"Just give me 10 million dollars. I'll spill the beans on the location of Princess Laura."

Desperate.

Pathetic.

Those are the two words that best describe him.

To think that a lowlife journalist would even make a smart deal with me.

I stood by the window and took a sip of whiskey from the glass I was holding, marveling the city lights outside my window. It's already past midnight yet New York is very much alive. It really lives up to its reputation of being called The City that Never Sleeps.

How did things end up like this?

How did I get into this mess?

Because of a friend.

Somehow, I feel that I was responsible for all the misfortune of that kid. There are so many 'if only' today that might have changed so many things in the past.

If only I knew earlier...

If only I warned, no, told my friend to not get involve in a powerful family.

If only I told that said friend not to have an affair with a married woman.

Those things that I wish I did might have changed so many things now.

The woman will still be alive.

The son, the legitimate son of that woman will still have a mother and wouldn't feel bitter about what happened.

That friend of mine wouldn't blame himself. He wouldn't drink to his sorrows, and kill himself because of guilt, leaving his son in the process.

Both sons of the woman were bitter at the outcome of their parents' mistakes.

If only I stopped the affair, none of this would happen.

And as if fate is blaming me for not preventing those events to happen, my daughter is paying the price.

A knock on my door pulled me out of my thoughts. The door opened and closed. Without even turning, I already know who that person is.

"The journalist hasn't said anything yet. He said he will only speak when he has the money."

I laughed.

"He's still hoping for that, huh?"

"I suppose so."

"He didn't know that we are actually protecting his sorry life."

Mark Jones had been sniffing his nose around. He had been getting under the skins of wealthy businessmen, politicians, and well even royals, for that matter. But I'll give him credit for his articles. If he weren't such a pain, I might have given him better opportunities.

I shook my head.

"Just make sure that he will not escape."

"Understood."

The man I ordered left.

Jones' father was my friend. Unfortunately, he met his death after messing up with a mob leader in his drunken state. He was no longer the same man I have known since his lover's death. He no longer had a care in his life nor his son.

His son had been under my nose ever since. I have taken into account my failure to save my friend, so I had to make sure that his son would never be like his father. Even without me around him, I ordered some of my men to make sure that he will have everything he needs – a place to stay, food, education. He had everything. But I guess the apple does not fall far from the tree after all.

His career, his passion, became his demise.

You see, my friend is a journalist. In one of his articles, he featured the woman who became his lover. The interview lasted for a month before the article was published, raising suspicions to the people around them. But they managed to wave off the rumors surrounding them before it began.

From then on, they started meeting in secret, deceiving people left and right, even the woman's husband. They succeeded with keeping their secret... for a time.

They had thought that they were careful, until they had a son.

A bastard.

It must have been hard for them, keeping such indiscretions to the husband who knew that an affair was happening even from the beginning.

The child was born but was kept a secret, for the child is the result of the unfaithfulness of the woman. And it can bring scandal to the man who has reputation to uphold.

But there are some people around them just can't hold their tongue, so the husband, naturally have to dispel those rumors.

Richard Kinsley is known for his intelligence and political ambitions, as well as his affinity to morality. Because of his strong affection towards his wife, he was blinded by her rebellious nature, causing him his reputation.

Upon learning his wife's infidelity, he turned a blind eye, but hired someone to keep track of his wife's activities.

He focused his attention to his political ambitions while trying his best to un-love his own wife. He hardened his heart in order to clear his mind and make right decisions. He began to see things in other people's perspectives, as well as their view on his status and reputation. He started to realize that his wife is making a fool out of him.

When he learned his wife's pregnancy and knowing full well that the child was not his, it was the last straw.

The bastard was born to the world, hidden in the shadows. Richard decided to take some actions.

A year has passed, and another child was born. The legitimate child.

For a while, it seemed as though, everything is falling right back into place.

Richard became workaholic, and started neglecting his family, causing his wife to revert back to her old ways.

My friend and his lover started their meeting again. This time, their rendezvous is somewhere near where his lover lives.

Only after reconnecting with his lover did my friend seek for my advice, knowing that the husband of his lover has changed his demeanor.

Only then did I learn of the affair. Upon hearing the whole story, I advised my friend to put a stop to everything, telling him that Richard Kinsley might have become a dangerous man.

After that, he made a decision to break things off with his lover, for the last time. He sought her out, waiting at their place... waiting and wondering where she was.

He never thought that he wouldn't even have the chance to say his final goodbye to her as a fire suddenly started.

All he did that day was watch, until the barn was slowly being eaten by the fire. He heard screams.

Frozen in place, he was too shocked to move. He just stood there until it was found that his lover had died. Her legitimate child, broken because of his mother's death and hurt betrothed.

I often wonder, what were all the emotions he was feeling back then?

Sadness?

Grief?

Pity?

Guilt?

He must have been too overwhelmed by his emotions to not move from his spot, to not save his lover.

I know that he had always blamed himself for his lover's death because that was when it all started.

He started getting involved with dangerous people. Pursuing them, and provoking them, as if he had a death wish. Maybe he does.

And then, he got what he used to ask for after his lover's death.

Now, his son decided to follow his father's footsteps by finishing a degree in journalism.

What are the odds?

He wrote numerous letters to me, his benefactor, saying his great thanks for taking care of him, and that he wanted to meet me. But I never replied to any of those letters. Never showed up or even accept his gratitude.

Even until now, he's still ignorant of who helped him after his father's death.

I never thought that this day would come. That our lives would cross paths again. That I would be tangled up in another mess.

Fate really loves to play a lot of games. And this time, my daughter's generation is playing as well.

I have had heard many rumors about Mark making a huge amount of money for the articles he has been publishing. I thought he was really successful so when I heard that he had been digging up people's dirt, I didn't believe it.

Facing him now, trying to get money from me, opened my eyes for some reason. It feels like I'm looking at the life of his late father.

I wouldn't be surprised now if he happened to piss off some mobsters.

Or was it the reason why his eyes showed desperation?

Shaking my head out of my thoughts, I took another sip of my whiskey as I heard the unmistakable knock on my door before he let himself in.

"The journalist claimed that someone was threatening the princess."

I paused. Slowly, turning my head.

"Shall we call our men to–"

"No," I said. "You will leave her alone. I shall deal with her soon."

"But, your majesty–"

"Enough. I said, I'll deal with her soon. Although I understand your concern, however, it is not your position to take some action," I said sternly. "Now, where's Mark?"