( Beverly Hills, California. )
“You dammed bitch!” A furious voice yelled out of the blues and slapped her. Natalia pushed her hair away, shock bringing her tears to a stand still. She looked up to see Selena glaring at her!
“You’re nothing but a cheap slut!” The raging mademoiselle tried hitting her again but the hospital’s security ran into the scene in time. They held her back from lunging forward again.
“You think I didn’t know you were with him the whole time?? You ruined my wedding, tramp! You’re a shameless whore, Alexis!” She kept screaming as they tried to restrain her. A little crowd had gathered.
“This is a hospital, miss! The noise you’re making will upset the patients…”
“I don’t give a damn!” She yelled again.
“Please, escort her out.” The head of the hospital’s security team ordered and his men did. Selena kept on screaming inconceivable cusses as they pulled her out.
“Empress, are you okay? Should we call the cops?” She heard the man on uniform ask. Natalia remained quiet because her heart was hurting more than her reputation.
She spared the man a tight ‘It’s alright’ smile before walking out of the premises, hoping to catch a taxi rather than wait for Elva.
The paved road was silent and lonely but she walked on. She clutched her side bag and resumed her tears. Jake would kill her if he ever found out…. But she was dead already.
Natalia suddenly kicked a rock and almost tripped. She blinked away her tears and bent to retie her shoelace when the headlights from a black jeep shone her way. She stood up back expecting Elva’s warm hug but instead, four men walked out.
Although they were wearing Astheria’s official security uniform, their faces which were partially hidden by the blazing lights looked unfamiliar and her instincts kicked hard. The Royal got a bad feeling.
“Elva?” She whispered cautiously and no one answered. Suddenly, one of them brought out an injection while the rest brought out guns!
And then it clicked.
.
The Empress was in danger…
***
Arian De’ Argent watched his mother fall asleep after promising he’ll return home. The doctor had to sedate her to rest a bit because she refused to let Arian out of her sight.
Mom Rose was weak and had fainted because of an abnormal rise in her blood pressure coupled with the lack of food, intense emotional pressure and adequate rest. Almost everyone had gone home as it was pretty late.
“Take Tommy to your house, Rick.” Arian said to Ricky who was carrying the sleepy child.
Ricky cocked a brow. “Why? I can just…”
“No questions, man.”
“Still being an ass?”
“Some things don’t just change.” His expression remained neutral. Ricky grinned and gave him a brotherly tap.
“Glad to have you back.” Arian turned back to his mother silently. She was holding tightly to his hand even in her sleep.
“She’ll be fine.” He gave Arian one more gentle touch before walking away. Arian breathed out and arranged the duvet. No one else was in the room.
“What were you thinking, mom?” He whispered softly, gently wiping her cheeks.
“What were you thinking stressing yourself out like this?” Mom Rose’s fingers twitched in response like she could hear him. Arian held hers back warmly as a memory flashed across his head.
~~ … A mother’s heart is not easily soothed by simple words. She’ld want to see and hold you to confirm you’re really okay… ~~
A slow smile crept up Arian’s cheek as he remembered Natalia’s words. His heartbeat was always right.
Guilt flooded his heart after realising he hadn’t seen her since he stepped out of his car! Arian gently slipped his fingers from his mother’s tight grip and walked out.
Natalia wasn’t in the hallway either. He brought out his phone and called her but it went straight to voicemail. He tried again and got the same result.
Arian got worried and turned towards the building’s exit still trying to reach her. He stumbled into Sir Argent at a bend. The multi billionaire business tycoon was being escorted by the head doctor, his personal assistant and his personal bodyguards.
They were coming out of the doctor’s office when they met.
Father and son paused, staring at each other. Noticing the meaningful silence and understanding his boss’s thoughts, the middle aged assistant directed the rest of the company away to give them some privacy.
Arian bitterly snorted in his heart and took his gaze away. He returned to his phone and tried to walk out but his father’s voice stopped him.
“Arian.” It was short but filled with meaning. Arian halted on his tracks before slowly turning to face him with a blank look.
When Richard De’ Argent didn’t offer anymore words, Arian threw him an impatient look. The tycoon cleared his throat and elegantly slipped his slender fingers into the pockets of his custom made suit pants.
There was no mistaking the source of the alluring gorgeousness the younger French inherited.
“I’ve just spoken with doctor Stephen. She can leave as soon as she’s healthier.” He offered. Arian remembered his last encounter with the family doctor, knocking him out with a full dosage of sedatives after he’d tried to run away from home.
He silently frowned at the memory.
Meanwhile, the innocent doctor Stephen who was pleasantly doing his hospital rounds didn’t realise he was still on a particular hot French’s personal vendetta blacklist!
Arian nodded curtly at his father and turned to go.
“Arian.”
“Yes?” He couldn’t hide the impatience in his voice. Natalia wasn’t picking his calls and he was starting to worry deeply.
If Richard was stunned at his attitude, the tycoon didn’t show it. “We need to talk.”
“I’m waiting.” Arian pointed out. He brought out a pocketed hand and raked his hair. Something that ran in the family.
“How have you been living?”
“Fine.”
“Did you encounter trouble at any time?”
“No.”
“Where are you staying?”
“In a house.”
“I meant where.”
“Somewhere.” He took in a deep breath and Arian mentally scoffed.
“If you want to, you know you can always come…”
“And if I remember clearly… I made it none of your business.” Arian tried not to scowl.
“You’re still my son no matter what, Antonio. Of course it’s my business. But let’s drop it.” Richard changed the topic, deciding it wasn’t the right time.
“Are you going to stick around till she wakes up?” His father asked, using the psychology game on him.
‘She’s my mother. I’m not just gonna ”stick” around.’ Arian mentally snarled and pursed his lips in a flat line, unknowingly biting the bait.
“You should stay. She needs you now more than ever.”
He creased his brows. “What do you mean?”
“Your mom…” Richard started but gave up and sighed. “Never mind. She’ll tell you herself.” Arian tried not to mind but it’d hooked his attention.
“Is there anything else?” He pretended to be unconcerned.
“I know we haven’t been on good terms lately…”
“For years.” He corrected.
“Mhm. For years.” Sir Argent slightly nodded. “But I’ld appreciate it if we try to get along…”
“You mean be civil.” He pointed again. Sir Argent threw him a ‘don’t push your luck’ look but Arian remained indifferent.
“Try to be civil, Arian.” He continued more as a command than a request this time. “At least for your mother’s sake.”
“Noted.” Arian was ignorant of the disappointment in his heart as he turned to leave.
“One more thing… I need you to move back into the house.”
“Because of mom?” He asked afraid of the answer.
“Yes. I don’t want her to get stressed out and break down again. She needs to see you frequently to get better.” Sir Argent casually replied, ignorant of his son’s growing bitter emotion.
“Noted.” He monotonously replied again, despising himself for getting misty eyed.
“Arian… there’s no excuse for how badly I’ve treated you in the past. But if it means anything, no matter how little, I’m sorry.” Sir Argent, one of the most revered business mogul in all of California apologized.
Arian froze.
“I’m really sorry for failing as a father.” He continued. Before Arian could turn around, his father and his company was already walking into his mom’s ward…
***
Day after day, Damon Lorenzo had kept on visiting Bianca’s apartment, dropping apology gifts and walking away without receiving a response.
.
In summary, he had a wonderful relationship with her door.
.
He was genuinely sorry and hurt at the same time by her cold heart. Why couldn’t she see that??…
***
Natalia’s heart beat rapidly as she ran with the strangers hot on her trail!. She didn’t know where she was or where she was running to. But she knew that the moment she stopped, her end would come.
So she kept on running.
Her heart was palpitating wildly in her ears and her nerves were a wreck. The woods was getting darker and her vision was becoming blurry. Suddenly, one of assassins fired a shot with the bullet nearly hitting her!
Natalia gasped and looked back in fright. In the process, she tripped on some wet leaves and fell, rolling roughly down a little slope. The Empress’s heaved in a painful breath and tried standing, feeling the scratches on her body. But her feet hurt badly.
She’d twisted her ankle.
Natalia winced painfully and let her tears fall. Her phone which had fallen off her bag during the fall was buzzing somewhere in the thickets. She knew it might be Elva calling.
She wanted to give up. The woods was dark, her entire bidy was hurting and her ankle was killing…. but one look at Arian’s pendant which was dangling around her neck revived her courage and strength!
The strength to force herself up and limp away. The assassins sighted her and ran her way.
Natalia limped out of the dark woods and found herself on the sidewalk of an empty highway. It was similar to that of Arian’s hidden home but no car was in sight. Another bullet flew past her and she screamed, falling into the road.
Suddenly, an elegant SUV zooming ahead caught her blurry sight and she helplessly limped towards it. Without weighing the consequences of her action, Natalia threw herself in the middle of the highway!
The racer screeched to an abrupt halt a hairsbreadth from her. Sensing the delicacy of the situation, the assassins retreated back into the shadows.
Natalia weakly slipped as the occupant of the car stepped out of the vehicle, but he was fast enough to catch her. Before the royal passed out, her teary eyes caught a fading glimpse of her saviour.
“Leo?…”