Ilya mourned for the death of his son. He didn't even care about the attack from the Phoenix Empire. Maybe they love his son more than he did. Or more than his mother did. Life has been spared at the darkest times of the eagle Empire and it's Christian. They took him in as a servant and gave him protection.

He drank more and more. Claus didn't even want to speak with him. He's mad at Jacob. He knew that he wanted to kill Christian for letting the other side hack by plugging something into the system. It's a risky thing that Christian did. Unless he planned to suicide for Demetria. But the girl is alive and they are going to have a baby together.

​​

 "This is all planned."

"Did your men watch as Christian sink in the water?"

"Yes. He's dead. They confirmed it."

"Can the nanomites bring him back?"

"No." He shook his head. "It can't bring the dead back to life." He looked frustrated. "Why did you let his body be taken by those people?"

"He asked me to do so. His body belongs to that girl somehow." Ilya sipped on his martini glass. "I want you to leave. I don't want you to nag on me all night."

Jacob approached him to kiss him but he brushed him off.

"Leave now." He said coldly.

Jacob didn't have a choice but to leave.

<><><><>

Esme's been bothered for days by that Winston guy. He's handsome, dreamy, and all but she loves Laurence so much. Somehow his words hit her or more like, this romantic side of Winston is making her doubt. But her love and loyalty toward Laurence are forever and more than a sticker could stick.

A sports car honked at her. She moved aside and glanced at the latest Lamborghini. The windshield rolled and Winston brought down his black shades to his nose.

"Hopped in. I'll drive you home."

Esme approached the car and bent down a little.

"Sorry, Winston. But I can take care of myself." She waved at him and walked away. But Winston insisted.

"Girl, come on."

"I'm sorry." A car stopped on the other side and Laurence came out. She approached Laurence and he walked around to open the passenger seat for her. "Why did you bring your supercar?" She asked him with creased brows. He kissed her temple.

"If that guy keeps on following you around, I will cut him a little man down there."

"Let's go home. I'm hungry." He nodded and waited for her to settle down and he closed the door. He glared at Winston. He walked around to the driver's seat and he drove off from the school. He reached her hand and kissed it.

"You know if that guy continued doing that, I will have to cut him."

She giggled and turned to him so she could see him clearly.

"What do you want to eat?"

"I like some French cuisine."

"Okay."

"How's work?"

"It's fine." He said. "Dad let me off and I will focus on graduating first and thesis… and you." He winked.

She giggled. He just let all of the stress go away. They eat in the French restaurant that he reserved and they go home to make love before her studies.

"Don't go near Winston." He told her.

"I am trying."

"He's stealing compositions." Laurence caressed her arm while she's pillowing on his chest. "He's rich so he could do such a thing. They are also buying compositions from other people so he could take credit. He sees you as something special, probably looking at your profile."

"I will continue declining him." She kissed his lips. "Let me study first. Then I'll go back to you." She sat up. Laurence let her.

He didn't know how long they were going to keep this up. But he couldn't hold himself around her. He even took her to the clinic so she could have a shot and they could have unlimited lovemaking. He also put her doctor's schedule on his phone so he won't forget.

<><><><><>

Demi waited for hours and even fell asleep in the control room. She's been crying for a long and her dad didn't even message her. She found everyone sleeping on every corner. They declined the guest rooms to wait for the news about Christian.

She decided to leave the control room and go have a good meal. She felt a little lethargic but still, she walked toward the kitchen. She stopped when a man showed up in front of her. She almost didn't recognize him.

"Christian?"

��Hey, babe." Christian smiled at her. She burst into tears and wrapped her arms around him. Christian hugged her back and kissed her top head. "I have to take a bath first before meeting you, so I won't smell bad." He mumbled.

Demi shook her head and pushed him gently to look up at him. She scooped his face to look at him closely and he leaned his forehead to hers and kissed her lips.

"I'm here now." He knelt and kissed her stomach. "Hey, there baby." He smiled and kissed her stomach more. However, her stomach growls and vibrates. He looked up at her and chuckled.

"I'm hungry."

He stood and kissed her lips more. She checked him if he had bruises but there's none. Maybe the nanomites already healed it. She wiped her tears and hugged him.

"Babe, I know that you are hungry."

"I just can't believe that you are back."

Demi stopped and looked at his dad who is wearing an apron. She ran to him and hugged him.

"Thank you, daddy."

"Anything for my princess." Dmitri hugged his daughter tightly.

<><><><>

Jacob felt like something wasn't right after they threw Christian's body and after the sudden ambush. Everyone confirmed that Christian is dead. But what if he wasn't? Nanomites couldn't bring anyone back to life but another trick will do. It's possible. Dragon Empire had lots of tricks on their sleeves.

He left his room and found Claus leaving with his bag.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm off for vacation and you should mind your own business, dip head."

"Does Ilya know about this?"

"He doesn't need to know. Besides, aren't you happy that you have him entirely? Don't worry. I won't come back."

Jacob scoffed.

"Or are you running away because you have done something bad? Like betraying us and letting Christian die?"

"First of all, you killed him. Second, you are selfish and narcissistic. You might be a computer genius but you are someone who would live alone." Claus walked past him and didn't even visit Ilya.

Jacob didn't want to disturb Ilya. He didn't want to get scolded.

<><><><>

Christian lay down at Demi's side. He reached her stomach and admired the baby bump.

"So, when are you going to marry me?" Demi grinned.

"Let's get married this December." He kissed her lips. Demi kissed him back and she pushed him down and straddle him. "Babe," He stopped her.

"What?" She creased her brows. "I know that both of us are horny. But I can't have sex because of nanomites."

"Okay. When are you going to take the detox?"

"I already took it. The thing is still in process in my body. But tomorrow, I promise you."

"It's fine." She pillowed over his chest. "You are all that matters." She sighed as she thought of the torture that they did to Christian. "They sent me the video… I don't want you to hurt like that anymore. I also take note of those faces. I'm going to do the same thing that they did to you."

"Shh, let's not talk about it." He kissed her top head. "Take care of our baby, and I'll take care of you."

"You didn't sleep with anyone there, right?'

"Zero." He smiled. "I don't sleep with anyone. I reject those women that have the same body shape or hair or anything that would remind me of you. I know that it wasn't you, and they don't arouse me."

"So, if you are aroused~~"

"Probably," He shrugged. "But you cursed me, baby." He smirked and kissed her forehead. "Let's have a good sleep and cuddle."

She yawned and turned back from him, and he spooned her. He inhaled her scent, and he knew that he's home.

"I have new recipes. I think we should add it for the Christmas promo in Empire Café."

"You've been working hard." Christian rubbed her tummy.

"I can't lose you again, Christian."

"I know." He kissed her ear. "You and our baby are my life."

"When you said that after the mission, you'll marry me… At that moment, I was hoping that I was pregnant so I could surprise you. I know that I've been rejecting you, but all I want is to surprise you, Christian."

"Thank you, babe." Christian closed his eyes. "Hmm, dad saves me."

"Dad promised me to protect you."

"I love dad."

"How about me?"

Christian didn't respond. He kissed her cheek. He never said that he loves her. But action speaks louder than words, and Christian showed his love through actions.