Novel-novel oleh Willi Huma

In another corner of New York, the charity auction was in full swing. Compared to the quiet hospital ward, the atmosphere here was loud and lively.Word had spread that top actress Hailey would attend tonight, so several media outlets had staked out the entrance early. They waited from seven to eight, but no more guests came in and none of them saw Hailey appear.Who leaked the wrong info.We stood in the cold for nothing.You guys missed her. She came in at seven thirty. Another reporter walked over and showed them a photo.In the camera, the woman was dressed simply. A long ruffled dress, white sneakers, straight black hair falling over her shoulders.She looked like the sweet girl next door.Nothing like the sultry, seductive star who dominated screens and collected legions of male fans.Why is she dressed like that.Three years of her career, three years of the sexy image. Is she changing personas now.

Dustin followed Nicholas into the office.While Dustin gave his report, Nicholas sat on the sofa, listening with half an ear and scrolling through his phone.Out of curiosity, Dustin leaned in a little and snuck a glance.It was a pinned chat.Sir only had two pinned chats. One belonged to the late Madam Drake, and even though she had passed away years ago, Nicholas had never brought himself to unpin it.The other pinned chat was the one Dustin accidentally caught sight of. It belonged to his wife.The note Nicholas had given her read: Sickly Girl.Right now, Nicholas was changing it. He deleted Sickly Girl and typed: Evelyn.Evening.The Maybach pulled into New York Hospital’s parking garage. Nicholas took the elevator to the VIP ward. When he arrived, Evelyn wasn’t in the room. Only Liam was there packing.Sir.Nicholas gave a quiet response. Where is she.Mrs. Drake just finished dinner.

The very first time Hailey saw Evelyn in the Drake Group elevator, she had noticed Evelyn scrolling through her phone.A quick, accidental glance showed several photos.Clothes.All the models were styled similarly.Waist-length light brown hair, an A-line ruffled dress, white sneakers, soft makeup.Probably Nicholas’s preferred type.No matter what, Hailey was determined to win that endorsement back. She lifted her chin and ordered her assistant, “I need a whole new look. Prepare a gown and matching heels.”At the same time.Inside The Drake Residence.Evelyn leaned over the sink, retching again. At first she still made faint sounds, but by now only weak murmurs came out.When she finally straightened, she found Nicholas’s hand in her field of vision. She took the wet towel he offered and wiped her mouth.Her voice was barely audible. “Sorry… I woke you.”

Late at night, the city dwindled to a handful of scattered lights as most windows went dark.Inside a downtown hotel, Hailey’s manager reached the suite door just in time to hear a heavy crash. She pushed it open and strode in, taking in the wreckage. Hailey hurled another vase across the room, and porcelain shattered across the carpet.“What are you losing your mind over now!” The manager rushed forward, snatching a glass cup from her hands. “You threw a tantrum this afternoon, canceled the meeting with the film investors, finally calmed down for a few hours and now you’re losing it again in the middle of the night!”Hailey sat numbly on the carpet. She was in a slip dress, hair disheveled, her face drained of color.She lifted her head and looked at her manager with a hollow gaze. “Drake Group terminated my endorsement contract. Nicholas doesn’t want me as the face of his project. Why?”

In the car, Evelyn sneezed several times in a row.She rubbed her nose.Someone must be talking about her behind her back.Hearing the sound, the driver immediately asked with concern, Mrs. Drake, are you alright?Given her fragile health, Liam always reminded her to bundle up before she went out, and the driver naturally paid extra attention.Evelyn straightened up and replied softly, I’m fine.Just then her phone vibrated. A message from Xenia.Xenia: Evelyn, he’s attending a charity auction tomorrow night. I asked his assistant. This will be the first event he’s shown his face at in the last three months.Xenia: I think he’s trying to play the role of the perfect husband. If he keeps this up, it’ll probably last half a year at least. So if we miss this charity auction, I might have to wait until next year to finally be free.The first time Evelyn met her, she thought Xenia was

The moment those words fell, the office went dead silent. Hailey’s smile froze midair, and even the thick layer of foundation couldn’t hide the way her face drained of color. Embarrassment, disbelief, and humiliation twisted together, leaving her looking utterly awful.Instinctively, she turned to Evelyn.And right as their gazes met, Evelyn smiled, playing along. “Yes. I’m Nick’s wife.”Hailey didn’t make a sound as she left.She just walked out with a bleak, hollow sort of aura clinging to her.Inside the office, neither Nicholas nor Evelyn had the time to care about someone irrelevant. They each pulled out a chair and sat. Evelyn ladled a bowl of soup and handed it to him. Nicholas took it.His voice was low. “She provoked you. You didn’t get angry?”Evelyn knew what he meant.He’d clearly heard everything from the inner room while he was changin

One week laterLeif VI brought Kelly back to the palace. Sebastian, Magnus, and Kasha were waiting at the gates to welcome them.“How are you feeling?” Sebastian asked gently.“I’m fine,” Kelly said with a soft smile.“Welcome home,” Magnus added warmly.Kelly nodded in gratitude, then looked at the young woman beside him. “And this must be your girlfriend? She’s lovely.”“Yes. This is Vanessa,” Magnus replied, smiling.“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Vanessa said politely. She already knew who Kelly was—the biological mother of Caitlin and the future Queen of Asteria.“Come,” Leif VI said, offering his arm to Kelly. “I want to show you around.”They entered the palace together, followed by everyone else.As they walked through the gilded corridors, Kelly quietly took in every detail of the royal resi

Maxwell’s remaining allies quickly defected, desperate to distance themselves from him.But redemption would not come so easily.Leif VI read aloud a list of names—members of Parliament who had directly conspired with Maxwell.“Guards,” he commanded, “arrest every person on this list.”Royal guards stormed the chamber, seizing the named conspirators where they sat.Panic swept through the hall. Men fell to their knees, pleading for mercy.“Your Majesty, forgive us!”“We were forced! Please, have mercy!”“Your Majesty, I’m innocent!”Leif VI’s expression did not soften. “Take them all away. The courts will determine who is innocent and who is guilty.”He would not wrong a single good man, nor spare a single traitor. Every name on that list had been verified through years of quiet investigation.Once the arre

“Since all are present, I will now announce the principal matter of the day.”Leif VI sat at the central rostrum and spoke into the microphone.Caitlin and the others stood below the dais, positioned to protect the King.The chamber fell still, every ear straining for the King’s words. Leif VI continued, “In the name of the crown, I hereby formally declare the removal…”He spoke slowly, pausing on each word, lending weight and severity to the moment.Many members were taken aback. Why announce a removal at once, rather than first call for a vote?They were braced to hear of the Queen’s abolition. No one expected the words that followed.“…the removal of Maxwell from both his posts as Chair of the Army Commission and Minister of Justice.”Silence crashed over the hall. It felt as if the air congealed and time stopped. People blinked and checked their own hearing

The situation had turned dire. Just as Maxwell gave the order to arrest Caitlin, a sudden commotion broke out near the checkpoint.“The King has arrived! Make way for His Majesty!” a guard shouted breathlessly.The soldiers immediately steered their vehicles aside, clearing the road. Maxwell’s scalp prickled. The King—here? Now? His arrival couldn’t have come at a worse time.The officers around him stiffened, exchanging uneasy glances. Meanwhile, Caitlin and Magnus felt a surge of relief. If their father was here, Maxwell would no longer have the upper hand.“My father’s here,” Caitlin said coldly. “You’d better let go of me.”Magnus tore free of his captors and stepped forward to greet Leif VI as the royal convoy approached. The father and son exchanged a brief nod before Magnus took the handles of the King’s wheelchair and pushed him forward.Every soldier on-si

As the group exited the military prison, Maxwell’s eyes gleamed with a trace of triumph. “Magnus, the inspection is complete. Shall I have someone escort you all back?”“No need,” Magnus replied calmly. “It seems there’s still one place we haven’t checked.”He turned his gaze toward the distant research facility. Maxwell’s expression darkened. “Your Highness, that area is off-limits. The lab contains highly contagious viruses and toxins. It’s too dangerous for you.”The laboratory entrance was marked with warning signs: Restricted Area, Authorized Personnel Only. His words sounded considerate, but everyone could hear the tension behind them. He didn’t want them to go any further.“It’s fine,” Magnus said lightly. “I’ll send my subordinates in for a brief look.”He gestured to Caitlin, Sebastian, Zeke, and Alicia. The four of

Maxwell’s car sped through the night toward the Sanctic Military Research Base. The facility was under strict military lockdown, surrounded by multiple checkpoints, and no outsiders were allowed within a kilometer.Only then did Harrison realize where their mother had been imprisoned. No one would ever think to look for Kelly in the military’s most heavily guarded site.Caitlin frowned and said in a low voice, “We can’t just rush in. Let’s wait for everyone to arrive first. I’ll contact Magnus.”Alicia looked worried. “If Maxwell finds out Harrison lied to him, won’t he be in danger?”Caitlin stayed silent for a moment, glancing up at the darkening sky. A knot of unease twisted in her chest.Soon, the others arrived. Magnus came leading a convoy of military vehicles, accompanied by several trusted officers loyal to the King. He ordered everyone to change into army uniforms, then used