“Mommy!” Zayne wanted to chase after the woman, but he stopped himself when his son looked at him. “Just let her go,” Zekiel said, surprising everyone, especially when he turned and went back into his office. “Daddy, is that it?!” Zayne shouted at him while the others silently listened. “You’re just gonna let Mommy leave?! I thought you loved her?!” Zekiel closed his eyes at his son’s words and rubbed his temples in frustration. “Of course I love her. I love her so much,” he answered. “Then that’s it! Let’s go after her!” Zekiel couldn’t hold back his shout, his mind racing. “Didn’t you hear?! She has a child, Zayne! We’re not her family—that’s why she’s leaving!” The boy froze at his father’s words, tears welling in his eyes. “What child—“ Bea was about to speak when Hero stopped her, shaking his head. “That’s their problem, not ours, Bea,” she could only nod and watch the scene unfold. Zayne suddenly ran out, heading straight to his room and locking himself inside.
CLAIRE I’ve been alone watching over my daughter Zoey. It’s been two days since she was hospitalized, and for two days, I’ve been praying for a compatible heart for her. Every night, I go to the church here, crying and begging for a miracle—for someone to save my child. Quinn isn’t here because I sent him to fetch Mom from Paris. I wanted him to break the news to them personally—I didn’t want them to be shocked. “Zoey? Please get better. I can’t lose you,” I said tearfully, holding her hand. I keep talking to her because I know she can hear me. All I want is for her to recover because if anything happens to her, I’ll never forgive myself. My phone suddenly rang, startling me, so I answered immediately. “Hello, Claire? Where are you? I’m coming to pick you up.” I froze when I heard my brother Clark’s voice—I had told him I’d be returning to the palace. “Kuya, I’m so sorry. I can’t go back yet. Something happened to Zoey—she’s in the hospital.” “What?! Which hospital? I’
“I was with you, Venice—Claire, or whoever you are! You had every chance to tell me the truth, but you didn’t!” I clenched my eyes shut at his words, bracing myself for every painful thing he would say because this really was my fault. “I trusted you, Venice…” My gaze snapped to him when he said that, and I saw him slowly calming down while I was still crying uncontrollably. “I trusted you and gave you all my love, my trust, and everything! I defended you against everyone, so why?! Why did it have to be like this?!” “D-Do you think I wanted this?” I whispered weakly, just loud enough for him to hear. “Yes, you did, Venice! Isn’t it obvious?! You made a fool out of me!” “Do you really think I wanted this?!” I couldn’t hold back my emotions anymore and finally snapped back. He froze, staring at me. “Yes, I gave you our son Zayne, and yes, I hid Zoey from you—but do you think I wanted that?! Do you think I wanted to be separated from my child?! Do you think I wanted both of m
I looked at my brother, and we locked eyes. Our eyes were the same color—just like Papa’s. They were a deep gray, even more beautiful in the light. But after a moment, I was shocked when Kuya Clark suddenly started crying. “Kuya, what happened?!” I asked worriedly, but he just shook his head at me. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen your eyes, Claire. I couldn’t help but cry because I can really feel it now—you’re finally coming back to us.” I couldn’t respond to what he said. I didn’t even know if I would still return to the palace. But then again, my world here was already in chaos, and I was sure Zekiel would want nothing more to do with me. Kuya walked over and sat on Zoey’s bed, facing me, then took my hands. I found myself staring into his eyes again. “I’ve waited so long for this moment, Claire. I’ve wanted to reach out to you ever since Mama died—to comfort you, to stop your tears—but fear held me back. You didn’t remember me, and worse, I was afraid you’d run away fro
The couple Anderson couldn’t believe their eyes as they stared at their friend Claire. “That’s true, I’m the princess of Spain. I was still young when we left Papa because Mama took me away. I also lost my memory, so I didn’t know about them my whole life. But when I disappeared, I remembered my past—who I really am—and it was with the help of Kuya Timothy.” “Kuya Timothy?” Bea asked in surprise. “He was our childhood friend,” Claire nodded in response. “S-So, your aunt… your mother is the Queen?” Bea stammered, to which Claire nodded again. “Oh my God! I’ve been living with royalty all this time! I knew there was something special about your eyes—turns out you’re a princess, Claire!” Claire and Clark laughed at Bea’s reaction, as she still couldn’t get over the shock. “Wait, if you’re a princess, then you and Kiel can actually be together,” Dylan said, causing Claire to freeze, her smile fading. Meanwhile, Bea’s eyes widened as she remembered the real reason they were the
(Scene before Clark and Claire meet at the hospital) Clark walked briskly as he entered the hospital Claire had mentioned. But he suddenly stopped when he encountered someone he knew all too well. “Zekiel,” he frowned, especially upon seeing the man in tears. His mind quickly processed what must have happened—if Zekiel was coming from inside, he must have just seen his child and learned the truth. Without hesitation, Clark rushed toward him, grabbed him by the collar, and punched him square in the face, shocking Zekiel. “What the hll?!” Zekiel exclaimed as he fell to the floor, his lip bleeding. “What’s the matter with you?! Why the hell did you just hit me?!” Zekiel shouted angrily, wiping his tears. “You deserve it,” Clark said flatly, further enraging Zekiel, who stood up and faced him. “You looking for a fight?! Who the hell are you to punch me like that?!” Zekiel snapped, but Clark remained unfazed, his gaze steady and cold. “I want to teach you a lesson. Do you t
“You watched it?!” The child asked with wide eyes, scratching his neck in embarrassment. “I have no choice, Daddy,” Zekiel sighed deeply at his son’s words, though he couldn’t hide the fact that he was impressed. “Forget it. By the way, you’re so intelligent, Zayne!” Zayne smiled at his father’s praise. “I never thought you’d be capable of something like this at such a young age.” “The internet helps me a lot, Daddy,” the child replied with a grin. But then, he noticed his father suddenly grow serious, staring at the gadgets he had made. “Why, Daddy? Are you mad?” Zekiel blinked at his son’s question and quickly shook his head. “No, never. It’s just that… okay, I need you to listen to me. This is important.” Zekiel knelt in front of the child, making Zayne curious as he waited for his father’s next words. “You are the next heir of Gray’s company, Zayne. And I need to tell you about the darkest side of our business. Every business has its own dark side, Zayne, and you hav
“Where could Mommy be?” Zayne wondered aloud as he opened his cellphone to check her location. The screen showed that the woman he adored was at the hospital, but for some unknown reason, he suddenly remembered his sister and felt a sharp pain in his chest. “Zoey,” he muttered nervously, unsure why but instinctively feeling that his sister needed him. Without hesitation, he called her using their usual app—Skype. A few seconds later, someone answered, and a woman with the same eye color as his appeared on the screen. He froze for a moment, a realization dawning on him, but he didn’t recognize her. “Wait… I know that voice. Is that you, Mommy?!” Zayne was utterly shocked. Behind the woman, he saw Bea appear, which startled him even more. “Aunt Bea!” Bea, equally surprised, quickly stepped away from the camera. “That’s Zoey’s phone! How did you end up there, Mommy?” Zayne asked in confusion, but Claire remained silent, tears welling in her eyes. “D-Don’t tell me… you’re my
“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
He was Timothy’s father and Kaithy’s husband. The right hand of the King, his own father. He was the one who taught them how to fight back then, so he could never forget the man—he had played such a huge part in his life. “I miss you so much, Tito!” She pulled away from the hug, and the man held her cheeks. “I couldn’t believe you’d grow up into such a beautiful lady.” Claire smiled even wider at his words. “Mama took good care of me, Tito.” The man’s smile faded at what she said. “I’m sorry about your mother.” “It’s okay, Tito. I’ve accepted it. It’s Papa I’m worried about.” Timothy’s father understood Tagalog but couldn’t speak it fluently since he didn’t grow up in the Philippines, unlike his wife and son, who had spent many years there. “I’ll go ahead now, Tito. I’ll see you later.” She smiled at him, and the man nodded. The news of the princess’s arrival spread quickly throughout the palace, and many wanted to catch a glimpse of her. Some even secretly positioned
Clark bowed his head at her question. “The doctor said your body is completely exhausted, especially after you were hit by a bullet in the shoulder,” Claire touched her shoulder but felt no pain there. No wonder it didn’t hurt—she had been asleep for a week. “The twins, Kuya?! What happened to my children?!” she exclaimed in shock as she remembered her kids. “Calm down, Claire. They’re fine. I had our people watch over them, so everything’s alright.” Claire stopped her hysterics upon hearing this and let out a sigh of relief. “I’m sorry, Kuya Clark. I’m just scared something bad might happen to my family.” Clark nodded in understanding at his sister’s words. Even though he didn’t have his own family yet, he felt the same way about theirs. “Oh, by the way, Kuya, does Papa know I’m here?” Clark shook his head at her question. “Papa doesn’t know. I hid you, Claire, because I want you to be the one to talk to him about what happened to Mama.” Claire couldn’t help but feel
After Zekiel said that, he immediately shot the enemies, causing the other two to join in, each firing at the opponents trying to advance. Since there were three of them, they quickly defeated them, much to the delight of the other two. “Finally!” Hero exclaimed. “We can go home now! Kiel, come on, hurry!” Dylan was the first to run, making the other two shake their heads before following. Dylan stopped at a door where they knew Louise was. “You go first, Kiel, hehe,” Dylan said, scratching his head sheepishly. “See? Acting all tough but actually a coward,” Hero teased, earning him a glare from Dylan. Meanwhile, Zekiel didn’t hesitate—he kicked the door open. But he froze when he saw Louise and Camille lifeless, drenched in their own blood on the floor. “D-Daddy!” He turned toward the voice and immediately ran to the twins. “Zoey! Zayne!” He hugged them tightly as the twins cried into his chest. When an explosion echoed in the distance, Zoey started crying again, b
“IN the count of three,” Zekiel said seriously as they stood at the edge of the garden of the building where Timothy was hiding, holding his family hostage. “One... Two... Three... NOW!” Zekiel’s men quickly scrambled into action at his signal. When they reached the underground passage, two people opened it, and as soon as it was unlocked, they rushed inside one after another. “Go! Go! Go!” Dylan whispered urgently to their teammates leading the way inside. “Make sure to keep it quiet,” Hero muttered to one of the men, who nodded in response. Once everyone else was in, the three of them followed. They had only brought a few men underground since the others were on lookout and would join them once the trap was set. When they entered, they found themselves in an open space that was clearly abandoned. “Start setting things up as planned.” The men nodded and began working on their assigned tasks. They had agreed to place long, sharp metal rods so that when their enemies