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Chapter 290 - Your Hand

Lina could hear the approaching footsteps behind her. She could hear his heavy panting, the panic in his behavior, and the inability to move on. She didn\'t care when the steps stopped right at the entrance. She wanted him to know. Wanted him to see. She looked right at King Kade in the eyes and said nothing.

The painting that started it all. The one drawing that ruined everything, but also fixed her future. Lina sometimes wanted to laugh. She wanted to take a knife and stab it through the portrait, to erase all traces of him. But that was impossible.

The Second King of Ritan, founder of the land, merger of kingdoms, warlord of the century, Seventh Prince Kade, unfavored by his father, but beloved by the entire kingdom and world.

"What did I get?" Lina said to herself quietly, in a voice that she could barely hear.

Lina calmly glanced at the painting near the portrait of the King. Lina\'s name was forgotten by history. None of the textbooks mentioned her name. Not even once. She was just known as the King\'s only lover.

Lina grew to resent her sacrifice. How foolish of her to take her own life!? Or, did she truly do it? In the end, she believed Kaden was the murderer. Had he listened, had the wars not been waged, had the two men not fought, everything would\'ve been right in the world.

Lina could feel her heart grow bitter, thorns of hatred blooming in the spot that Kaden used to hold.

"She, who got away," Lina read the title of the painting.

Lina didn\'t know when the exact moment was. In the painting, the Princess was sitting over a window, where rain fell heavily and a storm cloud waved in the distance. Her hands rested by the window, outreached towards a white dove, but her face captured everyone\'s attention. It would be impossible not to.

In the drawing, the Princess\' features were stunning and angelic, all thanks to the dove beside her. She was dressed in a red bridal gown. The Princess was glancing directly at someone, and Lina knew it had to be Kade.

Lina didn\'t remember this specific memory. She didn\'t want to.

The Princess\' expression was hesitant, but her eyes were bright, and her lips curled into a beautiful, almost shy smile. Her lips were the color of rubies, Lina\'s favorite. There was hope and aspiration in her eyes, as if the person she glanced at was her entire world.

"Kade." The name left Lina\'s mouth before she could stop it.

Kade was her entire world at that time. A man who loved her without qualms. He\'d caress her skin, love her tenderly, and cause her to shatter with pleasure. He\'d hold her afterward, whispering words of comfort, as he pulled her to sleep in his arms. He was gentle. He was her husband. He was her lover. He was everything she could ever ask for in a man. Then, it all burned to the ground.

Lina touched the quote underneath the painting. She realized this wasn\'t here the last time she came. In fact, the quote had been moved, just as Lina said that fateful morning [1].

"I am the reason you\'ll never win this battle," Lina read outloud, shocked at the revelation. The quote used to be underneath the Second King of Ritan\'s nameplate. History thought it was his most famous line. Only Kade knew that one woman uttered it—the Princess of Teran.

Lina should\'ve been touched. Overwhelmed with emotions, even. But she was not. Lina no longer loved Kaden. Or Atlantis.

"I knew you\'d be here."

Lina pulled away from the drawing. She tightened her grip on her purse and pretended not to hear him. She brushed past the different array of unearthed relics. In particular, things that used to belong to the Princess of Teran.

Lina was surprised these even lasted the fire. Lina knew how much her death affected Kade. She heard the Second King of Ritan developed insomnia, leading him to unexpected fits of rage, and the historians noted his sleep always ended in nightmares. No doubt, repeating the moment the Princess took her life before him. No doubt, he remembered the blood that spewed from her pale neck. Or, maybe the claret leaking from between her legs, in the very spot that his child laid. He must\'ve been haunted by his own actions.

On a particularly drunken night, at the peak of his insanity, Kade crashed a lantern to the ground and attempted to burn the previous bedroom he had shared with the Princess.

The King watched the fire catch spark, intending to burn himself to death inside, but he lived. The fire burned his skin and was meant to take his life, but that was impossible. He was already an immortal.

"Fool," Lina said to no one in particular.

Lina made sure Atlantis heard it. She could hear the rustle of his suit as he silently flinched.

Lina read in the books that when the Second King of Ritan made it out of the fire alive, despite his burnt flesh, people thought he was some sort of God. If only they knew, he was the God of War. They said the Second King of Ritan stepped out with all the belongings he could find of the Princess.

The mirror she\'d looked into. The dresses she had worn in his presence. Her bridal gown. Her hairbrush, pins, jewelry that she\'d touched, and everything that could be remembered about her. To be more specific, the sword he gifted her.

"Lina," Atlantis called.

Lina held back an eye roll. She crossed her arms and continued strolling across the various artifacts.

Atlantis crossed the line. Lina could hear his footsteps.

"Lina, lets talk—"

"Director, there you are."

Lina didn\'t show an inclination to Estella\'s voice. She refused to see Atlantis. The sight of him made her blood boil. As much as she pitied him, she despised him.

Estella\'s heels clicked on the ground when she approached Lina. When they were close, Estella spoke in a soft voice.

"The artist was nowhere to be found," Estella murmured, so that the eavesdropper wouldn\'t hear. "His belongings were in his apartment, but his car keys and wallet are gone. He must be somewhere in the city. We\'ll have our security keep a tight watch over you."

"All I wished for was your hand," Atlantis suddenly told her. "I had to do everything I could to get you out of your situation, Lina. I—"

"Anyway," Estella curtly said out loud with irritation. "We should head to our next meeting, Director."

Lina nodded her head once. She turned on her heels and stopped. Atlantis was right in front of her now. She pretended not to see. Stepping to the side, Atlantis followed her. He blocked her back. She stepped to the left, he followed. She stepped out right, and he was there.

Estella narrowed her eyes. "We have a restraining order against you, Mr. Medeor. If you do not step aside, we will call the cops—"

"Lina, please."

"For goodness sake," Estella gritted out.

Without warning, Estella roughly shoved Atlantis away. Atlantis stumbled in disbelief that a little woman like her had such strength. He severely underestimated the secretary.

"The weightlifting came to good use," Lina mused to Estella as the two walked down the hallway.

"Or was it the martial art classes you signed me up for?" Estella mumbled. "For the record, my limbs still hurt from it, despite the years that have passed."

"In my defense, so do mine," Lina said. "And I have practiced since I was a kid."

Estella\'s lips twitched. Then, her smile slowly fell, her face returning to neutrality. As the two passed by an infamous woman, Estella\'s eyes followed her the entire time.

The young and rising heiress. The very one caught in a rift between Atlantis Medeor and Kaden DeHaven.

Electricity sparked in the hallway, tension at its all time high. Estella could barely breathe.

Lina, the ex-wife of Kaden DeHaven and Atlantis. The heiress, the center of attention between the two men.

What could possibly go wrong?