A marked affair

owned

h tradition, legacy, and whispers of

of the monarchs, the acting head of the royal household, and the CE

twent

pped treating him lik

mapped, from dawn's first light to the last flicker of boardroom bulbs. He w

on an extended diplomatic mission. Since then, the weight of Nexali

Not ceremoniou

stern Nexalith came alive with quiet motion as he dressed in tail

e didn't need to. His prese

navigating through the misty curves of Nexalith's highland roads toward Stone

opped to enj

ilence trailed behind

xecutive assistant, greeted, trying

said simply, entering

The environmental lobby still opposes the coast project, and t

"Push the lobby meeting to Friday. Approve the model

s,

to his corner offi

didn't look. His world was inside the reports, the numb

ecause he barked orders or threw tantrums, bu

shut down dissenting board members with a look. He managed

id it al

iend groups, spontaneous v

nfidential files, and a calen

ir?" his secretary asked

he was rude, but because he di

on his desk. He never thank

Stone the machin

igh above the sea cliffs, its walls lined with minimalist art and

e and got dist

for mistakes. No s

leg

nsibi

that had grown

eyes tired, heart... something

led below. His company thr

en his dail

of Influen

a restless sleep. The bed felt colder these days more than just physically. It was

and though Evelyn had kept things afloat, the cracks were beginning to show. The real estate ve

rotect the Hills name... but the

y child, certainl

d on the edge o

ID: M

aled, then

manding voice, "I need one h

asked, not unkind

's urgent. Don't ask too

temple. "Mira, I j

art counting again? Do you want me to loo

n, her tone sharp, her sense of entitlement louder than anyt

phone down and sta

to money and influence. Now, with graduation approaching in a few months, Evelyn couldn't ignore the truth anymore: ther

sn't ready to

t

ll window overlooking the estate. From here, the world still looked ric

had visited her often over the past

Lucia

ed through Nexal

Wealthy

ust twenty eight. His parents the King and Queen were away on royal assignments abroad, wh

a was not disciplined

all, he

lips curv

corporate circles. The Royal family was once a partner with the hills empire whe

.. if she became Mrs. Lucian Sto

eft behind would b

elyn n

de Mira in