bChapter /bb638 /b

    bChapter /bb638 /b

    bThe /bbrevtion /bthat Shirley had a romantic partner swiftly captivated the attention of the entire empire.

    Citizens rejoiced at the news. Atst, their queen had found love.

    Henry, with his striking features andposed demeanor, was quickly embraced by the public. His intellect and discreet support of Shirley over the years only solidified his reputation.

    After announcing their rtionship to the empire, Henry apanied Shirley back to her quarters at the military base.

    He seemed uncharacteristically insistent that evening, unable to keep his hands or lips off her. The aloof, reserved man she once knew had given way to someone far more openly affectionate.

    Shirley’s body, however, was not yet ready, preventing them from taking that final step.

    Henry ced a hand on her waist. “It doesn’t matter to me.” Regardless of the circumstances, his desire for her was sincere and unwavering.

    Shirley, feeling the heat between them, drew back slightly. “It matters to me.”

    As a woman, she took pride in her figure. If they were to be truly intimate, it had to be in the body that belonged to her, fully and unquestionably.

    Henry nodded. “I’ll speak to Shermaine tomorrow. Have her examine you. We’ll find a way.”

    Though Shirley hadn’t nned to trouble Shermaine after regaining her memory, she had intended to seek medical advice. Previous doctors had found nothing, not even with advanced equipment. So she agreed. A visit from Shermaine was likely unavoidable.

    To Henry, her well–being was paramount. That spheroid could now be brought into y.

    “Want me to use my hand instead?” she offered.

    He shook his head gently, kissing her fingers. “These hands are meant to protect your people. Let’s try something else.” He had already

    pushed the limits tonight.

    His words were disarming, especially to Shirley, who couldn’t help but smile.

    She leaned in, teasing softly, “It’s true I must protect my people. But if my man needs me… I’ll never say no.”

    The flirtation hit him like a spark. He caught her in his arms and eased her onto the bed with a grin. “I’d rather make sure you’re the one who feels good,” he murmured against her lips. “Your Highness… shall we?”

    Shirley met his gaze, then gave a small nod. “You may.”

    In a remote, deserted area, a car came to a halt.

    Martin stepped out first. Inside the vehicle sat Rhys, silent and hidden in the shadows.

    Nearby, Edison sat slouched in a chair, an empty cigarette pack at his feet. Even after smoking through it, the tightness in his chest remained.

    The woman he loved was now with someone else publicly, no lessb. /b

    He had never imagined Shirley could love someone so openly and fiercely.

    bChapter /bb638 /b

    bHe /bbwas /bbhooked /bband /bbobsessed/b. All he could bthink /babout was having her backb. /b

    bMartin /bbdidn’t /bwaste time. “What’s the situation with Shirley?”

    b“/bbShe /bbescaped/b,” Edison replied tly.

    Martin’s expression soured. “You let one woman get away? Pathetic.”

    Edison remained indifferent. “That so–called double? She’s the real Shirley. Just lost her memory, temporarily.”

    It was only a matter of time before she remembered.

    Martin’s jaw tightened. The fact that the imposter was actually Shirley herself made things far moreplicated. Thankfully, he bhadn’t /bstruck her publicly the other day, or he would’ve made a fool of himself.

    Now that the real Shirley was in y, their next move would have to be far more careful.

    Uncertain, Martin turned to Rhys. “Sir, what should we do now?”

    Rhys‘ gaze was steady. “What else? Kill her. Take the throne. Just as she once did. Lead an assault on Summerbank. You can do itb./bb” /b

    When Martin hesitated, Rhys‘ tone darkened. “What are you afraid of? That woman isn’t around.”

    Martin muttered, “But Henry’s a threat too.”

    “Leave Henry to me,” Rhys said coldly. “You focus on Shirley.”

    Edison, watching the tension between them, said nothing. He adjusted his sses, lost in thought.

    At Jean Vi, George was quietly resentful of the small boy who had suddenly be a constant shadow at his sister’s side.

    Whenever George reached out for Gracie, he was inevitably stopped in his tracks by the boy’s mismatched, unsettling gaze.

    The boy’s name was Lucifer Farren, a name Gracie had chosen herself.

    Shermaine had no objections to the name..

    In her view, the child did carry a dangerous air, with a presence eerily reminiscent of a demon.

    Still, Shermaine wasn’t the type to be frightened by proximity to danger. If anything, she faced it withposure.

    Besides, it wasn’t her burden to manage him. That task belonged to Gracie.

    When Gracie awoke the next morning, she found Lucifer standing by her bed, quietly preparing to help her dress.

    She spoke with the calm authority of someone far older. b“/bI can dress myself.”

    Unbothered, Lucifer continued fastening the buttons. “You brought me home. That makes you my master now.””

    Gracie frowned slightly, her small voice still soft. “You don’t need to do all this.”

    “I want to.” Lucifer dressed her without hesitation, then knelt to put on her shoes.

    He had already prepared a ss of water for herb, /bwaiting for her to wake.

    bChapter /bb638 /b

    bGracie /btook bthe /bss. The temperature was just right.

    bOnce /bshe finished, he lifted her from the bed and set her down gently on the floor.

    bShe /bbdidn’t /bthink much of it and wandered off to the next room to wake George.

    George was in the habit of going out in the afternoons. If Janice didn’t take him, either Gracie or one of the household robots bdid/b.

    While in theboratory, Shermaine received a call from Loang. It was Molly.

    Molly got straight to the point. “Sheary, Loang recently unearthed a body. DNA analysis confirmed his identity. It’s Malcolm, one of the researchers Ustrana had sent to the Kingdom of Xyperia.”

    Shermaine narrowed her eyes slightly but said nothing.

    “He’s been dead for two years,” Molly continued, “which means the Malcolm who went to Xypería wasn’t who he imed to beb. /b

    “We don’t know where he is now, but my mecha picked up traces of an unusual energy signature at the site. I’m not sure what it is. I’ve sent the data to your Orthish. Take a look.”

    Shermaine opened Orthish, received the file, and had Apocalypse run an analysis.

    The results came back quickly. The residual energy was consistent with spatial transmission.

    Shermaine looked at the readings. “He’s in Xyperia,” she said. She suspected the earlier ck hole event had also been his doing.

    Molly didn’t hesitate. “The Ustrana government wants him dead. When you head to Xyperia, take Roy and me with you.”

    Shermaine nodded. “I’ll wrap things up here and head out as soon as I can.”

    “Alright. We’ll wait for you at Jean Vi.”

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!