《Twist Of Fate: Three Little Miracles》


 Under Her Nose

    9pm, one alluring night.


    After drinking a little too much at her anniversary party, which was held at her wedding venue and of which took her right back to the ce where it all began. Reminiscing on the beginning of her life together with Jake and recreating the magics of that day, and vowing to continue making memories together for years toe.


    Her husband, Jake picked her up and brought her home to their mansion. Finallying to her senses, she forced open her eyes, holding back an excruciating headache with a slight harrowing, and rubbing her palm on her face. Her vision gradually cleared, she could make out the figure of a man and a woman kissing with strong emotions under the dimly lit room.


    Like being struck by lightning, Diana looked at the two in shock as they continued to kiss passionately by her bedside. The anger inside her began to erupt and boil.


    ¡°Hannah, stop messing around, Diana only just fell asleep!¡± the man warned as he restrained the woman by her hands and waist.


    ¡°What? Are you afraid your barren wife will wake up?¡± Hannah responded in an annoyed tone, ¡°We¡¯ve been doing this since she got married to you!, Why should we stop this night? You know I can always break your walls of resistance each time¡±. She added leaning forward to kiss the man, her body heated and yearning to envelope Jake.


    ¡°Babe, you are such a troublemaker, let¡¯s go to the other room,¡± the man smiled seductively.


    ¡°No! I want to do it here! I want to do it right in front of her!¡± Hannah swiftly unbuttoned the man¡¯s shirt as their lips once again, locked. ¡°You promised you¡¯d get rid of her after this year¡¯s anniversary!¡± Sheined as Jake jerked backward wanting to stop.


    Diana tried to hold back her tears but could feel them slowly trickling down her face. Who would have thought, the man she is been married to for three years has been and would be cheating right under her nostrils with her close friend.


    ¡°Behave, let¡¯s go to the bathroom. Isn¡¯t the bathtub your favorite ce?¡±


    ¡°Fine then, you go in and fill up the bathtub first¡­¡± Hannah nudged the man¡¯s chest towards the bathroom. As soon as the man left the room, she sauntered over to Diana. Leaning over with a cold smile, she whispered, ¡°Diana, barren chick! ¡®m pregnant, he¡¯s mine! He married you for your wealth and influence and now you have no choice but to file a divorce paper, of which would result in your property being spllited into halves and a half for him since you¡¯re the wealthiest. Remember you both also indulged in a court marriage and high chances you will be left with nothing!.


    Diana tightened her hands into a fist as she held back her emotions ¨C careful not to let out a sound.


    Her mind reeled, tears welled up in her eyes and her lips trembled.


    It was not until she heard the moaning sounds of the coupleing from the bathroom did she feel her world had fallen apart totally.


    Three years ago, Jake was amon security guard at Diana¡¯s oilpany, thergest oil producingpany in the world. Jake somehow managed to win her heart when she visited thepany for an inspection, and that was how their love story began.


    She took Jake from grass to grace and now he was wealthy with established subpanies and even has a 90% stake at Diana¡¯s oilpany. Diana trusted him and had handed over almost everything to him but now it dawned on her she shouldn¡¯t have.


    Being barren and unmarried for years, she finally decides to give love a second chance, after herst terrible rtionship. And now she was going to lose everything if she filed for a divorce. She had always tolerated how Jake treated her since she handed over to him some of herpanies and now, she was not going to tolerate his trashes anymore.


    As it turned out, everything she did merely went towards preparing someone else¡¯s ¡°food¡±. No! This must be a dream, just a horrible nightmare, everything will be back to normal tomorrow!


    Diana continued to lie to herself. Until halfway through the night, Hannahined of feeling unwell as she led Jake out of the room but before that, she leaned over to Diana and whispered ¡°File the divorce papers tomorrow! Thew is thew! You¡¯re not above the supremacy of thew ones you file it!


    The next day, as nned, Diana drove to herwyers office with a bitter smile and filed for a divorce disregarding what consequences it would have on her. As she would always say ¡®Decisions determines consequences!. Herwyer tried to talk her out of it but was however futile. She, being the only daughter of the aliko¡¯s couldn¡¯t help but file it. Her parents were abroad and they barely came back home.


    She was done tolerating, she made a decision to file it regardless of her loss. She was keen on her happiness.


    In the bid to drown away her sorrow she dropped by a night club the night of that day she officially divorced her husband and lost almost all of her wealths.


    She turned around at the night club party, she was sitting alone sipping alcoholic wine one after the other. The music is loud, and girls are swaying their hips to the sounds. The atmosphere of the clubhouse is a mixture of happiness, freedom, excitement, and tension¡­ sexual tension. Everyone seemed to be happy except Diana.


    She wants to be drunk in her sorrows. Tears are already streaming down her eyes then she was getting ready to leave, but at that moment, her eyes were drawn to a tall figure heading her way, the alcoholic wines were beginning to have their intoxicating effect on her.


    Despite her tipsy- drunken state, she couldn¡¯t help but notice the fitted dark blue retro suit whichplimented the masculine body underneath and out of the front chest pocket, the corner of a wine-red handkerchief could be seen peering out subtly.


    ncing down, Diana could see a pair of perfectly straight legs leading to a pair of freshly polished brown leather shoes which glistened in the clubs light.


    This man¡­ had such a strong presence, like that of a medieval king!


    Especially, as he got closer, although he was wearing sses¡­ his perfectly chiseled face and sexy lips were enough to drive any woman crazy. With Bar lights and neon lights that strobed the club, with indecently dressed young adults dancing to the amapiano songs and taking some powdery white substance they said gets them on cloud 9.


    The figure sat beside her ¡°Hello¡± he said ¨C his breathe stinked of alcohol, his cerebellum were obviously altered just as Diana¡¯s.


    Minutester, the drunken duo started talking and sooner their conversations got animated, the spontaneity of it was that they were both drunk and was getting drunk the more. Diana vomited all over the man¡¯s suit andter staggered and rushed to the publicvatory.


    She was in her ck dancing dress. Its low, cor-less V neckline showed just a little more than proper for formal asions.


    The stic, satiny fabric hugged the swells of her breasts and hips, the seamless body ring into a slightly frilly skirt, also too short for the most polite ofpany.


    She had no bra on that night, Delicate looking ck three inch heels barley covered her feet and matched her tiny purse ¨C just big enough for apact, a lipstick, a key, a few bills, and a rolled up diaphragm.


    She mmed thevatory door behind her, shoes clicking, long fiery red hair streaming behind .


    Diana hade to this club to even the score ¨C find someone, to have a rough sex with and drink her sorrows away. It was stupid, she knew, but she didn¡¯t care at the moment.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    .


    In sh of motion that took less than a second, the door to the bathroom suddenly opened and closed, letting in a loud st of music.


    At the same time the lights were turned off and an instantter, just as Diana startled from the noise, one hand grabbed her right arm as another mped over her mouth.


    Her eyes opened wide in the sudden darkness and she let out a smothered squeal of surprise and fright.


    And of course she was drunk, she could perceive the aroma of the figure, it was the same man she had had a couple of drinks with and had vomited all over.


    The man released his firm grip and Diana ceased the opportunity before her, and yeah, the man was hot. She leaned over him and started kissing him, the man reciprocated, and the moment turned into a very intimate one and sooner, Diana gave the man a blowjob and they rolled in the hay in thevatory.


    Itsted for exactly forty five minutes and after they were exhausted they freed each other and the man wore back his trousers and pants and staggered out of the bathroom with his exhaustive looking face.


    Diana wore back her clothes and then she saw a ring on the floor, it was a silver ring with a the initials K. O carved on it. The alcoholic wines intoxicating effect were beginning to wear off by this time, she thought it must belong to the man she had just rolled in the hay with ¨C she picked it and dashed out of the bathroom wanting to give the ring back to him but he was nowhere to be found.


    She dropped the ring into her handbag and alongside her shoes on her hands she exited the club party, entered her car and started driving home.

 Amnesia And Comatose Pregnancy

    On her way home, at a stop sign, a truck running at very high speed rams her car from behind and climbs on top of her can, then she crashes through the windshield andnds some miles away and passed out, with blood sipping from hear head and bruises of injuries all over her body, incidentallynded on the floor with a brutal force on hear head. She is rushed to the emergency room and though she was in a wrongne she is put into an induceda.


    In other words, a medically induceda (MIC), or barbiturate-induceda ¨C  a temporarya (a deep state of unconsciousness) brought on by a controlled dose of an anesthetic drug, often a barbiturate such as pentobarbital or thiopental. Other intravenous anesthetic drugs such as midazm or propofol may be used.


    It was used on her to protect her brain during the major neurosurgery she underwent, as ast line of treatment in refractory intracranial hypertension following her traumatic brain injury resulting from the car ident.


    It resulted her in a significant systemic adverse effect. She lost respiratory drive and required mechanical venttion; gut motility was reduced; hypotension was used toplicate the efforts to maintain her cerebral perfusion pressure and often required the use of vasopressor drugs. Hypokalemia also resulted. Diana was at increased risk of bed sores as well as infection from catheters.


    Few weekster¡­..


    Diana¡¯s eyelids felt as if they had been sewed shut. She imagined she could feel tearing skin as she peeled them slowly open and blinked for the first time in weeks. Diana¡¯s eyes opened suddenly, immediately being blinded by the light that shone directly into them. Somehow, the room waspletely dark when the light went away. Breathing heavily, she tried to make sense of the audible confusion. She heard the quick tempo of a beeping heart monitor to her right.


    ¡°Where am I? What is happening?¡±


    She wasn¡¯t quite sure until she regained her vision and her heartbeat slowed. Blinking slowly and taking a deep breath, she finally was able to take a look around the room she had woken up in.


    The room had pale cream walls and a white ceiling, which reminded her of a gloomy nursing home. Again she tried to move again, this time with more sess. She craned her neck to face the window, the white curtains was drawn in to prevent the bright light from fully entering into the rehabilitation room.


    It was a hospital room.


    ¡°What could have happened to her to make her end up in the hospital bed?¡± She questioned.


    The blurred figures was a doctor and a nurse assistant checking her vitals and recing the drip; an intravenous fluid. And now, the room was empty.


    After hours listening to the hustling voices, Diana slept again, only to be woken by a piercing sh back. A car ident. That was all she could remember. Outside she could hear a faint conversation. She strained to hear.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what to do. She doesn¡¯t respond much.¡±Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Do you think she still remembers the ident?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t know. After all she¡¯s been in aa for three weeks¡­.¡±


    Diana didn¡¯t hear the rest. She closed her eyes and cried unceasingly, she remembers the scene as clear as lightening, the image of her head smashing through the windscreen. Three weeks have passed from that awful day but what happened before the ident she couldn¡¯t quite remember. She tried to remember something but it all faded away like a nail dropped into an ocean.


    Then a female doctor walked into the hospital room, she was wearing a white coat whichplimented her spectacles and a stethoscope around her neck with a file on her left hands. She dropped the files on the shelf by the left and walked towards Diana on the hospital bed who was looking confused.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake. You¡¯ve been put into an induceda to save your life. You met with an ident!¡± The doctor cleared her throat and exined, she was able to discern the confusion in Diana¡¯s facial expressions.


    ¡°Yea, I remember getting into an ident- I overhead I have been like this for three weeks?¡± Diana spoke for the first time in three weeks. Her voice was crackling and like she was on a death bed and the next second coughed out and a sudden, stabbing pain made her clutch at her stomach. She gasped.


    The doctor looked at her in rm. ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    The pain was attenuating, but Diana  was aware of an acid feeling in the back of her throat and a strange light-headedness.


    ¡°My stomach¡±


    ¡°Oh, right. Time to give you this,¡­.¡± The Doctor grabbed for the injection on top the shelf beside the hospital bed Diana was on, it was a vial packaged pharmaceutical intramuscr glucose injection. Diana needed energy and the stimtion necessary.


    ¡°And yea, Mrs Diana- you¡¯ll be fine in few days time!¡±  She stated as she inserted the syringes  needle into the deltoid muscle of Diana¡¯s arm, The barrel holding the medicine and has millimeters markings on it like a rule ispressed by the the force exerted on the plunger by the doctor, and the liquid medicine is into Diana¡¯s deltoid muscle and out of the syringe.


    It sure did hurt Diana at first but then gradually weakened in force and intensity as the doctor withdrew the needle. The pain got excited and with a cotton wet with a spirit (95% methanol and 5% ethanol) rubbed over the spot the needle was injected, the pain began to subside.


    Diana jerked up as if trying to recollect a fragment of something, then finally back to what the doctor had addressed her as ¡°You called me Mrs Diana? Is that my name?¡± She asked in surprise.


    ¡°You¡¯re! Don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t remember who you¡¯re?¡± The doctor leaned closer in concern and besieged her to lie down.


    ¡°Who am I? Doctor?¡± Diana spoke as tears burned the back of her eyes, a ball of tear was beginning to cover her eyes.


    ¡°Calm down Mrs Diana¡± the doctor spoke. ¡°I feared this might happen¡­¡± She added murmuring.


    ¡°What might happened? And who am I really?¡± The hitherto weak patient has somehow gotten strength from nowhere and was trying to haul up into a sitting position. Painfully she sessfully hauled herself into a sitting position with the assistance of the doctor. Every part of her ached, especially the back of her head. The breathing apparatus by this time had been removed by the doctor.


    She was still on her hospital patient scrubs and a gauze roll wrapped around her head like a sweatband and taped in a ce and tied off at the ends. It was not tightly. It was snug enough to keep the bleeding under control, but not so tight that it cuts off cirction or irritates the injury.


    In confusion , Diana received a news that if she were to have her memories, she would be the the happiest woman on earth and on the other hand a very bad news.


    ¡°Mr Diana, you¡¯re pregnant with triplets and unfortunately I guess you must have lost your memories- from the ident.¡± Said the doctor.


    Aatose pregnancy¡­


    Silence enveloped the room as the doctor walked towards the window to shift the curtains aside. ¡°And you¡¯re Aliko Diana, the CEO of Diana¡¯s oilpany!¡± She spoke with a gracious tone. She picked back the file she had earlier dropped on the shelf and brought out a national identification card of which belonged to Diana


    ¡°What? I¡¯m pregnant?¡±


    ¡°The only thing I remember is I met with an ident?¡±


    Wait¡­.


    Obviously, she lost her memories, she couldn¡¯t remember or recall anything aside the ident that happened. And about who she was? She got more confused.


    ¡°See this, this is your ID card and sorry you lost the memories of the events before you met with the ident and who you¡¯re. You may as well not be able to remember some persons-¡± the doctor exined handling over the ID card to Diana.


    Her head was flooded with questions. Everything was new. At first, the questions were small and simple and very much in the present. Who am I? What happened before I met with the ident ? She clenched her fist tightly trying to recollect fragments of her memories but all to no avail.


    ¡°I still remember how to turn on the music, I still have knowledge of everything but not that of myself ¨C I seem to be forgetting an event as well- ¡± Diana was moving her hands trying to recollect something.


    ¡°It¡¯s amnesia ¨C A rare medical condition where there is a loss of memories that formed before a traumatic head injury sometimes apanied with forgetting who we¡¯re and some persons¡±. The doctor exined further trying to make Diana understand.


    Diana couldn¡¯t ask more questions, everything got her confused the more¡­


    It took Diana the entire afternoon to finally realize that she seemed to have been reborn.


    It felt like there were rm bells going off in her head, pounding and making a great din.


    -She is pregnant


    -Lost memories of the event that happened before her ident.


    -May not remember some persons and some events.


    -Its like starting life afresh.


    Diana rapped herself on her head. ¡°I got it, got it already. It¡¯s a new beginning for me¡±.


    Something seemed a little familiar and weird. A ray of white light shed by in her head, and suddenly a fragment came back to her. In her previous lifetime, she seemed to be barren and was always shamed, but by who? ¨C she couldn¡¯t tell. But that¡¯s by the way, she was barren but now she was pregnant. She suddenly recalled what the doctor said ¡°Triplets?¡± Joy overwhelmed her greatly. She was pregnant with triplets, it was the best news she could ever receive.


    Time and speed, She has been blessed with triplets that makes up for the years she had been barren. The system of speed she had curried.


    Despite being overjoyed, thoughts and questions didn¡¯t stop sipping into her seats of thought, they began to creep and pump into her head like a stream flowing naturally towards her.


    ¡°Who was she pregnant for?¡± Was the most that got her more worried but she thought with time everything will unfold, hoping for a memory resurgence and recollection.


    She even couldn¡¯t remember her own name, talk more of who she was really, but then the doctor told had told her and called her Mrs Diana, the owner of Diana¡¯s oilpany.

 Who Am I?

    ¡°Don¡¯t you have a rtive around? ¨C Brother, sister, parents, cousin -¡­ etcetera to take care of you, it¡¯ll take approximately two months for full recovery. We¡¯ve to ensure your babies are safe.¡± The nurse who was checking her vitals asked out of curiosity.


    Since Diana was taken to the emergency room of the hospital down to the operating theatre and then to the rehabilitation room, during post surgery, no one, not even a friend hade to check up on her and it¡¯s been three weeks. She is a wealthy woman, influential as well but how could she not have friends? Or even a husband? Or does she?


    ¡°I can¡¯t seem to remember any of that- and yes¡­.¡±. After a pause she continued ¡°My parents. They¡¯re out of town and I won¡¯t bother them, after all I¡¯m getting better now¡± Diana answered trying to stall and end the conversation the nurse had initiated, but , that was a lie that formed up in her head immediately, which incidentally was the truth she didn¡¯t know.


    ¡°Was she not married? How then was she pregnant? Was she a one night stand type of a woman?¡±. It didn¡¯t stop there, questions continually began to flow in, some she would disburse off with a bitter smile.


    After the nurse was done, Diana picked up her ID and stared at it for a minute, specifically at the passport by the upper left corner. Then, she looked at her reflection at the reflective surface by her corner.


    ¡°It is same person. It¡¯s me! ¡± She squinted her eyes. She was trying to confirm if she was the actual person on the ID card.


    Then the TV got turned on..


    She fixated her gaze on the TV screen when she heard the same name the female doctor had called her earlier ¡®Aliko Diana¡¯ .


    ¡°What was happening? ¡± Diana wept as she arranged herself into a better position to watch and listen to the 6¡¯o clock news.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    News headline  ¡°Diana¡¯s oilpany and other owners otherpanies has officially changed ownership and names to One Mr Jake and Jake¡¯s oilpany.


    The second news headline was that ¡°The ownership and name was changed after an alleged divorce between the married duo, Mrs Diana and Mr Jake¡±


    Since the doctor had earlier called her Aliko Diana;the CEO of Diana¡¯s oilpany and her ID card confirming that as well overwhelmed Diana with what ¨C she couldn¡¯t even rte. She has no slightest memories of all that-.


    An alleged divorce? Was she married? Was she divorced? And even if why would she be in the hospital with no one around to assist her? And why was she pregnant if divorced?


    ¡°These are the news details¡± the new broadcaster began.


    ¡°After an alleged divorce between billionaire Aliko Diana and Jake Bernard the property of Aliko Diana got shared and Jake being the less wealthy took more than half of Diana¡¯s property ording to thew that binds court marriage. Properties include the Largest oil producingpany in the world. The Diana oilspany now named and known as Jake¡¯s oilpany ¡±


    ¡°The reason for the said Divorce was that Mrs Diana filed for it reasons being infidelity¡±


    ¡°Until date, the whereabouts of Aliko Diana is unknown, Cases are reported that she left the city after the divorce.¡± The news broadcaster continued after he catched his breathe.


    ¡°What a wicked man? How could he do this to his wife? And I¡¯m most likely the wife? How could he do this to me, even though I don¡¯t remember him? Could they just disy his picture already!¡± Diana could feel anger erupting inside her already, like she was going to make the man she doesn¡¯t remember pay.


    After a brief advertisement on the TV, the news broadcaster continued with the session by introducing himself and as the news broadcaster on Delta city.


    That got Diana, she was not in her city, rather a different city the news broadcaster just called ¡°Delta city!¡± No wonder, they said her whereabouts were yet to be known since the divorce.


    It was finally making sense.


    Could it be that after the divorce she was leaving the city having lost everything to the man and then she got into the ident whichnded her here in the hospital?


    If that¡¯s the case, she thought there were no need going back. But what if that wasn¡¯t the case?


    Diana fixated her focus and eyes on the TV anticipating to see the man¡¯s picture and of course hers. The news broadcasting wouldn¡¯t beplete without that.


    Then her picture was showed with little formal introductions ¨C


    When it was about time to introduce thetter, the TV suddenly got switched off.


    ¡°Will you turn the TV on right now!¡± Diana shouted on top of her lungs. When she turned, she saw the chief of surgery, his barge stated it.


    ¡°You can¡¯t be allowed to strain yourself by watching the news! You¡¯ve just woken up barely hours ago. Get yourself some rest!¡± The Doctor stated coldly and turned to the nurse beside, he whispered something into her hearing, after he turned to Diana.


    ¡°We were only able to recover your handbag from the ghastly ident, we couldn¡¯t find your credit card or any payments card, we found just a silver ring that cost almost a billion, we proceeded with your operation and treatment base on your status. You should be making arrangements on paying your medical fees-¡± The doctor said and exited the room.


    Anger suffused Diana on his affirmation and conclusion but she couldn¡¯t do anything and also about the ring? Was it hers? How could she buy something that expensive? Indeed, she has her medical fees to pay as well. Since she has no cash with her, she could willingly make the ring a substitute. But that was the only thing left for her from her previous life.


    However, it was important she learnt everything, she can always find out anytime and anyway.


    Few momentster, the dizzy effect of the intramuscr injection she had been giving made Diana fell asleep like a baby.


    This is why you¡¯d return back home . To find this man.


    Diana stared silently into Jake¡¯s sad yet angry blue eyes. He exuded such an authority for a man of his ranks.


    He was definitely flummoxed by her question.


    ¡°Who am I?¡± Diana repeated her question incredulously.


    ¡°Diana, what are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°I feel like I should recognize you,¡± she admitted, feeling the heat rising to her cheeks. ¡°No. I know I should. But I¡­ I¡¯m sorry. My mind isn¡¯t cooperating. I¡¯d hoped- Well, if anything would give my memory the jolt it needed to return, this would have been it. And yet I don¡¯t know who you are, other than your name. Jake Bernard?¡±


    His expression clouded with confusion.


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m-¡± He paused. ¡°Wait. Are you trying to say you really don¡¯t know your own -?¡± He removed his hat by the crown and threaded his fingers through his thick blond hair.


    ¡°Holy shit, she is suffering from amnesia, she doesn¡¯t remember me! Opportunityes but once I have to cease this opportunity for the second time.¡± He said to himself. After all, he had lost all the fortunes he got from Diana through divorce to gambling and Hannah had left him for a much richer man after that.


    He needed a haircut, Diana thought, but then realized what an odd observation that was for her to make. It was somehow¡­ personal.


    Suffering amnesia after a car ident, Diana arrives back home with her kids and seeking the baby¡¯s father-her estranged husband, Jake. She is now a working ss citizen to bing established again.


    ¡± But will Diana recalling the tragic reason they separated only drive a bigger wedge between Diana and the man she¡¯s falling for all over again?¡±


    After Jake lost all his fortunes to gambling he was now amon street man and his only way back up is a key, someone by the name Aliko Diana. And now he had to win her back and y the card game and even im custody of the kids.


    Then, everything was like and had been a haze of rage and sorrow and bone-deep weariness, as if she were dreaming while awake.


    She calmed her thundering heart just as the she felt a cold sensation on her hands.


    ¡°Wake up, it¡¯s yourst day here on the hospital¡±.


    And she woke up, gasping, her heart mming painfully against her ribs. She was in her hospital bed in the hospital. and afternoon light was filtering in through the curtains. Her hair was stered to her neck with sweat, and her arm burned and ached. When she sat up and flipped on the bedside light, she saw her ID card.


    Her mind swirled immediately with the memories of the dream, it looked so real but the she was battling with remembering the man¡¯s face but it faded. She couldn¡¯t even imagine the man¡¯s face.


    The nurse by her side, Nurse Felicity tapped at her shoulders affectionately, she had grown funder of Diana ever since she had started taking car of her, since nobody visited or came for her.


    ¡°Calm down, it was just a dream and yeah get up! You¡¯re leaving the hospital today!¡±


    ¡± I paid the bills with my savings, you can keep the ring, it¡¯s thest thing left for you from your previous life. I figured it¡¯d be important¡± The nurse exined.


    Diana was overjoyed, she didn¡¯t know when tears began to flow her cheeks, ¡°After all, there were still kindhearted individuals on earth!¡±


    Diana was filled with gratitude towards God for the helper he has sent her way ¡®Nurse felicity¡¯

 A New Beginning

    I couldn¡¯t help wondering what it must be like to lose memories and not know anyone around you. How would it be to forget the people you once loved-even perhaps someone you¡¯d hoped you might one day marry?


    How would that feel-for both people involved? And would that love stand the test of time? Maybe it¡¯s possible-but what if something has gone terribly wrong? Something that is now forgotten?Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    *****


    Diana had missed a period and typically offered the first noticeable sign of her pregnancy, with that she was getting convinced there were no errors in the pregnancy test.


    She was beginning to experience nausea, her breast getting swollen and tender, a full of heavy feeling, change of tastes andstly sleepiness.


    All through her rehabilitation, no one even visited and that seemed weird for a woman of her caliber.


    By this time, she was leaving with the kind hearted nurse, Nurse Felicity. It felt like peace in it¡¯s real sense but asionally her thoughts would trouble her.


    She didn¡¯t have anywhere to go, she felt indebted to felicity¡¯ after she asked her to stay with her for the mean time.


    So, here she was atst. Diana stretched her limbs and walked across the grass to the clifftop railing, where she stood and looked out over the bay. After several hours on the coach, it was good to be out in the fresh air once more.


    From here she could see the quay, where fishermen stacked their lobster pots and tended theirs, and for a while she watched the brightly coloured pleasure boats and fishing craft as they tossed gently on the water. Seagulls flew overhead, calling to one another as they soared and dived in search of tasty tidbits.


    In the distance, whitewashed cottages nestled amongst the tree-d hills, where crooked paths twisted and turned on their way down to the harbour. This little corner of Devon looked idyllic. It was so peaceful, so perfect.


    If only she could absorb some of that tranquillity. After all, wasn¡¯t that why she choose to stay here, the reason she had decided to leave everything behind, everything that had represented safety and security in her life- even though in the end that security had turned out to be something of a sham?


    A small shiver of panic ran through her. Was she doing the right thing? How could she know whaty ahead? Had she made a big mistake in staying here? Wouldn¡¯t I have been better if she returned?


    She pulled in a shaky breath, filling her lungs with sea air, and then let it out again slowly, trying to calm herself. She¡¯d been living in Delta city for the six years now, with her five year old Triplets alongside Nurse Felicity. but this ce ought to be familiar to her, or so she¡¯d been told, and it was, in a way, in odd fragments of memory that drifted through her brain, lingered for a moment, and then dissolved in mist as quickly as they¡¯de. She hade here to for honeymoon with the husband she can¡¯t remember. She didn¡¯t even decided to check up for his photo on her phone or did some research, she just decided to let everything stay behind and start a new beginning with her kids.


    ¡®Perhaps it¡¯s what you need,¡¯


    ¡®Yes, maybe you¡¯re right.¡¯


    Now the warm breeze stirred, gently lifting her honey-gold hair and she turned her face towards the sun and felt its caress on her bare arms. Maybe its heat would somehow manage to thaw the chill that had settled around her heart thesest few months.


    A lone seagull wandered close by, pecking desultorily in the grass, searching for anything edible among the red fescue and the delicate white sea campion. He kept an eye on her, half cautious, half hopeful.


    She smiled. ¡®I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t have any food for you,¡¯ she said softly. ¡®Come to think of it, I haven¡¯t actually had anything myself since breakfast.¡¯ That seemed an awfully long time ago now, but she¡¯d been thinking so hard about whaty ahead that everything else, even food, had gone from her mind. Not that forgetfulness was unusual for her these days.


    ¡®Thanks for reminding me,¡¯ she told the bird. ¡®I should go and find some lunch. Perhaps if you stop by here another day I might have something for you.¡¯


    ¡°And after get her kids from school!¡±


    She felt brighter in herself all at once. Staying here and forgetting everything had been a big decision for her to make, but it was done. She was here now, and maybe she could look on this as a new beginning.


    She moved away from the railing, and nced around. Her solicitor had made arrangements for her to be met at the bar, which was just across the road from here. It was an attractive-looking building, with lots of polished mahogany timbers decorating the ground-floor frontage and white-painted rendering higher up. There were window-boxes filled with crimson geraniums and trailing surfinias in shades of pink and cream, and in front, on the pavement, there were chalkboards advertising some of the meals that were on offer.


    There was still more than half an hour left before her transport should arrive to go get her kids from school, plenty of time for her to get some lunch and try to gather her thoughts.


    She chose a table by a window, and went over to the bar to ce her order.


    ¡®I¡¯ll see to it, love. Enjoy your meal.¡¯ the waitress told her as she handed her meals to her.


    ¡®Thanks.¡¯ she said in response.


    She was now working as a medical officer in the Delta city military. She joined the medical department with the help of Nurse Felicity and over the years she had navigated her way to the top, but now she was on a a week break, thus, she decided to spend some alone time with her solicitor, with faith and hopes of recollecting her memories.


    Nurse felicity was in her afternoon shift, she would close by 6 pm. And her kids would close from school by 2pm and she still had an hour to spare.


    She was halfway done with her lunch when  a flurry thunderous footsteps was heard. Many people, including Diana in the bar casted their gazes out the window, only to be dumbfounded at once.


    Men in ck suits and  holding electrified batons surrounded the bar. There were hundreds of them and they all exuded a negative intent, behind them was a squad of burly soldiers dressed on their war army uniform, looking like those armies that only obeys the president general and the one statement ¡°Kill and destroy¡±.


    The president general rank, is the highest rank currently achievable by serving officers in the City Army. It ranks above lieutenant-general and below field marshal which is only held as an honorary rank in his capacity as themander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the City.


    ¡°Who must have provoked the wrath of the President general?¡± One old wrinkled woman, by the left spoke as she shivered, and all of a sudden, everyone present except Diana, who didn¡¯t know what was happening lied down t on the floor.


    The door of the bar was pushed open and the squad of army with some of the men in ck suits, in other words burly bouncers who stood 1. 9 meters rushed in with an expression not characterized by emotions on their face.


    They stood two rows with their heads up high and chest puffed out.


    The Wrinkled olddy waved at Diana who was looking around in confusion to lie down but Diana didn¡¯t gave a fuck what she was trying to tell her. She just continued with her meals not minding what it is was going on, but she looked trouble.


    ¡°Wee Sir Mark! The Men Greeted in Unison, their voices so resounding that the chandelier on the ceiling and the bottle of bears and wines on the tables shook and vibrated.


    The voices got Diana disturbed, however she was stunned with the Grant spectacle! Must not be other person than the Mark she had paid no attention to learn about except that he is dangerous and ruthless -.


    The personsying down t on the floor whispered among themselves and in no time, their mouths was zipped. No one dared provoke the President general except that he or she has a death wish.


    Everyone, Diana inclusive, trained their gaze at the bar entrance and soon after a man dressed in a fitted white tuxedo and leather shoes, that can reflect a person¡¯s countenance strode in.


    That person was no other person than the President General of Delta city.


    Why was he here was what ran through everybody¡¯s mind!


    However, Diana was still not bothered with his presence, but, something about him seem very familiar. Diana swept her gaze all over him, she scrutinized him head to toe and he happened to have a striking resemnce with her triplets. Especially, the eldest of her kids, Stoic, he has a morepelling resemnce with this figure, just that he is a little version of him. And the second, Legacy, he is a photocopy of his physiques but a smaller version, in addition he bears a white birthmark on his  forehead just as this figure, andstly, the youngest Jennifer, she has same colour of hair as him, with a little touch of lookalike.

 How did you get the Ring?

    ¡°Coincidental right?¡± She gasped.  She couldn¡¯t help staring at the figure, his features so wless and indeed a precious artwork of heavens.


    ¡°Youngdy, will you get on the floor! How dare you still sitting down there without paying due respect?¡± One of the burly bouncers shouted, he seemed like the personal guard to the president general. Something was off about his dress code that entuated the fact.


    That jolted Diana out of her thoughts.


    ¡°Sorry!¡± She said and continued with her meals looking unconcerned. But something troubled her mind. Her mind got restless.


    Mark who in turn has fixated his gaze on thedy started off towards her while the burly bouncer  that had spoken earlier followed behind.


    ¡°Buzz off!¡± Mark ordered  with a frown on his face, when he almost stumbled into a couple lying down on the floor and shivering.


    With those two words alone and the oppressive aura he exuded, the couple who didn¡¯t  want to get caught in any cross fire, they felt so suffocated that they could barely breathe as they paved way for him.


    Diana this time had turned to back the men and the approaching man. She didn¡¯t wanted to make any eye contact, because something about the figure tickled her memory.


    ¡°Sir Mark!¡± Mr leo, the bar owner greeted reverentially as he stood up and hastily moved forward.


    ¡°I hope all is well Sir? ¡± Leo spoke with his stammering voice as he prostrated.


    Marks brow knitted together and, he cut gaze of the young man. With that mere nce, Leo was terrified that he almost began to pee on his pants. He hastily backed away while eximing ¡°No.. No .. No My lord! Of course not!¡± Then he shed Mark an apologetic smile, he was frightened enough to have broken up a cold sweat.


    Satisfied with Leo¡¯s submission and attitude, Mark shifted his gaze towards thedy who was sitting backing them, but however, she could hear and sense everything.


    One need not be a genius to know this man was not to be yed with or provoked at all. With his flick of his fingers, the whole Delta city and beyond cane down crashing and it¡¯ can get deserted.


    The power he has¡­ top notch


    The authority he exuded¡­ top notch


    The feelings of I¡¯m untouchable¡­ 99. 9?%


    Diana feeling apprehensive and getting ufortable immediately stood up at once and started towards the entrance but then something ured, when she walked past Mark, she deliberately started to avoid mark by keeping her heads down.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Mark reached out to her and grabbed her hands. It was cold and warm at the same time. Like an electrifying shock running through her.


    She turned wanting to know who it is that is holding her and then slipped and was about falling when Mark reflexively held her waist wanting to keep her from falling to the ground, she locked gazes with the president General. Each others aroma were familiar. Jaw dropping ones. Diana did lost her memories but not her perceptions and as such could remember the smell of things.


    They stayed like that for a while until Mark was tapped on his shoulder by his personal guard, he immediately released the grip he had on thedy and she fell unto the floor crashing!.


    He felt disappointed he had almost lost guard, he got infuriated! this would be the talk of the city, that I held ady¡¯s waist at a bar. Mark was more concerned about maintaining a clean sheet!. Never had he expected such thing to happen.


    ¡°How dare you? ¡± He shouted at thedy who was sprawled on the floor, she was groaning in agony pains of ache, with her hands on her head, something seemed not to be right with her, like her memory getting jolted but the fall was not sufficient, her recollection were all blurred.


    Blurry images of having a sexual intercourse with a man at a night club party shed through her mind, but disbursed them off as she felt relieved. She couldn¡¯t quite make sense with the images.


    Mark, on the other hand, was feeling bad for thedy sprawled on the floor. ¡®i mean I shouldn¡¯t have let her fall like that! I just was trying to help her from falling and then at the end left her to fall! How could I be so stupid¡±.


    As Diana was managing to stand up a ring fell out of her pause and rolled about an axis with a noise that was clearly perceptible. The bar was super quiet like a grave yard and as such even a needle dropped on the floor would generate a sound wave, also because no one dared make a noise or moved.


    The noise got the attention of the president general and he stared at the ring in astonishment!. Wanting to get a clearer and a closer look, he bent down to pick it. Upon Diana noticing he was going to pick her most valuable jewel, she hastily bent down to pick it but ended up grabbing Marks wrist, whose fingers, he had already use to pick up the ring.


    For the second time, they locked gazes, Diana quicky withdrew her hands after that and eximed ¡°sorry¡±and then she stood up, arranging her v neckline dress.


    Mark picked up the ring and started scrutinizing it, he raised it above his heads and he caught sight of the initials K. O carved on the silver ring.


    ¡°Kelly Owens? It was the same ring his grandfather had given him for his eighteenth birthday. The same ring he lost at a night club party in a faraway city he went to for a vacation.  The initials K. O were that of his grandfather. He had raided and burnt down the night club party in search of this same ring. Then how?


    ¡°How could thisdy be in possession of this ring? Could this be thedy I rolled in the hay with that awful night?¡± Mark murmured to himself.


    ¡°Sir!, That belongs to me! I¡¯m feeling pressed, I need to exit this ce!¡± Diana broke the silence.


    ¡°Lady, How did you get this ring? It belongs to me! You had the guts to steal it from me! At Sterling city, Five years ago at the night club? Deny if you can! Do you know how much this thing costs?¡± Mark spoke with a rasped angry voice.


    When the guest still lying t on the floor saw this, they all unwittingly shook their heads, knowing that Diana has gotten herself into a big mess.


    ¡°It¡¯s none of your business, and I didn¡¯t steal it for your information, it belongs to me-¡± Diana replied starving to get her ring back!.


    The past was beginning to crawl back! She intuitively knew she was from Sterling city but hadn¡¯t made a step to return back there since her ident and recovery. The more she was trying to escape from her past, the more she was getting close.


    If she returned to Delta city, she would peradventuree across her ex husband who may im custody of her kids even though she doesn¡¯t remember him. But, then again why does her kids have a lot of physical features that aremon with this president General? What¡¯s their connection, if not a coincidence?


    ¡°I said it. You¡¯re thedy from the night club party!¡± Mark excitedly said to himself upon studying Diana facial expressions and seeing the ck spot on Diana¡¯s neck. The ck spot was the only thing she remembered more vividly about thedy she had sex with that night.


    ¡°Ok, you can have it!-¡±


    ¡°But- ¡± the burly bouncer behind wanted to speak but with a wave of Marks hands he kept mute.


    ¡°Thank you!¡± With that said Diana took his pause and the ring and exited the bar.


    ¡°Richarlison! Follow her! And Get me every details about her!¡± Mark ordered after Diana left the bar.


    Richarlison took along with him two burly bouncers and followed Diana up!


    The guest still lying down on the floor were beginning to murmur if the duo knew each other. Because the attitude the president General had disyed was unlike him. He¡¯d trash anyone who gets on his nerves up! But this seemingly ordinarydy whom didn¡¯t show him any respect at all got on his nerves and went away with it.


    ¡°The power of woman!¡± A dude said.


    ¡°Maybe, he is in a good mood..¡± another woman blurted.


    The murmuring gradually erupted a noise and then a sound of a gun shot assembled everyone¡¯s thoughts back. The gun shot was up through the ceiling which sent a wave through every guest. And now the bar was back to quiet!.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Meanwhile, Diana exhaled deeply immediately she got out of the Bar. She never thought she could feel such fear!.


    Her taxi at the moment just arrived, to her was a perfect timing and the next moment she boarded and was heading towards to pick up her kids from school. Riicharlison on the other hand, trailed her to fetch informations about her.


    Back in the bar,  Mark with his men had chased out all it¡¯s patrons. As for the staff, all of them, Leo inclusive was hurdling on the corner and squatting on the ground.


    An agonizing cry ran out from inside the bar. Moreover, the sounds of the ce being trashed was heard. Diana, couldn¡¯t make sense of as to why? Except her assumption of Maybe, they did something to evoke his wrath.

 Special Children

    How can you trust your instincts when you don¡¯t have the memories to back them up? Especially when they are telling you to trust the most deadly person in the world¡­ and what do you do when you cannot trust that the memories in your head are yours and not false memories imnted by nefarious persons?


    *******


    Diana had reached the school and she was a minute too early, so, she had to wait till the closing bell is ringed. Then, the principal called for her as regards to their children¡¯s first day attitude.


    Her children has skipped all the grade in their elementary school and had just resumed at Delford high school. They were so smart that even the elementary school teachers had issues with assuming their precision of uracy of their intellect.


    Five years ago, Diana gave birth to triplets, Two bouncing identical twins and a bouncing baby girl, the joy and happiness that filled Diana¡¯s eyes and heart was unmeasurable when she held her kids on her arms.


    She named the eldest Stoic..


    His immediate younger brother Legacy¡­


    And then, the youngest, Jennifer¡­


    Stoic is super smart and had a very fast reasoning abilities.


    Legacy is a limited version of Stoic, except that he was stronger and interrogative enough to coarse answers.


    Jennifer was the typical ¡°Ajebo!¡± The mummy¡¯s pet . She is not so vibrant like her elder brothers but intelligent, super sensitive and self withdrawn which made her quite exceptional. They all had special genes running through thier veins. When a doctor was consulted, he said it¡¯s rare and that they¡¯re lucky.


    Diana concluded, maybe it was because of theatose pregnancy but that she didn¡¯t say..


    At the same time, at their ssroom.


    ¡°All right everybody, My name is Miss Emily!¡± The teacher in the ssroom introduced herself directing the students focus on towards the chalkboard, on which she has written down her name.


    ¡°And in addition in being your homeroom teacher, I¡¯ll be seeing some of you in my English ss, And some of you on the football court- ¡± ¨C At the same time, The youngest of the students sitting at the front row, weren¡¯t even listening, the eldest among these young three kids kept on rummaging round the ssroom and scrutinizing each and every of his ssmates. His name, Stoic.


    The teacher ignored that as she continued from where she stopped .


    ¡°Just to give you a little history, I have been here at Delford for Twenty Nine years and, I taught some of your older brothers and sisters and sadly, some of your parents!¡± At this point, one of the backbenchers motioned at Stoic to face his front and listen to the teacher talking. But  he didn¡¯t pay heed to that, he kept on doing what he was doing.


    ¡°Not much I haven¡¯t seen, until today! I¡¯m sure we¡¯re all aware that we have three new students with us who despite their young age¡± ¨C the teacher started towards the kids ¡®Are remarkably gifted and I expect y¡¯all to make them feel weed¡±


    It was something of a surprise that five year old kids skipped their elementary grades and were now in the high school. It was thier first day of resumption.


    A smile went through  Stoic,  Definitely because, he got excited that the teacher noticed he and his siblings are remarkably gifted. Then, he raised up his hands..


    ¡°Yes, Stoic!¡± Emily responded, which directly met she has permitted stoic to talk.


    ¡°As per the students dress in grooming code, this boys hair is too long¡± Stoic spoke turning back, pointing at the back bencher earlier who had motioned at him to focus. And then, he redirected the teachers attention with his forefinger pointed towards the next guy sitting next to the backbencher ¡°And this boy is wearing spot attire outside of the designated area!¡±


    He turned to his left , just behind him and continued ¡®And this girls bra is diaphanous!¡± He gained back hisposure staring directly into the teachers face and continued ¡®Which means I can see her brassiere!¡±


    The whole ss chuckled even the teacher unwittingly chuckled ¡®Okay, thank you and I¡¯ll take that into ount!. Oh alright, We¡¯ve few minutes before we close for the day and I need y¡¯all to fill this forms!¡± Then her speech got interrupted by Stoic again, whose hands were up.


    ¡°What?¡±


    Without no gap in time, before Stoic could speak, a tiny little sweet voice ran through the ssroom ¡°Also in vition of the grooming code, on page article 47, 5 subsection B. You¡¯ve a bit of a mustache!¡± It was Jennifer who spoke, incidentally that was what Stoic was going to say.


    The teachers face at an instant turned cial ¨C  she bolted out of the ssroom and upon getting into the principal office, The mathematics teacher, the physics studies teachers and Diana were there discussing something she was going there to initiate.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Five minutes into my ss, that young boy Stoic, questioned my credentials¡± the mathematics teacher said with a frown on her face.


    ¡°How am I supposed to control a ssroom when a kid is using me of breaching the hygiene code!¡± The physics teacher added with an angry tone.


    ¡°Maybe, If you showered better, that wouldn¡¯t have got to you!¡± The principal responded.


    ¡°Those kids can¡¯t belong to thus school!¡± Miss Emily who had just arrived spoke.


    ¡°That little girl said ¡®I¡¯m intimidated by her intelligence¡¯, and she offered to be my leader¡­¡±


    Diana was not so surprised, she knew what her kids were capable off, back at the elementary school they would every day intimidate their teachers with their intelligence. And, even back at home, she has to strain her brain much more higher than above normal to be able to have a normal conversation with her own children. But, over the years, she had mastered how to cope with them.


    ¡®I¡¯m so sorry, Mr principal and teachers, You know they¡¯re still young, they¡¯ll get used to it in no time!¡¯ Diana pleaded, but her plea didn¡¯t get any far.


    ¡°There is a really smart school at Sterling city that can handle remarkably gifted kids like your children, why don¡¯t we not bother ourselves and take them there! I can help with the transfer!¡± The principal responded thoughtfully after a sigh.


    The teachers all at an instant supported the opinion.


    ¡°But, I can¡¯t afford a private school there, I don¡¯t have much money! And I sure can¡¯t homeschool them, they do calculus and euclidean something!¡± Diana replied with a dispirited tone. Not that, she can¡¯t really manage with paying the school fees, it was just that she was notfortable with the idea of going back to Sterling city, where she had lost everything. ¡®it¡¯ll be like walking into the past she is running away from!¡±


    ¡°Euclidean Geometry, and guess where I learnt that?¡± the mathematics teacher added questioning¡­


    After a brief silence, the principal continued.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have a choice Ma¡¯am, you¡¯ve to take them there, where they meet up with their potentials¡±


    The next moment the closing bell rang and every kid was excited, finally, they gat to go home.


    Soon after, Diana and her kids were home. Nurse felicity was not yet home.


    ¡°So, Mommy, When are we going to Sterling city? Heard the school there for gifted kids is really nice!¡± Legacy who had been mute the whole day spoke, he wandered over to her side, he wore a purple checkered shirt, and pair of denim shorts. His features were delicately chiseled, albeit childish. There was an unmistakable elegance and grace on his movement.


    ¡°I just hope the school isn¡¯t as boring as the past five schools we had gone!¡± Stoic beamed with hisrge eyes, looking like glistening jet-ck jewel as they curved into crescent moons.


    Stoic and Jennifer by this time had shifted closer as well on the couch and now, Diana was besieged with six expectant ears.


    Then, Diana smiled and nodded in affirmatively. She couldn¡¯t help but musing about how beautiful her kids were. Every time she looks into their little face, she felt a surge offort and gratitude, as though constantly in awe, how she managed to birth such special babies..


    ¡°Well, then, we best wait and I¡¯ll discuss it with Your aunty then we can proceed further okay?¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡± The kids gave one firm nod in Unison, then dashed into their room. Jennifer, whogged behind, turned back, she seem worried about something.


    Just when Diana heaved a sigh as a sign of relief, the incident from earlier that day shed across her mind. The President general. She could vividly picture him and contrast his looks to that of her kids. Just then, A small palm rested on her hands that were folded.


    ¡°Mummy, are we going to meet daddy there?¡± A cute tiny little voice spoke. It was Jennifer speaking. Diana was reminded, not with a dry eye in the room of something. She Leaned down, and ced a soft kiss on her wrinkly forehead and inhaled her baby scent. There was this unconditional love for her she couldn¡¯t exin, and it has only grown since. They had such a great affinity for each other.


    ¡°Mummy answer me?¡± She spoke nestling even closer. Diana hadically told her kids their father stays at Sterling city and she is from there and that attributed as to why Jennifer asked.

 Back To Sterling City

    Before Diana could reply, Someone walked in, it was Felicity, out of excitement, Jennifer ran towards her to wee her.


    ¡°Wee aunty! We¡¯ll be leaving for Sterling City soon!¡± The innocent cute little girl spoke with her tiny voice, eloquently.


    Felicity nced her gaze at Diana, and then back to Jennifer. After, she brought what she had bought for her troublesome adult minded kids. Three caps, one, that of a female the other two that of males.


    ¡°Take this one and give this to your brothers okay?¡± Felicity asked her. Jennifer was happy with the presents,. She had not expected any of that for that day and in jiffy, with her cap on her head, she ran off to their bedroom to give her brothers theirs.


    ¡°So, you¡¯ll be leaving for Sterling City? Howe you didn¡¯t tell me?¡± Felicity slumped on the couch close to Diana after she dropped the question, she was obviously tired from work, she had justpleted a double shift.


    ¡°My bona fide kids, were double promoted four grades in the elementary school and now even at high school, they struggle to fit into because of their highly intellect. And there is a school at Sterling city that coaches such remarkably gifted kids. Thus, we¡¯ll be leaving for there. I didn¡¯t tell them When we will be leaving considering I deemed it fit to discuss it with you. You¡¯ve made a major impact on my life and I really thank you!¡± Diana exined with a bitter smile with a sense of gratitude. She didn¡¯t wanted to go back to sterling city.


    Her face was swelling with tears already. She was finally going to return back to that goddamn city.


    Diana¡¯s phone chirped with a mail from the Delta city military basement where she worked as a Army General that she had been transfered to Sterling City military base to assist with the injured in the just concluded battle, they got involved in.


    That plus her children¡¯s education prompted her to leave for Sterling city.


    Even Diana¡¯s own parents had not known about her whereabouts since six years ago. Diana would often try to reflect and rack her brain hoping for a memory resurgence to remember who she was and her parents. Were they dead? Or alive? How must they have been doing without my presence?


    ****


    It was evening time on Saturday, at the international airport of Sterling City when Diana wheeled the baggage cart forward. With her cute little children bouncing beside her. They gazed around in wonder. Everything around seemed to pleased their interest and their curious mind gleam in their sparky eyes.


    Presently, she was out of the arrival hall and three gleaming ck rolls-royce with heavily tinted windows that dettered anyone¡¯s effort of peaking inside, were parked by the airport entrance. There was a man standing behind the backseat door, of the Rolls-royce boat tail in the middle of the fleet who kept his gaze at the airport entrance as if expecting someone.


    Richarlison, his Body guard, had done a sessful job, by extracting and finding out details about Diana, to the extent he figured she will be leaving for Sterling city. Diana, although had a different identity now. Richarlison feeded his boss, the president General what he had founded out about thedy, and since she was traveling to sterling city, Mark, the president general entertained the idea of offering to help her, by picking her up from the airport, thus, he left for Sterling city a day before today.


    Then he saw a woman pulling her cart through the airports entrance, just as he dropped his folded hands.


    She was dressed like a firstdy. From her Chanel skirt suits and pillbox hats to her mod-influenced outfits and strands of pearls, her demeanor somewhat leisurely as she maneuvered the cart. Without a doubt, her presence among the cloud was a dazzling one. He stared at her. She was beautiful, for a human-long hair nearly the precise color of ck ink, charcoaled eyes. Around her neck was a thick silver chain, on which hung a silver ring. Mark only had to narrow his eyes to know that it was real-real, precious and his to recover. It was the seemingly ordinarydy who imed owned the silver ring, his grandfather gave to him for his 30th birthday. The samedy, he was convinced he rolled on the hay with five years ago at a night club party.


    Just then, Marks gaze was caught by something else, or rather some persons ¨C Two cute little boys and a beautiful little girl that leaped by her side, they looked to be around five or six of age. One, who happened to be the eldest, Stoic was wearing a bow tie and on corporate wears which made him looked like a typical nerd, for a child of his age range. He would never befortable going out without his bowtie. The other boy was dressed way differently, a white joggers and fitting white sweater as well. They might both be young but their finely chiseled looks made them adorable.


    They had a striking resemnce, even the dumbest person would know they are twins and mark need not be a genius to realize that. He casted his gaze towards the other child, a girl, by this time Diana had crouched down and was helping the little girl who looked rather anxious straighten her white gown with touches of butterflies. Not too long and not too short, perfect for her looks. Initially, Diana had offered they wore simr dresses, since they were triplets but they politely declined with a thoughtful reason, saying they don¡¯t want to attract too much attention.


    What? Are those her kids? Richarlison didn¡¯t tell me she was married and has kids? What a moron.


    Anger perfused Mark at once. Goddamn it! Wrong timing. ¡°Well, I can¡¯t change my decision now, promised my grand father, I would bring her home!¡± He mumbled to himself ¡°But, not this way!¡±


    He nced at richarlison, who was wearing a tuxedo, standing at the front of the Rolls-royce at the front. It was not a friendly nce. It was at this moment, richarlison realized he must have fucked up!


    Diana, was only one step out with her kids beside, when Mark approached her. Behind him were two burly bouncers. Thereafter, he greeted. ¡°Mrs Diana! I¡¯m here to pick you up from the airport. I have a ride ready.¡±


    Again!


    Diana, knew this figure obviously. It was the fearsome president general. What was he doing in sterling city? Ever since the encounter with him, her mind had gone restless most times.


    ¡°Offer me a ride? As what? and I¡¯m not married! Miss would be more appropriate when addressing me¡± Diana heard herself spoke.


    ¡°I have an apartment prepared for you. You bettere with me, least I have my guards force you to¡±. Mark asserted, with the look of ¡°I¡¯m powerful and everyone obeys my rules!¡± He was relieved to know atleast she was not married.


    Diana looked confused ¨C what was wrong with him? Had he lost his sentences or mistaking me for someone else? Before she could reply legacy interrupted.


    ¡°You can¡¯t force my mum against her will. Those burly bouncers can¡¯t intimidate not even a millisecond! Get that into your fucking skull and disembark from our way!¡±


    Diana dragged him beside her at once, trying to shut him up from saying anything further, but he was getting aggressive with what he was trying to say.


    ¡°Sorry about how he spoke. Will have to go now! Thanks for your offer!¡± Diana apologized, and dragged her luggages from the cart. Stoic, who kept observing as well dragged his suitcase, one of his size.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move a step! No No No No! Don¡¯t even!¡± Mark reacted ceasing authority, Diana and her kids felt the power in his voice and they immediately halted by their step.


    Marks verdigris eyes zing. In five seconds he had turned from gentleman to a furious young man, his brown hair standing out wildly as if it were angry too.


    He squatted to see the young boys face, the one who had just dared to challenge him.


    But when their faces locked! He felt like he was dumbstruck. The young boy had little or absolutely no difference to him when he was at his age, he has revisited his childhood photos and one can easily misconceive the young boy to be the one on the photos. He turned his face and met with Stoics. Obviously, the brave boys twin brother, identical but something about stoic tickled his fancy the more.


    In awe and confusion written all over his face, he stood up! He had clearly reserved the anger he felt when the young boy challenged him.


    His heart immediately raced back to the incident that ured six years ago, he had gone to a clubhouse with his friends after he was elected as the president general. Out of happiness, he soaked himself with alcohol gradually without him noticing he was getting himself drunk, then he a metdy who incidentally was drunk as well, they sipped few more bottle of alcoholic wines and then they found themselves in avatory and had a passionate sex.


    For six years, he had been searching for thisdy to correct his mistake of taking advantage of ady. He used to convince himself they both took advantage of each other, since thedy majorly initiated the sex. Seeing this kids that bore a resemnce to him made his heart troubled.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Madaam. Why do your kids bare so much resemnce with me? Don¡¯t you remember me? I remember you ¨C we were both drunk that night ¨C the silver rings confirmed it all- ¡± Mark spoke trying to force open Diana¡¯s memory. One thing Richarlison had told him was that, she had amnesia from an ident. Probably why, she doesn¡¯t remember me or that night.


    Diana felt a sense of pain within her, that she was unable to recall anything and she still didn¡¯t want to just open up¡­.. then boom! She gathered the confidence to .


    ¡°The thing is, Sir, something happened to me a few years ago¡­there was an ident, and I ended up with a head injury. I don¡¯t remember exactly what went on, only that I woke up in hospital and everything that had gone before was a nk¡± She tried exining with her heart racing very fast. She felt troubled.


    He made a sharp intake of breath. ¡®I¡¯m sorry.¡¯ He shook his head as though he was trying toe to terms with what she had told him. ¡®i heard you had some problems with your memory, but I¡¯d no idea it was so profound.¡¯ He reached for her, cupping his hand over hers. ¡®What kind of ident was it? Don¡¯t you remember anything at all?¡¯


    ¡®Not much.¡¯ His hand was warm andforting, enveloping hers. He was aplete stranger to her, and yet she took heart from that instinctive,passionate action.


    ¡°A car ident, a truck crashed into me from behind!¡±


    She went over the events in her mind. ¡®It turned out I had a fractured skull. The emergency team looked after me, and after that it was just a question of waiting for the brain swelling to go down, so that they could assess the amount of neurological damage I had been left with. I was lucky, in a way, because there¡¯s been nosting physical harm-nothing that you can see.¡¯ She gave a brief smile. ¡®Except for my hair, of course. It used to be long and shoulder length, but they had to shave part of my head.¡¯


    ¡®Your hair looks lovely. It suits you like that.¡¯


    ¡®Thank you.¡¯ She moved restlessly, and he released her so that she was free. Her throat was dry, aching. ¡®I remember bits and pieces. Some thingse back to me every now and again, and I manage to keep hold of them. Other memories seem to float around for a while and then disappear before I can picture them clearly.¡¯


    ¡®I¡¯m so sorry,. I can¡¯t imagine what that must be like.¡¯ His grey eyes were sombre and sympathetic. ¡®You must be taking a leap in the dark,ing here, away from everything you¡¯ve known for thest few years. Or perhaps you remember something or rather someone.


    She frowned. ¡®No. I don¡¯t think so. Some of it, perhaps.¡¯ Her lips ttened briefly. ¡®Infact¡­ Sorry, I don¡¯t remember anything! So, please can you let me leave now? I have to be at Sterling military ¨C uh, I have to leave now, thank you!.¡± Diana managed to fake a smile. Then a poster from nowhere floating in the airnded at her front, in it was written ¡°Jake¡¯s oilpany!¡± .


    She was familiar with it. That caught her full attention at once, but she was till unable to make sense from it.


    ¡°Sterling military? I¡¯m the president general, the militaries in the city in this part of the world are all under me! And of course, that¡¯s were I¡¯m headed. Would offer my request for the second time, ¡°Mind if i give you and your kids a ride?¡± Mark offered and that got to Diana, who went momentarily nk.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like you!¡± The kids said in Unison, legacy¡¯s voice was the most resounding that it caused all other person¡¯s at the airport entrance to look at them.


    They had never learnt of the ident their mother had five years ago but now they were, on the course of listening the conversation Diana had just had with the president General.

 Military Base

    ¡°Will join you soon. Give me some space with my kids!¡± Diana requested with an amicable voice.


    Mark epted the request and took few steps back and was now behind the Rolls-royce boat tail.


    Diana managed to convince her kids not to act disrespectful towards him for he was a powerful figure and he can be a green card, to navigate her way up by securing a higher pay, enough to foot their school fees and other bills.


    Owing to the peculiar nature that they respected their mum so much, they nodded in agreement. Only Legacy, hesitated. He hated being threatened let alone threatening his mum, whom he swore to protect. Jennifer, however made a thoughtful objection ¡°What if it¡¯s a kidnap course?¡± She asked at the end.


    ¡°Com¡¯on¡­ The probability is zero. The burly bouncers behind him has licensed barge and ID cards hanged on thier coats upper, outside pocket¡±. Stoic was quick to point out. They were folding their arms across their massive chest.


    ¡°They can be faked!¡± Legacy objected.


    Jennifer ended the argument that was definitely going to erupt, because never will Stoic ept defeat.


    ¡°Big bro is right. They¡¯re licensed! The security wouldn¡¯t let them in into this airport surrounding if they were not.¡±


    That didn¡¯t settled down with Legacy though, but however followed their mum¡¯s instruction.


    Presently, their luggages had already been put into the Rolls-royce boot. And the door to the Rolls-royce boat tail in the middle was open for Diana and her kids.


    Diana¡¯s heart was racing all the while. Why does her kids has a striking resemnce with Mark? Would he just ignore that take it as a coincidence or proceed to find out why they bear a likeness to him?


    They had obviously never met until the past week and ¡°Sure¡± it¡¯s merely coincidence. But this one he says we¡¯ve five years ago? At a night club party? What if we have met truly? What if the ring belongs to him? Was he my husband in my past life? The one who betrayed me? Questions flooded her mind at once. She heaved a sigh with the intentions of getting out of the thoughts but it was not helping.


    ¡°Mummy!¡± That was what brought her back from thend of thoughts.


    She came on board the Rolls-royce boat tail after her kids and in a jiffy they were plying on the highway towards the sterling city military base.


    She could feel an unusual warmth erupt inside of her, despite being in air conditioned car. She had no face here in her homnd anymore. Her husband had ruined her in her past life, ording to her, but she has no better option, she has to stay here for her kids to get quality education and also for her job.


    She could see through the tinted ss , checkpoints at strategic ces inside of the military zone. The military zone was vast that it took 1/10th of the Sterling City. That was due to the fact that their military power increased exponentially year to year as they had many enemies. And, they had just won a major battle against Woond city, thus, many got injured and will be needing medical attention for their rehabilitation. The army medicals there needed all the help they could get and with that stand, many army medicals of Ally cities deployed Army medicals to assist them, Diana got caught in this cross fire.


    Initially, she was to taken there by the military aerone but she opted to go there on her own, because of fear , her kids may create problems for her.


    ¡°So, what are youing to do here in sterling city military base? With your luggages? Or You¡¯re one of the Army medicals?¡± Mark broke the silence, halfway through the journey.


    ¡°Yes!¡± Diana replied with a partial interest, wanting to avoid any form of conversation with him. She has been unable to contain her thoughts and can¡¯t afford to add another.


    ¡°Alright!¡± Mark said. He was sitting at the front.


    Then, Jennifer nestled closer to her wanting to feel her warmth. Stoic and Legacy were both busy looking through the windows and pointing out some major interesting things they were seeing.


    In a jiffy, the Rolls-royce boat tail pulled over before very beautiful three story building. The door wass opened for Diana and her kids, after they alighted. They were lead into the three story building painted white.


    The Rolls-royce boat tail zoomed off again, towards the VIP section of the military zone. They were clearly going to drop the president General off.


    Soon, Diana and her kids settled down in their new abode, Stoic and Legacy, sat at the right and left side of Diana on the couch respectively, while Jennifer was sitting on herps.


    Stoic especially, was still trying to blend into the new air around him, least he be detected and psychologically ostracized.


    Afterwards, Diana went to prepare something for herself and kids to eat. It was gettingte already and she had to sleep early to wake-up early. Tomorrow, would be her first day of work resumption in her new ce of work and she also had to get her kids enrolled in the prestigious academy that managed outstandingly smart kids.


    All the while she was cooking, she kept on reflecting why the fearsome president general came to pick her up from the airport and why her kids bore so much resemnce with him. But she couldn¡¯t make sense out of everything. The only clue she had with her was the silver ring, with the initials K. O marked on it.


    Who was her husband in her past life? Was it the president General? But he has never been married! She snapped. Then, quickly picked up her phone and googled who owns Jake¡¯s oilpany but to her surprise, she couldn¡¯t get a picture of the man. Every article with his photo attached, had been deleted. This only created curiosity within her? She was desperate to know what happened before she met with the ident and who she was before that horrible and terrible event, and why she filed for a divorce. The Jake¡¯s oilpany used to be Diana¡¯s oilpany, that she knew very well.


    ¡°I need to face my fears! And rise again!¡±


    She picked up her phone the second time and texted Felicity a voice note that they had arrived safely. She figured she may get worried if she didn¡¯t receive any text after their safe arrival.


    In odd fragments, some parts of her memory  drifted through her brain, lingered for a moment, and then dissolved in mist as quickly as they¡¯de. This resulted her to feel an ache in her head. After a while, the ache she was hitherto feeling died down.


    Back at the VIP section of Sterling City military base, After mark freshened up, he kept having his grandfather¡¯s steely voice reverberate in his mind that made his eyes turned icy.


    ¡°¡±¡±Mark, You¡¯re to recover the silver ring, only with it can you control the triads of the cities with the help of the military. Anyone who owns the ring will be dutifully and same time loyally respected by the triads and mafia of the cities in this region for some reasons you¡¯re to discover along the line¡­¡±¡±¡±Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°¡±Mark, You need to get me a great grand child. I made a covenant with an old lover, that you¡¯re to marry her grand child who bears  a mark of an ovepping circle on her innermost thigh. She will be the mother of your children¡±¡±¡±


    The former, he was already working on and was close to. He was closer to recovering the ring, and thetter, he was not even close to. And he can¡¯t disobey his grandfather, he would risk losing every power and the face he has as the president general if he dares to. He only could ask for time but his grandfather had no time on his side, he still had three months to live ording to the doctor, which incidentally mean Mark has just three months left to find this girl ordy.


    He didn¡¯t understand why his grandfather always insisted on thetter and was like, it¡¯s a price for him to pay to keep being the president general. He enjoyed being the president General. Thus, he had been looking for the girl with a mark of an ovepping circle on her thighs for years now. The cities in this region contained over millions ofdies, how he was going to find a particrdy out of  millions ofdies in different geographical regions, was what baffled him. It was like looking for a particr soldier ant in a soldier ant hill. Still he wasn¡¯t relenting.


    The only clue he had for this mission with 0. 1% chance of sess was her grandma¡¯s name ¡°Charity Wakins¡± . Over the years, he had been unable to find who bore the name let alone, her granddaughter his grandfather said he must marry to bear him grandchildren.


    Just then his phone rang, he looked at his iphones screen and saw the caller ID, it was Danny, someone he employed to find out about Charity Wakins, he picked it up and answered brusquely ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Sir, I have found out about Charity Wakins grand daughter! Her name is¡­- Mark couldn¡¯t hear thetter part, it was not perceptible enough due to thework coverage fluctuating.


    ¡°What¡¯s her name?¡± Mark shouted closer to the phones microphone. Danny could hear him clearly but whatever he said, Mark couldn¡¯t hear. Obviously because thework coverage was not particrly good under Marks roof at that instant. The military zone was undergoing awork upgrading so,work was temporarily unavable.


    A an ted gleam however ran through Marks mind when the call ended . ¡°Finally, he was going to exonerate his penance and secure his face and status¡±.


    Danny would sure call him back or text him the details.


    Mark never thought he would be this nervous though. Finding a particrdy and getting married to her? What if she is not pretty, beautiful and cute like his imaginary wife? What if she is even married to someone else? Does she even know we¡¯re fated together by either of our grandparents?


    After, he heaved a sigh and another thought rumbled on his mind.


    ¡°Why does ¨C mark suddenly realized he didn¡¯t know Diana¡¯s name ¨C whatever her name is¡­. Why does her children bear so much resemnce with me? She is realistic definition of my imaginary wife though! He chuckled and heaved another heavy sigh again.


    Then his phone chirped. Seemed like an SMS message had just been received.

 Private Military Army

    The next day¡­..


    The current head of Jake¡¯s oilpany, Jake Bernard was seeking and in need of a private military army for protection. Few days back, his personal assistant mailed sterling city military base and made the request to hire and own a private military squad.


    Jake was in desperate need of the private military army for protection. He has an unsettled score with ck axe triads who poses a great threat to him and his businesses and if care is not taken, he would be killed.


    The ck axe triad was the most deadliest triad in the whole cities.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Jake wasing personally to pick from the selected veterans or ex-servicemen. Ten were selected, and he was to pick five from them. They were all trained to same extent and one can possibly offer what the other is capable of offering. Hisckeys had no sufficient potential to protect him.


    Diana woke up massaging her throbbing forehead. She had a fitful sleep and was still feeling groggy.


    She woke up a little bit too early than usual for her. She had to to get her kids ready for school. It was going to be their first day of resumption in the prestigious high school in sterling city that can assume same precision of level of uracy as her kids intellect and as well coach ad teach them what they needed to learn.


    Diana was convinced that at least this new school with the way it¡¯s been hyped, her children will have no issues with blending in and not getting psychologically ostracized.


    In a blink of an eye, she was fully awake. She dashed to her kids room and they were even much to her surprise awake.


    Stoic was on hisputer doing some researches as he normally does. He¡¯d literally and practically spend his whole night studying and doing researches, he had been privately and secretly working on a project for the medical association. A drug that could cure coronavirus in other words COVID-19 that is most likely going to erupt and break out due to evolution and they had to prepare beforehand since they can¡¯t avoid it. The disease was a deadly one such that if it erupts, the whole cities may undergo a serious pandemic.


    Legacy on the other hand was sketching something on his drawing book. He was a good artiste. The thing he was drawing seemed to look familiar, but when Diana shifted closer- he closed it. Jennifer on the other hand was still fast asleep. Legacy looked up in amusement all over his face.


    ¡°Good morning mummy¡± he greeted reverentially as he covered his drawing book.


    Stoic who was still fixated on hisputer at this point nced and also greeted with a sleepy tone. One need not be a genius to know he has been awake all through.


    ¡°Good morning my sweethearts.. Y¡¯all need to start getting ready for school. Wake your sister up!¡± Diana replied as he nestled closer tapping Jennifer in order to wake her up. Legacy soon joined in the tapping.


    Sooner, she moved changing her sleeping position and was rubbing the back of her hands on her eyes as if to get rid of something ¨C sleep- the bed was vast enough to contain all three of them. Jennifer would never agree to stay at the girls room alone except her brother are there also. Their three had such a great affinity for each other and that cemented their bond.


    ¡°Get up!¡± Diana said as she carried Jennifer up.


    Just then a resounding noise went through the room,


    ¡°-Yesssssss! I did it! I figured it out!¡± Stoic jumped from his desk excitedly and the feeling of satisfaction all over his face. He kept on shouting ¡°Yesss¡± for some seconds. Legacy on the other hand shoved his drawing book into the locker and locked it up, he was very concerned about his mum not seeing what he was actually drawing.


    Diana was quick to notice it. What could he be drawing? And why the hell is Stoic shouting Yes and Yes all over and over again. ¡°Such weird children! Nevertheless best kids in the world¡± she said to herself.


    ¡°Mum, I finallypleted my project. I have a cure for the coronavirus that may likely erupt. I did it! I just need to carry out an experiment to test it!¡± Stoic said with a joyous tone, with his hands up stretching his body. He was exhausted indeed.


    Diana just smiled. How could five year old kids possess potential as her kids? ¡°Goodluck baby!¡± She said. She had never doubted what his kids could do with their intellect.


    In jiffy, they were all up and were getting ready for school. Stoic, despite wearing a very sleepy face was the most vibrant because of his theoretical sess.


    Presently, they were set for school. Diana was as well ready to start her shift. She was to report to the medical office, sign her name and begin her work by tending to the injured at the military hospital ward.


    Diana took her kids to the prestigious school by the name ¡°Einstein Academy¡± and got them enrolled. Five year old kids in a high school indeed!


    On her way back to the sterling military zone, before she could board a taxi back home, she saw a figure entering into a G-Wagon at a parking lot. The figure looked so familiar.


    Maybe she had known that man, she thought. Maybe it was something she¡¯d forgotten-who remembered the friends you had in kindergarten? And yet she couldn¡¯t shake an image of him, She shook her head in frustration. The image was gone like a silver-quick fish slipping off a line.


    They were halfway close to Sterling military zone when she casted her mind back, desperately trying to remember. He found herself doing that a lottely. Bits of memories woulde to her, fragments of poetry she didn¡¯t know how she¡¯d learned, ncing recollections of voices, dreams she¡¯d wake up from shaking and sweating and unable to recall what had happened in them. Dreams of betrayal and pain, of echoes. the aching sense that there was something missing, she didn¡¯t know what but something, like a weight in the middle of her chest.  As Felicity said, once you started worrying about the future, you started obsessing about the past.


    Sooner, she alighted and walked briskly to the army medical office and signed her name after which she went to the Medical military hospital ward to start with her shift.


    She was tending to an injured senior officer when her pager beeped ¡®The President General Wants You At Her Office!¡¯. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder why he  wanted to meet her, still she resolute into going as soon she was done with her patients, after all no one dared disobey his orders.

 I Might Be Their Father

    ¡°Something is not right? Until now, Danny has not sent or called to inform me about Charity Wakins Granddaughter; who is betrothed to me! This is unlike Danny.¡± Mark said to himself, he was in his office, sitting on his office desk with his hands folded.


    Hisst conversation with Danny over the phone was disrupted by awork coverage, but something kept telling him that wasn¡¯t all. He had overheard a thrashing sound in the background and some persons screening in an agonizing pain. Danny was his old school ssmates thus, they were really good friends.


    Mark finally resolutely ced a call over to Danny but it was unreachable. He was getting tensed when a message arrived on his phone, it beeped and he picked it up, it was a message from Danny, his first instinct was to ce a call over immediately to know if he is overthinking nature is not merely deceiving him that all is not well. he did, and the phone that has just sent him a message was unreachable. ¡°Something is definitely wrong!¡± He said to himself! After a several try, he navigated to read the message Danny had sent. ¡°It contained all the details he needed to find charity Wakins granddaughter. Her name and address inclusive!¡±


    He was happy that his years of finding her had paid off. But was unsettled still.


    ¡°Richarlison!¡± He yelled on top of his voice.


    ¡°Sir!¡± Richarlison his personal bodyguard quickly rushed into the office and replied reverentially. He could discern something was troubling his boss.


    ¡°Take some boys and check if Danny is alright¡± Mark ordered and dismissed richarlison at once.


    He stood up from his desk and walked towards the office window, then he caught sight of Diana through the window, she was approaching the building. ¡®oh yea, I sent for her!¡± He spoke indistinctly.


    He found himself admiring her when a red Ferrari sports car whizzed into the parking lot of the building and pulled to a stop in the parking space. The engine died before the door swung open and a man in a grey suit stepped out. He buttoned up his jacket and pulled on his sses before making a way to the entrance. Diana by this time had went into the building.


    The man was no other person than Jake Bernard. He wasing here to finalize the deal of him hiring a private army to protect him against the triads.


    Soonest, Diana arrived at the entrance of the President Generals office. Before she twisted the door knob, she exhaled deeply in the bid to calm her racing heart. Sweat had stated to pour down her face. Nervous beyond imagination. Why would the president general ask for her?


    After some hesitation, she walked in confidently.


    Mark was still by the window, his masculine looks were adorable. He was wearing a casual wear.


    ¡°Good afternoon sir! You sent for me¡± Diana greeted after a moment of silence registered the whole room.


    Mark didn¡¯t respond, rather he strode forward, Diana watched as he set up the coffee-machine in a small alcove.


    He passed her a cup a few minutester, and she stood with him, sipping the hot drink and admiring his strong, wonderfully capable hands and his long, powerful body as he leaned back against the worktop.


    ¡°Uhmmm¡­.. Six years ago, I got drunk at a bar and I had sexual intercourse with ady at thevatory of the night club house. Images from that night are still hazy in outline as I was inebriated. After the ¡°do¡± I remembered staggering out but I forgot my ring, with the initials K. O carved on it¡­.¡± Mark heaved a sigh before he continued ¡°I have searched for thisdy for years to make atonement to my sin that night. Not until recently that I dashed into you and found the ring, you said belongs to you! There is no need asking again how you got it since you lost your memories ¡±


    ¡°So, why are you telling me all this?¡± Diana questioned, she was sensitive enough to guess what would being next.


    ¡°It¡¯s because the silver ring belongs to me and you might be thedy from that night, except you bought it from someone andstly, I need the silver ring back urgently before things get out of hands¡±. Mark affirmed


    ¡°I told you, I suffered from an ident that got me amnesia, I really don¡¯t remember anything ¨C before she could continue the office phone on Marks office desk rang, it must be from his secretary, who else if not her?Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Hold on a minute! Let me take this call!¡­.¡± Mark shut her out as he picked up the call.


    ¡°Jake Bernard is here to meet with you..!¡± The voice at the other end of the phone chirped in. It was his secretary talking.


    ¡°Okay, let him in¡± Mark responded, he had already seen Jake whizzing in with his red Ferrari, thus, he knew Jake would be at his office.


    ¡°Meet me up at the VIP ward after your shift, there is something I need your help with, and of course, entertain giving me back my ring!¡± Mark said.


    ¡°Yes sir!¡± Diana responded, she stood at an attention. No one would dare disobey thatmon rule.


    ¡°But, I¡¯m afraid. I may not give you the ring, it¡¯s the only thing left for me from my past life!¡± She added afterwards.


    ¡± And also whening, bring your kids alongside. I think I might be their father!¡± Markmanded and dismissed Diana.


    Diana only nodded and was walking out when Jake walked into the room, they both smashed into each other!


    Bam!


    ¡°Sorry sir!¡± Diana quickly apologized with her face down, she was deep in thoughts trying to remember even if just something about her past life.


    ¡°How dare you? Don¡¯t you have ¨C Diana?¡± Jake shouted with his cold icy voice and it died down towards the end. ¡°What the hell is she doing here? When did she fucking return?¡±


    His heart immediately raced back to how he had betrayed her, he didn¡¯t felt any remorse. It was part of his n on exerting revenge on one of his enemies, down to hiring a private army.


    He lost all his privileges as a child and an abducted child enjoyed the affections and support he ought to have gotten, simply because he was terribly stubborn. He was sent to prison where he served his long term stay. he was sentenced for raping their family maid to death, though under the intoxicating effect of alcohol. That was not even the full story. The maid had been forced to take some pill that caused made her brain dead during the struggle to free herself while Jake pinned her lothes


    While in prison, he learnt a plethora of martial art from regiment lord and when he was released, he started working at the Diana¡¯s oilpany where he won the heart of the most wealthiest, prettiestdy of Sterling city, Diana, the CEO of Diana¡¯s oilpany. He didn¡¯t really loved her, it was his plot to have her wealth to get himself resources to exert revenge on those who drunk him to rape the family maid to death.


    Now, he had all the resources, he was finally looking for a way to infiltrate his enemies camp. His first n was to hire a private army, he said he wanted to in order to curry their protection against the ck axe triad he deliberately provoked by killing one of her members.


    Diana looked up and caught his face, the grey suit he was wearing punctuate his manly looks, he was fair inplexion and had abs like a wrestler. His physique were so charming with his handsome face.


    ¡°Sorry sir, Didn¡¯t mean to run into you like that.. sorry!¡± Diana apologized further not to evoke the gentleman¡¯s wrath. She was indeed absent minded when she crashed into him, deep into thought and racking her memory for a memory resurgence.


    Jake looked at her until she exited the office room. ¡°What¡¯s happening? Doesn¡¯t she remember me?¡± He questioned himself. As a martial artist and an ex convict, his survival instinct were top notch, resultantly making his sensitivity above average.


    Scrutinizing thedy¡¯s face, who undoubtedly was Diana, he could see thedy wasn¡¯t even shocked. Naturally, when someone runs into someone who ruined his or her life, they would be shocked and their face would say it all. Anger would erupt and lot more. But, nothing like that. She seemed like she didn¡¯t even remember him. Or was he actually mistaking someone else for Diana? It¡¯s been six years since he had seen Diana, who reportedly had went missing.

 Coincidentally

    Jake was momentarily stunned. When he regained his senses, he guffawed out loud.


    ¡°What a coincidence. Isn¡¯t that Diana?¡± He directed the question towards the president general.


    ¡°Uhmmmm ..¡± Mark tried to remember her name when he realized he hadn¡¯t known his name all the whole while. ¡°I don¡¯t even know her name. She is an army medical!¡± He added.


    ¡°Ohhhhh¡±


    ¡°Yea! Back to why you¡¯re here. You can have your seat now¡± Mark responded and gestured for him to sit at once.


    ¡°Good afternoon President General ¡± Jake greeted after gaining back hisposure. He stepped forward and sat down, he gave Mark a very look that radiated a murderous intent tainted with mischief. He shot him an icy re when Mark grabbed for his jacket. ¡®This bastard!¡± Jake said to himself. Rage, anger and pain mixed into one thing erupted within him at once. All his life, he had been strategizing on how to get close to this figure before him and cut his heads off.


    ¡°Back to business!¡± Mark sat and shifted some documents towards Jake.


    ¡°Sign those papers then we proceed into the ex-servicemen room for you to pick your five of your choice from the well trained ten!¡± Mark added exining. He didn¡¯t know Jake Bernard too well. If was his first time meeting him.


    ¡°Okay!¡± Jake responded with a cold icy voice, he gave Mark a contemptuous smile the nced at the documents before him.


    The pen was on top of the documents, in a jiffy. He signed the documents immediately.


    ¡°Shall we?¡± Mark stood up with the intents of leading the way towards the ex-servicemen ward.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Yea sure!¡±


    Sooner, they were on their way towards the ex-servicemen ward.


    Halfway through the journey, Marks phone rang and hegged behind to answer the call. It was from Richarlison, his personal body guard.


    ¡°Yes!¡± He said in a blunt direct manner.


    ¡°Bad news boss! Danny is reportedly missing!¡± The voice at the other end spoke.


    ¡°What? Deploy your boys to find him immediately! How can he be missing?¡± Mark ended the call at once.


    Jake who was about some feet¡¯s away from Mark, Smiled. His n was going perfectly well as nned. He had a a very sharp auditory sense that he was able to overhear the phone call Mark had just made.


    ¡°Anything the problem?¡± He asked pretentiously like he cared when Marks facial expression indicated worrying.


    ¡°Nothing, let¡¯s proceed!¡± Mark managed to wave the emotions swelling up inside him off.


    ¡°Okay!¡± Jake said, giving Mark a condescending Scornful look.


    Now they were walking towards the ex-servicemen ward, Mark at the front when Jake shot a ray of light into Marks body with a flick of his fingers. Mark was visibly jolted for a fleeting moment. However, he didn¡¯t think too much of it as he carried on with his steps.


    In a split of seconds, they entered into therge room where the ex-servicemen were. The ten ex-servicemen were ranging about 6ft 1-3inches tall. All having a intimidating presence and power in abundance.


    They were on their military uniform made of khaki fabric, and army coloured leather military boots.


    They standing at an attention, with their chest puffed out. One could actually see their six packs and their muscles gathered for protruding fullness. Some had tattoo covering their hands while some didn¡¯t.


    Salute!!! The ten men raised their left legs in unison and they marched it into the floor. The sound of boots marching the floor at the same time produced a  particr auditory effect produced by a thunder, except for that the intensity of thetter was more.


    Like the outpouring of wind as if the atmosphere had suddenly turned cold and dark, Two figures emerged, the most visible was Jake. He looked even more intimidating than the ex-servicemen.


    ¡°Pick any five from the ten! They¡¯re all well trained. They¡¯re the Cobra Night Team that apprehended the boko haram that terrorized a western African country¡±


    Boko Haram was a name given to the terrorist that terrorized a western African country. Known for thur notoriety and deadlines. Only the Cobra teamprising of ten soldiers apprehended the terrorist squad ¡®Boko Haram¡¯


    Jake started towards the soldiers still standing at an attention. Five of them he had already met with, the previous week. He had paid a visit to five of them and had made them his alliance by offering them an offer they can¡¯t even think of rejecting. Their duty was just for them to be loyal to him to the core and protect him. Even beforeing here, he already know who he was picking.


    He pointed at Mudryk, who happened to be the squads leader. ¡°I pick him!¡±


    Mudryk, freed himself and took a step forward.


    ¡°He is a grade one fighter! Best killer on earth. Fighting skills in a scale of 1-10 was 8. Perfect vision and sufficiently fast inbat!¡±


    ¡°And him!¡± He pointed at Felix, the IT guy. He could hack the unhackable and trace the untraceable. He stepped forward too. Followed by Samson, the distraction instrument, kylian and Lionel followed suite. They were rtively good inbat as well. Kylian was super good with his sniper and Lionel as an ex monk, was 9/10 in martial art.


    ¡°Alright, you all know your duties, visit the grandwar masters for your orientation and assignments!¡± Mark ordered and dismissed the soldiers.


    Jake just gave an evil smile before he shook hands with Marks and exited the military base.


    His private army was to resume work the next day.


    ¡°He needs a private army for protection yet, he still moves alone? That¡¯s weird!¡± Mark said to himself as he watched Jake car disappeared into the thin air.


    While Jake was driving his car off the base, his mind shed back to whom he barged into him earlier at Marks office. ¡°Wasn¡¯t she Diana? Why does she look like her? Or maybe she is? What¡¯s she doing in the military base? And I thought she was missing? Has she been discovered? I need to do some findings!


    Meanwhile, Diana was back at the military hospital ward and was now attending to her patient. She was not however 100% focused, the image of the man she ran into at the president generals office kept tititing her memory. She didn¡¯t understand why the images of the man kept reurring in her seat of thought. Anyone she saw, she would think it was the same man. Her mind was getting troubled at this point in time. Somethings kept flickering in her faulty memory bank, she started to feel pains and aches. From somewhere in the depths of her mind she recalled images of fruit trees and sshouses with grapes, melons and peaches.


    She had no memory of the man to whom she had oncemitted her heart and life. The man to whom she¡¯d made sacred vows, the man who cheated on her with his childhood friend and extorted all of her wealth and then, to her mortification and shame, had apparently found reason to break them.  She was between unconsciousness and apparently delirium when her rm started ringing which reminded her of her kids and a reason to live. A minuteter she regained her consciousness fully. ¡°Time to go pick up her kids from school!¡±


    She sat for a while before she gathered strength to move. She wasn¡¯t sure how she was feeling already. Strong? Physically and mentally or it¡¯s more mental?


    Her mind again shed back to when Mark said she should bring her kids alongside her to the VIP ward. There was seriousness in his face. ¡°Could he really be the father of my kids?¡±

 Unfamiliar Emotions

    Presently at Marks office.


    ¡°What do you mean you couldn¡¯t find him?¡± Mark shouted loudly. He was pissed and worried at the same. Danny was nowhere to be found.


    Richarlison shivered with fear and sweats had started to pour down his face. It¡¯s been a while he saw the president general this angry.


    ¡°Sir, Give me sometime, I¡¯ll find him!¡± Richarlison pleaded.


    ¡°You have two days!¡± Mark stated more angrily then he grabbed his jacked and started off towards the offices exit.


    ¡°Get the boys ready and take me to the address I forwarded you!¡± He added as Richarlison followed suit.


    House number 10, Aliko Bay District. The most luxurious and remarkably the best neighborhood in the whole of Sterling City constructed at the top of the mountains few kilometers away from the military base. For that reason, not only was the scenery there astounding, but the air was exceedingly fresh.


    Those who could live there were either wealthy or influential people from the upper echelons of the society. Ordinarily people or even average people can¡¯t even afford to pay the property management fee there, much less live in such district.


    Richarlison wondered what they were going to do there. Was the president general entertaining to buy a house there? To live a life different from the military lifestyle? Because over the years, Mark had devoted himself into the military.


    There were two intimidating looking-guards with security uniform standing at the entrance of the Aliko Bay.  The moment they saw the military g at the front of the car, they knew it must be someone from the military. They quickly opened the gate and saluted. Richarlison responded and that alone confirmed the visitors were militants. If the security guards hadn¡¯t gotten the appropriate response or should I say a passcode, they would trail them off and wipe their ass.


    Eventually, they arrived a the top of the Aliko Bay, it was surrounded by cloud of thick fogs. The scenery was breathtaking. ¡°My betrothed have a nice taste and a good choice, definitely a wealthydy!¡± Mark said to himself as he alighted.


    ¡°A perfect environment to recuperate in!¡± Richarlison inhaled the fresh air. He could feel the intense surge of spiritual energy and calmness.


    ¡°We¡¯re here to get my betrothed wife!¡± Mark told richarlison as they headed towards the mansion in front of them. The military patrol soldiers that followed them from behind also alighted and we¡¯re all behind. About ten! Their duty was to protect the president general, and as such they needed to always be around him. The president general was strictly guarded¡­.


    The sound of their marching foot step could be heard. The serenity and quietness in the environment was amazing. It¡¯s perfect for old people to live out theirst days.


    At the same at Einstein academy ¡­.


    Jennifer was in a philosophy ss and Legacy in an art ss while Stoic was in professors calculus ss. One of the good smart lecturers.


    The high school was more coordinated than any other schools they had been, the most challenging thing was the schools curriculum, it was very challenging for the triplets thus they blended in easily.


    Stoic entered the ss a minute after it had started, when the professor asked why he waste, he said he went to ease himself. The professor was satisfied with his response. ¡°You can join the ss now and pay attention!¡± He added. Professor calculus as they call him taught further mathematics and true to his nature and proneness to calculus, he was named calculus. He had heard about stoic and his siblings and had an insight as to what they were capable of doing, intellectually speaking. Also, Stoic was his really good friend. They have had a couple of arguments via social media.


    Stoic walked towards his seat at the front of the ss when he met a very young girl about his age range sitting on his seat. She smiled at him, sunning her teeth. She seemed to be extra excited but for what? ¨C Stoic on his own part was excited to be professors calculus ss ¨C Stoic felt irritated at the way the girl kept on smiling non stop.


    ¡°Your bow tie!¡± The girl chuckled. Stoic was indeed nerdy, his bowtie and cooperate wears singled out his boringly studious nature. He was holding a briefcase of his size that contained some of his books. It was weighing him down a bit.


    ¡°You¡¯re sitting on my seat!¡± Stoic shouted, he was tired of the way the girl kept on smiling.


    That distracted the professor who was writing something at the chalkboard, he turned to watch the duo ¨C he knew both of them in a way ¨C the little girl by name ra was smart and intelligent as well.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    ¡°Oh sorry!¡± ra spoke with her melodious tiny voice and then changed seat. He sat just close to Stoics seat. Stoic arranged his briefcase and satfortably.


    ra was a bit of an extrovert so she wanted to initiate a conversation with Stoic, but the professor was watching. The moment the professor turned to face the board and continued jotting down what he was doing, ra shifted close to Stoic whose face was radiating anger. He was feeling angry because he always wants the spotlight for himself and now there is some girl almost same age as him who may pose a threat to the spotlight he wants. Stoic in this manner thinks like a psychopath who wants to known and given credits.


    ¡°How old are you?¡± ra whispered into Stoics ear. He squeezed his face as he put his book on the table.


    ¡°I¡¯m 5¡± he answered.


    ¡°Wow, well¡­. I¡¯m 5 too! When is your birthday?¡±


    ¡°13th of may!¡± He responded the moment the question popped in.


    ¡°Well, then I¡¯m the youngest in this ss! My birthday is August 1st¡± ra replied with an excited tone, she giggled and faced her front.


    It was at this moment Stoic knew he fucked up! She is the youngest? If she is, she is definitely going to get the spotlight I need! An intense surge of anger erupted within him at an instant.


    ¡°Can we be friends?¡± The little girl asked a momentary silence. She grinned immediately she popped the question.


    Stoic had never made a friend before, his siblings were his friends thus he felt something he couldn¡¯t quite decipher. ¡°Only if I found your intellect triple sweeping!¡± Stoic responded.


    ra just smiled and started paying attention, likewise Stoic.


    Soon after, the ss was over and closing bell had rang.


    Diana was right there on time, she met with the principal and she for the first time got a good report about her kids behavior from their teachers. She was excited at least she need not worry much about their academics now.


    When the kids saw their mummy they ran towards her and as expected Diana embraced them warmly. They soon dashed into her car and were heading home when Stoic broke the silence by asking her mum a question. ¡°Mum? Have you ever felt an emotion you¡¯re not quite familiar with?¡±


    Diana was a bit surprised why the sudden question and what made it most thrilling was how the deep the question is.


    ¡°Yes, why do you ask?¡± Diana responded.


    ¡°Nothing, forget I ever asked¡± Stoic casted an icy re and withdrawn to himself. All through he kept on thinking about ra. Something about her kept on waking something within him.

 My Betrothed

    The military officers whose duties are to guard and protect Mark stayed behind after mark instructed them to, while Richarlison followed Mark up to the mansions entrance. The door was locked obviously from the outside. Richarlison was clever enough to discern that.


    ¡°The door is locked from the outside! She is not at home, deductively.¡± Richarlison said and a grin appeared on his face. A jaguar at that instant drove past the military officers by thepounds gate in the Aliko Bay mountain and whizzed of to the parking lot and halted.


    The sound of the engines and the brake halting naturally would draw anyone¡¯s attention. Soon the engine died down.


    ¡°I was beginning to think we came at the wrong time. Then boom! I suppose she is here¡± Mark eximed.


    At that moment Mark saw the woman stepping out of the car at the parking lot. The woman caught his eyes because of the overwhelming presence she exuded.


    Like a queen, she was extraordinarily beautiful in her crimson dress. Her hair had been done up elegantly. She was rather voluptuous. Around her slim waist was a ck belt.


    Seeing the foolish look on Marks face, Richarlison turned to look at the woman as well. He was hitherto looking at the two men beside the women. Mark had obviously ignored their presence. Richarlison as a mercenary in Ki city in his past life couldn¡¯t possibly ignore them. He could see the outpouring of power from them as a well trained martial artiste.


    The two men looked cool in their tuxedo and ck rimmed sunsses. To Richarlison¡¯s shock, the two men had achieved thetent strike force technique.


    Richarlison was not so surprised. Someone who could afford to stay in such an environment could possibly hire incredible people at such a high level. They were proficient inbat arts and as such, they were trained in a level to cultivate their spirit men. After all, this spirit is of great essence and as far as they make their body convenient and open for their spirit. They would remain alive.


    The spirit can as well be transformed into force within abatants physical self. Even if a burly muscr bouncer throws a punch of two hundred and seventy kilograms, that force would be using ones external force. Other than external force. One could learn to utilizetent strike zone technique. With it, one could punch arge piece of paper and not damage it, rather create a very fine hole like a perfect circle in it¡¯s middle. It¡¯s a product of converging the energy unleashed by ones spirit Man force into striking zone needle. Which was insanely, very powerful.


    ¡°Do you know her?¡± Richarlison inquired casually.


    ¡°Wow, she must be Hannah! My betrothed.¡± Mark responded, he was fully interested in the woman¡¯s beauty. After all, she was also matured like Diana. While Diana was very alluring, This woman was way dominant in all walks of beauty that attracted men. Both of them were the kind of women he considered attractive. Until now, he was still ignoring the twobatants beside her.


    Thest text from Danny was ¡°Charity Wakins granddaughter is Hannah Reigns. She is the girl with the ovepping circle mark in her innermost thighs¡± alongside was her address. Although, Mark has been unable to contact Danny since he got the text from him he seemed carried away. He didn¡¯t expected his betrothed to be this beautiful. Who else if it¡¯s not her? Danny had never given him wrong informations before and he trusted him. ¡°This must be her!¡± He affirmed.


    At the same time Richarlison replied. ¡°Oh okay!¡± Everything made sense to him now. Mark would hardly feed him with informations like this. ¡°He informed Danny to do some findings about this samedy, betrothed to him, he said to himself. But he is been missing? And I have just two days to find him!¡± Richarlison added and he got troubled.


    Richarlison shaked his trouble mind off and rubbed his hands on his nose and asked sheepishly. ¡°You sure she is the one?¡±


    Mark said in response ¡°We¡¯ll find out. And If she has the mark of ovepping circles in her thighs, then she definitely is. Finally my position as the president general will be to death once I marry her! Directly fulfilling my grandfather¡¯s wish¡± Mark undoubtedly seem excited. He would have been feeling irritated if thedy didn¡¯t meet his kind of imaginary wife.


    Richarlison smirked. ¡± The two bodyguard walking beside her!¡­.¡± He added.


    It was at this moment Mark noticed their majestic presence. They were walking towards them. The woman in front and their two each beside her. One holding her pause.


    ¡°What about them?¡± Mark curiously enquired.


    ¡°They look like a pair of Brothers. Twins definitely. Identical obviously. And they¡¯re definitelybatants with proficient fighting skills.¡± Richarlison detailed.


    ¡°So, In addition to her being my betrothed. She seem wealthy and a pair of powerful bodyguard! A perfectbination with the president General!¡± Mark Smiled sheepishly to himself and he fixated his gaze on her the more.


    Mark didn¡¯t just understood the gravity of what Richarlison was trying to point out.


    Sooner, the woman and his bodyguard were face to face with them. The military officers by the gate were begin to get rmed. They also noticed how powerful the bodyguards were, should in case they¡¯re threat to the president general.


    Mark stared at her cleavage without showing any signs of embarrassment or showing a bad impression. It even got to the extent he almost drolled. That didn¡¯t even matter. Hannah, the woman, knew him very well. She was thedy whom Jake Bernard had cheated on his wife with. She was only going to pretend to be thedy betrothed to Mark for five months. Only for her mission and after it¡¯s status is mark sessful, she will unveil the snake under the green grass.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Hannah spoke with her angelic melodious voice. Her tone was in a seductive manner. Mark just thought that¡¯s her tone naturally. Hannah, seemed to start the drama from the second she met with Mark. Pretend all along! But she didn¡¯t wanted to appear cheap.


    ¡°I¡¯m the president General and I¡¯m here to have a private personal discussion with you!¡± Mark introduced himself. Hannah nced at him and turned her gaze towards Richarlison who disyed his ID card. It was a confirmation they were not faking their identity. Hannah even already knew both of them. She just had to act like she didn¡¯t knew any of them.


    ¡°Only just got home from work. You¡¯ll have to wait at the parlour till I freshen up!¡± She replied and gestured for her twin bodyguards to open the door with their iris and let her in. The entrance door was designed that way.


    Sooner, they were inside the mansion. It was indeed luxurious. Richarlison sat at the visitors chair alongside Richarlison. ¡°She seem nice also!¡± Mark chuckled.


    The walking steps of ady walking down the stairs was being heard and the two bouncer at the bottom of the stair narrowed their gaze upward. The moment they saw her, they directed their gaze elsewhere. Their job doesn¡¯t permit them to admire. Especially since she was dressed seductively. ¡°You can excuse us!¡± She dismissed her guards as she reached the bottom of the stair. By this time Richarlison had also exited the parlour to give the duo their privacy, but was close by Incase anything starts popping. Especially, anything that may cause harm to the president general. He¡¯d lose his head. Likewise, Hannah¡¯s bodyguard.


    She was wearing a singlet that pointed out her nipples and she was wearing a very short mini skirt you could get an insight of her ass. It can leave any man little to no imagination. It would make any man ogle around her. And her hair was tied in ponytail. Despite dressing so seductively, she still appeared ssy in a way.


    Mark stood up and called out to her with a smile. ¡°Hello, beauty!¡± It was by this point, he got momentarily stunned, with his heart fluttering. He fixated his gaze on her chest. He had never created time to enjoy the beauties of this earth and satisfy his urges that were getting awakened.


    She looked suggestive, and the type that men go crazy for and beg for a fling but may not make their wife. She had a very nice curvaceous body.


    ¡°Hello!¡± Hannah snapped her fingers upon noticing how Mark was admiring and gazing at her non stop. She had purposely got dressed this way to stimte an interest in Mark for her. It was the only way she could get Mark to marry her as soon as possible.


    With the snap of Hannah¡¯s finger, Mark came back to reality and confusedly sat down before he regained hisposure. The seductivedy sat down as well, crossing her legs and exposing something very close to her innermost thigh. She deliberately dropped her room key, which she bent to pick giving Mark an opportunity to feast his eyes on her chest. She had a really massive and hot! Breast.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°This girl is making me go crazy! How could a woman be this hot?¡± He said to himself.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s it that¡¯s personal and private you want you discuss with me?¡± She inquired with her angelic voice, the tone was seductive. She curved her lips like ady who was horny. Of a truth, Hannah was too disciplined to act this way, but she had to y her part well, thus she took some stimtive drugs that would make her crave a man, and that would in turn make her act very seductive.


    Mark was wise enough topose himself and stop staring at her, cause one more look at her would stir up his desires above limit.


    ¡°Uhmmmm¡­ Are you Hannah Reigns? Charity Wakins granddaughter?¡± Mark inquired as images of her nakedness, he had created in his mind shed across his mind again and again.


    ¡°Yes¡­¡± Hannah replied. ¡°Anything the matter? Why do you ask?¡± She added, inquiring.


    ¡°It¡¯s simply because I have to be sure you¡¯re her! She is officially betrothed to me by her grandmother Charity Wakins, and it was a mutual agreement between my grandfather and her grandmother. They were lovers in short and -¡± Mark got cut off and his voices died down gradually¡­


    ¡°They wanted their love to continue¡­.¡±  Hannahpleted what Mark was actually trying to say.

 Seduction

    ¡°I know of the story! And I have longed waited for you!¡± Hannah added.


    There was a fleeting silence for a moment. Mark raised his face and locked gazes with Hannah.


    ¡°So, how can I be sure you¡¯re her?¡± Mark demanded.


    ¡°Okay, first you have to follow me to my bedroom and I¡¯ll show you something!¡± Hannah leaned forward and stood up. Her legs spreading out wide as she stood up and Mark saw red ¨C his brain couldn¡¯t divulge.


    ¡°The mark of the ovepping circle? On your thigh? Inner most thigh¡± Mark pressed further. His heart was racing faster. Cold sweats dripping. And intense desires erupting within him.


    ¡°Yea! Come with me!¡± She said and started off towards her bedroom. Mark followed behind her. He was focused on her ass, shaking. She was climbing the stair, and at the front and slightly above him, the stair was coiled upward, while Mark behind her at the bottom , thus he could see her pants easily, she was wearing a mini skirt. A very short semi transparent one.


    Soon, they were at her bedroom and by this time, Mark was insanely horny and ifcks self control can just jump on thedy and fuck her till she cums.


    The first that got Marks attention when they entered the bedroom was his picture attached to the wall of the room. ¡°Why was his picture attached to the wall?¡± He questioned.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    Upon noticing the looks on his face and what he was staring at, Hannah walked towards him and nted her hands on his neck. The cold sensation of which brought Mark from thend of thinking.


    ¡°Don¡¯t think too much. I have always admired you. I have always loved you and still do. I have been obsessing over you!¡± Hannah spoke temptingly with a voice resembling a moaning sound as she swiftly moved her hands down Mark¡¯s average muscr chest. Then she jerked forward allowing her breast to jam Mark¡¯s chest. The collision sent an electric waves of shock through their body.


    Mark just stood still, with his boner. ¡°Show me the mark¡± he said coldly.


    Hannah drifted backward and slumped on the bed. She quickly removed her pants and spreaded her legs, her ¡®kpekus¡¯ was dripping with some fluids, obviously, she was wet already. Mark got sight of it and a mark of an ovepping circle, just beside her ¡°kpekus¡± then he closed his eyes and turned backwards.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to make your way with me?¡± Hannah spoke and moaned. She was already dipping her fingers into her ¨C  making her moan the more.


    Hannah continued with her persuasion tactics but none got to Mark. Mark was disciplined enough to control himself. He darted out of the room immediately he said ¡°Come to Sterling City military base tomorrow by noon, so that we can get our marriage fixed, legalized and officialized!.¡±


    As he darted down the stairs, the image of what just happened kept reying in his head. Then he was blocked by the bodyguards at the exit door. ¡°We¡¯ve to be sure she is safe before you leave! One of them said with a rasp cold voice. ¡°Brother, go check up on her and give me feedback!¡±  He added. It was obvious he was the eldest. Richarlison by this time had arrived at the exit upon noticing themotion. And the youngest of the bodyguard was about stepping into action.


    Back at the room, Hannah had gotten herself dressed up. She was wearing a ck fitting dress now. Her shoes were making a loud noise as she walked downstairs. Everyone red at her except Mark.


    ¡°You see, she is fine! Let¡¯s go boss!¡± Richarlison stated and with no gap in time. They left the mansion. As Mark was about entering into the car, he felt a sharp painful sensation on his neck which immediately died down. He touched the ce he felt the pain but didn¡¯t feel anything afterward.


    ¡°A shameless obsesseddy!¡± Mark kept on telling himself. Nheless, he still had to marry her.


    He had seen the mark of the ovepping circle at her inner thighs, and it has confirmed everything.


    Few minutester, they were back at the military base.  Mark was dropped off at his ward, the VIP ward and Richarlison and his boys drove off. Obviously, toplete the task at hand. To find Danny!.


    When Mark got home, the events that earlier happened at Aliko Bay Mansion shed through his mind while he freshened up. Sooner, he started feeling dizzy and sleepy, then he slumped and fell¡­..


    Back at the Aliko Bay, immediately Mark and his entourage left. Hannah ced a call over to her boss, the mastermind of a very ruthless n.


    ¡°It¡¯s going perfectly as nned!¡± She said once the phone call was connected.


    ¡°Perfect!¡± The voice at the other end spoke. It was like the voice of a medieval king.


    ¡°Hope he didn¡¯t touch you? ¡± He added, expecting an answer..


    ¡°No!. He didn¡¯t, I was seducing him not for him to have sex with me, rather It was to get him closer enough to inject the virus and knock him out, once he gets in the act of trying to make out with me , but unfortunately he didn¡¯t! I found another way to inject the virus though!¡± Hannah exined. ¡°How is my daughter?¡± She added with a worried tone.


    ¡°Correction. Our daughter and she returned from school, few minutes ago!¡± The voice at the other end spoke and ended the call.


    Hannah worried if he was unsettled with the fact that she tried seducing the president general to the extent she had remove her pants and showed him her ¡®kpekus¡± . She soon kicked the thoughts off with ¡°After all, we made the n together. The president General still would have seen everything, when i would be showing him the fake mark of the ovepping circle at my inner thigh. Also, when we will be cosumating our  marriage.¡±


    She was being forced to do all this. She was not feeling no backed up emotions. Her daughter was being held captive by who was using her. For her not to fuck the nyed out up, she had to take the sex hormone stimting pill to make things look real while seducing the president General.


    After bncing her thoughts, she started making preparations for tomorrow.


    Tomorrow, preparations for her marriage with the president general would begin.


    Tomorrow, she would move to join her husband at the military base.


    Presently at the Sterling City Military Base. Diana and her kids were savoring some corn kes when Diana suddenly remembered what the President General had earlier asked her to do


    ¡°Come with yours kid and entertain giving me back my ring!¡± He said. Diana recalled the seriousness in his tone when he said that and now he was an hour and half hourte.


    Stoic was busy with hisptop, oftentime he would pause to take some corn kes to savor. He was sitting at the chair opposite Dianas¡¯


    Jennifer was sitting on her mumsp while Legacy was sitting on the floor, setting up his water game gun. He was the most yful.


    ¡°Legacy! Stoic! Come closer. There is somewhere you guys have to apany me to. Including my pretty sweetheart here.¡± Diana called out for her kids and touched Jennifer¡¯s cheeks. Thepliment was obviously for her.

 Danny Is Dead

    ¡°Where mumny?¡± Jennifer asked after her cheeks turned pink, and blushed. She loved the way her mum alwaysplimented her.


    ¡°The President Generals Abode!¡± Diana answered cheerfully. ¡°Come let¡¯s go. I¡¯m alreadyte.¡± She added.


    ¡°Mum!¡± Stoic called out to her mum with all righteousness. He closed hisptop and continued.


    ¡°Have you noticed we¡¯re actually the miniature of the president general? We look very much alike! Is he our father?¡±Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    The question was so abrupt. Diana on the receiving end didn¡¯t wanted her kids to feel hopeless about their father. Thus, she said stalled the question but Stoic was very persistent¡­.


    ¡°Mum, Stop stalling and answer the damn question!¡± Stoic shouted ¡°Please!!! Tell us!¡± He added to soften the venom his words probably must have caused.


    ¡°Okay fine. I¡¯ll tell you all you need to know when wee back from where we¡¯re heading to right away!¡± She grinned and promised her children.


    The kids naturally were reluctant to agree. But they nodded their head in agreement and followed their mother.


    In a jiffy, they were at the VIP ward, specifically where Mark resided. The family of four started towards the entrance and knocked, but no one responded. It seemed a little bit weird.


    Usually, Marks resident is always flooded with people but presently, nobody was present. Richarlison and his boys had gone out. And the seemingly military officers were out for break. Only Mark was at home. But why wasn¡¯t he responding?


    A couple of door rm rang over but no response and it stirred up nervousness in Diana and her kids .


    ¡°Mummy, see the door is not even locked¡­¡± Legacy was quick to notice and he advanced forward and unlocked the door by twisting the door knob with force. The door knob was slightly a height above him, despite¡¯.


    The family of four went in and ¡°lol and behold¡± the interior design of the president general residential home was goddamn very beautiful and looked super costly.


    Diana nced round and a figure on the floor. As an army medical she could notice something wasn¡¯t right with the man sprawled on the floor. With haste, she started towards the man and it was the president general. At this moment he started groaning in pain and touching his neck, he was at verge of passing out when he blurted out ¡®Save me!¡¯ afterward, he lost consciousness.


    Diana quickly leaned forward and bent down cing her heartbeat on his chest. She could feel his heartbeat slowly dying down. That troubled her.


    ¡°Stoic! Switch the emergency bell on!¡±


    ¡°Legacy, there is a definitely a first aid kit around. Get me one, check the bedrooms.¡±


    When she turned to face her cute little baby. She melted and was afraid of her. She was shivering upon the sight of the dying man. She was not so strong and touch like her other two brothers.


    ¡°Baby, it¡¯ll be fine. Just stay with me okay!¡± Diana shifted closer to her and petted her out to join her brothers.


    Stoic and Legacy had got into action at once and Diana started to unbutton the president generals suit so as to get in contact with his bare chest and exert a fullpression pressure to see if he wakes up eventually. Then she remembered the president general was earlier touching his neck and was trying to say out some words that didn¡¯te out. She quickly directed her gaze towards his neck region and saw ck Veins stimted and pulsating like a virus or a poison was flowing through them.


    ¡°Shit! He is be poisoned!¡± Diana eximed in shock. Before anything else. Legacy returned with a medical kit and Diana stepped into action. She injected the president general some antidote to stop the spread of the poison and was racking her brain endlessly looking for a way to wake the president general up.


    A chaos had erupted in the military base, once Stoic switched on the rm, her sister Jennifer was with him, she was still shivering. ¡°Sister, it¡¯s gonna be okay!¡±


    The chaos that erupted was not a signal that an impromptu war had just started. It was the signal that the president general was in problem. Richarlison and his boys were still out searching for the missing Danny.


    ¡°Enemies in the vicinity!¡± a top officer shouted at a microphone at the centre field of the Sterling City military base. At once every military officer in the base aborted whatever that they  were doing and began to speed towards their dorm and get their weapons. The exit of the military base closed at once. Nobody can go in and nobody can go out.


    In a jiffy, everyone was rmed and inspecting each other to see who the intruder is and also the vicinity.


    Top sergeant Army Medicals by this time were assisting Diana in waking the president general up.


    The poison was spreading fash, even the antidotes couldn¡¯t hold it.


    Back at Aliko Bay, the sharp pain he felt on his neck when he was about entering into his car was an invisible needle prickle. It wasced with a very dangerous poisonous virus. One of Hannah¡¯s guard did it. The poison however was not to kill the president general but rather keep him wake for the time being.


    In a dream, Mark was a child again, walking down the narrow strip of beach near the boardwalk at Lae Ind. The ind he grew up in. The air was thick with the smell of hot dogs and roasting peanuts, and with the shouts of children. The sea surged in the distance, its blue-gray surface alive with sunlight.


    Damp sand grated between his toes, and his long hair hung heavily against the nape of her neck. There were no clouds and the sky was blue and clear, but he shivered as he walked along the perimeter of the water toward a figure he could see only dimly in the distance.


    As he approached, the figure became suddenly clear, as if Mark had focused the lens of a camera. It was the family maid Jake raped to death, kneeling in the ruins of a half-built sand castle. She wore the same white dress she wore when she died. In her hand was a twisted bit of driftwood, silvery from long exposure to salt and wind.


    ¡°Have youe to help me?¡± she said, raising her head. Her hair was undone and it blew free in the wind, making her look younger than she was. ¡°There¡¯s so much to do and so little time.¡±


    Mark swallowed against the hard lump in his throat. ¡°You ¨C you¡¯re dead?¡±


    Joyce, the family maid smiled. ¡°Karma is drawing near!¡±


    ¡°i was not part of the conspiracy!¡± Mark cried, but Joyce was looking out to sea, her face turning red now. The sky had turned a twilight iron gray and the ck clouds looked like heavy stones.


    ¡°But you never testified as a witness to save Jake from imprisonment!¡± Joyce shouted. Her voice so terrifying that it sent a wave through Marks body. Fear now all over him.


    ¡°I was threatened not to and I still feel guilty!¡± Mark blurted out in fear.


    Joyce didn¡¯t answer, just looked out toward the sea. Mark turned and saw that the ocean had drawn far out, leaving brackish piles of garbage, heaps of seaweed and flopping, desperate fish in its wake. The water had gathered itself into a huge wave, rising like the side of a mountain, like an avnche ready to fall.


    The shouts of children from the boardwalk had turned into screams. As Mark stared in horror, he saw that the side of the wave was as transparent as a membrane, and through it she could see some thing that seemed to move under the surface of the sea, a huge dark creature, pushing against the skin of the water. He threw up her hands-


    And woke up, gasping, his heart mming painfully against his ribs. He was in his bed in the spare room in the house, and afternoon light was filtering in through the curtains. Diana this time waspressing his chest. Other Army medicals had given up and pronounced him dead, but Diana didn¡¯t gave up. Now, he was awake.


    His mind raced back to what happened twelve years ago ¡­


    He lived happily and peacefully with Jake and Jake¡¯s parent in Lae ind. They were wealthy and living a luxurious life. Though, he was not Bernard¡¯s biological child, they took him as one.


    Jake, was his friend but when they turned neen he changed. He started drinking and smoking. He joined bad gangs and he started creating troubles up and down for his parents and a mental issue caused him to start thinking his parents didn¡¯t love him, but they loved Mark who was abducted.


    One day. He came back home drunk and pounded on Joyce the family maid and raped her till she died. He was caught and sent to prison for rehab. But Mark didn¡¯t see it this way ¨C He saw it as a set up -but of a truth someone set up the whole event. The maid was to given a pill that would definitely have killed her and the person in the bid to save his skin someone was able to spike Jake¡¯s drink and his ¡°rod of destruction¡± got insanely hard.


    Natural instincts were to find a girl to use it on. Joyce was the only avabledy.


    Mark knew the person who orchestrated the whole event but he never divulged due to threats. He felt guilty all the while and now it was toote.


    He visited the prison and looked for Jake but he didn¡¯t found him. Jake had disappeared mysteriously. His rea name was Benjamin Bernard. Now, his name was Jake Bernard! A new identity and a new face. He had done a stic surgery on his face to change his facial looks. His face got burnt while in prison due to a fire outbreak.


    Mark had even told his missing friend Danny. An IT expert that could find a needle inside a river to search for Benjamin Bernard but he recorded no sess not even a hint.


    Presently Mark was wondering why this dream came to him again. It had always taunted him.


    A shock ran through Diana, a jolt of electric realization.


    ¡°He is awake!¡± She shouted and once other army medicals rushed into the room.

 Past Crawling into the present

    Meanwhile¡­


    Jake Bernard, whose original name is Benjamin Bernard is sitting on his office desk with a satisfactory expression on his face. ¡°His n was going as he mapped it!¡± It was all over the news what transpired at Sterling City military base.


    (President General was attacked at his ward!)


    Then his phone vibrated alongside making a chirping sound. A message had just arrived.  He picked up his phone and read the message.


    ¡°Aliko Diana now working as an Army medical at Sterling City military base is suffering from a memory loss due to a ident! She has a new identity! And now a mother of three, age range 5-6 years old. Triplet!¡± The message read.


    Jake smiled craftingly. He seemed to be excited with the news. He would believe whatever his informant tells him. His informant was tested and trusted!


    ¡°I have a second chance with her then!¡±


    Of a truth, Benjamin really loved her and still does. Just that his rage and revenge seeking self had made him dumped the emotions.  ording to the saying ¡®A man in rage is a man with no emotions¡±


    ¡°A man in rage is a man perpetually searching for something bigger.¡±


    But then, she is now a mother of three who are five to six years old? Does it mean she married immediately we divorced? Or am I their father? I have always used a spermicidal cream to avoid getting her pregnant. Then howe????


    Jake was now in the realms of thought¡­.


    ¡°A paternity test can confirm that!¡± He concluded and mmed his hands on his desk.


    The force was so strong and high that the desk broke into two pieces.


    Crash!!!


    ************


    Diana looking exhausted came downstairs to meet her kids. Stoic and Legacy were sitting with their legs folded at a corner while some grand war masters were having a meeting concerning the recent attack at the parlour.


    The kids now seemed so terrified especially Jennifer that was shivering. She had never witness such a terrible event and due to her very timid nature, natural she would be scared. Stoic and Legacy both also had a sense of fright.


    She squatted over to her kids ..


    ¡°It¡¯s fine now. He is awake now!¡±


    She nted a kiss on their forehead and they drew closer and hugged her¡­


    A few momentster, Richarlison arrived. Upon hearing the news he rushed upstair to met with his boss immediately.


    He had sworn to protect the president general. It was his duty as his personal bodyguard and as well a promise he made to Mark¡¯s biological father the god of War o Ki city, their master who took a bullet for him.


    He came back to sterling city for the search of god Of Wars son. The only thing the god Of War told him about his son was that, after he was given birth to he gave him out to an orphanage home as he had to go to a major was as the god Of War. It was at Ki City Richarlison met with him, Richarlison was his most Favourite student.


    Richarlison however didn¡¯t disclose or divulge any information as regards to the promise to Mark. Mark didn¡¯t know even his own parents.


    ¡°Sir! Are you okay? What happened?¡± Richarlison spoke as he got closer to Mark lying weakly on the bed. ¡°Thank God, you¡¯re okay!¡± Richarlison spoke.


    Mark was feeling really weak. He could feel his cultivation level lower and lower beyond his imagination. Although people take him to be someone who had military under his control but didn¡¯t even know any slight hint of defense but of a truth, he was a martial artist himself but he never for once showed it yet.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    The next day as Mark instructed, Hannah arrived at the military base and was announced the President Generals fiancee. The news was as a surprise to everyone one. They never thought the president General would have a fiancee due to his ruthless and cold nature, some thought she had probably seduced him and broke his wall of resistance or she was beautiful beyond his imagination that he got charmed when he met her. Being the president general wife was a height every female military officer would wish to obtain just for the sake of the authority that will be infested in them .


    Few minutes after Mark and his fiancee left therge podium where Richarlison made the announcement officially, Jennifer started to burn with rage ¡°Mummy, Daddy has a fiancee! Isn¡¯t that fidelity?!¡±


    ¡°Sheesh! It¡¯d be if I¡¯m married to him but I¡¯m not! And he is not your ¨C ¡± Diana couldn¡¯tplete her sentence before Stoic dragged Jennifer in pursuit of the president general and his entourage. Legacy on the other hand forced their mum to follow them.


    Diana of a truth was feeling a bit restless. She couldn¡¯t quite understood why she was feeling ufortable with the fact that the president general has a fiancee who would be living with him henceforth.


    Was she a green eye monster? And why were her kids insisting and calling the president general their father?


    ¡°This kids will only get me into trouble!¡± She said to herself as she followed her kids with her heart mming heavily, they walked briskly to meet up with the president general and his entourage.


    ¡°Daddy!¡± Stoic and Legacy called out at once. That stirred up an unexpected event. The president general halted on his steps. He was weak but not too weak to not walk freely. He turned, even Hannah, her twin bodyguard and Richarlison, infact everyone turned to look at the the small kids. Behind the kids, was Diana who couldn¡¯t get her children to stop.


    ¡°Damn, they really look like him! Hmph! So this kids are the president generals kids? Well, thankfully he won¡¯t find out.¡± Hannah said to herself eximing. She could easily point out the kids resemnce with the president general.


    ¡°Daddy, can you tell us why you didn¡¯t make mummy your fiance?¡± Jennifer asked with her tiny melodic voice. Even the dullest person would know who they were pertaining to. They stood in front of the president general who was obviously taller. The children all turned their face upward to see his face like one would if he or she is staring at a flying aerone.


    Mark had over time thought about it over and over again that this kid might be his but he didn¡¯t have a substantial proof to solidify his assumptions Thus, he still had a reservation of doubt. ¡°The silver ring was not enough! And she is suffering from amnesia!¡±


    ¡°Who are you brats to question my decisions? Who says I¡¯m daddy?¡± Mark shouted and asked simultaneously. He was surprised at their audacity!


    ¡°You first son!¡± Stoic spoke


    ¡°His immediate brother¡± Legacy added, turning to meet Stoic¡¯s smiling face.


    ¡°Last but not the least, Jennifer, our only sister thest born.¡± Stoic and Legacy said at the same time turning to face Jennifer who was smiling sheepishly.


    ¡°We¡¯re triplets-¡± she blushed out.


    Hannah clenched her fist! ¡± This barren chick really gave birth to this kids!¡± Her face was burning with something Diana couldn¡¯t decipher as her gaze was on her all the while.


    Back at therge podium, she also didn¡¯t remove her gaze from Hannah for quite sometime. She was having an unusual familiarity with her. Like she had seen her before somewhere, but however she let it flow away like a flowing river. Now, she was having a simr sensation staring at her. ¡°Why does she look so familiar? Like I know her!¡±


    Hannah noticed it and was getting restless. ¡°Why is this woman looking at her this way? Does it mean she is having a glimmer of memories about her? But Mark said she is suffering from memory loss. She can¡¯t possibly remember me!¡±


    Mark was astonished by the children¡¯s response that he couldn¡¯t move his lips to counter the kids away. They were stubborn ¨C really stubborn -. He then squatted to look at the miniature of himself. Then he immediately saw a reflection of himself like himself as a kid ¨C lol, he was staring at Stoic . ¡°Could it really be I¡¯m their father?¡±


    ¡°Sir don¡¯t mind my kids. They¡¯re really stubborn! I plead on their behalf if they crossed any line!¡± Diana exined.


    ¡°Kids, let¡¯s go. He is not your father¡­.¡±


    ¡°But, mum you said we¡¯d meet our dad here at Sterling City. Who is he if not this man right in front of us?¡± Jennifer cried out. She was actually shedding tears, she was most curious and emotion to know whom her father is.


    Her tears moved Diana that her face got swelled up with some emotions. ¡°She doesn¡¯t remember? She is suffering from -¡± Stoic was the one exining to Jennifer when a Red Ferrari and a Hilux zoomed close by and came to an abrupt halt.


    ¡°Baby, don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll find him soon!¡± Diana leaned closer to jennifer and started to wipe her tears with the hem of her shirt.


    Soon after, they all directed their gaze towards the red Ferrari and the Hilux and then they saw a powerful looking figure like a old wrestler stepping down from the red Ferrari, and then a personal bodyguard who looks like  escorting him as Jake advanced towards him. It couldn¡¯t have been anyone other than Jake.


    ¡°Why is he here?¡± Mark widened his brows asking Richarlison.


    ¡°Sir, we will find out soon!¡± Richarlison responded.


    The man exuded a lot of power obviously, from his looks. He also exuded authority as well. His wrestling like look were outstanding.

 Two Things

    It was Jake, behind him was his bodyguards ¨C private army he hired ¨C


    ¡°Sorry about my kids behavior! We should be on our way!¡± Diana apologized again and was excusing herself. With the way Mark fixated his gaze on her, she felt she was doing something wrong thus, she said


    ¡°Kids ¨C apologize!¡± Diana gestured at her kids rubbing their hairs.


    ¡°Sorry Daddy! Sorry to bother you this afternoon!¡± The three rugrats said in unison, bowing their heads in an unsynchronized manner as they greeted with their honey-soaked kiddie voices.


    Mark was little overwhelmed with their obedience, but what he was quite unsure about was the fact that this Rugrats kept on addressing him as their father!


    ¡°Com¡¯on kids, he is not your father!¡± Diana squatted trying to force open her children¡¯s brain and insert the information ¡®He is not your father¡¯ by force.


    ¡°Com¡¯on¡­ Follow me!¡± She added s dragging her kids along when a cold voice rang out.


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t be in a hurry!¡± Jake said with a loud cold voice. He was now standing a few kilometers away from Mark and his entourage.


    Diana came to a abrupt halt when she realized the man was actually referring to her. ¡°What¡¯s it again?¡± She murmured as she swept her gaze towards the figure and met his sharp gaze.


    It¡¯s the same man she had bumped into at the president generals office, few days ago. Something about his amber eyes seemed to hide a pool of unfathomable coldness. He had a broad chest and his arm¡¯s muscle puffed out but not excessively. Average for his looks. Would be warm for ady to squeeze herself into them.


    ¡°Ouch¡­.¡±


    All Diana could feel now was a splitting headache and a throbbing pain all through her body, as if she had just been hit my a tricycle or a car. She furrowed her brows at the unease, she managed to find the strength to shrug it off. It was a simr feeling, she had felt something like this when she first bumped into this figure. Something continually kept insisting and digging out Diana¡¯s memories like a grave being dug.


    ¡°Sorry, about my impromptu visit President General! And Good Day!¡± Jake greeted deferentially, hastily moving forward with his guards behind.


    ¡°I¡¯m exceedingly busy. Why are you here?¡± Mark asked point ck. One thing he didn¡¯t like was being visited without an appointment, in other words extemporaneously.


    ¡°Two things!¡± Jake replied immediately.


    ¡°Go on¡­¡±N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    ¡°Firstly, to wish you a big congrattions! You¡¯ve left the single life brotherhood.¡± Jake said with a bright smile.


    Jake didn¡¯t care. He just smiled back, after all he was only getting married because his grandfather, Kelly Owens made it necessary and to be more specific he even chose a wife for him.


    ¡°¡­. And what¡¯s the second reason?¡± Mark inquired.


    ¡°Ultimately andstly. I¡¯m here to seek consent from my ex-wife to carry out a paternity test on her kids ¨C the possibilities I¡¯m their father is very high!¡± Jake¡¯s voice rang through and it resulted in a deep silence.


    Hannah heaved a heavy sigh. She was trying to dodge Jake¡¯s gaze since she is not so good at hiding behind a facade of her face. She was merely a pawn to Jake.


    Jake nned everything. He found out Mark was searching for Charity Wakins granddaughter, his betrothed and he had to act fast, thus he made Hannah thedy Mark was searching for. It was all to monitor Mark¡¯s move so that when he strikes, it¡¯d be without ws.


    Meanwhile¡­


    At the northernmost region. A region withnds filled with ice  and snow like the northern tribe in Avater ¨C thest Airbender series. The earth and the sky were in difficult shades of same white and in the the deepest corners of the biggest mountain sat a military base. This ce in particr is undetectable even by satellite imagery. Only an insider knew this world ss military base that was built mainly to train world ss deadliest army¡¯s that in every five years gets transferred to Sterling City military base to aid with their war and defeat enemies. Thus, Sterling City is untouchable.


    The military base housed the best elite soldiers, the best Army medical teams and top-notch weaponry as well.


    In the blizzard, a muscr old man with sharp eyebrows strode through the base, his military boots stepping on the snow with an audible crunch. On his shoulders, three golden military rank glinted. It was no other person than Kelly Owens, Marks Grandfather..


    ¡°Supreme grand god Of War!¡± A military officer wearing hisplete military uniform saluted, then sighed. ¡°Information reaching us now conveys that your favourite student ¡°Mark Owens¡± has chosen a wife, Hannah, Charity Wakins¡¯ grand ¨C ¡± he was not done when three military officers emerged struggling to carry out an elerator that has gotten bursted.


    ¡°Good news! Then!, Get the boys ready, I live by noon to give my grandson my blessings on his soon to be official marriage!¡± With that said he dismissed the military officer. He heaved a sigh of relief. He had just three months to live ording to his medical doctor. Finally, hisst wish had been gratified, but something bothered when now that he was left alone on the passage built with alloys in the base. ¡°Hannah? Is that her name?  Old age must have really taken a toll on me that I can¡¯t even remember her name. But Whatever her name is. I¡¯m d my son has found her!¡±


    He picked up his military phone and wanted to dial Mark number but he was distracted when an rm erupted, a signal that needed his attention positive wise.


    ******


    ¡°Diana is my ex-wife and high probabilities her kids are mine!¡± Jake exined after getting bombarded with many questions from Mark and Diana herself who felt troublesome herself when Jake stated his second reason foring to the military base.


    ¡°I know you¡¯re suffering from amnesia and certainly don¡¯t remember me!¡± Jake added.


    ¡± How dare you?¡± Diana clenched her fist tightly and fer face erupting with rage and anger mixed together   She was not getting angry because she finally met her ex-husband who betrayed her. After all she doesn¡¯t even remember what he did that she could call betrayal. She was more concerned with keeping her kids and this man couldy ims and custody to her kids and she can¡¯t sit and watch that happen.


    ¡°Calm down!¡± Mark started towards Diana and asked her to. Mark could actually imagine her plight and putting himself into her shoes , he realized what she was feeling.


    ¡°How can you juste here and make ims? What substantial proof do you have to buttress and validate your im?¡± Mark shouted, he was getting intolerant of how Jake was making Diana feel. Even the three rugrats all squeezed their face in disdain.


    Military officers close by where peeping and watching as the event unfolded.


    Jake turned and collected some papers from Mudryk, the head his private army bodyguards.


    ¡°These file here contains our marriage certificate and our divorce certificate and our photos together. Five years ago, we got divorced and went our separate ways. For this five years I searched for her ¨C ¡±


    ¡°Enough!!!!!!!!!¡± Diana shouted, she was getting mentally ostracized. Unable to take in everything at once. ¡°This can¡¯t be him!¡± Diana got aggressive at once but Mark restrained her holding her wrist ¡°Exhale and inhale. Again and again and calm down!¡± Mark murmured to her.


    When she did, she calmed her nerves down.


    After, Mark collected the papers and photos and he flipped through them confirming what Jake had said earlier. With the expression written on his face, Diana got worried.


    ¡°Tell me it¡¯s not true¨C¡± She grabbed the papers for herself and confirmed for herself and a moment of not getting a response from Mark.


    ¡°We can sort things out amicably. I only want custody of my kids and a paternity test can confirm that!¡±


    Diana¡¯s heart started beating fast after processing Jake¡¯s statement. ¡®No way. I can¡¯t let this happen¡¯  she was afraid. ¡°What if he truly is their father?¡± She doesn¡¯t remember anything from her past life. The only things she got from her past life where her children and the silver ring with the initials K. O carved on it, lifelike.


    Mark was momentarily out of words. Few minutes ago, her kids kept on insisting himself was their father and now her Ex husbandes iming he is their father.


    Mark was not sure himself. He was not sure if Diana was thedy from that night either. He just kept having his suspicion and the fact that she has the silver ring dispelled some major doubts he had.


    Of course, as a couple Diana had sex with Jake several times before their divorce but she was barren thus it was not expected of her to get pregnant. Then again, Mark ims he met with her at a night club house where he had sex with her as well and now Diana didn¡¯t know what to believe even if she believed them two. Are the kids a product of the one time sex with Mark or Sex with her ex husband? It can¡¯t even possibly be her ex-husband! ¡°It can¡¯t be him!¡± My kids are handsome and most likely a product of a celestial being and this man can¡¯t possibly be a celestial being.


    Even if her kids were for Jake, she will never let him know let alone allow him take custody of her kids.


    ¡°You¡¯re not our father!¡± The kids shouted at Jake with their voices ringing out corresponding exactly.


    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re not their father!¡± Diana dered.

 Paternity Test and Impotence

    ¡°Who then is their father? Just so you know, I won¡¯t let any man raise my kids and I will perform the paternity DNA test by all means avable and necessary!¡±


    ¡°Let me see how you will do that!¡± Mark stated, ¡°Enough, of your bullshit! Now get out!¡± He added, towards the end was an angry tone he put on.


    No one dared kicked against the president general order, thus, Jake shot Hannah a icy re which only conveyed one message to Hannah and he left alongside his bodyguard.


    The message being ¡°y your part well and get hold of the silver ring with a lifelike K. O carved on it, ASAP!¡±


    Mark turned to Diana and assured her She shouldn¡¯t get herself worried and that she is in a safe ce.


    However, panic didn¡¯t stop creeping into Diana even after she left with her kids beside.


    Presently at the VIP ward, specifically the president generals abode. Hannah has texted Jake that he should act fast as she rted that the president general has high suspicious the kids are his already.


    Hannah was d in in a ck zer and a formal dress. She looked seductive in her uniform, sufficient enough to stir up a man¡¯s desire.


    Mark however couldn¡¯t help but stare at her butts as she changed into a sleeping gown. Mark was sitting behind his enormous desk. Before now, he was fixated on hisputer and now he is been distracted by Hanna¡¯s seductive looks.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    In a jiffy, Hannah was done changing her dress and she advanced towards Mark. ¡°Why not we take a shower together sweetie?¡± She asked as she rubbed her palm on Marks chest, like she was romancing it.


    ¡°Not sure if we can, yet -¡± he didn¡¯tplete his sentence before Diana shut him off with a kiss-


    ¡°Holy shit! Get off me¡± Mark shouted reacting to what had just happened. Although her scent now was more alluring and attractivepared to when they first met, he still had discipline to control himself. His body craved her but his mind was an obstacle.


    Hannah withdrew and started faking a cry. ¡°I know you¡¯ll never fall in love with me no matter how hard I try!¡± She wept. ¡°I have been in love with you all through the years, waiting for you and now we¡¯re here and then you¡¯re denying me sex!¡± Her cry intensified.


    Mark was not so surprised, considering what she did when they first met, he knew thisdy before him was overly capable of what she is doing now. But, nothing other than a woman crying moves Mark beyond his limit of coldness. Watching Hannah cry aroused a sense of care within him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! It¡¯s just to early¡­¡± Mark tried to exin.


    His apology was reciprocated with a kiss from the recipient and it was sufficient enough to break his wall of resistance that they started kissing passionately but Mark couldn¡¯t feel his dick rise, he touched it and felt it was still rxed, he immediately jerked backward whenprehension dawned on him.


    Hannah however clung to him as he moved backward to free himself. He unzipped his trousers and peeped at his dick to realize it was still t . It was not responding to the situation at hand. He tried getting it on again but it still didn¡¯t respond. Obviously the poison was affecting other bodily functions as well.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Hannah inquired, nor that she cared if his dick rose or not. After all she instructed his guard to insert the poison that weaken his manhood. She knew beforehand his manhood wouldn¡¯t respond for the mean time, thus she had the full mind to seduce him knowing nothing will happen afterward.


    ¡°Something is wrong with my -¡± Mark suddenly reminded himself he was poisoned earlier and that could be a root cause. At that realization, he darted out of the bedroom at once with panic in her eyes.


    Immediately he left, Hannah stepped into action. She arranged her dress and started checking every corner of the house. She first checked all the drawers and lockers in the room. She was searching for the silver ring. Jake had told her, the silver ring would be somewhere in his bedroom, but she couldn¡¯t find it.


    She searched and searched over and over again but still couldn¡¯t find it ¡°It is valuable, the president wouldn¡¯t be so careless to keep it anyhow!¡±


    ¡°Jake could take my daughter away from me if I don¡¯t find this ring! What do I do? Where could it be?¡± She paced the room back and forth until she overhead the door knob clicking open.


    She immediately rushed and lied on the bed acting like nothing happened few minutes ago.


    Richarlison in the next second entered the room, he sensed something was off in the room, he swept his gaze over the room and saw the lockers in an unusual position and the bed spreadsheet roughly spread.


    Hannah yawned as if she had just woken up from sleep and was stretching her body gapping¡­. But the expression on her face was not that of someone who had just woken up from sleep ¨C Richarlison couldn¡¯t quite came to a conclusion.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know how to knock! How can you just barge into someone¡¯s room like that!¡± Hannah shouted at Richarlison.


    ¡°Sorry ma¡¯am¡­ Just here to pass an information..¡± Richarlison apologized. He knew it was wrong of him to just barge into the room just like that but he was on the other hand used to barging in since it was the president generals room as well.


    ¡°Now, get out, thene back in again but knock first!¡± Hannah ordered.


    Richarlison did as he was told, after he cleared his throats and passed out the information.


    ¡°Get ready for a grand meeting to be held by evening to celebrate the president generals fiancee!¡± He said and left.


    Meanwhile, once Jake¡¯s car exited the military base, a van roared to life and came to an abrupt stop before their car. Their only route was blocked.


    Seven burly men d in ck outfits alighted from the vehicle apanied with a skinny very young man with a ponytail hairstyle. He was not tall but he had strong body. To be specific, his body was well built. He was none other person than Stab, the head of the ck axe mafia confraternity.


    A week ago, Jake had deliberately stepped on their toes and obviously now they wants revenge luckily, Jake¡¯s bodyguard are there to help, even if they were not, Jake could take care of himself without breaking a sweet.


    Jake promptly got out, and his G-5 did the same. The G-5 was the name he gave his hired private army. As stab had seven muscr men with him, he was filled with a lot of confidence.


    With a smug expression, he parted his lips, ready to state his purpose.


    Before he could say anything, Mudryk dered. ¡°You riffraffs! Are you blind? How dare you block our way?¡±


    Do you have a death wish?¡±


    Hearing that, Stab and his boys froze in shock. What¡¯s going on? That should be our speech not his! Quite arrogant huh?


    ¡°So, you think this bunch of men can protect you? Iugh you in Swahili!¡± Stab gave out a pretty loud chuckle which to him, whenever heughed that way whoever he is facing begins to shake with fear, but to his surprise neither Jake nor his boys shaked.


    In a blink of an eye, two new versions of GLK Mercedez Benz roared into life and parked behinds Jake¡¯s car and the G-5 hilux, afterwards fourteen mafia men alighted from the two GLK¡¯s. They were all dressed like the typical ghetto cultist, each holding a sword.


    Of a truth, the ck axe confraternity was more dangerous than the way it was portrayed. They don¡¯t look for trouble nor wreck havocs except when you step on their toes. It was an amalgamation of several regiments


    ¡°Hmmmmph¡­.¡±


    ¡°Guess, we gonna have a party!¡± Said Jake and then he shut Stab an icy re that denoted a murderous intent.


    ¡°No one fucks wth ck Axe Confraternity A. K. A Neock movement. Boys get them!¡± Stab roared, anger already suffused him regarding how Jake didn¡¯t ord him any respect.


    With a nod, hisckeys charged at Jake whose G-5 has stepped into a fighting stance.


    One of theckeys who was very fast stretched his hands out and grabbed Mudryk¡¯s cor intending to toss him back and attack Jake, their target who stood in the middle, surrounded by the G-5.


    To theckeys shock, Mudryk grabbed his wrist and twisted it deftly and theckey shrieked in pain and dropped to his knees.


    Felix who stood beside Mudryk this time had given one of theckeys that attacked him a smack right across the face. Bam!


    A p so resounding that it startled all otherckey¡¯s getting ready tounch. Theckey flew back and mmed against the roadside so hard.


    A dozenckeys appeared from nowhere and joined the ones currently present with battle axes and swords and other dangerous weapons to ughter their enemy Jake. But to get to him you have to get or go through the G-5. The G-5 didn¡¯t even take the attack seriously, within a minute they could wipe out all of them from the existence.


    Theckeys charged at them at once , the G-5 surround the Jake and were for sinusoidal attack function for defense and attack. A technique they formed during one of their training time. With it, you could block any form of attack and use the attack against whoeverunched it.

 Three Rugrats

    ¡°Get them overboard! Kill all of them! Their skulls shall be used to sail the ship forward!¡± Stab shouted with much viciousness. Who dares fights hisckeys? This dude because he is wealth had the guts to hire some soldiers to. His death certificate would soon be delivered.


    In the face of the attack by dozen men, The G-5¡¯s sneered and simultaneously took a step forward.


    Boom!


    With that single step forward, the earth shook as though there was an earthquake. The force the G-5 exerted on their stepped was a 50%parison as to what an actual earthquake could cause in actual fact.


    In a split seconds theckeys let out agonized wails before they all went flying back smashing the floor and cars packed. The entire ce became a disaster area.


    As Stab gaped at theckeys sprawled on the floor and screaming in agonizing pain, some whose hands were bent in a peculiar angle ¨C a chill ran down Stab¡¯s spine.


    Then, Jake gave one of theckey¡¯s who had refused to give up and and had managed to infiltrate the circle the G-5 protected a p. The p was so ingenious.


    p!


    The force of the p caused him to spin around in daze. The p was so forceful that he could see stars. That alone confirmed the G-5 suspicious that their boss were not so ordinary as he seemed! He is an expert!


    Theckey quickly snapped back to reality and retreated in trepidation. He took onest look at Jake before returning back to his vans.


    Meanwhile, Stabs mouth was opened in a silent scream. At this point he smirked in annoyance. ¡®He has touched the lion¡¯s tail! He will pay!¡¯ Then he flew the scene alongside theckey¡¯s who managed to stood up.


    Afterwards, Jake entered his Red Ferrari car, same did his G-5 and drove off the scene.


    Jake just kept on wearing an evil smile!.


    Back at the military base, Diana couldn¡¯t get over the whole incident that ured earlier. It kept reying in her senses.


    The gear in her mind kept on reying it and turning like as she wondered what she should do in future if peradventure her kids turn out to the Jake¡¯s children. He will have a right to then legally and she doesn¡¯t want that. If she slipped up, she would be render lonely for life.


    After a long period of brainstorming, Diana still had no idea what to do.


    When I get to the bride I¡¯ll definitely cross it!


    Diana had always been an optimistic and tenacious woman. Shey on the bed and fell asleep shortly.


    At that same time as the childrens room. The three rugrats were nning something smart and dangerous as small as they were¡­.


    Jennifer held her doll in her arms and leaned closer to Stoic and Legacy, and stared at theptop monitor. They looked at the man being disyed on the monitor with the same expression ¡®Must have been a lover boy!¡±


    It was a picture of Jake and their mother, taken on their wedding day.


    Stoic turned his head and nced at his younger brother and sister and spoke thoughtfully ¡®Mummy loved this despicable man gave him almostplete ownership in herpanies, including Diana oilpany; the most oil producing country. He cheated on mum with mum¡¯s friend, and mum being pushed beyond her limit filed for a divorce from which consequentially lost everything as the courts rule that binds marriage demands ¨C the wealthiest property gets shared equally or unevenly ¨C ¡®


    ¡®Quite brilliant of you big brother¡¯ Jennifer asserted and supported her chin with her hands ¡®Deductively, I see mum got frustrated and vented her anger on drowning alcohols at a nightclub house where she most likely met with the president general and both had sex!.¡¯


    ¡°Yes!¡± Stoic who was navigating racked his Brian and snapped his fingers and said ¡®They were both drunk, an exnation as to why Daddy doesn¡¯t remember thedy from that night. The only hint he has on finding her is the silver Ring with the initials K. O carved on it and mum on the other hand probably, or certainly on her way home met with an ident and it earned her a memory loss and woke up to a pregnancy and that¡¯s us!¡¯


    Legacy hummed, and a hint of slyness shed across the bottom of her eyes, ¡°Since we have gotten this puzzle solved out! This will be as easy as Euclidean geometry!¡±


    Jennifer was puzzled, ¡®but how can we make this Jake Bernard go out of mummy¡¯s life forever? and now he wants a DNA test to be done on all of us and if it¡¯s positive, he has legal right to im our custody.¡¯


    ¡®¡­. and he can easily fake the test results to be positive if it appears negative¡­.. I¡¯m very certain Mark is our father. The resemnce is striking enough!¡¯ Stoic added thoughtfully.


    ¡®I think we should start by funding out the friend, with whom Jake cheated on mum with¡­.. That¡¯s a perfect lead¡¯ Legacy added and they all nodded in agreement.


    Presently, Mark was at the mountain tops in the military base. A ce that is very convenient for energy cultivation and spirit man training.


    He was there sitting cross-legged meditating like a monk hoping he can get rid of the poison running through his veins.


    He was now cultivating the divine healing mantra.


    He exhaled deeply and inhaled deeply again. He then rxed his body and his thoughts, cleared his thoughts off everything else and focused on the mantra. Afterbining his breathing with his celestial spirit, he felt a powerful spiritual force of energy surging within his body.


    His body started radiating very hot smokes, his skin began to turn red. He was now sweating profusely as if drenched by rain. The energy traveled around his body to clean every part that constituted his body.


    After a whole day of training the divine healing mantra, a technique used to purify oneself he finally opened his eyes and especially felt refreshed.


    He had sessfully expelled out all the impurities, toxins and poisons that ran through his veins. He was full of vitality now.


    When bus training ended, he fell into a deep sleep at the spot. That very night to his aggravation  stargazed¡­


    Mark dreamt of fire, a pir of fire sweeping through a desertndscape down to forest, scorching everything in front of it: trees, brush, shrieking people. Their bodies turned ck as they crumbled away before the force of the mes, and over them all hung a red circle, hovering like an angel.


    A scream cut through the smoke and shadow, snapping Mark out of his nightmares. His eyes flew open and he saw fire in front of him, bright and hot, and scrambled up, reaching for Heosphoros.


    Sooner his heartbeat ebbed slowly. This fire wasn¡¯t raging or out of control. It was contained, the smoke floating up toward the enormous roof of the cave he was in the mountain. It illuminated the space around it.


    Before he crossed part with Diana, his sleeps was dreamless and nk, a dark ocean of nothingness. A painless oblivion. Just that his thoughts kept taunting him like in a dream about Benjamin Bernard. His brother who disappeared into thin air from prison.


    Mark didn¡¯t really gave a thought what his dreamstely were conveying but he sensed destruction.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    He was already on his feet when Richarlison greeted ¡®Good morning sir!¡¯ Mark didn¡¯t respond, rather he darted out of the cave, while Richarlison followed him behind.


    Mark need no more exnation, Richarlison was obviously the one who set up the fires. A loyal bodyguard and a friend indeed.


    All through Marks military life, he had never met with anyone as loyal as Richarlison that he trusted him with his life, him that knows no trust.


    As Mark walked down the mountain he kept wondering as to why Richarlison applied to be his bodyguard at the first ce when he first came back from abroad where he walked as an assassin and mercenary for the government to get paid.


    Richarlison¡¯s mind who was following him behind shed back to five years ago, when his fellowrade who was two ranks above his and his superior took a bullet for him when they attacked a forest inhabited by some mafias that called themselves ¡°Norsemen¡± . It was from that day he swore to protect his superior son in return of the favour, it was the least he could do. ¡®i bet he doesn¡¯t even know his real father ¨C his biological parents ¨C ¡® Richarlison said to himself unquestionably.


    And his fiancee ¨C something seemed of about her¡­. it is all too sudden, I need to keep a close eye on her by keeping her as my friend¡­..


    Meanwhile, Hannah had also woken up, she was wondering why the president general didn¡¯t returnst night after he left.


    Her phone chirped signifying a message had arrived, she nced at it and saw a text from Jake.


    ¡°Hope you¡¯ve found the ring?¡± It read.


    Hannah hesitated to reply him when he considered that if she says no, Jake may get angry and never let her see her daughter again and that would destroy her. And if she replies with yes and can¡¯t provide the ring, it would be another hell of trouble.


    She finally resolutely texted ¡°Not yet. Give me some time¡­¡± She sent.


    She started to rack her brain all over again, since she couldn¡¯t find the ring in his bedroom, she should start from somewhere else, probably get close to his most trusted confidant and get the information she needs. Then Richarlison came to her mind¡­¡­


    Despite anything to the contrary, the ring was still in possession of Diana, when she came to give the ring back to the president general few days back, though reluctantly, she found him unconscious and was dying¡­..

 Strands Of Hair

    Diana also woke up early and got her kids prepared for school and sooner, their school bus arrived and they left for school while Diana took a day off.


    Hannah was busy reminiscing on how she got trapped in and became a pawn in Jake¡¯s deadly game.


    Nine years ago, Diana introduced Hannah to her fiancee, Jake. Diana and Hannah were good friends, really close that though they were in different career fields, their friendship was mutual. Hannah was in the medical field, working as gynecologist while Diana on the other hand was a business mogul with billions raining into her ount per day. Everything changed for Diana when her husband showed her no seemingly form of respect, and cheated on her with Hannah, her best friend, it was then she found out it had been going on before she discovered it.


    Diana was barren, but that was not what prompted Jake to cheat on her. Rather, for his selfish motives which was to gain wealth and authority even though by divorce-. Diana¡¯s barrenness however was induced that for the years she spent in the marriage with Jake, she would rarely get pregnant, and when she does, she undergoes miscarriage.


    Her friend, Hannah, behind her clouds was also exerting revenge on Diana that she yed to be a friend but was rather the enemy herself. As Diana trusted her so much, she would administer treatment and drugs for Diana which she obliged to taking but didn¡¯t know that those medications and treatment was what was causing her barrenness and miscarriages. Hannah seeking revenge on Diana because she married her five year old crush she usually kept as a secret. Diana didn¡¯t even know about that. She met with him on a blind date and coincidentally he was Hannah¡¯s crush. Hannah made passes at him but he didn¡¯t like her, thus he rejected her and went on with Diana. Diana married him and the rtionship barelysted for a year. The marriage was toxic, but despite Hannah knowing that¡­.. she still wanted revenge.


    The rtionship for Diana was  indeed a very terrible one. She got hurt and closed her heart away from love until she met Jake whom Hannah took from her. At least Hannah thought so until she discovered Jake¡¯s ulterior motive and now Jake was using their daughter ¡®ra¡¯ in ckmailing her. Just when she wanted to abandon her evil life.


    Diana still doesn¡¯t know the root cause of her barrenness¡­. but will she?


    ¡°She won¡¯t find out¡­..!¡± Hannah smirked.


    ¡°Tired of letting the guilts taunt me¡­. I have to get the ring and leave this hell ce!¡± She added and darted out of the bedroom in search of Richarlison.


    At Einstein Academy¡­..Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    ra had became close friends with Stoic, she was very jovial and chatty all together.


    Stoic at first got intimidated by how intelligent she is but as time went on, he got used to it and they had became close friends that Jennifer feared and got jealous that ra was stealing her big brother. Stoic too was having an unfamiliar surge of emotions like missing someone other than her siblings or mum or Felicity.


    Today, ra got dropped off by a car, Stoic felt he had seen at the military base before, but he couldn¡¯t quite remember where and who drove it specifically but he knew it was an outsider that drove it.


    Stoic, Legacy and ra stood in front of the academy¡¯s Library having a heated argument. Jennifer was not present, she was called by her fine art teacher for some reasons best known to both of them.


    Meanwhile, there are some education inspectors in the academy premises. Originally their duty is to evaluate schools to ensure that specific standards in teaching, learning, financial management and organisation are being achieved and maintained.


    And their work activities presently was


    Observing lessons¡­


    Talking with teachers and students¡­.


    Assessing school organisation¡­.


    Checking students¡¯ work¡­..


    Producing reports¡­.


    Inspectors are mostly teachers with significant experience but these education inspectors didn¡¯t seem like real teachers, the principal had his suspicion. They looked like they were there for something else, though dressed like teachers. They were all even looked too young to be education inspectors. The principal wondered why an education inspector as young as the senior among them would have a tattoo on his backhand like a mafia, it was weird for someone he imed  to be.


    The professional attire or smart business dress they put on fitted them but yet something was off ¨C


    Now, it was time for them to inspect the library where their main missions were. They¡¯re some mafias¡¯ Jake hired, hired to either take a blood sample each from the triplets or strands of hair each from the kids, he didn¡¯t tell them why but obviously it was for the paternity DNA test.


    He was able to track down were the kids schooled and there his ns were processing¡­


    Stoic from afar sighted the figures, he had not seen them before thus, he thinks they¡¯re probably the school visitors. Legacy turned to look at the figures when he noticed Stoic scrutinizing them that even ra joined the both of them.


    ¡°There they are at the librarys¡¯ entrance¡± one of the inspectors whispered to the one in front after he cut a glimpse of them and confirmed with his cellphone.


    ¡°Target confirmed! Processing on target¡± the inspectors started towards the kids that even Legacy got enveloped with a sense of fear. He didn¡¯t like the inspectors face, they radiated something very scary.


    In a jiffy, they were standing in front of the boys and ra.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Legacy was the one to challenge them, the next minute he groaned in a pain when one of the inspectors forcefully cut a strand of hair from his head.


    Before Stoic could process what was going on, a strand of air was cut from his head too, he initially struggled but all to no avail. ra too was a victim. They thought she must be Jennifer thus, they cut a strand of her hair also.


    The principal who had been monitoring the education inspectors move due to the fact he was suspicious something was fishy witnessed the event, that he immediately ced a call over to the police as the education inspectors darted out of the hallway and out of the school speedily.


    The principal rushed towards the kids as soon as the call was made ¡­. ¡°Are you guys hurt?¡± He inquired


    ¡°I guess so¡­¡± Stoic said, panting heavily. They had just lost sight of the strangers or specifically the education inspectors.


    The kids stood there as their hair was messed up as their hair was cut very roughly.


    ¡°I¡¯m very scared¡­..¡±


    ¡°Someone tried to hurt us¡­.¡±


    Whereas, the news of what happened had spread like wildfire through the school and many students were getting afraid and withdrawing. The school security this time had started to trail the intruders. The intruders drove past the gate very speedily. The gate was not closed, jus some rod ced vertically at a height across the entrance. That was not sufficient to stop the intruders car, it merely caused a crack on the cars windshield.


    Sooner, sirens of Police cars started erupting and it got intensified.


    ¡°We¡¯re made ¡­ Drive this car faster!¡± An intruder said, the driver elerated the car more, speeding very fast to get away from the police.


    Meanwhile at the principal¡¯s office, First aid treatment is being given to the kids Incase there is harm unnoticed. When Jennifer heard the news, a silver of panic crept into her. ¡°Lord, don¡¯t let anything happen to my brothers¡­¡±


    ¡°Sister!¡± Stoic called as Jennifer approached then briskly. It jerked her off her thoughts.


    ¡°Thank God they¡¯re fine¡­..¡± She exhaled a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Yes ¡­¡± Stoic responded as he cheerful received a warm embrace from her sister. Legacy was squatted on the corner with Jennifer was curled her body together with fear.


    ¡°But why would anyone take our hair away?¡± Stoic and Legacy stated in unison, they had both been thinking about it over and over again.


    Due to the car pursuit by the police, the intruders lost a few strands of the hair they had cut from the kids left with a few, which coincidently belonged to ra. In other words, they lost the strand of hair they got from the boys and was able to keep the strand they got from ra. It was better than returning to who sent them empty hand as they narrowly escaped from the police.

 Ex-communicando Returns

    A man¡¯s urgent and and heavy panting filled her ears. In the dimly lit house, Diana couldn¡¯t see the man clearly, the silhouette on his face hinted at a set of chiseled features. Diana raised her hands to touch his face. She wanted to know if this was a reality or a dream.


    The man sped her outstretched hands in his. He whispered into her ear almost teasingly ¡°Will you marry me?¡±


    A diamond ring appeared before her eyes and the mysterious man pressed the ring tightly between their linked palms. Then he made love to her in a near frenzied state, driving all thoughts from her mind. The intensity was out of the world.


    ¡°Wake up!¡± A coarse and charming male voice sounded in her ears and Diana was startled awake, dripping wet from a merciless ssh of cold water. Bewildered, she sat up in bed and wiped the wetness from her face.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    ¡°W¡­. wh ¡­. wah¡­. What are you ¡­. Doing?¡± She stammered asking.


    Mark, Richarlison and one other Army medical exchanged and ominous nce. Mark stared at her colly.


    He said ¡°You passed out downstairs. I came in and saw you sprawled on the floor and was not breathing, I had to raise an rm and luckily you¡¯re safe now.¡±¡±


    ¡°What happened to me?¡± She asked¡­.. Then it struck her ¡­.


    She was fetching water to drink when a sharp pain erupted in her head causing an intense headache ¨C and that was all she remembered ¨C now, she had just woken up fo find out she passed out ..


    ¡°We should be the one asking¡­.. What happened?¡± Mark responded and ended with a inquiring question.


    ¡°I think I passed out after a severe headache¡­. Thanks for saving me .¡± Diana responded still feeling an ache. The next second her phone rang beside her and looking at the caller ID she saw the Einstein Academy Principal.


    Why would he be calling her early this afternoon? I hope all is well? My kids?


    She picked up the phone and answered¡­..¡±Hello¡­.¡±


    Witt no gap in time, the voice at the other end narrated the whole event of her kids almost getting hurt by some intruders under the guise of Education inspectors.


    Her phone was on Loudspeaker thus, Mark overhead the whole narration as well ¡­


    Diana who was hitherto weak sprang up at once, anything concerning her kids, she never joked with it, her mood deted at once.


    ¡°I need to go see my kids¡­ I need to be sure they¡¯re fine ¡­¡± She said as the call ended, she was wearing a pink gown, and immediately dragged a high heel from where she kept her footwear and started to wear her heels.


    ¡°But you¡¯re not so strong, you just gained consciousness, you shouldn¡¯t stress yourself. The principal just said they¡¯re in fine hands now!¡± Mark objected


    ¡°And you have to rest, you need not get yourself overly worked up in your condition¡­. You¡¯re undergoing a resurgence!¡± The army medical added.


    Richarlison just stood there like an image, he was absent minded thinking about the proposal Hannah made to him earlier on.


    She had came to meet him earlier on and was trying to make inquires about some ring Richarlison said he didn¡¯t know about ¡­. But then she striked a deal. Richarlison was not even considering entertaining the deal but was rather curious as to why she was desperate to get what she was searching for ¨C the ring ¨C


    Richarlison always had his suspicious, he knew something was off about Hannah¡­.


    ¡°Richarlison!¡± Mark shouted, calling Richarlison for the forth time and no getting a response.


    ¡°Hello, did you nk out? Take Diana to Einstein academy and meet me up at my office when you return?¡± Said Mark.


    Diana didn¡¯t pay a heed to whatever Mark or the colleague of her, An Army medical were trying to exin to her¡­.. She was only hell bent in finding out and being sure her kids were safe. When Mark noticed she won¡¯t listen, he ordered Richarlison to take her to Einstein Academy, obviously where she was rushing to and also ensure she is safe as regards to her state of health.


    Immediately Richarlison and Diana left the room, The Army medical left as well and he heaved a heavy sigh.


    He was here to meet Diana to even the score demand for his ring but he came here and found Diana on the floor unconscious.


    Seems Fate don¡¯t want him to retrieve his ring yet¡­.


    Diana hade to give him the ring and found him unconscious lying on the floor ¡­. Fast forward some dayster, he came personally to Diana¡¯s abode to take the ring, but found her lying unconscious on the floor.


    Talking about the ring? The silver ring with the initial K. O carved on it¡­. The healed wounds of Mark started to tear up again, like rubbing salt in his wound. The poignant memories which had been longed buried came back to life, shing across his mind like indelible ghosts.


    How he had his way with ady six years ago, probably a prostitute but she didn¡¯t seem like one. Although, himself was drunk, he was still 30% conscious of the actions he took that miserable night he also lost his silver ring.


    ¡°The silver ring is not sufficient enough to confirm thedy from that night, she probably must have bought it¡­ But, only if she has her memories.. I¡¯d be sure it¡¯s her and make attornment for my sings but, regardless I¡¯ll keep her safe from her despicable ex-husband who is now back for her and her kids¡­.. Jake Bernard¡±


    Digging a little bit deep, Mark found out the whole story behind the alleged divorce between Diana and Jake and all that transpired¡­.. joining it to Diana¡¯s story, he could make sense from it and understand why Diana wouldn¡¯t let Jake take custody of her kids if peradventure he turns out to be their father.


    The entire city of Sterling City was on high red alert. A military aircraft was making it¡¯snding at the Sterling City international airport.


    Hundreds of soldiers from the special forces of Sterling City aligned themselves into neat rows at the airport, each soldier was dressed in full battle gear. None of them could turn their obsequiouslyplimentary eyes away from the aircraft that had justnded. The sense of eager per desperate anticipation in the air was high.


    Kelly Owens had just arrived from the military base at the northern region. He was happy and excited his wish,st wish specifically has been granted, thus he wasing to celebrate with his grandson, the president general. His only wish being, For the president general to marry thedy with ovepping circles, Charity Wakins granddaughter.


    Kelly Owens made his way down the aircraft¡¯s stairs after he had exited the military aircraft. His ckbat boots creaked with every step he took.


    ¡°Attention!!!!!!¡±


    ¡°Salute!!!¡± The vociferous voice being sharply insistent on being heard of an officer pierced through the atmosphere with a note of authority and discipline.


    The troops raised their right hand uniformly to give their salutes while greeting him concertedly.


    ¡°Wee to sterling city, Sir!¡±


    Kelly Owens despite his remarkable old age, he was the Ares of the military. That was because he had never lost any Battle in his distinctive military career, since the day he had joined the military as a young chap. His track record in the military since his teen age had and is jaw-dropping.


    He had led several troops of army¡¯s to war and consequentially several significant victories had been recorded on his name. He had repeated an wlessly defended the borders from invading enemies.  The city owed it to his tactical genius and strategic astuteness for the peace and prosperity it was enjoying today. With a contract he signed with the triads of the city, no Geng dared disrupt the cities peace..


    He was old but not wrinkled, he still stood tall and manly with his muscr physique, his luminous eyes sparkled like diamonds in the dazzling sunlight.


    All the same, he seemed a little bit displeased. Knitting his brows together, he muttered to Jack, the general of the troops who stood in attention right in front of him. ¡°Where is the president general? I told you to inform him and I wanted him to wee me personally!¡±


    With a sigh, Jack replied abashedly ¡°I¡¯m sorry sir. I sent a message over to him, guess he didn¡¯t received it on time¡­.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    Kelly Owens strode out of the airport with thepany of some National guards. He was soon apanied by a sudden myriad of strange emotions that tugged his heart, which was a huge departure from his usual calm demeanor.


    It pained him to think about the dreadful life he had lived as a mercenary and as the Ares of the military but nheless, he can¡¯t do anything to change what had already happened. He however exhaled, he will soon die by the way, so he had to make amends¡­


    At the airport exit were seven G-wagon¡¯s parked with two national guards standing at each side of the fleet.


    Once, Kelly Owens walked majestically towards the one in the middle, it opened automatically and he entered instructing the driver to take him to the Sterling city medical research institute. The reason for that was that, he is been supported by some pills and his doze had recently finished, so he had to get a refill before going to the military basement.


    He still looked strong but from within the emissary of death was closing on, on him¡­.


    It was already all over the news that the exmunicando A. K. A the Ares of the military has returned.


    Mark¡¯s phone chirped, apanied with a message received and it read. ¡°Exmunicando has returned!¡±


    Mark just wore an expressionless face when he read the message¡­..

 His Mum

    When Diana arrived at Einstein academy, she was maddened to see how her childrens hair are messed up, well¡­.. except that of Diana¡¯s.


    ¡°Jerk!!!! Why would anyone or what would anyone needs children¡¯s hair for?¡± She asked herself¡­


    ¡°Mummy!!!!¡± The kids called out to her immediately.. it seemed a little bit odd for high school students but there they were¡­.


    The children ran towards their mum and they received a warm embrace. ¡®I hope you¡¯re all fine?¡¯ she questioned with a worried expression¡­.


    ¡°Yes, I suppose we¡¯re¡± Stoic responded.


    ¡°Mum, some men came and too our hair way¡­.¡± Legacy reported. Even though, Diana had been told earlier on what happened, she found it weird.


    If not that someone¡¯s else child¡¯s hair was cut away by this strange men also, she would have concluded that someone was targeting her children. ¡°Thank Goodness!¡± Diana thanked her God¡­


    ¡°Sorry ma¡¯am about what happened¡± The principal apologized after a short while. He was standing close by as Diana hugged her kids passionately.


    Diana just nced at him and dismissed her kids, promising to meet them up after a short while with the principal.


    ¡°Tell me those mother fuckers were caught!¡± Diana sounded infuriated.


    ¡°Not yet, ma¡¯am! But I assure you¡­. that they¡¯ll be apprehended and taking to justice. They were able to enter into the school as they disguised as education inspectors, whereas some mafias¡¯ I supposed..¡± the principal exined.


    Meanwhile, Richarlison was reasoning over who and why someone would risking to a whole academy to take strands of air from kids? Then it came to him¡­.


    Earlier on, Jake was iming custody of Diana¡¯s kid as their father¡­. could it be he is responsible? And needs the hair to buttress his point? Probably after a Paternity DNA test using the hair? But if that was the case ¡­ why would someone¡¯s else hair be taken ? And why was Jennifer¡¯s hair not taken?


    Richarlison was quick to discern that maybe the intruders mistook Jennifer for ra¡­..


    After the principal left, Richarlison ryed his thoughts to Diana. She thought over what he said and spoke, ¡°Hair can be used to perform DNA test also. What if he is actually responsible?¡± She reasoned at Richarlison¡¯s words again and nodded ¡°he could be¡­.¡± Or ¡°who else could have tried to cut her children¡¯s hair?¡±


    Meanwhile, one of the policemen had got to work and checked all the secret surveince cameras and found out the identity of the intruders that pretended to be education inspectors in less than twenty minutes. He immediately informed the research team and Diana who was still standing before Richarlison, angry that someone poses a threat to her kids¡­


    Meantime, the news had got spread all through the new channels and other parents of children in the academy wereing to see their kids, it was a parental instinct thing.


    None of ra¡¯s parents came¡­ She was feeling so down but Stoicforted her.


    Richarlison ced a call over to Mark and informed him about the whole incident, ranging from his deduction as regards to who may be responsible to send someone to cut away strands of air of Diana kids, down to police swat team having a lead in finding out the intruders.


    Mark was not so surprised, he also had arrived at same conclusion but that was not his main worry. His grandfather had just returned. The exmunicando and he had to prepare a grand wee for him into the military base.


    Mark went to his abode but couldn¡¯t find Hannah, anywhere¡­ he searched the whole house but couldn¡¯t find her. ¡®Where could she have gone to?¡¯


    Mark at the end resolved, she probably must be somewhere in the base, feeling and treating herself to the environment.


    There was a silence; the fierceness in his inner expression was fading slightly. In the distance, Mark thought he heard the sound of someone knocking on the front door: Hannah, probably, or Richarlison.


    Then the door swung open, he started towards the visitor to see who it was and get his first good look at who ever it was- it was a slender woman, dressed in ck. At first all Mark saw was the military gear and he almost didn¡¯t recognize her, not until hjs eyes reached the woman¡¯s face and he felt her stomach drop out of her body.


    It was his biological mother¡­..


    Not the woman, who abducted him, but in fact the mother who have birth to him¡­


    For a moment Mark thought he was frightened, and his heart skipped a beat. But it wasn¡¯t fright on his face, not really. He was fearless and cold but recently since he met Diana, his cold nature had dropped drastically.


    Since the day he¡¯de home from elementary school to find his mother gone just as his father, who went to serve in the military , Mark had imagined seeing his mother again, well and healthy, so often that his imaginings had taken on the quality of a photograph that had be faded from being taken out and looked at too many times. Those images rose up before him now, even as he stared in disbelief-images in which his mother, looking healthy and happy, hugged Mark and told him how much he¡¯d missed her but that everything was going to be all right now.


    He was just five to six years of age , when the both of his parents left him, it was then The Bernard¡¯s abducted him. They gave him a new hope and a family and a brother Benjamin Bernard, Now Jake Bernard.


    The mother in Marks imaginings bore very little resemnce to the woman who stood in front of him now. He¡¯d remembered Flora as gentle and artistic, a little bohemian with her paint-sttered overalls, her red hair in pigtails or fastened up with a pencil into a messy bun. This Flora was as bright and sharp as a knife, her hair drawn back sternly, not a wisp out of ce; the harsh ck of her gear made her face look pale and hard. Nor was her expression the one Mark had imagined: Instead of delight, there was something very like horror in the way she looked at Mark, her green eyes wide. ¡°Mark,¡± she breathed. ¡°Your clothes.¡±


    Mark looked down at himself. She had on his ck military gear, exactly what his mother had spent her whole life making sure her son would never have to wear because of her husband, Marks father. Mark swallowed hard, clutching the edge of the table with his hands. He could see how white his knuckles were, but his hands felt disconnected from his body somehow, as if they belonged to someone else.


    Flora stepped toward him, reaching her arms out. ¡°Mark-¡±


    And Mark found himself backing up, so hastily that he hit the counter with the small of his back. Pain red through him, but he hardly noticed; he was staring at his mother, his mouth slightly open;looked stricken


    ¡®Wo are you?¡¯  His strong voice wavered slightly as he seemed to catch the expression on Flora¡¯s face; Flora was staring at him, her hand over his heart.


    ¡°Son.¡± Flora¡¯s voice was barely a whisper.


    Mark looked startled. ¡°How do you mean?¡±


    Color came into Flora¡¯s face in a rush. ¡°Of course. You¡¯re my son. It¡¯s just-you look so much like your father.¡± She lowered her hand slowly. ¡°I¡¯m Flora Va- valentine. I¡¯m your mother.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been pronounced dead!¡± Mark said with a confused expression and in a tone, dying¡­..


    ¡°Well, I was¡­,¡± Flora said in a firmer voice. ¡°But thanks to God, here I¡¯m in flesh, standing in front of you.¡±


    Flora  moved toward Mark, reaching her hands out. ¡°Mark¡­¡­.-¡±


    Atst Mark found his voice back after a short while. It was a cold, icy voice, so angry it surprised him. ¡°How did you get here, Flora?¡±


    His mother stopped dead, a look of uncertainty passing over her face. ¡°How I got here doesn¡¯t matter, all that matters now is that I¡¯m here now¡­¡± Her voice trailed off. ¡°Son, is something wrong?¡±


    ¡°Why did you left me alone??¡± Mark said. It wasn¡¯t what he¡¯d expected to say, wasn¡¯t even what he¡¯d nned to havee out of her mouth. But there it was.


    Flora dropped her hands. ¡± I received a news your dad had gotten killed in battlefield while on duty. I was put into a situation I had no option but to leave you for the mercenaries abode, but despite that i¡¯ve always been with you¡­ I arranged for you to be abducted by the Bernard¡¯s¡±


    ¡°Let me tell you something, Mom,¡± Mark said. ¡°Knowing is better than not knowing. Every time.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry-¡± Flora began.


    ¡°Sorry?¡± It was as if something inside Mark had torn open, and everything was pouring out, all her bitterness, all her pent-up rage. ¡°Do you want to exin why you never showed up? Or that my father was dead? Oh, and how about that bit where you left me suffer? And grow up without my actual parents?¡±


    ¡°I was trying to protect you- I feared your dad¡¯s enemies woulde for you. He was a mercenary and had many enemies¡­.¡±


    ¡°Well, you did a terrible job!¡± Mark¡¯s voice rose. ¡°What did you expect to happen to me after you disappeared? If it hadn¡¯t been for Benjamin¡¯s parents and the others, I¡¯d be dead. You never showed me how to protect myself. You never told me how dangerous things really were. What did you think? That if I couldn¡¯t see the bad things, that meant they couldn¡¯t see me?¡± His eyes burned.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Shocked speechless, Flora could only stare at him.


    Flora was ashen. Tears rose up in Mark¡¯s eyes-he couldn¡¯t bear seeing his mother like this, seeing her so hurt, and yet he was the one doing the hurting-and he knew that if he opened his mouth again, more terrible words woulde out, more hateful, angry things.


    He pped his hand over his mouth and darted for the hallway like a girl would usually do. This sudden meeting his mum after decadespletely altered his normal self, pushing past his mother. All he wanted was to get away. Blindly pushing at the front door, he half-fell out of the building. Behind him, someone called her name, but he didn¡¯t turn around. He was already walking fast.


    However, it was seven years ago that Marks biological father died in battlefield when he took a bullet for Richarlison, Marks personal bodyguard even though Richarlison was his junior. Richarlison could only do what he could do, to protect Mark. Over time, Jared, Marks father,  would discuss his son with him and even his wife. Meanwhile, His wife, Flora as a an sergeant general of a medical unit was at the mercenaries abode where her skills were most needed. She had just returned home to meet her son she abandoned.

 I’m Their Father

    Mark was few kilometers away from his abode in the base when bus phone chirped again with a message¡­. It read ¡°Exmunicando will be at Sterling City military base in 10 minutes time¡±


    At that moment a car zoomed to a halt in front of him. It was Richarlison, he had already dropped Diana and her kids off.


    ¡°Sir!¡± He greeted¡­


    ¡°Exmunicando will be here ten minutes time. Prepare a grand spectacle and sound the rm¡­¡± Mark ordered Richarlison who nodded in response. Mark was trying so hard to handle the fact his biological mum had actually returned. However, he voice were devoid of any emotions.


    Sooner, an rm erupted. It was not a signal of an impromptu war but rather, that of the fact that an exmunicando was returning¡­


    Everyone knew of the legendary story of the exmunicando¡­.


    ¡°Exmunicando is back!¡± A top officer shouted into a micro phone at the central field of the military base. At once, every military officer in the base, those that were training , those that were eating, sleeping and even those in the toilet or bathroom, or or doing whatever at all, immediately aborted whatever they were doing and began to speed towards the central field.


    Hannah, who had just returned from outside the military base alongside his twin bodyguard who practicedtent force technique also heard of the chaos and also rushed to the central field, but they had they had a distinctive spot to upy unlike the military officers who stood in a special ranking order..


    Every military officer were happy about the news. Some of them had idolized the exmunicando and wished to be like or more like him. The exmunicando had rewritten history and created a very legacy and a name so respected by all.


    The military officer were all lined up in ording to their ranks.


    All of them awaits one man. They all stood attentive to wee just one man.


    Hannah wondered who it was. She was standing with the president general and his twin bodyguard behind. Richarlison too was behind.


    Diana had also speedily rushed to the central field to join the millions of soldiers.


    Soon after, Owens arrived the military base with his entourage and National guards ¡­


    Owens took a pill into his system before stepping out into therge podium and address the crowd all waiting for him. He swept his gaze all through the crowd down to his grandson. Mark, beside him was an elegant well shapeddy standing. ¡°It must be here¡­..¡± He thought.


    He was now decked out with fur coat that rustled in the cold wind. His expression was nd, but it still instilled fear in others, nheless.


    He exuded an aura like that of a monarch overlooking the world, which made people hold their breaths. The thousands of soldiers shifted their gaze to him uniformly, their eyes brimming with admiration.


    He was a living legend. The Ares of the military. The exmunicando.


    The central field was so quiet like a graveyard such that if one dropped a pin on the floor, it¡¯s sound that probably would be generated would be perfectly heard.


    Although everyone anticipated to see this one man, their hearts was beating so heavily. The atmosphere fell more into a deep silence and no one dared shake or move his or her body nor say a word or rather make a statement.


    ¡°Wee! Exmunicando!¡± The seven grandwar masters standing at an attention at the left side of the podium shouted in unison into a microphone that magnified the intensity of their strident voice, in addition they raised their left legs and marched it into the ground with a very strong force that it sounded like thunder. The sound of their boots and the ground sound and shaked like an earthquake was erupting.


    ¡°I, Exmunicando is back to my homnd.¡± Owens said into the microphone on therge podium. Everyone watched in fear. There was a drop dead silence and people were even scared to breath. ¡®I am here to celebrate the president Generals loading marriage and also elect the new exmunicando as I¡¯d be retiring very soon!¡± Owens added.


    ¡°So, brace up and start grinding. Who knows you may emerge the new exmunicando!. Keep grinding¡± he concluded sweeping his gaze around the crowd.


    ¡°Yes sir! Yes sir!¡± The voice of the soldiers that answered in unison sounded like thunder.


    Afterwards Owens stepped down from the podium through the front step and stood before the seven grand war masters. Their hearts started to big faster and m the walls of their chest as they thought he had something to say to them.


    To their relief, he left them and went to stand before the wolves battalion,prising over a hundred soldiers, they all shivered and it was if they were suddenly put in a refrigerator.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Later on, he left and went to stood before the president general, with a step he was in front of Hannah. ¡°She is beautiful!¡± He thought but thisdy didn¡¯t really look like thedy Charity Wakins always described to him. He didn¡¯t dwell on that, afterall people changed. Hannah stood rooted in the spot wit a palpitating heart ¡®Does he have any suspicion already? Jake said exmunicando never met thedy Mark was betrothed to!. Why is he staring at this way? She didn¡¯t want a situation where she is caught. Dreadful men like the exmunicando wouldn¡¯t hesitate to execute her.


    Her legs became jelly, as if she was about to fall to the ground when he said


    ¡°You¡¯re wee to our family, Charity Wakins! You look like her in a way, but I thought the resemnce would be more striking!¡±


    Hannah felt an immediate sense of relief, she was thinking maybe he knows she is fake. But to her lucky star, he Didn¡¯t. He even weed me!.


    It was Owens old age that was ying games with him. Thedy in front of her had no slightest resemnce with Charity Wakins, but now he said so himself.


    Soon after, He went back to therge podium without giving Mark another nce and dismissed the soldiers.


    It was after that he hugged Mark. It was a passionate moment for both of them.


    Hannah was closed to being caught today if not that Exmunicando returned. She had earlier left to meet with Jake and exined she is unable to find the silver ring. She didn¡¯t take any permission from the president general and with that alone, she could get punished for disobeying the president generals one rule ¡®Always take permission!¡¯ and as a matter of fact, Mark would start to dig in deep into her and she didn¡¯t wanted that as it may blow up her cover.


    She managed to resolve with Jake that she now has devised a n to get the silver ring but it may take time, like 2 weeks and Jake obliged as it won¡¯t affect his n that much¡­. He just needed rescheduling.


    **************


    ¡°Sir! We narrowly escaped and on our escape we lost the strand of hair we got from the two boys but however, we still have the strand of hair we got from their sister. ¡± The Geng leader reported with his heads down.


    Jake was in good mood, thus he didn¡¯t even have the time to punish the Geng for 79%pleted mission. He has the habit of either killing or punishing whoever he sents on a mission and resultses out failed. After all, he could still carry out the DNA paternity test using the strand of hair that¡¯s avable.


    If he was the father of their sister, then for sure he is the father of the boys. Although, there may be possibilities he is not , that is if two men impregnated Diana separately almost the same time and fertilized an egg each. One egg could split to be identical twins (Stoic and Legacy) and share same centa while the other egg could generate to be the daughter (Jennifer.)


    Jake soon went to one of the reputable hospitals and got the test conducted and it showed that he was 85% father of the child. Which directly to him means he is the father of the triplets. Diana is not a prostitute who could sleep with two men at the same time or consecutive times that would get her pregnant. Little did he know that the strand of hair he used to conduct the DNA paternity test was cut from his actual daughter, ra. The daughter Hannah has for her.


    He even didn¡¯t know if ra attended same school with the three Rugrats. It was his assistant that got her enrolled there.


    Now, he has to prove that he is the father of the triplets and as well take custody of the triplets and full right to go the legal way if Diana refuses and secondly he now has a major lead to win Diana back.


    As soon as Jake exited the hospital with the test result in his hands, he entered his car and texted Hannah the good news  ¡® I have done the paternity test and I now have full prove I¡¯m the kids father. You can now get Diana framed and sent out of the military base now, I¡¯ll take it from there ¡­.¡¯


    So far so good for Jake, his n has been wless¡­. and going as nned.

 Unveiling

    Meanwhile¡­..


    It was dimly lit at Diana¡¯s abode. The three story building. The atmosphere seemed very lively although nothing special was going on.


    Stoic was focused on hisptop while Legacy was and Jennifer were going through some  diary they said they got from the president generals Library and by now they had downloaded all the informations the needed about the president general.


    Stoic on the other hand whistling soon froze on the spot when a webpage disyed the information of Hannah Smith.


    ¡°Guyss!!¡± He called out to his brother and sister and at once they stopped what they were doing and rushed to meet who called them, their elder brother.


    ¡°Take a loot at this¡­..!! It¡¯s Hannah, Dad¡¯s fiancee and she seem to have a a rtionship with Jake Bernard even though likely in the past.¡±  Stoic spoke as he navigated the webpage, scrolling through the page.


    Stoic was going through all the events that happened on that day their mother got into an ident from head to toe without wanting to miss any vital information thus, he stumbled across this that was open in front of them.


    ¡°Damnit! I have always felt something wasn¡¯t right with thatdy¡­.. Com¡¯on what else have you found out?¡± Legacy inquired.


    ¡°Sweethearts¡­ I¡¯m back!¡±


    The three Rugrats immediately closed the webpage on their browser upon hearing their mothers voice. They didn¡¯t wanted their mother to have any slightest or faint idea about what they were up to.


    ¡®Mommmm¡­ Her Royal Majesty!¡± The Rugrats walked out of the room one after another calling out to their mum excitedly and threw themselves at her..


    Seeing that the stayed in their room obediently, Diana squatted with a smile ¡°I hope you three are not still traumatized about what happened in school today?¡±


    When the question popped in, the kids mind shed back to the intruder forcefully cutting their hair way, but they soon shaked it off. ¡°But, mum why would they my brothers hair away?¡± Jennifer was the one who asked while tilting her head.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know yet, but very soon ¡­¡± Diana assured her kids.


    ¡°I¡¯m the one who gave birth to these indeed, little miracles as Felicity would always address them as¡­. Can I not know them any better?¡± Diana smiled bitterly.


    The most mischievous and bravest kid among the three children had always been the second child, Legacy. He definitely didn¡¯t inherit his cynical and scheming personality form his mother. Who else if not their father? Thinking about their father Diana was thrown into thoughts. ¡®Jake??? No, it can¡¯t be him¡¯ . The eldest, Stoic had always been more dependable and warm hearted while Jennifer was the families pet, but however, she is the abnormal and unorthodox one. One who would readily lead her brothers astray with her love for quirky ideas.


    ¡°Mummy¡­. You look worried. Is there anything unsettling?¡± Jennifer who was extremely observant was quick to point out, she noticed the colour on Diana¡¯s face changed and of a truth it changed, when Diana kept on thinking about the possibilities of Jake being the kids father ¡®I can¡¯t let him¡¯ she said to herself when she remembered the little knowledge about why and what happened in her past life that led to her divorcing Jake. The little knowledge was even from the news broadcaster six years ago.


    Diana was stunned. Although she is trying to wear a bright face, her daughter was quick to notice.


    ¡°Mum? Mum ¡­.. Is it about Jake¡¯s threat? He is not our father and don¡¯t mind his empty threats. He can¡¯t take us away from you¡­¡± Said Stoic as he embraced his mum more tightly. Diana was further stunned. As if the kids were reading her thoughts.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry mom¡­.¡± Legacy added pleadingly. They didn¡¯t like their mum wearing a worried face or getting worried intrinsically.


    Diana only just forced the corner of her lips upwards, smiled and, stood up upon seeing her kids were being able to see through her once again. ¡®Children¡­. Leave the matter for me. I can handle it. I¡¯ll go make you some food!¡¯


    She was about to go to the kitchen when Stoic called out to her.


    ¡°Mum ¡­¡±


    Diana turned and see the fury in Stoics eyes. ¡°Why is he infuriated?¡±


    ¡®Oh,mon kid¡­. is it because I called you guys children?¡¯ Diana was able to just able to discern what had gotten Stoic maddened.


    ¡°Stop calling us children. We¡¯re adults!¡± Stoic countered in an annoyed tone.


    ¡°Young adult!¡± Jennifer added to buttress her big brothers point. The both of them hated being addressed as children. They always want to y adult and mature mind games. Legacy was not very much interested on how particrly he is addressed to referred to.


    Walking back into the kitchen Diana curled her lips looking through the window.


    Presently at the President General ward¡­.


    Mark, Hannah and Owens had gone there to find a signaturergely painted with a red temporary spray on the left wall of the sitting room. The signature particrly was for Mark, from his mother and only him would be able to understand it.


    From just a mere nce, he distinguished the message was for him and it didn¡¯t take him long to crack the signatures underneath message ¡®Meet me up at ves bar, tonight 8pm alone¡­.. Yours lovely¡­ your mum¡¯ .


    It¡¯d take even a crazy smart detective to be able to detect with their senses any underlying message underneath the signature.


    One was an open eye that was decorated with a zig zag shape. The other, because the signature were tek was like two crossed sickles. The former conveyed the time and thetter conveyed the message.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    ¡°Who the hell drew that?¡± Owens shouted.


    ¡°Check the perimeters¡­ surround the exit¡­.¡± He ordered at once¡­


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother ¡­ She is gone!¡± Mark quenched the order.


    Owen understood¡­. And he didn¡¯t push in further. He didn¡¯t train Mark to be a fool, since he said ¡®so¡¯, it was exactly ¡®so¡¯..


    ¡°Whoever¡­. it¡¯s ¡­.. don let your guards down¡­..¡± Owner added


    Mark wondered a bit how his mum found him and entered the basement unnoticed and now dropped a message for him and also must have left the military base unnoticed as well. It¡¯d require great skill for that¡­¡­..


    Owens turned to Hannah who stood beside Mark elegantly ¡®So, what¡¯s your name?¡¯ he asked.


    ¡°Hannah sir!¡± Hannah responded. She didn¡¯t even gave it too much thought before responding. Owens knitted his eyebrows ¡®Hannah? that name doesn¡¯t sound like the name my old lover told me ¡­ But, however Mark must have confirmed her by seeing the symbol of ovepping circles in her thighs. ¡®I trust mark!¡¯ Owens said and waved the thoughts off.


    It was at that moment Richarlison walked up to Mark and whispered something to him.


    ¡°Excuse me Grandpa¡­. I have some stuff to handle, will be home before dinner time¡­¡± Mark excused himself and darted outside with Richarlison following his steps..


    Now it was just Hannah and Owens left in the sitting room. Hannah rattlingly walked upstairs on the excuse she was pressed and now it was only Owens left. He sat on the sofa next to him¡­.


    ¡°Finally¡­ I can die now with every of my wish satisfied!¡±


    Meanwhile,  When Hannah entered her bedroom ¨C she heard the sharp two-tone beep that signaled that a text message had just arrived on her cell phone. The phone itself was lying folded on the bedside table; Hannah picked it up and saw that the message was from Jake.


    She flipped the phone open and scrolled hastily down to the text. She read it twice, just to make sure she wasn¡¯t imagining things. ¡°This is getting more risky¡± she eximed. It was the message Jake sent her immediately he left the hospital about the kids¡­


    Mark and Richarlison soon arrived at Sterling City Police station. A message had been sent out to Richarlison that one of the intruders who guised themselves as education inspectors to cut away children¡¯s hair at Einstein Academy had been caught and Mark wanted to handle the case personally¡­.


    As the president general, he had rights over the military and also the police force.


    The dazzling deskmp shone on the criminal who spatted a mouthful of blood. Mark sneered¡­ he must have received some criminal drilling..


    No one could actually hide anything under themps effect. It¡¯s mostly used in the military.


    ¡°Who sent you?¡± Mark said, shooting the criminal an icy murderous re. The criminal was terrified at the sight of it and began to shiver.


    ¡°We only got a contact¡­ we don¡¯t know who it was that contacted us, it was close contract that worth five hundred dors.¡± The criminal exined under a terrified effect. He was shaking and his teeth gritting.


    Mark could actually tell if one was lying and this dude in front of him wasn¡¯t¡­..


    Hearing that, Mark snorted before walking out of the interrogation room.


    ¡°Take him to justice¡± Mark told the policeman responsible for the case and walked out with Richarlison beside.


    ¡°Any information about Danny¡¯s corpse?¡± Mark asked Richarlison as he entered the G-Wagon , their transport medium. He satfortably at the passenger seat while Richarlison at the drivers seat.


    Richarlison buckled his belt before he responded.


    ¡°Not yet found ¡­.¡±


    However, there were fleets of Hilux cars loaded with military officers that follows the president general, whenever he is going outside the basement.

 Burning Desires

    In a jiffy, Mark and his entourage returned back to the military base and as supposed, Mark had a fun dinner with Owens and his fianc¨¦¡­. And presently it was just 7;23pm and he was to meet his mum at the ves bar by 8pm. He still had about some minutes to spare then something struck him. He realized he had earlier on misread the signatures messages. The time was not Tonight 8pm but rather tomorrow 8pm.


    The next thing that shed through his mind was Diana. Lately he had found himself thinking about Diana more than he  had ever done as regards to attraction.


    That night, Mark decided to go on a stroll. It was his method of freeing and clearing his mind and seat of thoughts each time he starts thinking alot. He watched as a senior officermanded other well lined up and organized officer for the evening jugging. Few momentster, they had jugged away singing some ¡®Sally song¡¯s¡± . He suddenly sighted a figure from afar and the way the figure was walking looked disturbing.


    He left the patrol field and ran towards the figure he had sighted from afar and it turned out the figure was ady, neatly dressed on her military gear and is beautiful. Her hands wear ced on her head. It was Diana¡­


    ¡°What happened to you? Why are you here? Mark asked before the woman before her slumped to the ground groaning in so much pain and blood dripping from hear head. She touched her head, rubbing her palm on her silky hair  and groaning more in pain, she shut her eyes tightly like someone enduring a deep pain, and of course, she was enduring a deep excruciating pain. Even the dullest person would know something was wrong with Diana.


    Mark looked confused. He had never actually administered treatment to a injured fellow and there were no army medical close by.


    Mark rushed to her and took her hand off her head, he was stunned to see that a wound she obviously got from the ident six years ago was reopening like someone banged something on it, with a proper scrutinization, he saw something was banged on her head, truly.


    ¡°But who could have the guts to attack her in here in the military base?¡±Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    In the next one hour¡­.. Diana sat up, shaking her head to clear the grogginess. It took her a moment to remember where she was-in a spare bedroom in the president generals mansion, the only light in the room the illumination that the electricsmp generated. It was blue light-twilight light. Shey twisted in the nket; her military trousers, jacket, and shoes were stacked neatly on a chair near the bed. And beside her was Mark, looking down at her, as if she had conjured him up by dreaming of him.


    He was sitting on the bed, wearing his gear, as if he had juste from a fight, and his hair was tousled, the dim light from the electricmp illuminating shadows under his eyes, the hollows of his temples, the bones of his cheeks. In this light he had the extreme and almost unreal beauty of a Modigliani painting, all elongated nes and angles.


    She rubbed at her eyes, blinking away unconsciousness. ¡°What time is it?¡± she said. ¡°How long-¡±


    ¡°3am¡­. 7-8 hours now.¡± Mark responded and swallowed a Gump.


    Diana clearly remembered what had happenedst night. Someone hit her head with a 2 by 2 nk and left her to die. Actually, she was on her way from the military hospital unit when she got attacked by God knows who ¨C ??


    Without allowing her to think¡­ Mark suddenly pulled her toward him and kissed her, and for a moment she froze, suddenly very conscious that all she was wearing was a thin T-shirt and underwear. Then she went boneless against him. It was the sort of lingering kiss that turned her insides to water. The sort of kiss that might have made her feel that nothing was wrong, that things were easy, and he was only frightened that she would prolly die. But when his hands went to lift the hem of her T-shirt, she pushed them away.


    ¡°No,¡± she said, her fingers wrapped around his wrists. ¡°You can¡¯t just grab me. You have a fiancee!¡± Little did Diana know that the fear Mark felt because she probably would die had activated something that was new, in him.


    Mark felt stupefied. Ranging from when he singlehandedly carried Diana on his shoulders and ran down to the medical unit where an army medical attended to her and tended to her injury, Mark was afraid to the core. He didn¡¯t know why but something about losing her kept on stimting his desires.


    He took a ragged breath and said, You¡¯re Lucky I met you on time¡­.. By now, you probably would be a dead woman-¡±


    Tears brimmed in Diana¡¯s eyes and she said ¡°Thank you¡­..¡±


    For a moment there was utter silence.. Then he said, ¡°Let me see the scratches on your arms¡­.¡±


    Diana held out her arms, her head had been stered and wrapped with gauze to prevent excessive bleeding. There were harsh red splotches on the insides of her wrists where she was wounded. Mark took her wrists, very lightly, looking at her for permission first, and turned them over. She remembered the first time he had touched her, at the bar in Delta City, searching her hands for marks she didn¡¯t have. ¡°mere scratch,¡± he said. ¡°They¡¯ll go away in a few days time. Do they hurt?¡±


    Diana shook her head¡­.


    Both Owens nor Diana didn¡¯t know of anything happening, not even that Mark took Diana to one of the spare rooms in the same mansion they were in as well¡­ They had been sleeping and still sleeping¡­. Although, Owens had overheard themotion earlier on, he didn¡¯t wake up from sleep, but Hannah, she was very deep asleep.


    For the second time Mark bent his head and kissed the scratch on Diana¡¯s wrist. A re of heat coursed through her, like a hot spike that went from her wrist to the pit of her stomach. He kissed the next scratch, on her forearm, and then the next, moving up her arm to her shoulder, the pressure of his body bearing her back until she was lying against the pillows, looking up at him. He propped himself on his elbows so as not to crush her with his weight and looked down at her.


    His eyes always darkened when they kissed, as if desire changed their color in some fundamental way. So, the man people thinks is ruthless and cold actually is not cold rather just shows he is.


    ¡°Let¡¯s stop this ¡­.. Take me to my abode. I don¡¯t want situation were my children wakes up and don¡¯t find me this morning, please ¡­¡±


    ¡°i will¡± He ducked his head down, kissed her cheek not minding she had just woken up and injured.


    Diana wound her fingers into the sleeve of his T-shirt.  She was fighting hard to resist. She couldn¡¯t evenpletely understood what had gotten all over Mark and herself as well.


    He tilted his head to the side. ¡°If we were to get married,¡± he began, and he must have felt her tense under him, because he smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t panic, I¡¯m not proposing on the spot. I was just wondering how to make you remember that night. Six years ago¡­ I know this scent ¡­ You¡¯re thedy from that night!¡±


    ¡°Nothing¡­. And I¡¯m sorry I don¡¯t remember anything. Maybe I could be thedy.¡± Hannah said, brushing her fingers across the back of his neck, where the skin was soft, yawning though her head still ached.


    They kissed for a long time, until most of the light had bled out of the room and they were just shadows. Mark didn¡¯t move his hands or try to touch her, though, and she sensed he was waiting for permission.


    She realized she would have to be the one to take it further, if she wanted to-and she did want to. He¡¯d admitted something was wrong and that it had nothing to do with her. This was progress: positive progress. He ought to be rewarded, right? A little grin crooked the edge of her mouth. Who was she kidding; she wanted more on her own behalf. Because he was Mark, because she had started to love him, because he seemed so familiar, because he was so gorgeous that sometimes she felt the need to poke him in the arm just to make sure he was real.


    She did just that.


    ¡°Ow,¡± he said. ¡°What was that for?¡±


    ¡°Take your shirt off,¡± she whispered. She reached for the hem of it but he was already there, lifting it over his head and tossing it casually to the floor. He shook his hair out, and she almost expected the bright gold strands to scatter sparks in the darkness of the room.


    ¡°Sit up,¡± she said softly. Her heart was pounding. She does not remember usually taking the lead in these sort of situations, but he didn¡¯t seem to mind. He sat up slowly, pulling her up with him, until they were both sitting among the welter of nkets. She crawled into hisp, straddling his hips. Now they were face-to-face. She heard him suck his breath in and he raised his hands, reaching for her shirt, but she pushed them back down again, gently, to his sides, and put her own hands on him instead. She watched her fingers slide over his chest and arms, the swell of his biceps where some ck scars twined, She traced her index finger down the line between his pectoral muscles, across his t washboard stomach. They were both breathing hard when she reached the buckle on his jeans, but he didn¡¯t move, just looked at her with an expression that said: Whatever you want.

 close To Get Caught

    Her heart thudding, she dropped her hands to the hem of her own shirt and pulled it off over her head. She wished she¡¯d worn a more exciting bra-this one was in white cotton-but when she looked up again at Mark¡¯s expression, the thought evaporated. His lips were parted, his eyes nearly ck; she could see herself reflected in them and knew he didn¡¯t care if her bra was white or ck or neon green. All he was seeing was her.


    She reached for his hands, then, freeing them, and put them on her waist, as if to say, You can touch me now. He tilted his head up, her mouth came down over his, and they were kissing again, but it was fierce instead ofnguorous, a hot and fast-burning fire. His hands were feverish: in her hair, on her body, pulling her down so that shey under him, and as their bare skin slid together she was acutely conscious that there really was nothing between them but his jeans and her bra and panties. She tangled her hands in his silky, disheveled hair, holding his head as he kissed down her throat. How far are we going? What are we doing? a small part of her brain was asking, but the rest of her mind was screaming at that small part to shut up. She wanted to keep touching him, kissing him; she wanted him to hold her and to know that he was real, here with her, and that he would never leave. ¡®But he has a fianc¨¦?¡¯ a thought sprang up and another shouted at it ¡®shut up! What do you know!¡¯


    His fingers found the sp of her bra. She tensed. His eyes wererge and luminous in the darkness, his smile slow. ¡°Is this all right?¡±


    She nodded. Her breath wasing fast. No one in her life since she got pregnant with her now little three rugrats, had ever seen her topless-no boy, no man, anyway. As if sensing her nervousness, he cupped her face gently with one hand, his lips teasing hers, brushing gently across them until her whole body felt as if it were shattering with tension. His long-fingered, callused right hand stroked along her cheek, then her shoulder, soothing her. She was still on edge, though, waiting for his other hand to move back to her bra sp, to touch her again, but he seemed to be reaching for something behind him-What was he doing?


    Diana thought suddenly of what her kids usually says about being careful. Oh, she thought. She stiffened a little and drew back. ¡°Sir, I¡¯m not sure I-¡± but the moment only got intensified.


    She felt the brush of his lips, light at first, and her own opened automatically beneath the pressure. Almost against her will she felt herself go fluid and pliant, stretching upward to twine her arms around his neck the way that a sunflower twists toward light. His arms slid around her, his hands knotting in her hair, and the kiss stopped being gentle and became fierce, all in a single moment like tinder ring into a ze. Diana heard a sound like a sigh rush through the room, all around them, a wave of noise, but it meant nothing, she was lost in the rush of her blood through her veins, the dizzying sense of weightlessness in her body.


    Mark¡¯s hands moved from her hair, slid down her spine; she felt the hard press of his palms against her shoulder des-and then he pulled away, gently disengaging himself, drawing her hands away from his neck and stepping back. For a moment Diana thought she might fall; she felt as if something essential had been torn away from her, an arm or a leg, and she stared at Mark in nk astonishment-what did he feel, did he feel nothing? She didn¡¯t think she could bear it if he felt nothing.


    Mark wanted to stop but everything in him, every ounce in him didn¡¯t wanted to and same exnation goes for Diana.


    He looked back at her, and when she saw the look on his face. He held her gaze for a split second, then looked away from her, the muscles in his throat working. His hands were clenched into fists at his sides. But then Diana charged at him again, kissing him desperately , likewise Mark¡­


    He bent over again to kiss her, cupping her face with his free hand. Their lips touching again, lightly at first, and then with a stronger pressure. It was at precisely that moment that Owens threw open the bedroom door and stepped out into the room.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    He was blinking and tousle-haired and, he could see well enough. ¡°What the hell?¡± he demanded, so loudly that Mark leaped away from Diana as if her touch burned him.


    ¡°Grandpa! What are you-I mean, I thought you were-¡±


    ¡°Asleep? I was,¡± he said. The tops of his cheekbones had flushed dark red through his tan, the way they always did when he was embarrassed or upset. ¡°You seem to forget I¡¯m a militant and always aware of my surrounding¡±¡­..


    Owens walked out of the room mming the door behind and Mark followed him up. Luckily, Owens paid attention to his exnation¡­. Starting from how Diana got attacked and down to where he caught them¡­..


    ¡°She is hurt and the both of you were still tryna make out huh?¡±


    Afterwards Mark took Diana back to her abode and stepped up the security there. And luckily for Diana  her kids were still fast asleep. They¡¯d only wake up to find out their mum had gotten attacked by someone and slightly got hurt.


    Hannah woke up rtivelyte that morning¡­.. Unsure of whether her n went well thatst night¡­..


    She is mastermind of what happenedst night, she manipted an officer to attack Dianast night¡­.


    Her ulterior aim was to just get rid of Diana for good¡­..


    She was not so good at framing people for crimes they didn¡¯tmit, but she had B nx, peradventure n A doesn¡¯t work and it was to ensure she maniptes someone to frame Diana that she may earn execution or expulsion from the military base.


    Meanwhile back at the president general ward¡­. Owen kept quiet as he watched Mark showed how mad he was¡­.


    ¡°Richarlison¡­.. Check the CCTV footage¡­ Fish out who attacked Dianast night immediately¡­.¡± Mark ordered with annoyance. (How could someone be attacked under the military base? And not just someone!) Mark clenched his fist angrily.


    ¡°And lock all the exit! No one escapes¡± Mark added.


    ¡°Sir Yes, Sir! ¡± Richarlison responded and stepped into action and orders were being followed.


    Meanwhile, the news of Diana getting attackedst night had spread like wildfire all through the base, even Hannah received the news and got enraged that her n however were futile. ¡®she did not die! Hmmmp! Foolish officer! And now he may get caught and would most likely implicate me¡­ How do I save my skin?¡¯


    ¡°I have found the person sir and I have ordered for his arrest!¡± Richarlison reported. It took him over half an hour to figure out who attacked Dianast night. He checked all the surveince cameras and only one managed capture the figure while hitting Diana on the head. He was dumb to not have worn a mask to at least cover his tracks.


    ¡°Sound the rm. Every military officer should arrive at the central field in 2 minutes time. Except the national guards at Diana¡¯s abode. I¡¯ll be with you shortly¡± Mark rasped.


    Two minutester, every military officer in the base were gathered at the central field of the military base all anticipating the kind of brutal death the betrayal would have.


    At therge podium, the military officer who infiltrated the act was tied up in a cross like Jesus Christ of Nazareth during his persecution. The cross was rooted down on the middle of the execution podium. The betrayal had been striped of his uniforms and was not left with an underwear.


    Meanwhile, Hannah had ced a call over to Jake exining the situation at hand to him. Jake was enraged that if he implicates Hannah, his whole years of nning would be in vein. To avoid that, he instructed Mudryk, the G-5 leader to infiltrate and eliminate the betrayal before he confesses, when he is asked to.


    Sooner, Mark arrived with the exmunicando at sat on the majestic chairs behind therge podium.


    Then Richarlison walked up to the podium and spoke loudly, actually it was a question ¡± What do we do to betrayals?¡±


    ¡°We make their blood clot in thier vein and feed them to the vultures and use their skulls to Sally the ship on¡± the loud voices of the soldiers echoed more like thunder.


    ¡°Awumen oooo!¡± Richarlison shouted immediately they responded.


    ¡°Possess them all!¡± The soldiers replied loudly.


    ¡°Today, we shall witness what happens to a betrayal¡­ knsa knsa; the gods love those who die young!¡± Richarlison said and drop dead silence befell the central field. He turned to seek permission from the president general and with a nod he was given a go ahead.


    In a jiffy, a skull executioner came on board the podium with a veryrge, long and very sharp axe that was painted with the colour red.


    Most junior officers found this horrible event that was unfolding terrifying but they had no option but to witness it. The event sure would be dreadful but none of the junior officers in training would dare close their eyes or exit the central field as they¡¯d be killed if caught and secondly they¡¯re being trained to kill. Why then would they avoid witnessing killing events?


    ¡°For the evil you fail to destroy now might Tananae destroy you tomorrow. So, let¡¯s brute anchor and merry till we reach our final destinations!¡± With that said the skull executioner walked up to the betrayal tied to the cross and loosed him and wore a mask with no no hole to breath over him.


    He pushed the betray unto a table that was just two metres away from the floor and he ced his head vertically on it. Meanwhile, the soldier- betrayal was pleading for mercy.


    With a wave of the president generals hand, the skull executioner who was about to cut the betrayals head off paused and removed the mask covering the betrayals head.


    Mark walked up the podium and asked the terror stricken soldier ¨C betrayal ¨C ¡°Who sent you?¡± Mark was a very thoughtful person. He thought, if someone sent him then it won¡¯t stop at his dead and Diana would still be in grave danger and if it was his own decision, then it¡¯s an end for him.


    As the soldier was trying to gather breath and confess and implicate throne who had pushed him to his death ¨C a sharp needle from nowhere swiftly pierced through his brain and a blood started to Gush out mercilessly.


    ¡°Who the hell did that?¡± Many soldiers swept their gaze around to figure out who did it. But, all to no avail.


    Hannah exhaled a breathe she thought she would not be holding when she witnessed that. The only person who could implicate her is dead. She had gotten tensed and worried when the president general walked up the podium and asked the betrayal ¡®Who sent him?¡±


    She had her heart in her throat before now and the cold sweet that broke was being wiped off with an handkerchief.


    Richarlison was dumbstruck witnessing the whole event and as a mercenary, he had been to a lot of battles and came back Victorious. He was able to observe that the betrayal tilted his head and stared at Hannah who sat close to Owens by the left ( Mark to him by the right.) Now, for him that was something to pounder on.


    ¡°Deploy a search party!¡± Mark roared, his anger had doubled.

 Resemblance

    Back at Diana¡¯s abode¡­.


    Her kids woke up on their own and that was quite unusual. Usually, thier mum would wake them up early in the morning and they have gotten used to this early morning routine. Their mum not having waked them up this morning troubled their mind as she had never missed a day and without much time to waste, they hastily went to their mum¡¯s room and found out their mum was still in bed ¡­ it became more unusual.  On a norm, their mum wakes up very early and ¡°Why was she still asleep?¡±


    They got troubled and rushed to meet thier mum still lying on the bed, it was then they saw the white gauze wrapped all over their mum¡¯s head. It couldn¡¯t have been any more obvious that all wasn¡¯t well with their mum. She was hurt!


    ¡°Mum!!!¡± The kids cried out in unison, while shaking her to wake up. Diana opened her eyes slowly, with a splitting headache, her eyes, they felt gluey, stuck together. Something was tickling her face. It was someone¡¯s hair. She sat up quickly, it was Jennifer¡¯s hair. Beside her were Stoic and Legacy, their nearly identically blue eyes filled with matching concern. She nced behind them and saw nothing- the president general isn¡¯t around- only yellow walls and a pale pink teakettle bnced precariously on a windowsill.


    ¡°Mum, what happened?¡± Asked Stoic with concern mixed with worry written all over his face.


    At the same time, the five years old, gap-toothed, Jennifer¡¯s face got framed by observation. A sob rose in her chest. Mom, she cried inside, what happened to you?


    ¡°Are you hurt? Mum, hope you¡¯re okay?¡± Legacy inquired, scrutinizing Diana heads to see how severe the injury was.


    Silence answered them. No, not silence- it was the ¡®ahh¡¯ sound of groaning in pain.


    ¡°Did anyone hurt you?¡± Jennifer blinked.


    ¡°No.¡± Diana struggled to sit upright, then fell back against the bed. ¡°I¡¯m just-drained and yea, some aches from my head injury ¨C i¡­


    ¡°Who hurt you? Mum?¡± Legacy quickly interrupted, not allowing her another moment.


    ¡°I just slipped and fellst night¡­. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Diana responded trying to keep her voice even and sweeping her gaze all over her children, their face all written with disbelief and indeed Stoic¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief and Legacy¡¯s hissed in disbelief while Jennifer whispered something that sounded like an exmation of disbelief.


    Next to him, Stoic in a choked voice said ¡°You slipped? ¡± He further shrugged.


    Looking at how the white gauze is wrapped around her head, one could easily tell that what hurt hernded on top of her head and if she had slipped an fell, like she imed ¡­ Her wounds would be by the side of her head and not the centre.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The wounds are not deep. Thank God for Mark- he saved me..¡± Diana responded to further brighten her childrens face. But to her surprise, Legacy darted out of the room in anger.


    Legacy had always been the kid with most sense of motherly protection and now he was heading towards , God knows where ¨C


    ¡°Legacy¡­. Where are you going?¡± Diana called out to him but he soon disappeared out of the room.


    Diana turned to Stoic and Jennifer whose face was bleeding with what emotions? ¨C they couldn¡¯t divulge¡­. With no gap in time, Stoic stood and darted out of the room as well, following Legacy.


    Now, it was just Jennifer and Diana left in the bedroom¡­


    Diana¡¯s mind raced back tost night. She was attacked by a man wearing a military gear. He nked her on the head with a 2 by 2 log of wood and she managed to fall unconscious. After that, the attacker ran away but luckily for Diana, she was able to regain slight consciousness and started walking sluggishly toward the training field to even hr score, find someone to save her. It was at her breaking point the president general found her¡­.


    Then again¡­ Something had happened between her and the president general¡­ ¡®Wasn¡¯t that a dream?¡¯


    ¡°Brother¡­. wait for me¡­¡± Stoic called out to Legacy the moment he exited the building.


    ¡°What?¡± He responded brusquely.


    ¡°Are you thinking what I¡¯m thinking?¡± Stoic inquired and with a sharp voice Legacy respondedExclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    The national guards at the entrance tried to stop them from leaving but they didn¡¯t listen¡­. They just tricked him that their mother was suffocating and as expected he rushed into the building to confirm and at least save her if she was indeed suffocating, which might eventually cause death. But once he rushed into the building, Stoic and Legacy immediately ran out, onward towards The VIP section, Specifically the president general wards.


    Presently, a search party has been deployed in search of the intruder who killed the betrayal before he could confess. And that could only mean one thing ¡®The person who sent the betrayal doesn¡¯t want to be exposed , which means that there are looming dangers¡¯


    At the president general ward, Mark could be seen pacing back and forth, his footsteps utterly soundless. He had his hands in his pockets. He turned around.


    Sitting on a faded green sofa a few feet away from him was Owens, He was wearing the same military dark clothes he¡¯d had on the night before. He had never said anything concerning the matter and whenever he is quite¡­. it means something was fast approaching ¨C but what?-


    The kids raced toward the door, leaving the guards staring after them, they didn¡¯t even noticed them earlier on.


    The kid¡¯s burst through the doors. Mark looked up in surprise as the door of the coffee shop fell shut behind two little boys, which of course where identical.


    The sound resulting from the door mmed behind startled Owens that he also directed his gaze towards the door ¨C entrance ¨C and for a split second, he looked surprised before he wiped the expression carefully from his features. Does Mark had children already and I¡¯m unaware? No! It can¡¯t be. But, they had a striking resemnce with him?


    Entirely coincidental¡­..


    Owens stood up still staring at the two little boys now standing in front of the president general with angry looks.


    ¡°Dad! Would you mind telling me what happened to our mum? She wouldn¡¯t tell us the truth¡± Legacy¡¯s voice was sharp like a knife and was firm.


    ¡®Did he just call Mark, Dad? Or My hearing has started to malfunction? Oh, the army medical that got attackedst night is the mother to this twins? Oh yeah, quite believable¡­. I met them kissing passionatelyst night..¡¯ question popped into Owens seat of thoughts immediately as he swirled around and got submerged in deep thoughts as to why Mark would keep a crucial information as this from him.


    ¡®I¡¯m not your dad! And yea ¨C she got attackedst night by someone who is dead now!¡¯ Mark exined. His answer was satisfactory that the two brothers nced at themselves, they were about to say something in unison when a cold old voice interrupted them.


    ¡®Mark! How then do you exin the striking resemnce these kids have with you? If you¡¯re not their father?¡¯

 A Need To Act Fast

    Hannah was justing downstairs and she overhead and watched Owens asked the question. It shocked her,pletely.


    ¡°Grandpa, it¡¯s merely a coincidence¡­. I met their mum just few weeks ago. How do you expect us to have kids in such a short notice?¡± Mark countered.


    ¡°No! That¡¯s a lie¡±. Stoic replied immediately and then turned to Owens ¡°Dad and mum first met six years ago at a nightclub house and it was then and there they had sexual intercourse which resulted to us! Mum doesn¡¯t remember because she is suffering from a memory loss. But Dad remembers that night!¡± Stoic detailed, his voice as taut as a wire.


    ¡°Forget it¡­ She is not thedy from that night!..¡± Mark retorted shouting.


    ¡°Will you just get out already!¡± He added, he seemed enrange that this little brats are actually being interrogative and gut filled.


    ¡°How then did my mum got possession of the Silver ring?¡± Stoic questioned, with a smirk.


    ¡°Thought about that?¡± He added as Mark is thrown into thoughts.


    As if struck dumb with astonishment and surprise Mark spoke softly without vibration of his vocal cords, after all he can¡¯t avoid to shout when it¡¯s about something that can ruin himpletely.


    ¡®Keep quiet¡­ Don¡¯t let anyone hear that¡­..! And probably, she bought the ring¡¯. Mark looked around to be sure no one was around to be listening.


    ¡°If you deny it again. We¡¯ll expose you¡­ We know how important the silver ring with the initials K. O carved on it¡­ We¡¯ll keep you covered if you just ept to be our Father¡± Legacy spoke, supporting his brother with his maniptive abilities.


    Mark¡¯s eyebrows drew together. ¡°How did you little brats?¡¯?¡± his voice was gripping. His slim fingers tightened convulsively around the phone he was holding. ¡°ckmailing me huh?¡±N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    ¡°Choose wisely!¡± Legacy answered him with firm determination. They were here to even the score find out what happened to their mum but, now they were doing something else.


    With Marks fingers knotting in the trousers he whispered with so much strength ¡°Don¡¯t.¡±


    Hatred for this truth burned in his throat like unshed tears. He had held back, and by not saying what he knew-that this kids are undoubtedly his-made himplicit in his silence. And now, having dropped the truth with the weight of a crushing boulder. He is short of words.


    If information got out that the silver ring was not in his possession, it¡¯d be catastrophic. For the past six years, he had inclined to secrecy the whereabouts of the silver ring.


    ¡°The ring? The silver ring? In Diana¡¯s possession? Damn it¡­ No wonder I couldn¡¯t find it¡± Hannah bit hard on her lips and clenched her fist, from where she was eaves dropping.


    ¡°Do you agree?¡± Legacy pressed in.


    Mark shivered a little but nodded, still staring numbly at him.


    Drop dead silence enveloped the room at once..


    ¡®¡±I have always knew the silver ring was not with you, son! It¡¯s obvious the kids are telling the truth! A DNA paternity test can confirm that!¡¯ Owens finally broke the silence that enveloped the whole room, he strode forward as he spoke.


    Mark initially thought if Owens learnt about this, he would be infuriated but surprisingly he wasn¡¯t. Mark looked at him, not knowing what he might say next, but dreading it.


    ¡®Goddamnit! If the DNA paternity test is done. Our n will be ruined. I need to act fast¡¯ Hannah mmed into angry thoughts. Afterwards, she stopped the video recording she was doing and tip toed back upstair not wanting to be noticed.


    ¡°Wee Daddy!¡± Stoic and Legacy said excitedly as they rushed and threw themselves at Mark who responsively embraced them.


    The next moment, a fury of footstep was heard. It was Richarlison. He pushed open the door and when he got closer he saluted and spoke ¡°The intruder is highly skilled, Sir. We caught sight of him but he managed to escape, Sir, he wore a mask and now our tracking team are on his trail sir!¡±


    ¡°Make sure you get him!¡± Owen¡¯s roared into live. For the first time, he is actually putting his mouth into the matter. His tone had a strange urgency.


    ¡°Check the CCTV footage .. check his flexibility skills, he must be someone who have been and had served here in the military base, to be able toe and leave at will¡­ we may find a clue to get to him!¡±


    ¡°Sir, Yes Sir!¡±  Richarlison, standing at an attention, freed himself and left, navigating his iPad.


    ¡°Go back to your mum and take good care of her¡­ we¡¯ll discuss more when Ie to check up on her ¡­.¡± Mark ordered and walked out. He was now feeling like not himself anymore.


    Mercy is a condition of agreement¡­. indeed.


    He hade to a conclusion that he¡¯d perform a DNA paternity test to confirm he is actually the childrens father and of course, ryed to the kids. He feared if he didn¡¯te to the kids terms, it may cause problems for him.


    Owens went to meet Mark at the lounge he suspected Mark must must have went, just a hundred metres from the sitting room, and when he got there he asked Mark two simple questions after a heavy sigh.


    ¡°Why do you think, their mum is not thedy from that night? Isn¡¯t she thedy I met you kissingst night?¡±


    Mark wondered and then opened up..


    ¡°Firstly, Her ex husband was here few days ago iming custody of the kids and yes, she is thedy fromst night¡­.. I felt itst night¡±


    ***********


    Mark was having a board meeting as regards to the decrease in fuel subsidy which was drastically affecting the Jake¡¯s oilpany ¨C then he heard the sharp two-tone beep that signaled that a text message had just arrived on his cell phone. The phone itself ought to be silent, but it wasn¡¯t. The meeting was already close to an end, and immediately it ended, he picked up his phone and saw that the message was from Hannah ¨C not exactly a message, it was a video ¨C


    He flipped the phone open and scrolled hastily down to the text that apanied the video ¡°What¡¯s the next move?¡± It read.


    Jake watched the video over and over again to be sure it was not edited and now Jake has learnt everything when he watched the video Hannah had sent him.


    He has learnt that the silver ring is in Diana¡¯s possession, and the president general entertaining to carry out a DNA paternity test on his children¡­


    ¡°Funny dude¡­.. Really? Mark is always fond of taking what¡¯s rightfully mine and when I¡¯m done with him¡­. He won¡¯t dare to, in his next life!¡± Jake said, smiled in evil and closed his tab.


    Meanwhile, Stoic and Legacy were back home with their healing mum. They narrated the ordeal to their sister Jennifer while an army medical attended to their mum.


    Hannah¡¯s phone beeped with a message. She checked it and it read ¡°Make the President General hate Diana at all cost. Be it by framing. We need to get her out of the picture.¡±

 Owen’s Wish

    Now, The Three Little Rugrats were of to school. They wanted to skip school and take care of their mother who is wounded but they reluctantly followed their mum¡¯s instruction.


    Diana was left under the supervision of a colleague of her -An Army Medical -. As she was injured, she can¡¯t just be left at home alone.


    Diana lied on her bed, then her phone chirped like a little birds voice. Her messages notification sound was set that way. She picked up her phone which was by her bedside and checked for the message. It was from her banking system. It read ¡®Happy Birthday!¡¯ along were wishes¡­.


    ¡°Oh!!! It¡¯s my birthday¡­. I bet my kids doesn¡¯t even know¡± She muttered. Even herself had forgotten that today was her birthday.


    Last night, after she was hit by a log of nk, the first contact came as a whisper inside her head, delicate as the brush of a falling leaf.


    Aliko Diana!


    The first voice was joined by others. Who are you?


    I¡¯m Diana. My mother is Jocelyn Aliko. My father is Aliko himself. I was married to someone, who cheated on me and I divorced him. Then I had an ident ¨C something now was missing ¨C


    Her mind seemed to snap in on itself, like a rubber band, and she reeled soundlessly into a whirlwind of images cast against the insides of her closed eyelids.


    At the second contact of the nk a sudden painnced through her right arm and she fell to the ground. With consciousness drifting away from her after the attacker left, started towards the training field and then someone, Mark came to her and to her senses ¡°saved her¡±.


    She shrieked as some images fell away during a memory Resurgence and she spun upward, breaking the surface of consciousness like a diver breaking up through a wave. There was something cold pressed against her cheek. She pried her eyes open and saw silver stars. She blinked twice before she realized that she lying on a bed, in a spare bedroom in the president generals mansion, with the president general sitting beside her. They kissed and it was disrupted by the exmunicando when he barged in.


    ¡® woah, Happy 29th birthday to me! Last night, was a memorable night and a bit of my memoriesing back insouciants and excites me¡¯ Diana said and exhaled. :The attack directly on her head has in a way helped her in recollecting a bit of her memory. At least now, she remembers her parents and knows she was married but however got divorced due to he cheated on her; that she already knew.


    Why couldn¡¯t I just have remembered him? My ex husband! Is it Jake Bernard really?


    The army medical by this time, Diana reeled on the memoryeback she hadst night, had gone out to get some stuff, she said Diana needed.


    It was then Mark opened Diana¡¯s bedroom door, the scent hit her, soft as the padded blow of a cat¡¯s paw: the rich nice fragrance of him, the stronger, soapy scent of nicely packed flowers, even with some she didn¡¯t recognize. She had just stood up and sat on her bed.


    ¡°Wow.¡± She turned slowly, taking it in. ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful¡± her gaze was fixated on the flower on Marks hand. It¡¯s nicely packed and very beautiful.


    ¡°Happy Birthday!!!!! Aliko Diana¡± he said.


    She was oddly touched. ¡°Thank you.¡± a thought oscited through her mind ¡®How did he know today is my birthday?


    The president general has full ess to all informations about the military officers in and out of the Sterling City military base¡­. As far as you¡¯re a military officer, he just had to demand for your information, in file or in any electronic means.


    Thus,tely he had went through Aliko¡¯s Diana information¡­.


    Before Mark could take a step forward, his phone rang, when the voice at the other end of the phone spoke, the smile on his face got reced with an angry look, he dropped the flowers he was holding on the bed and darted out of the room immediately. Fear had crept into him. The flowers however was a gift he got personally to surprise Diana with, but now a call has spoilt that remarkable moment.


    When he got back to the president general ward, he saw some army medical administering his grandpa, Kelly Owens some intravenous drips. He had fainted earlier, and that was the reason a call was ced over to Mark.


    Two thoughts ran through his mind.


    ¡°Get hold of the ring¨C¡±


    ¡°Marry his betrothed¨C¡®


    Even the thoughts of he is Diana¡¯s Triplets father shed in but it was merely faint and least considered, but that would mean his grandpa has grandchildren even though not from thedy he betrothed to Mark.


    Kelly Owens was in fact, not an actual grandfather of Mark. He was the father of the mother that abducted him. Ordinarily and naturally, Mark regarded him as his grand dad. Which meant that Jake Bernard was Kelly Owen¡¯s actual grandson. Owens knew this, although the thought of Jake burnt him, he had no option but to forget and heal. ¡°Jake deserved his punishment for what he did! He raped and killed an innocent maid!¡±  That was the idea, all the evidence pointed to that usation, making it a fact. However it¡¯s what that is behind the eyes that count, thus Jake was seeking revenge.


    The only person who knew what had actually happened was the person who framed him and of course Mark, who didn¡¯t testify because he was threatened.


    What troubled Owens was that Jake ought to have been released from the high max security prison he was sent. But until now, he hasn¡¯t been released. Little did he know that the Benjamin Bernard he knew was now the popr Jake Bernard who is already on a secret mission to make the Bernard family pay!


    The only way Madk would be sure his grandpa died happily was if he made all of his wishese through.


    He ran off to his grandpa lying on the couch with an army medical checking his vitals.


    ¡°Are you okay? I got scared I was going to lose you!¡± Mark said as he leaned forward.


    He was utterly scared that he probably would lose his grandfather, anytime soon¡­ Just few months away, he¡¯d be dead ording to the doctor and he needs to elerate his n and make his grandfather happy before he kicks the bucket.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

 Getting Married

    One ¨C Marry his betrothed, Hannah- However, don¡¯t forget that Hannah is fake. She is not the girl with the mark of an ovepping circle in her thighs, nor is she Charity Wakins granddaughter, Jake is merely using her to get ess to the military base.


    Two ¨C Get back the silver ring from Diana ¨C  ¡°I¡¯m already working on this, if not why would I want to get closer to her? I can¡¯t force her to give me the ring without the issue escting, especially with her three Little Rugrats around!¡± Of a truth, if it escted that the ring is not in his possession. Havoc, would erupt. He now has no idea, that Hannah and Jake Bernard are now aware that silver ring is not on his possession and would use it against him.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Son! Just do the needful¡±.. Owens responded and the next second coughed out a mouthful of blood. His condition got infuriated when he got poisoned six years ago, thus he had been living this way, asionally his condition rises and he coughs out blood and faints out and sometimes it get entirely suppressed.


    ¡°Richarlison!¡± Mark yelled out after he stood up from his earlier squatted position.


    Richarlison didn¡¯t waste time to arrive after he heard his name.


    ¡°Yes sir!¡± He answered with his heads faced down.


    ¡°Get my marriage arranged, it¡¯ll be by evening¡­.¡±


    Talking about evening time¡­. He still has to meet his mum.


    ¡°No, make it tomorrow morning. I have an appointment today by evening!¡± Mark cut it, and with that said Richarlison left and would already be nning in making the arrangements.


    Richarlison still had not gotten information or vital clue to find the intruder who infiltrated and killed the betrayal that attacked Dianast night. He is preupied with so many responsibilities. That¡¯s however what it exactly means to be the president general personal assistant. If he had not sworn to protect his fellowrades, Son! He would beining bitterly.


    When he left, Mark started to feel a sense of reluctance. ¡®How would Diana feel when she hears I¡¯m getting married tomorrow?¡¯ He snapped out of the thought murmuring. ¡®Why should I even worry about her?¡¯


    ¡®You¡¯re thinks about her?¡¯ Owen¡¯s who brightness had just returned to his face and still lying down on the couch close by asked Mark upon noticing his expression.


    ¡°No¡­. Just get well for me please!¡± Mark said


    ¡°Make sure nothing doesn¡¯t happen to him!¡± He added, pointing at the medical officer. Afterwards, he left with an unreadable expression.


    In a matter of time, the news had spread all through the Military Base that the president general was officially going to get married to Hannah, tomorrow by morning.


    Presently, Diana is admiring the flowers the president general had personally brought her earlier as a gift from him for her, it was her birthday.


    ¡®Ko ko ko!¡¯ The Army medical knocked on the bedroom door. She is Grace.


    ¡®Yese in¡¯ Diana said. She knew it must be her, Grace.


    With that permission, She walked in and started what she was there to do.


    Check her vitals and give her a doze of drugs/pills and ensure she gets well in no time.


    That she was just doing. She too, is admiring the flower, she also loved the flower, it¡¯s scent. All through Diana wouldn¡¯t take her hands of it.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am , Do you mind I ask you a question? ¡± Grace finally broke the silence.


    ¡°Yes¡­. what¡¯s it?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t remember perceiving this beautiful flowers scent before now and I don¡¯t even remember you having such a beautiful and expensive flower. Who brought it for you? Are you celebrating something today?¡± Grace inquired.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s my birthday and the president general bought and brought it for me¡± Diana responded. She didn¡¯t even thought it through before saying.


    For a moment, silence was a perfect word to describe the serenity of the bedroom. It was hard to believe that the president general would personally buy and bring in a flower as a gift for a birthday celebrant. He is known to be very cold and ruthless.


    ¡°Really?¡± Grace pressed further in disbelief.


    ¡°Yes¡­.. Anything unsettling?¡± Diana asked upon noticing the change in tone of Grace.


    ¡°No, Ma¡¯am¡­. Sorry if my question unsettled you. Just that the president general would be getting married to his fiancee tomorrow!¡± Said Grace.


    ¡°And I¡¯m done, I¡¯d be downstairs . Get some rest¡± Grace added and Diana nodded mischievously and annoyingly yfully. She nodded and also smiled bitterly.


    She is pained and same time stunned. Just when she was beginning to think something was going to happen between them ¡­ boom! He is getting married. ¡®why then did he started to lead me on?¡¯ thoughts shed through her mind.


    Grace left the bedroom in conflicting thoughts. ¡°Could be the president general bought them for her? He was the one who saved herst night and rumors has it that they have knew each other¡¯


    Meanwhile, Jake is making arrangements toe and present his options to Diana.


    ¡°EITHER LET ME TAKE CUSTODY OF MY KIDS AND TAKE THEM AWAY FROM YOU, OR MARRY ME SO THAT WE CAN LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER!¡±


    ¡°NOW, THAT THE SILVER RING IS NOT IN HIS POSSESSION, HE CAN¡¯T CONTROL THE TRIADS AND IF THE TRIADS FIND OUT HE HAD LOST THE RING¡­ THEY WONT TAKE IT LIKELY WITH HIM AND THE WHOLE CITY. THE RING SYMBOLISE THEIR EXISTENCE. KELLY OWENS INVENTED THE GROUP TO FIGHT TRIBALISM, FAVOURITISM AND RACISM BUT OVER TIME THIS AIM HAD BEEN ABANDONED AND LONG FORGOTTEN!¡±


    ¡°I have to report the issue to the triads to buy my freedom from them. I bet by now they¡¯re nning on how to hurt me down and kill me!¡± Mark chuckled evil andughed out loud that even employers passing by his office started to wonder.


    ¡°It seems the grace called Favour is on his side¡­.¡±


    To be continued¡­¡­¡­..


    ¡°Freely we serve


    Because we freely love, as in our willExclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    To love or not; in this we stand or fall.¡±

 leap Of Faith

    Stab, the head of the ck axe confraternity was talking to his superiors, the imperial lord of the ck axe confraternity. He had earlier reported how Jake and his privately hired military squad thrashed them, even the guts Jake had to step on their toes that provoked them.


    Stab needed to exert revenge on him.


    ¡°I want permission to take along the strongest of our confraternity to eliminate Jake.  No one dares or defile ck axe confraternity and goes Scott free¡± Stab said, with his heads facing down. He was kneeling down before three imperial lord¡¯s who sat majestically in the ¡°thrones of axe¡± thrones that wield their ancestors spirit man.


    The ck axe confraternity is merely one of the mafia group that makes up the city Triad. If Jake reports to them that the president general doesn¡¯t have the silver ring anymore and they in turn report to the triads Lords. They¡¯d be promoted above the other two confraternities that makes up the Triad.


    Stab was still facing the floor impatiently waiting for an answer when someone with tattoos covering his whole body barged into the ancestral room. He was the head of  the security in the ck axe confraternity environment.


    He seemed frightened, he was among those that got thrashed by Jake¡¯s private military soldiers. His fright was stimted when his watchman reported to him that Jake and his soldiers were heading towards them.


    ¡°Jake is heading here¡­! We need to get prepared ¡± Derrick, the head of the security guards stated with fright almost missed in his tone. Why won¡¯t he be frightened? He was mercilessly beaten up and the soldiers and even Jake himself were expert martial artist.


    Stab smiled gleefully. Finally! An opportunity to make Jake pay for what he did to him. Excitement suffused him as he would be doing it in a just way.


    ¡°Get the bravest, toughest and strongest neo ck members and beat them to hell!¡± One of the imperial lord finally spoke for the first time. He and his fellow imperials had not spoke since Stab started making his report. He sounded infuriated. ¡®Who the hell gave Jake the guts?¡¯


    Sooner, the ck axe warriors  of over thousands had sharpened their weapons and were all on the war gears tobat the iing threat. Little did they know Jake wasing for a purpose that would give the rank.


    The ck axe confraternity environment was very big, like a Shaolin temple.


    They did all their rituals there¡­..Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    They trained there¡­..


    Meanwhile, Back at Einstein Academy¡­.


    Stoic, Legacy, and Jennifer were chewing the fat and shooting the breeze and in other words confabting trying to figure out the rtionship Hannah had with Jake Bernard ¨C the man who ims is their mum¡¯s ex husband and their father ¨C


    Few days ago they discovered that Jake and Hannah, the both of them might have a connection and now they needed a vital information that may buttress their im.


    ra soon went ahead to join them and once she got there, Stoic closed hisputer and changed the conversation, initiating a controversial discussion.


    ¡°What are you guys hiding? We¡¯re friends¡­. remember?¡± ra who is naturally smart and observant was quick to know the game stoic was pulling, hence, she interrupted with her soft spoken voice.


    Thoughtfully, Stoic opened up hisputer back on again and said ¡®We¡¯re trying to figure out the rtionship this woman on the screen has with the owner of Jake¡¯s oilpany¡¯ , Stoic turned hisptop to ra to get a proper view . Jennifer and Legacy were sitting by his left and right side and the before now vacant seat opposite Stoic is now upied by ra. The table was not so vast. It was rectangr, the four kids sat to each of its side.


    When ra saw the woman on the screen, she was gripped with an instant shock looming in her face.


    ¡°What? This is my mother! and Jake¡¯s oilpany Manager; Jake Bernard is my father!¡± ra spoke, and chuckled.


    ¡°They used to be lovers!¡± She added when a splitting silence came on board. She was notfortable with the way the Triplets looked at her in shock and disbelief.


    That sounds terrific, thought Stoic. Just Jake, He already has a child with Hannah about same age as us, meaning he got the woman, mum caught him with pregnant. Not to mention that his two kids may be in love with each other (Stoic and ra) Yeah, this sounds like a perfect family reunion. Aloud, he said.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ra exhaled deeply after she learnt all that she had to, about the possibilities that Stoic and his siblings might be her step siblings if indeed, Jake is their biological father. She was not happy with it in a way, because her lover might be her brother. She was also happy in a way because she will get to spend more time with her friends ¨C step siblings ¨C


    ¡°So, my mum was the reason your mum and dad parted ways?¡± She asked in curiosity.


    The three little Rugrats nodded in unison. It was a lot to take in.


    My mum, whom my dad ims left and abandoned me is actually still in this sterling city and at the military base and to make matter worse is the president generals fiancee!.


    ¡°But, why would my dad lie? And doesn¡¯t mum care?¡±


    Everything was getting more vivid andplicated.


    They vowed to find out something that they didn¡¯t know about this whole connection because it can¡¯t just be a coincidence. It must be a wellyed out n.


    Even to rte the whole incident. They needed to rack their brain.


    Jake Bernard cheated on Diana with Hannah, and took her property¡¯s. Consequentially, Hannah got pregnant and gave birth to ra before them. And their mum probably out of frustration got into an ident that made her lost her memories but however was gifted with us. ¡°It could really be Jake is our father ¡­.¡± Stoic thought. Maybe, mumyed with someone else, and he is most likely the president general , cause why do we look like him? After all, he said it himself. He had sex with ady he met at the night club party six years ago.


    Stoic tapped his fingers on the table all through the racking of the whole story. ¡°Mum definitely went to bar to drink away her sorrow after she discovered Dad¡­. No! Jake!!! Cheated on her to vent her anger probably on some alcohols. President General said, they were both drunk!¡±

 Trade By Barter

    Presently at the ck axe Confraternity home. Jake and his entourage had been let him after he stated his reason for his impromptuing and now they were having further discussion with the imperial lords.


    ¡°You take me off your death list and I tell you a vital information that will rank you above the other two Confraternities¡­.¡± Jake proposed..


    With no gap in time, they resolutely came to a conclusion, Jake is of the ck axe death list and they now have a vital information to rank them above the other two Confraternities.. The imperial lord didn¡¯t believe them at first, until Jake showed them the video Hannah sent to him earlier on.


    One could calm the exchange Trade By Barter


    Anyone who has the silver ring can control the triad and the triad hated being controlled, thus they wanted the silver ring for themselves, furthermore the person who now posseses the ring doesn¡¯t even know it¡¯s use. Before now, they only obeyed the president who in turn has power and authority because of the silver ring, not that they wish or want to and now that he doesn¡¯t ¨C havoc is about to begin to wreck and erupt.


    At the military base¡­.


    Arrangements and training for the president generals wedding is being made. Hannah already has a top wedding gown designer over to get her one meanwhile, Mark was training his martial art skills.


    ording to the sterling city military rule, any military officer who wishes to get married in that city must and should fight three grandwar master to prove he is capable of protecting his beloved wife to be and as a result of that many military officers leaves the city just to get married as the grandwar masters were experts and can¡¯t be defeated easily.


    Nevertheless, The president general is not above this one rule. He has to live by example which means he is to fight the grandwar masters to prove he is worthy of getting a wife. Therefore, he has to train because the task was not an easy one.


    Coincidentally, Diana¡¯s will start working as the sergeant general of the medical units as she was recently promoted to be the Sergeant General. Which means tomorrow, if the grandwar masters or president general get injured, she is to render immediate medical attention personally without no help or assistant and also try her best none of them dies. It was how the rule was made!


    All the same, Diana was ready for the task ahead of her as she very well knew this¡­.


    Mark was afraid that Diana is not strong and well enough but there is nothing he could do, but focus on himself and his deadly task ahead of him.


    When Hannah learnt this¡­ She smiled wearily. ¡®It seems like the gods were working on her side to get Diana framed up asap!¡±


    She had a very dangerous and deadly n already being set out for Diana to be caught in and she can¡¯t even escape it, if it goes ording to n.


    She was not even bothered if Mark could actually beat the grandwar master. She had been already reassured by Jake that the grandwar masters are no match for Mark, though he looks soft and powerless, he is an expert of expert in martial art.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Jake knew Mark very well. Mark was personally trained by the exmunicando and othermunicandos and someone who is trained by them can¡¯t be underestimated. Not many people knew this though.


    Diana on the other hand was feeling afraid for Mark. She was more afraid of how she will feel if Mark is hurt, but if he loses, she¡¯d be happy because he won¡¯t get to marry Hannah¡­.. She looks evil, to her¡­..


    Meanwhile, Jake was timing himself for an appropriate time toe im custody of his children and that would be immediately after Hannah¡¯s n fall into ce.


    Diana will either not just be expelled or executed, she would lose her children or marry him for her their chikdren¡¯s sake and that will be a major step for him to get closer to her and win her back.


    It was already evening time. The three little Rugrats and Jennifer had made the decision to incline to secrecy what they had discovered until it¡¯s right time to divulge it and because of that the three little Rugrats said nothing as regards to that to their mother. Jennifer too kept her own part of the deal and as well didn¡¯t report to her vicious father. Just that she hated him more!.


    When Stoic, Legacy and Jennifer got back home and learnt all that was going to happen tomorrow¡­.. They were filled with unreadable expression.


    -Mark getting married to ra¡¯s mother


    -Mark fighting three grandwar masters to just marry a wife


    -So, what prompted his decision? To their senses, Mark didn¡¯t even loved Hannah. Something must be pushing him. And it all went ahead to give them clue.


    Stoic sent a message to ra already about this sudden news and ra learning about it made her only more curious of what is it deep down¡­..


    ¡°It really can¡¯t be just a coincidence!¡±


    ra was remarkably gifted too, sassy and very jovial with her crazy detective skills.


    Shortly at ves bar. Flora; Mark biological mum was seated impatiently waiting for her son to arrive.


    However, after about ten minuteste a sulky looked shed through Flora¡¯s delicate face.


    She kept tapping her fingers nervously on the table and continuously checking the time on her wrist watch.


    The bar was blinking with blue and red lights. Particrly neon lights strobing it¡­ The atmosphere was lively and cool music ying in the background. Colored lights yed over the dance floor, turning it into a multicolored fairnd of blues and acid greens, hot pinks and golds.


    Around about ten minutes time, Mark arrived. When Flora saw him, she quickly embraced him.


    For a moment they were locked in a very passionate embrace.


    Once the fury Mark had towards his mum passed and subsided, a feeling of utter emptiness had reced it. He hadn¡¯t realized how angry he¡¯d been with his mother, not until he¡¯d stepped through the door and walked out on her and Mark had set his panic about Flora¡¯s life aside and realized whaty under it.


    Now that he was calmer from the warm embrace, he wondered if a part of him had wanted to punish his mother for what had happened to him.


    ¡°I feared you wouldn¡¯te!¡± Flora said, with tears rolling down her cheeks¡­


    Her face were filled with so much Emotions of regrets.


    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have left you!¡± Her sob intensified and once again embraced Mark who was still lost in thought.

 Restore the family name

    Meanwhile, Stoic and Legacy were Preparing a birthday present for their mother. She thought her children had forgotten and didn¡¯t even bother to remind them. She was even nervous and filled with ¡°what if thoughts¡­¡± about tomorrow¡­


    ¡°Cut the chase¡­. Go Straight to the point¡­ Why did you asked me to meet you here? ¡± Mark inquired as he unlocked the warm embrace and sat on the chair just besides the one Flora sat on, just in front of the counter..Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°What may I offer you?¡± The bartender immediately came over and requested. Meantime, Flora was dragging a shaking breathe into her lungs as she sat on her seat.


    ¡°Just a bottle of water¡­.¡± Mark answered the bar tender who was impatiently waiting for Mark¡¯s order to be ced. With that said, the bartender turned and walked away, most likely to fetch the bottle of water.


    ¡°Bottle water? Wow my son has grown to be such a responsible powerful figure!¡± Flora muttered to herself. Though she is in her 50¡¯s, she still looked like she was in her 30¡¯s. She looked beautiful in her casual wear.


    ¡°Why did you asked me to meet you here ? If not important, I¡¯ll get going¡­.¡± Mark repeated his question and stated with a cold expression.


    ¡°I think your father might still be alive¡­¡± Flora said after she heaved a sigh. Then, she picked up her handbag and brought out some photos and a map and a carbon paper that was folded inside the handbag. Once, she was done with that, she ced them on top the counter.


    ¡°I have made my research and I think ¨C no ¨C I know your father is still alive¡­. Look at this photos and -¡± Flora didn¡¯tplete her sentence when Mark stood up and started walking out. The photos were of a man taken just recently who looked very much like his father or could be his father.


    ¡°Why can¡¯t he just listen? Does he have to be stubborn like his father?¡± Flora said and started towards Mark who was walking out briskly.


    ¡°Son!¡­. Wait for me! Just listen to me ¡­ I know I have wronged you by leaving and abandoning you, but as the president general you should understand my plight!¡± Flora called out to him and wept at the conclusion of her sentence.


    ¡°I had no option¡­. Mummy loved you¡­.. And our family can get back together if we find your father¡­ My husband¡± Flora furthermore said when Mark paused on his tracks.


    He was tempestuous. Didn¡¯t know if he should listen to what his mum had to say or just walk out. All through his life, he had lived knowing he had no parents since he got abandoned, and then his mum showed up one day and the next she ims his dead dad might still be alive ¡­. iming with confidence and that their family can still get back together¡­ He started of toward the tree, then halted on the threshold, ring.


    They were both dead to him, until now¡­.


    ¡°I¡¯m listening¡­..¡± Mark said with an angry tone. He was already few metres out and away from the ves bar. His mum, Flora advancing towards him from behind.


    ¡°Your Dad is not dead. He is imprisoned in a high max prison built on top a heavy body of water¡­.. We can still rescue him and get our family back together¡± Flora exined. Her hand on his elbow as if to brace him, but he barely noticed. ¡°You understand? We have to find him before- and restore our family name!¡¯


    Mark stood there motionless for a long moment, staring at his mother. It was hard not to feel like he was staring at a stranger. His throat felt tight, almost too tight to speak. He nced toward around, them sighed. ¡°Okay.


    ¡°Mark¡­,¡± Flora said atst, very softly. ¡°I am so sorry.¡±


    Mark stared down at her hands. She was, he realized, still wearing her wedding ring with dad.


    ¡°I never thought I¡¯d see this ce again,¡± Flora went on. Mark stole a sideways nce at his mother and saw that she was looking out over the city.


    ¡°I dreamed about it sometimes. I even wanted to paint it, to paint my memories of it, but I couldn¡¯t do that. I thought if you ever saw the paintings, you might ask questions, might wonder how those images had evere into my head..¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t take you along to the mercenaries abode where I worked all these years because I didn¡¯t wanted lose you and also don¡¯t want you to follow your dad footsteps and be a military officer¡­¡± Tears burnt the back of Flora¡¯s eyes as she continued.


    With an heavy breath, Flora continued with a question¡­..


    ¡°Can we not restore our families name anymore?¡±


    When Mark heard the question, he became deeply absorbed in thoughts and confused emotionally¡­. ¡°This family thing¡­..¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ I have important stuff to handle! Will meet you here next tomorrow by noon!¡± With that said Mark disappeared into the thin air.


    Flora clenched her fist tightly as she watched her son leave until she could no longer get a glimpse of him.


    *********


    When Mark got back to the military base, he went straight to Diana¡¯s ce to check how she was doing, but didn¡¯t find her.


    ¡°Mum, went out to take some fresh air¡­¡± Stoic reported after they embraced and greeted him. They were all acting like they werefortable with him but are however not; not even a bit.


    Upon noticing the worried expression that engulfed his face, Jennifer spoke ¡°There are two national guards with her¡­ for security purposes.. so, don¡¯t worry, mum¡­ I mean your love is in safe hands¡± afterwards she just chuckled inwardly.


    Mark was stunned when he heard that. It was like Jennifer could actually see through him.


    ¡°So, You¡¯re getting married tomorrow¡­ And you haven¡¯t done the DNA paternity test on us to confirm you¡¯re out father¡­. You promised to marry mum and to us, we will be a happy family..¡± Legacy stated, interrupting the thought Mark was thrown into (she called her mum ¡®my love¡¯¡­ But I don¡¯t love her!)


    (Sharrap! You do love her) a voice inside of him shouted at him.


    ¡°It seems you don¡¯t take threats seriously¡­ We¡¯ll tell everyone you no longer have the silver ring if you don¡¯t call off the marriage before tomorrow and marry mum¡± Legacy added, he was a little bit cold this time around.


    Mark couldn¡¯t believe this little Rugrats are actually trying to ckmail him. But, they¡¯re too small, he thought. ¡®They can¡¯t possibly do anything¡­..¡± He further said to himself, underestimating what this three little Rugrats are actually capable of.


    ¡°Today is your mum¡¯s birthday, are you guys nning a surprise for her?¡± Mark inquired, in the bid to stall the conversation.

 Birthday Surprise

    Stoic, Legacy and Jennifer nced at themselves wryly, they Intuitively knew what he was trying to do, but nevertheless followed the flow. But, however stick to their n.


    ¡°Yes!¡± They said in unison, almost excitedly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t look, don¡¯t look . . .¡±


    Dianaughed. ¡°I¡¯m not looking.¡±


    There were hands over her eyes: Mark¡¯s hands, slim and flexible. His arms were around her, and they were shuffling forward together,ughing. He¡¯d grabbed her the moment she¡¯d walked in the front door, wrapping his arms around her as her whistle dropped from her hands.


    ¡°I have a surprise for you,¡± he¡¯d said, grinning. ¡°Close your eyes. No looking. No, really. I¡¯m not kidding.¡±


    ¡°I hate surprises,¡± Diana protested now. She could perceive the scent of the man holding her, it was the president general and she intuitively knew that. ¡°Let go of me!¡± She agitated but Mark didn¡¯t let go. Diana was wondering what people would say about the all of sudden closeness between her and the president general who will be getting married tomorrow.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡®it is too improper¡± she thought.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Mark said, and withdrew his hands at longst. ¡°Surprise!¡±


    ¡°Surprise!¡± The parlour was full of people: National guards, military officers, Stoic and Legacy and Jennifer. Richarlison was holding a silver sparkler and winking, waving it back and forth as the sparkles flew everywhere,nding on the stone counters and Stoic¡¯s T-shirt, making him yelp. Jennifer was holding a clumsily lettered sign: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, THE BEST MUM IN THE WORLD!. She held it up and waved.


    Diana whirled on Mark usingly. ¡°You nned this!¡±


    ¡°No!¡­ Your kids  did.. I only aided!¡± Mark responded bluntly.


    Diana turned to look at her kids. She thought they forgot her birthday but little did she know that they won¡¯t forget something as crucial as that. She was filled with overwhelming emotions that she started to smile sheepishly how God blessed her with such wonderful children.


    Early today, the president general had also surprised her.. and now again aided her children with a second surprise she received.


    ¡°You should have everything, Diana,¡± Mark said before he let her go, and her children descended.


    There was a whirl of hugs, of presents and cake-baked by Legacy, who actually had something of a ir for pastry creation, and decorated by Jennifer with luminous frosting that tasted better than it looked.


    But still, Diana was ufortable. How would a man who is tasked to face Grandwar masters tomorrow by virtue of getting Married tomorrow be spending time on just her birth day?


    Mark didn¡¯t even care at all. He is known to do whatever that pleases him. He didn¡¯t care if the news got to Hannah, she would be mad. After all, he didn¡¯t wanted to marry her out of his own will and if not that it was his grandpa¡¯s wish for him to marry her.. he wouldn¡¯t or probably not have crossed part with her.


    Then again a thought ran into seat of thoughts. ¡°What if Hannah refuses to marry him?¡± He is going to be faced with the same problem and it won¡¯t be good if it ended that as Owens would be mad at him.


    With that thought in mind, Mark gently left and headed to meet Hannah, at his ward.


    Diana didn¡¯t even notice he had left so early, as the atmosphere was lively and joyous. She spent it remarkably with her children.


    ¡®I just have to fake an act and make sure she agrees to marry me tomorrow, when the Ministers asks her the question¡¯ Mark muttered as he entered his bedroom, which also was Hannah¡¯s bedroom. They were couples ¨C even if not official yet- thence, they needed to share one bedroom to show they were¡­. But of a truth, even at that, it was very obvious they were getting married for the name alone, for Mark, to sate his dying grandfather and for Hannah, to furthermore gain power as the president generals Wife. She merely imed she loved him to curry that position as instructed by Jake. The mastermind!


    Normally, Mark would sleep at the couch or downstairs while Hannah chiefly upied the bed. Mark had never given in into any temptations posed by Hannah to him. He was hell bent on not touching her. After all, he¡¯d divorce her immediately his grandpa dies. He can¡¯t afford to get the rtionship crippled now as his grandpa wanted nothing more than for him to marry charity Wakins granddaughter.


    First, she is not the real girl that was betrothed to Mark, she merely imed to be ¡­¡­


    The thought of what his mother told him earlier crept in and out of his seat of thought as he entered therge spaciouse bedroom.


    He met Hannah on the desk, flipping through a webpage on herputer ¨C the president generalsputer-


    ¡°How did she get ess?¡±


    Meanwhile, Hannah had already got a live recording from Diana¡¯s birthday celebration. How Mark held her and blindfolded her with his flexible hands and surprised her. She didn¡¯t really care. She was just pissed that these two are getting closer and she needs to act fast and make her n wless.


    Make the president general detest and dislike her and even send her out of the basement.


    It¡¯s definitely not good for the both of them to get closer and rekindle or kindle something as of new, that is romantic or intimate.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you nervous about tomorrow? We¡¯re officially getting married love?¡± Hannah said as she stood up to greet her husband to be. She was very good at this part of her act.


    It was little bit weird that ady is not angry at her husband who is getting closer and kindling a romantic affair with anotherdy.


    Mark is getting closer to Diana for two main reasons.


    Get the ring ¨C


    And at least see if Hannah hates him to avoid all her troubles which are seductions-


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not nervous and you should mind your business!¡± Mark responded coldly as he removed his jacket. The Coldness in his voice was sufficient enough for Hannah to withdraw herself else, she gets him angry.


    ¡°I should not have shouted at her¡­ damnit.. what if she says ¡°NO¡± tomorrow? No, she can¡¯t¡­ She is desperate¡± Mark thought to himself, in the next second he wondered how Hannah gained ess to his system. ¡®well, my files are hidden!¡¯ he reassured himself as he entered the bathroom to get a shower.

 A Woman’s Kiss

    It was now morning, the day is bright and sunny.


    It didn¡¯t take long for Diana to arrive at the president general unit to meet the president general as she was to check him to confirm if he was fit to fight.


    When she got there, she found Mark ready too, in his snow-white coat, just like a martial art master in Kung Fu movies. It had buttons as well.


    Mark choose the clothing as it was very light and convenient. Besides, it will much more easier for him to exert strength with it. A light flick of the coat can cause serious damage. To check for it¡¯s authenticity he flicked it powerfully and it caused a loud thud that resounded the air. The snow white clothing entuated hisposure and elegancy.


    The flick sounded like a whip against a millstone.


    Diana could imagine how painful it would definitely be against someone¡¯s skin. With a dumbstruck expression, she asked Mark ¡®Are you sure you¡¯re ready for thisbat? May it not be that you¡¯re not a skilled martial artist¡­¡±


    Mark let out a faint smile .. ¡® Proceed with the check up ¡­. I¡¯m no child in the world of martial art¡¯ with that said, Diana did the check up and he was fit forbat.


    Afterwards, they tidied things up and headed out together alongside Hannah and Richarlison. Hannah was dressed and looked beautiful in her beige-coloured zer and a matching skirt. Hannah was to start her tidying up for the wedding immediately after thebat and of course, she was going to watch the match.


    Just as they left the house, two Mercedes Benz came to an abrupt stop before them and both billowed grey smoke all over.


    The two cars doors then swung open. Jack, one of the twin bodyguards that guards Hannah, proceeded to get out of the car in front. He was very serious and acted like an old fogey. His twin brother Jill, alighted from the drivers seat of the other Mercedez Benz. He looked gentle but very intimidating.


    Jack directed his boss, Hannah to the car in front, Diana joined her there while Jill directed Mark and Richarlison to the car in the back.


    Soon after, the engine started with the both of the twins in the drivers seat and started plying at high speed onward to the arena in the military base.


    Meanwhile, on the Mercedez Benz in front which Hannah and Diana were in, Diana felt all ufortable. She wished she was in the other car with Mark. She started feeling strange feelings in her heart, plus Mark, is actively changing. Diana¡¯s first impression of him was ruthless and cold and now it¡¯s soft and he is giving out an aura of elegance and sturdiness.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    When they reached the arena I caused quite a stir.


    At the arena, many Military officers were there already.  The arena was built like a wrestling arena. The fighting pitch was surrounded with sharp protruding that if one falls from the fighting pitch, he or she would injured to death.


    There were six burly military officers by the entrance. They watched the fleet of cars came to a stop.


    With a strange expression on their face, they weed the president general. They were all dressed in ck military gears.


    As they walked into the wrestling like arena filled with military officers, one thing first got their attention. Mark and bus entourage could clearly see Owen¡¯s at the judges table. He is here to watch? And he is a judge? And beside him were three little Rugrats smiling¡­. They seemed very happy around Owen¡¯s.


    Diana¡¯s expression changed coldly. She had instructed the kids never to leave the house, she had instructed a military officer to keep a watch over them and ensure they don¡¯t leave the house¡­. but here they were! Very stubborn kids! They ought to be in school but rather they came here to witness a gruesome fight. They were rtively too young to witness such a fight.


    Mark noticed as Diana¡¯s facial expressions changed, he had his eyes on her all the time¡­ more like he never took his eyes of her and it was something Hannah was ufortable with, she said ¡®They can get closer for all I care ¡­ before this fight is over they¡¯d hate each other like they never liked each other¡­ Diana would either be executed or expelled.¡¯


    Many military officers wondered why someone, a whole president general will want to risk his live just because he wants to get married. They felt Mark was too supreme to indulge in the fight while some were excited and anticipating the fight¡­ after all nobody is above thew and there is nothing the president general could do to avert it. Although Mark had more authority, there werews that binded him as well.


    There was an extremely spacious VIP room arranged for Mark and his entourage to rest in before thebat begins. After they settled down, some attenders brought for them some tea.


    Diana¡¯s heart was racing heavily with her first Aid box by her side. She is responsible to make sure Mark doesn¡¯t die if peradventure he gets beaten up by the three grandwar masters. Meantime, Hannah was even more than rxed.


    Mark noticed her nervousness and approached her, then he spoke to her ¡® I heard a woman¡¯s kiss could bring good luck to a man?. Aren¡¯t we friends? Don¡¯t you want to wish me goodluck?¡¯


    Diana¡¯s face at that instant turned an flushed beet red¡­ She was too shy to do that and secondly what would people think¡­. it¡¯s his wedding day, he is getting married to anotherdy.


    Mark sighed a little beforeforting himself by smiling jokingly, ¡°Never mind .. I will just wish myself goodluck¡±


    Immediately, Mark realized his jokes this time around had went too far, he added urgently, ¡± I was just kidding, don¡¯t be angry at me¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t joke around like that¡­.¡± Diana replied coquettishly. She wouldn¡¯t do it, even if she wanted to. If the battles goes in the favour of Mark, he¡¯d be officially married to Hannah who kept shooting her an icy re.


    Commotion had already begun at the arena. The host was already Introducing the do¡¯s and don¡¯ts of thebat.


    In a moment, Mark stepped out of the spacious VIP room they had been given to rest and started towards the fighting pitch. Behind him was Hannah, Richarlison and Diana holding her first aid box.


    ¡°Let¡¯s wee¡­ Mark Bernard!¡± The host shouted into the microphone as he introduced Mark. When Mark got before the fighting pitch surrounded with Sharp spears, he flicked his coats and jumped all over the spears andnded on the pitch¡­


    The arena waspletely filled with no noise. It was drop dead silence, no one would dare murmur. The grand spectacle with which Mark entered the fighting pitch were his opponents were in already surprised many who thought he had just authority as the president general.


    Many were praying he loses because they probably had had encounter with the cold and ruthless Mark, while some were praying he wins for reasons best known to them¡­. But you would not know that if not told.


    Hannah and Richarlison were directed to some VIP seats to watch the fight while Diana stood just outside the pitch, before the sharp spears set up and facing upward with their head. She had begun to sweat already. The light first-aid box she was holding had suddenly be more heavy and slightly bigpared to before. She felt it was certainly because she is nervous that it felt slightly bigger, little did she know that he original first aid box had been reced with a new one.

 Combat; Round one

    Back at the VIP room provided for them to rest, someone had taken Diana¡¯s first aid box and reced it with another first aid box but was however undetected as it was done very swiftly and skillfully.


    Each of the first box contained same ¡°Stuff¡±  except for two particr injections. If you see the two injections in the original first aid box andpared it to the other two on the substitute first aid box, one would think they¡¯re the same except you test for their content. The formers content was a quick energy booster and the former was a bodily paralyzer.


    Presently, Diana is holding the first aid box with injections that exactly looked like and are branded like a glucose injection but, however filled with contents that when inserted into one¡¯s system would paralyze whoever for life.


    Hannah knew it was under a must she would administer the glucose injection into Mark¡¯s system after the round one and then she wouldunch her attack.


    Diana¡¯s heart was pounding¡­.. Richarlison¡¯s heart was pounding also, he was deeply afraid if anything happened to the one he has sworn to protect.


    Mark nced around, firstly, he caught the three little Rugrats face beside Owen¡¯s. They sent him flying kiss meaning they wished him goodluck. There were not even nervousness in their face. Secondly, he caught Diana¡¯s and Richarlison facial expressions and also Hanna¡¯s fake nervous facial expressions.


    He was now standing three metres away from the three grandwar masters after he write his signature in the liability waiver form after a thorough observation.


    With the liability waiver form signed, it means he can no longer quit, and if must abide to the rules of thebat.


    He stood there indifferently like he didn¡¯t care at all.


    ¡®This Grandwar masters are a piece of cake¡¯ he smirked.


    The three grandwar masters had been to many battles and as such fear was not a word in their dictionary. They stood side by side, they were all about a feet taller than their opponent, Mark. Their muscles were all puffed out and they looked astoundingly strong. Whereas Mark was just an average looking fighter.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Many shook their head bitterly, even Diana did as the grandwar masters spread their hands disying their six packs and how strong they could actually be. Richarlison was calm this time around as he had to, he knew being an expert in martial art was not just in the looks.


    Many of the military officers were already hissing unwittingly as they all to their knowledge were thinking the president general was no match for this grandwar masters but nheless were still anticipating how the match would end.


    ¡°Are you ready? Mark Owens?¡±


    With that question asked, Mark nodded, indicating yes.


    It was quite weird, everyone expected him to step into his fighting stance to signify yes.


    Owen¡¯s just chuckled¡­. when he read Mark¡¯s facial looks, it looked unreadable but he could still see through.


    ¡°Are you ready?¡± The host turned and said to the Grandwar, who immediately stepped into their fighting stance. ¡°We¡¯re¡­.¡± They said in unison. Their voice had a lot of base that it could send a shiver through anybody.


    ¡°Wait on the signal¡­.¡± The host said as he walked out of the pitch. A part was provided for him to walk pass the sharp spears. He had to exit the pitch because thebat would be gruesome and he could get caught in the gruesome cross fire ¨C battle ¨C


    Round one! Fight!


    A bell was rung buttressing the word ¡®Fight!¡¯


    Meanwhile, The ck axe confraternity had already reported to their supreme and had gain rank above the other two Confraternities. Their supreme were already nning on what to do next¡­.


    Jake and his boys on the other hand were waiting for a signal from Hannah¡­..


    The three grandwar masters surrounded Mark at once. Mark was not even bothered at alllll, he was still standing with his hands folded on his chest.


    That made everyone wondered, on his level of confidence¡­..


    The grandwar masters attacked at once, their strike was so powerful but reflexively none of their Punch got to Mark. He swiftly dodge the Punches.


    Everyone was awed by that one single disy of his.


    ¡°You¡­¡± One of the grandwar masters red at him. He was very much convinced before now that a punch of his was un-dodgeable as it¡¯s usually very fast. His meaty face turned crimson with anger in an instant. ¡®You asked for it punk!¡± With that heunched forward and introduced Mark to his supersonic punch. Instantly, everyone¡¯s heart who was scared for Mark skipped a bit.


    The two other grandwar master stood there, convinced this supersonic punch by their colleague should do a perfect job.


    If the punch actuallynded on his face, he would not live to see tomorrow.


    Bam!


    Mark leisurely raised his right hand amidst the crowds horrified gaze and effortlessly stopped the grandwar masters flying punch ¡®Is this all you got? He mocked


    ¡°H¡­ he stopped it!¡± Everyone including the other two grandwar masters gasped involuntarily, excluding Owen¡¯s, he carefully watched how Mark managed to hold a firm grip on the grandwar masters arm, which was as thick as an average man¡¯s thighs.


    Who¡¯d have thought the president general has this impable strength!? He is the first of his kind as a president general.


    The grandwar masters eyes, on the other hand were even shaking with shock, for he discovered his arm wouldn¡¯t budge from Mark¡¯s dragon grip when he tried to yank it away.


    With desperation and anger, he threw his left arm to hit Mark but Mark was however steady like a rock as he waged the punch with his left arm. The other two grandwar masters upon noticing that, attacked mysteriously, galloping forward like a cat with thier hands shaped like a hissing cobra¡¯s head.


    ¡®Damn!  The cat-snake technique!¡¯


    The tension was getting incredibly high, from the moment Mark began to show he is an expert himself also. Meanwhile, the spectators masters were on the edge of their respective seats.


    Simrly, Diana and Richarlisons¡¯ heart were starting to race more. Only Richarlison being an expert himself could see the moves Mark was using as he was incredibly fast.


    Diana¡¯s hand was covered in sweat¡­


    ¡°Ha¡± abined shockwave was sent forward by the two grandwar masters and it moved as fast as lightening that Mark was not fast enough to dodge it. it hit his chest and suddenly, he began to have difficulty in breathing.


    The next moment, Mark dropped into a fighting stance. The shockwave was sufficient enough to tell him that he shouldn¡¯t carry his shoulders that the grandwar masters could actually defeat him. Before now, he was sure none of their strikes would get to him but here it was¡­. Another shockwave wasing at a higher speed and moving to drive through his chest.


    His vision became dark as a strong gust of wind ensued. Feeling the tingling sensation spreading towards him. However, just then¡­ He moved his body sideways and avoided the shockwave. The move was incredibly good and perfect.


    Just as he was bncing his stance, there came a crashing whip like sound. It was another flying blow diving at his abdomen, he turned and grabbed the attackers waist and snapped him out of the ground an thrown him out of the pitch without allowing another moment. The sound of the sharp spears piercing him was the next sound heard.


    Diana had seen people die on a daily basis as an army medical but seeing a man die this way was cruel. He felt a bit afraid though she was sued to this kind of stuff. She even felt more afraid for her kids. ¡®she shouldn¡¯t expose them to violent sights like this¡¯


    When she nced at their direction, their faces was contorted with terror. She wished she could revert back time and get her children out first. Jennifer especially was terror stricken.


    Kids getting exposed to such violent event, were people are getting brutally killed was not a nice, or good idea. Infact it was a very terrible idea. The exmunicando knows this, but yet he let them in¡­ if not! Who else would let such small kids in and Why are they with him?


    The death of a fellowrade infuriated the other two grandwar masters as they stomped on the floor viciously, causing cracks to be spread out from the ground. Their hands took the form an eagle w with veins popping out across the back of his hands, which was a horrifying sight to behold.

 Getting Framed

    All of a sudden, the both of them appeared in front of Mark like a bolt of lightning, thier ws aiming directly for his neck, obviously for his life. Although such performance might impress an amateur but not an expert.


    Mark leaped backward and before he could improvise his killer technique ¡®Hmmmp!¡¯


    The sound of a bell echoed through the air¡­..


    A signal round one was over!  The grandwar masters withdrew, so did Mark as well.


    In a jiffy, the fighting pitch was empty. Just the stains of blood on the ground. Meanwhile, some army medicals were taking the dead body of the dead grandwar officer off the area. Some, were cleaning off his blood.


    Mark came down the fighting pitch, the spears had been drawn off into the ground leaving the holes with which they protrude out. The pitch about three metres higher to meet Diana. He looked very exhausted as he slumped to the ground. The effect of the shockwave that hit him earlier was still intact.


    Diana realizing she had to get the president general ready for next round stepped into action at once. She opened her first aid box and grabbed for the glucose injection ¨C the one with paralyzing contents ¨C


    As she was about injecting Mark with it¡­. A loud voice rang out!


    ¡°Stop right there!¡± As if she was catching a cheating partner, Hannah shouted with the spirit of righteousness.


    Startled by her voice, everyone averted their gaze towards her as she walked elegantly with her shirts clinging to her generous curve and dip, towards Diana and expertly snatched the injection from her and she raised it up.


    Every body looked in anticipation as they watched patiently.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Some of them murmured.


    Mark was sprawled on the floor, looked weak in a way but was very well conscious that he staggered and hauled himself into a sitting position. Diana stood up at once ¡®Give that back to me! And stop disrupting me¡¯ Diana shouted. She shuddered ¡®Why is thisdy here?¡¯


    ¡°Thisdy here¡­. wants to paralyze the president general!¡± Hannah said out loudly. To her expectations, everyone would start to murmur and since she didn¡¯t get that¡­ She continued


    ¡°The content of this glucose injection here is a bodily paralyzer and not ¡°glucose¡± ¡­ If you let her administer it to the president general, she will only be paralyzing her!¡±


    ¡°Stop spouting nonsense and let her do her job!¡± Owens shouted from where he was sitting.


    ¡°I saw her reced it¡¯s content with something else¡­ I didn¡¯t know it¡¯s an acidic paralyzer until few moments ago! A blue litmus paper can confirm this!¡± Hannah countered, her voice getting aggressive.


    ¡°Stop saying.. nonsense¡± Diana barked.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°How can youe down here and starts to use me of something I have no idea about..¡± She added angrily wanting to clear the air.


    Richarlison came closer and ordered for the test confirmation to be done.


    Everyone present watched impatiently..


    ¡°What? It¡¯s positive?¡± Richarlison widened his eyes as he confirmed the test for himself.


    ¡°Diana tries to poison the president general!¡± A voice rang out after another round of test to support the im was done. It confirmed it¡¯s content was indeed a paralyzer.


    Mark couldn¡¯t even believe his hearing. Is this true?


    ¡®Damn it¡­ She doesn¡¯t look like she can harm a fly¡¯ Richarlison muttered. He turned his gaze to Hannah who was hiding an underlying emotions behind her face. Richarlison can figure something was not right.


    All eyes now, were on Diana¡­..


    Absolutely everyone fixated their gaze on her.


    ¡°There must be a misunderstanding somewhere¡­..¡± She broke out.


    ¡®It took Owens some moment to believe what hade to his knowledge ¡®Get her arrested!¡¯ he ordered. He didn¡¯t quite believe Hannah¡¯s usation but he had to ensure Diana was safe till he gets to the bottom of the matter.


    The next few seconds, Diana was ceased by two other female military officers. Their grip was very firm that Diana¡¯s struggle to yank herself off their grip was futile.


    Stoic, Legacy and Jennifer trembled¡­. They knew their mom would never do something as that ¡®Something is fishy ¡ª-¡® they thought as they watched carefully.


    ¡°Let go of me! How can you use me wrongly? I did nothing!¡± Diana cried out but everyone at this point paid a deaf ear to her exnation.


    ¡°So cruel¡­. she dares trying to poison the president general!¡± An officer spoke.


    ¡°This is unbelievable!¡± Another officer spoke


    Sooner, the information spread like wildfire all through¡­


    Murmuring erupted into noise and the noise got intensified.


    Topsy-turvydom was an appropriate word to describe Diana¡¯s state at that moment.


    She never did what Hannah was using her of doing. Why was she doing it? Why is everyone pointing fingers at her andbeling her as enemy who wanted to murder the  president general.


    ¡°She wanted to make him weak so he could die on the pitch and no one would suspect her!¡± Hannah added to what she was saying, this time¡­ What she said kindled the reaction she needed.


    ¡°She is a traitor!¡± One officer dered as Hannah squatted to assist Mark up.


    Mark was yet to process and believe what had just happened.


    ¡°Diana tries to poison him?¡±


    Legacy and his siblings were held back by Owens, they kept agitating to go defend their mother but Owens wouldn¡¯t let them.


    Three well built officers at that point brought in two handcuffed men and dropped them before Mark.


    Diana on the other hand was still under the firm grip of the female military officers¡­


    The men were made to kneel down as everyone wondered why they were brought there¡­. ¡®Civilians¡¯..


    ¡°We caught them on two acts¡­. One, they stole your staff of honour which we¡¯ve retrieved and they were transferring the military codes to an unknown device¡­¡± One of the military officers that brought them in, reported.


    ¡°Death casualties¡­ Ten dead .. Thirteen injured.


    Mark walked over to them and raised the chin of one of them, he was disappointed to know the men whomitted the crime were mere bloody civilians! ¡°Civilians should know better that they can¡¯t trespass the military¡­.¡± Mark expressed his disappointment on the bloody civilians.


    The sole aim he was here was to fight and prove he is capable of marrying and then if worthy, get married to Hannah, but now¡­. it didn¡¯t seem like it is going to hold.


    ¡°How could bloody civilians take down  a whole tell of well trained military officers? And get thirteen injured? They must have some nerves and guts and skills!.


    ¡°Who sent you?¡± Mark asked the captured bloody civilians. The bloody civilians¡¯s mouth shivered and they turned to look into each other¡¯s eyes as if wondering if they should spit the truth or do as they were told.


    Mark removed the dagger that was clocked around Richarlison¡¯s waist and was about ughtering one from the two bloody civilians, he was the type who doesn¡¯t waste time unnecessarily.


    ¡°The female Sergeant general¡±


    ¡°¡­ the surgeon general¡±


    They said at the same time¡­. Either ways¡­. they were referring to the same person.


    ¡°The Surgeon general?¡± Mark mumbled.


    ¡°There are two new surgeon generals¡­ one Cameron board¡­ Which of them sent you?¡±


    ¡°General Diana!¡± One of the bloody civilians said.


    The fuck! Mark was shocked!


    Authors note; Please my dear readers¡­ I¡¯d love your brutal review and apuse. It¡¯ll go a long way!

 Take Her To The Dungeon

    Meantime. Hannah had an evil smirk on her face. She will finally suffer  ¡®Hahaha¡± she scofffed internally.


    Diana¡¯s blinked her eyes in confusion when she heard what the bloody civilians just said ..¡±They¡¯re using me wrongly and setting me up¡± She barked, she needed no soothsayer to say she is been set up, but who could be setting her up?


    ¡°What¡¯s her motive? She had just been caught trying to poison me¡­¡±


    Mark clenched his fist in anger. How dare this woman do such?


    ¡°Believe me¡­ I have never met with this men before. This is my first time seeing them. I have never had any dealings with them!¡± Diana tried defending herself. Mark is caught in rage, Owens too and even Richarlison.


    Who¡¯d think that this seemingly ordinarydy would go this far? But what¡¯s her ulterior motive?


    One of the bloody civilians added, ¡°She is working for the mega ind to help annihte you!¡±


    The mega ind was an ind and posed major threat to sterling city and as such they were natural enemies. They were notfortable with the way sterling city exploited their resources and as such formed an elite team to make them stop. It transmogrified into the enemity they shared inmon.


    ¡°What?¡± Everyone gathered eximed! ¡°Mega ind be looking for some trouble!¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about? I dont know what you¡¯re talking about?¡± Diana exined as everyone stared at her coldly.


    ¡°Do you have any evidence?¡± Mark questioned trying to hold the looks of disappointment on his face, he didn¡¯t wanted anyone to suspect he had something ongoing with Diana. Only Owens knew that.


    ¡°Someone is trying to set me up! I don¡¯t know what they¡¯re talking about..¡± Diana shouted, she is trying to hold back her tears and break limit.


    It was Hannah orchestrating this whole n. She hired the god forsaken bloody civilians and offered to help their family if eventually they die fulfilling the task she is tasking them. Their family indeed were going to reap greatly if they died.


    She tasked them, and granted them permission into the base to carry out this single act but however make sure they get caught so that they can confess ¨C say whatever she told them to, as confession when asked ¨C


    So far, her n is wless¡­.


    ¡°We have evidence¡­¡± With that said, an officer brought out the belongings of the officers, and then a tape was brought out, a video recorded was yed, in it there was ady having a meeting with the god of war of mega city. Thedy looked very much like Diana, but she is fake. She was wearing a mask that made her looked like Diana although had same physique as Diana.


    ¡°Take this bloody civilians to the dungeon and starve them to death!¡± Mark ordered.


    They dragged the bloody civilians out. They were more than ready to face their death as far as their family members would reap greatly from their sacrifice.


    All the officers at this point had their eyes set straight on Diana. No one would dare say a single word now as no one wanted to get caught or be a victim of marks anger.


    ¡°They¡¯re setting mummy up! Dad!¡± Jennifer spoke with her small tiny voice. The silence in the arena made it very much perceptible. Did she just call him dad?


    Mark turned to look at her but soon averted his gaze back to Hannah.


    The three Little Rugrats were still shocked¡­¡¯who could try or who is setting their mummy up?¡¯


    ¡°What do you have to say, Diana? The evidence is clear!¡± Mark asked Diana, his face burning with rage and anger.


    She is working for Sterling City enemies to annihte me ¡­


    She wants to get this whole city destroyed¡­..


    She is evil¡­.


    ¡°This is a clear set up! I don¡¯t know that man in that video¡­ I have never met him! I need time to exonerate my penance¡­.¡± Diana requested.


    ¡°Time??¡± Mark got angered upon her request. ¡®She still has the guts to demand for time?¡±


    ¡°Guards¡­.. Take her to the female dungeons. Torture her till she speaks the truth!¡± Mark gave out his order thoughtlessly. Question raced into his heart but he disbursed them off quickly.


    With that order in effect, Diana was dragged out of the arena.


    Surprisingly The Three little Rugrats kept their cool¡­. Ranging from watching a violent gruesomebat to their mum getting set up and being taken to some dungeons¡­.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry¡­. Nothing will happen to your mum. I assure you that! I see the innocence in her face but however it¡¯s what that¡¯s behind the eyes that counts!¡± Owen spoke, in a way his words were sharp and reassuring for the kids.


    Mark then spoke ¡°Back to our reason for gathering here¡­.. my wedding is still holding!¡±


    Hannah heaved a sigh of relief when she heard that, she thought this whole event she orchestrated would disrupt her wedding. Jake on the other hand had received the signal he was waiting for. He knew personally thay Mark wouldn¡¯t expel or execute Diana no matter the level of crime shemitted but what gave him so much confidence?


    In a jiffy, the host spoke into the microphone, ¡°Combat; Round two in three minutes time¡±


    By this time ¡­ everyone had retreated to their various spots.


    Sooner, Round two began and within the first minutes after thebat begun, Mark knocked the remaining two surviving grandwar master out.


    Everyone was astonished he still managed to do that, no one would believe he would be able to knock them out in a minute¡­. And considering the whole events surrounding him at the moment they felt more bbergasted!.


    Few hours time, Hannah was on her wedding gown already and Mark now in his ck suit.


    ¡°Do you take Hannah Gibson as yourwful wife?¡± The minister asked.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I do!¡± Mark replied curtly, looking like nothing in particr as his eyes was void of any form of emotions he was feeling.


    The minister turned to the bride and asked ¡°Do you take Mark Bernard as yourwful husband?¡± Her hear skipped a bit. It¡¯s merely an act! After all even the minister is fake! She responded with a crooked voice ¡°I do!¡±


    ¡°With the power of God, I pronounce you both as husband and wife! You may now kiss your bride! ¡± The minister dered.


    Mark moved to he slowingly, opened her white veil a little as he tilted his head to the right and and she closed her eyes expectantly, waiting for his cold lips to hers, she knew this was going to happen anyways.

 Kids In Action

    Owens offered to take care of the kids and they didn¡¯t disagree. Owens was extremely surprised at how the children still managed to kept thier calm, even a grown up adults would be worried with fear that his or her mother is put into some dungeons and would be tortured to bring out the truth, that is if there is any.


    Once they arrived at the president general ward, they walked right inside, with Owens leading the way. They were filled with bits of worry but their face wouldn¡¯t show that, their mum probably going to get executed if found guilty before thousands of soldiers was definitely not a good feeling at all. Their mum was and is their first love and they can¡¯t afford to lose their mum at a very young age. They were barely five!


    They were however surprised to see Mark seated in the living room, his suits were of by this time. ¡°He should be upstair with his wife!¡±


    Mark turned his icy gaze at the three little Rugrats and Owens. One need not be a genius to actually discern he was buried in thought ¡°Diana actually betrayed me? Is working with the enemy? Wants me dead? The evidence is clear! Should I give her some time to prove her innocence if indeed she is innocent?


    The three little Rugrats fixated their gaze also on his icy eyes with a stern look.


    ¡°Daddy, how could you put mum into some dungeon? She is obviously innocent don¡¯t you think?¡± Jennifer broke the silence.


    Mark wondered why this little girl would not stop calling him dad.. he was soon interrupted when Legacy spoke.


    ¡°That video is fake! Give us some time and I will detect the editing if there is or prove thatdy in that video is not mummy!¡±


    ¡°Howe I didn¡¯t think of that? Videos could be edited to fit our desires? Could it be she is really being set up? But why would two well built bloody civilians confess she sent them when they know they will definitely get executed?¡± With thatst thought Mark came back to reality. ¡°She will pay!¡±


    Owens was surprised. Five year old children conversing and thinking like adults? Then he spoke with aging voice.


    ¡°And about giving you kids some time¡­. I think you should give them a week for them to prove their mum¡¯s innocence, after all she has the right to plead not guilty.¡±


    Mark turned to look at him and nodded. ¡°Just one week!¡± He said. He very well understood the point Owen¡¯s was making. On the other hand, Owens was very much concerned about how the kids would go about that¡­. What can they really do?


    Stoic frowned, ¡°I won¡¯t tell mum to forgive you, when you start to beg for her forgiveness¡­ You even got married to someone who had a daughter for mum¡¯s ex husband who is iming to be our father!¡±


    ¡°Wh¡­. Wha .. what the hell are you saying?¡± Mark was dumbstruck. ¡°Does Hannah have a child already? A child for Jake Bernard? Unbelievable!¡±


    Hannah wasing downstairs and she clearly overhead what one little boy just said. Her heart skipped a bit and she halted by her step and leaned to listen closer. She didn¡¯t even expect that in her widest imagination a truth she is trying her best to keep away getting revealed. She then felt Mark¡¯s face. ¡°I hope he doesn¡¯t believe that ¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, you heard big brother right¡­. ra is their daughters name!¡± Jennifer responded.


    ¡°¡­.. and she is even Stoic¡¯s coursemate¡± she added.


    Mark had not for any reason did any true back ground check on Hannah. He trusted Danny, his now missing childhood friend. Mark gave Danny the assignment to search for the girl with ovepping circles in her thighs and is Charity Wakins granddaughter, not long ago, he found her but went missing¡­


    How did she suddenly connect with Diana¡¯s ex-husband an even got pregnant and had a daughter for him? Mark was filled with so many thoughts at the moment yet his looks remained nked and expressionless.


    ¡°Jake Bernard cheated on mum with Hannah and that was why mum filed for divorce and due to the nature of her marriage with him, she lost everything being the wealthiest!¡± Stoic exined.


    ¡°Jake Bernard took all of mum¡¯s wealth and even Diana¡¯s oilpany now Jake¡¯s oilpany!¡± Legacy added.


    Owens was shocked about this unveiling. He sat to listen carefully.


    It was hard to believe for Mark, he shouted ¡°Hannah!!!!!¡± The loudness of his voice was enough that even somewhere upstairs would hear.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Hannah on the other hand who was eavesdropping was startled when she heard her name, her heart skipped fearfully.. It took her some moment to respond and started walking downstairs with an intense pathetic face to cover up her true expressions.


    Once she was before Mark. Mark stated ¡°Stoic, re state what you told me earlier!¡±


    Stoic re-exined more extensively this time around, leaving no stone unturned.


    ¡°You have heard what the kids have said and it has casted a doubted in me! What do you have to say?¡± Mark asked Hannah.


    With a fidgeting tone, Hannah answered.


    ¡°I was never pregnant for Jake. Yes I knew him but that was since college school! And I don¡¯t have a daughter!¡±


    ¡°Wow! What kind of mother are you? A mother that denies her own daughter? Who then is ra? The girl with same blonde hair as yours?¡± Stoic frowned at Hannah lies.


    Mark didn¡¯t know what to believe, he was even more filled with thought.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me all about this?¡± Mark turned to ask Hannah.


    Hannah quickly responded, ¡°Because you never wanted to get to know me more personally¡­ You only want to marry me because I¡¯m betrothed to you by your godfather¡± She immediately started to sob wearing an intense pathetic face. She turned to look at Owen¡¯s, ¡°I should never have agreed to this marriage. Your son doesn¡¯t love me! He doesn¡¯t even trust me.. he is chosing to believe this small kids over me!¡± With that said, her sob intensified and she ran off upstair. Once she was upstairs, she sighed gracefully, ¡°Woah, that was very close!¡±


    Mark didn¡¯t call her back, he was dispersed himself.


    Owens on the other hand started to felt pity for Hannah, her act was so good that one could easily fall for it and start assuming and feeling her plight.


    Owens walked out as well.


    ¡°You have three weeks!¡± Mark said, pointing at the three little kids.


    ¡°I¡¯ll ask Richarlison to bring your clothes over.. you can upy the room opposite mine!¡± Mark added and walked out.


    Stoic, Mark, Legacy stood there surprised. They never expected this turn of tables, but it already turned and they have to improvise another way to prove their mum¡¯s innocence.


    As Mark got out of the building, Richarlison approached him and gave him a sealed letter. He was pretty way anxious as he opened the letter, racking his brain as to what it may contain.


    ¡°It is for Diana, but she is in the dungeon now, so I thought to bring it to you!¡± Richarlison exined as Mark opened the letter.


    Maybe it¡¯s from her alliance and if it¡¯s, it¡¯d be another evidence to intensify her guiltiness.

 The Letter

    On reading the content of the letter, Mark was shocked to realize that it was a court order telling Diana to appear in court in ten days time. Apparently Jake had sued her to court and is ready to im custody of the three little Rugrats.


    Attached with the letter was a another folded report. Mark studied it carefully and saw that it was a result of DNA paternity test and it indicated that Jake was the children¡¯s biological father.


    His mood deted at once, he couldn¡¯t quite decipher why he got sweety at that instant. ¡°Well, maybe I didn¡¯t impregnate Diana that night¡­.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll bring it to her personally¡±¡­ Mark gestured to Richarlison to leave and then called him back and asked ¡°¡­ Any update about the whereabouts of Danny?¡± He was now getting quite worried as he was now entertaining and considering digging more deep into Hannah. The kids can¡¯t just falsely be using her and After all in every lie, there is an atom of truth.


    ¡°His body is not yet found¡­ Some source said he fleed the city with his family!¡± Richarlison responded.


    Mark made an utterance made by exhaling audibly¡­.


    ¡°Okay!¡± He said and dismissed Richarlison.


    Stoic, Legacy and Jennifer were now settled down in their new house and already informed ra about what is happening.


    They sent ra the video record they secretly made, it contained how Hannah lied about now having a child. She didn¡¯t know all her acts were being video recorded.


    When ra saw the video, she was pained deeply. ¡°Her mum doesn¡¯t even love her?¡± ¡­¡­ She didn¡¯t know that Jake was using her as a tool to control Hannah, if not Hannah wouldn¡¯t oblige to doing what she was doing. Hannah was mainly doing all she was doing because of her daughter, Jake threatened to take her away if she refused.


    Legacy collected a copy of the tape and was analyzing it, while Stoic was collecting some informations about the bloody civilians that were lying on their mum. Jennifer, on the other hand was chatting with ra and getting any necessary information from her.


    Soon after, they walked over to the the dungeons and requested to meet the two bloody civilians that imed it was their mum who sent them. The guards initially hesitated to let them in because of their age and they could get hurt, but when the three little Rugrats brought out their seal of permission they let them in.


    In a jiffy, the two bloody civilians who had handcuffs and chains on their hands and legs respectively were dragged out of their dungeons and brought out before the kids.


    There was a prison gate separating them. The kids had a frown face on. They looked like they were not there to beat around the bush. The two bloody civilians looked a themselves instinctively. ¡°What does this brats think they¡¯re doing? If we can lie to the president general, who then are they?¡±


    ¡°Looks like you bloody civilians have a glimpse of why we¡¯re here already.. judging from your looks and we need not beat around the bush!¡± Legacy was the one talking as he was the most interrogative  He cleared his throats and continued.


    ¡°Each of your families received Two million dors for a start as a payment for you to carry out this task that is costing your life at the moment¡­. That when the task is done, the bnce of two million dor would be paid to your family bank ount¡±


    The two officers looked at themselves in surprise. ¡°How did this kids know this?¡± They muttered, then one of them roared.


    ¡°What do you mean? Your mum sent us and promised to take full responsibility, now look at where it hasnded us and you dare make a im?¡± The bloody civilian that barked thought if he did, it¡¯ll instill fear in the kids and they¡¯d stop questioning them but to his surprise, they merely smirked.


    ¡°I¡¯m not done ¡­..! You two still have strength now to be talking but in the next four days¡­ You¡¯ll know how far, and that¡¯s by the way¡± Legacy continued.


    ¡°I¡¯m very excited to introduce to you that the bank alert you received confirming you received the two million dor payment is fake! And as we talk your family can¡¯t ess it!¡± Legacy concluded and took a step backward to record the expressions on their face.


    They both were enveloped in a very deep silence. ¡°This is lie¡­ This can¡¯t be true¡­.¡± They thought.


    ¡°Stop saying nonsense.. I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± One of them responded in fidgety. He was not sure what to believe¡­ Legacy was like reading their expressions and using it against them to coarse answers from them.


    ¡°You still have hopes of not dying in vain, if only you confess the truth. Who sent you?¡± Legacy inquired coldly.


    ¡°And if you need confirmation, I¡¯ll dly provide you with it¡­¡± Legacy added, ¡°Sister¡­ Call Daniels family¡­¡±


    ¡°How did this kid know my name?¡± Daniel wondered as the phone rang.


    ¡°Hello!¡± The voice at the other end spoke, Jennifer then passed the phone over to Stoic to assume a voice that one wouldn¡¯t detect they¡¯re still kids.


    ¡°Your son currently in in prison ¡­.. And wants to speak with you!¡± Stoic said with his adult like voice and ced the phone besides Daniels ear.


    Daniel was very hesitant to speak, but when the voice at the other end, which happened to be his mum exined that when she tried to withdraw the money it showed ¡°insufficient funds¡± he gasped out loudly ¡°Damnit!¡±. Her mum was worried already why it was showing insufficient funds and why her son hasn¡¯t returned home yet thus, the first thing she did wasin when she learnt she was talking to her son.


    Stoic ended the call then Legacy continued¡­


    ¡°You see ¡­. You were going to die in vein. If you tell us who sent you¡­ We might still help you with the im you were manipted!¡±


    Silence enveloped the both of the bloody civilians. ¡°What was the need dying when they won¡¯t get paid? Howe this kids learnt all of this? ¡± They thought.


    After a moment to allow them make their decisions, they still didn¡¯t speak up.


    ¡°Alright, it seems you¡¯re ready to die already, perhaps we still will find out the truth!¡± Legacy broke the silence..


    ¡°Take them back to their dungeons¡± he added and started walking away with his siblings beside.


    ¡°Stop!¡­. We¡¯ll confesses¡­¡± Daniel shouted.


    The kids grinned with the feeling of satisfaction before they turned.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    The three guards there were shocked about this unveiling. How were this kids were able to bring out answers from this bloody civilians?

 Tell Me The Truth

    Meanwhile¡­.


    The prison cells -dungeons- were at the very lowest level of the Military base, beneath the graveyard levels where thousands of buried dead rested in silence.


    The cells were reserved for the worst of criminals: assassin¡¯s gone rogue, betrayals who broke the Covenant Law, soldiers who betrayed or vited the military covenant rules. Diana as none of those things. How could Mark even suggest sending her there? Oh yeah, she was set up.


    The darkness of the military base dungeons was more profound than any darkness Diana had ever known. She couldn¡¯t see the shape of her own hand in front of her eyes, couldn¡¯t see the floor or ceiling of her dungeon. What she knew of the cell, she knew from the torchlit first glimpse she¡¯d had, guided down here by a contingent of soldiers, who had opened the barred gate of the dungeon for her and ushered her inside as if she were amon criminal. Then again, that¡¯s probably exactly what they thought she was. A criminal who tried to paralyze the president general, sent some bloody civilians to extort information and steal the staff of honour and also was working for the enemies.


    Diana knew that the cell had a gged stone floor, that three of the walls were hewn rock, and that the fourth was made of narrowly spaced electrum bars, each end sunk deeply into stone. She knew there was a door set into those bars. He also knew that a long metal bar ran along the east wall, because the military soldiers had attached one loop of a pair of silver cuffs to this bar, and the other cuff to her wrist.


    She could walk up and down the cell a few steps, rattling like a ghost, but that was as far as she could go. She had already rubbed her right wrist raw yanking thoughtlessly at the cuff. At least she was left-handed-a small bright spot in the imprable ckness. Not that it mattered much, but it was reassuring to have her better hand free.


    She began another slow promenade along the length of her dungeons, trailing her fingers along the wall as she walked. It was unnerving not to know what time it was. She had begun to wonder if she would ever see the sky again. Diana paused. Now, why had she wondered that? Of course she¡¯d see the sky again. Mark was¡¯nt going to kill her. The penalty of death was reserved for betrayals and yea, Mark might sentence her to execution since she is been tagged a betrayal.


    So, the flutter of fear stayed with her, just under her rib cage, strange as an unexpected twinge of pain. Diana wasn¡¯t exactly prone to random fits of panic- Fear wasn¡¯t something that had ever affected her much.


    She has never been afraid of darkness. It was true. This anxiety was unnatural, not like her at all. There had to be more to it than simple darkness. She took another shallow breath. She just had to get through it. That was it. She took another step forward, with her manacle jingling drearily.


    A sound split the air, freezing her in her tracks. It was a high, howling groaning pain like sound, a sound of pure and mindless terror. It seemed to go on and on like a singing note plucked from a violin, growing higher and thinner and sharper until it was abruptly cut off.


    Diana swore. Her ears were ringing, and she could taste terror in her mouth, like bitter metal. She pressed her back against the wall of the cell, willing herself to calm down.


    The sound came again, louder this time, and then there was another scream, and another. Then she overhead footsteps and she ducked involuntarily before remembering that she was several levels below ground.


    In a jiffy, some female soldiers came in, some held torchlight on their hands and the others dragged her out of the dungeons.


    She was brought before a desk and made to kneel down. Before her was Mark who had nk expression on his face.


    While in the spot, she raised her head and saw Mark in a casual wear standing about seventeen kilometers from her, staring at her with an unreadable expression.


    ¡°Tell me the truth Diana. And I¡¯d bend the rules to save you if eventually you¡¯re found guilty¡­!¡± Mark stated as he started towards her. He was asking to be sure and that he was very reluctant to give the order. If it were Someone else, by now he or she should have been executed or punished.


    Many wonder what was actually under the dy¡­.


    ¡°Huh¡­. I¡¯m innocent of the crimes charged against me!¡± She responded and tried to stand up instinctively but the chains around her legs didn¡¯t let her. She was Maddened as why Mark wouldn¡¯t believe her¡­ Then again she doesn¡¯t me him. The person who set her up was a genius, she added fake evidences..


    ¡°And that¡¯s by the way¡­. I¡¯m here to give you this¡­¡± Mark dipped his hands into his pocket and brought out the letter and dropped it before Diana.


    Her right hand was still free.. she picked it up and with the aid of her mouth she opened the letter and read the contents through with anxiousness written all over her face.


    ¡°Never! Never¡­ He is not their father! This test must be fake!¡±


    ¡°You tell that to the court in ten days time..¡± Mark gestured and then left ..


    Fast forward, a weekter¡­N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    Diana was now tattered having stayed in the dungeon unkept and barely had something to eat. Her children were not allowed to meet her all through.


    And now, all officer were gathered at the central field to witness Diana¡¯s execution. Amidst the soldiers was Hannah who has a d expression on her face, impatiently waiting for Diana to get her head cut off or expelled and once she is out of the way, the n Jake has with her to destroy Mark¡¯s life would be wless¡­.. But then again, Jake didn¡¯t want Diana dead!. He wants her back into his life. Jake in a way to the best of his knowledge loved Diana.


    Sooner, the three little rugrats arrived. Stoic held aptop by his side and his siblings holding small briefcase as they walked up therge podium. Their eyes were burnt with tears when they saw their mum.


    She had not taken her bath for a week now, her clothes were torn and her hair scattered all over her body. She definitely had suffered down there in the dungeons, she still however managed to gather strength to stand.


    Richarlison who was on top the podium already spoke into the microphone ¡°Last week, surgeon general Diana tried to paralyze the president general and used of sending some bloody civilians to steal the staff of honour and transfer the military codes information to an unknown device and during that operation Ten of ourrades lost their life¡¯s and thirteen of ourrades injured¡±..


    Richarlison cleared his throat and continued ¡®Surgeon General Diana ought to have been executedst week but due to some reasons best known to president general it was dyed to today¡±


    Richarlison then walked up to Diana who stood there half consciously, ¡°Do you plead guilty or not guilty?, General Diana.¡±


    Once the three little miracles climbed the podium and Stoic shouted loudly ¡°Not guilty!¡±


    Diana too blurted ¡®Not guilty¡¯ it coincided.


    ¡°What?¡± Richarlison¡¯s eyes deepened. ¡®Does this little brats thinks we¡¯re ying or joking here?


    Everyone swept their gaze over the small children as they walked gantly and stopped before Richarlison. The two boys wore military camouge and Jennifer wore a military skirt with a white top and a nice cap which reminded her of Felicity back at Delta City.


    Owens and Mark who sat the a majestic couch behind the podium were shocked to see the volt of this children¡¯s confidence. He was looking with a very dark painful expression. Only God knows how he has been coping with the fact Diana was suffering at a dungeon. asionally, he would go see Diana and each time he felt pain in his heart. ¡°No, I can¡¯t pity her! She almost killed me!¡± Then another part of his thought questioned ¡°what if she isdy from that night? I mean she can be!¡±

 Hannah In A Hot Mess

    Stoics lips curled up into a sardonic smirk and he flipped his fingers. Richarlison was stunned to see the boldness the kids exuded. With no gap in time, a fury of thunderous foot step was heard.


    Everyone, including the weak Diana turned their gazes towards where themotion wasing from. Lol and behold it was the prison guard dragging alongside two men. The two bloody civilians who were drastically closed to death as well. Some officers recognized them. They were the men general Diana sent. Everyone was stunned on beholding the sight.


    Hannah¡¯s head began to hot like she was standing under hot sun. The atmosphere that day was cold but she was now feeling like she was standing under hot sun.


    The prison guard pushed the two men into the podium and made them to kneel down, they were left with their under wears.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Everyone anticipated.


    Diana smiled indistinctly. She was weak but not too weak to notice what was about unfolding. ¡°She believed her children wouldn¡¯t let her die and would prove her innocence¡­.¡± Mark had told that, one time he visited her at her dungeon.


    Hannah had suddenly broke Hot sweets and the spot she was sitting on began to hot.


    She is now in a hot mess!


    Could this be the kids are about to blow her bubbles? She was scared to the guts.


    If they have proves why are they showing it now after one week? Why did they let their mother suffer one week? Questions began to pop into people¡¯s thought.


    Her legs were practically and literally shivering at this point. If this bloody civilians don¡¯t hold their ground and stick to the lie she told them to tell, she would be killed haaa!!!!


    ¡°Ask them for the second time¡­. Who sent them?¡± Legacy spoke boldly.


    ¡°And about my mum used and to all of you was trying to get the president general paralyzed¡­. We will being to that¡­..¡±  He added.


    Richarlison was shocked upon this revtion. He turned to the bloody civilians and asked ¡°Who sent you?¡±


    With a very low tone, one of them responded but it was not perceptible enough. A fury crashed into him and he blurted out loudly ¡°Margaret is her name¡­.. she lives here in the military base. She is the one who let us in!¡± He then groaned in pain as another fury crashed into him again.


    Margaret? Murmuring swamped the central field.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    ¡°SILENCE!!!¡± Richarlison shouted into the microphone and the central field got quiet again. He turned to look at Mark as to get permission to proceed. With a nod he proceeded.


    ¡°When you and your fellowrade first got caught¡­. You said General Diana sent you¡­ How then do we believe you¡¯re not lying this time around? And what about the videos?¡± Richarlison spoke to their faces with his eyes radiating a murderous aura.


    ¡°We were payed toe here and pretend like we are actually here to take some informations and steal ¡­ We purposely got ourselves caught and did as our contractor told us to¡­. To lie that General Diana sent us! And about the video, it was fake. Diana is not thedy in the video, thedy in the video is merely wearing a mask to look like her..¡± Daniel exined, stammering and fidgeting. They were at the face of death.


    What a conspiracy ..


    ¡°All officers are present here¡­. Kindly stand up and identify her..¡±. Richarlison added, knocking Daniel on his head.


    Stoic felt pity on the both of the bloody civilians at this point¡­. Adult men were starting to cry like babies. He had a n to save their skin as him and his siblings promised them if they tell the truth and they¡¯re already telling the truth.


    ¡°Propose that they join the military rather than get executed¡­. Since they have the skills to kill ten soldiers singlehandedly¡­ They could be of great use once they join the military realm!¡±


    Daniel and co stood up and started sweeping their gaze all through the crowds. When Hannah noticed this, she stylishly started to move her face away.


    She had approached this bloody civilians with a different name that night. She was not sure if they still recognized her and as such to avoid stories she had to thread a safe part and take her face away.


    Diana sprawled on the floor and her kids surged towards her¡­. ¡°Mummy¡­ You¡¯ll be fine alright?¡±


    ¡°What would I do without you¡­.¡± Diana smiled and kissed her children¡¯s forehead.


    To sort for the betrayal faster¡­. Every officer by the name Margaret was brought out on the podium. About five of them bear the name.


    Surprisingly, The two bloody civilians said she was not among them¡­


    Daniel turned round and caught sight of Hannah. (She looks very familiar¡­. Is she?)


    ¡°There she is¡­¡­ ¡± He quickly stated loudly pointing his fingers at her.


    ¡°President Generals fiancee?¡±


    ¡°What? Me?¡± Hannah eximed.


    ¡°Yes! You!¡± Daniel asserted with confidence.


    She roared into action at once¡­..


    ¡°How dare you use me?¡±


    ¡°You have falsely used someone else before? How do we believe you?¡± She immediately spoke furiously.


    Before anyone could react¡­.. A small tiny voice rang out¡­ ¡®Mummmy!¡±


    Directing their gaze to the source of the noise they saw four kids on the podium. One extra kid had joined the three little Rugrats. She looked beautiful in her pink gown and her pink face cap.


    ¡°Who is she?¡± Everyone started to mutter¡­.


    When Hannah saw her, she felt her soul leaving her body. A deep trouble for her¡­.  She had lied she doesn¡¯t have a child and then one kid shows up and is calling her mum? A Nigerian ng to describe this situation perfectly is ¡®Dem don put Water for my garri. Omo my yam don done!¡¯¡­.


    When Mark saw the cute looking girl who stood beside Stoic, he was shocked as well. Who is she? And why is she calling her mummy? She sure has a bit of resemnce to her¡­!!


    Owen¡¯s on the other hand smiled¡­ ¡°Wow! This is getting interesting¡­¡±


    ¡°I received a video recording of you lying and crying and swearing that you don¡¯t have a child¡­. Who then am I?? You¡¯re an evil mom!!! I hate you!!!!!!!¡± ra yelled on top of her lungs and started to cry¡­ Stoic hugged her to support her from copsing.


    Hannah managed toe back to her senses andported herself¡­¡±she can¡¯t lose her life¡­¡±


    ¡°Who are you? Do I know you from anywhere?¡± She barked as she walked over to the podium.


    ra felt her heart sinking¡­ Her own mum was denying her publicly? A sharp excruciating pain to experience.


    ¡°Hannnnah!¡± Mark shouted and stood up.


    ¡°Enough!¡­.. Tell me the truth!¡± He yelled and requested.


    ¡°Nothing but the truth?!!¡± He added..


    ¡°Honey¡­. I don¡¯t know them! Maybe they¡¯re mistaking me for someone else¡­ I truly do not know any of them!¡¯ Hannah responded with a pathetic face.


    Stoic had arranged for ra to sneak out¡­. How a five year old child was able to sneak out under the watchfulness of Jake¡¯s guards ande to the military base on cab was what baffled me!¡­.

 Narrow Escape

    Last week when Richarlison gave the letter that the DNA paternity test was attached, to the president general, Mark, and e ven Diana couldn¡¯t help but wonder how Jake was able to carry out the test without the children and consent of their mother¡­


    ¡°It¡¯s making more sense¡­. Jake is obviously the one who sent those bastards to collect strands of hair from the kids¡­ And if he did the test using that, he obviously is their father¡­. But the test could be faked!¡±


    Mark had no evidence or anything substantial to pursue the issue, thus he set up his secret military officers to monitor Jake¡¯s move.


    Diana was only very afraid that Jake was going to im custody of her kids, but she had a silly n¡­.


    Presently¡­.


    Hannah is in a very hot seat and it¡¯s almost like, she is already caught red handed. Her heart contracting with sudden fear and trying all her possible best to still the pounding of her heart. She had almost seeded in calming herself down when an impossibly familiar voice spoke to her again¡­


    ¡°Hannah! You¡¯ve been caught and you were the one who reced mum¡¯s first aid box with another first aid box that contained the glucose injection with a paralyzing content!¡±


    She whirled around. The little boy that spoke, Stoic was standing with her daughter- ra ¨C beside him, his hair lit from behind, shining like a halo around his beautiful face. Dark eyes fringed with longshes regarded her curiously. He really has a striking resemnce with the president general.


    ¡°What nonsense?¡± She roared out to life¡­ ¡°What evidence do you have?¡± She immediately added.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be too much in a hurry¡­ We have thetv footage¡­.¡± Legacy said and grabbed for theptop and started navigating it¡­


    When Hannah heard that, she felt like her spirit was leaving her body. Her heart started racing further. Paralyzed with fear, she could only stare at him.


    ¡°Is she really getting Caught?¡± Even though her heart was breaking and instantly taking a sweeping dive inside her chest, her mind was racing as to how she can pull this off¡­


    ¡°Here it¡¯s¡­..¡± Legacy found the file, and was about ying it for Richarlison who already had squinted his eyes for a proper view, then #nk ¡­ Theptop got switched off automatically.


    ¡°It¡¯s nk¡­!¡± Richarlison said.


    Mark and Owen¡¯s gasped when they heard that. Mark was battling with what to believe¡­ Believe this kids or believe my wife and why does this innocent girl call her mummy?


    ¡°You see¡­ I¡¯m innocent! Who paid you bloody civilians to lie on me?¡± Hannah started, trying to pull it off her head.


    Meanwhile, Legacy was trying to get back theptop back on but all to no avail, the other three little Rugrats, Stoic, Jennifer and ra soon joined him but it was a no sess.


    At longst, Mark came on board the podium angrily and ordered the two bloody civilians to be executed, but then Stoic made a thoughtful objection and proposed his idea¡­..,¡±Let them join the military whether they like it or not¡­ But not in sterling city..¡±


    Luckily for them, Mark agreed.


    He then spoke into the microphone¡­..


    ¡°This case is not yet settled, a tracking device would be put into Diana and Hannah and be given their freedom. We¡¯ll be able to monitor their moves henceforth and see who the real betrayal is, and as for this blood civilians, they will be transfered to the war zone and trained to be fighters!¡±.


    The war zone was a military zone were bloody civilians are trained to be assassin¡¯s.. it was a proxy to hell.


    With that order in effect, Diana gained her freedom and Hannah felt a huge relief, but it was not over yet¡­..


    ¡°Woah..!¡±


    Soon after, Richarlison gave a few orientations and dismissed the soldiers¡­ Some, were however finding the judgement of the president general unsettling and quite biased. Under normal circumstances, Diana, Hannah and the blood civilians would be executed on the spot, as far as they¡¯re prime suspect but that was not the case¡­..


    Stoic and his siblings were not happy¡­ How did their workingptop got switched off when they needed it the most? Except for someone tampered with it, and of a truth.. someone did!


    In a jiffy, Diana was taken back home with a tracker inserted in her neck. She needed to recover


    Hannah too had a tracker inserted on her kneck¡­


    Mark wore a grin, ¡®Keep your enemies closer¡­.¡¯ he needed to be sure.


    Richarlison on the other hand just needed a jolt to confirm the suspicion he has on Hannah. Before now, he had already started to suspect her.


    And about ra, Mark ordered some officers to take her back home. ra, however was still finding it hard to believe her mum wound deny her but the harsh reality was that she did.


    Mark deemed it fit to do a background search on the little girl, thus he set some officers to do the work and report to him. He was no fool to let a big matter like that die and also, about the video. .. why would the god of War of mega city agree to have a meeting with a fake Diana? And even let themselves get recorded?


    ****


    Back at Diana¡¯s abode¡­ The three little Rugrats figured out the theirptop was tampered with, but was yet to figure out who did.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    The most important thing was that their mother was back home and safe¡­


    ¡°Woah ¡­ A Narrow Escape!¡± Hannah eximed as she darted into herrge, tiled bathroom to freshen up. She deliberately spent some time there, reporting to Jake via sms what had happened today and about ra finding out about her and even about her denying her.


    She then sat on the floor of the bathroom, her back against the tile of the tub, her legs stretched out in front of her. She had cleaned the sweats from her face and body, and rinsed her hair in the sink. She was wearing a ceremonial dress, rucked up to her thighs, and the tiled floor was cold against her bare feet and calves¡­.


    *******


    The Triads imperial lord had by this time sent a letter to Mark, inviting him over for a meeting they said ¡­.

 He Cares

    ¡°Hi¡­. Sir!¡± She greeted.


    ¡°It¡¯ste already. ¡± She added upon noticing he was here to talk as he let himself quietly into the bedroom.


    He looked around the interior design for a while before he sat down gently on the couch. He could sense the antipathy in Diana¡¯s facial expressions. who wouldn¡¯t be angry? He let her stay in the dungeon for a whole week. He then said, ¡°Your children wowed me. They saved you from getting executed, and that¡¯s pretty really impressive¡±. He praised the kids.


    Diana blushed and wanted to say ¡°Thank you ¡± before Mark could say another word but she was toote, ¡°However, you¡¯re not yet vindicated¡­.¡± He added in-between.


    ¡°I hope you¡¯re recuperating speedily already?¡± He paused for some time letting the question register in Diana, expecting some honest reply but she kept silent staring at him. Mark found himself concerned about her well being all of a sudden¡­,¡±What¡¯s wrong? Why are you staring at me that way?¡± He inquired as he was getting ufortablyfortable with the way she was staring at him. She seemed to be in thoughts, she noticed the gentle tone at which he spoke and wondered, ¡°Why does he suddenly act like he cares? What a good actor he is¡­¡± She thought. ¡°He let me suffer for a crime I didn¡¯tmit and probably I¡¯d have been executed and punished by now¡­ Thanks to my godsent children¡­¡± She eximed. ¡°He even has the grit to suddenly start acting like he cares¡­. or does he in it¡¯s actual sense?


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry¡­ I¡¯m fine¡± she said warmly.


    Mark was still ufortable with the reply he received and he furthermore pressed in but subsequently, he noticed how ufortable and unwilling she has suddenly be about disclosing information to him. Last time, he checked Diana was the typical carefreedy who wouldn¡¯t hesitate to divulge an information when necessary.


    ¡°Alright¡­ Since you won¡¯t talk to me! I have to get going and have a good night rest!¡± Mark said and stood up.


    Diana merely smiled faintly and said ¡°Weed!¡±


    And that was not the reaction Mark was expecting to get from her. He thought they had something ongoing, but who would be stupid enough to be in such ¡®something¡¯ when the other party doesn¡¯t even trust her and even puts her in a dungeon?


    As he was about turning to leave, Diana asked the question, ¡°Why did youe here?¡± She knew Mark had an ulterior motive foring to see her by this time and he has not yet stated it.


    ¡°I came because I missed y.. o¨C I came because I feel bad for what I made you passed throughst week¡­ But my hands were tied¡­¡± Mark heard himself say and apologize, his face were at the maximum peak of sincerity.


    ¡°Does he really care?¡± Diana asked herself when she heart felt the apology¡­ She looked at him with an unremarkable surprised face.


    ¡°What if I actually is a traitor as I was used of being?¡± Diana questioned. She knew how important it was for someone like the president general to put rtionship aside and their duty over. She felt the question would remind Mark of how important that crucial guard policy was for him and as expected, he realized.


    ¡°Then¡­. I should get going. Praying you¡¯re not the traitor!¡± He said.


    ¡°Thank you!¡± Diana responded and they both locked gaze. Diana soon felt her heart palpitating. ¡°Why was it doing the ¡®gbim gbim¡¯ sound for this cold individual?¡±


    Mark on the other hand was getting sweaty even in the air conditioned bedroom. Ever since he kissed Diana, something within him had rekindled or kindled anew like fueling a fire and he had been battling to put it in ce before it starts controlling him¡­. And it was love.


    ¡°Why do I feel like That¡¯s just one reason you came here for¡­..¡± Diana broke the silence.


    ¡°Actually, yea¡­. oh no, that¡¯s the major reasons and the few others, I need my silver ring back and also thank you for your help so far, majority of our soldiers has recovered under your treatment and care!.. I really appreciate!¡± Mark exined¡­.


    Diana gave a sheepish giggle like she is caught or bursted why sneaking out, she was obviously trying to hide her racing heart¡­


    ¡°Oh¡­.¡± She gasped.


    ¡°Tha¡­. ank you!¡± She added, there is an unease in her gracious tone, more like her words can¡¯t get properly articted and it¡¯s like it¡¯s been disrupted due to the intense surge of emotions flowing through her.


    ¡°So?¡­.¡± Mark gestured¡­ for her to bring out the ring and give it to him.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be giving you the ring¡­. Not until I recover all my loss memory, my doctor said I¡¯d¡­. It just needs the jolt it needed!¡± Diana exined bitterly and guiltingly.


    ¡°Please¡­! I need to attend a meeting with the mafia triad imperials of Sterling City and as the president general, I need the silver ring as my passcode. I think they might have figured I no longer have it. It¡¯s been years since theyst called for a meeting¡­¡± Mark exined. He seemed very serious at the moment. He received an electronic invitation just recently.


    ¡°Okay¡­ Fine! But¡­. First, you¡¯ll help me deal with my ex husband¡­  I really do not want him to take away my kids if truly the DNA paternity test is not faked¡±¡­ Diana quickly smashed a deal. She can¡¯t afford her ex husband taking custody of her kids. She does not even recognize or take cognizance of him in anyway but she still felt the familiarity with him and was damn afraid he could actually be her kids father¡­.


    ¡°Seems like a ckmail ¡­ but, no problem. Deal!¡± Mark agreed without giving it too much thought. He could easily talk to the Judge to be on the favour of Diana.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    Mark then smiled¡­. He understood the plight of Diana perfectly but then a question popped into his head and he asked away¡­


    ¡°Why do you think he might not be the kids biological father?¡±


    ¡°Uhmmm .. not might, he definitely can¡¯t be¡­¡± Diana quickly shut him off.


    ¡°So, you remember him now? Or still was having a sexual affair aside with him? With someone else?¡±. Mark pressed in..


    ¡°Noooo! How can you think of that¡­. I just¡­ I ¡­ just feel he can¡¯t be¡­.. I¡¯m not a type that can cheat¡­.¡± She exined as she feared her crush, Mark was going to misunderstand the situation and certainly would be to her detriment, rtionship wise.


    ¡°You don¡¯t remember¡­ But if the DNA paternity test result he sent are not fake¡­ Then I guess I¡¯m their father! That night¡­. You¡¯re definitely thedy from that night¡­.¡± Mark said and started towards her¡­


    Diana¡¯s heart skipped a bit¡­ Could it actually be true? Lost in thought, it took her several moments to realize that Mark has been saying something to her. When she blinked at him, she saw a wry grin spread across his face. ¡°What?¡± she asked, ungraciously. Then she suddenly remembered something he said and he then said¡­


    ¡°Well ¡­. I don¡¯t remember¡­. ¡± Diana replied with her face down this time around, she had been looking right straight into Mark¡¯s eyes and admiring her in hear heart and mind and soul¡­.


    ¡°The warmth of your lips¡­..- like the taste of vani- I still remember the sensation from that night¡­ It¡¯s same as I felt when I kissed you feew weeks back¡­. Anyways that¡¯s that for that¡­ Goodnight!¡± Mark said and then walked out.


    Diana sat there and thoughts lingering over her head. The smile she wore from admiring Mark gradually faded. Maybe she would realize what an amazing man Mark was: how funny, how smart, how cool. Maybe they¡¯d start dating. This idea filled her with a nameless horror. And then again, what was got her scared and dispelled of that thought was if Jake was truly her kids father.


    For some reason a rhyme she clearly remembered she had learned as a child was repeating itself in her head.


    You merely open your eyes; I see love.


    You simply craft a smile upon your thin lips; I see delight.


    You step slowly, gracefully towards me; my heart goes on a rampage.


    Youe closer and closer to me; I begin to have trouble breathing.


    You reach for my pale, delicate hand¡­


    I push you away.


    I slowly brush the hair out of my eyes as I¡¯m turning around, away from you.


    Away from my fears.


    For I am afraid of loving again.


    I am afraid of many things


    But falling into arms constructed of paper and sticks it what I fear most.


    I fear of falling in love, and then falling into the ground once more.


    Even though we are both youthful


    Even though our dreams are not yet crushed by the brutality of reality


    I fear to fall, yet I wish for love¡­


    Nay, I desire love.


    A love that will have the arms crafted of the strongest stone


    A love that shall have both of us fall


    A love that requires both of us to make it feel whole


    A love that is eternal


    s, I push you away


    I push my chance with you away


    Even though I see promising things within you


    I see my tears when I see love in your eyes


    I see woe when I see delight in your smile


    My heart beats be fixed, yet ever more broken when you walk towards me


    I have trouble breathing from awe, yet from fear when you inch even closer to me.


    When you reach for my pale, delicate hand¡­


    I push you away


    Yet I wish I can hold onto it forever¡­


    I fear of falling, yet I wish for love¡­


    Remembering the poem made her realize her memory wasing back bit by bit¡­

 I Know Your Dad

    As soon as Mark exited the building he remembered the discussion he had with his mum thest week and every fibre of evidence pointed to the fact that his father might still be alive. Probably held captive in some prison somewhere.


    As he was walking out, Richarlison walked up to him. He had instructed Richarlison to wait for him outside here as he didn¡¯t n on staying inside for long.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Boss!¡± Richarlison greeted. Despite the business rtionship they had as boss and worker they hade to a point as close friends and they both talked like friends but however, that was seasonal.


    He didn¡¯t get a respond from him as he was obviously lost in thought. He noticed the slight change on his boss face. His usual upstage expression looked like it is been troubled.


    ¡°Boss!¡± Richarlison called out to him again, but this time, a bit louder.


    It jolted him out of his thoughts.


    ¡°Oh.. sorry, I was absent minded!¡± He exined.


    ¡°You look worried. I hope all is well?¡± Richarlison inquired, staring deep into his cold eyes. His eyes that were and are usually devoid of a single tears were suddenly welling up in tears. Seems the usually strong man is weak now, being strong for too long is an exnation.


    Before Richarlison could say another thing, Mark hugged him passionately and fiercely before letting him go, he needed a shoulder to cry on.


    ¡°Guy, afa. What¡¯s wrong?¡± Richarlison asked again.


    ¡°I have been seeing my mum recently and with what she ha drugged out so far points to the fact that my dad might actually still be alive¡±.


    Mark looked closely at the way Richarlison facial expression changed. He thought it changed because prolly Richarlison is wondering which father and mum himself is pertaining to.


    To clear the air, he added, ¡°My biological father!¡±


    ¡°No!. He is not!¡± Richarlison responded after a moment of silence.


    Mark was surprised. ¡°What do you mean by he is not? Do you know him?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Yes. This might sound shocking, but it¡¯s the truth! Your father was my fellowrade as a mercenary and my superior for that matter. He died in battle trying to protect us, me specifically and that was why I vowed to return the favour by protecting his only child ¨C son ¨C as his enemy maye striking at him¡±. Richarlison tool time and exined to Mark who was dumbstruck and finding it hard to believe.


    Mark stood where he was frozen. Meanwhile Diana was watching through the window, her bedroom was just upstair. She was to a score watch Mark leave but now, she sees him frozened to a spot, probably from a revtion or what Richarlison told him. She wondered what it must have been.


    Mark wondered if he imagined the revtion but he didn¡¯t. Astonishment is on his face. It was rare that anything surprised him, rarer that anyone snuck up on him. His voice t¡­.


    ¡°How can I believe you?¡±


    ¡°Follow me!¡± Richarlison said. In a jiffy they started on foot obviously towards the VIP ward¡­ The surrounding was still swimming with soldiers doing their night jogging. The atmosphere was lively.


    Mark now realized it was not just about loyalty that Richarlison protects him with his life.


    All along, with all in all Stoic and his brother¡¯s were working on figuring out who the fuck had the audacity and guts to tamper with theirptop. ¡°He must have some nerves to have done that¡­¡±


    They had no clue yet, except for his foot print. He entered, sneaked in through the window. He left no trace behind, obviously a very skilled IT expert can do that. Each time theptop is went back on and starts functioning, if one tries to open the file that contains thevt footage of Hannah recing Diana¡¯s first aid box with a new alike one, theptop will automatically shut down by itself. Only an expert ITputer wizard can program it and it was hard to deprogramme.


    All over the whole time, Jake was monitoring their moves secretly and he was the one who sent Felix, the IT guy, A. K. Aputer wizard and one of the G-5 private military army he hired to alter theirputer. Felix have heard and saw what the children were capable of thus, he didn¡¯t delete the file, rather programmed that way. A way that if one attempt to open or share it, theptop automatically gets shut down. He purposely programmed it that way with the curiosity of, I¡¯ll confirm the kids are extraordinarily good if they can deprogramme it. So, in other words, he did it that way to test the children¡¯s capabilities.


    However, the next day. Stoic and his siblings took time and told their mother the kind of connection Hannah has with her and with her ex husband.


    ¡°She is the one Jake cheated with, on you and she got pregnant and had ra, my friend!¡± Stoic exined truthfully. Although Diana does not remember everything, she was still however able to connect the dot, what surprised her was the way Hannah denied her own daughter ¡­¡±but why would she? Something bigger must be at stake since she did that!¡± She thought and urged her kids to find out what it¡¯s that is at bigger stake. Her children however, didn¡¯t not n on stopping by the roadside and not getting to their destination, they were hell bent in finding out. The sudden urging would only elerate their promptness in finding out what it¡¯s.


    Of a truth, right from start and the beginning¡­ Hannah¡¯s presence never went downfortably with her, she felt something was weird and odd about her and now it seems the blurred info is gradually getting to be clear. Even, Richarlison on the other hand has been monitoring her secretly because he didn¡¯t trust her as well.


    ******


    As the court Day approaches, Diana¡¯s heart became more and more troubled, although it ought to have been alleviated or disbursed off because of the deal she has with the president general, she still was troubled and that made her hire ncy, one of the bestwyer of Sterling City and has won several cases and even defended a notorious criminal and saved his ass even at the face of evidence. She can actually make a real gun a toy gun, however, it was still skeptical since nothing is guaranteed in courts.


    When Mark heard and learnt she hired ncy, it reminded him of the day he left her at the wedding alter simply because Kelly Owens, his grandpa disagreed to the marriage being hold. It was that day, Kelly Owens told him about the girl with an ovepping circle in her thighs. Charity Wakins granddaughter, his betrothed.


    He was about 27 years old then. It was sudden yea! But he had to obey Owens in order to secure the president Generals seat, which he did. Mark and ncy both loved each other. Mark hurt her deeply that day. Ever since then, ncy had shut herself out of rtionship and decided to stay single to avoid getting hurt again. She hated men and called men scum! Monsters!


    Imagine the pain of actually getting abandoned at the alter¡­.


    Clearly that day, she closed her eyes patiently waiting for him to kiss her as the minister dered, but surprisingly boom! He left her. He was gone. He walked out on her. He was even stubborn, despite Owens beforehand disagreement: he changed mind as die seconds.


    ncy became aughing stock, but now she is a powerful wealthywyer who doesn¡¯t give a fuck about men¡¯s existence!. Diana didn¡¯t know of any of that.

 The Court Day

    The court day finally arrived. Diana and her kids were brought before the court. Herwyer sat confidently waiting patiently for the intiffswyer topletely speak for his client since the judge already gave the order for the proceedings to start.


    Jake Bernard, However sat alone. Not even his assistant and personal guards were with him, maybe they¡¯re outsiders waiting¡­ Diana thought, something about him tickled Diana¡¯s memory, however her heart was troubled because of how eloquently the intiffswyer spoke. He was even a senior to thewyer she hired and he was excellently good. He upheld and buttress his point with evidences, including the DNA paternity test and towards the end, he asked for permission to question Diana, his request was granted and despite ncy¡¯s objection, Diana was bombarded with questions that even got her confused that she said what the intiffswyers wanted her to. He took a toll on her mental and psychological state to make sure she says what he wants and it did happen.


    Jake listened attentively and waspletely impressed. It was unusual for someone to impress him, yet he was. ¡®My one million dor to hire this dude after all wasn¡¯t in vein¡¯ he smiled.


    ncy, nheless didn¡¯t let the fact that the intiffswyer diligently defended his client weigh her down. She stood up confidently and began to counter what the intiffswyer had presented ¡°The kids need to get familiarized with their dad. They had stayed with their mother for five years now!¡±


    Stoic, legacy and Jennifer felt a sharp pain intrinsically as the possibilities of Jake winning the case was higher at this point due to the evidence and points made out by the intiffswyer. When ncy began, she tried with the little information she had at hand but she didn¡¯t have evidence, what made her have an upper hand was the im that the DNA paternity test the intiffwyer presented was faked and requested for some time to provide evidence and also recarry out a paternity DNA test. She asked so that the judge could adjourn the case.


    After attentively analyzing both parties ims and hearing from both sides, the Judge adjourned the case to same date the next two months.


    Soon after, all the necessary court formalities and proceedings came to an end and everyone was dismissed.


    Jake was however not settled with how the case ended. He needed his children¡­. although, he has a daughter, ra already, there was something that was prompting him to im custody of the Triplets and it was for him to get closer to Diana and at least rekindle the love they used to share until he betrayed her by cheating on her with Hannah, who was her best friend. Himself didn¡¯t know that Hannah as a gynaecologist was the one that kept Diana barren by giving her some pills she lied would keep her fertile, Diana never asked too much question as she trusted her so much. All that she did was to exert revenge on Diana.


    Mark didn¡¯te to the court although initially promised Diana he would. He didn¡¯tee because of two reasons¡­.


    Firstly¡­ He didn¡¯t wanted to cross path with ncy, he still felt guilty for what he did to her¡­


    Secondly. He was busy preparing for his reappointment ceremony. This day was the day he was to be reappointed as the president general since no one is eligible enough to rece him yet.


    Jake walked directly to meet Diana and her kids as they entered the patrol car they came with. One officer escorted them and happened to be the driver as well.


    He grabbed her left arm from behind and she turned, something about him really seemed familiar that she instinctively knew who it was¡­ the warm feeling on his hands.


    ¡°What¡¯s it?¡± Diana frowned, her heart palpitating..


    ¡°You¡¯re lucky this time around¡­ Sooner orter the kids will be mine..¡± he said, his eyes radiating an intimidating aura.


    ¡°In your dreams huh?¡± Diana scoffed. Nothing about him intimidated her, it just caused an ache in her head.


    ¡°For as far as I know ¡­. I don¡¯t know you and you can¡¯t be my darlings father¡­¡± Diana added and then looked at her adorable children just beside her. They were acting all childish intentionally like they don¡¯t know what¡¯s up¡­.


    ¡°We¡¯ll see about that¡­.¡± Jake said and walked out. His boys were already waiting for him and in a matter of time, he entered his car and left, behind him was his boys car.


    *****Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Meanwhile, the doctor that Mark had secretly nned with to carry out a DNA paternity test on Diana¡¯s kid to cross check and if possible, have a solid proof and ensure Jennifer stops calling him dad, came to give Mark the report of the DNA paternity test.


    Mark had skillfully and stylishly taken strands of air unnoticed from each of the kids for the DNA paternity test to be done with. No one knew, except Jennifer who willingly helped and inclined to secrecy what Mark was doing.


    Mark was not at home, only Hannah was ¡­ And as such the Doctor gave her the test result, as his wife¡­ She should give it to her husband when hees back home.


    After he left, out of sheer curiosity of wondering what was inside the file, she opened and checked for it¡¯s content and lol and behold, it was the DNA paternity test result and from reading it¡¯s content ¡°Mark was 98% the biological father of two boys, Stoic and Legacy and one girl, Jennifer..


    ¡°Howe Jake also got the same DNA paternity test result?¡± She wondered. Jake was overly capable of faking it, a thought ran through her and the triplets has a striking resemnce with Mark and it only means Mark might actually be the kids father¡­. But she won¡¯t let Mark discover that!


    ¡°What could have prompted Mark to secretly carry out a DNA paternity test on the kids? Except he is now getting confused they¡¯re his?¡±


    She now has¡­. a terrible n.


    *****


    It was the president general reappointment day, many officers and top ranking officers were present to celebrate his reappointment and it was however sessful a one.


    When the party ended, Hannah and Mark had a toss with tumbler of a non alcoholic wine as to celebrate the reappointment and by this time, everyone, Diana inclusive had all dispatched to their various homes.


    Unknowingly to Mark, Hannah had spiked his wine..

 Her Plans

    Mark woke up the next morning with Hannah resting on his broad chest. She waspletely naked, just as he waspletely naked, as well.


    He blinked his eyes to be sure of what he was seeing..¡±No. No.. This can¡¯t be happening!¡± He widened his eyes, and pushed Hannah off him, and then he sprang off the bed, almost forgetting he still had nothing on to cover his ¡°staff of destruction¡±, so big!. ¡°Shit!¡± He immediately grabbed for his underwear just lying down on the floor and quickly wore it. He nced around the room and saw a brassiere and a pink pant and the clothes Hannah worest night scattered around the bedroom. Hannah still sleeping like a new born baby.


    ¡°What had happened?¡± He heard himself say.. standing bolt upright with his heart going like a trip-hammer, sure he had no idea why he was naked and also Hannah¡¯s underwear scattered around the room, directly saying she is naked also.


    He immediately started towards her and started shaking her awake out of an already fitful sleep gued with strange acting. She woke up oriented, able to tell what was going through Marks mind, after all, she was only acting like she deep in sleep, it was mere pretence.


    ¡°What happened!!?¡± Mark yelled..


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t know what happenedst night?¡± Hannah questioned back, the duvet was covering her as she leaned back to sleep again, acting like she is exhausted.


    ¡°What do you mean!?¡± Mark yelled again, this time more loudly that it startled her.


    ¡°We had sex! You wouldn¡¯t let me sleep!¡± She Barked back at Mark who was already infuriated.


    ¡°Yea.. that¡¯s what¡¯s happened¡±, Diana added upon noticing the confusion written all over the ce.


    Of a truth, he does not remember anything fromst night, except that he felt dizzy and slept off.


    Thoughts began to stream into his seat of thoughts¡­


    ¡°No no, stop saying gibberish! Nothing of such happened!¡± Mark asserted vehemently. His tone getting weaker by each sentence he made. ¡°If this was true? How would Diana react? If she finds out!¡±


    Mark was about darting out of the bedroom after he wore some clothes and a trouser when Hannah threw an envelope at him.


    ¡°One Doctor James came yesterday and said I should hand over the envelope to you¡­ Totally forgot that yesterday!¡± She said and then yawned.


    ¡°I enjoyed youst night¡­ You¡¯re so good I bet you enjoyed me too!¡± She gave out a sheepish chuckle and then went back to sleep.


    Mark still was unable to process what actually happenedst night and what that is happening right now. When he heard her mention Dr James, it reminded him of the test, he just knew it must be the DNA paternity test inside the envelope, he picked it up and immediately scan through and he saw negative¡­


    ¡°He was not the childrens father!¡± He deduced!


    ¡°Damn it!¡± He eximed with horror!


    ¡°Why? Anything wrong?¡± Hannah inquired like she cared. She was the one who altered the DNA paternity test report card.


    ¡°And before you leave¡­ I¡¯m not with any contraceptive pill, and I¡¯m on my period!¡± She jerked up with her massive breast shaking.


    ¡°How is that my business? And please cover yourself!¡± Mark said rather angrily as he turned to back her.


    ¡°What¡¯s the need? You already saw my nakednessst night. You pounded on me heavily and I said I¡¯m ovting, which means I might get pregnant!¡± Hannah exined further and started to cry! ¡°You forced yourself on me!¡± She added and started to sob like real natural sobbing.


    ¡°None of my business! And nothing happenedst night between us! Get that into your fucking skull!¡± With that said, Mark wanted to walk out of the bedroom but he couldn¡¯t. He can¡¯t bear to watch a woman cry, it usually weakens him. Clenching his fist tightly and hoping she was lying , he angrily left and of course, she was lying¡­ She had tried to get his dick to rise and for blood to flowst night but all to no avail, and as such she couldn¡¯t ride his dick, but she however devised a n¡­


    Meanwhile, this early morning¡­ Richarlison had went to meet the two bloody civilians to get an honest answer from them both before they¡¯re being transferred and transported to the war zone, where they¡¯ll begin their military training and they confessed truthfully!¡­


    ¡°Thank you!¡± He said and then left.


    *******


    Diana that morning prepared her kids early for school so that she could join other generals in gyrating and jogging around a particrlyrge field. It was in her routine.


    Dressed in her cama, she jogged towards the field and joined other generals with their camo on and started gyrating and jogging around the field.


    The leader of the this morning exercise spoke out loudly, ¡°Round four.. Thest person toplete thisst round will have to jog extra two!¡± Then he opened her mouth loudly and started to sing the Ethiope marine military songs, Diana and the rest backed her up with the chorus as they increased their speed. No one wants to be thest toplete the race and then jog for an extra two rounds around the field.


    ¡°General¡­. General Diana!¡± An officer called out to her. It was Mark no one dares disobey his orders, thence she pulled out of her colleagues and started to clean her sweaty head with a white handkerchief as she walked gantly towards Mark.


    ¡°Exhausted? Mind if I treat you breakfast?¡± Mark proposed..


    It was a thing of a surprise that Mark was asking her this question, she can¡¯t even say ¡°No!¡± That¡¯s disrespect to the president general and Naturally she would agree but the president made it sounded like she had an option to decline.


    ¡°Yes!¡± She heard herself say.


    ¡°Where?¡± She added as she panted from exhaustion.


    ¡°It¡¯s a surprise!¡± Mark responded and brought out an energy giving drink and gave it to her.


    ¡°Replenish your lost energy¡­.¡± He said as he handed over to her the drink.


    ¡°Surprise? This morning? Why all of a sudden he is acting like he cares so much?¡± Diana questioned herself as she drank the energy giving drink like someone who has not taken in water for three days.


    Once she was done, she heard Mark asked again¡­N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    ¡°How are your kids?¡±


    ¡°Fine, in school now I suppose¡­¡± She responded, wondering¡­ It was odding from Mark.


    It was not Mark¡¯s n to ask about the kids, but he didn¡¯t know when he asked about them. ¡°Something troubled him on discovering that the kids are not his kids, especially when he was filled with so much confidence that the kids are his¡­¡±


    *********


    Presently at Einstein academy. Stoic, legacy, Jennifer and ra were all having a discussion and nning as to how they can expose Hannah to the president general.


    Richarlison on the other hand is beginning to dive deep into the matter¡­.


    Ranging from the missing of Danny¡­.. Down to what the bloody civilians confessed.


    His fear was that, Mark is an enemies target and he had to go out of his way just to protect him, thus he was taking this matter more personally.

 Do you know where my kids are?

    Presently at a restaurant¡­..


    Mark and Diana were having the best of their time, enjoying the breakfast and chit chatting. After Mark paid the bills, they left and immediately they exited they bar, ncy bumped into them. She was carried away by what she was doing on her phone.


    ¡°Hey! Look where you¡¯re going!!-¡± Mark initially heard himself say out loudly and it ended quietly and gently.


    ¡°ncy? Thedy she left at the alter?¡± He thought he must be seeing things but the again she hade back to Sterling City as a reputable powerful attorney and eventually Diana hired her to help her with the case of her children.


    ¡°Hi!¡± Diana greeted ncy who was equally shocked as Mark. Her face trying to regainposure but the crystal clear images from that night wouldn¡¯t easily let it.


    ¡°Hi???¡± ncy stuttered, trying to respond to Diana.


    Diana being quite a sensitivedy could actually discern something was bothering her at the moment thus she offered, ¡°Anything the issue? Are you fine? Mind if I help ¨C ?¡±


    ¡°Salute!¡± An officer came over and saluted, his salute disrupted what Diana was going to say. The officer was obviously Mark¡¯s driver.


    ncy remembered¡­.¡±oh yea, he is the president general now! Over time she had always checked up on the news feed about Mark as she missed him alot.¡±


    Diana ignoring the fact an officer had just interrupted her vocal offer request, she moved closer to ncy whose face is burying too many emotions.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°No no no!¡± ncy said and walked out. Diana could see tears dripping down her cheeks as she walked out.


    For a moment, Mark was momentarily stunned. It took him few minutes to regain back hisposure.


    ¡°Yea, yea¡­¡± He stammered¡­ And started of towards the parking lot. Diana followed behind closely wondering what it¡¯s.. ¡°do they know each other?¡±


    Sooner they were back at the military base¡­


    As Mark stepped out of the car, Richarlison walked up to him immediately, it seemed he has been waiting for him already.


    With no hesitation he broke out, ¡°I think Danny might still be living¡­.¡±


    Mark looked at him coldly. The fact he was not in good mood was a partial exnation. The scars of the guilty of leaving ady abandoned at the alter had started to bleed like fresh wounds again.


    ¡°Danny? Tell me thatter¡­. Not in a good mood!¡± Mark exined and Richarlison nodded in agreement.


    Meanwhile, the triads had reposted a mail inviting the president general over. Thest mail they posted was not honoured and they deemed it fit to repost another one to him. ¡°Maybe it skipped him¡­¡±


    Mark was in his room when he received the message, alongside was a warning notice that he must show up the day they requested for the meeting to be held.


    Diana was at home patiently waiting for her kids, it already passed their closing time, yet they were not home. Every single mother or parents would change their children¡¯s school considering what happened few weeks back, some mafias¡¯ came into the school and made away with the strands of hair from the kids and hurt them, but Diana was different. She didn¡¯t change their school since it was the only school that can handle her kids intellect.


    However , the schools security had been stepped up drastically.


    Presently, Diana was worried, since her kids had a driver, there were no need for her to go all the way to go pick them up and they ought to have returned back from school by this time. ¡°What was keeping the driver?¡± She wondered as her heart began to skip fearfully.


    She walked up to her resident house entrance and was looking at the road that led there hoping to get a glimpse of the car, she would obviously recognize the car and by seeing it she would be free from her worries.


    Exactly about three minutester of her standing and looking down the road that led to her abode, she finally caught a glimpse of the car and he was plying at high speeds, even in the military base? Why would anyone be moving at high speed in the military base? And the speed is probably too unsafe for her kids inside. Like a drunk racing driver or like he was being car-chased, the driver zoomed closer and upon seeing Diana he matched the brake with all his possible strength and the car screeched beforeing a halt. The engines roared, smokes from the exhaust were much and the car was obviously radiating heat as it¡¯s been on a rigorous work.


    The driver, Officer Luke stepped out of the car immediately.


    ¡°General, General Diana¡­. Your kids are nowhere to be found. I got to their school and was told some men who proved they were from the military base and was sent by president general, came to pick them up¡­.¡± He said tirelessly as he walked towards Diana with his sweaty face.


    ¡°And I think they have been kidnapped¡­ I ced a call over to the president general to confirm and Richarlison said nothing of such happened!¡± Officer Luke added.


    ¡°What are you saying? Are you drunk? ¡± Diana tried to shout but the strength to shout had suddenly varnished. She thought, ¡°yes I was out with the president general for breakfast and we spent a good time together. When did he requested? Oh no? My kids have been kidnapped! She eximed, her heart skipping fearfully.


    In the next moment, a maybach Mercedes Benz zoomed into the entrance as well and two men alighted. They were both tall and handsome, only that one was taller than the other and that was Mark. Mark an Richarlison had just arrived. They didn¡¯t send anyone to go pick up the kids from school and they already confirmed some men came in the pretence that they were sent by the president general and picked the kids from school. Such skilled men that had their ID¡¯s confirmed.


    The school principal didn¡¯t bother cing a call over to check if truly the president general sent them since the men clouded in full military gears were too real to be fake.


    Once Diana saw Mark and Richarlison she cried out at once, she has been trying to hold back her tears convincing herself that she was merely dreaming.


    ¡°Sir! My kids are missing- do you know where they¡¯re? Tell me you sent those men?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t-¡± Mark replied coldly with a nk facial expression. He looked at officer Luke who was afraid for his life and on need not be a genius to know the kids has indeed been kidnapped by someone.

 Help me find them

    With an utter state of mncholic depression Diana requested, ¡°Can you help me find them?¡±


    Mark looked at Diana coldly, trying not to show any bit of his emotions. He was as well frustrated and dejected.


    ¡°It¡¯s easy to guess who is behind the kidnap..¡±  Mark asserted and signalled for Richarlison for them to be on their way.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to Einstein school and see what clue we may have there¡­.¡± Mark added after letting what he initially said sink in into Diana¡¯s seat of thoughts.


    ¡°Howe she didn¡¯t think that way before now? It was obviously her ex husband, she was quick to point out. Who else would be interested in her kids if not him? Who would thought he would go this far?¡­ Since the judges adjourned the case, it definitely must have aroused an unquenchable taste and hunger like desperation within Jake.


    Diana gritted her teeth, squinted her eyes and clenched her fist in full anger.  So, he is not even satisfied with the pain he caused me in the past? He had the guts and audacity to step on my toes once again. He won¡¯t escape this time around!


    Mark could see through her teary eyes as he squinted his eye brows¡­.. Jake is a devil and a thorn on her flesh, can¡¯t wait to get rid of him! He mumbled!


    ¡°Com¡¯on¡­. Let¡¯s go¡­ We¡¯ll find your kids..¡± Mark said rather reassuring. He walked up to Diana who seem absent minded and tapped her on her shoulders, ¡°Don¡¯t worry¡­ We¡¯ll find your kids!¡± He said. Diana woke up back from hernd of thoughts when she felt the cold sensation of his hands and once again after a long while, they locked gazes!


    Marks¡¯ expression was crystal clear, he could not hide the worry written all over his face anymore. He then picked up his white handkerchief and wiped Dian¡¯s tears and reassured her again, ¡°let¡¯s go¡­ we¡¯ll find your kids¡­¡±


    Diana didn¡¯t realize when her face flushed bright red. ¡°Was the president general wiping away her tears? He seems to care¡­ Doesn¡¯t he?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want you crying¡­. And after this whole events I¡¯d be needing what¡¯s mine¡­¡± He whispered to her ears.


    Oh! He was only acting this way simply because he needed something in return, obviously his Ring¡­ The better she doesn¡¯t overthink it, the better for her because she will definitely get herself hurt by overthinking his sudden act of care.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    With no gap in time, Mark, alongside Richarlison and Diana entered into the Maybach Mercedes Benz and started off towards Einstein Academy, Richarlison was on the drivers seat. Officer Luke rode behind them closely and a patrol car before them. The president general wouldn¡¯t go anywhere without a patrol team.


    ******


    Back at Einstein Academy, the kids knew the men were fake but, however had the mind to let them take them away. They had a n , Jake or whoever sent them wouldn¡¯t hurt or kill them! And they were sure it was Jake and he won¡¯t even hurt them.


    Richarlison on the other hand, has already had a major clue to Danny and also was already digging deep into Hannah. It was Mark who instructed him to dig into Hannah more closely.


    Meanwhile, Hannah¡¯s terrible n would hatch the next week¡­


    ******


    In a jiffy, Mark and hispany arrived at Einstein Academy and fear gripped the whole academy. Many parents had already came to take away their children so that they won¡¯t be caught in the cross fire.


    At the principals office, the staffs and non teaching staffs were being interrogated one after the other as the police had already been involved.


    The security officers were at the most hottest seat of interrogation.


    Mark ordered Richarlison to check the CCTV footage and they both started to analyze the footage personally.


    Everyone was wondering why the president general was stressing himself for the kids, it was unusual of him that it was already on the news headline.


    Rumors spreading up and down about the possible connection Diana has with the president general and the connection the president general has with the missing triplets.


    Meanwhile, Diana was all weak, emotionally and physically that Mark ordered her not toe out of the car, rather rest inside there and regain all her strength.


    Upon analysing the CCTV footage closely and attentively, Mark was able to point out that the men were indeed military officers but their faces wouldn¡¯t match any face in the military data base, and that had only on exnation. Either they were from another military base or they had a stic mask on to give them a new look. The former option was soon ruled out after Richarlison checked the worldwide military data but couldn¡¯t find a match with the military officers and now they were left with only one option. They were hiding behind a human like mask that gave them a new human face.


    After a careful analysis they both coincidentally and eventually came to same conclusive deduction.


    In matter of time, they got back to where they parked their cars and exited the academy to let the police officers do their job. Meanwhile, Mark had a personal undisclosed series of steps to be carried out to apprehend the military officers. He was able do discern and draw the dots that all the military officers had a cobra tattoo in there neck and inmon and that cobra tattoo was only given to members of the cobra night team. The team Jake Bernard hired as his bodyguard.  Mark however didn¡¯t tell Richarlison this his observation. He kept it to himself for some reasons best known to him.


    When Mark and his entourage arrived at the military base, a chaos had erupted that Owens was already attending to at the central field.


    Diana was so weak, dispirited and in terms of energy and strength; very low¡­. That Mark had to carry her gently to her bedroom and let her rest to replenish her energy, meantime, they work on bringing back her kids safe and sound.


    During that period Mark carried her, it seemed a little romantic that Diana¡¯s heart was on her throat while some of her was worried because of her kids¡­ With no gap on time, her expression changed from worry to embarrass because of the way Mark carried her. When he dropped her he managed to blurt out, ¡°Thank You!¡± Feeling vaguely embarrassed. Mark looked away, flushed with embarrassment as well. Diana, who a moment ago would have been meanly pleased, felt a rush of anger toward Mark, her kids were missing and he ying a romantic game. ¡°Let me be,¡± she snapped. ¡°Please help me find my kids¡­. please¡± she requested to rather soften the venom the words she said out of anger must have caused.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry¡­ We¡¯ll find them. And you need all the strength as possible.. so rest as we do the work¡±. Mark said and then walked out. Both windows were open, yards of gauzy white curtains blowing in the breeze like restless ghosts. Only when the wind dropped and the curtains settled did Diana see that the painting on the wall. A painting of Diana, Mark and the three little Rugrats seated together like one family. ¡°Legacy must have done this..!¡± She deduced, however was wowed that it reminded her of the fact her kids were missing still.


    Some voices began to erupt inside her mind, they were dry and neutral. But there is no need for the use of force, if you do not resist.


    She gritted her teeth. She wanted to resist them, wanted to pry those intrusive voices out of her head. To stand by and allow such a vition of her most intimate, personal self-


    But there was every chance that had already happened, she reminded herself. This was nothing more than the excavation of a past crime, the theft of her memory. If this pain and void she was feeling just make it worked, what had been taken from her would be restored. She closed her eyes.


    Her mind seemed to snap in on itself, like a rubber band, and she reeled soundlessly into a whirlwind of images cast against the insides of her closed eyelids.


    To be continued¡­

 Diana Is Missing

    Its been eight good hours that she had been restlessly waiting for a feedback from either Richarlison or president general as regards to her kids but no feedback yet and this made her mind to be very heavy, her heart started to thumb the more, she desperately needed to see her kids, she doesn¡¯t know what state or condition they might be subjected to at the moment. Question continually buzzed into her head that she sprang up the bed and started to pace the room forth and back.


    Her heart became very sour. She felt a sudden pain in her heart, and realized with a jolt what it was. She was missing her kids so dearly -missing Stoic, Legacy and Jennifer¡­ As they had been.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Then she decided to pick up her phone and call Mark and check how far they¡¯ve gone but each time she tried calling, she would end up not dialing. In a way she was being scared of him.


    She walked towards the corner of the room and with a force exerted at a particr spot, another spot opened and she dipped her hands into the ground through the opened spot and picked out a box. She opened it and brought out the silver ring with the initials K. O carved on it. It was shiny ¨C it was all the pieces of what she remembers. She held in herself the hopes and fears of those who love her. As long as there is love and memory, there is no true loss.


    With the ring now on worn on her forefinger she summoned the courage to ce a call over to Mark. She had obviously gained and replenished all her strength.


    ********


    In the living room sat an enormous circr table surrounded by five high-backed wooden chairs. Richarlison, sliding into a chair. It was surprisinglyfortable. ¡°Back to business¡­.¡± He said and then tapped on table by the side and a screen disyed. The table was like aputer system on its own.


    Mark, folding his phone, approached the table with a puzzled look. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°We seem to be trapped in an episode of no clue,¡± Richarlison observed. ¡°the officers are highly skilled not to have left a clue.¡±


    Mark flicked a strand of hair out of his eyes. ¡°Uhmmm¡­. Richarlison, I¡¯d like you toe with me, I think I know where the kids might be¡­..¡±


    Richarlison wondered where? Does he know something I don¡¯t?


    ¡°Right now!¡± Mark said, Before Richarlison could respond Marks phone rang, he dug it out of his pocket and flipped it open; it was Diana. ¡°I know where they¡¯re¡­.,¡± he said, before she could say hello.


    ¡°Okay, please bring them home¡­¡± she said, her voice crackling down the line. She was probably calling from somewhere, where the reception wasn¡¯t great. Mark thought, ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ Don¡¯t worry! And ensure not to leave the building..¡± Mark said and assured her and then ended the call.


    The next moment, Diana was putting on her military gears. Just after the call ended a message arrived in her phone and it¡¯s sender was unknown, the message read, ¡°If you want your kids alive¡­ Meet us at Aliko Bay, the mansion at the top of the mountain with the passcode NGC207¡±. That jolted Diana. ¡°Mark had just said he knows where they¡¯re? Was he giving her a fake assurance? But nheless, she agreed to meet the senders at the ce she was told to. She was warned not to divulge any information else her kids die a painful death!. Diana didn¡¯t want any harm to get to her kids thus she was willing to obliged, diamonding the consequences. It¡¯s her Triplets they¡¯re talking about.


    There were some officers posted at the buildings entrance to ensure she doesn¡¯t leaves the house, thus she exited the building using the window where no one would notice her.


    In matter of time, despite the warning given to her by Mark, she arrived at Aliko Bay and used the passcode she was given and now she was standing alone in an isted garden at the address she was sent. She nced over the area and the vicinity hoping to see her kids soon enough, she was now bing tensed.


    Then a man came into view, he was burly and his muscles and chest puffed out like a regr muscle trainer. He was very massive and looked strong. Diana was frightened at first but with the little defense skills she had learnt, she thought she could use to defend herself against him and then again the one who sent her the sms messages said someone would appear to take her to her kids, thence, Diana concluded the someone should be this figure approaching her majestically.


    Jake- the mastermind had already did a thorough check in the vicinity and was sure that Diana came alone and that she brought no one with her ¡­¡­.


    Now, the burly man was standing right in front of her¡­. ¡°Look at your kids!¡± He said with his manly voice pointing to Diana¡¯s side. Diana by this time was standing right in front of him and when she heard him say her kids are over there, she immediately turned at the direction the burly man was pointing at but then an handkerchief, the burly man sprayed with some stuffs he said he got from Jake¡¯sb, over Diana¡¯s nose  knocked her out the moment, the burly man pressed the handkerchief over her nose swiftly.


    Meanwhile, Mark and Richarlison had stormed Jake¡¯s Bernardpound but the wholepound seemed to have been abandoned for over a week now. There were no single soul present in the mansion.


    ¡°He must have beenying out this ns for such a long time¡­¡± Mark said, tightly, he clenched his fist. His eyes radiating an intense aura, he had so many questions for Jake concerning Hannah, the little girl ra and also about Diana and her triplets¡­. The whole connection!


    Meantime, an officer who per hour goes to Diana¡¯s room to check up on her has risen an rm when she couldn¡¯t find her anywhere in the building. The past hour, she went to check up on her but couldn¡¯t find her, so she raised an rm immediately for the search of Diana and obviously she was nowhere in the military base and this prompted the grandwar masters to inform Mark immediately.


    When Mark phone rang, he fished it out of his pocket and stared at the screen, it was a grandwar master calling him¡­. But why? He answered it, ¡°Diana is missing!¡± The voice at the other end spoke. It was cold and serious!


    ¡°What?¡± Mark  eximed and that startled Richarlison.


    ¡°What¡¯s it sir?¡± Richarlison inquired.


    Mark dropped the phone and responded, ¡°Diana is missing!¡±

 Long Time! Big Brother

    Diana blinked her bleary eyes open and saw only darkness. She shivered. She felt a stab of fury at her own weakness, her own frailty with a dull, pounding headache, the aftereffect of the ¡°stuff¡± the handkerchief over her nose was sprayed with , had taken up residence in her frontal lobe. It felt like someone trying to kick a door down from the wrong side.


    She nced around where she was and it was utterly dark and so couldn¡¯t see where she was, except for the ckness. She soon realized she was not on her military uniform any more , she wrinkled her toes and s discovered she was just on her bra and underwears and her hands tied above her hands. She noticed she was on a soft material, a bed to be precise and it was so dark that she could barely see a thing.


    Right now, the only thing that swept through her entire frame was pain surging through her and her head aching. She remembered she had been knocked out by some burly and didn¡¯t know for how long she had been unconscious. Memories of how she was knocked started to rush into her head like a sh . ¡°My kids? I have been kidnapped!¡± She thought as fear rang through her veins, she then tried to forcefully yank her hands away from the rope her hands were tied with so she can¡¯t escape.


    She wondered who must have sent that burly man to kidnap her. Could it be the same man who sent men to kidnap her children also? ¡°Of course he is!¡± She eximed thoughtfully . It was all a set up from start just to get her kidnapped. She wished she had listened to the president general who warned her never to leave the military base for any reason.


    Just then, noises started to erupt from behind the walls. Noise of some kids ¨C she could barely intercept what they were saying- but could something about the voices sounded so familiar. It was her children!!! Angrily, she started to struggle to free herself from the captivity she was in but a minutes time she still was unable to. At exactly a minute time Diana shook her head. The sound she was hitherto hearing had been reced by a fury of a footstep that gradually became audible, striking pangs of fear into her chest.


    Diana looked around desperately. Barely could see anything through the darkness.


    Then the door started to make a noise, indicated it was bring opened and the next moment, before Diana could yell out, ¡°who is there¡­¡± the light got switched on, they were not very bright but Diana¡¯s iris got bleached by the sudden exposure to light that she felt disoriented. Gradually, she regained her bnce and saw a majestic figure standing before him. It was Jake!¡­. ¡°Indeed! It¡¯s him!¡± She said to herself, her eyes radiating an intense anger when she realized she was actually still almost half naked before this dangerous evil man!. Who striped her of her military uniforms? This man? What was he thinking of doing?.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake!¡± He said, his arm now crossed over his chest. Fear gripped Diana as Jake looked very intimidating and was just on his shorts as well! What is he thinking of doing? No, it can¡¯t be¡­. She Yanked the thoughts of.


    ¡°Let me go!¡± She tried to pull herself free from the restraint she was on but all to no avail.


    ¡°Don¡¯t waste your energy! Keep it for me as I¡¯m gonna have you!¡±, He said with a wry grin spread across his face as he leaned forward to her.


    What? He is going to rape me? Why? Is he not tired? Upon what he did to her in her past life? He is here again about to take advantage of her again.


    Diana was busy struggling as Jake kissed her neck. ¡°Your kids are downstairs and are in safe hands!¡±, He whispered to her. ¡°And I want you back as my wife¡­ I never intended to betray you!¡± He added as he pressed his lips against her neck more intimately. As he turned his face, Diana who is infuriated at its maximum peak gathered spits and spouted on his face. Angrily, he hit her on the face and got down from on top to get a mouth tape to seal of her mouth and that she did. Meanwhile, the Diana was now struggling more aggressively and currently she can¡¯t even shout out, rather make a murmuring noise as Jake was removing his undies.


    Anger in it¡¯s real sense had suffused Diana but she was now helpless. How does she get out of this mess? She wished she had listen to Mark, all this that¡¯s happening and about to happen wouldn¡¯t have happened.


    Immediately Jake removed his undies and his dick whipping and getting hard on his phone rang, he gasped angrily¡­.¡±Who is it again disrupting his about to be sex moment?¡± Nevertheless, he picked up his phone lying on the floor and saw the caller ID, it was Hannah!. It must be important for her to be calling him as he warned her never to ce a call over to him except there is an emergency. He widened his brows as he answered the phone call.


    Meanwhile, Diana was busy still struggling and rolling to free herself from the restraints and gradually the ropes were beginning to loosen¡­.


    Jake turned to look at Diana before the voice at the other end came through, ¡°Hello! The president general should be at your hide out in the next few minutes!¡± Hannah spoke like she didn¡¯t wanted to be heard and of course she didn¡¯t wanted to be heard. Before Jake could respond and alert his squad, the door to the bedroom bursted open!


    Bam!


    And it startled Jake that the phone fell of his hands.


    ¡°Damn! I have been made¡­ ¡± He said and knowing he was naked, he immediately grabbed for his undies and speedily put them on as a fury of blow crashed into him!.


    But instead of the blow to hurt him, it rebounded on the one who exerted the blow that his arms got bent on a peculiar angle. His bone had dislocated.


    ¡°Ahhhhhhh!¡± Richarlison cried out as he fell back and sprawled on the floor. He was no match for Jake.


    The next moment, Mark came into view and Jake chuckled¡­.


    ¡°Long time¡­. Big brother!¡±


    Diana exhaled deeply knowing a rescue team hade for her. She had overheard the voice at the other end of the phone and it sounded like Hannah¡¯s¡­


    Hannah at the other end was startled from the noise she heard when the phone crashed into the ground and also the agonizing wailing of Richarlison¡­.


    Hannah was frightened that she immediately ended the call .. ¡°what do I do? What do I do? Let it not be what I¡¯m thinking¡­.¡± She started to scratch her head pacing back and forth as she was not sure as to what was happening at the moment. Could it be questions didn¡¯t stop flourishing her mind¡­


    ¡°Big brother? I¡¯m not your big brother you punk!¡± Mark responded as he got ufortable and mocked the way Jake chuckled and called him big brother. Mark nced sideways and saw Richarlison on the floor hauling in an agonizing pain and hustling to rearrange his dislocated hand bone. Crack! Crack!


    Mark turned to look Jake who has in turn stopped chuckling and wore a serious face.


    Mark and Jake locked gazes as intense murderous intent ran through their veins.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°But, why did he call me big brother?¡± This question didn¡¯t stopped bothering Mark. He had only one person who used to call him big brother but he was no more¡­. He was Benjamin Bernard his step brother.


    ¡°Tell me you don¡¯t recognize your little brother¡­. Mark!¡± Jake said upon noticing the confusion and distraction written all over Mark¡¯s face.


    Diana at the other hand was still struggling to free herself as she wondered why Jake was calling Mark big brother¡­ Do they know each other?

 Benjamin?

    Mark seemed lost in thoughts as he intentionally started to avoid Jake¡¯s sharp gaze. Something about his eyes seemed very familiar.


    ¡°Does he know Benjamin? Or is he Benjamin?¡±


    Then Jake started towards him, his chest swirling as he moved, and Mark realized what it was about him that was strange: He made no sound at all as he walked, not the slightest footstep. He would almost have wondered if he were a ghost-but no, he thought as Jake halted in front of him, there was a strange, sweet familiar smell about him, like the incense and spray Benjamin always applied.


    Terror rose and broke over Mark like a wave, but it wasn¡¯t fear of Jake who seemed like Benjamin, his lost brother, it was the emptiness in his eyes and the past rushing back into Marks thought again. Mark could look into Jake¡¯s eyes and through them he could see only darkness.


    ¡°Do you remember? Step brother?,¡± Jake said, ¡°when I told you I¡¯d avenge what you and Gibson did to me? Gibson spiked my drink and let me rape an innocent girl who he drugged? ¨C eventually she died and I was sent to prison to suffer! Because you didn¡¯t testify!¡± Anger infuriated Jake¡¯s burning eyes like hell.


    Mark took two steps backwards as he watched Jake closely. It can¡¯t be him! Could it be him?


    ¡°I left the prison many years ago, and that year I started working as a security guard at Diana¡¯s oilpany, where I met Diana and despite being an ex-convict she agreed to marry me¡± Jake continued, ¡°I had to betray her and make her file for a divorce so that I can get financial resources to be able to finance my ns to avenge what you and Gibson did to me!¡± Jake sounded emotional and pissed this time around.


    ¡°And here we¡¯re¡­ I¡¯ll make you pay! You betrayal!¡±


    ¡°And yea, of course, I got into a fire ident where my face got burnt and I had to change my face and my identity¡­. I¡¯m Benjamin Bernard!¡± Jake roared into life. There was pain in his voice, the memory of an old grief.


    Diana was stunned, threwed into a dibobted state. She had learnt why Jake betrayed her but does not make Jake any less than Diana know him. She saw the seizure of anger that momentarily twisted Mark¡¯s features; then it was gone, and his face was smooth. ¡°I was threatened not to testify¡­ He said he¡¯d kill me!,¡± Mark said. ¡°i came to look for you in prison to make attornment for my sins but you were gone¡­..¡± Mark added, he need not be a genius to discern that it was truly Benjamin.


    ¡°That is a lie !¡± Jake roared with sudden savagery and fiercely, his gold eyes zing.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Mark¡¯s tone was almostnguid, but there was fierceness in it, a hungry threat of violence. He suddenly remembered the dream he had, he had seen Joyce in a dream and it awakened what transpired, the dream indicated a sense of revenue and now Mark finally understood the dream.


    ¡°We have a beef! You were about raping Diana if not I hade in early and why did you have to kidnap her kids? Afraid you might loose the case the legal way?¡± Mark scoffed, then swept her gaze all over Diana . She had managed to get under the duvets to cover her nakedness but her face was still flushed with embarrassment. Richarlison on the other hand had forcefully arranged his dislocated arm and now healing from the pains.


    ¡°Is this how you gonna celebrate our reunion? Brother? And also no need You¡¯re not gonna live to see Diana lose the case,¡± Jake said and the next second a fury of thunderous footsteps started to be heard and the next moment it got intensified. Seems some men wereing¡­ Mark didn¡¯te with his men, he only came with Richarlison and on the other hand Jake¡¯s men had been neutralized but they however managed to escape leaving the three little Rugrats behind.


    The room was spacious. A momentter the door of the room was flung open and seven men barged into the room with weapons in their hands. Jake smirked when he saw them. The man in the lead appeared savage and radiated a faint aura, behind him was Stab and with a mere nce one could tell that both of them were martial artists. Stab had confronted Jake already in the past and his G-5 beat them off, and now they¡¯re alliance.


    At the sight of the people who abruptly barged into the room, shock swept all over Diana who Richarlison was already managing to lose with his hands still in a peculiar angle. He had endured worse pain than that while he was still at the mercenaries. In a trice, Marks expression turned chilly. He knew the men were there for him and obviously working for and with Jake as they threw him a jacket.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Jake then walked over to the men and Stab whipped out a half-foot long machete from his waist belt and stood before Jake.


    Expression dawned on Mark at once. Only him and Richarlison came for this rescue mission and they can¡¯t possibly be a match for this men, but Mark still was not bothered. He stood there as Richarlison and Diana stood behind him, Diana wrapped herself with the duvet and Richarlison then stepping before Mark so as to protect him despite his arms dislocated. It was his duty afterall.


    ¡°Why did you suddenly barge in with so many men,? Peter?¡± Mark chided loudly. It turned out the men were all sent by the triad imperials of Sterling city. They had sent Mark invitation which he ignored. The person on the lead was peter, and obviously his assistant was Stab.


    Could it be that they had some how managed to discover that he was not with the silver ring? Mark thought.


    From the moment the men barged in, Mark already realized they were there for him and he was not with the silver ring with which he can use to control the men, without the ring he has no power over this men. He clenched his fist tightly ready for anything.


    ¡°See you in hell brother!¡± Jake gestured at Mark and then left, now left with Mark, Richarlison and Diana who in a way was shivering and also the seven men who barged into the room all holding battle axe and half-foot long machetes.


    Sheer menace radiated off Richarlison and his bones popped audibly, snorting he dropped into a fighting stance. He had sworn on Mark¡¯s father¡¯s head to protect his son with all his life.


    ¡°Iud your guts!¡± Steven said to Richarlison.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you have courtesy for the president general?¡± Mark barked, his expression turned chilly. He thought he could escape if he threatened the men he was with the silver ring, but then again, he was not wearing the ring!


    ¡®Hahahahah!¡­..¡± Peterughed out loudly and then said, ¡°Don¡¯t you think we know already? Stop the pretence¡­ We can hurt you now! As far as you don¡¯t have the ring!¡± His eyes glinted coldly, seemingly long since prepared to go as far as eliminating the president general.


    ¡°The ring? Could it be the silver ring with initials carved on it they¡¯re talking about?¡± Diana thought to herself, ¡°was this ring so precious?¡±

 Sorry Ma’am

    Richarlison with his injured arm charged at peter at once.


    ¡°Stop!¡± Mark ordered! Diana was terror stricken with the events unfolding that she had started to shiver the more. Beside Mark, Richarlison leaped up andnded squarely before Peter when he heard themand Mark made.


    ¡°You¡¯re courting death to challenge the president general! Peter!¡± Sheer menace radiated off Richarlison as he halted in his attack.


    Peter eyed Richarlison with a frown. ¡°You might not necessarily be able to defeat me with your injured hand or even if we were to battle it out today.  Furthermore, i have about six of myckeys with me!¡±


    ¡°Hmpphh! We¡¯ll only know about that after giving it a try..¡± Richarlison snorted and dropped into a fighting stance right away.


    Peters eyes glinted with a murderous aura. Meanwhile, Mark¡¯s face was bright red and he shook with rage. No one in sterling city dares go against me but this seemingly mafia of the triads goes against me!


    Nheless, he was caught in a dilemma at the sight of the men behind him who all exuded murder. He came prepared, so it¡¯d really be tricky and messy if things were to a head.


    ¡°Fuck off!¡± With that said Richarlison made his first move and attacked peter. He punched his fist forward with a whizzing sound as it cut through the air. The speed was lightening fast and it¡¯s force was the maximum Richarlison could manage.


    After all, he knew beforehand that he can¡¯t show not even the slightest reservations when he dueled with peter.


    When Peter saw him attacking, a sneer showed on his face. He made no move to dodge the blow as he faced the man head-on.


    Bang!


    Richarlison¡¯s fist struck peters chest hard. The forceful recoil had the former stumbling back three steps, but thetter remained rooted to the spot without moving and without not even the slightest scratch on him.


    Richarlison¡¯s eyes paled, and he stared at Peter¡¯s eyes with trepidation in his eyes. His capabilities actually did grew again!


    Richarlison knew him from the military camp, Peter was his colleagues who got ousted from defying the military codes and conduct, been years since theyst met.


    ¡°Haha¡­ Richarlison, your punch was nothing more than a tickle! Don¡¯t stop! Go on and hit me!¡± Peter said, throwing his head back and spreading his hands wide and roaring withughter, not taking the other man seriously at all.


    Richarlison was a formidable figure and his duty is to protect president general with his life and also to protect Mark with every ounce in him. Thus, he charged again as he can¡¯t possibly withstand the challenge.


    He bellowed, but he snagged a wooden chair this time around.


    Smash!


    The chair came down on the man hard and instantly splintered into smithereens, yet he remained standing there without moving an inch.


    ¡°I have already mastered the art ofbat and the imprable skills, so you can¡¯t injure me, not like before! Now it¡¯s my turn!¡±


    No sooner had he finished speaking than he swung his leg out at Richarlison.


    Having no time to dodge, Richarlison was sent flying by that kick. He coughed up blood and copsed onto the ground, his face contorting from the excruciating pain.


    When Mark saw his condition, he frowned and almost lunged at Peter but Diana stopped him from doing so, ¡°Don¡¯t get yourself hurt! Someone whose duty is to protect you is on the floor, you can¡¯t be a match, besides he seemed to be exceedingly skilled!¡±


    She was worried that he can¡¯t be able to defeat Peter and may end up injured. She didn¡¯t knew why she felt worried but there she was, worried for Mark.


    She hastily tugged at Marks sleeve, feeling so apprehensive that she was drenched in cold sweets. Few minutes ago, Jake tried to rape her, she had learnt what why and what he did to her and even the connection he has with Mark.


    ¡°Beat the so called Mark to stupor!¡± Peter yelled and hisckeys excluding Stab charged forward at once with their machetes and battle axes, but before Mark could drop into a defensive fighting stance, Diana pushed him outside and stood before him raising her hand, the silver ring on her hand could reflect someone¡¯s countenance as it was very shiney and reflective.


    The men immediately halted at their steps at an instant!


    Before now, she immediately grabbed for the ne around her neck and opened the small tiny box attached to it and picked out a silver ring. She thought that should be the ring and of the course that¡¯s the ring that it¡¯s bearers could control andmand them, without them objecting.


    At that sight, everyone was bowled over. Even Peter couldn¡¯t help but take a closer look at Diana.


    s, he felt as though he was on the verge of a heart attack when he truly scrutinized thedy.


    He had obviously noticed the silver ring on Diana¡¯s finger as well as the K. O carved on it.


    The silver ring? The silver rin! Anyone who wears the silver ring is the overlord of the triad.


    He and his men, including Stab fell into a trance for a moment. In the next second Peter bellowed at hisckeys, ¡°Get the hell away, who asked you to attack?¡±


    After roaring at hisckeys, he hastily apologized, ¡°Sorry, Ma¡¯am¡± he said as he squatted, kneeling down.


    Never had him expected that Diana was now in possession of the silver ring.


    The next moment, the sound of machetes and daggers was heard crashing into the floor as theckey¡¯s withdrew.


    Diana was quite taken aback. Little did she expect the ring could make her this powerful. She was now very powerful, the overlord of the regiment.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    She stammered as she blurted out, ¡°what¡¯s happening?¡± She astutely surmised that Peter should definitely have a reason for the sudden change in attitude.


    No sooner had she finished blurting her questions out that the men dropped to their kneels before her with a thud!, On the heals of that, they all apologized simultaneously, ¡°Sorry, Overlord!¡±


    Diana was dibobted, was it really just because of the ring? Even as she Wondered if they had lost their mind.


    ¡°I, Peter your servant, the grandfather of the ck axe Confraternity are at your service my Lord!¡± Peter said.


    The few other men also greeted in unison and their greetings echoed.


    Diana nced at Mark who was as well kneeling down, ¡°Stand up¡­. Is it because of the ring?¡± She inquired as she dragged Mark up, she felt bad the way Mark knelt down.


    ¡°We¡¯re all your servants now as long as you wear the ring!¡± Mark exined, clearing Diana¡¯s confusion as he stood up!.


    Upon discovering the power she had gained, she immediately felt to try and at that moment ordered, ¡°Bring my kid¡¯s back to me!¡±

 The Ring Is Fake

    In a jiffy, two of theckey¡¯s exited the room and brought with them the three little rugrats unharmed.


    ¡°Mummy!!¡±, Jennifer was the one to quickly call out to her mum as she rushed forward through the men to hug her mom immediately they entered the room and she caught sight of her mum.


    Diana on the other hand rushed forward and also hugged her. It¡¯s been barely a day plus that Diana met her children but it felt like they have been away for decades that their reunion was so passionate. When Stoic and Legacy got closer Diana examined their faces and asked if they were hurt or were giving something to eat.


    ¡°No, mummy¡­. We didn¡¯t take any of their food!¡±, Stoic responded. So, practically he and his siblings had not had anything to eat for over a day now.


    ¡°My kids must be so hungry!¡± Diana gritted her teeth as to what Jake had made her children experience. With the ring in her possession, she could make Jake pay! She scoffed and foundfort on that.


    Stoic and Legacy had gotten all the information they needed all through the while they were kidnapped.. they could escape and meet their mum anytime even under the watchfulness of Jake¡¯s guards but they choose not to as they wanted to find out more about the connection between Hannah and Jake.


    ¡°Mummy! Jake continued insisting we called him father¡­. That he is our father!¡± Jennifer gisted with her tiny little voice.


    ¡°Come on, let go home¡­ talk about thatter and No, he is not your father! And can never be¡­¡± Diana responded immediately wit a frown. She can¡¯t let Jake take custody of her kids, he is a monster¡­ Just few minutes ago he tried to rape her!.


    ¡°But mom, the DNA paternity test proved it¡­. Does paternity results lie?¡± Jennifer as a girl was all emotional now, confused of who her father is.


    ¡°The results are faked! Sister don¡¯t worry!¡± Legacy reassured her sister as Diana kept mute. She felt the sharp gaze of Mark on her, ¡°Why is she denying Jake ess to his own children?¡± Mark frowned, that¡¯s pure wickedness! Remember, He had performed a paternity DNA test on the kids and when the doctor who did the test came to give him the results he didn¡¯t find Mark home, but found his wife¡­.. Hannah! Who subsequently altered the hitherto Positive result to negative.


    ¡°For how long can you deny the kids of their father?¡± Mark broke the silence of over a few moment now.


    ¡°Com¡¯ on let¡¯s go¡­..¡± With that said Diana, Mark and Richarlison left the building¡­.


    Peter who was still in the room, was deep in thoughts, he kept having the suspicion that the silver ring Diana was wearing was fake! But he couldn¡¯t quite pin point why¡­. He spent over a minute scrutinizing the silver ring on her finger but it didn¡¯t felt like the original!


    ¡°Boys! I think the ring is fake! We¡¯ve been duped¡­ Let¡¯s report back!¡± Peter said. Stab and the other men were dumbfounded, how couldn¡¯t they have figured it out? But it was best they obeyed hermand if peradventure the silver ring she wore was the original.


    Presently, on the Maybach Mercedes Benz Diana and her kids were on, Mark was at the drivers seat since Richarlison was injured.


    Halfway through the journey back to the military base, Richarlison broke the silence, ¡± Sir!¡± He called out to make to get his attention and of course he did!


    ¡°I have done deep research and found out Jake and Hannah dated! And rumors have it they have a daughter together¡­. Coincidental, she is your betrothed!¡±


    ¡°What proofs do you have?¡± Mark questioned not wanting to believe what Richarlison was insinuating.


    ¡°The three bloody civilians confessed! Before I had them sent out! And I think that girl from that day Diana was to be executed is Hannah¡¯s daughter¡­¡±


    Mark furrowed his brows and he forcefully hit the breaks!


    Screeching¡­..


    ¡°But why would she deny her?¡± So he was married to ady who probably, have a daughter for his long time step brother? Unbelievable!


    ¡°Stop saying rubbish!¡±, Mark said and started the engines again then a little boys voice rang through¡­.


    ¡°Yes, Daddy¡­. Richarlison is saying the truth!¡± Legacy was the one talking and he continued, ¡°All the while we were kidnapped, Jake kept on talking with someone who always gives out information about how far my mum was close to finding us and she is Hannah! I know her voice!¡± Legacy exined further.


    ¡°She needs to be studied! I think I overheard her also, telling your step brother over the phone that the president general has found his hideout, but I guess she was not quick enough! You came just right in time! Thank you!¡± Diana spoke, trying to muster all he gratitude and affection into that thest statement.


    Mark just nced at her¡­. There were so many somethings troubling his mind. His brother is back seeking revenge and the possible ¡°mole¡± is Hannah and now the silver ring Diana was wearing was fake! But where is the original? This troubled her more.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Diana was happy she has found her kids and also in a way was riveting back to the sudden realization of how powerful she has been for just wearing the silver ring! Hmpphh! There is no where left for Jake again as far as I have this ring with me¡­.. I¡¯ll make him pay for the all the deeds he has been doing¡­ But then again, was he really the father of her triplets? It can¡¯t be him¡­. She just wished she had her memories back.


    About five minutester, the maybach car came to stop slowingly, just in front of Diana¡¯s building. They had arrived at the military base. Diana and her kids alighted but Mark who ought to be taking Richarlison to the hospital ward for treatment also alighted and held Diana¡¯s arm, which made hergged behind. Her kids in front then stood waiting for their mummy to meet them up after having Whatever discussion she has with the president general.


    ¡°What?,¡± Diana asked brusquely as she felt the cold sensation of his hands drawing her back¡­..


    ¡°Where is the real silver ring?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean? What are you saying? Diana asked almost at the same time.


    ¡°The Ring on your finger is fake! Where is the real one?¡± Mark said aggressively this time around holding Diana¡¯s arm more tightly that it caused her pain. It was obvious he was angry already!


    ¡°I really don¡¯t know¡­.. let go off my arm¡­ Och!¡± Diana said and then screamed as the grasp on her arms caused her a more excruciating pain. Mark startled by her sudden scream, let her go, he didn¡¯t realize he was exerting much force on his grip, the scream was the jolt he needed.


    Diana brought her hands forward to look at the Silver Ring more closely¡­.


    ¡°It¡¯s really fake! Damnit!


    ¡°Find me the original before I return!¡± Mark said angrily and then went back into his car and drove Richarlison angrily liking a drunk driver to the hospital ward. He needs serious answers as well from Hannah!


    Diana stood there rooted to the spot as he began to calcte¡­.

 I’m Pregnant For You

    Meanwhile, Jake at his office had received the news about the fake ring!


    He kept on pacing back and forth¡­.. Hannah ruined all his whole n for years now for just not informing him early that the president general has found his hideout. But how did he easily tracked his hideout?


    ¡°Such dumb woman!¡± He said angrily as the phone he was holding scattered into pieces.


    And now that his brother knows about him now, he has to stick to n B!


    Just that moment he was lost in thought, the ringing sound the of his office cell phone brought him back, he went ahead to pick up the call with the intention of shouting at his secretary for disrupting his thoughts. Who else would call him with the office cell phone if not his Secretary?


    He picked it up but before he could say anything, the voice at the other end rang through, ¡°I¡¯m in a hot mess!¡± it was Hannah!¡­.. and not his secretary, he could easily tell whose voice was it.


    ¡°Dumb woman! Sort it out yourself!¡± He yelled and then ended the call smashing the office cell phone angrily on the floor. Just then he started to tickle his nose when his eyes caught the files on his office desk and it calmed him down ¡°Afterall he can still get his children the legal way!¡± He smiled derisively. The next court day would be in a month time.


    Presently at the president general ward¡­.


    Owens was sipping some coffee and sitting in the sitting room when he heard the loud sound of the door being burst open.


    Bam!  Mark kicked the door forcefully, causing the door to crash!


    He looked over and saw Mark working towards the stairs angrily, he seempletely outraged. It was unusual for him to disy such wantonly cruel act, he had learnt the Martial skill of controlling his anger  but here he was angry,pletely angry!


    ¡°Mark!¡± Owens called out. Before now he has been filled with immense joy as he received the best news he could ever ask for! Of course he was still feeling the immense joy.


    Mark halted by his footstep, still outraged, trying to calm down his nerves but it was not working out perfectly.


    He turned and headed directly to meet his grandfather who was calling him and once he got closer, he noticed something very rare and unusual. Owens was always wearing a serious face but now he was smiling and looked every excited¡­.. What was happening?


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± He asked curiously as he got closer¡­. his hitherto angry self somehow diminishing¡­ One of the best news he could ever receive or see was his grandpa smiling, and now he was smiling but what could make him to start smiling and looking happy like this?


    ¡°Thanks son.. I¡¯m finally going to be a great grand father!¡± Owen¡¯s said excitedly as he brought out an envelope and threw it at Mark. He was excited because, firstly, the few three months he has to live out his life had been extended drastically into a year and ¨C one young boy they said, produced a drug that could cure him.


    ¡°Open it¡± he said, his smile now getting sheepish.


    Mark, out of curiosity quickly opened it and brought out the medical report card inside the envelope. A pregnancy test report, it read¡­.. He quickly nced through with a palpitating heart¡­ ¡°May it not be what I¡¯m thinking!¡±


    ¡°Hannah was pregnant!¡± Mark stood rooted to the spot! ¡°This can¡¯t be real!¡± He heard himself murmur!


    Was she really pregnant? Oh God! That night¡­ But he didn¡¯t touch her, did he?


    He had woken up one night naked with Hannah naked as well on top on him¡­.. But not sure if they both did something all through the night. ¨C Remember Hannah spiked his drink ¨C


    Mark raised his face and suddenly broke out with cold sweats..


    ¡°Thanks son! Your wife is pregnant!¡± Owens said more excitedly and I will probably with full certainty live to see my great grand children.


    Mark just followed the flow and stammered out, ¡°Good news!¡± And then hug Owen¡¯s as a form of celebration, Before he left. Since it gives his grandfather so much joy, he has to keep it this way!


    Angrily, he entered his bedroom to find Hannah sleeping on the bed. Looks innocent, indeed!


    Just as Mark sat down on the couch beside the bed, Hannah started to wake up, it was all pretence from the start. She knows that Mark probably found out the truth about her and now she shifted her ns closer by faking she was pregnant. She felt faking it would get her closer to Mark and of course yes, it¡¯d since it gets Owen¡¯s happy.


    ¡°Honey ¡­.¡± She said as she blinked her eyes opened.


    ¡°You¡¯re back¡­.¡± She then hauled into a sitting position


    ¡°I feel exhausted¡­¡± She added and then yawned¡­ Meanwhile, Mark was staring at her coldly with anger radiating from his face and eyes. ¡°Thisdy! Is so deceptive!¡±


    Mark thew the envelope at her¡­. She just held it and smiled at Mark. ¡°Aren¡¯t you happy? You¡¯re finally going to be a real father! And not a father to children that are not yours -¡± she was obviously referring to the Triplets.


    ¡°We¡¯re going for a second test¡­. I know you¡¯re not pregnant and even if you¡¯re not for me because nothing happened that night between us!¡± Mark stated, he sounded serious and cold.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Hannah was now caught in a dilemma, did he really find out the informations about me?


    ¡°What¡¯s it ¡­ You sounded cold! You should really diminish how cold you sound towards me, I¡¯m your wife and the mother to your unborn baby! Such a rude jerk!¡± She said, and then mocked.


    Mark was infuriated but can¡¯t do anything drastic to her because it¡¯llpletely ruin his grandpa¡¯s happiness.


    ¡°You have a daughter for my step brother, Jake!¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re my betrothed¡­. I don¡¯t like coincidence like this!¡± Mark said and then sprang up from the couch feeling very pissed.


    ¡°Damn! He already found out Jake is his long lost step brother!¡± Hannah¡¯s s face flushed with fear that he already found out everything about her, but then she foundfort in the fact he doesn¡¯t know that she was not his betrothed¡­- merely fake ¨C


    ¡°I didn¡¯t have a daughter for him, but yes, I had a rtionship with him and I can¡¯t afford to tell -¡± she didn¡¯tplete her exnation before she shook with sudden fear when Mark yelled, ¡°You even knew he is my step brother!¡±


    ¡°You do?¡± Mark yelling intensified further.


    ¡°Damnit! If not for my grandfather!¡± Mark became restless with thought..


    ¡°Yy¡­ ye¡­. ye.. yes¡­ I knew!¡± Hannah confessed!


    Mark then darted out of the room immediately he heard her response. He could be a very terrible person when he is angry, thus to avoid getting Hannah injured he had to just leave her alone¡­.


    ¡°She even lies she doesn¡¯t have a daughter for him! I¡¯d confirm that!¡± Mark murmured as he left.


    ¡°Believe it or not, I¡¯m pregnant for you and you have to treat me right¡­. When you were riding me al through the night, you didn¡¯t know I¡¯d get pregnant!¡± Hannah wanted to chastise Mark, but he already left!


    Hannah exhaled deeply¡­.. Luck was on her side and yet again, she escapes his wrath, but for how long?

 Saw Her Naked

    mark had already walked out on the door and shutting it loud behind him. few metres away from the building he wanted to just get some fresh air and think outside the box to calm himself down, then he was interrupted by a strident buzzing noise. his phone was ringing.


    the phone stopped ringing, then started up again, loud and insistent. mark frowned- why is his mom disturbing him at this point in time he has lot of problem to solve? ever since she returned¡­ she must really be freaking out, ¡®may it not be she is calling as regards to her gesture that dad might still be alive¡¯ mark thought. after all richarlison had unveiled the truth to him. mark then half-turned away from the officers right in front of him and began digging in his pocket for his earpiece, by the time he unearthed the the earphone, his phone was on its third set of rings. after cing his ear piece on his ear he answered the call. ¡°mom?¡±


    ¡°oh, son. oh, thank god.¡± a sharp prickle of rm ran up mark¡¯s spine. his mother sounded panicked. ¡°listen to me-¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s all right, mom. i¡¯m fine¡­¡±


    ¡°listen to me!¡± terror scraped flora¡¯s voice raw. ¡°don¡¯te looking for-¡± a noise in the background interrupted her: the sound of something falling, shattering, something heavy striking the floor-


    ¡°mom!¡± mark shouted into the phone. ¡°mom, are you all right?¡±


    a loud buzzing noise came from the phone. mark¡¯s mother¡¯s voice cut through the static: ¡°just promise me you won¡¯t let revenge ovee you ¨C he¡¯s found me-¡± her words were drowned out by a heavy crash like splintering wood.


    ¡°who¡¯s found you? mom, did you call the police? did you-¡±


    his frantic question was cut off by a noise mark would never forget-a harsh, slithering noise, followed by a thump. mark heard her mother draw in a sharp breath before speaking, her voice eerily calm: ¡°i love you, mark.¡±


    the phone went dead.


    ¡°mom!¡± mark shrieked into the phone. ¡°mom, are you there?¡± call ended, the screen said. but why would his mother have hung up like that?


    ¡°what was she trying to tell me? who has found her? what does she mean when she said i shouldn¡¯t let revenge ovee me?¡± mark heard himself asking the questions in a confused state.


    feverishly he hit the button that dialed her home number. there was no answer except a double-tone busy signal.


    mark¡¯s hands had begun to shake uncontrobly. when he tried to redial, the phone slipped out of his shaking grasp and hit the pavement hard. he dropped to his knees to retrieve it, but it was dead, a long crack visible across the front. ¡°dammit!¡± almost in tears, he threw the phone down.


    ¡°i hope she is fine¡­.¡±


    rage flooded through mark, a hot tide through his veins. without even thinking about it, he stood up and started towards diana¡¯s mansion, he needed someone to talk to as everything about him keeps going out of ce. his step brother is back seeking for revenge. his wife is supposedly pregnant for him and he doesn¡¯t even like her a bit and besides diana wouldn¡¯t take it lightly. the triplets he thought were his are not even his. and now his mum seemed to be in a trouble? if richarlison were alright, he¡¯d send him over immediately to check if his mum was alright but richarlison was not.


    in a jiffy, he was before diana¡¯s abode. the house was very quiet with few officers guarding it¡¯s exit. as he got closer the officer saluted and let him in without much time to waste. but before that, he ordered one of the officers to go inform the national guards to go check up on the woman living in the address he gave them. no one knew the woman was his mother and he didn¡¯t n on letting anyone know.


    once he was inside the house, he couldn¡¯t find anybody. obviously the kids were already in their room sleeping. he then decided to go upstair and meet diana one on one, he needed someone tofort him and right now only diana could.


    he didn¡¯t knock on the door before he let himself into diana¡¯s bedroom only to find diana naked ¨C applying cream on her thighs , she had obviously just got out from the bedroom! ¨C


    ¡°oh shit!¡± diana immediately grabbed for the towel and covered herself, feelingpletely embarrassed, she didn¡¯t expect mark to show up extemporaneously, but there he was¡­. mark looked away without a shred of embarrassment.


    ¡°what are you doing here by this time? it¡¯ste? and why didn¡¯t you knock?¡± diana inquired, sounding much arrogant with an embarrassed smile. she was pissed the president general didn¡¯t knock and had just seen herpletely naked!


    ¡°sorry!¡± mark said apologetically as he fixed his gaze on her once again, she was looking seductive and beautiful. her chest half exposed with the towel wrapped around her covering her thighs halfway. mark seemed to searching for something he had seen earlier on her thighs, something like a mark of an ovepping circle but the towel now obstructed his view.


    diana feeling angry as to the marks behavior and gaze said warmly, ¡°turn back so i can get my clothes on!¡±


    mark did as she said and turned to back her.


    back at the president general abode,  hannah was so happy!. she was the one who sent those bloody civilians and she framed diana for it. she changed diana¡¯s first aid box and framed diana for almost getting the president general poisoned but she is however uncaught. richarlison didn¡¯t tell mark this¡¯ yet, but he had already discovered the truth.


    diana wore her clothes with a troubling heart. why was the president general looking at her that way? was it not improper for a married man toe visiting a singledy ¨C a single mother for that matter ¨C in her bedroom? what would people call her? a husband snatcher? afterall his wife was pregnant for him already. the news is all over the ce. diana was trying hard to suppress the rtionship and attraction that subsist between her and mark.


    ¡°done!¡±, she said and then mark turned to face her. he was astonished as to how beautiful she looked in her sleeping gown. she still looked elegantly seductive enough to stir up a man¡¯s desire. her nipples projected, her aesthetics; absolutely amazing.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    ¡°why are you here?¡± diana asked, breaking the deafening silence. mark obviously ogling over her body. her face flushed with an acute half- embarrassment, her cheeks burning.


    for a moment he didn¡¯t answer, and she twisted to look at him, pulling the bedclothes up around her. she felt herself flush, acutely conscious of the fact that she was wearing only pajama bottoms and a flimsy camisole-and then she saw his expression, and her embarrassment faded.


    ¡°what is it?¡±, she looked worried now.


    mark was still absent minded. still wondering if his eyes were not merely not deceiving him. he had seen the mark of an ovepping circles with a cross between, exactly the same mark, hannah, his betrothed has. he appeared to be looking down at her. he was very pale, and his eyes looked haunted and nearly ck with strain. ¡°are you all right?¡±


    ¡°i don¡¯t know,¡± he said in the dazed manner of someone just waking up from a dream ornd of thoughts. ¡°i wasn¡¯t going toe here. i¡¯ve been wandering around all night -i couldn¡¯t sleep-and i found myself walking here. to you¡±.


    she sat up straighter, letting the bedclothes fall down around her hips. ¡°why can¡¯t you sleep? did something happen?¡± she asked.


    mark, however, barely seemed to hear the question. ¡°i had to see you,¡± he said, mostly to himself. ¡°i know i shouldn¡¯t. but i had to.¡±


    ¡°well, sit down, then,¡± she said, pulling her legs back to make a space for him to sit at the edge of the bed. ¡°because you¡¯re freaking me out. are you sure nothing¡¯s happened?¡±


    ¡°i am feeling so dispirited¡­¡± he sat down on the bed, facing her. he was close enough that she could have just leaned forward and kissed him-


    her chest tightened. ¡°is there bad news? is everything-is everyone-


    ¡°my mum seem to be in a trouble and my wife is pregnant but definitely not for me!.¡± his eyes searched her face, slowly, as if he meant to memorize it. ¡°where is the real silver ring?,¡± he asked, and hesitated, ¡± i have realized something.¡±


    ¡°mark?,¡± she whispered suddenly, and for no reason she could identify, she was frightened of what he was about to say. ¡°mark, you don¡¯t have to- your mum is safe and i can¡¯tment on your marriage -( her wife framed me for over two crimes i didn¡¯tmit now and she is up to no good i have got my eyes on her )- ¡± she said trying tofort mark. ¡°what is that you realized? and the ring? i think i know who might have taken it and cloned it and left the fake one¡±¡­


    mark got rmed, ¡°who?¡±


    ¡°not sure¡­.. but ¨C don¡¯t worry i¡¯ll find it before noon tomorrow!¡± diana responded. was it really nurse felicity? the nurse who had helped her during her recuperation after her ident?


    ¡°oh alright¡­ i¡¯ll take your words, and also i couldn¡¯t stop walking, couldn¡¯t stop thinking. about the first time i ever saw you, and how after that i couldn¡¯t forget you. i wanted to, but i couldn¡¯t stop myself..¡±

 Is It A Birthmark?

    And then to find out that the reason I felt like that-like you were some part of me I¡¯d lost and never even knew I was missing until I saw you -that the reason was that I thought that you were thedy from that night, six years ago. it felt like some sort of cosmic joke realizing you¡¯re not, well maybe you¡¯re¡­.. but you don¡¯t remember because you lost your memories_,,


    He stood up then, with a sort of violent suddenness, and crossed the room to the window. He looked lost, as lost as he had been standing over Jocelyn, the family¡¯s maid corpse, many years ago. Now, he was lost in thought, the mark on her thighs? Only his betrothed was supposed to have that mark of an ovepping circle¡­Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Sir?¡± Diana said, rmed, and when he didn¡¯t answer, she scrambled to her feet and went to him,ying her hand on his arm. He continued staring out the window; their reflections in the ss were nearly transparent-ghostly outlines of a tall boy and a smaller girl, her hand mped anxiously on his sleeve. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have told you like that,¡± he said, not looking at her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. That was probably a lot to take in. You looked so ¡­ shocked.¡± The tension underlying his voice was a live wire.


    ¡°I was,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ve spent the past few days wondering if you hated me. And then I saw you tonight and I was pretty sure you did, thanks for all that you have done for me!.¡±


    ¡°Hated you?¡± he echoed, looking bewildered. He reached out then and touched her face, lightly, just the tips of his fingers against her skin. ¡°I told you I couldn¡¯t sleep. I feel so restless these days¡­.¡±


    Her heart skipped a beat. ¡°Mark-¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t mean it like that,¡± he said. ¡°I won¡¯t touch you, not if you don¡¯t want me to. I know it¡¯s wrong-God, it¡¯s all kinds of wrong-but I just want to lie down with you and wake up with you, just once, just once ever in my life.¡± There was desperation in his voice. ¡°It¡¯s just this one night. In the grand scheme of things, how much can one night matter?¡±


    Because think how we¡¯ll feel in the morning. Think how much worse it will be pretending that we don¡¯t mean anything to each other in front of everyone else after we¡¯ve spent the night together, even if all we do is sleep. It¡¯s like having just a little bit of a drug-it only makes you want more.


    But that was why he had told her what he had, she realized. Because it wasn¡¯t true, not for him; there was nothing that could make it worse, just as there was nothing that could make it better. What he felt was as final as a life sentence, and could she really say it was so different for her? And even if she hoped it might be, even if she hoped she might someday be persuaded by time or reason or gradual attrition not to feel this way anymore, it didn¡¯t matter. There was nothing she had ever wanted in her life more than she wanted this night with Mark.


    ¡°Close the curtains, then, before youe to bed,¡± she said. ¡°I can¡¯t sleep with this much light in the room and also don¡¯t worry much, your mum is safe¡­¡± Diana tried to assure Mark as she felt he might be worried Low key for him. But who would thought was still alive? ¡®Guess, I don¡¯t really know him that welll¡­¡¯ Diana thought.


    The look that washed over his face was pure incredulity. He really hadn¡¯t expected her to say yes, Diana realized in surprise, and a momentter he had caught her and hugged her to him, his face buried in her still-messy-from-sleep hair. ¡°Diana ¡­¡±


    ¡± You can join me¡­. Come to bed,¡± she said softly. ¡°It¡¯ste.¡± She drew away from him and returned to the bed, crawling up onto it and drawing the covers up to her waist. Somehow, looking at him like this, she could almost imagine that things were different, that it was many years from now and they¡¯d been together so long that they¡¯d done this a hundred times, that every night belonged to them, and not just this one.


    She propped her chin on her hands and watched him as he reached to jerk the curtains shut and then unzipped his white jacket and hung it over the back of a chair. He was wearing a pale gray T-shirt underneath. He uced his boots and stepped out of them as he came toward the bed, and he stretched out very carefully beside Diana. Lying on his back, he turned his head to look at her. A very little light filtered into the room past the edge of the curtains, just enough for her to see the outline of his face and the bright gleam of his eyes.


    ¡°The mark on your thigh?,¡± he said. ¡°Is it a birthmark?¡± He then asked.


    ¡°Yes! Why?¡± He had obviously seen the Mark.


    ¡®Nothing! Goodnight!¡¯ Mark responded.


    His handsy t on either side of him, his arms at his sides. He seemed barely to be breathing; she wasn¡¯t sure she was breathing herself. She slid her own hand across the bedsheet, just far enough that their fingers touched-so lightly that she would probably hardly have been aware of it had she been touching anyone but Mark; as it was, the nerve endings in her fingertips prickled softly, as if she were holding them over a low me. She felt him tense beside her and then rx. He had shut his eyes, and hisshes cast fine shadows against the curve of his cheekbones. His mouth curled into a smile as if he sensed her watching him, and she wondered how he would look in the morning, with his hair messed and sleep circles under his eyes. Despite everything, the thought gave her a jolt of happiness.


    Sheced her fingers through his. ¡°Good night,¡± she whispered, and her hand sped in Mark¡¯s as if they were children in a fairy tale, she fell asleep beside him in the dark.

 Something About Hannah

    The next morning, the sun peeked over the crumbling wharves of Sterling City, lighting the world with devastating rity. Diana woke up to find Mark already gone. As she struggled out of bed, the fading scent of Mark on her told a different story. She then caught sight of a paper on her desk. Just as a person would walk when he or she wakes up from sleep in the early morning was how she walked up to the desk and picked up the paper, ¡°Find the original silver ring before noon!¡± The paper read, obviously Mark was the one who dropped it.


    The light streaming into the room through the windows had strengthened from watery dawn light to the pale illumination of early morning, but Diana barely noticed. She was busy wondering who must have taken the silver ring and left her with a fake one? Only Felicity has had more ess to the silver ring¡­ Could she be the one responsible? ¨C Nurse Felicity from chapter 2¨C4 ¨C


    After a moment, Diana then started to her children¡¯s bedroom, to wake them up¡­ and get them ready for the day. They were on holidays.


    As Mark exited the building, Richarlison was already waiting for him. He had gone to his ce but was told that he didn¡¯t sleep there for the night. Richarlison was quick to figure out that if he is not in his ce, he should be in Diana¡¯s ce. Afterall, he somehow have managed to figure out the rtionship that subsist between Mark and Diana.


    ¡°Good morning sir!¡± He greeted, ¡°How is she? Diana?¡± He inquired, his hand was wrapped in gauze. He had started to heal from the injury Jake inflicted on him.


    ¡°She¡¯s fine.¡± The mention of Diana seemed to make Mark tense all over, which in turn sparked Richarlison¡¯s nerves-but Mark would never say Diana was all right if she weren¡¯t. He was looking tousled and half-awake, with early morning hair and sleepy eyes, ¡°What is it? Why are you looking for me early this early morning?¡±


    ¡°I discovered some truths about Hannah few days back¡­ And it¡¯s a must I let you know¡­¡± Richarlison started, his voice crispy.


    ¡°Okay, Go on¡­¡±


    ¡°Hannah was the one who sent those bloody civilians.. all in the bid to frame Diana for it and probably get her expelled or executed¡­.¡±, Richarlison heaved a sigh and continued, ¡°She was also responsible for recing Diana¡¯s first aid box with a new one that contained the poisoned in the glucose injection¡­¡±


    Mark¡¯s face temporarily furrowed in thought, then smoothed out as if he had forgotten what Richarlison  had just said as quickly as he¡¯d said it. He can¡¯t hurt Hannah or punish her now that she is supposedly pregnant with his child. Owen¡¯s would kill him if he dares hurt her.


    ¡°What¡¯s it?¡±.. Richarlison inquired, staring at Mark with a concerned expression.


    ¡°I¡¯ll ask her and see if she denies¡­.. s, I¡¯ll have to wait till she gives birth before executing her¡­¡±, Mark responded and continued with his steps. His face contorting to anger, ¡°Such a wickeddy¡­!¡±


    ¡°But, why would she want to get her framed and expelled or executed?¡± Richarlison pointed out sourly..


    ¡°We¡¯ll find out soon!¡± Mark responded with a smirk..Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    (I just wish Diana has her memories¡­.)


    ******


    Sterling City Military Base In the early morning was mostly filled with working out officers. The air was crisp and morning-clean, the leaves already thickly covering the pavement in sheets of red, gold, and dark green. The military officers doing their early morning routine jogging round the field.


    Hannah had just woken up when she heard a knock on the door, ¡°Come in..¡± she said in her half slumber state. Officer Juliet then twisted the door knob and let herself into the room, carrying a cup of hot tea on a t te, ¡°Good morning ma¡±am, Exmunicando assigned me as your personal servant henceforth¡­¡± Juliet quickly exined herself. ¡°Here¡­. Have it, the doctor rmended you take tea first thing early in the morning! And I have prepared it from the depths of my heart!¡±


    Hannah realizing she is already being given a special treatment got rid of the slumbering left within her and took the tea and sipped it, it wasforting indeed.


    The next second Mark barged into the bedroom without knocking and it startled Juliet and even Hannah herself. Juliet immediately saluted the president general ordingly and quickly excused herself and left to give the couple their privacy.


    ¡°You thought I¡¯d not find out, huh?¡±


    ¡°Find out what? I don¡¯t get you¡­ You left yesterday midnight only toe back home this morning this angry and asking me annoying questions..¡± Hannah said in-between a crying voice all in the bid to stall the conversation. She instinctively knew Mark must have found out.


    ¡°Why did you wanted to frame Diana and get her executed or if Lucky expelled?¡± Mark asked, feeling so irritated by Hannah¡¯s erupting sobs.


    ¡°I had to do it to get rid of her¡­ I have loved you right from the start and I was afraid she was going to take you away from me and besides, where did you spend the night,st night?¡± Hannah knew for herself Mark wouldn¡¯t hurt her as she was pregnant ¨C though, not really pregnant ¨C and as such it¡¯d be easy to pull this off.


    ¡°You loved me and you ¡ª-¡±


    ¡°You still have the guts to ask me stupid questions, damn it! You¡¯re despicable and evil! Trust me when you give birth to that thing I¡¯ll get you ¨C ¡± Mark didn¡¯tplete his sentence, he then clenched his fist tightly and used his fury on the desk beside him, which crashed into halves. If he says he would get her executed after she gives birth, she might do something way dangerous that would harm the unborn baby before she is put into execution. Then again, what if she is not pregnant? Hannah was not even scared of how angry he was, she now has an upper hand.


    ¡°Get ready¡­ We¡¯re going to the hospital to get another pregnancy test done and if possible get a paternity test done on the unborn baby, Because I¡¯m definitely not the father of that thing you are carrying¡­¡± With that said, Mark left the room. Leaving her alone, in a drop dead silence, anyways whichever hospital in sterling city they go, she has a n to ensure her n doesn¡¯t fail. She just wanted to get rid of Diana for good and also needs to get the silver ring and give it to Jake Despite their current misunderstanding because that was the only way she can have custody of ra, her daughter. She is been in this game cause of her daughter and to ensure Diana continues to suffer. Wickedness flows in her DNA .


    As Mark walked out, Richarlison walked up to him giving him a paper to sign, ¡°What¡¯s it?¡± Mark asked Richarlison.


    ¡°Diana is requesting for a week off to go to Delta city and also a battalion of soldiers to apany her and your permission is needed, it¡¯ll be in effect once you sign these papers..¡± Richarlison exined.


    ¡°She is going to Delta City for a week? Why?¡± He thought before he asked , ¡°Did she tell you why?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­. She said an old friend of her should have an exnation as to what happened to the original Silver Ring¡­.¡± Richarlison exined further.


    Mark then collected the papers and signed them, but with some reservations because he didn¡¯t like the idea of Diana being away for a week. He felt scared because she would be away, even temporarily.


    ¡°Do we have an order to go after Jake? Sir?¡±, Richarlison asked. He thought Mark would ask his boys to go get Jake for the crime he hasmitted but, ¡°No¡±, Mark responded and dismissed him. ¡°It¡¯s a family issue and I¡¯ll get it solved. Thanks for you concern!¡± He added.


    Just as he was about leaving, an officer approached Mark and saluted.


    ¡°Sir, thedy who lives at the address you gave us is reportedly missing¡­.¡±

 Who Would Have His Mother Kidnapped?

    (Who would have his mother kidnapped? Well, yeah, he has an enemy now. Who else if not Jake?


    Normally, Mark had sense that something was wrong and now it increased when he reached the apartment door. It was unlocked, hanging slightly open, spilling a wedge-shaped shaft of light onto thending. With a feeling of increasing panic he pushed the door open. Behind him was Richarlison.


    Inside the apartment the lights were on, all themps, everything turned up to full brightness. And immediately Richarlison dropped into his survival instincts.


    Mark¡¯s mother¡¯s keys and pink handbag were on the small wrought-iron shelf by the door, where she always left them. ¡°Mom?¡± Mark called out. ¡°Mom, your son is home.¡±


    Oftentimes, since Flora returned, Mark had found himself there a number of times.


    ¡®So, his father¡¯s wife is still alive?¡¯ Richarlison realized.


    There was no reply to Mark¡¯s calling. He went into the living room. Both windows were open, yards of gauzy white curtains blowing in the breeze like restless ghosts. Only when the wind dropped and the curtains settled did Mark see that the cushions had been ripped from the sofa and scattered around the room. Some were torn lengthwise, cotton innards spilling onto the floor. The bookshelves had been tipped over, their contents scattered.


    Most terrifying were the paintings. Every single one had been cut from its frame and ripped into strips, which were scattered across the floor. It must have been done with a knife-canvas was almost impossible to tear with your bare hands. The empty frames looked like bones picked clean. Mark felt something rising up in his chest. ¡°Mom!¡± he shrieked. ¡°Where are you? Mom?


    Richarlison on the other hand was busy checking the gardens and also calling out Flora¡¯s name to see if she responds. Although, they have been reported to that Flora is missing, Mark still instructed theye to confirm for themselves.


    Heart pumping, Mark raced into the kitchen. It was empty, the cab doors open, a smashed bottle of Tabasco sauce spilling peppery red liquid onto the linoleum.  What if robbers hade, what if his mother had put up a fight-?


    What kind of robbers didn¡¯t take a wallet with them, or the TV, the DVD yer, or the expensiveptops?


    He then went to her mother¡¯s bedroom, but didn¡¯t find any living soul. Obvious, she is really missing¡­. Jake has touched the lion¡¯s tail!


    ¡°Sir!!!!!¡± Richarlison rushed into the bedroom Mark was panting, ¡°The ck axe mafias¡¯are on their way here¡­.  They¡¯d kill you on sight! Your only immunity against them is the silver ring or you at the military base!¡±


    ¡°I know!¡±  Mark responded¡­


    ¡°We have to go¡­¡± With that said, they left hurriedly and when the ck axe mafia arrived, they found nobody but their Intel told them they were going to be here, except there is a mole amidst them who would have informed him we wereing¡­


    ********


    Just as Mark reached the military base his phone chirped with a message. A video specifically ¨C sent to him by Stoic@gmail.. He picked up his phone and yed the video and he remembered it was the video the bloody civilians brought as evidence to buttress their im that Diana was the one who sent them. Watching the video now, Mark could deduce the editing in it and clearly he could tell thedy on the video was not Diana. Stoic did a wonderful job by analysing it. ¡°Smart of him!¡±, Mark thought.


    Stoic was finally able to break the programming done by Felix, the IT guy of the G-5, Jake¡¯s private military guard. He had reprogrammed Stoic¡¯sptop in such a way that each time Stoic¡¯s tries to ess the file , his system gets automatically turned off.


    ¡°So, it¡¯s been really Hannah all this while¡­.?¡± It was hard to believe¡­ But now he can¡¯t even punish Hannah because she is pregnant. -Fake pregnancy-


    ¡®I need to go meet her so we can head to the hospital!¡± Mark murmured thoughtfully. ¡°I can¡¯t believe she is really carrying my child¡±


    Just then Richarlison interrupted, ¡°I think I know who might have taken your mum away-¡±


    ¡°Jake ¡ª¡± the both of them said in unison.


    ¡°Right then¡­ check the ces Hannah have been totely using the tracker inserted in her, she probably must have sneaked out to meet with Jake, if she is indeed working with him and somehow someway we could have a lead in finding Jake¡¯s whereabouts-¡± Mark opined, Richarlison didn¡¯t objected, he just picked up hisptop and began to navigate it.


    ¡°High chances that little girl, ra is Hannah¡¯s daughter for Jake¡­ But Hannah had continually denied it!. But why in god¡¯s name is Hannah his betrothed? Is it just a coincidence or a well strategic n? Ok, if she is my betrothed and has the Mark of the ovepping circle¡­ Why does Diana have same Mark on her thighs also?¡±, Thought continually kept flooding Mark. Yet, to discern what was happening¡­.


    Meanwhile, Jake and his crew the G-5 had relocated to their deepest hideout. A small ind in the middle of a vast body of water. Jake had it reconstructed to be inhabitable, secretly and no one didn¡¯t even know the ind still existed. In the house built on it, at the visitors apartment, Jake his G-5, the god of War of Mega Ind ¨C Sterling City Sworn Enemy ¨C and the triad imperials of Delta city were seated having a discussion.


    Jake¡¯s n was to overthrow Mark and be the new president general but he can¡¯t without the silver ring! And now he already has the support of literally everyone. Mark¡¯s mum, Flora is held captive and could be a possible resource to be used to exchange for the silver ring, if Hannah fails to bring it.


    Diana on the other hand upon knowing her request has been granted had started to get her luggages ready. She would be out for a week. She texted Nurse Felicity she would be paying her a visit, but didn¡¯t get a response back from her like usual and that was weird.


    ¡°Could she be the one ? No, No, No I refuse to believe it. She can¡¯t have done it, she is the nicest person I have known¡­ If not for her ¨C I¡¯d not have been here! But why do my instincts keeps on telling she is the one?¡± Diana thought as she packed her luggages. She has a full battalion under her control now, peradventure Felicity is the one, she won¡¯t want to release it and with the strength of the battalion she will take back the silver ring!Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    All the while, Her Three Little Miracles had feed her with all the informations they had gathered.


    ¡°One, Jake is not their father! The DNA paternity test he has is legit but he didn¡¯t use our strands of hair. He used ra¡¯s hair. Her hair was taken too that day too and she is his daughter!¡± The kids exined. Diana found it quite doubtful as Mark had told her he secretly carried out a DNA paternity test on the kids and they¡¯re not his¡­..-


    ¡°Two, the next court day is about two weeks from now ¡­¡±


    Diana in turn downloaded and transferred the informations she had gathered to ncy, herwyer ¨C Mark¡¯s ex finance/ thedy he left at the alter ¨C


    But now, ncy had been approached by Jake Bernard already¡­.

 Leaving Her Kids Behind

    Danny on the other hand was still not yet found¡­.. Officially has been pronounced missing. Richarlison although told Mark he doubts he is actually missing and would find out the truth!


    Mark can¡¯t leave the military base except he is risking his life and as such can¡¯t leave for the hospital with Hannah so he invited a medical doctor over toe and check if indeed she was pregnant. It was doctor James he called. The doctor he had had to carry out the DNA paternity test on the kids of which, Hannah altered subsequently.


    Hannah was not scared, she had a n wellid out. After all if this her ns fails, she will be fixed for execution. The only thing keeping her alive was the fact she lied she was pregnant with Mark¡¯s child.


    Mark was sitting in the sitting room restless. Richarlison standing behind him and Owen¡¯s sitting opposite him when the doctor arrived with his medical kits.


    While Mark was seated, he sent a message to Diana, requesting she meets him before her departure. .


    ¡°Good afternoon..¡± the doctor greeted and extended his hands forward for a handshake. Owen¡¯s stood up and greeted as well, but cheerfully. He was told Dr James woulde and do a check up on Hannah and her baby to see if they¡¯re in a perfect state. Anyways, that was a lie Mark told him. Dr James was called over to carry out a standard pregnancy test and to even the score prove Hannah was not pregnant but merely faking a pregnancy.


    ¡°Good afternoon doctor, you¡¯re wee¡­¡±  Mark as well weed him. ¡°Shall we?¡± He inquired.


    ¡°Of course yea!¡±


    Then Mark led the way, leading the doctor upstair to his ¨C her ¨C bedroom.


    The bedroom was big sufficiently, Hannah was standing right in front of a floor-length mirror by the window side when a knock came in, ¡°Come in!¡± She permitted and Mark and Doctor James entered the bedroom. Hannah still staring moodily at her own reflection.


    Hannah didn¡¯t look bothered or scared that her secrets will get exposed. She was still standing confidently knowing fully well what¡¯s about to happen.


    ¡°Sir¡­ please give us some space!¡± The Dr requested. Hannah had contacted him and now he was at her mercy and would do anything she ask of him. Hannah managed to dig up some of his deeds that could he his medical license taken away from him, so she was using that to influence him and ckmail him.


    Mark furrowed his brows¡­. ¡°Space? Why? No.. I¡¯m watching you do the test!¡± Mark asserted vehemently.


    ¡°Okay then, let¡¯s proceed¡­.¡± The doctor agreed without haste and soon the procedure started.


    s, the doctor did some professional forgery and announced she was pregnant! Mark who was quite ignorant medically didn¡¯t and can¡¯t have possibly detected the forgery the doctor did. Surprised, dumbfounded, and shocked Mark realized maybe he actually did had sex with her that night afterall. And now, she was pregnant with his child¡­.. This is so unbelievable! This evildy bes the mother of my unborn baby! How reckless of me.


    ¡°There you have it¡­.. ¡± Hannah said with a smirk. ¡°I¡¯m pregnant!¡± She added, sounding like a winner announcing her Victory.


    Knowing what¡¯s about to happen¡­ The doctor excused himself and then left after one sided handshake with the president general.


    Immediately he left, Mark left as well¡­. Finding the fact she was his unborn childs motherpletely unsettling..


    Once he got downstairs, the doctor already left .. Owens smiling where he is.


    ¡°Seem the doctor told him the baby and mother are fine!¡± Mark discerne


    Diana then came over to the president general vi, all set on her uniform and was ready to leave. Beside her was her triplets all set as well.


    Mark walked over to her and stood before her. There was a different level of unsettlement feeling now. ¡°She was actually leaving?¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Good morning! Sir!¡± Diana greeted and saluted with a smile and as a professional army medical.


    ¡°Good morning Daddy!¡± Jennifer greeted.


    Stoic and Legacy didn¡¯t say anything¡­. They kept mute-


    Mark looked at Jennifer¡¯s eyes steadily. He could see the resemnce but still, he was not their father and the DNA paternity test confirmed it. To avoid another drama, he ignored her greetings. Jennifer did felt bad, her face wearing a bad feeling. Mark then turned to look at Diana who was standing right before him, her eyes were void of some underlying emotions.. ¡°maybe, she is hesitant to leave..!¡±


    ¡°You really have to leave and retrieve the silver ring!¡± Mark said staring at her eyes.


    ¡°Ye!¡±, Diana smiled, replying¡­..


    ¡°Why not leave your kids behind? I¡¯d take care of them¡­. ¡°, Mark requested¡­..


    She narrowed her eyes at him. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    He leaned close. She could feel his lips against her ear.  it was really cool.. he then whispered, ¡°it¡¯s hard letting you go, I wish I coulde with you and since I can¡¯t .. I¡¯d like to have a piece of you with me to make youe back as soon as possible¡­¡±


    ¡°Sorry marshall, I don¡¯t ¨C¡± Diana wanted to say something but she was disrupted by Jennifer tapping her hands, ¡°, what?¡± She demanded why she was tapping her..


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry¡­ Daddy can take care of us!¡± She said, smiling¡­ ¡°I¡¯d miss you but please don¡¯t stay too long mummy!¡± She added.


    She turned to look at her, beside her Stoic and Legacy were anticipating just same answer Jennifer was anticipating¡­. Diana could feel it.


    Considering the attack she had received, and attack on her children, she felt hesitant and reluctant to leave alone. Especially when Hannah is going to be in this house with them. In some part of Diana¡¯s brain, a tiny voice was screaming about what a bad idea this was. But still, she didn¡¯t felt like refuting¡­ She was convinced Mark would totally take care and protect her kids.


    ¡°Yes! Okay!¡±, She said. Agreeing¡­.


    Mark smiled happily¡­.. it just some how appeared in his face.


    After she gave her kids some orientation, she left with a troubled heart¡­. To Delta city, to confront Felicity..

 She Fell Off The Stairs

    Today was Owen¡¯s Birthday and colourful lights were decorated around the house, giving a touch of warmth to cold atmosphere of the president generals vi.


    The military had done their own part of the deal and as expected, they hosted Owen¡¯s a grand birthday celebration and now he had retired back to the president generals vi after the birthday celebration were many notable figures came and wished him wishes and also gave him gifts. After all, who would not want to curry his favour?


    Owen¡¯s and Mark were talking in the sitting room when suddenly a scream echoed across the mansion.


    ¡°Ahhhhhhh!¡± Apanied by a heavy thud. Someone had just fell down from the stairs!¡±


    Everyone around was energized with sudden emergency hormone that they rushed to the scene. Mark and Owen¡¯s inclusive.


    ¡°What happened? Are you okay?¡±, Mark quickly inquired, his voice was husky as he asked.


    The woman¡¯s face turned pale, as the excruciating pain from the fall still resounded through her. She had not expected the fall to be this painful. She got horrified when she saw the fresh blood trickling down her legs. She replied, ¡°Mark, it hurts¡­. Our baby, I think ¡­. is hurt! Quick, save our baby!¡± she sounded very horror-stricken, but just average like she was acting.


    With panic written all over Owen¡¯s when he realized his great grand child could be affected by this woman falling, he inquired, ¡°What happened?!¡±


    ¡°Those evil children of Dia-! Shit! It hurts!¡± Hannah said between cry and groaning in pain, as actually the fall really resulted in a very excruciating pain down her spines. Immediately the pain she felt disrupted what she was about saying that happened, she then looked towards the top of the stairs as Mark squatted to help her sit, ¡°Diana¡¯s children? Evil?¡± He discerned.


    Everyone looked up as well, following Hannah¡¯s gaze, Mark inclusive and they saw the three little Rugrats standing at the top of the stair, Jennifer was holding the handrail very tightly with her right hand and a teddy bear with her left hand, and Legacy covered his mouth in exmation, and reeling from the sudden shock of seeing Hannah fall. Stoic on the other hand stood with a nk expression as he saw everyone¡¯s gaze.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    It has been sessfully three day since their mum, Diana travelled and although they have been receiving fair treatment from everyone and Mark especially, Hannah had been struggling to ensure they get into her, she didn¡¯t like them from start and when she learnt the kids had started to investigate her, she elerated her ns.


    Owen¡¯s face shed bright red inplete anger, ¡®evil indeed!¡± ¡°Which of you pushed her?¡± He roared angrily.


    Startled by his response, none of the kids responded and this in turn only infuriated Owen¡¯s the more and he was something very terrible when angry. One thing he hated the most was being replied ¡°no response..¡±..


    While Hannah was shedding tears from the pain she was feeling, she wore a disdainful grimace and begged, ¡°Ooouch, take me to the hospit¡­. they are young but evil, they don¡¯t want to see me give birth. Ahhh!¡± The pain intensified as she cried out.


    Her words directly affirmed that the kids were responsible for her fall, but in fact were not ¨C


    Owen¡¯s eye darkened like he was possessed with the demons he gets possessed with when at the war front, ¡°Guards!!!!¡± He roared angrily, none of the guards, not even Mark had seen Owen¡¯s this way; stormed withplete anger.


    ¡°Ye.. Yes sir! The guards responded.


    ¡°Lock them up! I¡¯ll deal with them once I¡¯m sure the unborn child is safe!¡± He added, ordering. He is always decisive and irrational in doing so. Being an exmunicando buttressed it. In the war front, he doesn¡¯t have all the time to think decisions through.


    Mark didn¡¯t think much of what Hannah said, she had said, lied and did way more worst things and ¡°stuff¡± and he can¡¯t possibly believe what she was saying, that one or the kids pushed her down the stairs, but now is not the time to defend the kids but to get Hannah and their baby to safety, especially now that Owens is burning with anger.


    ¡°She is evil indeed! Afterall she did to their mum, she still wants to do the same to this innocent kids! I pray I get through to Owens and make him understand this kids are innocent!¡±


    Mark with the assistant of Richarlison that just arrived upon hearing themotion sent Hannah to the hospital ward of the Military base immediately. Meanwhile, the guards were wanting to drag the kids and lock them up, probably at the attic or dungeon. But the kids were stubborn as they shouted, ¡°Leave us alone¡­. We didn¡¯t push her! She is lying!¡± But their shout fell into deaf ears and, of course they were no match for the guards. They were still small and young. ¡°If only their mum was around, she would defend them¡­. But she was out, somewhere in Delta city right now and even Mark that promised her he would ensure we don¡¯t get into trouble is doing nothing to defend us!¡±


    The kids were forcefully dragged into a dungeon, specifically for junior officers. The kids were barely six years old but yet, they put them there. It was so dark in the cell that they squatted side to side in the cold smelling floor.


    In truth, they didn¡¯t push her¡­ None of them did. She fell off on her own will! But no one would hear their own part of the story now. Even the blood that trickled down her legs were not from her, rather one she got from somewhere.. no one knows. She bursted it in her thighs immediately she fell.


    Soon, four hours had pass and it was midnight ¡­. Mark had not yete to ask for the kids to take them out from that smelling dark ce we¡¯re mosquito were feasting on them, ¡°What was keeping Mark? He should be here by now to get us out!¡± Stoic thought. Jennifer was already in daze as she had not taken her medications, she had fever but still¨C Legacy who is usually very brave and confident had started to shiver, his lips turning purple ¨C the only light they had was from the moonlight now, shining through the the small window at the top of the 20 ft tall dungeon, close to the ceiling.

 A Hole In His Thinking

    Eventually, the kids lost consciousness and not knowing how long they had been unconscious, the gate to the dungeon opened, it was morning now. Cold, emotionless soldiers, about three of them grabbed and dragged the triplets ruthlessly , one to one, and they threw them before Owens, just outside the president generals vi.


    The forcefulness with which they were dragged was what woke the kids up, they were all weak and their eyes hollowed. Especially, Jennifer who had been and is sick. Infact, her condition had worsened.


    Legacy blinked his eyes weakly, ¡°I¡¯m hungry.. none¡­. of¡­. us¡­.. pushed¡­. her¡­. my sister is sick, get her to ¡­ the ¨C ¡± he tried to get up on his feet as he pouted but only ended up falling back to the floor.


    ¡°My sister is sick ¨C¡± as he added, speaking his voice grew weaker and weaker.


    Stoic¡¯s lip twitched and he wanted to say something but couldn¡¯t say anything..


    ¡°Y¡¯all will stay here until Hannah is discharged!¡± Owen¡¯s said coldly, emotionlessly as well. He is a cruel being and wouldn¡¯t mind if the kids die in the spot right now and no one would dare question him about their death. To him, they almost killed his great grand child and deserves to be punished.


    Just then Mark rushed over, he was told to stay with Hannah until the attending physician tells him she is safe and their baby sound.


    ¡°Jennifer¡­!¡± Mark picked her up immediately, she had numb before now, and now felt an instant warmth.


    Mark was on the verge of crying, he had lost his child due to the fall Hannah fall and he can¡¯t bring himself to believe that any of the kids pushed her. He had given Diana his word to protect the kids at all cost until she returns.


    ¡°Get the fuck away from her! And besides, is Hannah safe?¡± Owen¡¯s inquired, his anger had subsided in a way when the attending physician told him and reassured himst night that nothing will happen to his great grand child who was barely 2 weeks old.


    ¡°We lost the baby, but she is in good health!¡± Mark responded, he knew this wouldn¡¯t boil down well with him, and it was the truth, and he has to face it!, just then Jennifer¡¯s body couldn¡¯t move. Making Mark afraid. He was even scared and it was unlike him.


    Mark carefully held Jennifer, focusing solely on her as Owen tried to heal from the truth, his great grand child is gone? Hannah underwent a miscarriage?


    ¡°Jennifer! Stoic, Legacy! You three stay with me!¡±, Mark¡¯s voice turned hoarse as he urged the kids lying half conscious on the floor.


    At that exact moment, Owen¡¯s suddenly had difficulty in breathing. Cough cough! His breathing got tensed. Gasping for air.


    Mark turned and looked at him, colour and brightness and started to fade from his already paled purple face.


    ¡°No no no no! I shouldn¡¯t have bursted the news to him like that¡­.. And so easily and now his health is worsened!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t look at him! Take him to the hospital!¡±, Mark roared in exasperation.


    In a jiffy, Owen¡¯s was rushed to the hospital ward.. the kids as well.. most critical case was that of Jennifer who got referred out of the military base hospital unit to a much better hospital with better, good skilled surgeon¡¯s and operating machines to save lives. The military base hospital wardcked some of the machines.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    Owen¡¯s chances of survival was 30% out of a 100% , that the Head Army Doctor said before hand. He was able to manage Stoic and Legacy¡¯s condition with the help of other army medicals, but that of Owen¡¯s he is battling with, and he can¡¯t refer him except he risk putting his life at risk and he can¡¯t do that, so he was doing all he could¡­. possible best to save him.


    Mark didn¡¯t know what he was feeling¡­¡­.. Hannah is the cause of all this!


    Mark lost his unborn child because of her carelessness¡­. what if the kids really pushed her? Which mother would fall and lose her unborn child and still don¡¯t say the truth?  Why would she willingly fall of the stair when it¡¯d obviously be to her own detriment?


    Mark could not help but think back to what happened after the physician announced, she lost the baby. Hannah had begged him not to take drastic decision and hurt the kids badly as their mum was away, that they were young¡­ Even though she Lost her child, she still begged for them. Could it really be the kids pushed her?


    And now, his grandfather was in a critical condition and may note out alive ording to the doctor.


    Jennifer¡¯s condition as well was critical as Richarlison who was with her at William hospital reported.


    It felt like Marks world was copsing¡­..


    His mother was still missing and haven¡¯t yet heard from her¡­.


    His step brother is out there setting his traps for revenge¡­.


    He had just lost his heir¡­..


    His godfather and grandfather is in a dying bed¡­


    If not for the fact that, he gave Diana his words that he would take care and protect the Triplets, he would have had them ousted. Afterall,  their father, Jake ¨C Benjamin Bernard probably have my mother kidnapped!


    Somehow, For Owen¡¯s discovering his grand child is gone worsened his hitherto healing illness.


    Mark¡¯s thinking has beenpletely severed¡­ He was no longer thinking straight. Where does he start from? If only he had the Silver ring¡­.


    He then sighed¡­


    News had already spread across the military base and outside the military base¡­ and it had reached Jake¡¯s.


    He was standing at upper most section of a sky scrapper watching the city¡¯s view from above when his assistant reported to him.


    His actual grand father, was dying and it was a good news to him. Owen¡¯s was one of those that he is out to exert revenge on. The bad news was his daughter battling between life and death. She and his brother¡¯s are my heir, I can¡¯t let anything happen to them¡­


    ¡°Take me to the hospital¡­..¡± He ordered and grabbed for his jacket and darted out of the section, following his assistant closely as walked briskly into the elevator.


    In a matter of time, he was before Williams hospital¡­


    Hannah on his hospital bed on receiving the news smiled¡­.. ¡°Diana will cry! Hahaha¡± she chuckled andughed with her. She was never pregnant and her n worked perfectly fine. This was the only way to avoid getting caught!


    Meanwhile Diana¡­

 Meanwhile…

    Meanwhile¡­..


    It¡¯s been three good days since Diana arrived at Delta City, and her battalion of over five hundred soldiers were just a call away. She decided to appear ordinary and now she didn¡¯t want to anymore.


    For the past three days, she hade here morning and night to Oliver¡¯s tech cooperative and booking an appointment to meet with their CEO, Felicity: She was no longer working as a nurse. Five years ago, they said she rose to power from nowhere.


    Now, Diana wasing to Oliver¡¯s tech cooperative with a fleet of over a hundred military Hilux, all loaded with soldiers. Since, booking an appointment is not working. She has to cease power! She had tried Felicity¡¯s number but it kept getting declined or forwarded or always busied; she probably blocked her number.


    Felicity kept on purposely rejecting the appointment booked by Diana, since she returned. She knew instinctively she was back to Delta City with a sole purpose that is closely rted to the Silver Ring, she had sold for half a billion dor, five years ago.


    She took the silver ring and she left a cloned faked version of the silver ring for Diana. It had been her ulterior motive and n all through the years. She had selfish motives of helping Diana with recuperating from the ident she had, and also helping and keeping herpany until she gave birth to triplets. She offered Diana a home. She assumed the precision of uracy of a big sister or possible a real family, but all that was so that she could get hold of the silver ring and sell it, and perhaps establish herpanies.


    Now, she was a very wealthy woman. Stopped practicing medicine immediately she garnered wealth and now the most wealthiest CEO of the most reputable Oliver¡¯s tech cooperative that deals on all kinds of Megatron¡¯s and robots that could make life easier for all humans.


    It was exactly 9 pm in this going to be cold night¡­. Felicity was in her office this night. She got held back due to a major sess, thepany encountered as of recent. Then, her personal secretary, burst into her office with a panic stricken face.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am¡­. There are fleets of army Hilux cars approaching Oliver techs, they wouldn¡¯t stop at the premises gate. Few minutes from now, they¡¯d be here¡±¡­ Her secretary, Wakins, a nerdy dude said hastily and pantingly.


    ¡°Why??????¡­. Soldiers? How is that possible? Who sent them?¡±, Felicity said angrily and then grabbed for her cellphone. Obviously cing a call over to the activemander of Delta City military. As a wealthy woman, she had good rtionship with the Delta Army and politics so that she can curry monopoly and immunity in her business. Currently, something bad was going to ensue. Why would men from the military being to Oliver¡¯s tech without her prior consent? What were theying there for? Who sent them?


    Felicity¡¯s mind got troubled and more restless when the first and second set of rings died down, without a response from the other end. Wakins who was with her was scared already, his hands clenched at his sides, his hair pasted to his forehead with sweat. Felicity then dialed again and after another two sets of ring, the actingmander finally picked up..


    ¡°Hello¡­ General!¡±, She said, ¡°There are military men in their trucks and Hilux plying at high speed to Oliver¡¯s tech.. who sent them? Why?¡± She immediately exined after the voice at the other end responded with, ¡°Hello!¡±.


    On a norm, when about a battalion of soldiers areing to one ce, it¡¯s not for peace negotiation, it¡¯s probably for ¡°VAWULENCE!¡±.


    ¡°It¡¯s a direct order from the president general!, I can¡¯t disobey him!¡±, With that said, Delta city activemander ended the call abruptly.


    ¡°Hello¡­. hell¡­ he¡­. Hello¡­ ¨C call ended.. damn!¡±, Diana groaning in anger hit her hand on the desk forcefully causing a loud thud.


    ¡°The president general was not someone to joke with. When he is set out to do something, he does it. He is ruthless and cold and violent powerful man. No one wants to get into his trouble! But this one, he gave the order. I know all is not well!¡±


    ¡°Com¡¯on think think think¡­¡±, She started to murmur as she paced the spacious room back and forth.


    ¡°What ma¡¯am? Please dial again. I don¡¯t want to get into any soldiers!¡±, Wakins blurted truthfully with his legs already jelly.


    ¡°We face them! ¡­, Follow me!¡±, Felicity responded thenmanded. She had to know  why they wereing to herpany by this time.


    Felicity and Wakins reached the service elevator and with press on a button in the wall, the elevator lurched into action with a vibrating groan that Wakins¡¯ felt all through the bones in his feet.


    The elevator came to a hissing stop, and they were now in therge spaciouspanies entryway, only to behold the sight of armed officers with different arsenals in their possession, behind them are hiluxs just outside thepanies entrance.


    Thepanies security were all made to lie down on the floor. They were like ants to the military indeed.


    Among the fleets of the Hilux parked outside is a military G-Wagon car in the centre. All it¡¯s window were tinted ck and dark and definitely deterred Felicity¡¯s effort of peaking in. Terrified, she still gathered the guts and stepped outside. Military officers surrounding her already. By this time, Wakins¡¯ was lying on the floor, shaking with utter fear just like any other employees.


    Diana, inside the Military G-Wagon shrugged off her jacket, threw it over the back and then she wore her military face cap and attached her badge, indicating her rank and then the door opened from the outside. An officer was the one who opened it.


    She then stepped down from car, Felicity looking utterly confused as she couldn¡¯t yet deduce who it¡¯s that hide under the face cap. She exuded authority and power with the way the officers treated her and it¡¯s best wise she treats her with all the respect she could harness.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    As Diana approached Felicity standing rooted to a particr spot and military officers escorting Diana. Felicity felt an uneasy familiarity with this approaching figure. She thought he would definitely be a male soldier but turns out she is a female soldier. And seeing her badge, Felicity¡¯s heart skipped. A sergeant general? But thepany did nothing to trouble the military!


    Once, Diana was face to face with Felicity . Both almost at same height. Diana then removed her face cap and they both locked gaze for a moment.


    ¡°Diana?! I should have known!..¡± Felicity thought in extreme surprise.


    ¡°Surprised? Don¡¯t be¡­ I¡¯m only here to talk to you. I have beening here for the past three days and, continually I don¡¯t get allowed to see you. Probably because I appeared ordinary and now that I¡¯m what I¡¯m, it forced you out. Power is power indeed!¡±, Diana quickly stated with a smile.


    For a moment Felicity didn¡¯t say anything. ¡°Hello, don¡¯t nk out already. I missed you! Now let¡¯s go in!¡± Diana added.

 I Don’t Have It

    Once Diana entered thepanies building obviously through the main entrance, and Felicity and some officers following behind her. Wakins who was on the floor immediately caught a glimpse of her and he buried his face the more.


    Wakins knew her. She is Charity Wakins granddaughter, The president general betrothed. Few months ago, the president general asked him to make a research and find out about Charity Wakins granddaughter, and when he had a sess and was on the process of informing the president general, he was kidnapped! And threatened so that he could leave Sterling City.  He was, and is Danny just a different name. He was made to change his identity and name from Danny to any name, and he changed it to Wakins, preferably. He has been severely warned never to show his face on Sterling city or to the president general let alone inform him about the lie he was made to tell. It was the only way he could keep his innocent mother safe.


    Ever since Danny left sterling city to Delta city and secured a job as Felicity¡¯s assistant, the guilt of lying to his best friend, Mark, the president general ate him up but there were nothing he could do and now, Mark is likely married to the fake Charity Wakins granddaughter and the real Charity Wakins granddaughter here with a battalion of soldiers. But why?


    In no time, Diana, Felicity were already left alone in Felicity¡¯s office for them to settle their scores.


    Diana was seated, crossing her legs, then she sighed and dropped the fake silver ring she had on the desk. Felicity could recognize it. She was seated opposite Diana, on her original office chair.


    ¡°What¡¯s it?¡­ How are your Triplets?..¡±, Felicity inquired, trying to stall the question she would be asked next.


    Speaking about her children, Diana was not sure they¡¯re entirely fine. But sure, Mark was there to take care of them¡­


    ¡°They¡¯re fine!¡±, Felicity heard her say¡­


    ¡°And..-¡± Felicity wanted to add something when Diana disrupted her with ¡°shhhhhhi..¡±


    ¡°Back to why I¡¯m back here in Delta City¡­..¡± Diana started.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want any trouble with you¡­. You helped me a lot in the past and I appreciate and acknowledge that but right now¡­. I want the silver ring back!!¡±, Diana quickly stated her reason foring.


    Felicity chuckled, ¡°I don¡¯t understand.. is it not the silver ring you just dropped on the desk? Right in your front?¡± Felicity was at the extreme of denying, as she pointed at the silver ring on the desk.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s fake! You cloned it and left me with fake. It was your intention all along. I did just trusted you beyond measure! Well, that¡¯s that for that. I need my silver ring back! I¡¯ll pay you for all the expenses!¡±


    ¡°I did? I di¡­. did not! How can you use me of such after all I did for you? Humans are this wicked? Damn!!!!!¡± Felicity eximed, seriousness written all over her face.


    Diana was shocked. ¡°Could it be she was really using her wrongly?¡±


    ¡°If she were lying and denying, with my understanding of human psychology and my sensitivity, I should be able to tell she is lying but I can¡¯t. Could it be she is being sincere at the moment?..¡±


    Diana hesitated-only for a moment, but Felicity saw it, and felt a small and inexplicable shiver of apprehension run up her spine.


    ¡°Felicity please¡­. I need the silver ring, by all means necessary. Who did you sold it to? I can recover it!..¡±, Diana pressed in further.


    ¡°I said I don¡¯t have it! Why don¡¯t you believe me? You used to trust me!¡±, Felicity half-shouted.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    If not because she had the military on her side, by now she should have ordered her secretary to throw her outside, but she can¡¯t now¡­¡­.


    After a brief moment of silence. ¡°Felicity continued, I really don¡¯t have it! Someone else must have done it. Definitely not me!¡±. She asserted.


    Diana smiled¡­ and then stood up, she was running out of patience about how cool Felicity was ying her game, Diana then began¡­


    ¡°I checked your transaction history and you received a half a billion dor from one Mr Otani¡­ How did you get such money? We both know you have no connection with her and he is a reputable wealthy antique collector. The silver ring is even worth more than that and he is not loan shark either.. even if he is.. he can¡¯t loan you such huge amount of money!¡± Diana heaved a sigh and continued.


    ¡°Tell me the truth!!!¡±. She added.


    Felicity, despite feeling checkmated didn¡¯t agree at this moment, instead she got aggressive. Because why not? She signed a deal with Mr Otani¡¯s family never to disclose anything about the business they did once it¡¯s finalized, and it was finalized few months back.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡­ That¡¯s my privacy! How can you intrude on my privacy by checking my transactions? You know I can sue you for it!¡± Felicity pointed out and felt a small flower of apprehension beginning to open up and rose up inside her chest.


    ¡°You seem to forget I¡¯m part of the military!¡­. And i¡¯ll have to meet Otani personally then! I¡¯m sure you sold it to him!¡±, Diana knew Felicity well enough to recognize her tension just from the set of her shoulders.


    ¡°Have a goodnight rest!¡±, Diana added and then left unsatisfied. Felicity wouldn¡¯t agree she was responsible although, evidences points to the fact that she was ¡­ and she is ¨C


    ¡°Yea, Goodnight!..¡± Felicity heard herself say softly, a flicker of apprehension in her voice.


    Immediately Diana left¡­. Felicity heaved a huge sigh. She feared this might happen but just didn¡¯t prepare towards it. She has trillions of dor now and could possibly buy back the silver Ring.. but would she?


    At the same time in sterling city¡­.. Owen¡¯s health had deteriorated and he requested to talk with Mark.


    Mark speedily rushed inside the operating room when he was informed by the head Doctor.


    He halted by his steps when he saw Owen¡¯s. Breathing with the help of machines.


    ¡°Grandpa!¡±, Mark called out. Feeling utterly confused and bad.

 She Was Never Pregnant!

    Mark crumbled beside him. Owen¡¯s was breathing with the aid of breathing tubes and machines and the sensations could say Owen¡¯s was on his dying bed.


    Just then, Owen¡¯s removed the breathing tube from his nostrils/nose and coughed softly before he began to speak in his pain like and parental way¡­ ¡°Before I kick the bucket!- ¡°, he coughed before he continued. ¡°I¡¯d like to pass on my mantle as the exmunicando to you!¡­¡±


    ¡°Stop saying nonsense grandpa! You won¡¯t die ¨C ¡°, Mark responded almost immediately. At least he was trying to convince himself Owen¡¯s won¡¯t die but when he heard the imcability in his grandpa¡¯s tone, he realized he was actually serious.


    ¡°It¡¯s the end for me, my beloved¡­..,¡± Owen¡¯s continued, ignoring Mark¡¯s sob and hopefulness. After a round of two small cough, he began again, ¡°Go back home and go check my secret ce in my ce of abode¡­¡±, His voice was stained with a pain and surly tone this time around, ¡°You would find a staff and a contract¡­.. Bring it ¡­.. Cough cough¡­ bring it¡­.. it ¡­ to me for blood signing. Once you sign the other part, you¡¯d be the exmunicando and same time retains your position as the president general. I trust in you!¡±, Owen¡¯s concluded, his voice slowly dying down.


    Mark looked at him in disbelief. Is this really happening? Or was it in a dream or something? It had better be a dream, a horrible one! No, no , this can¡¯t be!. With the looks given to him by Owen, he realized he had no option than to go bring the staff and the contract. Afterall he was the only one aside Owen¡¯s who knew the secret ce.


    Despite knowing his grandpa would more unlikely make it. He still instructed the head Doctor as he rushed out of the operating theatre to make sure his grandpa lives, or else¡­.. they won¡¯t live to announce his death and time of death.


    Mark rushed home speedily on foot. He was not thinking straight anymore. He didn¡¯t even know where his car was and Richarlison was not around. He was with Jennifer.


    Once Mark reached his vi, he rushed into the building immediately and just in the centre of the parlour/sitting room, he looked to his left and saw the mirror. The mirror was a door to a passage leading to a room.


    He walked over to the floor length mirror strongly attached to the wall and he bit his thumb finger and ced it somewhere by the upper left side of the mirror. With the blood dripping from his thumb finger. The mirror started to open inward like a secret door that it is.


    Mark stood there waiting until it openspletely. Beside him was a desk, a kind of a make-up desk that Hannah bought in. And a paper was on it. It seemed like an hospital report card. Mark didn¡¯t gave it more attention and immediately the door opened, he darted inside into the secret passage to the room ¨C Owen¡¯s secret abode. ¨C


    He collected the staff and the contract as instructed and left and once he exited through the mirror entrance ¨C secret door ¨C he saw the paper that he initially saw on the desk beside were the mirror is ced, on the floor.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Seems like there is something maizing me to see the content of the book!¡± With that thought shing in, he bent down and picked it with his left hand. He was holding the staff and the contract with his right hand. The staff which is made of strictly koinonia and a stripe of silver and gold was just like the the size of the king or queen of Ennd staff of office, the only distinction was that this one looked something like a winged spiral. It was until Mark tilted his head, and then it is a staff wound around with vines: silver vines. The mutable corners of the pattern tickled his mind like feathers brushed against sensitive skin.


    Mark opened and read through the paper. It was a hospital official report card stating that the person whose name and photo are attached, medically severed her womb. The photo that was attached was and belongs to Hannah who just lost her baby and it was even her name written on it. Meaning she was the one who got her womb severed.


    Mark quickly checked for the date and it was even before that awful night that she imed they both had sex.


    So, if she severed her womb? How was she pregnant? The Doctor stated she was pregnant after he carried out a pregnancy test¡­. Could he have deceived me also? Could Hannah have been deceiving right from the start? What¡¯s the truth? She ims Diana¡¯s children pushed her down the stairs and that was how she lost her baby.. and now this hospital report states, she severed her womb! It can only mean one thing. He didn¡¯t slept with her that night and she was never pregnant! Yet, as evil as she is¡­ She framed Diana¡¯s children for it and it almost got the kids dead and as a result of all, she lost her baby, and Owen¡¯s is on his dying bed! This woman!, I even ignored her past evil deeds just cause I thought she was carrying my child! Damn it.


    Make rushed out immediately, he didn¡¯t contemte on where to go first. He could handle Hannah anytime, thus he went back to meet his grandpa at the hospital operating theatre.


    ¡°Grandpa, here is it¡­.¡±, Mark said, his eyes burning with anger as he presented the contract. Owen¡¯s bit his fore finger hardly until blood began to spill and he ced it on the left side of the thick paper contract, indicating he is no longer the exmunicando. Mark on the other hand signed the right side of the contract as well, he used his forefinger spilling with blood as well.


    With that process done. Mark is officially the exmunicando.


    Just then, Owen¡¯s began to gasp for air. Owen¡¯s started gasping for air the more, his breath sawing painfully in his lungs. Mark immediately introduced the breathing apparatus to his breathing organ but all to no avail. Owen¡¯s started to vibrate on the bed, gasping the more like he was underwater.

 The Kid’s Are Mine!

    ¡°Grandpa!!!!¡­.¡± Mark called out angrily with pain. ¡°Doctor!!!!!!!!!!!!!?¡±, He yelled. Once the head Doctor and a nurse rushed and began to try all their medical knowledge and procedure to wake Owen¡¯s up but all to no sess, the signal on the beeping heart monitor had turned straight. Meaning, Owen¡¯s was no longer breathing ¨C alive -.


    The head doctor turned to pained Mark and cleared his throat. ¡°I¡¯m sorry sir! We lost him!¡±


    ¡°Time of death!¡±


    ¡°10:19 pm!¡±


    Jennifer had been stabilized, Richarlison was with her as instructed by his boss, Mark. Jennifer would be and is fine and will be discharged tomorrow.


    Stoic and Legacy on the other hand had been stabilized as well.


    As Mark walked angrily to were Hannah was put to recuperate in, he picked up his phone and dialed Dr James.


    Dr James didn¡¯t pick even after the third and forth set of rings. He was afraid. Hannah threatened him not to tell the president the truth except he wants his wife and children erased and he didn¡¯t want that. He watched the fifth and sixth set of rings expire and still didn¡¯t pick.


    ¡°Oops¡­. Why is he not picking up my calls?,¡± Mark wondered..


    Hannah was sitting in a patient chair looking through the window the cold night outside when she heard a loud noise. The door was being kicked open. Mark walked inside the room, the door scattered into pieces on the floor.


    He walked over to Hannah who had already dropped into her acting drama stances. Mark then threw the hospital report card to him.


    ¡°You were never pregnant!, And you won¡¯t escape this time around!¡±


    Hannah was shocked. Too shocked to move. How did he find out? Damn, Hannah suddenly remembered she bad forgotten to do away with the hospital report that stated she had sessfully severed her womb! He has found it! I¡¯m in a big trouble.


    Seeing her shocked expression, Markughed without much amusement¡­. His anger had transmogrified! So, it¡¯s true? He groaned like a wolf ready to tear it¡¯s prey apart.


    ¡°Who am I to deny the obvious? How can I?¡±, Hannah hovered into thoughts.


    ¡°What nonsense are you spewing? Are you trying to say Doctor James didn¡¯t know his job? He confirmed I was pregnant!¡± Hannah heard herself deny.


    ¡°If you persist in denying what you are, you too will be destroyed, and none shall lift a hand to help you.¡± Someone said, it was not Mark, not Hannah either. Mark had wanted to open his mouth to say something but was disrupted by that thoughtful quote.


    Mark and Hannah at the same time nced to look at direction the voice rang out from. It was Dr James. Behind him was his wife and two handsome kids. His guilt were eating him up that he came all the way down here to confess and curry Mark¡¯s protection against the consequence of confessing.


    ¡°What? Dr James?.. this is the end for me!¡± Hannah realized. Her palpitating heart flew away¡­


    ¡°She made me do it. She threatened she would erase my family if I didn¡¯tply. She also made me alter the paternity test result. The kids were and are yours -¡°, Dr James immediately exined. Few minutes ago, his phone had rang, Mark called him, but he didn¡¯t pick it as he didn¡¯t wanted to uproot the cassava prematurely. Now was the right time.


    ¡°This could only mean that the kids are mine! That Diana was thedy from that night! This is quite a big surprise!¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t deny the obvious!¡­. I did wanted to. I¡¯m doing all this because of my daughter, ra¡­ Jake promised she would take her away from me, forever if I didn¡¯t do as he says. It was all that he could avenge his grudge against you!¡±, Hannah copsed bitterly and she soberly exined.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    ¡°What else are you hiding?,¡± Mark asked her coldly. She had imed ra was not her daughter. Just wow!


    ¡°Nothing!¡±, She responded soberly. However, there was still something she was hiding. She is not charity Wakins granddaughter.


    ¡°I have already been caught. I can¡¯t afford to just expose the other part! He can respect his grandpa¡¯s wish as I¡¯m his betrothed and spare my life!¡±


    Mark red at the doctor, and instructed the officer who led them there to give them maximum protection.


    ¡°Guards!¡±, Mark called out immediately after Dr James and his family left. Three military officers rushed in at once.


    ¡°Take her to the deepest dungeon and ensure she doesn¡¯t leaves. Wait for my final say before she gets executed!¡±, Mark ordered at once and walked out.


    The three officers dragged her out mercilessly and immediately. Hannah still had hopes for survival as her twin bodyguard won¡¯t let her get executed.


    Jack and Jill were trained expert and they would being for her once they discover she is in trouble.


    Mark was wondering as she walked out of the building. Hannah? Then suddenly he remembered something. Why does Diana have same Mark as her?


    Hannah has a daughter for my step brother, Benjamin¡­ Who was using their own child to manipte her into doing somethings she didn¡¯t felt like. Little did Mark know that Hannah had been evil and wicked right from day one. She was the one who got Diana barren at first and is the one who have taken a toll on Diana.


    Was it just a coincidence that his betrothed is his stepbrothers ex wife?


    Was it just a coincidence that his betrothed has a child for his stepbrother who wants him dead?


    And even Mark¡¯s mum was in Jake¡¯s custody¡­.. Mark can¡¯t involve the police or instruct his boys to do the finding, it¡¯d only result in his mother¡¯s death.


    Without time to waste. The news had spread all over the sterling city and beyond that Owen¡¯s was dead and the new exmunicando was the president general!


    Even the news of the president general wife being put into the most deepest dungeon for one reason or the other had spread like wildfire burning through the forest in an harmattan season.

 Diana At Otani’s Mansion

    Presently, Diana had just arrived before Otani¡¯s Mansion with her entourage ¨C fleets of military Hilux ¨C . The mansion¡¯s gateman suddenly got alerted when he saw them, he was on duty. Immediately he ced a call over to the head security of the mansion.


    As Diana got down from the military G-Wagon a thunderous fury of footsteps erupted. The head security and about seven security men arrived with electrified batons in thier hands.


    Diana just smiled. This security men were no match for her battalion of Soldiers.


    ¡°Soldiers!¡± The lieutenant colonel called out, immediately he stepped down after Diana.


    Once every soldier stood at an attention and matches their foots to the ground, causing a revoking sound alongside the ¡°Yes sir!..¡±, they all echoed in unison.


    The head security was confused¡­..¡± Why would  soldierse here by this time??.. Otani was not the type that offends the government let alone the military. What would or could possibly warrant this visit?¡± He thought.


    ¡°Why are you here!¡±, The head security inquired as Diana and the lieutenant colonel got closer, the gate still unopened. The head security had nothing to fear. He knew his fundamental human right and had done nothing wrong to vite by this military.


    ¡°We want an urgent talk with Mr Otani!¡­.¡±, The lieutenant colonel responded.


    ¡°It¡¯ste!. Go back home ande another day!¡±, The head security said in the bid to dismiss them. He had some guts indeed! To be able to confidently exchange words with a lieutenant colonel.


    ¡°Boys!¡­ Match this gate down!¡±, With that said about ten of his men, happened to be the most burly among the hundreds of soldiers stepped forward. They were almost ready to break the gate down!


    Seeing the action and seriousness that the lieutenant colonel was imposing. The head security could not help and neither can him and his boys stop them, so he had no other option but to apologize, even though it was to his own detriment. ¡°Otani never tolerated extemporaneous visits and he should be asleep by now, I¡¯d be causing trouble for myself if I go wake up him up¡±, however, the head security still had to.


    ¡°Okay. You don¡¯t need to cause any violence!.. I¡¯ll go inform my boss!¡±


    ¡°Gate man!, Let them in¡­¡±, He added. Otani had forbidden him not to let anyone in, let alone this cold night. He¡¯d sure be angry some soldiers are here to have a talk with him.


    ¡°Good!..¡±, the lieutenant colonel felt satisfied with the way the head security just behaved and he stopped his men from breaking down the gate. Then the gate man opened the gate and he let them in.


    Diana, the lieutenant colonel and few other officers walked in while the others waited outside. Behind them were the seven security men each holding electrified batons and the head security in front. He was the one leading the way.


    Soon after, they arrived at the visitors room in the mansion. The luxury and ornament were breath taking. But, that was not the reason why they hade here. Diana was here to retrieve her property from Otani, that Felicity sold to him without her knowledge.


    ¡°Wait some minutes¡­ My boss would meet with you shortly..¡±, The head security said and then started to climb up using the stairs. When he got to Otani¡¯s room, he knocked gently and as expected, Otani replied brusquely and coldly immediately. ¡°What?¡±,


    He seemed not to be asleep already. Good then!.


    ¡°A lieutenant colonel and his boys are here. They said they want to have a talk with you!¡±, The head security exined.


    ¡°Okay!¡±, Will be with you shortly. Otani responded and then closed hisptop. He was researching on ady from six years ago. He felt guilt for what he did to her and as such the guilt wouldn¡¯t grant him peace of mind, thus he was actively searching for her to make amends and have peace of mind.


    Few momentster, Otani came down stairs. He was wearing his night wears and it entuated his handsomeness the more. When Diana saw him, she was shocked. She expected Otani to be in his 50¡¯s but surprisingly he looked young in his 30¡¯s. What was even more surprising was the fact that this man had a striking resemnce with the president general and if care is not taken, one would misconceive him for Mark. In turn, her triplets has a striking resemnce with him and jennifer¡¯s had same amber eyes as him.


    ¡°Why? How is this possible? Is this not a coincidence?¡±


    ¡°Good evening!,¡± Otani greeted after he swept his gaze all over the men seated in this visitors chair in the sitting room. He was surprised to see ady amidst them.


    Silence enveloped the room for a while¡­ The lieutenant colonel and his boys were not here for any peace negotiation. They wanted to use authority, thus they didn¡¯t respond. Only Diana greeted back warmly with a bitter confused expression.


    ¡°Good evening!..,¡± she then chuckled trying to fathom how reasonable it¡¯s or why and how the coincidence is real, that Otani looks like the president general and her kids in turn has a resemnce with him.


    ¡°What brings you here to my abode?,¡± Otani inquired immediately he sat down. He didn¡¯t looked like a man of trouble. He looked carefree from the way he cheerfully talked and greeted despite being extraordinarily wealthy antique collector.


    ¡°We¡¯re here for the silver ring with the initials K. O carved on it!,¡± Diana quickly stated her reasons.


    ¡°My friend, Felicity stole it from me and sod it to you! I¡¯m willing to even buy it from you!..¡± Diana added confidently. Mark had given her ess to his bank ount reigning in billions, peradventure a need for cash arises.


    Otani just smiled¡­ the smiling eventually turned to chuckling and gradually to augher and it angered the lieutenant colonel that he was mocking them.


    ¡°We¡¯re not here to crack jokes!¡± The lieutenant colonel said and almost immediately Otani stopped chuckling.


    ¡°How is that my business?¡­ You go meet who stole it from you¡­. I¡¯m only an antique collector and I don¡¯t do refunds!,¡± Otani responded, this time he sounded serious¡­ not feeling intimidated by the presence of the lieutenant colonel.


    Diana furrowed her eye brows. ¡°What?¡± She blurted out. Otani sounded just like Mark. Almost simr tone and she felt like if they were twins.


    ¡°Yes! I have the ring but what makes you think I¡¯d release it¡­ I don¡¯t know you and as far as I¡¯m concerned the silver ring belongs to me!,¡± Otani was quick to discern that before they coulde to his ce. They must have found out he has the silver ring indeed! How else? If not Felicity told them¡­. She breached the business rule!


    ¡°You¡¯ll be forcing us to take it by force! You have two days to think of a price in exchange of the silver ring¡­ Or else!!!!!!¡±


    ¡°Or else what?!,¡± The head security was the one who shut the lieutenant colonel off this time around. He didn¡¯t like his boss being threatened when he is charge of protecting him.


    ¡°You won¡¯t like the oue!,¡± The lieutenant colonel asserted and then stood up all of a sudden. His men stood up as well and followed his footsteps outside. The president general had told the lieutenant colonel in charge of the battalion to at all cost retrieve the ring and he was hell bent in doing that in order for him to be promoted as promised.


    Now, only Diana was left inside with the head security and Otani. The lieutenant colonel and his boys felt a need to wait outside until shees outside.


    ¡°Excuse me sir¡­.. Are you the president generals brother or twin brother?,¡± Diana heard herself asked the question. She couldn¡¯t help but clear her mind of unecessary thought by just asking the simple question.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

 Does Mark Know About You?

    Otani is naturally carefree and a straight forward person. Thus be responded without hesitation.


    ¡°If you¡¯re talking about Mark, the president general¡­ Yes! He is my senior brother! Step brother specifically!.¡±  Otani responded.


    ¡°Now, please leave¡­. And have in mind I won¡¯t release the silver Ring. It¡¯s now my most precious antique and I won¡¯t trade if for anything¡­¡± Otani added with a nk expression¡­


    ¡°Does Mark know about you?,¡± Diana inquired further. She had not in anyway or anywhere learnt the president general has a step brother, except for someone like a brother and that was Jake Bernard. Her ex husband and allegedly the father of her triplets.


    ¡°No, he doesn¡¯t¡­ Our mother Flora birthed me while she was working as an army medical in the mercenaries district. She had birthed Mark four years earlier¡­.. I¡¯m not sure she could have told him that!¡±..


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure of that either!¡­¡± Diana pressed in. She sounded resigned. ¡°This s a shocking revtion¡­.. And it exins why he has a lot inmon with Mark!¡­ But why does her own children have a resemnce with a man other than their father: Jake?


    ¡°Why are you asking? Who are you to him?¡­


    Diana didn¡¯t know how she could exin the kind of rtionship that Subsist between her and the president general thus she just brought something up¡­


    ¡°Friends¡­.! Yea¡­. Really close friends!¡±..


    ¡°Okay then .. my mum went to Sterling City few weeks back and since then I haven¡¯t heard from her¡­ Is she safe with my brother?¡± Otani inquired himself. He had oftentimes got worried why his mum hadn¡¯t reached out to him for quite a while now.


    ¡°You do know that you have a striking resemnce with Mark right?¡­. And -¡± Diana hummed before she continued. ¡°Your mum is missing. She is allegedly kidnapped!.¡± Diana opened up. It was wise to inform him that his mother had been kidnapped. If indeed, he was her son, his reaction would say it all.


    ¡°Kidnapped? By who? How? Damn it! I should not have trusted Mark with her protection!¡­.¡±, Otani clenched his fist tightly. Finally, a reason his mum hadn¡¯t called to check up on him and a reason her phone wasn¡¯t going through each time he dialed her telephone number.


    Diana studied him carefully and her only deduction led straight to the fact he is actually his mother¡¯s child.


    ¡°Oman!¡± He called out.


    The head security standing behind him responded, ¡°Yes sir!..¡±


    ¡°We leave for Sterling City first thing tomorrow morning.. All schedules are cancelled!¡­!,¡± Otani ordered at once. Feeling pissed already.


    Although he had been angry with his mum for not telling him who his father was he still felt the emotions arise. His mum probably would be in a deep trouble by now!


    ¡°Thanks¡­.. uhmmm¡­¡±, Otani then realized he didn¡¯t know her name¡­.


    ¡°I¡¯m Otani and you¡¯re ¨C?¡±


    ¡°Diana!¡­.¡± She responded.


    ¡°How about the ring? I need it! Mark needs it!¡± Diana pleaded as she stood up.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry¡­. I have a private jet! Do you mind joining me tomorrow morning? I think it¡¯s high time I reveal myself to my brother and perhaps I could get to know my dad from there¡­..¡±


    It took Diana some minutes before she could respond¡­..¡± I¡¯ll inform you tomorrow morning. I have you card, your phone number is printed on it!¡±


    ¡°Oh, alright then!¡­ Goodnight!¡±, With that said, Otani hurried upstair at once.


    Diana herself had started to exit when she slipped and fell! Shended her head on the floor hard and a whizzing sound echoed through her entire frame. Even Oman was not fast enough to stop her from falling.


    When the lieutenant colonel and his boys heard the loud thud like someone fell, they rushed in hurriedly thinking Diana was in trouble. In a way she was, but not the way they thought it to be. She just slipped and fell. She was groaning from an excruciating headache..


    This time, Oman had helped her up into a sitting position. She was screaming¡­¡­. like something affected her head.


    The lieutenant colonel got rmed¡­¡±Keep calm¡¯ he urged.


    Diana¡¯s memories were finallying back to her¡­ like a speed of lightening.. she remembers everything now! Just that they were not urate and very solid!


    The memories that have been blocked away from her conscious mind due to the ident from six years ago were finally returning¡­.. memories she might have lost, what experiences she¡¯d had that she couldn¡¯t now recall. Or maybe everything she thought she did remember was a lie ¡­?


    She sat up, no longer able to bear where her thoughts were taking her as she stopped screaming!


    Her screaming had alerted and startled Otani as well that he rushed back, downstairs¡­.


    ¡°What happened?¡­¡± Otani inquired as Diana managed to shrug the pains off and stood up.


    She looked deep into Otani¡¯s eyes¡­. In those eyes she could see the man she had sex with six years ago, the sex that blessed her with triplets. Oman was the man!


    All her memories were back¡­ Just that the memories of the event that happened before she got into the ident was a lie. The memory of who she had sex with!


    ¡°Jake is not the father of my kids!


    Otani is! ¡± Her memory spoke to her. Afterall her memory can¡¯t possibly be deceiving her. To her, everything was a legit truth now!


    No wonder her kids has a resemnce with Mark. I nearly thought he was the man because of the resemnce. Turns out it¡¯s his stepbrother.


    As tears welled up in her eyes, she walked over to Otani¡­. before him, and she asked the question.


    ¡°Do you remember that night? That night¡­.. from six years ago? At Sterling City?


    Otani hovered to what happened six years ago. He was drunk and he raped a girl at a club party. Is she the girl? It can¡¯t be her right?  She had spend many years searching for her and she was the one he was researching on when Oman came to inform him that some soldiers were here to see and talk to him.


    ¡°Yes, I do but¡­¡­¡±


    ****************


    Note: I refered to Jake as Mark¡¯s step brother but in fact, he is the son of those parents that abducted Mark. And now Otani is his actual step brother!


    ***************


    The next morning at Sterling City¡­


    Jennifer got discharged. Richarlison brought her home to the president Generals Vi. Her brothers as well had been discharged and their three were now in a good health.


    Mark finally realized he had a soft spot for this Triplet since he discovered with the help of the paternity test result that they were his children.


    **********


    Note: I referred to Owen¡¯s as his grandpa while in fact, Owen¡¯s was Jake¡¯s biological father¡¯s father. As Mark grew up with them, natural he referred to Jake as stepbrother and Owens as granpa.


    **********


    Jennifer walked up to Mark while he was outside the vi, he was feeling the air and reeling on the thoughts that his granpa was no more.


    Jennifer¡¯s petite face was so beautiful and adoring as she walked up to Mark. When Mark saw her, he felt a sense of joy and happiness arouse within him. He can¡¯t wait to inform Diana.


    ¡°Jennifer!!,¡± He called and then carried her in his arms.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    ¡°Daddy!¡­¡± She called him daddy once more. Mark felt happy. He didn¡¯t dismiss her for calling him daddy this time around, unlike before, he would normally sound harsh. Now a bright smile appeared on his face.


    ¡°You seem really happy and excited today despite loosing your grandpa yesterday¡­ And Daddy¡­ I¡¯m sorry for your loss!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry sweetheart.. I¡¯ll get over it! How are you feeling now?,¡± Mark spoke softly wanting to grow more fond of her daughter.


    ¡°I¡¯m getting better and better¡­.,¡± Jenni responded as she smiled while dragging her father¡¯s nose. Then it hit her¡­ and her mood deted at once¡­.¡±When is mummy returning?¡­¡±


    Mark hummed¡­. ¡°She will be home soon okay? Let¡¯s go have breakfast!¡±


    With that said, Jennifer feltforted and she nodded. Still in Marks hand, he carried him inside and soon after Stoic and Legacy joined them. The both of them were happy, especially now that their father was epting them.

 Do Some Findings About Diana

    Diana woke up very early this morning and texted Otani she would be going with him to Sterling City. She as well informed the lieutenant colonel who subsequently left her with two soldiers for security purposes.


    Diana already did her morning routine ¨C exercise ¨C and was set to leave. She grabbed her sustainable luggage and exited the hotel room she was lodged in, with the two soldiers behind her. She walked straight to the parking lot and over there was a driver already waiting for her in a Lamborghini Aventador. She entered the passenger seat in the back and one of the soldier joined her while the other one sat at the passengers seat in front.


    And as they were about plying off , someone knocked on the tinted windshield. The driver whined down and lol and behold, it was Wakin¡¯s and Felicity. ¡°What were they doing here?¡± Diana thought. Felicity had lied, but that¡¯s not even a big issue anymore. Who she sold the silver ring ring to was the president generals stepbrother.


    Wakin¡¯s on the other, whose real name was Danny felt somewhat apprehensive, ¡°I hope Diana doesn¡¯t know me¡­! Why am I feeling this way? I shouldn¡¯t have lied to Mark and fled, but however I did it not wanting to pay costly¡­..¡±


    ¡°Can we talk before you leave??¡± Felicity requested, when she saw Diana on her sunsses, fitting her full military sergeant general wears.


    Felicity had arrived at the parking lot with her white Mercedes G-Wagon Benz, Wakin¡¯s on the driver¡¯s seat.


    Diana swept her gaze at her and behind her, Diana could see Wakin¡¯s. Wakins, per say Danny¡¯s face looked like he was apprehended and yes, he was ¡­. Diana being a sergeant general could deduce something was wrong with him or some guilts were taunting him.


    ¡°Okay fine¡­. Ten minutes¡­!¡±, Diana finally gave felicity a response. With that said, one of the soldiers escorting her to the airport Otani was waiting for her in his private jet alighted and then walked over to open the door for Diana.


    ¡°Thank you!,¡±Diana thanked the soldier as she got down.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s it¡­?¡­¡± Diana requested from felicity. Why she had toe all the way and asking if she could talk to her? Felicity is no a renowned wealthy woman that if one has the opportunity of having a discussion with her, he or she is regarded lucky and if one sees her having a talk with Diana, Diana would drastically garner some fame.


    After a brief moment of silence with no response from felicity.. Diana swept her gaze at her again¡­ Everything about felicity now was mild, unlike her from six years ago. The thought of she had an ulterior motive all along aroused a twinge of annoyance. Diana had been impressed by her humble idiosyncratic helpful personality at first and even her looks ¨C those sharply ned cheekbones and those ck, fathomless eyes-but her affable, sympathetic personality grated on her now.


    In Diana¡¯s world, rage equaled passion equaled a good time not feeling angry. Afterall, the fact that Felicity sold the silver ring has led to a bigger discovery. Mark didn¡¯t have a family and in few hours time, he¡¯d officially have a brother who probably would work in hand with him to rescue their mum from Jake¡¯s captive.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡­.¡± Felicity finally gathered the confidence to apologize. ¡°I can help you get it back¡­!¡± She added few momentster of Diana not responding to her. She then bodily gestured she would for real. Diana then smiled at her and then answered.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry governmentb rat! I¡¯m not angry¡­¡±. Felicity felt relieved on her words and of course she would have felt a little pissed! She hated being called a governmentb rat. She was, when she was working as a nurse and Diana would each time use that governmentb rat to chastise her. The name was attributable to the fact that nurses work for long hours and get paid small sries at the end. Because of that felicity had sworn to change profession when the funds came in¡­ And when they did, she did.


    ¡°Thank you!¡± Felicity thanked Diana as she spread her hands wide to hug her.


    They hugged themselves passionately. Diana was still grateful to her.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    ¡°Every dissappointment is a blessing in disguise. The silver ring is safe and you selling it led to a bigger discovery¡­.. I can¡¯t thank you less!¡± Diana whispered to felicity before they freed each other.


    ¡°And how are your kids? They¡¯re fine right? I really do miss them¡­.¡± Felicity pointed out truthfully. She had grew fond of the kids. The kids grew up around her.


    ¡°They¡¯re fine and I bet they miss you too. Don¡¯t worry we would definitelye visiting some other time¡­¡± Diana added, smiling¡­


    Felicity in turn was smiling as she remembered the time she spent with the kids. It was worth it. So lovely. She wanted to ask if Diana had found out about their father but she held back¡­


    ¡°Now, I¡¯ll have to go¡­ Talk some other time on phone. I have your card!¡± With that said, Diana turned and entered the Lamborghini Aventador and after a brief farewell from Felicity the car plied off¡­.


    Felicity stood rooted to the spot. ¡°What discovery did me, selling the silver ring led to?¡­¡± The question just hit her.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am!¡± Wakin¡¯s called from behind.


    ¡°We need to get going¡­.!¡± He added. If people knew the renowned wealthy Felicity was there by her self without securities.. The ce would definitely be flooded with people either asking her for a request or one other thing or the other.


    ¡°Yea, Right¡­ We need to get going¡­ But I¡¯ll need you to do some findings about Diana. I know little about her¡­¡± Felicity said and then started of towards where her G-Wagon Benz was parked.


    Wakin¡¯s was not expecting it. Now, he can¡¯t even say no to her. He already knows alot about Diana and it¡¯s because of what he knows about her that he left his city to this city and even changed his Name from Danny to Wakins.

 Look Alike

    In a iffy, Diana arrived at the airport. Surprisingly, Otani and his men had already been waiting for her.


    Diana upon seeing Otani somewhat excited her that s, she found the father of her triplets and more excited about the thoughts of her children finding out about their real dad!¡­ At least, Jennifer specifically will stop troubling her.


    In the next moment, the door opened from outside and she got down majestically. She wore her sunsses which gave her a more stunning look,plimenting her red gown and blonde coloured hair.


    She walked majestically over to Otani who was waiting for her by the jets stairs. He seemed distracted at first as he stylishly ogled over Diana¡¯s body as she approached.


    ¡°Who¡¯d think thedy from that night turned out to be this beautiful and sexy?¡± Otani thought.


    ¡°Good morning¡­¡± He greeted, scrutinizing her the more.


    ¡°So, finally found her¡­.¡± Otani hummed internally.


    Diana greeted back¡­. She wondered how Otani would react if he found out that the one night stand resulted in triplets;Two boys and a girl and of course Diana was bit thrown away by his kind gestures.


    ¡°Grand master! I have informed the men in Sterling City to await and prepare for your arrival!¡± One burly looking bouncer came from behind and whispered into Otani¡¯s ear. Diana could somehow overhear what he said.


    ¡°Grand master? They call him grandmaster? Guess there is a lot I really don¡¯t know about my children¡¯s father¡­ Maybe he is not just a billionaire antique collector!¡±


    With no much time to waste, the hostess came over and with her help, Diana boarded safely. She was left with her escorts and Otani with three of his men who rarely talked. Among the three men was Oman, his head security.


    At Sterling City private airport there is quite amotion as fleets of cars pulled over to the airports entrance and about fifty men on ck suits alighting. They were Otani¡¯s men and were there to pick up their boss.


    Onlookers and other traveler¡¯s are stopped behind a yellow line as they anticipated the arrival of Otani. Many onlookers were murmuring with anticipation while news broadcaster and bloggers were roaming all over with camera¡¯s and microphone.


    Soon after, Otani stepped down the ne, before him was his three escort and behind him was Diana and her escort.


    Camera¡¯s shlight were all over her and Otani.


    Many are shocked he looked so young and were already making inurate assumptions.


    ¡°He is probably married! He is rumored to have nody around, so who is thatdy behind him?¡±


    Many desperate bloggers who would stop at nothing to make the headlines already started publishing their fake assumptions and facts. Even to the extent of digging deep into Diana.


    Otani¡¯s arrival in few minutes became the trending news of Sterling City.


    Otani¡¯s men who were waiting managed to weaved through the crowd and got Otani and Diana to the waiting fleeting of cars packed outside the airport entrance.


    ¡°Where are we taking you master?¡± Oman, his head security which at the moment can be seen as his personal assistant inquired.


    ¡°Sterling Military Base!¡± He answered and got in, Diana followed and they sat cheerfully at the back of the golden coloured Maybach Mercedes Benz in the middle of about a twenty car fleet.


    Mark was already waiting with aplete anticipation outside his vi. The triplets were asleep; probably exhausted after the morning jogging routine. Mark did well and ensured that they join him in training. They were such azy ass!.


    Few hours ago, Diana texted Mark she has found the ring and is on her way back home! And this prompted his waiting and anticipation. He missed and misses Diana alot and can¡¯t wait to meet her again. The few days Diana was gone felt like a month or like forever and one bad thing over the other.


    Many officers present were already specting what was going on. Why was the president general waiting for her personally? It seems he hasn¡¯t gotten the news!


    ¡°She is noting alone! She ising with the rumored grand master who is allegedly her husband!¡±


    ¡°I wonder what makes her so important!¡±


    Mark, regardless kept on pacing back and forth just outside his vi, asionally checking his wrist watch every now and then.


    ¡°She ought to have arrived! What¡¯s keeping her?¡± Mark cursed. It¡¯s been exactly five hours and the flight from Delta City to sterling city was just four hours!


    ¡°I hope she is well?¡± Mark thought. Even the thought of cing a call over to her crossed his mind. But that would be nonsensical and stupid to a man of caliber, to someone who ims love is not made for him. However, aside missing Diana very much, there is a good news he had to share with her and he can¡¯t wait to, so, it prompted and fueled his anticipation the more.


    ¡°Hannah has been caught! And she is suffering in the dungeons!¡±


    ¡°Owen¡¯s is dead!¡± A bad news though.


    ¡°And finally the truth, he is the kids father!¡±


    ¡°And a lead/clue to finding out about her mother¡¯s whereabouts!¡±


    ¡°And him getting back his silver ring and taking full control!¡±


    That was all Mark could ever ask for. A family of his own! And power!


    ¡°Sir! You should get out of the sun!. She will arrive soon and why are stressing yourself over her? ¡± Richarlison walked up to him and persuaded. The sun was hot and Mark still was under it, all in the name of waiting for his love¡­.. oh I mean Diana.


    ¡°Richarlison!¡­ You¡¯ve been with me all these years and there are things you don¡¯t know about me, just yet¡­¡± Mark sighed grimly.


    Stupefied by what he meant, Richarlison got closer and held his hands closely. He felt Mark was probably going through a lot. Especially since Owen¡¯s passed away.


    ¡°Sir calm down! It¡¯ll be well! And you really need to get out of this hot sun!¡± Richarlison pressed in, persuading him the more. Mark was naturally stubborn and wouldn¡¯t listen but he had to try else he gets sick!


    ¡°Okay!¡± As his words fell, Mark checked his watch again before looking out far ahead, hoping to get a glimpse of an arriving car.


    The moment he turned, he heard the sound of car engines roaring to life.


    ¡°It must be Diana!¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    He turned back excitedly as he looked out far ahead and confirmed, ¡°Diana should be the one arriving!¡±


    But the car seemed different. That was not the car he sent to go pick Diana and boom- he caught sight of over seven, eight, Nine and a score of Ten and finally twenty cars as they halted line by line in front of him.


    The car specifically just opposite him was the gold coloured Maybach Mercedes Benz Diana and Otani was on.


    ¡°Who is it? Wh?? Who?¡±


    Somehow, he felt pissed and terrifiedbined.


    ¡°Why is Diana taking so long? And who the helles to his vi without his prior consent? Not only that¡­. with a fleet of cars?¡±


    As Mark watched closely. He saw a masculine dude alight after one man, obviously his bodyguard opened the door. At the other side of the Car is another person alighting. Who is he? Or she?


    Mark was stupefied when he truly scrutinized the male figure who had just gotten down before him¡­ Even Richarlison too was quite taken back that he had to look at Mark¡¯s face to confirm he is not fake.


    ¡°How the hell does this dude from no where has apelling resemnce with Mark?¡±


    Mark too widened his eyes as he watched the man more closely. When the man removed his sses, Mark couldn¡¯t believe it! Who is he?


    ¡°How on earth can some one have a look alike that is not his brother or rtive?¡±

 Who Is He To You?

    It was no other person than Otani¡­. A Man Like None Other!


    On the other hand, Otani was not so shocked. He has always knew about his big brother and for sure knows they both have a shocking resemnce!


    The other person who alighted at the other side of the car soon came to view. She was Diana!


    Mark felt a huge sense of relief. Finally, she is back home. The space I felt and have had few days ago would finally be filled up. ¡°Oh thank goodness!¡± He felt very thankful but he had to maintain a cold face and not show his feelings and emotions surging through him. He felt like to run to her and hug her deeply, but no ¨C he had toport himself.


    Just then, it struck him like a cord ¨C bam!


    ¡°Why is she with the man who has a striking resemnce with me?¡± At this point, Mark couldn¡¯t ignore the man¡¯s presence. Something about his appearance was beginning to intimidate him.


    ¡°Who is he? And why is she with him? Howe he has a striking resemnce with Mark?¡± Richarlison couldn¡¯t help thinking and racking his brains for an answer.


    Diana too, upon seeing Mark felt a surge of emotions andpletion that he had not felt in a while. Not the motherly emotionalpletion. To be selfish, the personal emotionalpletion. She felt pretty good, something about Marks presence filled her with so much joy! And amusement.


    She immediately walked over not being able to control the emotions skyrocketing through her entire frame and system and embraced Mark dearly. They hugged! For a couple of moments¡­ Almost a minute.. neither of them knew it was almost a minute as they were both swamped in a different world.


    It was cough from Otani that freed both of them.


    ¡°It¡¯s good to have you back!¡± Mark weed Diana.


    Diana swept her gaze at him and then to Richarlison, smiling sheepishly.


    Richarlison just smiled at her.


    ¡°Oh forgive my manners! This is Otani! Mark¡¯s little brother¡­ Step brother to be specific¡­.¡± Diana turned to Mark and introduced Otani to Mark.


    Meanwhile, onlookers were at alert¡­. Listening closely¡­


    For a moment, silence enveloped everyone. Stupefied by the revtion, neither Richarlison nor Mark realized they were still standing under the hot sun!


    ¡°Na na na What? Stop saying nonsense! I have no sibling or step brother, my mum never had another child¡­.¡± Mark brutally cut in immediately. He felt convinced on his stand but with a little reservation. His mum had been away for years and then shees back recently and gets kidnapped¡­. Could it be she had another child while she was away? But, she respected dad too much to have another child for another man. Can¡¯t be right?


    ¡°Talking about mother¡­ She is the reason why I¡¯m here.. was told she was kidnapped by Benjamin! And now I¡¯m here to get her back!¡± Otani for the first time, since his arrival in sterling military base spoke.


    ¡°How? How did you know Jake¡¯s real name is Benjamin?¡± Mark wondered to the extent that he blurted out the question.


    ¡°Smiles¡­ Big brother! To cut the story short¡­ When we rescue mum, she will tell you the whole story¡­ So, are you weing me or not?¡±


    Mark at that point in time paused in his thoughts, not wanting to think much.


    ¡°So, I have a lil bro? Howe my mum never told me? Damn! Well, it¡¯s best we find out soon enough!¡±


    ¡°You punk! Get that mask off!¡± With that said, Richarlison attacked at once and was scratching Otani¡¯s neck and face in the bid to get the mask off. He thought he was definitely wearing a stic mask that simted Mark¡¯s look.


    ¡°But all to no avail! He was not putting on mask!¡±


    Richarlison was shocked at once when Oman sent him flying with a kick.


    ¡°How dare you?¡± Oman¡¯s roared!


    Everyone got silent. Richarlison at that instant felt disgraced and was hot to redeem himself by avenging his grudge. Being a martial artist, his personality was twisted that way.


    ¡°Richarlison¡­. Stop! And provide shelter for them. Take them to the guest house and show them around!¡± Mark instructed at once.


    Meanwhile, Richarlison was groaning internally, more like to tear Oman¡¯s apart, but then again, he was wrong to have attacked his boss thinking he was wearing a mask. Afterall, he would do the same thing if someone attacks Mark.


    ¡°Alright sir!¡± With that said, he saluted.


    ¡°Follow me! And tell your men we have a parking garage. Get this piece of garbages out!¡± Richarlison instructed.


    Oman only scoffed, he was actually referring to luxurious expensive cars as garbages? Innit!


    In a jiffy, Otani and his men followed Richarlison off, but before that. Otani walked up to Mark and slipped something into his fingers¡­. It was the silver ring! The real one!


    Now, it was only Mark and Diana left¡­..


    Mark stood rooted in he spot when Diana suddenly realized, she has not met her kids yet.


    ¡°Where are my kids?¡± Shee inquired vehemently and somewhat  in a worrisome manner. ¡°I hope they¡¯re fine?¡±N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    That kind of startled Mark that it brought him back from thend of thoughts¡­


    ¡°Oh yea¡­ they¡¯re fine! Sleeping in their room and something did happen while you were away¡­..¡± He answered truthfully at once.


    ¡°What did happened?¡± Diana inquired with concern as she hurried into the building¡­ Mark found it hard to follow her fast pace, just before the stairs leading upstair, Mark dragged her arms back that she then ended up wrapped in his broad chest.


    ¡°Who is he to you? And just so you know¡­.. A hero would sacrifice you for the greater good, I have no suchpassion I would burn down this world for you and I know thousand ways to kill a man who tries to take you away from me¡­.¡± Mark told her coldly. His eyes radiating a very serious aura.


    ¡°Com¡¯on stop it! We¡¯re not together. We¡¯ve never been together and him, he is the father of my kids. The man I had sex with six years ago and the bombshell is ¡­ I have my memories back!¡± Diana immediately exined, wanting to free herself. She got terrified from his cold gaze. He is not always like this¡­.. what hase over him? What he said¡­ Was he actually making a confession?


    In a state of mental numbness especially as resulting from shock from the revtion that Mark had just learnt. He released his firm grip on her at once with a dazed expression.


    ¡°What are you saying? I¡¯m the father of those tripletsdy. A paternity test has confirmed that and about Hannah! I found out the truth about her!¡±


    ¡°Oh yea Hannah, I was just going to expose her especially now I have my memories back now¡­. It¡¯s really been her all the while¡­.¡±


    ¡°Ouch, what did you say? A paternity test confirmed you¡¯re the kids father huh? Stop joking around. It¡¯s obviously fake and just like I told you. I have found out their real father! And shocking thing is, my children has always wanted me to marry their real father and he is single¡­ So?¡±


    Mark was short of words at that point in time¡­.


    ¡°But?¡± He blurted out.


    ¡°But what? Yea, I know it exins why my kids have a striking resemnce with you!¡­.¡±


    ¡°And excuse me¡­. I have to go meet my kids¡­¡± With that point made, Diana hurried upstair.


    After she left, Mark prickled himself with the silver ring, Hoping to wake up from a terrible nightmare but no, it wasn¡¯t even a dream. Without hesitation, he hurried upstair as well and stood outside the door and somehow, someway he started eavesdropping.


    ¡°I missed you mummy!¡± A little girls voice rang out excitedly.


    ¡°Mummy missed you all too!¡± She responded.


    Mark imagined the kind of reunion between the mother and her triplet.


    Diana hugging them passionately and kissing them on their forehead.


    Then it started¡­. with Diana telling her kids she has a good news for them¡­

 Who Freed Hannah?

    And there is a good news!¡± Diana excitedly broke out the news which to her was a good one; that she has found out their father, and to even the score, he is the president generals step brother and it exins why they have a resemnce with the president general¡­.


    The three little miracles looked at themselves in shock and confusion at the same time.


    ¡°What are you saying?


    ¡°We already found out who our father is, mummy! No need to continue lying..¡± Jennifer protested immediately. She hated every thought and idea or philosophy that any other man than Mark is her father.


    ¡°Mark is our father!¡± Legacy reported..C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    With a stupefied expression written all over Diana¡¯s face, Legacy continued.


    ¡°All the DNA paternity test result were altered by Hannah. Now, we have found out the truth about her and our Dad being Mark..¡±


    ¡°No no, that can¡¯t be right?. The paternity test he did is obviously still fake. I have my memories back now! And I remember everything now!¡± Diana pressed in.


    ¡°Well, then your memory seem to have a fault then¡­.¡± Stoic took time to narrate the ordeal since she left for Delta City and how they all confirmed Mark is their biological father and even pointed so many facts proving Mark is their father and not whoever she ims to be their father.


    Ranging from Hannah¡¯s evil deeds against them to how three of them and their supposed father, Mark growing fond of each other. However, Stoic forgot to mention Owen¡¯s death as he persuaded his mum to drop the argument and agree with them that Mark is their father.


    Diana was dibobted. She is their mother, yet whenever this issueses up, the kids usually don¡¯t maintain their limit.


    Mark kept on eavesdropping and hoping Diana drops the talk of his supposed step brother being the father of his children.


    Just then, someone tapped on his back twice¡­. It was Richarlison. He looked like someone who had something urgent to report. Of course he did. He had something to report.


    Mark turned abruptly upon the sudden tapping. He looked somewhat shocked to be a man who eavesdrop on mother¡¯s and children private discussion.


    ¡°What¡¯s it?¡± He asked with apressing voice, kind of angrily, as it was just at the most interesting part of eavesdropping that he got tapped, subsequently distracting him.


    ¡°Hannah has escaped!¡± Richarlison reported.


    ¡°What?!¡± Mark heard himself ask as he was not sure what he just heard! He can¡¯t let such evil woman escape!.


    ¡°And those that helped her escape ughtered fifteen from the sixteen cell guards¡­..¡± Richarlison continued¡­


    ¡°How can some mene in and free a prisoner right under our nose! And even kill well trained prison guards? How is that even possible? ¡± Mark brutally spoke with  a raging voice.


    Diana who was busy having a heated argument with her triplets soon realized some persons were talking outside, at that point Mark shouted, and it prompted her to get up.


    ¡°Kids, stay here¡­ Mummy will be back soon enough!¡± With that said, she walked to the door and opened the door to see Mark and Richarlison just at that instant darting out the corridor to the stairs leading downward.


    Diana wondered what the issue must have been to warrant the shouting¡­


    Once, Mark ordered for the investigation of those, be it civilians or officers that helped Hannah escape at once. It was a grievous crime!


    Around 7: 00 pm in the afternoon, the identity of the men had been fished out. Two of them were Hannah¡¯s twin bodyguard who learnt martial art and the three other men happened to be soldiers from mega Ind and inclusively, was a woman, a soldier and a candidate for the female god of War position in the mega Ind military ranks.


    This whole incident was all connected to Jake¡­ Afterall, he has been the one in touch with the mega Ind god of War.


    ¡°They have touched the lion¡¯s tail!¡± Mark asserted violently when he received the news.


    ¡°Bring me these bunch of soldiers and the fucking Jack and Jill¡± He ordered at once. Yea, Jack and Jill are Hannah¡¯s twin bodyguards name and about their capabilities¡­.. Richarlison could attest to that.


    At therge podium at the central field of Sterling City military base were all the officers gathered. Richarlison was the one addressing them about the possibilities of a war breaking out between them and the mega Ind soldiers, so they should be at an alert!


    Meanwhile, Mark still in thought was on his way to the guest house, where his purported step brother is residing currently. Mark was going there to stretch out his ns on rescuing their mum¡­. He might be of help. Although, Mark doesn¡¯t trust him fully yet. How else would someone exin the fact that the day he hosted some guest was the day one of his most important prisoner¡¯s escaped? He thought, but he was just overthinking because he didn¡¯t liked the idea of Otani staying anywhere close to Diana. He felt intimidated by his presence.


    He mentality scrolled through his limited options as he got closer to the guest house and then he saw two figure seated on a bench under a tree-like flower. They were bothughing, smiling and having some cool and fun time interacting.


    As Mark got closer. He saw them two closely ¨C Otani and Diana ¨C


    ¡°No no no no¡­..¡± Thick skin of jealousy covered Mark at once and he became a green eyed monster.


    Now, he wondered if all that hatred didn¡¯t just stem from the fact that he was jealous. Hating someone he ought to be showing love to because he is closely associating with his love?


    ¡°Shit! They¡¯re getting closer by the day¡­ meanwhile, he is not even the kids father!¡± A harsh smile then carved in his mouth.


    Mark paused at his step for a while as he hastily thought of what to do, to at least spoil the romantic moments the duo were having¡­


    He has been having some bad dreams and doubting Hannah being his betrothed. Because if she were, she wouldn¡¯t do some of the deeds she was forced to do regardless. However, Hannah was not just doing all her evil deeds because of her daughter, ra¡­ She was doing them because she was evil and was exerting revenge on Diana.


    Diana on other hand was feeling very very happy and excited. Its been a long while since she had fun like this talking with anyone.


    There was such a great affinity amidst the two. It seemed like Otani was a pretty good joker.


    Mark watched in angry silence as his face contorted and flushed with a red rage.


    ¡°Not anymore.¡± Mark shook his head and started towards them


    Otani bent and touched Diana¡¯s hair, and approaching Mark felt a small pointless re of jealousy intensifying-that he could touch her so carelessly, show his affection without thinking.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like the way they¡¯re getting together¡­.. Especially, since Diana thinks he is her kids father!¡±


    Mark ought to be thrilled, but there was a tearing feeling inside him-a terrible jealousy.

 Proximity Romance (one)

    s, Mark couldn¡¯t¡­. He turned and left unnoticed.


    He walked straight back to his office and instructed one of the officers to inform Diana to make it to his office in the next three minutes¡­. He sounded very serious when he instructed the officer.


    As expected, the officer did as he was told.


    Diana was standing opposite Otani when the officer arrived. She was having it difficult to tell Otani the truth, that the one night led to three kids? How would she present it to him? How would he react when he finds out? Will he ept them? it aroused curiosity and spections within her.


    And now, an officer just informed her the president general wants to see her in his office immediately.


    Diana spected on why?¡­ Still, she can¡¯t disobey. He is the president general¡­


    So, she left in a hurry, leaving Otani curious and ¨C the way Diana left and walked in a graceful way, which usually made people turn their heads to watch her go by got Otani as well.


    On her way, Stoic barged into her unexpectedly. They were on holidays so they had the privilege of walking around the military base freely but Diana had instructed them not to leave the house due to the danger Jake was imposing.


    ¡°H¡­ he¡­ hey, mummy!¡±  Stoic said in shock. He was not expecting to bump into his mum. He had gone out in search of an hibiscus flower for her sister. Jennifer dared her to.


    ¡°Oops! What are you doing outside?!¡± Diana said angrily as she put a hand out to steady him. She always hated being disobeyed.


    ¡°Momma, I¡¯m sorry!¡± Stoic immediately started to apologize, his tone indicating a sincere apology.


    Diana went silent momentarily. She had her memories now and something about being called ¡°momma¡± tickled her. Her parents left Sterling City since her 18th birthday. They sort of disowned her for a reason, but however she built Investmentpanies and bigpanies like Diana oilspany that Jake took away from her through their divorce.


    ¡°Momma please¡­ I won¡¯t disobey your orders again¡­¡± Stoic stretched her apologies further. Up close Stoic could see how tired his mother looked. There were dark half-moons under her eyes, and her lids were pearly with sleeplessness. ¡°I hope she is been sleeping? Didn¡¯t she sleptst night? Something is probably bothering her?¡± Stoic discerned. And of a truth, she didn¡¯t sleep thest night. She had been thinking of a way through to Otani, about her kids¡­


    ¡°Okay fine. Go back home and don¡¯t leave without my permission again!..¡± Diana said which means, she already forgave her.


    ¡°Okay mum, I promise!¡± Stoic responded and then he was gone, with a funny apologetic duck of the head.


    Afterwards, Diana continued hastily to the president generals office as the bitter memories of why her parents disowned her came flowing and settling down in her memory.


    ¡°But it was not my fault he died!¡± Diana tried to push the thoughts off but she couldn¡¯t as she entered the elevator leading to the 85th floor, where Mark¡¯s office was.


    In a blink of an eye, she was standing before the office door. The pennon attached on it was the President General Office! The way the door alone was made and designed exuded that only someone of his rank can assume such office.


    After she heaved a sigh to clear her head of the many thoughts, she twisted the door knob and let herself in.


    Mark was standing before the window, staring at the most powerful and luxurious military base that ever existed.


    His jacket was off. Wearing just a regr white top that matched his ck trousers.


    ¡°Sir!¡± She saluted at once.


    After freeing herself she added, ¡°You sent for me!¡±


    Mark still kept quiet and didn¡¯t even bother to turn to see who it was that saluted him. Though, he already knew who it was, he smelled her presence the moment she stepped into the office and somehow it refreshed him from the awful thoughts he was having against Otani.


    ¡°It better not be true that he is the father of those kids!¡± And infact, he already informed Richarlison to dig out more about Otani and it reminded him of Danny. Danny was always the one he asked for such important information digging but he was still reportedly missing. Richarlison still hasn¡¯t been able to pin point his whereabout, dead or alive? He didn¡¯t know. So, Mark urged him to take finding Danny serious!


    After waiting for over a minute, Mark finally turned¡­


    ¡°I have an assignment for you!¡± He broke the silence.


    ¡°An assignment? Since her arrival at Sterling military base, she had never be assigned to any task, even if, definitely not by the president general!¡­. But, why all of a sudden?¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡± Diana responded, paying attention the more..


    ¡°Uhmm.. since you¡¯re less busy..  I¡¯d like you to inspect the junior officers for the rest of the day and as welle join in my vi, you¡¯re bing my vice personal assistant¡­¡± Mark detailed, as he stared at Diana who was dumbstruck.


    It¡¯d be a dreame through for many officers, being the president general vice personal assistant, it¡¯d give them more opportunities to get closer to him. But it was a hell no for Diana. She didn¡¯t wanted to get closer to Mark, infact that was the reason she has decided to make friends with Otani for a substitution, perhaps marry him, since he is her kids father. Getting close to someone like Mark would only bring her and her kids trouble in a way.


    If it were about the inspection, she would immediately agree. She loved inspecting the junior officers especially, just that it¡¯d be extremely stressful and she won¡¯t get time to talk with Otani afterwards ¨C that was what Mark wanted. Preupy her with so much workloads that she wouldn¡¯t have time for Otani.


    ¡°I take your silence for Yes!, So, get to work¡­.!¡± Mark said inly. He knew Diana waspletely hesitant but he had to force it on her.


    Just then, the door to the office opened. Richarlison walked in majestically with a poster in his hand. A picture of Danny was on it, the poster proimed ¡°Wanted¡±.


    ¡°Sir!¡± Richarlison saluted.


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    ¡°I need permission to disburse of the posters!¡± Richarlison reported with a requesting tone.


    ¡°Okay go on!¡± Mark gave out his go ahead.


    It was at that moment Diana who was thinking of declining being the president general vice personal assistant turned to behold the sight of the poster.


    ¡°Wanted?¡±


    ¡°Hey!¡± She called out to Richarlison who was about turning at once and he stopped.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I have seen him before¡­ The man on the poster! And his name is not Danny! His name is Wakins, Felicity¡¯s new personal assistant!¡± Diana detailed at once. She knew if she didn¡¯t, they may not believe her.


    ¡°Stop joking around woman! He was my ssmate and a very good friend, not until he went missing! His name is Danny!¡±  Mark cut her off immediately thinking she must have mistook someone else for Danny. Afterall people can have look alikes.


    ¡°No sir, I mean it! I saw him at Delta city. He is Felicity¡¯s personal assistant. The friend I told you must know about the whereabouts of the silver ring!¡± Diana retorted..


    ¡°I mean it. I¡¯m sure of it!¡± She added.


    Mark nced at Richarlison who in turn nced at her.


    ¡°Was she telling the truth?¡± They both wondered.


    ¡°Bring him before me!¡± Mark ordered. With a salute, Richarlison left after he collected the necessary information from Diana.


    ¡°See you at my vi immediately you¡¯re done with the inspection!¡± Mark said after Diana was set to leave. She felt she could stall the two options left for her ¨C ept or decline- by just leaving the office immediately.


    After she left, Mark checked his drawer, in search of a file. A file that contained the a paper; a paper that had the mark of an ovepping circle inscribed on it. He was beginning to suspect something fishy.


    Mark then scrutinized the mark further. It was indeed familiar, just like the mark on Hannah¡¯s thigh¡­ Same mark he thought he had seen on Diana¡¯s thigh, the day he saw her Naked!


    Just then an officer walked into the office.


    He had also called for him.


    ¡°Sir!¡± He saluted¡­ He was the officer Mark assigned to fish out those people that helped Hannah escape.


    ¡°The soldiers sent over to apprehend the officers and Jack and Jill were found dead with a paper conveying a message!¡± The officer quickly reported.


    ¡°What?¡± Mark eximed in extreme surprise.


    ¡°Here is the paper!!¡± The officer brought out the paper and gave it to Mark.


    Mark quickly collected it and unfolded it, the words were written with a blood ink. Obviously, was signed by the god of War of mega Ind. He was the only one who had the signature attached.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    The message on if read ¡°WAR!¡±..


    ¡°It seem they¡¯re asking for war¡­  Get the officers ready for an impromptu war!¡± Mark roared to life immediately.


    Meanwhile , Hannah had just sessfully got to Jake¡¯s hideout and was given just five minutes to meet with her daughter¡­.


    They were going to take her daughter, ra away from her since she failed her mission.

 Connect The Dots!

    Diana was on her way out when her phone reminder rang out loudly. It was a reminder that the next court day was tomorrow, the day the case was adjourned to. A perfect ce to nab Jake! So, she immediately texted Mark at once informing him. But, would Jake be foolish enough to show up when he knows he is on the wanted list of the president general? Would he be the kind of a man who won¡¯t show up at the court to pursue the custody of his kids?


    However, Diana had nothing much to worry about as ncy, herwyer assured her that she would do anything to ensure she wins the case and Diana trusted her fully since she has recorded a lot of wins and was one of the bestwyers in sterling city and beyond. Little did she know that Jake had already approached ncy. But would ncy take his offer considering what Mark did to her in the past? He fucking left her in the fucking freaking alter on their wedding day!


    Meanwhile, Otani on the other hand was getting bored since Diana left so, he decided to take a stroll, behind him was Oman. Oman, his personal assistant always follows him anywhere he goes¡­. to ensure he is protected. He swore allegiance to his father, Jason, mega Ind god of War to protect his son. He was in histe 60¡¯s but still agile enough to perfect his role as the god of war of mega Ind. Same mega Ind that is alluring sterling city for war. Otani didn¡¯t know of the possible war that would break out.


    His stepbrother was going to wage a war against his father. His stepbrothers stepfather¡­¡­¡­.. and his mother was held captive by a man who was working hand in hand with his father, the god Of War. Otani himself didn¡¯t know Jake was working with his father so?¡­. He only knew Jake took his mother and he is here to rescue her.


    Even Jason who was being allured and fueled by Jake to ask for war didn¡¯t know Jake was holding his ex wife captive¡­.


    Just then Otani sighted a very young and handsome boy and he called out to him. The boy was stoic, he didn¡¯t pay heed to her mum¡¯s warning still! He had just gotten the hibiscus flower and was on his way home when the voice with a hint of distance called him.


    He stoped and turned, he shivered at first. He didn¡¯t knew this figure and he can¡¯t trust anybody, he could be working for Jake¡­.. So, he took to his heels and ran as fast as he could¡­.


    Otani wondered why he ran away¡­. Otani¡¯s intention were genuine and one was just to make friends with him. He liked how he was neatly dressed, and his nerdy looks gave him joy. He used to dress that way when he was younger.. Otani didn¡¯t just get opportuned to see how Stoic looked. He only saw him from quite a distance.


    He had almost forgotten about the young boy when he asked some passer by- officers- about the kid and then he was told the most shocking truth.


    ¡°Oh, the only kids in this military base are those of the surgeon general Diana. Triplets to be precise!¡± These words resounded in his mind.


    Diana has kids already? Well, she could have. It¡¯s been six years after all¡­. But? One of the Triplets he had seen earlier looked to be around 5-6 of age?


    After collecting the address of Diana abode, he and Oman behind him started off to Diana¡¯s abode. Every once of Otani was for her to see the kids.. he couldn¡¯t figure out why, but he knew he wanted to meet them, and probably get acquainted with the kids and even befriend them since he was already taking a liking to their mother! And one of them, the nerdy looking boy.


    On his way, he remembered that day clearly, it was on February 14th, the valentines day. His workaholic one month pregnant wife was on her way from work when she got into a ident and died on the spot. It was due to gruesome pain that he ended up in a bar and there, he had a one night stand with ady he has been looking for.


    But is Diana really thedy? Thedy from that night was slim, unlike Diana who was average. Then again, Diana definitely is, she remembered him.


    Note ¨C Diana had her memories back but the event at the bar she remembered was unclear. She naturally misconceived the man for Otani, he looked just like him or maybe he is the man¡­


    Few minutester, Otani got to Diana¡¯s abode and he was stopped by the national guards guarding the gate. After a careful inspection, they let them in with two guards following them, peradventure anything goes wrong. The head guard got a permission from Diana when he ced a call over to her informing her a man by the name Otani wanted to see her kids.


    Diana initially hesitated but ended up giving him the go ahead After all he was going to meet them soon enough too and bombshell is, meet them as their father. Guess he has to cease this opportunity to bond with them.


    Otani smiled when he realized how heavily guarded Diana¡¯s abode was. He even had to specte on how that little boy was able to sneak out under the watchful gazes of this National guards¡­ He seem smart too! He immediately deduced.


    Stoic, Legacy and Jennifer were in the parlour when Otani walked up to them. With two of the national guards behind him they were not scared. Also, Stoic had gisted his siblings about the man that called him earlier that made him ran like never before, not only that, he had given his siblings a vivid sketch of the man with his literary abilities thus, with just Legacy and Jennifer turning to look Stoic who in turn nodded, deduced that this must be the man.


    However, the three little miracles felt frightened by one intruding figure. He was Oman. When Otani noticed that, he sent Otani out. He didn¡¯t wanted to scare the kids before him. They looked so adorable and what bothered him the most was that the kids looked like him. ¡°Are the kids for my stepbrother? Mark? The president general?¡±


    He stood scrutinizing the three little Rugrats closely. That it kind of upsetted them.


    They knew before the guards let them, they must have seeked for the prior consent of their mother.


    Now, why would their mother let this man meet them? Was this the man mum imed to be our father? Daddy¡¯s stepbrother?N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Otani mentally was busy connecting the dots¡­


    //// They look to be around 5-6 of age and I had sex with their mother six years ago¡­ Could I be the father of these kids? I can¡¯t be right? I¡¯m Impotent. Even myte wife was pregnant with the child of a sperm donor. Let me ask them who their father is!!////

 Anything To Own The Kids!

    Otani squatted at once and asked gently, which made Jennifer liked him


    ¡°Who is your father?¡±


    By this time, the guards had retreated some metres backward.


    ¡°Mark is our Daddy¡­..¡±  Jennifer responded excitedly. After a moment of letting her response register she continued excitedly, ¡°You must be his stepbrother mummy was telling us about? Right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I am!¡± Otani responded and a smile shed across his face, trying to suppress something? What was it? He didn¡¯t know why her response drilled a hole in his heart.


    ¡°Before your mum arrive¡­ let¡¯s y a game!¡± He immediately stalled the scenery into a brighter one and as time proceeded they started ying a game , an interesting one as four of them enjoyed it. Otani didn¡¯t mind at all. He was loving the kidspany, they were smart and sensitive and it got him excited and stimted his yful aspect. He had not had such fun since thest six years of his life. It was such a relief for him to finally to be able to ease himself.


    Meanwhile, Diana was at patrol field and just finished inspecting the Junior officers in their training. She was utterly exhausted as she prepared to go back home and as well inform her kids they¡¯d be moving to the president generals vi since she was now the vice personal assistant to the president general.


    She was on her way when a military transport car zoomed and halted close to her. It was the kind of car used for easy transportation in the military base. She entered at once, after all she waspletely exhausted. The person on the driver¡¯s seat was a female officer, she need not be told where Diana was heading.


    ¡°Congrattions!¡± She congratted Diana as the car engines ignited. Diana just deduced it was obviously because of her new position as the vice personal assistant to the president general. News spread like wildfire in this big base!. In such a short time, everyone had learnt about it.


    Sooner, Diana arrived home and she saw Oman by the entrance which reminded her about Otani¡¯s visit. She hummed and said to herself, ¡°He is still inside with the kids¡­ they must have such a great affinity then!¡±


    Momentster, she went to join them despite being exhausted. Her kids weed her warmly but Otani¡¯s attitude towards her changed like switching the bulb off. That was obviously because he found out Diana had kids for his stepbrother.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get going now!¡± He said after a minute of Diana¡¯s arrival.


    He didn¡¯t wasted any more time before he left. The kids didn¡¯t mind either. They understood and knew he was somewhat healing from a disappointment.


    On his way, he overhead some female officers doing ¡°aproko¡± as Nigerians call it, in order words gossiping¡­ What slipped into his hearing was the name ¡°Diana¡±N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    ¡°She is now the vice personal assistant to the president general!¡±  One of the officers informed her counterpart.


    ¡°What was the need of president general making her his vice personal assistant when she should be firstdy? Or maybe they were yet to marry, but she had kids for him already¡±.. Otani spected.


    Just then Diana ran up to him, she was curious why he changed attitude all of a sudden and left few minutes after she arrived. She deduced something must have unsettled him and she wanted to find out.


    ¡°Hey.. why are you acting up?¡± She inquired with a concerned expression when she finally caught up with Otani.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t tell me you had triplets for my step brother!¡± He answered truthfully almost immediately he heard the question. More like he had been expecting it.


    Diana was half shocked, his tone denoted he was angry.


    ¡°Oh no, he is not their father in actual fact. That¡¯s was what I tried discussing with you earlier today. The one night stand was what resulted in the triplets¡­ ! Never had sex with him!¡± Diana quickly exined and afterwards realized it must be the kids who told him Mark was their father.


    Stunned by the revtion, Otani in way thanked God so much in his heart. He was impotent and can¡¯t have a child, but miracles happen? Who would have thought the one night stand resulted in three babies?.


    Otani would cease the opportunity and make sure he owns the kids, even if he doesn¡¯t. Their mother said he is their father afterall.. Six years ago he lost his pregnant wife due to a car ident. It was a sperm donor that impregnated her. He needed a child and that was the only alternative that he found befitting. Now, thedy he supposedly had sex with that night of the terrible incident, got pregnant and had triplets¡­. reportedly, he is their father!

 A Dream

    The early morning of the next day was mostly deserted. The air was crisp and morning-clean, the leaves already thickly covering the pavement in sheets of red, gold, and dark green. Mark kicked them aside as he made his way under the stone archway at the north end of the military base to the cemetery where Owen¡¯s was buried.


    In a blink of an eye, he was standing before Owen¡¯s grave and feeling aplete pain and guilt eat him up in addition with a tense one unfurling in his chest. If he should y the me game, his betrothed was responsible for Owens death, but he didn¡¯t. He feltpletely disappointed as to how Hannah was able to make a fool out of him.


    But still, If not Owen¡¯s made it a necessary prerequisite that he marries Charity Wakins granddaughter, all this wouldn¡¯t have happened¡­.


    ¡°I¡¯ll ensure I send her toe join you in your new world¡­.¡± Mark promised and then forcefully took a deep breathe of fresh air.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    He turned to look at his left and then his right. There were few other people around ¨C National guards guarding the perimeters and other soldiers already going to start their early morning training and jogging.


    With a shaky breath, he dropped a piece of silver on Owen¡¯s grave and then left.


    Meanwhile, Diana¡¯s Triplets were already up awake, getting ready to go join the president general in his abode.


    The three little Rugrats were all excited as they walked to their mum¡¯s room to wake her up. She had told them to, peradventure she doesn¡¯t wake up early. She was overstressed from supervising the junior officers, thus, she knew the exhaustion could make her sleep pass time.


    Otani took out a dagger and raising it high,  he shed it across Mark¡¯s face without an ounce of hesitation.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry brother. I¡¯ll ensure everything you have ever loved fades away like a stream!¡±


    ¡°No!!!!!¡± Diana shouted on beholding the sight, Mark was tied to a chair and Otani was holding a sharp knife that he was obviously going to use on Mark.


    Diana abruptly jolted out of the bed, her back and pyjamas drenched in cold sweats.


    ¡°Mummy?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong mummy?¡±


    The kid¡¯s needed no extra body to confirm their mum had just woken up from a terrific nightmare.


    In a sh, the three little Rugrats were all over their mum, gazing at her in utmost  concern. She was wondering if the fear she felt and was feeling was showing in her face, she didn¡¯t wanted to get her kids worried.


    As Diana nced around the room at the familiar furnitures and the three little Rugrats beside the bed, she gradually gathered her wits about her.


    ¡°Oops! It¡¯s just a nightmare. Otani can¡¯t possibly hurt Mark right? Mark is in deep trouble¡­ But..?¡± She thought, her heart mming against her chest heavily.


    ¡°I hope Mark is okay?¡± Eagerness, curiosity, worry and concern crept into her in unison immediately. She felt Mark was in danger. ¡± The Dream felt so real!¡±


    Hugging her children tightly, she reassured them in a choked voice, ¡°I¡¯m fine. I had a nightmare. A terrible one, but don¡¯t worry I¡¯m fine!¡± She felt a bit relieved when she sensed the warmth of her adorable triplets.


    The sense of the triplets warmth reminded her of six years ago. How Jake betrayed her for his selfish gains¡­ How he cheated on her with his best friend Hannah¡­ how she ended up in a bar and had sexual intercourse with man, she thinks is Otani. When she got to the reminder point of the man she had the one night stand with, she felt a sharp pain echo in her head that every image got blurred. It took her a moment to recollect herself¡­


    ¡°Let¡¯s get ready. We¡¯ll be moving to the president generals ward!¡± She said as she got off the bed.


    Today happened to be the day, the court case was re adjourned to. Otani was already well Informed and he won¡¯t let Jake take custody of his kids. He had came with Diana to sterling city to rescue his mum from his captive and now he has found one more good reason for him to have been here.


    Same as, Mark. He won¡¯t let anyone take CUSTODY of his kids and to even sum it up, he was not afraid of Otani taking them, though intimidated by him. He was only afraid of Jake who is keeping his mum captive. What would he do if he kills her?


    Mark had already made arrangements for some well trained medical doctors to follow them to the court should in case he needed to prove he is the kids father, he felt so confident now that he has already contacted Dr James who reassured him. And also, he already gathered a squad of soldiers to nab Jake ones they gat their eyes on him. To Mark, he was a criminal and a kidnapper! and that¡¯s a simple truth.


    Richarlison was out of Sterling City to bring Danny back!. Richarlison¡¯s absent was also one of the reasons that prompted Mark to appoint a personal vice assistant, Diana¡­.. She could possibly substitute for Richarlison¡¯s aid untill he returns.

 His Guilt

    It was finally the court day. Many people were present in therge supreme court room. Ranging from outsiders, journalist to Diana, her three little Rugrats, and finally to Mark and his entourage, however there was a oddness in the air as Jake was apparently absent but hiswyer and some of Jake¡¯s men were present to pursue the case.


    Jake had instinctively knew he is a major target and a suspect of the abduction of the missing of Flora, the president generals mother and thus, he can¡¯t just show up and let himself get caught. Although, the abduction is not made to the public yet.


    Otani on the other hand and his men and awyer, supposedly hiswyer arrived a little bitte. He was there to ensure Jake doesn¡¯t win the case and gets custody of his children.


    Meanwhile, Mark on the other hand has brought along some medical doctors to carry out a paternity test to prove that he is the father of the kids.


    Diana sat closely to herwyer ncy, whose face was filled with so emotions underneath. She seemed angry and ufortable at the same time seeing Mark. His fiance who abandoned her at the alter.


    Few minutester, the judge arrived and the court formalities began. In a jiffy,  the judge gave out the order for ncy, the defendantwyer and her rival, the intiffswyer to defend their clients.


    Jake¡¯swyer was the first to speak. He spoke eloquently and confidently in a persuasive manner, making substantial points that Diana was already pregnant before she divorced Jake. He even had to call Diana out for questioning. He further asked if she did had sex with Jake the day before he caught him cheating on her and she replied truthfully, ¡®Yes! But I was barren!¡±


    ¡°How could you have given birth to triplets if you were barren?¡± The intiffwyer retorted which in turn kept Diana mute. Even she was confused how she was able to get pregnant Despite being barren.


    Then the intiffwyer continued ¡± No doubt, that night¡­. you forced Jake to release his semen inside of you to see if you can get pregnant right? And just that week, your doctor advised that you have sex with jake regrly since there were 50% chance you could get pregnant¡­¡± The intiffwyer concluded and then turned to the crowd and then to judge as he buttressed his point..


    ¡°Were you cheating on your husband?¡± He then turned to Diana and inquired.


    ¡°Objection!¡± ncy tried to object to cut off the questioning but the Judge overruled it and asked the intiffwyer to proceed.


    Diana finally answered after a bit of hesitation. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t cheated on him¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s it my lord¡­. If Jake is not responsible and is father of the triplets. The only exnation is that you were also cheating on him and now you already cleared the air you didn¡¯t cheated, so, who else can be their father?. And mind you, your husband only cheated because he wanted a child, a heir. Everyman wants a sessor and we all would most likely go to any extent to have one¡­¡± The intiffwyer finally began, seemed like the ne was only warming up¡­


    ¡°If you had sex regrly with your husband for a week and you didn¡¯t get pregnant. How then was a one night stand with some man, supposedly the president general get you pregnant?¡± On letting the question register, tension arose in Mark and even murmuring in the court room began to erupt.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Otani however felt his chance was getting lower. ¡°Jake was not the man from that night! I was and Diana can prove that!¡± He said to himself and then prompted hiswyer to do something.


    The judge then turned to ncy, and asked.


    ¡°What do you have to say?¡±


    Immediately, ncy cleared up her throat and went over to start defending her clients ¨C but she had another option. Jake had met with her and asked her for her help. He told her that if he is not the kids real father, then Mark should be their father, since Mark imed so and the kids having a striking resemnce with him.  ncy, on the other hand, had been looking for ways to make Jake pay for what he did to her at the sacred alter on their wedding day. He fucking abandoned her at the alter¡­ after all the sacrifice she did  for him. She lost her parents support system because they warned her never to marry a military man.


    Since that Day, she erased men from her dictionary. ¡°Taking his kids away from him won¡¯t be bad!¡± She concluded after a nce at Mark who was in turn buried his face in guilt.

 The Verdict

    Then ncy began¡­.


    All the while, Jake was watching the whole case from head to toe using hisptop. One of his men had a sound video recorder with high audio signal pick-up on. It was small and couldn¡¯t be easily seen. He attached it to his T-shirt pocket and one would think it was a button.


    Jason, The mega Ind god of War too was watching and listening. He was with Jake in his hideout orchestrating his ns to strike at Sterling city defense again.


    He was bowled over when the camera caught Otani.


    ¡°Wait wait wait¡­. Backward the video a bit!¡± He hastily said with a shocking surprised voice.


    ¡°He was like, isn¡¯t that my son? Otani? What¡¯s he doing here in sterling city?¡±


    He watched the particr clip the camera caught Otani over and over again and s, it was really his son. But what is he doing in sterling city? To even the score, what is he doing in the supreme court?


    As Jake continued watching the live session happening at the court, Jason instructed one of his men to make research about Otani¡¯s whereabouts right the minute.


    Few minutester, his man came back and reported to him privately.


    ¡°He resides in sterling city military base currently!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± He was extremely surprised and stricken with some emotions he couldn¡¯t decipher. He however was able to hide his shock from Jake. He had initially stalled the conversation when Jake asked him why he asked him to see the clip that caught Otani over and over again. Besides, there were other people caught on the screen and Jake can¡¯t possibly deduced who in particr so he also asked one of his men to see what he can find or deduce in the clip.


    Jason quickly excused himself and ced a call over to Otani but his phone was however unreachable. Of course! It¡¯d be unreachable since there is one rule when inside the court. ¡°Switch of your phone or put it on flight or airne mode¡±


    Meanwhile at the court, ncy was stylishly giving the judge reasons to give the custody of the kids to Jake and more reasons insinuating and buttressing that Jake is their real father.


    ¡°What¡¯s she doing?¡± Diana thought, but before she could act. ncy was already done¡­..


    Even Mark and Otani didn¡¯t understand what had just happened.


    ¡°ncy was supposed to be defending her and not¡ª- oh no¡­¡± It was at this point in time it struck Mark.


    ¡°Jake is definitely behind this¡­..¡±


    Otani found himself erupting with some anger. He was not a durd to not know that ncy was doing all that purposely and in the favour of her rival. He knew there was more behind the clouds.


    Then the sound of gavel roared through the court room indicating everyone should get silent and everyone stopped murmuring, then the noise died down. ¡­


    ¡°Sentence to be carried out immediately.¡±  The banging of the gavel roared in Diana¡¯s ear as she let out a long breathe.


    ¡°Is this the end?¡± She thought.


    Before the judge could continue, a voice rang out loudly.


    ¡°My Lord!¡±


    Then the tall youn man walked forward. He saw Otani¡¯swyer.


    ¡°Yes?¡± The judge demanded.


    Otani heaved a sigh of relief , maybe hiswyer can get the judge to adjourn the case.


    Thewyer immediately Introduced himself known and presented his im.


    Otani being the father of the triplets and not Mark¡­


    Otani is Mark¡¯s step brother¡­..


    And Diana confirmed it¡­.


    And he requested that a paternity DNA test be redone on the kids, and that the ones already presented are most likely fake.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Mark furrowed his brows, confusedly ¨C he was being beaten in his own game.


    The doctors did their test, taking almost an hour and it came out zero for Otani who Diana imed to be the kids father. There were no need to match them with Mark.


    So, in conclusion, Jake was obviously their father!. However, he was absent from the court that suggested some thoughts to the judges.


    At the end after a brief discussion between the judges, the sound of the gavel roared to life, indicating the judge was just about to pass a verdict or adjourn the case.


    Everyone kept quiet in anticipation on what was about happening.


    Diana kept her hands in her chest, Totally afraid the oue may not favour her.


    ¡°Given theck of violence or attitudes that are detriment to the children¡¯s growth in both parents, I am inclined to give a probation. But the fact that the children has stayed with their mother for the past six years without knowing who their father is  suggest that the childrencks the full parental support system they ought to enjoy. For that reason, I find it incumbent that the children stays three years with their father, Mr Jake.¡± The judged paused, gazed at the documents on his desk and continued.


    ¡°We¡¯ll supervise the children¡¯s three years stay with their father and if he doesn¡¯t parent them well, we¡¯ll give their custody to their mother! And from the evidence provided, Mr Jake is their biological and legal guardian henceforth!¡± The judge concluded and he banged the gavel indicating his verdict was final.


    At that instant, Diana felt her heartbeat slower by the seconds¡­ leaving her light and dizzy.  The dizzying sense of weightlessness soon intensified.


    Despite all that her husband had done to her¡­.. all the pains¡­.


    He took her kids away from her¡­..


    What could she do without them?


    So, Otani is not even their father? Jake is¡­? Unbelievable. That demon can¡¯t be their father!

 Set Up!

    Diana copsed in the supreme court room and Mark quickly ran to help her and at least revive her. Her body was instantly weak, but her mind and will were alive.


    Otani stood, still healing from the shock of the paternity DNA test report that came out. It was zero percent chance for him! So, he was not even the kids father? Damnit! He had high hopes but everything has already shattered, left for him to find and focus on his mum who Jake has reportedly kidnapped.


    Mark on the other hand couldn¡¯t think straight. His beloved had lost consciousness. The doctor didn¡¯t waste time on reviving her to face the reality that her kids would be taken away from her for the next three years¡­.. or more..


    *****


    At Jake¡¯s hideout. Jason was already nning onunching an attack on Sterling military base with all his mega Ind soldiers but he can¡¯t give the order now. His only son was in the sterling military base.


    Jake was super excited when he watched the judge gave the verdict. He expected it, he had it all nned perfectly and kudos to ncy!.


    Next target  was to get  the silver ring in exchange for his mum¡­ that¡¯s if he wants her alive¡­.


    Just then his phone chirped with a message from his personal aid and it read ¡°We found one of the men caught on the screen to be Otani Jason, mega Ind god of war¡¯s only son!¡± Jake lookedpletely shocked at that, his lips parting slightly in surprise, as if this had never urred to him. Of course, he did had a son¡­


    Jake sank back against the couch cushions and thenughed, hisugh was a humorless bark. Then another message arrived on his phone and be quickly flipped it open and this new message read ¡°Flora is apparently the mother of Otani, his son¡­.. .¡± Jake was so bbergasted and marveled about this revtion that he stood up and paced to his desk, hands locked behind his back. ¡°kings of cards game!¡± he smiled Diabolically.


    He had a n¡­.


    Otani has gone back to Sterling military base devastated and disappointed at the same time. He was sipping an alcohol when a message arrived on his phone but he ignored it. It was when the harsh ring of the telephone cut through his daze that he jumped back as if he¡¯d not be soaking himself with alcohol, though he hadn¡¯t moved. He stared at the phone and then to the bottle of liquors for a moment, in wild confusion, like he found himself suddenly transported to a strangendscape where nothing was familiar.


    Upon reaching for the phone that rested on the desk beside the spice rack. ¡°Hello?¡± He sounded normal, but his chest was rising and falling fast. He could still feel the pounding of his heart in his throat, like the fluttering wings of an insect trapped under his skin. ¡°It¡¯s Jake¡­. Bring the silver ring in exchange for your mother before the next ten hours pses!¡± The voice at the other end rang through seriously.


    After a brief moment the voice continued.


    ¡°This is between us! Or else she dies!¡±


    ¡°Prove she is still alive¡­..¡± Otani finally said a word, he initially doubted.


    ¡°Son¡­ Son¡­.. don¡¯t co- don¡¯t¡­¡± A voice rang through the cellphone. A familiar voice, obviously his mother¡­. Flora.


    ¡°You heard her¡­.. Don¡¯t waste any more time!¡± The caller, Jake added.


    ¡°Wait¡­.. The silver ring alone? Don¡¯t worry you gat it but I need visual evidence that my mum is fine!¡± He demanded then the phone call ended.


    It didn¡¯t take more than a minute before the phone rang again, Otani was already expecting it but this time it was a video call. He quickly picked it to see his mum tied to a chair. Upon Flora seeing her son she immediately started blinking her eyes very fast¡­ Then the video call ended.


    Visual proof confirmed!


    ¡± When you have the silver ring, contact us for us to drop location! Remember, just ten hours!¡± The message that sprang up read so.


    After he read the message , Otani only smiled derisively and then said¡­


    ¡°Iud his guts!¡±


    He then dashed out calling out to Oman, his personal bodyguard and informing him about the case at hand.


    To get the ring, he has to go collect it from Mark without his notice. He can¡¯t risk telling Mark the condition at hand as it may result in their mother¡¯s death¡­.. So, he started of towards the president generals vi.


    Mark and Diana were seated on a couch in Marks bedroom. The kids had been taken away to the government parental sector, obviously a ce Jake would have to go to finalize owing the custody of the kids. Mark had his men strictly put their eyes on that area, that one¡¯s Jake shows up, they¡¯d trail him and feed him the necessary details.


    Then Diana rose to her feet, not looking at Mark, and then she went into the bathroom. She stood looking at herself in the mirror, numbness spreading through her bones. Her face was covered in smears of her tears. It reminded her that her three cute little adorable triplets would now be living with that devil who ims to be their father and it hurt her. Her bra straps had snapped, probably where Mark had yanked on it few minutes ago. Her eyes were surrounded with smeared ck stripes of mascara, and her skin and hair were sticky with Mark scent.


    Feeling faint and sick, she stripped off the slip dress and her underwear, tossing them into the wastebasket before crawling into the hot water.


    She washed her hair over and over again, trying to get the dried dirt oil ¨C her hair had rubbed ¨C gunk out. It was like trying to wash out oil paint. The scent of it lingered too, like the water from a vase after the flowers have rotted, faint and sweet and spoiled on her skin. No amount of soap seemed to be able to get rid of it.


    Finally convinced she was as clean as she was going to get, she dried off and went to the master bedroom Mark had given to her in the president general vi to get dressed up. She was supposed to live with her kids here!. However, It was a relief to climb back into jeans and boots and slip on afortable cotton sweater. It was only then, as she pulled on her second boot, that the nagging feeling returned, the feeling that she was missing something. She froze ¨C


    Then a knock on the door was heard¡­. She didn¡¯t respond but he instinctively knew who it was¡­. Mark definitely. Only him, Richarlison and her stays here now and Richarlison doesn¡¯t have any businessing to her bedroom and to even sum it up, he is out of the city to fetch Danny, who is now Wakins..


    She looked up to see Mark walking in, he seemed freshened up already.


    Diana had never really trusted beautiful boys which was why she somehow hated Mark. From the first time she everid eyes on him, simr to Jake¡­C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Can I sit?¡± He requested humbly.

 A Passionate Kiss

    With a nod, Mark then sat down at the extreme of the bed, facing her. After a moment he shifted closer, and then raised his hands up to her cheek.


    He took a deep breath and looked up at her. Her eyes were full of uncertainty. An unfamiliar urge rose inside him: the urge to put his arms around her and tell her it was all right. He didn¡¯t. In his experience, things were rarely all right. ¡°Mark?,¡± she said, so softly that he had to lean forward to catch her words, ¡°Will everything be alright? No.¡±


    ¡°All will be fine¡­.! Your kids will return back to you! I ensure you that!¡± Mark said then she put her hands on his.


    ¡°You sure?¡± She said on an exhale of  breath, almost in a teary tone.


    ¡°Yes!¡±, Mark responded in assurance.


    Then Diana flew at him and hugged him tightly. ¡­.


    ¡°Oh baby! How it feels!¡± It had been one of her fantasy¡¯s. Hugging her this close and tightly passionately.


    Then they both disengaged.


    Their faces were only inches away from each other. She felt his breath against her lips before he kissed her, and she leaned into it, her eyes closing. His mouth was as soft as she remembered, his lips brushing hers gently, sending shivers all through her. She raised her arms to wind them around his neck, to slide her fingers under his curling dark hair, to lightly touch the bare skin at the nape of his neck, the edge of the worn cor of his shirt.


    He pulled her closer. He was shaking. She felt the heat of his strong body against hers as his hands slid down her back. ¡°Diana,¡± he whispered. He started to lift the hem of her sweater, his fingers gripping the small of her back. His lips moved against hers. ¡°I love you¡­.¡±


    You¡¯re mine. You¡¯ll always be mine.


    Then he grabbed her again¡­ This time around, she was the one who initiated the kiss. Her children are far from her, maybe she could use this to distract herself.


    Fire sizzled up and down his veins as she kissed him this time around, her body melting against his. she wanted it, no denial but a special part of her are being taken away from her..


    He slid his hands up into her hair, knocking her knitted cap off and letting her curls spring free. He kissed her neck as she pulled his shirt up over his head and ran her hands all over him-shoulders, back, arms, purring in her throat like a cat. He felt like a helium balloon-high from kissing her, and light with relief. So she wasn¡¯t done with him after all.


    There was none of the frenzy there had been in the nightclub six years ago. It was a kiss meant to give sce, to say everything there was no time to say. He kissed her back, hesitant at first, then with greater urgency, his hand stealing up into her hair, winding the tresses between his fingers. Their kisses deepened slowly, softly, the intensity growing between them as it always did, like a ze that started with a single match and red into wildfire.


    She breathed his breath as they kissed, each kiss drawn out now, lingering, exploratory. Her hands drifted over him, his shoulders, the muscles of his arms, his back. His bare skin felt like hot silk under her palms.


    When his hands found the hem of her tank top, she stretched her arms out, arching her back, wanting every barrier between them gone. The moment it was off, she pulled him back against her, their kisses fiercer now, as if they were struggling to reach some hidden ce inside each other. She wouldn¡¯t have thought they could get any closer, but somehow as they kissed, they wound themselves into each other like intricate thread, each kiss hungrier, deeper than thest.


    Their hands moved quickly over each other, and then more slowly, uncovering and unhurried. She dug her fingers into his shoulders when he kissed her throat, her corbones. She felt him shudder, wanting her, and she knew she was on the very brink of where there was no going back, and she didn¡¯t care. . She locked her ankles around the small of his back, and he groaned against her mouth, a soft, low, helpless sound. His fingers dug into her hips.


    Her heart hammering, she jerked away from him, pulling her sweater closer to cover up herself. ¡°Mark stop¡­ This is not the right time¡­.¡±


    He looked at her, his expression dazed and worried. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Was that not any good? I haven¡¯t kissed anyone but you, not since¡­¡± He trailed off.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    She shook her head. ¡°No, it¡¯s just-I can¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°All right,¡± he said. He looked very vulnerable, sitting there, dismay written all over his face. ¡°We don¡¯t have to do anything-¡±


    She groped for words. ¡°It¡¯s just too much.¡±


    ¡°It was only a kiss.¡±


    ¡°You said you loved me.¡± Her voice shook. ¡°Show me you love me.. bring my kid¡¯s back to me!¡±


    ¡°Our kids!¡± he said, hurt sparking in his voice.


    ¡°I¡¯ll bring them back!¡± He added.


    ¡°Thanks¡­ but I just can¡¯t, okay? not right now.¡± She started to back away. He was staring after her, his lips parted.


    After they both disengaged from each other and we¡¯re back to normal. Diana quickly wore back her clothes and then noticed something¡­ Thest time they kissed, Owens caught them and she has not seen him since she returned from Delta City, so, she asked about his whereabout but she was replied withplete silence.


    ¡°Hello¡­ Talk to me!¡± She said almost desperately.


    ¡°He is dead!¡± Mark finally responded.


    ¡°Hannah killed him!¡± He added¡­..


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± She said, wanting to console Mark¡­.


    Soon after the sound of some car engines roared to life. Seemed some persons or someone had just arrived at the president generals vi¡­ Who else if not Richarlison? Maybe he had just returned. Then Mark stood up to go peep through the window, indeed it was Richarlison. He immediately left the room to catch up them. He has been patiently waiting¡­.


    After he left, thoughts from the court shed across Diana¡¯s mind.


    ¡°I know for sure Jake is not my kids father and If Otani is not their father, who then is? Jake?????¡±


    ¡°Was she misconceiving Jake for Otani?¡±

 Jungle District

    ¡°Probably a memory issue¡­¡± Diana concluded.


    Meanwhile, Otani didn¡¯t seed on getting the silver ring despite his work filled tactical efforts. Out of possible options he switched to n B. However, he already knew specifically, where his mum was being held captive, he deduced from the video call that was made with the help of ¨C


    Alongside six of his men upying two red BMW, Oman droved Otani to the address he was given, the jungle district. They alighted from their car and they behold the sight of a  very thick forest ahead, like the Amazon forest. This district was called the jungle district of Sterling city.


    Otani nced around them and then his gaze rested on a stop sign. Underneath it a signboard was attached and it read ¡°Danger ahead!¡±


    ¡°Jake must have been thoughtful to have a hideout in this unthinkable ce!¡± He smirked.


    ¡°Com¡¯on boys!¡± He ushered, let¡¯s proceed. His hideout is somewhere in this vicinity or deep down this jungle ¨C ¡± Otani urged his men as everyone¡¯s survival instinct kicked in. The ce looked scary on its own.


    Then they started of towards the jungle¡­.. all wearing fighting gears and each with their weapons. Like they were going for battle. Otani was on the lead, behind him was Oman, while the other followed suit.


    Meantime, Jake was in his hideout, deep into the jungle. He was seated opposite Jason who seemed very ufortable because he has been unable to reach out to his son and it¡¯s the reason why he was yet to order the mega Ind soldiers to attack.


    Jake already noticed this, then his shoulders was tapped from behind. He widened his brows suggesting and asking ¡°what?¡± In a brusque manner. Then the bodyguard lowered and whispered to Jake¡¯s perception. ¡°Otani already found us!¡±


    There was a CCTV footage in all areas of the jungle district entrance and even inside of the jungle. Jake¡¯s men did that to ensure their hide out was strictly encrypted and as such, any intruder can be caught and apprehended on time, if they pose a threat.


    Jake immediately jumped out of the couch that he was seated on at once. He was super shocked. ¡°How the hell did he found out about their whereabouts?¡±


    ¡°Com¡¯on¡­ Think ¡­ Think¡­. Think¡­.. Think¡­¡­¡± He immediately ced his hands on his chin and started to rack his brain¡­. Just how?


    ¡± How? What did I miss?¡±


    ¡°Sir, we need your order to neutralize them!¡± The bodyguard still waiting for an order felt a need to remind Jake about what the next step to be taken is.


    ¡°What¡¯s it?¡± Jason requested, knowing something was up as he stood up.


    ¡°Yes!!!!!¡± Jake finally found out how¡­. It has kept him restless for the past few minutes trying to figure out how Otani was able to find them.


    ¡°Morse code!¡± He snapped his fingers loudly then turned to Jason, ¡°a rabbit is in the lion¡¯s den, leave it to me. Don¡¯t worry . Chill while I and my men handle it!¡±


    Jason whose adrenaline were already stimted then calmed himself down. Jake could handle his enemies, little did he know that it was Otani, his only son. He even didn¡¯t know Flora, his ex wife who birthed Otani for him was being held captive in that same hide out.


    Then Jake left therge sitting room with his men, leaving Jason behind, of course not alone, he left  two bodyguards to watch over him and ensure he doesn¡¯t know or have a clue as to what was happening.


    In a jiffy, Jake dislodged some of his men into the perimeters while some followed him from behind. They were obviously going to surround Otani and his men.


    On his way, he realized how smart Flora was, most importantly he underestimated her intellect, and even that of her son. She used the Morse code to disclose, her whereabouts and Otani was even smart enough to have requested for a visual proof¡­..


    The blinking Flora did¡­ She was busy sending a message via the morse code method.


    ¡°He must have had some guts thinking he can discover one of my hide out and live to tell the story. He must be really foolish to think he can save his mother¡± Jake paused in his thoughts and then continued.


    ¡± I only asked for the silver ring in exchange but I guess he didn¡¯t find the silver ring and he had to go the hard way¡­ hmpphh indeed a fool!¡± He thought with a winners mentality.


    On the other hand, Otani and his men already had the gut feeling Jake and his men already found out they¡¯reing.


    With that, Otani devised a n and ordered, ¡°Two in group. Group 1, go left and monitor us for backup;. Group 2, cut off all surveince and then go right; Group 3, Extraction team ;  Group 4, with me, we¡¯re going in straight up.


    Surprised, Oman sputtered, ¡°Sir, you are going in?¡±


    Otani just nced at him and responded, ¡°This mission is very crucial. Any slight mistake will make it difficult to drag the entire chain out!¡±


    His response was cold and like that of a god of war¡­. ¡°He really doesn¡¯t seem like a mere antique collector!¡± Oman thought.


    Then Otani checked his wristwatch and gestured to his troops, ¡°Move out!¡±


    With that, everyone dispersed, merging silently into the jungle.


    ********


    Meanwhile, At Sterling city military base, Mark had arrived at the parking garage to see Richarlison and some other officers dragging Danny out of the G-Wagon military car.


    Mark waspletely shocked when he saw him..


    ¡°Danny?¡± He called out, freezed in shock. He looked to be just a slight, a paler, new version of the Danny he knew, with thinning brown hair and the ckthorn eyes, half-hidden behind spectacles.


    ¡°Danny¡± he called out again as he got closer.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    ¡°Mark, Please my family is in danger. I was warned to never show my face to you again! Now they¡¯re gonna die! If they find out I showed my face to you!¡± Danny hastily freed himself from Richarlison¡¯s grip and rushed to Mark in a confused annoyed tone.


    Everyone was surprised when they heard him called the President General by his name. No one dares do that but yet? This seemingly ordinary dude¡­.


    Mark was not a fool, he quickly discerned something was at risk, still he popped the question. ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°First, I need to get my family to safety!¡± He yelled , this time with an angry pathetic tone.


    Mark could only obey at this point, so he turned to Richarlison and ordered, ¡°ensure his family¡¯s safety¡±


    ¡°Sure sir!¡± Richarlison saluted and kicked into action.


    Mark then turned to meet his olds friend icy, almsot teary eyes, ¡°Com¡¯on let¡¯s go inside ¡­.


    ******


    At Jungle district¡­


    About eleven minutester, the survey Camara fixated around where Otani¡¯s group were got switched off, ¡°Surveince Camara down!¡± Group 2 leader reported.


    Then Oman whispered, ¡°Alright, we¡¯re going in!¡±


    Otani and his men soon got to the hideout, it took a lot of calctions and roaming around before they could figure and get to the hideout smoothly.


    After a signal from the members of the group 1 hiding in the perimeters, Otani and his entered the premises skillfully and unoticed, with no mishaps. There were supposed to be guards around but no, absolutely no guard was active which sprayed oddness in the air.


    The hideout was built like a human secretir, didn¡¯t exactly looked like cottage but in a way was. The main hideout was underneath. An underground building, the building before them was just to take everyone¡¯s attention away.


    When Otani, and his group arrived at the building, one of the room was still lit. Clearly, someone was in.


    Then, Otani signalled someone opens the door. At that, Oman came picked up the lock. He worked so silently that no one or nothing was rmed.


    Oman was loaded with skills. Something like entering a locked space unoticed was just like a child¡¯s y to him.


    Click! The main door opened, and the group snuck into the building, following the light they saw outside to the study.


    There was a gap between the door

 Using Flora To Get What He Wants

    There was a gap between the door and it¡¯s still.


    While standing by the door, they could hear someone making some noise ¨C a noise they couldn¡¯t quite understand ¨C Then, they waited with Bated breaths, getting ready to catch whoever is in there and maybe use him or her as a pawn to direct them to where Flora is and they¡¯ll get done with the rescue mission, but then a sense of bone chilling danger crept up to Oman¡¯s, causing the hair in his neck and arms to rise and stand. His instinct had kicked in.


    With no much time to waste, he kicked the door opened, his impact was so forceful that it startled the blindfolded Flora who was tied to a chair and a knife held against her throat.


    As the group swamped into therge room, Otani was shocked to see his mum in such a situation. She was literally on the brink of death, and infact, handshaking death ¡°himself¡±.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    ¡°Drop your weapons!¡± Jake ordered, he sounded super serious with his voice exuding ¡°obey or he kills her¡±


    Otani is here to rescue his mum and wouldn¡¯t do anything to hurt her, thus, he signaled to his men, including Oman to drop their weapons.


    The next moment, the fold, blinding Flora was removed, and she blinked for a while, adjusting to the little light that illuminated the room.


    Crash! Crash!


    The sound of weapons dropping on the floor was heard next ¨C simultaneously, Oman was signalling to the groups hiding close by to be at alert but he got no response ¨C


    With the knife still held close to Flora¡¯s throat, Jake chuckled out loudly and then dropped the bombshell.


    ¡°Fools¡­. Stop trying to tactically contact your men, posted around¡­.. Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll join them  in hell soon enough!¡±


    ¡°What? Does that mean the other groups had been neutralized?¡± Oman was shocked, exins why he got no response from them.


    Otani was not paying attention as he was filled with sudden emotions. It¡¯s been long he saw his mum and then he sees her after a long time, in this state?


    Jake was practically going to pen Flora¡¯s name down on a death note, that¡¯s if Otani does any smart move.


    Jake could do anything! He was quite unpredictable which made him super dangerous!


    ¡°Mum?¡± Otani blurted out.


    ¡°Son!!!!!¡± Flora said between a crying-regret tone.. as she fixated her gaze on Otani¡¯s almost hard icy eyes.


    Then a thunderous footsteps of men were heard, the next moment about a dozen men surrounded the room.


    Jake gasped out loudly, still holding the knife closely to Flora¡¯s throat, and he may slide it, if any of Otani¡¯s men or himself make a move.


    ¡°On your knees! Four of you¡­. Right now!¡± He ordered.


    Otani, Oman and the two other men can¡¯t possibly disobey him now, so, they all knelt down. Their supposed rescue mission has gone bad.


    By now, the other groups, especially the back up group ought to havee over to back them up and rescue them from the situation, but none showed up and it confirms that they¡¯ve already kicked the bucket¡­. Just ording to what Jake implied.


    With a thud, four of them, Otani and Oman inclusively dropped to their knees with a heavy thud.


    Jake smiled diabolically¡­ He had a ruthless n¡­..


    Right at that moment, Flora cried out. ¡°Please don¡¯t kill my son!¡­. I can¡¯t afford to lose him!¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Jake yelled which immediately and fearfully silenced her. Jake was dangerous, and she clearly knew that. He must have figured i tried outsmarting him using the Morse code!


    ¡°Otani!!!!!¡­¡± Jake then called out to Otani who was burning in rage.


    ¡°This was a dumb mission!¡± He clenched his fist tightly.


    Otani raised his head to meet Jake¡¯s icy cold eyes, radiating murder and no mercy.


    ¡°Good news is¡­ You have two options¡­. I¡¯ll spare you and your remaining men or your mum and the remaining men¡­. but, both on their respective conditions!¡± Jake dragged a hefty breathe before he continued.


    ¡°I¡¯ll spare you and your men in exchange for your mum¡¯s head in a te or I¡¯ll spare your mum to keep you and Oman captive for as long as I like as long as she does whatever I ask of her¡­¡± He paused to look at him as he watched his words register in his thinking faculty.


    ¡°¡­. and if she makes any slight mistake or tries to outsmart me, I¡¯ll ask my men to execute you! Which means she would lose you forever and I¡¯m sure she doesn¡¯t want that!¡± He concluded and then pulled Flora hair upward, a bit forceful that if caused to let out an agonizing cry!


    ¡°Or you want him dead?¡± He yelled aggressively as he pulled her hair.


    Otani was like, he was assimting the pain his mum was experiencing at the moment, still, he can¡¯t do anything. They¡¯ve already been outnumbered and at disadvantage.


    Otani was a very irrational decision maker thus, he didn¡¯t think about the two options more carefully. He immediately answered with thetter. He was more concerned about his mum safety than his¡­. and that looked out to be the best decision to him.


    ¡°Sir, no!¡± Oman wanted to protest aggressively and just then a guns handlended on his head which caused him to pass out.


    Jake knew beforehand Otani wouldn¡¯t take much time in chosing the option he just did. He knew he would pick an answer out of impulsiveness. He loves his mum so much and would do anything for her, even bing his captive.


    Jake only smiled when Otani answered. His n was going perfectly well. If he keeps Otani captive, he would be able to manipte Flora to do his biddings and that includes to get to Mark and kill him from the inside.


    But, Mark is also Flora¡¯s son¡­. Would she rather do things that are detrimental to Mark simply to ensure Otani is not killed or otherwise? ? Anyways, that would be left for her to choose, then again, Jake is a smart game yer; he wouldn¡¯t let Flora discover that what he was going to make her do would be detrimental to Mark¡­ the president general.


    ¡°Alright then! Boys, take him!¡± Jake ordered. His n was going as perfectly orchestrated and there were no need, not keeping to his words.


    At once, his boys kicked into action and seized Otani up and then chained him. Even Oman who was lying unconscious on the floor was still tied up and the two other men? Same thing¡­


    Otani however was notpletely foolish. He knew Marks intentions from the options he presented¡­.. But, as far as it gets his mum out of danger, he was willing to risk it.


    Maybe¡­.


    Just maybe¡­.. Mark would figure this out¡­ Otani thought as Flora was freed and was allowed to run away.


    She was hesitant at first, she didn¡¯t wanted to leave him behind but it was best she leaves him for the now¡­.


    Otani watched as his mum ran off speedily like she was being chased¡­..

 Hannah Is Not The One

    ¡°Get the cars ready! I¡¯m going to bring my kids!¡± Jake ordered as Otani and Oman were dragged away. The two other men were spared.


    ¡°But sir¡­ Sir¡­. Mark have his men posted around the government house!¡± His personal assistant objected.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry! I gat a n¡± Otani responded as he walked away, leaving his personal assistant astonished.


    ¡°How does he manage to pull through  all of this?¡± He wondered as he followed him closely.


    ¡°I hope theckey¡¯s ensured Jason, the mega Ind god of war did not find out about what had just happened?¡± Jake stopped at his footsteps and asked. He needed to be sure because If Jason finds out, it¡¯d cause a loophole in his ns.


    Jason was Otani¡¯s father and Flora¡¯s ex husband¡­.


    However, to fully gain his trust, he would burn down the ammunition building of sterling military base before he lets himunch his attacks. But how?


    Jason on the other hand had gotten pretty ufortable as he sensed something was off, but he couldn¡¯t quite figure it out. He was yet to let his men attack because he had found out Otani was currently at Sterling military base.


    Few minutester of pacing forth and back in the underground spacious well ventted living room, ¡­. he decided to go check what was up, but , before he could get to the stairs leading upward, Jake had already arrived.


    ¡°Congrattions for us big man!¡± Jake broke out as he bumped into Jason.


    ¡°Woah¡­ What¡¯s that?¡± Jason inquired as he scrutinized closely.


    ¡°How?¡­ di¡ª-¡± Jason wanted to ask about the fool that got into the lion¡¯s den when Jake dropped a bombshell that would save him alot.


    ¡± I have an insider and hold on for the next two days! Their ammunition building would be burnt down!¡±


    ¡°What! Big news!¡± Jason said in shock, the news was indeed relieving, if it indeed goes that way considering it¡¯d be difficult.


    Then his informant walked in and saluted before reporting. ¡°He has left back for Delta city.. ¡±


    Jason only nodded, this could mean only one thing.


    ¡°He was clear to attack!¡±


    ¡± Afterall, Otani has left¡­ But why was he there?¡± He had a second thought.


    Two days time he¡¯d attack. Jake doesn¡¯t break his promises. He¡¯d surely find a way to burn down the ammunition building.


    The ammunition building was a building that housed all the weapons of Sterling city military soldiers!


    *******


    Back at the president generals vi¡­.


    Diana was still sort of depressed. Her kids were far from her and it felt like she had lost everything¡­..


    They¡¯re all right, nothing will happen to my kids ¡± Diana said, trying tofort herself. She wondered if it helped. Was it better to think you had lost everything, and to start over? Or easier to know that the people you loved were alive, even if you could never see them again?


    Tears had made their tracks through the make up on her face, but her eyes were dry.


    As she looked around the room, a feeling of unreality came over her. It wasn¡¯t possible that any of this was happening, was it? She knew how well stuff like this hurts.


    She¡¯d never thought any of this pain would ever apply to her and her kids. What they had wasn¡¯t ordinary, or subject to the ordinary rules of rtionships. They were bonded by strong storage kind of love.


    Something that glittered silver across the room caught her eye. It was a box Legacy normally hides his diary, its delicate design of birds around the sides made it attractive. She found herself drawn to the box now, though.


    She touched the lid of the box, and her fingers found the sp, which sprung open easily. Inside were scattered papers, old photographs. She drew one out, and stared at it, fascinated. There were three bouncing baby boys in the photograph. It was a picture of her triplets when she newly gave birth to them. Then she turned the photograph and saw the word ¡°momma¡± written boldly on it and her mind shed back to many years ago.


    The reason her parents disowned and bastardized her¡­.


    Meanwhile, Mark on the other hand¡­..


    Mark froze when what Danny just confessed registered-but only for a second. His body moved before his mind had time to catch up, catapulting him to his feet.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re serious?¡± He inquired. His heart beating unevenly in his chest, like a broken metronome, but his voice was steady.


    ¡°Yes I¡¯m!¡­ That was what happened! And now my family would be wiped out!¡± Danny said with a pathetic tone.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t let that happen¡­ I promise¡­. Stay here¡­ I¡¯ll get back to you!¡±  Mark said as he walked out, almost hastily.


    Mark was bbergasted to find out that the Charity Wakins granddaughter, his betrothed with the mark of the the ovepping in her thighs was no other person than Diana, and not Hannah!


    It was all Jakes n!


    Mark cursed as he walked out.


    However, he felt pretty excited and good. At least, a valid reason to love Diana has been provided and confirmed.


    And secondly, it exins why she had the mark¡­..


    It also reminded her of Hannah!


    ¡°That bitch hasn¡¯t been caught!¡± The thought of Hannah sprinkled anger into him.


    **********


    Then a chaos erupted in the military base. It was not a signal that an impromptu or unexpected war had juste, but a signal that the Flora had just returned.


    The news had gotten leaked to the public that the missing Flora was the president generals mother, thus, everyone automatically respects her.


    Jake was solely responsible for the leaking of the information¡­..


    Medical officer ran to meet her and wee her after they checked her vitals and confirmed she posed no threat. They started treating her like a queen as they weed her. Everyone of them wanted to curry her favour. Anyone who has favour in the president generals mother has favour in the president general himself, so they all thought.


    Just as Mark walked out, he heard the signal rm.


    It could only mean two things, ¡°someone of a high rank hade to the military base or an unexpected war had just started!¡±N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Then an officer spoke into the microphone in the central field, the sound wave were clearly perceptible as Mark obviously heard what he said perfectly.


    ¡°The president generals mother had just arrived!¡±


    ¡°His mum? Do anyone know his mum? Is Flora back?¡±


    He wondered as started towards the central field hastily, when an officer approached him and reported that Otani is reportedly out of Sterling city! With his fast pace, other officers, his escorts joined him.


    ¡°He couldn¡¯t even inform me despite the hospitality I showed him! Such ungrateful brother!¡­ But it is what it is¡­¡± Mark disbursed his thoughts off immediately, ¡°He could have lied¡­ well, I think my mum is back now and I¡¯d ask to confirm¡­. after all¡­. he wanted Otani gone, so he could be far away from Diana¡¯s life and secondly he has more urgent issue to understand and handle.

 Her First Assignment

    There was a peculiar atmosphere in the air, a mixture of tension and anticipation.


    Despite the gathering of grandwar masters, murmured conversations were everywhere. Diana caught snippets of the chatter as she approached the central field having heard the signal rm as well.


    There was a plump man, the top grandwar master standing on the podium and addressing all military officers standing attentively before the podium. He was gesticting angrily as he spoke, but no one seemed to be paying any attention or maybe, they were paying half attention as they were also focused on the how Mark and Flora reunited passionately.


    The next moment, Mark cleared his throat when caught sight of Diana. He swept his gaze around and he made a startled face and then spoke to his mum standing close him in a low voice, excusing himself.


    ¡°Get my mum in and make sure she is well!¡± He ordered one of the medical officers standing by as he excused himself.


    He went over to where Diana stood..


    He was standing very close to her, close enough that she could feel the warmth of him, smell the faint scent of newly applied Gi cologne.


    Diana stared at him. He didn¡¯t move, though the wind blew his hair into his eyes; he blinked, and just as she was about to speak, Diana flew at him and hugged him.


    They were locked together in a passionate embrace, it gave Diana a golden opportunity to feed her urges. She wanted to be close to Mark now more than ever before.


    It shocked everyone¡­. And they started to assume already. Mark is ruthless and cold but not for once has he showed his coldness towards her. What rtionship really Subsist between them? Could be she is his new found lover after Hannah betrayed him¡­.


    Then Mark¡¯s phone chirped with a calling-like tone. Diana quickly freed him as he dug his hands into his pocket and unearthed the phone. The caller ID was one of the officers he posted around the government house. The ce Diana¡¯s Triplets were kept until their fatheres for them.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    He answered the call immediately and the voice at the other end rang in, ¡°He has taken the kids away!¡±


    ¡°What? How?¡± Mark was an inches taken aback as he vehemently inquired.


    ¡°What¡¯s it?¡± Diana asked when she noticed his emotions changed all of a sudden. He looked like he got a bad news!


    ¡°Sir, we¡¯ve sent countless messages and dropped calls but you didn¡¯t reply any of them¡­ That was when he newly came to the government house!¡± The voice at the other end reported.


    ¡°Shit!¡± Mark fiercely ended the call and looked at Diana whose facial expressions were exuding anticipation, she was hoping it¡¯s nothing serious¡­.


    She nced back at his phone and saw 69 missed calls and over 20 messages¡­..


    ¡°Mark has taken the kids!¡± He said bluntly when he turned back to face Diana. There were no need sugarcoating the truth to make her feel better, sooner orter she was going to face it, infact she was already facing it¡­


    ¡°No wonder he let Flora go. He knew I posted men around and it was same moment of me reuniting with my mum that he went to take the kids. He knew I¡¯d be distracted with my mum¡¯s arrival!


    Shit!¡± Mark thought, envelope in some unfathomable emotions.


    ¡°Jake has once again taken his kids away from him!¡±


    ¡°And this is not the right time to tell Diana she is my betrothed and not Hannah¡­.. that I¡¯m the father of her triplets¡­¡±


    Diana thought she might have passed out for a minute or two. Certainly there was a period of ckness during which what Mark just told her faded and she seemed to hang in space, pinned between the earth and the sky, feeling a sense of detachment that was somehow ¡­ unsettling and peacefullybined.


    It was over too soon. Suddenly she was mmed back into her body and she passed out. Mark was able to catch her before she could slump to the floor.


    It was too much for her to take in. She can¡¯t let Jake take her kids away but it already happened. She is utterly weak and with no idea on how to fight back¡­.


    Mark himself wouldn¡¯t even let this slide.


    ¡°Medical teams!¡± He called out and a few army medical came out and started attempting to revive her¡­.


    ***


    Richarlison was yet to report back about Danny¡¯s family well being¡­.. thus, he was absent.


    And Danny was strictly protected that he wasn¡¯t be left alone¡­.


    *****


    After the Atmosphere faded away, everyone retired to their separate units and as night crept in, defensive officers on duty reported to their post¡­.


    Diana was resting at Mark¡¯s bedroom while Mark was restlessly pacing back and forth in the bedroom hoping and praying Diana wakes up soon. He was so worried that he forgot his mum had actually came back home few hours ago.


    Then a knock came on the door.  Mark ignored it. The knock came again and he strode across the room and threw the door open. He blinked in surprise. ¡°Mum?¡±


    Flora stood on the threshold. For the first time Mark has seen her wearing something other than her army medical uniforms. She was wearing a white night gown which made her looked very young. There were hammered gold bracelets on each of her wrists, and he wore a ring. That was quite unusual for her dressing sense. They were given to him by Jake to never pull them off least he kills Otani. Jake could use it to monitor, track and overhear all of her conversations.


    ¡°Can Ie in?¡± She requested.


    ¡°Yea sure!¡±


    Mark let her in and by left she could see Diana resting on his bed. That was new about the president general she has heard about.


    ¡°Seem you care about her¡­ Alot!¡± Flora said, with the intent of initiating a conversation as she scrutinized the bedroom.


    ¡°Her first assignment given to him by Jake was to find and bring to him the silver ring!¡±

 Mothers Jealousy

    Mark is usually very pretentious of his own good, so, naturally, and as usual, he would deny something as such but he couldn¡¯t ¨C He only Coughed! ¨C


    ¡°Just came to check up on you as you couldn¡¯t came to check up on your mother¡­ And yea, I understand why. You care for her much more than you do for me!¡± Flora again broke the silence. As she walked all over the room.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry mum, she is going through alot and I need to be by her side¡­. Her ex-husband has just legally taken her Triplets away from her¡­¡± Mark exined and then seized the opportunity to bacsh his mum for abandoning him.


    ¡°She cares for them¡­ Unlike some people I know¡­.¡±  He added as he leaned over to Diana who was changing her sleeping posture. He thought something had gone wrong with her or unsettled her ¨C that exins how deep he cares for her ¨CC0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    Flora was sensitive and she knew Mark was getting at her with what he said. It was indeed wrong for her to have left him all alone.. she failed. Even his dad failed.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­. I¡¯ll make it up to you. I wish to, I¡¯m back now and I will, most definitely¡­.¡±  She heard herself stammered. She really wished nothing more but to bond with her children, but life hasn¡¯t given her the opportunity due to her nature and line of work.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me I had a step brother?¡± Mark questioned, ignoring her plea.


    ¡°You can sit down!¡± Mark gestured for her to sit on the couch as she was dumbstruck with the sudden JAMB question she is faced with.


    ¡°Well¡­ No valid excuse¡­. And besides, you¡¯ve already found out¡­.¡± She exined bitterly¡­


    ¡°There is alot I really don¡¯t know about our family right?¡± Mark questioned tentatively.


    Flora was about to give Mark the full details when the yawning of Diana waking up disrupted her.


    ¡°Oh.. she is awake. I¡¯ll give you time to make her feel well. Talk to youter!¡± Flora said and then stood to leave.


    Mark only said ¡°okay¡± , he was already rmed when Diana woke up that he rushed to get her water. The doctor had advised she is given water immediately she wakes up.


    Then Flora left¡­ immediately she exited the room, she felt her heart go sour, like a hell fire was burning inside of her heart. She is being manipted to ckmail her own son¡­ and Otani would die if she doesn¡¯t do as her superiorsmanded her.


    Either ways, she was going to lose a son. Someone she carried for nine months¡­. She would rather die than be a reason any of her child die¡­. but she didn¡¯t have such an option. She must try to bnce both!


    ********


    ¡°So, you¡¯re finally awake,¡± said a dry voice. I¡¯m eased and pleased now. We all thought you¡¯d probably die in your sleep.¡± Mark said as he handed her the ss cup filled with water to the brim.


    ¡°Sorry to disappoint you!¡± Diana responded as she gingerly grabbed for the ss cup and gingerly took a sip.


    ¡°How are you doing?¡±


    The question jolted Diana to her full self that she shuddered and clutched the ss cup more tightly. ¡°I guess I am¡­.¡± of a truth, she didn¡¯t even know¡­


    ¡°The bathroom¡¯s through there, and I hung some clothes on the towel rack in case you want to change.¡±


    Savoring the look on Diana¡¯s face, Mark exined further.


    ¡°I got them from your wardrobe! A pant inclusive!¡±


    Diana went to take another sip from the cup as her face flushed bright with embarrassment, s she found that it was empty. She no longer felt thirsty or light-headed either, which was a relief. She set the ss cup down and hugged the nket around herself. ¡°What happened to my clothes?¡± it was at this point she realized she was just on her underwear.


    ¡°They were too thick and a bit dirty. I had to take them to theundry¡­¡±


    ¡°Damn! That¡¯s even more embarrassing!¡±


    ¡°Oh, and there¡¯s soap in the bathroom,¡± Mark added. ¡°You might want to clean up a little. You smell.¡±


    Diana red at him, kind of to gesture him to leave so she could step down from the bed with her half nakedness.


    ¡°Go away!¡± She said when she realized he was not leaving anytime soon¡­


    ¡°No.. I¡¯ll wait¡­ I had been waiting for six hours now for you to open your eyes¡­¡± Mark responded.


    Diana  got perplexed and heaved a sigh of relief as he got down from the bed with the nket wrapped around her body like a Nigerian wrapper¡­ She felt a need to cover up her body, she was on her menstrual circle and her pants were stained, she could feel it.


    She wondered if Mark was the one who removed her clothes. She tried to convince herself it was not, since a rtionship Subsist between them but it didn¡¯t matter.


    The clothes Mark picked for her looked ridiculous. She had to roll the legs on the jeans up several times before she stopped tripping on them, and the plunging neckline of the blue tank top only emphasized herck of what her children would have called a ¡°rack.¡±


    She cleaned up in the small bathroom, using a bar of hard Premiere soap. Drying herself with a white hand towel. It left her damp hair straggling around her face in fragrant tangles. She squinted at her reflection in the mirror. There was a purpling bruise high up on her left cheek, and her lips were dry and swollen.


    I have to call Otani, she thought. But, her phone was not with her¡­ Surely Mark knows where her cellphone would be.


    She found her a sketchpad that was Marked with SLJ ced neatly at the foot of the bedroom, it obviously belonged to her son, Legacy. That was his initial. How did it get here? She picked it up and saw a fine art work drafted on it. Who else if not by Legacy?


    The drawing was so realistic like a photo. It was that of Mark. Maybe Mark had managed to get hold of it somehow or maybe Legacy specifically drew it and gave it to him. He was overly capable of that.


    Diana took a deep breathe and she slide into her shoes and exited the room to find Mark. Mark left few minutes ago, an urgency called him out.

 Burnt Ammunition House

    Diana was a only a few metres away from the vi when an officer approached her and saluted her, subsequently giving her some papers. It was met for the president general and since she was now his vice personal assistant, she could handle it.


    As she flipped the papers , she heard someone call her name from behind. She turned and surprisingly it was Flora. The president generals mother.


    ¡°Hi!!!!¡± She said with a forced smile. She didn¡¯t like Diana from the onset because the love she ought to be getting from her son were all going straight to her or atmost being shared between the both of them.


    Yes, she was that kind of mother¡­


    ¡°Hi, Good evening ma¡¯am!¡± Diana greeted respectfully, even though Flora ought to be the one to greet her.


    In the military base, age is just a number¡­ Even if you¡¯re  70, it¡¯s your duty to obey your superior even if he or she is 10 years old.


    ¡°How are you? ¡± Flora inquired,


    Gradually she sessfully initiated a conversation with Diana and it was going well. At some point, Flora made a suggestion that they take a stroll and Diana already feeling relieved andfortable with herpany, agreed.


    They discussed about a lot of things, shared memories and fun moment even as Flora intentionally led Diana to the ammunition building.


    The grandwar masters ward was 200 metres close by and Mark had been there to sort out some urgent issue. He was on his way back when he saw his mum and Diana bonding very well. He was very happy with the rtionship that had suddenly began to develop between his mum and his betrothed. He thought it would take time, but surprisingly it didn¡¯t.


    He hid in one corner as Diana and Flora walked passed him. None of them saw him, he however, wondered what Flora and Diana were doing in the grand masters ward.


    ¡°Maybe its women¡¯s thing¡­ ¡± He thought.


    Only the grandwar masters are allowed to enter into the ammunition house vicinity and as such Diana halted on her footstep.


    ¡°We can¡¯t go in there¡­. Only the grandwar masters are allowed into the ammunition house vicinity¡­.¡± She exined when Flora asked.


    Flora already knew that and that was why she was bringing her there to be precise.


    ¡°Com¡¯on¡­ I¡¯m the president general¡¯s mother and I can do anything¡­ Even the grandwar masters respect me. It won¡¯t be a vition of the rules as far as you¡¯re with me. So, chill¡­.¡±


    ¡°There is something I want to show you! In there¡± Flora added, in an attempt to persuade her.


    It took almost 2 minutes of persuasion, still Diana held her ground insisting it was against the military rules and regtions, vitions would result in death.


    s, they both resolved to sitting at a bench closeby.


    Few minutes into their dialogue, Flora¡¯s phone chirped and she excused herself to answer the call.


    Few minutes after she left, Diana overheard a disturbance at the backyard of the ammunition house. It was so disturbing that she fell for the temptations of crossing the boundaries to go check what was up.


    ¡°Maybe, that was an enemy¡­ ¡±  She thought, and it was her thoughts that lured her into the temptation. She brought out her small pistol and dropped into a shooting stance as she walked tactically to the backyard of the building.


    When she got there, she was surprised to find out that it was just some woodworks not properly arranged that fell and scattered. Little did she know that someone scattered it.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    She dug her pistol into its pocket as she left the backyard. She was relieved to find out it was no big deal.


    Just as she stepped out of the ammunition building vicinity, she was sent flying by the forceful loud explosion behind her.


    Stars started to spin around her head as she crashed to the ground heavily. Few moments time, she managed to recollect herself. When she turned, she was shocked to see the ammunition house burning. The radiation of hotness from the fire sent her to step few metres backward to avoid the radiation.


    She was shocked, ¡± a war ising and now the ammunition house is burnt down?¡±


    The burning fire was very massive that amotion had suddenly erupted in the military base. Smokes hung around the air. Plenty of officers disorganized.


    All sterling city military base weapons and ammunition were kept in that building. Their explosive inclusive.


    Fire fighters had already been alerted and they were all over the ce trying to quench the fire, it was however a very difficult task.


    At 9pm in the evening. Every living soul and officer in the military base were called to the central field.


    Over thousands of soldiers lined and stationed ording to their ranks stood at an attention staring at the tallrge podium with fear and tension gripping them.


    Lights from the streetlights illuminated the whole central field andprehended the darkness totally.


    The atmosphere was a mixture of sadness and fear. They had never lost a battle, but with these major loss in their ammunition building their chances of winning is very slim.


    The ammunition cost the government billions of dors and it may take time for a new ammunition building to be set up.


    Richarlison had returned. He was standing with Derrick on therge and tall podium. Grandwar masters stood by the left side of the podium and the other thousands of officer stationed ording to their ranks stood before the podium¡­


    Then, Mark cleared his throat as he spoke into the microphone that magnified his voice so loudly that everyone could hear it.


    Diana and Flora stood behind the podium as they watched in anticipation, what the president general would suggest the military base do before their enemy attacks.


    Meanwhile, Jason had received the news and he was fueling his men to charge up as they would attack anytime soon.


    Every of his soldiers were all training and getting ready for battle¡­¡­ a battle that they have an upper hand at winning.

 Breached The Military Rule

    Mark began to speak into the microphone,


    ¡°We¡¯ve encountered a huge loss in our ammunition sector just two days before we wage a war against the Mega Ind military¡­ and that puts us at a great disadvantage¡±.. he cleared his throat, After a moment of dreadful silence and then continued.


    ¡°And as we speak, they may lunch their attack on us anytime soon. We need to be prepared for the worse to happen¡­¡±, As he spoke, no one dared make a noise.  There was a graveyard silence as everyone listened attentively with fear gripping their hearts.


    Then he continued.. ¡°We¡¯re all aware that this ammunition building that was burnt down house all the sterling city military ammunition and it costed sterling city government billions of dors, however, as the president general I¡¯ll be held responsible and I¡¯m ready to face all the necessary panels¡­.¡± everyone could see the hard look in his eyes as he turned to face the grand war king and grandwar masters. Then he cleared his throat before he continued.


    ¡°And the enemy couldn¡¯t have infiltrated the military base to wreck such an havoc, which means¡­ that there is a mole amongst us, and he or she may be listening as I talk¡­.¡± He chuckled into the microphone. It was not a friendly chuckle, the sound of it denoted murder¡­. ¡± If you¡¯re caught, I repeat, if you¡¯re caught!¡± He chuckled murderously again before he began, this time more seriously ¡°I¡¯ll make sure I make you experience the most gruesome death that could ever existed¡­¡±


    Then the cloud started to gather like it was going to rain. Thunders were already showing it¡¯s early sign as the heaven rumbled. Mark raised his face to see the cloud, on turning to the crowd, Richarlison walked up to him and whispered something to him.


    ¡°The enemy have used the ¡°kill from the inside technique¡± against us, and that mean they¡¯re ready. However, the secrete investigation team is making a thorough investigation and sooner orter, they¡¯ll provide an answer¡­¡±  Richarlison said.


    Mark gave a firm nod as his eyes flicked sideways to stare at thedy, who was feeling like every other soldier.


    ¡°Let¡¯s proceed¡­ Call the investigation team forward to tell us what they have found out¡­¡± Mark responded, the microphone barely grasped what he said.


    Then a nerdy man, who reportedly is the IT expert of the military stepped forward and climbed the podium. Mark stepped down giving the nerdy man the space to tell them what he has found it. Who was responsible?


    After the murmuring from the crowd died down, the nerdy man brought out hisptop and started to navigate through as everyone watched him closely. The silence was beyond the usual, the only noise that could be heard were that of the heavens rumbling.


    ¡°Officers! I and my secrete Investigation team has done a thorough look and investigation as to whom may or is responsible for this terrible crime.. and we¡¯ll know that, it¡¯s the military rule that no one, except the grandwar kings and Master goes or gets close to the ammunition house, however, the CCTV camera caught a certain officer who breached that serious and important military rule¡­¡± The nerdy man turned to face the president general as to get a go ahead. With a firm nod from him, he continued.


    ¡°In summary, an officer breached the military rule by getting close to the ammunition house. And immediately she left, the ammunition house exploded¡­ That leads us to one deduction, she is likely responsible!¡±


    ¡°She?¡± Diana whose palms were all sweaty, eximed. Even every other officers were shocked on knowing the betrayals gender. Diana had gone to the backyard because of themotion she heard and threat she sensed. She knew it was against the military rule, still, she breached it. But she was not responsible for the burnt Ammunition House. But why did the ammunition house exploded immediately she left? The question raced into her thoughts that it unsettled her once more. She had been having too much trouble for the past week, her children were taken from her and now she may get into trouble for getting close to the ammunition house.


    ¡°If you hear your name, fall out!¡± The nerdy man said as he matched the CCTV footage to get the officer¡¯s identity.


    With a beep, the matching waspleted, he looked at the picture and the identity of the officer that was disyed and he was stunned.


    Isn¡¯t this Diana? Though he doesn¡¯t know her more personally, he has herd rumors about her closure to the president general and also it was not a secret she was his vice personal assistant. Indeed, the frenemies technique, he deduced. An attack executed in the name of friendship.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    He turned to look at the president general, down to Richarlison and then to the grandwar kings and Master and atst settled his gaze on the crowd. Everyone watched in anticipation.


    In a world where betrayal is predominant and imminent, even with her closure to the president general, she can still be a betrayal ¨C


    ¡°Call the betrayal out!¡± Mark roared, his voice was stern. He hated being kept in suspense.


    It jolted the nerdy man from his thoughts and there was nothing he could do rather than call her out.


    ¡°Surgeon general Diana!¡± The nerdy man called out.


    Everyone waspletely shocked when they heard the name.


    ¡°Surgeon general Diana fall out! You breached the military rule and is likely the suspect!¡± The nerdy man added, everyone expected it because they needed t be sure of the name they just heard.


    ¡°Diana? A betrayal?¡±


    Diana was too shocked to move. her lips parting slightly in surprise, as if this had never urred to her, of course it did. She did breached the military rule but knows no information behind the burnt Ammunition House. She turned to look at Mark in horror, who was equally shocked. She turned to face Richarlison who as well was shocked.


    Everyone set their eyes on her.


    ¡°Step out! You goddamn betrayal!¡± One of the officers among the crowd shouted out loudly and sternly.


    One of themonest military rule was ¡°obey beforein!¡± And viting it would bring her more serious problems.


    She exhaled as if to calm her nerves down as she stepped out on the podium, shivering. ¡°She had done nothing wrong!¡± She tried to convince herself, still it didn¡¯t change the fact she actually breached a military rule.

 Imprisonment

    ¡± Kill her!¡±


    ¡°Execute her!¡±


    ¡°Make her experience the most gruesome death!¡±


    The crowd started to chant, it was not a surprise to all of them that someone such as Diana couldmit such a big crime. Afterall, they are trained to never trust anyone.


    ¡°Silence!¡± Mark walked up to the microphone and said coldly. He was finding it hard to believe, yes, he had seen Diana and her mum walking towards that direction. Why did Diana go close enough when she knew it was a vition of the military rule?


    The next moment, the chants died down and the peace and graveyard silence was restored, everyone was anticipating Mark¡¯s judgement.


    Then some officer walked up therge podium, holding Diana, so, she doesn¡¯t get the chance to do anything drastic.


    ¡°Leave me alone! I -¡± Diana wanted toin but a stern and icy cold look from Mark shut her off, she was shocked and heartbroken. Mark of all people should know she can¡¯t do anything of such, but it seem like he doesn¡¯t even want to hear her own side of the story. Then she dropped to her knees with a heavy thud, her phone falling out of her pocket and smashing on the floor.


    Mark nced at it and ordered Richarlison to look into her phone. Mark needed to be sure of the situation before passing his judgement.


    Immediately the phone got to Richarlison¡¯s hand, as he was checking the call logs an sms arrived, ¨C beep beep- Jake? The senders phone number was saved with ¡°Jake, my love¡±, Richarlison, quickly navigated to the message centre and opened the inbox, there was a message from him ten hours ago, before this newly arrived one which read, ¡°Thanks my love, thanks for burning the ammunition house. Now, we have an upper hand and immediately we colonize sterling city, you¡¯ll be my right hand and be the goddess of war alongside our children!¡±


    Richarlison was extremely shocked, that he read the message over and over again. Then he screwed to the first one which read, ¡°My love, prove to me you love me by burning down the ammunition house or I can ask you the other way round, burn down the godforsaken ammunition house before tomorrow or else you will never see your triplets again!¡­ Whichever tone or way you choose. You get my point¡±


    Calcting back to 10 hours ago, it was the period of time she was talking and walking with the president general¡¯s mother, Flora.


    Flora from where she was was feeling terrible at herself as she watched. She has to do this to save his son, Otani. If she doesn¡¯t, Otani would die in Jake¡¯s hand, and she doesn¡¯t want that¡­. But making Diana suffer pained her so much. But, she was optionless.


    ¡°When would all of this end?¡± She questioned her creator.


    Richarlison was disappointed. He didn¡¯t believe Diana burnt the ammunition house as the secrete investigation team proposed, but this discovery has dispelled off any reservations of doubts that he had had or trust that he had on Diana.


    He turned to Mark and handed him the phone respectfully. Mark then read the message, he was heartbroken, he just didn¡¯t let his emotions show. He trusted Diana, but look at what she did to him in return.


    Mark angrily smashed the phone on the floor and it scattered into pieces. Before that, the number was cross-checked and it did belonged to Jake.


    So, Diana had been in contact with Jake all along? Despicable evil being! Mark cursed, but still, he felt something was fishy and can¡¯t afford ordering her execution. He regretted as if it never ured to him that Diana could be in touch with Jake. Afterall, he was their father.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Firstly, she is his betrothed and he needed to respect histe grandfather¡¯s wish.


    Secondly, he had fallen deeply in love with her.


    ¡°Marshal, I didn¡¯t do it. I agree I did breached the military rule but I was not the one that burnt the ammunition house. I only went to the backyard because of themotion I heard from there¡­¡± Diana said, in a crying tone. Tears flowing down her cheeks like an ocean.


    Her kids had been taken away from her and now this? One problem after another and she seemed to have no permanent peace. Each time, there is always something to get her into trouble and disrupt her peace.


    ¡°This is a clear set up!¡± She said, crying.. the look Mark gave her was not a good one and she wondered what it possibly could¡¯ve been on her phone that Mark discovered. Of a truth, she had no idea about those messages.


    ¡°Kill her!¡± One of the grandwar masters said in anger. By now, she should be in hell burning but Mark was dying to pass her judgement, and it upset him.


    Another of grandwar masters added, supporting his collegue, ¡°kill this mother fucker!¡±


    ¡°Silence!¡± Mark ordered. The graveyard silence returned as everyone watched and anticipated his judgement.


    Mark didn¡¯t understand, but he was 100% unwilling to pass the judgement that everyone expects him to.


    ¡°What can he do?¡± He was the exmunicando and same time president general. He has the power to withheld the execution. Mark felt he needed to go deep into this issue and if Diana is indeed guilty, he¡¯d have to of course, execute her.


    Diana was already crying. She would literally be executed few minutes from now, immediately he orders it. What pained her the most was that her kids won¡¯t get to see her again.


    ¡°Kill her!¡± Mark said in a burning rage but the word¡¯s didn¡¯t just came out. Richarlison perfectly understood his plight.


    ¡°Execute her!¡± He said again, but the word¡¯s that came out were ¡°put her into the dungeon!¡±


    He knew that didn¡¯te out well so he added, ¡°without food or water until I find her guilty!¡±


    That was fair enough but it didn¡¯t boiled down well with grandwar kings and Masters and even the military officers.


    ¡°Marshall!¡± One of the grandwar kings called out in anger and protest to Mark¡¯s judgement. Denoting, it was not a fair judgement. No one dared challenge the president generals order, not even these old men but they felt Mark was being impartial. This would mark the third time he was sparing her and if it were to be anyone else, by now, his  or her skulls would be with the vultures to feed on.


    ¡°Marshall. She must be killed!¡± The grandwar kings started to chant, soon the grand war masters joined them in the protest.


    Thousands of officers joined in the protest, chanting ¡°she must be killed!¡±


    ¡°She can¡¯t be spared!¡±


    ¡°Our life is in danger because of her betrayal!¡±


    The chants were so disturbing that it angered Mark. He then mmed his feet on the podium that the whole podium shook, where his feetnded scattered as well, the impact of the force was so great that everyone felt his wrath.


    Richarlison stood behind him, his duty is to protect Mark,e raine sun, and that includes supporting all of his decisions.


    The dead pin silence was restored and Mark then said, ¡°I have already ordered for the recement of the ammunition house. Before next tomorrow, the ammunition would all be reced¡­.¡± His voice was stern that no one dared made a noise.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t disturb the government for money. I used my own money!¡± He added, this time with a calm tone.


    The grandwar masters, kings and officers could only look at each others face in shock, still there were some stubborn officers making a noise and still murmuring the chant.


    ¡°I find something fishy about this whole issue and would investigate this issue personally. Anyone heard or caught making a fuss out of this big issue or gossiping about  this issue will be killed on spot. And as I said, she would be put into the deepest dungeons without food nor water until my investigation is done! And if she is guilty, she will be executed but if proved other wise, the real culprit will be caught and executed!¡±


    Rain had started to precipitate but very little when Mark made his order. The atmosphere and silence of the field had suddenly be tense, unlike before.


    Richarlison ordered for Diana to be taken away at once. No one can¡¯t object at this point, least he or she wants to be killed on spot.


    Afterwards, Mark stepped down from the podium, with a nk expressionless face. Richarlison was the one who addressed the officers and put them in order and as well dismissed them.


    Before that, he ordered and urged all of them that they all get prepared for the iing war.


    They, however, trusted the president general. It was even fair since Diana hasn¡¯t got the opportunity to prove her self not guilty. It was even in the military conduct and it stated, ¡°a suspect should be given an opportunity to prove his or her self not guilty, but if found guilty. They¡¯d be make to face the full wrath of thew!¡±


    Diana was aggressively dragged to her dungeon which was about 30 metres deep. She was throwed inside that she almost broke her arms from the impactful force of which shended on the dungeons floor.


    The dungeon was very narrow that the space wouldn¡¯t let her sleep straight ory down. The only light was from the dungeons opening at the top. The dungeon was dug vertically downward.


    She sunk with her buttock to the bottom of the dungeon, ¡°This is a clear set up!¡±


    Was this why Flora insisted I followed her there? Why didn¡¯t she came to save me? No, it can¡¯t be her right? I went there willingly from hearing somemotions.

 Her Second Assignment

    Mark was back at his chambers thinking of how to go about his investigation after so many failed attempts . His instinct told him Diana was innocent of the crime of burning the ammunition house but however, clearly she is guilty for breaching the military rule and all evidence pointed out that she was guilty of both crimes.


    The most gruesome of the two crimes Diana is supposedly a prime suspect of is the crime of burning down the Ammunition House two days to a major war that will determine the future of Sterling city.


    Mark was deep in thoughts that he didn¡¯t know when Richarlison walked in. He was so much worried of exoneration good Diana¡¯s penance. He didn¡¯t want her executed. He had only 23 hours left.


    ¡°Sir!¡± Richarlison saluted. Mark didn¡¯t respond, he obviously didn¡¯t hear him.


    ¡°Sir!¡± He saluted again, this time more loudly that it jolted Mark from thend of thoughts.


    ¡°What?¡± Mark asked brusquely, rather tiresomely. He has been unable to catch a sleep for thest 24 hours because he has been looking for a way to spare Diana.


    ¡°Flora still won¡¯t say anything. She insist she left the yard before what transpired! We¡¯re left with no more option¡­¡± After a moment he added


    ¡°Diana is guilty!¡±.


    ¡°Do you really believe she is guilty?¡± Mark asked.


    There was a momentary silence in the office. Richarlison of a truth didn¡¯t believe she was guilty, but he can only work base on the avable evidence.


    ¡°Sir¡­ I can¡¯t really ¨C a phone call interrupted what he was about saying.


    On looking at the caller ID, Mark paused and said, ¡°Hold on, let me take this call!¡±


    It was Otani returning his call. He had called him few minutes ago to inform him about Diana situation at the moment. He felt, Otani could be able to sign an undertaken in order to free her. He thought that could work out smartly. But when he called him, no one answered it, now he was obviously calling back.


    ¡°Hello¡­¡± He said,


    ¡°Hello? Who is this? ¡± The voice at the other end of the phone rang out sharply. Mark immediately deduced that the person on the phone was obviously Otani¡¯s bodyguard and he requested, ¡°Give the phone to your boss¡±¡­¡± this is the president general!¡± Mark added, Introducing himself.


    ¡°Boss kei? Boss my foot!¡± The voice at the other end rang out again, this time mockingly.


    Mark turned to look at his phones screen again and again, wondering if it was indeed, Otani¡¯s call line and of course it was. But?


    ¡°Who is it?¡± Another voice at the other end spoke.


    After a brief moment, the first person answered, he probably must have thought he hung up the call.


    ¡°It¡¯s one man, he said I should give the phone to my boss..¡±


    ¡°Which boss? The second man asked, he sounded like his superior.


    ¡°Jake¡¯s pawn of course!¡± The next moment, a roaringughter followed.


    Mark waspletely stunned. Jake¡¯s pawn? Even Richarlison was confused and shocked as they both clearly overheard the conversation between the first and second person.


    The next moment, ¡°shit¡± rang out and the the call quickly ended.


    ¡°Something is fishy!¡± Mark concluded. Speaking of Otani, his step brother, he stood up at once¡­ Everything is not alright with him. On a second thought, since he is not taking my call, he could take mum¡¯s calls.


    Mark then started of towards Flora¡¯s bedroom.


    Richarlison followed him behind closely.


    When Mark got to Flora¡¯s room, he couldn¡¯t find Flroa ¡°He ought to be at home this crucial dangerous time!¡± Mark vented.


    As him and Richarlison walked back to the office, they both heard sounds of footstepsing from Mark¡¯s bedroom. As expected, they opted to check out who it was.


    As they got to Mark¡¯s bedroom, Mark bumped into his mom, Flora, justing out of his bedroom.


    ¡°What the fuck is she doing here in my bedroom?¡±


    Seemed like it washer footsteps they had earlier heard.


    ¡°Hey¡­ ¡± Flora jolted to her full sense. It looks like she is going to be caught. She was here to steal the silver ring with the initials K. O carved on it.


    It was her second assignment. Steal the ring and give it to Jake in exchange for her son, Otani.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    ¡°Mum!! What are you doing here?¡± Mark inquired, he was a bit shocked.


    Even Flora kind of was shivering like someone caught red handed doing an evil act. She immediately dropped into acting.


    ¡°Ohhh, I was here to check up on you. Didn¡¯t know you were not around. Now that I have found you. Hope you¡¯re good?¡± Flora immediately stalled the question. She can¡¯t afford to get caught. She has hidden the silver ring in her bra.


    ¡°Yea¡­ I¡¯m good! Was justing from your bedroom¡­. I hade to inquire about my step brother. He is not taking my calls¡­¡± Mark stylishly asked.


    ¡°Oh, he is good. I talked with him few minutes beforeing here. He is perfectly well!¡± Flora responded. Her voice, however was not convincing. It sounded like it was hiding something.


    ¡°Oh really?¡± Mark asked.


    ¡°Yea.. I¡¯ll have to be going now, that I¡¯m sure that you¡¯re okay!¡± Flora said and left hurriedly.


    Few minutes ago, Mark called Otani and his line was picked by a stranger who said ¡°boss kei, boss my foot¡± andter when he thought the call had ended, someone said ¡± He was  inquiring about the captive, Jake¡¯s pawn..¡±


    What he said resounded in Marks mind.


    After Flora left, Mark immediately asked Richarlison to trail her. Something was indeed fishy about her movement and what she had just said. It obviously was a lie.

 Wagner Group

    In Northeast of the continent, there lies the sambisa forest which is regarded as niche of the Wagnar group of soldiers led by Mr Kane.


    Mr Kane is the father of Bernard who is now Jake. He is the step father of Mark the president general. Many years ago him and histe wife abducted Mark as their son.


    Mark grew up with Bernard (Jake). They got separated when Jake was sent to prison for murdering the families maid. Jake is indeed innocent of the crime and now he was exerting his vengeance on Mark because Mark knew all that happened but didn¡¯t unveil the real truth and as a result of that, Bernard was sent to prison.


    Mrs Kane, Bernards mum died shortly after Bernard was sent to prison and because of that, Mr Kane withdrew more to himself and became the fierce leader of the Wagner group of soldiers.


    Bernard had gotten out from prison few yearter, after he experienced a serious fire-burn while in prison. He did stic surgery and his facials changed. He started working as a security guard at Diana¡¯s oilpany and over there he won Diana¡¯s heart and they got married.


    Few years into the marriage, he cheated on Diana with her best friend, Hannah. Diana tired of him filed for divorce and Jake got more than half of her wealth and property as alimony.


    It was his n all along. The easiest way for him to get wealthy in order to finance the resources he needed to exert vengeance was through divorce.


    Now, his father Mr Kane who owned and controlled the dreadful Wagner group of soldiers had just gotten the news that Owen, histe wife¡¯s father was dead.


    The exmunicando was dead and the new exmunicando was Mark, the president general, his abducted son.


    He was seated in his chambers staring coldly at a  picture of him, histe wife and his nowte son, Bernard. He didn¡¯t know that Bernard was still very much alive and his new identity was as Jake.


    He was missing the very early years of his life with his wife and son. However, all that was in the past now. He had turned into a ruthless and cold Wagner leader ever since he lost his family. Despite how much Mark tried to make him feel not alone or lonely he still didn¡¯t consider Mark as his true son.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    He is the ares of the northeast. The god of war and the leader of the most powerful military group. The Wagner group of soldiers.


    Few minutes ago, he received the news of Owen¡¯s death and it prompted him to visit his gallery collection of histe wife. Now, the pains of many years ago that he thought he had buried were kindled anew. The scars were now bleeding like that of a fresh wound or injury. He couldn¡¯t cry, even if he wanted to, the tears wouldn¡¯t evene out. He misses his family so much.


    Then he heard a knock on his chambers door. It disrupted him and an intense anger erupted. He had warned his men few hours ago that he would be busy inside and didn¡¯t need any form of disturb, yet, one fool was behind his chambers door knocking.


    He angrily got out of the chair and grabbed for a dagger that was on the table. The next moment, he was before the door.


    He twisted the door knob and as soon as the door opened, he stabbed the soldier that had been knocking.


    Blood gushed out speedily that the soldier died on spot. He then instructed the two soldiers posted to guard the entryway to feed the dead body to the corpse. Just then he noticed the dead body was holding an envelope pinned with histe wife¡¯s signature.


    Comprehension dawned on him that it was obviously a message. He quickly picked it up and he opened the envelope. He nced through the letter and it read,


    ¡°Dear Dad¡­ It¡¯s your son, Bernard. I¡¯m still much alive. I need your help!¡­.. At the back of this letter is the Wagner¡¯s secrete symbols that you taught me and also my address¡­.¡±


    Kane hurriedly turned to look at the back of the letter and was shocked to see the Wagner secrete symbols. Only him knew the symbols as the the Wagner leader and many years ago, he thought his heir, his son, the symbols. They were obviously confirmation that his son was still alive.


    ¡°But how is that possible?¡± He thought. His son, Bernard died from the fire outbreak in the prison. How did he managed to survive??


    He immediately darted back into his chambers and called his personal assistant to inform him that he should make arrangements for him to go find and meet his son!


    *********


    Meanwhile, Flora had just walked out of the president general vi and was walking to the back yard, Richarlison trailed her tactically to avoid being caught. It was a simple mission and he can¡¯t afford to fuck it up.


    Flora was barely aware of his presence. Turning in a slow circle, she took it all in. She needed to ensure that no one was following her, least her son, Otani dies..


    She entered into a narrow passage leading to the emergency exit of Sterling military base and briskly was walking to the extreme of it.


    Richarlison wondered why? It was indeed weird as he followed her behind, but from afar like he was under a spell, too focus on her that he couldn¡¯t even notice anything else around him.


    It seemed Flora knew the emergency exit pass code. Without raising the rm, she was able to exit sterling military base. Just outside, a van was waiting for her and she entered into the van which drove way right that minute.


    Richarlison as well knew the passcode, and as soon as he was out, he stopped a taxi and instructed the cab man to trail the van Flora was in.

 The Fear He Didn’t Knew Existed

    Jake and his men were at a T junction. Otani was handcuffed, leg-cuffed and blindfolded, he was made to kneel down before Jake¡¯s car.


    Jake¡¯s Mercedes G-wagon was in front while three  Lexus cars parked behind it like a fleet. Jake was sitting in the passenger seat in front while some of his men secured the perimeters. Two of his men stood side by side to the car he was in, they both wore a ck suit and their hands dipped underneath their jacket like special protection unit.


    In a jiffy, the van carrying Flora arrived and Flora was forcefully dragged down by one of the vans upant.


    When Richarlison noticed the van had stopped about 300 metres away. He paid the cab driver and alighted. The cab driver was clever that the van driver didn¡¯t notice the cab was trailing him.


    Richarlison thanked the driver before he entered the rubber tree ntation that surrounded the whole vicinity. He needed to get a clear shot of who Flora was meeting with, and most importantly why?


    Soon, he was hiding under the bush and was video recording the whole incident, ranging from Flora bringing out the silver ring from her bra and handling it to Jake.


    Jake gave out a diabolical chuckle when he truly scrutinized the ring and confirmed it was real and original.


    ¡°I did what you asked of me¡­ Let my son go!¡±


    ¡°Mum¡­ You shouldn¡¯t-¡± Otani wanted to speak but was cut short with a fury that crashed into him.


    ¡°Arhhhh!¡± He cried out in agony. Only God knows the suffering he has endured while being held captive.


    ¡°Please¡­ Let my son be. A bargain is a bargain!¡± Flora cried out. She was finding it hard to endure the pain her son was passing through.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m gonna save him from the suffering of this world¡­ I have what I wanted, nothing can stop me now¡­.¡± Jake said in his evil tone and nced at the man beside Otani. ¡°Kill him!¡± He ordered,


    ¡°No!!!!¡± Flora shouted out loudly as he sped towards Otani. Meantime, theckey had pointed a gun at Otani.


    ¡°Kill him and his godforsaken mum¡­.¡± Jake¡¯s voice rang through again. He smirked the next moment ¡°Mark will feel my fury now!¡±


    Kpoooooooooooooo!


    A gun shot was heard the next moment.


    Jake turned to see how Otani struggles till he bes lifeless. Surprisingly, he was not the one that was shot. Flora took the bullet for him and blood was already gushing out of her mouth and blood flowing down from her stomach.


    ¡°Mum?¡± Confused and blindfolded Otani blurted out. He had epted he would be killed when Jake gave the order, but still¡­ He has not felt any pain from gun shot since the gun shot was heard. And then next, a body copsed into him.


    ¡°Kill him!¡± Jake pressed in with his order.


    Another gun shot was heard next and Otani too copsed to the floor. He was hitherto kneeling and now the bullet pierced through his abdomen and if he is not surgically operated on by a specialist in the next 2 hours, he would definitely kick the bucket.


    ¡°Let them rot in hell!¡± Jake said and spat to the flood as he entered his car.


    In the next moment, the fleets of cars drove off!


    Richarlison who had been video recording cursed in pain. He had never seen someone as cruel as Jake, despite being a mercenary. Well, in the military, they dont kill unarmed opponents.


    Jake got what he wanted and still shot the both of them. However, Richarlison doesn¡¯t have time to deliberate or think much about what had just happened. He came out of his hiding immediately Jake and his men left and he then sent out his coordinate to Mark at once, alongside, he said its urgent hees with ambnce and backup.


    Mark was on his way to meet Diana at prison. She is been there for 24 hours now without food or water. He didn¡¯t know why he cared for her well being. She is a traitor, still he was not convinced and feels guilty for letting her suffer in that dungeon.


    Last night it rained heavily and it drenched her heavily in that dungeon.


    ¡°What?¡± Mark¡¯s emergency hormone got stimted when he discerned the urgency in the message he just received.


    He immediately informed the medical team and some soldiers and a fleet of military cars were on their way to the coordinate Richarlison sent.


    The ambnce in front was blowing their sirens. It was plying at a very high speed.


    At exactly four minutes times they arrived.


    When Mark got down, he was heartbroken to see his mum drenched in her own blood.


    ¡°Quick Doctor¡­ Save her!¡± He yelled on top of his lungs as he held her closely and urging her to stay with him


    ¡°Mum please.. stay with me!¡± Those were his words. He didn¡¯t realize he had this kind of fear in him. He had never been afraid of losing someone this much.


    His mum literally handshaking death instilled a fear he didn¡¯t knew existed into him.


    Beside him, the medical team was attending to Otani after the cuffs werepletely removed. He had much survival ratepared to Flora.


    ¡°How the fuck did you hide somewhere and watch someone kill my mother?


    Richarlison who was trying to calm Mark down was yelled out and he stepped back, watching Mark wince in pain.


    Richarlison was quite taken aback, this was the second time he had seen him this angry and at the brink of tears.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry son ¨C cough cough ¨C ¡­ I¡¯m afraid I may not survive this¡­¡± Flora spoke between the intense pain she was feeling.


    ¡°Mum please¡­ Stay with me. Don¡¯t do this to me!¡± Mark urged in pains.


    ¡°I and your father disappointed you as your parents and I hoped I can make it all up to you¡­ but ¡­¡±


    ¡°Shiiiisssh! Don¡¯t say anything. You¡¯ll be fine okay?¡± Mark wanted to assure her. He believed that we die once we believe we won¡¯t make it.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry son¡­ I truly I¡¯m¡­¡± Flora continued.


    ¡°Cut my hands open¡­ Here¡­.¡± Flora raised her hands effortlessly to show Mark her arm.


    ¡°Underneath it, you¡¯ll find a small scroll.. -cough cough-¡­.¡± She started to cough out ck blood this time around. Her face was now devoid of blood cirction as she was slowly dying.


    The doctor finally arrived with the emergency kits but Mark pushed him away instead. He knew she wouldn¡¯t make it not even if the doctors try.


    ¡°Give the scroll to Diana.. and, and -cough cough- your dad¡­..¡± Those were herst words before she became lifeless.


    Mark winced in pain¡­. and curiosity. ¡°His dad?

 Peace Negotiation

    At the end of the day. It was a sessful surgery for Otani and he was now rehabilitating in the military rehab unit.


    Words had gone out. Jason, mega Ind god of war received the news on time.


    ¡°Someone killed Flora and his son?¡± His phone fell from his hands and scattered into smithereens on the hard floor.


    He was coaching his men for the battle ahead, which was tomorrow when the call arrived¡­..


    ¡°This had better not be true¡­ No, no, no, no ¡­..¡±  However, there was an oddness. He didn¡¯t wince in pain. His facial expression were devoid of any kind of pain. It was nk and cold.


    That wasmon with the god of wars¡­ However, his heart was racing and he was filled with thoughts when his Personal Assistant walked up to him and handed him a phone.


    ¡°Your son wants to speak with you ¡­¡± He said.


    Jason quickly grabbed the phone when he heard that¡­ two different thoughts were left now and the both assailed him.


    ¡°Hello Dad, I¡¯m fine¡­.¡± The voice at the other end spoke out quickly but faintly.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Jason definitely would recognize his son¡¯s voice anytime any day and that was his voice, however his voice was weak.


    It was such a huge relief for Jason that his son was okay.


    ¡°How about your mum?¡± Jason inquired.


    ¡°I have something to tell you ..¡± Otani¡¯s voice rang out again but it was not answering Jason¡¯s question.


    ¡°I¡¯ll send my location¡­¡± Then the call ended.


    Jason quickly checked the phone and saw the sent location.


    ¡°Sterling military base?¡± He questioned in a shocking mussitation .


    He is nning on lunching his attack tomorrow on Sterling military base and then, his son is back there ?


    He had initially gotten the news that sterling military soldiers arrived at the spot on time.


    ¡°Could they have been the one who saved him?¡±


    ¡°Was the war really necessary?¡±


    **********


    When Mark got home, the secrete investigation vignte approached him right away and reported what they had found something crucial about Diana¡¯s case.


    ¡°The CCTV camera was tampered with and a part of the CCTV footage were deleted¡­¡± The nerdy man reported immediately after he saluted.


    Despite having lost his mum and his stepbrother in a critical condition. He didn¡¯t let it affect him deeply.


    ¡°So?¡± He asked as he walked inside the president general vi. Richarlison and the nerdy man struggling to follow his pace.


    ¡°Surgeon general Diana is innocent. The recovered CCTV footage caught a masked person setting fire in the ammunition house. Diana¡¯s only crime was breaching the military rule¡­¡± The nerdy man quickly exined.


    Mark suddenly stopped at his footsteps.


    ¡°How about the message that was sent to her phone?¡±


    ¡°Sir¡­. We¡¯re working on that. For now, we need your order to get her out of the dungeons!¡±


    ¡°Approved!¡± He said and walked away. But before that, he turned and gave Richarlison the scroll his nowte mum gave him to give to Diana. Richarlison for sure knew what he needed to do..¡±hand it over to her¡­¡±


    Jason finally had his men confirmed that Otani was in sterling city military rehab ward, recuperating and his mind was far from being settled. How about Flora?


    At exactly forty five minutester, a chaos erupted in the military base. Every soldier on hearing the signal of war picked their weapons and started to cock their guns. The report from the central field was that, Jason, the Mega Ind god of war was by the gate, unarmed with just two of his men, seeking to be let in that they pose no threat.


    On a norms, in the military, they don¡¯t kill an unarmed enemy, if not, Jason and his men must have reached the second world.


    Mark was looking through the window when Richarlison reported to him.


    ¡°Mega Ind god Of War? What was he doing here? Asking to be let in? For what? ¡±


    ¡°This could be a secret tactic¡­. inform the military knight squad and let them in¡­.¡± Mark finally gave out his order.


    The military knight was a squad in the military specialized and closebat and also careful observation. They were to bring them in¡­


    Once Jason and his men were brought before Mark. Jason quickly confessed his reason for being there¡­.


    ¡°His son, Otani was here¡­. And he needed to know if Flora, his son¡¯s mum was okay¡­. And also about the war¡­ He seeks a peace negotiation..¡±


    It was at this point he received the biggest shock of his life.


    ¡°Flora didn¡¯t make it¡­.¡±


    ¡°Otani survived and is recuperating¡­¡±


    Then Richarlison walked over to him and showed him the video which he recorded¡­ Jason was further shocked when he found out that Jake was responsible. Someone he thought was his alliance.

 The End

    Jason finally had a peace negotiation with Mark and now they were allies.


    Sterling City and Mega Ind can now live together without trespassing on each other.


    The peace negotiation were signed by each party after they both agreed, after signing it was sealed!


    No more war¡­.


    When Jake learnt that, he almost burst his vessel as he lost his rational mind. This never ured to him at all¡­.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    However, he is on the run now as there is no hiding spot for him anymore.


    Mega Ind military team teaming up with sterling city military team was a major boost in getting him to justice.


    All of Jake¡¯s hideout had been put on fire that he had to strike a deal with Hannah.


    Hannah gave him a hideout in exchange for her daughter, ra.


    Now, Jake and the three little Rugrats were in Jake¡¯s new hideout. Hoping that this one doesn¡¯t get bursted.


    Jake¡¯s security is now tightened and doubled as it was the members of Sterling City triad Mafias¡¯ that were Guarding him now. He has the silver ring now and can control them to do whatever he wants.


    He was in the small sitting room of the hideout with the three little Rugrats¡­ Trying all of his best to bond with them as their father but something didn¡¯t just felt right.


    The kids kept insisting they wanted their mother and that he was not their father.


    Jake finds out he is not the kids father and he doesn¡¯t even likes them.


    ¡°The kids are not mine biological but legally they¡¯re mine¡± He imed.


    ¡°Hannah is caught and sent to life imprisonment underpromise because of her daughter¡­¡±


    Jake duels with Mark when his hideouts got bursted.


    Mark kills him.


    Mark and Diana marries. On their wedding day, Diana¡¯s parents arrive after they found out it was not Diana that killed their only son.


    Mark and Diana lives happily ever after with their triplets and ra.


    Mr Kane, the head of the Wagner group of soldiers finds out Mark killed his only son, even before he could reconnect with him¡­.


    He wants revenge!


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!