–Livana–
I woke late into the morning, the light already warm against the curtains—and yet, there was no husband beside . Only my son, sleeping soundly, his tiny breaths steady, peaceful. He was clingy even in sleep, just like Damon. The sa posture, the sa quiet possessiveness. I kissed his forehead and snuggled closer, indulging in that fragile stillness, when my phone blinked insistently.
I reached for it.
Hubby: I miss you. pleading emoji
Hubby: Next ti, let’s send Sky to his great-grandparents.
Hubby: Then let’s do it all day and night. Damn, just thinking of it makes aroused.
I chuckled softly and called him. He answered almost instantly, as if he’d been waiting.
"Where are you?" I asked.
"I just arrived at my office," he said. "But I promise to be there as soon as I can."
"Hmm, okay," I replied nonchalantly, the way queens do when they already know the devotion is absolute.
"But we have to send our son away."
I laughed—and that was enough to wake our little one. Sky shifted and snuggled into my chest, instinctively claiming his place.
"Mama."
"Don’t be ridiculous," I murmured, caressing his black hair—the sa shade, the sa texture as his father’s. "Jane and Logan just arrived after visiting their ho. I’m sure Sky would love to play with them."
"Well, whatever," Damon muttered. "When I get there, I’ll give him away so he’ll stop clinging to you."
Such a dumbass husband.
Sky was exactly like him. Damon clung to like gravity itself. Our son had rely learned the habit early.
"I wav youuu, Mama."
"I love you too."
"Oh, please," Damon snorted from the other line.
"Don’t you love your son?" I asked calmly. Then I guided Sky’s tiny hand toward the phone. "Say hi to Dada."
"Dada," Sky chirped sweetly, gripping the phone with both hands, "I wav you... foodie, kay-kay?"
"Wow," Damon sighed. "His only way to love is because of food. I’m coming ho after I’m done with this. I love you both."
"Wavvv you, Dada," Sky sang.
"I love you too." And then the line went dead.
"Dada?" Sky stared at the phone seriously. "Dada, foodie!"
I laughed and hugged him close.
"Baby, we have a lot of food."
"Oh."
I kissed his forehead and carried him to the bathroom, changing his diaper, wiping him clean, and dressing him in fresh morning clothes. I did my own routine beside him. He waited patiently, following with curious eyes, watching every movent.
It was like raising a miniature Damon.
I finally took him downstairs. Mother had already prepared breakfast, and Laura waved while eating with the twins. Sky squealed in excitent—so did the twins—and I placed him carefully on his designated chair beside them. I hugged my sister, then my mother.
Mother served Sky his breakfast, and he clapped happily.
"Drink water first, my love," I reminded him, handing his bottle over. He sipped from the straw, giggling, then pointed eagerly at his plate.
"Wow. Pish?"
A pancake shaped like a fish. Of course. He loved fish—not as pets, only as food.
I took my mug and sipped the warm water I had prepared for myself, grounding, steady.
"I’ll go downstairs to check on sothing," I said, already moving toward the Nest.
The mont I sat down, the screens blood before . I checked on my husband—working relentlessly, efficiently, cutting through plans like a blade through silk. Always racing ti just to return to .
Then I called Lore.
Three seconds. That was all it took.
"I’m on it," he muttered. "This is ssed up, but I’m working on it."
"I’m here," I said calmly. "Prepare as you need to."
I settled into my swivel chair—my throne—and watched everything. Even the school. Especially the school. I watched them.
I am protecting our Princess.
"Got it."
I ended the call and observed.
Lore casually threw his arm around her neck, locking her in with his own playfully, while she responded lazily, tapping him without much energy. They were clumsy. Young. Unaware.
Adorable.
Gina approached with other classmates as they settled in the cafeteria.
I had already placed a few of my Pawns-in-training across the campus—watching, blending in, alert. They were everywhere, invisible yet present.
I would do the sa for my family.
Always.
Because a queen does not rely rule.
She guards what she loves—quietly, completely, and without rcy.
–Lore–
Livana really does work well. She’s flexible. Efficient. Those spoiled brats on the other counter? Easy targets.
But I need a few days before I execute my plan.
Step one: piss Alyssa off—properly.
The problem? She doesn’t participate.
Where does all her energy even go?
"Didn’t you sleep last night?" I asked, gathering her hair and tying it loosely.
"It’s your fault."
"What?" I scoffed. "I was sleeping peacefully. Unless my snoring hacked its way into your room?"
"I want to go ho. I’m skipping class."
"But we have an important activity this afternoon," a few classmates chid in, trying to convince her.
I pinched her sides playfully. She jerked and smacked with her book.
"Ow," I pouted.
The table went silent.
She sighed, sat down casually, and smiled like nothing happened.
I peeked behind Alyssa just in ti to see the most handso guy from the Tennis Club approaching Trisha.
I almost laughed.
Really? That guy?
But it was working. He was a senior, popular, and everyone already had eyes on him.
"I think if I had the sa charisma," I blurted out, "I wouldn’t be single by now."
They followed my gaze. Cheers erupted when the guy handed Trisha so gifts.
"Why don’t you try seducing them?" Alyssa asked casually as she stood. "Let’s get food, guys. It’s all on ."
"Yay!" Patrick and the others exclaid, jumping up in excitent.
Everyone stood—except and Gina.
Gina stepped closer, glaring daggers at .
"Idiot."
I blinked. Completely puzzled.
"What did I do?" I asked as she walked away. "I’ll watch the bags. Get a nice ran, please—extra at."
"Whatever."
I waited. Alyssa ca back first and dropped into the seat beside . I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and leaned in, my lips brushing near her ear.
"I need to talk to you about sothing."
"You sound serious."
"I am. You’ll hate for it."
She shrugged and pulled her hood over her head.
"I have one million pesos to burn," I said lightly. "Wanna go out this weekend? Maybe Baguio... sowhere north. Sowhere cold."
"Are you asking out on a date?"
"You can call it that."
She shrugged again.
"It’s fine with ."
"Yeah," I grinned. "So when are you going to crack the puzzle?"
She groaned, exhausted, burying her face into the inflatable neck pillow—then lifted her head again.
"Where did you get the money?"
"Your brother sent it earlier this morning. He wanted to do sothing for him."
"Like strip dancing?" she asked, brows creasing.
I laughed and pinched her cheeks. She smacked my hands away.
"Hey, I don’t do that," I said. "Unless you want to?"
I grinned.
Her cheeks flushed as she started hitting like an angry kitten. Damn. Adorable.
Soon, the others ca back with food. The ran wasn’t here yet, but the sushi platter was massive—and there was more coming.
I fed her a piece of sushi.
She flushed instantly and smacked again, grabbing water and pressing a hand to her forehead.
I laughed—maybe I overdid the prank. The others laughed too, but I shushed them.
"Only I’m allowed to laugh."
Yes. This would stir Trisha.
She was the insecure type—spoiled, territorial. Anything Alyssa had, she’d want. Especially attention.
While everyone enjoyed lunch, Trisha stood up and tried snuggling closer to that jockey. She kept glancing at us.
She wanted Alyssa’s reaction.
Too bad Alyssa was busy eating and genuinely didn’t give a fuck.
"So... are you guys dating?" Patrick asked suddenly.
"No/Yes!"
I said yes at the exact mont Alyssa said no.
She glared at .
"She loves ," I said, slinging an arm around her shoulders. "So much."
She elbowed hard.
"Ow."
That’s when Trisha’s group approached, laughing.
"She’s hanging out with dorks," Trisha spat.
"Lore," Gina said sweetly, "I think we need a mosquito catcher. I keep hearing buzzing in my ears."
Alyssa’s friends burst out laughing.
Alyssa didn’t.
I didn’t either—but I backed Gina anyway.
"Yeah," I said casually. "We might need a bigger one."
Trisha turned to . "You don’t look like soone who should be hanging out with idiots."
She pointed at . "Yes. You."
She tilted her head. "I’m having a party next week. You should co."
"Oh, that’s nice," I said, glancing at Alyssa. "Sure."
Gina went quiet. Staring at .
"But only you," Trisha added.
I shrugged.
"Sure."
"Bye," Trisha winked, walking away while her friends shot confused looks at .
I leaned back toward my group.
"Alright," I said quietly, grinning. "I’ll go as a spy. Have fun. Gather intel."
They stared at like I’d lost my mind.
"Are you serious?" Patrick scolded.
"I don’t think that’s right," Amala added.
"I don’t know you anymore, Lore," Gina murmured. "I don’t love you anymore."
I pouted dramatically, then looked at Alyssa.
Yeah. I hurt her again.
But I’ll explain later.
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