The fall of a drama queen episode 23

The fall of
๐Ÿ‘‘ A๐Ÿ‘‘
๐Ÿ‘‘ Drama Queen ๐Ÿ‘‘

#Episode_23

 

 

Emerald’s POV
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I wondered who the important visitors were, maybe some business colleagues of dad from abroad. I just hoped that Crystal heard wrong, not a man my parents wanted me to marry.

My parents could not enf0rรงยฃ to choose a husband for me. They knew that it would only cause endless arguments and resulted humiliation and disappointment to the family circle.
Well, dad would insist, but mom… I know mom too well. She showed warmth and responsiveness to the nee-ds of her children. She wanted our happiness and satisfaction for the rest of our lives. She would not suggest an arranged marriage.
“Wear a nice formal dress.” Mom reminded me and Crystal when we went back inside the house.

“Who’s the visitor?”

“You’ll find out later.” Mom win-ked at me then went to the kitchen.
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I took a bath in less than ten minutes. Not the usual 45 minutes to an hour totally spacing out, getting soggy and cold.
I headed to my two-levels wardrobe afterwards wondering why I got too crazy buying too many clothes that I did not even bother to wear. Most of it even still have tags. There were also plenty of signature shoes, bags, hats, gloves, belts, accessories and jewelries. What was I thinking? I wasted too much of my parents money. I could have made a shelter for the homeless children or rescued dogs out of these material things.

I chose a simple elegant one-stra-p white c0cktail dress. Actually, I did not remember buying this dress. Maybe one of the dresses I just pointed in random or asked one of my as-sistants to pick for me. Whatever. I looked at the tag attached to it, it was worth ten thousand dollars. Before, I considered it too cheap, but now, I realized it was too expensive.

I was seated in front of my vanity table made finishing tยฉuรงhes of my makeup when I heard a knock on the door.
“Come in.”

It was my brother, Zion wearing a formal dark suit. It made me very curious about who the visitor was.

“Hey.” He greeted as he entered my room then dropped down on an armchair, facing me.

I was surprised when I saw him. It had been too long since he c@mยฃ here in my room. Since he left for university, we rarely saw him. And when he graduated and c@mยฃ back here in New York, he’d been very busy working in the family business. He bec@mยฃ workaholic, strict and rarely smiled. No matter how he pretended to be fine, but I knew that de-ep inside he was miserable. Thanks goodness, he met Claire again and made him back to his old self. His life bec@mยฃ complete when he married Claire, especially that they were expecting a baby now.

“What are you doing here?”

“Just checking if you’re okay.”

I turned to him and smiled. I realized how I missed my brother. It seemed like it was only yesterday that I confided to him about school, asked him about a math problem, talked about my celebrity crushes, cried to him if I was scolded by dad or mom and asked advices about boys.

“Yeah, I’m okay. Why are you asking?”

“I’m just concern about you. You seemed so quiet nowadays and it’s very unusual. Not the same Emerald I knew.” He chuckled.
I shrugged my shoulders and gave him a brief smile. “Maybe because there are lot of things I learned lately.”

He nodded. “I see the transition from our pampered princess to a confident matured woman, and I can say that I’m very proud of you Emmie.”

“Thank you, Zion.” I admitted I was a spoiled br@t, I could not deny that coming from my own brother, he knew me better.

“I know you got so annoyed sometimes, especially on me and dad being so protective of you, but I hope you un-derstand that we were doing it only because we care and love you a lot. When you’ll find love, a career you’ll really love and start a new life on your own, we won’t be there anymore to protect you with your problems and emotions.”

“Of course, I un-derstand that. I love you and dad so much, and I know by heart that all this protectiveness are your way of helping me prepare myself to become a mature woman that I wanted to be.”

He stood up and put a hand on his p@n-ts pocket.

“And you aced that, Emmie. I see the mature side of you– the more independent, smart, un-derstanding and compas-sionate woman. I like it.”

I went to him and hvgged him. “You’re a wonderful brother. I love you, Zion.”

He hvgged me back and k!$$ยฃd my forehead. “Just remember that you’ll always be my baby sister.”

Together, we went downstairs. As we descended, the crowd in the living room shifted their eyes at us. My parents, Crystal and Claire were there, including grandpa Markos and grandma Nina, grandma ru-by and grandpa Donovan, aunt Chloe and aunt Sapphire together with their families, Alessandro and nonna.

“What’s going on? Why is everyone in here?” I asked Zion when we were on the last step of the stairs.

“Because they wanted to welcome our guests.”

“Really? They must be very important.”

“Yeah, they are.” He smiled and tapped my hand that was clasped on his arm.

I nodded at him then turned to everyone, smiling at them.

“You look so lovely, dear.” My grandma Nina said. “I’m so happy for you.”

“Um… thank you grandma.”

“Hello my beautiful princess.” Grandpa Markos hvgged me and k!$$ยฃd my temple. “Before anyone takes you, remember this, that you are our princess first. We’re always here for you, no matter what happens.”
“Of course, grandpa.” I said and hvgged him back. I wondered why everyone was so affectionate to me and had all their attention.

Well., not everyone. Dad was acting his normal self though, like it was just a normal family dinner.

“Emerald, come here.” He said when I was talking to my cousins.

I thought he wanted to tell me something very important, but all he wanted was to get him a drink. When I gave him his favorite lemon drop martini, his arm did not leave my shoulders, holding me to his side while talking to uncle Iรฑigo and aunt Chloe.
“I’m glad that the case against the Stones is over. I could not imagine why Regina Stone pu-ll-ed that trick and used her own half brother.” Aunt Chloe said.

“I trusted Kevin and all the time he was only waiting for a chance to get hold of my portfolio.” I told her about the proceedings in the court and the decision made.

“I’m sure they regretted what they did.”

“Yeah.”

The doorbell rang and everyone bec@mยฃ silent, directed their attention at the door. The butler opened it wi-de and I was surprised when I saw the first person who c@mยฃ in. Sudden intense plea-sure flowed de-ep in my heart.
It was Harry and beside him was the king England.

No wonder he did not answer my calls, he was on his way here in New York.

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_________
๐ŸŽ‰Three days ago โœ”
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โœHarry’s POV ๐Ÿ’„

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“I love Emerald.”

My grandpa, King Alaric twisted hisl-ips. “You don’t smile often, but whenever Emerald was around, your face brightened instantly. The smile wouldn’t leave your face.”

“I’m sorry for disappointing you. I just can’t marry Princess Camila. She’s a strong woman and trained to be a future queen, but I found my own love. It would affect me greatly as a person and being the future king of England if I deprived myself of my own happiness. I have to follow my heart to be the best that I can be.”

“You’re like your mother. She eloped with your father because of love. She could have been the queen of Spain right now.”
“She wouldn’t be happy.”

“Yeah. She’d be very miserable sharing her husband with his many mistresses.” Grandpa heaved a sigh. “When I think about it, I couldn’t help smiling. I’m glad that she was stubborn.”

“Not all arranged marriage would turn out well.”

“You’re right. Your grandmother and I got married without love, Phili-p. She was not impressed marrying a king. She contradicted me and made me so angry in every possible way. We were like a dog and a cat.” Grandpa laughed, tears flowed on his cheek abruptly.

“Really grandpa?” I was so surprised hearing about it. Mom kept on saying how compatible her parents were and they never had any fights.

“When we were alone together, she would throw anything at me so I could not get near her. Many priceless figurines and antiques were all wasted. She was so wild and mad being f0rรงยฃd to marry me.”

“That’s terrible.”

“It was. Too many times, I wanted to give up and return her to her father.” His laughter died as he continued, reminiscing her memories with grandma. “But thanks God I didn’t. Despite all the hating, eventually, we learned to like each other.”
My heart felt heavy as I observed grandma. He must have missed grandma terribly. I sipped my tea as he continued talking.

“It started when her father died. I was with her when she was grieving. Everyday, I showed her that I could take care as much as her father did. And everyday… I was falling and falling de-eply in love on her. It was a courtsh!pafter marriage and the reward was unmeasurable… boundless.” He wiped his tears and shifted his position on his seat. “I was hoping that it would turn our the same for you and Princess Camila.”

“It won’t be the same, grandpa.”

He nodded in agreement. “I know, because an amazing girl took your heart alre-ady.”

๐ŸŒ ๐ŸŒ ๐ŸŒ ๐ŸŒ Ten hours before the dinner
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I was in a dark room, my hands were tied at the back of the chair. The glaring single bulb hanging above me blinding my eyes. I was trembling with fear and nervousness. The anxiety was killing me.

That’s what I feel right now. It’s pretty much the same as being interrogated by FBIs. I’m in the office of Eros Petrakis. He and his son, my VERY best friend Zion, circling around me questioning about anything, everything like I committed a heinous crime.

“I love Emerald, so much that I’m willing to risk my life for her.”

“She could be a spoiled br@t sometimes. How will you handle that?” Zion stยฉpped in front of me. He was holding a rolled paper, sl@pping it on his hand continuously. I could imagine him holding a bat and re-ady to smash it on my head.

“I agree, she could be, but it’s only superficial to what she is now
— she turned out to be a very compas-sionate, loving and caring person. Yeah, she has her own faults and weaknesses, so am I. We will learn to adjust to each others personality.”
“We, Petrakis don’t believe in divorce. Once you take her, there’s no turning back. You have to keep her for life.”

I turned to Eros Petrakis who was standing behind me.

“I un-derstand that very clearly sir. It’s my intention to have her in my life for as long as I live. I love your daughter so much… and trust me, there’s no other place that I would rather her to be than right next to me.”

Zion sm-irked and stood next to his father. His arm went above his father’s shoulders. “This is not easy for dad, Harry.”

I saw tears welled at Eros Petrakis eyes. I un-derstood his intense love and concern for Emerald. It was heartbreaking for a father to let go of his daughter from his care and protec-tion. He had his own fears.

“I know. But if you could only trust me sir, I swear, I’ll take care of your daughter as much as you’ve taken care of her. I won’t fail you sir. I promise you that.”

Finally, Eros Petrakis nodded. He shook my hand and gave me a hvgged. “Welcome to our family, son.” He said with a broken voice.

I was so glad. Warm feeling of intense joy flowed inside me when he called me son. No British boy
name-calling anymore.

The office door opened and an older man entered. Markos Petrakis.

“Am I too late? What do we have here?”

Zion told his grandpa about my intention. I felt a bit disappointed that he arrived late. He could have saved me from the mini heart attacks that I experienced awhile ago.

“Ah! This calls for a celebr@tion.” Markos Petrakis turned to me and tapped my shoulder. “From now on Harry, call me grandpa.”

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๐Ÿ’–Emerald’s POV โœ”
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“Harry?”

Everything seemed to disappear as I ran towards him. I could not believe that he was here! My heart had been so lonely, crying everyday and night, missing him terribly. Now that he’s here, it still cries… of happiness.

“Emerald!” He gathered me in his arms as k!$$ยฃd myl-ips briefly. It was an open k!ssthat was full of love and longing.
We heard a cough and together, we turned to King Alaric.
“Good evening, Your Majesty. Um… it’s such a great honour having you in our home. Welcome.”

“Thank you, Emerald. I’m very happy to be here. Now I’ll get to meet your family.”

I made the introductions, referring to dad first. “This is my father, Eros Petrakis.”

“Good evening, Your Majesty.” Dad shook the king’s hand.
“I heard so much about you, Mr. Petrakis.” The king chuckled.

“Oh!” Dad smiled and glanced at Harry. “All good things, I hope.”

“Ah– Now I see where your beauty c@mยฃ from, Emerald.” The king said when I introduced him to mom.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Mom smiled and her face turned crimson.

When everyone was introduced, we all settled in the living room. King Alaric sat beside grandpa Markos. They’ve been friends for too long alre-ady. Grandpa even supported some of the king’s project a long time ago.
“It’s a great plea-sure, and honour meeting each one of you. I’m here to witness something very special tonight and I did not want to miss it for the world.” The king chuckled and turned to Harry.

What’s going on? I turned to Harry and instantly, I got what the king meant.

Harry took my hand and together we stood in the center of the living room, with everyone surrounding us. There were soft giggles and laughter at first, and when Harry started talking, everyone was so silent.

“You know I love you so much, Emerald, from the bo-ttomof my heart. Eversince, I was smitten by you and when you grew up into a very stunning woman, I was so enthralled by you… Everyday without you was like a famine in a dessert… I realized I could not live without you in my life anymore.”

My heart was beating too fast, my pulses were racing as I listened to him. I could not help it, h0t tears rolling down on my cheeks… of pure intense happiness. I did not want to wake up in this wonderful dream.

With one bended knee, he knelt down and produced a red velvet box. He opened it and a hvge beautiful diamond ring gleamed in front of me. “Will you marry me, Emerald?”

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” My voice was choking me as I shouted with joy.
Everyone cheered and applauded as Harry gathered me in his arms. We k!$$ยฃd in front of everyone as we promised our love to be forever

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Story_Continues
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