Chapter eight
Author: Nini
last update Last Updated: 2024-04-09 02:27:12

It was the evening of the banquet and it was happening at the Cellar. The Cellar was the most prominent club in the city at the time.

The building was large and made of marble and glass. It had large window bays and a special rooftop club for after parties. Both the interior and exterior of the club exuded elegance. The compound was very spacious, allowing guests to move freely with a big artificial fountain at the center that enhanced its aesthetic appeal.

A blue Chevrolet corvette stopped at the entrance of the club. A gorgeous lady dressed in a black evening dress and a man got out of the car. Everyone’s attention was drawn to the woman especially, because she outshone every other woman in her presence. Her blue eyes glowed in the dark.

“Her skin is flawless”

“What a beautiful woman!”

Ladies from other wealthy families whispered among themselves while photographers rushed to take several shots, marveling at Delilah’s beauty.

“I’ve never been to the Cellar, it’s so grand. What beautiful sculptures!” Delilah couldn’t help but drool at this beauty.

“The Cellar is one of the many establishments of the Wilson family, thus its impeccable design. It is almost impossible to get an invitation to the Cellar,” Cooper standing next to Delilah surveyed the surroundings. Even with how wealthy Cooper’s family was, he had to admit that the Cellar was in a class of its own.

Due to Lord Wilson’s reputation, the Wilson family was regarded as one of the Mighty Three. Lord Wilson was one of the most powerful god-of-war in the city with a large army base. And today was his grand retirement.

The influence of the Wilson family was unmatched in the city and most people would die for the chance to gain access into Cellar let alone be invited for Lord Wilson’s retirement party.

Even the Williams won’t even dream of it, but Delilah was here thanks to Cooper.

All of a sudden, everyone’s attention diverted to another direction. The photographers that were initially struggling to take shots of Delilah all left rushing towards a silver Mercedes Benz that had just arrived.

Delilah’s two minutes of fame was over now,

She was taken aback and her cheeks flushed in embarrassment wondering who was worthy enough to steal her spotlight.

A stunning woman dressed in a skin-tight fiery red dress came down from the silver Benz. The dress highlighted her tiny waist and alluring figure. In addition, her long wavy hair cascaded down her revealed upper skin like silk. The second she arrived, everyone’s eyes were drawn to her.

“She’s gorgeous! Is she a celebrity.”

“I don’t think she’s from around here.”

“Her face and figure is out of the world!”

“Isn’t she Lord Wilson’s jewel, Natalie?”

Natalie was popularly known as her father’s jewel because of how much her father cherished her. She was the last child of the Wilson family and the president of Quine group.

People whispered among themselves, overwhelmed by Natalie’s beauty while Delilah hissed hard through her teeth the moment she saw Natalie. She left the car in anger, approaching the entrance of the club.

On her way, she started hearing people around her whisper about a strange man.

“Who is he? I’ve never seen him before”

“Gosh, he’s handsome. I’d be the happiest woman if he was mine.”

“He must be the heir of one of the most wealthy families to be able to afford a Rolls Royce!”

Every lady was swayed by this strange man and as Delilah approached the entrance, the whispers became disturbing that she had to check this strange man out.

Delilah’s eyes widened in awe at the sight of this gorgeous man. He had black designer suit on, his broad shoulders gave the suit complementary fitting. He was tall and had alluring ocean blue eyes.

‘He is gorgeous’ Delilah thought.

All of a sudden, Delilah’s jaw dropped when she realized it was Dario.

“Dario?”

“What the f*** is he doing here??” Cooper shouted.

“Did he follow me here?” She said angrily, as she and Cooper approached Dario,

Though Delilah was yet to recover from the version of Dario she just saw. He was a totally different person now. Her heart didn’t stop racing, it was like she had fallen in love with him all over again.

But, she had to pretend to be angry. As she approached Dario. Different questions popped in her head, “How come?” “What happened” “Is it really Dario?”

Before she could get to Dario, a lady already walked up to him and they seemed too casual for Delilah’s liking.

Some people watching made comments about how they looked very cute together while others expressed their jealousy, wishing they were in the young lady’s place instead.

The side comments made Delilah’s stomach churn with jealousy and when she realized it was the same lady that stole her spotlight earlier, she hated Natalie even more.

Delilah had to endure the sight of Natalie holding hands with Dario and smiling seductively as she increased her pace. It’s not like she could do anything now that they’re divorced. She had no right.

On the other hand, Natalie was very glad Dario came, “Hi!” she said, slightly pecking Dario on both cheeks.

“I didn’t think you’d come,” Natalie was so happy, she couldn’t keep her composure. The man she saw earlier in the day was handsome but he looked even more handsome now that he was all dressed up. Natalie’s eyes shone with interest as she sized Dario up seductively with her eyes.

Taking a closer look at Natalie, Dario could attest something unusual about her beauty. She was sensual like an Aphrodite. Her lips, painted a seductive shade of crimson, curled into a playful smile that promised both mystery and allure.

“My bad, I didn’t ask for your name.”

“It’s Dario. Dario Reynolds.”

“Well let’s go in so I can introduce my Knight in shining armor to my father,” Natalie teased while they both laughed heartily.

As they were about to leave together, Dario halted abruptly at the sight of Delilah approaching him; he didn’t expect to see her here.

Dario hadn’t fully gotten over what happened at the villa so he felt a sharp pain in his heart seeing Delilah, but his emotions turned cold in a moment, “How may I help you, Miss William?”

‘Of course it’s her “future husband”,’ seeing Cooper beside Delilah, Dario thought, drawing imaginary quotes in his mind.

“What a coincidence seeing-“

Before Dario could complete his sentence, Delilah shouted, “did you follow me here?!”

“Are you so obsessed with me that you had to follow me here?”

The truth was that the origin of Delilah’s anger was seeing her ex-husband with another woman. Although they were divorced, there was an uneasy feeling in her heart.

Dario wasn't surprised at Delilah’s outburst because at this point, nothing she does could surprise him anymore. So, he stayed calm and just watched her with a smirk plastered on his face, which made her feel like a fool.

“Mr Reynolds, is she a friend of yours?”

Natalie wondered who she must be as she sized her up. According to her feminine instinct, she could detect a hint of possessiveness from this woman before her eyes.

“She’s my ex-wife.”

Related Chapters

  • The Emperor’s only Heir   Chapter nine

    “She’s my ex-wife.” Dario replied. “Oh really?” Natalie said, eyeing Delilah from head to toe with a sarcastic smile plastered on her face. “Hi, I’m Natalie Wilson. Nice to meet you,” she stretched her hands in a gesture for a handshake, her eyes locked with that of Delilah’s. Natalie’s actions seemed friendly but her aura came off as slightly intimidating. Of course, she intended to come off as intimidating. “Nice to meet you Ms Wilson, I’m Delilah Williams.” Delilah tried to maintain her composure as she answered, though avoiding direct eye contact. Although Delilah is one lady who has always prided herself in her looks and figure. Ever since she was little, she had always been regarded as the ‘Belle’ of the Williams family. But, she had to admit that Natalie was in a league of her own. The woman before her was uniquely attractive and she had a seductive aura to top it off. Any man would be easily infatuated at the sight of her. All her life, Delilah was always the prettiest l

  • The Emperor’s only Heir   Chapter ten

    “Here comes my friend’s jewel. Oh! you look more stunning by the day.” Lord Derik’s face lit up when he saw Natalie enter the room. “I hope my friend hasn’t been much of a disturbance lately,” he teased as they all laughed.It was a small gathering of Lord Wilson and his old friends dining before they attended the main banquet. And Natalie had taken Dario to meet her father just as the latter requested.When Natalie told her father about the incident with the thugs and how Dario saved her, he became very interested in Dario and wanted to meet him. Though Natalie knew well not to go out unprotected, she wanted to experience a sense of freedom and independence, underestimating the potential dangers involved.The private room was tucked away from the main club building behind a set of elegant double doors. The walls of the room were adorned with a deep luxurious color; burgundy, with gilded frames including oil paintings, tapestries and ornate mirrors showcasing exquisite works of art.As

  • The Emperor’s only Heir   Chapter eleven

    Lord Wilson clinked his glass of champagne with a fork, aiming to grab the attention of the guests as he walked to the stage. Smiling over the crowd, he started, “I welcome all my family and friends, partners and esteemed guests to the banquet tonight. Thank you all for coming to celebrate with me.”“First and foremost, I’d like to express my gratitude to certain individuals by specially recognizing them here.”“Ladies and gentlemen, join me in extending a warm welcome to my best friend, Lord Derik…”“It’s a great pleasure to have the Honorable Henry Thompson, former Secretary of State and the esteemed Senator Margaret Davis. Their presence here tonight is appreciated and their contributions to the nation are truly remarkable…”Lord Wilson went on and on to introduce special guests. “Last but not the least, allow me to introduce to you a very special guest I have here today, who has demonstrated a rare blend of courage and kindness. And I am honored to call him a son…”A very special

  • The Emperor’s only Heir   Chapter twelve

    “I should bill you for the damage you've caused, but I doubt you have two pennies to rub together, you sorry excuse for a human being!”He hailed insults on and on at Dario. It’s not like Dario didn’t look expensive or didn’t seem like he could afford the shoes, but the man was blinded with rage. “You know what, I’m in a good mood so I’ll let it go. But only if you clean the champagne off my shoes with that tongue of yours.” The guests around watched as the scene unfolded. Is the man really serious?“Look, I’m sorry. I need to leave here right now!” Dario said, looking at his watch. He had already spent almost ten minutes just finding the exit.“You’re not going anywhere until you lick the champagne off my shoes!”Looks like he really meant what he said. This man was asking Dario to kneel and lick champagne off his shoes? What a joke!Dario stood there stunned, this man was starting to get on his nerves and he was not having it anymore.Smirking evilly, he continued “Oh! you can’t do

  • The Emperor’s only Heir   Chapter thirteen

    ***The sound of glass and ceramic shattering on the floor reverberated through the room with loud clunks. She stood up, walking on the shattered remnants of what had once been delicate glasswares, spread on the floor.“What do you mean you couldn’t kill him?!” Elizabeth growled. “A task as simple as that was so difficult for you all to carry out?”“Answer me!!!” she screamed, her tone laced with venom.It was the morning after the armed men had attacked Dario in an attempt to kill him. Also, the morning after the banquet. Empress Elizabeth of the Beth empire was having her breakfast when she got the report that the assassins she ordered to kill Dario couldn’t get him killed. The assassins lined up before her were terrified to their bone marrow. Every muscle in their body was tensed as fear coursed through their veins. Elizabeth’s growl was more than enough to make them tremble. Their heads remained bowed as they dared not look her in the eye. “I said..” “Answer me!!” The deep vibra

  • The Emperor’s only Heir   Chapter fourteen

    “My loves, it’s time to discuss our plans for young Dario,” Elizabeth said as her voice dripped with malice.“Yes mother, what do you have in mind?”They were obviously going to kill Maria but Daniel asked anyway.Elizabeth leaned back in her chair, a hint of mystery in her eyes, “You know what I’m thinking. But we must be careful in our approach. We can’t leave any trace that will lead back to us.”“I suggest we kill her slowly. I’ve got a plan and he won’t see it coming.” Daniel said.Daniel briefed his mother and sister about his plan all morning and they all resorted to a common ground after much contemplation.Their plan was perfect now.“After we clear the mother, what’s next?” Charlotte asked. “We should come up with the next plan as soon as possible.”A wicked smile played on Elizabeth’s lips. She took her time to savor how much she was proud of her daughter. ‘This is truly my daughter’“My dear Charlotte, we have only just begun. There are countless ways to torment him, to ch

  • The Emperor’s only Heir   Chapter fifteen

    Dario woke up the next morning feeling really good. He had decided to take the whole day off yesterday to rest and strategize after how stressful and eventful the previous day; the day of the banquet, was. Rumors about the banquet spread like wildfire throughout the city, inflicting a profound sense of humiliation on Cooper and Delilah. The juicy gossip and speculations casted a dark shadow over their reputations, tarnishing their standing in the city. Everyone laughed at them for being thrown out of Cellar, people also decided to come up with their own different versions of what happened and spread it around the whole city.The humiliation they faced, and was still facing at the moment intensified their resentment for Dario and both families promised to make him pay dearly for this.When Dario rushed to the hospital with his heart almost racing out of his chest the other night, he was met with good news at the hospital. Dr Mane had informed him that Maria was now conscious and could

  • The Emperor’s only Heir   Chapter sixteen

    Dario rolled his eyes when he realized It was none other than Amelia, Delilah’s cousin. Brian and Amelia were shocked to see Dario at the mall. What could he be doing anywhere within Galleria district? It wasn’t meant for people like him.Amelia's expression shifted from shock to disgust the moment she laid eyes on Dario. Her fiancé had spared no expense to shower her with luxurious gifts in the city's most prestigious shopping mall, only for her to unexpectedly encounter the last person she had anticipated seeing.Brian on the other hand was fuming with anger at the sight of Dario. He remembered how much humiliation he faced because of Dario at Sesame hotel. Dario had completely ruined the high esteemed image he had as the manager of the hotel. Since that night, he hated Dario’s guts and promised himself to cause him as much humiliation and more. Brian recalled how Dario made him remain on his knees in the middle of the hotel lobby that same fateful evening until he was back from the

Latest Chapter

  • The Emperor’s only Heir   

    Thank you!

    Hi guys, thank you for joining me on this journey until this point. Your support and time means the world to me. I hope you enjoyed the story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Your comments and encouragement have been my driving force, and I’m grateful for every moment you’ve spent with my characters. Saying goodbye to these characters feels like leaving behind dear friends. I’ll miss crafting their stories, but I’ll always cherish the journey we’ve shared. Here’s to many more writing adventures together, and I can’t wait to share what’s next. I love you all so much and your support sincerely means everything to me💕

  • The Emperor’s only Heir   

    Chapter 202

    Elizabeth’s anger boiled as she approached Dario too with calculated steps. Watching her soldiers fall one by one, crushed by the Persian Empire’s forces twisted her guts and she couldn’t stop thinking about it as she stared at Dario. ‘I’m going to kill you today!’ she thought to herself with fierce determination. She had made up her mind as her helicopter descended that either her or Dario would die today. And she was certain that she was not going to be the one.Dario on the other hand wondered who Elizabeth thought she was to land uninvited in his empire. The audacity was as outrageous as it was infuriating.‘Unwise audacity has always been her thing. When I’m done with her, she would wish she didn’t make this choice,’ Dario said to himself. Their gaze remained fixed on each other and time seemed slow. Suddenly, Elizabeth reached out to her gun and started shooting at Dario. The gunshots rang out across the premises, echoing in the ears of everyone around. But as the bullets s

  • The Emperor’s only Heir   

    Chapter 201

    At the eastern border of the empire, the loud sounds from gunshots and clash of swords and shields filled the air. The soldiers from the Beth empire came ready and rained an attack on the Persian empire. But to their surprise, they weren’t as ready as the soldiers of the Persian empire. Elizabeth and her ally kingdoms had decided to rain an apocalyptic attack on Persian and had been planning this very attack for months. But unfortunately for Elizabeth, her trusted ally kingdoms opted out and failed her on the supposed day of the attack; today. They recognized Dario’s strength and power and knew that they wouldn’t dare!But despite being betrayed by her allies, Elizabeth was adamant on going on with the attack with her own men. A few of her allies tried to talk her out of it but they failed as she was determined to attack Persian without a heads up or a warning. “Y’all are so obsessed with us,” a Persian soldier sneered at one of Beth’s soldiers, looking down at his lifeless body

  • The Emperor’s only Heir   

    Chapter 200

    Dario let his gaze wander around the throne room, taking in the majesty that surrounded him. Every single thing around was a testament to his journey.He closed his eyes and leaned back against the throne, allowing his mind to drift and be filled with the memories of his past. The thoughts of days when he had nothing, when survival was a daily struggle, and he and Maria had to scavenge abandoned leftovers on the street. Those days, when they returned to their home on the street after going out to scavenge for food, Maria would ask, “what did you find?”And Dario would also ask, “Were you able to get plenty?”The bitter cold nights coupled with the gnawing hunger and the hopelessness that often threatened to consume him. But he also remembered the moment things got a little bit better; when Sir Davis miraculously came around. It was still hard but it got better. Life was humiliating and filled with insults until everything suddenly turned around for good. From a ‘nobody’ one night,

  • The Emperor’s only Heir   

    Chapter 199

    SEVEN MONTHS LATER…The air of the mansion was thick with the scent of power and influence as the President and his associates discussed with Dario in the throne room.“Mr Dario,” the president continued, “again, thank you for seeing us on such short notice.” Dario returned a smile as bright as the President’s, nodding and said, “It’s always a pleasure, Mr President. Please, to what do I owe this pleasure?”The president glanced at his associates with relief evident on his face and answered, “I will just cut to the chase. We’re here today because over the past months, it has become clear what the people have chosen.”Dario took a second to try to understand what exactly the president meant and was driving at. “What the people have chosen?” he asked. “Yes, Mr Dario. And by this, I mean the people in the entire country.”“Okay,” Dario answered, dragging his word and waiting for the president to continue talking.“The truth is that, I have always admired you since the presidential cont

  • The Emperor’s only Heir   

    Chapter 198

    Blake’s mouth went dry instantly as his eyes shot at Dario. He could hear his heart pounding so hard in his ears. “Y… your… your Ma-“ With Dario’s eyes still locked with Blake’s, he added, “Thank you for everything. You know what I mean by everything.” After his statement, he smiled and chuckled at Blake. “You… your majesty,” he stammered and swiftly cleaned the sweat on his forehead with his sweaty palms. “I- I don’t know what you’re talking about, Your Majesty,” he lied, his voice shaking. “Oh, really?” Dario asked, his brows slightly stretched upward. He then looked down and said, “Oh, Blake-“ The next second, Dario raised his head and glared intensely at Blake. His face was now tense and focused, conveying anger and intense annoyance. “There is no need to lie. And trust me, I’m not going to accommodate your lies one more time,” he added, his jaw clenched tight, making the muscles of his face look more pronounced. “You!” Dario shouted and placed the tip of his pocke

  • The Emperor’s only Heir   

    Chapter 197

    The room fell silent as everyone exchanged puzzled glances before slowly disappearing. They knew something was off with Dario’s demeanor.There was a sudden change and they could all feel it. “Ethan! Evan!” Natalie called out to the boys, signaling with her hand for them to come to her. Just like expected, they both ran to her. “Let’s go get ready for dinner, my loves,” she said and led them out of the throne room while Bruce also followed.When everyone left and Dario finally turned back to face Blake, Blake wished the moment of everyone leaving lasted forever. ‘Why does he suddenly want to have a private conversation with me?’ Blake wondered as his stomach churned, but he maintained his smile. Dario took a moment to stare at Blake with a smile still lingering on his face. For some reason, the smile scared Blake the most. “Your Majesty,” Blake said, eager to fill the silence, “I just want to say again how incredible and magnificent you are. The way you-“Abruptly, Dario cut him

  • The Emperor’s only Heir   

    Chapter 196

    Blake left Elizabeth’s living room with a heavy heart and his hand clutched to his crimson red cheek. And at the back of his mind, he knew that the stakes had never been higher. Before he left her house, Elizabeth had given Blake a sound and stern warning. After Elizabeth landed a hot and thunderous slap on Blake’s face, he looked up at her with fear flickering in his eyes as she rained blames on him. He couldn’t believe that after everything, Elizabeth shifted all the blame to him, but what could he do?“You must find a way to eliminate that rat!” she exclaimed, her gaze boring into his.“How?” Blake asked her, his voice a little above a whisper. “Emperor Dario will be on high alert now. Getting close to him or doing anything will be nearly impossible.”“I… don’t… care… how you do it,” she hissed, taking her time to say every word as she stared down at him. “You must find a way. You do whatever it takes, even if you lose your life in the process…”Blake’s eyes widened at Elizabeth

  • The Emperor’s only Heir   

    Chapter 195

    *roar!!*Dario roared loudly, beating his chest with his other hand while King Nathan’s head was raised high with his other hand.He paused and moved the head from his left to the right in an attempt to show everyone what he had done. With his face stern, he roared again, pride evident in his demeanor as he beat his chest continuously.The more he roared, the louder the cheers of his people and supporters.Watching, Natalie couldn’t have been more proud of Dario. Her lips were spread into a very wide smile that her cheeks were starting to hurt. She clapped her hands non stop and screamed happily as her gaze never left Dario. Without even doing so much, Dario achieved victory. The Persians truly aren’t losers. “By the right of conquest,” Dario began, as everyone suspended their cheers to hear what he had to say. He continued, “ALL! that was King Nathan’s now bongs to me!” he declared, his words echoing across the entire area as cheers erupted again. This time, the cheers were eve