Chapter 21 2 Princesses And A Castle


    JUDY


    (19years ago)


    "ris, please tell us a story," Sophy pleaded.


    But ris nced at me before silently tucking them in with a smile.


    "How about I do the story-telling tonight, hmm?" I asked from the doorway, surprising them a bit.


    "Mama, you''re home!" Sophy said surprised and excited.


    They must be very surprised that I made it home before bedtime tonight.


    "Really? Yes...e mama!" Livy eximed equally excited to see me.


    "Hmm, so I have a riddle to tell and at the end you''ll have to answer a question, how about it?" I asked


    eagerly.


    I never should have told them that story. I never should have made them think they had to fight for


    anything at such a young age.


    My poor choices and fear that my daughters would fall like I initially fell after their father''s death, made


    mepel them do some unforgivable things all in the name of making them into strong women.


    I needed them to be strong, but there was no excuse that they were just kids, and such tough life


    lessons shouldn''t have been a burden they needed to bear at that young age.


    Sabrina, Markian''s mom had asked me the same question when I was at my lowest and was about to


    give up.


    "Two princesses living in a castle painted white. Sisters they were but rivals they were born to be.


    Soon the castle will be painted red with blood, for there''s One crown awaiting the ambitious enough


    and one grave lies in wait for the ignorant. Who among you still wishes to wear the crown?"


    I didn''t realize just how learned my daughters had be. They understood everything, at least Livy


    did and that was a mistake.


    As the days went by, thepany kept taking more and more hours of my days, until there was none


    for my children.


    I knew I had to teach them to be strong and independent, able to weather the storms of this greedy


    world of men on their own.


    I thought they were too young to understand. I wished I had never got an answer to that question that


    night.


    "I''ll wear it, mama." Livy replied with pure eyes.


    Imagine my horror at her promation, but I didn''t let out my surprise. For all I know, she could have


    only heard the fancy word ''crown'' from all I said.


    "Of course you will my darling. Your crown will be beautiful and someday, you''ll have to lead our


    empire." I replied with a smile while tickling her.


    "But I want to wear the crown too." Sophy bickered and on the verge of throwing a tantrum.


    "And you will baby, but your sister''s crown would be weightier than yours because she is the heiress." I


    replied with a smile, stating the fact that Livy is Luthel Inc''s heiress.


    "But... but I want mine to be wealthierrrr" Sophy dragged sadly.


    I couldn''t help but chuckle at how she misheard the word ''weightier'' with ''wealthier''.


    "You can''t because one day I''ll rule our empire and you''ll be my subject. My crown will paint this castle


    red, but your crown will be buried in a grave... na-na-na-nana," Livy teased her sister, unaware of how


    dark what she just said was.


    "But mama, I don''t want...mine in the graaave" Sophy cried out surprisingly, so I tried to pacify


    "Of course yours won''t be in any grave. You will have your crown just like your sister''s, ok?" I stated


    trying to calm her.


    "Mine won''t be either, so who''s crown will be in the grave mama?" Livy asked curiously, starring up a


    knot in my stomach.


    "Olivia, that''s enough. Neither one of your crowns would be in any grave, ok? It''s just a stupid riddle,


    forget it." I said.


    Even though it was just a story, that story brought down hell on my household.


    (Present day)


    Just as Livy stated she was going to be the one to wear the crown, she also fought for it.


    Even though she seems all calm and quiet now, for years I''ve felt like everyday is just the calm before a


    storm and all it takes is a little push for her to snap.


    Darkness resides insides my daughter, and I dread to imagine what hell she''ll rain down on a mother


    that forced her into an arranged marriage, when she finally regains her memories.


    Livy will pay back my bad for evil, but at least I won''t be leaving my legacy to a weak, softhearted,


    goody two-shoes of a sessor, who stutters and trembles in public.


    All I''ve been working for has always been hers, but i know if she shows any sign of weakness


    whatsoever, she will be eliminated by wolves waiting patiently in the shadow.


    I''ve witnessed first hand how suffice but blood thirstyly these businessmen trade. They are ruthless and


    ply on the weak, until they''ve suck thempletely dry.


    So, I admit to been a terrible mother. I''ve had to put my kids through some terrible things, but i''d rather


    have a heartless survivor as my sessor than a weak dead one.


    The gamble I yed with my daughters'' lives have a punishment waiting for me in hell, but there''s no


    better way could have done things.


    So, yes. I''d do it over and over again if it means the Luthel Legacy would move on with Olivia.


    I''ve been anxious ever since Daniel showed up here and I know I should have told Markian about it, but


    thest thing I wanted is to ruin his mood on their honeymoon.


    My daughter is already getting the shorter end of the stick and that bothers me.


    LIVY


    One of Anw''s stories about this vige that caught my interest was the story of Princess Rowena.


    Rowena was the 6th daughter of the Vige Chief, but the ancestors choose her to be the next


    Chief after her father''s death amongst her 5 older sisters.


    But she had to prove herself worthy of the throne and a crown that has bathed in the blood of its


    enemies for centuries.


    Rowena''s older sisters feared her ambitiousness and crudeness. They knew if she sits on the throne,


    she would eliminate any and everyone that she perceives as a threat, as well as anything that makes


    her seem weak.


    That was the Sedavers way- a rite of passage. A leader can''t be weak or put anyone or anything before


    his people. It''s seen as a threat on its own.


    A leader would have to sacrifice that which he or she cherishes the most, in other to make the people


    and the vige their only priority. And if he or she refuses to kill whatever or whoever it is, they''ll be


    beheaded.


    So, when Rowena was 8, her sisters made her take a blood oath that no matter what, when the time


    Their n was to trick her into making an unbreakable oath that could end her life if she does


    otherwise.


    But being bestowed with the grace of the ancestors to lead a tribe, Rowena was a little too wise beyond


    her age.


    She knew what they nned but went ahead and took the oath anyways, promising her sisters what


    they wanted, putting their hearts to rest.


    On her 15th birthday, she was made Chief of Sedaver. And on that day she was given the task to prove


    herself and show how much she can sacrifice for her people andnd.


    Rowena then asked for 6 deep holes to be dug and everyone wondered what she was going to do with


    the holes.


    While theborers dug the holes, she had a grand celebration in honor of her coronation with her family


    and the entire vige.


    The next day the entire vige arrived at the site with the hole, but never expected what happened next


    when Queen Rowena ordered that her sisters be thrown into each hole and be buried alive.


    "But you promised- you made an unbreakable vow not to hurt us when you be Chief. If you kill us


    you''ll die too." Her eldest sister reminded.


    "I never promised not to hurt any of you. I only swore that I would not perceive any one of you as a


    threat." Rowena stated.


    "Then why are you doing this to us? We are family." Her 3rd sister asked dreadfully.


    "And that is exactly why I''m doing this. You all are my family and my family is what I cherish most. I''m


    ending your lives because my love for you all has to be annihted in other to put my people first." she


    stated before she personally closed up all 5 holes, leaving only the 6th hole empty.


    She then made a deration that the day she''ll ever love anything so much that she can''t kill it, that’ll


    be the day she''ll personally end her own life and join her sisters in the 6th hole.


    Her reign of 10years was tyranous and terrible because she ruled the people of Sedaver with so much


    anger and bitterness. No one dared to challenge nor stop her because she was ruthless and they


    feared her.


    But her glory came to an end when she took in and bore a son, whom she loved with all her heart even


    though she knew what it meant.


    So, when her son turned 1, she told her trustedmander who was also her husband that it was time


    for her to join her sisters.


    As punishment for notpletely fulfilling her pledge to serve, she was beheaded before she was


    thrown into the 6th hole to be with her sisters.


    But before she was killed, she abolished the terrible Sedaverianw that a leader must prove his worth


    by sacrificing what he or she cherish most.


    Now, legend has it that her spirit still wonders around Sedaver because, her sisters refused her a ce


    in their midst in the afterlife.


    So in order to find peace, she spends the afterlife making sure that no son or daughter of Sedaver


    would ever again sacrifice their love for greed of power and ambition, thereby keeping Sedaver and its


    people safe and in harmony for all these years.


    They even have a celebration in her honor every year, as to remember the ultimate sacrifice she made


    so as to seat and rule the people of Sedaver.


    As I sat on the beach, I wondered just how much harm an emotion like love could cause.


    I jolted when a notification came into my phone. I had made a monthly financial transaction to my


    psychiatrist Dr. Joe for the past 16years.


    After an incident thatnded me in the hospital with no memories of whatsoever 16years ago, it left me


    with some very major anxiety attacks and terrifying phobias.


    I had to see a shrink at least 4times a week for 3years after the incident, just to be able to get by and


    live a normal life.


    But whenever I started regaining my memories and begin to act out, my mom would sent me to Dr. Joe


    and have him use some unorthodox means like hypnosis, to take away my memories of that incident.


    The doctor said that the trauma from 16yrs ago caused me to develop a dissociative identity disorder.


    So to keep my dark side in check, I''m not allowed to remember that incident.


    But 5years ago I found out how my mom always asks for my other memories to be taken away by


    hypnosis as well. I guess she can''t manipte, emotionally ckmail and demoralize me if my


    memories return.


    So, 3years ago I decided to take back my life. But in return for Dr Joe''s silence I have to deposit a


    monthly fee to his ount, to shut him up about telling my mother know that I know what she has been


    doing to me.


    I have thought of making him disappear a few times in the past, but I can''t because he literally has the


    key to the rest of my memory.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    When I got the news that I would be getting married to Markian, I was so terrified at first and I doubted


    myself.


    What if all my pastes shing with my present and future with him, how do I handle it? I love him,


    so if we would have a future together I needed to let go of everything- my pain, my mother''s betrayal


    and my n to retaliate- everything.


    I was going to change the course of my life for Markian, to forget everything about my ns and just be


    happy with him. Masking wasn''t going to be a problem, I convinced myself since I was really good at


    acting.


    But now, everything is starting to crash. It was ok when I was still under my mom''s shadow, I was safe


    without my memories and my enemies were afar off but now, they''re closer than ever.


    I intend to live even though a quiet and a happy life with Markian won''t be possible after all. I wanted


    things to work but, no matter how much I try to mask he still sees through me, so what''s the point?


    I have deadly enemies who are now after my life and my crown, so i have to fight back.


    I sat at the beach for a long time wondering just how much things will change once we get back to


    Minnesota. I''m done being weak- that''s for sure, and heaven knows that I''d rather end my life than let


    anyone take that which is important to me.


    I have to protect what''s mine and for so long it has kept me alive till date. For my survival, I''ll have to


    return to being the very evil I was known to be. I can not afford to be weak.


    Soon after my thought, I could feel his presence as his familiar scent filled my nostrils. Markian walked


    towards me on the beach and sat down next to me.


    I thought he had gone to bed, so I wondered what he was still doing up since it was already sote. He


    can''t keep doing these nice things for me, his hostility and coldness towards me is what i actually need


    now.


    I mean, how else do I create an anger and resentment towards him if I don''t focus on those his


    heartbreakingments, names calling and his distrust in me?


    So, if he turns around and do these little things, it makes me want to give my love another chance. But


    my love is my weakness and I can''t be weak unless I want to get eaten by my furious enemies.


    "Livy, what are you doing out here alone?" he asked concerned?


    I watched as he gotfortable on the sand as he sat down.


    "Thinking- You?" I asked in return.


    "Cherry-picking- what do you think?! Of course I''m out here looking for you." He replied irritatedly as he


    pped his hands to get rid the sand in his palms.


    "Why?...What do you care?" I asked, still annoyed about our almost love-making.


    I knew why he was here obviously, but strangely I wanted to believe that he came to find me because


    he couldn''t stop thinking and worrying about me. And that I am very important to him and not just


    because of some stupid contract.


    I have to bury my feelings for this man. He was never mine and never will be. This isn''t my life.


    Livy, be strong. Everything depends on your decision tonight, on this beach.


    "I''ve told you that I don''t want to be ountable for any more of your stupid mistakes, so you can''t just


    run off on me like that, you are my responsibility. I can''t even shut my eyes to sleep when you''re not by


    my side, so please stop making me worry about you all the time." He replied, obviously upset and


    irritated.


    There it is. There is that sting his words always seems to cause in my heart. But this is good. This is my


    wake up call.


    "Fine... I''m sorry I ran off on you like that. C''mon, let''s head on back, it''s already veryte." I


    apologetically stated as I moved in to give him a kiss on his cheek followed by a hug.


    If this was going to be myst night feeling anything for Markian Winfrey, I don''t want to regret not


    hugging him onest time.


    We head back to the lodge together silently, and went straight to bed.


    Tomorrow is Felicity''s funeral service and we both have to be there.


    I knew what had happened at the station yesterday must have caused a strain in Markian and Mr


    Gracía''s rtionship, but I can''t let anything happen to their business partnership on my ount.


    MARKIAN


    We were at the Gracía''s mansion for Felicity''s funeral service, but Livy have been acting really strange


    since this morning.


    She hardly said a word to me all morning, excep on our way back from Sedaver, and few moments ago


    when she requested that I forgive Mr. Gracía and continue with the partnership we had agreed on.


    I wasn''t even aware that Mr. Gracía had sent her an apology and that she had already epted it.


    The first time she spoke to me this morning was on the cruise yacht from Sedaver. Even then she had


    said something that had freaked me out a bit.


    "Markian, why exactly did youe out on the beach to get mest night? And...before you answer,


    please think it through and give me your best honest answer." She requested boldly.


    What is these? Some kind of Dr. Phil''s session? But something was different today, and she was


    surprising calm and bold- just like her mother Judy. I shuddered at the thought of Judy.


    But Livy meant business with her question, and she wasn''t looking for just any made up reason like the


    ones I''ve been giving hertely. She truly wanted to know what was in my heart.


    I took a deep breathe in and thought about why I was really out therest night looking for her.


    After she ran out of the room, I didn''t want to go after her. But things got weird as Iid down and shut


    my eyes to sleep. I kept on seeing her face in my mind and no matter how much I tossed and turned on


    the bed, I couldn''t rest.


    It was as though I needed her by my side to go to sleep. Then the strong urge to see her came and it


    overpowered me, pulling me outside.


    Having her in my armsst night was the most satisfying feeling I''ve ever had in a long while, and


    strangely enough for the first time, I wished I was wrong about her.


    But I''ve never been wrong about anything in my life before. You can call it a gift but i''ve been able to


    scale through the international market even as an inexperienced young businessman because of my


    intuition.


    I have a knack of reading people and knowing exactly what their real n might be and I''m always


    urate.


    But with Livy, even though I know she is maniptive and ambitious, I can''t help but desire something


    more- something deeper between both of us. So, I had to stop myself every time because she can''t


    know about what I''m really thinking. If she does, then it means she has won.


    "I told you already, haven''t i? You are my responsibility to keep safe. Your mom would go ballistic if she


    finds out that about all the troubles you''ve been getting into. So, doing anything stupid would make us


    lose everything that we''ve worked for." I answered dishonestly.


    I''ve been lying a lottely and that shouldn''t be. I could tell she was disappointed by my reply but she


    didn''t turned pale as usual. She just became very cold from then on, making it hard for me to read her


    expressions.


    "I see, but I think you''re falling in love with me." She blurted out casually.


    What outrageousness? Who the hell does she think she is? And let''s say it''s remotely possible, why did


    she have to say it so coldly?


    "Don''t tter yourself hon, I don''t mix feelings with business. And I''ve said this several times but I''ll say


    it again. Sophy is the only woman I''ll ever love in this lifetime." I replied dishonestly.


    What is wrong with me?


    I''ve said these same words severally and have meant it then, but now I can''t help thinking it''s not


    entirely true anymore.


    Could it be possible that I''ve flipped?


    No- no way that''s possible. I can''t just flip, it''s not like me at all.


    I made a promise to Sophia that she''d be the only woman that I''d give my heart to, but if I''m flipping for


    Livy then it means I''m not being true to my word at all.


    "So...you''re saying that if we get divorced, you won''t regret it? You''ll just go on and live your life as you


    had wanted without a care in the world?" She asked sternly.


    What does this woman want from me? It''s hard enough to think properly these days without her


    clouding my mind. I can''t be wrong, I refuse to be.


    It''s not possible for me to care for her when there''s nothing between us- ''that was a lie'', why was I lying


    to myself?


    Of course I''ll regret it. I''ve been regretting it ever since she first brought up this divorce thing at the


    party. I felt like my heart was going to explode from my chest.


    At first I thought it was just because my pride was hurt, but when Daniel told me that Livy almost kissed


    him, I realized what it was.


    This woman who crept into my life, has now slowly crept into my heart.


    I knew this but couldn''t ept it, so I kept bring up the divorce over and over again as a way of


    distracting myself from what I was starting to feeling.


    "No, I won''t. This marriage wasn''t in my n anyway, so why would i be bothered when it ends." I


    answered rudely.


    She isn''t worth my truth, so it''s ok to tell a lie, I thought.


    "Good." shemended.


    Wait, what?!


    Good? What''s good about any of this?


    "What do you mean good?" I asked rather nervously.


    "You were right not to trust me or let me in. Honestly, you made my job a lot easier." She answered with


    a smirk.


    What?


    Olivia is smirking?


    What the hell is going on here? It''s like looking at Judy''s exact replica.


    "And what job is that?" I inquired again for rity.


    "You still love Sophia, don''t you? Then keep loving her. At least one of us had a chance to experience


    an epic love story to the end. Please just promise me. Promise me that no matter what happens from


    here on out, you''ll nevere back to me with these 3 phrases; I''m sorry, I miss you and I love you.


    Promise me this, Markian." She requested vigorously.


    What is she trying to say? Why does she think I''ll ever say those words to her anyway? It''s humiliating


    enough as it is, but hearing her confirm my truth was just getting me agitated.


    "Why should I make such a promise? And what makes you think I''ll ever say those words to you in the


    first ce?" I asked offended.


    I expected her to say something stupid like- because I know how you truly feel about me or because I


    know you. I sure as hell wasn''t prepared for what I heard.


    "Becausest night I know you never wanted toe find me. But even though you hate the cold, and


    hate beenpelled to do what you don''t want to do, you still came out anyway and that''s not your


    style." She answered confidently with a smile that faded as quickly as it came.


    Well yed Livy, well yed.


    She now has me exactly were she wanted me, and knows just how to y her cards right.


    For the first time in a while, I, Markian Winfrey have just been beaten in my own game by Olivia. Game


    over.


    No one cared to know why I never wanted to get involved with a woman like her from the start. And i


    was right about her all along.


    HEATHER


    "What do you mean you both are getting a divorce? Markian you''ve only been married for just 2weeks.


    Who gets divorced after 2weeks of marriage?" I asked in utter surprise and disappointment.


    What went wrong so bad they had to settle for a divorce? I know it has to be Markian''s fault, he had


    never tried.


    He used to be a sweet boy, but after he lost his mother I guess he just stopped trying. Yes, he


    managed to put his life back on track for a while, but he needs to learn how to live without pushing


    away people who wants to help him whenever he''s hurting.


    Livy seemed like a very nice girl with a good head and she loves him so much, but my stupid cousin is


    too much of a fool to let go of his lost love.


    "She asked for it, not me. I never mentioned anything of such to her but just like that out of the blue,


    she wanted to get divorced." Markian replied.


    I was shocked that Livy would do that. I knew she loves him and she cares about him, so why does she


    want a divorce now? Was i wrong?


    "Markian, what did you do? Livy wouldn''t have walked up to you and demanded for a divorce if you


    hadn''t done anything to provoke her." I asked agitated.


    I know he didn''t want to get married, but he agreed to it anyway. So the least expected from him was


    just to keep her happy. This would be a smear in the Winfrey''s name if people got to know that Livy


    asked for a divorce after 2weeks of marriage.


    "I only told her the bitter truth- over...and over again." He replied casually.


    How can he be calm in a situation like this.


    "And what truth is it that you couldn''t keep from her even for the sake of your marriage?" I asked


    angrily.


    "That I love Sophia, always have and always will. What does it matter to you anyway, shouldn''t you be


    worried about your own business? Daniel is hell bent on bing CEO, i wonder how far you''re willing


    to go this time to stop him." Hemented sarcastically.


    Now this fool is just getting on my nerves, and is really asking for it.


    "You called me, you idiot. And for the record, Sophia-is-dead! It''s time to f''cking move your stupid ass


    on. As for Livy, you can only push someone so far up the wall for them to push back. If you lose a girl


    like her, you''ll regret it I promise you." Imented.


    "Just shut up, ok? You know nothing about what I''m going through, so just keep your opinion to


    yourself. Now tell me, is your brother back in Minnesota or is he already in Shanghai?" He asked


    surprising me.


    "Why would he be in Shanghai? If he''s not there with you, it means he must have gone back home.


    Wait, he''s not in the Caribbean with you guys?" I asked surprised yet again.


    Not being in touch with them for just few days and so much have happened already?


    "I looked everywhere for him at Felicity''s funeral but he was nowhere to be found. I even tried calling


    him but no answer. Livy and I will be returning to Minnesota tomorrow, you shoulde home too." He


    suggested.


    "Wow, I never thought i''d see the day you''ll politely ask me toe back home. Daniel must have


    really ticked you off this time if you''re so interested in assisting me beat him. But now you''re worried


    about him?" I scoffed.


    "Obviously- I''m his target, so helping you would mean I can cut off the problem before it sprouts. And


    don''t tter yourself, I really don''t care about you returning here." He replied rudely.


    "Rude much? Whatever. I''ll check if he''s back in Minnesota. Markian, what happens if we can''t beat


    Daniel? So far, he''s doing a sterling job at turning the hearts of both investors and board members


    against me." I asked nervously.


    "Stop bbering, it doesn''t suit the elegant, feisty and fierce Heather Winfrey. And don''t overthink it,


    you''ve done so much for thatpany, it won''t be easy kicking you to the curbs, trust me." Markian


    encouraged sweetly.


    Didn''t I say he was a sweet kid? He must be going through a lot of conflict, so I don''t me him that


    much. And who am I to talk anyway? I have problems of my own.


    "Thanks Markky. If I really seem like a sister to you then you have to listen to me carefully. Stop


    messing around feeling all sorry for yourself and looking pitiful. Sophia''s death wasn''t your fault, so


    stop beating yourself up about it and be ok again. You deserve to be happy, with a woman like Livy,


    who loves and cares so much for you. Give yourself a second chance at love." I advised.


    I too had my own problems of the heart that shouldn''t be a problem, but for some reason I''m being


    hesitant to make the right decisions.


    "Who said she cares about me or loves me?" He asked cluelessly.


    "I do, and because I''m a woman I know this things. She wouldn''t have married you if she wasn''t in love


    with you already, that''s how women like Livy are." I testified.


    Who knows, maybe I''m thest piece to helpplete the puzzle Markian have always had to solve


    whenever ites to trusting or loving someone.


    And with that the phone died.


    That stupid kid cut the call on me without even saying a goodbye. Sometimes he and Jeffery exhibits


    the same level of rudeness it''s hard to tell who would win if it were apetition.


    Kevin haven''t been picking my calls and ignores my messages. And I know I''m a b''tch, I mean- how


    hard could it have been to just rename his contact on my phone from Toy-boy to Kevin?


    I messed up big time and thinking about him have been messing with my flow at the office, putting me


    at heads-log every minute with Mr Rudeness. I mean, he needs to chill out and let me work, because


    he''s always all up in my business.


    I would be taking a day off today to see if I can make up for my mistake the other day. I don''t know if


    I''mfortable yet to make my rtionship with Kevin public, but how would I know if I don''t try, right?


    I''ve been a nervous wreck all day nning this date, and the only thing that could go wrong is if it


    actually goes wrong.


    I''ll be going back to Minnesota soon, and I don''t want to leave him with any hard feelings towards me


    for as long as I''ll be staying there.