Emily enjoyed a beautiful and warm Christmas with her family and friends. They opened presents, played games, ate delicious dishes, and spent the next day playing outside with snow when they actually were supposed to help the servants with cleaning.

She could not remember when was the last time she felt so happy to be surrounded by people. People who made her happy with their mere presence. People who made her feel safe and protected every single minute of the day.

Who would have thought that someone like her would receive such warmth in her life all of a sudden? Who would have thought that she somehow end up finding a place to call home and people to be known as her family?

At least, she never thought that. She never imagined living such a comfortable and happy life.

All the presents that she received on Christmas were piled up in one corner of her room.

Being the youngest in the entire family and the only princess of the Alessandro Empire, she received gifts from not only family and friends but also from people who worked for her family.

With the number of things that received, she could easily open a small shop with them.

After discussing with Domenic and Daniel, she decided to send most of the clothes, make-up, luxury items, and other such things to one of the NGOs that were under Alessandro Empire.

She also followed Kaiden's suggestion and placed the Crystal ball under the moonlight for the next few days.

Sam, Bianca, and Jackson returned to their mansion after Christmas.

The siblings stayed at home and enjoyed the last few days that were remained of the current year.

Though Domenic still spent most of his time taking care of the family business, he also made sure to spend enough time with his family.

And just like that, the last day of December month finally arrived.

-

"Em!"

"Huh?"

"Daniel is asking you to meet him in his room."

"Alright!"

Emily shouted in reply as she watched Crist walking back towards his bedroom where he, Mark, and Leo were playing some kind of board game.

She knew because she also received the invitation to join them. However, she needed to write new episodes of her story as she needed to give a mass release to her readers as a gift for the New Year, that's why she declined their offer.

She closed her laptop and made her way towards Daniel's room. As she knocked on his door, she heard him talking to someone.

There was silence inside the room for the next few beats before he allowed her to enter.

"So, it's you." She mumbled as she walked into the room, her eyes trained on her bodyguard who was sitting next to her brother.

It felt like the two of them just had a heated discussion before she arrived there. What was going on?

"What's happening here?" She asked as she took a seat at the edge of the king-size bed. Her eyes moved to her brother from her bodyguard.

"Shadow wants to take you out for an hour or so," Daniel spoke as he typed something on the tablet that he was holding in his hands.

"And?" Emily asked as she raised her eyebrows at her brother who was not even looking at her.

"And Domenic has given his permission," Daniel answered as he kept his focus on the tablet.

"And...?" Emily once again asked as she observed her brother. Unfortunately, this time she got no reply.

"You don't want me to go out with him." She said out loud after waiting for a few seconds.

"I never said that." Came out her brother's response as he kept his focus trained on whatever he was busy doing.

"You don't trust him. Is that why you are looking so frustrated?" She asked as she gave a quick look at Shadow who was silently observing the snowglobe that was sitting on top of the wooden desk where he was sitting beside her brother.

Daniel kept silent. He neither accepted nor dismissed her question.

"Why don't you trust him? I mean he's just perfect for the job of my bodyguard...." Before she could complete her sentence, she was cut off by her brother who suddenly looked up from his tablet.

"And there's my answer. You just said that. He looks too perfect for me to trust him."

Saying that Daniel once again returned his attention to his previous tablet.

Emily shook her head at her brother before she turned her entire attention towards her so-called bodyguard.

"You succeeded in establishing such a good bond with Domenic. Can't you do the same with the rest of them?" She asked with hopeful eyes.

She really wanted them to get along. Every time one of them started objecting to Shadow's loyalty, she felt a headache was going to hit her any moment.

She would rather have a new bodyguard whom everyone trusted equally, rather than seeing everyone cornering Shadow every time he was the one taking her out alone.

"I'm the same with everyone in this house. And it's not my fault that only your eldest brother has a sensible attitude while others are just...."

Shadow did not complete his sentence and that was probably a good thing.

Emily let out a sigh as she shook her head before speaking, "I think I know why no one else likes you in this house."

She moved closer to her brother and murdered something in his ear.

"Fine. But make sure to be back within two hours. We have to leave early for tonight's dinner invitation." Daniel reminded her as he too gave his permission.

Emily placed a quick soft kiss on his cheek before she followed Shadow out of the room.

It took her barely a few minutes to get ready in jeans, sweater, boots, and a long overcoat before she was climbing in the car with Shadow, and they were driving out of the huge gates.