The two were shocked by Claire’s sudden fainting spell, but thankfully, Zekiel acted quickly and caught the young woman. “Call some help, Hero! Bring them to our room!” Zekiel immediately instructed, swiftly carrying the woman back to their room. Zekiel and Hero had just arrived from the Philippines when Zekiel discovered Claire’s whereabouts in Paris—and the fact that she had become Louise’s secretary. Enraged, the young man nearly destroyed his office in a fit of fury, leaving it looking like a storm had passed through. Hero didn’t Intervene, having expected such a reaction. He wasn’t even surprised when Zekiel ordered him to book a flight to Paris. Hero hadn’t had the chance to call Claire to warn her, as he had been too busy handling their documents and ensuring their safety, so she remained unaware. Now, Claire was inside Zekiel’s room, laid gently on the bed like a sleeping princess. Zekiel was worried about her, yet he couldn’t help but stare. Sitting beside her, he b
It felt like Zekiel’s world stopped when he heard what the doctor said. Even Hero’s eyes widened in disbelief at the doctor’s words. “Pregnant?!” he asked in shock, to which the doctor nodded. “Yes, and regaining her memory may cause her stress, which could lead to losing the baby. So please help keep her in a good mood every day.” Zekiel’s hands turned cold at the doctor’s words, and his heart raced uncontrollably. “H-How many months or weeks is she pregnant?” Hero glanced at Zekiel when he asked this, especially since he could clearly see the shock on his face. “Five weeks, which means one month and one week.” Zekiel couldn’t hold back his tears anymore. He was right—his suspicion was correct. He was the father of her child. Hero grew worried seeing Zekiel cry, especially since he knew how much Zekiel loved Claire. How much more must he be feeling now that she was pregnant? “I’ll take my leave now,” Hero nodded at the doctor and immediately approached Zekiel. “Ki
“Let me be the one to talk to Zayne, sir, please?” Zekiel glanced at Claire when she spoke. The young man was about to leave to follow Zayne. “But Venice, I don’t want you to get hurt—“ “Sir, I can handle myself. Besides, would I really let my own child come to harm?” Zekiel fell silent at her words, then slowly nodded, making Claire smile faintly. She knew Zayne was angry because of how she had deceived him a month ago, so she wanted to be the one to fix the mess she had made. She stood up, and Zekiel steadied her, making her feel slightly awkward. She wasn’t used to his attentiveness, but she let it pass for now. She stepped out of the room, and Zekiel pointed to Zayne’s door. She immediately headed there. When she opened it, she saw the window was shut, making the room dim, but she could still see Zayne curled under a blanket. She took a deep breath and knocked. “Zayne?” she called, but there was no response. “I’m coming in,” she announced before entering and clos
“SORRY,” Claire said as they stood in the kitchen, her hands busy chopping potatoes. After her conversation with Zayne, Zekiel had taken her to her room to calm down. Once she felt better, hunger set in, so she told him she would cook. However, there was no chicken left, so Zekiel sent Hero out to buy what Claire needed—he didn’t want to leave her alone. “Sorry for causing trouble between you and Zayne because of me,” Claire added, her voice soft. The kitchen had an island-style layout, allowing her and Zekiel to face each other freely as they talked. A table stood in the center, doubling as a sink area, while the stove was placed against the wall. “Why did you leave? Do you know how much my son cried when he couldn’t reach you? He said it was impossible for you to be gone because he just saw you at the mall—but then you disappeared.” Claire glanced at Zekiel when he spoke, his tone serious. The intensity of his gaze made her feel like she was melting, so she quickly looked
“If only I had known that thing back then, I wouldn’t have let Tita-Mommy leave,” She said regretfully to herself. She had been too blinded by pain at the time that she failed to notice Claire’s actions. Zayne was filled with even more regret, especially after saying hurtful words to the young woman. He opened the door again and saw her talking to Hero, which solidified the plan in his mind. Without hesitation, he left the room. Meanwhile, Claire felt a wave of weakness as Zekiel walked away. Thankfully, she managed to hold onto the sink for support. “Claire, are you okay?” Hero whispered softly, making Claire glance at him. “Stop calling me by that name, Hero. It might just make things worse. Both father and son are angry at me,” Claire said tearfully. “This is your fault, Claire. I thought you were smart? But why are you so stupid when it comes to love? They really weren’t lying when they said love makes even the smartest people foolish,” Claire was taken aback by Hero’s
“READ the rules and please understand them because I don’t want my child to get hurt,” Because of what Zekiel said, Claire was puzzled and immediately read the written rules. “Rule number one: You can’t leave my side unless you ask for my permission. Is this necessary?” Claire asked him, but the man just stared at her, making her roll her eyes in annoyance. She was growing more irritated with him, especially because of his controlling behavior. “Rule number two: You won’t talk to any other men unless I know about it. Rule number three: You won’t attend any events without me. Rule number four: Your only job is to eat healthily for my child. Rule number five: No stressing yourself. Rule number six: Don’t forget your vitamins. Rule number seven: No working—just stay by my side. Rule number eight: No getting angry. Rule number nine: You’ll live in my house until you give birth. Rule number ten—Wait, why is there no rule number ten?” she asked in confusion,
“Why?” came the cold question, making the young woman swallow hard. “W-what else for? You just made me a surrogate, didn’t you? Once I give birth to this child, I’ll cut all ties with you. The only thing that matters to you is this baby, so take it!” Claire’s words shocked everyone, even Hero, who could only rub his temples in frustration because her outburst only made things worse. Suddenly, Zayne stood up and left them there, running straight to his room. Zekiel immediately rose as well, making Claire glance at him. “Hero, go with them and make sure my child is safe,” Zekiel said coldly, emphasizing the word child before walking away and locking himself in his room. Claire was left behind, filled with regret over what she had said. “Why did you say that? You just made everything worse, Claire.” Claire sighed at Hero’s words. “I let my emotions take over, Hero. I didn’t mean to—I was just hurting too much,” Claire said weakly, making Hero shake his head. The two of th
“What’s really the truth, Claire? And why were you in the Philippines for ten months?” Quinn’s voice was the first thing that greeted them as soon as they stepped inside the office. Hero was also with them, quietly listening. “I’m pregnant, Quinn,” Claire said bluntly and took a seat. “You’re WHAT?!” Quinn exclaimed, stunned, and Claire shot her a sharp look because she had heard her just fine. “Pregnant?! How?! Who’s the father?!” Quinn asked in shock, making Claire lower her head and fidget with her hands. “Don’t tell me it’s Kiel?” Claire didn’t answer, which made Quinn grab her own hair in frustration. “Seriously, Claire?! How is that even possible? You haven’t seen each other in a month!” she said, exasperated. “I’m one month pregnant, Quinn. The reason I couldn’t come back right away was because Louise and I saw Zekiel, and that’s when I found out—I suddenly fainted in front of them.” Quinn could only slump onto the sofa, her mind in chaos. The room fell silent b
BREAKING NEWS: King Clark is missing! According to sources, he was last seen after the council meeting. Our King has yet to be found. Princess Claire and her family are now at the Palace to address the current crisis! This news has spread worldwide. After five years of King Clark Fuentes’ reign, Spain has enjoyed peace and prosperity. With the help of the new council appointed by the Princess, the country has flourished and gained even greater recognition. Who wouldn’t know the Fuentes and Gray families? Five years have passed since the Princess returned and started her own family. Today, their businesses continue to thrive, as does their growing number of supporters. The news spread quickly, and according to their rules, Claire had no choice but to temporarily take her brother’s position and become the acting ruler. “But Papa, I need to find my brother! How can I search for him if I’m buried under all this work?!” Claire said in frustration to her father, Stefan. “My chil
“We can finally get married now, right? And you can finally say yes to me, right?” Claire nodded while Zekiel smiled through his tears. The crowd erupted in cheers at the sight of them, especially since they immediately recognized Zekiel—one of the most renowned businessmen in the world. “Will you marry me, Princess Claire Fuentes?” “Say yes! Say yes! Say yes!” The people around them chanted loudly, making Claire’s family smile and even the twins join in. “Say yes! Say yes!” Claire slowly nodded, still crying. “Y-yes! Yes, absolutely, Zekiel!” Zekiel quickly slipped the ring onto her finger and stood to meet her gaze. He studied Claire’s face, wiping away her tears. “You don’t know how happy I am right now,” Zekiel said with a smile. “M-me too, Zekiel! I’m so happy! So, so happy!” Zekiel kissed Claire, making the crowd cheer even louder, some even screaming in excitement. They accepted whatever made their princess happy, and they accepted whoever she chose to m
“Now, I know what you’ve done for my sibling, and I accept you into our family,” Zekiel smiled at Clark’s words, and Clark hugged him briefly, patting his back. “I thought something had happened to you, my child! I was so scared that we rushed here without a proper plan,” Claire said tearfully. “That was the plan, Mommy—to completely defeat the enemy,” Zayne explained, furrowing his brows. “I let myself get captured on purpose, while I sent Zoey here to rescue you. There are no more enemies, Mommy. They’re all gone because Daddy made it up here, which means they’ve been defeated.” Claire couldn’t believe what Zayne was saying, her mind struggling to process it. “Your child is right, my love,” Claire turned to Zekiel at his words. “Zayne planned everything, which is why we were able to save you successfully.” Claire teared up and looked at her son. “Z-Zayne, thank you so much! You’re such a smart child!” She hugged Zayne, and the child hugged her back. “Daddy trusted me
“ON my cue,” Clark said seriously to their companions, as they were now scattered in the same place where he had been kidnapped before. They had discovered the enemy’s hideout thanks to Zoey. The child had mentioned that Zekiel found out its location, which was why he took her sibling. Zayne was right—they didn’t hesitate to storm the place, but the King and Zoey were left behind in the palace. “Go!” Clark shouted, and the sound of gunfire soon dominated the forest. Claire was fiercely exchanging fire with a group of enemies she encountered. The place had changed, and she was disoriented, but as soon as they entered, she and her brother were shocked when a net suddenly fell over them. “I’ve seen this before with Camille!” Claire yelled at her brother, recognizing it from the CCTV footage when Zekiel had captured them. “Louise and the rival Mafia are working together, so this must be their doing!” Clark replied, trying to break free, but the net was too strong. Moments la
“Oh my God, Zoey, it’s really you! I miss you, my daughter. Mommy misses you so much!” Claire showered her daughter’s cheeks with kisses, overwhelmed with longing. It had been almost two months since she had last held her child under Zekiel’s care. “I miss you too, Mommy!” “Zoey? Is this my grandchild?” The mother and daughter turned at the voice, and Zoey saw an elderly man wearing a crown—someone she recognized from TV, where she had seen him with her mother. “Grandpa!” Zoey immediately ran toward the King, who smiled warmly and scooped her up into his arms. In return, Zoey covered her grandfather’s face with kisses. “Wow, Grandpa, I can’t believe it’s really you! You’re the King? That’s so amazing!” Claire laughed, wiping tears from her cheeks as she watched them. “Haha, my dear, Grandpa’s getting tickled. That’s enough,” the King chuckled as the child finally stopped covering him in kisses and beamed up at him. “You’re so beautiful, my grandchild. You look just
“She’s terrifying!” Hero said. “That doesn’t seem like Zayne! He’s possessed by his father’s spirit!” Dylan exclaimed, earning a smack from Hero. “Damn! Bloodline really makes a difference! Look at him—Gray lineage, the sharpest in business, while Claire’s lineage carries noble blood and excels in combat!” The two fell silent when Zekiel shot them a glare, so they quietly followed him to the hideout. When they arrived, the child reached up to his father. “Daddy, can you trust me?” “Of course I trust you, son,” Zekiel said with a smile, pinching his nose. “Thank you, Dad. Now, here’s the plan...” “WE NEED to act now,” Clark said seriously. “Why does Claire have to come? Just your brother and I should go. Claire, you’re pregnant—you can’t,” the King insisted. They were in the main room, a day after the chaos had unfolded. They had released a statement claiming that a Mafia group had attempted to assassinate the princess and that they would fight back, urging the publ
“Are you okay, Claire?” Clark asked his sister worriedly as she drank something to calm herself. “I-I’m fine now, Kuya. I was just shocked by the sudden gunshot—I didn’t expect that,” Claire said, making Clark nod in response. “Me neither. It’s your day, Claire. But they did this on purpose to kill you. Thankfully, the shooter had bad aim and missed,” Clark replied. If this were any other situation and not so serious, Claire might have laughed at the thought of the shooter missing. But right now, her life was on the line. “What are you two talking about? What’s really going on?! I thought the Mafia was gone, Clark?!” They both turned to their father, having forgotten he was there—and that he had heard everything. “I-I’m sorry, Papa. I lied. I needed to keep your mind at ease after what happened to Mama, but the truth is… the Mafia isn’t gone. They’ve been lying low for a month, waiting for today—this is when they’re starting their war.” The King still couldn’t process wh
“No, YOU are being rude.” The man suddenly sat back down at her words, and the room fell silent. “May I remind all of you? We hired you to be the BALANCERS of this country, not the RULERS. WE are the rulers, and YOU are the balancers. So you have NO right to decide whether to accept me or my late mother as Princess and Queen of this country!” Claire held her head high as she spoke, leaving them speechless. Timothy grinned widely, almost clapping at his friend’s words. “I, the Princess of Spain, declare that the current council will be REPLACED with a new one!” Everyone stood up in protest, but Timothy acted swiftly, slamming his long gun on the table, silencing them. “The princess has given an order, so you MUST obey. Royal blood can make decisions without consulting the king.” Claire smiled as she saw the defeated looks on the men’s faces, then glanced at Timothy, who nodded back. Finally, she had avenged her mother. ’Mama, I know this is what you wanted. We miss you so
Breaking News: After a decade and a half of searching for the Queen and Princess of Spain, they have finally been found. Unfortunately, the Queen has passed away, and only the Princess, Princess Claire, has survived. Reports have also spread that the two royals had been staying in the Philippines, where they lived as ordinary citizens. --- Zekiel turned off the TV after seeing the news. A few days had passed since Timothy went with him to retrieve the body of the late Queen. He desperately wanted to see Claire, but he couldn’t—he had no right to ask about her. Especially now that she was known worldwide, with the strange circumstances surrounding her and her mother spreading everywhere. “Daddy!” He turned to the door and saw the twins running toward him. “Is there any news about Mommy yet?” Zoey asked with a hopeful smile. “Not yet, sweetheart,” Zekiel replied sadly. “Don’t worry, Daddy! Mommy will come back! Uncle Clark promised us!” Zoey said cheerfully. “Zoey’s ri