All Chapters of Born of secrets, loved by a King: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

my apartment was so small I could hear the refrigerator breathing. I stood in the middle of the living room with my suitcase still in my hand, staring at the place in silence. Two bedrooms. One bathroom. A tiny dining area squeezed beside a kitchen that looked like it belonged in a dollhouse. The radiator beside the window made a loud clicking sound. Click. Then another. Click. I narrowed my eyes at it. "Are you threatening me?" The radiator clicked again. Back in Eldoria, one of my dressing rooms had been bigger than this entire apartment. I slowly set my suitcase down. No servants. No guards. No palace staff hovering behind me every five seconds. Just me. For the first time in years. I should've felt uncomfortable. Instead, I felt… lighter. Then my stomach growled. I looked toward the kitchen. "Right," I muttered. "Food first. Emotional freedom later." — Thirty minutes later, I discovered London buses were designed by people who hated humanity

I didn't always picture myself in a place like Grayson Tech. When I was younger, I spent afternoons at my grandmother's kitchen table, watching her balance checkbooks and talk to clients. She was sharper than I ever gave her credit for. After high school, I went to community college—no big dreams, just a way to help my mom with rent. But then, two months ago, my uncle called. He works in HR here, and he told me about a junior admin opening. I couldn't believe it. I was terrified. What if I didn't belong? But now, here I am, two months later, standing outside the conference room, stacking papers like my whole future depends on it. I step inside, holding my breath. It's bigger than I imagined—long mahogany tables, a row of chairs, a projector humming in the corner. I set the documents on the table, carefully aligning them, my fingers trembling slightly. I can't afford to mess this up. Then, the door swings open. A few senior stakeholders walk in—Mr. Harrington from finance, Ms. Lo

The boardroom remained silent long after Chloe left. Nobody relaxed. If anything, the tension became worse. Because now Ethan no longer needed to pretend. He sat at the head of the table with one arm resting against the chair, dark eyes moving slowly across the room. Calm. Controlled. Dangerous. The executives who had spent the last twenty minutes sweating under his gaze immediately avoided eye contact. Mr. Liam stood quietly near the wall beside the digital screen, tablet resting in one hand. Silent as always. Watching everything. Ethan tapped one finger lightly against the polished table. "Now," he said coolly, "shall we discuss the actual problems inside this company?" Nobody interrupted him. Nobody dared. Mr. Liam slid a tablet toward Ethan smoothly before stepping back again. Ethan glanced through the financial reports briefly. Then closed them. "The company profits are stable. International expansion is acceptable. Revenue growth is decent." S

Veronica pov The convoy rolled smoothly through the grand palace gates. I stared out the tinted window quietly as the palace came into view again. Golden fountains sparkling beneath the evening sun. Gardens so perfect they looked fake. Beside me, the twins were already glued to the window, their faces pressed against the glass as the palace stretched endlessly ahead—tall white pillars, and gardens that looked like they had never known dust. "Mom…" Isabella whispered, almost in disbelief. "We actually live here now?" I reached over and gently tapped her hand. "Yes baby," I said softly. "We do." Isabella was practically climbing over David just to see better. "Oh my God…" she whispered dramatically. "People actually live like this?" David pressed his face closer to the glass too. "I'm not gonna lie," he muttered. "If this is heaven, I understand." I laughed softly. For the first time in years, my chest felt light. Not anxious. Not desperate. Just… settl

I stared at the balance on my phone screen and released a long sigh.The number wasn't exactly comforting.A few taps earlier, it had looked much healthier.Now?Not so much.Still, I didn't regret it.I logged out of the school portal and slipped my phone back into my pocket.Daniel's fees were paid.Maya's fees were paid.El's fees were paid.For the first time in months, none of them would have to worry about being sent home because of unpaid tuition.That alone made the tightness in my chest ease slightly.I adjusted the strap of my worn bag and continued walking down the street.The sun was already beginning to set, bathing the city in shades of orange and gold. Vendors shouted prices from roadside stalls while motorcycles weaved through traffic.The smell of grilled meat drifted through the air.My stomach growled.I smiled weakly."Right. Dinner."The kids deserved something better than instant noodles tonight.A familiar roadside shawarma stand came into view.An elderly coupl