His warm palms caressed my breasts while kissing me on the neck hotly. We were both sweating profusely while breathing raggedly. He picked up his pace and I felt like losing my mind because of the intense ecstasy. Everything felt new to me and I got overwhelmed...

"—Mine!"

I woke up with a start and when I opened my eyes, I looked around me, expecting to see someone with me in bed but everything was normal and quiet aside from my heart which was beating like a drum. I swallowed hard. That dream again.

It has been three months since that night, but I still couldn't forget about it. Until now, I could still feel that man's touch and kisses all over my body and it brings a hot sensation throughout my whole system everytime. I groaned inwardly.

"What's happening to you, Athena? Just forget about it. It was just a dream. It didn't happen." I tried convincing myself like a fool and shove that thought off my mind.

When I found out that Warren indeed left me for a large sum of money, it broke my heart. I thought, he was the right guy for me, but I was wrong about him. So wrong.

I chuckled bitterly and just remained staring at the ceiling for I didn't know how long. I didn't feel like getting up and start my day productively. I chuckled humorlessly. Productively, huh? Since when the last time I've had a productive day? I couldn't recall it anymore.

Then, the door opened, and my nanny came in and greeted me.

"It's already 7:30 am, Your Royal Highness. You need to get up and take your bath."

"I don't feel like getting up, Sita." I answered without looking at her. I heard her sigh.

"You know that you can't do that, Your Royal Highness. Your therapy will start today." I chuckled bitterly.

"Another therapy? Nonna doesn't really know when to give up, huh? When is she going to accept that no matter what she does, I would no longer be able to walk?" Sita's face became sad.

It has been 20 years since she became my nanny. They told me that I was only 3 years old back then when she started.

"Your Royal Highness, you only say that because you already gave up on yourself. You refused to do the therapy even though Her Majesty kept on hiring different therapists for you. The doctor said that you still have a small chance to be able to walk again." I laughed full of bitterness.

"You said it right, Sita. There's just a small chance so why would I bother to undergo any therapy? It would be just a waste of time. It's better for Nonna and my siblings to just give up. I don't want to want to be able to walk again anyway." I answered and sat up.

"But, Your Royal Highness—" Before she could finish what she was about to say, my sister, Amelia, came in.

"Please, don't say that, Ath. You still have that small chance to be able to walk again, so don't give up on yourself. C'mon, get out of bed so that we could eat breakfast. Everyone is home so we must eat together." She pulled the sheets off me.

"Amelia!" I rebuked but she just smiled at me and took my hand.

"C'mon, sis. I'll help you get in your wheelchair." My face softened and my anger subsided. I sighed in defeat.

Sita quickly approached us and helped Amelia. I just obliged while remaining quiet. Even though I didn't want to, I didn't have the heart to say no to my younger sister.

After that, they brought me to the bathroom and Sita helped me bathe. Amelia went out and took a change of clothes for me. Thankfully, Costavia is not that strict when it comes to skin contact with us Royals, if the situation was different, Sita wouldn't be able to help me like this.

Many years ago, the Royal family was forbidden to be touched by other people but thank God, that rule got abolished.

I'm thankful too because Amelia is always there for me. Even though there are many helpers, she still helps me in any way she could whenever she has the chance.

When Sita finally finished dressing me up, she and Amelia helped me get into my wheelchair, brought me out of my room and got in the elevator.

When we reached the dining area downstairs, all my other siblings were already there.

"I'm glad you agreed to come join us, Athena. It's been a while." It was our eldest sibling, Antonius. As usual, he was wearing a serious face and looked unapproachable than ever.

"Well, you almost never come home." I answered sarcastically.

"I'm sorry about that, baby sis. You know that we're busy." It was my other big brother, Aris. He's the second eldest among us.

"Don't call me that! I'm not a baby!" I hissed and Aris chuckled as he ruffled my hair as if I was a child. My eyes squinted while looking at him, but he just chuckled at me. We're like this whenever we're together. Just like a normal family who has their own fair share of flaws.

"Come on, big bro. Don't tease, Athena. If she throws a tantrum here, our breakfast will be ruined." Aria, our eldest sister who was born after Aris, said and chuckled a little bit tauntingly.

"Stai zitta, Aria! I'm not talking to you! Besides, when did I ever throw a tantrum like a little kid? If there's someone who tends to ruin everyone's moment, that's you!"

"Athena! Don't you dare talk to me like that! Let me just remind you that I'm your older sister!" She rebuked angrily. Instead of getting scared, I rolled my eyes at her.

Antonius sighed. "Athena, Aria is right. She is your older sister so you must respect her. Don't talk to her like that." He reminded me with an authoritative tone. I heaved a sigh.

This is one of the things that I hate whenever everyone's home. They're usually busy with their respective roles as part of the royal family that's why I only get to have a meal with them once and a while, but whenever we're complete, my older siblings tend to gang up on me.

"I think, my appetite is gone. I don't want to eat breakfast anymore." I said coldly and was about to call for Sita to push my wheelchair out of there when someone spoke at the doorway.

"Hold it right there, passerotta. No one is allowed to leave this place until everyone is finish eating." My grandmother, the mother of Costavia, Queen Isabella said with an authoritative tone. As usual, she never gets tired of wearing a serious face just like Antonius.

Everyone stood up except me. Antonius and Aris bowed while Amelia and Aria curtsied. They greeted her good morning.

"Buongiorno, nonna. You look stressed out this early in the morning." I commented and Amelia snicker.

"Ath, don't start with me." She warned and my brothers shook their heads while Aria rolled her eyes.

"I'm just telling the truth, nonna." My grandma released a breath and then sat down on her respective chair. Everyone did the same.

"I really can't understand where the old Athena went to." She uttered while shaking her head.

"That Athena is already dead, nonna. Don't look for her because she will never return ever again." I answered bitterly.

"Ath..." Amelia uttered worriedly while staring at me. Even my grandma looked like she wanted to say something but chose to just keep quiet. She heaved a sigh.

"Okay, enough of this topic. Let's just eat before we lose our appetite." Our grandma said while looking at me. I could tell that she was worried too.

While we were eating, I remained quiet because their topic was about their obligations and roles in our country which I couldn't relate to. Everyone has their own responsibilities expect me and Amelia. Well, Amelia is still twenty years old and still studying. Because of that, I really lost my appetite but I managed to eat the half of my food.

After eating, I told them that I would go back to my room and my grandma finally let me leave. But before that, she said something.

"Passerotta, your new therapist will arrive later so make sure to at least meet her." I flexed my jaw.

"How many times do I have to repeat that I don't need a therapist? It's already hopeless anyway."

"Athena Emilia! Stop being so stubborn! Whether you like it or not, you will undergo a therapy and that's final!" Nonna said angrily.

She even called me by my complete name, and that's when I realized that I couldn't disobey this time. I could be stubborn, but I got worried that I would anger her even more. She already had a heart attack before but thankfully, it wasn't serious.

"Ath, just this once, at least listen to nonna. This is for your own good." Amelia interfered, pleading. I remained quiet for a couple of seconds while gritting my teeth.

"Fine. Whatever you say." I answered and then called for my nanny Sita. While we were on our way to my room, I chuckled bitterly. So bitter that I could already taste it in my mouth. No one really understands me.

Can't they understand that staying in a wheelchair is just right for me because of what I did in the past? My heart tightened of the thought.

"Your Royal Highness, we're here." I blinked upon hearing Sita's voice. My lips parted when I noticed that we weren't in my room.

"I knew that you're down that's why I brought you here to your favorite spot." A small smile appeared on my lips. Yes, this has been my favorite spot in the palace since I was a kid. It was located at the eastern part of the huge garden.

The location of the Royal Palace was overlooking the city and the view was breath-taking. There was a huge ancient gazebo there which was my favorite spot.

"Thank you, Sita. You really know what to do to make me feel better." She smiled back at me.

"Of course, I would know. You've been like that since you were just a small child. Anyway, I already prepared your things here. Do you want need anything more, Your Royal Highness?"

"I'm good, Sita. Thank you." She nodded her head and then left me there. I looked at my things. Everything that I needed for painting was indeed ready.

I looked around inside the gazebo and something caught my attention. I maneuvered my wheelchair and approached it. It was my late mother's last painting before she passed away a year ago. My eyes brimmed with tears as I felt the familiar pain inside my chest.

I could still remember our last bonding in this place before that horrific accident took her life...

"Wow! You're really good in painting, mamma. I wish, I could paint just like you." My mother chuckled and squeezed my cheeks gently. Even though I am already 22 years old, she still treats me like a kid sometimes.

"Just practice more, vita mia, and you'll be as good as mamma one day." I hugged her and I could smell her familiar rose scent. Her scent and embrace calm me everytime.

"Promise me that you'll teach me until I become better than you, mamma."

"Of course, vita mia. Mamma will always be here for you and your siblings."

"Promise?"

Mamma laughed heartily. "Of course, I promise."

My tears fell. "You promised that you'd always be here for us, but you didn't keep your promise, mamma." I whimpered and wiped my tears. Well, everything that happened was my fault that's why I couldn't blame my mother for dying so early.

"I wish that you took me with you so that I wouldn't be miserable like this." My tears continued falling and I felt more miserable than ever.

"You never changed, mi hermosa. Even though you're crying, you're still as beautiful as a rose." My body went still upon hearing that familiar voice. I looked at his direction and gasped when I confirmed that it was indeed him. He bowed his head.

"Y-You're here." I mumbled, stupefied. The corner of his lips twitched as he shoved his hands into the pocket of his pants. When did he come back here in Costavia?!

"Surprised?" I swallowed hard. "Well, I have good news, Your Royal Highness. I will be your personal Royal bodyguard from now on." My lips fell open.

"You're kidding, right?" His lips curved with a lopsided grin.

"I'm sorry to tell you, mi hermosa, but I'm not. It's your fault. Because of you, your former Personal Royal bodyguard got transferred." I shook my head.

"No, no, no! You can't be my PRB!"

"I'm sorry, Your Royal Highness, but the queen was the one who chose me." I gritted my teeth. I officially met Maximus Vázquez more than a year ago.

We first met at the birthday party of my best friend, who was by the way Maximus' cousin. He came from Spain and according to Daniella, my best friend; her cousin just came to Costavia for a vacation that time.

I got annoyed at him that time because he was so full of himself. He declared that he likes me in front of my friends, and I wanted nothing but to kick him in his balls for making fun of me.

I thought, we would never meet again after that, but I was wrong. He kept on appearing in front of me with every chance he got.

Those were the times where I was out of control. I did whatever I wanted; broke every rule every chance I got and was always together with my bad influence friends. The press people were always after me because I was the most rebellious granddaughter of the queen.