“You have a woman in your life?” Mona asked, unable to contain the question anymore. Daniel almost choked on his juice. Mona grabbed a glass and poured him some water. “Thanks,” he mumbled, taking the glass from her. He didn't expect her to bring up a question like that from nowhere. “That was a little random, by the way.” “Is it?” Mona muttered and a puzzled expression crossed his face. “I'm just curious, okay? Do you have a woman in your life or not?”“Why is that important?” He threw back and she restrained herself from giving him a hard stare. “Like I said, curious,” she shrugged. “What'd you bring home?” Daniel continued staring at her in a bid to fathom what was going on in her head. Then his conversation with his grandmother replayed in his head and everything clicked.“Were you eavesdropping?” Mona was caught off guard by the direct attack. Her cheeks colored a little. “I… uhm… wouldn't call it eavesdropping. I just woke up and happened to stumble upon an ongoing conver
The shattering of glass behind made him flinch. He turned to see a very pale Darell, mirroring the same shock on his face. “Darell…” he drawled out and she swallowed thickly. “What… what is this?” “I told you not to touch anything!” She snapped at him, pushing past him to shut the door. Her heavy breathing was the only evidence of her inner panic. Probably her pale face.But this woman looked like she was one he offended, not the other way round and it riled him up.“What do you mean by that? You have drawings of me all over your room amd the best you could say is that I was supposed to stay put?!” The anger in his tone caused her fragile body to tremble.She'd never heard such an angry tone from Ragi. It was proof enough that she'd messed up. “I can explain…” she bit her lip to keep from saying further. There was nothing to explain in this situation. Her actions were clear as day . Unjustifiable. She couldn't say she was thinking of him so she drew him. How would she explain the
As Ragi rode away, he felt his heart breaking. How did he miss the fact that she was obsessed with him?He had been so blinded by the Emperor's affairs and his wife's death that he didn't see the one dying to be in his arms, even when she was right in front of him. His mind replayed their first date. There was always something about her. For some reason, he turned to back and forced his horse to a halt when he saw the smoke. He knew it wasn't from the drawing. The smoke rising from the top of the mountain was too much for those frail pieces of paper. Without hesitation, he turned the horse around and headed to the mountain with a pounding heart. He prayed to the guts that she didn't try to harm herself. He would never forgive himself if she killed herself right after he rejected her. “Please don't hurt yourself,” he prayed as he rode faster. He arrived at the foot of the mountain in no time. “Darell!” He yelled, running up the Stony steps but there was no response. Dread oversh
Dao was the second city affected by.the curfew policy. Unlike Taiwan, Dao citizens were quite compliant. No one tried to be sneaky or play hero. It was an organised town, essentially leading to no casualties and Archie wasn't very pleased by this news. “Did you look very well and not one person broke the curfew?” Archie asked them. “Not one, sir. Dao.city is known as the cleanest and most organised city in the black empire. I don't think we should be surprised about how compliant they were,” one of the men answered. “This is going to be a problem, Cedric We cannot afford more issues like this. We need to stir trouble to get the people to rise not return to grid homes and sleep peacefully.” Archie said.“It is just one city, Archie. Even if a war or protect was to be started, do you really think that Daoians would leave their comfortable beds to come protest?” Cedric asked him.“Ahhhh! This is just so annoying. Why can't they be as complaint as other cities?” He groaned. “Forget a
Darell opened her eyes to an unfamiliar environment. Where was she? It looked nothing like the afterlife she'd heard so much about.But this wasn't the after life. Not with the stench of drugs at least. Where was she then? The sight of the doctors alerted her that she wasn't wrong after all. Somehow, she'd managed to survive. She didn't know how to feel.She was back in the very nightmare she was trying so hard to escape.“How are you feeling ma'am?” One of the doctors asked.Darell struggled to keep her mind open. This had to be a good thing right? Maybe the universe wasn't done with her. “I feel like í should have been dead but here am I. Who brought me in?” She ignored the burning sensation in her throat. “Sir Ragi,” she responded. “You are lucky he found you on time. Else who knows what could have happened to you.”The information made her stomach churn. Radio found her? How? Didn't he leave? The doctor looked at her like she was expecting some kind of response, which Darell ha
Need was a strong word but it explained house inner feelings. Darell stared at him critically, trying to ascertain if he was saying it to make her feel better.“Are you lying to me?” She asked and he cupped her face.“Don't ever try to take your life again. No matter what happens, even if we fight, don't set yourself on fire, I'm begging you.”It sounded funny to her ears but his serious expression was frightening. He meant every word of it.“Noted,” she forced a smile.“I need you to promise me,” he said firmly.“I promise,” Darrell answered, then smiled sadly. “Are we going back to the way we were or you're no longer comfortable with my presence,” she asked.It took every ounce of confidence in her to ask that question. She knew she didn't deserve to be in his space anymore.“I can't promise you that. I need to digest everything and decide I've moved on from it before letting you back in my life. I just want you to stay alive until then,” Ragi said sincerely.A part of him wanted t
“Mona?” She heard the old woman call her from inside. She wiped her hands quickly and went to meet the woman.“What do you want me to do for you?” Mona asked, hurrying into the living room. She noticed the woman was not alone. There was another woman who seemed slightly older than her.“Please get a drink for our guests,” the woman said. Mona gave the girl a once over before leaving.She was beautiful, no makeup of excessive jeweleries and a simple dress. A part of her suspected that was Eisha. Wasn't she supposed to come later in the week when Daniel got back? What was she doing here?She poured in some mango juice and placed it in a tray. There old woman strictly warned her to keep off it that is was meant for important guests. She scoffed. Of course the important guest was Eisha. Who else could it possibly be?As soon as she showed up, the grandmother's face lit up. “You are a very smart one, child. Good knew just the right drink to bring. I was telling Eisha here that you are v
“I don't get why you are so calm in this situation,” Archie companies. “Out plans are getting ruined by these Lords and you are not even bothered by it.” Cedric sat up from his comforter. “What do you want me to do? Isn't it obvious that the plan has been ruined? We need to kat low for now and strike again later.” “Lie low? That is exactly what they want us to do. Don't you get it? We need to strike while the gorund is still hot. If we wiat for the people's anger to die down, trust me, we will never get the desired effect,” Archie practically yelled. Cedirc could only blame himself for this madness. If only he minded his business and let the man focus on the filing and storage duties, this would never happened. It felt like he was dealing with a stranger. “So what do you suggest we do? According to you, the meeting has already been held and all the Chiefs already know about the fake bills so what would you have us do?” Cedric couldn't keep his voice from rising. “Why are you yel