ログイン~CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY SIX~ MELISSA’S POV “How do you feel?” Adrian asks quietly. “I’m… fine,” I answer, though my voice doesn’t sound convincing even to my own ears. Before I can say anything else, he suddenly leans closer. His lips brush against mine. The kiss is quick, almost intimate, but it leaves me frozen. My mind struggles to catch up with what just happened. By the time I process it, he has already pulled away. He blinks, looking slightly embarrassed by his own action. “Sorry… I couldn’t help it,” he says softly. I shake my head a little. “It’s okay.” A silence settles between us, but the question that has been haunting me pushes forward again. “I remember Blake being shot,” I say slowly. “It’s still a bit blurry… but what happened to him?” Adrian goes still. The moment I see the change in his expression, something inside my chest tightens painfully. I already know. Still, a tear slips down my cheek before I can stop it. I whisper, m
~CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY FIVE~ MELISSA’S POV They all settle down comfortably in the room, each of them taking a seat like they plan to stay for a while. The atmosphere slowly becomes calmer. After a moment, I finally ask the question that has been on my mind. “So… what about Adrian?” Frederick leans back in his chair. “He should be boiling in anger right now,” he says with a small grin. “We left him behind and came here first to see you. And knowing him, he probably intended to be the first person you laid eyes on.” Jacob nods in agreement. “He’s a true king,” he says thoughtfully. “His strength and his sense of justice are admirable.” I look at him in surprise. Hearing my brother speak that way about Adrian is unexpected. Jacob rarely praises people, especially someone in power. I can’t help but wonder what Adrian did that made him respect him this much. The nurse finishes adjusting the tray and steps back. My eyes move to the simple meal in front of
~CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY FOUR~ MELISSA’S POV “I will bring in your food. You need to eat something. I’ll be right back,” the nurse says gently, removing the oxygen mask now that I can breathe perfectly fine. “Thank you,” I reply. She is about to turn away when a question slips out before I can stop it. “How did I get here?” I ask. The nurse pauses and turns back to me. A small smile spreads across her face. “The King brought you,” she says. My brows draw together slightly. “I heard he refused to leave your side, even inside the ambulance that brought you here. The paramedics said he insisted on staying with you the entire time.” She lets out a small laugh. “And when you arrived, he waited outside the emergency room all night. He didn’t leave until yesterday morning when the doctor confirmed you were out of danger.” She tilts her head slightly, looking impressed. “That was hot… uhm—sorry.” She clears her throat quickly. “That wasn’t very professional of m
~CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY THREE~ ADRIAN’S POV Nicholas and I are already in the car heading back to the glass house. The road stretches ahead of us, quiet in the bright morning light. The driver keeps a steady speed while the city slowly wakes around us. I lean back into the seat, staring out the window, but my mind is far from the streets passing by. Blake. I can’t stop thinking about him. I wish things had not ended the way they did. For all the mistakes he made, he was still my brother once. Somewhere along the line he allowed Albert to poison his mind, to twist whatever anger or desperation he carried inside. And in the end, that same man turned on him. Albert used him, then he killed him. I close my eyes briefly and let out a long breath. It has already happened. There is no changing the past now. When I open my eyes again, I continue watching the world outside the window. People are starting their day like nothing has happened—cars moving, a woman o
~CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY TWO~ ADRIAN’S POV I wake to Nicholas tapping my shoulder lightly. My eyes open slowly, the brightness of the morning pouring through the corridor windows. For a moment I don’t remember where I am. Then everything crashes back. The hospital. Melissa. I push myself up from the chair abruptly. Nicholas stands in front of me, watching carefully. “Good morning, My King. Ms. Melissa is out of danger. The doctor has moved her to another private room for close observation.” Relief hits me like a wave. My shoulders loosen slightly, and I run a hand through my hair, trying to shake off the exhaustion that still clings to my body. “Why didn’t you wake me?” I ask, my voice rough from sleep. “Because you needed it,” he replies calmly. “I need to see her,” I say. Nicholas nods and turns, leading the way through the quiet hospital corridor. The building is calmer now compared to the chaos of last night. Nurses move quietly between rooms, their
~CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY ONE~ ADRIAN’S POV I slide into the ambulance and sit beside her, taking her hand gently in mine. The paramedics are already moving quickly, pressing thick gauze against her back, working to slow the bleeding. The metallic scent of blood mixes with the sharp antiseptic, heavy in the confined space, but all I see is her. One of the paramedics lifts the oxygen mask and places it carefully over her nose and mouth. Her chest rises shallowly beneath it, uneven and fragile, every breath a struggle. My chest tightens. She’s so weak. Still, she isn’t responding. I can feel my heartbeat thundering in my ears, my hands tightening involuntarily around hers. “I’m going to give her something for the pain, Your Majesty,” the paramedic murmurs, his hands steady despite the intensity of my gaze. I don’t take my eyes off her. I watch every movement of their hands, every careful motion as they tend to her wounds. When she groans—a soft, broken sound, I let out
CHAPTER EIGHTY NINE We move in unison, then disperse quietly. Jake’s eyes lock on mine for a heartbeat, probing but I don’t flinch. I turn away, follow the others. Only a few of us remain nearby, just in case we’re needed. My feet ache, my shoulders are heavy, and sleep tugs at me hard. I p
CHAPTER NINETY SIX I flag down a taxi and give him Mr. Dave’s address, my voice steady even as my mind races. Inside, my thoughts won’t slow. I need to go about all this the right way and make sure I’m claiming my hotel by getting the public on my side. My image has already been dragged throu
~CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY TWO~ I sit on the edge of the bed, my body is weak, but my mind is racing. I dial Mr. Dave’s number. He picks up on the second ring. "Melissa?" His voice is thick with worry. "Are you alright?" "I'm fine," I whisper, though my trembling hands say otherwise.
CHAPTER NINETY EIGHT "As much as I hate to tell you this,” I whisper, my voice barely steady, “your lives are in danger. And I want to keep you all safe.” The room feels smaller. Then my father speaks—soft, but already certain. “They are coming for my grandson, aren’t they?” “Yes,” I say







