Novels by Lady Empress

“Help! Someone help!” She trashed wildly, her screams growing louder.I simply stated still in the water, waiting for the show to begin.“You bitch!” She spun around. “You purposely did this. Didn't you? You dragged me”.“Claire. You pushed me. Are you going to deny that?”“I knew you did this on purpose”. She lunged at me. But several footsteps were heard rushing towards our direction.Before she could put on an act, I grabbed her hands, pressing them on my shoulders.“Please….Claire. I can't swim”. I broke into a fake sob. “What are you doing?” Her pupils shrank.“Just let me go. I promise not to ever appear in front of you again”. I shot her a provocative look, my voice doing the exact opposite.“What is going on here?” Grandpa Alessandro rushed, surprised.From his angle, Claire was forcing me into the water.“I can't swim”. I cried out.Claire let of me immediately, begging for help too.Damien took off his suit jacket, diving into the water in one go.“Damien. Save me”. She str

Lola’s POV I looked down at my bag. My fingers unconsciously tightened around the paper that I’d been carrying since we left the estate.I stole a glance at Grandpa, biting my lips nervously. “Oh. I'm so sorry if what I said made you feel uncomfortable”. Claire covered her mouth dramatically. “It’s okay if you don't actually bring anything. Grandpa won't mind. I just thought..” she trailed.“Since it's your first time visiting, it is only normal that you bring a gift”.The other family members looked at me with absolute scorn.My face burned with shame.Yes. That was basic decency and I knew she was using it to insult me to my face. But what she said was right. It was only normal I bring a gift.But how could I?I've been held captive at Damien's estate for months. How was I supposed to earn money? I actually thought about getting a gift on my way, but I couldn't bring myself to ask Damien for money.“Lola, dear. It's okay if you didn't get a gift. This old man has so much treasur

The deeper the car drove into the DeLuca estate, the tighter my fingers curled around the folds of my dress.It was grand. Reeking of old money and showing off the status of absolute power.Luxury cars were parked, several mafia elites stepping down with their companions.I bit my lips hard enough to stay clear minded. Trying to force my expression to look as natural as possible.“Don”. The driver glanced back.“Uhm”. Damien answered casually.He stepped out with the driver holding the door.“Look. The young Don is here”. I heard someone flatter.Damien turned back, stretching his hands towards me.My heart gave a light tremor as I took his hand. It was rough yet firm and warm as he guided me out of the car.“Who is that?” Someone whispered.I stood straight, maintaining the balanced posture of a mafia lady. Men in black suits were standing like statues, while women dripped in diamonds that almost made me squint."That's the daughter of the former Grey family." Someone chimed."The s

Lola’s POV The next day,I dragged my feet downstairs. Seeing Damien speaking to Renzo, and them about to step out, I instinctively turned. Avoiding him, I intended to go back to the room. “Morning. Miss”. Renzo called out in a polite and distant. Damn it. The day was already starting off so bad. I swallowed my barely suppressed rage, forcing back a reply. “Uhm. Morning”. Damien turned at that moment, his dark eyes meeting mine for a brief second before he looked away. “Miss. What happened to your face?” Renzo frowned, stretching his neck and tilting his head forward to look at the four tiny bruises on my jaw. My skin was a bit delicate. So they didn't fade overnight. His gaze was much sharper than I expected. Because how could he have managed to see it from such a distance? It's nothing”. I lied. “Just a silly accident. I bumped into something”. He didn't say anything again. But I could clearly see he wasn't buying that. “Come here”. Damien finally spoke, reluct

Lola’s POV“I know why he has become scarier like this.”Madam Wang stopped pacing, her eyes widening as though she just found out something interesting.I raised a brow. “You do?”She nodded slowly. “I think it has something to do with the study.”My amusement disappeared. The same study again.“Yes.” She lowered her voice. “I've noticed it several times. Whenever the Don comes out of there, his mood changes.”I folded my arms. My face blank as ever. “How sure?”“He becomes…” She paused, searching for the right word. “Darker.”I let out a mocking laugh. “Madam Wang, he's already terrifying enough.”“No, Miss. I'm serious.” She shook her head. And something about her expression made me stop smiling.She glanced toward the staircase before continuing. As if to make sure he really was gone.“He can be cold before entering that room, but afterward, it's different. He barely speaks to anyone. And if anyone tries to approach him, he looks as though he's ready to rip them apart”.I thought

Lola’s POV I stretched my hand under the table to pick out the wooden frame, wiping the surface of it with my palm. It was a portrait of dad and me, when I was eight and had just received a gold medal for the best runner at school. In the portrait, I was sitting on his shoulder, grinning as he raised me up. Looking at it made it feel as if time stood still at that moment. As far as I could remember back then, despite the ridicule from the people in his circle, that he should have let a random bodyguard follow me, and that a Don showing up at that kind of place was somewhat embarrassing, he never said anything. He had only patted my head with a smile saying, “Don't worry. Just be a good girl and make yourself and daddy proud”. I had grown up knowing only him. Yet he took care of me all alone without complaints. Plop! Only when my tears dropped on Dad's face in the portrait, did I realize I was crying. My chest felt suffocatingly tight and I had to take in several bre