movie.


    She glanced at all the memories swirling around her like a series, and she immediately felt her head aching badly. She clutched it in pain and fell to the floor on her knees. The curtains in the dark rooms fluttered vigorously, and her breathing became heavy and unsteady.


    Claps began to resound in the room, followed by someone''s mocking laughter, and she raised her head, then slowly turned around to see Mr. Adolpho standing with a wicked expression on his face.


    "Tsk tsk, pathetic." Mr. Adolpho slightly shook his head in amusement, and Leia''s face began to twitch in anger. Her hands balled into a tight fist and she stood up to pounce on him, but she however realized that her hands were chained and for that, she was unable to move close to him. "You!" Her body trembled uncontrollably in rage, and Mr. Adolpho arched his brow at her.


    "You are so naive. How could you underestimate me like that?" He scoffed in disdain, and Leia''s balled fist clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white.


    "You really thought you could kill me!" He laughed mockingly and slowly walked towards a table in the room and grabbed the gun that was lying there.


    He fixed the bullet with a leisurely look on his face and turned around to aim it at her forehead. "One last piece of advice that I will give you as your father is: the birds reside in the same tree together, but when the hunter shoots, they all fly away in different directions, flying helter-skelter for their lives-" He chuckled softly and shook his head. "-In your next life, don''t trust anybody, no matter who." With that being said, crazy laughter erupted from his throat and he pulled the trigger, releasing the bullet which whisked through the air, aiming for Leia''s forehead.


    Leia''s eyes dilated as wide as a saucer, and before the bullet could penetrate through her forehead, everywhere turned black, and her eyes sprang open.


    She quickly glanced around and realized that she was lying down on the bed beside Adrik.


    It was just a dream. Her heart thumped rapidly within her and she reached for the glass of water on the mini table beside their bed and gulped it down in one mouthful. She took deep breaths and got down from the bed, then walked to stand at the huge glass window and gazed out at the dark sky, which had not a single star on it but just a half-moon.


    She swallowed and clutched her heart. It was just a dream. She repeated it in her mind but found her heart refusing to agree with her. The fear she felt in that dream felt so real that she could still feel it.


    She really can''t fail! Impossible! There is no way she would fall into his trap.


    But... what was that dream about? Why did she suddenly have it now when her time of revenge was coming near?


    ''The birds reside in the same tree together, but when the hunter shoots, they all fly away in different directions, flying helter-skelter for their lives.'' This sentence resounded in her mind, and her brow crinkled deeply as she couldn''t seem to understand what it meant.


    She rubbed her forehead and sipped from the glass of water. It''s just a dream.. There was no way that her plan was going to fail.

 Chapter 243 - It Tastes Awful

    Mr. Adolpho walked down the stairs to the living room and a smile emerged on his lips as he glanced at Rita, who sat with a distant look on her face and a cup of coffee in her hand.


    He strolled over to her and took a seat next to her, then took her hand in his, startling her out of her thoughts.


    "What are you thinking?" He inquired, and Rita chuckled softly. "Oh, it''s nothing. I was just bored."


    "Ah...I see." He nodded at her and gently rubbed her hand while admiring the diamond ring he gave her. "It looks beautiful on your finger." He complimented her and a wide smile ensued on Rita''s face. "Thank you."


    "Ah...there is something I have been meaning to talk to you about since yesterday." She turned to face him, and Mr. Adolpho nodded at her to go on.


    "Well...I know I had you postpone the wedding, but... I have been thinking since yesterday and I believe I''m ready." She smiled at him, and Mr. Adolpho''s eyes blinked in a bit of surprise. "You mean, you''re ready for the wedding?" He gazed at her with a slow smile forming on his face, and Rita nodded at him.


    "Yes!!" He exclaimed in joy, and Rita chuckled awkwardly. "Hold on while I make some calls, okay." He stood up from the sofa and began to walk away towards the balcony with his phone in hand.


    ________


    Alex put on his black jacket and grabbed his phone from the table. He strolled out of his mansion and unlocked his car, then stepped in and shut the door.


    He started the car''s engine and slowly drove out of the compound and onto the road.


    A low breath exited his nose and his hands that were on the steering wheel tightened.


    He drove for an hour before finally arriving at his destination, which was the forest, and he carefully pulled over into the narrow road and continued to drive further.


    He finally stopped when he reached a dead end and stepped out of the car, shutting the door afterward.


    He glanced around, and a smile ensued on his face when he felt that very familiar presence.


    "You came quicker than I thought." A serene, delicate voice resounded, and he turned around to see Alesea standing with a loving smile on her lips. Her blue eyes stared at him, and she began to walk towards him while the vigorous wind blew on her blue wavy hair.


    Alex assessed her from head to toe, and he slowly shook his head with amusement on his face.


    "And again, you are naked upwards." He opened the car door, grabbed a pair of blue shorts, a white shirt, and white sandals, and handed them to her. "Wear it."


    Alesea received the clothing from him and carefully examined it. A smile formed on her face as she found it pretty, and Alex turned around to have his back facing her, to give her privacy.


    Alesea''s eyes fluttered in a bit of confusion as she tried to figure out how to wear them. "Hmmm." She eventually wore them and asked Alex to turn and see if she did it right.


    Alex turned around, and the moment his eyes fell on her, he couldn''t help but break out into laughter. "Alesea, you''re wearing the back, haha." He shook his head and asked her to take it off, then wear it again.


    She nodded and did just as he asked, and finally when she was done, he helped her wear the sandals, then took her to board the car. He shut the door after she stepped in and moved to take his seat in the driver''s chair.


    He helped her put the seatbelt on, and with the start of the engine, he reversed the car and slowly drove out of the forest and onto the road.


    He drove for a while, and immediately, when they arrived on the main road, Alesea''s eyes widened upon seeing so many things she had never seen before. Their kind was never allowed on land, which was the reason why she had never been out in the open.


    She immediately poked her head out through the window, leaving her hair to flutter vigorously in the wind.


    Alex grabbed her by the collar of her shirt and pulled her head back into the car. "You don''t do that, Alesea."


    "Why?" She turned to stare at him with her large, cute eyes, and Alex slightly shook his head in amusement. "Do you want to lose your head?"


    "Huh? Of course not. I don''t want to lose my head." Her face puckered a bit as she shook her head and Alex flicked his finger at her forehead.


    "If you don''t want to lose your head, then don''t do that, okay." He smiled at her and she slowly nodded at him.


    They drove for a few minutes more before Alex finally arrived at his estate. He drove into his compound and parked the car, then stepped down to pull the door open for her.


    He helped her get out of the car, and Alesea''s eyes darted around in excitement. He interlocked his hands with hers and began to walk towards the entrance while dragging her along with him.


    He pushed the door open and stepped in, followed by Alesea, whose body halted on seeing the interior of the mansion.


    Everywhere was brightened up by the luminous lights of the lanterns, and the couch and simple-looking flowers made it more elegant and beautiful.


    "You live here?" She inquired in an awed tone, and Alex nodded at her, then gestured for her to have a seat on the sofa.


    "Are you hungry?" He asked, and she blinked her eyes as she contemplated before shaking her head. "Not really."


    Alex bobbed at her and moved towards the kitchen to make some coffee for himself. He returned with a cup in his hand and sat down beside her on the couch, then sipped from it.


    Alesea stared at him and his brows creased when he noticed her intent stare. "What is it?" He asked with an arched brow and a bewildered expression on his face.


    "That... what is that?" She inquired while pointing at the cup of coffee in his hand.


    "This?" Alex glanced at the cup of coffee and she nodded at him. "Oh... this is called coffee." He chuckled and handed it over to her. "Drink some."


    Alesea took the cup from him and slowly sipped the coffee. Her eyes instantly fluttered as she felt the bitterness, and she hurriedly handed it back to him.


    "What''s wrong?" Alex asked as he stared at her altered face while resisting the urge to burst into laughter.


    "It tastes awful." She clicked her tongue at him with an ugly look on her face, and he flicked his finger on her forehead. "That''s because I added a little sugar and no milk."


    "Oh..." She chuckled awkwardly as she nodded, even though she clearly did not understand what he was talking about.


    "I''m going to take you to meet someone, so relax for now, okay.." He smiled at her and she nodded before resting her back on the sofa.

 Chapter 244 - Do You See What He Has Done?

    "Adrik...I will be back soon, I promise. I just need to get the rest of my mother''s things out of there." Leia pleaded, and Adrik reluctantly nodded at her. "Be careful, okay." He leaned in and planted a soft kiss on her forehead.


    "I will." She smiled at him and grabbed the car key from the table, then turned around and exited the room, shutting the door behind her.


    She made her way downstairs and unlocked the Rolls Royce, then stepped in and shut the door. She started the car''s engine and slowly drove out of the compound and onto the road.


    Her eyes glanced around as she sped down the road, and on reaching her destination, her face darkened and her hand tightened on the steering wheel.


    The guards at the mansion immediately opened the gate for her on recognizing her, and she drove in with no expression evident on her face.


    She parked the car at the parking lot and stepped down, shutting the door behind her. Her eyes glanced around the home she once lived in, and viciousness flickered in her orifices.


    She stuffed the car key into her pocket and began to stroll into the mansion, ignoring the maids, whose eyes widened in shock and surprise. They honestly never expected to see her, and worse, their master was not at home.


    The instant she strolled into the living room and moved to walk up the stairs, she came face-to-face with none other than Amy.


    They stared at each other, and Amy''s brow arched as her face altered in disdain. "What are you doing here?"


    Leia assessed her from head to toe, and without bothering to give her an answer, she walked past her, knocking on her shoulder, and began to make her way upstairs.


    Amy''s face darkened deeply in rage and she stormed after her, grabbing her harshly by the hand. However, the moment she turned Leia around, Leia''s hand slapped across her face, causing her to fall to the floor. "Are you stupid?" Leia questioned her in a deadly tone, and she immediately stood up from the floor with her face twitching in fury and raised her hand to slap her back. However, Leia caught her hand with her left hand and used her right one to give her yet another slap.


    "You-"


    "Listen here, bitch. No matter how stupid you might be, don''t you ever try to mess with me. Otherwise, it might cost you more than you can imagine." She viciously smiled at her and turned around, walking up the stairs with much elegance.


    Amy''s body vibrated in deep rage, and her hands clenched and unclenched in anger. She stomped her feet on the floor and hurriedly moved to grab her phone and make a call to her father.


    Leia''s eyes glanced down the hallway, and she walked further in and halted in front of the door of her mother''s room.


    She slowly pushed it open and stepped in, hoping to see her mother''s things in there, but her face twitched in shock on seeing not a single thing in the room except for the empty bed and sofa.


    She rushed into her room, only to realize that her room was also cleared. "What the fuck?!?" She instantly flew into a panicked rage and proceeded to stroll out of the room and confront everyone regarding the missing things in it. However, she halted on seeing Jenny standing by the door with a guilty expression on her face.


    A hot, furious breath fled her nose and she proceeded to walk past her out of the room, but Jenny stopped her and took a deep breath. "You won''t find anything. A few weeks ago, Father asked all the maids to take it all out and dispose of it."


    "What!" A quick, furious breath escaped Leia''s nose, and she took deep breaths to calm herself down. "What the fuck?" She staggered back and fell onto the bed with a look of disbelief in her eyes.


    "Am sorry..." Jenny apologized and moved to sit beside her on the bed. "I, uh, tried to stop him, but I was not able to." She explained, and Leia roughly rubbed her face to calm herself down, then turned to glance at her with her brows arched in suspicion. "Why are you being nice to me?" She inquired as she couldn''t help but be confused by the sudden change in behavior. Jenny was never nice to her, right from when they were young.


    A subtle breath exited Jenny''s nose, and she turned to face her. "Um... I know we were never on good terms and I honestly never liked you then, but I had my reasons."


    "I was already at least seven years old when my dad married your mum, and I was not happy about it. I mean, my mother was pregnant with Amy and I felt like... it wasn''t fair for him to marry your mum while my mother was pregnant with his child. That was the reason why I never liked you from the start, but then again, it didn''t mean that I was happy, witnessing everything our father did to you. I felt bad then, but I didn''t want to show that I did, and that''s why I always smiled then to appear happy about it. I was trying to tell myself that I didn''t feel bad when in reality I did."


    "What I just want to say is that I am sorry for everything and that I hope you don''t hold it against me." She took deep breaths, and Leia''s eyes blinked slowly as she found herself unable to believe it.


    "I know you don''t believe me, but I really am sorry." She apologized yet again, and Leia stared deeply into his eyes and found herself shocked to see that she was genuinely sorry. "Um... okay... I, uh, I accept your apology." She shrugged as she didn''t find it a big thing. I mean, although Jenny never liked her, she never did anything bad to her either.


    "Thank you." Jenny nodded with a pessimistic smile on her lips and stood up to leave, but halted as she recalled something. "I also hope that you forgive Amy for all the stupid things she has done and don''t hold any grudges against her." She cupped her hands together and pleaded, but Leia did not react and stared at her without blinking.


    Seeing no reaction from her, she turned around and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind her.


    Leia''s eyes flickered in disbelief, and she slightly shook her head, then glanced around the room again with pain in her eyes, "Mum, do you see what he has done?"

 Chapter 245 - Are You A Mermaid?

    She rubbed between her brows and took a long deep breath to calm herself down and stood up from the bed. She glanced around the room one last time before walking out and shutting it behind her.


    She walked towards the stairs and began to walk downstairs. She had just stepped down the last flight of stairs when she came face to face with none other than Mr. Adolpho, who was clad in a fine, pristine black suit, with his hands stuffed into his pockets.


    Leia glanced at Amy, who stood with a grin on her lips and a disdained look on her face.


    She arched her brow and shifted her stare to Mr. Adolpho, who was also staring intently at her. They gazed at each other, and an unexpected, slow, mysterious smile emerged on Mr. Adolpho''s face. "What brings you here?" He questioned, and Leia gazed at him for a moment before tilting her head to one side. "You dared to do that! It''s alright." With that being said, she walked past him and narrowed her eyes at Amy before strolling out of the mansion.


    Mr. Adolpho turned around to stare at her disappearing back, and his brow raised as though he was contemplating something.


    "Dad! You didn''t do anything!" Amy turned to him and yelled angrily.


    Mr. Adolpho glanced at her and slightly shook his head, as though a disappointed father. He ignored her and proceeded up the stairs.


    Amy''s face twitched in anger, and she stomped her feet on the floor before turning to glance at the exit where Leia left from. "Bitch!" She scoffed in scorn and turned around to storm to her room.


    ....


    Leia drove the car out of the compound and an annoyed breath exited her nose. She raised the speed and arrived home in less than an hour.


    She pulled over into the compound and parked the car in the parking lot, then got out, shutting the door and locking it afterward.


    She strolled into the mansion and to the living room, and her eyes fell on Adrik, who was seated on the sofa with his mask on his face.


    She walked to him and took a seat beside him, then wrapped her arms around his waist.


    Adrik cuddled her and grazed his fingers up and down her arms. "How did it go? Were you able to get them?" He inquired, and she raised her head to look at his face. She slowly shook her head, and Adrik''s brows creased. "Why? He didn''t let you take them?"


    "No... it''s actually the worst. He disposed of all my mother''s belongings, including mine." A low breath escaped her nose and Adrik''s lashes flickered in surprise. "Why would he do that?"


    "I don''t know." Leia shrugged helplessly and hugged him, resting her head on his chest.


    Adrik took his mask off and dropped it on the mini table. He grabbed her chin and lifted her head so she could look at him. Then he leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her lips. "It''s okay, little wife." He smiled lovingly at her and gave her yet another kiss.


    Leia smiled against his lips and hugged him tightly.


    Steady footsteps abruptly resounded and they turned to glance at the entrance only to see Alex walking into the living room with a young blue-haired girl.


    Leia''s eyes flickered furiously as she stared at the girl who looked extremely beautiful with her gorgeous blue hair complimenting her blue eyes.


    "Supreme Alpha. Mrs. Leia." Alex bowed respectfully at them, and the young girl, who was none other than Alesea, began to wave at Adrik the moment she saw him. "Hi... Alpha." Her serene voice flew into their ears, and Adrik found himself chuckling at her childish behavior.


    "Hello, princess." He smiled at her and stood up to hug her. "It''s been quite a while."


    Alesea nodded furiously, and a smile ensued on her face. "It''s been really long. I think we last saw each other thirty years ago or was it twenty? I really can''t remember."


    "It was twenty." Adrik cackled and moved to stand beside Leia, then wrapped his arms around her waist.


    Alesea, who had just noticed Leia, shifted her gaze to her and her smile widened. "Is she..." She turned to Adrik, and Adrik nodded at her with amusement in his green eyes. "Yes, she''s my mate and my wife."


    "Oh my goodness." She immediately moved to Leia and gazed at her with a smile still visible on her face. "She''s so pretty." She chuckled, and Leia, who was moody before, suddenly found a smile emerging on her face. "Hi! I am Alesea. Nice to meet you. I love your short hair."


    Leia chuckled softly and also waved back at her. "My name is Leia. It''s nice to meet you too, and I must say I also love your hair. It''s very beautiful."


    "Thank you." Alesea bowed a bit, as that was how they expressed their thanks in their sea world.


    "Are you a mermaid too?" She inquired, and Leia, who was surprised by the question, slowly shook her head. "No, I am not."


    "Huh? That''s impossible." Her brows furrowed deeply, and she moved towards Leia, then began to sniff her.


    Leia, who felt awkward about her weird action, fluttered her eyes in bewilderment. "What are you do-"


    "But you have the scent." Alesea stopped sniffing her and moved back to stare at her with a look of disbelief in her eyes.


    "What do you mean by "scent?" Leia asked as she felt utterly confused.


    Alesea stared at her for a few moments with narrowed eyes, as though contemplating something, and when she was done contemplating, she slightly shook her head at her. "It''s... nothing. Forget it."


    Leia and Adrik glanced at each other in bewilderment, and Leia slowly nodded at her. "Alright. It''s really nice to meet you." She smiled at her, and Alesea nodded in excitement. Finally, she was going to explore the human world.


    "Little wife, you can show her around while I talk with Alex." Adrik smiled at Leia, and she nodded, then moved to grab Alesea by the hand.


    They strolled away from the living room and headed for the door that leads to the backyard. Leia pushed it open and they stepped outside to the lovely backyard.


    Aleasea''s eyes instantly widened on viewing the garden and her jaw fell ."So pretty!" She squealed and rushed to sniff the flowers. "They are so beautiful." She turned to glance at Leia, and Leia strolled to squat beside her with a smile on her lips.


    "What are they called?" She inquired with a deep curiosity in her eyes, and Leia chuckled before pointing at each of the flowers. "This one is called Daisy, this one is a Sunflower, this one is a Rose and this one is Lily.. It''s my favorite flower."

 Chapter 246 - Are You Thinking What Am Thinking

    "They are so pretty." Alesea touched them with so much gentleness, and Leia couldn''t help but ask. "Have you never seen a flower before?"


    "Um, I have but... the ones in the sea are different. I haven''t seen this kind in the sea before." She explained, and Leia nodded in understanding.


    "So... you''re a mermaid princess?" Leia inquired, and she nodded at her. "Yes, My father is the ruler of the sea. And my brother will probably take over if he ever abdicates the throne."


    "Abdicate?" Leia''s brow creased in a bit of bewilderment, and she nodded at her. "Yes, My father has been ruling for hundreds of years now, and he wants to abdicate the throne and rest."


    "Ahh... I see. May I ask how old you are?"


    Alesea stopped touching the flowers and turned to stare at her. "I am a hundred and eighteen years old."


    "Oh, my fucking goodness!" Leia exclaimed in shock and assessed Alesea from head to toe again. From her looks, she looked her age. How could she be a hundred and eighteen years old?


    "Is... something wrong?" Alesea asked, and Leia awkwardly shook her head. If only she knew she was old enough to be her grandma,


    "How old are you?" She abruptly asked, and Leia swallowed before an awkward smile emerged on her face. "Twenty... one."


    The moment the words exited her mouth, Alesea''s eyes fluttered before she abruptly burst into laughter.


    "Why...are you laughing?" Leia inquired in a bit of bewilderment, and Alesea shook her head at her. "It''s nothing... I just didn''t expect you to be a kid. I thought you would be my age." She chuckled softly, and Leia''s face puckered instantly. "What do you mean by, "A kid"? I am twenty-one, an adult."


    "What?" Alesea arched her brow and couldn''t help but cackle softly. "You''re not an adult. You''re only considered one when you hit the age of 100." She explained, and Leia''s eyes flickered vigorously. "I see. Still don''t call me a kid. I am an adult." She said with a stern look on her face, and Alesea nodded in understanding, with a little bit of amusement still visible on her face.


    Leia slightly shook her head and stood up from the ground, then strolled towards the swing and took her seat.


    Alesea, who noticed her leaving, also stood up and walked over to sit beside her on the swing. It slowly began to rock them back and forth, and Alesea began to squeal in the fun. "Oh my." She chuckled softly, and Leia began to smile on seeing the excited and surprised look on her face.


    "You''re Alex''s mate, no?" She asked, and Alesea nodded at her. "Yes, I am." She smiled, and her face suddenly turned pink as she thought about Alex.


    Leia sealed her lips to restrain herself from laughing when she saw the shades of pink that suddenly ensued on her cheeks.


    _________


    Adrik''s face creased deeply, and he stared intently at Alex. "What do you mean?"


    "Supreme Alpha, I investigated every single one of the witches that reside near the pack and..."


    "And what?" Adrik stared intently at him, patiently waiting for him to go on.


    "One of them was dead," Alex reported, and Adrik''s brow arched in surprise. "Dead?"


    "Yes, Her name is Magrida, and from her looks, I predict she''s probably around the age of four hundred years old. I estimated this based on the fact that witches age faster than any other non-humans." He explained, and Adrik slowly nodded his head as his eyes narrowed. "Magrida... where have I heard this name before?" He stood up from the sofa and shoved his hands into his pocket, then began to pace back and forth. "Magrida..."


    His eyes fluttered and instantly broadened as he recalled that one night when Lekhman, who ruled then, held a banquet.


    "Everyone, please welcome my anguished guest, Magrida. A good friend of mine." Lekhman chuckled and gestured for a white-haired woman, who was instantly applauded by the crowd, to come in.


    "Thank you. Thank you Supreme Alpha. " Magrida bowed to the crowds and Lekhman before making her way to take her seat on the special chair that was kept just for her.


    It turned out that the pack had been having problems with the vampires, so Magrida had cast a spell around the entire pack that anyone other than the werewolves that belonged to the pack would find it troublesome to invade the pack.


    Although the wolves weren''t in any way afraid of the vampires, it was still advisable for them to put a barrier spell around the pack, because at a time where they may be celebrating this way and probably get drunk, things might go wrong.


    ....


    "It''s her!" Adrik''s brows furrowed as he recalled coming face-to-face with this woman when he was still at the age of 90.


    The witch was still quite young then. She was already in her mid-thirties, that is, compared to the human world, and Adrik looked to be in his teens then. Compared to the human world, around the age of seventeen.


    "You...know her?" Alex asked with a bit of curiosity, and Adrik nodded. "Yes, She was an old guest of my father''s. Hmm... why would she suddenly die?" His eyes blinked in a bit of confusion, and he began to pace back and forth. "Does my father know about it?" He turned to Alex and asked and Alex slightly shook his head. "Am not sure, but from what I have heard, His highness had recently visited her before she was found dead."


    "He visited her?"


    "Yes... for three days straight, and they also said that on the last day he left her house, she was never seen again. And out of curiosity, the other witches went to find out what was wrong, but what they saw was a trashed house and her on the floor near the wall, devoid of any life."


    "Oh, they also stated that from what they saw, she looked like someone who was strangled to death, because around her neck were marks and holes that were probably done my nails," Alex explained.


    "Are you thinking what I''m thinking?" Adrik stared intently at him and inquired with narrowed eyes.

 Chapter 247 - Way Mature

    "I am thinking what you''re thinking. But the question now is, "Why?" Alex''s brow furrowed as he couldn''t seem to wrap his head around it.


    "Exactly. Why would he kill her? They were old friends." Adrik halted and sat down on the sofa. "You know what to do."


    Alex nodded and called for Alesea, who had a smile on her face, before leaving.


    Leia walked up to Adrik, and together they made their way upstairs using the elevator. They strolled to their room, and Leia hurried to the bed to lie down.


    She spread her hands and legs, and a low breath exited her nose.


    "What''s wrong?" Adrik inquired after seeing her mood as he walked to sit down on the couch.


    "Nothing really, just a bit tired." She sighed, and Adrik chuckled softly. He sat down on the couch and grabbed his laptop from the mini table, then placed it on his lap.


    "She called me a kid." Leia abruptly blurted out, and Adrik raised his eyes to stare at her in a bit of confusion. "Huh? Who called you a kid?"


    "Alesea. She called me a kid because I told her I was twenty-one, and she was one hundred and eighteen years ol-" She was yet to finish her sentence when Adrik suddenly burst into laughter.


    "Why...are you laughing? Is it funny to you?" Her face puckered as she questioned and Adrik nodded at her with amusement visible on his face. "It''s pretty funny." He chuckled softly, and Leia angrily folded her arms. "Oh really? May I know what makes it funny?"


    Adrik took a low breath and glanced at her before dropping the laptop back on the mini table. He crossed his legs and folded his arms, then fixed his gaze on her. "Little wife, why would someone look at you and call you a kid?" He arched his brow at her, and Leia''s eyes narrowed into a thin line. "Do you mean to tell me I look old?"


    "Not even a bit. If you''re a kid, then I don''t know what the actual kids would be. You don''t even behave like your age." He smiled at her and she twisted her lips funnily. "It''s pretty weird that she called me a kid."


    "For her, it''s not weird at all. I know why she called you a kid. One is only considered an adult at the age of a hundred. That''s what She told you, right? " He asked, and she nodded at him. "Yes."


    "Well...she''s telling the truth. But that was during that time. Now it''s no longer seen that way because we non-humans have begun to associate with humans and we understand that we age just like them. The only difference is that we live longer than they do and age more slowly. I mean in terms of our physical appearance and body. When I was your age, I looked like a sixteen to seventeen-year-old, and when I turned ninety years old, I still looked like a seventeen-year-old."


    "The thing is, now we are no longer considered adults when we clock a hundred years, but when we clock eighteen. Why? Because eighteen is the latest one can turn into his or her wolf, I turned into mine at the age of seventeen. So basically, now, eighteen is considered an adult for us non-humans. And then we keep aging and aging and aging like a normal human but with a much stronger system and body and have longer, like longer years to live." He shrugged when he was done explaining.


    "Wait, you mean to tell me that I could still look like this even after living for hundreds of years?" Leia inquired, her eyes wide open with a magical smile on her lips.


    "Definitely. You''re a demon, and demons are the non-humans that live the longest. There is a possibility that you can live for thousands of years, but... that has only been possible with demons of royal blood."


    "Thousands of years old and still looking youthful. Oh my goodness!" A quick breath exited her nose, and she slightly shook her head in a bit of disbelief.


    "So...as I was trying to say, you''re absolutely not a kid. If you were, I definitely would never have come near you or even married you." He cackled softly as he shook his head and Leia rolled her eyes at him. "It''s really funny that she called you a kid. In character, you''re much more mature than she is." He grabbed his laptop and placed it back on his lap.


    "What do you mean?" Leia got down from the bed and moved to sit beside him on the couch.


    "Listen, little wife. She might be really really older than you, but, Age doesn''t tell how mature one is, but what one has gone through is what tells just how mature you are."


    "She is a princess and is loved dearly by her family. They pamper her like an egg and have never allowed her to experience any suffering or hardship. She has yet to endure the cruelty of this world and the wickedness of mankind. When do you think she will be mature? She''s still so innocent and has yet to see the true color of this world. While you, on the other hand, have suffered worse than the worst. You have seen hell in someone that was meant to be a father figure to you, even though you did absolutely nothing wrong to him. You''ve been through a lot of shit, which I can assure you she will never be able to overcome and emerge with a normal mental state. That''s why I found it funny that she called you a kid." Adrik smiled at her and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.


    A low breath exited Leia''s nose as she nodded her head in agreement, and she rested her head on his shoulder, then shut her eyes.


    ________


    {Friday at 12:30 pm}


    The next day arrived in the blink of an eye, and Leia, who was alone in the house, grabbed the car key from the table. She made her way downstairs using the elevator and strolled out of the building.


    She unlocked the SUV and got inside, shutting the door afterward. With the quick warm-up and start of the engine, she drove out of the compound and sped off down the road at normal speed.


    Her fingers tapped musically on the steering wheel, and it took her about an hour and a few minutes to arrive at her destination.


    She parked the car alongside the road and, with a few glances on either side of the road, she crossed and strolled towards a small building that was familiar.

 Chapter 248 - Belphegor The Sloth

    She knocked three times on the iron door, and it took a few seconds before it was unlocked and opened, revealing the same bulky man she saw the last time she was there.


    "No shades this time." The bulky man sneered, his chest vibrating as usual, and Leia arched her brow at him. She slightly shook her head and walked in, strolling further in to arrive at the living room, which looked as messy as the last time she came there.


    "Call your boss for me." She turned to the bulky man and said, and the bulky man''s face crumpled. His brown eyes glared at her and he called in another man as bulky as him before moving to call his boss.


    Leia took her seat and patiently waited for Blake Jones to arrive.


    A few minutes passed before his steady footsteps resounded, and she turned around to see him with a smile hanging on his lips.


    "We meet again." He smiled at her and moved to take a seat opposite her at the table. "It''s good to see you again. I am here per our agreement. This week is the last week of the month." Leia smiled at him, and he nodded in approval. "Indeed indeed." He turned to the bulky man and casually waved his hand at him.


    The bulky man nodded and left, then returned after a minute with a well-packaged object in his hand. He dropped it on the table in front of the two, and a quick breath fled from Leia''s nose. "It''s finally here." She proceeded to touch the bag, but Jones immediately slapped her hand away and clicked his tongue at her. "You touch it after paying!"


    Leia rolled her eyes at him and pulled her phone out of the pocket of her pants. She asked for his bank details and transferred the money to him instantly.


    "Hold on a moment. Let me check." He grabbed his phone and the first message that popped up was the alert message. He smirked and nodded in satisfaction. "Seen it. You can touch it now."


    Leia shook her head at him and unzipped the bag, then glimpsed the MI34 MiniGun. "So beautiful." She complimented it as her hand traced its body. She zipped the bag up and smiled at Jones. "It was nice to do business with you." With that being said, she grabbed the bag and turned around, proceeding out of the building.


    Jones stared at her disappearing back and a wide smile emerged on his face. Finally, he made his first sale.


    ...


    Leia crossed the road back to the SUV and pulled the back door open. She dropped the bag into the seat and moved to take her seat in the driver''s chair. She started the car engine, and with a slow turn and reverse, she sped off, heading back home.


    She arrived back in an hour and pulled into the compound. She parked the car, stepped down, then shut the door.


    She moved to the back seat, opened its door, grabbed the bag, and shut it afterward.


    Leia locked the car and began to stroll into the mansion. She made her way straight to the elevator, which took her upstairs to the second floor, and she strolled towards their room.


    She dropped the bag on the floor when she stepped in and plopped down on the couch, taking a long deep breath.


    She grabbed her phone from the pocket of her pants and dialed Rita''s number.


    [Hello, Luna]


    "When is the wedding being held?" Leia immediately went straight to the point, and a few seconds of silence passed before Rita spoke up. [Next tomorrow, On Sunday]


    "On Sunday... ha! Perfect!" Leia grinned wickedly and nodded her head. "Alright. Remember to stick to the plan."


    [I will]


    Leia hung up the call and took her shoes off. She strolled towards the bed while still wearing her socks and plopped face flat into it. "It will be over soon." She smiled and shut her eyes to take a short nap.


    _____________


    "What are you drinking?" Mammon, whose face did not look pleasing at all, questioned a very handsome young-looking man with golden-colored eyes and long black hair that was tied up into a bun.


    "Mammon, calm down. I have been overworking myself these days. I need to have a little bit of fun and be lazy." The young man, who was no other than Belphegor the sloth, sipped from the cup of wine in his hand as he enjoyed the company of the extremely beautiful, half-naked women massaging his body seductively.


    "Have a little bit of fun? Belphegor! We are here on a mission, not for you to enjoy yourself and be lazy!" Mammon glared at him and shifted his death stare to the women, who immediately lowered their heads in fear and fled out of the room without being told.


    "Seriously! You just chased my beauties away." Belphegor clicked his tongue in a bit of displeasure, and Mammon stared at him with his eyes that were twitching in annoyance.


    "I don''t even know why you were included in this mission instead of Asmodeus or Leviathan, who is more serious!" His eyes blinked vigorously in anger, and Belphegor''s face instantly crumpled.


    "Do you think they will do better than me, especially that lustful ignoramus? Humph. I will let you know I''m just as serious as you are about this mission. The only problem with you is that you''re rushing it!" He rolled his eyes at Mammon, and Mammon shook his head in disappointment. "Belphegor, do you have any idea of what will happen to us if we go back to hell without that coffin? His majesty is already getting impatient. It''s been twenty years since we began searching for that coffin and we got nothing."


    "Eeh... well, it''s not our fault. We still need time. After all, that dude is the only one that can stand on grounds with his majesty without any fear. So... it''s not going to be any easier to find his coffin, talk more about him." Belphegor chuckled softly, and a low breath exited Mammon''s nose. "Get ready. We are moving to the next town tomorrow." He stood up from the couch and walked out of the room to his room to take a rest.


    Belphegor rolled his eyes and called for the half-naked women again to continue with the massage.

 Chapter 249 - Irenes Daughter

    Seated in his office, Mr. Fernando, who was feeling really restless, began to nervously tap his pen on the desk. His gut feeling was telling him that something terrible would definitely happen to him and that he needed to leave, but what exactly was it? That was something he was unable to figure out.


    He glanced around his office and his gaze unexpectedly halted on the wall and on the space where Irene''s photo was meant to be hung, [Leia''s mother.]


    He slowly stood up from the chair and walked towards the board, staring intently at that space. His heartbeat skipped a beat.


    A memory of that day that the USB and Irene''s photo went missing came to his mind, and he staggered back, then rushed to his table and pulled his laptop open.


    He went straight into Google and searched for everything regarding the woman, Irene. However, he was surprised to see nothing more apart from some info. There was no information about her having a child or even a photo of her child. There is nothing more than garbage information.


    If he remembered correctly, at the time when he took over Irene''s treatment, he had always seen a young girl of nineteen years old, and on the day Irene gave up on life too, he had seen that same girl, crying that day and was continuously calling her mother, so that alone was enough to tell him that she was Irene''s daughter.


    However, why was there no information regarding the girl on the internet? Why has he never heard Mr. Adolpho speak about the girl? He always talked about his two daughters but never spoke of that one. It was as though she was invisible to him.


    "Hmmm..." Mr. Fernanando''s eyes narrowed into a thin line, and he immediately grabbed his car key from the table, then rushed out of his office, shutting the door and locking it afterward.


    He strolled out of the hospital hurriedly and unlocked his Camry car. He got in, shut the door, and turned the key to the ignition point. The engine came on and he immediately drove out of the hospital compound and onto the road.


    He increased the speed of the car and arrived at the Adolpho mansion in no time.


    "Excuse me, sir, who are you?" One of the security guards stationed at the gate inquired, and Mr. Fernando cast a glance at them. "A friend of your master." He said this to them, and the security proceeded to ask for his name. "Dr. Fernando." He replied in a bit of an annoyed tone, and they had him in wait while they proceeded to contact Mr. Adolpho''s personal bodyguard, who knew almost everything concerning Mr. Adolpho.


    A few seconds passed before the security guard nodded at the other security guards and they moved to pull the gate open for him. Mr. Fernando drove into the compound and drove around the water fountain to park the car in the parking lot.


    He stepped down from the car and shut the door, locking it afterward. Without glancing at the bodyguards, he began to walk into the mansion, and the moment he stepped into the vast living room, his eyes fell on a young girl with blonde hair seated with her legs crossed and her attention fixed on the iPad in her hand.


    "Hello." He said to the young girl, who was no other than Amy, and Amy, who had just noticed him, took her AirPods off and turned her head to look at him. Her eyes blinked in confusion and her brows crinkled. "Who... are you?" She stood up from the couch as she asked, and Mr. Fernamdo smiled at her. "A friend of your father." He replied, not in any way surprised that she didn''t know him.


    "My father?" Her brow arched, and Mr. Fernando nodded at her. "Well, if you''re really a friend of my father and here for him, I''m sorry to let you know that he''s currently not around."


    "Oh, don''t worry. I already knew that." He smiled at her and Amy, who felt very uncomfortable with him and his smile immediately grabbed her iPad from the mini table and rushed upstairs, into Jenny''s room.


    Mr. Fernando arched his brow as he couldn''t understand what had just happened, and with a slight shrug of his shoulder, he made his way to the sofa and sat down, crossing his legs.


    A few minutes passed, and steady footsteps resounded, causing Mr. Fernando to turn his head and see none other than Mr. Adolpho walking in dominantly with no smile evident on his face.


    Mr. Adolpho walked straight to the sofa opposite him and took his seat, then crossed his legs and arched his brow at him. "Why are you here?" He went straight to the point, and Mr. Fernando''s eyes fluttered.


    "Um... well, there is something I need to talk about with you."


    "What is it?" He questioned, and Mr. Fernando cleared his throat. "It is regarding your wife."


    "My wife? Which of my wives?" Mr. Adolpho''s brows furrowed, and Mr. Fernando swallowed, then drew near to whisper to him, "Your wife, Irene. The one you asked me to-"


    "What about her?" His face instantly dimmed, and he questioned with deadlines in his eyes.


    "The... Well before I say what I want to say, please allow me to ask a question." Mr. Fernando fixed his gaze on him with reluctance visible in his eyes.


    "Go ahead." Mr. Adolpho folded his arms and relaxed back on the couch, waiting for him to go on with his question.


    "Your wife, did she have a daughter?" Mr. Fernando inquired, and Mr. Adolpho''s face obscured instantly. "What are you asking for?" He immediately asked in an unpleasant tone, and Mr. Fernando''s eyes fluttered in surprise and confusion. "Please give me an answer first. Does she have a daughter?"


    Mr. Adolpho''s eyes narrowed into a thin line, and he slowly nodded his head. "Yes, she does."


    A quick breath fled Mr. Fernando''s nose, and he lowered his head and began to fiddle with his hands in deep contemplation.


    Mr. Adolpho''s eyes dwindled dangerously, and he glanced at his personal guard standing beside him before turning to look at Mr. Fernando. "Did something happen?" He questioned Mr. Fernando, who was in deep thought, startling him out of his thoughts.


    Mr. Fernando''s eyes flickered vigorously and he swallowed nervously. "N-no, no-nothing is wrong."