"That's where you will stay till we get married." Xander began to explain, "You will have your chef and all." "I don't have a job." She began to speak, "And I didnt get an education-" "Shh." Xander grinned, placing his finger against her lips, "You do not have to worry about all that. You are mine. You are mine to take care of and you will never have to worry about anything in your life again, my love." ****** Lunaria’s life is upended when the charismatic and determined Xander Ashton barges into her world, claiming her as his wife instead of her glamorous sister, Sylvana St. Clair. In an instant, Lunaria becomes Madam Ashton. As Lunaria settles into her new life, she is caught between the man she fell for—charming, passionate, and protective—and the growing distance between them. Xander’s mother and sister make it clear they don’t accept her, and Xander himself seems to be changing in ways that confuse her. Still, Lunaria can’t shake the love she feels for him and the belief that deep down, he might be the man she needs. But when a mysterious new figure enters the scene, showering her with attention and love, Lunaria faces an impossible choice. Will Xander find his way back to her, or is the love she deserves waiting in the arms of someone else?
View MoreThe shrill cries of the woman in pain filled the entire hospital theatre, echoing throughout the empty hallways as the nurse gently urged her to push.
Her royal Majesty as she preferred to be referred to due to her importance even with no relations to any royals, Queen Julia St Clair was the woman in labour. A birth anticipated by all as she was the widow of the currently deceased powerful Man, Liam St Clair, leaving his lovely wife with a pregnancy and her two year old child to cater for. His death was a huge blow and people wondered what would become of the prestigious family. Liam St Clair had only recently married Queen Julia, taking her in with her child and treating the child as his, just when she was pregnant for him and everyone was happy that an heir for the St Clair Empire would be born, death came knocking robbing the unborn child of her father. Queen Julia had wasted no time in remarrying her now husband, Dominic Rossi, her high school sweetheart who happened to be the father of her first child. She claimed that her husband would be happy with her moving on and having someone to watch over his legacy while he was gone. Afterall, the children also needed a father. The moment news got out that the charming widow was in labor, all press outlets followed the speeding car carrying the heavily pregnant woman. They camped outside the hospital, setting up cameras and Mics, awaiting the birth of the heir despite the St Clairs requesting a private birth. "Push, gently!" The nurse called to Queen Julia as she took in deep breaths, grabbing the bars on the bed, "You can do this, the baby is almost here." She nodded, her eyes fleeting to her parted legs as she took in another deep breath, yelling out her lungs at the immense pain coming from her. The nurse had been with the family for a long time and she was the perfect person to be present to oversee the birth of the heir. "This child had better the worth it!" She yelled again, taking in a deep breath, "She had better be as beautiful and lovely as my first daughter and if it's a boy, he had better be handsome." "Oh don't worry your royal highness." The lovely nurse smiled down at her knowing her words were due to the frustration of the labour pains, "She surely would be as gorgeous as you." Queen Julia nodded, taking in one last deep breath, and with all her might, she let go, excruciating pain followed by a terrible relief as the innocent cries of a newborn filled the room. The nurse smiled, quickly grabbing the baby and cutting the umbilical cord. She cooed softly as she wrapped the baby up, "It's a girl, Your Royal Highness." She smiled at Queen Julia, walking towards her with the baby held delicately in her arms, "A lovely baby girl that looks just like her late father, bless his soul." "What?!" Queen Julia spat as the Baby was presented before her, "Take that ugly black thing away from me!" She screeched startling the nurse, "Now!" "But Ma," The nurse's features contorted in confusion as she cradled the baby stepping backward, "She's your child!" "I do not want that ugly black thing!" Queen Julia screeched, a thousand thoughts running through her mind as to why her baby came out darker than she expected, "And that hideous birthmark on her face, gosh!" She strung out curses, yelling at the Nurse to get the baby out and the confused woman gently cradled the baby hurrying out of the room to run to Dominic in the hope that he would be more reasonable than Queen Julia. "Sasha." Dominic called to the nurse as he got up from the bench on saw her approaching, "Is she alright? Is the baby all right?" "Sir Dominic." Sasha shivered in fear presenting the baby to him, "Madam said she doesn't want the baby." "Oh! I do not blame her!" He peered down at her arms, "That thing is an eyesore, gosh! Couldn't she be as light as her sister?" "But Sir Dominic, the baby is going to be biracial knowing the race of her dad and her mum." "That doesn't give her the excuse to come out ugly." He frowned stepping away like the baby was a curse, "God! What would people think?! And look at that hideous birthmark, no one would marry her when she grows!" "I want to see the baby." Sylvana, Queen Julia's daughter ran towards them excitedly," Let me see, let me see." Sasha smiled, bending down to show the baby to her with the hope that at least one person in this family would take a liking to the poor child. "Eww, get it away!" Sylvana began to cry, "Ugly!" "You see!" Dominic shook his head, "Even the child knows, that thing can't be kept within the family." "But she's the heir-" "Shut up and know your place, Sasha, take that thing away from my sight, I need to see my wife." Dominic made his way to Sasha's private room, one of the best in the hospital, he couldn't wait to see his sweetheart. He knew she would be distraught at the reality of what came out of her and the only thought on his mind was to get rid of the freak, no one had to know. "Darling." Dominic pushed the door open peering inside, "Oh my sweetheart." He entered the room moving immediately towards her, gathering her in his arms as she wept profusely. "Oh Dominic, I can't believe she came out looking like that." She hiccuped through her words, "God hates me so much, oh why?!" "It's okay Darling." He patted her head, smoothing strands of her hair out of the way, "Look at the good life we are fortunate to live, God surely doesn't hate us." "What do we do?" Queen Julia inquired leaning away from her husband, she gripped his arms looking up at him, "The press is outside, everyone is waiting." "That is true, what do you suggest my lovely wife?" "Let's kill her! No use keeping the wretched thing. I can't believe my body went through changes just to birth that swine, my darling Sylvana would have a monster for a sister." "We can't kill her Julia." Dominic shook his head, "She's the heir and Liam willed his fortune to her." "Killing her would make it easier, all fortune would go to our darling Sylvana." "You have a point." Dominic shook his head, "But then again, that could be too rash as she's the only one who can access her fortune." "What do we do then?" "I have a plan." Dominic offered his wife a smile and she returned it knowing how bright his ideas always were. Sasha had managed to calm the crying baby, she was deprived of milk in her first hours on earth and she was scared that the baby might have complications. While she rocked the child, her head shot up hearing footsteps as Dominic and a now-dressed Queen Julia entered the room. "Your Royal Highness." Sasha called slowly, "You should rest, you just gave birth." "I don't have time for that!" She snapped stepping towards Sasha, "We have a proposal for you." "You do?" "Yes, I will offer you four hundred thousand dollars to record no birth, we shall tell the press that the child had di-" "No!" Sasha shook her head, "You can't do that to the poor baby." "Then the baby shouldn't have come out looking like that!" Dominic added, "Go on with our plan and save the child some ridicule, raise it as yours!" "I can't do that." Sasha shook her head, "That is cruel, the child needs its mother and-" "Don't you ever refer to me as that thing's mother!" Queen Julia snapped, "Don't you dare! I can never be a mother to that abomination!" "You have no choice but to accept our offer, Sasha. We will offer you a million dollars!" "I can never!" Sasha stood her ground trying to soothe the baby who had begun wailing again, "That is cruel and-" "Take the offer and follow us home, care for the child till she's an adult." "Please, Queen Julia." Sasha pleaded, "Rethink your decision." "Our decision is final!" Dominic and Queen Julia proclaimed at once, "A car would wait for you behind the hospital and would take you to the mansion." "No." "Go! Or I swear to God, I will strangle the tiny beast myself!" Queen Julia yelled and that frightened Sasha as she hastened out of the room, cuddling the baby and going towards the spot they had prepared for her. After Sasha had left, a hysterical Queen Julia and Dominic along with their child came out of the hospital announcing the death of the newborn heir and requesting privacy at this dark time of their lives. Sasha had heard the news on the car stereo, she couldn't believe how cruel her employers could be and with teary eyes she held the baby close, rocking her softly. "Don't worry little one." She cooed at the baby, "You would live and survive my darling." The baby sighed in return leaning into her touch. "I shall name you." Sasha whispered, "Lunaria."Marco walked away from her, as fast as he could with hands stuck in his pockets, fingers curling in them as he felt his heart rhythm increasing more than usual. The sight of those sad brown eyes stuck with him, the softness of her voice, her inviting beauty, and the way she smiled. It was all embedded in his head. But it was wrong, too wrong. He couldn't desire another man's wife. He shook his head, a bitter laugh coming from him as he brought his hand out of his pocket, the silver band glinting almost mocking him at the way he felt at the moment. The band was a reminder of why he should tame himself and ignore the fire kindling, started by the woman he had saved from falling but he couldn't help himself. She's married, he reminded himself, and on the other hand, you have got a lot going on. He gazed at the band again, a small smile coming to his face, a reminder of his purpose here. He wasn't here to be besotted by a woman. He had loyalty to prove and faithfulness to uphold.
I am married. The words echoed in Lunaria's head causing the warmth she felt from the man to evaporate quickly and she hurriedly pushed against him in an attempt to get off. He released his hold and she slid away from him standing to her feet immediately, her palms smoothing awkwardly over her gown, her eyes darting in all directions apart from him but she could see from her peripheral vision that he had risen, standing up with his palms brushing across his trousers. "Are you alright?" The strange man asked, his voice cascading over her causing a certain coolness and she forced herself to look up at him even with the dimness provided by the night sky. She could see those electrifying blue eyes beneath the mask he wore, she sensed a vague familiarity but she couldn't quite make out his face. She hadn’t met much people in her life. "I am fine." She whispered slowly taking steps back and he gently walked towards her, "I am sorry." "You shouldn't be. You only tripped." "Right." Sh
Lunaria looked down at her chapped fingers, she could hear the laughter coming from downstairs while she was huddled in the bedroom under the pretense that she needed some time alone as she had a headache. Xander had flown in hours ago, she had gone with his mother and sister to welcome him at the airport. She had carefully orchestrated how she wanted to tell him the situation about home as she knew she couldn't die in silence but to her surprise, her mother and sister-in-law were Oscar-worthy actresses. If one were to see them at the airport, they would think that Lunaria was a lovely family member of theirs. The way they talked softly to her, and treated her nicely was something that shocked Lunaria to the core. Xander loved the state in which he met his family, seeing that his mother and sister had warmed up to his wife made him elated and Lunaria noticed this, she couldn't ruin it all by telling him what had occurred while he was away. Madam Ashton and Claire had made it a g
Madam Ashton's words bore venom, her stares as well as Claire's stares towards Lunaria were laced with hate bearing worse malice than she had ever seen. Its okay Lunaria, they are just meeting you. You need to show them you are worth it. She smiled softly at them, trying to push out the words of her mother in law, "I understand the mistake ma'am." she bowed a little, "My apologies for not living up to your expectations but I am Xander's wife. He explained why you both couldn't make it to the wedding." They both stared at her, saying nothing but with gazes that spoke volumes. "I anticipated your coming today mother, sister." Lunaria widened her smile, "I even cooked. You must be famished, I would l-" "Enough!" Claire was the one who barked this time, "Shut the hell up, acting like you are the lady of the house!" "Oh Xander." Madam Ashton took in a deep sigh like she was about to faint, "I asked for a daughter in law and he brought some horrible creature, did he push aside the lov
Lunaria shifted slightly in her seat, she dropped her fork, eyes wandering around to see that the section of the restaurant was almost empty, and Xander was far away at the moment. She could still feel their gazes when she stared down at her plate, she could hear their seats move, and her heart rhythm heightened as they rose from their seats and began to stalk towards her. Their heels clicked against the ground as they walked in her direction making her nervous with each passing moment. You are Madam Ashton now, you should be confident and not let anyone walk over you, chin up, and give them a piece of your mind. She raised her head, directing her gaze to them, there was a smile on her face which was returned with malicious stares that would kill someone on the spot. "Well, well, well." Sylvana shook her head, folding her arms over her chest, "Would you look at you Lunaria, the ugly duckling dressed in the finest of clothing." "Putting lipstick on a pig doesn't make it as gracef
Lunaria was awoken by the aroma of pancakes, she sniffed intentionally, the soreness of her limbs and slight throbbing in her head hitting her as she attempted to move and get up. She felt a kiss on her forehead, her eyes fluttered open immediately and she met the gaze of dark eyes looking down on her with compassion. "Did you sleep well, sweetheart?" Xander asked touching his palm to her cheek, his thumb stroked her chin lightly and he enjoyed the way she smiled leaning into his touch. "I did." She nodded, "I feel sore though, very sore and I ache everywhere." "Don't worry darling." He got up from the bed, "I will run you a hot bath, sit up and have breakfast first." Lunaria managed to sit up due to the excitement bubbling in her at her husband making her breakfast. She watched as he brought a tray before her, setting it on the bed. There was a rose on the tray with she picked up instinctively to smell and after she enjoyed the fresh scent, she gazed upon the tray wide-eye
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